By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
I was taking part in a non-work related meeting recently where acronyms and new terms were flying around at a dizzying pace. No matter what industry you work in, it’s often easy to forget the words you use as part of your everyday vernacular mean little to others and can cause confusion and, ultimately, frustration.
It got me thinking about how that translates to the home remodeling world. There is no one-approach-fits-all when it comes time to update your home. It can be bewildering trying to figure out exactly what type of contractor or home remodeler you need for the project you are thinking about. So, this month, we’re here to explain one of the ways to remodel by taking a deeper dive into the world of ‘design-build’.
First things first, what does design-build mean? In its simplest form, it means a company ‘designs everything it builds and builds everything it designs’. It’s a one-stop-shop experience so you contract with one company as opposed to hiring an interior designer (and/or architect, if needed) for designs and then having to find a separate construction company (and, in many cases, a project manager who can bridge the two).
The biggest advantage of a design-build approach is the company does all the heavy lifting and brings a team of people to the table to work on your home.
Most design-build home remodeling companies like Synergy Design & Construction have an in-house team of experts who partner with you from the design of your dream space all the way through to the end of construction — usually all professionally project managed along the way. In most cases, design-build companies have Interior Designers, Carpenters and Project Managers as full time employees. Others may even have in-house mechanical, electrical, plumbing and paint/drywall experts on their team. However, most (Synergy included) outsource speciality work to preferred and trusted trade partners as they are only needed at certain points in the overall project.
The other advantage in having one company who is responsible for your project from start to finish is that you have a much more realistic idea of cost/budget and timeline earlier in the process because the designers/architects and construction teams work hand-in-hand. Having a fantastic project designed on paper by an architect or interior designer with all the bells and whistles is no use to you if the construction company comes back with a quote that is triple your budget.
Lastly, working with one company means you have one point of accountability, but it also lets you get to know your team. Here’s one of our in-house carpenters at a recent home remodel in Reston. All of our carpenters are highly skilled, passionate about the work they do and develop relationships with the family they are working with. They take great pride in their work and clients have actually told us they miss having the crew around once the project is done!
We assign a Lead Carpenter to every project we work on who knows all the ins and outs and details of your project. They focus on top notch work and deadline driven projects. Carpenters and construction crews will be in your life for a while during a home remodel, so we think it’s important to know who’s in your home — find out why here.
Find out more about our team here.
That all sounds great, but what are the downsides? Well, the scope for most design-build firms tends to be larger, complex, design-thoughtful remodels. To give you an example, at Synergy, we do not work on powder room or pantry remodels as a standalone service, but we do include these as part of larger projects such as remodeling all of the bathrooms in a home, or a kitchen plus pantry remodel. In the same way you don’t need an accountant to balance your checkbook, you don’t need a design-build firm for a simple bathroom update. Thinking of a smaller remodel or refresh that doesn’t need a design-build approach but don’t know where to start? Then read this.
The other factor is you may pay more (but not always) for the all-inclusive service. In our experience, however, although design-build may sound more expensive at the outset, the time saved (not to mention the stress relief) of not having to find different experts and companies to work with and knowing your chosen company understands your scope and budget at the outset is money well spent (and dollars saved in the long run).
Ready to take the next step on your home remodeling project? Get in touch! We’re always happy to help homeowners in the area figure out if we’re the right fit for their needs.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The topic of pay for the Herndon Town Council is on the legislative body’s docket again.
After instituting the first pay increase in nearly 15 years for the 2023-2024 term, the council is considering the possibility of reducing pay to previous levels.
The move, pitched by Vice Mayor Clark Hedrick, is in response to fiscal constraints and the current economic climate. The discussion is in the early phases of the legislative process.
“The Town of Herndon is facing continued challenges in maintaining its labor force, which could, in part be addressed through retention bonuses, incentives for prospective employees, higher cost-of-living adjustments, and base pay increases,” meeting materials said.
The memo also flags “significant revenue uncertainty” rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic to the town’s tax revenue streams. Specifically, the proposal cites rising energy costs, record-high inflation and the increase of tax bills across the town.
The proposal would put council pay at $4,000 for council members and $6,000 for the mayor through Jan. 1, 2025. After that, pay would return to $15,000 per year for the mayor and $10,000 per year for council members, according to the proposal.
Hedrick argues that the proposal would not significantly impact the quality of candidates that run for open seats.
“The Council is made of up public servants and recent Town elections have seen no shortage of qualified candidates seeking the office of either mayor or council member,” the memo says.
Before pay increases went into effect this year, the council was among the lowest paid bodies across local jurisdictions — even those that are somewhat smaller than the town’s population of roughly 24,300 people.
Before the salary increases approved last year, council members were paid $4,000 per year — a little over $6,000 below the average of jurisdictions in Virginia. The mayor received $6,000 per year — also $6,000 less than the state average.
In comparison, the City of Fairfax — which has a comparable population of 24,000 — pays $12,000 a year to council members and $13,000 for the mayoral position, according to town materials.
Legislators in the City of Manassas have the highest pay — $15,579 for council members and $20,000 for mayor — although the city’s population stands at more than 41,000.
Hedricks did not return a request for comment from FFXnow. The council is expected to discuss the matter at a meeting tonight (Tuesday).
Mayor Sheila Olem cast the lone dissenting vote against last year’s proposal to increase council pay, calling the plan too big of a raise.
Local Task Force Deployed to Turkey — “Members of Virginia Task Force 1 in Fairfax County are making plans to head to Turkey and Syria after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit parts of the countries, killing thousands of people and leaving thousands of others missing among the rubble. The task force team will consist of 79 people and six dogs, the task force said in a tweet Monday afternoon.” [Patch]
County Honors Partners in Covid Response — “On Saturday, Feb. 4, more than 1,000 community members and organizations gathered at the Fairfax County Government Center for an official recognition ceremony hosted by the Health Department and the Board of Supervisors.” [Fairfax County]
Fairfax Connector Launches New Route — Fairfax Connector held a ribbon-cutting yesterday for its newest route: Route 660, “a new, limited-stop, weekday express service that operates from Centreville to the Tysons Metrorail Station, via the Fairfax County Government Center and Vienna Metrorail Station. Route 660 operates in the I-66 Express Lanes every ten minutes in both directions.” [Fairfax Connector]
Virginia May Ease Emissions Rules for Data Centers — “Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality says it may loosen emissions rules so those server farms can get more power from emergency generators this spring instead of the grid amid energy supply worries.” The department is “concerned” about “severe, localized constraints in electricity transmission” in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fort Belvoir Gets New Cafe — “A new café featuring a mix of Vietnamese, Mediterranean and Mexican foods opened in December at the Fort Belvoir Community Center. HarpaZo, operated by Ngoc Pham, offers a variety of fresh house-made sandwiches, tacos, bowls, sides and beverages, as well as a breakfast sandwich served on toasted Vietnamese baguette.” [On the MoVe]
Local Newspaper “Effectively” Shutters — “The Sun Gazette newspaper has not published new articles on its website since Friday and may have printed its last edition.” Key staff from the outlet, which covered Arlington and parts of Fairfax County, have been hired for a new paper called Gazette Leader that will launch later this week. [ARLnow]
Local Teen Is Aces at Pickleball — “At just 18 years old, Fairfax County’s Alix Truong is one of the top pickleball players in the country…A multi-sport high school athlete, Truong took up pickleball with her dad during the pandemic, realized she was a natural, and is now winning tournaments on the APP pro tour.” [ABC7]
Learn About Spring Street Widening Construction — The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a meeting Monday, Feb. 13 at the Herndon Community Center “on the work underway in the area of Spring Street and Herndon Parkway to improve safety and operations for drivers and safety, accessibility and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.” [VDOT]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 54 and low of 31. Sunrise at 7:10 am and sunset at 5:38 pm. [Weather.gov]
Cinnamon roll lovers can soon get their fix, as a new gourmet shop opens in Herndon.
Cinnaholic plans to open at the Village Centre at Dulles (2451 Centreville Road) this summer or autumn, according to owner Jessica Papa.
Papa says the 600-square-foot location will serve cinnamon rolls, cookie cakes, and other dairy-free and egg-free options.
“I’m hoping Cinnaholic visitors find joy and excitement while mixing and matching amongst the dozens of different icings and toppings,” Papa said.
Cinnaholic has over 70 locations across the U.S. and Canada. The Herndon location is expected to be Virginia’s first. Another location is planned Stafford.
“I’m bringing compassionate dessert options to my hometown,” Papa said, adding that most items on the menu are free of common allergens.
County permits show that alterations to the tenant space are underway.
Reston Association has announced a full slate of candidates for the upcoming Board of Directors’ election.
Voting begins at 5 p.m. on March 1, with many available seats contested this year. A 10% quorum is required for uncontested races.
Five seats are open for the month-long election: three at-large director seats, Hunters Woods/Dogwood District director, and apartment owners’ representative.
The apartment owners’ representative seat is elected by apartment owners, so that is not a seat that the general membership votes for, according to RA spokesperson Mike Leone.
The following is a breakdown for the race:
At-Large Director (3-year term):
John Farrell
Margaret Perry
Robert (Jeff) Spurrier
Gene ZapfelAt-Large Director (2-year term):
Trevor Grywatch
Jalal MaparAt-Large Director (1-year term):
Michael Brandland
Robert PetrineHunters Woods/Dogwood District Director (3-year term):
Travis JohnsonApartment Owner’s Representative (3-year term):
Michael Collins
Members can also submit mailed ballots. The nine-member board oversees the association’s goals and policy matters, along with the passage of RA’s biennial budget.
Johnson was recently selected by the board to fill a seat that was vacated this past fall.
Daring Deer Dashes Across I-66 — Fairfax County police officers “were called to the Monument Drive ramp of I-66 just after 12:15 p.m. on Jan. 28. When officers arrived, they found a deer that appeared to be stuck on the scaffolding…Animal Protection Police attempted to catch the deer but the animal eluded officers before taking off across the roadway. Thankfully, the deer was not hurt and a serious crash was avoided.” [WUSA9]
No Jail Time for Driver After Fatal Herndon Crash — “A Northern Virginia family wants laws changed after a distracted driver caused an accident that killed an 86-year-old grandfather and war veteran. The driver walked away from court with just a small fine and not a single day of jail time.” [WUSA9]
Northrop Grumman Selling Former Tysons Office — “Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) is selling an office campus near the McLean Metro station, billing it as a potential multifamily conversion opportunity in the Tysons submarket. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., a subsidiary of the aerospace giant, owns the roughly 12-acre property at 7555 Colshire Drive, currently home to a 602,000-square-foot, two-building office complex built in 2001” [Washington Business Journal]
Asian Food Truck Opens Cafe in Vienna — “The Mixx Delight, an Asian fusion eatery serving sweet and savory options, is now open in Vienna. The Town of Vienna and Vienna Business Association hosted a ribbon cutting Thursday for the new business at 448 Maple Ave. E. The Mixx Delight replaces Madeleine Proust, a bakery that suddenly closed in 2022.” [Patch]
Frontier Plaza Eyed for Redevelopment — “Grosvenor wants Fairfax County to clear the regulatory way so it might redevelop a Springfield shopping center as residential mixed-use, indicating a vote of confidence for an area with a lot of growth potential that hasn’t quite yet taken off.” The proposed plan amendment “would raze and replace 106,000 square feet of 1990s-era buildings with four new buildings, altogether comprising 626,000 [square feet] of residential and 117,000 of retail uses.” [WBJ]
Redesign Planned for Frying Pan Animal Pens — “Big News! The Turkey, Peacock and Ducks pens at Frying Pan Park in Herndon are being completely rebuilt and redesigned. New sheds, fencing and pond will be a wonderful functional upgrade for the birds and for the staff who care for them. Visit often to see the progress.” [Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park/Facebook]
Mount Vernon HS Hires New Football Coach — “Isaiah Taylor, former head coach of Wicomico High (“Wi-Hi”) School’s football team in Salisbury, Maryland, has been selected as the new head football coach for the Mount Vernon Majors…Taylor replaced former head football coach Monty Fritts who stepped down in November.” [On the MoVe]
Therapy Dogs Help Out at Springfield School — “When Kris Campesi heads to the Key Center School in Fairfax County, Virginia, she brings a wide range of objects designed to appeal to students. But it’s her partner who gets the kids excited. Micah, a Golden Retriever, is trained to work with students at the school who range from 5 to 22 years old and who have a range of special needs and intellectual disabilities.” [WTOP]
It’s Monday — Clear throughout the day. High of 47 and low of 39. Sunrise at 7:11 am and sunset at 5:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
A CBD boutique is coming soon to Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza.
OmBaked is expected to open in the spring. It’s founded Radhika Murari, a Restonian who moved to the community in 1991.
Murari says she wanted to open the company’s first retail location to be surrounded by like-minded business owners who support the local community.
“Lake Anne Plaza is the heart of Reston and embodies the principles of Live, Work, Play upon which Reston was founded,” Murari wrote in a statement.
Here’s more from the company on what they plan to offer:
OmBaked will sell CBD products that help us Move Better, Focus Better, Relax Better, Sleep Better, and Eat Better. We will also sell CBD products for furbabies. The products will cover the whole range; from bath bombs, body lotion, soft gels, and beverages.
Murari is also behind the concept OmMade peanut butter, a venture that recently received a state and local grant. The business features gluten-free peanut butter that uses local state peanuts to create flavors.
OmBaked is a storefront for the OmMade brand.
The Reston location is an extension of Murari’s effort to invest in the economy and health of her local community, according to the company.
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Are you an inspired foodie like me?
If so, I am sure you are ready to experience some of the newest restaurants in Fairfax County. The list has something for everyone!
Roots Natural Kitchen (Fairfax) — Fast casual dining serving natural foods. Pick a signature grain bowl or salad, or customize your own.
Kusshi Ko (Vienna) — Specializes in modern Japanese cuisine. Don’t forget to check out the area’s largest selection of sake and whisky!
Davio’s (Reston) — The white tablecloths of their spacious, relaxed dining room serve as the perfect stage for Davio’s signature Northern Italian steaks, veal chops, and handmade pasta creations.
Kirby Club (Mosaic) — Kirby Club tells the Middle Eastern-American story through food. It’s a place where everyone belongs exactly as they are. All they ask is that you bring your full, vibrant self… ready for a good time.
Milk & Honey Café (Fairfax) — Milk & Honey Café is a New Orleans-themed Southern Brunch that features award-winning shrimp & grits, chicken & waffles, Rum Chata French toast. They specialize in other slow-cooked, mouth-watering favorites.
Circa at The Boro (Tysons) — Whether dropping in for brunch, lunch, or dinner — every meal is accompanied by an extensive wine list and a seasonal cocktail list.
AmThai By Kanjana (Burke) — Traditional Thai with a twist. It’s delicious!
Harvey’s (Falls Church) — “Home to Good Food and Friends” is their tagline for a reason. You have to check out this gem in the Little City of Falls Church.
Èl BEBE at The Boro (Tysons) — The website sums it up perfectly. “ÈL BEBE is a tribute to those who work hard and deserve all the tacos and tequila they can handle. This is a judgment-free taco zone and we applaud the grind as well as the unwind.”
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The clock is ticking for Fairfax County and the D.C. region to adopt a new transportation plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This past June, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) approved Visualize 2045 — a regional transportation plan that runs through 2045 and must be updated every four years, as mandated by the federal government.
At the same meeting, it voted to include greenhouse gas emission goals in the next plan, targeting cuts of 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
Now, six months later, Fairfax County is already preparing to submit its segment of that plan with those emission goals in mind, but the process will be slightly different from previous years.
Presented at the Board of Supervisors transportation committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 31), Visualize 2050 will include “zero-based budgeting,” meaning all localities have to resubmit their transportation projects for consideration to ensure they adhere to the new emission reduction goals.
Before, most projects automatically carried over from one plan to the next, though projects could be added or taken out if needed, Fairfax County Department of Transportation planner Malcolm Watson explained to the supervisors.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who’s on the TPB with Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, noted that the board has had a “lively discussion” over the last few years regarding the emission goals.
“There’s been…quite a difference of opinion on the climate change stuff, particularly between the inner jurisdictions and the outer jurisdictions,” Alcorn said. “We are kind of right in between.”
County staff have identified 33 projects they expect to be part of the transportation plan and will need to be resubmitted under the new standards. Projects currently “in development” include Reston Parkway improvements, a new Dulles Airport Access road from Chain Bridge Road, and a widening of Frying Pan Road from Sully to Centreville roads.
Most of those projects are expected to be completed between 2025 and 2040.
There are 25 projects that could be exempted from the emission standards because they are already funded or under construction. Those include the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit system, an I-495 overpass at Tysons Corner Center, and the $237 million Soapstone Connector.
Watson cautioned that the lists may change as projects get taken off and added, depending on priorities, the new emission goals, and other factors.
Next month, the TPB will issue a “call for projects,” and the lists will be officially published for public review.
“This will officially kick off Visualize 2050,” Watson said.
The county board ultimately will have to vote to approve the project lists over the summer before they get submitted to the TPB.
The hope is that by December 2024, the TPB will approve Visualize 2050, and the new emission goals will become the norm, making Visualize 2055 perhaps a bit less labor-intensive.
Photo via Fairfax County
Intricate ice sculptures are coming to Reston Town Center’s outdoor skating rink at the inaugural Ice-travaganza event tomorrow (Saturday).
The event, which is free and open to all, will also include a live carving demonstration, hot chocolate, s’mores, a photo booth and a DJ, according to event organizers.
“We created Ice-travaganza to provide a fun and engaging winter activity at RTC similar to the many events we host here in the warmer months. Our ice rink provides a perfect backdrop for this new event,” said Sapna Yathiraj, marketing director for Boston Properties, which owns the center.
The inaugural event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. It begins with complimentary Ben & Jerry’s hot chocolate, a s’mores station and a live DJ. An ice skating performance is slated for 1:15, followed by a 30-minute ice-sculpting demonstration at 2 p.m. Another performance is slated for 3:15 p.m.
The ice skating pavilion reopened in November after undergoing renovations. Other renovations to RTC’s public areas are ongoing. The fountain plaza is expected to be completed in February. RTC plans to turn on the fountain in the spring.
As work gets underway to memorialize those killed by COVID-19, the Fairfax County Health Department wants to ensure the individuals and organizations who helped it navigate the pandemic will have at least one moment in the spotlight.
The department will host a recognition ceremony tomorrow (Saturday) for its many partners in the local pandemic response, from hospital workers and nonprofit volunteers to residences and businesses that supported public awareness campaigns.
“We are honoring individuals and organizations who supported the COVID-19 vaccination effort from the mass vaccination clinics to hosting vaccine equity clinics,” Sharon Arndt, the event’s lead organizer, said. “Public health is what we do together as a society to create the conditions in which everyone can be healthy. Thank you to all who served a role in support of public health.”
For Arndt, the ceremony will close out a 25-year career working for Fairfax County. The director of FCHD’s community health development division is retiring after next week, according to a department spokesperson, who praised her dedication to her public health work and the county.
Over 1,000 community members and groups will be recognized at the ceremony, which will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center in three separate sessions. In addition to hosting vaccine clinics, their contributions ranged from providing basic resources like food to sharing information with non-English-speaking residents.
The proceedings will start at 10 a.m. with Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay delivering remarks. Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik is scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m., followed by Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust at 1 p.m.
Each session will also feature musical and dance performances by local artists.
“These organizations played key roles during the worst health crisis of our lives and we couldn’t have done it without them,” McKay said. “This is true not just during COVID-19 but at all times. They allow the County to leverage our resources and reach the most people possible with life-saving services.”
The ceremony will precede a potential end to the county’s ongoing state of emergency for the pandemic.
The agenda for the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 7) includes an item requesting that the board vote on whether to terminate its local emergency declaration, which has been in place since March 17, 2020. If the measure is approved, the declaration will end March 1.
The county previously said a vote could come last September, but that didn’t happen, as officials were still evaluating the possible implications of ending the declaration, which gave the county more resources and flexibility to address Covid.
Most other Northern Virginia localities have already let their emergency declarations expire, and President Joe Biden is expected to end the national emergencies on May 11.
Though it may soon no longer be labeled an official “emergency,” Covid hasn’t vanished.
The Fairfax Health District, including the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, is averaging 140 new cases and three deaths per day for the past week, as of yesterday (Thursday). Hospitals are admitting 9.4 Covid patients for every 100,000 county residents — just within the threshold for a “low” community level, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Over the past three years, the district has reported 264,878 cases, 5,301 hospitalizations and 1,763 deaths. Nationwide, over 1.1 million people have died from Covid.
Fire Department Gets Grant for Cancer Screenings — The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department recently got a $450,000 grant from FEMA to support free cancer screenings for all workers, some of whom are currently diagnosed. Firefighters face a 9% higher risk of getting cancer, and one Fairfax County firefighter died last year. [FCFRD, NBC4]
Shooting Threat Found on Fairfax School Wall — City of Fairfax Police responded yesterday (Thursday) morning to Katherine Johnson Middle School after a message threatening “to shoot up the school” was found. Police said they didn’t know how long the message had been there, but with no evidence of immediate danger, the school never went into lockdown. [Patch]
Driver Trapped After Breaking Through Resident’s Fence — “Units on the scene of a vehicle crash in the 3900 block of Rosebay Court in Fair Oaks area. Car drove into fence in front of a townhouse. Driver was initially trapped. Crews have extricated from car. Driver not injured.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Penn Daw Aldi Expected to Open Next Month — “Just over five years since ALDI signed a contract with Combined Properties to anchor the retail space at South Alex in Penn Daw, the grocery store is scheduled to open at the mixed-use apartment community in early March…Details on a grand opening ceremony will become available closer to the store’s opening date.” [On the MoVe]
Park Authority Plans Black History Month Events — “Whether in the park, along the trail or at our many historic sites, Fairfax County parks offer a rich collection of sites, artifacts and stories from the past that encourage conversation and inspire change for the future.” [FCPA]
GMU Gets Funding for Opioid Response Center — George Mason University has secured more than $1 million in federal funds for a new center “that would help alleviate pressure on Virginia’s health care system and prevent opioid overdoses.” Tasked with providing care for recently incarcerated individuals, the Empowered Communities Partnership Center anticipates opening a physical location in “Manassas or the greater Prince William County area.” [Washington Business Journal]
Vienna Nonprofit Gets Shoutout From Costco — “Vienna-based nonprofit Rustic Love got some national exposure for its efforts to address food insecurity through a Costco magazine feature. Rustic Love is featured in the February edition of The Costco Connection, the magazine of the popular membership-based bulk retailer.” [Patch]
Imagining a Metro With More Stops — “What would the Metro system look like if it had been built with more local stops, like New York City’s system? To see what this parallel universe might look like, I drew up a different map…keeping the stations that exist today and adding infill stations about every half mile.” [Greater Greater Washington]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 42 and low of 23. Sunrise at 7:14 am and sunset at 5:33 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new exhibit featuring intricate embroidery on leaves is set to open soon at Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art‘s satellite gallery in Reston Town Center.
Artist Hillary Waters Fayle’s work, “Remnants and Echoes,” will open tomorrow (Friday) at 6 p.m. at the Signature apartment building’s ground-floor gallery. There will be a members-only preview from 5:30-6 p.m. with the institute’s curatorial staff.
The exhibit features samples from two of Fayle’s series: Stitched Botanicals, that includes intricate embroidery on individual leaves, and “Portraits of Place,” which includes botanical samples and large mandala-inspired arrangements of the samples.
Here’s more from Tephra on the exhibit:
This exhibition shows examples from these two series and takes a broader look at the variety of modes of making that comprise her practice, including cyanotypes, collage work, patterns cut into leaves, hand-drawn quilt squares, and composition studies sewn from fabric scraps – many of which have not previously been shown publicly. Through this survey of material processes, Remnants and Echoes traces the artist’s exploration of naturally occurring patterns and savors the revelatory potential of her deliberately slow pace.
The exhibit is free and open to all. Visitors are welcome to the building at 111850 Freedom Drive on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fayle is an assistant professor and directs the fiber program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her work focuses on bringing elements of humanity and the physical world together.
“We all have a deep historical and lived experience with cloth- powerful and ever present. Plants and cloth both represent specific and symbolic connections to place, time, people and memory,” Fayle said.
Fairfax County Public Schools has to adjust its budget outlook for the next two years after a miscalculation led the state to overestimate how much funding it will give local school districts.
The error means FCPS will get nearly $18 million less than it had anticipated, including $5.1 million for the current fiscal year 2023, which began on July 1, 2022. The remaining reduction of $12.7 million will affect the upcoming budget for FY 2024.
Overall, Fairfax County’s shortfall is the biggest of any district, Virginia Department of Education spokesperson Charles Pyle confirmed to FFXnow.
According to the Washington Post, an unidentified “someone” discovered last week that a calculator tool provided to help local school divisions determine their allocation from the state budget had failed to account for the elimination of the state’s grocery tax.
Virginia stopped imposing a 1.5% tax on groceries and personal hygiene products on Jan. 1, though a 1% local tax remains in effect. The legislation, which was incorporated into the state budget, directed the state to use its revenue to compensate localities for any lost education funding, starting Feb. 1.
“The tool released last month did not include recognition of the grocery tax hold harmless payment, which began in FY 2023,” State Superintendent Jillian Balow said in an email sent to local superintendents last Friday (Jan. 24).
Statewide, Virginia will provide $201 million less in aid than expected, including $58 million for the current school year, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Balow said the VDOE will release an updated calculation tool after the General Assembly votes on a new state budget on Feb. 9.
It’s unclear how the $18 million deficit will affect FCPS, though it’s a relatively small portion of the district’s $3.3 billion budget. FCPS said it didn’t have an immediate comment, as of press time.
As part of their legislative agenda for the General Assembly, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and school board are advocating for the state to increase its funding for FCPS, arguing that the current formulas used to calculate allocations for each district don’t adequately reflect the area’s high cost-of-living.
FCPS received a projected $869.7 million — or 26.4% of its operating budget — from the state for FY 2023.
A $3.5 billion budget that Superintendent Michelle Reid proposed last month projected $696.4 million in state aid. Items covered in the budget include the addition of middle school athletic programs, staff compensation increases, and expanded pre-kindergarten education.
“The average Virginia school division receives less than 50 percent of its financial support from its local government,” the budget overview says. “FCPS must rely on local funds for 68.8 percent of its revenue.”
Hotworx, a fitness studio that offers 24/7 infrared workouts, has opened in Woodland Crossing in the Herndon area.
Located at 2310 Woodland Crossing Drive in Suite G, the business gives customers access to workouts in a sauna-like room.
Customers can sign up for half-hour isometric workouts and 15-minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts. Patrons also have around-the-clock access to infrared sauna workouts that are virtually instructed.
Jannik Echenrode, the Herndon location’s general manager, said a grand opening is expected in about 45 days.
The Herndon location held its soft opening last Thursday (Jan. 26). It’s currently open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 pm. on Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Area locations include Leesburg, Ashburn, and Aldie. Another gym is expected to open in Dunn Loring this spring.
