County Prosecutor Uses Message-Deleting App — “Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano is using an app called Signal which deletes text messages like Snapchat…Descano is using the Signal app to avoid written communication from being obtained by the public and the press as allowed under the Freedom of Information Act, according to sources close to Descano.” [ABC7]
Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Targeted for Thefts — “On Jan. 14, officers responded to numerous calls for service involving stolen or damaged vehicles in Lorton. The thieves appeared to target Hyundai and Kia vehicles…The increase in calls for service regarding stolen and damaged vehicles is consistent with a pattern seen throughout the county.” [FCPD]
Youngkin Seeks to Require Merit Commendation Notices — “In response to widening concerns about how some northern Virginia school districts handled recognizing student achievements on a standardized test, Gov. Glenn Youngkin called Wednesday for legislation to require student and parental notification about certain scholastic awards.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Deal Closed on Fairfax City Supportive Housing Site — “We closed on our property at the Hy-Way Motel! It’s the future home of our Permanent Supportive Housing development and we could not be more excited! Over the next few days, you’ll see some changes with the building beginning with a fence around the hotel and demolition in the next couple of months.” [The Lamb Center/Facebook]
Mount Vernon Rec Center Renovation Breaks Ground — “A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, for the expansion and renovation of the Mount Vernon Rec Center in Alexandria, Virginia, one of the county’s oldest and most popular Rec Centers.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Local Slug Lines See Drop in Popularity — “Three years into the pandemic, the once-popular slug lines along Interstate 95 are still ailing…On a recent morning, the site of the region’s oldest slug line — Bob’s Slug Line off Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield — was sleepy. Unlike in the old days, there were no lines of passengers waiting and no drivers shouting their destination.” [The Washington Post]
Capital Projects Website Gets Update — The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) has updated its website on capital projects with “a new look and improved functionality.” Changes include a simpler homepage, a central page for all projects, and new search options for finding bids and solicitations. [DPWES]
McLean Community Center Board Election Begins — Petition packets are now available through March 3 for candidates seeking to join the governing board. Candidates must be residents of Small District 1A and obtain 10 signatures endorsing them. There will be three adult seats and two youth seats up for grabs in this year’s election, which will have voting from March 15 through McLean Day on May 20. [MCC]
Mason Neck Park Considers Accessibility Improvements — “At present, there are no accessible paths leading from the parking lot to the play structure or picnic table. Sections of the asphalt trail have buckled from roots growing underneath, and the path’s incline and decline can be challenging for wheelchair users to navigate. Mason Neck Park Manager Lance Elzie is on a mission to change that.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Thursday — Rain until evening. High of 54 and low of 39. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 5:16 pm. [Weather.gov]
The new Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) budget could signal big changes for local schools, including extended availability of school counselors and new middle school athletics programs.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid presented the budget for the 2023-2024 school year at a meeting last Thursday (Jan. 12).
The $3.5 billion budget is a $249.6 million (7.6%) increase over the approved budget for fiscal year 2023, which began July 1, 2022 and ends June 30.
Reid is requesting an additional $159.6 million from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Part of that cost comes from an increase in employee compensation.
According to a release from FCPS, the budget includes:
- $80.9 million to provide a market scale adjustment of 3.0% for all employees.
- $58.2 million to provide a step increase for all eligible employees.
- $19.9 million to provide a 1.0% retention bonus for employees hired in FCPS during FY 2023 and remaining employed with FCPS in FY 2024.
- $4.3 million to provide a step extension for all scales.
Several members of the school board praised the proposed increase for staff compensation.
Another popular item among school board members is funding to provide middle school spring and fall athletic activities.
“You had me at middle school sports,” said Hunter Mill District representative Melanie Meren. “I think about where I grew up and the sports there, and it’s something that’s so missed here…I know this is a significant ask, but we are going to get an incredible investment. I’m eager to work to make this happen.”
Student representative Michele Togbe said the expansion of high school counseling for students into summer break will be a welcome improvement.
“If I could hug a budget, I would hug this budget,” Togbe said. “With the counselors, I think it’s really cool that we’re expanding their contract and their days.”
Other notable investments in the new budget include:
- Increased access to Pre-K: the budget includes $2 million to provide resources for 10 additional Pre-K classrooms.
- Support for students with disabilities: the budget includes $2 million to be allocated to the Special Education Compensatory Services Fund to address learning loss caused by the pandemic
- Changing student enrollment needs: the budget includes a variety of improvements grouped together as “student enrollment needs,” including paying for increased costs in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs and free and reduced-price meals, totaling around $65.2 million for 679.2 positions
The Fairfax County budget will be presented on Feb. 21, followed by a joint meeting of the school board and Board of Supervisors on Feb. 28. Public meetings will be held in April followed by final adoption on May 9 for the county budget and May 25 for the school budget.
A proposal to increase the density of housing along Spring Hill Road just outside McLean is among several applications for potential redevelopment in the immediate Tysons area that Fairfax County will present for public comment at a virtual meeting next month.
In its Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) nomination, Spring Hill Road Investments LLC asks that the county allow three to four dwelling units per acre at 1336, 1340, 1344 and 1348 Spring Hill Road, a stretch of single-family houses between Lewinsville Road and the Dulles Toll Road.
Right now, the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan recommends (page 138) two to three units per acre for the land, which totals 4.97 acres in size and is currently zoned for just one unit per acre.
“The additional density would make redevelopment more consistent with the type of housing one might expect near the Dulles Toll Road as a gateway to the Neighborhoods that adjoin and the assisted living facility across the street of the Property,” Matthew Roberts, an attorney for the applicant, wrote.
If the proposed amendment is accepted, the company says it will seek approval of a “Spring Hill Road Assemblage” townhouse development with up to 19 units and approximately 114,741 square feet of open space.
The development would consolidate the property’s five acres into one parcel and replace the existing driveways with just one vehicular access point on Spring Hill Road.
“Homes and open space could be oriented to create a welcoming ‘entrance’ to the neighborhood along Spring Hill Road,” the application says. “In addition, visitor parking and modern stormwater management systems could be installed to service the site.”
The application argues that townhouses would be preferable to redeveloping the site with detached homes, which would present “minimal opportunities to address transitions to adjacent properties, architectural compatibility, or environmental development techniques for sensitive areas, home construction, or stormwater management.”
The Spring Hill proposal is one of five Tysons-related nominations that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors advanced to the screening phase of its SSPA process, which identifies possible land use changes to the comprehensive plan.
The other requested alterations would:
- Replace the office buildings at 7600 Leesburg Pike in Pimmit Hills with townhouses
- Add an option for housing in The Boro East office complex
- Bring mixed-use development to the Koons auto dealership properties by the Route 123/Route 7 interchange
- Ensure that additional development at Scotts Run, including a potential hotel and senior living facility, will be allowed
The county will host a virtual meeting on the five applications at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The Board of Supervisors accepted a total of 70 SSPA nominations for further review, led by 13 Hunter Mill District proposals. A community meeting focused on the Vienna and Oakton area, including three proposals in Merrifield, is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 25.
After the community meetings wrap up, the Fairfax County Planning Commission will hold a workshop in February where the public will be able to comment. The commission will then decide which applications should be included in the county’s official plan amendment work program, which is expected to go to the board for a vote this spring.
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The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The Town of Vienna wants to give its employees more breathing room — literally.
Some space has been freed up in town hall by the Vienna Police Department’s criminal investigations bureau relocating to its recently completed station. The department’s transition to the new station will be conclude with its communications team moving in by the end of January, according to a spokesperson.
As a result, the town is reorganizing how it uses the town hall building at 127 Center Street South to maximize efficiency and relieve cramped conditions that relegated one worker to a ventilated computer server room, Town Manager Mercury Payton told the Vienna Town Council on Jan. 9.
“[That] probably wasn’t the best thing for his health. We’re going to be moving him out of that area into a vacated space,” Payton said. “So, we’ve already kind of determined internally ourselves some of our best moves, and then we’ve kind of gone as far as we can go.”
To assist with the reconfiguration, the town council approved a $84,900 contract for PMA Architecture to conduct an office space study. The consulting firm was chosen from 10 candidates based on its “innovative yet practical ideas” and experience working with smaller governments, Vienna Finance Director Marion Serfass said.
Built almost 60 years ago, town hall was last renovated in 2014 when it got a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, but there was little consideration of workplace layout at that time — an oversight that became apparent as Covid heightened concerns about the spread of disease.
About 47 employees work out of town hall, not including the 12 recently relocated police personnel, according to a request for proposals issued by the town in August.
While there hasn’t been a huge increase in staff, the services offered by the town have evolved and expanded, Serfass said.
“We’re focusing on economic development, we’re focusing on video content, we’re adding slightly to town hall staff,” she said. “Some of these additions are temporary, but some may become permanent, so town hall staff is sort of bursting at the seams right now.”
The funds for the space study come from Vienna’s American Rescue Plan Act allotment, which can be used to prevent the spread of disease in the workplace. The town previously used federal Covid relief money to install an air filtration system and Plexiglas barriers, among other needs, according to Serfass.
In addition to reviewing room layouts, equipment and storage space, the study will take security needs into account, PMA Architecture Principal Katie Stodghill told the town council.
“I was very pleased to hear you raise the issue of public safety,” Councilmember Ed Somers said. “We live in a different era than we did years ago. We deal with a number of issues where people are frustrated about many things, and their most accessible level of government…is their local government. I do worry often about our staff that are there all the time.”
An exact timeline for the study hasn’t been established yet, but when it’s completed, a final report and the consultant’s recommended solution will be presented to the town council.
Redistricting is going to make a number of state senate races in Fairfax County very interesting this year.
Just like the House of Delegates, every Virginia State Senate seat is up for election in 2023, and like in the Virginia General Assembly’s other chamber, several primaries may be extremely competitive after the 2021 redistricting process shook up electoral boundaries.
Incumbents that could face off
In the newly-drawn District 35, which covers Annandale, Springfield, and George Mason University, two longtime incumbents could be facing off.
Sen. Dave Marsden had been the senator in District 37 since 2010, but redistricting pushed him and about 31% of his constituents into the new district. He announced his bid for reelection a year ago and has been campaigning ever since, a campaign spokesperson told FFXnow.
“He’s knocked doors in more than half of the precincts of the new SD35, and looks forward to continuing to serve the residents of Fairfax,” the spokesperson said.
Marsden’s potential primary opponent, Sen. Dick Saslaw, has been in the senate since 1999, making him its longest-serving current member. He’s also been the Senate majority leader since the Democrats took control in 2020. While redistricting kept Saslaw in the 35th District, only about one-third of his former constituents remain with him.
There have been persistent rumors that the 82-year-old might retire, but no announcement has been made yet. FFXnow reached out to Saslaw about his 2023 intentions but hasn’t heard back as of publication.
Marsden and Saslaw, if he seeks reelection, would also face newcomer and entrepreneur Heidi Drauschak, who declared her candidacy for the Democratic nomination earlier this month.
The newly-drawn District 38, which includes Herndon, Reston, and McLean, could also pair two Democratic incumbents, including one that also has been rumored to retire.
Sen. Jennifer Boysko first became a senator in 2019 after previously serving in the House of Delegates for two terms. She hasn’t officially announced anything about 2023 and didn’t respond to FFXnow’s request for comment, but said last year that she intends to run again.
However, she may have to run against Sen. Janet Howell in the Democratic primary.
Howell has served in the senate for more than two decades, representing District 32. Her former constituents make up nearly half of the new District 38, but there are also similar rumors about her retiring.
Howell didn’t respond to inquiries from FFXnow.
Boysko told FFXnow when the redistricting maps were announced last January that she holds an enormous amount of respect for Howell, calling her “the dean of the Senate” and a “true pioneer for women in government.”
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will have to face Republican Matt Lang in the Nov. 7 general election. Lang challenged Del. Ken Plum in 2021 but lost rather handily.
He told FFXnow that he’s running to break the “blue wall” in the senate, focusing on education policy, public safety, transportation issues and financial mismanagement.
Other potential primary battles
Other primaries that are shaping up to be potentially competitive include District 36, which covers Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, and Fair Oaks.
Stella Pekarsky, who represents the Sully District on Fairfax County’s school board, announced last week that she will challenge for the seat to “stand up” to Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The incumbent is four-term George Barker, though redistricting kept only about 6% of his former constituents in District 36. As a member of the Virginia Redistricting Commission, he came under some fire in 2021 for drawing himself back into a district that, at the time, had no other challengers.
Barker has yet to announce his intentions for 2023. FFXnow has reached out several times but has yet to hear back.
Sen. Adam Ebbin launched his bid for another term earlier this month in District 39, which is mostly in the City of Alexandria but does have about 26,000 Fairfax County residents. He has already picked up a challenger in attorney James Devita, who announced his campaign at a meeting of Arlington Democrats several weeks ago.
DeVita told FFXnow that he’s running because he and Ebbin have “different priorities.” DeVita’s agenda includes decriminalizing drug possession, creating tax credits for electric cars, adding more programs to help those experiencing homelessness, creating jobs, and reducing “extremism” in both parties.
“I have been greatly alarmed by the extremism that currently dominates our political discourse and I want to do whatever I can to protect and preserve our democracy,” he said.
Ebbin told FFXnow he plans to continue to be a “pragmatic, progressive champion for Fairfax in Richmond,” while touting past legislation. This includes legalizing marijuana, reducing illegal evictions, and helping make Virginia the first southern state to ban discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
District 33 is the county’s only district with no incumbent, but the Democratic primary battle is shaping up to be a particularly notable one, with two former state-wide candidates setting their sights on the seat.
Former gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carrol Foy announced she will seek the nomination a full year ago, while one-time aspiring lieutenant governor Hala Ayala declared in March 2022.
A Republican challenger has also emerged in Mike Van Meter. He told FFXnow that his experience in the military, law enforcement, and at a local hospital’s drug and alcohol detoxification unit would help him in the state senate.
Only about a third of the district is in Fairfax County, centered in Burke, with the rest in Prince William County.
Unopposed, for now
Sen. Chap Petersen announced that he will run again in District 37 back in August, seeking to continue representing Fairfax, Tysons and Vienna and adding Falls Church City, thanks to redistricting.
“I do plan to run for re-election in 2023. I plan to keep my focus where it has been for 20 years: speaking up on behalf of children, the elderly and small businesses,” he told FFXnow last week. “I look forward to presenting that record to the voters.”
He currently doesn’t have an opponent. Neither does Sen. Scott Surovell in District 37, which includes Franconia, Belle Haven, Huntington, Hybla Valley, Lorton, and Mason Neck. Prior to redistricting, he also represented parts of Prince William and Stafford counties, but that’s no longer the case.
“I am excited to be reunited with many of my existing neighbors, former constituents from the 44th Delegate District, my former preschool, elementary school, intermediate school, and high school, and I look forward to working for a district that is more of a community than the current fragmented district,” he told FFXnow. “My life in elected public service began in 2009 when I was first elected to the House of Delegates. Aside from a four-year stint in Arlington after law school, I have lived in Eastern Fairfax County my entire life.”
Surovell has served as state senator since 2015 and was a delegate for three terms prior to that.
Besides the Virginia General Assembly, the entire Board of Supervisors, the school board, and the Commonwealth’s Attorney are on the ballot as well this year.
Photo via Doug Kerr/Flickr
Three Firefighters Injured in Gunston House Fire — Three Fairfax County firefighters received minor injuries while tackling a house fire in the 10900 block of Harley Road on Sunday (Jan. 15). A bystander was also treated for unrelated injuries. Ignited by a floor heater, the fire caused an estimated $123,467 in damages, displacing two residents who were out of town when it occurred. [FCFRD]
Huntington Affordable Housing Now Open — “The Arden, a new seven-story, 126-unit multifamily apartment located a block from the Huntington Metro station at 2317 Huntington Avenue and built by award-winning affordable housing developer Wesley Housing, was officially opened Friday, Jan. 13 with a ribbon cutting, speeches and an open house tour.” [On the MoVe]
FCPS Starts Work on School Year Calendar — At a school board work session yesterday, Fairfax County Public Schools presented four calendar options with different break lengths and end dates for the next school year. All of the options cut down on the number of shortened school weeks compared to the current year. [WTOP]
Herndon Police Investigate Robbery — “The victim reported that in the morning hours of Friday, January 13, 2023, he arrived home and upon exiting his vehicle, he was struck in the back of his head. The suspect then displayed a handgun and demanded the victim’s wallet. The victim complied before the suspect ran off in an unknown direction. The case is under investigation.” [Herndon Police]
Gun Seizures Increase at D.C. Area Airports — “Transportation Security Administration officers caught 89 guns at security checkpoints at the Washington region’s three major airports last year, an increase of about 24 percent compared with a year earlier. Officers seized 35 guns at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall, 29 at Reagan National and 25 at Dulles International, the TSA said.” [The Washington Post]
Park Authority Board Chair to Step Down — “Fairfax County Park Authority Board Chairman Bill Bouie has announced his intention to step down as chairman of the Park Authority Board after 14 years of distinguished leadership of that body. Chairman Bouie, will continue his service on the Park Authority Board representing the Hunter Mill District, a post he has held since 2005.” [FCPA]
Winter Coats Still Needed in Reston — “Thank you to everyone who has donated to #HunterMill and @Cornerstonesva Winter Coat Closet. Hundreds of much needed coats have been distributed so far! There is a need for larger men’s winter jackets, esp. 2x/ 3x. If you can, drop off at my office, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr., Reston” [Walter Alcorn/Twitter]
Langley Mansion Sold to Mystery Buyer — “The game of musical mansion chairs in McLean’s Langley Farms has taken another turn. Kirk Galiani, founder and co-chairman of US Fitness, and his wife, Maria, of Galiani Design Group, sold their home Monday…for $10.8 million.” Per the real estate broker, it’s one of the most expensive residential sales in the D.C. region in at least six months. [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 43. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 5:14 pm. [Weather.gov]
A South Korean company that makes cheese out of almond milk hopes to ramp up its U.S. presence, starting with an expansion of its American headquarters in Tysons.
Armored Fresh has committed $125,000 to expanding its offices at 1765 Greensboro Station Place with 27 new marketing and sales employees, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced today.
The expansion will enable the company to increase its footprint in the U.S. through both online sales and brick-and-mortar stores, according to the news release.
“It is gratifying to support the growth of an international company like Armored Fresh, whose success further strengthens Virginia’s standing as a prime global business destination,” Youngkin said. “The company is advancing food technology with its vegan cheese products, and we are proud that this industry innovation is happening right here in the Commonwealth.”
According to Youngkin, Virginia beat out California, Maryland, D.C. and New York to retain Armored Fresh.
Established in 2021, the company claims to be the first in the world to commercialize almond milk-based cheeses. Its cheese is sold in cubed, sliced, shredded and spreadable forms. All products are free of cholestrol, dairy, gluten and genetically modified organisms, according to its website.
The company made its U.S. debut in September, introducing its products to 100 grocery stores in New York City. An official global launch event was held on Oct. 24, and online sales are set to begin this month.
Per Youngkin’s office, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority to keep Armored Fresh’s headquarters. The Virginia Jobs Investment Program will provide consulting services and funding to support the planned new jobs.
In a statement, Armored Fresh CEO Andrew Yu noted that Fairfax County has “a rich history” in the dairy industry. The county was once home to more dairy farms than anywhere else in Virginia, a legacy kept alive at historic sites like Frying Pan Farm Park and Historic Blenheim.
“Armored Fresh is very excited to bring great-tasting, zero-dairy cheese that everyone can enjoy,” Yu said. “…Northern Virginia and Fairfax County has a rich history in dairy and is advancing in tech innovation. We’re glad to make Fairfax County our home and be part of the vibrant business and innovation community.”
State and local officials alike praised the news:
“As a trailblazer in vegan food production, Armored Fresh will grow its U.S. market presence with this expansion in Fairfax County,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “Virginia’s food and beverage processing industry is one of the Commonwealth’s fastest growing sectors, and we thank Armored Fresh for its investment and job creation as part of that roster.”
“I am thrilled to see an innovator like Armored Fresh expand its Fairfax County headquarters, creating jobs and growing its business capacity,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “Their environmentally sustainable approach to healthy food is an example of the type of forward-thinking companies that make their home here, and I especially appreciate the expansion of our economic ties with South Korea.”
“I am pleased to hear that Armored Fresh, the U.S. brand of a leading South Korean food tech company, will expand its headquarters in Fairfax County,” said Senator Janet Howell. “The vegan food business has been growing rapidly in the US and this will be a welcome expansion to that market. I commend the Virginia team that secured Fairfax County as the location for this opportunity.”
“I am excited to hear that Armored Fresh, the first almond milk-based vegan cheese brand, is expanding its headquarters in McLean with a $125,000 investment that will bring new jobs to Fairfax County,” said Delegate Holly Seibold. “Armored Fresh is on the forefront of innovation, creating a healthy, environmentally friendly alternative to dairy cheese. I am proud to support innovative, job-creating local businesses like Armored Fresh and I’m looking forward to ordering their products online soon.”
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
A couple of times a year I put together a client appreciation event to thank past and current clients, as well as friends that refer new clients to me. For the first time, I’m holding a Junk Haul and Shredding event. So please consider yourself invited!
When: Saturday, February 11 from 9-11 a.m.
Where: The Parking Lot at George Yeonas Park (otherwise known as Vienna Little League)
What: If it fits in your car, bring it!
The event is being co-sponsored by Jon Okun at Prosperity Mortgage.
Junk Haul and Shredding is provided by It’s Haul Good. Here are the guidelines for what’s accepted:
Junk & Donations
- Junk or donations accepted include any household items or very small furniture/appliances. Quantity accepted per individual can not exceed one car’s trunk space worth of items.
- Cannot accept large furniture items, household chemicals or paints, or building materials.
- Attendees of this event can schedule a crew to come pick up larger items or volume at a later date for 10% off our normal rates!
What about clothes?
Absolutely, we can take clothes since we will be heading to a donation center anyways!
Can you take electronics and old TV’s?
Yes, we can take old electronics, old televisions, and other electronics. However, we will not be offering data destruction for this event, so any hard drives or stored data (tablets, desktop cpu’s, cell phones) will not be wiped and therefore could be compromised. We recommend that folks drop these off at e-cycling centers like Potomac E-Cycle for larger items, or for smaller devices, the convenient locations of ecoATM.
Shredding Guidelines
- Secure Containers, Shredded Off-Site
- No hard drives or CD’s accepted
- No Certificate of Destruction provided on-site
- Additional list of items that are NOT accepted — Butane/Propane Tanks, Chemicals, Cleaning Products, Electronics, Fertilizers, Motor Oil, Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Roofing Material, Wet Paint
NOTE: If you have shelf stable food that is NOT expired, please bring it! We’ll collect it all and drop a donation to Food for Others after the event.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or by phone at 703-283-6120.
Also, please pray it doesn’t snow! If there is snow or ice, please check my Instagram or Facebook page for information on cancellation!
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
A neurological disease that’s fatal to deer has been detected in Fairfax County for the first time ever.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was found in an adult male deer killed by a hunter in the Vienna area this past October, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) reported Friday (Jan. 13).
The department says it confirmed the diagnosis with a sample obtained shortly after the deer was taken to a taxidermist in late October
“At the time of harvest, no outward signs of disease were noted, and the deer appeared to be in good condition,” DWR said in a news release. “Because this is the first CWD-positive detection in Fairfax County, a county bordering Disease Management Area 2 (DMA2), the DWR conducted an extensive forensic investigation to confirm the harvest location of this deer.”
Disease Management Area 2 encompasses Loudoun, Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange, Page, Rappahannock counties, where four instances of the disease — including one in Loudoun County — were detected during the 2021-2022 deer-hunting season.
First detected in Virginia in 2009, CWD is caused by an infectious protein called a prion that get transmitted to deer through saliva, feces, and urine from infected deer as well as through contaminated soil, according to DWR.
It can take months or even over a year after being exposed for infected deer to show symptoms, which include “staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss,” the department says.
While the disease isn’t known to be infectious or dangerous to humans, pets or livestock, DWR advises all hunters with deer from CWD-positive areas to get them tested and avoid eating meat from animals that test positive.
The department also recommends against transporting deer carcasses or parts with brain or spinal cord tissue from Fairfax County to an area where CWD hasn’t been detected before. Deer parts should be put in double bags and disposed of in a landfill or a trash bin, where they can be collected.
The state says it won’t make any regulatory changes in response to the CWD detection in Fairfax County until after the current hunting season, but drop sites where deer heads can be taken for CWD testing will be added before the next season. Right now, the closest options are in Loudoun.
Though deer-hunting season is mostly over in Virginia, Fairfax County is one of several localities included in the state’s urban archery program, which restricts hunters to deer without antlers and lasts through March 26.
In an effort to manage local deer populations, Fairfax County is allowing hunting with bows and arrows at over 100 parks in its 2022-2023 archery season, which runs through Feb. 18. Testing for CWD has been conducted throughout the county in recent years as part of its deer management program.
“Since the 2019-2020 season, over 750 deer have been tested, with this being the only detection to date in the county,” DWR said.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s wildlife management staff, which has been assisting with CWD surveillance efforts since 2019, will work with DWR to “determine any new rules or regulatory changes that will occur.” It will also help identify testing options for hunters participating in the county archery program or on private property.
This has evidently been a year for new diseases in local nature. Last week, the county announced that beech leaf disease has been found in three parks, putting one of the area’s most common tree species at risk.
