Transcript: NewsCenter Podcast

May 1, 2024

Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County NewsCenter podcast. Coming up, learn about the Champions of Character Award, zero waste, marriage licenses, the Environmental Excellence Awards, renovations at the Reston Regional Library and the Talent Up Fairfax Fund. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Stephen A. McLaughlin Champions of Character Award. The awards program, founded in 2001, honors county youth, coaches, and parents in each magisterial district for extraordinary service in pursuing victory with honor on and off the field of competition. Instituted by the Fairfax County Athletic Council, this program aims to support the tradition of amateur athletics in cultivating teamwork, leadership, good sportsmanship and community service. Nominations for this year's awards are due by August 1. To nominate an athlete, coach, or parent, search "Champions of Character Awards" at fairfaxcounty.gov. The awards ceremony will be held Oct. 21 at the Fairfax County Government Center.

You may have heard the phrase "zero waste," but what does it mean for Fairfax County? In 2018, the Board of Supervisors asked staff to identify ways to collaborate with Fairfax County Public Schools to improve our collective environment. From this, the Joint Environmental Task Force (JET), comprised of county/school staff and community partners, was formed to proactively and equitably address climate change and environmental sustainability. A year later, the JET’s Waste Management and Recycling team set a bold goal for government and schools: Zero Waste by 2030. Our Zero Waste goal is twofold:

• Decrease waste by 25%.
• Divert 90% of waste from the trash.

Zero Waste is a philosophy, commitment and design principle seeking to minimize waste to close to nothing by adopting a climate-conscious approach to the vast flow of resources and waste that moves through society. To achieve these goals, 50 possible options were identified, and 24 optimal strategies were selected. These options and selections were the result of analyzing existing programs, policies and procedures; then analyzing each strategy’s potential impact toward our Zero Waste goal and its feasibility and suitability for implementation in Fairfax County’s unique operations. Learn more about the Zero Waste Program on NewsCenter at fairfaxcounty.gov/news.

Are you planning a spring wedding? If so, remember that marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Fill out your pre-application and find a list of authorized marriage celebrants on the Circuit Court webpage. Just search “marriage license information” at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2024 Environmental Excellence Awards. Each year, the Environmental Excellence Awards recognize the best examples of leadership and service to protect and enhance the natural world in Fairfax County. The awards celebrate accomplishments by individual county residents, organizations, businesses, and county employees who advance or support the county’s environmental goals and policies, dedicate personal time and expertise beyond normal fiscal or civic responsibilities, and demonstrate leadership, acting as role models for others.

The awards are administered by the Environmental Quality Advisory Council on behalf of the Board of Supervisors with support from OEEC. Nominees’ achievements should have occurred between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, or over a period of years that include a portion of this time frame. Nominations can be made using the online form and must be submitted by June 9.

Fairfax County Public Library’s Reston Regional Library branch will close for an anticipated ten-week facility renovation this summer. The last day of service to the public will be Friday, June 28, with work beginning on Monday, July 1. This brief and necessary refresh will enhance library visitors’ experiences and complete important facility modernizations to ensure that it remains usable, clean and safe for the duration of the building’s lifespan.

Fairfax County is proud to introduce the Talent Up Fairfax Fund, an incentive program aimed at connecting employers with qualified talent while providing valuable work-based learning opportunities to county job seekers. Talent Up Fairfax is a talent solution for Fairfax County employers and job seekers! Utilizing paid work-based learning opportunities, Talent Up Fairfax supplies qualified talent to Fairfax County businesses to help them fill hard-to-recruit jobs. Talent Up offers Fairfax County jobseekers temp-to-permanent work experiences in high-demand occupations. For questions, email talentupfairfax@vcwnorthern.com.

Finally, subscribe to “Weekender,” the county’s weekend arts and entertainment e-newsletter. “Weekender” brings together offerings from around the county and delivers that info right to your inbox. Don’t miss out on fun happenings throughout the county. Subscribe to “Weekender” at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/weekender.

That’s all for this NewsCenter podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for news updates, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news. You also may call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov. The NewsCenter podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government.