Don’t be surprised if you notice more cops on the road in the coming days.
The Fairfax County Police Department wants its officers to make their presence known this week with a “Road Shark” campaign intended to crack down on and deter aggressive and unsafe driving behaviors, such as speeding and distracting phone usage.
Joined by the Virginia State Police, which will also participate, the police department officially launched the first, week-long phase of the campaign yesterday (Monday).
“Traffic safety is community safety,” FCPD Deputy Chief for Operations Robert Blakley said outside the county’s Public Safety Headquarters. “…This offers us the opportunity to remind everybody to look down at that speedometer, set their mobile phone down and pay full time and attention to the conditions around them to increase traffic safety on our roadways.”
First introduced in 1999, Road Shark was supplanted over the years by other programs, but the FCPD has decided to revive it after the county saw an alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities last year.
There has been an increase in reckless driving throughout the county, including at the meet-ups of car enthusiasts that have become popular around the D.C. region, according to Blakley.
Already this week, police broke up an informal car meet on Willard Road in Chantilly after getting reports of “several cars driving recklessly,” the FCPD said in a Facebook post:
When officers tried to stop the cars from leaving, a 2001 BMW struck two marked Fairfax County Police cruisers. Officers took the 22-year-old driver into custody. He was charged with two counts of attempted malicious wounding of law enforcement, two counts of hit and run, driving while intoxicated and no operator’s license. He was held without bond. Thankfully, no officers or community members were hurt.
Blakley said the police department doesn’t have an issue with car meets, but participants should “respect the rules of private property and the laws on public highways and drive in a manner that’s safe and responsible and not going to get someone hurt or even killed.”
For the Road Shark campaign, officers have been instructed to be vigilant throughout their daily shifts for traffic violations, including speeding, distracted driving, school zone-related issues, and attempts to run red lights.
The campaign will particularly focus on locations known to see frequent crashes and other safety issues. Blakley pointed to Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road in Fairfax Station as an example.
Though enforcement is a major component, officers won’t necessarily issue more citations or warnings, Blakley said. Instead, the FCPD hopes that its increased visibility in the community — including having crime prevention and traffic safety officers work with local schools — will lead people to adjust how they drive.
The campaign will be conducted in four phases during this year, with this week marking the first phase.
“The majority of people who drive too fast or maybe make an unsafe lane change, they’re probably distracted or not intending to drive aggressively,” Blakley said. “…When we engage in high-visibility enforcement — lots of police, lots of blue lights throughout the area — it causes us to remember. ‘I’m going to watch my speedometer, I’m going to pay attention.’ And that’s really the goal of this whole campaign.”
Wind Advisory Expected Today — “There is a Wind Advisory in effect from 2 PM Tuesday (3/14/23) to 2 AM Wednesday (3/15/23). Northwest winds from 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected. Use extra caution when driving and secure objects that could blow around outside.” [Ready Fairfax/Twitter]
Fatal Car Crash Victim’s Family Not Satisfied With Sentencing — The family of a woman killed in a DWI crash on I-495 near Telegraph Road says prosecutors should’ve pursued higher charges. The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney sought 10 years in prison for former D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commission chairperson Devon Lesesne, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, but Judge John Tran sentenced him to just four years, one of which has already been served. [WUSA9]
Metro Sees Low Initial Ridership for Silver Line Phase 2 Stations — “Figures from the extension’s first months show light usage at new stations…Regional leaders and transit officials, whose expectations have been reshaped by the realities of the pandemic, say they are optimistic after the slow start.” [The Washington Post]
Former School Board Member Seeks to Return — “Former school board member Ilyrong Moon kicked off his campaign on Saturday for one of the three at-large seats on the Fairfax County School Board…From 2004-2019, Moon was an at-large member on the school board, twice serving as its chairman.” [Patch]
County Updates Covid Vaccine Data Display — The dashboard now aligns “with current vaccine recommendations and new measures reported by the Virginia Department of Health…In the Fairfax Health District, about 24% of people 6 months and older have gotten an updated booster dose. Nationally, about 16% of the population has received an updated booster dose.” [FCHD]
Fairfax City Restaurant Week Extended — “Fairfax Economic Development Authority and the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce are extending the sixth annual Fairfax City Restaurant Week for a second week. From Monday, March 13 through Sunday, March 19, the city’s restaurant community will be offering a week-long selection of meals and deals.” [Patch]
Merrifield Gets New Art Gallery — “Mosaic Arts, the new art gallery next to the Mosaic District, is more than a showcase for local artists; the gallery also has a studio offering art classes…Sisters and artists Van Nguyen and Lynh Nguyen opened Mosaic Arts in December at 2931-B Eskridge Road…in the space formerly occupied by Auntie Te’s consignment shop.” [Annandale Today]
Springfield Photographer Wins International Award — “A photo of wildlife taken at Huntley Meadows Park was a winner in the 2022 World Nature Photography Awards, announced Feb. 20. The photo of a male Hooded Merganser won gold in the ‘behavior — birds’ category.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 43 and low of 33. Sunrise at 7:23 am and sunset at 7:15 pm. [Weather.gov]
An in-home care senior brand that hires active seniors to help less active seniors is taking off in Reston.
Veronique Coker, a stay-at-home mom for the last 11 years, plans to launch two brick-and-mortar locations of Seniors Helping Seniors in Reston and Centreville later this year.
“Their plan for success is to optimize the growth of their first locations to help seniors in the community,” Emily Gay, a spokesperson for the company, said.
The business applies Coker’s previous background in administration to business ownership. Coker found Seniors Helping Seniors through a franchise academy online that helps people get into business with franchising.
The idea of Seniors Helping Seniors stood out to Coker who loved the idea of helping people.
“She was already helping her elderly neighbors with caregiving so she had the experience herself,” Gay said.
The exact locations and opening dates for both franchises are still under wraps, but they’re expected to open within the next couple of months.
The business, which was founded in 1998, matches seniors who need mature, active women and meant to help them. It was co-founded by Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran worked with Mother Teresa for 14 years before moving from India to the United States.
The first in-home service opened in Pennsylvania.
A traffic improvement plan along Spring Street may come with some challenges for local businesses owners at Herndon’s Sunset Business Park.
Some business owners say the improvement plan institutes changes that will limit the accessibility and visibility of the office park. Currently under construction, the $11.5 million project is expected to boost service levels along Spring Street and Herndon Parkway at their intersection and approaches.
Specifically, closing the median on Spring Street cuts off the park to customers as well as truck deliveries from the westbound direction. The limited ability to complete a westbound U-turn from Spring Street at Herndon Parkway also makes it challenging for customers to enter the park, some business owners say.
Paul Olsen, co-owner of local coffee shop and roastery Weird Brothers Co., said the project will continue to disrupt traffic flow over the next several years.
“This change to the primary entrance and traffic disruption will negatively impact these businesses dramatically, Olsen wrote in a statement. “This comes in the wake of our local businesses recovering from the negative impacts of the pandemic, operating under historically high inflation, and the current economic recession. Local small business is the backbone of any community, and it is especially true in the Town of Herndon.”
Anne Curtis, a spokesperson for the Town of Herndon, said the town will keep business owners and the public advised, as officials explore ways to improve access via the Herndon Parkway entrance.
“The project will improve congestion and increase safety, and to achieve these benefits there are necessary changes to the access to Sunset Business Park,” Curtis said.
Curtis also noted that a U-turn on Spring Street is allowed except during the evening from from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., “contrary to erroneous reports.”
Olsen’s letter to the council, which was drafted with other business owners and discussed at a town council work session earlier this month, calls on the town to complete a comprehensive and holistic analysis to explore changes to the plan to help small businesses in the parks:
The plan diverts all west bound traffic south on Herndon Parkway to the North Driveway, which is complicated with a small traffic circle and little visibility. This intersection is currently insufficient for current traffic volumes entering and exiting the business park on Herndon Parkway and will be exasperated by the increased traffic diverted from Spring Street. It is not intended to be the primary traffic ingress or egress for fifty businesses and Herndon’s small business core concentration. The majority of customer traffic to the Sunset Business Park comes from the east. Additionally, the business park does not have direct visibility or ownership of real estate on Herndon Parkway which complicates matters regarding the options for signage.
The town and the Virginia Department of Transportation first fielded similar concerns from area businesses in 2018.
At the time, officials noted that allowing vehicles to conduct U-turns at westbound Spring Street at Herndon Parkway would cause “significant conflict” with the northbound right-turn overlap. Backups would then possibly occur on Herndon Parkway.
The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously on Thursday (Mar. 9) to give public school teachers and staff collective bargaining rights.
The resolution gives employees the right to organize and elect a union that can negotiate labor contracts, including pay, benefits and work conditions.
The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2020 allowing local governments to give collective bargaining rights to public workers. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution for county employees the following year.
After more than a year of work, administrators with Fairfax County Public Schools presented a 22-page draft resolution to the school board in December.
Karl Frisch, the school board’s Providence District representative, introduced the motion during a school board meeting, saying collective bargaining will positively affect staff retention and student success.
“Everyone wins when teachers and staff have pay increases, better working conditions, reduced turnover, and workers have a seat at the decision-making table,” Frisch said.
The resolution states that the school board retains the right to determine budgets and can take necessary actions to carry out its mission during emergencies. It also guarantees workers the right “to engage in informal conversations and interactions about workplace and organizational issues while on duty” without facing coercion or intimidation.
According to Virginia law, bargaining unit members are not allowed to go on strike.
Any negotiations with budgetary or financial implications need to be initiated by Sept. 1 and agreed upon by Nov. 1 to be included in the following year’s budget.
FCPS will recognize separate bargaining units for:
- Licensed instructional staff, including full and part-time teachers, librarians and counselors
- Operational support employees, such as assistants, custodians, food service workers and bus drivers
- Administrators and supervisors, including principals and program administrators
Through a majority vote, employees in the bargaining units can select an employee association to represent them. The association, with majority support, becomes that unit’s exclusive bargaining agent after the school board certifies the election results.
Substitute teachers and temporary employees are excluded from bargaining units. However, they could request to be recognized as a unit or seek inclusion in one of the existing units after July 1, 2023.
During his remarks, Frisch highlighted what he said are the causes of recent staffing challenges faced by the school system.
“Longstanding teacher and school staff shortages are driven by low pay relative to peers in other professions with similar credentials, inadequate or uneven professional support, and challenging work conditions.”
Sully District representative Stella Pekarsky seconded the motion and said because of the vote, schools in the county will be a better place to learn and work in the coming years.
“With this vote, there should be no doubt where FCPS stands. We stand for our employees to have a voice and a seat at the table. We stand to ensure our schools can recruit and retain staff who provide a world-class education for all students,” she said.
In a release, Fairfax Education Association President Leslie Houston said passing the resolution is the first step to ensuring that FCPS employees “will have a seat at the table and not be on the menu.”
“The educators and staff in Fairfax County Public Schools will finally be able to make decisions that is best for their well-being and the well-being of their students,” Houston said.
While advocating for collective bargaining, the FEA joined forces with the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT) to form the Alliance of Fairfax Educational Unions (AFEU), which will presumably seek election to represent the new bargaining units.
According to the school system, FCPS will secure a labor relations administrator (LRA) in the next few weeks to manage the certification and election processes.
Fire Destroys Multiple Annandale Businesses — “Fairfax County and Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene of a building fire in the 7200 block of Columbia Pike. Four Annandale businesses, two restaurants, a shipping company, and a hair salon, sustained what fire officials called catastrophic damage.” [DC News Now]
FCPS Denies Attorney General’s Racism Allegations — “Jason Miyares is alleging that a Fairfax County middle school discriminated against students based on race, color, and national origin in an email sent to families regarding a college preparatory program offered by the county…A statement from Fairfax County Public Schools called Miyares’ assertions ‘false and damaging.'” [DCist]
Former D.C. Official Sentenced for Fatal I-495 Crash — “A former elected leader in D.C. was sentenced Friday to four years in prison one year after a deadly DUI wreck in Fairfax County. Former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Devon Lesesne pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Nov. 30, 2022, for driving under the influence when he struck and killed 20-year-old Katherine Reyes on March 6, 2022.” [WUSA9]
Density Dooms Annandale Development Pitch — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission rejected a site-specific plan amendment nomination for a mixed-use development on Little River Turnpike, but agreed to proceed with four others…The proposed plan amendment…called for 105 multifamily units in a four-story building with ground-floor retail between Columbia Road and Randolph Drive” [Annandale Today]
Mason District Residents Sound Off on Rising Taxes — “Real estate assessments for [fiscal year] 2024 are up an average 6.34 percent in Mason District, slightly below the countywide average of 6.79 percent. To help compensate for the rising assessments, Gross said she would support reducing the tax rate by at least 3 cents.” [Annandale Today]
Maryland Beltway Widening Project Faces New Setback — “The lead team involved with Maryland’s plan to build high-occupancy toll lanes on the Capital Beltway and Interstate 270, along with building a new American Legion Bridge, has pulled out of the project.” [NBC4, Maryland Matters]
FCPS Hosts Meeting Today on Opioid Crisis — “Opioid and fentanyl overdoses are rising nationwide, and more and more students nationwide and here locally are being impacted. Join @fcpsnews on Monday, Mar. 13, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at @fcpsfairfaxhs for a conversation about the epidemic.” [Fairfax County Government/Twitter]
A Look at the History of Two Lorton Roads — “Furnace Road and Cinder Bed Road assumed their official designations on April 1, 1965. The previous June, Fairfax’s Board of Supervisors had approved a resolution naming or renaming hundreds of the county’s streets and secondary roads. This was necessary because — as in the song by U2 — some streets had no names.” [The Washington Post]
It’s Monday — Light rain in the morning and afternoon. High of 47 and low of 39. Sunrise at 7:24 am and sunset at 7:14 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County officials gathered yesterday (Thursday) to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail over Wiehle Avenue in Reston.
The $6.7 million project replaces an at-grade crossing and widens Wiehle Avenue from Sunset Hills to the Reston Fire Station and Pupatella Pizza entrances, according to the county. It will also accommodate future 5-foot-wide bicycle lanes.
The project, which is managed by Allan Myers VA, will wrap up by late spring to early summer of 2024, according to the county.
It’s intended to improve transportation safety in the area by eliminating conflicts between vehicles and trail users and minimizing rear-end crashes.
Since June 2018, 11 crashes at or near the existing crossing were reported, according to state data.
“The W&OD Trail is a heavily traveled regional pedestrian and bicycle trail in Northern Virginia. We estimate the number of daily trail users at the W&OD trail crossing at Wiehle Avenue is as high as 3000,” the county said.
The project was funded by federal and state grants.
As construction continues, the asphalt trail will remain open except from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
A 6-foot-tall safety fence will be installed on the asphalt trail to separate the trail from the construction area. Meanwhile, the gravel trail will be closed on the west side from 11480 Sunset Hills Road to the east from Michael Faraday Court.
The groundbreaking for the Wiehle Ave bridge was held this morning! The estimated completion date for the project is late spring/early summer of 2024. pic.twitter.com/5kBSMFcxW9
— The W&OD Trail (@WODTrail) March 9, 2023
Great morning for groundbreaking to kick off construction on W&OD Trail Bridge over Wiehle Ave. Bridge will greatly improve pedestrian/bike safety & access to Wiehle-Reston East Metro – joining communities! @KenPlum1 @ireneshintweets @JenniferBoysko @VAbikecommuter #HunterMill pic.twitter.com/dj7PUtHLrp
— Supervisor Walter Alcorn (@WalterAlcornFFX) March 9, 2023
The toll lanes on I-66 outside the Capital Beltway have been open for over three months now, but some drivers are still getting tripped up by the accompanying signage.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed staff on Tuesday (March 7) to prepare a letter asking the Virginia Department of Transportation to clarify the information on its signs about toll prices and exit locations.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who requested the move, said his office has continued to receive complaints from confused constituents.
“The signage used on these newly opened Express Lanes is not as clear as the signs on I-495 and I-95 Express Lanes,” Herrity said. “The signage does not provide total cost information for the entire length, and it does not give clear information to drivers on locations of exit ramps to general purpose lanes, which is important for drivers deciding whether to pay additional tolls.”
Covering 22.5 miles from the Beltway (I-495) in Dunn Loring to Route 29 in Gainesville, the westward extension of the I-66 Express Lanes became fully operational on Nov. 22, though portions of the overall $3.7 billion project are still under construction.
The signage was developed in accordance with federal guidelines and approved by the Federal Highway Administration, but both VDOT and I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), the private company that operates the toll lanes, acknowledged that this is “a learning period” as drivers adjust to new signs and traffic patterns.
“We are looking at areas in the corridor where we might enhance or clarify the signage in an effort to help drivers,” VDOT Northern Virginia’s megaprojects section said in a statement.
Because of their length, the new lanes are split up into three eastbound segments and four westbound segments, charging drivers for each segment they take. Signs for the lanes currently show only toll prices for specific sections, rather than the whole corridor.
Nancy Smith, the corporate affairs director for I-66 EMP, says the operator is “aware” that this approach “may present particular confusion” at spots like the I-495 interchange that are complicated to navigate, but it’s ultimately more effective.
“This system provides our drivers with the most accurate rates as well as greater flexibility to determine when to get on and off the lanes,” Smith said. “An end-to-end rate wouldn’t accurately reflect conditions in the furthest segment by the time a driver gets there. Again, it will take time for all drivers to completely familiarize themselves with our segmental tolling system.”
According to I-66 EMP, the average weekly toll lanes usage increased from about 3% to 5% of I-66 users over the past month, suggesting drivers becoming more accustomed to the lanes.
“That’s a very encouraging growth trend,” Smith said.
I-66 EMP has an online trip planning tool that provides toll estimates. Its customer service center at 1-833-643-2867 will also answer questions, Smith said.
Despite his concerns about the signage, Herrity called the I-66 Express Lanes project an “impressive feat” that provides new transportation choices and “a quicker commute due to the additional capacity from the toll lanes.”
“I thought a letter from the board might help VDOT encourage the contractor to get that signage done,” Herrity said.
(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) A spin-off of the popular, D.C.-based Old Ebbitt Grill is coming soon to Reston.
The business, which is the leading brand from Clyde’s Restaurant Group, will open its second location at Reston Station in 2025, the company announced. It marks the comeback of Clyde’s in the area after the Reston location bid farewell to the community last year.
The restaurant is D.C.’s oldest saloon, first opening in 1956. Envisioned as a “stylish, modern spin” on the original, the Reston location will be called Ebbitt House and include the grill’s menu, including happy hours, a raw bar and seafood towers.
“Reston Station is shaping up to be the most prominent location along the Dulles corridor,” said Jeff Owens, chief financial officer and head of Corporate Development for Clyde’s Restaurant Group. “CRG is thrilled to partner with Comstock to introduce a restaurant brand that is both new and iconic. We are delighted to be returning to the Reston community, where Clyde’s has been a presence for over thirty years.”
Located at 1860 Reston Row Plaza, Ebbitt House will have 300 indoor seats and two bars, along with 125 outdoor seats and another bar on the patio.
The move represents a return to the area for the company after Clyde’s of Reston closed in Reston Town Center last year, ending 31 years of business. Other brands in Clyde’s Restaurant Groups include the Tombs, Hamilton Live and Mark Center.
“I have had a strong relationship with the Clyde’s Group dating back to the 1990s and have always felt there would be great synergies between both Comstock and Clyde’s as creators of iconic Northern Virginia real estate locations,” Comstock COO Tim Steffan said. “The addition of Ebbitt House to our already remarkable merchandising lineup further strengthens Reston Station as a ‘first thought’ dining and entertainment destination in Northern Virginia.”
School Board Member Joins Race to Replace Ken Plum — Karen Keys-Gamarra won’t return as an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board, instead filing to become delegate in Virginia’s new House District 7. She is the fifth candidate vying to succeed Del. Ken Plum, who confirmed last month that he won’t seek reelection after representing Reston for 44 years. [Patch]
County Breaks Ground on New Government Center — “We celebrated the beginning of construction on the new Franconia Governmental Center and Kingstowne Regional Library this week. The new facility — projected to open in 2025 — will provide a safe, convenient and friendly environment for the residents of the Kingstowne area to gather and to access county services in one central location.” [Fairfax County]
Virginia Makes Final Pitch for FBI HQ — “Virginia leaders met with federal officials on Thursday to make their final pitch to bring the…headquarters from downtown Washington, D.C. to Fairfax County…According to Virginia officials the Springfield site offers infrastructure, Metro and railway access that other options do not.” [FOX5]
Students Design Art for Future Route 1 Bus Stations — “Students from three area high schools recently completed design concepts for artwork at seven of the nine future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations. The preliminary designs will be presented at the BRT Executive Committee meeting March 10 before community feedback is sought” [On the MoVe]
Weather Affects Local Wine Vineyards — “This winter has been one of the warmest in recent years, and Northern Virginia winegrowers say they are worried about how the rise in temperature and a potential drop in temperature could impact the production of grapes and growth of vineyards.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Community Meeting on Pan Am Redevelopment Coming — “The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development will hold a community meeting for residents to learn more about the Pan Am Shopping Center Project on Thursday, March 30th from 7PM to 9PM at the Pan Am Shopping Center (3069 Nutley Street).” [Palchik Post]
Park Service Previews Upcoming GW Parkway Changes — “The George Washington Parkway is in the process of getting some much-needed TLC. In order to rehabilitate the road, drivers will see lower speed limits, changing road configurations and even a reversible lane that would begin operating in just over a month.” [WTOP]
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday — “Remember, we move our clocks forward one hour Sunday morning at 2 a.m. Also remember when you change your clock we want you to check your smoke alarms to ensure they work.” [FCFRD]
It’s Friday — Possible light rain until evening. High of 47 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:29 am and sunset at 6:11 pm. [Weather.gov]
Chase Bank is expected to open a new location in Herndon.
The bank will take over space formerly occupied by SunTrust at the Village Center at Dulles (2445 Centreville Road). The 3,200-square-foot space is expected to open before the end of this year, a company spokesperson told FFXnow.
“This branch is part of our continued expansion into Northern Virginia,” the spokesperson said. “We currently have 17 branches throughout Northern VA and expect to have a total of 26 open by the end of the year.”
The village center’s website states that six spaces are available, including three restaurant uses and one fitness space. The center has tenants like Giant, Starbucks, Gold’s Gym, Chuck E. Cheese and HomeGoods.
Image via Google Maps
A private library for the local LGBTQIA+ community is expanding its reach in Reston.
NoVA Prism Center, a planned community center and private library, is working with Reston Museum to tour its collection books and resources on March 18. The pop-up collection will be featured at the museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The community is invited to come to the museum, relax with a book, connect with the local LGBTQIA+ community and support our mission to bring access to information about LGBTQIA+ lives, stories, and history to Northern Virginia while participating in the LGBTQIA+ community by gathering to celebrate ourselves, friends and loved ones,” event organizers said in a news release.
NoVA Prism was founded as a nonprofit in May 2022 by local educators and activists in response to an attempt to eliminate two books dealing with LGBTQ topics from Fairfax County Public Schools.
“As a LGBTQ+ run organization with roots in the community it serves, NoVA Prism Center & Library is an answer to both the threat of lost access for LGBTQ+ teens in the region, as well as being the community resource that the LGBTQ+ community desperately needs moving forward,” Leon van Der Goetz said on behalf of the organization.
NoVA Prism has pop-up events and hopes to open a physical location. Planning for the project is in the preliminary stages, and a location has not yet been determined. The organization is currently funded by individual and corporate donations.
Alex Campbell, Reston Museum’s executive director, said that the partnership came about after a board member connected the two organizations.
“NoVA Prism Center & Library was looking for a space to do a pop up event and the museum was a good fit,” Campbell said.
Reston Museum is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve Reston’s past, form its present and influences its future. The museum features a collection of archival material and artifacts.
It’s open from Tuesday through Saturday.
Photo via Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
High School Students Will Get Free Virtual Mental Health Services — “Fairfax County Public Schools has partnered with Hazel Health, giving some 61,000 students access to the service, according to the county’s contract…A pilot program was expected to launch by the beginning of January but was delayed. Access to Hazel Health’s services is expected to be available later this spring” [WTOP]
Doctor Gets Prison Time for Prescribing Drugs in Fatal Overdose — A federal judge sentenced Dr. Robert Cao, 39, of Lafayette, Louisiana, to 15 months for “illegally prescribing controlled substances to a man who died of an overdose” in Fairfax in May 2021. A former Falls Church resident, Cao wrote prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone to the victim at least five times despite not being his doctor. [NBC4]
Health Clinic in Groveton Plans Expansion — “Thanks to an $800,000 federal grant, Neighborhood Health is in the process of renovating and expanding its medical facilities at 6677 Richmond Highway, according to Dr. Basim Khan, the nonprofit’s executive director and a primary care physician.” The project is expected to finish by the end of the year. [On the MoVe]
Traffic Change Coming to Baron Cameron — Starting around next Wednesday (March 15), the “two right-turn lanes from Baron Cameron Avenue to eastbound Route 7 will convert from a stop condition to a single free-flow right-turn lane while crews continue reconstruction of the intersection. After turning right onto eastbound Route 7, drivers will use a 1,000-foot acceleration lane to merge with eastbound traffic.” [VDOT]
Parking Still an Issue With Justice HS Expansion — “Justice High School staff expressed strong concerns about the lack of parking during the construction of a new addition and beyond…FCPS has worked out a temporary arrangement with the Church of Christ, located a quarter of a mile from the school, to share their parking lot with Justice staff and students, said Heather Dietz…at a March 7 community meeting.” [Annandale Today]
County No Longer in Proposal to Lift Emissions Rules — “After opposition during a public hearing and comment period, Virginia regulators are scaling back a proposal to allow data centers in Northern Virginia counties to run diesel generators over a three-month period to alleviate potential electric grid strains…On Monday, DEQ restricted the variance to facilities in Loudoun.” [Virginia Mercury/Inside NoVA]
Peraton Leases Office Space in Springfield — “The privately held Reston government contractor, which won a deal in December worth up to $342.7 million over five years to provide IT services to the Transportation Security Administration, has inked a 6,000-square-foot lease at 6700 Springfield Center Drive. The new TSA headquarters is just steps away” [Washington Business Journal]
Mount Vernon Ice Skating Classes Relocate — “When the Mount Vernon Rec Center closed for renovation, the Fairfax County Park Authority remained committed to finding opportunities to offer ice skating programs. The exact same classes, with the same coaches are now available at The Ice House, located within the St. James in Springfield.” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 31. Sunrise at 6:30 am and sunset at 6:10 pm. [Weather.gov]
A popular theater artist is slated to bring to life the stories of five Restonians to Reston Community Center’s CenterStage this month.
Ping Chong, a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Obie Award and National Medal of Arts, will create a residency format that his New York-based company — Ping Chong and Company — has adapted in communities around the country.
Starting next Monday (March 13), his artists will create performances featuring the stories of five Restonians as they navigate the world: Robin Feldman, Carmah Owen, Rosa Simon, Semret Worku and Natsu Zavala.
Chong, who plans to retire in the near future, has created more than 100 works for the stage. His company focuses on the connections between cultures and the multifaceted nature of identity.
He said in a statement that he’s “delighted” to spend part of his final working days in Reston:
Fifty years have passed since I began my life as a theatre practitioner. I am now in the process of retiring. I will be 77 years old this year and it is time for reflecting on a fortunate, rich life. Time passes. I am delighted to share this moment of transition here in Reston. If theatre can do one thing, it is to bring community together. Thank you for this opportunity to remind us all that we are all connected by our humanity, that we are all human beings regardless of where we come from. All islands connect under water.
RCC Board Chair Bev Cosham said the center’s partnership with Chong’s company offers an opportunity for a “once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a theatrical trailblazer.”
“The work his company and our local team have created will reach deep into our emotional wells and surface the compelling stories of how we navigated these last traumatic years. It promises to be both a revealing and a healing experience,” Cosham said.
RCC’s staff will support the project and the work will by recorded by Storycatcher Productions, Inc.
A breakdown of the planned events is below:
Story Circle with Ping Chong and Company (free)
Monday, March 13 7:00 p.m.
RCC Hunter Woods – the CenterStageJoin artists from Ping Chong and Company and connect with other Reston community members to share, listen, and learn about our individual and collective relationships to where we live. Story Circles invite us to share our unique individual stories with others from our community in a guided, facilitated way. As we listen and share, we’ll discover connections, differences and intersections in our stories that inspire us to learn about our individual and collective relationship to Reston.
An Evening with Ping Chong
Wednesday, March 15, 8:00 p.m.
RCC Hunters Woods – the CenterStage
$15 Reston/$20 Non-RestonTheatre artist and National Medal of Arts recipient Ping Chong will join Reston Community Center for a conversation about theatre and social transformation. Chong will share his visually compelling body of work – ranging from puppet theatre to large-scale, multidisciplinary projects to community-based programs – that have been presented at some of the most illustrious venues around the globe. Chong will lead a discussion of the evolution of his theatre work in relationship to the changes in contemporary arts and culture over the last 50 years. It is recommended that children under 16 be accompanied by an adult.
Generations Rise: Reston
Friday, March 24, 8:00 p.m. & Saturday, March 25, 8:00 p.m.
RCC Hunters Woods – the CenterStage
$10 Reston/ $15 Non-RestonAcclaimed New York theatre group Ping Chong and Company will partner with Reston Community Center and local theatre artist Tuyet Pham to create Generation Rise: Reston, to uplift and share real-life stories made by people from Reston, VA, reflecting on the challenges and joys of living in Reston during a time of pandemic and global upheaval.
After an unsolicited redevelopment proposal was pulled by a developer, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is charting a new future for the Bowman Towne Court site in Reston.
At a board meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the board approved a motion by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn to procure the 4.5-acre site and direct the RTC North task force to help plan its future.
“There is a pressing need for new and updated public facilities and affordable housing, including a new regional library and emergency shelter for our homeless population, as those facilities are at or near the end of their functional life,” the board matter states.
The move comes just a month after Foulger-Pratt withdrew its proposal to redevelop the property with 350 affordable housings units and a new Reston Regional Library, citing increasing construction costs. The proposal had been processed through the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority owns a little over half of the property, along with a nearly 1.6-acre parking lot for the Reston District Police Station.
Alcorn directed the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services to develop a plan for health and human services in the RTC North area.
“This motion will, I think, really help with the process forward as the community starts to basically get its arms around what needs to happen in RTCN,” Alcorn said.
The motion also asks FCRHA to create a procurement strategy for the development of the property.
Alcorn created a task force last spring to make recommendations on the redevelopment of the 47-acre RTC North property, which is composed of several parts of land at the intersection of Bowman Towne Drive and Town Center Parkway.
The task force has been meeting this year and will also make recommendations about replacing the Embry Rucker Community Shelter and building a new county health and human services facility.
Meetings have been ongoing by the task force, which is chaired by former board chair Kate Hanley.
