Regional Earthquake Fundraiser Officially Launches — “On Friday, March 3, Northern Virginia elected leaders and officials gathered to launch a fundraising effort organized by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) to collect money to purchase food packages for those impacted by the earthquakes” that hit Turkey and Syria in early February. [Fairfax County]
Person Burned in Herndon Townhouse Fire — “Units are on scene of a townhouse fire in the 300 block of Reneau Way in Herndon. Arriving units found and quickly extinguished a fire on a deck. One person transported with burn injuries. No reported firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Strangulation Cases Rise in Fairfax County — “In 2022, there were 217 instances in which Fairfax County authorities charged someone with strangulation, or knowingly applying pressure to a person’s neck, according to data provided by police. That is an increase of 83 cases from the year before…But authorities say that although arrests are rising, prosecutions that end in convictions remain sparse.” [The Washington Post]
New Turkish/Greek Restaurant Opens in Franconia — “Smyrna Restaurant, an Aegean kitchen located at Hayfield Shopping Center, is owned by executive chef Zeynep Gungoren and her husband Alp who serves as business manager…The couple, who live in the City of Alexandria, decided to launch a start-up restaurant at the Telegraph Road location, and it opened its doors in January.” [On the MoVe]
Tysons-Based EV Company Plans Manufacturing Plant — “Scout Motors Inc., the spinoff electric vehicle company of German automaker Volkswagen AG, said Friday it will build a $2 billion manufacturing plant near Columbia, South Carolina…The headquarters may ultimately settle in South Carolina, but Scout is currently advertising about a dozen jobs in the D.C. area” [Washington Business Journal]
Livestreaming Paused for Herndon Council Meetings — “During the month of March, the Council Chambers will be undergoing an audio-visual upgrade. There will be no live broadcasts/webcasts throughout the duration of the upgrade work; meetings that are normally broadcasted live will be recorded and posted by the end of the next day at Herndon-va.gov/Meetings.” [Town of Herndon]
Statewide Tornado Drill Tomorrow — “Every school, business, workplace and family in Fairfax County (and across the Commonwealth of Virginia) is strongly encouraged to participate in the statewide tornado drill, Tuesday, March 7, at 9:45 a.m., a part of Virginia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week (March 6-10).” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Learn About Early American Female Poets — “Celebrate Women’s History Month and join Tamara Harvey, @GeorgeMasonU Associate Professor of English, at Pohick Regional Library Monday as she discusses early American women poets and how they were treated as exceptional in their own time.” [Fairfax County Public Library/Twitter]
It’s Monday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 36. Sunrise at 6:35 am and sunset at 6:07 pm. [Weather.gov]
The spirit of Black History Month will extend into March at The Alden in McLean.
For tomorrow (Saturday) only, the McLean Community Center’s theater will host a one-act play by the Ohio-based company Mad River Theater Works “that brings the history of the Underground Railroad to life,” according a news release.
The sole performance of “Freedom Flight” will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. Featuring original music, the play is based on the true story of Addison White, who escaped slavery in Kentucky and later served in the Union Army during the Civil War.
“Freedom Flight” is a one-act play with music by Mad River that revolves around Ohio’s most famous incident in the history of the Underground Railroad: the story of Addison White, an escaped slave, and his rescue by the citizens of the town of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. When Evelyn, a descendant of Addison White, confronts her own difficulties with racism, an array of characters tell and relive their family history.
Founded in 1978, Mad River Theater Works produces original plays that “challenge racism, sexism and intolerance” by finding inspiring stories in American history, according to its website.
Tickets for tomorrow’s play cost $15 for all residents of MCC’s tax district and $25 for non-residents, though seniors and students pay just $20. The Alden is a 383-seat theater in the community center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.
In February, MCC marked Black History Month with a performance by the all-female, a capella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. The center also hosted “The 1619 Project” creator Nikole Hannah-Jones, who was invited to speak by Fairfax County Public Library.
The Fairfax County Police Department has agreed to undergo an independent review of its policies and practices after seeing an increase in shootings by officers over the past year.
The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a D.C.-based nonprofit that has looked at the department before, will conduct a “broad examination” of officer shootings since 2021 to “identify any performance patterns, deficiencies, or trends,” the FCPD said today (Friday).
“PERF will share training and policy recommendations to ensure FCPD continues to adopt industry best practices,” the department said. “PERF will begin its work immediately and will present its findings and recommendations to FCPD in a brief report.”
In the news release, Police Chief Kevin Davis stresses that the review will not constitute “a focused, independent examination” of the most recent shooting, where two officers shot and killed Timothy McCree Johnson in response to an alleged shoplifting attempt at Tysons Corner Center on Feb. 22.
Johnson’s mother and local civil rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the incident, questioning why officers used their firearms on a man accused of only stealing sunglasses and Davis’s description of Johnson as someone with a “violent criminal history” in the shooting’s immediate aftermath.
PERF previously reviewed the FCPD’s use-of-force policy and practices in 2015 as part of the county’s effort to reform the department after Springfield resident John Geer was fatally shot in 2013.
With this new review, the nonprofit will provide guidance on a potential policy dictating when officers should engage in foot chases, according to police.
The Fairfax County NAACP and ACLU People Power Fairfax have urged the FCPD to adopt a foot pursuit policy in the wake of Johnson’s death, noting that one was recommended by a separate 2021 use-of-force study by the University of Texas.
Fairfax County police officers have been involved in eight shootings since Davis became chief in 2021, including six incidents in 2022. According to FCPD data, there were nine officer-involved shootings total from 2013 to 2020.
(Updated at 2:15 p.m.) Opening day is on the horizon for South Block’s new McLean cafe.
The local juice and smoothie chain will open its latest location at 8 a.m. on Monday in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center (6246 Old Dominion Drive), according to a spokesperson and the website.
While this will be the 14th store for South Block, it holds special significance for owner, founder and CEO Amir Mostafavi, who grew up in McLean and is a graduate of McLean High School.
“I am most excited about being back in the community where I grew up,” Mostafavi said. “I’m looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new people in the community. It’s truly a full circle moment for me to open a business in the same town and community where my dad opened his video store.”
As he previously told FFXnow, Mostafavi got his first taste of the retail world as a worker at Box Office Video, the video rental business his parents owned for about two decades. The locally owned alternative to Blockbuster is now closed, but it once had stores around McLean and Falls Church.
In a stroke of fortuitous timing, Mostafavi is now the same age that his dad was when the first Box Office Video opened at the Langley Shopping Center — just two miles away from the new South Block.
Started in Clarendon in 2011, South Block sells cold-pressed juice, smoothies and acai bowls with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients and community involvement. The business also has a Vienna location and one in the works for the first phase of Amazon’s HQ2 campus in Arlington.
“South Block continues to prove that real food has the power to transform your life and Mostafavi is committed to growing his thriving business to new markets and more people,” the company said.
The McLean store will operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. A block party is being planned to celebrate its grand opening on April 22. More details will be shared on South Block’s Instagram, Mostafavi says.
Anchored by Safeway, Chesterbrook Shopping Center is undergoing an $8.5 million renovation. The façade is on track to finish this year, while the amenity spaces are scheduled for a 2024 completion, per a news release.
The center added Kosmo Nail Bar last fall, and the clothing store J. McLaughlin is expected to open this summer, according to property manager Federal Realty.
Fairfax Connector could be free for all children ages 12 and under.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s current policy is kids under 5 years old do not need to pay a fare. The new policy would extend that to all children under 12.
Older children can already get a free student bus pass: all Fairfax County middle and high school students can ride on all Fairfax County routes and some Metrobus routes for free between 5 a.m.-10 p.m. with a student bus pass. The transportation department said in a presentation the change would “close a gap” in the county’s fare-free policy for kids.
Those children would still obviously need to be accompanied by a fare-paying adult to receive a free fare.
In a presentation, the Department of Transportation said there are several potential benefits to the change.
- Closes the gap in fare-free travel for children between ages 5-12
- Increases accessibility and removes barriers to travel for parents. Especially beneficial for trips to access medical or social services
- This change will help children become acclimated to using public transit from an early age thereby creating increased transportation alternatives
FCDOT is collecting feedback on the proposed change until next Friday, March 10.
The policy change is scheduled to be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on April 11. If approved, it would take effect on April 30.
Fairfax Connector launched a pilot last month allowing low-income riders to get half-price fares.
GW Parkway Will Be Closed on Sunday — “The northbound lanes of the GW Parkway will be closed this Sunday between Spout Run in Arlington and Chain Bridge Road in McLean. The closure, from about 6 a.m.-4 p.m., is for the removal of ‘an abandoned vehicle that is below the road near the Potomac River.'” [ARLnow]
Alexandria Man Found Guilty in Springfield Killing — “A 28-year-old man who fled to Ethiopia after the killing of a young couple in Virginia was convicted for a second time in connection with the December 2016 deaths, authorities announced Thursday. Yohannes Nessibu was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in the shooting of 22-year-old Henok Yohannes.” [The Washington Post]
Reston Station Signs New Commercial Tenants — “Comstock Holding Companies Inc. (NASDAQ: CHCI) has signed both government contractor CACI International Inc. (NYSE: CACI) and The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State for its Commerce District of Reston Station development at 11400 Commerce Park Drive.” The 10-year leases are for 41,000 square feet for CACI and 34,560 square feet for Penn State. [Washington Business Journal]
Proposed Emissions Waiver for Data Centers Criticized — “Dozens of residents and nonprofit environmental representatives from across the region descended upon the [Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s]…office in Woodbridge to oppose the temporary variance.” The proposal would suspend air emissions rules from mid-March to July 31 so data centers in Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties can “run approximately 4,000 diesel generators to power its facilities in the event of a power grid failure.” [Inside NoVA]
County’s School Age Child Care and Teen Centers Add 3D Printers — “Makerbot Sketch 3D printers were installed at 144 SACC centers in February 2023. In addition, all 13 NCS Technology Centers now offer Makerbot 3D printers, providing expanded access to the same technology for students, families and other community members.” [NCS]
Metrorail Ridership Hits High for Pandemic — “Transit officials announced on Twitter that about 318,000 trips were taken Wednesday on Metrorail, which is 5,500 more than Metro’s previous pandemic-era high on Oct. 12. Metro also recorded at least three days last month that were among the 10 highest ridership days since the start of the pandemic.” [The Washington Post]
Economic Development Leader Honored by White House — “Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, was honored to receive a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from The White House because of his lifelong commitment to building a strong nation through volunteering…He was presented with the recognition by Elisha Pulivarti, CEO, U.S. India SME Council, on Feb 28, 2023, at University of North America in Fairfax.” [FCEDA]
Annandale Private School Nears Finish on Expansion — “After undergoing a major renovation and expansion, the Oakwood School in Annandale will be able to serve more students. The private school…focuses on specialized instructional methods for students with learning disabilities who struggled in their previous school. The expansion project is about 95 percent complete, says Head of School Lane McIntyre.” [Annandale Today]
Walkinshaw Launches Reelection Campaign — “James Walkinshaw officially announced that he is running for re-election as the Braddock District’s representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors…Walkinshaw, who launched his re-election campaign in Annandale on Sunday, was joined by more than 100 supporters and constituents.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — Rain throughout the day. High of 61 and low of 38. Sunrise at 6:39 am and sunset at 6:04 pm. [Weather.gov]
A stormwater retention project in Vienna that officials say will help contain runoff and slow down traffic is set to get another infusion of Fairfax County funds.
The county’s Board of Supervisors authorized staff last week to provide an additional $54,000 for the Town of Vienna’s Tapawingo and Kingsley road urban bioretention project. The vote took place without discussion at the board’s Feb. 21 meeting.
The money will come in addition to $200,000 that the county already allocated to the project under a funding agreement originally signed in October 2018.
“The increased Project cost is attributable to rising construction costs and larger bioretention cells needed to maximize water quality benefits,” county staff said in a memo explaining their recommendation that the agreement be amended.
The project will add two bioretention areas — or rain gardens — along Meadow Lane SW: one at the Tapawingo Road intersection and another further south at the Kingsley Road intersection.
To accommodate the cells, the existing corner pavement will be demolished and replaced with extended curbs, according to Vienna plans. The cells will be covered with a combination of perennial plants, such as switchgrass and bee balm, as well as grass sod.
According to county staff, the cells will treat stormwater runoff as it goes into Hunter’s Branch of the Accotink Creek watershed, providing “nutrient reduction and improved water quality.”
“Green stormwater controls are not only an aesthetic benefit provided by integrating nature into the urban built environment, but also planted cells are effective at removing nitrogen, phosphorous and in remediating metals that pose health impacts to aquatic life,” staff said. “For this reason, alternatives such as underground storage basins that offer limited infiltration and water quality improvement were not preferred.”
In addition to the stormwater benefits, town officials anticipate the curb extensions will help calm traffic on Meadow Lane, a 30-foot-wide street in a residential neighborhood, county staff said.
The road’s travel lanes at the Tapawingo and Kingsley intersections will be restricted to 20 feet wide, according to Vienna project manager Alan Chen.
The design, which was developed by Urban Ltd., also proposes 10-foot-wide crosswalks on all four sides of the Tapawingo intersection and on the north and east sides of the Kingsley intersection. The final design was presented at a community meeting on Nov. 3, 2021.
Under the 2018 agreement, Fairfax County agreed to cover the design and construction cost of the stormwater facilities. The additional funds authorized last week will cover the increased construction costs for the bioretention areas — but not for the curb extensions, Chen said.
The curb extensions and other remaining costs are Vienna’s responsibility, Chen told FFXnow. The town council will vote on whether to approve $84,564 for the project and the amended funding agreement on April 10.
In all, the project will cost just under $338,565. Assuming the town council approves Vienna’s portion and the new agreement, the town anticipates construction will begin in May.
Photo via Fairfax County
Northern Virginia leaders are taking steps to assist victims of the earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria in early February.
In an effort organized by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), elected leaders plan to announce a local aid program to collect funds that will be used to purchase food packages for those affected by the disaster.
In a release, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay said the profound loss of life in Turkey and Syria is heartbreaking.
”But I’m proud to be a part of a community that rallies together to help those in need both regionally and internationally,” McKay said.
The goal is to raise $25,000, according to NVRC Executive Director Robert Lazaro Jr. The money will be used to purchase more than eight tons of food. Each package contains 30 pounds of food and costs $45.
“We are working with [the nongovernmental organization Embrace Relief] that is purchasing food packages in Turkey which in turn are distributed to area residents,” Lazaro said in a release.
NVRC Chair John Chapman said residents and businesses have always stepped up to help those in need. Previously, the region collaborated on a winter clothes drive that sent tons of blankets, coats, socks and gloves to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion.
“This time is no different. I urge folks to visit the website to make a donation to provide food to those families tragically impacted by the earthquake,” said Chapman.
Members of Fairfax County’s Virginia Task Force 1 search and rescue team were deployed to Turkey and Syria after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit on Feb. 6, killing thousands of people and displacing millions. As of yesterday (Wednesday), the death toll reached roughly 51,000 people.
The task force, which was part of a national response team assembled by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), returned to Fairfax County on Feb. 20 after 11 days of searching for survivors.
Leaders will officially announce the program at the Fairfax County Government Center Forum on Friday (March 3) at 3 p.m. In the meantime, the commission has set up a link to collect donations for the victims.
Photo via VA-TF1/Twitter
(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) A law clerk and former D.C. police officer who also coaches freshman football at Herndon High School has launched a primary challenge against Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid.
Kelvin Garcia announced yesterday (Wednesday) that he will campaign for the Democratic nomination, positioning himself as a more progressive alternative to Kincaid.
Kincaid confirmed to FFXnow in December that she will seek reelection. She became the county’s first female sheriff when she initially took office after winning a special election in 2013.
“To me, there are two sides right now to the Democratic Party on the ballot this year,” Garcia said, as reported by the Washington Post. “There’s the old-world moderate and the progressive who wants to build a future for everyone.”
In addition to serving as an assistant freshman football coach for the Herndon Hornets, Garcia works as a law clerk for the firm Liberty Legal LC after spending a decade as a D.C. police officer from 2008 to 2019, according to his LinkedIn page.
According to the Post, Garcia decided to campaign for sheriff based on concerns about Kincaid’s management of the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, stating that he would make the first 30 minutes of inmates’ phone calls to family members free and house individuals based on their gender identity rather than sex.
The sheriff’s office currently classifies inmates based on their genitals.
A transgender woman sued the sheriff’s office in November 2020, alleging that she experienced discrimination and harassment while incarcerated at the county jail. A federal appeals court panel ruled in August that gender dysphoria is a condition protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, allowing the lawsuit to continue.
In a press release issued today (Thursday), Garcia said the county needs to “invest in people as they leave our facilities to break the revolving door that brings them right back” into the criminal justice system.
“Our system has let too many people fall through the cracks for far too long, and these problems start at the top,” Garcia said. “It’s time for a fresh perspective in Fairfax County — a perspective that will support every member of our community and leave no one behind. I’ll be honored to lead that effort.”
The primary election will be held on June 20, with general elections on Nov. 7.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is ready to roll up its window in Vienna.
The latest franchise from the Pennsylvania-based ice cream company will open for business today (Thursday) at 237 Maple Avenue in Glyndon Plaza, a public relations representative confirmed to FFXnow.
The new shop will operate daily from noon to 9 p.m., following the same hours as other Bruster’s locations, including the one in Fairfax City.
“We are so excited to be a part of the community of which we are longtime residents,” Mohammed and Aisha Tariq, who own the Vienna franchise, said by email. “We visited the Bruster’s of Glen Burnie for years and are thrilled to have our own location and join the Vienna business community.”
The Tariqs have experience in the business world as operators of the First Start Childcare and Learning Center in Elkridge, Maryland. They were inspired to go from Bruster’s fans to owners by their kids, who they foresee potentially working at the shop once they’re older.
“We are excited for the opportunity to employ local youth in the area and teach them how to be successful entrepreneurs,” they said.
As previously reported, Bruster’s opened its first store in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, in 1989 and started franchising in 1993. It now has over 200 independently owned locations across 22 states, Guyana and South Korea, according to its website.
The business produces over 150 flavors that its franchises offered on a rotating basis. All of the ice cream is made on-site at each shop.
In addition, Bruster’s has limited-time and seasonal offerings, along with non-dairy, non-fat, sugar-free sorbets and sherbets. The featured flavors for March is a “Dino or Dirt Sundae” and “Cookie Craze,” which is described as blue vanilla ice cream with Oreo cookie chunks, crushed dinosaur-shaped sugar cookies, and cookie dough pieces.
Like the other locations, the Vienna franchise has outdoor seating but no indoor seating, instead serving patrons through pick-up windows.
Bruster’s previously had a location in Avenir Place near the Dunn Loring Metro station, but it closed in 2020 after the franchisee decided not to renew their lease.
