Dear Neighbor,
I hope you will tune in to my virtual budget town hall tonight, Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Fairfax County Chief Financial Officer Joe Mondoro and I will discuss the revised FY 2021 budget proposal.
The virtual town hall will be televised on Channel 16 (Cox Channel 1016; Verizon/Comcast Channel 16), streamed online, and streamed live on my Facebook page @DranesvilleSupervisor
.
During the presentation, you can submit questions by calling 703-324-1114 or post them as a comment to the live stream of the meeting on my Facebook page. You can also email questions to me at
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov
; please include "Dranesville District Budget Town Hall" in the subject line. During the 90-minute virtual town hall, Joe and I will attempt to respond to as many questions as possible.
Below, I have included information about National Library Week, additional County resources that are now available online, free, and more.
Celebrate National Library Week
April 19 through 25, 2020, is National Library Week - a time to highlight the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The original theme for National Library Week, "Find your place at the library," was chosen by the American Library Association months before the emergence of a global pandemic would force libraries to close their buildings. In response to these rapidly-changing times, the theme was revised to "Find the library at your place" to bring attention to how libraries are open for business online, offering the electronic services and digital content communities need now more than ever.
At Fairfax County Public Library, cardholders can access a wide array of virtual services:
For those who do not yet have a library card, an
online library card application will provide a temporary card number. When the library reopens, new applicants can visit their local branches to pick up and validate physical cards.
In addition, while FCPL branches are closed to the public, limited internet coverage is available outside from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.
Additional Online Resources from Fairfax County
With the Virginia Stay-at-Home Order in place, the County continues to find new ways to provide services to the community without requiring direct contact. Four new options are being added to the menu of
Assistance from a Distance opportunities provided by the county to help ease strain and stress on residents and staff.
Looking for a New Pet? Adopt Virtually
For those looking to add a furry friend to the family, the
Fairfax County Animal Shelter has made the adoption process nearly contact-free. New pets available for adoption will be added to the shelter's
available pet page daily between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. each day. Those interested can then fill out a survey and staff will contact them via phone or email to talk through the adoption process. Once finalized, the shelter schedules a contact-less pick up. Details on virtual adoptions are available
online.
Wedding Bells in Your Future? Get Your License Online
Couples can now prepare their
marriage license application in the comfort of their home and schedule a convenient time to appear by Webex to take their oath before a deputy clerk of court. After customers pay by credit card, the Clerk's Office mails them their marriage license, then the couple has 60 days to be married by an authorized officiant. Applicants must have a computer, smartphone, or tablet with a microphone and camera, along with internet access.
Want to See Something New Without Leaving the House? Parks Can Help
The Park Authority has created a new
Virtual Exploration Center with resources to help residents stay healthy, connected, and engaged while parks are closed. With links to on-demand fitness classes, a virtual history tool, and nature bingo, the site provides a plethora of options to suit the needs of any family looking for ways to stay active and involved. The page will be updated regularly with new highlights so be sure to check back frequently.
Need Some Support with Parenting? Call DFS, Take a Virtual Class, or Watch a Video
The
Department of Family Services (DFS) offers support and a variety of free resources for families, including parenting videos, articles, and online classes. In addition, a parent support call line and email address has been established to help parents and caregivers of children with parenting advice, support, and tips. Call 703-324-7720, TTY 711 or email
buildingstrongerfamilies@fairfaxcounty.gov. Visit
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/children-youth/assistance-from-a-distance for more information and other parenting resources.
Free, Virtual English Learning Opportunities
Since in-person classes were halted due to the coronavirus, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (LCNV) has been working tirelessly to transform its in-person classes into virtual learning opportunities, while accommodating each learner's variable needs and technological access. LCNV is offering instruction through two different distance learning modes: synchronous (live, online, teacher-led) and asynchronous (utilizing text and/or basic phone features). LCNV has been training teachers in new tools that enable their virtual lessons and guiding learners (with interpretation) to understand their options and navigate new technology.
There are still learners who have not yet enrolled in LCNV's programs who need access to beginning level English instruction now more than ever. LCNV is offering free virtual (computer-based) opportunities through its partnership with USA Learns, including 5 courses:
- 1st English Course (beginning level)
- English 1 Plus (beginning / intermediate level)
- 2nd English Course (intermediate level)
- Practice English and Reading (intermediate level)
- Citizenship
Information about USA Learns and each of these courses is available through the following links. Click
here for information on how to sign up and
here for more details about each course and how to participate.
In addition, LCVN is keeping an updated list of English-learning resources online at
https://lcnv.org/resources/.
Tips and Advice from the Safe Community Coalition's Mental Health Committee
For 25 years, the Safe Community Coalition (SCC) has been working to help families in McLean thrive. During this pandemic crisis, members of the SCC's Mental Health Committee have been working to provide resources including videos and tips that are now posted on the SCC website at
http://mcleanscc.org/.
Topics include:
- Grounding Techniques to Help Cope with Uncertainty
- How to Meet Kids' Three Basic Needs: Competence, Connection, and Autonomy
- Healthy Coping Strategies During Uncertain Times
- Staying Positive
- Finding a Counselor: Tips and Advice
Visit SCC's
Facebook and
Twitter for timely articles related to stress, anxiety, and coping during the pandemic.
Neighborhood Assistance Program
Many individuals are looking for ways to contribute to the community as the coronavirus continues to impact our lives. The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) is a resource that can help individuals choose organizations accepting donations. The purpose of NAP is
to encourage businesses, trusts, and individuals to make donations to approved 501(c) (3) organizations for the benefit of low-income persons. In return for their contributions, businesses, trusts and individuals may receive tax credits equal to 65 percent of the donation that may be applied against their state income tax liability.
Cox Communications Connect2Compete
Recognizing that students will remain home to finish out the school year, Cox has extended free Connect2Compete service, the company's low-cost internet offer for families with a K-12 student at home, until July 15. Remote service support is also extended to ensure ease of implementation while students continue to learn at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Customers that sign up between March 13 and May 15 are eligible for this offer and will receive free service until July 15.
In addition, Cox temporarily doubled download speeds for its Connect2Compete customers from 25 to 50 Mbps in mid-March. This increase will also continue through July 15.
The Cox Connect2Compete program is available to families who:
- Have at least one child that is a K-12 student at home
- Participate in one of these government subsidies programs: The National School Lunch Program, SNAP, TANF or Public Housing
- Are not a current Cox Internet customer
There are no deposits or annual contracts with Connect2Compete, and self-installation with in-home WiFi equipment is included at no additional charge.
Families can qualify for Connect2Compete by visiting
www.cox.com/c2c. For more information on Cox's coronavirus relief efforts, visit
https://www.cox.com/residential/home.html.
