Voting for Reston Association’s Board of Directors’ election closes on March 31.
This year, 10 candidates are vying for five seats on the nine-member board. The results of the election will be announced at the annual members’ meeting in April.
The month-long voting period kicked off on March 1 at 5 p.m.
RA organized two virtual candidate forums in late February.
Margaret Perry is seeking an at-large candidate seat for three years. A Reston resident and RA member for more than 12 years, Perry says she hopes to boost active engagement of RA members, work towards an improved website, work with staff to improvve organizational functionally and procedures and find “fiscally responsible ways to maintain, improve and add additional facilities,” according to her candidate statement.
She is running against John Farrell, who has lived in Reston for nearly 40 years and currently serves on the board.
If elected, Farrell — who is also running for state delegate — says he would “demand all new residential development join Reston Association” in an effect to reduce annual assessments and demand recreational money from residential developers to pay for pools, tennis courts and other amenities.
Gene Zapfel, who recently retired from a career in consulting and technology management, hopes to maintain Reston’s “small-town cluster feel” while improving the community experience for current and future residents. He also hopes to balance the “explosive” growth in Reston’s Transit Station Areas with the “human-scale lifestyle” of surrounding areas.
Mike Collins, who has served on the board for the last three years, is seeking a three-year term as the apartment owners’ candidate.
“My main goal on the board will be to continue to make sure that RA maintains its focus on enhancing property values for members,” Collins wrote in a candidate statement.
He added that the board should not “let internal challenges and political issues distract us from this mission.”
Jalal Mapar, who has lived in Reston for more than 30 years, is vying for a two-year at-large seat. He hopes to establish a strategic plan to maintain Reston’s infrastructure and ensure the efficient use of resources to meet member needs.
Trevor Grywatch, the director of a global consulting firm, is vying for the same position. He hopes to maintain open and green space in the community and explore possibilities for a “more data-drive approach to, and, presentation of, RA’s current business practices.”
For the one-year at-large candidate seat, Michael Brandland, a Reston resident since 2014, hopes to “get all activities in Reston the proper distribution of funds and amenities equal to the number of participants,” according to his candidate statement.
Bob Petrine — a board member for the last three years — is also vying for that position. He hopes to focus on fiscal stewardship, active engagement of membership and advocacy for the community.
Although the seat for Hunters Woods/Dogwood director is not contested, a quorum of 19% of eligible voters is required to officiate the results. Travis Johnson, a Reston resident for more than 14 years, is running for that seat.
He hopes to work with staff to “improve the Association processes that serve Restonians, to use the technology available to us in the 21st Century to more effectively communicate with Restonians and to make all Restonians feel included in the community,” he wrote.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors isn’t holding a public hearing on its proposed salary increases until Tuesday (March 21), but some county workers have already made their opposition known.
A union representing over 2,000 county government employees criticized the proposal as a blow to workers, whose projected pay raises aren’t expected to be fully funded in the county’s next budget.
“Despite our calls for wage fairness for county employees, it appears the County has another priority — raises for politicians,” SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax President Tammie Wondong said. “A meager 2% raise combined with the crushing weight of wage compression has left us feeling devalued. When employees have to work multiple jobs to get by or can’t afford to live in the county, it’s clear change is needed.”
With 33 years of work for the county under her belt, Wondong says the disparity between what the board is considering for itself compared to employees illustrates the need for “a union contract to achieve pay fairness.”
The Board of Supervisors approved collective bargaining in October 2021, but the Fire and Rescue Department is the only unit to officially elect a union representative so far.
Put forward by Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust on March 7, the raises would push the salaries for board members up from $95,000 to $124,000-130,000 per year and from $100,000 to $140,000-145,000 a year for the board chair.
The high end of those ranges would amount to pay bumps of nearly 37% for supervisors and 45% for the chair. Both positions last got raises in 2015.
Foust, who’s retiring at the end of December, says higher compensation will encourage candidates to run for supervisor, a position that carries full-time commitments but is treated as a part-time job in Virginia.
As I leave, I know it is critically important that we continue to attract great candidates from all backgrounds and stages of life to serve on the Board. The opportunity to serve is itself very rewarding. However, I believe it is in the best interest of the County that Supervisor compensation be set at a level that will enable anyone to serve regardless of their personal circumstances, and not just those who are wealthy or have other sources of income. I believe that increasing Supervisor pay for the first time in 8 years will advance that goal. I recognize that others have raised concerns and I look forward to the public hearing that will be held on March 21.
“I hope that through my service I have demonstrated that I care very much about the residents and employees of Fairfax County,” he said in a statement to FFXnow.
However, the challenge of affording housing, child care and other living expenses that some supervisors mentioned during their March 7 meeting also poses an obstacle to other county workers, like teachers and police, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers President David Walrod said.
About 1 in 7 Fairfax County employees can’t afford to live where they work, according to a 2021 analysis by The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI), a Richmond-based think tank.
“I’d never want to minimize the importance of the Board of Supervisors,” Walrod said. “But the reality is that if they are finding it difficult to maintain their homes and find childcare at $90,000, and require 47% raises to make ends meet, they should consider what that means for the county’s public employees who make significantly less.”
The county forecast in November that workers should get a 5.4% market rate adjustment (MRA) — the highest in more than 25 years due primarily to inflation, County Executive Bryan Hill said in a letter on his proposed budget for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1.
Faced with an $86 million price tag, Hill included a 2% MRA in the advertised budget, prioritizing merit, longevity and performance increases instead.
Lauren Tumbleson, a social services worker for the county and member of SEIU Virginia 512, said she and her coworkers were “shocked and dismayed” when they learned about the Board of Supervisors’ proposed raises.
“Whether it’s wage compression or raises that don’t keep pace with the cost of living, the County is showing that it doesn’t value our hard work and dedication,” she said. “We’ve been vocal about the need for pay fairness but leadership decided to propose a raise for themselves instead.”
County workers have gotten support for its objections from at least one state legislator.
Del. Holly Seibold, who was elected to represent the 35th House District in January, called the proposed raises “objectionable” in a March 8 statement, encouraging constituents to participate in the upcoming public hearing.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors should prioritize funding for employees who need it the most, not increase their own pay. My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/7EHxjILdUO
— Holly Seibold (@HollySeiboldVA) March 8, 2023
A former teacher with a master’s degree, Seibold said she would need to work for 18 years from a starting salary of around $58,000 to match the supervisors’ current pay, which is still more than the $38,000 that a county records clerk makes annually on average.
“I expect the board to make responsible decisions or I would be open to creating oversight to ensure that they do,” she said, noting that she has a second job so that she can serve as delegate, which pays $17,000 a year.
When asked to elaborate, Seibold told FFXnow that the General Assembly has existing committees that can be assigned to provide oversight for localities.
“I thought it was important to publicly comment on this issue because so many of my constituents — many of which were teachers, support staff, first responders, etc — contacted me and were upset over the increase in supervisor salaries, yet the wages of county employees remained low,” she said by email. “I, too, thought it was wrong — and believe it is important to stand up for what’s right.”
(Updated at 1:30 p.m. on 3/20/2023) Fairfax County is in the midst of deciding where nearly $25 million in funding for pedestrian and bicyclists improvements will be allocated.
After combing through more than 2,000 possible projects, staff have develop a draft list of prioritized projects, according to Michael Guarino, head of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s capital projects division.
At a Board of Supervisors transportation committee meeting on Tuesday (March 14), Guarino said the county is using spatial analysis tools to help sift through roughly 2,800 unfunded projects and project requests. The list was then further pared down by examining network connectivity and trip generators.
“We’re using technology as best as we can. I think are areas where we can do it more. Overall, the process is working the way we want it to, it’s just taking longer than we want it to,” Guarino said.
The decision is part of the county’s $100 million commitment to support active or non-motorized transportation access and safety improvements.
The first $5 million in funding, approved in November 2022, included $2 million for trail maintenance, $2.7 million for crosswalk projects, and $200,000 for a safe routes project near Bush Hill Elementary School. An additional $100,000 was allocated to speed feedback signs for the Fairfax County Police Department.
As part of the next cycle, $2.3 million for crosswalk projects has already been approved, along with $400,000 to repair and replace existing rapid flashing beacons through fiscal year 2028.
Board members lauded staff for the methodology used to create the draft list.
“It was very well done the way you pulled this all together,” Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said.
The county plans to seek additional money for pedestrian intersection improvements at Blake Lane and Bushman Drive in Oakton as well as Beverly Road at Old Dominion Drive and Elm Street at Old Dominion Drive in McLean after missing out on a federal grant.
The county did not receive the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant due to a lack of needed data to back up claims for the need for the projects, along with the projects not being ready to build yet, Guarino said.
Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross noted that some projects can take years to come to fruition. She said it took nearly 37 years to install sidewalks on Sleepy Hollow Road — a project that is currently under construction.
“It wasn’t all the county’s fault,” Gross said, adding that an iterative process will ensure that projects are shovel-ready.
The proposed list of active transportation projects includes:
- Curb ramps and marked crosswalks at Sunset Hills Road and Reston Station Blvd
- Improvements at Lockheed Blvd from Hybla Valley Elementary School to Huntley Meadows Park
- Gum Springs Trail
- A sidewalk on westbound Route 7 from Magnolia Avenue in front of 5930 Leesburg Pike
- Vale Road and Flint Hill Road crosswalk improvements near Flint Hill Elementary School
- Crosswalk improvements at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street
- Lorton Station Blvd and Potomac Bend crosswalk improvements
- Preliminary design for a Tuttle Road trail connection to Hillside Road
- Rolling Road and Grigsby Drive crosswalk improvements
- Fair Lakes Blvd and Sedghurst Drive crosswalk improvements
- Projects from the West Falls Church and Huntington Metro area active transportation studies
- Saint Germain Drive and Machen Road intersection improvements
- Eskridge Road crosswalk improvements
- Roughly $400,000 for additional Fairfax County Park Authority trail maintenance
Staff also proposed reserving funds to cover consultant fees for assistance in prioritizing projects and creating a contingency fund for cost overruns and other considerations.
The county expects to finalize the list of allocations for board consideration at a April 11 meeting. The prioritization process would continue in the fall to determine how any carryover money from the current fiscal year 2023 cycle will be allocated.
Updated at 4:05 p.m. — Yesterday’s meeting on a potential Lake Audubon renaming was suspended after 20 minutes due to a medical emergency. The meeting will be rescheduled, but an exact date hasn’t been determined yet, Reston Association spokesperson Mike Leone says.
Earlier: Months after floating the possibility of a name change for Lake Audubon, Reston Association is beginning initial conversations with the community.
RA planned to hold a meeting on the idea of renaming the lake yesterday (Thursday) at the Walker Nature Center.
The meeting was strictly intended to “explore community sentiment on whether to rename Lake Audubon,” RA spokesperson Mike Leone said.
Leone told FFXnow that the meeting focused on getting input from members in the area around the lake on the possibility of a name change.
“Currently, no other meetings or discussions are scheduled on the renaming,” Leone wrote in a statement.
RA’s Board of Directors first pitched the idea at a December meeting. The motion was suggested by at-large director John Farrell, who later announced that he is running in the state delegate race to succeed Ken Plum.
Farrell is also seeking to retain his seat on the RA board, which has an election now underway.
The lake is named after 19th century artist and known enslaver John James Audubon.
In October 2021, the Audubon Naturalist Society — a major D.C. area conservation group — said it will change its name due to the “pain” caused by Audubon. The organization is now called Nature Forward.
The National Audubon Society, however, voted earlier this week to keep its name, even as local chapters of the bird conservation nonprofit — including the one in D.C. — move to drop it.
Strep Throat Diagnoses Rise in Fairfax County — “Data from emergency departments and urgent care centers in the community have shown an increase in the number of people who have been diagnosed with strep throat since late January 2023. For the week of March 5-11, there were more visits to ED and urgent care facilities for strep throat than at any time in the past 3 years” [Fairfax County Health Department]
BB Gun Appears During Fight at Annandale HS — “Video obtained by 7News captured a fight at Annandale High School in Fairfax County Wednesday where a BB gun ended up falling to the floor…Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) also confirmed to 7News the presence of the BB gun following the fight during a ‘class change.'” [ABC7]
Tysons Developers Pivot Away From Office — “Cityline Partners still has 4M SF of office space planned at its Scotts Run development in Tysons, but the only projects moving ahead at the vast site near the McLean Metro station are multifamily and hotel. With the region’s already weak office market not expected to recover in the near future, that trend is poised to continue.” [Bisnow]
West Springfield Student Wins Landmark Wrestling Title — “Elaina Primozic won the first Virginia girls wrestling state meet. Elaina entered the wrestling team as a manager, but after a few weeks, she emailed the coach to join the team. Elaina finished the season by winning the 156-pound title at the first Virginia High School League girls’ championships.” [FCPS/Facebook]
Board Chair Frustrated by Maryland’s Beltway Project Delays — “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay (D) called Transurban’s decision in Maryland a setback to needed improvements at the American Legion Bridge, one of Fairfax County’s biggest traffic bottlenecks, and said the outcome was not in the long-term interest of Virginia or Maryland.” [Gazette Leader]
Mount Vernon Post Office Stays in Place — “The post office at Mount Vernon Plaza will remain in business at its current location, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) confirmed March 15 to On the MoVe.” The Washington Business Journal reported in December that the shopping center’s property manager had “filed suit against the USPS for unpaid rent,” giving the post office until Feb. 28 to vacate. [On the MoVe]
Herndon Library Gets “Maker Lab” — “The Maker Lab @ Herndon is a space designed for people who love to learn, discover, and explore…You will have access to a variety of tools and equipment, including a 3D printer, sewing machines, robots and more.” The facility’s grand opening will be celebrated tomorrow (Saturday) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Library]
Fairfax Woman Competes in Beauty Pageant — “On Saturday, Fairfax City resident Amini Bonane will be pursuing her quest to become the first Congolese woman to be crowned Miss Africa USA…Patch recently interviewed Bonane to find out about her experience growing up in Fairfax City and what led up to her becoming a Miss Africa USA contestant.” [Patch]
Nearby: Baby Bald Eagle Hatches in Loudoun — “On Tuesday, the eaglet hatched in the nest along the Dulles Greenway. The eaglet’s parents — Rosa and Martin — have two more eggs they’re incubating in the nest in a wetlands area of Leesburg, so wildlife experts are watching closely for those to hatch sometime this week.” [The Washington Post]
It’s Friday — Possible light rain in the afternoon and evening. High of 60 and low of 45. Sunrise at 7:18 am and sunset at 7:18 pm. [Weather.gov]
The Town of Herndon is instituting uniform sign standards in an effort to manage consistent design that fits its character and architectural context.
The proposal, which was adopted by the Historic District Review Board yesterday (Wednesday), would also streamline the number of cases that go before that board and the town’s Architectural Review Board.
“These standards give direction on the ways in which signage can serve practical needs while contributing to Town character and appearance,” the new design standards say.
Specific standards laid out for the town’s Historic District Overlay area say signs should typically follow a consistent design palette and ethic. The rules also discourage the use of standardized designs and colors that clash with the overall aesthetic of buildings.
“Creative and artistic designs are encouraged to enhance liveliness and visual interest,” the design standards say.
The guidelines also detail considerations for projecting signs, wall signs, free standing signs, canopy signs and awning signs. Similar standards are considered for the town’s Architectural Control District.
At a previous work session, board members said the design standards were too broad and not restrictive enough.
But in a March 15 memo, Herndon Deputy Director of Community Development Bryce Perry said that the board did not provide additional comments on possible changes.
“Staff is open to suggestions on how to add further specific to the standards,” Perry said, adding that additional specificity is included in other documents like the downtown pattern book.
He said the guidelines are crafted “purposefully to cover broad design considerations that could be applied to all sign cases.”
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay plans to introduce a board matter next week that would direct county staff to analyze a road safety measure called turn calming.
The measure would direct staff to look at cities like Portland and New York City that have established turn calming programs, as recommended in a March 1 letter from the county’s Trails, Sidewalks and Bikeways (TSB) Committee.
McKay plans to introduce the matter when the board meets Tuesday (March 21).
“When it comes to pedestrian safety in particular, we need every possible tool in our tool box,” McKay told FFXnow.
After a year that saw a high number of pedestrian fatalities in Fairfax County, the TSB wrote to McKay endorsing a turn-calming program as one way to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the county.
A turn calming program would make alterations to intersections with the goal of bringing down vehicle speeds during turns and reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
In an addendum to the letter, the TSB points to an education campaign, physical improvements such as “hardened” center lines, and other strategies as “essential components” of a turn calming program.
Shawn Newman, who represents the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling on the TSB, says turn calming would push transportation planners to rethink how intersections are designed.
Right now, many right turn corners in the county are designed so that cars can make them at “a relatively high rate of speed,” he explained.
“A simple fix such as bumping the corner out a bit and making it closer to a 90-degree angle will force vehicles to slow down and be more careful on the turn,” Newman said. “Left turns can also be made safer by extending out the median to again force vehicles to slow down and drive more carefully.”
According to the TSB committee’s letter, intersections were the location of 54, or 45%, of the county’s pedestrian-involved vehicular crashes recorded in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Crash Analysis Tool between 2015 and October 2022.
“Intersection-related accidents are likely due to several factors that would be addressed by a turn-calming program: many drivers are traveling at too high a speed through intersections, cut corners and accelerate through intersections, and have limited awareness of potential presence of pedestrians,” TSB Chairman Kenneth Comer wrote in the letter.
The TSB letter comes after the Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed a Safe Streets for All program in May 2022. The letter identifies a turn calming program as the “most promising” step to prioritize along the county’s major arterial roads in addition to the program’s recommendations.
“It’s good that they passed that…but it hasn’t accomplished its goal yet,” Newman said. “The streets are not safe yet.”
VDOT maintains practically all of the county’s public roads, so the state agency would have to be involved. If the measures work, McKay says he would fight for them to be implemented.
“I don’t want to spend any resources on things that don’t statistically work,” McKay said.
The TSB letter also recommends the county resist any efforts by VDOT to remove a crosswalk at the Braddock Road and Kings Park Drive intersection in West Springfield, where a pedestrian was killed in December.
The design phase of the renovation at Reston’s Armstrong Elementary School is nearly complete.
The project — which would boost the building’s design capacity from 784 to 800 students and add 126,00 square feet of space — is on track to begin construction in the spring of 2024.
Completion is expected in the summer of 2026, according to project staff.
It will include a revamped administrative wing with a new main entrance, a new library, a new extension of a classroom wing, and two new Pre-K classrooms. Renovations are also planned for general learning classrooms and support spaces, bathrooms, plumbing and mechanical systems, and new outdoor play areas.
A community meeting on the project is slated for tonight (Thursday) in the school cafeteria of the school (11900 Lake Newport Road). The hour-long meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Because the project is in the design stage, only minor changes may be incorporated.
“At this stage in the design process, no major changes may be made but small adjustments may be considered,” Fairfax County Public Schools says.
It’s led by architect Hord Coplan Macht, with civil engineering by Pennoni and structural engineering by Ehlert Byran.
Permitting is expect to take roughly a year, according to a staff presentation. The project is funded by a 2021 bond.
The school currently has 362 students enrolled. It is ranked 49 of 63 schools in the school system’s renovations queue, which was approved in 2009.
Man Arrested for Pointing Laser at Police Chopper — Fairfax County police detectives arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly pointing a laser at the department’s Fairfax 1 helicopter around 11:25 p.m. on Saturday (March 11). The Fairfax 1 crew was assisting Virginia State Police with a search and traced the laser’s source to an apartment in the 9200 block of Ashland Woods Lane. [FCPD/Facebook]
Dunn Loring Metro Escalator Replacements Underway — Metro began work on Monday (March 13) to replace the two platform escalators at the Dunn Loring station, part of a push to upgrade 130 escalators in the rail system by 2028. Construction will be done on one escalator at a time, with the open one being treated as stairs. The project is expected to take about eight months, finishing around the end of October. [WMATA]
Park in Springfield Gets New Name — The Franconia District’s transition continues with the Fairfax County Park Authority Board approving “Grove Point Park” as the new name of Franconia District Park. The move avoids confusion with Franconia Park in Groveton — formerly known as Lee District Park — and helps “connect the new name of the park with surrounding neighborhoods.” [FCPA]
Chantilly Pizza Chain Eyes Expansion — “More than a decade after selling its first Italian restaurant franchise, Paisano’s plans a major expansion that would nearly double its D.C.-area footprint, and stretch it much further along the East Coast. The pizza chain, with more than two-dozen Greater Washington locations and roughly 75 in all, aims to add 200 total new spots by 2026.” [Washington Business Journal]
Renovated Merrifield Office Building Features ‘Treehouse’ — “Bridge Investment Group recently completed amenity renovations to Willow Oaks Corporate Center at 8280 Willow Oaks Corporate Boulevard…Renovations include the run-of-the-mill amenity updates, like a fitness center, coffee bars and a new cafe, but the renovation at the top of the building is a little different.” [WTOP]
Laser Hair Removal Clinic Opens in Tysons — LaserAway has opened its doors at The Boro. The company provides laser hair and tattoo removals as well as skin care services and products. Also at The Boro, ShowPlace ICON Theatre is reviving its $5 Tuesdays discounts this spring, which will be valid all day for all movies. [The Boro/Tysons Today]
GMU Backs Bringing FBI HQ to Springfield — “George Mason University is throwing its support behind the effort to attract the new FBI headquarters to Springfield, citing its academic programs that align with the FBI’s interests and its three campuses near the proposed site.” [Patch]
County Seeks Performers for New Farmers Market Season — “The Fairfax County Farmers Markets are seeking musicians to perform at local farmers markets. Musicians and singers are invited to apply online through the Music at Market website…Farmers markets are open Wednesdays through Sundays from April until December” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 59 and low of 33. Sunrise at 7:19 am and sunset at 7:17 pm. [Weather.gov]
Pitches from developers for land use changes in Reston’s transit areas are on a different track as the county considers dozens of similar nominations throughout Fairfax County as part of its Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process.
Unlike other areas of the county, Reston Transit Station area applications have been set aside for special study and deferred until a years-long process to update Reston’s Comprehensive Plan is completed, according to the county.
Other applications throughout the county are being placed in a draft work program that will determine how their study is prioritized. In the Dranesville District, for example, applications for the Innovation Center area were placed in the first tier — the highest priority — of the program.
In a statement, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the draft work program identifies Reston site nominations for future study after the overall plan amendment is completed.
“This process will ensure that the latest Comprehensive Plan for Reston is used in the review of proposed site-specific changes in the area,” Alcorn said.
Most nominations in Reston’s transit area pushed for more residential uses in lieu of or in addition to office uses.
The county plans to publish a staff report on its recommendations this spring, followed by a series of public hearings before the planning commission and Board of Supervisors in the summer. Adoption of the proposed changes is also expected this summer.
The effort first kicked off in January 2020.
The next planning commission workshop on the proposed Reston comprehensive plan is set for March 30 at 7:30 p.m. and will be streamed on Channel 16.
The Hunter Mill District received the highest number of SSPA nominations. Overall, the county received 75 nominations.
The Board of Supervisors selected the nominations currently under review by staff and the planning commission on Dec. 6. This review is evaluating if the proposals are consistent with county policies and priorities relative to other planning considerations.
The planning commission has been holding public workshops on the various nominations throughout March, concluding on March 23 with one focused on proposals in the Hunter Mill and Providence districts.
“We anticipate the final vote will be at the March 29 Planning Commission meeting,” said Leanna Hush O’Donnell, planning division director for the county’s Department of Planning and Development. “The final screening decision point will be the Board’s action on the work program, scheduled as an action item on April 11.”
A new anti-aging treatment center called Serotonin is opening two locations in Fairfax County.
Seratonin Center, which describes itself as a human longevity treatment franchise, plans to open in Reston and Great Falls.
The company has also identified locations in Sterling and Ashburn. The franchises are operated by Brian Weinstein, a Marine Corps veteran who owns two senior home care franchises.
“Much in the same way that my senior-care businesses exist to improve quality of life, owning multiple Serotonin Centers franchises gives me an opportunity to extend that mission in a different way to a wider demographic of people,” Weinstein said.
While the exact locations have not yet been made public, a company spokesperson tells FFXnow that the site selection process is currently underway in Reston.
The centers offer a tiered-membership model include hormone restoration, aesthetic enhancements, weight management and immunity recovery treatments.
The company kicked in Florida and began franchising in 2021. There are currently 43 new franchise agreements in the works, according to the company.
Fairfax Student Hospitalized After Possible Overdose — “Just hours after a student suffered a possible overdose at Fairfax High School on Monday, the school district held a meeting with parents to discuss the school system’s growing drug problem. Rescue crews rushed to the high school after a male student was suspected of overdosing on fentanyl, according to 911 dispatch.” [NBC4]
Medicaid Enrollment Requirements Resume — After letting all Medicaid members stay covered during the first years of the pandemic, all states are now reevaluating members’ eligibility. Coverage won’t be canceled or reduced before Virginia reaches out to each person, but members should update their contact information to ensure they get the notification. [Fairfax County Public Assistance and Employment Services]
Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against FCPS Advances — A student’s lawsuit filed in 2019 alleges that Fairfax County Public Schools officials ignored and retaliated against her when she reported being sexually assaulted at Herndon’s Carson Middle School a decade ago. A judge allowed the case to move forward on Friday (March 10), but FCPS said “several counts” against it were dismissed. [FOX5]
Rock Band Acquires Springfield Vinyl Records Company — “Bay Area rock legends Metallica have purchased a majority interest in a Northern Virginia record-pressing company. Furnace Record Pressing, located in 6315 Bren Mar Drive…said Tuesday the acquisition formalizes a long-standing relationship between the company and the hard-rock pioneers.” [Washington Business Journal]
Residents Weigh in on Potential Rose Hill Redevelopment — At a planning commission workshop, community members voiced both support for and opposition to mixed-use development at Rose Hill Plaza. Some residents argued that the shopping center has no need for a revitalization, while others called the proposal “a good opportunity to transform the large parking lot” with more housing and improved walkability. [Patch]
Sushi Restaurant Coming to Gunston Plaza — Sushi Queen, which originated in Sterling, has leased 4,000 square feet of space at 7730 Gunston Plaza. The all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant will follow in the footsteps of the Middle Eastern Rana Café and American’s Best Wings, which opened at the Lorton shopping center in January. [On the MoVe]
Tysons Events Company Goes Private Again — “Tysons events software giant Cvent Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: CVT) has reached a deal to go private again via a sale to private equity firm Blackstone Inc. (NYSE: BX) that values the local company at $4.6 billion…The deal is expected to close in ‘mid-2023,’ the companies said in an announcement.” [WBJ]
Unemployment Rises in Virginia — “Virginia has one of the lowest state unemployment rates in the nation, but it rose last month and is now higher than it was a year ago. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Virginia’s unemployment rate in January was 3.2%, up from 3.1% in December, and up from 2.9% in January 2022.” [WTOP]
Animal Shelter Plans St. Patrick’s Day Adoption Event — “Adopt Your Lucky Charm Adoption Event, this Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19. All dog adopters can pick their adoption fee from the lucky pot o’ gold! Adoption fees will range from $5 to $25 for all dogs adopted during this event. View all our available dogs (and other pets!) online” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Facebook]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 30. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 7:16 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Hundreds of people in Fairfax County have lost electricity today (Tuesday) as winds buffet the D.C. region, taking out power lines and contributing to at least one fire.
Georgetown Pike is currently closed in both directions at Miller Avenue in Great Falls due to a tree that fell on power lines and “a resulting fire,” the Virginia Department of Transportation said shortly after 1 p.m.
The closure extends between Stephanie Circle and Ellsworth Avenue, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“Expect delays for several hours as emergency and utility crews clear the scene,” VDOT tweeted.
#GreatFalls: Georgetown Pike at Miller Rd closed in both directions for a fallen tree on power lines and a resulting fire. Expect delays for several hours as emergency and utility crews clear the scene. #VATraffic #NOVA #DMVTraffic pic.twitter.com/okCC4QQeQ5
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 14, 2023
TRAFFIC ALERT: Georgetown Pike is closed between Stephanie Circle and Ellsworth Avenue in Great Falls due to a tree on wires. The closure is expected to last several hours. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/2n569vx8t1
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) March 14, 2023
That one outage has affected 277 Dominion Energy customers, according to the utility company’s outage map. Power isn’t expected to be restored there until 4-9 p.m.
Further south in the Vienna and Oakton area, Dominion crews are assessing the damage caused by the wind storm in the Lake Vale neighborhood. Power is now being restored to over 800 customers.
Vale Road has been closed between Hunter Mill Road and Stryker Avenue due to fallen power lines, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“The closure is expected to last several hours. Please use an alternate route,” the FCPD said.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Vale Rd is closed between Hunter Mill Rd and Stryker Ave in Vienna due to power lines in the roadway. The closure is expected to last several hours. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/fbWvWKo1k7
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) March 14, 2023
While those are the largest outages reported so far, power losses and road closures due to fallen wires have been seen across the county today. As of 1:50 p.m., about 1,268 Dominion Energy customers in the county were without power.
The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory that took effect at 9 a.m. today and will remain in place until 2 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
Winds have been consistently exceeding 40 mph, with some gusts topping 50 mph, according to the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang.
The Wind Advisory has been updated and is now in effect from 9 AM this morning (3/14/23) to 2 AM Wednesday (3/15/23).
Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects. pic.twitter.com/CGgjWXbXsW
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) March 14, 2023
A #windadvisory is in effect until 2 a.m.
Here’s a list of who to contact if you see a downed tree or wires: https://t.co/PGVTIaoj2z
If there’s an immediate life-safety issue, call or text 9-1-1. pic.twitter.com/yIRKqS0u8Y
— Fairfax County Government
(@fairfaxcounty) March 14, 2023
Not a fun day outside, DC. Temps barely above 40 and winds pretty consistently gusting over 40 mph. Here are peak gusts so far- a few spots topping 50 mph. pic.twitter.com/yiTYLHwSBs
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) March 14, 2023
Several Fairfax County restaurants are joining in Spring Wine Fling — a nearly two-week stretch of wine and dinner specials on offer around the region.
The special is set to run from Monday, March 20 through Friday, March 31.
Across Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia, restaurants will offer a $55 dinner with an appetizer, entree and two one pairings. Each restaurant has their own selection of wine pairings with certain entrees.
In Fairfax County, participating locations include:
- Alta Strada Mosaic (2911 District Avenue)
- Circa at The Boro (1675 Silver Hill Drive)
- Hamrock’s Restaurant (3950 Chain Bridge Road)
- Matchbox McLean (1340 Chain Bridge Road) and Matchbox Reston (1900 Reston Metro Plaza)
The event is being organized by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), the trade organization that also puts on the region’s biannual Restaurant Week.
A full list of participating locations can be found on the Spring Wine Fling website.
Photo via Alta Strada Mosaic/Facebook
(Updated at 12:05 p.m.) Fairfax County planners agree that proposed development changes to the Innovation Center area are a top planning priority in the county’s ongoing Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) process.
At a meeting on Thursday (March 9), the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted to preliminarily place the Innovation Center Transit Station Area (TSA) in the top tier of the county’s SSPA work program, which sets the framework for the county’s review of comprehensive planning studies and plan amendments.
All three nominations in the Innovation Center TSA seek more density and more residential uses than originally planned.
Dranesville District Planning Commissioner John Ulfelder said the area is need of closer examination and focused work by the county.
“This is an important area now that the Silver Line is open and operating,” Ulfelder said. “We really need to play close attention to it as soon as possible in order to make it viable and to maximize the appropriate uses there.”
The current SSPA cycle kicked off with applicants submitting about 70 nominations last year. Ones formally accepted for review by the Board of Supervisors in December are now being screened and evaluated.
In a white paper released earlier this month, county staff organized the nominations in three tiers, with the top tier featuring those located in key development areas and identified as the highest priority for staff resources and timing.
So far, areas flagged as Tier 1 priorities include Fair Lakes, the Franconia triangle between Beulah Street, Franconia Road and Grovedale Drive and the Innovation Center TSA north of the Dulles Toll Road.
In the Innovation Center TSA, Peterson Companies is seeking the county’s permission to add 500 apartment units — a mix of which would be affordable — and a possible child care center at 13500 Dulles Green Drive. The project, called Innovation Center, would also include a county-owned parcel.
The Innovation Avenue plan for 2214, 2205, and 2210 Rock Hill Road seeks to boost the intensity of development near the former Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) office building and remove limits on the percentage of residential and office uses in the mix of uses.
A similar development called Rock Hill seeks to switch the development plan to mostly residential uses near the Innovation Center Metro station.
All three applications would be the focus of a combined study, according to staff.
The complexity of the proposed plan at Rivana at Innovation Station — which includes Loudoun County — requires close study, said Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter.
Franconia District Planning Commissioner Daniel Lagana emphasized the county’s need to continue collaborating with Loudoun County as planning moves forward, particularly coordination within the existing and future road networks.
Lagana said he was pleased to learn that coordination is ongoing.
“When something happens in the city of Alexandria…we sort of kind of pay the price and I’m sure kind of vice versa,” Lagana said.
Of the 75 nominations submitted for review in October, 68 have moved forward for evaluation. The planning commission has a final workshop on March 23 and a mark-up session on the work program planned for March 29. The program will face a final vote by the Board of Supervisors on April 11.
