MPAartfest is returning to McLean in October with a long list of artists set to perform.

Hosted by the McLean Project for the Arts, the free festival is a one-day juried fine art show and sale that features the work of visual artists, along with mini art galleries, live music, food from local restaurants and activities. MPAartfest returns Sunday, Oct. 6.

Here’s the hour-by-hour breakdown on who’s playing:

• 10 a.m. — Djangolaya will kick off MPAartfest with gypsy jazz
• 11 a.m. — Takoma Park-based fiddler, banjoist, singer and scholar Jake Blount will perform with composer Clara Delfina
• noon — Great Guitars featuring three guitarists will take the stage
• 1 p.m. — Bumper Jacksons will bring jazz rhythms and country swing harmonies
• 2 p.m. — DC-based outfit Black Masala will perform Balkan, gypsy, klezmer sounds
• 3 p.m. — Artist Caz Gardiner will bring a 60’s-infused soul-pop sound
• 4 p.m. — Blues Alley Youth Jazz Orchestra, a 15-piece youth swing big band, will close out the festival

The lineup was curated by radio host Ken Avis, according to a press release from the art organization.

While the festival is free, donations and funds raised during the event support MPA exhibitions and programs.

MPAartfest will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd).

Photo courtesy McLean Project for the Arts

(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) Construction crews hit a gas line, causing a gas leak in McLean this morning (Wednesday).

Units from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and the Arlington County Fire Department responded to the outside gas leak in the Franklin Park neighborhood at North Nottingham Street and Virginia Avenue around 10 a.m., according to a Fairfax County fire department tweet.

“Workers struck a 2-inch gas line,” the tweet said, adding that the leak did not affect nearby homes.

“Situation currently under control. Crews awaiting gas company,” the tweet said.

About 30 minutes later, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted that the leak had been stopped.

UPDATE: Leak has beeb stopped. Most units are returning to service. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty https://t.co/1gXgArq3Cr

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 14, 2019

Map via Google Maps 

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals is set to determine this fall whether or not a contentious for-profit therapy program for teens can open in McLean.

Newport Academy’s plans to turn its three purchased homes (1620, 1622, and 1624 Davidson Road) into a treatment facility got derailed after the county’s zoning administrator said the facility is not a by-right use.

While the zoning administrator added that the facility would require approval from the Board of Supervisors, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust has previously said that he would oppose the facility if it was brought to the county board for a vote.

Newport Academy is looking to appeal the ruling, and now the zoning issue is set to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 30, BZA staff told Tysons Reporter, adding that people interested in the case should check a week or two before that date to confirm it will still take place.

“These dates do sometimes change, although I do not believe that will be the case for this hearing,” staff wrote.

It is unclear what will happen to Newport Academy’s proposed group home at 1318 Kurtz Road, which was not addressed in the zoning administrator’s ruling.

McLean Firefighters Save Hawk — “Recently, Tower 401, McLean, A-Shift was called to assist [Fairfax County Animal Protection Police]. Hawk was entangled in netting. Lt. Roose and Tech Crabtree took MAPPO Lugo up in tower bucket to access hawk who was able to free hawk and transport to vet. Hawk is back in wild!” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

Becoming a City — “While the end date for Tysons’ transformation plan may be 2050, cities are dynamic things.” Greater Greater Washington dives into the challenges Tysons will face as it continues to grow. [Greater Greater Washington]

McLean Crash Kills Driver — “A person is dead after a single-car crash that has closed a section of the GW Parkway on Sunday morning. The crash happened around 5:45 a.m. in McLean. The driver, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, died at the scene.” [Fox5]

Falls Church Book Store Closing — “Hole in the Wall Books, the cozy used book shop located within a faded blue house on Broad Street, will be closing up shop for good at the end of the month, concluding a 40-year run in the City of Falls Church that brought the right amount of reliability and eccentricity to make the store into an institution.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Filling Mad Fox’s Void — “The City of Falls Church’s economic development team confirmed [last week] that finding a replacement for the recently-closed Mad Fox Brewing Company is ‘an absolute strategic priority for the City’ and… another brewpub operation, a small chain, is showing a keen interest.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Unfinished McLean Mansion for Sale — “Greater Washington’s second most expensive house on the market isn’t even a house yet.” [Washington Business Journal]

Training for Mass Shooting Scenarios — ABC7’s Tim Barber has details on how Fairfax County’s police and fire train together for mass shooting scenarios. “The training starts with a radio call, with lights and sounds are added for effects.” [ABC7]

McLean Bank Teams Up With Another Bank — “Founders of VisionBank (In Organization) have agreed to join Old Dominion National Bank to help bolster the bank’s mission to provide a true community banking experience to growing numbers of businesses and individuals throughout the Washington, D.C. metro area.” [Cision]

The Virginia Department of Transporation is looking to secure an emergency contract for one of two McLean Roads undergoing long-term repair.

The 1300 block of Kirby Road and Swinks Mill Road by Scott’s Run are still closed due to severe storm damage from July 8 flash flooding. VDOT has said that both roads will stay closed for several months.

In an update yesterday (Thursday), VDOT said that it wants an emergency contract for bridge and road repairs at Kirby Road.

As for Swinks Mill Road, VDOT tweeted today (Friday) that reconstruction of the road’s bridge starts Monday (Aug. 12).

VDOT also provided information on the progress this week for both roads:

Kirby Road at Pimmit Run (VA-695)

• Structure and bridge crews removed debris from Little Pimmit Run and Pimmit Run.
• Soil boring cores and test results were completed.
• Survey work and underground utility location is complete.
• Design plans are being finalized for an emergency contract.

Swinks Mill Road at Scotts Run (VA-685)

• Crews removed asphalt and guardrail debris from Scotts Run.
• Soil boring cores along with results were completed.
• Survey work and underground utility location have been completed.
• Bridge design plans are complete.
• Repairs will be performed by VDOT structure and bridge crews, who will begin work once ordered materials are received.

“Coordination with external agencies is ongoing to ensure efficient repair of damaged utilities, including coordination with federal/state permitting agencies to relocate Little Pimmit Run to its previous stream alignment,” according to the press release.

Kirby and Swinks Mill roads weren’t the only ones damaged — VDOT said that “extensive repairs” were made to 12 McLean-area roads right after the storm.

Good News! Work to reconstruct the Swinks Mill Road bridge begins Monday— and Kirby Road isn’t far behind! https://t.co/WgpybIc0R3

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 9, 2019

Photo 3 via VDOT

Fairfax County police are investigating a robbery at the T-Mobile store in downtown McLean.

The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. last night (Wednesday) at 1400 Chain Bridge Road, according to a police report.

Police said that five people stole merchandise and assaulted an employee in the store.

“The suspects are described as black, in their teens,” police said.

In a separate incident last night, police said that someone was assaulted in the 7900 block of Tysons One Place right by Tysons Corner Center shortly before 7 p.m.

More from FCPD:

While taking trash to the compactor area of a building, the victim found a man already in the room. Without warning the man began to cut the victims arm with a knife. The victim did not require medical treatment and the injuries were described as superficial.

Police are still looking for the man, who police described as “a black man with dreadlocks, in his 20s, 5’8″ and very skinny. He was last seen wearing all black clothing with holes in his jeans.”

A GoFundMe campaign raised more than $93,000 to help the McLean Little League repair damage from flash flooding last month.

One day after the campaign started, people donated more than $18,000 — about a quarter of the $75,000 goal.

While the GoFundMe says 217 people raised $93,823 in 27 days, Shelly Breslin, who started the campaign, told Tysons Reporter that about $112,000 in total was raised.

Breslin said that she has managed fundraisers before for the little league and decided to create the GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of the damage from the flooding — especially since the little league does not have flood insurance.

Currently, the McLean Little League complex (1836 Westmoreland Street) is closed as it undergoes work rebuilding dugouts, repairing fencing and cleaning up the fields before the fall season starts at the end of August.

Three years ago, the little league started a campaign for recent field improvements, she said.

“The ironic thing is, right before the water came, the McLean Little League closed out and used the money from the campaign,” Breslin said, adding that the funds paid for new batting cages, scoreboards and fencing, which were then damaged in the July flooding. “Many items had just been done in the spring season… We worked so hard over the last three years to get that money.”

Breslin said there was a huge local community response to the GoFundMe campaign from McLean residents to parents and coaches at the little league in Vienna.

“I think it went great,” she said, adding that people from around the country donated as well.

Breslin also said that she was surprised by some of the “big amounts” people donated, which included a $25,000 donation, two $5,000 donations and 20 donations between $1,000-$2,500.

The GoFundMe is now closed because “we raised what we wanted to get,” Breslin said.

“We are overwhelmed by our McLean community and little league community,” she said.

Fairfax County police arrested a McLean summer camp employee for allegedly sexually abusing a child last week.

Police said Cesar Laragaibort worked as a counselor and bus driver at Camp Greenway, a co-ed, summer day camp for kids operated by the Madeira School (8328 Georgetown Pike).

“Detectives were contacted Thursday, Aug. 1, after a child, who is not affiliated with the camp, disclosed being inappropriately touched by Laragaibort,” police said. “Detectives acted swiftly to corroborate the allegation and developed sufficient evidence to make an arrest [Friday.]”

Police said that “initial evidence does not indicate the alleged offense occurred at Camp Greenway or on any school buses but detectives would like to hear from anyone who is concerned their child may have had inappropriate contact with Laragaibort.”

Karen Joostema, the spokesperson for Camp Greenway, told Tysons Reporter that “the police have informed us the incident they are investigating does not involve any camper or the camp in any way.”

Joostema shared the following note, which she said was sent to Camp Greenway families on Saturday (Aug. 3):

Dear Camp Greenway Parents,

We wanted to inform you of some news we learned last evening and today. Police took Mr. Cesar Laragaibort, who was a sports and games specialist and bus driver at Camp Greenway, into custody last evening on aggravated sexual battery charges. The police have informed us that the reason has nothing to do with any Madeira camp, camper, student, school, or bus.

As part of Madeira’s standard hiring procedures and commitment to child safety, we perform background checks on every employee. Law enforcement confirmed this recent incident would not have come up on a background check.

In addition, we want to share that our camp policies and procedures are such that no counselor is alone with an individual camper. As a sports and games specialist, Mr. Laragaibort was in public view, mainly outdoors, with campers and other adults. Safety is a paramount consideration at our camp.

The matter is in the hands of law enforcement and we are fully cooperating with them. If we become aware of any additional relevant information, we will certainly share that with you. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Sarah Merianos
Director of Summer Programs

Police charged 37-year-old Fairfax resident Laragaibort with one count of aggravated sexual battery. Laragaibort is being held without bond at the Adult Detention Center.

Police are asking that anyone with information call the Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800 or submit an anonymous tip by calling 866-411-8477.

Photo via FCPD

A fire that broke out in the garage of a McLean home caused roughly $60,000 worth of damage.

The fire broke out around 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, at a two-story, single-family home in the 6700 block of Osborn Street, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue and the Arlington County Fire Department arrived on the scene with smoke showing from the garage.

More from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue:

Crews quickly located and extinguished a fire in the garage. There were no reported firefighter or civilian injuries.

The fire was discovered when a passerby noticed smoke coming from the garage and called 9-1-1. There were no occupants home at the time of the fire. Smoke alarms did not activate due to the location of the fire.

Fire Investigators determined that the fire started in the garage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Red Cross services were offered but not accepted. Damages are approximately $60,000. The damage total includes a vehicle lift system and a classic car that was parked in the garage.

McLean Garage Fire Causes $60K In Damage. Units from #FCFRD and @ArlingtonVaFD arrived on the scene of a two-story, single-family home with smoke showing from the garage. More: https://t.co/UY9NPF9fQG #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/0wVmmbT1cy

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 1, 2019

Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter

Construction on improvements to Kirby Road south of Chesterbrook Elementary School is slated to start in September.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation gave residents an update yesterday (Wednesday) on the sidewalks project spanning from Birch Road to Corliss Court along Kirby Road.

Latesa Turner, an FCDOT engineer, gave a presentation to a small group of people at Chesterbrook Elementary School (1753 Kirby Road) last night shortly after 7 p.m.

The project would add the following new elements to Kirby Road:

• a 5-6-foot wide concrete sidewalk and ADA-accessible curb ramps
• concrete curb and gutter
• drainage inlets and pipes
• driveway entrances
• pedestrian crossing and median refuge at Powhatan Street
• re-alignment of Chesterfield Avenue intersection
• water main reconstruction and upgrades
• road pavement and striping

The first phase of the project, which will last between three to four months, will involve closing the westbound lane of Kirby Road to construct the water line relocation, according to the presentation. Drivers can expect traffic maintained in both directions during the lane closure.

Then, the second phase will involve closing the westbound lane of Kirby Road for drainage and utility work, along with work on the curb ramps, driveway entrances, sidewalk and gutter. The second phase is expected to last five to six months, according to the presentation.

The contractor will come out within the next week for clearing and tree removal. Then, construction will start in September. The first phase is slated to be done around December and most of the work will be completed by February. All of the work is slated to be finished by April 2020.

Once finished, Turner said that the Virginia Department of Transportation will maintain the sidewalks.

When asked why it took two years for the project to start construction, Turner said that many steps had to take place after the idea was approved including finalizing the plans, receiving VDOT approval, permitting and bidding for the project after the land acquisition in late 2017.

Despite some grumblings among attendees about waiting for the improvements, many expressed support for the upcoming work.

“I’m really glad you’re doing this,” one attendee told Turner toward the end of the meeting.

Image 4 via Fairfax County