McLean Day is always a special day for MCA. We greet old friends and make new ones, and we take a moment to celebrate our Outstanding Teens.
Pictured at left is incoming MCA President Camille White-Partain, surrounded by Membership Committee members Brian Shahkarami (MCA's unofficial photographer) and Martha Vera. Pictured at right is outgoing MCA President Linda Walsh, surrounded by two of her grandchildren, Will and Ellie.
To view more of Brian's 2025 McLean Day photos and Teen Award photos (see article below), just click the links or visit the MCA website.
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Dear MCA Membership:
I am honored to be representing you as the newly elected President of the McLean Citizen Association (MCA). I look forward to collaborating with you, our members, and with other local organizations such as the McLean Community Center (MCC), McLean Community Foundation (MCF), McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC), McLean Project for the Arts (MPA), Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition (GTCC), Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), No Fairfax County Casino Coalition, as well as with Dranesville District Supervisor, Jimmy Bierman, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, and their staffs, and our neighboring communities.
Pre- and post-election, I have depended on the MCA executive committee, the various committee chairs, vice chairs, and members, and especially our volunteer webmaster to assist me with this commitment: It takes a village. The MCA is a bi-partisan respected voice in our ‘village’ and the County, working to keep the McLean area a wonderful place to live and to create the future we wish to develop in McLean and our surrounding areas.
Open and honest communication, cooperation, and collaboration are key to any success; therefore, please join a committee of your interest and help us make a difference in our community. It takes teamwork to make a difference, so please become an active member for the betterment of all.
I invite you to collaborate with me and other concerned citizens to achieve considerate, healthy growth and to refresh our environment. There are important and interesting topics to assist with such as “no casino,” the pros and cons of data centers, office-to-residential conversions, solid waste management, gas pipeline construction through neighborhoods, 495 Next and other transportation projects, budget impacts on schools and public safety, McLean revitalization –- the list goes on.
I look forward to hearing from you and take care.
Very Sincerely,
Camille White-Partain
President, MCA | Pictured at left: MCA Board Member Merrily Pierce, who organized MCA's 110th Anniversary celebration, left, and Delegate Rip Sullivan, right, stand with outgoing MCA President Linda Walsh who holds a Virginia General Assembly resolution given to her by Delegate Sullivan. The resolution, which commends MCA on its 110th Anniversary, was jointly sponsored by Delegate Sullivan and Senator Jennifer Boysko.
Pictured at right: Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman addresses the crowd (article below). Click to see more photos from the event.
Below: The five other members of the Executive Committee presented Linda with a bouquet and a framed copy of a resolution recognizing her contributions as MCA President.
| Resolution Commending the Leadership of Linda Walsh
Whereas, the McLean Citizens Association (MCA) Executive Committee wishes to commend Linda Walsh for exemplary leadership and her many contributions to the MCA, all of which have benefited the residents of the McLean area;
Linda Walsh has been a member of the MCA Board of Directors continuously since first being elected in 2015;
As 2nd Vice President and Membership Committee Chair from 2020 to 2023, she developed creative processes to grow MCA’s membership and its reach;
As President, she led MCA for two consecutive one-year terms from 2023 to 2025;
During her tenure as President, Linda led MCA’s effort to defeat Virginia legislation in 2024 and 2025 that would add Fairfax County as a jurisdiction eligible to host a casino. These efforts included building community coalitions throughout Fairfax County, representing MCA’s interests in numerous public forums, including in Richmond, drafting letters and resolutions, working with elected representatives, and giving generously of her time and seemingly unlimited energy;
As President, Linda also effectively managed the MCA and its many accomplishments during her tenure, including the passage of 17 resolutions and 14 letters sent to elected representatives and county staff regarding important matters affecting residents of the McLean area; extensive revisions of the MCA’s Policies and Procedures Manual, including a simplification of the MCA resolution format; and numerous recommended amendments to the MCA's Bylaws;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the McLean Citizens Association Executive Committee recognizes Linda Walsh for her exceptional public service, expresses its deepest appreciation for her commitment and dedication, and is proud to hold her up as an example for others to follow.
Approved by five members (all except the President) of the MCA Executive Committee:
Bill Crosby Steve Donovan Glenn Harris Bruce Jones Hilde Kahn
May 22, 2025
| | Introducing MCA's 2025-2026 Board Members
The 2025 MCA Nominating Committee, chaired by MCA Officer Steve Donovan, reported out 32 nominations for the MCA Board of Directors for the May 22, 2025 election ballot. The Committee met five times, and in making its decisions took into account each individual applicant's experience and qualifications, as well as the geographic distribution of Board members within the McLean Planning District. This year’s nominees to the MCA Board included two new Officers and nine new Directors. At the annual meeting, MCA membership approved the nominated slate in its entirety.
MCA membership also approved the slate of four nominees for the MCF Board of Trustees, which included two new and two renewing Trustees.
Brief biographies of the 2025 MCA Officers and Directors and 2025 MCF Trustees are available at this link.
| | Dranesville Supervisor Addresses MCA Membership at Annual Meeting
The invited guest speaker for this year's MCA Annual Membership Meeting was Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman. The following is a recap of his remarks.
Supervisor Bierman commented on the recently adopted Fairfax County budget for FY2026, highlighting that some of the proposed spending cuts had been averted or postponed; that the 4% meals tax adopted brings the County into alignment with area jurisdictions; and that the property tax rate had been reduced by 0.25 cents per $100 of assessed value.
He acknowledged that recent reductions in federal employment and expenditures meant that the Northern Virginia economy is facing “strong headwinds," but emphasized positive developments in McLean: McLean Central Park has been refurbished with a popular new playground, and musical performances will begin soon in the new amphitheater; McLean Project for the Arts will be moving into space in the Signet condominium building; McLean Revitalization Corporation's reprisal of McLean's Winterfest parade and introduction of a Movie Night have increased community spirit; both crime and first responder vacancies are trending downward.
Supervisor Bierman noted the substantial unmet needs for walk/bike paths, with hundreds of projects having been proposed around the County, and is seeking an audit of the active transportation project approval process.
He also promised to continue to oppose efforts to make the County eligible for a casino, a proposal he characterized as “economic development in reverse.”
| | | | Group photo: Doug Taylor, MCA Education and Youth Committee Chair, Kate Bo, Jack Paral, Elliot Pomper, Amrit Singh, Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, Keeley Solomon, MCA President (through 5.31.25) Linda Walsh; not pictured - Jack Anglin |
Announcing the Recipients of the 2025 MCA Outstanding Character Award for Teenagers
MCA is proud to announce the six recipients of its 27th annual Outstanding Character Award for Teenagers, an award created to recognize teens who, on their own and without compensation or formal recognition, cared for elderly relatives or younger siblings, or helped out in their neighborhood or anywhere in the Greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. MCA 's Education and Youth (E&Y) Committee selected the winners from the most deserving candidates, and Committee Chair Doug Taylor, joined by outgoing MCA President Linda Walsh and Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, recognized them an award ceremony at McLean Day, Saturday, May 17th.
We congratulate the following outstanding teens and hold them up as an example for others to follow.
Jack Anglin - Sophomore at McLean High School
Jack Anglin has been a volunteer at SHARE for over three years. At first he restocked shelves. Then he began to assist clients when the food pantry was open by helping them select items and carrying their bags. Late last year he had a vision to hand out toys to kids during SHARE’s holiday gift distribution. He handled the entire project independently. He created an Amazon Wishlist; spread the word through schools, family, and friends; had the toys shipped directly to his home; and brought them to SHARE as needed. Nearly 250 toys for children ages 1 to 14 were donated. Because the Amazon Toy Wishlist was so successful, Jack was asked to create a more user-friendly version of SHARE’s food pantry Wishlist which was difficult to use and maintain. Jack developed a system that is much easier for donors and volunteers, saving time and reducing frustration.
Kate Bo – Junior at McLean High School
Kate Bo took two of her passions—caring for dogs and playing basketball—and developed them into meaningful volunteer activities. She decided she wanted to help dogs in need but had trouble obtaining substantive roles because of her age. Eventually, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue was willing to give her an opportunity. She did data entry for them and, along with her mother, served as a dog handler during adoption events. Her mother wrote: “Knowing that by helping out in even the smallest ways could have a big impact on these wonderful dogs was super meaningful for Kate.” Kate and a friend thought it would be fun and rewarding to coach 4th graders in a basketball House League. They passed on the skills they had learned playing basketball together, as well as their love of the game. They used drills that made practices fun for the girls. The two co-coaches not only taught the girls how to play basketball but also life skills such as teamwork, personal development, fairness, and respect for other players, coaches, and referees.
Jack Paral – Junior at Langley High School
Jack Paral has volunteered at SHARE for three years. He has worked in the food pantry to monitor and assist clients with their grocery shopping and outside the pantry helping clients put grocery bags in their cars. He has stayed past closing time to help with cleanup, recycling, and taking trash to the dumpster. He helped pick up food donations from grocery stores and has worked on the furniture team picking up donated furniture and delivering it to clients. He quickly showed initiative by taking on extra tasks when he saw something needed to be done and made himself one of SHARE’s most dependable volunteers. This year he has volunteered over 170 hours. A nominator wrote: “What stands out about Jack is how mature, kind and consistent he is. He treats everyone with respect and care…You can tell he really values service and takes pride in being part of something bigger than himself.”
Elliot Pomper – Junior at Langley High School
Over the past year, Elliot has led an effort to combat food waste at Langley High School while supporting the families at SHARE of McLean. After noticing that large quantities of uneaten fruit were being discarded at school, Elliot saw an opportunity to collect the uneaten produce and donate to a local food pantry. He received permission from cafeteria staff to set up collection bins in the cafeteria as well as signage encouraging students to donate fruit. He began collecting donations in April 2024. What began as a personal initiative has grown into a weekly operation—Elliot encourages Langley students to donate their uneaten fruit on Tuesdays and Fridays in time for SHARE’s Wednesday and Saturday food pantry openings. Then he personally delivers the donations to SHARE. Since he began this initiative, Elliot has collected and delivered more than 8,000 apples, bananas, oranges, pears and other snacks to SHARE. He met recently with FCPS Food and Nutrition Services staff to discuss ways to replicate his project at other FCPS schools so that these donations will continue after he graduates in a year.
Amrit Singh – Junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Amrit Singh’s mother wrote: “Amrit’s maternal grandmother was living with us and was under Hospice care and bedridden for 3 years before she passed away in 2024. Amrit was very helpful in taking care of her. He gave her medication and food. He watched her to make sure she was safe. He learned Hindi so he could speak with her since she did not know English. He spent time with her to cheer her. They shared a great bond and learned from each other’s experiences.” After she died, he wanted to do something meaningful as a tribute and also turn his personal loss into a source of healing and impact for others with similar needs. He started tutoring neighborhood children to raise money to buy diapers to donate to families in need. He also organized donation drives for shoes, books and jackets, which he distributed to local shelters and underserved communities.
Keely Solomon – Junior at Langley High School
Keely Solomon volunteered for SummerQuest, a PTA-sponsored summer camp. Keely took on a leadership position when classes needed a teacher. She always had a kind, helpful and positive attitude. When a student's behavior was tricky, the camp director would find Keely sitting with the student and supporting them through the behavior. She created activities to keep the students engaged which also helped eliminate challenging behaviors. The adults that supported the camp were always requesting Keely because they knew that she would assist with anything going on during that class session. She gave the teachers confidence that no matter how difficult the lesson or activity was, with her support they could make it a success. The students benefited from the relationships that Keely worked to develop. She made the students feel important when she stopped to talk to them outside of the camp building. She was also able to help students make better choices and problem solve as they navigated daily challenges.
|  | MCA Supports Tysons' SSPA Nominations
Fairfax County's Site-Specific Plan Amendment process (SSPA) considers land use policy changes to the Comprehensive Plan for nominated properties. It's the first step in a long process: Properties are assigned a priority level that determines the likelihood that the property will be reviewed in the County's Work Program. Even if a nomination ultimately leads to a change in the comprehensive plan, a subsequent application for rezoning, with its requisite staff evaluation and public hearings, is still needed before a project may proceed.
Following a series of community meetings on the nominations, County staff published a White Paper that included a one-page summary of public comment and staff views on each nomination and a chart giving staff’s recommendations on tier rankings for each project. Staff assigned the three Tysons' nominations to a “Tier 1 Planning Study," an assignment the Planning Commission (PC) approved at its June 4th meeting.
At its June Board meeting, MCA approved three letters to the Board of Supervisors (BOS). The letters support the Tier 1 Planning Study assignments for the three Tysons' nominations, Corporate Ridge, Tysons Plaza, and Valo Park, respectively.
The BOS expects to vote on the PC's recommendations at its June 10th meeting. Tier 1 items are anticipated to begin review at the end of this summer.
| Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition (GTCC) Upcoming Meetings
June 12th: Annual Safety Update. Hear from FCPD, FCFD and Emergency Services officials as they update attendees on changes in services, crime and emergencies.
July 10th: Annual Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) Update. TCA CEO Katie Cristol will update attendees on TCA activities and provide an assessment of Tysons from the TCA perspective.
Both meetings will be held in the McLean Community Center's McLean Room at 7pm. For more information, contact GTCC Chair and MCA Tysons Liaison, Sally Horn, at tysons_liaison@mcleancitizens.org
Tysons Citizens Alliance (TCA) Annual Meeting & Open House
June 25: Annual Membership Meeting and Open House at the Watermark Hotel. The membership meeting takes place from 8:30-9:30 am, and the Open House follows. During the annual meeting, representatives of the TCA's membership will be asked to vote on changes to the TCA bylaws and articles of incorporation, as well as new TCA Board members. The Open House will be an opportunity to see what the TCA accomplished this past year and preview plans for the coming year. Both events are open to the public.
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Congratulations to Class 201 CERT basic training graduates. The class took place over seven evenings in April and May at the McLean Community Center, and the mass casualty final exercise was held on May 10th at Lorton Workhouse Art Center.
CERT teaches people to safely respond to major emergencies where first responders may be delayed. The course focused on getting prepared for emergencies, safely conducting light search operations, and providing life-saving care for victims until first responders arrive, and concludes with a disaster exercise.
I'd also like to recognize MCA Board member Kevin Kierce, pictured at far right in the group photo, and MCA member Don Sumihiro, participating but not pictured. Both graduated from Class 129 CERT basic training in 2017 and have assisted with the CERT training classes offered in McLean ever since.
Kevin was impressed by the way "the students came together to work cohesively and demonstrated their newly learned skills. It was a pleasure for us to give back to the community," he said.
Since 2014, the MCA has advocated for McLean-area basic CERT training courses so that residents can learn these vital skills at a convenient location.
-- Patrick Smaldore, MCA Public Safety Liaison | |