From the Chair (January 2024)

For the Council’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday, 17 January, 7 p.m. in Braddock Hall, we have scheduled a presentation by William Mayfield of the Zoning Administration Division of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development on zoning issues of particular interest to associations. This should be a most interesting and informative topic, so please plan on attending and bringing your questions to ask Mr. Mayfield.

Also on the calendar as part of the Council’s “Aging in Place” program, AIP Coordinator Paul Hartwell has arranged for a presentation on Internet scamming, “Sorting Fact from Fiction Online,” given by Larry Lipman from AARP Virginia. This free event will equip you with valuable tools and resources to help you stay safe online. The presentation will be on Wednesday, 17 January, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kings Park Library Meeting Room adjacent to the supervisor’s office. No registration is required. Please pass the word and attend if you can.

Speaking of the Braddock District “Aging in Place” program, I’m pleased to announce that Supervisor Walkinshaw presented a Special Recognition award to program founder and long-time AIP coordinator, Bruce Wallachy, at the 6 December Best of Braddock awards program. The supervisor recognized Bruce’s efforts for over a decade in running a program that is unique within the county. Since Bruce was unable to attend for personal reasons, Council Vice-Chair and Senior Outreach coordinator Marie Norman accepted the plaque on his behalf. She and I and will personally deliver it to Bruce at a later date.

Nearly 100 people attended the 2023 Best of Braddock Award presentation. The winners each exemplified the type of neighbor and citizen that contributes to the quality of life in the Braddock District and Fairfax County as a whole. But before anyone can be recognized, someone else has to take the time to nominate that person. This is where you can help. The supervisor recognizes a Citizen of the Month throughout the year. Each COM is automatically eligible for the Citizen of the Year Award. So please look around your association and  identify that “good neighbor” who goes above and beyond and send in a nomination for a monthly award. Later in the year, the supervisor’s office will send out a call for nominations for COY and other categories as well.

I’d like to welcome four new associations to the Council: Bonnie Brae Civic Association, Glen Cove Community Association,  Kingsberry HOA, and Starlit Ponds HOA. We are now up to 23 paid members, with four others that have submitted applications and have been invoiced. The Executive Committee’s outreach efforts continue. The more members we have, the more active and effective the Council can be. If you get the chance to talk up the Council to a colleague or acquaintance who lives in another neighborhood association, by all means please do so. Your testimonial might just yield a new member!

Bob Cosgriff

Chair, BDC