(Updated at 10:30 a.m. on 2/6/2024) After more than a year of impassioned and often acrimonious public testimony, Reston Association will drop plans for pickleball courts as part of the renovation of Barton Hill’s tennis courts.
At a meeting on Jan. 25, the RA Board of Directors voted to remove pickleball courts from the scope of the renovation, which had inspired passionate testimony from both pickleball lovers and neighboring residents concerned about safety, security, parking and the noise associated with the burgeoning sport.
Board director Jennifer Jushchuk, who proposed removing pickleball from the renovation, said she was impressed by the level of public engagement on the proposal.
“I feel like we’ve pitted members against members, and I don’t think that was ever the intention of the board that approved it,” she said, adding that she hopes RA can determine the scope of pickleball needs in the community.
“I just don’t think we got there with Barton Hill,” Jushchuk said.
Most board members said they were concerned about the disproportionate impact of pickleball on the surrounding community.
“I have to be sympathetic to the needs of the people who actually live in the community,” said director Travis Johnson.
Some of that debate continued at the Jan. 25 board meeting.
Residents like Laura David, who lives on Harper Square Court, pressed the board to look for more appropriate places for pickleball that wouldn’t disturb neighboring communities with noise.
“Let’s think outside of the original box we all had, which was to look at Barton Hill,” David said.
Others like Hayes McCarty, a Reston resident for more than 50 years, said RA’s board should take into account noise studies it commissioned that found average noise levels created by pickleball fall below limits enforced by Fairfax County’s noise ordinance.
“The association paid a lot of money for these studies. These people are experts, and I think we have to listen to what they have to say,” McCarty said.
As the plan moved through approval process, RA scaled back plans for pickleball at the facility, which currently consists of four unlit tennis courts built in 1985 at 1901 Barton Hill Road.
Last September, RA reduced its plan for the facility from six to four dedicated pickleball courts and two dedicated tennis courts, removing blended lines that would have allowed both tennis and pickleball uses. Now, all of the courts will be for tennis.
Some board members were dismayed with how the decision was rolled out.
Board director Margaret Perry said she wants RA to brainstorm alternatives for other pickleball locations before voting against its inclusion in Barton Hill. Her motion to delay the vote to the board’s March meeting did not gain traction, and she ultimately voted against removing pickleball from the project.
(Correction: This story initially said Margaret Perry voted for removing pickleball.)
Board president John Farrell said he was particularly concerned with how some board members justified nixing pickleball, noting that neighboring residents often have concerns about the addition of any new facility or program to the community.
“No way in hell am I going to give the neighbors a veto over serving the other 63,000 people [in Reston] and I’m disturbed that I heard some of my colleagues suggest that that’s the fundamental analysis,” Farrell said. “I hope that’s not the case.”
Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against FCPS Moves Forward — A federal judge has rejected a request by Fairfax County Public Schools to dismiss a lawsuit filed in 2019 by a former student who says she was raped and sexually abused by classmates when she was in seventh grade. The school board said in November that it had evidence that the allegations were fabricated. The lawsuit will now go to trial in March. [Associated Press]
Reston Man Skis to South Pole for Charity — “A Reston businessman recently found himself at the polar opposite of where he hoped to be nearly a year ago — literally. Instead of standing at the North Pole, Len Forkas instead skied 60 nautical miles to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.” The trek was intended to raise awareness of his nonprofit Hopecam, which helps kids diagnosed with cancer. [Patch]
Study Finds Park Authority Fees Limit Access — An equity study presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Jan. 30) found that the fees charged by the Fairfax County Park Authority “make programs unaffordable and therefore inaccessible” to many residents. The report recommends updating the agency’s fee structure, which was originally developed during segregation. [WTOP]
Police Look to ID Huntington Carjacking Suspects — “Fairfax County police are asking for help from the public in identifying three teen boys who carjacked two men in a Huntington parking garage. The three approached the men, who were inside a black Lexus, displayed handguns, and told the men to get out of the vehicle, the police said in a news release.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Health Food Chain Coming to Fair Lakes — “Philadelphia-based fast casual restaurant honeygrow will open another D.C.-area location this summer at Fair Lakes Center…Honeygrow has other locations in Tysons Corner, Reston Town Center, Rockville Pike, and, its most recent addition, in Mount Vernon Plaza on Richmond Highway in Alexandria.” [WTOP]
Mobile Pet Food Business Now Operating — Arlington resident Laura Tartaro-McGowan and her son, Ian McGowan, launched Pet Wants Falls Church after encountering the healthy pet food concept at a farmers market. The mobile unit “pops up at events and offers delivery to local communities like Falls Church, Annandale, Alexandria, Arlington and Tysons. They are looking to open a brick-and-mortar location in Falls Church around late 2024.” [Patch]
Vienna Town Council Sets Priorities for 2024 — “As they did last year, the Vienna Town Council agreed Jan. 29 to set four top priorities as its goals for the year ahead.” This year’s list includes two repeats — tree preservation and a master parks plan — and adds diversifying the town’s housing stock and any zoning changes not addressed by last year’s code update. [Gazette Leader]
Pedestrian Safety Improvements Planned for Route 1 Schools — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is in the early stages of planning pedestrian safety improvements” near Hybla Valley and Mount Eagle elementary schools. The Hybla Valley project will add sidewalk, while the Mount Eagle project will “consolidate two crosswalks across North Kings Highway at the school and add a pedestrian hybrid beacon.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high of 53°F and gentle southwest winds blowing at 5-8 mph. As night falls, skies will turn mostly cloudy, and the temperature will drop to approximately 41°F. The southwest wind will reduce to around 6 mph before becoming light and variable. [Weather.gov]
Legislation banning Virginia’s public colleges and universities from providing special treatment in admissions decisions to students related to alumni and donors is on track to head to Gov. Glenn Youngkin later this session.
On Tuesday, the Virginia House joined the Senate in passing the proposal on a unanimous vote. Both bills, which are identical, must now pass in the opposite chambers before they are sent to the governor for his approval.
Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez has signaled the governor is likely to sign the measures.
“The governor will review any legislation that comes to his desk, but believes admission to Virginia’s universities and colleges should be based on merit,” he said.
The proposed ban comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ended affirmative action at higher education institutions nationwide in June. Since the court’s ruling that race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina were unconstitutional, schools in the commonwealth have begun changing their admissions policies.
A study by think tank Education Reform Now found “most beneficiaries of legacy preferences are white.” It also identified Virginia as one of five states where a majority of public colleges and universities offer admissions advantages to the children of alumni.
“All that House Bill 48 says is that in considering admissions to college and our public universities here in the commonwealth of Virginia, whether your parents went there or whether your parents are donors to the institution will play no role in deciding who is accepted to the college,” said Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, who is carrying the House bill, during a subcommittee meeting earlier this month.
Both Democrats and Republicans have supported the change.
“I think it’s absolutely discriminatory to grant special privileges to people based on what their parents did, what they gave, where they went to college,” said Del. Thomas Garrett, R-Goochland, at the same meeting.
Garrett said he’s supporting the proposal to “address discrimination and create a level playing field for all Virginians.”
Last week, the Senate version of the bill, patroned by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Richmond, also passed with unanimous support.
Education Reform Now says more than 100 colleges and universities have ended legacy admissions since 2015, but 787 still used the practice as of 2020.
Photo via MD Duran on Unsplash. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted under a Creative Commons license.
A Reston-based nonprofit organization is helping local refugees establish a new life in the U.S. by providing cars to them for free.
Last week, Rides for Refugees donated two cars to refugees living in Northern Virginia. Both of them are Afghan refugees who received special immigration visas.
One individual, Mohamed, received a visa after supporting the U.S. in Afghanistan through military service and humanitarian work. With a law degree in hand, Mohamed is actively looking for a new job after he and his family lost their home when they fled Afghanistan, where the Taliban re-assumed control in 2021.
“Rides for Refugees has given me hope,” he said. “Not only for myself, but for all my family. Having this car, I can get more professional jobs.”
The second recipient, Zed, is a college graduate who worked with U.S. military and defense contracting staff in Kabul. He arrived in the U.S. last summer after facing “enormous difficulty during a long journey” and is now working and taking classes, though the car will enable him to look for jobs farther from his new home, according to Rides for Refugees.
“This is a big moment for me,” Zed said.
The organization is the brainchild of Jacqui Olkin, a lifelong Restonian and graduate of Fairfax County Public Schools. She also owns a web design consulting firm, Olkin Communications Consulting.
Olkin founded Rides for Refugees, which serves individuals across the country, in 2022. The nonprofit began providing cars to refugees this month after receiving tax-exempt status from the government.
She was inspired to found the organization after her friends, Slava and Nina, faced major transportation hurdles as refugees from Ukraine.
“They went through a horrible ordeal and lost their home, cars, jobs, and belongings,” Olkin told FFXnow. “They bank accounts were frozen because their city is a conflict zone. They were resettled in a small village in a European country, far from jobs and services, and their life has been extremely difficult.”
According to Olkin, Slava says she and Nina miss their cars the most out of all the material possessions they lost.
“Vehicles mean opportunity — to work for yourself, to look for jobs, to get to work and be financially independent,” Olkin said. “My friends’ ordeal got me thinking about what the refugee experience is like in the United States, and the role transportation plays in refugees’ ability to restart their lives and become self-reliant.”
In her research, Olkin said she found that 45% of Americans don’t have access to public transit, and few organization meet the transportation needs specifically of refugees.
“Rides for Refugees is national is scope,” she said. “In our application process, refugees must prove their identity, income level, and legal status and have a resettlement agency or other not-for-profit cosign the application. Refugee applicants are referred to us by many of the U.S. government-funded national resettlement agencies, as well as local nonprofits who help refugees.”
Fairfax County is changing lanes on some of its long-term transportation plans, veering away from a few road-widening projects in favor of ones that involve transit or pedestrian and bicycle upgrades.
As authorized by the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5, county staff submitted a list of projects for the region-wide Visualize 2050 transportation plan that no longer includes widenings of Route 29 in the Merrifield area, New Braddock Road, Stringfellow Road and Magarity Road in Pimmit Hills.
A project to extend New Guinea Road in Fairfax Station to Route 123 (Ox Road) was also dropped from the county’s submission to the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), which is currently reviewing projects from Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and Metro for the long-range plan.
At the same time, the county added some projects, including Orange and Yellow Line Metrorail extensions and the Route 7 bus rapid transit (BRT) system, that it hopes will pave the way for a less car-centric future.
“I think this is a balanced approach,” said Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, then the chair of the board’s transportation committee and now its vice chair. “We end up with some additional projects going into the proposed plan, including some very important transit projects, and I note we also are showing five road projects coming out of the plan that I think are clear are no longer appropriate for the long-term plan.”
As a planning organization for the D.C. region, the TPB is required by the federal government to produce a regional transportation plan every four years, most recently finalizing Visualize 2045 on June 15, 2022. But work on the next update started early so new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be incorporated.
In another change, jurisidictions are also required to resubmit all of their projects instead of carrying them over from one plan to the next like before.
According to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT), decisions about which projects to resubmit, add and take out were based on staff evaluation, conversations with the supervisors and public comments gathered by the TPB and the county, which held two public meetings in September.
It “was a good decision” to remove the New Braddock and Stringfellow road widenings in Centreville, Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith said. New Braddock Road would’ve been widened and extended from Route 28 to Route 29 opposite Stone Road, while Stringfellow Road was slated to be expanded to four lanes between Route 50 and Fairfax County Parkway.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said she worked with staff to ensure there “would not be any negative consequences” as a result of the removal of the Route 29 project in her district.
The county had planned to widen Route 29 from four to six travel lanes between the Fairfax City limit and the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Merrifield, but staff are now reevaluating that stretch of road “to better reflect completed segments and focus on active transportation facilities,” FCDOT says.
Construction is still underway to widen Route 29 from four to six lanes in the Centreville area.
“Since those changes may not be deemed regionally significant by the TPB, a decision was made to not submit this project for the Visualize 2050 Update,” an FCDOT spokesperson said.
The Magarity Road widening would’ve added two lanes to the roadway between Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and Great Falls Street in McLean.
While some widenings were dropped, the county hasn’t entirely moved away from road projects. On top of the previously mentioned transit projects, the newly submitted proposals include:
- A southside extension of the I-495 toll lanes, though the board has emphasized a need to include transit in the project
- The addition of 11 miles of new I-95 Express Lanes from the Franconia-Springfield Parkway to Opitz Blvd in Prince William County, allowing drivers to travel in the off-peak direction
- The initial phase of the Seven Corners Ring Road, which will curve around the problematic interchange from the west side of Route 50 to the east side of Route 7
- The Cleveland Ramp from the Dulles Toll Road to Scotts Run Crossing/Route 123 in Tysons
The Town of Herndon also requested that the county submit an extension of Fairbrook Drive from Herndon Parkway to Spring Street and multimodal improvements on Sterling Road from Elden Street to Rock Hill Road.
“I think this is another good step, [a] balanced approach forward in making sure that we’re moving people safely and appropriately through our roads,” Palchik said.
The TPB says it will release an analysis of how all the Visualize 2050 projects align with the region’s air quality goals on March 1, opening up a month-long public comment period. The board is aiming to complete the plan in June 2025.
Over 600 Lake Anne area residents served by the now-defunct Reston Lake Anne Air-conditioning Corporation (RELAC) may soon be responsible for installing their own air-conditioning units.
After historically requiring certain residences to utilize RELAC, Reston Association’s Board of Directors will hold a referendum vote next month to change its restrictive covenant to accommodate other cooling services and options.
RELAC announced in December that it will no longer provide cooling services, starting this year. The company cited increasing electrical costs and challenges with securing a $400,000 loan to install a new chiller.
RA’s current deed states that no individual AC units of any type are allowed in any residential clusters where central air conditioning service are available to the lot line.
The association is not responsible for the efforts of RELAC, which is regulated by the State Corporation Commission.
“Our Board of Directors determined that a referendum is the first step available to Reston Association to provide affected members with an opportunity to decide in advance of the approaching summer heat whether or not to have individual air conditioning units,” Cara O’Donnell, a spokesperson for RA, wrote in a statement.
At a Jan. 25 board meeting, RA board president John Farrell emphasized that RA does not “own, control, or regulate” RELAC. Due to its restrictive covenant, homes in six clusters covering 601 residences can’t use AC independent of RELAC unless a member is medically excused to do so under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Members expressed frustration on the issue at the meeting. Some pleaded with RA to consider offering RELAC one year of life support to allow clusters and condominium associations to determine next steps.
“We are all left with just an enormous task at our feet at the 11th hour before summer starts. I’m very concerned about my fellow community members and their health and welfare,” Restonian Susan Giesse said.
Jeff Crowe, a resident of the Waterview Cluster, questioned the need for a referendum vote when RA’s covenant appears to only apply to residential clusters where central AC service is available to the lot line.
“The obvious question is, ‘why should a vote have to pass at all?’” Crowe said. “The covenant only applies if air conditioning service is available to the lot line. Affected members have been notified that such service will not be. Is Reston prepared to guarantee that air conditioning service will be available to the lot line for all affected members for the forthcoming cooling season? For how many years after?”
As RA prepares for the vote, some members have coalesced to form a co-op that would manage water service for the 2024 cooling season. Simon McKeown, a Hickory Cluster resident and chair of the co-op’s steering committee, signed a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 28 with RELAC to create the foundation for the co-op structure, according to Patch.
If the referendum passes, RA’s covenants department will work with members to limit delays as AC applications make their way through the design review process.
Members of the Design Review Board will also work with each cluster to help establish cluster standards for HVAC systems.
“An established cluster standard for HVAC, will aid each individual member in having a good point of reference for HVAC installations and make the application process (if applicable) more simplified,” RA said.
Some members can seek a temporary health exemption to install individual air conditioning units in their homes.
Public hearings on the referendum vote are slated for Feb. 5 and Feb. 12. On Feb. 13, ballots will be mailed to voting members, who must return the ballots by March 8. Results of the referendum will be announced at a special meeting of the board of directors on March 13.
Teacher recruitment, school safety and controlling class sizes have been designated as top priorities for funding by the newly sworn-in Fairfax County School Board.
However, the county’s expected financial constraints may make it challenging for the board’s entire wish list to get funded in the upcoming budget cycle, which will start July 1.
Last week, the school board approved a resolution to serve as a guide for Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid as she crafts the school system’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget.
The resolution highlights improving teacher compensation, particularly for special education and Title 1 schools, as a key priority. Board members also stressed the importance of increasing access to universal breakfast and lunch programs, reducing school meal debt, expanding preschool options, lowering class sizes, and providing additional funding for mental health and academic support.
While some of those priorities are broad in scope, Mason District School Board Representative Ricardy Anderson noted the board has been discussing these issues with the superintendent and her staff in both public and private meetings for months.
“This is not a surprise,” she said. “They have been part of these conversations, and they understand what the board finds important.”
Aside from Anderson, Braddock District Representative Rachna Sizemore Heizer, and Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren, who supported the resolution, most school board members are newcomers who were not part of the initial discussions on the board’s budget priorities last year.
Despite that, Anderson noted that the new members — all elected in November with Democratic endorsements — have shown strong support for many of the same issues as the previous board, which was similarly all Democratic.
“There was a lot of overlap with what the former board found important and with what the new board finds important,” she said.
Still, there is the hurdle of getting the county on board.
Fairfax County staff told the school board and the Board of Supervisors at a joint meeting last November to prepare for a tough budget year, forecasting a $284.5 million shortfall mainly due to a “flat real estate market,” according to the county website.
At a Nov. 14 school board work session, FCPS Chief Financial Officer Leigh Burden predicted a $202.6 million gap in the revenue needed to fund a 6% salary increase for all FCPS employees, address rising student service demands, and cover inflationary costs.
FCPS has a total operating budget for the current fiscal year of $3.5 billion — a $221.7 million increase from the previous cycle.
The superintendent is set to present her budget proposal to the school board next Tuesday, Feb. 6. How her office will address the revenue gap and incorporate the school board’s priorities into the proposal remains unclear.
However, Anderson said she doesn’t anticipate the school board’s entire wish list will be fulfilled.
“They’re big ticket items, and there’s only so much you can do in any given year,” she said.
This summer, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts will see the returns of John Legend and the Out & About Festival, along with some brand-new faces.
The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the nonprofit that supports and programs the park, announced an initial lineup for the Filene Center’s summer season yesterday (Tuesday) that features both pop and classical shows.
Tickets for all the confirmed shows will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 16, though Wolf Trap members who donate $80 or more to the foundation can access presales right now.
In addition to a variety of concerts, Wolf Trap will introduce an expanded concessions building this summer with improved accessibility, including an elevator that will provide a stairs-free connection between the park’s upper and lower levels for the first time. The Meadow Commons project has been under construction since September and is expected to be finished this spring.
“[The Meadow Commons is] the embodiment of our community’s commitment and support to enhance the visitor experience through elevated concessions, improved accessibility, and more,” Wolf Trap Foundation President and CEO Arvind Manocha said. “With this upgrade, we’re dedicated to ensuring that all visitors can savor the magic of a performance at Wolf Trap.”
The Filene Center, the park’s 7,000-seat amphitheater, typically kicks off summer in late May around Memorial Day, but this year, the first performance on the schedule so far is the opera “Seven Deadly Sins” on Saturday, June 1. Kurt Weill’s “sung ballet” will be performed by up-and-coming orchestral musicians and opera singers in a collaboration between the National Orchestral Institute + Festival and Wolf Trap Opera.
The popular music slate starts on June 2 with The Beach Boys, led by original band member Mike Love. They will be followed on June 4-6 by John Legend, who visited last year and will sing songs like “All of Me” and Oscar winner “Glory” with the Wolf Trap Orchestra this year.
Other pop highlights will include:
- June 8: soul singers Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight
- June 9: rock/blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr.
- June 18-19: Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and country singer Alison Krauss, whose June 18 show is a makeup for one that got postponed last year
- June 20: alt-rock band Wilco
- June 22: Out & About Festival, a showcase of LGBTQ artists that launched with Brandi Carlile in 2023. This year’s edition is headlined by Alabama Shakes lead singer Brittany Howard.
- June 29: Broadway in the Park with Arlington’s Signature Theatre
- July 20: author Neil Gaiman will take the audience “on a literary journey”
- Aug. 1: Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me
- Aug. 10: Kidz Bop Live
- Aug. 17-18: Boyz II Men
- Aug. 25: rockers Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge
- Sept. 11: country singer Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- Sept. 12, 14 and 15: James Taylor & His All Star Band
- Sept. 13: actors Kristen Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, singing Broadway hits
On the classical side, Wolf Trap Opera will stage productions of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” (June 21, 23, 29 and 27), Puccini’s “La bohème” (July 19) and the Pulitzer-Prize-winning “Silent Night” by Kevin Puts (Aug. 9, 11, 15 and 17). The Mozart opera will be in The Barns at Wolf Trap, while the others will be at the Filene Center.
The National Symphony Orchestra is also set to perform live scores for screenings of the original “Star Wars” (July 13) and “Ghostbusters” (July 26).
The orchestra will also celebrate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony” on July 12 by conductor Ruth Reinhardt and Wolf Trap Opera artists. The program will include Samuel Taylor-Coleridge’s “Violin Concerto” performed by violinist Njioma Grevious.
Wolf Trap’s 2024 Kay Shouse Great Performance, which is designated annually to honor the park’s founder, will be an evening with the Washington Ballet on Sept. 5.
The full schedule can be found on Wolf Trap’s website.
Vehicle Crashes into Centreville House — A driver crashed into a house in the 14900 block of Carlbern Drive yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. One trapped person was extricated and taken to a hospital, but no injuries were reported. Fairfax County police are investigating. [FCPD/Twitter]
Man Sentenced for Killing Co-Worker at Target — “A Fairfax County man was sentenced to 100 years in prison Tuesday for fatally stabbing a Target co-worker in a parking lot at the store in the Baileys Crossroads area. Bazen Berhe, 25, pleaded guilty in October to first-degree murder in the April 17, 2021, killing of Hernan Leiva, 58, in what Berhe described to a judge as a fit of rage.” [Washington Post]
Suspect to Serve Three Years for Fatal Springfield Shooting — “Carlton Campbell was found guilty of murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony following a trial in 2022…At sentencing Tuesday, Judge Robert Smith sentenced Campbell to three years active incarceration” for the firearms charge but suspended a 10-year sentence for the murder charge. [WUSA9]
Redevelopment Option Approved for Merrifield Pet Hospital — “The form it eventually will take has yet to be determined, but a commercial parcel in Merrifield now is cleared for upgrades or redevelopment. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 23 unanimously approved a rezoning request by Maesboy LLC featuring three possible development scenarios for its 2.6-acre property at 8500 Arlington Blvd.” [Gazette Leader]
Tex-Mex Restaurant Opens in Hybla Valley — “El Fresco Tex-Mex Grill opened its fourth Northern Virginia location in the Hybla Valley section of Alexandria this month. Sahil Mehta, franchise owner, said the new restaurant began its soft launch Jan. 19 and is wrapping up some minor work before holding a grand opening event later this winter.” [On the MoVe]
County Jail Showcases Recovery Program to Legislators — “Inside the jail walls of the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, a group of inmates in a recovery program are connected by an all-too-familiar struggle — addiction…A group of congressional lawmakers toured the detention center Tuesday to learn more about the Striving to Achieve Recover Program (STAR) that’s changing inmates’ lives.” [NBC4]
Huntington Welcomes New Yoga Studio — “Soma Yoga Healing Center, a new yoga studio at 2560 Huntington Avenue just south of Hunting Creek, held its grand opening this weekend. The yoga studio offers a mix of private classes, group classes and workshops…The studio also helps run monthly cat yoga at the Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe.” [ALXnow]
McLean Students to Deliver Speeches in Ford’s Theatre — Fourth-grade students at Haycock Elementary School “have been busy preparing for the 2024 Abraham Lincoln Oratory Residency and Festival at Ford’s Theatre next month. The annual program is offered to D.C.-area schools every year…Each of the six fourth grade classes at Haycock will perform a famous American speech.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered sprinkles and flurries before 8am, transitioning to scattered sprinkles between 8am and 2pm. The day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 46 degrees. The cloudiness will persist into Wednesday night, bringing a low temperature of around 35 degrees and light, variable winds. [Weather.gov]
The St. James Performance Club is shutting down its operations in Reston Town Center less than two years after opening.
The 25,000-square-foot athletic facility opened in April 2022, boasting 70 group fitness programs, turf areas, a sauna, a cycling studio and other amenities to its location at 11985 Market Street. It also added rooftop pickleball courts last summer.
A company representative told FFXnow that the last day of business is March 1.
“We have made the strategic decision to focus on the success of our Springfield, VA and Bethesda, MD, locations to meet the significant market demand we’re seeing while taking into account the changes in consumer behavior driven by the global pandemic and the new, persistent norm of remote work,” the company wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
The St. James says most employees in Reston will be given “other roles in the organization.” Members can still visit the company’s flagship sports complex in Springfield (6805 Industrial Road) and its performance club in Bethesda (6828 Wisconsin Avenue).
“The success of our flagship in Springfield and our performance club in Bethesda have created significant growth opportunities in the greater Washington region and around the country,” the company said. “We look forward to sharing more details regarding those exciting opportunities soon.”
A new group fitness facility for athletes is planning to open its doors in Reston next month.
D1 Training, a concept that emphasizes athletic-based training, will celebrate its grand opening at 1700 Bracknell Drive on Feb. 12. Located between a Trader Joe’s and a Wendy’s, the site previously belonged to a carpeting and flooring store.
The grand opening event includes a ribbon cutting, refreshments and tours of the facility.
Owner Pablo Smiraglia — who has more than 20 years of experience in coaching and sales — says he’s looking forward to taking over the business. Prior to launching Reston’s D1 Training, he worked in sales for more than 20 years and was a state soccer official and soccer coach.
“D1 is more than just creating great athletes, it is about growing fitness in a community,” Smiraglia said. “My goal is to foster a lifetime of athletic training for every fitness goal at any age, and D1 is the place to do so. Fitness has no age requirement; we cannot wait help community members reach their fitness goals.”
The company offers four age-based programs ranging from ages 7-11, 12-14, 15-18 and adults. Each program includes warmups, performance, strength, core and conditioning, and cool down exercises.
“We’re thrilled to welcome him to the D1 family and are confident in his ability to show the Reston area what they’ve been missing out on,” D1 Training Chief Operating Officer Dan Murphy said. “D1 is a one-of-a-kind fitness experience that’s built around the individual and meant to help people meet their appropriate edge.”
Founded in 2001 by former NFL player Will Bartholomew, D1 Training currently has more than 100 locations across the country, but its only other D.C.-area gym is at Pinecrest Plaza (6550 Little River Turnpike) in Lincolnia.
Forensic evidence has led to arrest of a suspect in a shooting in Woodbridge last year that left one man dead and another injured.
Prince William police on Monday served warrants for murder, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in a felony on Zaire Lee Davis, 21, of no fixed address, at the Fairfax County jail, said county police Lt. Jonathan Perok.
Davis has been incarcerated since last summer in connection with a robbery in Annandale and a Father’s Day shooting in Reston.
Perok said recent forensic results linked Davis to the Jan. 16, 2023 shooting in Marumsco Plaza that left a 27-year-old man dead and another wounded.
Police were called to the 13900 block of Richmond Highway at 8:50 p.m. that night and found a 22-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower body. He was taken to the hospital where his injuries were determined to be non-life threatening, police said.
A short time later, security officers from a nearby shopping center notified officers of a second man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided first aid to the victim, identified as Akeem Rashaud Williams, until rescue crews took him to the hospital, where he died of his injuries.
The investigation revealed a group was in the area when gunshots were fired, striking the two men. While investigating, officers learned that an occupied car traveling on U.S. 1 was also hit by gunfire.
Perok said the shooting is believed to have stemmed from a previous altercation and ongoing dispute between the men involved.
Mugshot via FCPD. This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
Fairfax County Population Continues to Fall — “The population declines that are doing the most to reshape the state are out of Fairfax County and many of the cities in Hampton Roads — and those population declines are driven by people moving out, not a declining birth rate…These figures for Fairfax County should be the brightest of red flags: Northern Virginia is the state’s economic engine.” [Cardinal News]
Bigger Mason District Police Station Approved — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Jan. 24 approved a project to renovate and expand the Mason Police Station. The police station shares a building with the Mason Government Center at 6507 Columbia Pike…A 4,567-square-foot addition to the police station will increase the size of the building to 34,596 square feet.” [Annandale Today]
Annandale Singer’s Tune for Son Takes Off Online — “They would goof around to that line frequently over the next few months, often while Janice drove. The words eventually became the basis for the latest — and possibly last — song from the D.C.-area alt-pop singer: At 31, Janice is in hospice with an aggressive form of cancer.” [Washington Post]
Man Arrested After Fight at Fairfax 7-Eleven — “Officers responded to the 7-Eleven located at 10955 Fairfax Blvd. for the report of a fight in progress. Police determined that during an argument between two acquaintances the suspect struck the victim in the face with a rock, causing several abrasions. The victim was taken to Fairfax Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.” [Patch]
FCPD Launches New Class of Recruits — “Last week, Deputy Chief Eli Cory welcomed 33 new recruits at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, marking the start of their 25-week basic training and the initiation of their careers in law enforcement. FCPD has implemented a comprehensive revamp of our recruitment and retention initiatives.” [FCPD]
Woman Charged for Sending Kids into Extreme Cold — “A Vienna police officer on Jan. 20 at 8:46 p.m. observed two juveniles walking alone in the shopping-center parking lot in the 200 block of Cedar Lane, S.E., while wearing light clothing in frigid temperatures.” The children said they’d been sent to the grocery store by their mother, who was charged with child abuse and neglect. [Gazette Leader]
Business Owner Sought for Herndon Diversity Committee — “The Town of Herndon is seeking an energetic, results-oriented business owner to serve an unexpired term on the Herndon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (HDEIC), an advisory group that advocates for priority consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion in the development of town policies and programs.” [Town of Herndon]
GMU Reaches Five Years of Food Delivery Robots — “Mason Dining and Starship Technologies, the world’s leading provider of autonomous delivery services, are celebrating five years of autonomous robot deliveries at George Mason University.” Since launching in 2019, the fleet has grown from 25 to 60 robots, making 458,846 deliveries with Steak ‘n Shake’s Original Double ‘N Fries ranking as the most popular item. [GMU]
It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 44, accompanied by light and variable wind. On Tuesday night, there’s potential for rain and snow between 1am and 4am, followed by a possibility of rain after 4am. Night will be cloudy with a low around 36 and a 30% chance of precipitation [Weather.gov]
With cooler temperatures returning after an unseasonably warm Friday (Jan. 26), a nonprofit headquartered in Reston is putting out a call for winter clothes to distribute to homeless adults throughout Northern Virginia.
An operator of wellness centers that assist people experiencing challenges with mental illness, substance use and homelessness, the Recovery Program Solutions of Virginia (RPSV) launched a winter gear clothing drive earlier this month that will continue until the end of the season.
The organization is seeking new or gently used coats, gloves, wool or thermal socks, scarves, hats, hand warmers and mylar blankets — all items that it says are “urgently” needed by its clients. The drive will also accept first aid and personal hygiene items, tarps, waterproof tents, sleeping bags, and waterproof rolling backpacks, according to a press release.
Donations can be dropped off at RPSV’s five recovery centers:
- Arlington Peers Helping Peers in Recovery (3219 Columbia Pike, Suite 101)
- The Consumer Wellness Center in Annandale (7611 Little River Turnpike, Suite E100)
- Merrifield Peer Resource Center (8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Suite 1-105)
- Reston Wellness Center (1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 200)
- The South County Recovery and Drop-In Center in Mount Vernon (8794-S Sacramento Drive)
Founded in 2011, RPSV serves Fairfax County, Falls Church, Alexandria and Arlington. Staffed by people who are in recovery, the nonprofit offers peer-run support groups, access to treatment, employment assistance, referrals to housing and financial assistance, and other services.
In an attempt to stem what Democratic lawmakers say is an epidemic of guns being stolen from vehicles, the Virginia Senate passed legislation Thursday that would create a $500 civil penalty for firearm owners who leave handguns on a car seat or other areas visible to passersby.
The legislation, one of the first gun control measures put to a full vote in either chamber this year, still needs to pass the House of Delegates and is likely at risk of being vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin after the session ends. Still, the issue highlights the two parties’ diverging views on how to address gun crime, with Democrats trying to reduce the number of guns flowing onto the streets and Republicans calling for tougher enforcement of existing laws.
Sen. Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax, said the bill he’s sponsoring uses a “light touch” to try to limit the supply of guns available to people who shouldn’t have them.
“We cannot have our vehicles here in the commonwealth act as vending machines for firearms,” Marsden said.
If authorities spot a vehicle with a visible handgun inside, the bill would allow them to have the vehicle towed. The law would apply to any “unattended motor vehicle” left on a public highway or public property where neither the driver nor a passenger can see it.
To illustrate the extent of the problem they’re attempting to solve, Democratic lawmakers pointed to recent statistics presented by the Richmond Police Department showing a major uptick in the number of guns stolen from vehicles in Virginia’s capital. There were 225 such thefts in 2017, according to city police, and 637 in 2022.
All 19 Republicans in the Senate voted against the bill, with the chamber’s 21 Democrats voting to pass it.
Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, said the fundamental problem is people breaking into cars to begin with, adding that thieves could steal money or anything else of value left in a car and use the proceeds to buy a gun.
“We have to stop it at the beginning,” Peake said. “And that is by stopping people who are breaking into cars.”
Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, argued the bill would have no impact because he’s doubtful many gun owners are so careless as to leave a handgun in plain sight for would-be thieves. The state should instead focus on different kinds of incentives for safe storage, Obenshain said, such as a bill passed in 2023 that created a $300 tax credit to help Virginians buy gun safes and lockboxes.
“We ought not be punishing victims of crimes,” Obenshain said.
Democratic senators said the law’s passage alone would send a message to Virginia gun owners to be more thoughtful about how they store firearms in vehicles.
“Responsible gun owners ought to get in the habit of putting their gun in the glovebox,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax. “Put it in the glovebox every time they get out of their car. Just make it a habit.”
Photo via Tom Def on Unsplash. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted under a Creative Commons license.
