Fairfax County is updating its aging plan, gathering public input to address key issues for older adults.
The county started sending out postcards last month to notify a random sample of households chosen to participate in its Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults, which was last conducted in 2019.
Department of Family Services spokesperson Kathleen Thomas says the survey asks questions about older residents’ personal habits and opinions on a variety of topics:
The Fairfax County Police Department should implement new training and data collection practices to improve its culture around the use of force, a committee of appointed volunteers says.
The Use of Force Advisory Committee presented recommendations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ safety and security committee on Tuesday (March 1) based on a study conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonio.
An occupant of a Vienna home that caught fire this morning (Thursday) is in life-threatening condition, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said.
Two others were also transported to local hospital for minor injuries, according to the department.
Firefighters were called to the home in the 900 block of Fairway Drive NE at 8:34 a.m. and brought the fire under control in about an hour, department spokeswoman Ashley Hildebrandt said.
In the world of transportation infrastructure, $5 million will run out faster than a driver’s patience in rush-hour traffic, but it could still leave a worthwhile dent in Fairfax County’s massive backlog of safety and maintenance projects.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors expressed collective support on Tuesday (March 1) for a proposal to spend $5 million on bicycle and pedestrian improvements to address maintenance needs, add crosswalks, and other small but straightforward and relatively cheap projects.
Fairfax County plans to make its co-responder model pairing police with mental health crisis specialists for certain 911 calls permanent.
The county began developing the program last year with a micropilot that was extended with $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The proposed fiscal year 2023 budget includes more than $2.1 million to retain 17 behavioral health specialists and nine police positions approved in January as part of the fiscal year 2022 mid-year review.
Man Charged With Assault on Police Officer — “Yesterday, Michael Vaughn, 34, was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanor charges stemming from the officer-involved shooting that occurred on Feb. 15 in 8300 block of Fitt Court in Lorton. He remains held at the Adult Detention Center without bond.” [FCPD/Twitter]
FCPS to End Virtual Learning This Year — With vaccines now available for school-age children, Fairfax County Public Schools will discontinue a limited virtual program for students with medical concerns due to the pandemic. At-home instruction will only be for students with significant health risks that prevent them from attending school in-person after this academic year. [FCPS]
Vienna Approves Police Body Cameras — “Vienna Town Council members on Feb. 28 unanimously agreed to allow the police department to use $223,732 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to implement the camera program.” [Sun Gazette]
Shake Shack Sets Sights on Smithsonian — Construction is underway on a new Shake Shack that will replace the McDonald’s at the the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. The burger chain is also adding a location at the Mosaic District in Merrifield. [The Burn]
Assaults Up, Drug Offenses Down in Mason Police District — “The assaults, including domestic violence, have mostly taken place in residences, which [Commander Capt. Sean] Adcock suspects could be due to stress caused by the Covid pandemic. The decrease in drug arrests is possibly due to the legalization of small amounts of marijuana.” [Annandale Today]
Private Foundation to Operate Historic Hall — “The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Great Falls Grange Foundation will ratify an agreement, which permits the Great Falls Grange Foundation to operate and maintain the historic property. The Grange will serve as a community meeting place, a potential location for classes and planned activities, and a venue for public and private special events.” [FCPA]
Transportation Group to Talk Route 7 Bus Project Tonight — The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) will discuss a timeline and financing for the Envision Route 7 Bus Rapid Transit project at its meeting tonight (Thursday). The planned bus service will run from Tysons to Mark Center in Alexandria, with stops at Seven Corners, Falls Church, and the East Falls Church Metro station. [ALXnow]
Community Outreach on Reston Comprehensive Plan Begins — “My office and Task Force members are beginning the first phase of community outreach of the Task Force’s interim recommendations on the 14 areas of the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study…Input by the county agencies is expected by spring/early summer and community outreach will continue through the summer.” [Supervisor Walter Alcorn]
It’s Thursday — The forecast indicates that it’ll be mostly sunny today, with a high temperature near 51 degrees and a low around 25. Wind gusts could reach 22 miles per hour during the day. The sun will rise at 6:37 a.m. and set at 6:04 p.m. [Weather.gov]
Shake Shack, a burger-and-shake restaurant, plans to open in Merrifield’s Mosaic District this spring.
A company representative tells FFXnow that while an opening date has not been determined, the burger joint expects to announce its grand opening in the coming weeks.
Earlier this year, the company announced plans to push back the opening of restaurants throughout the country due to soaring construction and material costs and limited labor.
Fairfax County’s Police Civilian Review Panel approved its annual report Monday (Feb. 28) and hosted its new executive director for his first meeting in the role.
Appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 22, Richardson is the first executive director for the panel, which was established in 2016 to review completed investigations of complaints alleging police abuse of authority or serious misconduct.
A highly contagious virus spread among birds has been detected in Virginia, but there is no evidence yet that it has reached Fairfax County.
There have been five confirmed cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Virginia this year, four in wild birds and one in a domestic flock in Fauquier County, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows.
Job vacancies at the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, which provides mental health, substance use and developmental disability services, have more than doubled since January 2021.
The CSB reported last week that the 193 vacancies have led it to consolidate two programs in recent months: a partial hospitalization program and New Generations, a treatment program for mothers and pregnant women. In January 2021, there were 91 vacancies.
