Reston Association has a new chief operating officer to fill shoes long held by Larry Butler, who retired this year after more than 40 years with the association.
Peter Lusk took Butler’s place effective today (Monday), RA announced in a newsletter on Friday (July 7).
RA said Lusk brings more than 14 years of experience in facility operations, assessments, repair and replacement.
For one year, Lusk served as the first COO of national family law firm Whitbeck Bennett. Prior to that, he worked with Arlington County as the division chief for athletic and facilities services and a facility operations manager, according to his LinkedIn page.
RA said Lusk’s experience with “the fast-paced and very engaged Arlington community” helped prepare him to make “a smooth transition to the Reston community.”
“I am humbled and excited to begin serving as the new Chief Operating Officer for the Reston Association,” Lusk wrote in a statement. “I look forward to meeting the community, learning Reston, and building new relationships.”
Lusk has a master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a project management professional through the Project Management Institute.
RA CEO Mac Cummins said he looks forward to working with Lusk.
“His background is an excellent fit for us as the community interest around facility planning and renovation becomes more front and center,” Cummins wrote in a statement.
A Stafford man was arrested on Friday (July 7) in connection with the sexual battery of a woman in Chantilly and two other incidents that police say are related.
Fairfax County police arrested Hien The Dinh, 20, on charges of abduction and sexual battery. Police say he approached a woman in “broad daylight” on July 3 around 11:30 a.m. in the 14500 block of Northeast Place and forcefully grabbed her in an intimate area and put her in a chokehold.
The victim had been walking down the street with her mother, who went to visit a neighbor’s house before the incident happened, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said when announcing the arrest on Friday.
According to Davis, the woman screamed, alerting her mother, who was able to intervene and prevent an apparent abduction attempt.
Police believe Dinh was also involved in a May 18 incident around the same neighborhood. In that case, a man broke into a house on Iberia Circle and tried to sexually assault a woman who managed to escape and call the police.
Davis said Dinh has also been linked to a May 10 sexual battery incident at Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun County campus.
Davis described the suspect as a “predator.”
“I don’t know what you do with a person like this besides incarcerate him, because he’s going to offend again and again and again,” Davis said.
The FCPD circulated video surveillance footage of the area, along with a composite sketch of the suspect. They found his car in the 3900 block of Stonecroft Blvd.
“Throughout the week, detectives were able to link the vehicle to Dinh after reviewing hours of surveillance footage and observing the vehicle in the vicinity at the time of the incident,” FCPD wrote in a statement.
Police arrested Dinh as he left a business in the area and entered the car.
He is being held on no bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on charges of abduction with the intent to defile and sexual battery. Davis said he anticipates more charges, as investigations continue in all three cases.
Over 20,000 Speeders Caught by School Zone Cameras — “Thousands of drivers have been caught speeding in the months since speed cameras were placed in school zones near eight Fairfax County…schools, according to police data obtained by WTOP. In total, 23,431 cars were caught going 10 or more miles per hour above the speed limit in April, May and June combined.” [WTOP]
Walt Whitman MS Assistant Punched Student, Police Say — “A 58-year-old teacher’s assistant in Fairfax County is charged with simple assault after allegedly punching a student in the face during an altercation…Investigators claim on the day of the assault, the student began arguing with the teacher and flicked his glasses.” [WUSA9]
Fairfax Homicide Suspect Had Assault Charges — “The man City of Fairfax Police charged with murder in the blunt force trauma homicide of city resident Luis Barahona Reyes, 50, was already facing charges of assaulting two police officers.” Aaron James Anthony Robertson was arrested in December for a disorderly conduct incident at Fair Oaks Mall, for which he’ll get a hearing in August. [Patch]
Virginia Deploys National Guard to Texas — “One hundred Virginia National Guard troops deployed to Texas on Saturday as Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) made good on his pledge to support Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) in his efforts to patrol the border with Mexico…Democrats have accused Youngkin of using the troops in a political stunt” [The Washington Post]
Committee Recommends Limiting Screen Time for FCPS Students — “Fairfax County’s School Health Advisory Committee is recommending that the Virginia school system set districtwide guidelines for technology use by grade level and set a cap for the amount of time the youngest learners spend on screens every day.” [WTOP]
Metro Adds New Parking Payment Options — “No more searching for spare change to pay at Metro parking meters. New centralized pay stations and ParkMobile® are now available at all of Metro’s 63 Kiss & Ride and hourly lots and on-street parking spaces, expanding the ways customers can pay.” [WMATA]
FCPL Launches Virtual Cooking Contest for Teens — “The Fairfax County Public Library invites youths age 12-18 to show off their culinary skills by entering the Teen Chopped Challenge. To enter the contest, create an original recipe using three ‘mystery ingredients’: one can of black beans, one box of Jiffy corn mix, and one packet of Swiss Miss dark chocolate hot cocoa mix.” [Annandale Today]
Frank Lloyd Wright House Undergoes Renovation — “The Pope-Leighey House, an 84-year-old Frank Lloyd Wright creation located at the Woodlawn Plantation, is in the process of getting a new roof that will restore it more closely to its original architectural design.” The building was able to reopen for tours on July 1 while work on the roof continues. [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. At night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
A rendering of the future, renovated Lake Thoreau pool (courtesy RA)
Pool-goers will have to wait another pool season to enjoy Reston Association’s renovated Lake Thoreau and Shadowood pools.
In an announcement on Monday (July 3), RA said the Lake Thoreau pool (2040 Upper Lake Drive) will not reopen this season due to “unforeseen” repairs, site conditions, and delays associated with permitting and weather. The pool is expected to open next year, with anticipated grand reopening in the start of the new year.
The new, roughly $3.5 million facility will include a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.
“We regret this announcement as much work has been done and we were excited to share it with the membership,” RA wrote in a statement.
Work on Shadowood pool (2201 Springwood Drive) is expected to continue through the fall and winter. The project was delayed because of “unanticipated repairs” after the main pool was demolished, along with weather-related delays, according to RA.
The pool, first built in 1976, has been re-plastered several times. Major changes planned with the renovation include refurbishment of the pool, squaring, repairs to the bathhouse roof, flooring and exterior lighting, and the conversion of a wading pool into an interactive splash pad.
Construction costs hover around $1.1 million.
A spokesperson for RA did not immediately return a request for comment from FFXnow.
A Flood Watch is now in effect for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County.
The National Weather Service describes the chances of “slow-moving showers and thunderstorms” this afternoon into the early evening as “likely.”
Issued at 11:26 a.m., the alert will be in place until 8 p.m.
“A few inches of rain is possible in a short amount of time as a result, and may cause rapid rises of water on creeks, streams, urban and poor drainage areas, and in other flood-prone locations,” the NWS says.
Rain has become more plentiful in recent days after the D.C. region experienced drought conditions earlier this year. A storm on Wednesday (July 5) brought at least 1-4 inches of rain, according to the NWS, contributing to flooding and power outages, particularly in the central part of Fairfax County.
The full alert is below:
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* WHAT…Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…Portions of DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia, including the following areas: in DC, District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and
Southeast Montgomery, Charles, Frederick MD, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard, Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford, and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Central and Southeast Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Northwest Prince William, Stafford and Western Loudoun.* WHEN…Until 8 PM EDT this evening.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– A couple rounds of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon into this evening. A few inches of rain is possible in a short amount of time as a result, and may cause rapid rises of water on creeks, streams, urban and poor drainage areas, and in other flood-prone locations.
A man who was hospitalized while in custody at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center has died, triggering a police investigation.
Todd Matthew Gleason, 51, died Tuesday morning (July 4) just hours after a magistrate approved his release, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. He was taken to a hospital from the jail on Monday after telling sheriff’s deputies that he had “pain to his stomach and leg,” police said.
Gleason sustained injuries after being hit by a car, an incident that occurred before his arrest, according to the Fairfax County Office of the Public Defender, which was representing him.
Gleason was arrested on June 17 for a petit larceny that allegedly occurred on June 15, according to Fairfax County General District Court records. Mount Vernon District patrol officers also served him a warrant for failure to appear on a felony offense, the FCPD said Wednesday.
“There was no force used during Gleason’s arrest,” the department said. “Following his arrest, Gleason requested to be taken to the hospital for a preexisting injury. Officers facilitated his request, and he was medically cleared by hospital staff the same day.”
However, Gleason was still experiencing medical issues from his injuries while in custody at the Adult Detention Center, the public defender’s office says.
“Mr. Gleason continued to have medical issues from those injuries during his incarceration,” Fairfax Public Defender Dawn Butorac said by email. “He advised his attorneys of such and it is my understanding that he also advised the jail staff as well. It appears that his complaints were not taken seriously until July 3rd.”
That morning, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office requested an ambulance to take Gleason back to the hospital, according to the police.
Police say a magistrate granted Gleason a release on recognizance at 9:22 pm on Monday, July 3, a date confirmed to FFXnow by a General District Court clerk.
“Any medical complaints are taken seriously and fully addressed by our medical team,” Casey Lingan, general counsel for the sheriff’s office, said.
Noting that the county jail “is nationally accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care,” Lingan said the office can’t provide any information about medical care given to individuals in the facility, citing confidentiality laws under HIPAA and the Code of Federal Regulations.
An autopsy to determine the manner and cause of Gleason’s death is being conducted by Northern Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The final results could take 12 or more weeks, depending on the complexity of the case, according to the office.
Fairfax County court records show a string of previous charges against Gleason, dating back to Oct. 24, 2020. It’s unclear whether any of them resulted in convictions.
The charges are mostly misdemeanors, including multiple petit larcenies, trespassing, public intoxication and failures to appear in court. There are two felony drug possession charges, most recently for an April 8 offense, and one felony for wearing a mask.
Gleason had been scheduled for an adjudicatory hearing on Sept. 14.
The Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney said it had no comment on the case at this time, but called Gleason’s death “a tragedy.”
No other deaths have been reported at the county jail this year, but three people died while incarcerated last year.
That includes 65-year-old George Redmond and 55-year-old Kyung Pil Chang, who died within two days of each other in late March 2022. Glenn Meyer, who was charged in a Pimmit Hills shooting in 2020, died last July after a medical emergency, police said at the time.
(Updated at 5:25 p.m.) A 37-year-old man was fatally shot last night (Thursday) at a parking garage in Herndon’s Arrowbrook Centre development.
The Fairfax County Police Department identified the victim this afternoon (Friday) as Robert Fisher of Chantilly. A 40-year-old man from Herndon, Major Feheem Stokes, was arrested yesterday as the suspect.
In a briefing at 2:23 a.m, Lt. James Curry with the FCPD’s public affairs bureau said Stokes may be Fisher’s brother, but police now describe him as “a known associate.”
“We’re still actively investigating to determine the circumstances that led to this shooting,” Curry said. “But preliminarily, we determined there was some sort of disagreement and argument that led to the fatal shooting…The adult suspect, a 40-year-old man, remains in custody.”
A woman who identified herself as the victim’s daughter called 911 shortly after 11 p.m., reporting that her father was shot and “bleeding out” at 13310 Launders Street, a dispatcher said at 11:08 a.m., per scanner traffic on Open MHz.
According to the dispatcher, the woman told 911 that her uncle “was on the scene but left,” stating that she heard the shots but “didn’t see what happened.”
When officers responded to the garage, they found a man with gunshot wounds to the upper body on the top floor of the garage, according to Curry.
“They attempted first aid, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries,” Curry said.
While officers were canvassing the area, Stokes called 911 and identified himself as the shooter, the FCPD says. He was located and taken into custody at a townhome in the 13300 block of Coppermine Road.
Stokes faces charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
As of the 2:23 a.m. briefing, no weapon had been recovered, according to Curry.
“We continue to execute search warrants, interview witnesses as well as other community members that were nearby,” he said.
Watch here for the update from the scene. Prelim, the victim & suspect were known to each other and may be related. Suspect in custody and updates will be provided later today. pic.twitter.com/XANDUAmpCS
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 7, 2023
Virginia Removes Resources for LGBTQ Youth — “The administration of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) quietly took down LGBTQ+ youth resources from a state website after a conservative media outlet questioned the links, records show, building on a pattern of removals derided by public health employees who say their work is being politicized.” [The Washington Post]
Fair Lakes Decor Store to Close — “World Market in the Fair Lakes Shopping Center is supposed to close on July 15, but will likely close sooner because the store is running out of inventory…World Market may be replaced by Savers Value Village, a thrift store chain that trades on the New York Stock Exchange.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Oakton Stormwater Pond Repairs to Resume — “Work on the Circle Woods Pond project at East Blake Lane Park in Fairfax will resume on Monday, according to a post on Twitter by Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. The project was put on hold in April after workers discovered a hawk’s nest containing eggs in a tree slated for removal.” [Patch]
County to Open Waitlists for Subsidized Senior Housing — “On Monday, July 10, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. through Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., applicants 62 years and older may register at Rent Café, an online housing portal, for an opportunity to be placed on waiting lists for Project-Based Voucher (PBV) units.” Waitlists will open for properties in McLean, Reston, Rose Hill and Hybla Valley. [FCRHA]
Public Agencies Take “Wait and See” Approach to Twitter — “Limits on how many tweets a Twitter user can read in a day caught many off guard last week, including D.C.-area public agencies that rely on the social media site to communicate with those they serve.” A Fairfax County police spokesperson said the department will “continue to utilize Twitter,” along with Fairfax Alerts and other social media platforms. [WTOP]
Herndon Office Buildings Owner Defaults on Loan — “The owner of the properties at 2551 and 2553 Dulles View Drive, Gemini Rosemont Realty, was unable to refinance or sell the property ahead of the April 1 maturity date for its $51.2M CMBS loan…The 356K SF office property near Dulles International Airport has seen its occupancy fall from 94% when the loan was issued in 2013 to 80% this year” [Bisnow]
Robinson SS Alum Wins Regional Emmy — “Congratulations to Robinson SS alum and FCPS video producer Mark F. Jones, who won his first Emmy for the entry ‘To the Beat of His Own Drum’ in the ‘Video Essayist’ category. The video follows Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School student Michael Gouin’s experience as a drummer who is deaf.” [FCPS/Facebook]
Toy Sale Coming to Herndon — “The Closet Of The Greater Herndon Area is hosting a toy sale Saturday, July 15, at the Herndon Moose Lodge. Shoppers and toy collectors will be able to purchase a variety of vintage toys, including Fisher Price, Little People, Transformers, preschool toys, American Girl dolls, games, porcelain dolls, trains and more.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. At night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Chance of precipitation is 30%. [Weather.gov]
Users of the Town of Herndon’s website may notice some design and usability changes later this month.
The town is set to debut its revamped website on July 17. The upgrade — which is the first major redesign since 2016 — has been in the works since last fall.
Anne Curtis, the town’s spokesperson, said the new site aligns with the Herndon Town Council’s imperative to be “as inclusive and comprehensive as possible in communicating to town citizens and businesses.”
“The new website came about following a lot of analysis and feedback from users on the town’s current site; what works, what doesn’t, and ways we can improve,” she said by email.
The town hired the software company Granicus under a $54,000 contract to complete the work. Previous surveys of Herndon residents and website users found a desire for more visible department buttons, optimized search results and fewer drop-down menus.
The update will include more information that visitors wanted accessible directly from the home page, a more prominent search feature, graphic icons associated with the most-visited pages, and more prominent meetings and events pages.
The site will also include a new service finder feature that directs users to specific town services.
In addition, the new site will have the capacity to be translated into Spanish and other languages and meet ADA compliance requirements, Curtis said.
Defending civil liberties and advancing childhood education are among the top priorities cited by the Republican candidate for the District 7 state delegate seat.
Luellen Hoffman Maskeny, a Reston resident and educator, is the official GOP nominee for the seat, which will mostly represent the area currently held by retiring Del. Ken Plum. She will face Democratic nominee Karen Keys-Gamarra in the Nov. 7 general election.
Hoffman Maskeny says she was compelled to seek candidacy after she saw “political changes that should not have been made” during the pandemic.
“The schools never needed to close and that was a big mistake,” Hoffman Maskeny told FFXnow in a statement. “Now the children are 2 1/2 years behind in their studies, which is not good, but I have a plan to help them catch up.”
Born in Portsmouth, Hoffman Maskeny says she grew up in Northern Virginia, and when she got married, she moved to Reston, where she stayed until relocating to Fairfax in 2003. She moved back to Reston in June 2022.
With a professional background in sales and recruiting, she graduated from George Mason University, where she previously worked as an adjunct professor. She has a master’s degree in communications from George Washington University, according to her LinkedIn page.
She is the mother of two sons. Her husband died of respiratory failures and complications related to surgery in 1994. She also wrote the book “Special Dream,” which features more than 80 stories of individuals who lost a loved one.
“I know how hard it is being a single parent, and the challenges all parents face today, but I have hope that we can work together to do better for the children’s sake and see real improvements,” she said.
She describes her legislative priorities as “defending civil liberties” and “protecting women’s sports,” presumably referring to efforts to ban transgender people from participating in sports based on their gender identity. However, Hoffman Maskeny didn’t elaborate on either priority when asked by FFXnow.
“These girls have worked too hard for too long in reaching their achievements, only to have it taken away from them,” she said.
Maskeny says she also wants to ensure that parents are involved in public schools, in addition to ensuring pornography in books is kept out of public schools.
Fairfax County Public Schools removed two books centered on LGBTQ characters from high school library shelves in 2021 after a parent complained that they had graphic sexual content not suitable for children. The books were later restored after a review.
“It is important to keep our schools safe with extra security measures. There is no need for our children to be ‘sitting ducks’ if there is an active shooter on the school grounds or for girls to be raped in the bathrooms,” she said.
According to her LinkedIn page, Maskeny was the director of exhibits for the National Defense Industrial Association from 2006 through 2017. She has worked as a director of sales at a South Carolina-based IT company for the last six years.
Maskeny’s campaign website is currently under construction.
TGI Friday’s Might Leave Fair Lakes — “Bradenton, Florida-based First Watch on June 26 filed a food establishment application for 12249 Fair Lakes Promenade, where Friday’s has operated for roughly the last 15 years.” A spokesperson for First Watch, which serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, confirmed that the restaurant chain has been looking for a Fair Lakes location, but no lease has been signed yet. [Washington Business Journal]
Thousands in D.C. Area Disenrolled From Medicaid — “Thousands across the D.C.area have lost Medicaid coverage in recent months, as pandemic protections that allowed people to stay enrolled without reapplying came to a close. Known as ‘Medicaid unwinding,’ states are resuming annual Medicaid eligibility reviews, meaning many thousands more may lose their insurance over the next year.” [DCist]
Sexual Assault Cases May Be Linked — “Police are investigating a possible connection between two sexual assault cases in the same neighborhood of Chantilly.” Fairfax County police say an assault of a woman in the 14500 block of Northeast Place on Monday may be linked to a May 18 assault at a house on Iberia Circle. [WTOP]
Fairfax County to Encourage Murals — “Fairfax County planners are developing a murals program to bring excitement to the county’s redevelopment areas, such as Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners…They could be on publicly owned or privately owned buildings, Padmore says, but commercial messages won’t be allowed.” [Annandale Today]
Metro Sees Highest Fourth of July Rail Ridership in Eight Years — “Metrorail celebrated the Independence Day holiday with preliminary ridership topping 410,000, a level not seen since 2015. With fare-free service after 5 p.m. and a boost in service to accommodate the influx of customers, rail ridership was up 61 percent over last year.” [WMATA]
FCPD Cracks Down on Drunk Driving — “The Fairfax County Police Department’s Summer Crime Prevention Team in July will focus enforcement on people who are driving while under the influence.” Throughout the month, officers will “saturate areas of high crashes and look for impaired drivers.” [Gazette Leader]
How the Silver Line Has Changed the Dulles Corridor — “The changes have come based on decades of planning by local governments maximizing the potential of the Silver Line to become sought-after commercial centers and multipurpose areas where people can work, live, play and be connected by trains to Arlington, DC and Largo, Maryland.” [Tysons Today]
Local Nonprofit Seeks Drivers for Seniors — “Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church is seeking volunteers to join a team of 60 drivers to take seniors to medical and dental appointments or run errands to grocery stores and pharmacies. The center has seen an increase in the total number of rides needed by seniors in recent years.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 40%. At night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%. [Weather.gov]
Black residents have experienced worse health outcomes than other populations across Northern Virginia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new report found.
Commissioned by the Northern Virginia Health Foundation (NVHF) and conducted by the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, the Fairfax County section of the “Dying Too Soon” report found “stark” disparities across the county in the rates at which people die before the age of 75.
The report attributed the dramatic differences in life expectancies — from 76.5 years to 91.1 years — to an individual’s race, ethnicity and address, reflecting the influence of socioeconomic conditions on health outcomes.
According to the report, a lack of access to health care contributed to 66% of premature deaths in the county from 2015-2019 that were avoidable with preventative measures or treatment.
Throughout Northern Virginia, premature deaths are more concentrated within “islands of disadvantage,” where residents experience poor living conditions, higher mortality rates, and food and housing insecurity, the report says.
Residents of these neighborhoods are more likely to be people of color and immigrants, a disparity resulting from “the region’s history of segregation and systemic racism” and policies that “systematically block access” to health opportunities and increase exposure to unsafe health conditions, the report said.
Prior to the pandemic, Black people in Fairfax County had a premature death rate of 221.0 per 100,000 residents, exceeding the rates for white people (165.8 per 100,000), Hispanics (126.2 per 100,000) and Asians and Pacific Islanders (112.4 per 100,000).
Those disparities were consistent throughout the region, which “exhibits smaller racial-ethnic disparities” that other parts of the U.S., according to the report.
Though Fairfax County is often touted as one of the richest counties in the U.S., with a median income of $133,974, many of the wealthiest census tracts are located just a few blocks from islands of disadvantage.
In fact, the study says one census tract in Springfield has a premature death rate twice as high as that of a census tract in Franconia only two miles away. Each census tract also showed drastically different education and poverty rates and racial and ethnic compositions.
“I don’t think there’s a sense among the general public that these kinds of health inequities exist in a wealthy area like Northern Virginia, which in aggregate is doing quite well and has a very high quality of life,” Dr. Steven Woolf, lead study author and director emeritus of VCU’s Center on Society and Health, told FFXnow. “But when you zoom in like this to see what’s actually happening, neighborhood by neighborhood, you expose these these pockets of disadvantage that we want the public to know about.”
Census tracts with the highest premature death rates were in Seven Corners/Bailey’s Crossroads and Route 1 regions, according to the report’s summary. The study also reported that poverty rates in Seven Corners/Bailey’s Crossroads, Mount Vernon and Oakton “exceeded 20%, higher than poverty rates in countries like Estonia, Lithuania, Peru, Tajikistan, and Uganda.”
The Covid pandemic only worsened inequitable health outcomes, according to data collected in 2020-2021. The report says the county’s islands of disadvantage “experienced higher COVID-19 death rates,” and Northern Virginia as a whole saw “much higher” death rates among Hispanic and Black populations compared to Asian and white groups.
“COVID-19 simply pulled the veil back to show the public how bad these inequities are, but they’ve been with us for a very long time,” Woolf said. “There are policies of exclusion that limit the ability for people of color and low-income families to access opportunities and for health and wellbeing, and those barriers persist and will remain long after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed unless we change our policies.”
To combat these longstanding, widespread disparities, the study calls for increased access to health insurance and services, such as high-quality and affordable primary care, preventative care and chronic disease treatment. It further pushes for an increase in funding for “chronically underfunded” local public health departments that are still recovering from the “heightened demands” created by the pandemic.
The report also advocates for remedying “deficiencies” in the local behavioral health system by addressing shortages in mental health professionals and expanding access to mental health and substance abuse services.
Woolf emphasized the need to fund “social determinants of health,” including “education, jobs, fair wages, [and] affordable housing and transportation” to create more equitable outcomes.
“Data like ours that identify the precise census tracts experiencing the greatest threats to health and wellbeing can provide important insights to policymakers, service providers and funders,” NVHF President and CEO Patricia N. Mathews said in a press release. “They can help target investments in neighborhoods that have been neglected and prioritize efforts to improve living conditions by offering more affordable housing, expanding educational opportunities, and improving opportunities for employment.”
The report that NVHF released in 2017 identifying islands of disadvantage in the region has helped inform Fairfax County’s implementation of the One Fairfax policy, which commits local officials to considering equity when developing policies and services, says county Chief Equity Officer Karla Bruce.
“[The] most recent report, Dying Too Soon, illustrates the connection between social and economic conditions and health disparities and validates the value of the county’s investments in things like health care access, affordable housing, education, and workforce readiness,” Bruce said.
“The opportunity for good health should be available to all residents of Fairfax County,” the study concludes.
Changes to Comstock’s Reston Row neighborhood are moving forward despite concerns about the proposed shift of a public park space into private outdoor dining space for Ebbitt House, an upcoming restaurant.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended on June 28 that the Board of Supervisors approve changes to the project near the Wiehle-Reston Easton Metro station.
Comstock is seeking the county’s permission to reallocate 280,000 square feet of unbuilt but previously approved office space from Reston Station to Reston Row. Specifically, the developer wants to increase the building height of a residential building from 180 feet to 350 feet and from 250 to 350 units.
Other changed elements include increased retail square footage, an elevated sport court, and a shift from two separate garages to a single underground parking garage.
Staff recommended approval of the application even though the project doesn’t fully satisfy the county’s urban parks standards for the area. The total density between the two projects — Reston Row and Reston Station — remains unchanged.
Mary Ann Tsai of the county’s Department of Planning and Development said the decison to approve the application was a “very hard” one.
Even though the application doesn’t meet the urban parks standards, the current plan is an improvement over the previous approval, especially when it comes to additional greenscapes for a corner park at the intersection of Sunset Hills Road and Wiehle Avenue, Tsai said.
“We look at the whole context of the recommendations,” she said, calling staff’s support a “soft” decision.
The outdoor dining area would extend outside Ebbitt House, a spin-off of D.C.’s Old Ebbitt Grill and the leading brand of Clyde’s Restaurant Group.
Jill Parks, an attorney with Hunton Andrews Kurth representing the applicant, said the outdoor dining space is a major placemaking feature of the development instead of a “strip of green.”
“It is more welcoming, it is an amenity and it is a feature to this neighborhood,” Parker said, adding that the applicant “scrubbed every single foot of this project” to improve the urban parks.
Providence District Commissioner Phil Niedzielski-Eichner said Comstock’s significant investment in the project warrants a closer look at the issue.
“The Ebbitt is a significant addition to the development,” Eichner said. “It has a region-wide standing. If the terms of being able to secure them meant there be an outdoors type of arrangement, I can see the logic of that.”
Hunter Mill District Supervisor John Carter concurred that he “actually like[s] the dining space here. This is something for the future.”
Clyde’s Restaurant Group COO Kevin Keller said the outdoor dining space will be a significant amenity for the company’s guests.
“It brings that energy outside and really connects the community,” Keller said.
Overall, the development plan won the approval of the commission. Carter noted that the plan was a hallmark of placemaking that Reston’s transit station areas need.
“Our stations are underperforming. It’s not because of the density. It’s because people can’t get there,” Carter said.
Randall Farran, the Fairfax County Planning Authority’s park planning branch manager, emphasized that failing to meet the urban park standards was seen as a “deficiency,” particularly because supplemental features — like areas fronting buildings — were used to try to meet the 1.2-acre urban park space standard for the development.
“We didn’t feel like it was an equivalent replacement,” Farran said.
Braddock District Commissioner Mary Ann Cortina wasn’t satisfied with the developer’s approach to urban park spaces — even though she understood the need for the private outdoor dining area.
“It does make it difficult to continue to provide what the comprehensive plan expects,” Cortina said, adding that future applicants may argue that the appeal of private amenity space precludes meeting urban spark standards.
The application will go to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing on July 25.
With the summer tourism season in full swing, Virginia’s “LOVEworks” marketing campaign has traveled beyond the Commonwealth’s borders for the first time.
Last week, Fairfax County ventured up the I-95 corridor to give a sign to Philadelphia, launching an effort to draw the denizens of the City of Brotherly Love to the home of the first U.S. president, among other attractions.
Unveiled outside the Philadelphia Fashion District shopping mall on June 28, the new sign is the first one permanently gifted outside Virginia, according to Visit Fairfax, the county’s official tourism agency.
“On behalf of Fairfax County, we are so excited to welcome Philadelphians to our vibrant destination, and we hope this new campaign will inspire them to explore the many historical, cultural, natural and whimsical treasures found here,” Visit Fairfax President and CEO Barry Biggar said. “Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a lengthier family vacation to the National Capital Region, this campaign indeed highlights how easy it is to get to Northern Virginia and just how much this region has to offer.”
According to Visit Fairfax, Philadelphia already represents “major” source of tourism for the county based on visits, spending and website traffic.
However, the LOVE sign, which will be on display in Philly throughout the summer, is part of a new “multi-faceted, comprehensive and integrated” campaign that the agency has planned in conjunction with the statewide Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).
Funded with money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the campaign will highlight connections between Virginia’s largest county and Pennsylvania’s largest city, Visit Fairfax says in a press release:
Campaign elements showcase the unique parallels between Fairfax County and Philadelphia and include digital display at Fashion District Philadelphia, traditional out of home, streaming audio and video, social media, and other in-market activations throughout the summer months. The campaign creative features iconic Fairfax County attractions that share a synergy with beloved Philly symbols, such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon paired with Independence Hall; Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge as the first to protect bald eagles paired with Philadelphia’s favorite football team; and Macerich-owned Tysons Corner Center, paired with its sister property, Fashion District Philadelphia; among others.
Visit Fairfax notes that the sign “complements” Philadelphia’s long-standing “LOVE” sculpture by artist Robert Indiana. The two installations are located less than a mile apart.
“We are definitely feeling the ‘love’ here at Fashion District Philadelphia,” Fashion District Philadelphia Property Manager Ryan Williams said. “…Northern Virginia is a wonderful visitor destination with so much to offer Philadelphians — the good feelings between our two East Coast regions are certainly mutual!”
The LOVEworks signs stem from the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan adopted by the VTC — then called the Virginia State Travel Service — in 1969. The ad campaign attempted to appeal to younger generations in the hippie and free love era, according to the VTC’s website.
Since then, more than 300 signs have cropped up around Virginia, including at Tysons Corner Center, Reston Station and the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.
“These signs are very popular with travelers coming to Virginia and are often the backdrop of visitors’ engagement photos, weddings, or other special occasions,” VTC Director of Communications Andrew Cothern said. “We hope residents of Philadelphia will see the LOVEwork in Fashion District and be inspired to plan a vacation in Virginia.”
The Fourth of July kept the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department busy, as at least three people were injured in fires that cropped up overnight.
One person was injured in a fire that broke out in Herndon around midnight today (Wednesday).
The fire engulfed the home on the 650 block of Stuart Court shortly after July 4 celebrations wrapped up in the area.
One individual was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries, according to the FCFRD.
A spokesperson for FCFRD told FFXnow that the cause of the fire is not yet known.
“Fire investigators are still conducting their investigation. I do not have a cause at this time,” the spokesperson said.
A resident reported that Fourth of July fireworks were underway in the neighborhood, but it’s unclear for now whether those were connected to the fire at all.
UPDATE 650 blk of Stuart Ct: The fire is under control. Crews are hitting hotspots. Fire investigators are on scene. One patient transported with non-life threatening injuries. No reported firefighter injuries. pic.twitter.com/Jj7KUMrLUR
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
The fire was one of nine outside fires, two house fires and one apartment fire that broke out on or around July 4, the fire department reported.
Another two people were hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries in a two-alarm house fire on the 12300 block of Firestone Court in the Fair Oaks area around midnight.
While the cause of the fires is currently unknown, the FCFRD encouraged the community to properly dispose of fireworks by completely soaking them in a bucket of water overnight before getting rid of them.
Units are on scene of a two-alarm house fire in the 12300 blk of Firestone Ct in the Fair Oaks area. Heavy fire showing. All occupants are accounted for. Crews are actively working to bring the fire under control. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/1NYd9zsVDb
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
#FCFRD is currently working 9 outside fires, 2 house fires, and 1 apartment fire. While the cause of these fires is unknown, we can not stress enough the importance of properly disposing of fireworks. Completely soak fireworks in a bucket of water overnight before disposing. pic.twitter.com/AHg3s4hl2O
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 5, 2023
