Winter Weather Advisory Extended to 1 P.M. — The National Weather Service has extended its winter weather advisory for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, to 1 p.m. today due to “lingering snow bands.” There could be up to two inches of snow accumulation, and slippery roads could make the morning commute hazardous. [NWS]
Metro to Change Lost-and-Found Policy, Citing Budget Constraints — “Beginning March 1, Metro’s lost and found department will work to reunite customers with lost wallets and electronics (such as phones, tablets, and laptops) only. All other items lost in the system will be disposed of, donated to charity, destroyed, or auctioned.” [WMATA]
Mosaic District Partners with Virginia Plunge Again — The Polar Plunge Festival is the signature annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Virginia. In past years, the Mosaic District has hosted the Plunge, but due to the pandemic, the usual in-person event has been replaced by a week of festivities, culminating in a virtual ceremony on Saturday (Feb. 6). Registration is now open. [Mosaic District/Twitter, Polar Plunge]
Tysons-Based Media Company Buys Sports Podcast Network — “Tegna wants a bigger piece of the podcast action: The TV station group announced the acquisition of Locked On Podcast Network, which produces some 160 daily shows for teams across the U.S.’s four major pro sports leagues and more than 30 colleges.” [Variety]
Justice High School Graduate Drafted by Washington Spirit — “When the Washington Spirit returns to the field this spring, local fans may spot a familiar face at forward–Falls Church native Anna Heilferty. After graduating from Boston University this winter, Heilferty was selected 19th overall by the Spirit in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft.” [Washingtonian]
The Town of Vienna has hired a longtime hotel industry worker as its new human resources director.
Michelle Crabtree is taking over as Vienna’s HR director from Maggie Kain, who served in the role for more than six years before retiring today (Monday).
Crabtree is coming to Vienna off of a 15-year tenure working in human resources for the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, where she also provided support to hotels in Virginia, D.C., and Maryland. Hyatt Regency Crystal City was named a Top Workplace by The Washington Post in 2019.
The Town of Vienna says in a press release that she enjoys working in human resources for the unpredictability and the opportunity it offers to meet and get to know different people.
“When you get to know employees and about their families and what they like, when you develop a relationship with them, then they feel more connected and work harder for the organization,” Crabtree said. “That’s why you’ll find me out of my office more than in it sometimes. I’ll be out getting to know people and learning about their lives.”
Prior to entering the hotel industry, Crabtree spent eight years working at Walmart, where she started as a college intern and worked her way up to becoming a store manager. She went to college at Purdue University, where she graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in consumer sciences.
Vienna Town Manager Payton Mercury says the town received 72 applications for its HR director position after conducting a nationwide search.
“Michelle’s deep experience in human resources leadership and her high level of customer service experience caught our attention, but it’s Michelle’s professionalism and appreciation of the value of employees at every level that set her apart from other candidates,” Mercury said.
Photo courtesy Town of Vienna
Updated on 2/4/2021 — Bards Alley in Vienna has canceled today’s Teacher Tuesday browsing hours due to continued snow, but the event is still scheduled to be held on other Tuesdays this month.
The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.
We’ve searched the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean, and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Tuesday (Feb. 2)
- Online Preschool Story Time (Online) — 10:30-11 a.m. — The Mary Riley Styles Public Library hosts a story time with stories, songs, and rhymes aimed at kids 5 and under. The event will stream live on the library’s Facebook page.
Teacher Tuesdays— 6-8 p.m. at Bards Alley (110 Church St.) — Throughout February, Bards Alley Bookshop in Vienna is reserving browsing hours exclusively for educators, who can use the time to spend holiday gift cards and stock up their classroom libraries “in anticipation of the (theoretical?) return of in-person teaching.”
Wednesday (Feb. 3)
- Space Innovation (Online) — 9-10:35 a.m. — This is the second installment of a three-part series on air and space technology hosted by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. NASA Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate Associate Administrator Kathryn Lueders will deliver the keynote speech after a panel discussion on new technology with space applications. Registration is required to get a link to the event, but it is free.
Thursday (Feb. 4)
- A Night of Mentalism (Online) — 8 p.m. — Members of The Tower Club Tysons Corner can watch mentalist Michael Gutenplan perform a variety of magic tricks in this family-friendly show. Register in advance for the Zoom event.
Friday (Feb. 5)
- Meet the Mayor — 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Simply Social Coffee (260 Cedar Lane) — Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert will hold her monthly “office hours” for residents to chat or share their questions and concerns at Simply Social Coffee in the newly renovated Cedar Park Shopping Center.
- Front Row: Gloria Chien (Online) — 7:30 p.m. — The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts presents a virtual performance at The Barns by pianist Gloria Chien as part of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s “Front Row” streaming concert series. The program features pieces by John Field, Franz Liszt, and Felix Mendelssohn and will be followed by a Q&A. A link to stream the concert will be available until midnight on Feb. 12.
- Moose Jaw — 7:30 at Jammin Java (227 Maple Ave. E) — The outlaw country/bluesgrass band Moose Jaw performs an indoor but socially distanced concert at Jammin Java in Vienna. Tickets are free, but donations are encouraged, and tables have a two-item minimum purchase.
Saturday (Feb. 6)
- The University of Wonder and Imagination (Online) — 11 a.m.-5 p.m. — The McLean Community Center is offering live-broadcast, interactive magic shows by the children’s theater company Cahoots NI. A limited number of tickets are available to each of the performances, which start every half hour and are 60 minutes in length. There will also be shows on Feb. 8. Purchase tickets at least two hours in advance through The Alden.
Sunday (Feb. 7)
- McLean Uncorked: Part 3 (Online) — 5-6 p.m. — Get a head start on Valentine’s Day with this virtual wine tasting and food pairing event from the McLean Community Center. The wines selections are currently available from Balducci’s (6655 Old Dominion Dr), and prepared cheeseboards can be preordered for pick-up starting on Feb. 4. Register in advance through MCC to get a discounted $55 price on the wines. Questions and preorders can be sent to John Coleman at [email protected].
Photo via NASA on Unsplash
The Town of Vienna and the Vienna Police Department officially broke ground on the new police station at 215 Center Street S. on Friday morning (Jan. 29).
During the ceremony, Police Chief Jim Morris, Mayor Linda Colbert, Town Manager Mercury Payton, and the project’s architect, Rod Williams, focused on the features of the station aimed at bringing the community together and into conversations with the police department.
“I never thought this was going to be such a Vienna effort. I honestly thought this was going to be a police department issue. It has been anything but,” Morris told the crowd gathered there in spite of the wind and chill. “We’re not just building a station, we’re building something the town needs and can use for a long, long time.”
The project includes places for the community to meet and hold ceremonies that the current police department space cannot accommodate, the police chief said.
Colbert, who reemphasized the connection between Vienna’s safety and its police department, recalled that the effort to build a new station dates back to when her mother was mayor. She lauded the support the project has received since then.
“I’m so proud that [our current council] has been so supportive of the police and the police station,” she said. “We need this police station for so many reasons: It will be more equitable to female officers, more environmentally friendly, and it will be safer and more secure and community-friendly.”
Payton said the station will “be a place all of our residents can come and enjoy,” while Williams — the architect — expressed hope that the building inspires the 41 sworn officers and 11 civilians who will be working there.
At approximately 30,000 square feet in size, the new facility will have space for a firing range, evidence storage, processing, and training, as well as more locker room for female officers. It also makes room for spaces designed to serve community needs, including a Town of Vienna emergency operations center, cable broadcasting, overflow for public meetings, and even a potential voting location.
In October, Vienna chose Hoar Construction as the contractor for the project after it pitched a total base bid of $13.2 million. The project is being funded with $14.9 million from bonds issued in March 2020.
Vienna stuck with the project despite objections from some community members amid nationwide protests and calls to defund the police.
The civil unrest and calls for reforms prompted more conversations among the department, the town, and the public, Morris told Tysons Reporter after the ceremony.
“We met with the mayor and some of these groups and asked them to tell us what they’re looking for,” he said. “We sat down…and talked with them, and I think some good came out of it.”
While the new building is under construction, the department is operating out of the former Faith Baptist Church next door. The Town of Vienna purchased the three-acre church property for $5.5 million in September to convert it into a public facility.
The novel coronavirus has now killed 802 people in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County and the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.
While the number of new cases and hospitalizations appear to be trending downward, Fairfax County has still been averaging 365 COVID-19 cases, eight hospitalizations, and 4.5 deaths per day over the past seven days, according to the Virginia Department of Health’s data.
With 237 new cases today (Monday), the Fairfax Health District has recorded a total of 60,436 COVID-19 cases, and 3,317 people have been hospitalized due to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
After a hectic week of mass appointment cancellations and revamped protocols, state and local officials in Virginia hope that an anticipated increase in vaccine supplies, clearer guidance to health providers, and the pending launch of a centralized registration system will result in a more efficient and less confusing COVID-19 vaccination program.
According to a presentation that Fairfax County Health Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu is scheduled to deliver to county supervisors tomorrow (Tuesday), Virginia is currently receiving about 105,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines per week. The Fairfax Health District has a weekly allocation of 13,600 doses.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week that the federal government is expected to increase its allocation of vaccine to the Commonwealth by 16%. He also told local health districts to split their supplies evenly between older adults and the other eligible populations, including essential workers and people with high-risk medical conditions.
Fairfax County continues to lead Virginia’s vaccination efforts, administering 95,935 total doses and fully vaccinating 15,864 people as of today. However, that is only a fraction of the 223,625 doses that the Fairfax Health District has received, according to a new VDH dashboard.
As of Jan. 28, the county had a waitlist of 168,422 people who have pre-registered for an appointment through the Fairfax County Health Department, which has been administering the vaccine to older adults, healthcare workers, long-term care facility employees, and people with underlying medical conditions.
Essential workers, including teachers and first responders, have been getting vaccinated through special clinics from Inova Health Systems, which has reported administering about 75,000 doses. Last week, the nonprofit ceased giving new appointments for people looking to receive their first dose, though Fairfax County Public Schools was able to reschedule appointments for its staff that had been canceled.
Overall, Virginia has received 1.3 million vaccine doses, administered 843,230 doses, and fully vaccinated 124,407 people. The pace of vaccinations has been picking up, with the Commonwealth now averaging 33,675 doses a day, but remains short of Northam’s goal of 50,000 per day.
Images via CDC on Unsplash, VDH, Fairfax County Health Department
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved the construction of an apartment building with ground-floor retail in Merrifield.
The project replaces a 1980s-era, three-story office building at 2722 Merrilee Drive with a seven-story, 85-foot-tall residential building with retail and recreational amenities.
Proposed by Elm Street Development under the name Merrilee Ventures, the apartment building will have 239 residential units and 30 units for retail use.
On Tuesday (Jan. 26), supervisors approved the developer’s request to reduce the site’s existing parking by 18% because it is close to the Merrifield-Dunn Loring Metro Station.
The Merrilee building will have 294 parking spaces, including 264 set aside for residents. Merrilee Drive and a planned private street will also have on-street parking.
Elm Street Development is providing 20,000 square feet of passive and active open space, including a retail plaza, an outdoor fitness area, and an expanded streetscape along Merrilee Drive.
“One of the opportunities for Merrifield is to simply link the [Dunn Loring Metro station] to the extensive retail amenities in the established urban core,” McGuireWoods managing partner Greg Riegle, a representative for Elm Street, said on Tuesday.
He further described the project as “an opportunity to promote that connectivity and set a template for the walkable streets, pedestrian amenities, and reasonable street-level retail that will make it an increasingly interesting and amenitized walk.”
During the meeting, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik lauded the project because it will enhance the pedestrian experience and provide open spaces, including a much-needed dog park.
“I am pleased it resulted in a high-quality urban design that maximized indoor and outdoor amenities and publicly accessible spaces,” she said.
Elm Street Development is still working with Providence District to find .45 acres of space to develop into an urban park. The company is unable to meet a standard in Merrifield’s comprehensive plan that requires urban park space in new developments.
Staff calculated that .63 acres of on-site park space would be required, but Elm Street Development said only .17 acres fit on the site. So, the developer is looking to make up the remaining .45 acres elsewhere. If it can’t find that space, the developer will contribute $500,000 to Fairfax County Park Authority for future urban park spaces.
Those who worked on the project told the supervisors that the project revealed challenges in the urban park standards within the Merrifield Suburban Center Comprehensive Plan.
When approving the Merrilee project, Palchik asked Fairfax County staff to find new ways to achieve the plan’s vision for urban parks.
“The challenge of meeting the urban park standard within the application brought to light needs that, when addressed, will help realize the comprehensive plan’s vision for additional park resources here in Merrifield,” she said.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously approved the project on Dec. 9 after deferring the decision for a week over concerns about the urban park space requirements.
Although concerns over parking and stormwater management were raised during the planning commission’s public hearing in December, no public speakers came forward on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy Elm Street Development, image via Fairfax County
Updated at 2:10 p.m. — As of 1:43 p.m., the Winter Weather Advisory for the D.C. area has been extended to 9 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday), with the National Weather Service now predicting up to two inches of snow.
Earlier: The National Weather Service has extended its Winter Weather Advisory for the D.C. region, including Fairfax County, to midnight tomorrow (Tuesday).
After being blanketed with two to four inches of snow on Sunday, the area could see up to one inch of additional snow accumulation and one-tenth of an inch of ice accumulation today, according to the NWS advisory.
The current forecast for the Tysons area suggests freezing rain is likely today, possibly mixed with snow before 7 p.m. There remains a 50% chance of snow showers or some other kind of precipitation tomorrow, mainly before 1 p.m.
The NWS warns that the “hazardous conditions” could affect the morning and evening commutes.
“Slow down and use caution while traveling,” the NWS said. “When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.”
[2/1/21 @ 9AM UPDATE]: A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 12 AM Feb 2nd. Light snowfall is expected to linger throughout the day, but no significant accumulation is expected. Plan on slippery road & sidewalk conditions. #WinterWeather #FFXSnow pic.twitter.com/kDHIIW7ZMY
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) February 1, 2021
Warnings against traveling evidently did not deter many people from hitting the road yesterday.
The Virginia State Police responded to 362 traffic crashes and 321 disabled/stuck vehicles between midnight and 9 p.m. on Sunday. The VSP’s Fairfax Division, which encompasses Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Arlington counties as well as the City of Alexandria, recorded 44 disabled vehicles and 46 crashes.
Travel is expected to remain challenging today, particularly this morning, after dropping temperatures potentially caused roads and sidewalks to freeze overnight.
“State police is still advising folks to hold off on their travels until later Monday or even possibly Tuesday, depending on what their region has experienced in the way of snow, freezing rain, and ice,” VSP Public Relations Director Corinne Geller said in a news release.
Pedestrians are not safe from peril either. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported early this morning that, in the half-hour span between 5:24 and 5:56 a.m., it had responded to two incidents of people slipping on ice and injuring themselves.
Fairfax County Public Schools announced last night that all in-person activities in schools or on school grounds have been canceled for today, including extracurricular activities and athletic team practices. All students continue to learn virtually.
Winter Weather Advisory in Effect Until 10 A.M. — The D.C. area could experience light freezing rain and ice accumulations up to an inch this morning. Travelers should expect slippery road conditions, slow down, and use caution. [National Weather Service]
Fairfax County Police Chief Retires — Edwin C. Roessler officially retires today after leading the Fairfax County Police Department for eight years. He oversaw key reforms, such as the creation of a civilian review board and the introduction of body-worn cameras, but some officers reported “a disconnect” with department leaders on issues like discipline, compensation, communications and promotions. Deputy County Executive for Public Safety Dave Rohrer is now serving as interim chief as a search for a permanent successor continues. [The Washington Post]
Falls Church Nonprofit Theater Gets Permanent Home — “After a tumultuous six-year journey, Creative Cauldron will have a new home, thanks to the hard work and tenacity of Insight Property Group and the City to bring the best possible project to the Broad and Washington Crossroads.” [Falls Church News-Press]
McLean Art Teacher Finds Success with Zoom Classes — “[Pamela] Saunders, a mom of two who has taught in McLean since 2004, typically teaches classes at Brooksfield School, Chesterbrook Elementary, Franklin Sherman Elementary and Kent Gardens Elementary. But once the pandemic hit, she moved from the classroom to Zoom so students could continue art lessons while staying home.” [Patch]
Photo by Craig Fingar
As anticipated, Fairfax County residents woke up this morning to a world coated in snow, which is expected to continue falling throughout the day and potentially into tomorrow.
As of 7:08 a.m., the National Weather Service was predicting up to four or six inches of snow to accumulate in the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, as a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until midnight.
Here is more from the most recent NWS alert:
* WHAT…Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Snow accumulations through Sunday night around 4 to 6 inches with ice accumulations of a light glaze.
* WHERE…The Washington Metropolitan area.
* WHEN…Through midnight EST tonight. The steadiest snow will fall through this afternoon before tapering off to an intermittent mix of light snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Additional snow is expected Monday through Monday night with additional accumulations most likely around 1 to 3 inches, bringing the storm total accumulations around 4 to 8 inches.
* IMPACTS…Travel will be very difficult Sunday through Tuesday morning due to a prolonged period of snow and wintry precipitation with temperatures near or below freezing.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is advising people to avoid unnecessary travel so that its crews have room to work treating and plowing roads.
“Stay home and avoid driving throughout the storm,” VDOT said in a 6 a.m. update. “Heavy snow bands will mean reduced visibility and potential for conditions to deteriorate quickly. Should the higher end of forecasts materialize, it will take some time to make a passable lane on all roads.”
#Winter weather driving tips ⤵️
👷♀️ Give crews time to treat roads
❄️ Clear snow from your ENTIRE car
⌚️ Allow extra time to reach your destination
↔️ Increase your following distance
💡 Use your headlights
🚘 No sudden stops! Brake lightly to keep your tires from slipping pic.twitter.com/kpMqr1UFVF— VDOT (@VaDOT) January 31, 2021
The Virginia State Police reported earlier this morning that its troopers had already responded to 34 crashes by 9 a.m., though most of the incidents did not result in any injuries and involved only damage to vehicles.
The City of Falls Church activated its snow emergency routes at 9 a.m., prohibiting residents and visitors from parking on several major roads.
“The City’s snow emergency routes need to be open for first responders, public safety officials and road crews at all times and thus have priority for salting, sanding and plowing,” the city said in a press release. “…Vehicles abandoned or parked on snow emergency routes could be ticketed and towed to allow snow removal crews to clear the roads.”
A full list of affected streets can be found in the press release and on the City’s website.
The City says its response to Winter Storm Orlena has not been hampered by recent concerns about COVID-19 that sent the entire Falls Church public works staff into quarantine last week. Plowing in the city is being conducted by a combination of contractors and staff members who were cleared to leave quarantine by the Fairfax County Health Department.
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) The D.C. metropolitan area could potentially get its biggest snowfall in two years starting on Sunday (Jan. 31), The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang predicts.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for the region at 3:10 p.m. today:
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE. POTENTIAL FOR 5 OR MORE INCHES OF
SNOW.
* WHERE…THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MARYLAND, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND THE
EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
* WHEN…FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.
The current forecast for the Tysons area suggests Saturday night will see clouds set in with a 30% chance of snow or other precipitation after 4 a.m. Chances of precipitation go up to 100% on Sunday, when snow is expected to start falling before 4 p.m. with some freezing rain possibly mixed in.
The NWS forecast suggest snow could continue through Monday with the chance of precipitation still at 50% that night.
As of 9:57 a.m. today, the D.C. area was expected to get three to four inches of snow between 7 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Monday.
[1/29 @ 9 AM UPDATE]: We are continuing to monitor the winter weather potential for Sunday into early next week. Below is the current expected snowfall amounts from the National Weather Service through Monday at 7 AM. More to come! #WinterWeather #VaWx pic.twitter.com/3Mv6r6AHXM
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) January 29, 2021
However, the Capital Weather Gang says this is a “complicated” storm, where total accumulation could vary from two to 12 inches depending on whether a coastal storm forms off the North Carolina coast and brings a second wave on Monday.
In preparation for the weekend, Virginia Department of Transportation crews have been treating roads in Fairfax County and elsewhere in Northern Virginia over the past two days.
If you are traveling today, please be patient with our crews! We are working to pre-treat roads in preparation for winter weather this weekend ❄️ pic.twitter.com/N6vHalFq0h
— VDOT (@VaDOT) January 29, 2021
Despite rumors to the contrary 👀, our squishy bois (tankers) will start making #brinelines tonight in Loudoun (they loves them some night brining), and Friday during the day in Fairfax, PWC, and Interstates. Pls watch out for crews & the forecast! #gregpls #teamsnow pic.twitter.com/l1QeTmdQcf
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) January 28, 2021
The Fairfax Connector is advising passengers to plan ahead if they’re going to travel this weekend, noting that service could be reduced, modified, or suspended due to inclement weather.
“If road conditions become unsafe, icy or snow packed, service may be suspended on a route-by-route basis, or system-wide,” the Fairfax County bus transit system said. “Officials appreciate passengers’ patience and cooperation during weather events and encourage everyone to be prepared.”
Staff Photo by Jay Westcott
