Tysons Reporter is back with its new monthly crime map showing where the incidents occurred in Fairfax County Police Department’s McLean District Station.
We went ahead and pulled together all of the incidents noted for the McLean District Station in FCPD crime recaps from Aug. 1-31, weeded out the ones that are not in the Tysons Reporter coverage area and plotted them in the interactive map above.
The McLean District Station covers crime in Merrifield, Dunn Loring, Falls Church, McLean, Tysons and Great Falls.
The map only includes information from FCPD and does not include reports to the police departments in the Town of Vienna or the City of Falls Church.
Use the icon in the top left corner of the map to toggle between the various types of crimes displayed.
Fairfax County’s weekday police recaps are not comprehensive lists of every incident and the addresses are approximate. FCPD also notes that information in the recaps “is generally based on initial reports made to the police department.”
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).
A local sci-fi author recently teamed up with big names to expand his fictional world.
David McGoings is the creator of “Catharsis: 2066” and a Falls Church resident. He began the project as a book trilogy but decided to expand it into a multi-media project featuring Star Trek’s Robert Picardo and famous narrator Greg Tremblay.
“Catharsis: 2066” follows the lives of six characters interacting with aliens come to earth and change the world’s history forever. The storyline explores the characters’ feelings and struggles as they deal with a changing environment and the ripple effect of their actions.
“It’s about the breakdown of society and the interactions of the people,” McGoings said.
McGoings told Tysons Reporter that the first book is currently finished and is in the process of publication. Next, he wants to implement a video series and work on the last two books in the trilogy.
He isn’t sure when the first book will be released to the public. As a teaser, Tremblay and Picardo from “Star Trek: Voyager” agreed to narrate the first four chapters. There is also a trailer with artwork from Rob Joseph.
“It started out as just a pitch, but most people in the industry when putting their name on something or helping out with something, they have to like the product first,” said McGoings.
Within the first week of the narration’s release, he said he received more than 2,000 new social media followers and attention on several online forums encouraging art from people of color, including Planet Ebjon, a Facebook page dedicated to Marvel DC characters and the Entertainment Universe.
“It has motivated me as well as pushed the envelope a little on how far you can go when writing a book if you have the tenacity or drive to keep with it,” McGoings said.
Until this point, McGoings said all the proceeds for his book have come out of his pocket or from donations from friends and family. In hopes of reaching his $8,000 goal for the trilogy and a YouTube video series, McGoings started a GoFundMe where people can donate to support the project.
In the next few weeks, McGoings and Joseph will sponsor a social media contest for fans where people will have the change to enter for a piece of signed custom artwork. Fans can check out the book’s Facebook page for upcoming details.
Eventually, McGoings said he wants to write full-time and hire a literary agent, to help him market his books to publishers.
“It’s probably one of the hardest parts of the process, besides writing the book itself, is to find an agent,” McGoings said. “It’s hard to grab the attention of somebody.”
Images courtesy David McGoings
The City of Falls Church is looking to implement a pilot program for scooters as a deadline nears for scooter regulation.
Legislation passed during the General Assembly session in January allows localities to regulate scooters and motorized skateboards, however, the localities have until Jan. 1, 2020 to take action to implement any regulations. After that date, the scooter companies can zoom around as they see fit.
Scooters, an increasingly popular alternative transportation option, are already around the area.
The City Council is set to discuss the proposed pilot program, which would allow the city to regulate bicycles and motorized skateboards, scooters and bicycles for hire, at a work session tonight (Tuesday).
The proposed program would allow the motorized vehicles and bicycles for hire to ride on the sidewalks and streets and would limit speeds to 20 miles per hour for bicycles and motorized bicycles and to 10 miles per hour for scooters and skateboards.
Additionally, the city would cap the maximum number of devices to 25 per company, allowing the company to increase the number with extra permit fees. Each company would have to pay a permit fee of $100 per device.
The proposed pilot program is set to go before the City Council for a review on Sept. 23 ahead of a planned adoption in October or November.
The City Council is also scheduled to discuss spot pedestrian improvements tonight.
“The ultimate goal is to provide an adequate and safe walkway system and for the city to ultimately achieve ‘Walk Friendly Community’ designation,” City Manager Wyatt Shields wrote in a memo to the mayor.
City staff chose several projects recommended by the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation totaling $100,000 — the amount set aside in the FY 2020 city budget for short-term spot improvements for pedestrian safety.
One project costing $45,000 would install a new sidewalk at S. Oak Street near Seaton Lane to close an 80-foot “missing link” along the busy corridor near TJ Elementary School.
The staff also recommended a $40,000 improvement that would install a new sidewalk at 304 S. Maple Avenue, closing a 60-foot gap in the sidewalk.
Finally, the staff plan to use $15,000 to install handicap-accessible ramps at locations that need them.
Some of the projects identified by the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation didn’t fit the city’s budget, like removing utility pole obstacles.
Fairfax County wants community input as it looks ahead to the next 20 years.
To solicit ideas and feedback, the county is hosting six community meetings around the county this month. The county will use the input to identify priority areas and success metrics for the county-wide strategic plan.
The Tysons and Falls Church area meeting will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
The county is especially interested in these nine areas:
- cultural and recreational opportunities
- economic opportunity
- education and lifelong learning
- effective and efficient government
- health and environment
- housing and neighborhood livability
- mobility and transportation
- safety and security
- self-sufficiency for people with vulnerabilities
“Whether you are new to Fairfax County, have lived here all your life or are somewhere in between, we’re interested in your vision for the future of the county and your community,” according to the county website.
People interested in attending who need childcare, transportation assistance, interpretation services or ADA accommodations can reach Angela Jones at 703-324-5302, TTY 711, or [email protected].
Photo via Facebook
An event management company in the Falls Church area now has more space and more employees after a recent expansion.
Started in 1987 as a woman-owned company called Capitol Services Inc., CSI DMC is a full-service destination and event management company.
After three decades in the City of Falls Church, the company moved from its old 4,750-square-foot office at 108 N. Virginia Avenue to an 8,175-square-foot office right outside the city, according to a press release.
“We had been bursting at the seams in our headquarters space for a quite a while, and I knew we had to make a move to create more space for our business growth — although just down the road, we think Arlington Boulevard is a perfect spot to put down some new roots,” Amberlee Huggins, the company’s president, said in a press release.
The company increased its employees by 25% in the last year, Asha Sedalia Bruot, a spokesperson for the company, told Tysons Reporter.
The company now has more than 135 employees worldwide with 35 based at the new Fairfax County headquarters.
Photo courtesy CSI DMC
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
Pumpkin Spice is back, so that officially makes it fall, right? I know, I rolled my eyes too.
Despite the pumpkin spice craze, September does mean the beginning of my favorite time of year — Fall Festivals Around Northern Virginia. Whether you’re a family with children or a group of friends going out for some fun, you’ll find a little bit of everything.
Here’s a list of some favorites during the month of September. More to follow in October!
Cox Farms — Centreville, VA
September 14-15, September 21-November 5
Live music, cow milking, farm chores, hayride, tunnels, slides, swings, corn maze, goats, cider, donuts and their market! This is my favorite event all year and I actually hold my client appreciation event here in the fall. You really can’t beat a day in cooler weather walking around their farm!
Great County Farms — Bluemont, VA
September 30-October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, pig races, Dino shows, Marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market. Adult pro tip: Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing are across the street and the views can NOT be beat.
Falls Church Festival — Falls Church, VA
September 14
Held rain or shine from 10-4 p.m., this is also the “Taste of Falls Church” with a beer garden, live entertainment, pony rides, child amusements, local crafters and sales.
Merrifield Fall Festival — Fairfax, VA
September 28
Held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., the event combines a farmers market, beer garden, live music, kids activities and more at Mosaic. This event also includes an appearance by the Vienna Singing Princesses!
Vienna Cops and Kids Fun Run — Vienna, VA
September 22
A kids fun run with the local town police. The event runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and includes many fun things after the race. Usually a police helicopter will land on the field next to Vienna Elementary, there’s a dunk-a-cop dunk tank, face painting, bounce house, music, obstacle course, food, police motorcycles and car tours.
Labor Day is coming up on Monday (Sept. 2). For people staying in the Tysons area for the holiday weekend, some government facilities will be closed and public transit options will be operating on modified schedules.
Tysons Reporter has rounded up a list of public services that will be affected by the upcoming holiday.
County-wide
- All county offices, schools and libraries will be closed on Labor Day.
- The State Courts will be closed for the day.
- The Metrobus and Metrorail will adopt a Sunday schedule for Labor Day and resume typical service on Tuesday.
- The Fairfax Connector will operate on a Sunday schedule for Labor Day.
- Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services will be closed from Saturday (Aug. 31) until Monday (Sept. 2).
- United States Postal Service offices will be closed Labor Day.
Vienna
- The Vienna Community Center will have reduced hours on Labor Day from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- The Town of Vienna’s government offices will be closed Labor Day.
McLean
- The McLean Community Center will be closed on Labor Day.
Falls Church
- The City of Falls Church’s government offices and buildings will be closed Labor Day.
- The City Council Work Session, originally scheduled for Monday, will be moved to Tuesday (Sept. 3) at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center (223 Little Falls Street).
- The Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be closed on Sunday (Sept. 1) and Monday (Sept. 2).
- Falls Church Community Center will be closed for cleaning until Tuesday (Sept. 3).
Speaking of closed offices, Tysons Reporter will be on a break as well on Monday.
The future of 5G in Falls Church is unclear.
The new service offers cell phone users faster speeds but is not yet available in the City of Falls Church.
Karen Jones is a member of the Falls Church Tree Commission who prepared a city plan for how to implement the new service. Though she began her research out of concerns for tree preservation, she said her research guided her down another concerning path.
She found that in order to bring 5G services to the city, telecommunication companies would likely install transmitters — roughly the size of a child’s backpack — on already existing infrastructure like telephone polls, streets or powerlines.
“They’re boxy, not attractive typically, and they will be put on streetlights and on the side of buildings,” she said.
The transmitters’ high frequency only reaches so far meaning they would need to be installed every 100 feet, Jones added.
She is urging the city to adopt a 5G policy since telecommunication companies could approach the city any day with a proposal.
According to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the city has 90 days to approve or reject a plan once the Federal Communications Commission proposes implementation.
If the City of Falls Church already has a plan, Jones said they will be able to have more control over the way 5G is implemented within city limits.
To ease the aesthetic burdens of 5G, Jones spoke with several companies that specialize in covert transmitters.
Ericsson, for example, makes products that allow contractors to hide 5G antennas in the wallpaper or under carpet, according to Jones. She also discussed solutions like hiding 5G antennas under specialized manhole covers.
“There is also a significant amount of research and prototyping on transparent conductive films,” Jones said.
Jones already presented her proposal to the Tree Commission and is going to educate City Council members on the topic in the coming weeks.
“There are mediation measures that need to be considered. They need to consider this now because the FCC has embarked on this unprecedented focus of building out 5G,” Jones said.
Photo courtesy Karen Jones
The red oak trees in the City of Falls Church are dying — and no one knows why yet.
At a recent Falls Church Tree Commission meeting, members said they noticed sick trees on city property and are confused about what is threatening the red oak population. Members brought up a theory, saying that a disease called leaf scorch may be to blame.
Kate Reich, the city’s arborist, said that the red oaks are showing signs of browning leaves and dying branches — both common signs of leaf scorch.
Leaf scorch can affect all shade trees and commission members at the meeting said they were unsure why the disease is just affecting red oaks.
If leaf scorch is to blame though, “At least half of our native trees are susceptible,” a commissioner said at the meeting.
The Tree Commission is unsure how many trees are affected by the illness because they are unable to account for sick trees on private property. Reich said she wants homeowners to be aware of the issue so they can eventually take steps to save their trees.
The commission is waiting to see if their theory is confirmed from samples of the dying tree sent to Virginia Tech for laboratory testing. Reich said that once they know the root of the problem, they will decide on a course of action.
“We don’t normally control tree diseases. Focusing on just a few trees takes scarce resources away from managing the whole tree population,” Reich said. “But enough red oaks are affected now that we decided this year to see if it will be practical to manage the problem.”
If leaf scorch is the cause of the problem, the commission said that they can give affected trees antibiotics to fight the bacteria and also relieve tree stressors such as crowding and drought.
Reich said the treatment is expensive though, and they don’t know how much it will cost until they decide how many trees to save.
“There is no treatment that is long term,” Reich said, adding that antibiotics only last up to three years.
Commission members said that they would want to focus on saving older trees with a strong branch structure.
Untreated trees will likely die according to Reich.
Photo via Dominik Scythe on Unsplash
Plants have been reported stolen around the Tysons area three times this month, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The first report showed up in the Aug. 1 daily crime recap. Police said a cellphone and plant were stolen from a Falls Church home in the 2800 block of Bolling Road.
Several weeks passed and then the Tuesday (Aug. 27) recap said that plants were swiped from a Merrifield residence in the 8100 block of Lee Hwy.
The Wednesday (Aug. 28) recap said plants were taken from a McLean business in the 6800 block of Elm Street.
File photo
