(Updated at 1:05 p.m. on 8/10/2023) It’s time to start practicing your best modeling poses.
The online fashion retailer Rent the Runway will sashay into Tysons Corner Center with a pop-up store this September. The business previously visited the mall for 10 days in January 2020.
Set to run from Sept. 1-25, the pop-up sample sale will have “pre-loved” designer clothing, handbags and other items from dozens of top brands — all for sale at a 90% discount from their original retail prices.
“With hundreds of styles to choose from, there’s something for everyone & every occasion,” Tysons Corner Center said in a media alert.
The sale will be located next to Windsor on the mall’s first floor near Fashion Court, between Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom.
Launched in 2009, Rent the Runway aimed to offer a more affordable and sustainable approach to fashion with a “Closet in the Cloud” that provides designer brands for rent and resale.
The upcoming Tysons sale will have more than 50 brands represented, including:
Staud
Anine Bing
Jason Wu
Veronica Beard
Club Monaco
For Love and Lemons
Kate Spade New York
Rails
Show Me Your Mumu
Maje
Diane von Furstenberg
Scotch & Soda
PAIGE
Victoria Victoria Beckham
Interested customers can sign up for alerts and reminders about the sale through Eventbrite, though a ticket won’t guarantee admission.
The sample sale will be open during Tysons Corner Center’s retail operating hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Katie Cristol wants to help Tysons become what the community imagines it could be.
Since taking over as the Tysons Community Alliance’s first permanent CEO on July 5, Cristol has been busy overseeing the creation of a Tysons strategic plan to identify priorities and needs for the 2,100-acre area envisioned by Fairfax County as an urban downtown where “people live, work and play.”
While a final report isn’t expected until November, the word “connected” keeps popping up in Cristol’s mind when she considers what it’ll take to turn Tysons into the vibrant, accessible and inclusive community that the TCA is tasked with manifesting and marketing.
“There are so many assets in Tysons, and I think one of our biggest opportunities is to create a sense of place,” Cristol told FFXnow in an interview last month. “It’s not just disconnected neighborhoods, but it is a downtown, and so, that absolutely requires physical connectivity…It also requires a sort of emotional connectivity, people really seeing themselves as being part of a broader community.”
From identifying gaps in the sidewalk network to promoting local events, building connections is essentially the core mission of the TCA, a community improvement organization that’s funded by but operates independently from the county.
Tysons booster by day, Arlingtonian by night
On a more personal level for Cristol, building connections also means networking, as she adjusts to a new working environment after serving as chair of the Arlington County Board for almost eight years.
She knows some Tysons residents may be wary of her ties to Arlington — and her continued residency there, which was acknowledged in a May 2 message saying she’ll “keep the title I’ve always valued most: Arlingtonian.”
However, after getting involved in the Tysons Partnership, the TCA’s predecessor, Cristol says she was drawn to the opportunity to continue working on issues like housing, transit and land use in an organization intended to bridge divides between the public and private sectors and the community.
“I believe in the region and I think that we are all interconnected,” Cristol said. “In many ways, I am going to look like a lot of people in Tysons, who spend their day there, working, contributing to the sort of overall return of employment…enjoying the coffee shops and the diners, and really thinking a lot about the space around me, even though I may sleep somewhere else in the region at night.”
Lessons from one of the defining initiatives of Cristol’s tenure in Arlington — the contentious Missing Middle zoning overhaul — could carry over to Tysons, even if the goal of eliminating single-family-only zoning isn’t applicable to an area where 82% of the housing is multifamily, per a market study released last week.
Like Arlington, though, Tysons is grappling with an insufficient supply of housing for its growing population and ever-rising real estate costs that could keep out low-income households and even the middle-class, white-collar workers sought by many employers, Cristol observed.
According to the market study, the affordable housing that exists in Tysons is mostly aimed at people earning 80 to 120% of the area median income, which is $105,000 for a single-person household. In addition, for-sale units make up just 38% of the overall stock and are concentrated at the edges of the urban district.
“When you talk to people about their experiences, the number one thing is I can’t afford to buy here,” Cristol said. “I don’t want to rent until I’m 50. I don’t want to have a roommate until I’m 35…The need for ownership housing stock in particular, but really a…rental [market] as well for people in that kind of middle-income band is a really interesting lesson from the Missing Middle that I think is relevant here in Tysons too.”
“We’re building something really exciting here”
While the TCA can’t implement policy, it can advocate for changes and share the different stories of residents, businesses, the county government, nonprofits and others with a stake in Tysons, according to Cristol.
For example, the TCA could organize a traffic safety campaign like the People Before Cars Coalition that the National Landing Business Improvement District in Arlington created to build support for improvements on Route 1.
“That’s really powerful, when you have those kind of background organizations that can say we’ve helped sort through some of these divergent perspectives and really can speak with some authenticity on the part of the community about what’s needed here,” Cristol said.
To get a more complete understanding of the Tysons community is looking for, the TCA is conducting surveys on topics like transportation, office and the workforce, and residential development as part of its strategic planning process.
The alliance is also developing a software system for communicating with residents and workers, whether to advertise upcoming events or gather feedback for future research efforts, according to Cristol.
As she settles into her new role at the TCA, Cristol says she’s excited to recruit others to the cause of championing Tysons. An initial budget plan approved by the board on June 14 funds 14 staff positions, including directors for each of the organization’s priorities of marketing, transportation, placemaking and research.
“I think we’re building something really exciting here in Tysons,” Cristol said. “And I hope that we can make this organization itself a model of Tysons being a fantastic destination for creative people who are passionate about community to come work.”
Reston Parkway Reconfiguration Nears Finish — “Motorists encountering long delays due to lane reconfigurations on Reston Parkway at Sunset Hills Road will soon see some relief,” a Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman says. Necessitated by a truck hitting the bridge over the Dulles Toll Road, the repairs are expected to finish this week, depending on the weather. [Patch]
New North Hill Housing Still Awaiting Residents — “Nearly two months after the…ribbon cutting ceremony at the new Residences at North Hill apartment community in Hybla Valley, the 279 affordable housing units remain vacant. Fairfax County officials are hopeful, however, that tenants will be able to move in by the end of August, said a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority” [On the MoVe]
Springfield Bed Bath & Beyond Has a Replacement — “Bob’s Discount Furniture will open at Springfield Center at 6642 Loisdale Road across from Springfield Town Center, an outside public relations firm for the furniture and home decor retailer confirmed Tuesday. It will replace the Bed Bath & Beyond that vacated earlier this year.” [Washington Business Journal]
Popcorn Shop Now Open in Seven Corners — “Jake’s Gourmet Popcorn opened Aug. 7 in the Seven Corners Shopping Center. It’s on the upper level between the Vacuum Center and Michael’s. Jake’s offers just a few flavors for the soft opening but will add many more later when the staff gets up to speed.” [Annandale Today]
Funding Sought for Seven Corners Ring Road — “The D.C. area is famous for its intense traffic, but one of the region’s most notorious bottlenecks could be getting an update. The Fairfax County board of supervisors recently voted to apply for funding for a redesign of Seven Corners.” [NBC4]
Homosexuality No Longer Inherently “Sexual Conduct” in Virginia — “This year, a number of lawmakers introduced bills to update the definition and strike the term ‘homosexuality.’ None of the these was successful. But in a last-minute move, state Sen. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) said he struck a compromise to get the code changed.” [Washington Post]
Great Falls Leader Aims to Maintain Neighborhood Character — “The Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) will continue its mission to protect natural resources and dark skies and mitigate impacts of development and traffic, said Christopher Rich, who earlier this summer was elected the group’s president.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies during the day with a high temperature near 87°F. In the evening, the weather will transition to mostly cloudy with a low temperature around 69°F. [Weather.gov]
The guitarist from The Police, a “Glee” crooner and even Emily Dickinson will pay a visit to The Barns at Wolf Trap over the next year.
The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts unveiled an initial lineup of performances today (Tuesday) for the 2023-2024 season at its 382-seat indoor venue, which primarily operates from October through May after the park’s Filene Center concludes its summer season.
Tickets for the newly announced shows will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. this Friday (Aug. 11). They’re already available for purchase by Wolf Trap members, who are donors of $80 or more.
The upcoming season will feature performers from a variety of genres, including rock, musical theater, folk, comedy and chamber music, according to Wolf Trap Foundation President and CEO Arvind Manocha.
“The Barns gives everyone the chance to enjoy their favorite artists in a uniquely intimate setting, and this season continues to underscore Wolf Trap’s commitment to providing diverse and innovative performances for our patrons,” Manocha said in a statement. “We can’t wait to share the rest of this season’s lineup.”
Still performing at 80 years old, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Andy Summers will open the season on Oct. 13 with his “The Cracked Lens + A Missing String” tour, which combines music, photography, theater and short story readings.
Other highlights include jazz from the Branford Marsalis Quartet on Oct. 17-18, the 10th anniversary tour of indie/folk band The Lone Bellow on Nov. 26-27, and a holiday concert by actor and singer Darren Criss on Dec. 2-3.
Criss’s “A Very Darren Chrissmas” show is among several shows aimed at musical theater fans. The Barns will also host singer Linda Eder on Nov. 2, Broadway actor Stephanie J. Block on Feb. 9-10 and Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young on March 1.
In addition, the season will feature chamber music curated by artistic advisor Wu Han, starting on Nov. 3-4 with violinist Pinchas Zukerman celebrating his 75th birthday by playing work by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Dvořák.
The Orion String Quartet’s farewell tour (Nov. 19), the music of Beethoven (March 10 and April 19) and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (Jan. 28), and Emily Dickinson’s poetry (April 5) will also figure into the chamber music lineup.
A full breakdown of the season from the Wolf Trap Foundation can be found below.
The 2023–2024 season is set to begin the weekend of October 13 and 14 with Andy Summers of The Police (Oct. 13) and local folk icons Magpie (Oct. 14). The month is filled with remarkable performances, including two nights of unforgettable jazz with the Branford Marsalis Quartet (Oct. 17 + 18); Pablo Cruise and Jim Messina (Oct. 20 + 21) in a dynamic double billing; influential bluegrass musician Sam Bush (Oct. 22) paying tribute to his longtime friend, collaborator, and bluegrass innovator John Hartford; an interactive audience experience with Max Weinberg’s Jukebox (Oct. 25 + 26); enchanting selections from The New York Arabic Orchestra (Oct. 27); the return of everyone’s favorite party band Red Baraat (Oct. 28); and the soulful sounds of Madison McFerrin (Oct. 29).
November will see country bluegrass sensation Kathy Mattea (Nov. 8 + 9); collaborative singers säje (Nov. 10); British rockers The Fixx (Nov. 15); a tribute to music legends with Newmyer Flyer: Van Morrison’s Moondance and Bruce Springsteen’s The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (Nov. 25); The Lone Bellow’s 10th anniversary tour (Nov. 26 + 27); and singer/songwriter Joan Osborne (Nov. 30).
The new year kicks off with Irish folk-rocker Foy Vance (Feb. 2); an iconic homage from 1964: The Tribute (Feb. 7 + 8); sketch comedy, songs, and improvisation with Comedian Rhapsody: The Best of Second City (Feb. 14-17); and virtuosic guitar stylings at International Guitar Night (Feb. 28 + 29).
March plays host to musical storytelling and songs with Dancing with the Celts (March 13 + 14) as they dance through the journey of the Irish crossing the Atlantic, and The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, The Blue Ridge Girls, and Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small (March 23) share the sound of the Crooked Road and traditional Appalachian string band music. In April, over 40 local musicians and singers will take the stage for Bandhouse Gigs: Tribute to Mark Knopfler & Dire Straits (April 6). The month will close out with three shows from the 35th Annual Evening of Comedy (April 26 + 27).
This season Broadway fans will be enchanted by Linda Eder’s (Nov. 2) repertoire of hits; a gleeful holiday celebration by acclaimed singer and actor Darren Criss during two nights of his A Very Darren Crissmas show (Dec. 2 + 3); the wicked and versatile voice of Stephanie J. Block (Feb. 9 + 10); and the return of John Lloyd Young (March 1) as he brings classic hits from across the decades.
Chamber Music at The Barns returns for a 2023–2024 performance season curated by Artistic Advisor Wu Han. The season opens with Zukerman: A Musical Birthday Celebration (Nov. 3 + 4), with famed violinist, Pinchas Zukerman, celebrating his 75th birthday by performing Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Dvořák. Other notable performances include the farewell tour of the Orion String Quartet (Nov. 19); Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Imagination: Coleridge-Taylor, Hahn, Ysaÿe, Bloch (Jan. 28); the world-renowned The Sitkovetsky Trio (Feb. 11); Wu Han, David Finckel & Friends (Feb. 23); Instrumental Odd Couples: Beethoven, Rossini, Duruflé, Britten, Hummel (March 10); the poetry of Emily Dickinson set to music in Emily: A Musical Portrait (April 5); and String Magic: Beethoven, Françaix, Bridge, Mendelssohn (April 19).
A grassroots advocacy group of local pickleball players is taking its campaign urging Fairfax County to provide more facilities to a new, more public level.
The Fairfax County Advocates for Pickleball sent a petition last Thursday (Aug. 3) to the Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County Park Authority calling for two of the six existing tennis courts at Nottoway Park in Oakton to be converted into pickleball-only courts.
Located at 9537 Courthouse Road just outside the Town of Vienna border, the 84-acre park’s size and location would make it ideal for multiple, dedicated pickleball courts, the organization argued.
“It’s somewhat centrally located within Providence, which allows for easy access by more citizens,” Peter Montanino, one of the group’s Providence District members, told FFXnow. “Additionally, there’s plenty of room at Nottoway Park, which allows for pickleball courts and not bother neighbors with noise because that seems to be an argument that a lot of neighbors have.”
The petition was signed by 1,425 people, more than 1,300 of them confirmed to be Fairfax County residents. The largest number of signatories came from Vienna or Fairfax, but some were from as far away as Herndon, Alexandria and even Woodbridge.
With pickleball ranking as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., dedicated courts at Nottoway would relieve some of the pressure on facilities in Vienna and Fairfax City, whose courts at the Green Acres Senior Center routinely draw over 30 people at a time in the mornings and 20 to 30 people at night, according to the petition.
In February, the Town of Vienna reduced pickleball hours at its Glyndon Park courts after nearby residents took issue with the noise. With the town council’s support, Mayor Linda Colbert wrote a letter to the Board of Supervisors in June asking the county to consider adding more pickleball facilities.
Since conducting a study of its pickleball facility needs in 2020, Fairfax County has expanded its roster by 48 courts for a total of 76 courts, including the completion of two courts at Cunningham Park in Vienna just this month, according to the park authority.
Another 10 courts are currently being developed, and eight more are planned for this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2024, though Nottoway Park isn’t on that list, FCPA spokesperson Benjamin Boxer told FFXnow.
“This represents the most rapid expansion of pickleball facilities in the region,” Boxer said. “This work follows the outcome of a comprehensive pickleball study conducted in 2020 in response to an overwhelming demand for more facilities.”
Right now, though, the only site with more than two pickleball-only courts is the George Washington Rec Center in Mount Vernon, per the FCPA’s new park amenity locator.
The advocacy group argues that at least four pickleball courts are needed at one location for a facility to successfully support open play, where players can show up and join a game without scheduling one beforehand.
“Players look for multiple courts as there is a greater chance of having multiple players,” the petition said. “…Scattering two pickleball courts around the county in various parks will not be effective. Pickleball players want to switch up playing with many players in order improve their skills.”
Montanino noted that the availability of courts can be further limited by reservations for classes or private rentals, including programs offered by the park authority.
While the petition asserts that the Nottoway tennis courts aren’t operating at full capacity, the FCPA says they’re among “the most popular and well-used tennis facilities in the county,” and the vendor permit system for private lessons was implemented “in response to a strong community desire for tennis facilities and programming at this location.”
“The funds collected from those permits do provide a valued revenue stream used to maintain court facilities and develop additional amenities within the park system to serve community interests,” Boxer said.
The petition also argues for more pickleball courts as an equity issue, given the sport’s appeal to seniors. About 654 of the petition’s signers are 55 or older.
“Fairfax County needs to recognize that there is an aging population that they’re under-serving at this point, because they’re not offering opportunities for people over 55 to play a sport that’s easier for them than tennis,” Montanino said. “I can tell you, we have people that are well in their 80s that play with us, and we have people that are as young as 17 and 18. But how many 80-plus year olds are still out there playing basketball or playing baseball or playing soccer or tennis? But they can get out there and play pickleball.”
However, the park authority says the push for more pickleball facilities has shifted resources away from other in-demand amenities, such as basketball and futsal courts.
In a statement, Boxer said the agency welcomes community feedback and engagement, and remains committed to expanding the availability of pickleball facilities, but it needs to consider a variety of factors when determining how to allocate limited resources.
“Funding for all courts comes from the same pot of money,” he said. “With limited resources available, it is vital that we work to strike a balance in serving the diverse needs and interests of our countywide community…We are also open to working with community groups…on mutually beneficial solutions to undertake as resources allow.”
Fairfax County’s libraries are set to expand their hours later this month after going a year with reduced hours due to staffing shortages.
Last week, the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) system announced it will move back to “normal operating hours” at all 23 branches starting Aug. 28.
That means all libraries will open at 10 a.m. with the eight regional branches staying open until 9 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and until 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The 15 community branches will be open until 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
The community branches will remain closed on Sundays.
Until Aug. 28, the branches will continue operating at the reduced hours put in place a year ago due to staffing shortages.
An additional $6 million dollars was approved as part of this year’s county budget to go towards library personnel services, which helped the library hire the staff needed to go back to regular operating hours.
“While recruitment remains challenging, the library has been fortunate to have retained a pool of amazing staff and hired some great new people enabling us to return to regular hours,” Deputy Library Director Kevin Osborne told FFXnow in an email. “We have active recruitments for several positions and are optimistic that we will be able to hire more great staff for our return to regular hours.”
Osborne said FCPL is continuing to staff up and is “confident” in returning to regular hours. It was only April when the vacancy rate was between 18% and 20%, but that rate appears to have dropped in recent months due to the influx of cash.
The budget covers 390 positions, but Osborne did not share the exact number of open positions or the current staffing vacancy rate, noting that many positions are “in various phases of the hiring process.”
After returning to full in-person services in June 2021, FCPL struggled to maintain expanded and consistent hours — a goal even before the pandemic. Budget cuts had reduced the system’s operating capacity after the 2008 recession.
But, according to Osborne, several open positions are on the way to being filled, allowing FCPL to return to normal operating hours and maintain them for the first time in potentially years.
“FCPL would like to thank the people of Fairfax County for their patience and understanding as it navigated the effects of the pandemic and staffing difficulties,” reads the announcement. “FCPL is excited to once again be able to offer everyone a greater opportunity to visit its branches and enjoy its array of services.”
N. Va. Office Market Feels Impact of Remote Work — “More than a quarter of all office space is empty in Crystal City and in the nearby Ballston neighborhood — as is the case in smaller, more outlying office markets such as Oakton in Fairfax County. More crucial, Loh said, is the value of the space sitting vacant in some of those areas: nearly $8 million in Tysons and $2.78 million in Rosslyn” [Washington Post]
Police Civilian Review Panel Seeks More Authority — “Fairfax County supervisors on Aug. 1 lauded efforts by the Police Civilian Review Panel to investigate some complaints filed against county police, but were not eager just yet to expand the volunteer group’s powers.” The panel is seeking “the ability to monitor police cases falling under its purview.” [Gazette Leader]
Tysons Tech Startup Lays Off Workers — “Analytics and cybersecurity firm Qomplx Inc. has laid off dozens of employees, according to a Work Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the Virginia Employment Commission, and its state of operations remains unclear…The layoffs took effect Aug. 1, according to the WARN notification. Qomplx reported having roughly 100 employees in 2019.” [Washington Business Journal]
New Health Clinic to Open in Annandale — “Patient First, the future primary and acute care health clinic on the corner of John Marr Drive and Little River Turnpike in Annandale, is nearing completion. The clinic will tentatively open to the public on Oct. 12, says Director of Medical Support Ileene Sanchez.” [Annandale Today]
FCPD Offers Free Home Security Checks — “The Fairfax County Police Department is offering free home security assessments, performed by certified crime prevention officers, to help residents protect their homes against crime…There were 680 reported incidents of burglary or breaking and entering in 2022, up from 559 in 2021.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Local Teacher Sees Winnings From World Cup Bet Canceled — Fairfax County teacher Kris Benton “placed bets for a total wager of more than $3,000 on the Netherlands vs. Vietnam match in the Women’s World Cup through the BetMGM app” last week. But he couldn’t pocket the $214,500 that the app said he won “after BetMGM began to cancel the winnings due to an ‘obvious error with odds.'” [WUSA9]
GMU Prepares “Body Farm” in Prince William — “George Mason University is gearing up to receive its first donated body to its Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory, better known as ‘the body farm’…Researchers at the farm study how donated bodies decompose over time, hoping that their findings can be used to help law enforcement solve homicides and cold cases.” [Washington Post]
It’s Tuesday — The forecast for Tuesday is mostly sunny with pleasant temperatures reaching around 83°F. Tuesday night will remain mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 66°F. The west wind will slow, yet gusts may still reach up to 20 mph. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 8:05 p.m.) Thousands of people in Fairfax County have been hit by power outages in the wake of a thunderstorm that’s continuing to march eastward toward D.C.
As of 7:15 p.m., there were 16,029 customers in Fairfax County and another 1,770 customers in Fairfax City without power, according to Dominion Energy’s outage map, which shows 90 separate outages.
The most sizable outages appear to be focused south of I-66, with thousands affected around Fairfax City, including around George Mason University’s campus, and Fairfax Station. Major outages also appear in Great Falls, Annandale and Lincolnia.
The outages may have affected the Burke Centre Library and the John Marshall Library in Rose Hill. Fairfax County Public Library says both branches were closed at 6:45 p.m. “due to facilities issues.”
While there have been no reports of hail or tornadoes yet, the storm has kept the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department busy with calls for downed wires and trees.
The department reported at 5:54 p.m. that it had units working 12 different calls for outside fires.
Road closures have also cropped up, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. A spokesperson says no major roads have been shut down, but “there are several secondary roads that may have debris or downed wires.”
“Due to inclement weather, multiple roads in Fairfax County are closed or blocked. #FCPD will respond and provide updates as soon as possible,” the department said on Twitter.
Metro, which has activated its Emergency Operations Center, is delaying trains and buses in some areas due to the weather.
Outage Update:
Northern Virginia: 47,481Loudoun: 22,812
Fairfax Co: 12,493
Fairfax City: 1,770
Fauquier: 6,208
Prince William Co: 2,154
Fairfax City: 1,770STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED LINES!
Report your outage on @DominionEnergy app or online to get into system quickly! https://t.co/5H6s0uLUiz— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) August 7, 2023
#FCFRD is currently working 12 outside fire calls, most involving downed trees and wires due to the storms moving through the area. Know who to call if you see downed trees or wires. pic.twitter.com/WVTatrT8eS
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 7, 2023
Road Closures: Due to inclement weather, multiple roads in Fairfax County are closed or blocked. #FCPD will respond and provide updates as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/ErONrYaNNw
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 7, 2023
A storm bringing intense winds and potentially even hail or a tornado is bearing down on the D.C. area.
In anticipation of the weather, the Fairfax County Park Authority closed several outdoor facilities at 4 p.m., including the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, the Martin Luther King Jr. Pool in Gum Springs and Our Special Harbor Spray Park in Groveton.
All golf courses and driving ranges, marinas and park amusements, like carousels, have also been shut down. Outdoor classes and activities have either been canceled or moved indoors.
With the line of storms moving eastward, the northwestern part of the county is expected to get hit first. The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 5:15 p.m. for that area, including Reston, Herndon and possibly Tysons.
The alert warns of 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail.
“Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall,” the NWS said. “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.”
The storm is expected to arrive during the afternoon rush-hour around 5-7 p.m., prompting many workplaces to send employees home early.
Metro is “deploying additional resources to respond to weather-related issues” that may affect its service, activating its Emergency Operations Center.
“Severe delays, disruptions, and detours in Metro bus, rail, and paratransit service are possible due to extremely high winds, road conditions and other hazards,” Metro said in a news release.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Centreville VA, Reston VA and Linton Hall VA until 5:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Ai5Wnyfgbu
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 7, 2023
The McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) is a step closer to obtaining a brand-new ambulance.
The department got the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous approval on July 25 to borrow up to $250,000 from a private lender to buy fire and rescue equipment.
Federal tax law allows volunteer fire departments to obtain loans for fire and rescue equipment “at a lower tax-exempt interest rate” if the financing is approved by “the elected body of the locality” served by the department, county staff said in the board meeting agenda.
The loan will supplement a $13,000 donation that the MVFD got in June from the Woman’s Club of McLean, a charitable group that organized a Kitchen and Garden Tour this spring as a fundraiser for the department.
The department also raised funds through Christmas ornament sales and other activities to pay for the new ambulance, which will cost a total of $335,000.
MVFD currently has two ambulances. Department officials previously told FFXnow that the new “state-of-the-art” vehicle will have a power load cot system and other upgrades that will make it safer and easier to use for paramedics.
The ambulance is expected to arrive late this summer or early fall, MVFD President Patricia Moynihan said.
After acquiring the ambulance, the department hopes to get a new fire engine. The approximately $500,000 cost will be split between MVFD and the county.
