Editor’s Note: Tysons Reporter does not endorse any specific candidate for the upcoming 2020 election.
With the upcoming November presidential elections, several candidates have campaign offices and events in Tysons’ backyard.
Tysons Reporter found local groups, campaign offices and activities supporting three Democratic presidential candidates.
Elizabeth Warren
The headquarters for Elizabeth Warren’s Virginia campaign located in the heart of Falls Church at 450 W. Broad Street.
The campaign is looking for volunteers to canvas later this week on Saturday (Jan. 25) and Sunday (Jan. 26), as well as on Feb. 1 and 2. Each day there will be two timeslots from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 12 until 3 p.m. Sign-up is available online.
Also this Saturday and Sunday, there will be a phone bank at a Starbucks in Vienna (362 E. Maple Ave) from 1 to 3 p.m.
For those wanting to canvas for Warren in Vienna, there will be a group meeting at Starbucks (362 E Maple Ave) this Saturday from 10 to 1 p.m. and 12 to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 3 p.m.
Andrew Yang
Every Monday, the MATH Mondays Organizing Night brings people together in support of Andrew Yang’s campaign. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Urbanspace (2001 International Drive) and lasts until 9 p.m.
Attendees can get involved with the campaign at various levels, depending on interest.
“This includes texting, making calls and writing letters to Iowa voters as well as orientations on how you can recruit your friends and help the NoVA Leadership Team with local events and activities,” according to the event page.
Anyone considering volunteering is advised by the event page to bring their phone and laptop.
Bernie Sanders
Although there isn’t a central office in the area, staffers and supporters of Bernie Sanders are hosting events in the area.
On Sunday (Jan. 26), the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Bernie group will be canvasing at the Lunar New Year Celebration in Tysons Corner Center from 11:50 a.m. until 4 p.m., according to Bernie Sanders’ campaign website.
The Bernie Sanders campaign is also hosting an event around 7 p.m. in Pimmit Hills (2021 Griffith Road) to organize individuals who want to spread knowledge of the campaign to friends and family.
Attendees will walk away with the skills to rally others, according to the event listing.
Nearby, President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg have campaign offices in Arlington.
Photo via Element5 Digital on Unsplash
Fairfax County police arrested a Falls Church man today for an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a high school student.
Police charged 57-year-old Philip Spivey with four counts of indecent liberties by a custodian.
Police say that Spivey had an inappropriate relationship with a student at Justice High School. “Spivey is also employed as a private music teacher,” according to the press release.
More from FCPD:
Detectives began their investigation after it was learned that Spivey was having unlawful sexual contact with a student… He is currently being held at the county’s Adult Detention Center without bond.
Victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau’s Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure that the victim is receiving appropriate resources and assistance.
Anyone with information can contact the Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800, option 3.
Fire department officials say a fire at the Shell gas station in the Falls Church area started by accident in the attic.
The fire broke out yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon at 6519 Arlington Blvd.
“Owner observed smoke in attic and called 911,” Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted today (Wednesday).
A malfunction in the oil furnace caused the fire, according to the fire department.
No injuries have been reported and fire caused $10,000 worth of damage, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said.
Photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter
Updated 2:30 p.m. — The fire is now out, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted around 1:30 p.m. “No reported injuries at this time,” the tweet said. “Fire investigators on scene to determine cause.”
Earlier: A fire has broken out in a building’s chimney in the Falls Church area today (Tuesday).
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted about the incident shortly before 12:30 p.m.
“Units on scene of a fire in [a] chimney with extension into the structure in the 6500 block of Arlington Blvd,” the tweet said.
Units on scene of a fire in chimney with extension into the structure in the 6500 block of Arlington Boulevard. Crews working to extinguish. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/kRGcZih05Q
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 21, 2020
UPDATE 6500 block of Arlington Boulevard. Fire is out. No reported injuries at this time. Fire investigators on scene to determine cause. @ArlingtonVaFD and @AlexandriaVAFD on-scene assisting. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/a6iDw60P0q
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 21, 2020
Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter, map via Google Maps
Welcome back from the long weekend! Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:
Calling All Candidates — “The McLean Community Center, funded by the Dranesville Small District 1A tax district, is set to begin the election process for the 2020-2021 governing board. Candidate petition packets will be available at the center beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21.” [Patch]
Vienna-Based Hair Salon Chain Cutting Some Spots — The parent company of Hair Cuttery, Bubbles and other salon chains will close more than 80 locations around the country, starting in late January. The Ratner Cos., based in Vienna, said it will close 10% of its 844 stores.” [Washington Business Journal]
New Fire Marshal in Falls Church — With Tom Polera’s retirement, the City of Falls Church announced the new fire marshal and emergency management coordinator. [Falls Church News-Press]
4th Annual MLK March Sees Civil Rights Activist Speak https://t.co/ud0jnLgGlc pic.twitter.com/T8x81FxS59
— Falls Church News-Press (@fcnp) January 20, 2020
You asked, we have answers: One reader asked when Newport Academy withdraw its appeal of the Fairfax County Zoning Administrator Leslie Johnson’s determination that the Davidson Road properties could be a congregate living facility. The answer, according to the Board of Zoning Appeals staff? “Awhile ago.” The staff that Tysons Reporter spoke to were not able to provide the date or month.
Sneak Peek: How would you splurge during a weekend in Tysons? We asked readers in a poll last week and this week, expect a story about people’s how to ball out for a vacation/staycation in Tysons.
Have a great Tuesday and look out for Morning Notes again on Friday.
To celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., several places around the Tysons area will have free community events and service projects on Monday (Jan. 20).
From musical performances to parades to volunteering opportunities, here’s where to find MLK Day events:
Falls Church
The Falls Church City Council recently declared Monday, Jan. 20, this year to be an official day of service in the city.
The city is gearing up for volunteer projects that day, according to a press release. The activities include:
- city councilmembers, board members and commissioners plan to work at the Miller House, a home for adults with differing abilities
- the Falls Church City elementary school community is invited to join Give Day, an event looking to raise $10,000 and collect food for Food for Others
On Give Day, elementary school families will be able to assemble ‘Power Packs’ filled with non-perishable food items that Food for Others distributes to for local students. The event is set to take place from 10 a.m.-noon at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (601 S. Oak Street).
The fourth annual march and commemorative program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights history plan to take place in the City of Falls Church on Monday.
The event starts at 10 a.m. with the march proceeding down Lee Hwy to Falls Church Episcopal (115 East Fairfax Street).
“Area service organizations will be at the church providing information about volunteer opportunities in our local communities,” according to the event description. “A commemoration program with a keynote speech by Joan Mulholland, a Freedom Rider and civil rights activist, will take place in the church at noon.”
McLean
A tribute at The Alden on Thursday, Jan. 30, will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. with performances by musician Damien Sneed, a graduate of Howard University, and the Howard University Choir as part of the “We Shall Overcome” tour.
“We Shall Overcome” will feature spoken word from King’s recorded speeches combined with a variety of African American music traditions.
“When I saw ‘We Shall Overcome’ last January, I knew I had to bring it to The Alden,” The Alden Performing Arts Director Sarah Schallern Treff said in a press release. “By the time I spoke with Mr. Sneed’s agents the following afternoon, Jan. 30 was the only available date.”
The event is set to start at 7 p.m. at 1234 Ingleside Ave. Tickets cost $45 for the public, $25 for seniors and students and $20 for McLean Community Center tax district residents.
Vienna
Several churches in the Vienna area are offering service projects on Monday, including the First Baptist Church of Vienna (450 Orchard St NW) and The Church of the Good Shepherd (2351 Hunter Mill Road).
People interested in finding more volunteer opportunities around the area can search the databases on the Corporation for National and Community Service website.
Photo by Brian Kraus/Unsplash
For people looking to get to D.C. for the 2020 Women’s March, event organizers created an option for attendees to ride together and save the hassle of driving or commuting by themselves.
The Rally Ride option allows people to gather at various locations in a 270-mile-radius of downtown D.C, including Falls Church on Saturday (Jan. 18) and catch a bus that will take them to and from the event, according to the event page.
Round trip tickets cost $20.20 and are subsidized from donors, according to the event page.
The Falls Church bus will pick passengers up at 6751 Wilson Blvd, near the Eden Center and PB Station around 8:25 a.m.
At one point, there was also a bus from McLean, but it was canceled without explanation.
Each bus will consist of roughly 40 passengers and drop guests off at Independence Ave SW & 3rd Street SW at the location of the march, according to Rally Ride’s website.
Passengers are encouraged to book their tickets quickly because busses with less than 40 passengers will be canceled. People who pre-registered for busses that did not meet minimum demand will receive a notification and will not be charged for the trip, according to the event page.
Image via Women’s March/Facebook
When Solace Brewing opens a new location in Falls Church, people can expect a casual spot to grab beers.
Called Solace Outpost, the new pub will take over the spot previously filled by Max Fox Brewing and include food from BlackFinn and Freebyrd Chicken, according to a press release.
Co-founder Jon Humerick said Solace decided to partner with H2 Collective and Pub Partners, which runs BlackFinn and Freebyrd, because the agreement allows each vendor to play to their strengths and best serve future customers of Solace Outpost.
“We’re the beer guys, we know brewing. We don’t know restaurants,” he told Tysons Reporter.
While Mad Fox Brewing had more of a sit-down, formal atmosphere, according to Humerick, he said he plans for Solace Outpost to be causal. “It’s going to be similar to what we have here in Sterling.”
The location will feature both indoor and outdoor seating and have “rustic-industrial” decorations — including wood accents and a concrete bar, he said.
Solace Outpost will be the company’s second brewing location, and Humerick said the location will produce a “significant volume” of beer.
“The new brewery will feature experimental IPAs and other beers and methods, such as kettle sours and smaller batches but will keep a core quartet of Solace favorites — Sun’s Out Hops Out, Lucy Juicy, Partly Cloudy and Crazy Pils — permanently on tap,” according to a press release.
Going forward, Humerick added that they are still working with Solace’s partners to work out the details and he will have more details within the coming months.
Photo via Solace Brewing/Facebook
(Updated 1/16/20) After several delays, The Casual Pint is now open in Falls Church.
The bar offers dozens of locally sourced brews to customers and a spokesperson told Tysons Reporter that the grand opening will take place next Friday (Jan. 24) at 4 p.m.
Throughout the evening of the grand opening, The Casual Pint will be giving prizes away along with free growlers to the first 50 customers, according to owner Darren McClure.
“We are getting to know everyone in the neighborhood and people’s reaction to the spot have been very positive,” McClure said.
The location is open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at 6410 Arlington Blvd, Suite E.
Employees are currently running through the systems, trying to work out the final kinks, according to a spokesperson.
At the grand opening next Friday, The Casual Pint will offer free growlers to the first 50 customers and drink specials all day, according McClure.
Demolition is expected to happen soon on the house on city-owned property that will soon be a park in Falls Church.
City Manager Wyatt Shields told the Falls Church City Council on Monday (Jan. 13) that the city is in the process of finalizing the agreement to tear down the house on the 2-acre property at 604 S. Oak Street.
Known as the Fellows Property, the site is located near the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.
City officials say the recent purchase will preserve the property as open space and possibly serve as a future school use.
The property is set to become usable park space, according to the city’s 2019-2024 Capital Improvements Program.
More from the CIP:
Until a Master Park Plan is developed, the funding needs are unknown. However, there has been preliminary thought of open natural space for family use to include amenities such as a walking trail, picnic area, a disc golf course and the possibility of a much needed community garden plot. The funding needs listed is similar to the cost of the project at West End Park as they will likely have a similar scope.
“It is a site with wonderful old trees, tulip, oak, magnolia, cherry,” Shields said about the site. “The home is not protected by the historic preservation ordinance, as it misses the cut off age by a few years.”
The demolition costs are accounted for in the budget requests and the work is set to start this month or February, Shields said.
Image via Google Maps, image via City of Falls Church
