The Fairfax County Police Department has launched a new unit dedicated to investigating active violence incidents and bomb threats.
The Threat Assessment and Management Unit (TAM) will offer a systemic and multidisciplinary approach to analyzing, tracking and preventing potential acts of targeted violence. The unit would also intervene in cases where individuals are at risk of violence.
The unit’s specialties will include handling red flag cases, where a court issues an Emergency Substantial Risk Order letting police temporarily take away an individual’s gun because they pose a danger to themselves or someone else.
“This specialized team is comprised of highly skilled officers and analysts who possess a unique combination of training in law enforcement, and intelligence analysis,” the FCPD wrote in a press release. “Their main objective is to proactively identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential threats to our community.”
The unit will include personnel from the county and Northern Virginia overall, as the FCPD hopes to create a regional program that could serve as a national model.
Having a standalone team focused exclusively on these cases will improve the quality of the investigations, which require unique expertise, Police Chief Kevin Davis said when announcing the new unit.
“While it is important for law enforcement to be involved to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach – and to intervene if the threat escalates – partnerships…are crucial, as the primary goal of this approach is to provide individuals with support services before the threat rises to a level requiring law enforcement intervention,” FCPD wrote.
The number of violence threat events has increased from 30 in 2020 to 153 in 2023, according to police. The number of emergency substantial risk orders increased from five in 2020 to 77 in 2023, though data from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office indicates that over 100 cases have been opened this year.
Similarly, there were 27 bomb threats in 2023, 29 in 2022 and 18 in 2021.
Here’s more from FCPD on the unit:
The goal is to interdict and deter subjects on the pathway to targeted violence and provide appropriate resources to the subject. The TAM Unit will conduct assessments based on an appraisal of observed (or reasonably observable) behaviors to identify potentially dangerous or violent situations, investigate/assess them, and ultimately mitigate them. The overall goal will be to ensure the safety of all involved, while respecting individual privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
The Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) Unit employs a multifaceted approach to assess various types of threats, ranging from individuals displaying concerning behaviors to organized criminal activities. By leveraging their expertise and utilizing advanced technology, they conduct thorough investigations, analyze patterns, and assess potential risks to determine the most appropriate course of action. This unit actively collaborates with other law enforcement agencies, mental health professionals, and community partners to gather comprehensive information and develop proactive strategies to address emerging threats effectively. Through their diligent efforts, the TAM plays a crucial role in preventing potential incidents, promoting community trust, and fostering a secure environment for all.
Reston Museum is launching “Famous Restonians,” a new program that features individuals raised in Reston who have excelled in their fields.
Set for Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne, the program will include individuals like “Jeopardy!” champion Eddie Timanus, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-New Jersey), and WTOP reporter Dave Dildine.
Although the program is free, registration is required.
“The Reston Museum is proud to celebrate these remarkable individuals, all of whom grew up in Reston and have achieved excellence in their chosen fields,” Reston Museum Executive Director Alex Campbell said. “We look forward to hearing their memories of growing up in Reston and the journey that led them to where they are today.”
Last year’s event featured Nate Mook, former CEO of Central World Kitchen.
Here’s a breakdown on the biographies of the featured participants from Reston Museum:
Eddie Timanus is a reporter and content producer for USA TODAY Sports and is known for his 1999 five-game winning streak on the game show Jeopardy! and for being the first blind contestant to appear on the show. He was also a semifinalist in the 2000 Tournament of Champions and appeared in several subsequent tournaments, most recently 2014’s Battle of the Decades. He was also a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2004. Timanus moved to Reston with his family in 1981 and graduated from South Lakes High School in 1986. Eddie compiles the USA Today Coaches Poll and writes the preview section for college football games in addition to his sports articles.
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1994, Congresswoman Sherrill spent almost 10 years on active duty in the United States Navy as a helicopter pilot. After leaving the Navy in 2003, she earned a law degree from Georgetown University and served as a federal prosecutor. Elected to Congress in 2018, Congresswoman Sherrill sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the new House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Kia Lowe began her career in the investment world and after eight years, transitioned to the world of cosmetics first in a management position at L’Oreal and then serving as Vice President at both Lancome Paris and Kiehl’s Since 1851. Earlier this year, Kia was named the CEO of John Legend’s newly launched skin care brand, LOVED01. Kia grew up in Reston and attended Forest Edge Elementary School and Langston Hughes Middle School. After graduating from the University of Virginia, Kia earned her MBA from Columbia University.
Dave Dildine is an multi-award-winning traffic and weather reporter for WTOP News Radio, serving the Washington DC region. Dave joined WTOP in 2010 and can be heard “on the 8s and when it breaks” during the week. A Reston native, Dave attended Langston Hughes Middle and South Lakes High Schools before venturing off to George Mason University. Dave has also received recognition for his photography of severe weather, landing one photograph on the front page of the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.
All featured individuals will speak in person, except Dildine, who will appear via a pre-recorded interview.
Shoplifting and assaults have gone up in Fairfax County so far this year, the county police department’s mid-year crime data shows.
The department released the report in coordination with the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), which ranks the nation’s 70 largest police departments by four crime categories: homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The report covered data from January to June.
Of all the reported offenses, shoplifting saw the largest uptick in the county, with numbers up by 50% to 3,736 incidents. There were 2,489 shoplifting incidents reported in the same time frame last year. Residential burglaries also increased by 20 incidents.
The county reported 15 carjackings — a small increase from 13 last year. There have been 45 more auto thefts, but thefts from vehicles and of vehicle parts have both declined. The Fairfax County Police Dpartment targeted those crimes last month as part of a summer-long crime prevention initiative.
“Our unwavering commitment to public safety drives our efforts to implement targeted patrols and deploy advanced crime prevention strategies, ” a news release read.
The number of assault offenses increased more than 13%, jumping from 4,348 to 4,931. In addition, about 15% more people have been charged this year with assaulting family members, a category that increased from 702 by the end of June in 2022 to 816 in 2023.
However, murders and forcible sex offenses decreased from 12 to 10 and 194 to 192, respectively.
Despite upticks in some categories, the police departments said the county is still the safest of its size.
“When all MCCA police departments are ranked by violent crime rating, we are proud to say Fairfax County remains the safest jurisdiction of its size,” the FCPD said.
Fire Department Fills the Boot With Over $187K — “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Fill the Boot campaign raised $187,300 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Firefighters stood at intersections from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 collecting donations from motorists and pedestrians.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Porn — “A Fairfax man pleaded guilty today to receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), receipt of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, and possession of CSAM…He faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for each charge.” [U.S. Attorney’s Office]
Richmond Highway Senior Housing Proposal Up for Votes — “RH Senior Housing…will seek rezoning approval from the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors this month for a proposed independent living facility for low-income senior citizens adjacent to the Beacon of Groveton apartment building.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Students Raise Funds to Build School in Senegal — “After three years of fundraising, the BASIS Independent McLean French Honor Society raised enough money to construct a new schoolhouse in Khombole, Senegal, to replace an existing, temporary building that could not withstand the rainy season.” [Gazette Leader]
FCPD Welcomes New Class of Recruits — “Last week, Chief Kevin Davis welcomed 59 new recruits starting their first day at the FCPD Criminal Justice Academy. Session 85 is one of the largest academy classes in over 10 years, surpassing the previous record-breaking numbers of Session 84.” [FCPD]
McLean Group Donates Backpacks to Students — “The Woman’s Club of McLean raised $1,300 this summer to purchase and outfit backpacks for school-aged children involved in a program for young mothers and their children. The program is operated by Second Story, a nonprofit group…that provide[s] counseling and residential housing for teens, young mothers, and their children who are living in unsafe residential situations.” [Patch]
It’s Tuesday — There is a 30% chance of showers after 2pm today, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 86°F. For Tuesday night, expect a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms, getting more likely after 8pm. It will be mostly cloudy with a low of around 68°F. [Weather.gov]
Town of Herndon officials are exploring ways to expand the number and quality of cultural festivals in the town.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting on Sept. 5, council members considered the option of providing funding for community cultural festivals if applications meet specific qualifications.
“Often referred to in discussions with Town Council as ‘mini-festivals,’ the desire is to add to the town’s already robust community event opportunities, with focus placed on highlighting and celebrating the town’s culturally diverse community,” according to the policy statement.
In order to be eligible to town funds, the event must be held on public property, be free and open to all, and celebrate and reflect the cultural diverse of the Herndon community.
Funding requests are limited to $5,000 per event per fiscal year.
At the meeting, council members honed in on process improvements for the disbursement and approval process. Others struggled to reconcile how involved the town should be in cultural programming.
Council member Pradip Dhakal said that the town should consider being an active organizer, not just a passive donor for cultural events.
“Let’s own this a little bit,” Dhakal said.
Dhakal also said that some applicants may not have ironed out details of proposed events, especially if the town allows applications one year before the event takes place.
“A lot of organizations who are planning to host certain events may want to apply and at least get the funds approved so that we don’t run out of the funds,” Dhakal said.
Council member Keven LeBlanc also encouraged staff to hone in on the semantics of proposed requirements — including what qualifies as a public event and public property and what defines a cultural activity.
“Is a Herndon grad party culture?” said LeBlanc, adding Juneteeth events as another ambiguous example.
Others like council member Cesar del Aguila noted that the town should consider restructuring some events like Friday Night Live! and the weekly farmers market in downtown Herndon.
Mayor Sheila Olem also noted that pooling volunteers is challenging for festivals. Town manager Bill Ashton II emphasized that seeking overtime hours from staff or the police department is often challenging, especially if additional security is needed.
“We’re going to have a really hard conversation about this,” Ashton II said.
The funding mechanism is intended for to support events that happen in downtown, encourage nonprofits to host more cultural festivals and encourage events that celebrate the community’s cultural diversity.
The concept was first introduced as a council initiative in 2022. The fiscal year 2024 budget includes $70,000 in funds for cultural festivals.
Local police are searching for a man who reportedly threatened to kidnap a woman’s child if she did not give up her belongings in Reston.
The man approached the woman near the 11900 block of Barrell Cooper Court in Reston and attempted to snatch her backpack. The suspect threatened to take her child if she did not give up the backpack, police said.
The Fairfax County Police Department generated a composite sketch of the suspect, who was described as Hispanic, between 20 to 25 years of age, around 5’6’’, and with a thin build.
FCPD also released information about a second incident in Reston that they believe is linked.
In that incident on Aug. 9, two women were talked on a trail near the 12000 block of Greywing Square when two men approached them. The fiirst man pepper sprayed the women, stole their purses and ran. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man, roughly 19 years old, with dark hair and facial hair on his chin.
A second composite sketch was released on Saturday (Sept. 9), which police believe is linked to the July incident. The second man was described as short, Hispanic and roughly 16 years of age. A composite sketch was not available for the second suspect.
“Detectives believe the composite sketches are the same suspect,” FCPD wrote in a statement.
Here’s how to contact FCPD to provide information.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have information about these incidents to call the Reston Police Station at 703-478-0904 and ask to speak with a detective. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web –Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
Hundreds of County Drivers Mistakenly Receive Tickets — Roughly 2,8000 people were wrongfully received speed camera tickets. The issue stems from flashing lights that were not working properly near Irving Middle School and London Towne Elementary School in July. [WTOP]
Alcorn Releaseds Mark-up Ahead of Vote on Comprehensive Plan — Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn has released a mark-up on the pending update to Reston’s comprehensive plan. A public hearing before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is slated for Tuesday. [Fairfax County Government]
Man Arrested After Argument Leads to Stabbing in City of Fairfax — “A 26-year-old man is facing charges after City of Fairfax police said he stabbed an acquaintance multiple times Thursday, Sept. 7. Officers said they responded to a CVS at 10090 Fairfax Boulevard for reports of a stabbing. An investigation revealed that the victim had been stabbed by an acquaintance after an argument. [WJLA]
Lorton Police Station, Animal Shelter to Open This Fall — “A Lorton police station and Fairfax County’s second animal shelter, both under construction since 2021, are expected to open this fall.” [WTOP]
FCPD Invites Young People to Join Public Safety Cadet Program — “The Fairfax County Police Department is putting out a call for young people aged 14-20 to join its public safety cadet program. Police told 7News the program teaches young people about law enforcement and the law itself. Young people spend time in a classroom learning, but also go out and do things like police ride-alongs, training, fundraising and community events.” [WJLA]
Young Fox Outfoxes Cat in Tudor Hall Neighborhood — “Early on Thursday morning, a young fox outfoxed Popeye, the feral cat living in the Tudor Hall neighborhood located just north of the Fairfax City border. The family of a Patch reporter has been leaving water, a bowl of food, and treats for Popeye every night for the last several years.” [Fairfax City Patch]
It’s Monday — There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am and after 2pm today, with patchy fog in the morning. Expect partly sunny conditions and a high near 85°F. Tonight, patchy fog may develop after 2am, and it will be partly cloudy with a low of around 67°F. [Weather.gov]
The Fairfax County Police Department’s drone unit has taken on new responsibilities and added a full-time drone program manager.
The drone unit now conducts more detailed work with the FCPD’s helicopter program, according to an FCPD news release. Among other tasks, the drone unit complements the helicopter program in crime scene and crash scene investigations, FCPD Second Lieutenant Brad Woehrlen wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
“Longer sustained operations illustrate how the drone program compliments the helicopter; the helicopter will go up initially and be able to more immediately provide input to the officers on the ground, and the drone team will take over to provide situational awareness to the officers and command,” Woehrlen wrote.
FCPD started using drones, also called unmanned aircraft systems, in 2019. Drones have since been involved with tasks including crime scene documentation, crash scene reconstruction and felonious suspect searches, per a public log of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) missions. The full list of permitted use cases for drones is outlined in a program manual.
“In a much longer term, as staffing improves, the vision will include a full-time team that is on the street with the equipment able to respond to calls as they come out,” Woehrlen wrote.
The drone program manager, the unit’s newest addition, trains pilots, works on airspace waivers and updates equipment and software, among other responsibilities.
“Because drones are classified as aircraft by the (Federal Aviation Administration) there is a significant amount of management required, which is part of the reason a full-time position was created,” Woehrlen wrote.
The police department’s use of drones is governed in part by the program manual. Among other policies, drones cannot fly beyond the visual line of sight of their operators and operators must “take all reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertently recording or transmitting images of individuals and areas uninvolved with the mission,” per the manual.
“Reasonable precautions” can include only using the drone’s live transmission rather than recording footage during an operation, according to the manual Drones also cannot be used as weapons.
Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have raised concerns about the privacy implications of drone use by police departments.
Protecting community members’ privacy is “an utmost priority,” Woehrlen wrote. He cited the program manual, directives for the FCPD’s helicopter unit and an additional privacy training that he said drone pilots are required to pass before operating missions or investigations.
“We also currently use software that logs our flight tracking, including the camera angle, which provides oversight of pilot activity and a record for any allegations of inappropriate usage,” Woehrlen wrote.
Nearby, Arlington County public safety agencies are working to develop and put in place a UAS program, police spokeswoman Ashley Savage wrote in an email to FFXnow.
“The program is not yet operational and additional information will be shared with the public as we get closer to the program’s launch,” she wrote.
In Loudoun County, the sheriff’s department also uses drones, according to a police spokesperson.
The FAA issued rules for drone operators in 2016. According to a March 2020 report from the now-defunct Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College, more than 1,500 U.S. state and local public safety agencies have obtained drones.
The Town of Herndon is considering reductions in its parks and recreation fees in order to reduce financial barriers and encourage underserved youth and families to use the town’s facilities.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting on Sept. 5, the council discussed the proposal. If approved, the town would identify specific single and multi=family residents that could benefit from a reduced admission fee for the Herndon Community Center, which includes an indoor pool, gym, fitness room and racquetball courts.
Qualification would be determined by using several data sets that identify equity emphasis areas and historically disadvantaged communities. The town may also filter for areas below the median income, which is currently $117,741.
Town residents within these areas would receive discounts if they provide proof of address. Residents who provide proof of residency and documentation of need would also receive discounts. Non-residents living within the Herndon High School pyramid will also receive discounted non-resident rates with required documentation.
The town also wants to hire more staff — preferably bilingual staff — during peak hours.
“The department is seeking to hire (preferably bi-lingual) staff to maintain a presence within the center, develop a rapport with those using the facility, educate patrons on the availability and proper use of amenities, discourage unwelcome outside influences, and enforce expectations of behavior,” the Sept. 5 staff memo states.
Adults would pay $4 instead of $7 for daily passes and $40 instead of $63 for 10 visit passes. A 25 visit pass costs $90 instead of $140.
The idea came about after staff and the town manager met with Cornerstones, a local nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency, to create a reasonable and equitable fee schedule.
As part of the proposal, the town would also increase the hourly light fee from $4 to $5 per hour for the lit fields at Bready Park.
Two hemp businesses and a private citizen are challenging a Virginia law that instituted tougher limits on hemp products in Virginia in federal court, saying the new rules cause financial harm to hemp businesses and interfere in interstate commerce.
The law, which went into effect July 1, set the maximum amount of THC in hemp products at 0.3% concentration and 2 milligrams per package. This cutoff has made hundreds of products placed on shelves before July illegal and subject to fines if sold.
The lawsuit by hemp product retailer Northern Virginia Hemp and Agriculture, hemp customer Rose Lane and North Carolina-based hemp producer and distributor Franny’s Operations argues that if not halted, the law “will cause millions of dollars of irreparable harm” and “cause the Banned Products to be unavailable in the Commonwealth, exacerbating potential health problems to thousands of Virginians.”
The plaintiffs argue that the state’s definition of legal hemp conflicts with the federal definition — cannabis with less than 0.3% of specifically delta-9 THC content. Virginia’s law, in contrast, defines legal hemp products as those with less than 0.3% total THC content, which includes not just the most common delta-9, but also the milder delta-8 strain and all other natural and synthetic isomers combined.
The complaint says this puts state law in direct conflict with federal law, running afoul of the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.
Northern Virginia Hemp and Agriculture said the new law has caused the loss of 90% of its business because nearly all of the products it manufactured and sold prior to July 1 are now banned.
The sale of hemp products “has turned into people’s livelihoods,” said Travis Lane, owner of the business. “This [lawsuit] is just worth a try, you know, like it’s a 50-50 shot for us to win or lose.”
Lane said if the law is not halted, he will be forced to shut his doors before the end of the year. “I feel like it should definitely be regulated, but not regulated to the point where you’re shutting doors of good businesses,” he said.
Jason Amatucci, president of the Virginia Hemp Coalition, which helped find plaintiffs and fundraise for the suit, said Virginia’s stricter limits were supported and lobbied for by medical marijuana companies that saw the hemp industry as a competitive threat. He called it “a double standard” that marijuana is still illegal at the federal level while its use has been legalized in Virginia, but some federally legal hemp products are now banned in the state.
Lawmakers, however, have shown rising concern about the growth of a largely unregulated market in Virginia and associated sharp increases in the hospitalization of minors who have ingested hemp-derived products. Besides the THC limits they imposed, the new law includes packaging security and labeling requirements and imposes escalating fines for non-compliance.
Chloe Smith, a spokesperson for Attorney General Jason Miyares, declined to comment on the pending litigation but reiterated that Miyares “is dedicated to combating the rise of accidental THC poisonings in children, and is concerned about the rise of dangerous, counterfeit THC-infused products marketed towards our vulnerable youth.”
Amatucci, however, said he doesn’t think the law sufficiently targets child safety or counterfeit synthetic products.
“We need education for these things, and we also need smart laws that target exactly what we want to target, but to take a straight sword and cut the industry down like they did was irresponsible,” said Amatucci. “Whether we win the lawsuit or [are] coming back next session, we’re going to have to fix this.”
Complicating Virginia’s law is a carveout for hemp-based CBD products, written after complaints by caregivers of epileptic children who use CBD oil as an anti-seizure treatment, that sets a minimum 25:1 ratio of CBD to THC for products with more than 2 milligrams of THC.
Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, has pointed out that manufacturers will still be able to sell large amounts of THC provided they also include 25 times that amount of CBD. Visitors to NoVa Hemp’s website are greeted with a popup that reads, “All products in Virginia now come with an additional 25:1 ratio of CBD isolate added to the packaging. You will not be disappointed!”
“It’s just like more steps that we have to put into something that we don’t think needs to really happen,” said Lane. “It’s ridiculous.”
The plaintiffs are also challenging a provision of the law prohibiting hemp processors from selling industrial hemp to anyone inside or outside state lines if the seller has reason to believe it will be used in a substance that violates the state’s 0.3% THC limits.
On the federal level, marijuana remains illegal, but the 2018 farm bill removed hemp from a Schedule I controlled substances classification, a category that includes heroin. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services suggested the Drug Enforcement Agency change marijuana’s classification to a Schedule III drug.
The case will be heard on Sept. 29 by District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema in Alexandria.
The preceding article was reported and first published by the Virginia Mercury
The demolition of several dilapidated residential structures and outbuildings at Lake Fairfax Park is set to begin in mid-September.
The structures are part of property the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) purchased in 2014 along Hunter Mill Road. Ben Boxer, a spokesperson for FCPA, told FFXnow that the structures will be removed as a result of numerous complaints from the community.
The work will wrap up later this fall. During the demolition period, residents should expect construction traffic when entering and exiting the park via Hunter Mill Road. Construction hours will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
For many years, the structures have remained vacant. Reports of trespassing and vandalism have also surfaced.
“As part of the master planning process, the buildings and accessory structures were analyzed and deemed not to have any historical or cultural significance and were cleared for removal,” Boxer wrote in a statement.
Currently, there are no immediate plans for the site. The Lake Fairfax Master Plan describes the site as a multi-purpose area, Boxer said.
“Currently there is no funding identified to proceed with additional development activities at this time,” he said.
Police Arrest Suspect Who Crashed Car into Home — “Officers responded to the 9300 block of Cumbria Valley Drive in Lorton for a man entering vehicles. Officers parked their cruisers and approached the area on foot. Officers found Nico Anthony Doublet inside a 2020 BMW X3. Doublet ignored the officers’ commands, backed the car out of the driveway and sped off at a high rate of speed. No FCPD officers were in their vehicles when they contacted him and did not pursue him.” [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fairfax County Public Schools Maintain Accreditation Status — “All 195 Fairfax County public schools are accredited, two with conditions, for accountability year 2023-24, according to data released by the Virginia Department of Education. Ninety-nine percent, or 193 out of 195 schools, attained “accredited” status and two schools attained ‘accredited with conditions’ status. No Fairfax County public school received a status of ‘accreditation denied.’” [FCPS]
Fall Book Sale Returns to Reston Regional Library — “The Friends of the Reston Regional Library will host their Big Fall Sale this September 20 through 24. One of our two largest sales of the year, this sale will feature more than 30,000 books in very gently used condition, from over 20 categories.” [Friends of the Reston Regional Library]
Grand Opening Set for North Hill Park in Alexandria — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for North Hill Park on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 9 a.m.” [Fairfax County Government]
Dog Daze Returns to Lake Fairfax Park This Weekend —Dogs get a chance for a final swim in the water tomorrow (Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the water min. The cost is $10 per dog. [Fairfax County Government]
Batting Cages Reopen at Braddock Park — “The batting cages, which were closed in 2022, have reopened with new pitching machines, netting and a suite of new bats and balls. The batting cages will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only through Oct. 29.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Friday — Showers and thunderstorms are likely after 2pm, with areas of fog clearing by 8am. Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 92 and light south winds. Rainfall may be less than a tenth of an inch, but possibly higher in thunderstorms. On Friday night, anticipate a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 70. Winds will calm after midnight, and rainfall may reach between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts in thunderstorms. [Weather.gov]
A 29-year-old Fairfax resident has opened his own optometry office in Herndon’s Fox Mill Shopping Center.
Beyond Eyecare opened last month at 2539 John Milton Drive. Sami Khaldieh, who has lived in Fairfax sine 1996 and attended local schools like Franklin Middle School and Oakton High School. He received his Doctorate of Optometry from Pennsylvania College of Optometry.
He worked for about a year and a half within two different companies before deciding to pursue his dream of opening a practice in his community, a spokesperson for the company told FFXnow.
Khaldieh says that his path to optometry was inevitable as a dry eye and high myopia patient. In his first eye exam, they found his prescription was -4.00. He had seen ten eye care practices in the area. His prescription has since grew to -14.00, and he suffers a subset of Dry Eye Syndrome.
That experience led him to pursue the career.
“My goal is to never let what happened to me happen to anyone else again. My ultimate passion is to make sure my community is receiving the consistent top-tier care that they deserve; that same care I wasn’t able to receive. At Beyond Eyecare, our mission is to go above and beyond the standard of care,” Khaldieh said.
The practice is open on Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
After two days of excessive heat, rain is officially on the horizon.
Fairfax County and other neighboring jurisdictions are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.
The National Weather Service issued the watch around 1:15 p.m. It is in effect until 9 p.m. and includes much of eastern Pennsylvania and portions of New York State.
Forecasters say that scattered strong storms are likely later today in the immediate D.C. area.
“Damaging wind gusts are the primary threat. Isolated instances of considerable wind damage from severe thunderstorms are possible. Isolated instances of large hail are possible as well,” the National Weather Service said.
The second annual Reggae on the Lake festival returns to Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday (Sept. 9).
The festival brings together reggae bands from around the country. It is headlined by Third World, a Grammy-nominated, Jamaica-based band that is currently completing its 50th anniversary world tour.
It’s the brainchild of Ramon Pardo, a Reston-based realtor who brought the idea to Reston after he contracted a well-known reggae band for his wedding last year in Jamaica.
His team at Terra Properties is hoping to raise $25,000 for research on Parkinson’s disease. The company’s nonprofit arm, Terra Gives Back, has partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
“The event operates under a philanthropic model, channeling all profits to a charity each year, with this year’s proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. This alignment of entertainment and altruism elevates the festival from a mere celebration to an impactful community initiative,” Pardo said.
Entry is free — part of an effort to maintain the financial accessible of the festival, he said.
“With free general admission, the event is open to everyone, ensuring a diverse and inclusive crowd. VIP options offer an enhanced experience for those who choose it, but the essential joys of the festival are available to all,” he said.
At the event, raffle tickets for an all-expenses paid trip for a resort in Negril, Jamaica will be on sale for $50. All proceeds will go to the foundation.
The festival includes games, face painting, balloon art, crafts vendors, arts, food and live music. VIP tickets — which are sponsored by Lake Anne Coffee House & Wine Bar — will be available to go backstage and meet the bands in person.
