Residents are sounding off about a proposal to renovate the Barton Hill tennis courts in Reston.
Concerns about noise management dominated a March 22 community meeting where staff offered an update on the project, which would convert some tennis courts into six permanent pickleball courts.
Megan Murphy, a mom of two who moved from Rosslyn to Reston for the calm of the latter’s more suburban environment, said the pickleball court could compromise the quietness she desired for her 5-year-old child, who has special needs.
“I’m so excited for all the pickleball players that you have found your passion, that you found your love, that you’ve got something that’s getting you out there and active and social,” Murphy said. “But I think we need to be really careful and not just footstep all of the concerns that people have expressed.”
Concerns about the noisiness of the popular sport have mounted nationwide. Earlier this year, the Town of Vienna cut restricted pickleball hours at Glyndon Park due to noise complaints. Over in Arlington, the sport has fueled warring flier campaigns between neighbors and lawsuit threats.
The tennis courts on the west side of the facility at 1901 Barton Hill Road would have blended lines to allow additional courts as needed, and dividers would separate pickleball and tennis courts.
Both parking lots will be repaved, and drainage improvements are planned at the southeast corner of the site. The project is currently in the early phases of planning and scoping. Construction could begin later this year, depending on the approval process.
Chris Schumaker, Reston Association’s director of capital projects, said a noise study at the Autumnwood pickleball courts found that decibel levels did not exceed 60 or 100 beyond 150 feet of the facility. The March 9 study was done during peak afternoon play when all pickleball and hybrid courts were at capacity, according to RA.
The sound for pickleball ranges from 57 to 79 decibels, depending on proximity and the type of equipment used. That is 25 decibels more than a tennis racket hitting a ball, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Schumaker also noted that scheduling for pickleball and nearby soccer events can be staggered to reduce the chances of overflow into the street.
“What we did did is a preemptive measure to kind of see what we are dealing with from a data standpoint,” Schumaker told residents.
Laura David, a local resident, said she was concerned the “wonderful enthusiasm” of pickleball players would attract crowds, teams waiting for a turn, and significant noise in a natural habitat ravine near the property, which has a neighborhood in roughly 1,000 feet of the courts.
“There’s no way parking and traffic will be safe for our kids on bikes, for our people walking dogs, and for the general appreciation of a Sunday morning 7 a.m. quiet cup of coffee on the deck of our back of our properties,” David said.
In response to reservations about the safety of an adjacent crosswalk where turning vehicles are faced with a blind side, Schumaker emphasized that any changes would require VDOT approval and are not part of the project.
Rob Richardson, a player and local resident, said it was important to acknowledge that the scenario of having 24 players on the court and 24 waiting for their turn may only occur during peak hours. But he also conceded that “no one wants pickleball in their backyard,” and he might be opposed if it was in his.
Others voiced concerns about tension between tennis and pickleball players in the hybrid facility.
“The pickleball/tennis battle…can get nasty and contested,” resident Renee Shipe said. She suggested that RA implement a possible reservation system or process improvements to help enforce rules and regulations.
RA CEO Mac Cummins said the current plans are preliminary, and the feedback may inform future changes.
“Part of our job is to hear you all tonight and report back tot he board and make the final financial decision,” Cummins said.
Photo via Joan Azeka/Unsplash
Virginia Now Requires Slowing Down for Disabled Vehicles — “In Virginia, it is illegal to not move over or slow down when a first responder or construction vehicle is on the side of the roads with their lights flashing. What isn’t illegal is doing the same for a disabled vehicle, but that will change with a new law supported by Hurley’s family.” The state Senate version of the bill was led by Fairfax County’s Dave Marsden. [WTOP]
Five Displaced by Annandale Townhouse Fire — “On Thursday, March 23, at 1:49 p.m., units were dispatched for a reported townhouse fire in the 7800 block of Rectory Lane.” No one was home at the time. Investigators determined that the fire “was caused by an item left unattended on the electric burner of the stovetop,” resulting in approximately $75,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
FCPS Launches Online Class Registration — “Online registration will be available at more than 30 pilot Fairfax County schools beginning Friday, March 31. All FCPS schools will offer online registration beginning in June.” Fairfax County Public Schools says the new system will be more efficient and provide more flexibility for students. [FCPS]
New Groveton Wendy’s Plans Grand Opening Festivities — “The new Wendy’s fast food restaurant at 6634 Richmond Highway opened its doors to customers March 28, according to a company spokesperson. Originally slated to open in late 2022, the restaurant will hold its official grand opening celebration Apr. 15 with ‘free food for a year certificates’ for the first 100 guests.” [On the MoVe]
Reston Entrepreneur Adjusts Charity Ambitions — “Len Forkas will not be traveling to Norway in April as part of a planned skiing trip to the North Pole for charity. Instead, he is going to Nepal in order to climb Mount Everest. This won’t be the first mountain the 63-year-old Reston businessman has climbed.” [Patch]
State Legislator Retirements May Reduce N. Va’s Power — “Local government officials here worry that the shift in leadership positions in the state’s Democratic Party — southward to the Hampton Roads area — means Northern Virginia will lose important state funding for schools, transportation and other services” [The Washington Post]
Bench Installed at McLean HS for Former Baseball Player — “The late Caleb Beatty was a standout player for the McLean Highlanders. Beatty, 26, died unexpectedly this past October. He was a 2015 McLean graduate. In memory of the hulking catcher, a permanent homemade wooden cedar bench…has been installed at the field in foul territory along the left-field line.” [Gazette Leader]
Reston Tech Hiring Firm Seeks to Address Disparities — “Revature, a tech talent enablement firm, has joined forces with OneTen, a coalition committed to closing the opportunity gap for Black talent in the U.S…Revature and OneTen will work with companies across the country to fill vacancies while helping candidates build fulfilling careers in tech.” [Fairfax County EDA]
It’s Friday — Light rain in the evening and overnight. High of 64 and low of 42. Sunrise at 6:56 am and sunset at 7:32 pm. [Weather.gov]
The case against a man who allegedly fired a gun at Sully’s Pour House in 2021 is moving forward.
A status hearing has been set for Monday, April 3, a spokesperson for Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office told FFXnow.
The hearing comes after the owners of the gastropub in the Town of Herndon slammed Descano and his office, claiming that they’re pursuing a plea deal against defendant De’Quinn Le’Charn Hall, 29. Hall allegedly fired a gun at the gastropub in November 2021. No injuries were reported.
In several public social media posts, the owner stated that Descano had previously pledged not to pursue a plea deal and intended to pursue felony charges.
“We were PROMISED by STEVE DESCANO himself that he WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PLEA DEAL TO GO THROUGH. HE PROMISED — Why are we still shocked that HE LIED?!” Sully’s Pour House said in one Facebook post.
Laura Birnbaum, spokesperson for the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, said that no update on a plea bargain has been discussed.
“There hasn’t been any movement in this case since December or any updated discussion of a plea,” Birnbaum told FFXnow.
The confusion was caused by a clerical error in the court schedule, which mistakenly tagged the case with the label of “plea,” she said.
Birnbaum said there no other substantial developments to share about the case.
In December of last year, the restaurant’s owners voiced frustration with the overall handling of the case by prosecutors.
Photo via Google Maps
The renovation of Lake Thoreau Pool is roughly one month behind schedule, according to Reston Association staff.
At an RA meeting on March 23, capital projects coordinator Chris Schumaker said the delay is approximate due to unforeseen conditions.
“We are forecasting four-week delay due to site conditions,” Schumaker said.
So far, the project is roughly 50% complete. The pool base, retaining walls, propane tank and concrete structural supports have been completed.
Construction on the structural steel component of the deck, the storm drain, and parking is in progress.
Schumaker also said the addition to the bathhouse is on hold due to a problem with a sanitary sewer connection in the area.
Despite the unforseen delay, Schumaker said the pool’s reopening is still slated for sometime in the summer.
“We still hope to have an opening sometime in the last summer of this year,” he said.
Lake Thoreau’s pool has been closed since 2020 for the renovation project, which was originally scheduled to break ground two falls ago.
The new 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.
The project is expected to cost roughly $3.5 million.
An independent investigation found no basis to claims that notices of National Merit Scholarship commendations were intentionally withheld from students, Fairfax County Public Schools announced last night (Wednesday).
Conducted by the law firm Sands Anderson, the review confirmed that eight schools didn’t notify students designated as “commended” by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) until after Nov. 1, 2022, but it “found no evidence that this was intentional or reflected any policy decision by FCPS” or any of the individual schools, according to FCPS.
“There was no evidence to suggest that FCPS deliberately withheld notification of Commended Student status from any student,” Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a message to families. “In addition, they found no evidence of any inequity or racial bias in the actions taken by these schools regarding notifications or distribution of these certificates.”
Criticism of the school system’s handling of the recognitions emerged in late December, ignited by a City Journal article that suggested Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) intentionally waited until after early college applications were due to notify commended students.
Written by Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Nomani, the story argued that the delayed notices were part of a “war on merit.” The coalition has a pending lawsuit against FCPS over revisions to the magnet school’s admissions policies, which it says were designed to disadvantage the Asian students who make up a majority of TJ’s student body.
The story picked up steam when Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for an investigation into TJ on Jan. 3. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares complied, launching a review the following day that later expanded to all of FCPS after Westfield and Langley high schools informed families that they had failed to notify commended students.
Other schools where students experienced delays include Annandale, Thomas Edison, John R. Lewis, Marshall and West Potomac high schools, according to Sands Anderson’s review.
“It’s encouraging that FCPS is working to be more transparent about the inconsistencies surrounding their National Merit award decisions and process,” Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita said. “The Office of the Attorney General will continue its investigation.”
Initially attributing the delays to human error, FCPS conducted an internal review and hired Sands Anderson for a third-party investigation in January.
According to the new report, factors contributing to the delays varied by school. Issues ranged from a clerical oversight and communication gaps due to absent or changing staff to the scheduling of fall awards ceremonies where the certificates get distributed.
In the case of Annandale High School, NMSC had reportedly neglected to mail the certificates until after Nov. 1.
Much confusion, including at TJ, stemmed from a belief that NMSC informs students directly of their “commended” status, which essentially serves as an honorable mention for students who score well on the preliminary SAT test but don’t reach the semifinals of the scholarship program.
“At no school was there any evidence that racial or other discriminatory considerations played any role whatsoever in the timing of notifying Commended Students, nor was there evidence of any effort to minimize recognition of student excellence or achievement,” the report said.
According to the report, the only affected school to receive actual complaints from parents and other community members about the award notices was TJ.
In its summary of the investigation’s findings, FCPS expressed hope that the report will enable it to move past “this unnecessary controversy,” which has required spending “significant division funds on legal counsel” and resulted in harassment of school staff with “hate-filled and threatening” phone calls and emails.
The emotional toll on our staff has been substantial, and, in addition, staff have been required to divert significant time and attention away from their education-focused roles to respond to these inquiries. All of this has harmed and undermined our core educational mission, and we do hope that the factual findings of this external investigation can put this entire issue, and the erroneous claims that sparked this controversy, to rest.
In response to the issues found by the investigation, FCPS has created a new regulation requiring principals or another designated administrator to notify commended students and their parents within two weeks of getting alerted to the honors by NMSC.
Reid said she has also proposed to NMSC and the College Board that they develop a national, “multi-layered” notification system.
“This solution must incorporate electronic notifications to each recognized student, their family, and school division central offices, which do not exist in the NMSC process today,” she wrote. “I am still hopeful that there can be a broader solution to this issue nationwide. In the meantime, we have put our own changes in place, which may serve as a model for other schools in Virginia and nationwide.”
Police Standoff Ends After 36 Hours — Fairfax County police took a reportedly armed woman into custody shortly after midnight, ending a barricade on Richmond Highway that began before noon on Tuesday (March 29). The standoff closed Route 1 between Lockheed Blvd and Boswell Avenue through multiple rush hours. [FCPD/Twitter]
Helicopters Expected at GMU for Training — “The @GeorgeMasonU Fairfax Campus will host an ROTC training exercise on the morning of Thursday, March 30. Helicopters will be coming on campus at 6:30 a.m. and departing from the West Campus parking lot (closest to Braddock Road) at approximately 8:15 a.m. Please do not be alarmed.” [GMU Police/Twitter]
Alta Crossroads Apartment Project Begins — County leaders, developer representatives and the Bailey’s Crossroads/7 Corners Revitalization Corporation gathered yesterday to break ground on the long-awaited Alta Crossroads redevelopment. It “will transform a partially vacant underused lot into a 370-unit multifamily building, three townhomes, enhanced streetscapes, and two park spaces on the corner of #ColumbiaPike and Moncure Avenue.” [Penny Gross/Twitter]
Community Shares Opioid Crisis at Town Hall — “Concerned that the deadly drug fentanyl is in schools and neighborhoods, parents gathered at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, Tuesday night to learn what they can do to protect their kids. More than 100 residents heard from a panel of experts, including school leaders, police and experts in substance abuse treatment.” [WTOP]
Popular West Falls Church Deli Featured in TV Show — “Chef Andre Rush upgraded the Celebrity Delly, a traditional delicatessen in Graham Park Plaza, and shared the results on his ‘Kitchen Commando’ TV series. The episode on the Falls Church restaurant can be viewed online on the Tubi TV channel.” [Annandale Today]
County Parks Facility Fee Changes Approved — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved the 2023 Fee Adjustment Schedule at its meeting on March 22, 2023.” The changes, which affect the price of golf courses, facility rentals, and more, will take effect on Saturday (April 1). [FCPA]
Tysons Media Company Continues Layoffs — “Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) has issued yet another round of a layoffs, this time affecting 44 employees in mostly back-office roles. It appears to be the media company’s third round of cuts in the past seven months, after it eliminated 400 jobs in August and began laying off roughly 6% of reporters and other staffers in its U.S. media division in the final months of last year.” [Washington Business Journal]
Street Changes Planned for Hybla Valley — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plans to start repaving and restriping Lockheed Boulevard, Fordson Road and several neighboring streets in Hybla Valley in late April…The restriping will include the addition of standard bike lanes to both Lockheed and Fordson, as well as the installation of a couple new pedestrian crosswalks on Fordson.” [On the MoVe]
Vienna Finalizes Cost of New Police HQ — “Vienna Town Council members on March 20 unanimously awarded an additional $18,503 to the Vienna Police Headquarters’ construction contractor as part of a final settlement for the project.” Supply-chain issues that complicated construction and some “unanticipated redesigns” by the town brought the final cost up to $14.2 million. [Gazette Leader]
McLean Teacher Seeks Art for Earth Day — “McLean art teacher Pamela Saunders is seeking aspiring young artists in McLean to join the community’s upcoming Earth Day observance…McLean Earth Day on April 22 will be a drive-thru event at the McLean Community Center with various opportunities to help the planet.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:57 am and sunset at 7:31 pm. [Weather.gov]
Bus stop improvements are proposed at the intersection of Wiehle Avenue and North Shore Drive in Reston.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is working on a design for the project, which will include the construction of a bus pad, bench, trash can, and curb-abutted sidewalk at the intersection just west of the Forest Edge neighborhood.
Curb and gutter will be added to both corners of the intersection. A bus pad and a 50-foot-long sidewalk will also connect to the existing sidewalk at North Shore Drive.
The project is located near the Wiehle Avenue overpass.
Reston Association is considering a request from FCDOT for the dedication of a 14-square-foot bus stop easement and 7-square-foot dedication for public street purposes so it can move forward with the project.
“Most of the project will be within the right-of-way,” RA Chief Operating Officer Larry Butler said in a memo. “However, there are parts that will extent to RA property adjacent to the project.”
FCDOT has acquired land rights for one of two properties where easements are needed for the project, according to spokesperson Robin Geiger. A final plan has been approved by the county and RA’s Design Review Board.
The county estimates that the project will cost a total of $105,500.
Taco Bamba is bringing its traditional tacos and some items with a local twist to Herndon next week.
The fast-casual taqueria will open its ninth location on April 4 at the Village Center at Dulles Shopping Plaza (2445 Centreville Road).
The business is led by chef Victor Albisu. The Herndon restaurant will have some food described as “original to the location.” That includes an Afghan item — a beef koobideh and garlic yogurt yogurt in a flour tortilla — and an item for fried chicken lovers.
“We get a constant drumbeat of requests to bring Taco Bamba to specific neighborhoods, cities, and even countries, but the most vocal and most frequent of all those requests have come from our fans in Herndon,” Albisu said. “I can see why. It’s a true melting pot of cultures and people from different backgrounds, exactly the type of place where Taco Bamba can thrive creatively.”
The Herndon location will also include “clean-style tacos,” which are only offered at some locations. They use a cabbage cup instead of a traditional tortilla.
The restaurant will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
It takes up roughly 2,850 square feet of space with 30 indoor seats.
The company is working on two additional Virginia locations in Arlington and Fair Lakes. The former is also expected to open this spring, while the latter at 12239 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive is anticipated in the fall.
Flags Lowered After Nashville School Shooting — “The U.S., state and county flags are lowered to half-staff today at all county government facilities as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27 in Nashville, Tenn. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on March 31.” [Fairfax County/Twitter]
Longtime Vienna Inn Co-Owner Has Died — “Mollie Bass Abraham, who with her late husband owned and ran the Vienna Inn for four decades, died at her home in Alexandria on March 25. She was 96. The couple bought the former Freddie’s restaurant in Vienna in 1960 and renamed it the Vienna Inn.” [Gazette Leader]
Motorcyclist Injured in Springfield Crash — “A motorcyclist was seriously injured Sunday night in a crash on the Franconia-Springfield Parkway, according to the Fairfax County Police Department…By 9:30 p.m…police announced that the motorcyclist’s condition had improved and that he was no longer in a life-threatening condition.” [Patch]
Phase 2 of Lorton Community Center Project Underway — “Now the county’s project team will focus on completing the open park area, connecting the walking trail around the park and completing the vehicle parking area with additional lights and landscaping, according to a spokesperson from the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. The contractor’s work is expected to be complete by May 2023.” [On the MoVe]
Wendy’s in Annandale Undergoing Interior Renovation — “The Wendy’s at 7530 Little River Turnpike in Annandale is closed for indoor dining while the restaurant is being renovated. The pick-up window remains open…The project is expected to be completed in two or three months.” [Annandale Today]
Study: Virginia in Middle of Country for Covid Deaths — “The study, published in the medical journal The Lancet, showed death rates varied dramatically by state, in analyzing the rates of COVID deaths in the U.S. between January 2020 and July 2022…Virginia ranked 20th, with 336 deaths per 100,000.” [WTOP]
Annandale Man Wins $1 Million in Lottery — “Man Nguyen of Annandale won $1 million in the Virginia Lottery’s Mega Millions drawing. ‘My wife’s birthday is coming up, and I’m thinking of buying her a new car,’ Nguyen told lottery officials.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 58 and low of 41. Sunrise at 6:59 am and sunset at 7:30 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County fared well overall in recently released rankings of the best places to live in America, but it couldn’t quite compete with neighboring Loudoun County.
Fairfax County was named the 25th best county to live in nationally and the third best in Virginia by Niche, an online data platform that reviews localities with the goal of helping families choose schools and neighborhoods.
“Fairfax County is one of the best places to live in Virginia,” Niche said in its profile of the county. “…Most residents own their homes. In Fairfax County there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Fairfax County and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Fairfax County are highly rated.”
In the 2023 rankings published on March 20, Fairfax County trailed Loudoun, which placed at No. 12 in America and at No. 1 in Virginia, and York County (No. 15 nationally, No. 2 statewide).
The primary culprit in Fairfax County’s lower ranking appears to be housing, where it scored a “B” compared to the “A” given to Loudoun and “A-” for York.
Niche says the housing grade is calculated based on home values, property taxes, housing costs, local schools and more. Housing is among the most heavily weighted factors in the Best Counties to Live ranking, behind the percentage of residents with a higher education degree and the cost of living.
According to Niche, Fairfax County has a median home value of $569,100 and a median rent of $2,033 — about twice as high as the national averages of $244,900 and $1,163, respectively.
The county also trailed Loudoun when it came to jobs, getting a B- where its neighbor got an A. Those scores were based on employment rates, job and economic growth, and cost of living, where both counties earned C grades.
Fairfax County received marks of A or A+ for its public schools, health and fitness, diversity, family-friendly living, and outdoor activities. It got A- for nightlife, B- for weather and C+ for commute times and methods.
With its high grades for schools and health, Fairfax County snagged the top spot on the list for Healthiest Counties in Virginia and the No. 2 spot for Counties with the Best Public Schools in Virginia, behind York County. Nationally, it landed at No. 6 for health and No. 32 for schools.
Niche has named Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, a neighborhood of Philadelphia, as the best place to live in the country for four consecutive years.
A proposal for improvements to the Hook Road Recreation Area in Reston is currently under review by the county.
The plan would include new pedestrian walkways, traffic safety measures, improvements to existing pedestrian walkways, a restroom pavilion and the repositioning of a baseball field on the site.
At a Reston Association Board of Directors’ meeting on March 23, capital projects director Chris Schumaker said a site plan has been resubmitted to the county after an initial round of comments. RA is also working on drafting an application that will go before the Design Review Board.
A timeline for both initiatives was not known, but members noted that the county must respond to RA’s submittal within 45 days of receipt.
Board member John Farrell pushed staff to stay on top of the expeditious review of the proposal. He said he was gravely concerned about the need for traffic safety improvement measures.
Years ago, when he coached at the park, Farrell spent most of his time trying to keep kids or their siblings out of the street, he said.
“We can’t move those backstops and get those kids out of those streets without this site plan approved. I’ve been banging on this before I even got on the board and I don’t want to have a seven year old get killed on that street,” Farrell said.
RA CEO Mac Cummins said staff is working on the issue and would receive Fairfax County’s approval soon. Permit fees are currently being processed for payment, Schumaker added.
The project is in the early phases of design, architecture and engineering. Procurement will follow after the current phase is completed.
The recreation area was developed in 1965 with the addition of tennis and basketball amenities in 1973.
Image via Google Maps
Fairfax County high school students will soon have access to free mental health services. Starting April 10, Hazel Health will provide students with weekly virtual therapy sessions at no cost to families.
The school system’s website says Hazel’s therapists can help students with mood or behavior changes, anxiety, social skills, bullying, family relationships, and academic stress.
In a statement to FFXNow, the school system said it included funds for telemental health services “to reduce access barriers for youth requiring mental health services beyond those provided by FCPS school-based mental health professionals.”
Last year, the Fairfax County Youth Survey showed that students were more depressed than at any other time in the past decade. The report also found that specific groups, such as female, Hispanic, and LGBTQ students, were more likely to experience depression.
The data mirrors a nationwide issue. Last year, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported poor mental health among teens and children nationwide, with the pandemic compounding existing challenges like poverty and bullying.
FCPS said it contracted Hazel following a competitive process that began last spring and that the company previously provided services to several large school divisions.
The school system allocated $500,000 in its current budget to hire the company, which was initially expected to launch a pilot program in January but got delayed, WTOP previously reported.
“Hazel is HIPAA and FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)-compliant, and their services incorporate practices that encourage parent engagement and ensure student safety,” the school system said in its statement.
How to access services:
- Parents permit FCPS to share basic demographic information with Hazel
- Request mental health services by visiting the Hazel website
- Provide consent for Hazel Mental Health Services on the Hazel website
According to FCPS, the teletherapy will be available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual,” FCPS said in a newsletter earlier this month. “More than 15 languages are available.”
Hazel will help connect students to long-term care if needed after therapy sessions are completed.
A new rental community for older adults has officially opened its doors in Herndon.
Brightview Senior Living opened its 46th community at Dulles Corner (13700 Magna Way) this month. The 196-unit apartment building is part of a project with a library, fitness studios, pub, movie theater, salon and art studio, along with an outdoor garden area with a covered porch.
Doug Dollenburg, president and CEO of Brightview Senior Living, said the placement of the Herndon location follows a trend of embedding senior living communities into the larger community.
“Innovation Center Station is a $1B+ investment with the intent to offer a thoughtful live, work and play neighborhood in a convenient location,” Dollenburg wrote in a statement. “With Brightview in that mix, it provides residents and their families a truly multi-generational experience. Vibrancy and socialization are at the core of Brightview’s method; and this location ensures residents can stay active and involved beyond the walls of Brightview.”
The Herndon location is the company’s fourth in Fairfax County, joining facilities in Great Falls, Fair Oaks and Annandale.
It includes a mix of independent living, assisted living and memory care rental apartments. The units are available with no major entrance fee, according to the company.
Why D.C. Area Could Smell North Carolina Wildfire — “Weather models indicate that low-level winds, around or below 2,500 feet, have been generally blowing from eastern North Carolina toward D.C., Maryland and Virginia at about 20 to 45 mph since early Monday morning. That probably was strong enough to transport the smoke into the D.C. area by about midday” [Capital Weather Gang]
Route 1 Widening Already Displacing Local Businesses — “Stubbs’ angst about his shrinking business is due to the expansion of a 3.1-mile section of Richmond Highway in the Alexandria portion of Fairfax County, near Mount Vernon — a project that is already starting to displace businesses along the strip even though construction isn’t expected to start until 2027.” [DCist]
FCPS Considers Dress Code Changes — “Changes may be coming to Fairfax County Public Schools’ dress code, including one that would prohibit students from wearing pajamas or sleepwear to class…Students also wouldn’t be allowed to wear jackets with hoods up during class time or in the time in the hallways between classes.” [WTOP]
McLean Woman Convicted of Murder Faces 78 Years in Jail — “A Fairfax County jury recommended Monday that a 37-year-old McLean, Va., woman be sentenced to 78 years in prison for fatally shooting her two daughters in her apartment in 2018. Veronica Youngblood was convicted Wednesday of two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of her daughters” [The Washington Post]
FCPS Employee Joins School Board Race — “A longtime former Fairfax County Public Schools interpreter and family liaison employee announced Friday that she is running for the open Franconia District seat on the county school board. Marcia St. John-Cunning, who currently serves as the community school coordinator at Mt. Vernon Woods Elementary School…is hoping to succeed Tammy Derenak Kaufax, who announced in January that she would not seek re-election” [Patch]
Springfield House That FCPS Students Helped Build Hits Market — A single-family home in the Spring Village Estates at 7429 Foundation Way will hit the market Thursday (March 30) for $1.3 million. The house was built with the assistance of students in the Foundation for Applied Technical Education Inc., or FATE, a career education nonprofit. [Washington Business Journal]
Army Museum Working on New Event Space — “Construction is largely complete, and landscaping has begun on the National Museum of the U.S. Army’s new outdoor space known as Warriors’ Plaza and Field, according to the Army Historical Foundation…Warriors’ Plaza will include stones collected from the Pentagon after the 9/11 attack,” among other features. [On the MoVe]
Vienna Parking Lot to Close for a Day — “The parking lot right off Ayr Hill Avenue NE and directly across from the Train Depot will be closed for scheduled maintenance this Thursday, March 30.” The procedure is needed to ensure the lot can continue draining water. Vehicles parked there after dark tomorrow (Wednesday) night will be towed. [Town of Vienna, W&OD Trail/Twitter]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 56 and low of 44. Sunrise at 7:00 am and sunset at 7:29 pm. [Weather.gov]
Local organizations are exploring the possibility of creating a new icon for Reston.
The icon would serve as a local, visible symbol that would be memorialized in sculptures across the community. The symbol would be available for local businesses, corporations and residents to display as a fundraising effort that will provide money for public art.
Friends of Reston, Reston Association, Public Art Reston and other community partners are collaborating on the project.
At a March 23 meeting of the Reston Association Board of Directors, chairwoman Sarah Selvaraj-D’Souza presented the project, following up on a previous presentation to the board in July. RA is the funding beneficiary of the project, while Friends of Reston is leading the fundraising efforts.
The icon will be selected from a list of four choices: a blue heron, woodpecker, a fox, or a write-in animal.
“The infrastructure is us, which is our underpasses and our spillway,” D’Souza said. She hopes that the project will be unveiled at RA’s annual membership meeting on April 11.
Jennifer Jushchuk said she was confused about RA’s role in the project.
“Is there money that’s involved? Is there staff time that is involved?” Jushchuk inquired.
Board member Travis Johnson said he was confused about the scope of the project and the placement of the icon.
“I see the word ‘icon’ and it just concerns me a little,” Johnson said.
The winning selection will be fabricated into a cast sulphur to be painted and auctioned off for future public art projects in Reston.
Selvaraj-D’Souza noted that other communities have similar projects. Norfolk has a mermaid, while D.C. has donkeys and elephants — the animals representing the country’s two major political parties — as well as pandas. She hopes the funds will be used to pay for public art projects on RA’s underpasses.
Board member John Farrell noted that the Walker Nature Center — which is operated by RA — already uses a pileated woodpecker, suggesting that additional animal-centric icons could create confusion.
But board member Margaret Perry, who expressed support for the program, noted that the center also uses a squirrel and turtle in some of its programming.
“We’ve already shot ourselves in the foot there,” Perry said.
