A Vienna resident reported to police alleged attempted fraud after applying to a job.
The attempted fraud allegedly occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 13, according to the Vienna Police Department.
“A resident reported an attempted fraud after applying for a job through an on-line internet offer for an assistant elder care provider,” the police report said.
In a separate incident, a resident in the 1000 block of Country Club Drive NE said that someone threw eggs at the roof of his house and vehicle on Wednesday (Aug. 21) between 2-10 a.m.
Photo via Facebook
Soleil Nail Spa is opening soon in the Town of Vienna.
The salon and spa is filling Dog World Pet Salon’s former spot at 515 W. Maple Avenue in the Village Green Shopping Center.
Soleil will offer manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, eyelash extensions and other services, according to its website.
Back in April, Tysons Reporter spotted a sign in the storefront window saying that the “organic spa” is “coming soon in July 2019.”
Soleil posted on Facebook earlier in August that the grand opening got pushed to Sunday, Sept. 1, due to a construction delay.
To celebrate the opening, the nail spa is offering a 30% off promotion.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and American Disposal Services have reached a settlement after reports of missed trash pick-ups prompted an investigation.
Back in May, John Cook and Kathy Smith, the district supervisors for Braddock and Sully, said that the solid waste and recycling collection company’s failure to make “many trash pick-ups in the county” was causing health, safety and community enjoyment issues.
The county board then started an investigation to prepare to take legal action.
Ultimately, the county decided not to sue, Matthew Kaiser, the spokesperson for the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), told Tysons Reporter.
American Disposal Services signed a consent agreement with the county on June 10 to bring the company into compliance with the county’s law saying that waste and recycling need to get picked up at least once a week, Kaiser said.
American Disposal also paid a $2,500 civil penalty in a settlement regarding code violations, Kaiser said.
Kaiser said that for compliance verification, American Disposal Services must:
- provide daily reports to compliance staff for review
- review and follows up on incoming complaints from residents on a daily basis
- have ongoing weekly meetings to discuss compliance with the consent agreement
Based in Manassas, American Disposal Services is the primary private trash service company for county residents.
Kevin Edwards, the general manager of American Disposal Services, previously told Tysons Reporter was “aggressively hiring and recruiting” to address a truck driver shortage, which Edwards said was the reason behind the delays.
Staff from DPWES, Consumer Affairs and the Health Department had been working with American Disposal Services earlier.
Now, Solid Waste Enforcement and Compliance staff will continue to work with American Disposal Services to “maintain compliance with the code and deliver adequate service to the residents of Fairfax County,” Kaiser said.
“The situation with American Disposal Services has improved with the number of daily complaints significantly decreasing,” Kaiser said.
Image via Facebook
A controversial for-profit therapy program got a win in a Fairfax County zoning official’s letter.
Newport Academy, a therapy program for teens with mental health or addiction problems, wanted to open two treatment facilities — one along Davidson Road and another at 1318 Kurtz Road in the Salona Village neighborhood.
While the planned treatment facilities have received widespread community backlash, Newport Academy has hinged its claim on the two locations being by-right uses — a use that won’t require approval by the Board of Supervisors.
Fairfax County Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson issued a letter yesterday (Wednesday), saying that the Kurtz Road facility is a group residential facility based on her review of Newport Academy’s revised license application.
Johnson’s letter notes that Newport Academy is no longer planning to open a facility at the Davidson Road properties.
“Newport Academy has instead filed a revised license application with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to operate a single Mental Health Children’s Residential Service for up to 8 female residents ages 12-17 to be located at 1318 Kurtz Road,” the letter said.
More from Johnson’s letter to the legal counsel for Newport Academy:
Your August 5 letter did not fully respond to my questions, but you did indicate that at the time of admission a resident is expected to stay between 45 and 90 days, with the average stay between 45 and 60 days. You note that Newport Academy is not a drug rehabilitation facility and does not provide detoxification services; no individual who enters treatment with Newport Academy is currently using illicit substances.
Further, you state that no staff will live at the Kurtz Property, but you did not indicate how many non-resident staff will be on site at any one time. You stated that my request for such information is solely within the purview of VDBHDS. (We have requested and received this type of information from other providers of residential mental health and disability services as part of similar use determination requests.) Based on a review of the license application for the Kurtz Road property, it appears that at least 8 staff members will be on site from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. You indicate that mornings will typically be set aside for academics and individual therapy, afternoons for group therapy (including music therapy, life skills counseling, yoga, meditation and other fitness activities) and evenings reserved for additional study and therapy as needed. Meals will be eaten in a family-style setting, and residents are engaged in programming and under staff supervision from the time they wake up until they go to sleep, with “awake” supervising staff on site 24 hours per day.
With regard to parking, you note that the Zoning Ordinance does not limit the amount of parking on a residential lot, but that the driveway can accommodate up to 8 vehicles, not including the 3-car garage… It appears that the property currently complies with these provisions. However, any future paving or expansion of the driveway within the front yard could conflict with this provision. Finally, you indicate that Newport Academy will take appropriate actions–through the use of a shuttle, off-site parking, and other means as necessary–to minimize the number of vehicles (whether staff or visitors) parked at the property at any given time.
The facility will need to be licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
Johnson noted that the determination is not a written order or notice of a zoning violation and that it can be appealed to the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals.
Image via Google Maps
The U.S. Park Police Chief Robert MacLean said yesterday (Wednesday) that he is stepping down.
The announcement came nearly two years after a fatal shooting of a Tysons man by U.S. Park Police that politicians and community members are still trying to get answers to.
The FBI has been investigating the Nov. 17, 2017 shooting where two U.S. Park Police fired into a Jeep Grand Cherokee and hit Bijan Ghaisar, a 25-year-old.
MacLean told Fox 5 DC that he is met with the Ghaisar family shortly after the incident to provide them with more explanation and that he is leaving the case to the FBI to “bring that impartiality and objectivity.”
MacLean worked for the Park Police for nearly 30 years, having positions in both the operational and administrative areas, according to his bio. He was selected to be the acting police chief in December 2013.
According to Fox 5 DC, he has a job lined up at the Office of Law Enforcement and Security at the Department of Interior.
#Breaking PIO for US Park Police confirms that the Chief of Park Police (Chief Robert MacLean) is stepping down. Won’t say why, but confirms he is stepping down.
— Ryan Sprouse (@RSprouseNews) August 21, 2019
Breaking-U S Park Police Chief Robert Maclean is stepping down, according to two sources, and will be taking a job with the Department of Interior. No word yet on an interim chief. Maclean leaves without ever publicly addressing the shooting of Bijan Ghaisar by 2 of his officers. pic.twitter.com/85fdH0TC5v
— Paul Wagner (@paulcwagner) August 21, 2019
Image via C-SPAN
Brandywine Realty Trust is looking to upgrade office space by Tysons Galleria.
The real estate firm announced on Twitter yesterday (Wednesday) that it’s renovating its space at 1676 International Drive #1350.
“We’re elevating 1676 International with a Penthouse full of amenities,” the tweet said.
The new space will include a lounge, 120-person conference center, living room, fitness center and open-air conservatory.
The building houses companies including BAE Systems, KPMG and the consulting firm Savon Group.
We’re elevating 1676 International with a Penthouse full of amenities. With a lounge, conference center, living room, fitness center, and open air conservatory, “working late” just got a lot more fun. pic.twitter.com/9WTlEVZb7n
— Brandywine Realty Trust (@BrandywineRlty) August 21, 2019
Image via Google Maps
Look around Tysons and you’ll find art near every Metro station.
Tysons Reporter has rounded up the outside artworks in the area that are Instragram-worthy and easy to walk to.
“Early Bird”
Maybe you’ve spotted the dozens of bronze birds scattered around The Plaza outside Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road). If you haven’t — just take a look around at the seating and railings.
The birds depict five species — the morning dove, the red-tailed hawk, the robin, the crow and the cardinal — and were created by a trio of George Mason University artists, according to the university. In total, there are 63 birds.
Fun fact: “Early Bird is the name of Intelsat’s first communications satellite. It was launched into orbit on April 6, 1965,” according to the university.
“The Thought”
It’s hard to not notice the nearly 16-foot-tall bronze sculpture outside the Walmart (1500 B Cornerside Blvd) in Tysons West where an enormous face rests its chin on a hand.
Robert Cole created the structure with copper pipe before covering it with welded bronze plates. His assistant, Josh Yavelberg, helped with the creation of the piece, according to the D.C.-based Robert Cole Studios.
Cole, who had art at other Metro stations and around the D.C.-area, died in 2013.
“Solar Sails”
Known for his use of glass, artist Ray King created “Solar Sails” outside the Tysons Corner Metro station (1943 Chain Bridge Road) in 2015. The laminated glass panes and tension pulled steel measure 50 feet long outside, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
“By creating dynamic interactions with the sun and refracting light into colors — rainbow-like emanations that shift and change as the viewer moves or as the light source changes — King creates an environment that appeals to viewers’ sense of wonderment and delight,” WMATA’s website says.
“Hoop-La”
Alice Aycock created the aluminum and powder-coated steel sculpture in front of the Capital One headquarters (1680 Capital One Drive) by the McLean Metro station.
According to a description from Capital One:
For the Capital One project, Alice tried to visualize energy, thoughts and ideas as a series of spiral vortexes gathering momentum — each emerging from the vortex below as whirlpools of thought. She designed the work to appear to spin off into the air, forming a dynamic, three-dimensional mixture of forms.
The sculpture is a metaphor for the way ideas connect in energetic and unpredictable ways in the pursuit of knowledge.
Much of Alice’s work in both public and private spheres has been a meditation on the philosophical ramifications of technology, from the simplest to the most advanced tools. Many of these works have incorporated images of the wheel and turbines and references to energy.
“Voyagers”
Located on the ground level at the McLean Metro station mezzanine (1824 Dolley Madison Blvd) are 26 laminated glass panels. Martin Donlin hand painted and airbrushed the panels, which include etchings of poetry from Virginia Poet Laureates, in 2015.
“‘Voyagers’ represents both the physical and cognitive idea of travel and transportation,” the WMATA website says.
“Eccentricity”
Standing 40 feet tall, the stainless steel and concrete work by Barbara Grygutis greets people outside the west entrance pavilion plaza outside the Spring Hill Metro station (1576 Spring Hill Road), according to WMATA.
More from WMATA about the sculpture:
This large iconic columnar sculpture and plaza demarcate the Spring Hill Road Station along WMATA’s Metro Silver Line. The sculptural form displays shifting moiré patterns as the viewer moves about the piece — from pedestrians at ground level and above on the train platform, to vehicles and bicyclists passing at varying speeds. The plaza includes an offset concentric ring design in two shades of concrete with poetry by previous Poet Laureate of Virginia Lee Pelham Cotton in aluminum within the concrete. In the evening, the pillar is illuminated to create a peacemaking feature around the clock.
WMATA commissioned Grygutis to create the piece, which was finished in 2016, according to the artist’s website. People can see it driving or walking along Leesburg Pike by the Metro stop.
“Tysons Luxury Lilies”
People getting off the Greensboro Metro station and folks heading to the Tysons Biergarten have surely seen the massive mural featuring water lilies at 8346 Leesburg Pike.
Created by Lawrence Atoigue, professionally known as Naturel, the 100 by 200 foot mural was launched in 2016 as part of a placemaking effort by Tysons Partnership.
The mural, located on a wall owned by Beacon Capital Partners, was inspired by Claude Monet’s “Water Lily” series, according to Tysons Partnership.
“Technology Triangle Colonnade”
Columns standing 21 feet tall are located on opposite sides of Leesburg Pike at the Greensboro Metro station (8304 Leesburg Pike). David Dahlquist created the metal, fiberglass and concrete columns with LED lights in 2016.
“The symbolic triangle, representative of the connection of government, industry, and consumer, becomes a dramatic iconic marker,” according to the WMATA website. “The sculptural columns create a dynamic connection to the station.”
People who look closely can spot the poetry by Virginia Poet Laureates in the bands around the base of each column.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in effect for Fairfax County.
The National Weather Service issued the watch at 3:25 p.m. today (Wednesday). It will last until 10 p.m.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch (in pink) is in effect through 10 PM for the DC and Baltimore Metro areas due to the potential for damaging thunderstorms. The primary threat will be damaging winds. pic.twitter.com/MyK3aAULzB
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 21, 2019
The company behind A Taste of Urbanspace in Tysons Galleria is facing a lawsuit for allegedly stealing a retail brokerage firm’s “intellectual capital.”
District Equities filed a lawsuit Monday alleging that Urbanspace Tysons LLC, “entered into an agreement with District Equities to help find retail vendors for the food hall, utilized the brokerage firm’s proprietary market knowledge and business relationships, and then terminated the agreement,” Bisnow reported.
District Equities was started by Great Falls resident Steve Gaudio in 2015.
The two companies worked together from the fall until Urbanspace terminated District Equities’ agreement, activating the noncompete clause that said District Equities cannot work on another food hall for two years, the article said.
District Equities “says the damages would be at least $75,000, a threshold that gives it jurisdiction in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia,” according to the Bisnow article.
Urbanspace Tysons LLC opened A Taste of Urbanspace in December, replacing celebrity chef Mike Isabella’s series of restaurants known as Isabella Eatery.
Recently, A Taste of Urbanspace has seen some changes.
Danielle’s Desserts closed for good at the mall earlier this month after its owner told Tysons Reporter that she wants to focus more on her health and family.
Meanwhile, Eater reported that Ice Cream Jubilee seems to have disappeared from the Tysons spot and is no longer listing it as one of its locations.
Lady M Cake Boutique is moving from its pop-up in A Taste of Urbanspace to a permanent spot on the second level of the mall.
New speed humps are coming to the windy Bellview Road in McLean next month.
Known for its cut-through traffic use, the two-lane road runs from just north of Wolf Trap to Georgetown Pike, bisecting Old Dominion Drive along the way.
The upcoming traffic calming measures will add seven speed humps along the road.
“The speed humps on Bellview will be installed in coordination with planned repaving, which is expected to take place the third or fourth week of September,” Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation, told Tysons Reporter.
Another McLean road will also undergo traffic calming measures.
In July, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved two speed tables, longer, flat-topped version of speed humps, for Youngblood Street.
Youngblood Street connects a residential area in Chesterbrook Gardens to Westmoreland Street.
“[The Fairfax County Department of Transportation] is finalizing plans for installation, and will then send to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services,” FCDOT spokesperson Robin Geiger told Tysons Reporter. “The timeline for completion could be fall 2019.”
Image 1 via Google Maps, image 2 via FCDOT, map via Google Maps
