Rainy Day Ahead — “Rain spreads over the area during the morning and becomes heavy at times during the midday to afternoon. Any isolated pockets of freezing rain well west or northwest dwindle quickly. Rain could even linger through the evening. Pretty much a washout.” [Capital Weather Gang]
New Park Now Open in Bailey’s Crossroads — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has achieved substantial completion on the development of Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church. The ADA-accessible park includes a picnic pavilion, open play area, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, playground, community gardens, trails and parking.” [FCPA]
Local Families Struggle to Find Child Care — “Across Fairfax County, families have faced a challenging child care environment since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the county’s plans to add more child care facilities and spaces in coming years…The county will soon have one fewer daycare center when Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (IMVH) closes its onsite child care provider” [On the MoVe]
Murder Charge in Rose Hill Man’s Death Dismissed — “A Fairfax County judge on Tuesday dismissed the second-degree murder charge against a man who had been accused of fatally assaulting his 82-year-old father, ruling that investigators had not gathered adequate probable cause to move the case forward.” [The Washington Post]
Bill Would Require Notification of School Employee Arrests — “Law enforcement and court officials would be required to notify Virginia school systems any time a school employee gets arrested under a bill introduced ahead of the 2023 General Assembly session…The bill comes months after a Fairfax County middle school guidance counselor remained employed by the state’s largest school system, despite an arrest and conviction.” [WTOP]
Frying Pan House Fire Started with Ashes — “House fire 12/19/22 at 2:12 p.m., in 13000 block of New Austin Court in Frying Pan area. Cause: improperly discarded firepit ashes inside of plastic trash garage. Damages: $5K. No injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
County Maps Out Food Inspections — “A map-based food inspection report app provides instant access to thousands of inspection reports conducted by the Health Department. The environmental health team permits and then inspects more than 3,500 retail food establishments within Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.” [Fairfax County Government]
Bicycle Ride Raises Funds for Veteran Suicide Awareness — “A 435-mile bike ride for veteran suicide awareness that started in Springfield, Virginia has raised nearly $4,000 in just four days…U.S. Navy veteran Jake Welch completed his second cycling challenge in November to help bring attention to veteran suicide and raise funds for Hope For The Warriors.” [ABC7]
It’s Thursday — Rain throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 34. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 4:52 pm. [Weather.gov]
A major winter storm is headed for the D.C. area, just in time to disrupt holiday travel.
While the snow and ice created by a “bomb cyclone” is expected to stay further west, Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area are in for a downpour, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS has already issued a Flood Watch for the region that’s set to be in effect from 11 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) to 1 a.m. Friday (Dec. 23).
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY
NIGHT…* WHAT…Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…DC and portions of Maryland and northern Virginia, including the following areas: District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Cecil, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Fairfax and Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park.
* WHEN…From Thursday morning through late Thursday night.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Moderate rainfall is expected Thursday into Thursday evening, with rainfall totals of one to two inches. This may lead to isolated instances of flooding, especially in urban and poor drainage areas.
The Virginia Department of Transportation advises those planning to travel for Christmas to leave today instead of tomorrow, particularly if they’re going to be in the western half of the state.
“Crews have already begun pretreating and brining the roads and will begin deploying trucks early Thursday morning to treat roads as needed,” VDOT said in an advisory.
The department also warned that temperatures are expected to plummet into Friday, meaning fallen rain might refreeze into ice. Forecasts indicate this weekend may be the coldest Christmas in decades.
#NOVA fam – take 70 seconds to get the #WinterWeather update you need before #WinterTravel! We've got precipitation and LOW temps headed our way soon
@VaDOT @NWS_BaltWash @VDEM pic.twitter.com/O9sUTMNyul
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) December 21, 2022
The project to extend the I-495 Express Lanes north toward the American Legion Bridge has been under construction for half a year now, but some McLean residents remain as determined as ever to fight the Beltway’s encroachment into their neighborhoods.
Residents along Live Oak Drive in particular have consistently argued that they will face the most disruptions from the I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) without getting the congestion relief benefits touted by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The latest blow came at the sight of workers cutting down trees that serve as a buffer between Live Oak and two existing I-495 (Capital Beltway) and George Washington Memorial Parkway ramps.
VDOT says the tree clearings were necessary to make room for the Beltway widening, a new retaining wall adjacent to I-495, and a planned noise wall adjacent to Live Oak Drive. But residents fear the redesigned interchange will be a new “Mixing Bowl,” the tangle of ramps and overpasses where I-495, I-395 and I-95 meet in Springfield.
“VDOT/Transurban are trying to shove through a new ‘Springfield Mixing Bowl’ right here in McLean,” Northern Virginia Citizens Association President Debra Butler said in a recent email to members. “Future demolition and construction will impact both sides of 495 at Georgetown Pike, Live Oak Drive, Langley Swim Club, Scotts Run Nature Preserve with a new ‘McLean Mixing Bowl’ with ramps as high as 271 feet [above sea level].”
Discussions of potential legislation underway
Organized in opposition to 495 NEXT, the association held a meeting at the Langley Swim & Tennis Club on Friday (Dec. 16) to discuss the tree removals and their issues with the project’s size.
Attendees at the meeting included Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-34) and state Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31), who have started talking to Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III about options for addressing resident concerns.
The association has suggested allowing commercial trucks in the I-495 Express Lanes, where they’re currently prohibited, and having them get on and off in Tysons instead of McLean, eliminating the need for some flyover ramps.
VDOT says a planned exchange ramp allowing vehicles to exit the toll lanes at the GW Parkway is intended for all vehicles, though one purpose is to give trucks from Maryland access to the general purpose lanes.
Legislators could also introduce a bill with new controls on public-private partnerships like the one between VDOT and express lanes operator Transurban, improving transparency and limiting their ability to substantially change a project’s design after a public hearing, Butler says.
Murphy confirmed she and Favola are having discussions about potential legislation, but no concrete proposals have formed yet, even with a Jan. 1 deadline to submit bills for the 2023 General Assembly session looming.
“Those are certainly things we are going to bring to the attention of the secretary of transportation to see what possibilities are available, and as soon as we finish those conversations, we’ll have a better idea,” she told FFXnow.
GW Parkway design questioned
In the works since 2018, 495 NEXT will extend the Beltway’s toll lanes about 2.5 miles from the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons to the GW Parkway. Around the parkway, the project will add a Live Oak Drive bridge further to the south, two more ramps for the express lanes, and three stormwater ponds.
The interchange’s design has noticeably evolved since VDOT held a virtual public hearing on the project in October 2020, with a ramp from the northbound I-495 toll lanes to the GW Parkway moving from the east side of the Beltway to the west side by Live Oak Drive.
VDOT said at a virtual meeting on June 6 that it tweaked the design to reduce the impact of the ramps on the adjacent neighborhood, but a portion of Live Oak Drive will still be shifted to the west and narrowed to 22 feet wide with no sidewalks.
“[If] two cars come down for a Langley swim meet, if there’s an emergency, they’re not going to be able to get emergency vehicles” through, Butler told FFXnow.
According to VDOT, the two new ramps will be built within its existing right of way and “in the same area as the current interchange.” The design assumes that Maryland will eventually build toll lanes on its side of the Beltway as part of a joint agreement to replace the aging American Legion Bridge.
“The design of the interchange is such that when Maryland’s project moves forward, Maryland will be able to construct necessary ramp connections within the existing interchange footprint,” VDOT said.
Fears that Maryland won’t follow through on its half of the accord were further cemented last month when an approval vote got delayed. In addition to improving congestion more than 495 NEXT will on its own, the Maryland project is supposed to provide parts of the future GW Parkway interchange — including the noise wall for Live Oak Drive.
Though the interchange was presented as a two-phase endeavor at the 2020 public hearing, the Northern Virginia Citizens Association and even some elected officials have accused VDOT of being unclear about the extent of Maryland’s anticipated work in Virginia and its potential impact residents.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, who represents McLean, says VDOT has shown on past projects that it’s willing to address issues raised by the community, but that hasn’t been the case with 495 NEXT.
“Unfortunately, on the current I-495 NEXT project, the VDOT team has demonstrated almost no sensitivity to community concerns,” Foust said in a statement to FFXnow. “The lack of good faith effort by VDOT and its partner, Transurban, to address and mitigate impacts of the current project on long established residential neighborhoods, recreational facilities, and parks is unacceptable, surprising and very disappointing.”
A VDOT spokesperson says the project team has worked to minimize its impact on local neighborhoods. The design presented in June slightly reduced Live Oak Drive’s shift and preserved parking for the Langley Swim Club.
She also said VDOT provided notice of the planned tree clearings online and through flyers distributed to residences on Live Oak Drive. Additional clearings are expected in early 2023.
Though her house isn’t right on Live Oak, Butler says she can hear traffic on the Beltway, and the noise has worsened since the trees were removed. Quipping that she’s petitioning to have the road renamed “Dead Oak Drive,” she noted that VDOT hasn’t committed to replacing the trees or adding a sound wall if Maryland backs out.
“Our neighborhood is lost. It’s done, it’s dead,” Butler said. “…We’re too late, but we have an opportunity to maybe save other parts of Virginia, because this is driven by builders and lobbyists…It’s a big plan to get in the end what they want, which is projects that cost a lot of money and that go on forever.”
One of the two individuals arrested at Tysons Corner Center on Sunday (Dec. 18) will face several charges, mostly related to possession of a gun that police say was reported stolen in Prince William County.
The Fairfax County Police Department said Monday that a 16-year-old from Centreville has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a person underage, possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a stolen firearm and obstruction of justice.
The teen is one of three people sought by police in connection to a robbery in Arlington County. A second person taken into custody on Sunday — a man — has been released, according to the FCPD.
“Officers continue to work with Arlington County Police to positively identify the third suspect and determine if additional charges will be sought,” the department said.
UPDATE: Tysons Urban Team officers charged a 16-year-old teen from Centreville after yesterday’s arrest at the Tysons Corner Center. Officers continue to work with @ArlingtonVaPD & assist with their investigation. pic.twitter.com/CPei0BvFKm
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 19, 2022
According to the FCPD, an off-duty Arlington County police officer notified its Tysons Urban Team (TUT) at 7:54 p.m. on Sunday that they saw three people “believed to possibly be involved” in a robbery in that neighboring county.
“TUT officers waited for the three men to exit the mall and attempted to take them into custody,” the FCPD said. “The men ran back into the mall. Two of the men were taken into custody.”
No shots were fired, but social media reports of people running in the mall led to unfounded rumors of an active shooter. Police later said there were no gunshots or evacuation, though a gun was recovered in the arrest.
An Arlington County Police Department spokesperson said last night that a person had been robbed, but no further details about the robbery investigation could be shared due to a need “to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation.”
“The investigation into the Arlington County robbery is ongoing and no charges have been sought at this time,” APD spokesperson Ashley Savage said.
FBI HQ Search Almost Holds Up Bill to Fund Federal Government — “The biggest hold-up to releasing the text on Monday came, instead, from a dispute among Democrats…related to the location of the FBIs new headquarters.” Senators clashed over whether to add language that would favor Maryland in the site selection process or to stick with guidelines that would give Virginia an edge. [Politico]
Sushi Takeout Coming to Inova — Hissho Sushi Inc. “will launch five franchise locations at Inova Health System hospitals, including Inova Fairfax Hospital, where it applied in November to open a carryout only location serving more than 100 prepared meals a day, according to Fairfax County permit data. The first of the five is set to open next month at Inova’s Gallows Road campus” [Washington Business Journal]
Turnout Low in 35th District Race — “Turnout has been low during the early voting period in Fairfax County, Virginia, as voters choose a candidate to replace Mark Keam, the longtime Democratic state delegate who resigned in September…Early voting started Nov. 23; Election Day is Jan. 10.” [WTOP]
Fundraiser Helps Daycare Director After Fort Belvoir Area Crash — “Gianna Grizmala, the director at the Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning in Landsdown was the recent recipient of a new car after hers was totaled by a driver running a red light near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Beulah Street in Virginia, courtesy of a GoFundMe campaign that was launched on her behalf.” [Daily Voice]
Sheriff Who Died From Covid Gets Mortgage Paid Off — “The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has fully paid off the mortgage on the home of fallen Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Frederick Henry Cameron Jr. as part of its annual Season of Hope Campaign. Sgt. ‘Butch’ Cameron died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty at the Fairfax County Judicial Center.” [WUSA9]
Local Students Graduate From Public Health Program — “The Fairfax County Health Department, together with Edu-Futuro and Stronger2, honored 14 Fairfax County high school students as the inaugural graduates of the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program. The educational and empowerment program connects local high school students from communities of color with public health careers.” [FCHD]
Weigh in on Use of Covid Relief Funds for Homeless Services — The Consolidated Community Funding Advisory Committee (CCFAC) will hold a virtual public hearing on Jan. 10, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. to get input on Fairfax County’s proposed HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)-American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation plan. The county got $7.88 million “from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to address homelessness assistance and supportive services.” [Housing and Community Development]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 41 and low of 28. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 4:51 pm. [Weather.gov]
There will be kebabs galore at the Mosaic District in Merrifield this afternoon.
Kirby Club, a new restaurant concept from the owners of Compass Rose and Maydān in D.C., will open its doors at 4 p.m. today, as first reported by Washingtonian.
Serving up eastern Mediterranean food, with a particular focus on kebabs, the restaurant is at 2911 District Avenue in the spot formerly occupied by Jinya Ramen Bar, which moved to a larger space a couple of doors down this summer.
“Kirby is the gathering, a celebration,” co-owner Rose Previte said. “It’s the joy of community and family and a sense of belonging. It’s our healing after Covid. We lost it for a long time and now that we have it back we crave and cherish the joy that coming together brings us.”
Kirby Club is the first Virginia location for Previte and fellow owner Mike Schuster, who developed the concept with co-founder and partner Mayu Horie. The team also includes Chef Omar Hegazi, whose previous work includes a tenure as sous chef at Bourbon Steak in D.C.’s Four Seasons hotel.
Initially called Tawle after the Arabic word for “table,” the concept was renamed to avoid confusion with Maydān’s “tawle” menu and pay tribute to a Lebanese American social club that Previte’s grandparents started in Akron, Ohio, in 1933.
According to a press release, Previte’s grandparents wanted to name the club after their home village of Kherbet Khanafar in Lebanon, but they figured it might be a handful to pronounce, leading to “Kirby Club” as a nickname.
“The club was created to preserve culture while fully embracing life in America,” the press release said. “Wherever the gathering, food was at the center, bonding old and new, heritage and new generations to foods made anew with American twists and local ingredients.”
Here’s more from the press release on Kirby Club’s food and drink offerings:
The menu revolves around kebabs, a universal love language shared across multiple countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. At the heart of the menu are Chef Hegazi’s Kebabs including Dukka Shrimp marinated in sesame, hibiscus, coriander and Chicken Shish Taouk with garlic, cumin and fenugreek. Guests can opt for a Kebab Shindig, a full-blown kebab party with one of each kebab plus dips and spreads like Havuc, a seasonal carrot dip with garlic and lemon, or Bessara made of fava beans, tahina and cilantro. To share or split, there are Picnic Platters such as the Beef Rib with cumin, allspice, Aleppo pepper, pomegranate, pickles, sweet & spicy harissa, as well as a wide range of shareable starters like Falafel, fava beans, parsley, coriander, sumac onions, bread, pink tahina.
To complement the food, house-crafted cocktails include the Wanderer of WANA made with tequila, orange blossom, mango, lime, sumac-Aleppo salt; and large-format cocktails including Camellia Kirby made with gin, apricot tea, campari +vermouth.
The restaurant will be open from 4-10 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Other recent arrivals at the Mosaic District include Neuhaus Belgian Chocolate and Junction Bistro and Bar, which both opened this past fall.
Fairfax County is poised to halve Fairfax Connector fares for low-income riders, beginning in February, through a pilot program.
The Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) is a state grant initiative that aims to increase transit ridership. Reduced fares would only apply to individuals whose annual income is at or below 225% of the federal poverty level by household size. That would put the eligibility cap around $29,000 for an individual or $59,625 for a family of four.
The state awarded the county roughly $5.5 million for a three-year pilot program, which includes a county share of $4.2 million.
But at a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ transportation committee meeting last week, staff and board members concurred that permanently cutting fares for the bus system was not a financially prudent decision and could impact quality of service.
Instead, staff recommended continuing the county’s existing free fare programs, including free student bus passes and reduced fares for seniors and passengers with disabilities. Other programs include free transfers to and from WMATA bus and rail service and free rides for children under 4.
Staff also recommended expanding free fare to children between ages 5 and 11 with a paying adult.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay said that he supported the recommendation.
“I do think if we were to go full fare free, I am worried out about our capacity issues to be able to accommodate and degradation of service that may come as a result of that,” he said.
However, he said he was concerned that only up to two children could be eligible for free fares when traveling with a parent or guardian, asking the county to examine removing that cap.
Fairfax County Director of Transportation Tom Biesadny said his department would gladly look into the issue — which has remain untouched since the service began.
Bus fare reductions and eliminations have gained momentum in the D.C. region, as local leaders look to encourage the use of transit after ridership tumbled due to the pandemic. D.C. will waive Metrobus fares starting July 1, and Alexandria’s DASH system has been fare-free since fall 2021, though the operating costs may not be sustainable long-term.
John Zarbo of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation noted that while free fares would provide equitable access, increase ridership and cut fare collection cost, the possible repercussions were more severe.
Consequences include the loss of roughly $9 million in yearly ridership revenue, an increase in non-destination riders that could lead to security issues, and possible Title VI civil rights concerns on the impact of free fares to non-economically disadvantaged riders.
Staff also noted that the county would lose data specific to riders or fare categories because of the lack of a fare box, and the program could result in an inequitable benefit to county riders with only Metrobus options.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said she hopes the county will continue to find ways to invest in the program.
“We’re building lifelong riders,” she said.
When Fairfax County Public Schools resumes classes in January, students and staff may once again be required to wear face masks — but only around students with disabilities who request the accommodation.
Virginia settled a lawsuit last week with parents of 12 immunocompromised students who argued that the end of Covid-related face mask requirements in schools violated their right to a free, appropriate public education.
As part of the settlement, the state agreed that, if requested by a parent, schools must allow “some amount of required masking as a reasonable modification” under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Virginia Department of Education was directed to send guidance on “peer masking” to the schools attended by students in the lawsuit, including Stenwood Elementary School in Dunn Loring.
“The health and well-being of our students and staff remain a top priority. FCPS is aware of this settlement and is currently assessing how it impacts operations,” FCPS said in a statement.
The settlement only directly applies to the specific schools attended by the plaintiffs’ kids, who have asthma, cystic fibrosis and other conditions that put them at high risk of getting severely sick if they contract COVID-19.
However, when announcing the settlement on Dec. 12, the ACLU of Virginia — one of several organizations representing the parents — expressed hope that it will signal to other schools that they should consider requiring masks when needed for students with disabilities as well.
“We’re hopeful that every school in Virginia will view this settlement as a sign that they should make similar accommodations for their students, even if they are not part of the case,” ACLU of Virginia Legal Director Eden Heilman said.
The complaint was filed in federal court in Charlottesville on Feb. 1, shortly after Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order making masks optional in schools took effect.
FCPS and six other school districts sued Youngkin in an effort to block the order, arguing that universal masking was still necessary as the country was just starting to exit the biggest surge in COVID-19 cases of the pandemic.
That lawsuit was rendered moot once a bill requiring schools to allow parents to opt their kids out of wearing a mask became law on Feb. 16. FCPS made masks optional on March 1, though the school board filed a brief supporting the families who sued.
Acknowledging an initial court ruling from March, the settlement says the state law and executive order don’t prohibit schools from considering and fulfilling mask requirement requests to accommodate students with disabilities.
Under the agreement, schools are expected to look at alternatives, such as ventilation improvements or social distancing, before requiring masks. They must also “take every reasonable step” to ensure a student whose parents don’t want them to wear a mask doesn’t have to.
The settlement also required the state to pay $295,000 to cover the suing parents’ legal fees.
“This settlement is a step toward righting a wrong,” Tasha Nelson, one of the parents, said. “Children like mine should not be told they cannot participate safely in school or that they have to be segregated. They have a right to the same education as every other child. As adults, it’s our responsibility to make sure that we include everyone in our decisions and come up with solutions that provide equity in school.”
While Covid cases haven’t gotten close to last winter’s levels, they have been climbing over the past few weeks, with the Fairfax Health District averaging 260.3 cases per day for the preceding week, as of yesterday (Monday).
FCPS has reported a total of 5,969 cases among students and staff since this school year began on Aug. 22 — exceeding the 3,669 cases seen over the same time frame in 2021. Students are now on winter break until Jan. 3.
Photo via Mika Baumeister/Unsplash
Explosion Reported at Navy Federal Building in Vienna — “Units responded 800 blk of Follins Ln SE, Vienna for reports of an explosion. A mechanical issue w/ fire protection system resulted in buildup of pressure causing moderate damage to several floors. No injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
County Library Sees More than 10 Million Book Checkouts — “For the seventh year in a row, Fairfax County Public Library has ranked among a handful of public libraries with more than 2 million digital checkouts for the year, and the library is on track to record just over 10 million loans overall for 2022. But what do those loans look like?” [FCPL]
Dead Man Found in Fairfax Portable Toilet — “The body of a deceased man was found early Saturday morning in a portable toilet behind the Sherwin-Williams and CVS in the Westfair Shopping Center, a City of Fairfax Police spokeswoman confirmed on Monday.” Police said no foul play was suspected. [Patch]
Brace for Coldest Christmas in Decades — “An explosive storm system is slated to develop in the Washington area late in the workweek, bringing a combination of wind and cold to create the coldest Christmas holiday in several decades…The Washington area is primarily in the warm sector of the storm, which will limit wintry weather but mean plenty of rain.” [The Washington Post]
Woodlawn Is Getting a Dunkin’ Donuts — “Construction has begun on a next-generation Dunkin’ restaurant at Woodlawn Shopping Center. Slated to open in the first quarter of 2023, the establishment will feature several new features and technologies designed to improve the customer experience, according to a Dunkin’ spokesperson.” [On the MoVe]
Local Giant Pharmacies Offer Flu Testing — Giant Food now has on-site testing for the flu and strep throat, available to people 3 and older, at its pharmacies in Springfield and Reston. The chain said “it is the first grocery retail pharmacy in the region to offer flu and strep throat testing to customers.” [Patch]
Virginia Could Look at NFL Stadium Again — “The Washington Commanders may yet be welcome in Virginia, as Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has proposed spending $500,000 to study ways to encourage the NFL franchise to build a stadium in the state after lawmakers rebuffed the team earlier this year.” [The Washington Post]
Top Oakton Student Athlete’s Number Retired — “One of the most well-known athletes in the history of the Flint Hill School was at the Oakton campus Dec. 16…A 1987 graduate of the private high school, now-Atlanta resident Dennis Scott returned for a ceremony to retire his basketball jersey No. 24 for a second time.” [Sun Gazette]
It’s Tuesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 39 and low of 27. Sunrise at 7:24 am and sunset at 4:51 pm. [Weather.gov]
Winter is coming, and with temperatures projected to top out in the 30s and low 40s next week, staying warm will soon become even more of a challenge for many Fairfax County residents.
To help those in need get through the season, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik’s office will launch a winter clothes drive today (Monday), collecting coats, gloves and hats of all sizes for donation to local shelters.
New and gently used items are being accepted until Jan. 19 at the Providence District Office (3001 Vaden Drive), which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. A flyer says additional drop-off locations will be shared, but as of press time, the office was still waiting to confirm the other sites, including one at Tysons Corner Center.
“Holding donation drives is an opportunity for people to get involved and give back to the community,” Palchik said in an emailed statement. “What some may deem as a small donation is a big help to those in need. The collected winter gear will be donated not only to our unsheltered community members but also those who may not be able to afford them.”
For the drive, Palchik’s office has teamed up with the Providence Community Center, local homeowners’ associations, and the Tysons Community Alliance, which was formed in October to replace the Tysons Partnership as a nonprofit organization that advocates for the area and guides its evolution.
Recipients of the winter clothing donations will include The Lamb Center, a shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness located on the border of Oakton and Fairfax, and Tysons-based Second Story, which focuses on helping kids, teens and families.
While this drive will support Providence District residents, including Tysons, Oakton, Merrifield and the area around Fairfax, the North County Government Center will host a final drop-off date for Reston’s annual Winter Coat Closet on Jan. 14.
Photo via Eli Pluma/Unsplash
