Dead Run Stream isn’t the only McLean waterway on the cusp of revitalization.
Bull Neck Run, a stream just north of Tysons, is nearing the end of project construction with completion scheduled for June.
Like the restoration finishing at Dead Run Stream, the Bull Neck Run restoration involves improving the ecological function of the stream and extracting nitrogen and phosphorous from the soil.
The idea is to make the stream valley more sustainable and safer for private property owners along the stream, local wildlife and the public using nearby trails.
The project will reduce flooding from the stream, and stabilize the stream banks. Part of the project involves creating new outlets for stormwater draining into the creek to reduce erosion and tree loss in the nearby forest.
The total cost of the project is $1.6 million, funded through the county’s stormwater service district.
While the project is scheduled to be completed in June, landscaping work at the site could continue through the fall. Visitors to the site are still encouraged to remain outside of active construction areas.
If you want your Starbucks coffee but can’t be bothered to walk into the one on 207 Maple Avenue E., a new drive-through Starbucks is under construction roughly 200 feet away at 362 Maple Avenue E.
The facade of the former Donuts of Vienna, then a Taco Bell post-1997, is currently undergoing renovation. No signs or public information is available on when the new Starbucks will be open.
The new cafe was unanimously approved last April by the Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals.
The alterations to the existing restaurant will include moving the drive-through’s speaker closer to the building and shifting the pick-up window closer to the front. Landscaping will be installed around the perimeter.
Two crosswalks and two bicycle racks are also listed as additions to the site.
The location will have outdoor seating for 20 people and indoor seating for 20 more. The drive-through’s stacking area is expected to hold 12 vehicles.
One Reddit user, “Futhermucker”, posted an elegy to the departed Taco Bell:
I grew up with this Taco Bell. I’ll never forget rolling in squad deep after middle school — mastering the little balance game on the counter to get a free soft taco with every meal. They removed that game because of us. In high school, I got two out of my five first kisses inside that Taco Bell. It was there that I made a beeline towards after smoking my first joint on the WO&D trail. It was on a 90s retro bench seat there that I broke up with my first girlfriend via text. They were so understanding when my first car’s alternator died in their drivethru, shutting it down for me until the tow truck arrived. Once I got to college, it was always a sweet relief from my mom’s cooking when I came to visit. I watched staff come and go, but it was always the same Taco Bell. If my life was a coming-of-age movie, that Starbucks sign going up would be the ending scene, right before the credits roll. RIP Maple Ave Taco Bell, Vienna didn’t deserve you.
Police are searching for a missing, and endangered, 21-year-old McLean man.
According to a press release, Brandon White was last seen getting into an older, dark Mercedes Benz around 11 p.m. on Jan. 31.
Video has been released of two men in a gas station driving the car White was last seen getting into. Police say these could be the last known people to have contacted White and may have information on his whereabouts.
The video was taken in an Exxon gas station (7269 Arlington Blvd.) in Falls Church.
Police are asking anyone with information on the men or White’s disappearance to contact Det. Brian Byerson at [email protected] or the department’s Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800.
Photo via Fairfax County Police
(Updated 3:15 p.m.) Fairfax is the second richest county in the nation — yet at Second Story, just south of Tysons at 2100 Gallows Rd, there’s a desperate need for bed space for homeless teens.
Second Story CEO Judith Dittman says the organization provides a temporary shelter for teenagers in a crisis, but there is a waitlist of 35 people still waiting for a space to open up.
The waitlist averages 50 people for the homeless youth and young mothers programs. Dittman said those on waitlists are forced to either stay on couches or in the street, where they could become caught up in human trafficking.
“Too many times, people look at me and say ‘that doesn’t happen in Fairfax,'” Dittman said.
But, in 2017, Fairfax County Public Schools reported that 1,200 young people in the county had no support from a parent or legal guardian. A report by Fairfax County’s Department of Health and Human Services found that 18,857 children, or 7 percent of all local children, were in poverty.
The shelter takes in young people who have run away from home, or have no home to go back to, and offers a three-week refuge. The program functions as a shelter for people between ages 13-17, offering counseling, meals, and guidance.
Lauren Witherspoon, the development coordinator for Second Story, said the goal is family reunification and about 95 percent of the teens are reunited with their family at the end of the program. After they return to their family, there are periodic check-ins to see how the child is handling the situation.
From its founding in 1972 through just two years ago, Second Story was known as “Alternative House.” Dittman said that as the organization started branching out, leaders found the original name was no longer reflective of the scope of the work done there.
“Your first story is the one written for you in your early years,” said Dittman, “but in your teen years, you start to write your own story. As a teen you make mistakes. Most young people have a support network to help them through, but many don’t.”
In addition to the youth shelter, the organization also offers after-school activities, programs for young mothers and other programs aimed at preventing homelessness and crises in the first place.
Witherspoon said the organization targets children as early as fourth grade. That may sound young, but Witherspoon said they are competing with gangs that typically recruit at around eight or nine years old or human traffickers, who can grab children as young as 11 or 12.
Another program takes homeless teens and focuses on making them self-sufficient over an 18-month period. Counselors at the program help teach participants skills from how to load a dishwasher to how to manage finances.
The charity was recently the subject of fundraising and toy donation drives at the Tysons Biergarten and the Tysons Partnership. Roughly one-third of the organization’s funding, or $1,209,510, comes from community support. Another third comes from federal, state and local grants, but Witherspoon said the organization has been struggling as costs continue to rise, but federal funding remains stagnant.
“We haven’t had an increase in federal funding for 15 years,” said Witherspoon. “We don’t have any billboards or ads, so we rely on word of mouth.”
Over 85 percent of the organization’s funding, or $2,832,169, goes to program services. The remaining funding is split between development, management, and general funds.
The organization hosts tours on the second Tuesday of each month. Second Story also hosts volunteer and community service opportunities. Volunteers help do things like cook and answer the door to allow counselors to focus on helping teens.
Photo via Facebook
Local Startup Raises $30 Million — “Fairfax-based real estate data and analytics company Remine,” which has offices in Tysons and Dunn Loring, “has closed a $30 million Series A funding round, bringing its total amount raised to $48 million.” [Washington Business Journal]
Officials Hold Meeting on E-Bikes — “The recent popularity [of] e-bikes and the fact they are not allowed on trails in Fairfax County and NOVA Parks prompted NOVA Parks and Fairfax County Park Authority to take steps to understand the issues and then share facts with the public and listen to their comments.” [McLean Connection]
Fairfax Home Market Flat to Start Year — “A modest increase in sales was offset by slightly lower average sales price in the January home-sales report for Fairfax County. And as a result, the total sales volume for the month stood relatively unchanged as the local market began to segue from winter to spring.” [InsideNova]
Falls Church Seeking BZA Member — The Falls Church Board of Zoning Appeals is looking to fill a vacancy for the position of Alternate Member. [City of Falls Church]
Vienna tends to flood. Recent heavy rainfall has not only impacted local streams, but locals may have seen high water in Vienna’s downtown area near the Town Green.
It’s an issue that town staff have been working for years to address, and solutions have been identified, but year after year have remained unfunded.
A report presented to the Vienna Town Council in December 2016 examined the state of Vienna’s sewer infrastructure, particularly at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Center Street N. in the center of the town.
The study found that there were places that experienced significant flooding where existing sewer infrastructure was unable to handle storm volume. Town staff confirmed that improvements suggested in the study were included in the CIP, but have yet to receive funding.
The report indicates that there are three major locations for flooding in three different areas. According to the report:
- In moderate storms, flooding first occurs along Center Street at the location of the N Condos building and Starbucks parking lot.
- In more intense storm events, flooding occurs in the area of the Freeman House Museum, at Church Street NW and Dominion Road NE.
- Flooding also occurs near the intersection of Mill Street NE and Ayr Hill Avenue.
The report notes that flooding at the Starbucks is generally seen as the first sign of storm sewer capacity issues. The report noted that the ponding at these issues is more indicative of capacity problems than issues with draining.
“The ponding in all three areas of concern is a result of storm sewer surcharge, rather than surface drainage issues,” the study said. “This is evidenced by the ponding that occurs during a storm event and the rapid dissipation of ponded water immediately after the rain intensity subsides.”
The study assessed every outfall and junction in downtown Vienna and found that the system is unprepared for handling severe storms.
“The flow capacity of portions of the existing storm sewer system is insufficient to carry the stormwater calculated for a 10-year frequency storm,” the study said.
Ten-year floods are floods that have a 10 percent chance of happening in any given year, though there is some concern that this type of descriptor can lead to a false sense of security for those in areas prone to flooding.
Crucial to any fix to the local sewers, the study said, would be preventing flooding at the Freeman House and Starbucks, which are most prone to flooding.
The report recommended clearing debris and obstructions to sewer flow but that more substantial improvements will be needed over time.
“Even with clean sewers, the flow capacity in the piped portion of the system is lacking in two general areas,” the study said. “Sewer system improvements will be needed if the system is expected to move the flows resulting from a ten-year frequency storm, without undue flooding.”
For Valentine’s Day, you could take your partner to one of the several restaurants and bars offering special deals, but there’s another outside-the-box option: a Vienna singing quartet.
On Thursday (Feb. 14), the Vienna-Falls Chorus will be traveling the Northern Virginia area delivering singing valentines. The in-person deliveries include two songs, a box of chocolates and a personalized card for $50.
The quartet can be sent to an office, restaurant, home or any other location.
Singing valentines can also be sent by phone for $10.
Four songs are available for selection and audio samples are available online.
Photo via Facebook
Police say a bomb threat last Friday (Feb. 8) came from a man working at the Westin Hotel next door.
Police swarmed the Provident Bank at 7799 Leesburg Pike, in the southeast corner of the Leesburg Pike-Beltway interchange near Tysons, after they say a man called the front desk of the bank saying there was a bomb in the building.
Police say the threat was vague with little credible information offered. A search of the building turned up no suspicious objects and the bank quickly resumed normal operations.
Police stayed on the scene and moved to the Westin Hotel as they investigated the source of the call.
“With assistance from hotel security, Jonathan Ramos, 30, of Lorton was identified and charged with making a bomb threat,” police said in a crime report.
Photo via Fairfax County Police
School Board Advertises $3 Billion Budget — “The Fairfax County School Board has adopted the FY 2020 Advertised Budget of $3.0 billion, an increase of 4.1 percent, or $117.4 million, over the FY 2019 Approved Budget. The FY 2020 budget prioritizes employee compensation with a $55.2 million investment in teacher salary scales that includes a 1.0 percent market scale adjustment.” [Connection Newspapers]
Auditions for Vienna Theater — The Vienna Theatre Company is holding auditions tonight for its upcoming production of “Ripcord.” [Facebook]
Author Talk at Tysons Book Store — Bestselling fantasy novelist Larry Correia will be holding a book discussion and signing tonight at the Barnes & Noble store in Tysons. [Instagram]
Tysons Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in the Tysons area.
We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield and McLean. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Tuesday, Feb. 12
TheatreMcLean Fundraiser at Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill (6707 Old Dominion Dr)
Time: 5-9 p.m.
A fundraiser at Chipotle in McLean will benefit TheatreMcLean. Show the fundraiser flyer on your smartphone or tell the cashier you’re supporting TheatreMcLean to make sure that 33 percent will be donated to TheatreMcLean.
Wednesday, Feb. 13
Artificial Intelligence Summit
Potomac Officers Club (8245 Boone Blvd)
Time: 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
The Potomac Officers Club in Tysons will host a discussion with private and public sector leaders about AI. Attendance is free but only open to those with a director level or above position with a company, federal government agency or non-profit organization.
Galentine’s Day Book Celebration
Bards Alley (110 Church Street NW)
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Bring your favorite gal pals for a night with local romance authors, who are giving out some free merchandise. Enter to win a gift basket worth over $100. The event is free but RSVP is required.
Thursday, Feb. 14
Valentine’s Day Beer, Whiskey, & Chocolate Tasting at Tysons Biergarten
Tysons Biergarten (8346 Leesburg Pike)
Time: 11-2 a.m.
For $30, you and a loved one can get a selection of alcohol and chocolates at the Tysons Biergarten. The event runs all day, so couples are encouraged to stop by for lunch, dinner or afterwards.
Red Carpet Affair at Greenhouse Bistro
Greenhouse Bistro (2070 Chainbridge Rd)
Time: 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Greenhouse Bistro is hosting a Bollywood-themed Valentine’s Day event with free parking and no cover charge. The Valentine’s Day dinner special starts at 5 p.m. and the international music starts at 10 p.m. The dress code is “dress to impress.”
Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Tower Club
Tower Club – Tysons Corner (8000 Towers Crescent Drive)
Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
The Tower Club is offering four-course Valentine’s Day dinners. Tickets are $85 for members or $95 for guests. Flower bouquet arrangements are also available.
Friday, Feb. 15
Cookies and Cocktails
Blackfinn Ameripub – Merrifield
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Any purchase of a Valentine’s Day themed cocktails comes with a plate of fresh-baked cookies. Seating is first come, first serve.
