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https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAFAIRFAXCOUNTY/bulletins/3afee2b
August 22, 2024
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Good afternoon!
I hope you and your family are enjoying the final days of summer. As students head back to school and we setting into our new Fall routines, please take a moment to review this warning from the Fairfax County Police Department regarding scams.
Scams can happen to anyone and scammers often prey on people's trust while creating urgency to entice you to make payments. If you or a family member has questions about scams or think you may have been scammed, please contact the FCPD's Financial Crimes Unit by by reporting the incident online here or by calling the non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.
My office exists to serve you, so please don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Thank you for subscribing to Mason Matters!
My best,
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 Andres Jimenez
Mason District Supervisor
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Save the Date
Join us for a renaming and dedication ceremony of the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey's! The new name honors Minnie Peyton, a pillar of Springdale, a historically Black community in Bailey’s Crossroads that originated as a home to freedmen since the Civil War.
WHAT: Renaming ceremony of the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey's
WHEN: 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 14
WHERE: Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey's (formerly Bailey's Community Center, 5920 Summers Ln., Falls Church, VA 22041)
Taste of Annandale is back at a new location! Join us at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space for live music and dance performances, a chili cookoff, 5K race, children's events, a pet contest, and of course food from local restaurants and food trucks. This event has FREE admission, and sponsorship opportunities are available.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 21
WHERE: Eileen Garnett Civic Space (7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003)
The popular George Mason Regional Library Friends semi-annual book sale will be held from Wednesday, September 25 through Sunday, September 29. A preview sale will be held Wednesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. with an entry fee of $20 per adult. The general sale will be held from Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily with no fee. The book sale will take place at the library located at 7001 Little River Turnpike in Annandale and will feature a wide variety of high-quality used books, CDs and DVDs in various categories. Proceeds support the Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Program, Library Foundation scholarships, Fall for the Book Festival, and library programs and equipment for George Mason Regional Library. Come early for the best selection, then come back on Sunday for bargains.
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 Looking for a pet? Look no further! The Fairfax County Animal Shelter waived adoption fees for pets this weekend during their "Clear the Shelters" adoption event. All pets will have their adoption fees waived at the Lorton and Fairfax shelter locations beginning Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25. You can see a full list of adoptable pets on the shelter's website.
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Mason Works
Information for businesses & job seekers
 Election workers needed at the polls!
The Fairfax County Office of Elections is seeking community members to work the polls for the November 5, 2024 General Election. In particular, they need bilingual workers who speak Korean and Vietnamese. This position pays $250. Learn more.
Upcoming events for entrepreneurs, job seekers, employers, and small business owners:
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Grant Writing USA grant writing class (August 26 to 27 in Washington, D.C.) - This paid, two-day workshop focuses on finding funding sources and writing grant proposals.
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Small business loan basics (Wednesday, August 28 online) - Learn the basics of financial reporting, income statements, balance sheets, and credit.
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Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a business in Fairfax County (Wednesday, September 4 in Tysons) - This workshop is intended for startup entrepreneurs who want to launch of grow their business in Fairfax County.
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Lifetime Learning Institute 50+ forum (Wednesday, September 4 in Annandale) - This forum will feature guest speaker Makan Shirafkan, a NOVA graduate and LLI Scholarship recipient.
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The Dulles Airport job and career fair (Wednesday, September 11 in Dulles) - Explore career opportunities across the spectrum of airport operations and the aviation industry.
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Green Business Social (Thursday, September 19 in McLean) - Connect with local leaders and learn how green business practices can grow your profits.
Considering a small business or becoming an entrepreneur?
Get no-cost business counseling and training services through Virginia Small Business Development Centers and their experts from George Mason University. Learn about business formation, marketing, pitch preparation, financing, SEO, and cybersecurity. Learn more.
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Exciting updates about Mason District arts
Find local public art with new app
ArtsFairfax introduced a new app that helps you find local public art in Fairfax County. The app uses crowdsourced data to find sculptures, murals, installations, and other public art experiences. Learn more.
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'Getaway' event to feature folk music workshops, sing-arounds, and concerts
The Folklore Society of Greater Washington opened registration for its annual Getaway event, a weekend of folk music activities. The event will take place the weekend of September 27 in West River, MD. Learn more.
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The latest environmental news in Mason
Your supervisors are leading the way to a carbon-free Fairfax County! At the Jimenez household, that means gardening and composting to cut down on our carbon footprint. Fairfax County's Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination tagged along with each supervisor recently to see how we're taking small steps to reduce carbon emissions. You can watch my video segment on YouTube. Visit the link below for resources to help create a greenhouse gas reduction plan that works best for you and your family.
Parents Corner
Exciting news & events for families & students
 Parenting classes available for age ranges
The Fairfax County Department of Family Services offers FREE parenting classes for guardians of kids ages 0 to 18 years. These classes are virtual and in-person and area available in multiple languages. Learn more.
"Every Student, Every Day" initiative highlights importance of student attendance
FCPS's new "Every Student, Every Day" campaign highlights the importance of student attendance. Minimizing absences means understanding recommendations for reasons why your child may need to miss school, and FCPS's website includes resources in multiple languages to help you make the best decisions for your child. Learn more.
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FCPS Family Resource Center Webinars:
Free acting sample class offered through Traveling Players
Want to learn more about Traveling Players before joining this fall? Come meet teachers and take a free sample class Saturday, September 7 at the Tysons Corner Center studio. Class times vary by age group and are available for students grades 2 through 12. Learn more.
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Nominations, contests & more
Donate laundry pods for local families
Help Sup. Andres Jimenez collect laundry detergent pods for Shelter House's Patrick Henry Emergency Shelter families with children. Drop off laundry detergent pods at the 24/7 lobby drop box at the Mason District Governmental Center (6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003) or use link below to donate directly via the shelter's Amazon wish list.
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Need to report a VDOT issue? The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has an easy way for residents to report road problems. Visit my.vdot.virginia.gov to use their interactive report tool or call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623). Report parking violations through the Fairfax County Police Department's non-emergency line at 703-691-2131 or fcpdparkingenforcement@fairfaxcounty.gov.
GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK: Capital Bikeshare virtual public meeting for Mason proposal
FCDOT will host a virtual public meeting on proposed Capita Bikeshare stations in Mason District at 7 p.m. tonight, Thursday, August 22. Residents are invited to learn more about plans for bikeshare in the community, ask questions and provide feedback. Comments will be accepted through Friday, September 6. Learn more.
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Van Dorn Street to I-95 South/I-495 West in the Alexandria area
- Extended nighttime weekday lane closure: 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. from Sunday, September 15 to Thursday, September 19.
- Detour in place - Van Dorn Street right turn onto Eisenhower Avenue to I-95S/495W
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Refresh your memory: School-related road rules
FCPS students are back in school and Fairfax County created a helpful guide for road rules around school buses and school zones. Lean more.
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Mason District is served by multiple stations of Fairfax County Police Department that include Mason, Franconia, McLean, and West Springfield.
FCPD offers helpful tips to avoid scams
Did you know that the FCPD Financial Crimes Squad takes more than 4,500 complaints of financial crimes annually? These range from check fraud and credit card theft to embezzlement, false pretense scams, and identity theft. Recent scams include law enforcement impersonators, fake job postings, and scammers posing as official government employees. Scams can happen to anyone, and it's important to know what resources are available to help you verify information.
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Helpful tips: Remember, the police will never ask you for money or demand immediate payment in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other financial options. View more helpful tips on the FCPD website.
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Verify law enforcement identity: If you receive a suspicious call, ask for the caller’s name, badge number, and department. Hang up and independently verify their identity by calling FCPD's non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.
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Free car seat inspection (Saturday, September 7) - Come by the Mason District Station (6705 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22033) to get your car seat inspected Saturday, September 7 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon. No appointment needed. Car seats will be inspected on a first-come, first-served basis. All car seat inspections/installations will be conducted by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician. Learn more.
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Free car seat inspections (Saturday, August 31) - Come by the Franconia District Station (6121 Franconia Rd., Franconia, VA 22310) to get your car seat inspected on Saturday, August 31 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointment needed. Car seats will be inspected on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself beforehand so the inspection can be performed. If necessary, the seat will be properly re-installed and you will be shown how to install the seat properly in the future.
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Free car seat inspections (Saturday, August 24 & 31) - Come by the McLean District Station (1437 Balls Hill Rd., McLean, VA 22101) to get your car seat inspected on Saturday, August 24 & 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment needed. Car seats will be inspected on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself beforehand so the inspection can be performed. If necessary, the seat will be properly re-installed and you will be shown how to install the seat properly in the future. Call the station at 703-556-7750 for questions. Learn more.
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Community Advisory Committee meeting (Tuesday, September 3) - Join the West Springfield District Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3 at the West Springfield District Station (6140 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA 22152).
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Kids in Today's Society" presentation (Wednesday, September 18) - This presentation will discuss the current problems our kids face surrounding social media, narcotics, mental health concerns, and other issues. Learn how to talk to them, how to help them through these tough times, and about the resources available from Fairfax County. This event will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18 at the community room at the West Springfield Government Center (6140 Rolling Rd., Springfield, VA 22152). No registration required. For questions, contact MPO Tony Capizzi at 703-277-2363 or Anthony.Capizzi@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Get up to $5k in flooding mitigation refunds
Residential property owners and renters can get up to $5,000 in flood mitigation project refunds through the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMAP). The program offers 50% reimbursement of up to $5,000 for the cost of projects that protect property from flood damage. The program excludes commercial property and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more.
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New program helps with groceries
A new program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture called Virginia SUN Bucks helps families of school-age children purchase groceries. The program provides a one-time payment of $120. Eligibility requirements apply. Application deadline is Friday, August 30. Learn more.
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GMU offers tuition discount to Virginia educators
George Mason University is offering a tuition discount for Virginia educators. The discount applies to the Fall 2024 tuition period. The deadline to apply for the discount is Tuesday, September 3. Learn more.
 New program educates about lead
Lead Free Fairfax is a new program from Fairfax Water to educate residents about the dangers of lead exposure, how to reduce exposure, and what Fairfax Water is doing to update its service line inventory. If you are a Fairfax Water account holder, you can take an online survey to answer questions about your service line. There's also information about requesting test kits for your water. Learn more.
Plan Forward project seeks feedback on land development policies
Fairfax County launched a new project to update its land development policies. Plan Forward focuses specifically on the Policy Plan which is a component of the Comprehensive Plan, the county’s long-term vision for land use. These policies affect important issues like land use, housing, sustainability, transportation, and our quality of life. Learn more at one of the upcoming virtual or in-person info sessions. The survey is available in multiple languages.
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Vouchers to help senior residents get fresh produce
Fairfax County residents ages 60 and older on fixed incomes can apply for one-time $50 vouchers to receive fresh produce from participating farmers markets. Applications are due by Monday, September 30. Learn more.
Upcoming events:
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