GOCA Spring 2022 Update - Mar 28, 2022

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Have you seen the daffodils in Oakton Community Park? They are a welcome sight this Spring and a nice memory from last October when the community came together to plant the daffodils as well as native trees and seed mixes in the wooded area. GOCA is continuing our mission to enhance the community through sharing information, establishing new programs that benefit our community, and helping to preserve the area’s historic and environmental assets.

Upcoming Events in Oakton Community Park

Invasive Plant Removal. If you are just coming out of hibernation, you will be surprised to see the amount of invasive plant removal from the wooded area of the Park. Over the course of the winter, 120+ volunteers worked on clearing the invasive plants and introducing new native plants and we still have more to do. If you would like to help, bring your gloves and come join us on April 2nd for the sessions starting at 9am or 1pm. Please click on this link to register because spaces are limited. Also, check out the GOCA website for details about future sessions.

Come Learn in the Schoolhouse! Learn about the roots of the place you call home. Explore the rich history of Fairfax County Public Schools from its founding in 1870 to 1945 through rare photographs, maps, and other illustrations, presented in our original one-room schoolhouse. This free event will take place on Sunday, April 24th from 4 to 5pm. Seating in the schoolhouse is limited to 45 participants, so reserve your spot by clicking on this link.

Do you know people who have historical or community knowledge? We are looking for programming like this so please be in touch with us.

GOCA Updates

Leadership Transition. With the new year, our founding co-chairs, Janet Kerr-Tener and Patty Reed have passed the reins to Board members Lauren Crum and Shelley Deutch. Both Lauren and Shelley, long-time community residents, are excited by their new responsibilities as co chairs. We are grateful for Janet and Patty’s leadership and especially appreciative that Janet will be staying on as GOCA’s founding co-chair and board member. We are also pleased to announce that Michelle Fisher, Coldwell Banker Realtor and longtime Oakton resident, and Gary Wong, Investment Advisor with Edward Jones in Oakton’s Hunter Mill Plaza, have joined the Board.

Local Business Directory. Soon, Oakton businesses will receive a letter from GOCA as we compile a list of local businesses and their contact information to share as a reference, both to assist Oakton residents and to bolster support for our business members. If you have a home based business you wish represented, or have any questions, you can reach us at contact@greateroakton.com.

Seeking Artists. GOCA would like to have a rendering of the historic Oakton Schoolhouse. The art can be in any medium on white paper, no smaller than 8” x 10”. Submissions will be displayed at Oakton Day in the Park, which will be August 14th.

Do you have website skills? Like to organize events? Have fundraising experience? Would you like to get to know more of your neighbors while helping improve your community? If so, please drop us a note at contact@greateroakton.com and we can match you with the right opportunity.

Other Community Events

Farmers Market is Moving. Heads-up! On Saturday, April 2nd, the Oakton Farmers Market is moving from the Unity Church of Fairfax parking lot to the Oakton Methodist Church at 2951 Chain Bridge Road.

Happy 15th Birthday to Oakton Library! Help celebrate the Library’s birthday by attending their popular book sale running from Wednesday, May 4th through Saturday, May 7th. If you would like to volunteer to help, contact FriendsofOaktonLibrary@gmail.com.

Also, the Friends of Oakton Library is hosting the Fairfax Library Foundation’s Beyond the Books series with an evening of casual conversation with local resident and best selling author David Baldacci. The event will be held on May 12th from 6 to 8pm. For more information, please visit Friends of Oakton Library or Fairfax Library Foundation.

Walk Oakton’s Own Labyrinth. On Saturday, May 7th from 12 - 3pm, Unity Church at 2854 Hunter Mill Road will celebrate World Labyrinth Day in their own beautiful outdoor labyrinth. World Labyrinth Day is a celebration of the history and power of the contemplative practice of walking a labyrinth.

GOCA has more information about the above events and other local activities on GOCA’s website. If you have an event you would like listed, let us know.

Warmly,

The GOCA Board

Jody Bennett, Linda Byrne, Lauren Crum, Shelley Deutch, Mark Deaton, Michelle Fisher, Kris Olsen, Janet Kerr-Tener, Robin Thurman, and Gary Wong

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift at www.greateroakton.com or you can mail a check to GOCA, c/o Janet Kerr-Tener, 10427 Marbury Road, Oakton, VA 22124. One hundred percent of your donation will go to our community-enhancing projects.