A pair of Vienna police officers won an award last week for helping turn the tables on a shooting suspect back in October 2021.
During a March 30 ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, officers Emily Lichtenberg and Alex Murray received a Silver Medal of Valor at the 45th annual Fairfax County Valor Awards, which recognize achievements by local first responders.
According to the Town of Vienna Police Department, Lichtenberg and Murray earned the medal for responding to a shooting outside the Navy Federal Credit Union at 820 Follin Lane on the morning of Oct. 7, 2021.
“Upon arrival, they determined that two individuals got into an argument while inside a vehicle, during which one produced a handgun and shot the other in the upper body,” the department said in a news release.
Assisted by a helicopter and K-9 units form the Fairfax County Police Department, the two officers began to search for the suspect, the VPD recounted.
During the search of the surrounding area, “Fairfax One” (helicopter) located a heat source that appeared to be a person hiding in the bushes near the W&OD trail. Almost simultaneously, the K-9 unit alerted on the same area. Coming from the direction of the heat source, officers heard the sound of a handgun being manipulated and the distinct sound of the slide of a gun being racked and slamming into battery. At that time, officers suspected that they had been spotted and the suspect was moving into a position to ambush them.
After taking cover and coordinating a plan, officers moved in and surprised the suspect causing him to lose balance and fall down a hill adjacent to the W&OD trail. During the fall, the suspect lost control of his handgun and was taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was found to be in possession of a fully loaded Glock handgun.
Another Vienna police officer, Greg Hylinski, was recognized at last week’s ceremony with a Lifesaving Award for providing emergency medical aid, including CPR, to a Navy Federal Credit Union employee who had collapsed.
“As treatment continued, MPO Hylinski began coordinating the on-scene response, which included determining the patient’s identity and notifying the next of kin,” Vienna police said. “MPO Hylinski maintained a composed and professional bearing as he began the preliminary investigation. MPO Hylinski’s performance in this stressful situation was exemplary.”
A total of 193 individuals were honored by this year’s Valor Awards, according to The Connection. The highest honor — the Gold Medal of Valor — went to FCPD officers Lance Guckenberger and Matthew Grubb, who responded to a shooting and hostage situation in Pimmit Hills on Dec. 17, 2021.
The Fairfax County School Board will have a lot of new faces next year — and perhaps, a couple of members reemerging from its past.
The latest member to opt out of a reelection bid is at-large member Abrar Omeish, who told FFXnow that she has instead accepted a job with a nonprofit that focuses on youth law and advocacy.
She will also serve on the board of a national youth organization, though she’s not able to publicly announce the exact positions yet.
In a statement on her decision, Omeish cited frustrations with the legal and public relations battles that she says have undermined the school board’s efforts to further equity and inclusion.
“Because of how stifling these investigations have been on the ability of our school system to implement real change, I have accepted an offer to fight the very legal battles that have bled our system and so many others on a national level,” she said. “My work will allow school systems across the country to pass more equitable and inclusive policies without fearing the legal threats of lawsuits and investigations, fighting for every child in the nation.”
Elected to the school board in 2019 at 24 years old, Omeish was one of the first Muslim women and the youngest person at the time to win elected office in Virginia.
Sharing supportive comments from current and former students, she says her proudest accomplishments while on the board include advocating for free virtual tutoring and mental health services for students, the addition of more religious holidays to the school calendar, and support for expanded language translation services.
However, Omeish has clashed at times with her colleagues on the school board, some of whom publicly criticized her for calling Israel’s treatment of Palestinians “apartheid.” In addition, the student-led LGBTQ advocacy group, Pride Liberation Project, accused her in 2021 of making “bigoted comments” during a phone call, for which she later apologized.
Fairfax County Public Schools as a whole has faced political and legal challenges over the past few years, from the ongoing lawsuit over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions process to a federal review of its special education services during Covid and a state investigation of its handling of National Merit Scholarship commendations.
Omeish was one of three school board members targeted by recall campaigns in 2021 led by parents who opposed school closures for the pandemic. The petition against Omeish didn’t get enough signatures to reach court, while ones against Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen and Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen were dismissed.
Still, Omeish says she remains “proud of all that my team has been able to accomplish and bring to benefit Fairfax County.”
“I will remain a voice in our community and in FCPS — the system I grew up in and still have family in, the system I came to serve and love — to see much of what I will fight for come to life at the local level in my own home,” Omeish said. “For now, I will remain laser-focused on giving everything I have to this work. We still have a bright eight months ahead to do all that we can for our kids, and I still have a few ideas left for what I hope to accomplish.”
Even with Omeish withdrawing, the race for the board’s three at-large seats remains crowded, with 10 candidates in the running — including former members Ilryong Moon and Ryan McElveen, who had both stepped down at the end of 2019.
When officially announcing his candidacy today (Thursday), McElveen said he will advocate for “gun violence prevention, universal pre-kindergarten, free and healthy meals for every student, and solar panels on every school” if elected again.
“I see in the eyes of my daughters and all of our students that our best days are ahead of us,” he said. “As a county, we need to reset, reorient our priorities, and rebuild. I am ready to take on that challenge and work with our community to bring the joy back to education.”
Only three members of the 12-person school board will seek reelection to their current seats this November: Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill), Karl Frisch (Providence), and Ricardy Anderson (Mason).
At-large member and current board chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer could return as the successor to Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, who will join Tholen, Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Franconia) and Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon) in retiring.
Cohen, at-large member Karen Keys-Gamarra and Stella Pekarsky (Sully) have launched campaigns for General Assembly seats.
The Mosaic District’s Sip and Stroll map may soon get a new stop.
Grand Cata, a D.C.-based Latin American wine bar and market, is expanding to Virginia for the first time with a new store in the Merrifield neighborhood.
Located in the former Poke Bar at 8298 Glass Alley, Suite 100, next to B Side, the venue is on track to open early this summer, with construction about 60 to 70% complete, according to Grand Cata co-founder and CEO Pedro Rodríguez.
“We look forward to opening our first expansion to the Virginia market, and hopefully, people enjoy what we do,” Rodríguez told FFXnow.
After initially meeting as workers at a media development nonprofit, Rodríguez and Grand Cata President Julio Robledo bonded over a shared passion for wine, but after coming to D.C. from Puerto Rico and Chile, respectively, they noticed a lack of Latin America wines in local stores.
Grand Cata was created to fill that gap, launching as a retail shop in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood on March 15, 2016.
Listed among the top wine retailers in the country by outlets like Wine Enthusiast and VinePair, the business has become a hot spot for not just buying and tasting wine and spirits, but also learning about the history and cultures of the region where the drinks originated.
A second location with a bar opened in June 2019 as part of the La Cosecha market in Union Market, which shares a property manager with the Mosaic District in Edens.
Now, Rodríguez and Robledo are eager to bring their wine and knowledge to a new audience across the Potomac River.
“We have a really well-established identity here in the capital,” Rodríguez said. “In the more affluent, wealthy area of Virginia, it’s got Fairfax County and McLean, Falls Church, easy access. A lot of fun neighbors are in the mix there, so it’s a destination.”
Like the La Cosecha location, the new Grand Cata will have a wine bar, retail shop and market with sauces, spices and other pantry items. Since Virginia doesn’t allow alcohol-only service, it will also sell food, such as sandwiches and charcuterie boards.
Rodríguez says the menu will be simple and intimate in keeping with the space, which is just 908 square feet in size, per a permit from Fairfax County. Featured wines will include selections from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Bolivia, and even Spain and Portugal.
“The best way to get to know the wines we feature is to taste them,” Rodríguez said. “So, people are going to have the opportunity to taste them with us and get to know them, and hopefully they like them and buy them and come back.”
Vienna Metro Station Gets New Bikeshare Stop — “We partnered with @fairfaxcounty to install a new Capital Bikeshare Station at Vienna Metro Station and relocate our bike racks under a canopy for increased protection from the elements. This means a better biking experience for all of our customers!” [WMATA/Twitter]
Herndon Robbery Under Investigation — “The victim told police that two men approached him from behind as he was walking on the sidewalk on March 29. One of the men showed what appeared to be a handgun and they demanded the victim hand over his property, according to police. Once he did, the two men drove off in vehicle that was driven by a third suspect.” [Patch]
Republican Joins Senate Race Against Chap Petersen — “Ken Reid, a former Loudoun County supervisor and Leesburg council member, announced on Sunday that he was running to fill the 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate…[Petersen is also] facing a challenge from fellow Democrats Saddam Azlan Salim and Erika Yalowitz in the June 20 primary.” [Patch]
Restoration and Updated Trail Near Finish in Mount Vernon — “Around April 17, the scaffolding will come down from the exterior of Mount Vernon’s Mansion following a multi-year project to restore it to its 1799 appearance…Later this spring, an upgraded route to George Washington’s home will be unveiled as the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail fully opens for pedestrian and bike access from Richmond Highway.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Candy Corporation Swallows Vet Company — “Mars, best known for its candy empire including M&Ms and Snickers bars, also owns a large pet care business, and it’s adding to it with a $1.3 billion acquisition of veterinary diagnostic company Heska. Mars’ pet care business is one of the largest in the country.” [WTOP]
Local Arts Organizations Awarded Grants for Recovery — “ArtsFairfax [Wednesday] announces 29 nonprofit arts organizations as recipients of the ArtsFairfax Pandemic Recovery Grant. A total of $250,000 was allocated by the County for grants distribution to the arts sector in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” [ArtsFairfax]
Annual Horse Expo on the Horizon — “Calling all horse enthusiasts to the Annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park! This massive event is for everyone – experienced riders, beginners, and anyone who loves horses or hopes to become a rider. Trot over to the farm on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy the show!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Thursday — Thunderstorms late. Overcast. Pleasantly warm. High of 85 and low of 58. Sunrise at 6:45 am and sunset at 7:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 1:55 p.m. on 4/6/2023) There are no “Do not touch” signs associated with the latest artworks installed at Tysons Corner Center.
The five metal sculptures in “Static Dynamism” — an exhibit by Fairfax County-based metal artist, engineer and sculptor J.P. Muller — are designed to be interactive, according to the mall.
Now displayed on the second floor of the Bloomingdale’s wing, Muller’s work is the second installation resulting from Tysons Corner Center’s partnership with ArtsFairfax, the county’s nonprofit arts agency.
The first installation featured paintings that were rescued from Afghanistan or created by artists who were evacuated after the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. Curated by the street art collective ArtLords, the works were on display throughout January and February.
Announced on Monday (April 3), “Static Dynamism” will get a grand opening from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. Expected attendees include Muller, ArtsFairfax CEO Linda Sullivan, and Tysons Corner Center Director of Property Management Jesse Benites.
“As the name of the installation suggests, the pieces on display are static but were designed to be interactive and dynamic,” the mall and ArtsFairfax said in a press release. “Each piece changes with the participant’s vantage point as well as ambient conditions of the environment.”
The exhibit will remain on display through May 31.
ArtsFairfax is still accepting applications for future exhibits at Tysons Corner Center, a collaboration that will continue through the end of 2023.
“The goals for this art collaboration between Tysons Corner Center at ArtsFairfax is to create unique and interactive art environments, echo Tysons Corner Center as a contemporary and creative destination, and most importantly, to showcase the talents of local artists and arts organizations,” the press release said.
Descriptions of the individual pieces in “Static Dynamism” from Muller are below.
Mr. Moire’ (Monsuier Moire – Mon Onkle Hienz)
A 5′ wide x 10′ tall homage to the effect (Moire’), An interference pattern created by juxtaposing two patterns against one another. Surface Texture is called swordplay, as the motions were Thrust, Parry, Slash, and stab.
Pin Toy Meditation Wall
As its name suggests, this is a giant toy with which you create your own art. The use is self explanatory as any child would tell you, and as many have already.
Working Mans Coffee Table
Another fun piece built from tools used and parts made from those tools. I pay homage to all those who make things for a living and the tools they use to produce the fruit of their labors.
Fantasma Photonico
Spanish for Ghost of the Light – The various layers of the dichroic show and then hide the layers within it, creating an illusion of what should not be possible, i.e. things that both exist and don’t.
Euclidian Interlude
Named after Euclid – considered the father of geometry. In Euclidian geometry, no two solid objects can occupy the same space simultaneously; these planes intersect each other in ways that should not be possible overlaid with a hand ground pattern that moves with the intersecting light and painted with transparent coloration as another layer of irony.
Fairfax County Public Library’s annual food drive “Read and Feed” is now underway, replacing the “Food for Fines” program.
The county library system is asking residents to drop off “unexpired, commercially produced food items” as well as new, reusable grocery bags and kitchen tools to any of its 23 branches during their regular operating hours.
Last year, “Read and Feed” replaced the “Food for Fines” program after FCPL stopped charging overdue fines on most materials. The program had given library cardholders a reduction on fines based on the number of donated items.
Donations go to the nonprofit Food For Others (FFO), which will then distribute the items across the county. Food For Others provides food to about 3,000 families and meals to 3,500 FCPS students at 44 schools every week, per the county’s press release.
That represents only a small percentage of students in need, though. There are another 13 schools on the waitlist.
There was about a 30% increase in terms of families that FFO helped between 2021 and 2022, FFO’s director of development and outreach Anna Slaten said in a county press release.
It’s anticipated that inflation over the past year will make the need even greater. Relatedly, donations in the summer of 2022 were down 30% from the previous year.
“With inflation, not just our clients are feeling the effects, but our donors are also,” Slaten said.
Additionally, pandemic-era emergency SNAP benefits ended last month, leaving locals looking for even more help.
FFO recently expanded its Merrifield warehouse to address the growing need.
Library branches across the county are accepting pretty much all canned foods, though there are a few items that FFO needs in particular:
- Oil
- Cereal
- Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. – 1 lb.
- Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. – 15 oz.
- Rice, 16 oz. packages
- Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. – 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass)
- Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. – 20 oz.
- Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.)
- Pasta
- Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. – 64 oz.
- New or clean reusable grocery bags
- Can openers
Items not accepted include food that is not labeled, food that’s cooked, opened items, and canned food that is more than three years past its expiration date.
As Wicked Goddess readied for its March 1 opening in the Shops at Avenir Place, founder Rachel Mantha admits she was nervous about how the community would react.
To her relief, residents and other businesses have been fully supportive of the tattoo and body piercing shop since it opened at 2672 Avenir Place, where it sits between a Tropical Smoothie Cafe and MyEyeDr just steps from the Dunn Loring Metro station.
“The local neighborhoods have been super welcoming of us, actually,” Mantha told FFXnow last week. “I was a little concerned whether or not we’d be accepted. You know, tattoo shops…kind of get a bit of a bad rap, but the locals have like been super, super great [about] our presence and stuff there.”
An 11-year veteran of the body art industry who specializes in piercings, Mantha hopes to foster a similarly accepting environment at Wicked Goddess for customers and her all-female team of artists.
As an independent contractor, she was already working under the company name while employed by a different tattoo shop in Fairfax County, but about four years ago, she started contemplating launching her own brick-and-mortar location.
At the time, the body art world was grappling with allegations of abuse, racism and sexual misconduct, as the #MeToo movement spurred customers and artists to share their experiences in an industry that prides itself on being self-regulating and “edgy.”
While she didn’t detail specific experiences, Mantha says many of the artists now at Wicked Goddess came from shops “where not-so-great practices have been established.”
“There’s been a lot of unfortunate events, I guess, is the best way to put it,” she said. “…Unfortunately, a lot of our clients have kind of been in that same boat too, where they came out of a tattoo or a body modification situation feeling like they weren’t heard or like they weren’t actually represented appropriately in their service.”
Wicked Goddess aspires to provide an alternative, inclusive space for female and LGBTQ individuals, as well as people from different cultures. Many of Mantha’s Muslim clients, for instance, will only work with female artists, she says.
Mantha started planning the shop and researching potential locations in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses were required to close. The lack of existing tattoo or piercing shops in the Dunn Loring area and its proximity to Metro made Avenir Place a good fit.
“We wanted to be in a place that was underserved more or less,” Mantha said, noting that many clients and even some staff members “don’t necessarily drive…So, we do get a lot of clients that just having Metro access is super important to them.”
Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, Wicked Goddess has six service bays and currently employs three tattoo artists, along with Mantha as the piercing specialist and a shop manager who’s also Mantha’s apprentice.
The shop is open to walk-in customers, but Mantha recommends that anyone interested in a specific artist make an appointment, since they can get booked up quickly.
While there are no plans at the moment for additional locations, the shop could expand as it adds more artists and potentially outgrows the approximately 1,500-square-foot space.
“Our base has grown in the last few weeks, it seems, and our presence is much better known, which is just really exciting,” Mantha said. “I think everybody is just excited to kind of take on this new project and be a part of something that’s not common in the industry.”
Reopening Date Set for Metro Yellow Line — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced [Tuesday] that the Yellow Line will open again on Sunday, May 7, at the start of rail service. The line has been out of service since September to allow work on the Potomac River tunnel and bridge.” [ALXnow]
Omicron Booster Vaccine Eligibility Expands — “The updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available as a booster dose for children 6 months-4 years old who completed their primary series of three doses.” Just 13% of Fairfax Health District residents under 5 have completed an initial series of Covid vaccinations. [Fairfax County Health Department]
McKay’s Use of County Car Draws Scrutiny — TV news station WJLA claims that Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay has gotten two complaints about his use of a county-owned vehicle. In one, a “concerned woman” saw the car at a community pool on a Sunday, and the other alleged McKay was “speeding and driving recklessly” on Oct. 2, 2021 after a political fundraiser. [ABC7]
McLean Community Center Sets Rules for Facility Visitors — “The new MCC Code of Conduct, adopted by the governing board on March 22, outlines unacceptable behavior and makes sure the public knows that community center staff can take action at their sole discretion against people who violate the Code of Conduct.” [Patch]
Vienna Pushes to Expand Availability of Public Art — “The Vienna Town Council on March 20 unanimously approved the group’s 38-page ‘Vision for Public Art Master Plan,’ which outlined dozens of ways of making the town more aesthetically pleasing and suggested where the improvements could be implemented.” [Gazette Leader]
Graduates of County Innovation Hub Hired by Inova — “Six months after the grand opening of the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) at the Hybla Valley Community Center, several local participants in a training program conducted with Inova Health System have secured jobs with the nonprofit healthcare provider.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Wednesday — Cloudy. Warm. High of 86 and low of 59. Sunrise at 6:47 am and sunset at 7:35 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County wants your food scraps and yard waste.
The county will officially launch its new compost outpost at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
Part of a two-year-long pilot program, the facility consists of two 20-foot-long shipping containers modified so that visitors can drop off organic waste in the dirt-filled receptacles.
“It is designed to create optimal conditions for composting and is a test facility to demonstrate small-scale, decentralized, organics processing,” the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) said in a media advisory.
The pilot will expand the county’s efforts to promote composting, which makes soil healthier by returning nutrients to the earth, reducing erosion and improving its ability to hold water, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
The county has also been accepting food scraps for composting at the I-95 Landfill Complex (9850 Furnace Road) in Lorton and at some farmers markets, though the 2023 season isn’t set to begin until later this month.
The I-66 outpost will process food scraps and yard waste from residents and county facilities, though residents must drop off their collections directly.
“We will not be picking them up for this program,” DPWES spokesperson Sharon North said.
The resulting compost is expected to be initially used at county parks, according to North.
The pilot will help the county determine the facility’s effectiveness and provide a visible demonstration of “the ability…to take a waste product and turn it into a locally sourced and readily available resource that can be used to enhance the community,” said Matt Adams, director of the Solid Waste Management Program in the DPWES Engineering and Environmental Compliance Division.
“The Compost Outpost pilot demonstrates this by utilizing sustainable materials, such as plant material and food scraps that are currently treated as a waste products to be removed from the community, and transforming them into compost that can be used locally,” Adams said in a statement to FFXnow. “This greatly benefits the environment and the county’s overall sustainability goals by lowering emissions through the reduction [of] transportation/processing practices and adds to the resources available within a community.”
Here’s more on the pilot from DPWES:
The two-year pilot was approved by the Department of Environmental Quality and aligns with the county’s Zero Waste Policy by diverting food waste and other organics from municipal waste streams.
Over the course, the operational impacts, as well as the production of the finished compost will be assessed to determine the project’s feasibility and efficacy.
The Compost Outpost pilot will cost approximately $100,000. It is funded by the county’s Zero Waste Team and hosted by the Solid Waste Management Program and its partner, Compost Crew.
More information on the materials accepted for composting can be found on the DPWES website.
As part of Building C, the developer says it will construct part of a new private street called Yard Street from Cornerside Blvd to the entrance of a two-level parking garage at the bottom of the building. The garage will have 269 spaces total, according to the plan.
Yard Street will eventually provide a “right-out only” exit onto Route 7.
Other amenities include a 2,700-square-foot “pocket” park on the opposite corner of Cornerside and Ashgrove, and a 7,000-square-foot urban plaza on the site’s southwest corner. The 0.2 acres provided fall short of the 0.7 acres of park space recommended based on the county’s standards.
At full build-out, Tysons West will have 2.5 acres of park space, including a publicly accessible, recreational park proposed next to the Westwood Village condominiums as part of the Sheraton conversion.
A private courtyard for residents will also be provided inside Building C, according to the application.
In addition, the developer has offered to make streetscape improvements on the north side of Ashgrove Lane — including 6-foot-wide sidewalks and 8.5-foot-wide landscape panels — and construct a 10-foot-wide trail along the building by Leesburg Pike.
“Approval of this FDPA will continue to implement the County’s vision for Tysons by expanding upon the supply of residential housing and advancing its transformation into a transit-oriented mixed-use neighborhood,” Brant wrote.
