www.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman (703) 324-2321 Bulova Byline

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman
(703) 324-2321
[email protected]
Bulova Byline
Chairman’s Monthly Report
June 2010
This Byline celebrates the arrival of summer. Despite these challenging economic times, our Board
adopted a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st that continues to fund park facilities and programs
and our outstanding library system. Look inside these pages for information about some of the summer
activities you can enjoy in Fairfax County – evening concerts and movies in our parks, Farmers Markets,
Recreation Camps, and the Celebrate Fairfax Fair the weekend of June 11th through 13th. Also inside
is valuable information about how to keep safe while enjoying the outdoors.
The Town Meeting I co-hosted on May 15th with Congressman Gerry Connolly and Providence District
Supervisor Linda Smyth, provided just such information about the serious threat of Lyme disease. A
panel of experts from our Fairfax County Health Department, our Wildlife Biologist, and officials from
the federal Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases provided a briefing about Lyme disease – how
to identify it, how to treat it and things you can do to prevent infection. You can watch the program by
going to: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable/channel16/2010_lyme_disease_summit.htm. You can also
find information on the County’s website at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/westnile/wnvlyme.htm.
Fairfax County has designated the month of May to celebrate our Asian American population. Our May
23rd meeting began with a traditional Asian Dragon dance performed by members of the Asian
Community Service Center of Vienna. Later in the morning, Cora Foley, Chairman of the Fairfax
County Asian American History Project, presented us with their completed book, chronicling the
stories of Asian Americans who have made Fairfax County their home. It is a wonderful book, full of
fascinating stories and photos. Copies can be found in our libraries and purchased for $15.00 by
contacting my office. Profits from the sale of the book will be held by the county for a future reprint of
the book and for history-related activities.
Throughout May, the Planning Commission has been holding public information sessions and public
hearings on the re-planning of Tysons Corner. In late June, the Board of Supervisors is expected to hold
our public hearing on this important redevelopment opportunity. Just as Fairfax County has grown during
the past fifty years, we will continue to experience growth during the decades ahead. It is important that
we accommodate our future growth in ways that provide for vibrant communities that can be supported by
an efficient transportation network and enhanced with attractive parks and public spaces. For more
information on the Transformation of Tysons, go to: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/tysonscorner/.
During the summer months, work will continue in earnest on the Beltway HOT Lanes project and on the
project to build the Metro Silver Line from Falls Church to Dulles Airport. On May 26th, I attended a
groundbreaking ceremony in the Edsall Park Industrial Center for a new HOT Lanes Operations Center.
This will be the nerve center for this new and innovative transportation system.
The finished lanes will add capacity to accommodate carpools (who will use them for free) and buses.
Motorists in the regular lanes will continue to drive for free. Single occupant motorists who wish to use
the “fast” or HOT Lanes, will pay a toll, which will help pay for the cost of building the new lanes. The
lanes are expected to be completed by the end of 2012. Service on the Silver Line to Wiehle Avenue in
Reston (Phase I of the project) will begin in summer 2013. Service all the way to the airport (Phase II) is
expected to begin in 2016.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, however, it will be messy. Please drive carefully
and be safe.
Sharon Bulova
Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
CELEBRATE FAIRFAX! FESTIVAL
JUNE 11-13, 2010
Come join me for the 29th annual Celebrate Fairfax! Festival, set to take
place June 11-13, 2010 on the grounds of the Fairfax County
Government Center. The Celebrate Fairfax! Festival features 25 acres
of amazing concerts, family programs, science and technology, history,
thrilling carnival rides and nightly fireworks! This year’s line up
features more than 90 concerts and performances, including four
headlining performances:
•
•
•
•
Friday, June 11th at 8pm RUSTED ROOT
Saturday, June 12th at 3pm CAROLINA LIAR
Saturday, June 12th at 8:00pm KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
Sunday, June 13th at 4:30pm JOSH THOMPSON & JIMMY
WAYNE
In addition to the outstanding entertainment schedule and favorite
activities from previous festivals, there will be plenty of new family-friendly attractions at Celebrate
Fairfax!, including Mini-Golf presented by Specialicious.com, the KidWay MidWay - rides for our
smallest of guests, the Fairfax Karaoke Championship, the ArtsFairfax.org stage in the Better Living
Expo, Blaze the Comedy Hypnotist in the Board Auditorium and Bike To The Fair Day on Sunday with
FREE bike valet.
General admission seating is available for all performances; shows are free with daily tickets to the event.
Advance tickets are on sale at the Wegmans in Fairfax and online at www.celebratefairfax.com.
For more information call (703) 324-3247 or visit the website at www.celebratefairfax.com.
MORE SUMMER FUN
In addition to
Celebrate
Fairfax! there
are ways to
continue
participating in
many festivities
all summer long.
One of the
tastiest ways to experience summer in Fairfax
County is through various Farmers Markets.
With 12 different locations throughout our
community and a variety of products including
hive honey, pasture-raised meat, garden-fresh
vegetables and flowers, this is a great way to buy
from local farmers and eat healthy this summer.
More information about the Farmers Market can
be found at:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/press/html/p
r027-10.htm.
Another great
opportunity
you won’t
want to miss is
all the free
summer
Entertainment
in the Parks!
Through
generous
contributions
from local businesses and corporations, the
Fairfax County Park Authority in partnership
with the Board of Supervisors presents a
summer-long calendar of shows, concerts, and
movies. The music is diverse and includes jazz,
bluegrass, and rock among many others. There
are plenty of opportunities for children and
families with puppet shows and classic movies
viewed on an outdoor screen. By visiting
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performance
s/, you can search by genre and performance type
to find your perfect summer show.
BUT STAY SAFE FROM COPPERHEADS
An unusually high number of copperhead snakes
have recently been reported in Fairfax County.
Copperheads are venomous snakes that are found
here and throughout Virginia.
Copperhead snake bites have been reported
across Fairfax County in the Dranesville
(Riverbend Park), Hunter Mill (Reston), and
Springfield (Clifton) Districts. Typically, reports
of snake bites (and sightings) peak between
August and October when baby copperheads are
hatching.
It’s important to remember that while death from
snake bite in Virginia is extremely rare, a bite
can be painful and cause a number of symptoms
such as; swelling and bruising, sweating,
weakness, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitching
and a metallic taste in the mouth. It is important
to seek medical attention if you or your pets are
bitten.
The Fairfax County Wildlife biologist
recommends the following safety tips:
•
Keep grass and vegetation mowed short
on private property – Snakes like to hunt
in tall grass
•
Stay on the sidewalk and park trails
•
Supervise children at all times
•
Do not approach a copperhead – NEVER
pick up a snake
•
Keep dogs on leash at all times
•
Do not overturn rocks or logs
•
Wear appropriate protective clothing when
outdoors
If you are bitten by a snake:
•
•
•
•
Stay calm
Do not apply a tourniquet
Keep body part immobilized and level
with heart
Seek immediate medical attention
For more information on copperheads or other
local wildlife, please visit:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/animals/wildlife.
For more information, or to report a copperhead
incident, contact Vicky Monroe, the Fairfax
County Wildlife Biologist, at 703-324-0240.
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND
CAREGIVERS
At the most recent meeting of the Board's 50+
Committee, we had an excellent presentation
from county staff on Educating Caregivers. In
many cases, family members are the primary
caregivers for older adults - some of whom are
part of the ‘sandwich generation” who care for
their parents as well as children - and caring for
loved ones can be challenging.
The County's Division of Adult and Aging
Services tries to support the needs of caregivers
and older adults in our community. To access
information about the programs available, call
the Fairfax Aging, Disability and Caregiver
Resources Line at 703-324-7948, TTY 703-4491186, or visit
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservi
ces/resource-line.htm. Information and
references are available for programs like health
insurance counseling, caregiver support, in-home
care, adult day health care, transportation
services, senior centers and tax relief for older
adults and people with disabilities.
COUNTY LAUNCHES WELLNESS
PROGRAM FOR INJURED SERVICE
MEMBERS
The Fairfax County Department of Community
and Recreation Services has launched the
Wellness Opportunities for Warriors program,
better known as “Project WOW!” Service
members injured in Iraq or Afghanistan are
invited to participate in free physical and
wellness activities in a community setting.
Funded by a grant from the National Recreation
and Park Association’s 2009 USOC Paralympics
Grant Initiative, the program provides a voucher
which can be used to enroll in a Fairfax County
Park Authority class that focuses on physical
fitness or can be applied towards the registration
fee to participate in an adult athletic team sports
program in the county.
For those service members unsure of which
classes to take, Project WOW! offers free 8week physical activity exploration classes.
These classes, beginning in mid-June, are
assisted by veterans and meet once a week for 8
weeks as a group to sample a variety of physical
activities available throughout Fairfax County.
For more information, please contact Bruce
Patrick at 703-324-5528, TTY 711 or via email
at [email protected].
PUBLIC INPUT MEETING SCHEDULED
FOR GAS PIPELINE EXPANSION
PROPOSAL
In Fairfax County, the Williams Companies
operates a natural gas transmission pipeline,
known as Trasncontinental Gas Pipe Line
(Transco), which provides much of the natural
gas consumed in our region. Due to requests
from its utility company and electric generator
customers, Williams is currently in the planning
phase of a possible expansion to existing gas
lines in several Virginia counties, including
Fairfax.
The company anticipates that the project will
require construction of an approximately 1.46
mile section of new 42-inch pipeline or “loop”
between Transco’s Compressor Station located
on Balls Ford Road in Manassas (Prince William
County) and Bull Run Post Office Road in
Centreville, as well as the replacement of
approximately 1.34 miles of 30-inch pipeline
with 42-inch pipeline between Bull Run Post
Office and an existing valve site located near
Wetherburn Drive in Centreville.
Many details such as the final facility design and
location have yet to be determined. Therefore,
Williams is seeking public input and suggestions
regarding the expansion project. A public
meeting is scheduled on June 8, 2010, from 7 – 9
p.m., at the Virginia Run Community Center
located at 15355 Wetherburn Ct. in Centreville,
for those interested in providing feedback. For
more information about the project and other
public workshop dates go to:
www.williams.com/mac.
Planning Commission Completes Recommendation for Tysons’
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Amendments
• Review the recommended amendments at: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/tysonscorner/.
•
I value hearing your feedback.
These amendments will come to the Board of Supervisors for Public Hearing at our
June 22nd meeting. Register to speak by contacting the Clerk to the Board’s Office at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/bosclerk/speaker_bos.htm or by calling 703-324-3151.
NEW LIBRARY HOURS BEGIN JULY 1
When the Board “marked up” (made adjustments to) the Advertised
Budget for Fiscal Year 2011 (which begins July 1st of this year), we were
able to restore some of the 15% cut to the Library System’s budget.
Some reduction in hours, however, was necessary and will take effect on
July 1, 2010.
Regional and community library branches, with the exception of Access
Services which is located at the Fairfax County Government Center, will
alternate morning and evening hours four days a week allowing
customers to access a library somewhere in the county from 10 a.m. to 9
p.m. Monday through Thursday. Although the change represents a reduction in the overall number of
hours the library is open each week, the new schedule allows branches to extend their evening hours from
8 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Here are the new hours:
Community Branches*
Regional Branches*
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday hours remain
Sunday hours remain
1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
*Regional branches include Centreville,
Chantilly, City of Fairfax, George Mason,
Pohick, Reston, Sherwood and Tysons-Pimmit.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday hours remain
No Sunday hours
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
*Community branches include Burke Centre,
Dolley Madison, Great Falls, Herndon
Fortnightly, John Marshall, Kings Park,
Kingstowne, Lorton, Oakton, Patrick Henry and
Woodrow Wilson.
NOTE: the renovated Thomas Jefferson, Martha Washington and Richard Byrd branches will reopen in
June and July with the new hours.
Many library transactions such as browsing the online catalog, downloading electronic resources,
conducting research, reserving a book or DVD, registering for events, booking meeting rooms and more,
can be done online via the library’s Web site, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library.
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORATION UPDATE – BIKES, BUSES, & MORE
The Board recently received a status report on its Four-Year Transportation Program. While lack of
funding continues to severely constrain new capital projects there are nonetheless a few highlights I’d like
to share with you beyond HOT Lanes and the Silver Line:
•
The on-road bike lane initiative, a cooperative program
between the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) and the county, continues. Six miles of on-road
bike lanes were completed last year. Work continues on
additional roadway segments including: Wakefield Chapel
Road, Westmoreland Street Phase II, Hunter Village Drive,
and Gallows Road Phase II. New segments will include:
Sleepy Hollow Road, Fort Hunt Road, and Huntington
Avenue.
•
150 bicycle racks will be installed at locations countywide including the Town of Vienna and
Town of Herndon. 48 new bicycle lockers will be purchased soon.
•
Work has begun on a bicycle route connecting GMU with Vienna Metro via the City of Fairfax.
This is a cooperative project with the City of Fairfax, GMU, and the Northern Virginia Regional
Park Authority (NVRPA.)
•
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) was awarded a transportation
enhancement grant to complete a bicycle map highlighting a route along historic Civil War
sites in Fairfax County. The grant also funds wayfinding signage and interpretive markers along
the bicycle route and federal approval to start this work is anticipated this summer.
•
As requested by the Board, staff has prepared a request for proposals (RFP) for a Bicycle Master
Plan Study. The study will be phased with the first segment focusing on the Tysons Corner area.
Work is anticipated to begin this summer.
•
•
In conjunction with a planned repaving project, a “road diet”
of traffic calming was implemented on a 2-mile section of
Lawyers Road east of Reston Parkway. The street was
remarked from two lanes in each direction to one lane and a
bicycle lane in each direction, separated by a center turning
lane. This change is expected to significantly improve safety.
A “diet” for Walker Road south of Georgetown Pike is under
design.
Fairfax County prioritizes providing safe access to efficient
transportation options including pedestrian amenities and
transit service. The Board has identified $2.5 million from the
general fund and $7.75 million in the 2007 Transportation Bond for improvements to bus stops
with undesirable conditions. 50 sites have been completed since implementing the Bus Stop
Improvement Program. There are currently 21 sites in project development, 113 in design, 8 in
land acquisition and 24 under construction.