After more than three years, COVID-19 will officially cease to be a federal public health emergency in the U.S. tomorrow (Thursday), bringing an end to the days of free testing and vaccinations.
The Fairfax County Health Department will still provide free services by appointment to people who don’t have insurance or otherwise can’t pay, but private insurance companies and health providers will be allowed to start billing patients, the department explained in a May 5 announcement.
Since they’re considered “preventative care,” vaccines will largely be covered by private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid without a co-pay. But coverage for both at-home and lab tests will depend on individual insurers, and people without insurance will be charged for vaccinations, according to the health department.
The FCHD will end its COVID-19 call center on May 19, so appointments for its free clinics can be made after that date by calling 703-246-7100.
Other options for uninsured individuals include organizations like food banks, homeless services providers and federally qualified health centers that can offer free testing through July 2024, thanks to federal grant programs.
“We encourage anyone who becomes ill with symptoms of COVID or who comes into contact with someone diagnosed with COVID to continue testing to prevent the further spread of illness,” the health department said.
Federal officials declared COVID-19 a national emergency on Jan. 31, 2020, 11 days after the first case in the U.S. was confirmed. The declaration’s end reflects a shift to treating the disease as endemic, meaning it remains present but not at a level that significantly disrupts most people’s daily lives.
FCHD Deputy Director for Medical Services Dr. Parham Jaberi said in a statement to FFXnow:
The end of the emergency does not signal that COVID is over, but we do feel that it no longer impacts our lives in the way it did over the past three years. The “emergency” enabled resources to quickly address our needs for a coordinated response to help our communities get vaccinated, tested and take necessary actions to limit the spread of the virus. While COVID remains a serious illness for some populations in our community such as older adults, very young children, or those with chronic health conditions, it is less of an overall threat to society.
The World Health Organization announced last Friday (May 5) that Covid is no longer a global health emergency, though worldwide, more than 3,000 deaths have been reported over the past week.
On a local level, Fairfax County terminated its state of emergency for the pandemic on March 1, just under three years since it began.
The Fairfax Health District is now averaging 30 new cases per day for the past week — fewer than at any point in the pandemic other than the summer of 2021, according to local and state data. As a result, the impact of a price tag on people’s willingness to get tested and vaccinated “may be limited,” the FCHD says.
However, community members are still advised to stay up to date on their vaccinations, get tested when sick and take other basic precautions like covering their mouth when coughing that help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases.
“New variants and seasonal increases of COVID are still very likely and the best form of prevention against serious impacts of COVID on our communities is to ensure everyone is adequately immunized, especially children, older adults, and those with a chronic health condition,” Jaberi said.
Over 2.8 million Covid vaccine doses have been administered to residents of the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax and Falls Church City. Per county data, 79.8% of people 6 months and older have finished the “primary” series of shots, but just 24.9% have gotten the most recent booster.
In the future, the vaccine will likely be recommended on a regular schedule, like annual flu shots, Jaberi said. However, the exact process will be determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Federal Drug Administration, which have yet to issue any guidance.
Reflecting on three years of shutdowns, vaccinations, and evolving masking and social distancing expectations, FCHD officials are “cautiously optimistic” that the county will be able to handle future diseases or even Covid variants more quickly and efficiently than when the coronavirus arrived.
“We’ve trained our medical reserve corps; we’ve improved our communications and community partnerships and networks with healthcare providers,” Jaberi said by email. “We’ve enhanced public health surveillance and staff training, and we are better resourced to address communicable disease threats. When the next public health emergency arises, we will also be able to use lessons learned from our pandemic response to make sure we protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
As of this morning, the Fairfax Health District had reported a total of 270,000 Covid cases, 5,350 hospitalizations and 1,793 deaths.
Sunrise of McLean Village has officially opened.
As anticipated, residents began moving into the new senior living community at 1515 Chain Bridge Road this week, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 27, Sunrise Senior Living announced today (Wednesday).
The facility can house 122 residents in 61 assisted living residences and 39 units for individuals with memory loss. It is Sunrise’s second community in the McLean area, joining an existing Sunrise of McLean in Odrick’s Corner that also provides short-term stays and hospice coordination.
“We look forward to proudly continuing our legacy in McLean with the opening of Sunrise of McLean Village,” Sunrise of McLean Village Executive Director Maureen Davis said. “Being raised locally, I appreciate our uniqueness. This community will help make the area even more remarkable. My team and I will eagerly welcome our new residents and their loved ones into the Sunrise family.”
Located on the edge of downtown McLean, the three-story, nearly 90,000-square-feet facility replaced the McLean Medical Building after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors turned down Sunrise’s original proposal for a site on Kirby Road in 2017.
The building was designed by Rust Orling Architecture, and construction by the general contractor, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, began on June 18, 2021.
Here’s more on the design from Sunrise’s press release:
The building’s brick façade fits seamlessly into the surrounding area’s historic and traditional feel but brings a unique touch to the area with its large, picture windows and subtle modern design elements. Sunrise of McLean Village’s interiors were designed by Sunrise’s in-house design team that took every detail into account while designing the spaces. Using the natural light from the large windows, the common spaces are bright and stylishly decorated with curated furniture, built specifically for this community. Residents will enjoy the community’s sophisticated air paired with its cozy, home-like feel. A special piece of Sunrise of McLean Village’s design can be found along the interior walls which are lined with works from local artists and creators.
Sunrise of McLean Village offers several intentionally designed amenity spaces to promote activity and engagement throughout the community. These amenities include large common spaces like the dining room and the contemporary bistro, which will feature a bar for entertainment, social hours and events for residents and their families. Additional amenities will include a fitness center, library, two sunrooms, activity room, hair and nail salon and a massage room. A special element of the community is its emphasis on access to outdoor space. These amenities include five covered porches, a large outdoor terrace, two rooftop terraces, and a public-private heritage garden. This area will have sections for public use and a section for residents only. The garden will feature landscaping with native plants, benches as well as accessible walking paths. The community is pet-friendly so residents can look forward to enjoying this area with their own furry friend if they would like.
Sunrise has over 280 senior living communities in the U.S., including 19 in Northern Virginia. The company says it’s “nearing” completion on a Sunrise of Vienna that’s on track to open later this year.
The Vienna Town Council appears inclined to raze the former Faith Baptist Church, as a study continues to sift through ideas for the long-term future of the site now known as the Annex.
A vote on whether to demolish the now-vacant building at 301 Center Street South has been set for June 5. While no decision was made, a majority of council members indicated at a conference session Monday (May 8) that they would rather knock down the structure than invest money in maintaining it.
Council members Howard Springsteen and Ed Somers seemed open to keeping the church gymnasium — another option suggested by the consultants conducting the study — but it was unclear how much that would cost compared to replacing the 1950s-era building with new, temporary recreational facilities.
Martin Kimmel, president of the consulting firm Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site, confirmed the team could provide “rough” cost estimates in time for the June vote.
“It’s going to come down to cost,” Councilmember Steve Potter said. “I’m leaning toward don’t put good money into bad. I think the best thing would be to demolish the building, but I’m having a hard time making a decision because we don’t have all the information.”
It will cost about $250,000 to fully demolish the church and remove the resulting debris, town staff estimated.
The town purchased the former church on Aug. 31, 2020, turning it into a temporary base for the Vienna Police Department until its new headquarters was built. The move-in process was completed in January.
After a review found that it would take $500,000 just to bring the existing building up to code, the council commissioned Kimmel Bogrette and fellow consultant Kimley Horn to help the town develop a long-term vision before it makes any short-term commitments.
Based on initial public input, including a still-open online survey and an in-person workshop, community members would love to see recreational amenities of some kind — particularly an indoor pool or other aquatics facility — in the Annex’s future.
“There was no doubt the word ‘pool’ jumped out” as a use that should be evaluated, Somers said, referencing a word cloud in the consultant team’s presentation.
An exercise or fitness facility, pickleball courts and meeting space also got solid support as potential uses at the March 28 workshop, which was held in the new police station.
With the police station costing about $14.1 million, it will likely be at least a decade before the town can implement another project of that magnitude. That may not be as far off as it seems, given the amount of time needed for planning, design and construction, Town Manager Mercury Payton noted.
Springsteen said a pool seems “cost-prohibitive” when the town already has millions of dollars worth of capital projects to address, from road improvements to sewer upgrades. Other council members suggested all options should remain open until they get a clearer idea of the costs.
Kimmel Bogrette proposed bringing in another consultant that could conduct a market and operational analysis. For an additional $23,500, the analysis would evaluate different possible uses for the site and project potential demand, construction and operational costs, and revenue.
Some council members expressed skepticism at the need for that analysis, though Payton said the consultant would be able to provide a more detailed, informed review than what town staff could manage. The proposal will come up for a vote on June 5.
“I don’t know what we’d wait for. We have to know what the costs are,” Mayor Linda Colbert said.
In the meantime, Kimmel’s study will proceed with more community engagement events at the Vienna Community Center from 4-7 p.m. today (Wednesday) and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday (May 13).
A final recommendation is scheduled to be presented to the council on June 12.
County Board Officially Adopts New Budget — “Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors Tuesday adopted a budget that lowers the property tax rate for homeowners and gives county employees raises, part of a larger effort to combat the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Northern Virginia.” [The Washington Post]
Terrorism Investigation Leads to Raid of Springfield Apartment — FBI agents recently raided an apartment on Kingsford Road and arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of providing financial support to ISIS members. Court documents filed on May 4 indicate that Mohammed Chhipa had been under investigation since 2021. [FOX5]
Parents Air FCPS Safety Concerns at Town Hall — “On Monday night, parents of Fairfax County students shared their concerns over school safety directly to the district’s superintendent. Their worries ranged from how threats are communicated to whether entrances are actually secure.” A systemwide security review is currently underway. [DC News Now]
Merry-Go-Round May Return to Springfield Town Center — “Heritage Amusements, the amusement concessionaire for mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: PEI), is seeking Fairfax County’s OK to install a carousel on the first level of Springfield Town Center, near where Lego Discovery Center plans to open this summer.” A lease hasn’t been finalized, but the mall hopes to “align” the opening with that of the Lego center. [Washington Business Journal]
Route 1 BRT Among Projects Up for Funding — The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission “is considering 16 projects” to help fund with $48 million in I-395/95 toll revenue. “They include projects related to buses and trains, including an expansion of the Crystal City Virginia Railway Express station and a plan to put bus-only lanes on 16 miles of Route 1 in Fairfax County.” [ABC7]
Old and Young Collaborate on Great Falls Pollinator Garden — “The Residence at Colvin Run, a senior-living facility located in Great Falls, on April 29 welcomed young learners from Kashmir’s Pollinator Garden Club to participate in a Garden Design Challenge…The event was organized by the club…to create a community pollinator garden using the principles of geometry.” [Gazette Leader]
Vienna Church Hosts Prom for People with Disabilities — “It was a night filled with smiles, dancing and happy tears. This was the atmosphere at the Be Our Guest prom, which Vienna Presbyterian Church hosted for guests with special needs. This was a new effort by the church, which runs a Friendship Class for adults with special needs.” [Patch]
Skate Night Coming to Franconia Rec Center — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting the first-ever Family Skate Night at Franconia Rec Center. Grab your roller skates and family and friends for an evening of fun at Franconia Rec Center on Saturday, May 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. The gymnasium…will be converted into a roller-skating rink, complete with a live DJ!” [FCPA]
It’s Wednesday — Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 7 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight. [Weather.gov]
As Northern Virginia continues to cement its position as a global base for data centers, Fairfax County leaders say the time has come to reevaluate the impact of the facilities and, potentially, set some boundaries for the future.
At its meeting this morning (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors directed county staff to research environmental issues linked to data centers and what’s being done to address them. Staff will also develop guidelines for site locations and the process for approving them.
The unanimously approved motion introduced by Board Chairman Jeff McKay advised staff to report back by the end of this year, but with more centers in the works, some supervisors suggested an accelerated timeline is needed.
“The technology’s changing, the practices are changing, so there may be some things that we need to do even sooner than the end of the year,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said. “I would just encourage us to be flexible and staff to bring things forward when ready.”
Though Silicon Valley remains synonymous with the tech industry, the internet lives in Virginia, which hosts about 35% of the world’s data centers — including 45 million square feet just in Northern Virginia, according to a recent report by real estate developer JLL. As much as 70% of all online traffic passes through Loudoun County, giving it the nickname “Data Center Alley.”
Fairfax County currently has 11 data centers with five more “in the pipeline,” according to McKay. Alcorn said four of the upcoming sites are in his district, which includes the CoreSite campus in Reston and offices for Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Herndon.
With AWS pledging to invest $35 billion for new data center campuses in Virginia, the facilities could “be beneficial from a tax-base perspective and perhaps even a building repurposing perspective,” McKay said in his board matter, which was also sponsored by Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith.
“The region continues to receive requests for more data centers due to our unique location related to the internet’s fiber infrastructure,” McKay said.
However, as the industry’s footprint has grown, so have concerns about the consequences for the environment, local neighborhoods and the power grid.
Citing their impacts on air and water quality as well as electricty usage and greenhouse gas emissions, the county’s Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) urged the board to develop a plan requiring data centers to use renewable energy “to the extent feasible” and report all emissions and pollutants.
“Actions to mitigate threats to community health and minimize the need for future cleanup of water by County wastewater treatment facilities and Fairfax Water should be undertaken,” EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza said in the March 13 memo. “Moreover, these steps are important to provide the data centers with clear expectations to reduce environmental impacts.”
The proposed data center plan will build off of updates in the county’s recently voided zoning ordinance, which was scheduled for a public hearing and potential re-adoption today.
Contrary to some criticism, the zoning ordinance modification (zMOD) created more restrictions on data centers compared to the existing code from 1978, McKay said. In addition to banning the facilities from residential districts, the new code added size limits and requirements for cooling, ventilating, and other equipment enclosures.
“While we are open to data centers in Fairfax County, they only work if they’re in the proper location and have the proper environmental mitigations,” he said.
The Board of Supervisors voiced opposition last year to an ultimately approved plan to develop a “digital gateway” in Prince William County that could affect the Occoquan watershed, and Bren Mar residents successfully rallied against a proposal that could’ve opened the door for a data center.
Earlier this year, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) proposed waiving air quality requirements for data centers in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties so they could use generators, fearing they would otherwise overburden the region’s power supply. The proposal was later narrowed to just Loudoun before being withdrawn altogether after criticism from residents and environmental advocates.
The power demand for run data centers is expected to grow going forward, according to Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who recounted a recent meeting with the president of the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC).
“Right now, data centers are 20% of their power base. In 10 to 15 years, they’re going to be 90% of their power base but less than 5% of their customers,” Herrity said. “At some point in time, we as the elected body here…need to take a look at are we going to have sufficient power, where’s it going to come from, what’s the grid going to look like.”
Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk noted that data center technology is still evolving, so they could take up less space in the future.
While not dismissing the environmental issues associated with data centers, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said they’re still more efficient than the on-site computer servers that dominated before cloud computing made remote storage possible.
“If you just measure the emissions that that building creates — and we should hold them to high standards — you’re missing the alternative, which is most often, much less efficient.” he said. “Unless we all stop using our phones and our devices, then we won’t need them, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Photo via Kirill Sh on Unsplash
In the beginning, there were the Brute Red Trash Cans.
The simple, plastic buckets were among the first instruments utilized by the Vienna Jammers, along with PVC pipes, bits of metal and other construction materials lying around Vienna Elementary School.
Fast forward about 17 years, and the student percussion group is getting ready to perform on actual marimbas, hand drums and more with Madonna’s former DJ at Capital One Hall in Tysons for the Big Jam, an annual fundraiser and year-end concert.
Set for 6 p.m. this Saturday (May 13), this year’s concert will celebrate the Jammers’ 10th anniversary as a nonprofit and feature a guest appearance by Eric Jao, also known as DJ Enferno, a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology alum who has also worked with Shakira and Rihanna.
“It’s gonna be a big blowout. We’ve got lots of cool things planned,” Vienna Jammers Executive Director David Reynolds Jr. said, hinting at team-ups with the Legacy Dance Institute and a marimba-playing robot designed by one of the Jammers’ older students.
Though the performance venues have gotten bigger, and the instruments more polished, the Vienna Jammers haven’t lost touch with the scrappy, experimental spirit that fueled its creation.
During the 2005-2006 school year, Reynolds was working as a music teacher at Vienna Elementary when James Madison High School junior Dave Cohen — known by the group as “Dr. DC” — approached him and proposed starting a percussion ensemble for kids as a community service project.
The Jammers began as an after-school activity with about 20 fifth and sixth-graders playing instruments available in the school, from Orff xylophones to the aforementioned trash cans and construction materials.
Reynolds says the initial focus on “found sounds” and non-traditional instruments came partly out of necessity and partly as a nod to the international group STOMP, which closed out a 29-year run in New York City in January.
“The beauty of the marimba for me and percussion is that I can teach a simple part to one group and then teach another simple part to another group, and then you put those two groups together and it sounds like a very complex piece of music,” Reynolds said. “…It sounds like professional quality stuff, but it’s being created by kids, and so I think that kind of adds to the allure of it.”
That approach evidently resonated, because the Jammers grew to the point where 75 kids were auditioning for 20 to 25 spots. After visiting the leader of the Louisville Leopards, a similar group in Kentucky, Reynolds decided to turn the ensemble into an official nonprofit in 2012.
The Jammers now boast 135 participants from 25 different schools, ranging from second graders up to seniors in high school. Most are based in Fairfax County, but students have joined from D.C. and even Bristow.
To get into the group, kids first participate in a summer camp that serves as an audition, but once they’re accepted, they can stay as long as they want, moving to different ensembles depending on their age and how often they want to play. The high school-aged ensembles are limited to kids who got involved starting in elementary school.
However, not long before Covid hit, the organization added a “Jammers Tech” program that’s open to any seventh through 12th graders interested in audio and video production.
“It just so happened to work out that we were just getting that off the blocks when we really needed to kind of tie in that live-streaming and those sorts of things,” Reynolds said.
Looking back over the Jammers’ first decade, Reynolds says his goal has ultimately boiled down to creating opportunities “for kids at a young age to experience some really incredibly awesome things.”
In addition to performing at local events like ViVa Vienna and the annual Halloween parade, the group has provided halftime entertainment for the Washington Mystics at the Verizon Center, and the guest artist at last year’s Big Jam — the first at Capital One Hall — was South African bassist Bakithi Kumalo, who was part of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album.
“For me, this is awesome,” Reynolds said. “I get to go and make music with a bunch of kids, and we get to share that music, and we get to try to do it in bigger and better places and travel and just open their eyes to the world.”
The original Apple store is apparently angling for an upgrade.
Temporary walls advertising “a new chapter” for the company at Tysons Corner Center have been erected next to Victoria’s Secret, the mall announced on April 30, suggesting a new, bigger location is in the works at the home of Apple’s first-ever retail store.
“Hello. Again. The first-ever Apple store opened 22 years ago here at Tysons Corner Center,” the signs say. “Apple now begins their next chapter with us, with a newly-reimagined space coming soon. We feel proud to be a part of their story.”
The first-ever @Apple store opened 22 years ago here at Tysons Corner Center! Apple now begins their next chapter with us, with a newly-reimagined space coming soon. We feel proud to be a part of their story. pic.twitter.com/hiwiWBM1vs
— Tysons Corner Center (@ShopTysons) April 30, 2023
The new store will have a gross floor area of 13,010 square feet, per an application for a certificate of occupancy that was accepted for review by Fairfax County last Thursday (May 4).
However, further information about what exactly the “reimagined” space will look like has been sparse so far. A Tysons Corner Center spokesperson told FFXnow that more details will be shared “soon” by Apple.
Apple’s media team didn’t return multiple requests for comment by press time.
Tysons Corner Center welcomed the inaugural Apple store on May 19, 2001, beating a store in Glendale, Calif., by just three hours thanks to the difference in time zones.
The upcoming relocation will be the first time that the Tysons store has moved from its original spot near Bloomingdale’s, according to reporter Michael Steeber, who regularly covers Apple-related news.
To mark the store’s 20th anniversary in 2021, an augmented reality experience allowed users to see how it looked in 2001 based on a video tour filmed by Steve Jobs ahead of the grand opening.
Fairfax County could be getting park rangers one day, but it won’t be this year.
With the police department’s staff stretched thin, the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has proposed a new solution for addressing service calls in its system: a park ranger program.
But while the Board of Supervisors directed staff on May 2 to review options for law enforcement in the park system, the $1.1 million request didn’t make the cut for the upcoming fiscal year 2024 budget, which will take effect July 1.
Depending on what the review recommends, funding could come in future years.
“In the proposed guidance for the FY 24-25 budget, the Board of Supervisors instructed county staff to ‘initiate a review of options to expand the presence of law enforcement within our park system, including the proposed park ranger program, and return to the Board with recommendations,’” Ben Boxer, public information officer for FCPA, said.
Boxer said issues like graffiti and thefts from vehicles have been increasingly problematic for the park authority in recent years.
“Parks, park users and staff often experience prohibited activities such as graffiti and destruction of property, unauthorized use, trespassing, encroachment, theft from vehicles, animal/dog bites, drug and alcohol use, littering, etc,” Boxer said. “These issues have always been a problem in parks but with Park Authority staffing cuts over the years, this type of activity has been steadily increasing and has driven the need to request and fund police coverage during the past several years.”
The FCPA has requested $1.1 million for a pilot program, consisting of six park rangers and three chief park rangers, along with vehicles and supplies. Those rangers would patrol the parks and educate the community on park rules and regulations.
Boxer said the possible Park Ranger pilot program is based on similar programs in Arlington County and Prince William County.
“Park safety and security rangers have been shown to help minimize the degradation of parks and improve the community’s park experience and satisfaction,” Boxer said. “The role is different from that of traditional law enforcement but can significantly alleviate the pressure on police in responding to calls.”
Instead, the new budget focuses on providing tax relief and increasing county employee pay. The budget is scheduled for adoption on today (Tuesday).
Police Begin Speed Enforcement Campaign — “Officers from our district stations & traffic division will be conducting our ’50 means 50′ campaign on the Fairfax County Parkway from May 8-May 12. Drivers can expect extra attention this week as we seek to educate drivers, enforce good driving behavior, & reduce crashes.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Local Man Sentenced to Prison for Capitol Breach — “Hatchet Speed, 42, of Vienna, was sentenced to four years in prison by a judge in DC federal court” for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He “was previously sentenced to three years in prison in a gun silencer case in Virginia federal court.” [Patch]
New Park Open Near Bailey’s Crossroads — “The Fairfax County Park Authority held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday for the Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park, a new park in Bailey’s Crossroads that features a playground, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, and community gardens.” [Patch]
Herndon BBQ Restaurant Cuts Ribbon — “Although the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit had a soft-launch of its new restaurant in Herndon on April 14, town officials joined franchisee owners Mosni and Dhaval Shah for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon.” [Patch]
State Covid Exposure App Is Ending — “Virginia’s COVID exposure notification app will be retired Thursday when the national public health emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic ends, the Virginia Department of Health announced Monday. More than 3 million users downloaded the COVIDWISE app or turned on COVIDWISE Express, an app-less version for iPhone users.” [Inside NoVA]
Health Department Answers Questions on Fentanyl — Today is Fentanyl Awareness Day, and the Fairfax County Health Department will host a talk at 11:30 a.m. with Jennifer Feltes, population health epidemiologist. “Learn about fentanyl — what it is, where it is found, and what can be done to promote healthy behaviors.” [FCHD/Facebook]
Meet the Board of Supervisors Primary Candidates — “The victors — some of whom…are likely to be determined in the primary — will have plenty to do in governing the region’s largest jurisdiction. We’ve asked the candidates to weigh in on a range of issues facing the county, including financial uncertainty, housing affordability, retention of county employees and issues around police accountability.” [DCist]
McLean Community Center Leader Energized by Job — “Betsy May-Salazar has served as executive director of the McLean Community Center for just four months, but the job has been invigorating so far…The community center’s pace is ‘very fast, with a lot of moving pieces, which I love,’ she said.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — Showers. High of 60 and low of 48. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Sunrise at 6:01 am and sunset at 8:08 pm. [Weather.gov]
One of Vienna’s police officers recently got some kudos for giving the department a major staffing boost at a time when law enforcement is struggling with recruitment regionally and nationally.
Sgt. James Sheeran was named the Vienna Police Department’s “Employee of the Year” by the Rotary Club of Vienna, which presented its 2023 Rotarian M. Jane Seeman “Service Above Self” award to the sergeant at a banquet on April 19.
Bestowed annually to an officer who displays “motivation, commitment, and service to the community,” the award went to Sheeran this year after he hired 10 officers in two years — the equivalent of nearly a quarter of the VPD’s 41 sworn officer positions.
The department also employs 11 civilian staff members.
“Sgt. Sheeran’s hiring accomplishment is a feat that has not been achieved in the recent history of our police department,” the police department said in a press release on Friday (May 5).
According to the release, Sheeran was “managed to screen hundreds of applicants” during his two years working in the Criminal Investigations Section:
Sgt. Sheeran was assigned to the Vienna Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) for approximately 24 months. His duties included internal investigations, personnel hiring and investigator supervision. Sgt. Sheeran is described by his section commander as an exemplary employee. Always willing to lend a hand and never turns down a new assignment. Sgt. Sheeran approaches all his duties with enthusiasm, dedication, and professionalism.
The VPD now has just one vacancy, even though it has encountered the same hurdles with recruitment as other police departments, possibly “even more because we are a smaller police department,” Public Information Officer Juan Vasquez told FFXnow.
“Recruiting and hiring new officers is an extremely difficult and challenging task,” the department said. “The Vienna Police Department is located in the heart of a very large metropolitan area with numerous agencies actively and aggressively competing for law enforcement officers.”
Police departments actually reported an uptick in hiring during 2022 compared to 2019-2021, but those gains have been offset by increased retirements and resignations, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) found in a survey released April 1.
Among the agencies competing with Vienna is the Fairfax County Police Department, which has been in a “personnel emergency” since last summer. The FCPD welcomed 56 recruits to its academy last month — its largest class in over a decade — but as of early April, there were 206 vacant positions.
In a push to improve recruitment and retention, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is set to adopt a budget tomorrow (Tuesday) that will boost pay for police officers by an average of 12.8%.
The Town of Vienna’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, gives an additional $400,960 to the police. Though there aren’t any significant changes to compensation, anticipated initiatives include enhanced “recruiting efforts using social media.”
The town council will adopt the budget on May 15.
