As Virginia Women Veterans Week comes to an end, I want to express my gratitude for the 110,000 women veterans who call Virginia home. This week, I attended numerous events to recognize and celebrate our women veterans. I visited the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington to hear from Jessica Lynch, who was held as a prisoner of war in Iraq. Her story of courage and survival was inspiring and unforgettable.
I also had the honor of participating in a pinning ceremony for a large crowd of women veterans. I joined many Virginia leaders including First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw, and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Daniel Gade. It was a powerful event.
On April 12th, the General Assembly is reconvening to deal with budget issues and consider bills that the Governor has returned with amendments. I look forward to going back to Richmond to close out this next step in the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Delegate Kathleen Murphy
VA-34
Senior Safety Summit
The McLean Community Center, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, Fairfax County Police Department, and The McLean Citizens Association are joining together to host a Senior Safety Summit on Wednesday, April 26th at 10:00 a.m. Presentations will cover public safety topics such as community risk reduction, missing persons, financial crimes against senior citizens, and business scams crime prevention/safety. There will also be a question and answer session at the end.
From the Fairfax County Health Department:
Strep Throat Cases Increasing
There has been an increase in the number of people who have been diagnosed with strep throat since late January 2023 in our health district.
Practice healthy hygiene habits to reduce the chance of strep throat:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Put your used tissue in the wastebasket.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands, if you don’t have a tissue.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap and water are not available.
- Wash glasses, utensils, and plates after someone who is sick uses them. These items are safe for others to use after they are washed.
Learn more about strep throat symptoms, how it spreads, and how to prevent it.
Tax Relief Workshop
Seniors and people with disabilities may qualify for real estate tax relief, and the Board of Supervisors recently approved tax relief for the surviving spouses of military members who died in the line of duty. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is hosting a series of free Tax Relief Workshops at several locations throughout the County. Staff from the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (DTA) will be on-site to assist with filling out the application form, as well as answering questions.
The next workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 11th from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the McLean Governmental Center (1437 Balls Hill Road).
All workshops will be utilizing appointment scheduling. Call 703-324-2550 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit the Department of Tax Administration website.