Finding sufficient, quality food remains a challenge for many people across the D.C. area, even with the immediate economic disruptions triggered by the pandemic in the rear view mirror, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) says in a new report.
Released last month, the nonprofit’s 2023 Hunger Report found that the region is still seeing elevated levels of food insecurity that are nearly identical to what was reported a year earlier. In Fairfax County, 24% of residents are food insecure — the exact same percentage as in 2022.
CAFB didn’t start issuing its annual hunger reports until 2020, making a direct comparison to pre-pandemic years difficult, but the amount of food it distributes in the county has risen from 5.2 million meals in 2019 to almost 7.2 million this year, as of mid-September, indicating more need. Meal distributions peaked at more than 9 million in 2022.
“While signs of improvement seem to be everywhere in our economy over the past twelve months, there’s a far different story unfolding for over a million of our neighbors,” CAFB president and CEO Radha Muthiah said. “This year’s Hunger Report makes clear that food insecurity and economic inequity are still enormous problems in our area.”
Overall, about 32% of D.C. area residents are food insecure, including 18% who are severely food insecure, according to the 2023 Hunger Report, which is based on data collected between May 2022 and April 2023.
The only surveyed jurisdiction with less food insecurity than Fairfax County was Arlington, where 17% of households struggle to find food — a decline from 21% in 2022. Prince George’s County had the highest rate at 45%.
Other notable findings from CAFB:
- Food insecurity is more prevalent among Black (47%) and Hispanic (52%) respondents than white respondents (14%)
- About 82% of food-insecure households are low-income, which is defined as earning $83,000 a year or less, but 1 in 5 families who earn the area’s median income of $120,000 still experience food insecurity
- 76% of food-insecure individuals are employed — a higher rate than the one for food-secure individuals (73%)
- 10% of children are experiencing food insecurity, a lower rate than the general population that the report attributes to parents prioritizing feeding their kids over themselves and access to school meals
The lack of improvement in the region’s food insecurity levels, despite signs of a strong recovery for the U.S. economy, reflects “the pandemic’s ongoing impacts on employment, high rates of inflation, and the rollback of…government assistance programs,” such as the emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that ended in March, the 2023 Hunger Report says.
According to the report, 52% of all respondents reported feeling the impacts of high food costs, which rose 20% between May 2020 and this past May, but the impact was more widespread among food-insecure households, particularly low-income, Black and Hispanic households.
To address food insecurity, the report urges providers like CAFB to increase access to food assistance. It also recommends government support for public programs like SNAP — which is funded by a farm bill that expired at the end of September — and better coordination between social services intended to alleviate poverty.
“Every sector in our region has a role to play in addressing this ongoing crisis, both in the short and longer term, to create more opportunity and brighter futures for our community,” Muthiah said.
Over the past two years, Fairfax County has distributed $9.5 million in relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to support community food providers, including $4 million that will be allocated this fall, according to Ramona Carroll, equity manager for the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
The county also devotes over $1 million annually to nonprofits that provide emergency food assistance through its Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP), which provides funding for nonprofit and community human services organizations through an annual, competitive process.
In addition, the county began accepting applications last month for an economic mobility pilot that will give eligible families monthly payments of $750 for 15 months. Initial data from similar basic income programs that have cropped up around the country, including in Alexandria City, suggest they can help people afford housing, food and other basic needs.
For community members who want to assist those experiencing food insecurity, Carroll recommends donating to local food providers and the county’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign. She also recommends that organizations consider applying for the community funding pool.
“The funding allocated to organizations through the CCFP serves as an investment and catalyst for strengthening the human services network of programs available for Fairfax County residents,” Carroll said.
Take a seat, Ben Affleck. A new artistic statement about Nike’s trendy Air Jordans is coming to town.
Falls Church artist Andy Yoder’s well-traveled exhibit “Overboard” will take up residence at Tysons Corner Center starting this Friday (Oct. 13), the latest installation resulting from the mall’s ongoing collaboration with local arts agency ArtsFairfax.
Inspired by the “Great Shoe Spill of 1990,” where thousands of Nike shoes got dumped into the Pacific Ocean by a storm, Overboard features more than 250 “sneakers” that Yoder sculpted out of discarded materials from recycling bins. The traveling exhibition originally launched in D.C. in 2021 and was organized and curated by Auburn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
“I’m a big believer in the possibility of second chances, which is why this story has such appeal for me,” Yoder said in a press release. “Making art is a form of alchemy and being creative gives us the power to steer the ship, rather than bobbing around like a sneaker lost at sea. With this in mind, if you come across a shoe on the beach (or a flip flop, or a bottle), do the right thing, and toss it in the trash. You never know where it might go from there.”
A Cleveland Institute of Art graduate who also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, Yoder says his art is often driven by a desire to tweak or subvert domestic objects to challenge “the attitudes, fears and unwritten rules which have formed that [home] environment and our behavior within it.”
Here’s more on “Overboard” from Tysons Corner Center:
One of the most iconic and recognizable athletic shoes in the world, the Nike Air Jordan 5 catapulted into popularity in 1990. That same year, more than 80,000 pairs of Nike brand shoes and work boots fell into the Pacific Ocean from five shipping containers when their ship was overwhelmed by a storm while on route to the U.S. from South Korea. The “Great Shoe Spill of 1990” prompted a groundbreaking study of maritime currents by Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer. Using unique serial numbers on each sneaker, the oceanographer and his researchers gathered data from beachcombers worldwide who found the shoes as they washed ashore.
Instead of cloth or leather, Yoder uses fast food packaging, cereal boxes, luxury shopping bags, posters, and other discarded items – much like the salvaged and waterlogged shoes – to create art that commemorates the Great Shoe Spill while also calling attention to consumer culture’s effect on the environment, delivering the message in a non-preachy way.
The exhibit will be on display near Barnes & Noble on the mall’s first floor through mid-January 2024.
This will be the third exhibit to come from Tysons Corner Center and ArtsFairfax’s partnership, which began in July 2022. Currently slated to continue through at least the end of 2023, the initiative aims to promote the work of local artists and arts organizations to a wider audience.
The mall also partnered with Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center this summer on a new mural and free workshops.
GMU’s Fall for the Book Kicks Off Today — After a week of preview events, George Mason University’s annual book festival officially returns today for its 25th anniversary. The festivities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a talk by roller derby skater Gabe Montesanti about her new memoir and continue through Saturday (Oct. 14). [Fall for the Book]
Police Investigate Linked Thefts and Vehicle Break-Ins — “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau, Criminal Investigations Division, are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins and package thefts that occurred between October 3-4. The suspect is believed to be responsible for breaking into several vehicles and stealing items during the late-night hours in both the Fair Oaks and Reston police districts.” [FCPD]
Reston Man Arrested for Damaging CUE Bus — “Officers responded around 6:05 p.m. [on Friday, Oct. 6] to the area of Jermantown Road and Orchard Street, for the report of someone vandalizing the interior of one of the city’s CUE buses.” Fairfax City police charged the man “with destruction of property and being drunk in public.” [Patch]
Charitable Film Festival Returns to Tysons — “Giving back is the most important thing that one can do in life — and no film festival does it better than the Washington West Film Festival, which returns to The Boro in Tysons, Virginia this weekend from Oct. 12-16…The lineup kicks off Thursday at the ShowPlace Icon with the opening night film ‘Anna,’ starring Ciarán Hinds and Jason Isaacs.” [WTOP]
McLean Playground Parking Lot to Close for Repairs — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin resurfacing and painting the Clemyjontri parking lot. The parking lot will be closed during the resurfacing and painting, but the park will remain open. Work will begin starting Tuesday, Oct. 24, and is expected to conclude on Thursday, Oct. 26, as the weather permits.” [FCPA]
Lawsuit Over Voting Rights Restoration Proceeds — “A federal judge allowed a lawsuit against Gov. Glenn Youngkin to proceed in a move that may provide more public insight into the Republican’s process for restoring voting rights…Virginia is the only state where people convicted of any felony lose their right to vote, serve on a jury and run for office — unless the governor restores it.” [VPM]
Vienna Awarded for Economic Development Efforts — “Vienna is getting national recognition for its economic development success with two Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).” The town got gold for its 2023 Restaurant Week and a bronze award for the Economic Development Department’s website. [Town of Vienna]
It’s Tuesday — Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 67 and a light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning. At night, skies will be mostly clear, with a low around 46. There will be a west wind blowing 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 10:35 a.m. on 10/11/2023) A fledgling hot chicken chain with ambitions of becoming “the next Chick-fil-A” is flocking to Northern Virginia, starting with the Town of Vienna.
Signs for The Red Bird recently emerged in the windows of the former McDonald’s at the Cedar Park Shopping Center, which hasn’t yet identified the new tenant on its site plan. Mickey D’s abruptly vacated the 1,353-square-foot space last summer after more than a decade there.
The Red Bird anticipates opening its new restaurant at 282 Cedar Lane in November, kicking off plans to expand throughout the region, the fast-food company’s Northern Virginia operator, Tariq Diab, says.
“We couldn’t think of a better first location for this area than Vienna due to its heavily diverse population,” Diab said, calling the shopping center’s owner, First Washington Realty, “really instrumental” to securing the location.
“They chose The Red Bird because they believe in the mission of our company and in the affordable yet insanely delicious, all natural and halal food,” he added.
While this will be The Red Bird’s first permanent restaurant in Northern Virginia, the company started operating in the area out of a ghost kitchen, and it has held pop-ups in Virginia and D.C. Diab says “fans went insane for the food and flavor profile.”
Started last year in Los Angeles, California, the eatery will join an increasingly crowded market for hot chicken, the spicy, fried specialty of Nashville, Tennessee, that was allegedly first concocted by a woman exacting revenge on a man who cheated on her.
Over the past couple of years, Fairfax County has welcomed Roaming Rooster, Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken and Dave’s Hot Chicken. In fact, all three chains now have locations in Tysons, though Hangry Joe’s is still “coming soon.”
Still, Diab is confident that The Red Bird’s commitment to freshly made, halal food will help it stand out.
“The words HALAL are built into our signage, not taped to the door on a piece of printer paper, and our famous sauces, rubs and products contain zero preservatives,” he said by email. “Everything is fresh and made to order as you will never see heat lamps in our locations.”
According to the company’s website, its chicken tenders are marinated in a “world-famous Red’s Chicken Rub” before getting coated in homemade breading and fried in “all-natural oil.” The final touch is a “dusting of Red’s secret ‘Red Rub.’”
Spice levels range from mild to the provocatively named “Fck You Cra.” With prices topping out at $9.99, the menu consists of chicken tenders and sandwich combos, a chicken rice bowl and chicken cheese fries, along with sides of fries, cole slaw and mac and cheese.
When the Vienna location opens, it will offer free sandwiches to the first 1,000 guests, according to Diab.
A Reston franchise is also in the works, and The Red Bird is actively negotiating leases for locations in Falls Church, Ashburn and Arlington, Diab says.
A ditch will no longer force pedestrians and bicyclists to ditch the shared path along Route 29 in Merrifield.
Construction has been substantially completed on a new, unbroken shared-use path spanning about one-third of a mile between Vaden Drive and Nutley Street, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Friday (Oct. 6).
The path replaces an asphalt sidewalk that abruptly ended at an Accotink Creek tributary that runs under the roadway. In addition to filling in some missing segments, the project added a central yellow line to the new trail and extended a box culvert over the tributary to support it.
In the works since spring 2019, construction on the improvements began in November 2022. The project cost an estimated $3.8 million, funded by local dollars and a concession fee that the I-66 Express Lanes operator agreed to provide as part of the Outside the Beltway toll lanes extension.
“Construction on the project…is now substantially complete, with minor work occurring in the coming weeks until final completion with minimal impacts,” VDOT said.
#Merrifield area bicyclists & pedestrians – enjoy your new shared-use path along NB Rt 29 from Vaden Dr to Nutley St! This project constructed missing path segments and extended a culvert to carry the new path over an Accotink Creek tributary.
More: https://t.co/YXq3jlHWhL pic.twitter.com/PeK2t2vq6c
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) October 6, 2023
While the new path isn’t especially long, it provides a crucial connection for pedestrians and cyclists to the nearby Vienna Metro station and other area sidewalks and trails, including ones in Towers Park, VDOT says.
However, that accessibility still ends at Nutley Street, since the south side of Route 29 has no sidewalk east of the intersection.
As part of a plan to redevelop the Pan Am Shopping Center, Fairfax County staff recommend implementing “continuous bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Route 29” in the future. The existing Bicycle Master Plan doesn’t show any trail on the south side and indicates that “further analysis and outreach is needed to determine the best fit for bicycle facilities along this roadway,” according to the amendment approved by the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 12.
Developer Federal Realty, which owns the shopping center, has proposed adding a 10-foot-wide shared-use path along Nutley Street with the redevelopment. To the north, VDOT is working to complete its I-66 shared-use trail, which opened a first segment in May that included a tunnel under Nutley.
As of Aug. 9, most remaining sections were slated to open this October, according to VDOT’s project website. That excludes a segment through the Route 50 interchange that’s not projected to open until spring 2024.
As a “ring of fire” eclipse descends this Saturday (Oct. 14), Fairfax County is prepping with a series of events.
The annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from the Earth, appearing such that it is smaller than the sun. The result is that it leaves a ring of light around the edge of the moon.
But because of the county’s viewing angle, officials only expect to see about 40% of the sun covered by the moon’s shadow.
The image will look like “someone took a huge bite out of sun’s disc rather than the crescent shape we saw in 2017 and expect in April 2024,” said Tammy Schwab, manager of education and outreach for the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA).
A total solar eclipse is expected to pass over North America from Mexico to Maine on April 8, 2024, according to NASA. Fairfax County won’t be in its direct path, but Schwab says about 80% of the sun will be covered, similar to what residents saw during the last total solar eclipse in 2017.
“After the April eclipse it will be another 5 years before we see another one of this magnitude here in Virginia,” Schwab said. “Our programs at Burke Lake Park and the Sully Historic Site will be a great chance to learn about eclipses and how to view them safely from home, in preparation for the April spectacular.”
Events are planned for Saturday at Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Road in Fairfax Station) and Sully Historic Site (3650 Historic Sully Way in Chantilly). From noon to 2 p.m., experts will be on site as the moon partially eclipses the sun. The cost is $10.
There will also be an event at Historic Huntley, which is located at 6918 Harrison Lane in Groveton, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $10.
Registration for all events is open online.
The roll-top observatory at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls will also host a viewing event, but it’s already at capacity.
Get to Know the School Board Candidates — “Fairfax County voters will select a new school board this November, with all 12 seats up for election. In addition to the nine district seats on the ballot, voters will pick from nine candidates vying to fill three vacant at-large seats…The Washington Post sent questionnaires to each candidate about the most pressing issues in Fairfax County and their top priorities.” [Washington Post]
Man Found Shot on I-495 in Annandale — “A man was found shot on the side of I-495 in the early morning hours Sunday, Virginia State Police say. Just after 2 a.m., officers responded to Exit 54 for Braddock Road…on I-495 North where it was reported that a man was lying on the shoulder of the road.” [FOX5]
ICYMI: Pedestrian Killed on Richmond Highway — “A pedestrian died last night (Friday) after a hit-and-run crash on Richmond Highway (Route 1) in the Woodlawn area of Mount Vernon…The driver fled the scene, possibly in a white SUV that a witness reported seeing before the crash, the FCPD said.” [FFXnow]
Restaurant Proposed for Vacant Falls Church Motel — “A new plan to revitalize the former Stratford Motor Lodge site was announced to the Falls Church Planning Commission in late September…The indoor-outdoor restaurant concept will come from the team behind Dominion Wine and Beer in Falls Church…with plans to introduce an indoor-outdoor restaurant concept.” [Patch]
County Gets Funds for Veteran Housing — “Twenty additional HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers were awarded to FCRHA, increasing the total number of local vouchers available to 183. These vouchers provide veterans experiencing homelessness with affordable housing and supportive services.” [Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority]
DoorDash Driver Concerned About FCPS Security — “A man who works full-time as a DoorDash driver says he often gets requests from Fairfax County high school students to leave orders at side doors of schools, posing security concerns and making him fear for his job…[He] said the deliveries could raise concerns, because random people should not walk around school grounds.” [NBC4]
Historic Great Falls Schoolhouse Will Get Central AC — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved the award of $15,763 in grant funding to help furnish and install central HVAC service in the Historic Forestville Schoolhouse located within Great Falls Grange Park…Lack of air conditioning has made the schoolhouse difficult to utilize between May and September as the weather warms up.” [FCPA]
Nonprofit Moves After 25 Years on Route 1 — “Good Shepherd Housing, a nonprofit focused on reducing homelessness, announced Oct. 4 the recent relocation of its headquarters from Richmond Highway to the Backlick Center South Business Park building at 8253 Backlick Road, #L in Lorton.” [On the MoVe]
Piglets Born at Frying Pan Farm — “Say hello to the newest members of the Frying Pan Farm Park family! Doris, the Hampshire Sow, delivered a litter of adorable baby piglets on Sept. 30, and they’re all cozy and snuggled up in the Kidwell Barn! Stop by and say hi this weekend, and enjoy a Campfire Wagon Ride later.” [FCPA/Facebook]
It’s Monday — The upcoming forecast indicates predominantly mild and pleasant weather conditions, with occasional rain showers expected throughout the week. Temperatures will remain comfortable, ranging from the mid 60’s to low 80’s. [Weather.gov]
Inova this week unveiled a rebranding initiative with a new logo, look and tone that will “redefine the health system’s identity.”
“The launch of the new brand aims to capture the health system’s dedication to innovative, compassionate, patient-centered and world-class healthcare while fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration,” Inova said in a news release.
The nonprofit healthcare provider, which began in the 1950s as a community hospital serving Fairfax County, launched the new brand at its flagship Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (3300 Gallows Road) near Merrifield on Monday (Oct. 2).
“The brand refresh is a signal to the community of what they can expect from Inova,” said Tracey Schroeder, Inova’s chief communications and external affairs officer. “The quality of care, exceptional health outcomes and caring patient experience are what our patients value and depend on. With this rebrand, we’re modernizing how Inova looks to better represent the care that defines us.”
The release notes that, in August, Inova was named the top hospital in Virginia and the D.C. metropolitan area by U.S. News & World Report.
“All five Inova hospitals have received A Grades from the Leapfrog Group, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have recognized Inova with five stars for safety and quality – the only health system in the region to achieve this rating,” the release said.
Inova’s new logo “tells a clear story about how the health system, pronounced ‘in-OH-va,’ is always by your side,” according to the release.
Inova says the logo, which depicts two figures coming together, represents the fact that every step of the healthcare journey is taken together: whether it’s a provider comforting a patient, a doctor collaborating with a nurse or family member supporting a loved one.
“The logo evokes a warm, compassionate and welcoming environment where patients feel supported and valued,” the release said.
Inova preserved its recognizable blue in the new brand to build on strong brand equity, but updated the full color palette to include new colors that signal its new direction as a modern health system that continues to innovate and evolve.
“Our new brand is a mark of Inova’s progress in creating a unified clinical network, dedicated to delivering the highest quality of care to patients and families in Northern Virginia and beyond, and undeniably positions Inova to be among the leading health systems in the nation,” Inova President and CEO J. Stephen Jones said.
The new branding will be implemented at Inova locations on a rolling basis, with an advertising campaign planned in phases over the coming months. Inova will show up creatively in broadcast, streaming audio, digital and other multimedia channels.
The campaign will highlight specialty services and expert clinicians, emphasizing “their connection and dedication” to patients.
The rebrand announcement comes as Inova expands its health care facilities and services in the area, as laid out in its Eastern Region Development Plan. The organization recently added a behavioral health unit at its Mount Vernon hospital, and it got Fairfax County’s approval for a new Springfield hospital last year.
This article was written by FFXNow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission and some edits. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
The Oakton-based nonprofit that runs Northern Virginia’s suicide and crisis hotline is now offering mental health services specifically geared toward young, LGBTQ people.
PRS announced yesterday (Thursday) that it’s hiring 40 new crisis workers who have specialized training and experience to handle calls and texts from LGBTQ individuals who are 25 or younger.
The support services are part of the organization’s CrisisLink program, which operates the national, 24-hour 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for most of Virginia.
“Providing tailored crisis services will help us reach more people and connect them with safer life-saving services and resources that affirm their identities,” PRS CEO Joseph Getch said in a statement. “We now have crisis workers dedicated to this community that have additional training, lived experience, and a dedication to serving individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community. We are proud and eager to provide hope, empathy, and compassion.”
Formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 9-8-8 was established by Congress in 2020 as the nationwide phone number for accessing emergency mental health support. It officially replaced the pre-existing, 10-digit number on July 16, 2022.
The legislation required the new lifeline to have a “mechanism” where LGBTQ youth, minority and rural callers can access specialized services, because those populations are statistically at higher risk of contemplating or dying by suicide.
More than half (52%) of high school students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual or who are questioning their sexual identity reported recently experiencing poor mental health, and 45% had seriously considered suicide within the past year compared to 15% for their heterosexual peers, according to a February report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC report, which examined trends from 2011 to 2021, didn’t address gender identity, but this summer, Denmark released a first-of-its-kind study that found transgender people died by suicide at 3.5 times the rate of the rest of the country’s population.
In Virginia, 43% of LGBTQ youth, including 53% of transgender and nonbinary youth, reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. In addition, 13% of LGBTQ youth, including 17% of trans and nonbinary individuals, attempted suicide in the past year, according to state-level data collected in 2022 by The Trevor Project.
The LGBTQ youth-focused suicide prevention nonprofit attributes those trends to the rejection and discrimination those populations experience in society, especially in a year when lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills restricting their access to health care, education and other rights.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration rolled out policies in July that direct schools to identify students based on their legal sex and names, though Fairfax County Public Schools has maintained its existing policies that support transgender and gender-expansive students.
“We know these young people face stigma, discrimination, and oppression making reaching out for help and connecting to safe resources incredibly difficult and scary,” Gretch said, noting that PRS is continuing “to evolve our crisis services to meet the needs of different populations.”
Established in 1963, PRS provides therapy, peer support, housing and employment assistance and other behavioral health services, along with its CrisisLink call center, which receives 14,000 calls per month on average, including 4,500 from Northern Virginia.
According to a press release, PRS is one of only four 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline centers in the country to offer chat and texting option to LGBTQ youth in addition to calls.
The LGBTQIA+ service provides several ways to get in touch: text “Q” to 988; press 3 when prompted while calling 988; or go to 988lifeline.org/chat and check the LGBTQI+ box in the pre-chat survey. These options are designed for anyone under 25 who wants to connect with a trained crisis worker specifically focused on meeting the needs of LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults.
A Fairfax County Public School basketball coach is facing embezzlement charges.
Drew Smerdzinski, 33, of Herndon, embezzled money from a school event, the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Friday).
According to the FCPD, detectives began an investigation in July after the police department received a tip from FCPS about the possible misappropriation of funds by an employee.
Smerdzinski turned himself in yesterday (Thursday) after detectives obtained a warrant for him on Wednesday (Oct. 4). He was suspended from his position after his arrest, police said.
Smerdzinski was employed at James Madison High School in Vienna, but “the embezzlement occurred in relation to his role as a basketball coach,” an FCPD spokesperson says. He’s not listed in the school’s staff directory.
He was charged with felony embezzlement and released on an unsecured bond.
FCPS declined to comment, citing the police investigation.
