A 30-year-old man from Herndon was arrested on Sunday (May 12) for allegedly exposing himself to a woman on the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail in Sterling.
The woman reported that she was walking on the trail near the 21.5-mile marker that day when an adult man exposed himself, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
“The victim fled and called law enforcement. Responding deputies searched the area and arrested the suspect on the trail,” the sheriff’s office said.
The LCSO says the man has been charged with obscene sexual display, which is defined by state law as an actual or simulated act of masturbation in a public place. Virginia classifies the offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying potential punishments of up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.
The man was released on a personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County General District Court for an arraignment on July 24, according to court records.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have witnessed the exposure incident or been approached by the man to contact its deputies at 703-777-1021.
Image via Google Maps
Facing lower-than-expected revenue from the county and state, Fairfax County Public Schools is considering a proposal to reduce staff pay raises.
Under Superintendent Michelle Reid’s new proposal, presented at last week’s school board meeting, all school employees would receive a 3% pay increase instead of the initially planned 6%, which would’ve made starting teacher salaries in Fairfax County the highest among surrounding jurisdictions.
“The focus of our budget proposal had been to catapult beginning teacher salaries and again the beginning masters teacher salaries to number one in our region,” Reid told the school board during its meeting last Thursday (May 9). “However, as a result of the significantly lower-than-requested funding levels, our improvement in beginning salaries will be a bit more measured, moving from seventh place out of eight to sixth place out of eight.”
The revised proposal came after the Board of Supervisors adopted a fiscal year 2025 budget on May 7 that increased the county’s real estate tax rate by 3 cents to support pay raises for county and school employees.
Back in February, Reid requested an additional $254 million for FCPS from the county, primarily to fund staff pay raises. But the county’s newly adopted budget, which will take effect on July 1, allocates $165 million after the Board of Supervisors raised concerns about further raising property taxes to compensate for state underfunding of schools.
According to Reid’s presentation, FCPS will get about $102 million less from the county and state than what the superintendent had sought in her proposed budget.
Gov. Youngkin signed a new two-year budget yesterday (Monday) that will be effective from July 1 and last until June 30, 2026. Approved with near-unanimous bipartisan support, the budget includes more than $2 billion for K-12 public education and provides 3% pay raises for teachers and state employees.
Although it was not immediately clear if FCPS will receive additional funding from this deal, Reid told the school board she will amend her proposal if more funds become available.
“If that money or monies should become available, I’ll likely be recommending the restoration of as much of the originally planned salary increase as possible,” she said.
Citing a recent study by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission of Virginia (JLARC), Reid emphasized that the state’s underfunding of FCPS by $568.6 million annually is a major reason for the school system’s continuous requests for more county funding.
“[The $568.6 million] would enable us to do a lot of amazing work and make sure that our educators benefited from a salary that would enable them to continue to live or afford the cost of living here in Fairfax County,” Reid said. “Unfortunately, the General Assembly has essentially delayed action on these recommendations by continuing to request further study.”
At the meeting, Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren attributed the worsening shortfall in K-12 school funding to Youngkin’s tax reduction policies and criticized the county for not advocating more vigorously on behalf of the school board.
“It’s now a pattern, and the governor continues to hold school boards like ours accountable for providing some services and yet does not allow us the time to actually plan as best as we can,” she said. “…I’d like to know what our county partners are doing to actually help us resolve this.”
The school board will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget today (Tuesday) that could be extended to tomorrow (Wednesday), followed by a work session on Tuesday, May 21. Adoption of a final budget is scheduled for May 23.
Feedback Sought on National Airport Noise — “Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince George’s County have hired Vianair Consulting to spearhead a collaborative effort with members of the community and staff from various airport agencies to recommend changes to DCA airspace and flight procedures. Vianair is currently running a survey of residents south of DCA.” [ALXnow]
Gov. Youngkin Signs New State Budget — “Weeks of Virginia state budget drama ended Monday with pledges of bipartisan goodwill as the General Assembly passed a compromise two-year spending plan that boosts funding for education and other priorities without increasing taxes.” [Washington Post]
Foo Fighters Singer Shouts Out Fairfax County Roots — “@foofighters Dave Grohl shops at Tysons too! Superstar and DC-area local Dave Grohl was honored [on May 8 at] the @TheNationalMall’s Ball for the Mall. He gave shoutouts to @TysonsGalleria and to his mom who worked as a Fairfax County Public Schools teacher for 35 years.” [Washingtonian/Twitter]
Truck Traffic Ban Proposed for Lorton Roads — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is accepting public comments through June 10 regarding a proposed restriction of through truck traffic on Gunston Cove Road and Lorton Market Street from Richmond Highway to Lorton Road.” The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors requested a study by VDOT after residents “testified that trucks were speeding through the neighborhood.” [On the MoVe]
Hair Salon Coming to Annandale — “A salon and barbershop is coming to the old Tony Moly space next to the 7-Eleven on Hummer Road…A sign on the vacant storefront says Adela’s Salon and Barberia is coming soon. Tony Moly, a shop specializing in Korean cosmetics, opened in 2014 and closed last summer.” [Annandale Today]
Tennis Court Renovation Planned at Mason District Park — “Contractors will mobilize on site in early June, with work expected to begin on Wednesday, June 12. The project will include the replacement of old asphalt surfacing, fencing, gates, net posts and footers. New sealcoat, color coat and playing lines will also be applied to the courts.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
County Attorney Honored for Affordable Housing Efforts — “Deputy County Attorney Cynthia Bailey was recently awarded the A. Robert Cherin Award by The Local Government Attorneys of Virginia…As the Deputy County Attorney, Ms. Bailey has steadfastly guided the Office’s legal efforts on affordable housing matters including public-private partnerships.” [FCRHA]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high of 72°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation. Tuesday night brings more showers, possibly a thunderstorm, with a low of 62°F and a 90% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Reston Concerts on the Town will kick off this Saturday (May 18) in conjunction with the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art’s annual arts festival.
The Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) and property owner Boston Properties unveiled a performance lineup last week for the free summer concert series, which is now entering its 31st season.
Old Skool, a Cleveland-based group that covers ’80s and ’90s hip hop, R&B and pop hits, will open the season on Saturday at 8 p.m., taking the stage at the Reston Town Center Pavilion (1825 Discovery Street) to close out the first day of the 33rd annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival.
Subsequent concerts will all take place at the pavilion from 7:30-10 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 24. Free garage parking will be available at the town center for all shows, and patrons will have a designated “Sip and Stroll” area where they can imbibe alcohol from five participating restaurants: Ted’s Bulletin, North Italia, Sixty Vines, Capital Burger and True Food Kitchen.
Assembled by a new entertainment director, Party DC, this year’s concert lineup features a variety of acts and genres, from choral music, courtesy of the local Reston Chorale, and a Beatles tribute band to salsa, funk and ’80s hair metal.
“This is the most ambitious lineup we have ever offered, and that’s saying a lot,” RTCA Executive Director Robert Goudie said in a press release. “Given the quality of what we are delivering, all free, there is no greater value in the region, and there is something for everyone of all ages and interests.”
The full Reston Concerts on the Town schedule is below.
- May 18: Old Skool (R&B/hip hop/pop)
- May 25: Reston Chorale for a “Star Spangled Salute”
- June 1: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
- June 8: Hard Day’s Night (Beatles tribute)
- June 15: Herr Metal (’80s hair metal)
- June 22: Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats (rockabilly)
- June 29: Lao Tizer Band, featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal and “American Idol” season five contestant Elliot Yamin (soul/jazz/R&B)
- July 6: La Mafia Del Guaguanco (D.C. area salsa band)
- July 13: Big Sam’s Funky Nation (New Orleans funk)
- July 20: Deanna Bogart Band (boogie-woogie/jazzy blues)
- July 27: The Reflex (’80s tribute band)
- Aug. 3: Sam Grow Band with current “American Idol” contestant Sela Campbell opening (country)
- Aug. 10: Three Sheets to the Wind (yacht rock)
- Aug. 17: Right On Band (disco)
- Aug. 24: Magic! (reggae fusion)
The Town of Herndon will look into lowering how much restaurants and other businesses pay for using public space to host temporary outdoor seating.
Zoning Administrator David Stromberg gave an update on current zoning regulations, which have been on the books for two years, during a Herndon Town Council work session last Tuesday (May 7).
Outdoor dining gained popularity during the pandemic, when restaurants faced indoor capacity restrictions. After phasing out temporary licenses in 2021, the town council amended the town code in April 2022 to permanently let private businesses provide outdoor dining on public property, such as sidewalks and on-street or shared parking spaces.
A town ordinance charged businesses $10 per square foot — a rate chosen based on how much other localities charge.
“At the time this ordinance was adopted, only a few other localities had established an outdoor seating program, and the three that were reviewed (Arlington, Alexandria, and the District of Columbia), charged rates higher than $10.00 per square foot for use of public property,” town staff said in a memo for last week’s work session.
According to staff, the town has gotten two applications from establishments seeking to create seasonal outdoor dining spaces since the ordinance was adopted, but no permits have received final approval.
During a work session in April, the council requested that staff look into lowering the fee to $7.50 per square foot per term. However, when they met last week, council members agreed to conduct a pilot program allowing up to four parking spaces for outdoor dining at $1 per square foot for the first two spaces and $5 per square foot for the next two spaces.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila supported dropping the fee to $1 per square foot, highlighting potential economic impacts.
“People like outdoor dining. We want to give people a reason to come to Herndon,” he said. “We need the revenue.”
Del Aguila also cited the permanent loss of the Herndon Festival, announced in December, as another reason to make the change.
“We need to start branding ourselves for other cool things to experience in Herndon. This is just one of them,” Del Aguila said.
Councilmember Donielle Scherff recommended creating an ad hoc committee of businesses to discuss the best ways to implement outdoor dining.
“I think that there should be everyone together or several opportunities for several folks to be together because collaboration is key,” she said.
The town council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed $7.50-per-square-foot rate for outdoor dining in public spaces during its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). But no vote is expected, since the council opted to move forward with the pilot program instead.
The pilot will be conducted through Sept. 30. Scherff said the goal is to have a recommendation by next year.
Pre-Dawn Northern Lights Glimpsed in D.C. Area — “Because of pesky clouds, the D.C. area initially missed out on a rare and magical opportunity to the see the northern lights Friday night. But during the pre-dawn hours Saturday, between about 4 and 6 a.m., the skies opened up just enough for an exceptionally rare view.” [Washington Post]
Local Judge to Decide If Embryos Can Be Property — “A trial is underway in Virginia that will determine whether state law allows frozen embryos to be considered property that can be divided up and assigned a monetary value. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Dontae Bugg heard arguments Thursday from a divorced couple who disagree over the ex-wife’s desire to use two embryos that they created when they were married.” [NBC4]
Man Convicted of Fairfax City Murder — “A man was convicted of second-degree murder on Thursday in the killing of a Fairfax City man who authorities said was left in a trash receptacle hours after he had asked the defendant to have sex.” Aaron James Anthony Robertson, 31, could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after being found “guilty in the June 10, 2023, killing of 50-year-old Luis Barahona Reyes.” [Washington Post]
School Board Approves Cell Phone Storage Pilot — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a proposal to launch a pilot program for storing student cellphones during the school day.” The pilot allows high school students to get their phones back at the end of each class, but middle school students have to wait until the end of the school day. [NBC4]
Father of Crash Victim Proposes Renaming Lee Chapel Road — “A year-and-a-half after his daughter died in a crash on a treacherous stretch of Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax County, Virginia, a grieving father is petitioning to change the road’s name to reflect his daughter’s role in upcoming safety changes.” [WTOP]
Biden Campaign Opens Office in Annandale — “Pumped to welcome @DouglasEmhoff to Annandale for the opening of the first Biden-Harris campaign office in Virginia! Virginia is ready to keep our Commonwealth blue this November and send @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris back to the White House!” [Tim Kaine/Twitter]
Three Arrested in Tysons With Allegedly Stolen Underwear — “Three men were arrested in connection with several thefts in multiple jurisdictions, which included over $24,000 worth of product from Victoria’s Secret that was mostly underwear, the Fairfax County Police Department said.” [WJLA]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 76, as a light south wind blows 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tonight, there will be a slight chance of showers after 2am, under partly cloudy conditions and a low around 59. The south wind will continue at around 8 mph, and the probability of precipitation is 20%. [NWS]
Photo by Ed Schudel/Twitter
Reston Association is ready to dive into a new swimming season — one that will open all 15 pools to members for the first time in half a decade.
The 2024 pool season will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) with the heated pools at North Shore and Ridge Heights opening at 11 a.m. Eight other facilities, including the newly renovated Lake Thoreau Pool, will follow suit on May 25 for Memorial Day weekend.
All 15 pools will then be open from June 15 to Aug. 11 before the season starts tapering off as Labor Day approaches.
RA will hold a grand opening ceremony on May 24 for the Lake Thoreau Pool, which last opened to patrons for the 2019 pool season. The facility at 2040 Upper Lake Drive was demolished in 2022, and construction on a new pool finished in December.
The $3.5 million renovation project added six lap lanes, a redesigned deck, a bigger parking lot with 25 spaces, an overlook with a pollinator garden and expanded bathhouses, which were shifted away from the spa. It also brought the facility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a promotional video released earlier this week by RA.
“We have a ramp, a beach entry, a family restroom, and the bathrooms are all ADA-compliant,” Reston Aquatics Facility Manager Nate Wheeler said.
This season will also reintroduce Shadowood Pool (2201 Springwood Drive), which could have a new name by the time it opens on June 15. Closed since 2020, when pool access was generally limited due to the pandemic, the Shadowood facility underwent a renovation that added lap lanes, heaters, interior bathhouse enhancements and a splash pad in place of the wading pool.
The splash pad will be accessible even when the main pool isn’t open, according to Wheeler.
In addition to unveiling the completed renovations, the upcoming pool season will feature longer operating hours, with some sites opening as early as 9 a.m. and closing as late as 9 p.m., depending on the day. RA extended the hours after conducting a community survey last year that identified “limited hours” as one of the top barriers to pool usage.
“This year, we really took the feedback we got from last year’s community survey to heart,” RA communications director Cara O’Donnell said by email. “Our members told us they wanted all 15 pools open — and they wanted pools open extended hours and things like dedicated fitness hours, which we’ve tried to accommodate at a number of facilities.”
The survey also identified the cost of pool passes as a barrier. In response, the RA board adopted a budget last fall that eliminated the fee for recreation passes, which are now available to all members as part of their annual assessment.
Though there’s no longer an extra charge, members still need to register or renew their pass for this season, which can be done online or in person at RA’s headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive), Wheeler noted.
With all 15 pools opening, RA faced a challenge this year when it came to hiring the workers needed to support those facilities. According to O’Donnell, the organization has about 200 people on the aquatics staff, but there are still positions available.
“Hiring enough lifeguards and other staff to handle the volume at all 15 pools is always challenging,” O’Donnell said. “We are fortunate to have a wonderful team of returning seasonal staff and have already hired dozens of new seasonal workers for this year, but we are definitely still hiring! Anyone interested in a summer job can visit our careers page at reston.org.”
New research shows that thousands of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church deeds from the early-to-mid 20th century had language barring people of certain races, nationalities, or religions from buying property.
Researchers contend that these practices, known as restrictive covenants, play a major role in the segregation of neighborhoods throughout the county and across Northern Virginia, the effects of which are still evident today.
“The demographic makeup of our region is very different today in comparison to the period that we are analyzing, in part because of major inroads made by civil rights and immigration policies after World War II,” said Krystyn Moon, a University of Mary Washington historian and one of the lead researchers. “That being said, the residue of the practice of using racially restrictive covenants remains with us today, and inequities persist.”
Moon and researchers from Arlington’s Marymount University created a website with interactive maps to showcase properties with discriminatory deed language that referenced specific racial, ethnic and religious groups.
The website notes that the most commonly used exclusionary phrase was “any person not of the Caucasian race,” which applied to both residential and business properties.
Unlike redlining, a practice where banks and insurance companies systematically deny services to residents in certain areas based on their racial or ethnic composition, restrictive covenants are explicit legal agreements prohibiting the ownership, lease, or use of property based on race.
To help people visually trace the impact of these policies, the researchers used public land records from 1900 to 1968 to construct the maps. Areas shaded in orange mark locations where racial covenants have been confirmed, starkly illustrating the geographical extent of segregation.
The project’s goal, as stated on the website, is to highlight that segregated neighborhoods in Northern Virginia were not simply a result of individual choices but were predominantly influenced by systemic, racially discriminatory practices that restricted where African Americans and others could live.
Racial and other discriminatory covenants are no longer enforceable because of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. But researchers say the language is still part of localities’ public land records, unbeknownst to many home and business owners.
“Quite a few homeowners have emailed us to share their experiences upon discovering racial covenants on their property,” said lead researcher Janine DeWitt, a sociology professor at Marymount University. “They are often surprised to learn how common these restrictive racial covenants were in our region.”
Although nearly all homes with restrictive covenants in Falls Church and Fairfax City have been identified, Moon told FFXnow her team is gathering additional data for Fairfax County, which they plan to upload to the site in the coming weeks.
“We’re working mostly chronologically,” she said. “We actually have 5,000 parcels that we’re going to hopefully drop in the next week onto the map for Fairfax County.”
Currently, the map displays parcels in Fairfax with restrictive covenants dating from 1920 to 1939. The upcoming updates will include data from 1940 to 1946, followed by parcels from 1946 into the 1950s.
After identifying all local land agreements with racial covenants, researchers plan to “shift their attention to creating maps that integrate the African American, or ‘non-Caucasian’ resident experience.”
Moon explained that African Americans made significant progress in securing land post-Civil War until the introduction of restrictive covenants in 1915. Using a combination of data and anecdotal evidence, she and her colleagues intend to highlight how they continued to persevere despite these setbacks.
“It’s a story that really needs to be told [but] hasn’t been told,” Moon said. “…We should have told this story eons ago.”
Deal Reached on State Budget — “Budget negotiators in the Virginia General Assembly have reached a bipartisan deal, ending a lengthy standoff over the spending plan and avoiding a highly unusual state government shutdown. Lawmakers will be back in Richmond on Monday to vote on the deal during a special legislative session.” [WTOP]
Pedestrian Safety Measure Approved — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on May 7…updated the county code to match the state code requiring drivers to stop — not just yield — for pedestrians at unsignalized intersections. It also prohibits drivers from overtaking vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Violators can be charged up to $500.” [Annandale Today]
Metro Retires Oldest Trains — “If you ride the Metro, you may be familiar with the carpeted trains. These are the Metro’s oldest cars, which were introduced in 1983. On Friday, the 2000-series trains will retire. The trains were built to last approximately 40 years, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.” [NBC4]
Tysons Contractor Creating AI Supercomputer — “A key supplier to the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies is building a $20 million supercomputer with buzzy chipmaker Nvidia to speed deployment of artificial intelligence capabilities across the U.S. federal government, the MITRE think tank said Tuesday.” [Washington Post]
New Apartment Building Coming to West Falls — Falls Church City’s West Falls neighborhood will include an eight-story, 400-unit apartment building called The Alder, developer Hoffman & Associates announced yesterday. The building will have 26,000 square feet of amenity space, including a fitness center, pet spa and courtyards with a swimming pool and TV lounge. [Falls Church News-Press]
County to Seek Grant for Preserving Mobile Homes — “Fairfax County’s Department of Housing and Community Development is seeking public feedback on a draft application it’s submitting for a brand-new competitive grant program for the preservation and revitalization of manufactured housing units and manufactured housing communities.” [On the MoVe]
Athletic Courts Refresh Begins at Fairfax Station Park — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is expecting to begin revitalization work at the Popes Head Park basketball and tennis courts on Friday, May 10. The project will include the replacement of old asphalt surfacing, fencing, goals, net posts and footers. New sealcoat, color coat and playing lines will also be applied to the courts.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Expect showers and thunderstorms with a high near 61. Precipitation chance is 70%, with rainfall between a tenth and a quarter inch, potentially higher in thunderstorms. For Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy with a low around 49 and a 60% chance of rain. [NWS]
(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) Police are investigating a fatal crash on the Dulles Toll Road along the Reston and Herndon border.
The crash involved two vehicles that collided around 11:20 a.m. near Fairfax County Parkway, according to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) spokesperson.
One driver died at the scene, while the other was taken to a hospital. MWAA didn’t have any information about the hospitalized driver’s condition, but spokesperson Crystal Nosal confirmed that there were no passengers in either vehicle.
The highway’s eastbound lanes closed to traffic near Van Buren Street, the Virginia Department of Transportation said shortly after noon. Drivers were advised to expect delays and follow police directions.
Eastbound traffic was detoured off the highway via Exit 10 at Centreville Road, according to the Dulles Toll Road’s official Twitter account. The toll road reopened to traffic at 3:20 p.m. as MWAA Police wrapped up its investigation.
The DTR is still closed at 2 p.m. as police continue investigating a two-vehicle crash. The collision was a fatality.
— Dulles Toll Road (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) May 9, 2024
#Herndon: Rt 267 (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) EB lanes closed near Van Buren St due to crash. Expect delays and please follow @mwaapd direction. #VaTraffic pic.twitter.com/TZ8Z03JJ4t
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) May 9, 2024
Map via Google Maps
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will soon unveil its proposals for transforming Wiehle Avenue in Reston into a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly street.
The department will host a community meeting at Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) on Thursday, May 23, from 7-9 p.m. to share three concepts for possible future improvements to the roadway.
“Concepts include lane reductions, wider sidewalks and landscaped buffers, dedicated bicycle facilities and roundabouts,” FCDOT said in a news release.
The county launched its Wiehle Avenue study in November with a community workshop, where attendees brainstormed ideas for improving the road between Sunrise Valley Drive and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
Plans to explore ways to turn Wiehle Avenue from a suburban road primarily designed to move cars into a “multimodal urban designed street” had been on the table since the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a redevelopment of the Campus Commons office buildings (1900 & 1902 Campus Commons Drive) in 2019.
However, the board didn’t officially initiate the study until September 2021 after a group of residents and other community representatives rejected the Campus Commons developer’s proposals for a new pedestrian crossing on Wiehle at the Dulles Toll Road’s eastbound access ramps.
The Wiehle Avenue study will help determine a concept for the crossing, which will be funded in part by a $1.65 million contribution by Campus Commons developer TF Cornerstones.
FCDOT staff will use feedback from the upcoming community meeting to finalize a “preferred alternative” for the future Wiehle Avenue.
“FCDOT hopes to announce the Preferred Alternative by the end of this summer,” the department said.
(Updated at 11:50 a.m. on 5/13/2024) Fairfax County police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that shut down Georgetown Pike in Great Falls for hours early Thursday morning (May 9).
First responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Falls Chase Court for a crash near the Great Falls Church of Christ at 12:21 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
The crashed vehicle was found on the church’s lawn, according to a woman who tells FFXnow she was one of two people at the scene.
“There was one young gentleman in shock trying to break in the car and had voiced that [there] was already a fatality before we walked up,” she said.
Upon arriving at the scene, an FCFRD responder confirmed at 12:25 a.m. that the driver had died, indicating that his car had crashed into a tree.
“He’s entrapped with what’s left of the car,” a responder said on the scanner.
The Fairfax County Police Department tweeted at 1:19 a.m. that its Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives were at the scene and Georgetown Pike was closed between Falls Chase Court and Falls Bridge Lane.
The road opened to traffic around 5 a.m., according to the FCPD.
In an update released Friday (May 10), the police department reported that the driver, 22-year-old Osman Elgamri of Sterling, had veered off Georgetown Pike in a 2017 Lexus IS300 and “struck a tree” He was the vehicle’s only occupant.
“Preliminarily, detectives believe speed was a factor in the crash,” the FCPD said. “Detectives are continuing to investigate to determine if alcohol or narcotics were also factors in the crash.”
Detectives from our Crash Reconstructive Unit are on scene of a single-vehicle fatal crash on Georgetown Pike and Falls Chase Ct in Great Falls. The motorist was pronounced deceased on scene. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/T2olcYH4fH
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 9, 2024
Image via Google Maps. This story was updated to more accurately reflect the location of the crash.
Cookie Baked in Space to Be Displayed in Chantilly — “The first food ever baked in space is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia — and it’s a chocolate chip cookie…The dough was provided by McLean-based Hilton, the same cookie dough used to baked the warm chocolate chip cookies given at check-in to guests at its DoubleTree hotels.” [WTOP]
Longtime Hybla Valley Vacuum Store to Close — Sun Sew Vac will close on June 29 after nearly five decades of business. First opened in Mount Vernon Plaza in 1975 before moving to 7770 Richmond Highway in 2013, the vacuum and sewing machine store experienced a boom during the pandemic, but owner Robert Hines Jr. has now opted to retire. [On the MoVe]
Don’t Bother Baby Deer, Police Say — “Each spring, numerous fawns are frequently found causing residents to seek help from wildlife professionals to treat or raise these young animals. In most cases, fawns are healthy and need no human intervention.” Fawn rehabilitation is prohibited in Fairfax County after Chronic Wasting Disease was detected in a deer during the 2022-2023 hunting season. [FCPD]
Annandale Woman Concerned by Vape Shops — Thurraya Kent is “concerned about how many vape shops are in Fairfax County…Ms. Kent’s son died of a fentanyl overdose in January 2023. Her son Malcolm was 17 years old. Ms. Kent is not saying any of the Annandale vape shops had anything to do with her son’s death. But she’s still concerned about what these shops are selling.” [WJLA]
Community Hub in the Works for Culmore — “A new project in Culmore is connecting residents to healthcare, education, afterschool programs, and much more in their own neighborhood. The Culmore and Bailey’s Crossroads Place-Based Initiative (PBI) is creating a hub for community-serving programs at Culmore United Methodist Church.” [Annandale Today]
FCPD Seeks Grant to Assist With Recruiting — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on Tuesday (May 7) allowing the police department to accept a state grant for a new Criminal Justice Training Academy program that “will facilitate the transfer of former out-of-state, federal and military law-enforcement personnel who are seeking to relocate to Fairfax County.” [Gazette Leader]
Herndon Opens Registration for Summer Classes — “Hey Town of Herndon residents! Get ready for an epic summer! Registration is officially open for our summer classes and programs. From fitness to family fun, we’ve got it all. Don’t miss out on exciting events! Secure your spot now!” [Herndon Parks and Recreation/Twitter]
It’s Thursday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76. Precipitation chances are 70%. Chances of showers and thunderstorms decrease to 50% before 2am, with a low temperature around 58 at night. [NWS]
(Updated at 2 p.m. on 05/10/2024) As the Virginia summer looms, residents of Reston’s tent encampment are preparing for challenges beyond sweltering temperatures.
Many are anxious about the impending installation of no-trespassing signs, which will mark the beginning of a two-week countdown before they must leave the forested area between Inova’s emergency room, the North County Government Center and Sunrise Assisted Living. The encampment stretches across multiple properties owned by Inova and the county.
Fairfax County officials have assured the 40-plus unhoused individuals residing at the encampment — the largest in the county — that they will get access to a temporary shelter at the North County Human Services Center across the street, once the no-trespassing signs go up.
However, encampment residents, like Andy “Pops” Whiddon and Xavier Turner, say they’re reluctant to move because of health risks, such as diseases and parasites, that come with crowded shelters.
“I’m not gonna sleep six inches from somebody else,” Whiddon told FFXnow. “It’s a health hazard.”
Temporary shelter plans in limbo
Whiddon, who has been at the encampment for about eight months, says he and his neighbors were left in the dark for weeks about when the site will be cleared.
Their concerns were somewhat eased when Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said during a town hall-style meeting at the government center in April that it may be another few months before the no-trespassing signs are put up.
“He said, ‘You won’t know until they put up the no trespassing signs,'” Whiddon recalled. “Once they put up the signs, then we have two weeks we gotta go. And we got no choice.”
Alcorn told FFXnow by email on Friday (May 3) that the county is still in the process of creating a temporary shelter, and he was told by the Office to End and Prevent Homelessness it would be a “matter of weeks rather than months” until it was ready.
“I had shared this information with residents in and around Reston Town Center North — including unhoused individuals,” Alcorn said. “I have asked county staff to keep me updated on progress towards getting this critical service in place, and as soon as plans for this temporary overflow shelter are available, I will make sure they are shared with all interested parties in our community.”
Thomas Barnett, deputy director of the Fairfax County Office to End and Prevent Homelessness, said he would announce more details about the temporary shelter “shortly” but declined to provide an official timeline or specific details about the project.
“Fairfax County aims to compassionately wind down the encampment of people experiencing homelessness in Reston and connect these individuals to housing and other services,” Barnett said. “We continue to formalize plans to enable the temporary overflow shelter and our plan is to begin transitioning people once it is open.”
The winners of the 2024 ArtsFairfax Awards are in.
ArtsFairfax, a nonprofit that serves as Fairfax County’s arts agency, announced this week that it will honor Reston dancer Shu-Chen Cuff, philanthropist Anne R. Kline and two local charities at its annual awards ceremony, which will be held for a fourth straight year at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) in Tysons.
Scheduled for Oct. 25, the awards recognize “extraordinary contributions” by individuals and groups to the local arts community, while serving as a fundraiser for ArtsFairfax, which provides grants and other resources to artists and arts and culture-related nonprofits.
“The arts in Fairfax are so varied and vibrant that there is truly something for everyone,” said Stuart Holt, who took over as ArtsFairfax’s president and CEO in March. “This year’s ArtsFairfax Awards honorees…all come from different places in the world, reminding us that when we invest in the arts we bring our whole selves to the task. I’m inspired by how each and every one of us can improve the Fairfax community through local arts and culture.”
Jinx Hazel Award
The Jinx Hazel Award will go to the Peterson Family Foundation, the charitable arm of Fairfax-based developer Peterson Companies. Started by company founder Milt Peterson and his wife, Carolyn, in 1997, the foundation has made significant donations to Inova Health System’s Life with Cancer initiative, whose support services include art therapy classes, and George Mason University’s arts and public health colleges.
According to ArtsFairfax, the foundation’s contributions to GMU have included investments in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ opera, performing arts and music programs as well as the Mason Community Arts Academy, which provides classes, workshops and summer classes to area residents and students.
The foundation also supports the university’s Great Performances at Mason series, which brings classical music, dance, theater and opera shows to its Fairfax campus.
The Jinx Hazel Award is considered ArtsFairfax’s top award, recognizing a person or group “whose vision and commitment has helped shape the cultural life of Fairfax County.” Last year’s recipient was the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.
Philanthropy Award
Kline will receive this year’s Philanthropy Award, which recognizes donors for their longtime monetary support for the arts. A former banker who now heads the Pohanka Automotive Group’s Pohanka Family Office in Rockville, Maryland, she has served on the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts board since 2015.
Her philanthropic contributions to Wolf Trap include an endowment fund to support staff, artists and programming for Wolf Trap Opera (WTO). She has also funded a career development program and young artist training company for the WTO, and she led a digital fundraiser event for the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because of Ms. Kline’s leadership, WTO was poised and ready to offer the first performance in the 50th anniversary season at the Filene Center,” ArtsFairfax said in a press release. “Ms. Kline’s exemplary support, service, and leadership on behalf of the Wolf Trap Foundation was recently recognized with a 2024 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award.”
Achievement Award
Intended for an individual artist who’s made “a lasting contribution” to their discipline or community, the 2024 ArtsFairfax Achievement Award will honor Shu-Chen Cuff, a native Taiwanese dancer who trained in ballet, modern dance and Chinese folk dance and opera.
A University of Florida graduate, Cuff danced with the Miami Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theater, and the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company before founding the Gin Dance Company (GDC) in 2011. Based in Reston Town Center (1818 Library Street, Suite 500), the company focuses on contemporary dance performances that blend Asian and western influences.
Cuff retired as a professional dancer after 27 years with a final performance at Capital One Hall last November, but she still works as GDC’s artistic director and choreographer. She’s also a faculty member at GMU, the BalletNova Center for Dance in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Washington Ballet School in D.C., the Metropolitan School of the Arts in Kingstowne and Skye Ballet Center in Herndon.
“Congratulations to Shu-Chen, for her incredible contributions and commitment as a performer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor!” GDC said in a newsletter announcing the award for its founder. “We are beyond grateful to ArtsFairfax for this very special recognition and their unwavering dedication to the arts!”
Innovation Award
This year’s recipient of the ArtsFairfax Innovation Award, which honors individuals and groups for “nontraditional or inventive approaches” to engaging in the arts, is We Rock Cancer.
Based in McLean (1390 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 900), the nonprofit was founded by Air Force veteran Tim Reed after he was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2018. It provides free cancer screenings at live music events, a service that has expanded to other settings like health fairs and cultural festivals with the acquisition of a portable stage in 2020.
According to ArtsFairfax, We Rock Cancer hopes to expand its outreach over the next three years to kids, young adults and workers in construction, landscaping and other professions that come with regular sun exposure.
“By sharing their innovative offering with the community, We Rock Cancer addresses healthcare access and equity to attain annual skin checks, conduct self-examinations, and obtain skin cancer prevention resources while celebrating live, local music,” ArtsFairfax said.
