The Virginia Board of Education is asking the General Assembly to develop a plan for changing the state’s existing school funding formula to help divisions strapped for money but isn’t backing a proposal to remove a cap that limits the number of support positions the state will fund.
According to an earlier report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts analysis and provides oversight of state agencies on behalf of the General Assembly, changing the formula could help address the underfunding of schools.
“We don’t have a good school financing system in Virginia. It is inequitable, and it’s outdated,” said Board of Education member Andy Rotherham during a special meeting Tuesday.
Virginia’s funding formula establishes how much state and local governments must provide to meet the state’s Standards of Quality (SOQ), the requirements that Virginia public schools must meet. The board reviews those standards every two years and proposes changes as necessary, while the General Assembly makes decisions about how much funding divisions should get.
In addition to backing a new funding formula, the board on Tuesday also urged the General Assembly to provide flexible funding for innovative approaches to literacy and math education, require high school students to have an opportunity to make their own academic and career plans and provide funding for a statewide individualized education program system.
Although board members noted that a decision by the General Assembly to provide divisions more flexible funds could allow them to address a range of different needs, member Anne Holton pushed unsuccessfully for the body to recommend a minimum funding commitment from lawmakers.
“Many divisions, the ones that can afford to fund way over the minimum SOQs … their kids are doing okay,” Holton said. “But the divisions that can’t afford to go way above the state and dated minimum SOQs don’t fund over it, and their kids are not doing okay.”
Funding formula
JLARC this summer recommended the General Assembly consider changing the funding formula after finding that Virginia schools receive 14% less state funding than the 50-state average, equal to roughly $1,900 less per student.
Virginia’s current SOQ formula determines funding for divisions by calculating the number of staff they need and then the cost of those staff.
While the Virginia Department of Education said in a Dec. 12 report that the approach worked historically, it said school divisions today are “faced with a myriad of unique student needs.”
“Funding should be allocated by student, recognizing the unique needs of each student rather than using a formula driven by staffing ratios,” the report stated.
On Tuesday, in line with that suggestion, the board recommended policymakers “investigate, model and develop a plan to move to a student-weighted funding formula for purposes of determining the required state and local shares of cost for the Standards of Quality.”
JLARC estimated that if Virginia had used the student-based rather than staffing funding formula, schools would have received an additional $1.17 billion in fiscal year 2023. Additional funds could benefit programs for at-risk students, English learner programs, gifted education, special education and career and technical education.
Most states use a student-based funding formula, according to JLARC.
JLARC contended the student-based funding model is “simpler,” more accurate, more transparent and easier to adapt to changes in educational practices over time. However, it noted some researchers have found student-driven formulas don’t always account for issues such as retirement rate changes and can provide schools “too much flexibility” in hiring.
Scott Brabrand, executive director for the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, said the association is open to considering a new formula, but urged the board to continue studying the two formulas.
“Any new formula must address the key finding of the JLARC study that Virginia has underfunded all of its public school divisions,” Brabrand said. “Any new formula must increase funding across all of our school divisions. Further understanding of the pros and cons of a new formula is essential.”
Grace Creasey, president of the Board of Education, told the Mercury that “the board was clear that funding should be allocated by student and recognized that each student has unique needs that are not well reflected in a formula driven by staff ratios.”
No backing for elimination of support cap
But while the Board of Education threw its support behind funding formula changes, most members declined to recommend that the General Assembly remove a funding cap placed on support staff positions during the Great Recession.
The cap limits state funding for central office and administrative, technical, clerical, maintenance and instructional support positions.
Funding levels have never been restored, and the support cap was only partially lifted by the last state budget negotiated this past summer, which increased the funding ratio from 21 support positions per 1,000 pupils to 24 per 1,000 pupils.
“The support cap has effectively restricted the way school divisions can utilize funding to meet the needs of our students,” said Jenna Alexander, president of the Virginia Parent Teachers Association. “This is particularly problematic because over the last several years, we’ve seen increased enrollment of special education and English language learners students, both of which need additional services to reach their full academic potential.”
At a Nov. 15 board meeting, Deputy VDOE Superintendent Kent Dickey said removing the cap could cost over $100 million.
Board member Amber Northern said while she understood the need for schools to have additional support positions, she would have preferred to have a conversation about which positions best drive positive student outcomes.
“You want more people in your building, but you also want the people that are actually driving towards outcomes,” Northern said Nov. 15. “If we want to talk about support staff, we need to talk about what type of support staff we really support and the ones that actually do have more of a research base behind them in terms of driving outcomes.”
Unless lawmakers take up the board’s proposal during the upcoming session, local governments will have to wait until recommendations are due from a workgroup made up of Senate and House finance committee members next November.
Photo via Taylor Flowe on Unsplash. This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted under a Creative Commons license.
A plethora of administrative and logistical issues led to the Town of Herndon’s decision to permanently put the Herndon Festival to bed after a 43-year run, staff say.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 12), Town Manager Bill Ashton II laid out several issues that nearly derailed the festival in previous years and ultimately prompted the permanent cancellation of the four-day event, announced earlier this week.
“In my mind, the question was, ‘Should we spend these countless hours planning and preparing, or could this be an opportunity?’” he said.
According to Ashton, last year, town officials scrambled to find a security company to conduct bag checks during the festival.
Two companies abruptly cancelled their commitments — one of them just a day before the festival was set to begin. Staff scrambled to ratify a contract with a company just 1.5 hours before the festival’s gates opened. Local police officers are prohibited from checking bags at the festival without probable cause.
“It was that close,” Ashton said.
Ashton also said the Herndon Police Department must pull every officer that is not on actively watch for rotating shift. Like other public safety entities, the department has faced hiring and recruitment challenges in recent years, and the town can also no longer rely on regional partners to bolster the police presence at the festival site.
Ashton also noted that, in the event of a significant public safety emergency, the town would have no choice but to cancel the festival if a police force was required outside the festival.
“If we have a significant incident…we would have to shut the festival down to adequately put crime scene [officers] and detectives on site,” he said.
Town staff also struggled to secure dedicated volunteers for the event, which relies heavily on volunteer manpower from key organizations and community partners. Many of those groups cited a major dip in volunteerism in general, particularly as key volunteers age out.
Ashton said volunteers are critical to the event, even with staff putting in thousands of hours of work.
“Everybody’s leave gets cancelled or disapproved. Everybody has to be there,” he said. “If you aren’t there, you better have a doctor’s note.”
The Town of Herndon has major knowledge gaps as well. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the parks and recreation department has undergone 100% turnover, and its director, Cindy Roeder, recently retired.
A major construction project to improve Spring Street is set to kick off this spring near the Northwest Federal Credit Union, where the festival would have taken place.
As part of the project, a state contractor will be working on the intersection of Spring Street and Herndon Parkway, requiring lane closures and changes to pedestrian access. Ashton said the town is not an a position to delay the project, which has already seen cost overruns in utility relocation and land acquisition.
Ashton said the community should instead see the cancellation of Herndon’s staple event as an opportunity to pursue more micro-events in the future — similar to the approach adopted last year for the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival. He noted that Fairfax County is open to partnering with the town.
The Fairfax County Times reported that Celebrate Fairfax Inc., the nonprofit organization that organized the county’s annual festival, has officially ended the event after a “private decision” by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, citing a tweet from Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.
Photo via Herndon Festival/Facebook
Elected County Officials Sworn In — “Family, friends and area leaders all came together to mark new terms of office for our Board of Supervisors, constitutional officers and Soil and Water Conservation District directors. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Government Center on Dec. 13 for these local officials, who will guide the county for the next four years.” [Fairfax County Government]
Fairfax Delegate Proposes Discrimination Protections for Ethnicity — “With the recent spike in reports of antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias, lawmakers will soon consider whether to add ethnicity to Virginia’s hate crimes and discrimination law. Del. Dan Helmer…introduced a bill — HB 18 — that would expand the groups protected against unlawful discrimination.” [WTOP]
Fairfax City Restaurant in Fire Station Gets Ribbon-Cutting — “Join us on December 15th at 3:00 pm as we celebrate the ribbon cutting of The Old Firestation #3. They will be serving soda, water, iced tea, and various appetizers. This no-frills restaurant and bar, located in an old fire station, is the perfect place to hang out and enjoy Greek, American, and Italian dishes.” [Fairfax City Economic Development/Instagram]
Survivors of Hamas Attack Share Stories — “Survivors of the terror attack that sparked the war in Israel are visiting Northern Virginia and sharing their stories. A Jewish Community Center in Fairfax hosted ‘Heroines and Heroes of Light.’ News4’s Walter Morris reports.” [NBC4]
County Seeks Funding for Bus and Bicycle Services — “Fairfax County supervisors on Dec. 5 authorized the county’s transportation director to apply for nearly $8.9 million in regional funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC).” The money would support Fairfax Connector bus routes and an expansion of the Capital Bikeshare system around the Vienna and Dunn Loring Metro stations. [Gazette Leader]
Comfort Food Restaurant in Groveton Closed — “The Boston Market restaurant, a longtime fixture at Beacon Center, no longer seems to be in operation. The darkened storefront has a ‘closed’ sign on the front door and leasing information in the window…The pad site is located at 6650 Richmond Highway between Bank of America and TGI Fridays.” [On the MoVe]
Increases in Park Authority Fees Approved — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved the proposed adjustments to the 2024 Park Authority Fee Schedule at its Dec. 13 meeting. All fee adjustments are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.” Affected services include the golf courses, recreation center admission, park amusements and more. [FCPA]
Meteor Shower Caught on Video — “Video sent in by a FOX 5 viewer shows several fiery streaks of light moving across the sky over Fairfax County. The Geminids shower is one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers, according to NASA.” The shower was scheduled to peak yesterday (Thursday), but meteors may be visible as late as Dec. 17. [FOX5]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 55 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures reaching a low of about 34 degrees and a steady west wind of around 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
Town of Herndon officials are seeking $1.5 million in federal funds for major improvements along Sterling Road.
At a Herndon Town Council work session on Dec. 5, town staff noted that no local match is required to proceed with the project. The town is also requesting $500,000 for ADA-compliant sidewalk and trails improvements throughout Herndon.
Jaleh Moslehi, a project engineer for the Town of Herndon, said the Sterling Road project will include additional lane capacity improvements at the Herndon Parkway intersection, along with safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“The objectives for this project are to increase safety, to incorporate cycling and pedestrian improvements, reduce congestion, enhance connectivity and circulation, and also doing all of this, but retaining the residential character of the Sterling Road corridor,” she said.
Once completed, the project would reconfigure Sterling Road from Elden Street to Herndon Parkway in order to “reflect the town’s current plans for traffic management and circulation in residential areas,” according to the town’s budgetary documents.
The project will begin with a concept design and traffic impact analysis, determining whether there is a need for a signalized intersection at Crestview Drive. The study will also determine the feasibilty of a bicycle facility between Elden Street and the town limits.
In the second project, town-wide sidewalk and trail improvements are planned based on Herndon’s Pedestrian Plan and Bicycle Network Master Plan.
Funds for the Sterling Road project would come from a federal Regional Surface Transportation Planning program, while funding for the other improvements is through the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program. Both projects are administered by Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA).
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila noted that he and others in the community were happy to hear that the Sterling Road project is moving forward.
Anne Curtis, a spokesperson for the Town of Herndon, said the Sterling Road project is on pause, initially as a result of “COVID delays but also due to need for additional funding.”
Holiday decorations will look a little different this year in the Town of Herndon.
The town will not install its usual holiday wreaths on Elden Street’s poles because the process poses significant safety risks to the town’s workers, Town Manager Bill Ashton II told the Herndon Town Council at a meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 12).
Federal and state occupational safety rules prohibit workers from completed work on a pole within 10 feet of uninsulated power lines without property safety equipment and training, according to Ashton. Managed by Dominion Energy, the poles along Elden Street have uninsulated high voltage power lines — with only weather shielding as protection.
“This is something we were committed to, that we loved to do,” Ashton said. “Imagine our disappointment in mid-November when I learned that this holiday tradition has not or never has been safe for our employees to do.”
According to Ashton, the town discovered this rule in November during a routine safety training. The town’s workers don’t have the required safety equipment and training to install the wreaths, he said.
The issue drew public backlash — particularly on social media — when some residents directed criticism at the town’s risk manager.
Ashton II emphasized that the decision to drop the wreaths was his alone, noting that he found it “morally indefensible” to justify installing decorations at the expense of worker safety.
“I underestimated public passion on this issue,” he said.
This year, the town invested more time and resources to decorate the downtown Herndon area with a lighted Christmas tree, according to staff. While the town did explore hiring contractors to install the wreaths, it was unable to find a timely alternative ahead of the holiday season.
Mixed Reactions to N. Va. Move for Wizards and Capitals — “Officials announced plans to bring the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards to a new arena in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood. The new $2 billion arena, leased to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, is scheduled to break ground in 2025 and open sometime in late 2028.” [ALXnow]
Fundraiser Supports Family of McLean Man Found in House Fire — “The fire broke out Monday morning at a home on the 4000 block of Ridgeview Circle in McLean…A GoFundMe campaign for his family was launched Tuesday and has already raised more than $10,000.” [ARLnow]
School Board Plans Vote on New Grading Policy — “This Thursday, December 14, the School Board will determine whether to adopt as policy the use of the 100-point scale, with 50% as the lowest passing grade for submitted assignments, for all high school credit-bearing classes.” Calling inconsistent grading is one of the top frustrations she hears from families, Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren says more time is needed for a thorough review. [Melanie Meren]
Richmond Highway Study Seeks to Create Sense of Place — With major construction still years away, the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development’s Community Revitalization Section and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) will hold “a two-day workshop in late January in which panelists will create a placemaking strategy for a four-mile section of the corridor” in the near-term. [On the MoVe]
Nearby: Prince William Approves Data Center Projects — “After a 27-hour meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Wednesday approved the PW Digital Gateway, allowing construction of what’s expected to become the largest data center corridor in the world.” [Inside NoVA]
Virginia Gets Funding for Wildlife Crossings — “To reduce the risk of car-creature collisions, earlier this year the Virginia Department of Transportation released the state’s first-ever Wildlife Corridor Action Plan; how long the wait will be until parts of the plan are implemented, however, will depend on funding.” Initial funds came this fall in the form of two federal grants totaling more than $1 million. [Virginia Mercury]
WaPo Profiles McLean Neighborhood — “The entrances of McLean Hamlet at Falstaff Road and Titania Lane have afforded many appreciative chuckles to passersby who remember their high school Shakespeare classes…But talk to residents about what makes the neighborhood special, and literary theming is the last thing they mention.” [Washington Post]
Free “Sober Rides” Available for Holidays — “Those who may have had too much to drink this holiday season will again be able to avail themselves of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s “SoberRide” service, conducted in conjunction with Lyft. The 2023 program will be in operation nightly from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. each night from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Thursday — Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching a high of around 45 and a gentle northwest wind blowing at 3 to 5 mph. As night approaches, the sky will remain clear and the temperature will drop to a low of about 29. [Weather.gov]
A local robotics organization is hoping to formalize its services for high school students in Herndon.
Dead Robot Society is asking Fairfax County’s permission to bring its program to 1207 Crayton Road, which is currently a nearly 3,300-square-foot single-family home.
“This robotics teaching program has been successfully operating for 23 years and would like to continue to provide this valuable educational program,” a statement of justification for the application says.
The Dead Robot Society aims to promote the study of engineering in a non-school environment, according to its website. The team consists of middle and high school students who construct autonomous robots for competitions.
The organization would use the site as a specialized instruction center to teach robotics from January to July annually. No changes to the house’s exterior are being requested, according to the application.
Approximately 15 high school students and six teachers or adult mentors are expected at the site, which will operate four hours on Saturdays in January. That will expand to include two hours each on Mondays and Wednesdays from February through July.
The society estimates that the center will generate at most 20 vehicle trips per day, the application says. A small Fairfax County park adjacent to the property will be used for parking.
Image via Google Maps
A private room at Reston Hospital Center’s NICU facility (courtesy RHC)
Reston Hospital Center has officially expanded its intensive care unit for its youngest patients.
Earlier this month, the hospital at 1850 Town Center Parkway celebrated the expansion of its Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) — which serves seriously ill babies.
The expansion boosts the space’s capacity from 16 to 29 beds with seven private and three semi-private rooms. The expansion also includes new equipment, furniture, a family waiting area and nurses’ station.
As part of the project, the hospital installed a live-streaming, encrypted video system that allows families to see their child.
“This NICU expansion is a meaningful step in Reston Hospital’s overall growth plan and in our continued commitment to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the Northern Virginia region,” John Deardorff, the hospital’s chief executive officer, said.
Reston Hospital, which works with Children’s National Hospital in D.C. to provide services, has been enhancing its facilities for pregnant patients and new parents in recent years. The hospital unveiled renovated labor and delivery rooms last year, and this past fall, it launched a mental health program for perinatal and postpartum women.
“Our team takes a family-centered care approach to really get to know the families and their challenges, preferences and wishes,” Reston Hospital Director of Women’s and Children’s Services Nancy Duryee said.
The new NICU space also includes a wall of hope, which highlights the stories of babies and families.
“The NICU can be a very stressful, scary time for parents and we want them to see other families who have been here and have made it ot the other side,” Dawn Brittingham, the NICU manager, said. “Even though it is in the NICU, they can feel hopeful.”
Metro Would Slash Service in Proposed Budget — “Metro proposed a budget Tuesday with service cuts officials say would make the transit system ‘unrecognizable’ and have a devastating economic impact on the region. On the table are across-the-board service cuts, including the closure of 10 Metro stations, earlier station closing times, the elimination of nearly half of all current Metrobus routes, fare hikes, layoffs, and salary and hiring freezes.” [DCist]
Federal Officials Grilled on FBI HQ Choice — “Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), chairman of a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee with oversight of public buildings, called the hearing to examine why a GSA official selected Greenbelt despite a three-member panel’s unanimous recommendation to put the FBI headquarters in Springfield.” [Washington Post]
Electric Vehicle Service Center Proposed — “Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ: RIVN), the producer of Amazon.com Inc.’s electric delivery fleet, is eyeing Fairfax County for its first Northern Virginia service center…A location is not identified in the letter, though an earlier, temporary version of the letter, since superseded, filed last month suggested somewhere in Tysons.” [Washington Business Journal]
New Fire Station Approved for West Annandale — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a project to replace the West Annandale Fire Station and to use a vacant commercial building nearby as a temporary fire station during construction.” Built at 8914 Little River Turnpike, the new station “will better accommodate modern equipment and provide improved living space, including space for female staff.” [Annandale Today]
County Gets Funding for Richmond Highway BRT — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently authorized the acceptance of “just over $22.5 million in grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the purchase of right of way (ROW) related to the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. That amount will be matched with around $5.6 million in local dollars from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.” [On the MoVe]
Fairfax County Home Sales Declining — “Northern Virginia’s five largest jurisdictions in November mostly posted relatively small drop-offs in sales from a year before, according to new data, although Fairfax County’s decline was more steep than most.” The county saw a 13.7% drop to 734 closings last month compared to November 2022. [Gazette Leader]
Dominion Energy Plan Gets Thumbs Down From Regulator — “A utility regulator with the State Corporation Commission is recommending the body reject Dominion Energy’s most recent long-term plan because of its inclusion of new natural gas plants…Because of a projected increase in data center development in Northern Virginia, as well as expected upticks in electric vehicle use, Dominion’s plans call for the addition of four natural gas combustion turbines to provide energy that can be quickly turned on during times of peak demand.” [Virginia Mercury]
Retiring Reston Farmers Market Manager to Be Honored — “Fairfax County Chair Jeff McKay introduced a measure at [the Dec. 5] board of supervisors meeting to invite John Lovaas to an upcoming meeting and honor him for his 26 years as the founder and manager of the Reston Farmers Market. The board voted unanimously to adopt the measure.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 45 degrees today, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 10 mph. As for tonight, the skies will remain clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of around 27 degrees. [Weather.gov]
Democrats are again pushing for legislation that would allow local governments to hold referenda on increasing their sales and use tax to pay for school capital projects such as construction and renovations.
The party hopes the effort, which has been tried twice before but defeated by Republicans, will be successful now that Democrats are set to control both the House of Delegates and the Senate following the November elections.
“We think with the change in the dynamics in the House that this bill has a very good chance,” said Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, adding that a similar version of the bill passed with bipartisan support last year in the Democratic-controlled Senate before dying in the House.
Under current law, only nine localities can impose a 1% sales tax to fund school construction and renovation projects. They are the counties of Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick and Pittsylvania and the city of Danville.
Local governments have control over adjustments to their property tax rates — but aren’t allowed to change the sales tax rate without explicit permission from the General Assembly.
In 2021, Virginia invested nearly $1.3 billion into programs distributing grants and loans for school construction after a survey found over half of Virginia’s schools are more than 50 years old, with replacement costs for each in the millions.
“It’s really about empowering localities to make their own decisions about how they want to fund schools, and this is a new tool in the toolbox,” McPike said.
Lawmakers have already set a “precedent of permitting localities to impose a sales tax increase for school capital projects through the referendum process,” he said, “but what the bill would do is essentially allow all localities to make that choice and figure out if that’s the right fit for their community and their community needs.”
Former Republican Del. James Edmunds, R-Halifax, introduced a bill last session to add Prince Edward County to the list of localities allowed to impose a 1% sales tax for school capital projects. However, a House Finance subcommittee failed to hear the proposal.
In 2019, Edmunds successfully carried legislation to add Halifax County to the list of permitted localities.
Republicans have been reluctant to support changes to the law that could allow the raising of taxes, outgoing Sen. Tommy Norment, R-Williamsburg, told the Mercury last session.
If the legislation can make it out of both chambers, the bills will still require approval by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who could sign them into law, veto them or suggest changes.
This article was reported and written by the Virginia Mercury, and has been reprinted under a Creative Commons license.
For months, Moo Thru has been selling its handmade, locally-sourced ice cream from a truck in Herndon.
The family-owned business is now expecting to open up its planned brick-and-mortar location sometime in January at 317 Spring Street, according to franchise owner Caitlin Kenney.
“We will have a soft opening for our friends, family and most frequent customers from the truck over the summer to help make sure our staff is fully trained and ready to open with only the best service,” Kenney said.
She said the opening was delayed due to hiccups in the permitting process. The shop previously hoped to open this summer, shortly after Moo Thru’s truck launched at the Reston-Herndon Business Park in June.
Owned by fourth-generation dairy farmers Ken and Pam Smith, Moo Thru makes its ice cream with milk from the family’s grass-fed Holstein herd, which grazes on a farm along the banks of the Rappahannok River.
Items on the menu include ice cream, shakes, malts and sundaes. The business currently has locations in Mineral, Charlottesville, Hillsboro and Winchester.
The ice cream parlor will open up alongside Old Town Coffee, a new coffee shop. The owners plan to offer locally-sourced, organic coffee and other items.
“We have tasted hundreds of coffees and have finally landed on 2 companies we feel we can 100% stand behind,” Kenney said. “The coffees and syrups are high quality and by far the tastiest we and our friends have ever had. We are going with organic beans and we will have a lot of organic flavoring syrups and organic milk products.”
Photo via Moo Thru Herndon/Instagram
(Updated at 10 a.m. on 12/13/2023) A community-oriented utility company that offers chilled water for air-conditioning has iced out over 600 customers in Reston.
Reston Lake Anne Air-conditioning Corporation (RELAC) announced yesterday (Monday) that it plans to halt its cooling system after this year, citing increased electrical costs and the refusal of some customers to pay their utility bills.
The company concluded its 2023 cooling season on Oct. 10 and typically shuts down for the winter. Regulated by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, it uses water from Lake Anne to provide air-conditioning to homes around the lake.
A Reston Association spokesperson says the organization plans to work with the community to determine next steps.
“We will be diligently working in the coming weeks to understand the full impact of this action to best help out affected members know and understand what alternatives to RLAC exist and the role LARCA and RA have moving forward,” Cara O’Donnell said in a statement to FFXnow.
Reston has 600 residential properties and 25 commercial ones that rely on RELAC for air-conditioning, according to RA.
In the past, some homeowners have sought to end the mandated use of RELAC, complaining that the 1960s-era system is outdated and inefficient. Referendums failed in 2008 and 2015.
Here’s the full text of the company’s letter to its customers.
We, the owners of RELAC, regrettably and with great difficulty have to announce that the 2023 cooling season will be the last year that RELAC provides chilled water to our customers. We have reached this decision due to many factors including the following:
Electrical costs have increased 20% in the ten years we have owned RELAC.
We have considered applying for a tariff increase which would cost over $50,000. We believe it would hasten our customers applying for exemptions as rates would increase by up to 30%.
We did promise not to increase the tariff 11 years ago and thought we could cut costs with new equipment but found it impossible to secure a loan for a new chiller that would cost over $400,000.
Reston Association continues to grant “health exemptions” to customers without enforcing the rules returning homes to RELAC when they change ownership. We now have 33 homes off the system.
A significant number of customers on the RELAC system have refused to pay their utility bills. This has caused a serious problem for RELAC’s bottom line. The amount of unpaid utilities has fluctuated between $80K to $120K. We have sent letters, made phone calls, knocked on doors trying to reason with customers to pay their overdue bills. Some customers are years behind and we have no way of turning off their service as the other utilities do.
We have been a community oriented utility for over 50 years and understand the hardship we are generating on our customers. We know that the cost of retrofitting a new A/C system will be expensive. Leaving our good customers is the worse part of this decision and we feel a profound regret. The decision we have made is not an easy way to end our relationship with you, our loyal customers.
First Snow of the Season Arrives — The D.C. area saw its first snow yesterday (Monday), thanks to a cold front that dropped temperatures overnight from 60 degrees on Sunday. In Fairfax County, preliminary snowfall totals ranged from 0.5 inches in Springfield to 1.5 inches in Mount Vernon, already topping the 0.4 inches recorded last winter at Dulles International Airport. [Washington Post, Inside NoVA]
Wizards and Capitals Could Move to Virginia — “A group of Virginia state lawmakers voted Monday in favor of a deal to bring the Washington Capitals and Wizards to a new arena in Northern Virginia, according to four people with knowledge of the situation.” The plan, which still needs to be approved by the General Assembly and local officials, would move the hockey and basketball teams to a facility in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard. [Washington Post]
Animal Shelter Event Leads to Dozens of Adoptions — “We’re thrilled to share that 55 pets found homes this past weekend during the #EmptyTheShelters Holiday Hope Event! Thank you to BISSELL Pet Foundation and Cathy Bissell for their support in finding so many pets loving families!” [Fairfax County Animal Shelter/Facebook]
County Reflects on Daunting Election Season — Fairfax County Electoral Board chair Katherine Hanley told the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5 that this year’s local and state elections were “more complicated” than any other off-off-year election in her memory. Complications included an especially lengthy ballot and redistricting-related confusion. [Gazette Leader]
Herndon MS Gets Google Grant for Tech Clubs — “At a hands-on event Monday at Herndon Middle School, about 40 students had the chance to make a robot with the help of Google engineers. The company used the event to announce grants to start robotics and AI clubs in Virginia schools, including one at Herndon Middle School.” [WTOP]
McLean Companies Ordered to Pay for Covid Relief Fraud — A federal court has “ordered IT Services Now LLC and O@sis Group LLC, located in McLean, and their CEO, Mustafa Khabir, 51, of Haymarket, to pay $1,052,227 for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain federally guaranteed loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).” [DOJ]
Man Charged With Soliciting Minor on Snapchat — “A 48-year-old man from Washington, D.C., faces multiple criminal charges in connection with his solicitation of a minor and seeking other victims, according to Fairfax County Police. Detectives began their investigation after parents notified them their child had been communicating with someone called “Alex” on Snapchat.” [Patch]
Reston Pizzeria Offers Discount for Anniversary — To celebrate the third-year anniversary of its Wiehle Avenue location, Pupatella is offering 50% off all red, white and seasonal pizzas all day today (Tuesday). “Join for dine in or carry out…from 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. at the Reston location only to enjoy $7-10 pizzas, or for happy hour from 3-6 p.m. for $7 signature spritzes.” [Pupatella]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 45, accompanied by calm winds shifting south at 5 to 9 mph during the morning. Overnight, the skies will remain clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of 32. South winds will prevail at 6 to 8 mph before becoming westward after midnight. [Weather.gov]
One of the Town of Herndon’s staple events is officially no more.
The Herndon Festival has been canceled for good, the town’s parks and recreation department announced today (Monday).
In a video statement explaining the change, town officials said the decision was made due to a combination of issues like increased logistical challenges, security and accessibility concerns, and lack of volunteers to maintain and support what has been a cornerstone event in Herndon for 43 years.
While lauding community organizations and volunteers for their efforts in maintaining the festival, Mayor Sheila Olem said issues with attracting volunteers also contributed to the decision.
“Over the years, the decline in volunteerism and volunteer organizations who were the backbone of the festival has been problematic,” Olem said.
The town invests more than 1,000 hours per year into the event, in addition to 1,000 volunteer hours, she said.
Started in 1970, the festival was traditionally located in downtown Herndon, but it got moved in 2019 to the Northwest Federal Credit Union campus in anticipation of developer Comstock starting construction on its redevelopment project — which still hasn’t begun.
Town Manager Bill Ashton II said the town can’t simply shift the festival back to downtown Herndon, because staffing and security issues remain at that location as well.
“We understand the significance of the Herndon Festival in our community,” Ashton said. “The decision to close the festival is not easy.”
In previous years, the event had lost some of its traditional elements. Last year, the festival pivoted to a carnival, and the COVID-19 pandemic also led to a two-year pause in the festivities.
Cindy Roeder, director of the town’s parks and recreation department, said the department will continue to find new ways to bring the community together.
“For over 40 years, the Herndon Festival has been a source of joy, laughter and connection for our community,” she said.
Photo via Herndon Festival/Facebook
A man who fell while riding a motorized scooter in Reston in late November died from his injuries.
Malcolm Printup, 46, of Reston crashed his electric scooter at the intersection of Town Center Parkway and Town Center Parkway on Nov. 26 at around 2:45 p.m.
Printup was hospitalized for life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead, the Fairfax County Police Department recently confirmed to FFXnow. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
It’s unclear what caused the crash.
The FCPD declined to release the death investigation.
“The completed death investigation may only be released to the parent or spouse of the decedent or, if there is no living parent or spouse, to the most immediate family member of the decedent,” FCPD wrote in a statement.
