This morning I joined several of my staff (pictured here at First Baptist Church of Vienna and Sarah Walker Mercer Park) for the self-guided African American historic tour of the Town of Vienna. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the town's rich history, which was highlighted during Liberty Amendments Month. The closing event for the month is the Vienna Multicultural Festival this Saturday, July 17 from 2 to 7:30 p.m. on Historic Church Street. Learn more.

Mid-July also means that Fairfax County Public Schools and the county's Health Department are getting ready for the start of school on Aug. 23. Parents should be aware that it takes five weeks to be fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, the only vaccine currently available for ages 12 to 17. If at all possible, students should get their first dose no later than July 19. Learn more.

Tonight I am meeting with residents of Lake Anne at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne Plaza. Lake Anne is the cultural and historic center of Reston, as well as on the National Register of Historic Places. But some of Lake Anne is getting old and there are infrastructure issues and challenges. Although the Lake Anne Reston Condominium Association (LARCA) is a private organization, Lake Anne’s status as a Fairfax County Revitalization Area and requests for assistance by several residents and by LARCA got my attention.  

Infrastructure concerns related to our aging privately owned buildings was also discussed at yesterday's Board of Supervisors meeting. The Board directed county staff to investigate what resources are available for voluntary inspections that may be helpful to condominium associations and owners of aging buildings. Staff will also evaluate existing Virginia code for authority to improve building safety. You can watch the Board meeting and discussion here.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and staying cool!

For the past six months, the county's Health Department staff and Fire and Rescue Department firefighter/paramedics have been working to bring the COVID-19 vaccine to those who need to be vaccinated but cannot leave their homes. Through this successful partnership, nearly 600 homebound residents have been vaccinated. Learn more.

The county is administering relief for renters experiencing a financial hardship due to the pandemic through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Tenants and landlords may receive funds to pay delinquent and prospective rent payments. Learn more.

If you have questions about COVID-19, you can contact the Fairfax County Health Department:

This includes removing as much carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from the atmosphere as emitted from county operations. Carbon dioxide accounts for about 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while methane and nitrous oxide collectively make up another 17%, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

To achieve this transformative goal, the Board adopted an updated Operational Energy Strategy at our meeting yesterday, July 13. In addition, we issued a formal declaration, “Carbon Neutral Counties,” that also encourages other local governments to take action to halt climate change.

Learn more.

The Board appointed a 30-member task force to examine renaming Lee Highway (Route 29) and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50). The Confederate Names Task Force includes residents, civic organizations, homeowner associations, faith groups, historical groups and the business community. Learn more.

2026 is the 250th anniversary of US Independence and the Board received a presentation from the work group charged with leading the commemoration in Fairfax County. You can see the report on page 4 of the Board package.

You can watch the July 13 meeting here.

Summer storms have caused tree damage throughout Hunter Mill District and our region – and we're sure to see more storms and high winds. If you need to have tree work done on your property, the county has some tips to help you make sure it is done correctly and that you are not scammed.

Tips:

Know a county resident who has demonstrated outstanding conservation-based actions in preserving, protecting or planting trees? They may be eligible for an award from the Tree Commission. Nominations for the annual Friends of Trees and Tree Preservation and Planting Awards are open through July 31. Learn more.

An updated listing of Reston Comprehensive Plan Study Task Force meetings for July is below. To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. You can watch a live stream of the meetings on YouTube Live. (Please note that each meeting has a unique link and call-in information).

Wednesday, July 21, 7 to 9 p.m. (rescheduled from 7/20)

The Reston P&Z virtual meeting is Monday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be hosted on the Webex platform. Details and the agenda will be found here. 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: 179 885 4597. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. (Please note that each meeting has a unique link and call-in information). 

The Wiehle Avenue Study Group meeting is Thursday, July 29 at 7 p.m. 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: 173 881 8134. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. (Please note that each meeting has a unique link and call-in information). 

Interested in learning more about the new Zoning Ordinance? Join DPD staff for a series of lunch and learn sessions and a community meeting on a variety of topics, including navigating the new Ordinance, accessory living units, and home-based businesses. More information: zMOD Outreach Page.

There are three great opportunities for children ages 7 to 17 to get free racquetball lessons and watch top-caliber, nationally and internationally ranked racquetball players in action. Free clinics will be held Saturdays July 24, 31 and Aug. 7, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Stratton Woods Park, 2431 Fox Mill Road, Reston. This event is sponsored in part by the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and the Fairfax County Park Authority. Learn more.

Summer Entertainment Series: Hunter Mill Melodies

Tomorrow's (7/15) Hunter Mill Melodies entertainment is Elena & Los Fulanos, a bilingual folk rock band based in D.C. The concert is at Frying Pan Farm Park Kidwell, 2709 West Ox Road at 7:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the music! Learn more.

Reston Community Center (RCC) is seeking interested candidates to run for seats on its Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is a nine-member body responsible for oversight of RCC. All residents of Small District 5, ages 18 or older, are eligible to run for appointment to the RCC Board of Governors. Learn more.