(Updated at 11:20 a.m. on 2/8/2023) When March arrives, the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be an officially declared emergency in Fairfax County.
After honoring individuals and organizations in the community who helped the county respond to the pandemic this weekend, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously today (Tuesday) to terminate the local state of emergency declaration that has been in place since March 17, 2020.
The declaration, which activated the county’s Emergency Operations Plan and allowed increased flexibility and resources to address the public health crisis, will end on March 1.
“This is a milestone,” Chairman Jeff McKay said. “We would not be here without the work of so many people in our county. We recognized our nonprofits, our county staff, really the vigilance of our community during some really difficult times, and so, it’s great that we’re able to do this.”
Fairfax County is possibly the last locality in Northern Virginia to end its emergency declaration. Loudoun County, Prince William, Alexandria, and Arlington all took that step last year.
Keeping the declaration in place gave the county “a lot of flexibility in collecting federal funds and other strategic advantages,” McKay said.
As fears of a surge in Covid cases akin to last winter’s omicron wave have dissipated, the county says that the time is right to end the declaration.
“The Declaration of Local Emergency has been an extremely valuable tool for us throughout the pandemic,” County Executive Bryan Hill said in a statement. “It gave us greater flexibility and authority to purchase supplies, find resources, move to virtual operations and meetings, support the business community, and protect the health and safety of our community. I commend our employees who have done an impressive job of reinventing how we deliver services to Fairfax County residents.”
At this point, the move won’t affect the daily lives of most community members. Since the county’s mass vaccine clinics shut down in December, there will be “no direct impact” on the health department’s approach to Covid.
The Health Department will continue to share important updates and resources concerning COVID-19 on its webpage and social media channels…Vaccines continue to be widely available throughout our community and at Health Department District Offices by appointment. Residents who are unable to access vaccines or boosters may call the Health Department Call Center at 703-267-3511 for assistance.
The end of the declaration is most notable for starting the clock on the county’s relaxed regulations for outdoor dining and other activities, such as the use of speakers during outdoor religious services, to use an example cited by Department of Planning and Development Director Tracy Strunk.
Any businesses with an emergency waiver will be allowed to continue using it until March 1, 2024 — 12 months after the declaration ends.
Strunk said county staff will present options for allowing outdoor dining in parking lots to continue on a universal basis this spring, as requested by the board at a land use policy committee meeting in October.
“I know there are a number of locations in my district where we see more outdoor dining that didn’t have it before — not necessarily right now, but certainly when the weather’s just a little bit warmer,” Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross said. “We need to make sure they all understand what happens and how some of those things will go forward.”
The county’s Covid community level is low, as of Thursday (Feb. 2). The Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, is currently averaging 119 cases and 4.6 deaths per day for the past week, according to county health department data.
There have been 265,428 Covid cases, 5,307 hospitalizations and 1,775 deaths in the district.
Loyal Companion is letting out one final howl before permanently shuttering all of its stores in Fairfax County.
Independent Pet Partners, the pet wellness chain’s parent company, announced yesterday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close all its stores outside of Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
That includes Loyal Companion’s stores in Vienna, Tysons, Herndon, Merrifield’s Mosaic District, and Pender shopping mall in the Fair Oaks area. The closure announcement was first reported by Patch.
All stores will close after Feb. 28, according to a message on the company’s website.
To our Loyal Companion community,
With a heavy heart, we want to inform you that we’ve made the tough decision to close our Loyal Companion stores. We have loved serving the community and supporting you on your pet wellness journey.
Our stores will be open through the end of February. We will be offering liquidation discounts and we encourage you to take advantage of these great offers to get all the supplies you need.
While it’s hard to say goodbye, it’s easy to say thank you. Thank you for being part of our family. Thank you for caring about pet wellness. And thank you for supporting your local community.
We’ve enjoyed all the hugs and belly rubs along the way.
~ Your Loyal Companion Team
All products are now 10 to 30% off at the closing stores. Furniture and equipment is also for sale, per signs posted at the Mosaic District location.
Loyal Companion launched in 2019 with a massive, coordinated opening of 52 new stores. The business prides itself on a focus on nutrition and the availability of holistic services, including food, grooming, veterinarian care, training and pet day care.
“We are confident we can use the chapter 11 process to emerge as a stronger, more focused business, and better able to serve our customers,” Independent Pet Partners said in a press release. “For those stores that are closing, and for markets we will no longer serve, we will do everything possible to try to find buyers for these locations so our pet parents can continue to be served.”
Loyal Companion says it’s no longer accepting returns, but refunds will be offered until the stores officially close.
The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) wants Fairfax County to reconsider its embrace of synthetic turf for athletic fields, as a decision nears on whether to replace the grass baseball diamond at Linway Terrace Park (6246 Linway Terrace).
The organization, which represents residents of the greater McLean area, has called for a review of the county’s practices regarding synthetic turf, particularly the potential health and environmental risks posed by crumb rubber — bits of recycled tire commonly used for artificial fields.
Approved by the MCA board of directors at a meeting last Wednesday (Feb. 1), the resolution builds off a February 2018 request that the county test field drainage for possible water contamination and create a citizen task force to explore the issue.
“Looking at the issue anew this year, we learned that concerns about the environmental and health effects related to synthetic turf fields continue to be significant and in some ways have grown,” Barbara Ryan, who chairs MCA’s environmental committee, said.
The Fairfax County Park Authority announced in December that McLean Little League had offered to help fund a conversion of Linway Terrace Park’s baseball field.
Synthetic turf requires less upkeep than natural grass and can be used regardless of weather, McLean Little League board member Bryan Orme told FFXnow at the time, noting that the 10-acre park’s nearby soccer and lacrosse field has been converted.
The Fairfax County Park Authority uses a mix of sand and cryogenic crumb rubber for most of its synthetic turf fields in accordance with a countywide policy last reviewed in 2016, according to FCPA Public Information Officer Ben Boxer.
In response to community concerns about crumb rubber possibly contributing to cancer and other health issues, the county conducted “extensive review” of scientific studies in 2012 and 2015 and data from the Virginia Department of Health, then-county executive Edward Long Jr. said in a May 2016 memo.
The county determined it didn’t need to change the materials in its synthetic fields or reconvene a task force that had been created in 2012.
“No study exists that has shown an elevated health risk from playing on fields with crumb rubber,” Long wrote. “The general conclusion for all the studies reviewed is that health effects are unlikely from exposure to the levels of chemicals found in synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill and that these fields do not pose a serious public health concern.”
However, athletes and health advocates have argued that existing research is limited, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies to launch a joint study in 2016.
While that study is still underway, some localities in the U.S., including Boston, D.C. and Montgomery County, have banned or limited the use of synthetic turf.
Beyond the much-debated possible health risks, MCA said it’s also concerned about the heat generated by synthetic turf fields, their limited lifespans of eight to 10 years, and the impact on the county’s waterways.
“Given the concerns cited above regarding synthetic turf fields, MCA recommends that the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) investigate how the county is reviewing the environmental and health risks associated with the county’s current practices related to synthetic turf fields to determine if the county should…revisit its…decision that crumb rubber is an acceptable infill material,” the resolution said.
MCA also urged the county to reconvene its Synthetic Turf Task Force, implement a system to track where and how fields are disposed of, and install enhanced stormwater management at Linway Terrace if the baseball diamond conversion is approved.
Boxer says the park authority’s turf fields are designed to “drain primarily downward and have extensive underground stormwater management practices,” per county code requirements.
As stated at a Jan. 12 community meeting, the FCPA will talk to the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services about potential enhancements, though the focus will be on meeting permitting requirements “and not directed at crumb rubber,” Boxer told FFXnow.
The FCPA is accepting public comments on the Linway Terrace proposal until Sunday (Feb. 12).
As for its overall use of synthetic fields, the county isn’t planning another reevaluation — at least not until that federal study is released.
“At such time as a new EPA or CDC study on crumb rubber use on synthetic turf fields is completed, then based on the results of such Federal level studies, the County as a whole may elect to revisit current synthetic turf practices,” Boxer said.
Local Task Force Deployed to Turkey — “Members of Virginia Task Force 1 in Fairfax County are making plans to head to Turkey and Syria after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit parts of the countries, killing thousands of people and leaving thousands of others missing among the rubble. The task force team will consist of 79 people and six dogs, the task force said in a tweet Monday afternoon.” [Patch]
County Honors Partners in Covid Response — “On Saturday, Feb. 4, more than 1,000 community members and organizations gathered at the Fairfax County Government Center for an official recognition ceremony hosted by the Health Department and the Board of Supervisors.” [Fairfax County]
Fairfax Connector Launches New Route — Fairfax Connector held a ribbon-cutting yesterday for its newest route: Route 660, “a new, limited-stop, weekday express service that operates from Centreville to the Tysons Metrorail Station, via the Fairfax County Government Center and Vienna Metrorail Station. Route 660 operates in the I-66 Express Lanes every ten minutes in both directions.” [Fairfax Connector]
Virginia May Ease Emissions Rules for Data Centers — “Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality says it may loosen emissions rules so those server farms can get more power from emergency generators this spring instead of the grid amid energy supply worries.” The department is “concerned” about “severe, localized constraints in electricity transmission” in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fort Belvoir Gets New Cafe — “A new café featuring a mix of Vietnamese, Mediterranean and Mexican foods opened in December at the Fort Belvoir Community Center. HarpaZo, operated by Ngoc Pham, offers a variety of fresh house-made sandwiches, tacos, bowls, sides and beverages, as well as a breakfast sandwich served on toasted Vietnamese baguette.” [On the MoVe]
Local Newspaper “Effectively” Shutters — “The Sun Gazette newspaper has not published new articles on its website since Friday and may have printed its last edition.” Key staff from the outlet, which covered Arlington and parts of Fairfax County, have been hired for a new paper called Gazette Leader that will launch later this week. [ARLnow]
Local Teen Is Aces at Pickleball — “At just 18 years old, Fairfax County’s Alix Truong is one of the top pickleball players in the country…A multi-sport high school athlete, Truong took up pickleball with her dad during the pandemic, realized she was a natural, and is now winning tournaments on the APP pro tour.” [ABC7]
Learn About Spring Street Widening Construction — The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a meeting Monday, Feb. 13 at the Herndon Community Center “on the work underway in the area of Spring Street and Herndon Parkway to improve safety and operations for drivers and safety, accessibility and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.” [VDOT]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 31. Sunrise at 7:10 am and sunset at 5:38 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County has made some progress over the past decade in introducing public amenities to support its growing community in Tysons.
Since adopting its Tysons Comprehensive Plan in 2010, the county has secured sites for 14 new, major public facilities, including the completed Scotts Run Fire Station and Capital One Hall, which is privately owned but guarantees space for community groups under an agreement with ArtsFairfax.
Tysons has also added 34 acres of parkland, including four urban parks within the past year, and athletic fields are “ahead of where we need to be based on the…development that’s been delivered,” Department of Planning and Development (DPD) Urban Centers Section Chief Suzie Battista told the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s Tysons Committee at a Jan. 12 meeting.
Planning is underway on other projects, like the relocation of Fire Station 29 to serve western Tysons, but with the area booming in terms of development and population, commissioners asked how county staff decide what needs to prioritize when negotiating commitments from developers, known as proffers.
For instance, why is a community center going into the planned residential high-rises at Dominion Square, rather than a library?
“I think what some of us are concerned about is that opportunity cost,” Providence District Commissioner Phil Niedzielski-Eichner said. “If we make a commitment to a community center, what are we not doing, not able to do as a consequence of that decision? Why is that community center a priority over that thing that we are not able to do?”
The need for a community center in Tysons dates back to the comprehensive plan’s adoption and “was of great interest” to former Providence District supervisor Linda Smyth, who retired in 2019, according to DPD Deputy Director Chris Caperton.
The plan recommends phasing in public facilities based on population and employment growth, acknowledging that they can take a long time to plan, fund and construct.
A community center is listed as a “current need” in the county’s Tysons Tracker, along with a Dominion Energy power substation and interim office space for police. Though the data platform doesn’t show a threshold for a library, the comprehensive plan predicts one will be needed when Tysons reaches 50,000 residents, or between 2030 and 2040.
As of 2022, Tysons had 30,124 residents, according to county data. The county’s plan calls for 100,000 people by 2050.
When Niedzielski-Eichner noted that a community center had already been proffered with The View at Tysons, a 3 million-square-foot development planned next to the Spring Hill Metro station, Caperton pointed to Dominion Square’s location on the opposite side of Route 7 and anticipated all-affordable housing units as benefits.
“[Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services] is now more involved in looking for small-scale opportunities in Tysons to meet their needs, their constituents,” he said. “I don’t know the thinking behind this specific community center or what drove it, but there certainly is a need south of 7.”
With the community center at Dominion Square approved, The View developer Clemente Development is expected to instead provide new land, construction or improvements for athletic fields, per DPD, though a second center could still be built elsewhere in Tysons in the future.
As for the library, developer The Meridian Group agreed to provide 19,000 square feet in one of The Boro’s office buildings, and the facility is included in the county’s longer-term plan for capital improvement projects.
However, there’s no timeline yet for work to begin in earnest.
“This need was identified years ago based on changing demographics, density, and mass transit access, to be developed at a future unknown time,” Fairfax County Public Library Director Jessica Hudson told FFXnow. “FCPL works with County partners when opportunities occur for potential sites but for a new Tysons facility, it is too early to start any detailed planning.”
Some commissioners questioned if the county may be relying too much on developers setting the pace for delivering needed public facilities.
“I think our current system, which is just waiting and doing it through the proffer system, can be a problem,” Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder said. “I think maybe the county ought to think about how it should be more proactive on that.”
Most of the land in Tysons is privately owned and already developed, making proffers a more feasible approach to securing sites for public facilities, according to DPD Director Tracy Strunk.
“Locating new public facilities would be cost-prohibitive if the county had to purchase land to build stand-alone public structures,” Strunk said in a statement to FFXnow. “Using the proffer process allows the county to work with developers to co-locate public facilities within private developments at a lower cost to the public.”
Niedzielski-Eichner said he sees a library as a priority for Tysons, reflecting on a recent visit to New York City where he was impressed by how its library’s main branch felt like “a cornerstone” of the community.
While Vice Chair Timothy Sargeant noted that New York City’s “planning” for public facilities often involved clearing existing neighborhoods, the commission agreed that “a little bit of strategic thinking” is important to deciding what goes where.
“We just want to make sure these things are all working together, that the people planning the [capital improvement program] are in tune with you or you’re directing it more than just waiting for the library board to say yes,” Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
GO BIRDS!
Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk about your big game day party.
If you just want to eat good food, here’s a look at what you can order around town (both take out and sit down):
- Bear Branch Tavern: Fried chicken wing buckets with your choice of sauces (Buffalo, DC Mambo, Sweet BBQ or Honey Sriracha).
- Settle Down Easy (Oakton): All you can eat BBQ for $63, comes with a drink. If you want some take out ideas, check out their Charcuterie or Mac and Cheese.
- Foster’s Grille: Pre-order your wings and don’t sleep on their onion rings!
- Vienna Inn: Chili Dogs! You can always order these to go.
- ChiMc: The wings and onion rings. Need I say more?
If you’re not a wings kinda partier, you can get sliders catered from Big Buns.
Taco Bamba has a “Big Game Platter” that includes 18 bamba wings and bamba nachos.
Newcomer to town, Charlie’s Bowl is texmex street food. They’re having a big game day special for 10 Tacos and 3 Chiles Botaneros for $40.
Don’t forget, if you’re trying to get rid of junk or old papers before you have guests over, stop by my FREE Junk Haul and Shred Event this Saturday from 9-11 a.m. at Yeonas Park (Vienna Little League).
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
(Updated at 10:05 a.m. on 2/7/2023) A power outage has left construction workers on a high-rise in Tysons stranded 13 stories in the air.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units are on the scene at 1800 Chain Bridge Road in Scotts Run after one worker fell from just above some raised scaffolding.
Responders were able to rescue the worker by pulling him onto a balcony, and he’s now being evaluated by emergency medical personnel.
However, two other workers were left stranded on the scaffolding due to a power outage in the building, according to the department.
Technical rescue crews were ultimately able to assist them. No injuries were reported from the incident.
Heming, the building where the workers got stuck, is 28 stories tall and will have 410 apartment units when completed. It will also feature 38,000 square feet of retail space and a three-floor outdoor plaza. Construction is expected to finish around the middle of this year.
Units on scene 1800 Chain Bridge Rd for worker who fell from just above scaffolding and is 13 stories up. Worker was rescued onto a balcony by #FCFRD and is being evaluated by EMS. Two additional workers stuck on another scaffolding due to power outage being assisted now. pic.twitter.com/6HurZ7ivbG
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 6, 2023
Here’s more on what to expect during this stage of construction from NPS:
Activities include removing select trees in the median and at the outfalls, installing temporary drainage, and activities related to installing temporary pavement. Motorists may see crews remove select trees at the outfalls over the next couple of months. Additionally, once crews begin select tree removal at the outfalls near Route 123, activities may be visible from the surrounding neighborhoods. The rehabilitation project includes tree replacement, which will occur at the completion of the project.
Weekday lane closures
- Northbound lane closures from 6:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Southbound lane closures from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday lane closures
- Northbound left lane from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Southbound left lane from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Nighttime work is possible depending on weather temperatures.
Nighttime lane closure hours
- Northbound lane closures from 7:15 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
- Southbound lane closures from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
“These lane closures are necessary to stage equipment and keep crews safe,” the park service said. “Lane closures may occur in the left or right lane with varying lengths; however, at least one lane of traffic in each direction will always remain open.”
Announced in December 2021, the $161 million project is the first major upgrade for the GW Parkway’s 7.6-mile northern stretch since it opened in 1962. Work is projected to finish in late 2025.
Daring Deer Dashes Across I-66 — Fairfax County police officers “were called to the Monument Drive ramp of I-66 just after 12:15 p.m. on Jan. 28. When officers arrived, they found a deer that appeared to be stuck on the scaffolding…Animal Protection Police attempted to catch the deer but the animal eluded officers before taking off across the roadway. Thankfully, the deer was not hurt and a serious crash was avoided.” [WUSA9]
No Jail Time for Driver After Fatal Herndon Crash — “A Northern Virginia family wants laws changed after a distracted driver caused an accident that killed an 86-year-old grandfather and war veteran. The driver walked away from court with just a small fine and not a single day of jail time.” [WUSA9]
Northrop Grumman Selling Former Tysons Office — “Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) is selling an office campus near the McLean Metro station, billing it as a potential multifamily conversion opportunity in the Tysons submarket. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., a subsidiary of the aerospace giant, owns the roughly 12-acre property at 7555 Colshire Drive, currently home to a 602,000-square-foot, two-building office complex built in 2001” [Washington Business Journal]
Asian Food Truck Opens Cafe in Vienna — “The Mixx Delight, an Asian fusion eatery serving sweet and savory options, is now open in Vienna. The Town of Vienna and Vienna Business Association hosted a ribbon cutting Thursday for the new business at 448 Maple Ave. E. The Mixx Delight replaces Madeleine Proust, a bakery that suddenly closed in 2022.” [Patch]
Frontier Plaza Eyed for Redevelopment — “Grosvenor wants Fairfax County to clear the regulatory way so it might redevelop a Springfield shopping center as residential mixed-use, indicating a vote of confidence for an area with a lot of growth potential that hasn’t quite yet taken off.” The proposed plan amendment “would raze and replace 106,000 square feet of 1990s-era buildings with four new buildings, altogether comprising 626,000 [square feet] of residential and 117,000 of retail uses.” [WBJ]
Redesign Planned for Frying Pan Animal Pens — “Big News! The Turkey, Peacock and Ducks pens at Frying Pan Park in Herndon are being completely rebuilt and redesigned. New sheds, fencing and pond will be a wonderful functional upgrade for the birds and for the staff who care for them. Visit often to see the progress.” [Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park/Facebook]
Mount Vernon HS Hires New Football Coach — “Isaiah Taylor, former head coach of Wicomico High (“Wi-Hi”) School’s football team in Salisbury, Maryland, has been selected as the new head football coach for the Mount Vernon Majors…Taylor replaced former head football coach Monty Fritts who stepped down in November.” [On the MoVe]
Therapy Dogs Help Out at Springfield School — “When Kris Campesi heads to the Key Center School in Fairfax County, Virginia, she brings a wide range of objects designed to appeal to students. But it’s her partner who gets the kids excited. Micah, a Golden Retriever, is trained to work with students at the school who range from 5 to 22 years old and who have a range of special needs and intellectual disabilities.” [WTOP]
It’s Monday — Clear throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 39. Sunrise at 7:11 am and sunset at 5:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
Before enduring the indignities of modern airport security, people flying out of Dulles can now calm their nerves by taking in the artistic talents of Fairfax County’s students.
A youth art exhibition from the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) is now on display in the check-in area of Dulles International Airport, the nonprofit announced last week.
All of the featured work was created by local students at public and private schools. The pieces were going to be included in the Children’s Art Walk that’s typically displayed during the organization’s annual MPAartfest, but the festival got rained out last year.
“We are thrilled to have the artwork of some of our community’s talented young artists on display at Dulles Airport,” MPA Executive Director Lori Carbonneau said. “This is a wonderful example of the community building at the heart of our programming at McLean Project for the Arts.”
The idea of a youth art exhibit at Dulles took root last summer, before the remnants of Hurricane Ian washed out MPAartfest.
As a supporter of MPA’s community arts programming, Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-34) invited its leaders to talk to Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) staff, according to the nonprofit. The delegate sits on the group’s advisory board, and her husband William Sudow also happens to chair the MWAA Board of Directors.
“There was a preliminary call late in the summer about [Murphy and Sudow’s] idea to feature youth art from county school students at Dulles,” MPA said, noting that Reagan National Airport is hosting a similar exhibit featuring student artists from D.C.
MPA suggested using art intended for the Children’s Art Walk, which is sponsored by the New Dominion Women’s Club of McLean and compiles work shared by local art teachers.
The final exhibit was assembled by MWAA staff.
“The support of our advisory board member Delegate Kathleen Murphy and her husband, Bill Sudow…led to this opportunity to share art and information about MPA with travelers to and from the D.C. area,” Carbonneau said.
The display can be found by the Transportation Security Administration’s west precheck security checkpoint on the airport’s departures level. For now, the artwork will remain for an indefinite period of time.
“They don’t have a date for when it would be switched out,” MPA spokesperson Deborah Bissen said.
