The long 2020 election season is over, but as of today, we still don't know results of yesterday's national election. Like you, I was hoping for some certainty during a very uncertain year. That said, I am proud to live in an active, inclusive and vibrant community that takes civic engagement seriously. It was pretty amazing to see the early voting turnout at the North County Governmental Center and the commitment of so many to have their voices heard. There were older voters in wheelchairs and using walkers who insisted that they stand in line so they could vote in person, moms with infants and small children, many voters who waited patiently in the rain and also some very enthusiastic young first-time voters. It was inspiring to witness and I really enjoyed having the chance to meet and talk with many of you.

Since so many voted early, the voting was steady but really no lines on Election Day when I visited a dozen poll locations in our district and took this photo above at 11 a.m. at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne where the Reston #3 precinct votes. There were thankfully no major incidents in the county and the voting went very smoothly.

I want to give a big thank you to Dan Per-Lee, the election chief at the North County Governmental Center during early voting and the election officers who worked really long hours during a pandemic to ensure that your voices were heard. The thousands of election officers who worked in Fairfax County on Election Day and since early voting began in September are truly heroes and we are grateful for their service!

Many thanks also to the Reston District Police Station officers for their help and support, as well as the Reston Regional Library staff who provided library services on several afternoons to people standing in line.

Our Electoral Board began the process of canvassing the county's votes today, which is a time-consuming double checking of the results that were called in last night. In addition, the mail-in absentee ballots that were postmarked yesterday or mailed earlier will continue to be counted until this Friday, Nov. 6. If you are interested in the county's results, or how your precinct voted, you can find results here. All Virginia results can be found here. The results are unofficial until certified by the Virginia Board of Elections on Nov. 16.

Note: Next Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day and a Fairfax County holiday. Look for your next Hunter Mill District newsletter on Nov. 18.

Planning is underway at the federal, state and local levels to order, distribute and administer a safe and effective vaccine as soon as one or more are available. The Fairfax County Health Department is working with the Virginia Department of Health to develop these plans for our health district. Learn more.

To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study web page. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, Nov. 9, 7 to 9 p.m. Details and the agenda will be found here. The meeting will be hosted on the Webex platform. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to listen to the meeting on your phone, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 173 949 9146. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. (Please note each meeting has a unique link and call-in information.) You will also be able to watch a live stream of the meeting on YouTube Live. 

County staff will present the 2020 Tysons Annual Report. The report provides monitoring data and updates on the progress of implementing the vision for Tysons contained in the Comprehensive Plan for Tysons, approved by the Board of Supervisors on June 22, 2010. The report covers Tysons development activity through July 2020. The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform – use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use Access Code:173 689 9597. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. For more information, contact Jose Delcid, 703-478-0283. 

Wiehle Avenue Crossing Study Group Virtual Meeting, Nov. 19, 7 to 9 p.m.

Wiehle Pedestrian Crossing Study Group virtual meeting is Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 to 9 p.m. The meeting is hosted on the Webex platform – use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use Access Code: 173 143 6498. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711.To submit feedback, questions or comments, email WiehleCrossingStudyGroup@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The meeting is hosted on Webex - use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. You will be prompted to register with your email address and ZIP code before logging into meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use Access Code: 173 974 3467. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. More information.    

The HMD TAC meets quarterly on community transportation issues. You can watch the Oct. 28 meeting here, which includes a timeline of the agenda. The next meeting is Jan. 27, 2021, 8-10 a.m. For additional information or to be added to the HMD TAC email list contact Shyamali Hauth.

If you live in the Hunters Woods community, I encourage you to attend a virtual town hall I am hosting on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate in the meeting. If you prefer to only listen to the meeting, you may call 1-844-621-3956 and use Access Code: 173 108 7911. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. Topics that we will be covering include updates from the Reston Police District Station, ideas for building community, as well as the opportunity for a Q&A on topics relevant to the Hunters Woods community. If you have any questions about the meeting, please email my office at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov.

November is Adoption Awareness Month, a month set aside to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for children and youth in foster care. In the United States, there are more than 122,200 children and youth waiting to be adopted who are at risk of aging out of foster care. In Virginia, over 700 children are waiting to be adopted.

Here in Fairfax County, nearly 200 children are in foster care and 51% are part of sibling groups waiting for adoption. Unfortunately, youth leaving foster care without a permanent connection face challenges with employment, education and mental health. Learn more about how to become a foster or adoptive parent and how the county supports adoptive families.

Donations and volunteers are needed for RCC's annual Thanksgiving food drive. You can drop off food donations beginning this week, including at the North County Governmental Center. Volunteers are also needed Nov. 24 to 27. More information. 

Join me and and other community leaders for this discussion on current initiatives being undertaken by the Fairfax County Police Department. Shirley Ginwright, chair of the Fairfax County Communities of Trust (COT), will discuss the COT's role in improving police relations with the Fairfax County community. This program is presented by the AAUW Vienna Area Branch, Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, and Alpha Nu chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. To register, send an email to ViennaAAUW@gmail.com no later than Nov. 12; a Zoom code will be sent to you after Nov. 13.

As the Thanksgiving and winter holidays approach, many residents may be wondering how to celebrate safely this season. While travel and large gatherings are typically common during this time of year, we must not let our guard down, even around friends and family. Everyone should continue to practice safe gathering practices and social distancing. Learn more.

The county's firefighters and paramedics often get asked questions about smoke alarms. Watch this video to learn about the best type of smoke alarm for your house and other helpful information.