Fairfax County has now committed $45 million of the COVID-19 relief funds it received from the federal government to supporting affordable housing projects.
The Board of Supervisors approved the latest allocation of $15 million at its meeting last Tuesday (Dec. 6), and more could be on the way next year, if the board opts to dip into a reserve fund to further its goal of creating 10,000 more affordable units by 2034.
Only Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity voted against the joint board matter sponsored by Chairman Jeff McKay and Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust.
“While we’ve been through and used a lot of these funds for emergency purposes, part of recovery is a recognition of the need for affordable housing and how lack of affordable housing played a role sadly and unfortunately in the health outcomes of people who could not find safe and effective affordable housing,” McKay said. “So, I’m happy that we’re able to use this…to help keep up the momentum that we have in producing that goal of 10,000 affordable units.”
Citing a recent memo from County Executive Bryan Hill, McKay and Foust said in their board matter that the county has “a robust current pipeline of affordable housing development projects which clearly demonstrates the need for significant capital funding in the coming years.”
In his memo dated Nov. 4, Hill reported that the board had dedicated $30 million of the $220 million it received from the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program to affordable housing production.
Signed into law in March 2021, the federal stimulus package created the SLFRF program to assist localities in responding to and recovering from the pandemic. The money can be used to replace lost public revenue, address the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19, provide bonuses for government workers, and improve water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Prior to last week’s vote, all of the funds that Fairfax County designated for affordable housing had been committed to specific projects — with $10 million and $19 million, respectively, going to the planned Dominion Square and Somos developments in Tysons.
Hill recommended that the board devote an additional $15 million to affordable housing, noting that ARPA set a Dec. 31, 2026 deadline for spending affordable housing loans financed with Covid relief money.
“Our ongoing investment of local and federal dollars continue to be essential toward achieving our affordable housing goals,” he said, calling the proposal an “effective use of the one-time ARPA resources.”
In addition to approving Hill’s recommendation, the board matter by Foust and McKay suggested that the county consider allocating a portion of a general fund coronavirus pandemic reserve fund to affordable housing as a third-quarter adjustment to its current fiscal year 2023 budget.
As of Nov. 18, the county had $50 million in unallocated ARPA funding, though after last week’s vote, that has gone down to $35 million. There is also $21.3 million left in the pandemic reserve, which has been used to provide basic needs assistance for residents and some relief grants for businesses.
“Based on the current trajectory of the pandemic, the one-time nature of this reserve, and an existing balance remaining in the County’s ARPA allocation for other priorities, I believe that this reserve may be a useful resource for affordable housing,” Foust said in the board matter. “It is also important to note that since these are local funds, these dollars would provide maximum flexibility for Housing staff as they make resourcing decisions for affordable housing development.”
Last week, Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors authorized a grant that aims to help protect local Jewish organizations from hate crimes.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is applying for a $150,000 grant (page 244) from the Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Combating Hate Crime Grant Program. The funding will be used to better secure local congregations against hate crimes.
The application comes amid a notable upswing in antisemitic hate crimes nationwide. A new state report showed a rise in antisemitic harassment and vandalism — though the report also conflates opposition to the Israeli government with antisemitism.
“Generally, while the Commonwealth has not seen antisemitic assaults take place since 2018, there has been an increased frequency of antisemitic harassment and antisemitic vandalism at levels which have remained constant from 2018 to 2021,” the report said. “In 2021, 411 reported antisemitic incidents impacted residents of the Commonwealth. These incidents showed a 71% increase over the 292 reported incidents in 2020.”
Fairfax County releases reports on bias crimes over three-year periods. The latest report, covering 2018-2020, said there had been an uptick in “bias crimes and incidents” in recent years.
“The aggregate total of all bias crimes and incidents for 2018-2020 was 320,” the report said. “This represents a 65.8% increase over the previous 3-year total of 193 incidents encompassing the years 2015-2017.”
Anti-Black bias comprised around 40.6% of the aggregate total. The second most prevalent was a general “other ethnicity/national origin” category at around 11.3%, while anti-Jewish bias crimes represented around 6.9% of the aggregate total.
Calls for “suspicious events” represented the most frequent incident at 25% of the aggregate total. Disorderly conduct accounted for the second most common category, representing 21.6% of the aggregate total.
A staff report said the grant funding would make the following locations more secure:
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church
- Congregation Olam Tikvah
- Gesher Jewish Day School
- Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
- Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia
- Temple Rodef Shalom
The area immediately surrounding the Herndon Metro Station could soon be activated.
At a meeting last Tuesday (Dec. 6), the council reviewed developer Penzance’s scaled-back plan for a nearly 4.3-acre area at 555 Herndon Parkway.
The proposed development would have a one-tower building and a mid-rise building with a mix of residential, office and retail space. An urban block is planned with private streets wrapped around the exterior and an internal loop and plaza area.
Some council members expressed concerns about the lack of placemaking retail in the development.
Councilmember Sean Regan said the development has a “woeful” lack of attractive retail.
“Why would someone at a different Metro stop want to go here? To go to a Sbarro?” Regan said, noting that the amount of square footage will not attract a tenant who can make the commercial space a “destination.”
The current plan reduces office space by roughly 125,000 square feet and ups the amount of residential space by a little over 10,000 square feet. That would make the majority of the site — roughly 488,000 square feet — residential, along with 10,000 square feet of retail and 200,000 square feet of total office space.
The project includes just two buildings that could be subdivided into parcels and built in two phases, according to town staff.
At the meeting, staff noted that the scaled-back application is moving forward at the applicant’s request.
“They wanted to get going on construction faster than what the existing approved plan supported,” staff said.
The project is set for a public hearing tomorrow (Tuesday), allowing further opportunities for feedback and changes.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila encouraged the town to push for more changes, adding that he too was concerned about the reduction of office space and its relation to the Metro station.
“I think we can certainly ask for some stuff,” del Aguila said.
Dranesville District school board member Elaine Tholen will not run for reelection in 2023, while several of the other members haven’t yet declared their own intentions.
Tholen confirmed to FFXnow that she won’t seek another term on the Fairfax County School Board and instead plans to step down at the end of her term on Dec. 31, 2023.
She initially shared her decision with supporters and colleagues in October, but this is the first time Tholen has made it public:
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as the Dranesville District School Board member since January 2020. Serving on the School Board has allowed me to give back to my community and repay the school district that has given my family so much.
I have decided it is time for me to step away from the School Board, and to return to a role closer to our classrooms and to our students. So after careful consideration, I am officially announcing that I will not seek re-election to the Fairfax County School Board in November 2023.
My life’s passion is working with young people to expand their horizons and engagement in learning, and to introduce them to the magic of our natural world and the science behind it. I love to work with those that build and promote this work; the teachers, and the principals that change the lives of children for the better every day.
I am focused and excited as I finish my term to work with the board and Dr. Reid as we move forward during this time of setting strategy for the future of our school district, and as always will continue to do my best to support every one of our school communities through the end of my current term on December 31, 2023.
We have accomplished much in the past few years as we navigated a global pandemic, supported each and every student in academics and wellness, and tackled difficult facility issues. We have started work on new ways to look at development in Fairfax County, we have increased our sustainability efforts and more. I know there is still much work to do, and I know that Dranesville families will work with a new School Board member to continue to better our school district.
I will be hard at work for and with all of you until the end of December 2023 when my current term is complete. Thank you for trusting me with the responsibility of representing you on our School Board, and please know that I will still be a part of our community.
Tholen was first elected to the school board in 2019 after serving as a director for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. She’s also a certified middle school science teacher.
Last year, there was an effort to recall her from the board over her support for Fairfax County Public Schools starting the school year virtually. Petitions against her and Laura Jane Cohen, who represents the Springfield District on the school board, were dismissed in August 2021 and this past February, respectively.
Cohen is also not running for reelection, because she’s seeking to join the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the newly created 15th District.
She told FFXnow that, while on the school board, she saw “first hand the barriers that our students and families face.”
Time and again, our Commonwealth has refused to adequately invest in our communities. Whether it’s continuing to burden our students and staff with more and more standardized tests, trying to rewrite our history, attempting to undermine public education, or refusing to address the much needed mental health and substance abuse crisis, the buck stops in Richmond. I look forward to continuing my service to our community and working together to tackle these and other problems that not only impact our families in Fairfax County, but families across the Commonwealth.
No candidates have emerged yet to challenge for the Dranesville or Springfield school board seats.
One School Board Member Confirms Reelection Bid
Conversely, Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren is running again in 2023.
A former U.S. Education Department worker, she first won the seat in 2019 after longtime school board member Pat Haynes retired. During her term, she has advocated for stronger security measures at schools and policies to improve student health, such as recess in middle schools and a greater focus on the importance of sleep.
As one of two Jewish school board members, she criticized at-large school board member Abrar Omeish last year for comments the board’s only Muslim member made about Israel and Palestine.
“I believe that strong schools make a strong community,” Meren wrote in a statement. “The students, families, staff, and residents of Fairfax County deserve to be represented by an experienced public servant like myself, who improves access to opportunities for all students in FCPS to fulfill their destinies for success in life; strengthens public policy that frames how FCPS uses public resources; and fosters trust, civility, and respect in public service during a turbulent time in American democracy — and engages the community.”
Not Publicly Decided
Other school board members told FFXnow that they aren’t ready to announce their 2023 plans.
Providence District Representative Karl Frisch, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for 35th House District delegate earlier this year, said he will announce his intentions “in the weeks ahead.”
Mason District Representative Ricardy Anderson said she will announce in “the coming weeks,” while Sully District school board member Stella Pekarsky said to expect an announcement in January.
Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, who’s served on the school board since 2012, said in an email that she has yet to make a decision on her fourth term as well.
The school board’s other five members have not responded to FFXnow’s repeated inquiries.
Earlier this month, five county supervisors confirmed they will run for reelection in 2023, while both Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust and Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross have announced they will step down.
Three supervisors remain publicly undecided: Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.
FedEx Driver Tried to Help Man Who Died in FCPD Custody — “The FedEx driver praised for helping a man experiencing a behavioral health crisis before he died in police custody said he felt led to show compassion. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described his actions as heroic despite the fatal outcome.” [WUSA9]
Fairfax City Police Investigate Shootings — “City of Fairfax Police are investigating two shooting into vehicle incidents that occurred early Thursday morning that appear to be connected, according to a police release.” Police responded to a shooting between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. that resulted in “minor injuries” to the vehicle’s occupant, and were then called to a similar shooting two miles away, where there were no injuries. [Patch]
Are Regional Road Projects Helping Fix Congestion? — “Northern Virginians have been living through a seemingly endless cycle of roadbuilding in recent years…With the perceived need more than doubling the funds available, some in the region are asking: Can Northern Virginia ever build its way out of traffic congestion?” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Five Displaced by Kingstowne House Fire — “On Thursday, December 1 at 2:24 p.m., units were dispatched for a reported house fire in the 7200 block of Devereux Court in the Kingstowne area…Fire Investigators determined the fire was accidental in nature and started in the garage on a work table. The fire was caused by an electrical event involving a laptop computer.” [FCFRD]
Tysons Gas Station Gets Approval for Convenience Store — “A Tysons service station damaged by a small tornado March 31 now will be getting a spruced up exterior and a new convenience store in place of its lightly used vehicle-service bays. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 6 unanimously approved the changes sought by Petroleum Marketing Group Inc. (PMG) for its station…at 1953 Chain Bridge Road.” [Sun Gazette]
Vienna Preschool Founder Dies — Services were held this past weekend for Joyce Decker, “an involved member of the Vienna community,” who died on Nov. 14. Decker was an avid supporter of Vienna Little League, helping fundraise and becoming its first female trustee, and in 1968, she opened “Vienna Tiny Tots Village, one of the area’s first private preschool and child care centers,” which closed in March 2021 after operating for 53 years. [Patch]
Lobster Food Trucks Coming to D.C. Area — “Cousins Maine Lobster, which got its start as a single food truck in Los Angeles a decade ago, has struck a deal with one of its existing franchisees to bring six food trucks to D.C., Maryland and Virginia over the next 18 months…The business really began to take off after the founders appeared on the ABC show “Shark Tank” in 2016″ [Washington Business Journal]
Hundreds of Tickets Issued on Richmond Highway — “Police officers issued 874 traffic citations to motorists along the Richmond Highway corridor during the month of November…According to an FCPD spokesperson, the citations were issued as part of a Pedestrian High Visibility Enforcement campaign conducted by FCPD’s Motor Squad in November and on one additional date in December.” [On the MoVe]
Vienna Holiday Decorating Contest Winners Announced — “A record number of votes were cast in this year’s contest — more than 1000 — up by more than 50 percent from 2021. For the first time, contestants were given an opportunity to earn bonus points by putting a caboose somewhere in their display, paying homage to Vienna’s railway history.” [Town of Vienna]
It’s Monday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 43 and low of 34. Sunrise at 7:19 am and sunset at 4:48 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new group exhibit organized by Reston’s Tephra Institute of Contemporary Arts is set to open this weekend.
“Between a rock and a soft place” aims to reframe the concept of rest as a practice on its own and irrespective of the concept of work, a press release said. An opening reception is slated for tomorrow (Saturday) from 5-7 p.m.
In the exhibit, five regional, contemporary artists — Holly Bass, Adjoa Burrowes, Deborah R. Grayson, Katie O’Keefe, and Britt Sankofa — reflect on the structures that stand between the subject and a life of ease, exploring topics such as who gets rest and when, what is restorative, and how do individuals allow themselves to slow down.
Each artist was asked to response to exhibition prompts that explored what being well-rested looks like from different perspectives.
Here’s what the exhibit’s guest curator, Deirdre Darden, said about the theme and process:
When the pandemic forced me to rest, I realized that it was the essential missing piece of my practice. As independent curators and artists, we’re always thinking of the next deadline while trying to meet the current one. It’s a cyclical life that leaves little time for reprieve. As I worked with Tephra ICA to develop the theme of the [open] call, I settled on the idea of rest. Research led me to understand this idea of creating art around ‘burnout’ wasn’t just a pandemic trend. Many contemporary artists have started to adjust their subject matter to reflect the need to see people, especially black people, disabled people, and more marginalized folks at ease. Domestic scenes, peering out a window, moments of joy, tending a garden. This is the art of the rest revolution.
The exhibit is a product of the institute’s Mary B. Howard Invitational, a biennial program that supports collaborative exhibition-making and “the development and public presentation of innovative new work,” per the exhibit website. It was named after an artist and longtime board member and is funded in part by ArtsFairfax.
The presentation is free and open to all. RSVPs are encouraged in advance online.
The exhibit is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery will be closed on Dec. 13-15, 24, and 31.
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.
Do you love Christmas lights?
If so, this insider video is for you. I surveyed Facebook groups for the must-see Christmas lights and these made the top of the list! Hope you enjoy piling into the car with hot chocolate and your people as you make memories that will turn into traditions.
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
If developers are willing to invest in boosting sewage infrastructure with their new projects, Fairfax County is willing to foot part of the bill.
The Board of Supervisors adopted a new policy (page 621) on Tuesday (Dec. 6) that would allow the county to reimburse developers for the cost of building enlarged sewage facilities to help grapple with wastewater. This change also means a slight sewer bill increase for local residents.
“The proposed policy recommends reimbursing developers for the cost of constructing an enlarged sewage facility based on the County’s share of existing and future wastewater flow,” a staff report sid. “Future flows are based on buildout described in the Comprehensive plan. The developers will be responsible for the cost that is equal to the proportional share of the enlarged facility that conveys flow exclusively from their development.”
The report said the current policy for reimbursing developers for enlarging sewer facilities is outdated and has not been used for 20 years.
According to county staff, the county’s pro-rate share of costs for eligible projects over the next two fiscal years would be $22.5 million or less. That cost will likely come from a 20-cent-per-month increase to the average sewer bill for residents.
According to the report:
This estimated amount would be paid out over several fiscal years, because potentially eligible projects are in various stages of plan review and approval and reimbursement will not be issued until construction milestones are met. To account for the proposed policy, staff anticipates recommending an additional increase of $0.20 per month on an average sewer bill for residential customers and an additional increase in Availability Charges of $182 for single-family homes and $146 for townhomes and multi-family homes.
While the change does mean a sewer rate increase for residents, the report said the financial burden of boosting local sewer infrastructure is lessened by sharing that cost between the county and local developers.
“By cost-sharing with private developers, all current users benefit from improved sanitary sewer infrastructure that reduces the potential for sewage release into the environment, and all rate payers benefit from reduced sewer maintenance and replacement costs,” the report said. “Without this policy, the cost to upsize sewer facilities as required by current County Code could disproportionately impact smaller development projects.”
The proposal was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.
“This is a helpful, important motion,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said. “This is a big turning point in terms of our ability to deal with managing growth and sewers.”
Image via Marco Bicca/Unsplash
The path to maintaining the aging Vantage Hill condominiums in Reston is officially clear.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday (Dec. 6) to move forward with the redevelopment, which will replace the southwest portion of the property — an abandoned pool that closed years ago — with 28 townhouses.
Sales generated with the sale of the for-sale townhouses by Craftmark Homes will finance roughly $4.5 million in long-needed upgrades for the condos, a 152-complex that was built in 1962.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said that without this project, Vantage Hill could have been looking at “some very difficult choices.”
“This is an example of how it really should be done when it can be done,” Alcorn said.
Alcorn — who serves on a statewide task force on aging structures — said that similar models may be applied to other areas in other districts.
“Unfortunately, many times, it’s going to be a question of swiping the site and starting over or somehow finding the funding the money for the required improvements,” he said.
Sales generated from the sale of the townhomes are expected to finance new windows and doors, upgraded heating, new plumbing, a bigger playground, and metered electrical service for each unit.
Lego Discovery Center Breaks Ground — “It was an honor today to participate in the LEGO Discovery Center groundbreaking at Springfield Town Center This ultimate Lego playground will be the first in the Greater Washington area and is a fun and exciting addition to our community!” [Jeff McKay/Facebook]
FCPD Releases Video From In-Custody Death — “Fairfax County police have released body camera video after a man died in custody last month, and say the man behaved erratically before suffering from a medical emergency. On Nov. 11, Fairfax County police said they received calls about a man running in traffic on Amherst Avenue in Springfield.” [NBC4]
Residents See Plans for Bowman Towne Court Redevelopment — Reston Town Center Apartments residents will be relocated to temporary housing when construction on a new 350-unit affordable housing project begins, county staff said. When work is done, they would be offered one of the new units in the development, which could be colocated with a new Reston Regional Library. [Patch]
Deli Opens in Former Vienna Bakery — “Italian restaurant Pazzo Pomodoro opened a new delicatessen Monday two doors down from its Vienna location called Nozzo Pazzo…The space was formerly home to Cenan’s Bakery, a beloved bakery that closed in 2018 after 26 years in business.” [Patch]
Fairfax County Prosecutors Win Appeal — “The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled this week that hearsay evidence involving children who are otherwise not competent to testify can still be used, as long as it helps tie a case together.” The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office appealed the abuse case after the defense argued that the statements made by the victim, a 13-year-old girl with autism, shouldn’t be considered credible. [WTOP]
Vienna Coffee Shop Expanding to Alexandria — “Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee is coming to 631 King Street at the intersection with S. Washington Street. The site was previously Francesca’s until it closed in 2020. The shop first opened on Vienna’s Maple Avenue in 2021 and specializes in a pastry called lokma.” [ALXnow]
Local Uyghur Restaurants Keep Culture Alive — “Food is one of the most important parts of Uyghur culture, according to Faruk Dilshat, the owner of Mim’s Food in Fairfax…Dilshat grew up in Xinjiang’s city of Ghulja and moved to the D.C. area in 2000 at the age of 13. Some of his distant relatives still live in his home region, but he can barely talk to them for safety reasons.” [DCist]
Annandale Company Helps Seniors Find Assistance — “Naborforce, a company that matches seniors who need a hand with errands or household chores with someone who can help, just became available in Annandale last week. The program is similar to the village concept underway in some communities, such as Lake Barcroft, which recruits volunteers to help their older neighbors — except Naborforce is monetized and operates through an app, like Uber.” [Annandale Today]
Madison Warhawks Reach State Football Finals — “After defeating the Fairfax Lions, 31-21, Dec. 3 in a Virginia High School League Class 6D football semifinal, Madison High School’s football team on Dec. 10 will vie for the state crown as the Warkhawks face the Freedom-Woodbridge Eagles at Old Dominion University.” [Sun Gazette]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 49 and low of 38. Sunrise at 7:17 am and sunset at 4:48 pm. [Weather.gov]
A man already serving a life sentence in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in 2002 has pleaded guilty to killing a woman in Herndon 35 years ago.
The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney announced today that Charles Helem was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering 37-year-old Eige Sober-Adler, whose body was found in a field near the Dulles Toll Road on Sept. 8, 1987.
Helem is facing a third life sentence for the 2002 murder of 19-year-old Jennifer Landry in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He’s currently incarcerated at Virginia’s Red Onion State Prison for strangling 37-year-old Patricia Bentley in her Chantilly home in April 2002.
“Today, the community can begin to move toward peace and closure,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said in a statement. “I am grateful for the cooperation across agencies and jurisdictions that helped solve this case, including from Fairfax Police Chief Kevin Davis, Prince George’s Police Chief Malik Aziz, and the cold case detectives in both jurisdictions.”
Helem was indicted in Sober-Adler’s murder by a Fairfax County grand jury in January after providing information about her death that only the suspect would know, Davis said at a joint press conference with Prince George’s police, who shared that Helem had confessed in 2021 to killing Landry.
According to The Washington Post, Sober-Adler was found nude and beaten by construction workers in a field near a Days Inn that was under construction in Herndon on Sept. 8, 1987. Her car was found nearby on the shoulder of the westbound lanes of the Dulles Toll Road.
An autopsy determined that her skull had been fractured, and she suffered a “cerebral hemorrhage caused by an unknown object,” the Post reported.
After his sentencing today, Helem is being transferred to Prince George’s County, where he’s set to plead guilty to Landry’s murder. He will serve all three life sentences concurrently, the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney confirmed to FFXnow.
While on vacation over the summer, Michelle Ratto became aware of the lack of independent bookstores in Herndon and realized she wanted to fill that void.
Ratto and her business partner Beth Luke — who describe themselves as avid leaders — made that dream come true last month by opening A Thousand Stories, a bookstore with more than 1,000 titles.
The store’s name is inspired by the mission of the business.
“One of the things we love most about bookstores is the magical feeling of being surrounded by so many stories. We decided to name our store…as a way of describing that sense of possibility,” Ratto said.
The bookstore is located in a room at Arts Herndon (750 Center Street), a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the arts in the town. The idea came from Jo Ormesher, the organization’s president.
While focused on kids and young adults, the store has books for readers of all ages and is happy to fulfill special orders.
The owners are just getting started with hosting community events. Preschool story time started yesterday (Wednesday), and more book clubs and author readings are also planned in January.
The bookstore is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to. 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable here and to meet new friends and neighbors while finding the perfect book,” Ratto said.
This sponsored column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road in Arlington). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Experience Arrowine’s Tastings & Events. Have a question? Email [email protected].
Welcome to the final installment of the “so you want to make wine series” or “what was I thinkin?” So today, we will finish with the maturation process of red wine. And, of course, a delicious suggestion for your table.
Any winemaker worth his salt vinifies every parcel and varietal separately. That allows you to dial in and elevate the quality of every Cuvee you make.
Some parcels are better than others or different. The easiest way to create several wines at several price points is to declassify some. The “Grand Vin,” or first wine, is the best of the best. Take Chateau Latour. Only the very best barrels go into “Chateau Latour.” The second wine, “Les Forts de Latour” is the next best and, finally, a wine they call “Pauillac.” All are good, and some barrels and parcels are less complex. You can kill two birds with one stone, elevate your “Prestige” wine and offer a slightly less complex wine for less money or create something just as good but different.
To get the wine in the bottle, you first must homogenize all the components into one cohesive unit. But there are still more decisions to make before bottling.
The use of sulfur and how much to use can get complicated and controversial. There is a misguided movement to reduce added sulfur to ridiculously low levels. But you can’t make wine “stable” without a reasonable level. Wine without sulfur is a crapshoot. The slightest residual sugar can spontaneously referment, bottles explode, cork pop, or if it gets here in one piece, it’s fizzy. Winemakers compensate for reducing sulfur by increasing the inert gas they add at bottling, and it’s the wrong approach.
It’s table wine, and it shouldn’t be petulant. Decanting a “still wine” to air is okay, but de-gassing one is nonsense. I’ve opened many a bottle, and it’s bubbling like a Coke! Then you must put your hand over the top, shake the hell out of it, release your grip, and hear the POP! It can take several tries to get rid of all the gas. That’s not great for table service, nor is it sensible. And it reduces the aging potential.
Next, what closure will you use? Natural cork (my choice), composite cork (crushed cork glued together), synthetic cork, or a “screw-cap.” Each kind of closure has benefits and problems. I’m a traditionalist. I will always choose a traditional good-quality cork. I know how it performs, and I’m happy to accept the minuscule failure rate. It’s part of the game.
This week’s star is a “Real Eye Opener.”
If you want to see just how far Virginia wines have come, look no further. The Washington Posts Dave McIntyre proclaimed: the 2020 Chatham Vineyards Church Creek Chardonnay ‘Steel’, “a great value” and “…an outstanding Virginia Chardonnay that’s worth seeking out.” And Dave got it right!
Here is a Chardonnay that kicks butt, a game-changer! And it’s from VIRGINIA! Be proud, people! Support your state.
This wine floored me. And it is nothing like any California Chardonnay anywhere near its price! It is the spitting image of a Village-level Chablis, dry, with excellent palate-cleansing acidity, delicious lemon butter and sea-shell flavors, and a stone-dust mineral finish. Try finding anything this good from anywhere in the U.S. at its price of $22.99. You can’t!
Hat’s off to Jon and Mills Wehner for making such an outstanding and affordable Chardonnay. Jump on this one — the wine disappeared after the Washington Post review hit. Jon was kind enough to save me his last 30 cases, as we had supported it long before the Washington Post discovered it.
Cheers,
Doug
Photo (top) by Elisha Terada on Unsplash
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Reston Town Center welcomed a Brazilian steak house to its mix of tenants earlier this month.
Fogo de Chão opened on Friday (Dec. 2) at 11915 Democracy Drive. A portion of the first week of sales will go to Reston-based nonprofit organization Cornerstones, along with unused meals.
The Reston location is led by general manager Fabrizzio Silveira,who has borne and raised in Brazil. He started his career with the company in New Orleans and the gaucho chef.
“We are proud of our brand’s rapid growth in recent years as we expand in new and existing cities, and credit that to our differentiated dining experience and our humble roots from Brazil,” Fogo de Chão CEO Barry McGowan said. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to bring our experience to the Metro D.C. area for nearly 17 years.”
The Reston location is the company’s 70th steakhouse and the fourth in the D.C. metro area, joining one in Tysons.
The restaurant is centered around an open-air churrasco grill where chefs demonstrate the art of churrasco. Meats are butchered, prepared and grilled over an open flame.
The Reston location also includes tall wine ales, dry-aged meat lockers for in-house against and a bar area. A lounge on the mezzanine level is also a part of the design.
Alexandria Motel Demolished — “The Alexandria Motel at 6411 Richmond Highway was officially demolished in late November to make way for a future stormwater management facility for the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. During its heyday in the mid-twentieth century, the motel was a 27-room property advertising its private showers, televisions, central heating and cross-ventilation.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Residents Object to Loss of Trees — “VDOT contractors have cut down hundreds of trees just outside the Beltway near the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike. They’re extending Virginia’s High Occupancy Toll lanes to the Potomac and perhaps into Maryland. At the outer loop exit onto the G.W., neighbors compare the damage to a strip mine.” [WUSA9]
County Prosecutors Sued Over Child Molestation Case — “A new lawsuit claims Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano and his office mishandled a child molestation case by missing a key deadline and then offering a plea deal that upset the family of the victim.” [WTOP]
Fairfax City Unveils New Logos — “Fairfax City held a ceremony unveiling the new city seal, city flag, City of Fairfax Fire Department badge and patch, and City of Fairfax Police Department department badge and patch. All will be implemented by the new year. Police and Fire honor guards assisted with the flag replacement and seal reveal.” [City of Fairfax/Facebook]
Tysons Still Working to Get Beyond Offices — “Tysons is the largest office submarket in Northern Virginia…But with the office market becoming more mature and underlying fundamentals for the sector weakening, developers are hoping a focus on other uses and amenities for the community will help Tysons become a city with its own identity” [Bisnow]
Documentary Delves Into Lorton Prison History — “The emotionally raw scene is part of a stage play from the ’70s, produced and performed by inmates of Lorton Reformatory, the notorious D.C.-area prison that closed in 2001. Preserved on an old VHS tape, it is one of many gems unearthed by Karim Mowatt, director of the new documentary ‘Lorton: Prison of Terror.'” [Washington Post Magazine]
Reston Consulting Firm Bought by IBM — “IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) is acquiring Reston federal IT contractor Octo Consulting Group Inc. from Chevy Chase private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners LLC…The move will add Octo’s approximately 1,500 employees to IBM’s consulting subsidiary.” [Washington Business Journal]
Falls Church Resident to Appear on “Jeopardy” — “A Falls Church resident is set to compete on Jeopardy! this week. You can watch Sriram Krishnan, of Falls Church, compete on the famous game show, airing Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.” [ABC7]
It’s Thursday — Possible drizzle overnight. High of 55 and low of 46. Sunrise at 7:16 am and sunset at 4:48 pm. [Weather.gov]
