Editor’s Note — Tysons Reporter is running Q&As with the candidates running for the Dranesville and Providence District seats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this week. The stories have been condensed and edited for clarity. 

Featured here is Republican Eric Anthony Jones, who is running against Democrat Dalia Palchik for the Providence District Board of Supervisors seat, which represents Tysons, Merrifield, Oakton and parts of Falls Church.

After the previous Republican candidate for the Providence Supervisor seat died, Eric Anthony Jones decided to run to give voters a stark choice between him and his competitor, Dalia Palchik.

He previously served as a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State, with a focus on cybersecurity and energy policy, according to his website. His work took him around the world, letting him live in India, China, Russia, Bulgaria and Afghanistan.

Jones said at a recent candidate debate that he does not believe in sanctuary cities because they harm immigrants who became citizens or legal permanent residents through governmental processes. During his time as a U.S. Consular Officer in China, he interviewed more than 20,000 people and approved half of them to come to the United Staes, he told Tysons Reporter.

Jones also formerly taught as a college professor and now has two daughters in college and a son in high-school. If elected, Jones said education will be one of his top priorities.

Now retired, Jones has lived in Fairfax County for the last 27 years. Earlier this month, he jumped into the race for the Providence District seat and faces Democrat Dalia Palchik in the general election next week. (Current Supervisor Linda Smyth is retiring.)

Tysons Reporter met up with Jones to learn more about how he would want to improve capacity issues at schools and manage the county’s budget, along with other topics, if elected.

Tysons Reporter: How do you plan on tackling affordable housing in Fairfax County? 

Jones: I am in favor of affordable housing. I’m in favor of market-based but non-subsidized measures for housing. One of the things we have to face is that we live in Fairfax County, 400 square miles, 1.1 million people, 3,000 people per square mile. The fact of the matter, the reality is that the land here, the ground is very expensive.

I’m not for subsidized housing here, using tax money for that. I do believe, for example, that if there is an impoverished family of four that it’s better given a certain amount of money to help them in terms of welfare for the truly needy. I think it is better to — with the given amount of money — to be able to support three families instead of one family. That’s done by living in areas that are not so expensive.

What’s happening is that a lot of areas are getting new buildup, such as here in Mosaic, there was basically an open, unused lot or areas where they had large older styles malls. Those can be transformed into units. 

I think a creative way mentioned by several people is that there are many elderly residents that are living in the houses where their children grew up in. Elderly residents are a large population who want to stay in Fairfax County. They have relatively large houses and I think the county can help facilitate ways in which elderly people with room in their houses can work out rentals. Elderly people can find reliable renters that they feel safe with. They want someone around, someone to call in case they fall on the floor.

TR: The county is currently looking at adding a new school to Tysons. Is that enough to address capacity issues? What should be done for all the incoming students?

Jones: We have to look at the facts of increased population and demand for schools. I am for expanded school facilities. Overcrowding has resulted in a lot of trailers.

I’m fully in support of salaries and benefits, expansions for teachers and also supporting teachers in terms of discipline regulation that are favorable to teachers, students and maintaining a proper learning atmosphere.

In addition, I believe we should look at charter schools, which offer students and parents a choice. Charter schools are not an attack on teachers or anything like that. I see it as a creative way of giving parents and students public choice while also helping to relieve the burden of overcrowding.

I support teachers and their potential to attract and maintain quality. I think we need to address the issues of pensions.

Pensions are a ticking time bomb anywhere. Expanded school facilities of both existing schools and new school construction to help alleviate overcrowding. I want to reduce the use of trailers and the solution to that is more school construction.

TR: What are your top three priorities when it comes to transportation?

Jones: One is the expansion and improvement of roads, large and small. There is a certain reality we bump up against that the terrain is such in a lot of these places that you can’t expand the roads, you’d wipe out a lot of, not just the trees, but the way the terrain goes.

We have these watersheds, we have these beautiful parks as a result and deer in an urban setting. We need to protect those. It’s a constraint on how we can expand our roads.

Number two is providing expansions for public transportation, reliable public transportation so people can get to work and back. The density of the area helps us there because it means you don’t have to worry about going as long of a distance and connectors for people go farther out.

I think there is some potential for expansion, for example, working with Maryland and Virginia, to figure out the modern era. We need to have another way of crossing the Potomac [River]. That will relieve a lot of the congestion you get.

TR: What are your top three plans to tackle climate change?

Jones: There is a stark choice between me, Dalia Palchik and the current Board of Supervisors. I am for energy policy here. It should be consumer-oriented, based on cost-benefit analysis and be affordable energy, reliable energy and clean energy.

I see the Green New Deal policies as unrealistic, coercive [and] expensive. Those proposals would be job-killing, net-job killing and bet against economic prosperity.

I have a fundamentally different way of looking at it.  There is not a good analysis and convincing evidence of how much role is being played by natural forces and fluctuations and the factor of CO2 concentration increases as a result of fossil fuels.

I’m against the Green New Deal and the fundamental things behind it. People should realize electricity does not start with a wall socket.

TR: How will you manage the budget? 

Jones: The budget is $8 million per year. The budget itself needs continued scrutiny. I think we should have more competitive bidding and more transparency. It’s important to keep our budget under control. 

If you look at the last 20 years, our taxes paid per capita have gone up three times faster than the inflation rate and three times faster than the earnings rate and salary rate. 

Transparency of all transactions, more public input on transactions, more competitive bidding and much more scrutiny for our budgets.

On the flip side, I think its priorities should go especially to the school system and teachers and maintaining and improving the quality of education.

Get ready for a chilly Saturday — a Freeze Warning has been issued for Fairfax County for tomorrow (Nov. 2).

Temperatures as low as 30 degrees are expected from 2-9 a.m. with frost and freeze conditions.

More from the National Weather Service:

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT SATURDAY…

* WHAT…Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 expected.

* WHERE…The District of Columbia, portions of central,
northern and southern Maryland and central and northern
Virginia.

* WHEN…From 2 AM to 9 AM EDT Saturday.

* IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other
sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor
plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent
freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should
be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have
in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-
ground pipes to protect them from freezing.

NWS recommends that people prevent possible bursting of pipes by wrapping, draining or slowly let dripping from them. People are also encouraged to cover above-ground pipes.

Freeze Warning has been issued for portions of our forecast area where the growing season remains active. Most areas outside the urban centers and away from the tidal waters will see a freeze. pic.twitter.com/KWEC79sJNI

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) November 1, 2019

Photo by Paddy O Sullivan/Unsplash

After a storm last night, two roads in the Westhampton neighborhood in McLean are closed due to fallen trees.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the roads closed are:

• Hutchinson Street at Great Falls Street
• Turner Avenue at Grayson Place

Both are blocked by a tree in the roadway.

Power outages last night in McLean and Tysons have been resolved.

Updated at 8:30 a.m. — Power has been restored.

Roughly 500 Dominion Energy customers are without power as a storm sweeps through the area on Halloween night.

One power outage is affecting 326 customers in McLean, spanning from Georgetown Pike to Route 694 just west of I-495.

Another one is affecting 228 customers where the Dulles Access Road intersects with Leesburg Pike above the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons.

The causes of the outages are pending investigation, according to Dominion’s outage map.

Map via Dominion Energy

Update at 10:20 p.m. — A second Severe Thunderstorm has been issued, through 10:45 p.m.

10:10p: The second line of storms has triggered a Severe T’storm Warning (yellow box) for much of the DMV including the District until 10:45p with damaging winds possible. pic.twitter.com/wmZFcOgC7g

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) November 1, 2019

Earlier: Portions of Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church are currently under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.

The warning is in effect until 9:45 p.m. The D.C. region remains under a Tornado Watch until midnight.

More from the National Weather Service:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… SOUTH CENTRAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND… THE CITY OF FAIRFAX IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… CENTRAL FAIRFAX COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA…

* UNTIL 945 PM EDT.

* AT 908 PM EDT, A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER CENTREVILLE, MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH.

HAZARD…60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE…RADAR INDICATED.

IMPACT…DAMAGING WINDS WILL CAUSE SOME TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES TO FALL. THIS COULD INJURE THOSE OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS DAMAGE HOMES AND VEHICLES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME BLOCKED BY DOWNED TREES. LOCALIZED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE. UNSECURED LIGHT OBJECTS MAY BECOME PROJECTILES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… CENTREVILLE, BETHESDA, RESTON, ANNANDALE, FAIRFAX, VIENNA, FALLS CHURCH, MANTUA, PIMMIT HILLS, AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE, MCLEAN, POTOMAC, NORTH BETHESDA, OAKTON, CHANTILLY, TYSONS CORNER, WOLF TRAP, GREAT FALLS, MERRIFIELD AND CHEVY CHASE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT FOR CENTRAL MARYLAND…AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

REMAIN ALERT FOR A POSSIBLE TORNADO! TORNADOES CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. IF YOU SPOT A TORNADO GO AT ONCE INTO THE BASEMENT OR SMALL CENTRAL ROOM IN A STURDY STRUCTURE.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A BUILDING.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Centreville VA, Bethesda MD, Reston VA until 9:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Yd3T39tjEM

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) November 1, 2019

Nearly 900 Dominion Energy customers are without power right in the Vienna area today (Thursday).

The outage is affecting 896 customers, spanning from Kemper Park to Malcolm Road NW.

Dominion expects the power to be back on between 7-10 p.m., according to the Dominion Energy power outage map.

The cause of the power outage is pending investigation.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to swoop in tonight.

Map via Dominion Energy

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Fairfax County and the D.C. region.

The Tornado Watch is in effect until midnight.

Storms with heavy rain and strong winds are expected to reach Fairfax County between 7-9 p.m., forecasters warn. Trick-or-treaters and Halloween party-goers should seek shelter.

The National Weather Service issued this statement:

…DAMAGING LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY TO MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA BETWEEN MID AFTERNOON AND MIDNIGHT…

A line of thunderstorms is expected to move east across the region. These storms will bring the possibility of damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes. Please be sheltered when these thunderstorms pass through your area.

The most likely timing of the line ranges from mid to late afternoon for the Potomac Highlands, to the evening for the Baltimore/Washington metros, to between 9pm and midnight for areas east of I-95 to the Chesapeake Bay. The storms will likely last an hour or less in most areas.

Stay informed. For more exact timing for your location, consult the forecast for your community at our website weather.gov or our Facebook or Twitter feeds for National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington.

A line of thunderstorms is expected later this afternoon and evening. These thunderstorms may contain heavy rain, locally damaging wind gusts, & possibly a few tornadoes. See the second image for more detailed timing information. Stay weather aware & heed any warnings. pic.twitter.com/svF7kZczEw

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) October 31, 2019

⚠️A tornado watch has been issued until midnight. A watch means current weather conditions may result in a tornado. Please stay alert and aware of tonight's forecast. https://t.co/dsuQfrcH8F

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) October 31, 2019

Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner has partnered with JRINK to offer a hemp-infused beverage and activated charcoal.

The “Black Magic” option mixes activated charcoal and aloe vera juice. The activated charcoal will be included in the Entyse Espresso Bar’s menu, according to TAA PR. It will also be on the hotel’s “sleep sanctuary menu.”

Meanwhile, “Rose” is a hemp-infused drink from JRINK’s Apothekary line — a “natural farmacy.” People at the hotel can find “Rose” as part of the hotel’s spa offerings, which include cannabidiol products.

“The partnership with Jrink reinforces Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner’s commitment to embracing travelers’ changing tastes and interest in trips centered around physical and mental well-being,” according to TAA PR.

The partnership was announced yesterday (Oct. 30).

Crescendo Studios opened a few months ago in Merrifield. Now, the education-oriented music studio can expand into a nearby space.

The music studio plans to use a currently empty space adjacent to the studio’s existing location (8101 Lee Hwy) to increase their clientele and take on around 90 students. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the expansion on Tuesday (Oct. 29).

“The majority of the students are expected to be between the ages of 7 and 17, though some adults may also enroll,” according to county documents.

“We talk about repurposing office buildings a lot,” Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross said. “I think this sounds like a cool idea and it’s right there near Mosaic, which is terrific.”

This November, Wolf Trap returns with new concerts and events.

On Wednesday (Nov.11), D.C. pianist John Eaton will perform songs and stories for the audience, according to the event page. Tickets start at $27 and the event will begin at 11:30 a.m. at The Barns (1635 Trap Road).

Folk singer and guitarist Trace Bundy will take the stage for a performance a few days later on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m. He is known for his harmonics, looping and multiple caps, according to the event website. Tickets start at $27.

The season will wrap up with three events of performances by Sutton Foster, a Tony Award-winning singer, on Nov. 23-24. Tickets to her performance start at $67 and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The list of Wolf Trap events in November:

• Nov. 6: Modern Warrior Live
• Nov. 7: The Quebe Sisters
• Nov. 8: Max Weinberg’s Jukebox
• Nov. 9: Leo Kottke
• Nov. 10: John Eaton
• Nov. 14: Trace Bundy
• Nov. 15 and Nov. 16: The Silkroad Ensemble
• Nov. 20: Brian Newman
• Nov. 21: Amy Helm
• Nov. 22: Escher String Quartet with Jason Vieaux on guitar
• Nov. 23 and Nov. 24: Sutton Foster

Photo via Wolf Trap