An artificial intelligence startup is expanding its headquarters in West Falls Church by investing $1.4 million and creating 117 new jobs.
Enabled Intelligence, Inc., a company that provides secure data labeling services to enable artificial intelligence operations, will add more than 10,000 square feet of space to its current offices at 6400 Arlington Blvd, just outside Seven Corners, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced today (Wednesday).
Unclassified space is also planned.
“We are excited to expand our operations here in Virginia,” Enabled Intelligence Inc. CEO Peter Kant said. “Our Fairfax County home is close to our federal customers, and we are able to draw on the highly qualified Virginia workforce of high-tech neurodiverse professionals and military veterans.”
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority worked with the state’s economic development partnership to secure the project for Virginia.
Here’s more from what state and county leaders had to say about the expansion:
“I am pleased to once again see a major technology innovator expanding its operations in Fairfax County,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “This growth in AI applications from a company that also capitalizes on the tremendous workforce diversity of our County is a perfect example of how next-generation companies headquartered here are leading the way.”
“We are honored to have Enabled Intelligence expand their presence here in Fairfax County,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). “The opportunities they offer to our diverse populations is extraordinary, and their efforts shine as a bright example of the true spirit of inclusion, upon which we continue to build our thriving business community.”
“Accelerating the transition of start-ups is one of my administration’s goals, and the expansion of businesses such as Enabled Intelligence in Fairfax County is key to our economic development strategy,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We are proud to support this homegrown Virginia business and remain committed to fostering a business climate and training a workforce that supports our corporate partners of all sizes.”
Photo via Google Maps
I-66 Lane Shift in Fairfax Area Starts Today — “The travel lanes on I-66 West and East between Route 50 and Route 286 (Fairfax County Parkway) will be shifted into a new configuration during the early morning hours Wednesday, September 21, and Thursday, September 22. These temporary lane configurations are part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.” [VDOT]
First X-Men Among Items Stolen From Local Comic Book Store — Tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of comic books were stolen from Victory Comics in Falls Church City early yesterday (Tuesday) morning, police reported. Store founder and president Jeff Weaver said the losses include rare, vintage comics and could total as much as $100,000, though police put the estimate at over $40,000. [NBC4]
Gun Law Promoted With County Bus Signage — “Fairfax County officials gathered outside of the government center Tuesday morning as part of the county’s campaign to raise awareness of Virginia’s red flag law…Last week, the county installed “Speak Up To Prevent A Gun Tragedy” signs on all 334 Connector buses. About 30,000 riders use Connector buses every day, according to a transportation official.” [Patch]
Decision on Mosaic Skating Rink Pushed Back Again — “The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) on Sept. 14 again deferred its decision on a proposal to allow temporary roller- and ice-skating rinks in Merrifield’s Mosaic District so the applicant could get more input from nearby businesses and residents.” [Sun Gazette]
Lorton Man Arrested for Business Robberies — Fairfax County police have arrested a 19-year-old Lorton resident for three commercial robberies on Aug. 14, 25 and 27. Targeted business include a Tobacco Hut in Springfield as well as a Sunoco and 7-Eleven in Lorton, though the department is still investigating whether the man was involved in other incidents. [FCPD]
New Sully Community Center Makes Debut — “On Saturday, Sept. 17, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and community leaders celebrated the opening of the new Sully Community Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Grand Opening Celebration.” [NCS]
Braddock Senior Housing Project Lands Funding — The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) recently issued $8 million in bonds for a project to build 80 units of affordable housing for adults 62 and older. Developed by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, the apartments will replace the former Northern Virginia Training Center at 9901 Braddock Road. [Fairfax County Government]
Private McLean School Opens New Building — The Langley School celebrated 80 years with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 6 for its new Crossroads Building. “The 40,000-square-foot facility was designed to support student learning, promote an inviting campus community, and position the school as a national leader in preschool-through-eighth-grade education.” [Sun Gazette]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 84 and low of 64. Sunrise at 6:57 am and sunset at 7:09 pm. [Weather.gov]
A developer that turns aging, underused office buildings into apartments designed for residential and work use has set its sights on a property in Tysons just east of the Capital Beltway.
Madison Highland hopes to repurpose the offices at 2000 Corporate Ridge into about 236 live/work units that would range in size from 500 to 2,000 square feet, according to a rezoning application recently submitted to Fairfax County.
Built in 1985, the 10-story office building is an ideal candidate for a live/work conversion, the developer says, citing its “sustained vacancy” and proximity to existing housing, offices and retail, including Tysons Corner Center just on the other side of the Beltway.
“These building and site improvements will transform an underperforming office building into a neighborhood amenity, providing this part of Tysons with a generational opportunity to secure forested natural park space and recreation areas that will also serve as a logical transition from the adjacent residential neighborhoods to nearby commercial amenities,” McGuireWoods land use planner Mike Van Atta wrote in a Sept. 12 statement of justification on the developer’s behalf.
First reported by the Washington Business Journal on Friday (Sept. 16), the proposal furthers Madison Highland’s plans to introduce more “live/work loft communities” to the D.C. area. The group formed this spring as a partnership between developers Madison Marquette and Highland Square Holdings.
The firms previously joined forces to build the Mission Lofts apartments in Bailey’s Crossroads and convert three buildings at the Skyline Center, a project that’s currently under construction. Fairfax County is also reviewing plans to turn two more Skyline buildings and a pair of Merrifield offices being vacated by Inova Health Systems into live/work residences.
In his statement, Van Atta says live/work conversions reflect shifting expectations for office space, as employers seek to accommodate an “unprecedented” rise in people working from home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2000 Corporate Ridge site already features sidewalks to Magarity Road, some trails and interior noise mitigation measures that were required when the county originally approved the office building, according to the application.
“This application seeks to build off of those commitments and retrofit the site to accommodate both the modern workplace expectations and necessary amenities for residential uses,” Van Atta wrote.
Proposed amenities include a new neighborhood park and pedestrian path that would be accessible to the general public as well as resident-only facilities, including a park with outdoor sports courts, a rooftop vegetable garden, and a boardwalk shaded by trees through an existing natural preserve space on the site.
According to the application, the apartments will retain a conference center, fitness room, and community kitchen that can already be found on the office building’s ground floor.
Parking will also be largely unchanged, with surface and garage spaces being restriped to provide 702 spots total — a decrease from the 895 spaces on the 8-acre site right now, according to the development plan.
The county’s Department of Planning and Development received the application on Thursday (Sept. 15) but hasn’t formally accepted it yet.
Against the backdrop of post-9/11 community policing, the Fairfax County Police Department has selected its first-ever liaison for the local Muslim community.
Lt. Wahid Alam, who has served in the department for more than 18 years, hopes to build upon the relationship that already exists between the local Muslim community and the police department.
“I want to be the conduit to all the resources the police department has to offer and encourage Muslims to consider a career in policing,” he told FFXnow in a statement.
Alam, who was born and raised as Muslim, says his faith and background in policing makes him a good fit for this role. He also hopes to meet with Muslim faith and business leaders to “networking within this unique community and build even more inroads with the department.”
When asked if the Muslim community faces any unique challenges, Alam noted that many Muslim seems to face many of the same struggles as the community at-large.
“We are all concerned about keeping kids safe from cyber threats, traffic safety, staying safe in our neighborhoods and keeping from becoming a victim of crime. Identity theft, larceny from motor vehicles and street robberies are common concerns throughout Fairfax County,” he said.
Mistrust of police and concerns about community surveillance has been flagged by some Muslim organizations as issues, particularly in the years since 9/11.
Alam says the local Muslim community has strong support for law enforcement — which sometimes isn’t the case in other communities.
“The Muslim community needs to know how the Fairfax County Police Department conducts policing and surveillance in response to crime and dangerous threats,” he said. “FCPD does not conduct targeted surveillance to Muslims or any specific community. Building relationships and being transparent in our policing strategies and practices will build trust with the Muslim community.”
The man who allegedly fired a gun inside Tysons Corner Center this summer, sparking a chaotic evacuation of the mall, is expected to face trial after getting indicted by a Fairfax County grand jury yesterday (Monday).
The circuit court jury indicted Noah Settles, a 22-year-old D.C. resident also known as rapper No Savage, on seven charges that could result in up to 45 years of imprisonment if he’s convicted, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano told FFXnow.
“This really traumatized folks who were in the mall that day and really left a scar on the people in Fairfax County at large,” Descano said of the June 18 incident. “I want people to know that you cannot come into Fairfax County, wave a gun around and shoot off in a crowded building and not expect to be held accountable and to be held accountable severely, and that’s what we’re looking to do here.”
Settles turned himself in on June 22 after the Fairfax County Police Department identified him as the suspect in the shooting, alleging that he had fired three gunshots on a mall concourse after getting into an argument with a rival “crew” based in southeast D.C.
No one was hit by the gunfire, but three people were injured while fleeing, police said. About six weeks later, Tysons Corner Center was evacuated again after the sound of a shattered light fixture prompted panic and unfounded rumors of an active shooter.
Settles was initially charged with attempted malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and three counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied building.
According to Descano, the grand jury’s indictment included two additional charges for brandishing a firearm and possession of a concealed firearm that prosecutors introduced after a preliminary hearing in Fairfax County General District Court on Aug. 15.
At the hearing, a lawyer for Settles argued that he had acted in self-defense, though a judge found probable cause to send the case to a grand jury, WUSA9 reported. Settles’ defense attorney, Peter Greenspun, didn’t return a request for comment by press time.
Descano says the new charges will enable prosecutors “to fully tell the story of what allegedly happened that day, particularly before the first rounds were fired off.”
“Those two additional charges are vital to producing accountability, which is really what our end goal here is,” he said.
Descano says his office is committed to prosecuting existing gun laws, but he has also argued that more federal and state legislation is needed to address the issue of gun violence, including a closure of loopholes that allow untraceable “ghost guns.”
Just this past weekend, the FCPD responded to two shootings, one in Annandale and another in Woodlawn that ended in the victim’s death.
“Action is needed because we can’t live with this as the new normal,” Descano said. “…When you have guns flooding the streets, what starts as a personal beef can very quickly escalate into shooting, violence, and death.”
Car Taxes Due Next Month — “Personal property taxes — better known as car taxes — are due on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Bills were mailed this summer, and there are many convenient ways to pay…Car tax bills increased on average by 33% this year, due to the pandemic-induced shortage of new and used cars.” [Fairfax County Government]
Six Displaced by North Springfield Fire — A malfunctioning propane grill ignited a fire on the deck of a one-story house in the 7500 block of Inzer Street at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 17). No injuries were reported, with one resident going to the hospital for a check-up, but the fire displaced six people and resulted in approximately $93,750 in property damages. [FCFRD]
Metro Faces $185M Budget Deficit — “Metro is in better financial shape next year than previously hoped, but the transit agency will still face a tough fiscal road in the years ahead. Leaders say addressing the shortfall will require a wholesale look at the operation — from who it serves, to how much service it will provide and when.” [DCist]
Legal Experts Skeptical of Proposed Transgender Student Policies — “Legal challenges will likely start to take shape this week against Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s new policies restricting the rights of transgender students at schools…Legal experts say Youngkin is likely violating both state and federal laws.” [NBC4]
Marshall HS Student Makes Ice Skating History — Ilia Malinin, a senior at Marshall High School who competed in this year’s Winter Olympics, landed the first-ever quadruple axel in competition last week, according to U.S. Figure Skating. Jeffrey Litz, principal of the Idylwood-based school, praised Malinin for his ability to “perform at such a high level while also balancing his schoolwork and social life.” [FCPS]
Black Bear Spotted in Vienna — “Black bear sightings in Vienna have prompted multiple calls to the Vienna Police Department, the town government said Sunday night. The most recent black bear sighting was reported in the area of the 300 block of Park Street NE. That follows a sighting earlier this month at a McLean home” [Patch]
Oakton Student Gets Perfect SAT Score — “Stephen Kennedy, a senior at Flint Hill School in Oakton, recently learned he had received a perfect 1600 score on the SAT he took at the school in late August…He was among only 500 of the 2 million students who took the SAT this year to notch a perfect score.” [Sun Gazette]
Groveton Neighborhood Celebrates Anniversary — “I had the honor of presenting a proclamation to the Jefferson Manor Citizens Association in celebration of its 75th anniversary. Thank you, President of JMCA, Derek Cole, and Jefferson Manor residents for continuing the tradition of being a beautiful and welcoming community!” [Supervisor Rodney Lusk/Twitter]
It’s Tuesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 81 and low of 67. Sunrise at 6:56 am and sunset at 7:10 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County will install six new historical markers over the next year honoring Black and African-American history. The markers will highlight local civil rights activists, enslaved peoples, educators, and a famed four-star general.
At last week’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting, it was revealed that a Board-appointed committee had chosen the winners of the inaugural “Historical Marker Contest.”
The student-led contest, which was launched a year ago, was designed “to focus on narratives and oral histories of our African American communities, whose history, culture, and accomplishments in the County are underrepresented in our history books, lessons, and markers.”
Local students submitted 53 proposals for potential markers that held relevance to Black/African American history in the county. From there, 14 finalists were considered, and six were chosen.
The winning proposals will become physical historical markers sometime in the next year, per Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who presented the joint board matter at the meeting on Sept. 13.
The six markers are:
- Louis Archer — The principal at a one-room schoolhouse in Vienna during the early part of the 20th century. She also established one of the county’s earliest 4-H Clubs for African Americans
- Lillian Blackwell — A civil rights activist who successfully sued Virginia to ban segregation in public accommodations, including schools and movie theaters
- Annie Harper — A Gum Springs resident who successfully challenged Virginia’s poll tax.
- Gunnell’s Chapel — A small wooden post-Civil War Methodist church in Langley
- General Colin Powell — A four-star general who was also the first African American to be appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as Secretary of Staff. He was a McLean resident.
- The West Springfield 16 — A group of 16 enslaved persons who lived and worked on the property where West Springfield High School now sits
Next, staff and the History Commission wil work to “refine the language of the marker,” have the marker made, and plan the eventual installations.
As Palchik noted at the meeting, the process to get each marker made and installed can be a “lengthy one” but the plan is to have them all in place within a year.
The board matter also authorized the preparation of a proclamation honoring the students, county and Fairfax County Public Schools staff, and the voting committee for their ideas and work to make these markers a reality.
Their work “has allowed us to engage deeply and authentically with the contributions of our Black/African American community in Fairfax County,” the board matter says.
A bucket truck operator has died after the vehicle hit a power line on Georgetown Pike in McLean, the Fairfax County Police Department says.
The collision occurred near Langley Fork Lane around 1:30 p.m. NBC4 reported that a police helicopter was called in to evacuate an injured person, but the FCPD says the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Georgetown Pike has been closed between Langley Fork and Chain Bridge Road, as police detectives respond to investigate.
Over 3,000 Dominion Energy customers in the area are currently without electricity, according to the utility’s outage map.
The site attributes two outages affecting a combined 3,166 customers to emergency work. As of 2:20 p.m., the estimated time of restoration is between 4 and 7 p.m.
Officers on scene of a death investigation on Georgetown Pike near Langley Fork Ln. Prelim, a man was operating bucket truck & struck a powerline. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives responding to investigate. 193 closed between Chain Bridge & Langley Fork. pic.twitter.com/97kFfiB9vX
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 19, 2022
New draft policies that would limit schools’ ability to support transgender students are currently under review by Fairfax County Public Schools.
Unveiled Friday afternoon (Sept. 16), the Virginia Department of Education’s proposed 2022 model policies directs schools to defer to parents in determining accommodations for LGBTQ students, including the names and pronouns staff can use for them.
The proposal upholds Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s commitment to “preserving parental rights and upholding the dignity and respect of all public school students,” spokesperson Macaulay Porter said in a statement to The Washington Post.
If the policies take effect, staff must refer to students by the name and sex on their official school records or a “commonly associated” nickname. To change their official records, a student or parent must provide legal documentation, such as a birth certificate, passport, a state or federal identification or court order, supporting the change.
Even with a records change, though, schools can’t require staff and other students “to address or refer to students in any manner that would violate their constitutionally protected rights,” suggesting misgendering and deadnaming will be permissible despite state prohibitions against discrimination and harassment, including based on gender identity.
Under the draft policies, bathroom usage and participation in athletics and other activities must be based on students’ sex as assigned at birth, though “single-user” facilities are supposed to be “made available in accessible areas and provided with appropriate signage” indicating universal accessibility.
The guidelines reverse model policies that the state education department released last year and contradict FCPS’ regulation supporting equity for transgender and gender-expansive students — a policy that Youngkin specifically criticized late last month.
“I understand the concerns that our LGBTQIA+ staff, student, and family community have about what this change of direction by the state may mean for our school division,” Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a message sent to families yesterday (Sunday). “Please be assured that FCPS remains committed to an inclusive learning environment for each and every student and staff member and that our schools will continue to be safe and respectful learning spaces.”
FCPS is in the process of “thoroughly reviewing” the draft guidelines and will release “a more detailed response” soon, Reid said.
The draft policies “betray” a state law adopted in 2020 to protect transgender and queer students, who have become a frequent target of anti-LGBTQ legislation nationwide, says the Pride Liberation Project, an advocacy group of over 200 students.
Calling on the state to withdraw its proposed revisions, the LGBTQ student advocacy group argued that the model policies would require schools to out students, prevent students from expressing their gender identity, and enable parents to block their kids from accessing critical counseling services at a time of increased concern about students’ mental health.
“As a closeted student, I wouldn’t be able to come home if my parents found out that I was Queer. I am terrified that these draft regulations will take away one of the few places I can just be myself,” an anonymous Fairfax County student said in a press release from the student-run group.
Fairfax County School Board Chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from FFXnow, but multiple school board members promised on social media that FCPS will continue to support LGBTQ students.
We will not stand silent as Youngkin tramples the rights of LGBTQIA+ students and their families. He’s putting the lives of young Virginians in jeopardy to score political points and he should be ashamed.
https://t.co/1SHpeRtfef
— Karl Frisch (@KarlFrisch) September 17, 2022
I know many of our families are waking up to the news from the Governor. Please know your students are safe & we will do everything in our power to ensure they stay that way.
To our— Laura Jane Cohen (@LJ4fcps) September 17, 2022
Our schools’ mission is to keep students safe and educate them. That is what we will continue to do for our #LGBTQIA+ students, and all students. We will not be bullied.
— @MelanieForEdu (@MelanieForEdu) September 19, 2022
Reid’s full message to families is below.
September 18, 2022
Dear FCPS Families,
On Friday evening, we became aware of a new proposed model policy from the Virginia Department of Education regarding the privacy, dignity, and respect for all students, staff, and families in Virginia’s public schools. The newly proposed model policy is scheduled for a 30-day public comment period starting September 26.
I understand the concerns that our LGBTQIA+ staff, student, and family community have about what this change of direction by the state may mean for our school division. Please be assured that FCPS remains committed to an inclusive learning environment for each and every student and staff member and that our schools will continue to be safe and respectful learning spaces.
Here at Fairfax County Public Schools, we are dedicated to providing a caring climate and culture where each and every student, staff member, and family is welcomed, respected, valued, and supported, as they experience a deep sense of belonging.
Our core beliefs and mission hold that:
Fairfax County Public Schools inspires and empowers students to meet high academic standards, lead healthy, ethical lives, and be responsible and innovative global citizens:
- Each student is entitled to an excellent education that meets his or her individual needs.
- Everyone thrives in a vibrant, healthful, safe, enriching, and respectful environment.
- Our diversity is a strength that creates resilient, open, and innovative global citizens.
These core values and beliefs speak to the very heart of who we are at Fairfax County Public Schools, and our students, staff, and families, are counting on us to adhere to them. These core values — to enhance school safety and create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment — are also outlined in the 2022-23 Student Rights and Responsibilities.
We will be thoroughly reviewing the new state proposed model policy in the coming days and will share a more detailed response to the newly proposed policy soon. In the meantime, we remain committed to maintaining equitable opportunities and access for each of our students, staff, and families in a justice-centered, future-focused, and student-driven school environment.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Michelle Reid
Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
Photo via Alexander Grey/Unsplash
The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) is kicking off fall with a celebration of the culinary, visual, and musical arts.
The McLean Project for the Arts will bring its annual MPAartfest back early next month. The 16th annual MPAartfest is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, in McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd).
“This year’s event will feature a diverse group of more than 35 juried artists from across the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as a world of music curated by MPA Music Director Ken Avis, the beloved Children’s Art Walk, food vendors, children’s art activities, and more,” the MPA said in a release.
New highlights include a juried gallery displaying art from local elementary school students.
In terms of food, a wine and beer stand called Café Beret will return, along with a variety of local food trucks. The event will also feature live music throughout the day.
“A one-day juried fine art show and sale, MPAartfest transforms McLean Central Park into a lively landscape of mini art galleries showcasing and offering for sale the work of acclaimed artists from the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond,” the release said.
Admission to the MPAartfest is free and parking will be available at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue).
“Each fall MPAartfest celebrates our community and the arts in the beautiful setting of McLean Central Park,” MPA Executive Director Lori Carbonneau said. “We are so appreciative of our lead community sponsor, the McLean Community Center, and of all the generous community sponsors who help to make this event possible. We invite all the community to join us for a relaxing and inspiring day of art in the park!”
