The Town of Vienna says that a dozen new trees will replace the ones Wawa removed — but wasn’t supposed to — for its upcoming Maple Avenue spot.
A Town of Vienna Facebook post today (Friday) said that Wawa mistakenly removed three trees and “several other small and dead ones” from town-owned property adjacent to the site (245 Maple Avenue W.) yesterday.
“The tree removal was due to an onsite misunderstanding and human error,” the post said.
Within the next few weeks, Wawa plans to add 12 new trees in the alley and property “as close to six-inch caliper trees as possible,” the post said.
The town noted that representatives from Wawa “acknowledged that their action was not in compliance with the approved site plan.”
Image via David Levy & Associates
An MS-13 gang member from Falls Church has been sentenced for his role in a violent assault in a local park.
A federal judge sentenced 19-year-old Marlon Edgardo Huezo Rivera, known as “Oscuro,” of Falls Church to 38 months in prison “for his role and participation in a violent gang-related assault of a victim with multiple bats,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Earlier this year, 21-year-old Jose Ochoa Del-Cid, 21, also from Falls Church, was sentenced to five and half years in prison for conspiring with other members to lure the victim under false pretenses to James Lee Park in Falls Church.
Huezo Rivera was linked to the Chilangueras clique of MS-13 in Northern Virginia and was the final charged defendant to be sentenced in this case, according to the press release.
“This purpose of this senseless assault was to serve MS-13’s warped code of violence and overarching mission of instilling fear through violence,” G. Zachary Terwilliger, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement. “Huezo Rivera’s conduct demonstrates his contempt for the law and his total disregard for the safety of the people who make up this community.”
More from a press release:
According to court documents, Huezo Rivera and several other members and associates of MS-13 lured the victim to James Lee Park in Falls Church so that they could assault the victim. Rivera and other members and associates of MS-13 believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, falsely representing himself as a member of MS-13, and disparaging the Silvas clique of MS-13. After luring the victim to the park under false pretenses, Huezo Rivera, and approximately a dozen other members and associates of MS-13, beat the victim with bats, fists, and feet for approximately three minutes. As a result of the beating, the victim suffered multiple broken limbs and was hospitalized for several days.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Timothy M. Dunham, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas U. Murphy II, Cristina Stam, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shauna Hale prosecuted the case.
Photo by Joe Gratz/Flickr
In two weeks, Fairfax County public school students plan to demand action on climate change in Vienna as part of an international strike.
“This is not a hypothetical. This is not a partisan issue,” Deepa R., a climate activist and junior at James Madison High School, said in a press release. “This is real, this is now, and this is the way that we as a species will die if we don’t take action.”
The strike is set to take place on the Vienna Town Green (144 E. Maple Avenue) from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 6), the press release said.
Elected officials and local groups are expected to attend the strike, including School Board Member Ryan McElveen, 350 Fairfax and Mothers Out Front Fairfax, the press release said.
The strike in Vienna is a part of a larger effort organized by the Sunrise Movement, along with the help of youth coalition groups.
After the nationwide climate strike in September ahead of the UN Climate Change panel, this strike aims to encourage young activists to strike during the UN’s annual climate conference.
The student strike in Vienna is being organized by Katie M., a high school climate activist who was recently honored along with fellow student Wendy G. by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for pushing for climate change, according to the press release.
At the strike, the students and adult allies plan to call for a Green New Deal for Fairfax County Public Schools that works switch all of the schools to net-zero carbon emissions by installing solar panels and energy-efficient windows. The plan would also continue the push for electric school buses in the county.
“The students also demand that the county require comprehensive climate education in schools,” the press release said.
The City of Falls Church Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify suspects linked to an assault and robbery at a lens and eyewear store.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m. yesterday (Thursday), three males “immediately began collecting displayed eyeglass frames in an apparent theft” at For Eyes Optical (444 W. Broad Street), police said.
Police said one employee at the store was assaulted and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspects fled across W. Broad Street and drove off in a vehicle, police said.
“The suspects are described as three black males, all over 6′ tall, wearing dark sunglasses, two wearing black hoodies, and one wearing a bright orange jacket,” police said. “The vehicle is an early 2000’s blue/green sedan that is missing a passenger hubcap.”
Anyone with information can contact Falls Church police at 703-248-5053.
“There are no surveillance photos or video available at this time,” police said.
Next Saturday will be the last chance to drink beer at Tysons Biergarten by the Greensboro Metro station.
“Our landlord… recently informed us they would need our land for redevelopment,” according to a letter from Matt Rofougaran, the CEO and managing partner of Tysons Biergarten.
The owners behind the beer garden are planning to open a new concept called The Shipgarten at Scotts Run, which is set to open in spring 2020, the letter said.
The Shipgarten plans to have four themed shipping containers:
- “The Biergarten” with German and Belgium beers and German food
- Roll Bär offering Asian fusion cuisine and Japanese whiskey
- Chalkboard BBQ serving a rotating menu of barbecue and international craft beer
- Tysons EuroBar — a Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant
A “Grand Closing Festival” on Saturday (Nov. 30) will celebrate Tysons Biergarten’s last days at 8346 Leesburg Pike.
Here’s the full letter:
Friends, Family, Patrons, and Supporters,
My name is Matt Rofougaran and I am writing this message on behalf of Paymon and Abe Hadjiesmailoo, Ryan O’Connor, and Nick Rodriguez, the proud owners of Tysons Biergarten. This is one of the hardest letters I have ever written, as it is with great sadness and a heavy heart I inform you we will be closing our doors on Saturday, November 30, 2019.
Tysons Biergarten began as nothing more than a dream shared by 5 guys. Our team successfully transformed a rustic, aging warehouse into a successful restaurant by hand through hard work and determination. We signed our lease with the understanding we would be a pop-up bar, and that one day we would need to shut down. Our landlord (one of the greatest and nicest landlords a small business could ever have) recently informed us they would need our land for redevelopment, which is not much of a surprise as Tysons is well underway becoming America’s next great city!
That being said, our team is not finished here in Tysons! Our next concept will be something this area has never seen before; The Shipgarten! The Shipgarten will be very unique, as it will feature four shipping containers (each with its own concept) along with four large tents for seating and games. The first container will be “The Biergarten”, which will have 20+ German/Belgium beers on draft, German sausages, schnitzels and more! The second shipping container will be Roll Bär our Asian Fusion concept featuring poke bowls, custom made egg rolls, sushi burritos, infused liquor bubble teas, Japanese whiskey, and more! The third container will be Chalkboard BBQ which will feature a rotating menu of barbecue and craft beer from around world along with a wide array of sauces, rubs, and seasonings which will change on a regular basis! Our final container will be called Tysons EuroBar, Tysons’ latest Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant. The menu’s main focus is custom meals. Pitas and bowls with grains are dressed up with meats including beef, lamb, chicken, doner kebab, and falafel, with a variety of toppings from feta cheese to harissa. Mediterranean cocktails, beer, and of course WINE from all over the Mediterranean will be available to compliment your meal.
We also have another restaurant in Del Ray, Alexandria, on the corner of Glebe Road and Mount Vernon Ave called Hops N Shine. Hops N Shine is much smaller than Tysons Biergarten, however, it features 52 beers on draft, custom made grilled cheese sandwiches, and moonshine!
The hardest part about all this is having to part ways with our incredible staff. While we are able to bring a few people over to our sister location in Alexandria, we do not have room for everyone and have contacted numerous bars and restaurants in the area that have all expressed interest in hiring. If you are are aware of anyone looking to hire in the Northern Virginia area, please email [email protected].
Words cannot express how proud we are of the Tysons Biergarten legacy and our opportunity to become a member of such a wonderful community. We have hosted hundreds of events from fundraisers, yappy hours, comedy shows, concerts, corporate happy hours, birthdays, weddings, retirements, holiday gatherings, and much more. You, our guests, along with our spectacular Tysons Biergarten team, have enabled us to build tremendous notoriety these past few years, and I can not thank you enough for allowing Tysons Biergarten to be a part of your lives. Thank you for your years of support and we ask everyone to come in now and use up those tokens before our doors close at the end of the month!
Sincerely,
Matt Rofougaran
CEO and Managing Partner, Tysons Biergarten
In an effort to make the arts more accessible to young audiences, Tysons’ 1st Stage Theatre is rolling out a free subscription for local high school students.
The theater announced on Tuesday (Nov. 19) its new Youth Engagement Subscription (YES) Pass for high school students in Fairfax County. The YES Pass gives students one ticket per show for a year — a free subscription for all mainstage shows.
“Our YES Pass ensures that no student is denied access to live theater due to economic barriers and guarantees that all young people will have an opportunity to be part of the discussion and the artistic life of Fairfax County,” according to a press release from 1st Stage.
The free subscriptions are being sponsored by the Ruth and Hal Launders Foundation.
Students interested in the YES Pass can contact Deidra Starnes at [email protected] or apply online.
Fairfax County police have arrested the owner of a development company in connection to a teen boy’s death at a McLean construction site.
On July 23, a ditch collapsed on a residential construction site in the 1800 block of Solitaire Lane, trapping two people, police said. Spencer Lunde, a 16-year-old, died and an adult man received non-life-threatening injuries.
“The manner of death has been ruled accidental with the cause being asphyxiation,” police said in August.
“On Monday, evidence was presented to a grand jury who indicted Thomas Digges, 48, of McLean, on charges of involuntary manslaughter and cruelty and injuries to children,” Fairfax County police announced today (Thursday).
Digges is the owner of McLean-based Digges Development Corporation. The construction site where the teen died was a small housing project that Digges was building, WUSA9 reported.
Police said Digges turned himself into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center this morning (Thursday) and has since been “released on his own recognizance.”
Second photo via FCPD
Fairfax County plans to roll into the new year with regulations for motorized scooters.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance for shared mobility devices on Tuesday (Nov. 19) after the General Assembly passed legislation earlier this year allowing localities to regulate scooters and motorized skateboards.
The county’s Department of Cable and Consumer Services will regulate the operators of the shared mobility devices. The operators will be required to submit permits and keep their fleets at certain sizes.
At first, operators can have fleets with up to 300 devices, with the possibility of going up to 600 devices if they can demonstrate the demand for the higher limit.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said that he supports having operators start with a lower number of devices that can then be raised.
Starting Jan. 1, people riding scooters in Fairfax County won’t be able to go above 10 miles per hour.
During a public hearing on Tuesday before the board voted, two people testified in support of motorized scooters.
Ronit Dancis, speaking on behalf of the Tysons Partnership, told the board that motorized scooters can help solve the first-to-last mile commuter problem and
Dancis said that Tysons Partnership is worried that the absolute maximum of 600 scooters “will not be sufficient to meet Tysons’ needs” and that the 10 mph speed will be overly restrictive.
Dancis added that county staff said Fairfax County is working with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to create scooter parking docks at the Metro stations.
Paymon Hadjiesmaeiloo, one of the co-owners of the Tysons Biergarten, told the board that motorized scooters are a cost-efficient transportation option for a rapidly growing part of the county. He added that increased mobility from scooters will benefit local retailers and businesses.
Braddock District Supervisor John Cook also summarized feedback from a constituent who said that — while useful devices — motorized scooters have become a nuisance from being abandoned around the Braddock District.
In addition to the shared mobility device regulations, Fairfax County plans to create a complaints process for improper use and abandonment of the devices, according to the county.
“Staff will coordinate [the] implementation of the complaint process with bordering jurisdictions and present a summary in the first year of SMDs in early 2021.”
A zoning ordinance amendment that would allow lower parking rates at Fairfax County’s largest malls received a thumbs up from the Planning Commission last night.
The proposal would affect the four malls — the two in Tysons, Fair Oaks Mall and Springfield Town Center — and was based on a review of the parking rates and demand at large regional malls by consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard.
While the county’s planners have stressed that the focus of the zoning change is directed at Fair Oaks Mall, the proposal has sparked concern about its impacts on the Tysons malls.
“Taking away parking — or even insinuating taking away parking from Tysons — I think is a bad way to go,” Dwight Fuller, a managing partner with Great American Restaurants, told the Planning Commission at the public hearing earlier this month.
McLean Citizens Association criticized the county’s consideration of a proposal without complete data.
Nelson/Nygaard study’s evaluated parking data for Fair Oaks Mall collected by the property owner in December for both 2017 and 2018, along with data about the Springfield Town Center that the firm collected in June. The study did not evaluate the two malls in Tysons.
“Without a study specifically addressing parking at those two malls, the MCA believes it is inappropriate to reduce the parking requirements at those locations,” the MCA wrote in a letter dated Oct. 30 to the Planning Commission.
At both the public hearing and before the votes last night, county staff and the commissioners stressed that the Tysons malls already have opportunities to lower their parking rates — and haven’t.
Tysons Corner Center is a part of the Planned Tysons Corner Urban District’s (PTC) parking rates, which allows for lower parking rates. Tysons Galleria is not a part of the PTC District, but could opt-in.
At-Large Commissioner Timothy Sargeant said that the Tysons malls are “bucking the trend” of large malls — like Fair Oaks — that are struggling with empty parking lots as more shoppers rely on online retail or delivery services.
To address citizens’ concerns, Sargeant brought forward several proposals after the Planning Commission recommended approval of the zoning amendment, including:
- notification to the Planning Commission when a parking reduction request is submitted to the county
- a study of how to include the PTC in the county’s update of the zoning ordinance
- prioritize review of parking rates for the county’s update of the zoning ordinance
- integration of environmental improvements with the proposal
Sargeant noted that more parking rate studies are necessary.
The proposal now heads to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing on Dec. 3.
The new Dunkin’ Donuts near the Spring Hill Metro station plans to offer a free donut deal on Friday.
The coffee and donut chain recently arrived in Tysons West Phase III — a redevelopment that added new retail buildings across from Walmart — along with other food and drink options, including Smoothie King and B.GOOD.
The celebration on Friday (Nov. 22) is set to take place from 7-11 a.m. Attendees will be able to get a free donut — excluding fancy and speciality ones — with any purchase and can enjoy a Dunkin’ prize wheel, photo opportunities with Dunkin’ mascots Cuppy and Sprinkles, an on-site DJ and customizable screen-printed donuts that guests can put their face on. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m.
The store (1495 Cornerside Blvd, Suite 1C) is open 5 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekends.
