Report: County 911 Center Contributed to Confusion on CPR Call — “When firefighters and medics were sent to the wrong Reston, Virginia Metro station last month for a man in cardiac arrest Fairfax County blamed Metro…A recording of Metro’s call along with 911 center documents show Fairfax County provided both misleading and wrong information in its official statements.” [STATer911]
McLean Mac and Cheese Startup Lands New Funding — “McLean frozen food brand 8 Myles Inc. is closing a $1.05 million seed round this week to expand its operations and hire its first-ever full time employee. Co-founded by Myles Powell in 2015, 8 Myles makes frozen homestyle macaroni and cheese dinners that use no preservatives or artificial ingredients.” [DC Inno]
Temporary FCPS Worker Arrested for Exposing Himself — “A Dumfries man, who was a staff member at a Fairfax County high school, has turned himself in to police for allegedly exposing himself to an employee at a Cracker Barrel restaurant.” Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s principal said the man “was a temporary hourly staff member” and no longer has access to the school. [FOX5]
Group Planned to Look at Justice HS Parking — Fairfax County Public Schools is inviting Justice High School families, staff, students, and community members to serve on a new Justice High School Pyramid Community Working Group that will examine “parking and transportation needs and potential solutions.” An expansion for the Lake Barcroft school was approved last year. [Annandale Today]
Vienna Advances Sidewalk Project Despite Possible Tree Losses — “A proposed sidewalk on the west side of Hillcrest Drive, S.W., has received push-back from residents in the past, but the Vienna Town Council voted 6-1 April 10 to proceed with final engineering-design work for the project.” Up to 26 trees may need to be removed. [Gazette Leader]
General Assembly Takes Action on Vetoes and Amendments — “The politically divided Virginia General Assembly worked through Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s scores of proposed amendments to legislation during a one-day session Wednesday, approving most of his suggestions on matters ranging from intoxicating hemp products to energy policy.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Reston Restaurant Hosts Local Author Signings — “Three local authors with links to South Lakes High School will be at Red’s Table Restaurant in South Lakes Village Center talking about their work and signing copies of their books on Thursday. Chuck Cascio, author of seven books who had taught at South Lakes for 18 years, will be joined by his former students Sean Murphy and Danny Olmes.” [Patch]
McLean Library to Stage Pop-Up Book Display Friday — “Dolley Madison Library proudly presents our Pop-up Book collection for your viewing pleasure. An opportunity to enjoy the art and imagination of the Pop-up Book as stories ‘POP’ off the page! All Ages, children must be accompanied by caregiver.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Thursday — Sunny. Pleasantly warm. High of 85 and low of 59. Sunrise at 6:35 am and sunset at 7:43 pm. [Weather.gov]
If everything goes according to plan, the all-affordable housing complex planned near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons could break ground this December.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will issue up to $99 million in tax-exempt bonds to support construction of half of the Dominion Square project, which will deliver over 500 apartments for households earning 60% or less of the area median income (AMI).
The bonds were formally authorized yesterday (Tuesday) by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, a vote that county staff said was needed to keep the project on track to close financing in December.
“This is not the last time we’re going to see this project,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said. “As it comes through the process, there are a number of issues that are being worked out, and hopefully, we can keep this on schedule and get these units built and occupied as soon as possible.”
The county is currently reviewing a site plan after the planning commission approved the project on Feb. 15. Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH), the nonprofit developer, will also likely seek a parking reduction next, according to Alcorn’s office.
Part of a larger financing package for the development that includes $55 million from Amazon, proceeds from the newly authorized bond sales will specifically fund a 265-unit multifamily residential building now known as the “North Four Building.”
The North Four is one of two 21-story buildings that APAH will build to replace an auto dealership parking lot at 1592 Spring Hill Road. The other building — dubbed the “South Four” — will have 251 units with a community center on its ground floor.
According to a county staff summary, all 516 units will be priced at rates affordable to residents earning between 30 and 60% AMI. Based on fiscal year 2022 income levels, rents would range from $801 to $2,486, depending on the AMI and number of bedrooms.
In addition to the community center, which will be managed by the county, expected amenities include an outdoor courtyard, playground, business center, bicycle storage, a meeting room, and support services for residents — potentially including emergency cash support and legal, financial and medical assistance.
APAH says it has a total of $153.9 million for North Four and $144.1 million for South Four, per a financing plan. The nonprofit will lease the land from the county housing authority for 85 years.
“Dominion Square represents APAH’s commitment to meet the need of affordable housing across the region,” APAH said in a statement. “We are thankful to the Fairfax County Board for their support and authorization of bond financing. This critical step ensures Dominion Square receives the funding necessary to get this building built and provide opportunity for the residents that will call it home.”
Jewelry worn by stars like actor Kristen Bell and singer Kelly Clarkson will soon be for sale at Tysons Corner Center.
Texas-based designer Kendra Scott is planning a three-day grand opening to celebrate the arrival of her new, 2,653-square-foot store at the mall, where it’ll be located next to Lululemon.
Doors will open on Friday, April 21, at 10 a.m. for Kendra Scott’s first Tysons location, though the business also has stores at Reston Town Center and the Mosaic District in Merrifield.
During the grand opening, which will run from April 21-23, the store will offer giveaways — including a free piece of jewelry for every shopper who spends at least $75 — and donate 20% of its proceeds to local nonprofits.
“Kendra Scott hosts more than 10,000 Kendra Gives Back events in retail stores annually and looks forward to establishing relationships and connecting with the Tysons community,” the company said in a press release.
Here is the schedule for the grand opening:
Friday, April 21, 6-8 p.m.
- Proceeds go to the Junior League of NoVa for “social activism-focused projects directly benefiting the local community.”
- Floral Pop Co will offer complimentary custom floral bouquets for the first 25 supporters who spend $100 or more. Guests may enjoy “sips and sweets” while they shop.
Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Proceeds go to Best Buddies of Virginia & DC, funding programs that support individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Complimentary coffee will be provided by the Bean Bag Bakery.
Saturday, April 22, 4-7 p.m.
- Proceeds go the food bank Food for Others as part of a partnership with the Tysons Community Alliance.
- Guests will enjoy entertainment by Deejay Courtney and may enjoy sips and sweets while they shop.
Sunday, April 23, noon-3 p.m.
- Proceeds go to Chi Omega and Make-A-Wish, which grants wishes for children with critical illnesses.
- Charcurry Boards will provide charcuterie cones, and guests may enjoy sips and sweets while they shop.
Established in 2002, Kendra Scott sells jewelry and other fashion accessories, including watches. With a flagship studio in Austin, Texas, the company has grown to over 130 stores and pop-ups, and over 850 specialty boutiques in the U.S.
Scott appeared as a guest judge on the 12th season of the reality show “Shark Tank,” and her designs are regularly worn by celebrities, including a necklace that has been seen on everyone from Taylor Swift and Blake Lively to Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, according to People magazine.
After the grand opening, the Tysons store will be operate from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area should be on alert for potential outdoor fire hazards today (Wednesday), the National Weather Service says.
A combination of wind gusts and dry weather has created an “elevated threat” of wildfires throughout the region until the early evening, according to a special weather statement issued just after 9 a.m.
From the alert, which will be in effect until 8 p.m.:
…ELEVATED THREAT FOR THE SPREAD OF WILDFIRES THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING…
West to northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph are expected with gusts around 20 to 25 mph through this afternoon and relative humidity values will fall to between 20 and 30 percent. Given recent dry weather, fuels are very dry. Therefore, an elevated fire danger will continue until about 8 PM before the winds gradually weaken and humidity rises.
Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged during this time. Please refer to your local burn permitting authority on whether you can burn. If you do burn, use extreme caution and ensure fire suppression is readily available.
Some areas of Northern Virginia further to the west are under a Red Flag Warning.
The fire risk comes as temperatures are expected to reach the low 80s, which is well above average for April, according to the weather service.
That warmer-than-average trend is projected to continue into tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday (April 14), the Capital Weather Gang forecasts, stating that the next couple of days could feel like early summer.
Clouds will be on the decrease this morning, with sunny skies expected during the afternoon hours. Temperatures will be well above normal for April. pic.twitter.com/mOQblDA2p1
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 12, 2023
All kids under the age of 12 will soon be able to ride the Fairfax Connector for free.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to change the bus system’s policy to allow any child 12 or younger to ride for free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The vote closes a gap in the county’s transit policy that left children between ages 5 and 12 paying for bus fare, while younger kids and high school students can ride for free.
Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the change is part of an ongoing effort to expand the number of riders who can ride Fairfax Connector fare-free — without going fully free like neighboring Alexandria.
“This is a nice step forward,” said Alcorn. “…As we move forward with identifying populations that really should get free fare, we should do that, and just as a reminder, we have some other things coming in terms of reduced fare. So, this is one of a number of initiatives we’re doing in terms of our bus fare strategy.”
Chairman Jeff McKay said one of the long-term benefits of getting more children riding Fairfax Connector is familiarizing a new generation with mass transit.
“This is great,” McKay said. “Not only is it for people who need it — in this case it’s free fare for children — but we’re also building a population and educating a population on how to use mass transit. It’s an investment in the future, and we’ve certainly seen that with the student bus pass program.
Calling the new policy “fantastic,” he thanked county staff for proposing the change and “the speed at which they got this to the Board for approval.”
The new policy will take effect on May 1.
Metro Worker Fired After Overrunning Innovation Station — “On March 17, safety commission officials said Tuesday, a train operator put his train into [automatic mode] several times during the day. He was caught when his train shot past the Innovation Center station platform in Virginia, triggering a Metro probe into the platform overrun.” [The Washington Post]
Disciplinary Incidents Rise in FCPS — “The number of disciplinary incidents reported in Fairfax County, Virginia, public schools more than doubled in the first semester of the current school year, compared to the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year, according to preliminary county data.” [WTOP]
Fairfax County Congressional Rep. Diagnosed With Parkinson’s — “Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease…Wexton said that she wants to use her platform to raise awareness and fight for a cure and made it clear that she doesn’t intend to leave office.” [CNN]
State Police Revise Account of I-95 Fatal Shooting — “The state police disclosed in a news release for the first time that a trooper talked to Tatiana N. David, 34, the woman who was reportedly abducted, during a traffic stop Wednesday that came just before a police chase and the shootout on the major highway.” [The Washington Post]
Designer of Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly Dies — “Bill Hellmuth, chairman and CEO of HOK Inc. and the backbone of the architecture firm’s D.C. presence, died April 6 after a long illness, HOK announced. He was 69. Hellmuth had a hand in the design of dozens of buildings in Greater Washington, including…the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.” [Washington Business Journal]
Metro to Unveil New Proposed Bus Map — “Metrobus planners are unveiling five years of work on Monday — a redesigned ‘visionary’ bus network map for the entire region, something that hasn’t been done in 50 years. The map includes 100 bus routes with 20-minute frequency or better (many have 12-minute frequencies), a 24/7 bus network, and simpler, more direct routes.” [DCist]
Police Credit License Plate Reader With Helping Find Missing People — “A new device that lets law enforcement officers track stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, and wanted persons helped Fairfax County Police to locate three out of four people recently reported missing, including a former member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.” [Patch]
Reston Homeowner Introduces Solar Shingles to Neighborhood — “He knew traditional panels would be a bear to install in a house with a loft, cathedral ceilings, and no attic to hide protruding infrastructure. And two, he feared tangling with notoriously strict homeowner associations. ‘The HOAs can be brutal in Reston,’ Hester said” [Energy News]
It’s Wednesday — Morning clouds. Pleasantly warm. High of 82 and low of 56. Sunrise at 6:36 am and sunset at 7:42 pm. [Weather.gov]
A display of peppers at a local farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Several county-run farmers markets are returning for the spring season this month with the remainder opening soon after.
The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 10 farmers markets across the county where residents can pick up fresh veggies, fruit, meat, and other locally produced goodies.
“Our markets are strictly producer-only, meaning that all of our farmers and producers may only sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch,” reads the county’s website.
Three farmers markets are coming back later in April.
- April 19: McCutcheon/Mount Vernon on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon
- April 22: Burke on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
- April 29: Reston on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
The seven remaining farmers markets will open in May.
- May 3: Oak Marr on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Wakefield on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m.
- May 4: Annandale on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Herndon on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- May 5: McLean on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, Kingstowne on Fridays from 3-7 p.m.
- May 7: Lorton on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Each market’s webpage has a list of vendors that are set to be selling. Besides food for sale, many markets will also offer family-friendly activities, live music, and civic-engagement opportunities.
Besides the county-run farmers markets, the nonprofit FreshFarm also has a number of local markets, including three that operate year-round.
- Oakton on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Mosaic District on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Reston on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Two other FreshFarm markets — Springfield and Mosaic on Thursdays — were open last year, but it is not immediately clear if those will be open starting next month. FreshFarm is the area’s largest farmers market operator, and in February, its employees voted to unionize.
Kent Gardens Elementary School is still bursting at the seams, but at least the trailers accommodating the overflow of students will soon get an update.
Seven old, one-classroom trailers behind the McLean school (1717 Melbourne Drive) will be removed and replaced by a four-classroom trailer and one with two classrooms, principal Holly McGuigan and Fabio Zuluaga, an assistant superintendent for Fairfax County Public Schools, recently told families.
Construction staging for one of the new trailers took place last week (April 1-9) over spring break, according to FCPS. The other will be delivered in June, when construction on both facilities is expected to start.
“These are replacements for the trailers behind the school that were at the end of their useful life,” an FCPS spokesperson said, noting that each classroom in a trailer has a capacity of 29 students.
One existing duplex trailer will remain. The school system hopes to finish the new trailers in time for the next year, which will begin Aug. 21, McGuigan and Zuluaga said in the letter shared by Dranesville District School Board Representative Elaine Tholen.
In addition, maintenance will be performed on all of the school’s bathrooms over the summer to ensure they’re working properly for the next school year.
The trailers being replaced were installed at Kent Gardens between 1997 and 2000, FCPS says. The area where they currently sit will be turned into an outdoor classroom space, though FCPS doesn’t anticipate that being ready for the fall.
“This will take planning and time over the next year or two,” the letter said.
Though it won’t provide any additional capacity, the trailer replacement is intended as a short-term improvement for Kent Gardens, which has been viewed as overcrowded for over a decade now.
Last renovated in 2005, Kent Gardens was at 121% capacity with 1,023 students for the 2022-2023 school year, according to the latest FCPS capital improvement program (CIP). As of February, though, enrollment had ticked up to 1,042 students, the school’s profile says.
The Fairfax County School Board amended the CIP in February to prioritize addressing the crowding situation at Kent Gardens. A community meeting to determine the scope of possible program or boundary changes will be held on April 26 at 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the McLean High School cafeteria.
According to FCPS, recommendations will be presented this fall, followed by a public hearing and school board vote. Any changes would get phased in starting with the 2024-2025 school year.
Capacity relief can’t come soon enough for Susan Taylor, who has a fifth-grader and a sixth-grader at Kent Gardens and is among many parents frustrated by what they see as inaction by FCPS.
Talking to FFXnow in February, she said she has emails going back a decade of parents complaining about the state of the trailers.
“My son is in an advanced math classroom in one of these new modular buildings they put out front with very thin walls on the other side of the music classroom,” she said. “So, when his class is doing testing, the music class has to be silenced. I mean, it’s absurd.”
Though FCPS says its renovation queue isn’t based on capacity, Taylor argues an addition or other permanent structure will be needed as the area’s population continues to grow.
“I understand that these decisions are difficult because things cost money, but you can’t keep kicking this can down the road,” Taylor said.
(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) For the first time ever, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is allowing registered Democrats to vote on which school board candidates it will endorse this year.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) announced yesterday (Monday) that it will hold an open caucus to allow any voter who registers with the party to vote in this year’s nonpartisan races.
On the ballot will be several school board seats — three at-large members, the Mount Vernon District representative, and the Hunter Mill District representative — as well as a member of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) board of directors.
To vote in the caucus, voters are required to register with the FCDC. Registration opened yesterday and will continue until May 5. Online voting for candidates will be from May 13 through May 20, when there will also be an in-person voting option.
“With our new endorsement process, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is giving the choice on our endorsed candidates to the voters,” FCDC Chair Bryan Graham wrote in a press release. “This process will strengthen our candidates for non-partisan offices and our party as we work to elect Democratic candidates to every position on the ballot this year.”
The county’s school board and the NVSWCD board are nonpartisan offices, meaning members don’t represent a specific political party, but the local Democratic and Republican committees can make endorsements.
For the school board, Kyle McDaniel, Ryan McElveen, Ilryong Moon, Hamid Munir, and Lawerence Webb will all be vying for three at-large spots. None of the incumbents are running for those spots again, though Rachna Sizemore Heizer is campaigning for the Braddock District seat.
Both Moon and McElveen are former members of the school board, having stepped down at the end of 2019, while McDaniel, Munir, and Webb would be new.
In the Mount Vernon District, Mateo Dunne and Harold Sims are looking to replace current representative Karen Corbett Sanders, who is retiring.
Melanie Meren is seeking FCDC’s endorsement for reelection as the Hunter Mill District representative, competing against Paul Thomas, a current member of the Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors.
The committee has already endorsed several school board candidates who were uncontested in seeking its support, including:
- Braddock District: Rachna Sizemore Heizer
- Dranesville District: Robyn Lady
- Franconia District: Marcia St. John-Cunning
- Mason District: Ricardy Anderson
- Providence District: Karl Frisch
- Springfield District: Sandy Anderson
- Sully District: Seema Dixit
The Fairfax County Republican Committee will determine its endorsements in the nonpartisan races at a meeting on April 19, according to Fairfax GOP Vice Chairman Nick Andersen.
The committee has hosted both in-person and virtual meetings in recent months so its members can get to know the candidates.
“The endorsement meeting itself will include district-level caucuses to provide recommendations to the full membership followed by a paper ballot-based vote for all members in attendance,” Anderson said. “Candidates for office must achieve a simple majority of voting members that are participating in the meeting in order to receive the FCRC endorsement.”
There are also a number of partisan races coming up this year, meaning candidates can represent a specific political party. Those primaries will be held on June 20.
Last week, the FCDC announced the candidates in those races that have officially qualified to seek Democratic nominations.
Notable contests include the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chair and four district seats, Commonwealth’s attorney, sheriff, four State Senate seats, and three House of Delegate seats.
The primary is set for June 20, and the general election is on November 7.
Northern Virginia is the place to be if you’re shopping in the D.C. area, a recent poll of local residents found.
A handy 61% of respondents favored Northern Virginia when asked what’s the best place to shop in the region by the Washington Post and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, which conducted the wide-ranging poll from Feb. 17-27.
In comparison, just 18% of respondents chose suburban Maryland, and 13% chose D.C., with 7% saying they had no opinion, according to results released on Friday (April 7).
Northern Virginia’s dominance in this particular area can likely be traced to Tysons — at least based on a comment by James Hackley, identified by the Post as chief style officer for a clothing store in Takoma Park, Maryland.
In the DMV area, without a doubt, Northern Virginia has the best shopping. The reason? You have the old Tysons and Tysons II. So if you’re looking for the higher-end designer things, that’s where you go. That’s just a known quantity. No one else really competes with that. D.C., they tried to make major inroads with the CityCenter area, but it’s still a nascent being compared to Tysons and Tysons II. Those are big malls. That’s where people go to shop, because if you’re driving in your car, you’re getting an hour to go shopping someplace, you want it to be a destination. You’re not just going to one store. You want to hit a bunch of other stores as well.
Established in 1968 and 1988, respectively, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria transformed once-rural farmland into a regional retail destination, a reputation that has persisted even as malls decline nationwide and high-profile crime and gun violence incidents leave some skittish.
Touching on topics ranging from Metro to the Washington Commanders, the Post-Schar poll was administered by phone to a random sampling of 1,668 adults in the D.C. area.
While we don’t have the capacity to match that level of scientific rigor, FFXnow is curious how the results line up with your perception of the region. Is Tysons still a go-to place for shopping, or do you have another preference — perhaps even outside Northern Virginia?
