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The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is formally opposing Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed model policies that would limit the rights of transgender and other gender-nonconforming students.
In a letter approved at a board meeting today (Tuesday), board chairman Jeff McKay said that the policies would have a negative effect on the county’s economic position and cites the human impact on students. Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity voted against the proposal.
“Your model policies – and the discrimination inherent to them – will have a chilling effect on our continued ability to attract the world’s most innovative companies to Fairfax County. To put it bluntly, discrimination is bad for business,” the letter, which is addressed to the Virginia Department of Education, states.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw noted that the proposal policy is contradicted by U.S. Supreme Court decisions and other legal precedent.
“Thankfully, many school system in the Commonwealth don’t intend to adopt them,” Walkinshaw said.
When voting against the proposal, Herrity questioned why the county was weighing in on a proposal related to the school system when other issues — like declining enrollment, learning loss, and the achievement gap — need exploration as well.
“My biggest problem with the letter, I don’t see any staff working on this at all,” Herrity said. He also said parents need to be involved in “critical decisions of this magnitude,” adding that parental permission to give a child an aspirin in schools.
McKay responded by stating that the board’s letter is part of the state’s education department call for public comment on the proposal — a comment period that ends tomorrow.
His letter also says that the policies put the county’s children at risk by denying support and affirmation to transgender students.
“A young LGBTQ person attempts suicide every 45 seconds in the United States. Key drivers of high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among transgender youth are the lack of social support and affirming experiences that they often face,” the letter states.
The proposed policies are at odds with the school system’s current policies that affirm students’ rights to accessing restrooms based on their gender identity and being called by their chosen names and pronouns. FCPS moved to update its previous policy — last amended in 2020 — based on state recommendations.
A spokesperson told FFXnow that the school system did not have more information to share about its position on the state’s policies. FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid sent to families last month, stating that FCPS was reviewing the draft policies.
This is not the first time McKay has publicly questioned the draft policy. Earlier this month, McKay told FFXnow that the school system may have legal grounds to go against the model policies.
The Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão is on track for a winter opening in Reston Town Center, according to a company spokesperson.
The steakhouse — which takes over space previously occupied by Big Bowl at 11915 Democracy Drive– has issued a hiring call for 130 positions.
Fabrizzio Silveira the Reston location’s general manager, says the restaurant’s culinary art of churrasco sets it apart from other steakhouses in the town center.
“The Reston Town Center is home to some of Reston’s world-class business and retail concepts. At Fogo de Chao, we are all about providing guests with a dining experience of discovery and we’re excited to bring that to the Reston community,” Silveira wrote in a statement.
The restaurant plans to donate a portion of its first week of sales to Cornerstones, a Reston-based nonprofit organization.
Renovations and upgrades to the interior and exterior of the site are underway. Earlier this year, Et Jolie, a lifestyle AVEDA salon and spa, temporarily relocated at 1826 Discovery Street, right by the ice skating rink, to make more space for the restaurant.
The Reston location will include an indoor bar, dry-aged meat lockers for in-house aging, wine cases, and a new lounge on the mezzanine level.
Fogo de Chão launched its first location in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1979. The first U.S. location opened in Dallas in 1997.
Since then, the company has 45 locations across the country and others throughout the world.
Police Investigate Shooting in Annandale — One individual was shot on the 6200 block of Little River Turnpike yesterday evening. Preliminarily, police believe the incident was isolated. [Fairfax County Police Department]
School Board Supports Inclusive Teaching with Key Caveat — “The Fairfax County school board adopted last-minute changes to a resolution on Thursday evening focused on a commitment to “protect and support educators” in their work delivering inclusive classroom instruction. The final version softened earlier language and deleted a reference to a fractured political climate around Northern Virginia schools.” [DCist]
Woman Suffers Life-threatening Injuries in Springfield Hit-and-Run — A woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after a car hit her at the intersection of Gainsborough Drive and Wheatstone Drive. The drier was eventually detained. [FCPD]
Youngkin: County Schools Should Address Learning Loss — “In Richmond, Gov. Youngkin announced a seven-point action plan to address learning loss. Leaders at the Virginia Department of Education said learning loss was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic due to school closures and virtual learning.” [WJLA]
Witches Descend in Reston — Lake Anne Plaza is hosting this year’s flashmob paddle, which features witches and warlocks, on Monday. Wiccan attire is highly encouraged. [Lake Anne Plaza]
More Tysons Data Available — “The Tysons Tracker has been updated with new land use and development data from August 2021 through July 2022. The interactive online platform was launched last year to better showcase the monitoring data included in past Tysons Annual Reports.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 69 and low of 57. Sunrise at 7:29 am and sunset at 6:18 pm. [Weather.gov]
The iconic caboose in Downtown Herndon next to Herndon’s Railroad Depot and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail is getting a facelift.
Earlier this month, crews began working on repairing the exterior structure of the caboose. The project is expected to wrap up some time next month, according to the Town of Herndon’s Department of Public Works.
According to town staff, the caboose developed surface rust and paint began chipping off of the exterior, prompting the need for the project.
“The project involves the removal of the rust, repainting of the exterior surfaces including the undercarriage, and restoration painting of the W&OD seal and associated lettering on the caboose,” the town wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
The caboose was brought to the Town of Herndon in 1989 after the Herndon Historical Society expressed interested in securing a caboose for the Herndon depot.
The all-steel caboose, which weights 45,300 pounds and is roughly 37 feet long is base don a design used on U.S. railroads after World War II.
The latest work on the caboose is being completed by The Matthews Group, Inc. under the supervision of the town’s Department of Public Works.
Photo via NOVA Parks/Twitter
Town of Herndon officials are studying improvements to the Spring Street area in response to residents’ concerns about walkability and safety.
After completing a speed study in September, Town Manager Bill Ashton II said the town has installed a speed sign between Wood Street and Bicksler Lane. The town plans to conduct a follow-up, three-day study in the first week of November to determine the impact of the sign.
The move comes after residents expressed concerns about walkability and crashes in the area.
Other improvements could be on the horizon, Ashton told the Herndon Town Council at a meeting on Oct. 11.
Town officials are also looking into traffic patterns on Alabama Drive to determine the feasibility of changes there.
“We are very cognizant of the fact that this is part of a larger transportation network,” Ashton said at the meeting.
Among the changes being contemplated on Spring Street is a three- or four-way stop sign. Town staff determined that Wood Street is the most appropriate place for the stop sign, but the town will have to remove two crepe myrtle trees that would block the sign.
“We are assessing what we are going to do when we move those crepe myrtles,” Ashton said.
The town will also move a 25 mph speed limit sign that’s covered by trees north closer to Bicksler Lane.
After a few months, the town will address other needed improvements, including striping crosswalks.
The town also plans to work with a traffic engineering and consultant to study cut-through traffic patterns on Locust Street. Another study is also in the works on pedestrian use of Nash Street.
Ashton said the town could leverage Safe Routes to School funding, a federal program, once it resumes next year.
Suspect Arrested in Connection with Herndon Shooting — A suspect has been arrested in connected with a shooting at the 2600 block of Logan Wood Drive in Herndon. The victim was hospitalized with injuries that are not life threatening. [Fairfax County Police Department]
School Board Member Apologizes After Using Slur — “Fairfax County School Board member Karen Keys-Gamarra was heard using a slur about people with disabilities during a hot mic moment at the board’s Thursday meeting… Keys-Gamarra sent a statement to WTOP, saying she deeply regretted using the word.” [Inside NOVA]
County Issues Alert on Incorrect Voter Mailing — “Recently, the Virginia Department of Elections in Richmond sent a mailing to voters in these three towns that incorrectly identified their polling place. In Fairfax County, about 25,000 voters in total are affected.
To fix the state’s mistake, the Fairfax County Office of Elections will send a letter to voters in these towns with their correct polling place. Election officials anticipate that these letters will go in the mail as soon as Monday, Oct. 24.” [Fairfax County Government]
Lorton Community Center, Library Opens — The county celebrated the opening fo the Lorton Community Center, library and renovated Lorton Park earlier this month. “Park Authority leadership and staff collaborated with the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and the community from the initial site planning through construction to deliver a refreshed 1.7-acre park, which includes a new playground, fitness area, plaza space with seating, an open field, and a trail loop,” according to the county. [Fairfax County Government]
Townhouse Fire Under Control in Kingstowne Area — A fire broke out Saturday at a townhouse in the 7500 block of Digby Green in Kingstowne. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
It’s Monday — Overcast throughout the day. High of 64 and low of 55. Sunrise at 7:28 am and sunset at 6:19 pm. [Weather.gov]
The weekend is almost here. Let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.
Here are the five most-read stories on FFXnow this week:
- Police: Man assaulted by group outside Centreville bar and pool hall
- UPDATED: Woman dies after crash on Lorton Station Blvd
- The Boro developer buys JCPenney stores in Fair Oaks, Springfield
- Undeveloped site on Route 50 could become a data center or warehouse
- County board again rejects proposed ban on giving money to people on street medians
Ideas for potential stories can be sent to [email protected] or submitted as an anonymous tip. Photos of scenes from around the county are welcome too, with credit always given to the photographer.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans, or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below. Have a great weekend, Fairfax County!
A state elections mailer sent to around 25,000 voters incorrectly directed Town of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton voters to the wrong polling locations.
The letter directs Town of Herndon residents should vote at a new location nearly thirty minutes away from the town: the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center in the City of Fairfax.
The Virginia Department of Elections said incorrect polling locations were sent was due to a “printing issue.”
“Following the redistricting process, the Department of Elections mailed over 6 million voter notices to all registered voters in the Commonwealth. A second mailing of 176,000 notices was sent to voters whose original notice did not include their town district number or who had a P.O. Box,” the department wrote in a statement.
Fairfax County Director of Elections Eric Spicer said the county is working to correct the state’s mistake.
“To correct the state’s mistake, the county’s Office of Elections will be mailing these voters a personalized letter stating their correct polling place,” Spicer wrote in a statement.
Residents in the towns of Dumfries, Haymarket, Occoquan, and Quantico were also impacted.
Last night, state delegate Irene Shin, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko called on the elections department to immediate correct the error last night.
“I am disappointed that the Virginia Department of Elections continues to issue incorrect notices to voters. This is not the first major incident during this important election season. I urge the Department of Elections to work quickly to restore the public’s faith in our election system.”
Shin also called on the elections department to provide a “full explanation about how this obvious error occurred.”
The state’s elections department did not immediately return a request for comment on the nature of the printing issue.
Concerns over equity and the recommendation of specific sites have delayed Fairfax County’s push into sports tourism.
At last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity proposed that the county start advertising that it’s seeking proposals from private entities to develop sports tourism facilities.
However, he pulled the motion when it became clear that there wasn’t enough support from other supervisors to move forward. When he made the request in May, the board voted instead to have staff reassess a consultant’s report to ensure equity is considered when evaluating future projects.
“We’ve been sitting on the sidelines far too long. It’s time for us to get in the game or not,” Herrity said. “This is something the board has clearly expressed that it would benefit both our sports community, our taxpayers, our hotelers, our restaurants, our hospitality industry. We need to move forward and stop trying to find ways not to do it.”
Board Chairman Jeff McKay argued that Herrity, in fact, had “delayed the process.”
“I want to make it crystal clear that this board supports sports tourism…What we are doing is trying clean up the fact that it wasn’t done right,” he said. “Equity was left behind.”
A consultant hired by the county released a report in August 2020 recommending how the county could “more effectively compete within the sports tourism marketplace,” including specific sites where a large facility could go in the county.
The Park Authority-backed study identified nine different sites that it said could support facilities like a rectangle field complex with 16 fields or an ice complex, comparable to the one in Ballston.
However, as several supervisors brought up, none of the sites were vetted for equity, environmental impacts, or even the land’s current ownership.
Many of the preferred sites are in the north and northwest part of the county, while none are located in the south. Several sit in protected watershed areas, while a few others are privately owned, like George Mason University property, as opposed to county-owned.
The equity review requested in May was finished over the summer. Last month, the Sports Tourism Task Force recommended proceeding with an advertisement and “to consider the equity impact review as it reviews potential public-private partnerships” instead of at this stage in the process.
This didn’t sit well with several supervisors, including McKay, who wanted to make sure that the advertisement made clear that the recommended sites in the study were not county-approved.
“Frankly, I wish the consultant report didn’t exist. I think it was created under false pretense…It had no look at equity,” said McKay. “I don’t necessarily support any sites in there…They are in no way in any shape or form an endorsed list of locations by this board.”
Herrity accepted an amendment that the ad include language urging developers to be “creative” and recommend a site not on the consultant’s list.
Additionally, McKay asked that the entire board look at the advertisement to vet the language prior to it being released.
The plan now is to have staff update the report before Herrity resubmits the motion. While he hoped to have it by the board meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 25), Herrity told FFXnow that November now looks more likely, though he “was ready six months ago.”
He said this is the first program, in his recollection, “forced” to have an equity review as well as the first time that he remembers where the board will review the language for a request for proposals.
Nonetheless, he’s ready for Fairfax County to get in the game and build facilities that could help bring more revenue to the county, particularly with increased hotel occupancy.
The rest of the board appears to agree with the idea of exploring sports tourism, but it has to be “done right.”
“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get this done right that will permanently…affect the long-term sustainability of sports and sports tourism in this county,” McKay said.
Photo via Fairfax County Park Authority
Developer Foulger-Pratt‘s unsolicited proposal to redevelop Bowman Towne Court in Reston is moving forward to the next phase of planning.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s commissioners voted yesterday (Oct. 20) to approve an interim agreement with the developer for up to 350 affordable apartments and a 40,000-square-foot Reston Regional Library on the 2.9-acre property owned by FCRHA at the intersection of Bowman Towne Drive and Town Center Parkway.
Foulger-Pratt submitted an unsolicited proposal last year under the Virginia Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (PPEA). The FCRHA’s vote kicks off a period of community engagement that is set to begin this winter.
“In consideration of the Interim Agreement, we received and considered a great deal of feedback from the community,” FCRHA Chairman Melissa McKenna said. “We are eager to continue the discussion, as we have with communities across the county in PPEA projects such as this, in order to further explore the opportunity for expanding affordable housing on the FCRHA’s property, and deliver well-integrated, high-quality housing in one of the largest activity centers in the county.”
Foulger-Pratt’s plan includes apartments for households between 30 and 70% of the area median income, a parking garage, and landscaping. It allocates 240 parking spaces for the library, along with a drop-off area for patrons and book returns.
The agreement has been criticized by developer Norton Scott, which asserts that a competing proposal it submitted should also be considered with more opportunities for public comment.
“Reston deserves a thoughtful and public process to determine the placement of a new Regional Library. This is only possible if the community can consider all of the options available,” wrote Chelsea Rao, a senior Vice President with Norton Scott, in a statement to FFXnow.
If the Foulger-Pratt proposal moves forward, the county would finance, own and operate the public library, while the developer would finance, design and operate the affordable housing component of the property.
FCHRA’s vote to approve the interim agreement is not an official vote in favor of the project. Separate rezoning and land use approvals will be required.
Following a community outreach program, FCHRA will enter into a comprehensive agreement with the developer, with the ultimate goal of moving towards permitting and construction. An exact timeline was not immediately available.
I-66 Ramps in Fair Lakes Area to Close Next Week — The I-66 East ramps from Monument Drive and Stringfellow Road will begin closing as early as 10 a.m. on Monday (Oct. 24) “to accommodate continued construction related to the 66 Express Lanes.” They will reopen by the end of this year with the rest of the eastern section of the interstate’s new toll lanes from Route 28 in Centreville to I-495. [VDOT]
County Police End Weekly Crime Reports — “The Fairfax County Police Department is no longer putting out weekly crime reports that list incidents for each police district. Instead, the FCPD has adopted CityProtect, an online map that shows the location of incidents with very limited details.” [Annandale Today]
Fire Department Hands Out Coats — “An appropriately cold day to provide free coats for kids whose family might not be able to afford one. Approximately 3K coats will be given to kids via schools, non-profits, and community centers. Some kids stopped by Station 11, Penn Daw, to try on, and pick out, a coat.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Arlington Hospital Not Happy With Inova’s Springfield Plans — Arlington-based VHC Health “is challenging Falls Church-based Inova’s request for a certificate of public need — a requirement to demonstrate community need for a new or expanded medical facility — for the nearly 1 million-square-foot hospital proposed for the intersection of Beulah Street and the Franconia-Springfield Parkway.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fairfax City Launches E-Gift Card Program — “This week, Fairfax City’s Economic Development Office is implementing a new community-based eGift Card program. Indicative of how jurisdictions are becoming more innovative and creative, to try to help mom and pops. The Fairfax City Flex Card is an eGift Card program where 100% of all gift card sales remain within Fairfax City.” [ABC7]
Vienna Resident to Bake Cookies on Food Network — “A Vienna baker’s ability to create spooky Halloween cookies will be put to the test when she appears on a Food Network special on Halloween.
Minh Bingham, who moved to Vienna just over a year ago, is one of the bakers featured on Food Network’s Halloween Cookie Challenge season finale airing Monday, Oct. 31, at 10 p.m.” [Patch]
Metro’s Next Trains Will Have Heated Floors — “While most of Metro’s 7000 series fleet remains sidelined, at least we can look forward to the 8000 series…one day…The 8000 series will include upgraded brakes and replace the 2000- and 3000-series trains that have been running since the early 1980s.” [Axios D.C.]
Route 1 High Schools Eager for Permanent Stadium Bathrooms — “With the news last week that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved $7.5 million in funding for permanent restroom facilities at 15 public high school stadiums, the presidents of two local volunteer organizations that support student athletes shared a common sense of relief, joy and gratitude.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 63 and low of 40. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 6:23 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County will ask the Virginia General Assembly for more authority to fix its trash troubles, as complaints about American Disposal Services continue.
At Tuesday’s (Oct. 18) legislative committee meeting, the Board of Supervisors once again dove into the persisting problems with trash pickups by the private, contracted collectors that serve about 90% of residents and almost all businesses in the county.
Throughout this year, the county has received many complaints about the contractors’ performance, especially American Disposal, which cut back on pickups this spring.
In late September, the county signed a consent agreement with the company. According to Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, the agreement obligates American Disposal to hire more drivers and customer service personnel, increase salaries, and credit customers for missed pick-ups, starting Jan. 1. It also imposes a $5,000 fine on the company.
Per Palchik’s newsletter, the contractor has until Dec. 31 to “make the necessary schedule modifications” and maintain adequate staff and equipment to resolve its service issues. Customers must be notified of any changes to their collections by that date as well.
FFXnow was unable to reach American Disposal for comment.
Meanwhile, the county is considering lobbying state lawmakers to ease restrictions on its ability to impose its own trash pick-up model.
“This surge in complaints, which account for approximately 86 percent of all waste collection complaints received by the County, has led to consideration of alternative solid waste management system models, and whether such alternatives could improve the quality and/or reliability of service delivery,” a staff report says.
One alternative would be to implement a franchising model, which Virginia law currently allows localities to do.
“Under a franchising model, the County would likely be divided into several different zones, and each zone would be served by a single collection company. Customers would pay for service based on County-negotiated rates,” the staff report notes.
However, the state code complicates the county’s ability to enact this model. Notably, if franchising ends up prohibiting a currently contracted company from continuing to service the county, the county either has to essentially wait five years to start franchising or pay the affected company a year’s worth of gross receipts.
“The code makes [franchising], quite frankly, impossible. It might as well be banned outright,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said Tuesday. “The five-year delayed implementation date, obviously, prevents anyone from doing it. That’s why no one in the Commonwealth has done it, to my knowledge.”
The code does have some exceptions, mainly for if a trash pick-up company is so inadequate at its job that it’s “threatening public health and safety” and is breaching the contract.
McKay asked the county legal team what would constitute a breach of contract, noting that an answer would probably have to come at a later date.
“Where do we think the line is where [it’s] threatening public health and safety?” McKay said. “[Are] we potentially getting near reaching that? If we have multiple consent agreements and trash laying out and it’s a public…health issue and they are obviously not fulfilling the agreement. It’s probably a pretty high bar, but we should know that if these problems persist.”
Per staff recommendation, the committee voted in support of asking the General Assembly to provide “flexibility” for a franchise model. This could mean wiping out or altering these “onerous requirements” to make it easier for the county to franchise trash service.
Walkinshaw made it clear that this doesn’t mean the county will definitely go the franchising route. It simply seeks the ability to do it without facing a huge delay or a big payout.
The fact that the county has to ask the General Assembly for this authority harkens back to Virginia’s Dillon Rule, which McKay recently told FFXnow is becoming “increasingly more intrusive” in the county’s day-to-day operations.
Walkinshaw also suggested updating the Virginia code with some of the options detailed in the consent agreement, like the ability to levy fines and make companies credit customers for missed pick-ups.
“It seems to me that if we are able to come to a consent agreement with a particular hauler, that they have to credit customers for missed pick-ups, then everyone should be held to that. If we think that’s important, why wouldn’t that be in the code?” Walkinshaw asked.
All supervisors agreed that the county should ask for alterations to the state code, but a few cautioned that not all county residents are having trash issues, noting that a new model might make things worse for others. Palchik suggested instituting a pilot program first to gauge what works.
But first, state legislators would have to grant the county more authority to manage its own trash collecting.
“We obviously support broadening authority,” McKay 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].
So you want to make wine?
So you think you want to make wine?
What were you think’n? It’s 4 a.m., time to get to work. So you spent a month checking your parcels, monitoring ripeness by tasting berries to select or the perfect moment to harvest. A sudden forecast of rain sends shivers up your spine, sending you into over-drive to pick as fast as you can if you find people crazy enough to join you.
Armed with shears, working in oppressive heat, roasting under the hot sun, you carefully select only the ripest bunches as you swat mosquitoes; bees buzz swirling around you, only to land on the bunch you are about to grasp. You must continuously bend, stretch, and contort yourself while gently tossing a season’s worth of work into plastic bins. You schlep the countless plastic containers full of fruit while some escaping juice runs down your legs as you run to the receiving truck.
Alley up, throw them up to the unlucky harvester who must have pissed someone off to get stuck on the truck all day long in the scorching sun, humping plastic lugs full of grapes, bees, and what have you. Back and forth until your arms numb, and it’s just 9 a.m. Thank G-d it’s 9 a.m.
Time to stop for “casse-croute” or the French version of a “coffee break in the vineyard.” Bread, cheese, salami or pâte, and of course, a little liquid sustenance, i.e., wine. Just like the office. A quick snackeroo, and back you go!
The fruit arrives at the winery. So you undo what you just did. Thankfully you are after twenty or so bee stings; you hardly feel them. But at least you are given a cot to sleep on in an unairconditioned barn, attic, or old kitchen with 20 strangers. But the food is good, and there’s plenty of wine.
Time for “triage” or sorting the fruit either by hand or with a fancy vibrating table that does it for you. The aim is to remove any malformed, damaged, or unhealthy clusters, even down to individual berries, along with any leaves, bugs, and the occasional cigarette butts.
Many growers refrigerate the fruit for 8 to 12 before fermentation to preserve freshness. Then off to the de-stemmer, where the bunches are relieved of their berries. So from here on, we are talking about the fermentation of red wine.
Decision number one, do you destem, all or partially or entirely? Under-ripe or vintages with less than perfect fruit are usually wholly destemmed — no need for unripe raspy green stem tannins. If the stems are mature, fermenting a portion of “whole clusters” is an option. Adding stems brings complexity, but be careful of the proportion you use. Stems are also a source of tannins.
The crushed grapes, juice, and skins head into a vessel of the winemaker’s choosing (I’ll talk more about this next week) to settle and macerate. The temperature can be controlled by using refrigeration. Cold retards the yeast activity. You don’t want the juice to ferment straight away. This maceration also has the benefit of reducing the sulfur needed to keep the demons away.
The time that the skins are in contact with the juice is critical. Think of making tea; the more you seep, the more color and tannin you extract. Healthy, clean skins allow for extended mingling in juice with great benefits. The skins are the aromatic heart and soul of the wine.
Everything comes from the skins (in reds.) The winemaker decides when the “right” level of extraction has taken place, and then it’s off to the races — more about that next time. If I’m “nerding out,” please tell me!
Cheers,
Doug
Photo by Thomas Schaefer on Unsplash.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Construction on a new walkway along Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston is set to begin in the winter of 2024.
At a meeting before Reston Association’s Design Review Board on Tuesday (Oct. 18), Fairfax County transportation planners said the project would provide much-needed pedestrian enhancements from Reston Parkway to Soapstone Drive.
The project will also provide a critical connection from the future Reston Town Center Metro station to adjacent neighborhoods, according to Sonia Shahnaj, a project manager for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.
Construction of a 10-foot-wide walkway is planned, filling in missing segments along the north side of Sunrise Valley Drive.
In response to questions from DRB members on landscaping and tree preservation, Shahnaj noted that the presence of many utilities makes landscaping very challenging. FCDOT plans to remove eight trees throughout the entire project — including one that is nearly dead, she said.
“We are trying to save the existing trees, but there’s not enough buffer,” she said.
The project will add illumination on Sunrise Valley and Colts Neck Road, along with an 8-foot-wide refuge island at Indian Ridge Road, ADA curb ramps and bus stop improvements. A new bus shelter and loading pad are also planned.
Indian Ridge would get a 10-foot-wide asphalt walkway, in addition to the removal of a westbound turn lane to a driveway entrance.
A shoebox-style fixture is planned at Colts Neck Road. Crosswalks are planned at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Colts Neck, at commercial driveway entrances, and at the Sheraton Reston Hotel entrance.
DRB member Brian Cutler encouraged the county to look into installing a flashing light system for pedestrians at Indian Ridge.
“Cars are coming down that hill really fast,” Cutler said, referring to the west side of Sunrise Valley.
Shahnaj said the county explored the possibility of flashing beacon lights, but pedestrian traffic in that area does not warrant the addition, based on state guidelines.
“I’m not sure it’s warranted at this location,” she said, adding that the county is open to examining other pedestrian safety measures in that area.
Design plans will be finalized this November. Initial land acquisition is slated for the winter, with utility relocation and the beginning construction expected to begin the winter of next year.
Construction will likely be finished in the fall of 2025.
