Four Displaced by Two-Alarm Tysons House Fire — A malfunctioning water heater started a fire in the 200 block of Trailwood Court that resulted in approximately $175,000 in property damages, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says. After an initial dispatch at 3:52 a.m. last Thursday (Feb. 23), additional Fairfax County and Arlington units had to be called to the two-story house, but no injuries were reported. [FCFRD]
Maryland Contractor Plans Fairfax County Move — “Amentum Services, Inc., a leading provider of engineering and advanced solutions and services to the U.S. government, allies, and commercial companies, will invest $495,000 to relocate its headquarters from Germantown, Maryland.” Its operations will be consolidated at 4800 Westfields Blvd in Chantilly, a move expected to create 157 new jobs. [FCEDA]
New Child Care Center Coming to Lorton — Expected to start pre-enrollment this May, Brynmor Early Education & Preschool will occupy the historic, currently vacant buildings P1 and P3 at Liberty Market, a development on the former Lorton Prison campus. The new facility will start with 154 kids from 6 weeks to 5 years old and include a “5,500-square-foot, enclosed outdoor play area.” [On the MoVe]
Hunter Mill Supervisor Launches Reelection Bid — “Walter Alcorn officially announced Saturday that he was running for re-election as the Hunter Mill District’s representative on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors…No candidate has come forward yet to challenge Alcorn in either the Democratic Party Primary on June 20 or the general election in November.” [Patch]
Northern Virginia Teens Struggling With Mental Health — “A recently released report shows that youth in Northern Virginia have experienced high rates of clinical depression, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness or sadness. The report from The Community Foundation of Northern Virginia further found that one in 10 high school students in the region had seriously contemplated suicide in the past year.” [Inside NoVA]
What to Know About “Long Covid” — As Fairfax County nears three years since its first COVID-19 case was confirmed, the county’s health department has launched a webpage with information about the long-term health effects experienced by some who’ve contracted the disease. The department notes that “long Covid” can involve physical and mental symptoms that vary from person to person. [FCHD]
Reston Security Tech Company Gets New TSA Contract — “When you go through security lines at the airport, it’s probably technology developed by Reston, Virginia-based Leidos that’s scanning you. And the company just received a new government contract that might make the process less intrusive for some passengers.” [WTOP]
Broadway Star Gives Tips to Tysons Theater Students — “As Marshall High School’s Statesmen Theatre prepares for its spring musical ‘Xanadu,’ there was no one better to help than one of the musical’s Broadway stars. Kerry Butler, who has played roles in Broadway musical premieres like ‘Hairspray,’ ‘Xanadu,’ ‘Mean Girls’ and ‘Beetlejuice,’ visited the high school theater program on Feb. 17.” [Patch]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 58 and low of 45. Sunrise at 6:44 am and sunset at 6:01 pm. [Weather.gov]
Work has begin on a new pedestrian bridge at Sugarland Run Stream Valley Park, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Slated to be completed by the end of the summer, the bridge replaces a span that was removed 15 years ago between Heather Down Drive and Eddyspark Drive.
Once completed, the structure will connect the neighborhood along Heather Down with the Sugarland Run Stream Valley Trail.
Construction will begin in early March, according to FCPA.
Crews will demolish and remove any remaining structures associated with the earlier bridge and construct 10-foot-wide connecting approaches to the bridge.
The project, which is funded through 2020 park bond funds, costs roughly $740,000.
The trail, which is roughly three miles long along the main end, runs from Sugarland Road to the Town of Herndon.
Fairfax County Parkway is one of the main arterial routes through western Fairfax County, but staff say it’s due for an overhaul.
At a recent meeting of the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s Transportation Committee, Department of Transportation senior planner Thomas Burke laid out some of the changes recommended in a recent study of the Fairfax County and Franconia-Springfield parkways.
The study looked at 35 miles of the corridor broken up into five segments. Notably, it evaluated transit and multi-modal transportation along the parkways, rather than just vehicle traffic.
On the multi-modal front, Burke said one key takeaway was that the current bicycle and pedestrian facilities were inadequate.
“There was a lot of support in the community for enhancing bicycle and pedestrian experience on the parkways,” Burke said. “Right now, there’s one trail on one side of the parkway and a few gaps.”
Burke said the first priority should be plugging those gaps to have one contiguous trail running from Reston to Fort Belvoir.
“We took it another step based on community feedback,” Burke said. “Why don’t we put a trail on the other side so you don’t have to cross a six-lane highway to get to the shared use path, especially if you don’t need to cross it because origin and destination are on the same side?”
On the other hand, Burke said there isn’t enough demand for transit along the parkway for that to make sense as an emphasis for any sort of parkway overhaul.
“We took a transit look as well: transit is an interesting challenge for the parkways because there’s not a lot of density or employment centers,” Burke said. “There’s a lot of low-density areas and not a whole lot of jobs.”
Burke said the study similarly didn’t find as much demand for the high-occupancy vehicle options seen on other roadways around Fairfax County.
“For decades we’ve had HOV recommendations for most of the parkways,” Burke said. “From Franconia-Springfield — where the Metro is — up to Route 7, all has little diamonds signifying there will eventually be HOV…But we did not find a lot of demand.”
Burke said the study considered both 2+ and 3+ HOV lanes, but found low demand for either option.
The study also looked at road widening, with earlier staff recommendations saying parts of the parkway should be increased to eight lanes. But for the most part, Burke said the study found six lanes was sufficient for the northernmost sections of Fairfax County Parkway.
At the southernmost point of the study, where the Franconia-Springfield Parkway connects to Richmond Highway, Burke said the study recommended increasing the roadway to six travel lanes in parts. Just north of that section, where Fairfax County Parkway connects to Beulah Street, Burke said current plans to increase the parkway to eight lanes overshot the mark, and the road only needs its current six lanes.
Burke noted that this study is looking at long-range transportation improvements. Any of those changes, particularly the widening, could take 10-30 years to implement.
In parts, Burke said there was some community resistance to widening the parkways, and before Fairfax County goes forward with widening in those sections, there should be additional research and analysis.
A pair of virtual meetings to discuss the changes are planned for Wednesday, March 1 at noon and Thursday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Image via Google Maps
A new and expanded version of a policy to preserve dark skies around the Turner Farm Park Observatory in Great Falls is now on the table.
Fairfax County staff have presented an additional round of amendments to the draft policy, which would amend zoning standards for outdoor lighting within a half-mile of the observatory, which is located at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Springvale Road.
The proposed changes add flexibility for outdoor lighting while still reducing exemptions from dark sky-compliant lighting, according to the county.
The changes were proposed in response to mixed community input.
“Community input on the proposed amendment has been mixed, with some in favor of additional regulations and some against,” the county said.
Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) Vice President Chris Rich told FFXnow he was pleased to see the changes in response to concerns raised by the association and residents.
“Reaching common ground on how to protect the dark skies in the area, especially around the County observatory, is a goal of the state law that authorizes this local legislative action,” Rich wrote in a statement. “It’s also consistent with one of GFCA’s goals to recognize the importance of promoting public awareness and benefits of guarding against excessive and misdirected artificial light at night.”
Compared to the August version of the changes, the latest amendment allows legally existing lights to remain until replaced and removes a previous requirement that stated existing lights must comply within five years of the policy’s adoption and implementation.
Rules for motion-activated lights on single-family houses remain the same, reducing permitted lumens to 1,500. For other lights on single-family homes, the latest change states that lights need to be fully cut-off and comply with setback requirements, unless they’re 20 lumens or less or located on a door or garage.
The August version created exceptions for lighting in a driveway or walkway of 10 lumens or less and one light at each exterior door or garage. Both proposals capped the light limit to 1,500 lumens per fixture.
For uprights and spotlights, the proposal allows any number of fixtures with a maximum of 300 lumens per fixture. The previous plan limited lights to 15 light fixtures per lot.
Jennifer Falcone, a member of GFCA’s land use and zoning and environment and parks committees, said that an official position on the new draft language is still up in the air.
“The process continues and won’t be concluded until formal public hearings are conducted following a decision by the Board of Supervisors to advertise the proposed amendment,” she said. “Because of that, GFCA’s Board will await publication of the final draft language of the proposed amendment before it submits its position.”
Discussions have been underway for more than a year on the proposed ordinance. The observatory is working towards becoming an official urban night sky place through the International Dark Sky Association.
The issue has sparked a wide spectrum of opinions, from concerns about built-in protections to deter criminal activity to the need to limit light pollution and efforts to balance the observatory’s needs.
GFCA held the first official public meeting on the issue last March. The association has historically supported efforts to preserve the area’s dark skies.
The county will hold a virtual meeting on the proposed changes today at 7 p.m.
Passenger in Annandale Truck Crash Dies — The 27-year-old passenger of a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado that crashed into a tree and light pole by Little River Turnpike near John Marr Drive on Jan. 27 died at a hospital from his injuries last Tuesday (Feb. 21). The 29-year-old driver may face additional charges after already being charged with driving under the influence and without a license. [FCPD]
Government Center Affordable Housing Approved — Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the Residences at Government Center II plan and $14 million in funding. The development will consist of two mid-rise residential buildings with 279 units for those earning between 30 and 70% of the area median income, along with a childcare center and urban park. [Fairfax County]
School Board Asks for Annual Pedestrian Safety Review — “On Thursday night, the School Board unanimously voted to seek an annual School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment Program from the superintendent…The annual review will examine schools with the most pressing road safety needs, safety mitigation measures, timelines to implement improvements, and updates on past mitigation projects.” [Patch]
Great Falls Delegate Won’t Seek Reelection — “Virginia Del. Kathleen Murphy of McLean announced Friday she will not run for re-election this fall after being placed into the same district as a fellow Democratic delegate…Shortly after Murphy’s announcement, Sullivan issued a news release stating that he would run for re-election in that district in the fall.” [Inside NoVA]
School Board Adopts Advertised Budget — The Fairfax County School Board adopted the FY 2024 Advertised Budget on Thursday. Totaling $3.5 billion, the budget highlights include $2 million to add more pre-K classrooms, free access to middle school athletic programs, and $6 million to develop strategies for closing the literacy achievement gap. [FCPS]
Annandale to Appear on PBS Show Next Week — “If You Lived Here” will air an episode on Annandale on Monday, March 6 after recently visiting Vienna. In addition to touring local homes, the episode will feature the Artisans United collective, a second-generation Korean-American restaurateur, and the sports memorabilia and comics shop Collector’s World. [Annandale Today]
Construction Progresses on Springfield Garage — “Construction on track to be completed in Fall 2023. This commuter garage will provide more options for Connector riders. And the pedestrian bridge over Old Keene Mill Rd. will provide access to bus stops and connect Springfield Plaza to the garage.” [Fairfax Connector/Twitter]
Legislative Deal May Tighten Regulation of Dominion Energy — “Virginia lawmakers have reached a tentative bipartisan agreement to bring the state’s biggest utility…under tighter regulatory oversight — reversing years of actions that loosened the reins over the powerful company.” The proposal would increase the frequency of SCC rate reviews and require 85% of “over-earnings” be refunded to customers, among other provisions. [The Washington Post]
Unbuilt McLean Home Tops D.C. Area Real Estate Listings — A vacant, 5-acre McLean property at 7020 Green Oak Drive hit the market Friday (Feb. 24) for $50 million. The planned, 30,000-square-foot mansion will have six bedrooms, 10 full baths, 10 half-baths and amenities that include a rooftop putting green, a crystal champagne room, a bowling alley, swimming pools, a full-sized sports arena, and a disco pub with a full bar and cigar room. [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Monday — Rain in the evening and overnight. High of 48 and low of 35. Sunrise at 6:45 am and sunset at 6:00 pm. [Weather.gov]
Cerebral, a public art piece created by South Lakes High School’s STEAM club on the Lake Thoreau spillway, is officially no more.
There are no plans to install the sculpture after high winds loosed its joints and its pieces fell into the lake and beyond last weekend, according to SLHS art teacher Marco Rando.
The sculpture is the first to fail because of the elements and the seventh installation overall placed by the club on the spillway.
Rando said that, although the sculpture is designed and engineered for extreme elements using hurricane ties, the winds damaged some of the joints.
“The tie down cables worked to keep the elements secured to the concrete base even when half sculpture fell into the lake,” Rando said. “Fortunately the wood members of the sculpture allowed the work to float, this helped in towing the work to shore where it was disassembled in smaller pieces for transport back to the school.”
Because of the significant damage to the sculpture, the team decided not to focus on reassembling.
But it won’t be long before another sculpture will take its place. Students are currently working on a new concept — “Rise” — that will face “more engineering scrutiny” to buttress the sculpture to weather more natural elements.
“The team is very confident this year’s concept will be aesthetically beautiful with added structural details to withstand the erratic weather conditions that seem to be common of the current climate change. The students of STEAM Team take great pride in serving the community,” Rando said.
He says setbacks like the structural failure of an artwork are a learning experience for all.
“Such setbacks will only strengthen the students experience, this real world problem, which occurs on professional levels as well, affords the Team opportunity to examine and resolve issues before they are unsettled,” Rando said.
(Updated at 9:45 a.m. on 3/1/2023) The College Board’s much-debated course on African American identity and history will be available in several Fairfax County high schools this fall as part of a pilot program.
While the state scrutinizes the course, Fairfax County Public Schools plans to offer Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies at the following schools in the next school year, which will begin on Aug. 21:
- Chantilly HS
- Fairfax HS
- Hayfield HS
- McLean HS
- South County
- Westfield HS
- West Potomac HS
- Woodson HS
The course’s availability at each school is “pending student interest/enrollment,” FCPS says.
(Correction: FFXnow was initially told that Centreville High School would be among three schools participating in the pilot, but FCPS says the school won’t be offering the course this coming year.)
According to FCPS, the participating schools “self-selected” for the pilot “based on student and teacher interest.” Principals filled out an interest form sent out by the College Board, which launched the pilot at 60 schools last fall after spending over a decade developing the course.
“FCPS supports offering students multiple opportunities to achieve their academic goals and pursue their academic interests,” an FCPS spokesperson said. “College Board AP courses offer students the opportunity to take nationally recognized curricula with potential college credit, which is why we sought this opportunity for our students.”
A nonprofit focused on access to higher education, the College Board oversees the SAT as well as the AP Program, which provides college-level courses that high school students can take to earn college credits.
The organization released an official framework for its new African American Studies course on Feb. 1, days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said his state rejected the course as “indoctrination” for its inclusion of LGBTQ studies, the Movement for Black Lives and other topics.
The document has drawn criticism from some educators and advocacy organizations for shifting away from subjects and texts in Florida’s complaint. The College Board has denied letting the state influence the curriculum, though it said it independently chose to remove terms like “intersectionality” that are often “misunderstood, misrepresented, and co-opted as political weapons.”
Virginia is one of four states reviewing the course. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has directed Education Secretary Aimee Rogstad Guidera to see if the course violates his executive order prohibiting “inherently divisive concepts” in public schools, spokesperson Macaulay Porter said.
The order defines divisive concepts as ideas that suggest an individual can be racist or sexist based on their identity or bears responsibility for past oppression, citing “critical race theory” as an example even though the academic theory views racism as a structural issue, rather than an individual one.
Five Fairfax County School Board members, including chair and at-large member Rachna Sizemore-Heizer, sent a letter to Youngkin and Guidera on Tuesday (Feb. 21) urging them “not to impede the teaching” of the AP course.
Also signed by Stella Pekarksy (Sully), Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill), Karl Frisch (Providence) and Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield), the letter says the review continues “an alarming pattern of disregard for the academic needs” of Virginia students after last year’s cancellation of a Black History Month Historical Markers contest for students and proposed changes to history and social studies standards of learning.
“As the entry point for the first enslaved Africans in the colonies and home to the nation’s first Black governor, Virginia has been the backdrop for vital pieces of African-American history,” the school board members wrote. “We have a moral obligation to teach our students about both the darkest times from our past and the inspiring progress we have made as a country.”
One school board member not among the signatories told FFXnow she agrees Youngkin’s administration should support the course, but most board members got the letter less than 24 hours before it was sent to the state, giving them little time to review it and offer feedback.
Notably absent are the board’s two Black members: at-large representative Karen Keys-Gamarra and Mason District Representative Ricardy Anderson.
In a joint statement to FFXnow, Keys-Gamarra and Anderson said their decision to refrain from signing “has nothing to do with our lack of support for the course” or their colleagues’ concerns about the state potentially interfering.
“Rather, we believe we could have benefitted from intentional collaboration with our Board colleagues, other Northern Virginia school boards, and organizations engaged in education work to present a more robust and impactful argument,” they said.
They said the letter lacked “essential historical context that would emphasize the extent of the crisis currently impacting K-12 public education,” including Virginia’s history as the base of the Confederacy and Jim Crow laws that segregated schools.
They also suggested the letter should’ve acknowledged that prohibiting the AP course would affect all students, not just African American and Black students.
“Restricting access to this history, places Virginia students at a distinct competitive disadvantage as their lack of knowledge could impede their ability to excel at the college level and beyond,” Keys-Gamarra and Anderson wrote.
It’s unclear if Virginia can actually bar schools from offering African American Studies, since AP courses are chosen by local school districts, not the state Board of Education. The College Board’s pilot is set to expand this fall and continue through 2024.
Updated at 2:10 p.m. — The gas leak in Reston has been stopped. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units are returning to service, but the road closures are expected to remain in place “for several hours” while the roads are repaired, the department says.
Earlier: A gas line in Reston was ruptured this morning (Friday), requiring a near-total shutdown of Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road.
A 4-inch gas line was hit and “actively leaking” under the roadway, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said at 8:37 a.m.
Sunset Hills Road has been closed except for one westbound lane, and all southbound Wiehle Avenue lanes have been shut down at Isaac Newton Square.
The fire department reported at 9:07 a.m. that the situation has stabilized, but the roads are still closed. The gas company has arrived on the scene and is working “to clamp/stop leak.”
Travelers are still advised to avoid the area. No injuries have been reported, FCFRD says.
UPDATE – situation stable. Gas company on scene to clamp/stop leak. Roadways still shut down. No ETA on roadway opening back up. Avoid area. #FCFRD #traffic https://t.co/bor54LPkdM
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 24, 2023
UPDATE – gas leak, Wiehle Ave and Sunset Hills Rd in Reston. Situation remains stable. Gas company on scene. Roadways will be shut down for an unknown and extended amount of time. Avoid area. Seek an alternate route. No reported injuries at this time. #FCFRD #traffic pic.twitter.com/iiNV6YCjH6
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) February 24, 2023
(Updated at 11:35 a.m.) One person was killed and another hospitalized with life-threatening injuries that proved fatal in an apparent domestic violence incident at a home near Frying Pan Farm Park earlier this morning, police said.
Police believe a woman was stabbed in a home on the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in Herndon. Preliminarily, someone living in the home shot the suspect, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“The stabber was shot and killed by an occupant of the home,” an FCPD spokesperson said.
Police later reported that the woman who was stabbed died at the hospital.
There were four people in the home at the time of the incident, all of whom are known to each other, Police Chief Kevin Davis said in an 11 a.m. briefing. The family also had a little girl who is now with police.
According to Davis, police haven’t determined yet which individual was responsible for the stabbing or the shooting.
Officers are in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Wy in Reston for a shooting. Prelim, a woman was inside a home when she was stabbed. An occupant shot the suspect. One person declared deceased. One taken to hospital w/life-threatening injuries. All parties accounted for. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/TnZBFmTcDz
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) February 24, 2023
D.C. Area Sees Record High Temperatures — “It’s official: Thursday is Washington’s warmest Feb. 23 on record and one of the toastiest afternoons so early in the year. The high temperature at Reagan National Airport hit 81 degrees, breaking the previous record of 78 degrees set on Feb. 23, 1874…The high was 80 degrees at Dulles, surpassing the previous record of 77 degrees on Feb. 23, 2017.” [Capital Weather Gang]
Dulles Toll Road Ramp to Close Overnight in Tysons — “The ramp from eastbound Dulles Toll Road/Airport Access Road (Route 267) to northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway) is scheduled to close during overnight hours beginning on or about this Friday night, Feb. 24 through early morning, Monday, March 12. This ramp closure is necessary for crews to demolish the eastern section of the bridge from northbound I-495 to eastbound Dulles Toll Road” [VDOT]
Man Arrested for Assault in Herndon — “A Herndon man was arrested for assault on Saturday in connection with an altercation that occurred at a residence in the 600 block of Dulles Park Court, according to the weekly crime report.” The 26-year-old man has been charged with “aggravated assault (strangulation), abduction, preventing a call to emergency services, and assault.” [Patch]
State Bill Expands Alcohol Permits at Dulles Airport — “The legislative tweak, which extends mixed-beverage carrier licenses to financial institutions…will allow McLean-based Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) to serve more than cranberry juice, soda and tea when it opens its long-awaited lounge at Dulles International Airport later this year, and, later, its Capital One Landing at Reagan National Airport.” [Washington Business Journal]
Tysons Old Navy Gets New Home — “Get a jump start on your spring wardrobe and celebrate the grand opening of Old Navy’s NEW location at Tysons Corner Center on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10AM. The first 100 visitors will receive a free tote bag and the first 200 visitors will receive $15 off a $75 purchase!” [Tysons Corner Center/Facebook]
Stray Guinea Pigs Found at Lorton Park — “A person was walking their dogs at the Laurel Hill Equestrian Center when they saw a ‘tiny black and white animal.’ After searching through the thorny blackberry bushes for nearly an hour, they caught 14 guinea pigs, according to Fairfax County Animal Shelter.” [ABC7]
Metro Proposes Design Change for New Trains — “Metro is exploring a drastic change to its upcoming new 8000-series trains: an open gangway. Open gangway trains have no doors between cars, allowing riders to freely move through parts of or the entire length of the train. It can improve train capacity, and provide more space for people who use wheelchairs and people with bikes, strollers, or luggage.” [DCist]
Local Companies Make “Best Places to Work” List — “Twenty-eight Fairfax County-headquartered companies placed on Virginia Business magazine’s 13th annual Best Places to Work list. In all, 41 of the 100 companies on the list have a presence in Fairfax County.” Herndon’s SmartEdge IT LLC topped the small employers list, while Fairfax-based MBP came in second for large employers. [FCEDA]
Vacant Annandale Bank Building Draws Interest — “There is ‘lots of interest’ in two vacant spaces in the former Bank of America building at 7220 Columbia Pike in Annandale, says real estate agent Michael Falcone of Century 21 Commercial New Millenium…Falcone says businesses that have expressed interest in the building include a grocery market, banks, cafés, bakeries, and an aerial aerobics company.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 68 and low of 41. Sunrise at 6:49 am and sunset at 5:57 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new vitamin therapy business is coming soon to Reston.
The DRIPBaR, a business that relies on intravenous therapy and boosting cellular health with IV drips, is opening in the Home Depot Center (1675 Reston Parkway), according to Renauld Consulting.
The lease was signed for a 1,000-square-foot space at the center, according to the commercial real estate firm.
Customers who make appointments can select specific “drips,” which take between 20 minutes to one hour to administer.
Options include “lifestyle” drips that reportedly target vitamins and nutrition to cells, “health support” drips that the company says are engineered to help the body heal, and “IM” shots that include full vitamin infusion.
The company also offers other services like botox, red light therapy and hydrafacials. Drips are made to order and not premixed, according to the website.
Dripbar has multiple locations in Virginia, including Charlottesville, Richmond and Virginia Beach. There are also other locations throughout the country.
The company did not return multiple requests for comment from FFXnow.
(Updated at 3:35 p.m. on 2/24/2023) Four candidates have officially entered the now-crowded race for the House of Delegates seat in District 7, as longtime legislator Ken Plum plans to retire this year.
Plum, a Democrat, announced that he will not seek reelection after more than four decades in office.
Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth, Mary Barthelson, and John Farrell will compete in the June 20 Democratic Primary. No Republican candidates has come forward yet.
Berry, a Fairfax County Public Schools teacher who works in data science and previously was a budget and policy advisor to Gov. Ralph Northam, says his top priorities are education, the environment and creating jobs.
“The number one challenge is the cost of living and attainable housing,” Berry’s campaign said. “Paul believes that discussing either separately creates an artificial divide along socioeconomic categories when we need to be addressing economic inequality and the way people work and live in the same space in the post-Covid economy in a holistic manner.”
Hauth is an 10-year Air Force veteran and community organizer who worked with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn up until this week. She is also mother, former educator and community organizer who helped Virginia become a state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, according to a release.
She told FFXnow that her top priorities are mental health care, climate change and attainable housing that people can afford.
“There is a great deal of intersectionality on these issues with my other priorities of standing up for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, addressing gun violence, public safety, and ensuring we continue to have a top quality public education system,” Hauth said.
Barthelson, a systems engineer at SAIC who squared off against Plum in the 2021 Democratic primary. She received nearly 23% of the vote as the lone challenger against Plum.
“I am committed to using my engineering knowledge and expertise to ensure that Virginia’s laws keep pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, including areas such as green energy and data privacy,” Bartelson wrote in a statement. “In a time where technology has an increasingly significant impact on our daily lives, it is imperative to have legislators who possess a deep understanding of the associated policies and are not overly reliant on lobbyists.”
Her top priorities are housing, mental health and technology.
Reston Patch first reported that Farrell has filed his candidacy.
Farrell sits on Reston Association’s Board of Directors, where he’s currently seeking another term. He is president of the Colonial Oaks Homeowners Association. Professionally, he is an attorney at McCandlish and Lillard.
As he told Patch, Farrell says that, if elected to the General Assembly, his first bill would be to obtain a city charter for Reston.
“I want home rule for Reston,” he told FFXnow.
Early voting for the primary begins on May 6. Voters must register by May 29 to take part in the primary. The absentee ballot deadline is June 9.
In the Nov. 7 elections, Fairfax County voters will determine new representatives for the Virginia House of Delegates, State Senate, Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Board of Supervisors, and school board.
Fire at Commercial Building in Merrifield — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to a building fire in the 2800 block of Dorr Avenue in Merrifield around 6 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) that reached two alarms. The fire was extinguished after about an hour, and no injuries were reported. [FCFRD/Twitter]
Ribbon Cut on Penn Daw Development — “I was thrilled to speak at the South Alex ribbon cutting ceremony. In 2020 this entire building complex fell victim to a devastating fire, and now just three years later, we are here celebrating the completion of the renovations!” The grocery store Aldi is set to open at the development next week. [Jeff McKay/Twitter]
McLean Students Encourage Donations for Earthquake Relief — “Students at a number of FCPS schools are using their ethical and global citizen Portrait of a Graduate skills to aid those who were affected by a recent devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria…Copper Middle School students, including one who lived in Turkey and another who has family in the region, talked to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid about how they and others can help those in need, and why they should.” [FCPS]
Poetry Events Coming to Local Parks — “Poet Laureate Danielle Badra will launch a new series of public programming called ‘Poetry in the Parks’ this spring. In close partnership with ArtsFairfax and Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), Badra begins her new initiative with three distinct events that invite area poets and parkgoers to consider the relationship between nature and poetry.” [ArtsFairfax]
Gynocology Office Now Open in Annandale — “There’s a new healthcare option for women in Annandale. The Elite Gynecology Center will open on Feb. 21 at 3301 Woodburn Road, Suite 309. The founder, Dr. Nadine Hammoud, provides preventive care, annual exams, screenings, and minimally invasive surgery.” [Annandale Today]
What’s Happening With Transportation in Mount Vernon Area — Virginia Department of Transportation officials and local elected leaders recently provided updates on the Richmond Highway and southern George Washington Memorial Parkway projects. The Route 1 widening is now expected to begin in 2027, preceded by construction on Fairfax County’s bus rapid transit system. [On the MoVe]
Metro Launches Art Contest — “Young artists in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have an opportunity to get their artwork on a Metro bus for Earth Day. Metro’s Art in Transit program invites students in kindergarten through sixth grade from the DMV to submit artworks celebrating the role played by public transit in protecting our environment, combatting climate change, and supporting sustainable livable communities.” [WUSA9]
It’s Thursday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 76 and low of 55. Sunrise at 6:51 am and sunset at 5:56 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) Registrations for Fairfax County’s School Age Child Care (SACC) summer program will reopen tomorrow (Thursday) after technical issues disrupted its scheduled launch yesterday.
Camp Fairfax started allowing families to register at 8 a.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 21), but the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), which oversees the program, reported at 9:13 a.m. that “technical difficulties” had taken the system down.
“The registration system…experienced a system failure following the opening of SACC summer program registration,” NCS said in a news release. “Staff responded by immediately pausing all summer registrations. Staff continues to work diligently to resolve issues and ensure the system can adequately respond to demand.”
An NCS spokesperson confirmed that “high demand/traffic volume created the system failure.” The department anticipates all issues will be fixed today, enabling it to restart registrations at 8 a.m. tomorrow.
NCS’ SACC/Camp Fairfax registration system is currently experiencing technical difficulties; we are working to resolve the issue and will share registration availability once this issue has been resolved. Thank you for your patience. @fairfaxcounty https://t.co/DBlCq9nUm5 pic.twitter.com/76dr8k95rI
— Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services (@FairfaxNCS) February 21, 2023
However, enrollment will now be “staggered” based on the name of the 35 locations where the camps will be held:
- Beginning Thursday, Feb. 23: Sites beginning with letters A-J (Aldrin Elementary School to James Lee Community Center)
- Beginning Friday, Feb. 24: Sites beginning with letters K-P (Kent Gardens Elementary School to Providence Community Center)
- Beginning Monday, Feb. 27: Sites beginning with letters S-W (Springfield Estates Elementary School to Wolftrap Elementary School)
Open to rising first to seventh graders who live in Fairfax County or Fairfax City, Camp Fairfax operates in week-long sessions from late June through early or late August, depending on the location. Each camp session has three “cabins” with activities aimed at artists, performers or athletes.
Camps located at the county’s community centers will run from June 20 to Aug. 18, while school sites will run from June 26 to Aug. 4.
The fees for this year’s camps will be determined by the county’s upcoming budget, a draft of which was presented to the Board of Supervisors yesterday. The cost can be adjusted based on a family’s income, with last year’s fees ranging from $10 for a family earning under $53,000 to $281 for a family earning $132,500 or more.
Registration will be available online and by phone (703-449-8989), though NCS advises not logging into the system before 8 a.m.
“Neighborhood & Community Services is committed to providing all Fairfax County and City of Fairfax residents equal access to high-quality camp and childcare opportunities,” NCS said. “We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work to meet the demand for these services in our community.”
(Updated at 10:45 a.m. on 2/23/2023) Fairfax County is seeking federal funds to complete a cycle track on Sunrise Valley Drive.
At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the board unanimously approved a $13.5 million grant funding request for the project.
The county plans to reconstruct Sunrise Valley Drive to include a one-way separated bicycle lane in each direction from Carta Way to Edmund Halley Drive.
“[The] plan [is] to add raised bike lanes within the existing curb by narrowing the existing travel lanes and medians to improve bike access to Innovation Station Metro, Herndon Metro and [the Reston] Town Center Metro,” Fairfax County Department of Transportation spokesperson Robin Geiger said.
The project is expected to cost around $24 million, including roughly $10 million that has already been secured.
“Sunrise Valley Drive is a challenge for pedestrians and bicyclists due to conditions such as wide intersection and high vehicular volumes,” county staff said in a memo.
With additional traffic expected with the opening of phase two of the Silver Line late last year, the county is eyeing ways to improve safety.
The county is seeking funds through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.
RAISE targets programs that result in major local or regional impacts, particularly passenger transportation, intermodal and road projects.
