Another winter storm is in our forecast for tomorrow, which may include a combination of snow and ice. Please take a few minutes to review the county's Guide to Snow for resources, including VDOT plowing information, safe shoveling tips and more. A few things you can do to prepare before the snow arrives:

The COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled at the Fairfax County Government Center and the four Health Department District office sites on Thursday, Feb. 18 are cancelled, due to the expected winter storm. People who have appointments will receive an email informing them of the cancellation. The cancellation notice will contain a link to reschedule their appointment for clinics scheduled during the upcoming week. Please note that appointment locations may be at a different site than where you were originally scheduled.

Residents who need assistance in rescheduling their appointment may call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 703-324-7404. Learn more.

The Fairfax County Health Department (covers Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, Falls Church, Vienna, Herndon and Clifton) is not participating in the statewide COVID-19 vaccine registration system. Eligible residents should continue to use the Fairfax County registration system already in place. The county has invested a lot of resources into our registration system and at this point, the decision was made to maintain our system that residents are familiar with to cut down on confusion. The Health Department will continue to have conversations with the state about registration as the vaccine process rolls out. Learn more.

The Health Department has identified some technical issues that have come up with the Vaccine Registration Status Checker that was launched on Friday, Feb. 12. More information is forthcoming, but if you have questions, call the Health Department's call center at 703-324-7404, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. (Evenings and weekends are recommended for shorter wait times.) More information on the status checker and vaccine dashboard is in my Feb. 12 vaccine update.

To date, more than 110,000 people have been vaccinated in Fairfax County (administered by both the Health Department and their vaccination partners). For those still waiting for vaccine, you may have questions about what happens during and after your appointment. These tips will help you know what to expect when you get vaccinated, what information you will receive and resources you can use to monitor your health after you are vaccinated. Learn more.

While most people fully recover from the virus, an estimated 10 to 30% experience long-term medical problems. The British Medical Journal found that 10% of people still experienced symptoms three weeks after their illness. Learn more.

Please stay safe and I will send you more information about the winter storm and vaccine distribution when it is available.

Thank you to everyone who attended last night's public safety town hall with the Reston District Station commanders. A lot of good information was shared! You'll find more information under the public safety update below.

I'm hosting another virtual town hall tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 to 9 p.m. This town hall is an opportunity to get a briefing from me on the state of Hunter Mill District and Fairfax County. Residents will have the opportunity ask questions on county-related issues. Join the virtual meeting with this WebEx link. To listen to the meeting, dial 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 179 565 4421. You can also watch a live stream of the meeting on YouTube Live, this is also the link to watch the video beginning Feb. 19. 

For additional information, email my office or call 703-478-0283.

My office is looking for a smart, talented, enthusiastic summer intern. If you know a college-age Hunter Mill District resident who would like to get some great experience in public service, please send them this link. The deadline for applications is March 1.Here are the details:

This is a paid internship and start and end dates are negotiable. To apply send your resume, including two references by email to huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov by Monday, March 1. Please put Internship Application in the subject line.

To learn more about the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study and the task force, visit the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study webpage. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, Feb. 8, 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: 129 411 5523. 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, which is also where you can watch the Feb. 8 meeting.

Wiehle Pedestrian Crossing Study Group virtual meeting is Thursday, March 18, 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: 173 512 0630. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. To submit feedback, questions or comments, email WiehleCrossingStudyGroup@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Last night, I hosted a virtual town hall with the Fairfax County Police Department's Reston District Station commanders Captain Thea Pirnat and Lieutenant Marc Mitchell. You can watch the meeting here.

The Reston District Station is the largest police station in the Hunter Mill District, which also includes the Fair Oaks and McLean district stations (and although not county, the Town of Vienna Police Department is in the Hunter Mill District). To view the area covered by the Reston District Station, click on the map for a larger version.

The commanders also provided several links to share with residents:

Fairfax County Police Homepage

Reston District Station Homepage (Contact Information)

Independent Police Auditor

Civilian Review Panel

Open Data Initiative

Administrative Investigation and Use of Force Reports

Eligible residents can apply for assistance through the COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, attest that you are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus public health emergency, and submit an application to Fairfax Water. For additional assistance, call Fairfax Water’s customer service department to discuss payment options. The call center is available weekdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 703-698-5800 (TTY 711). Learn more.

Due to safety precautions during the pandemic, the IRS has determined that the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for Elderly (TCE) programs will not be operating at full capacity, with many sites temporarily closed. There are several alternative ways for eligible residents to receive free income tax filing assistance - online or by phone. Learn more.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation invite students in grades K-8 to enter the 2021 Poetry Contest in honor of National Poetry Month in April. This year’s contest also celebrates 70 Years of Excellence in Fairfax County Parks. Students are encouraged to share how their local parks have made Fairfax County a greener, cleaner, healthier place to live, work and play. Poetry contest participants compete for prizes and a chance to read their poem in the 2021 Fairfax Parks Virtual Poetry Showcase in April. More information.