Terry Baranski).
Former Israeli Combat Ven to Bring Second Thesis Gym to Vienna — Thesis gym operator Ori Perlman has inked a deal for a second fitness center in Vienna, buoyed by strong demand at the downtown D.C. location the former Israeli combat specialist-turned-fitness-specialist opened more than a year ago. [Washington Business Journal]
Adult Man Found with Life-threatening Injuries in Fairfax County — “Authorities are investigating an adult man found with life-threatening injuries in Fairfax County. There is a police presence at Stringfellow Rd. under Interstate 66 in Greenbriar. Authorities say Stringfellow Rd. will remain closed during this investigation. Exits ramps from Eastbound and Westbound Interstate 66 onto Stringfellow Rd. are closed.” [FOX 5]
Reston Farm Garden Market Kicks Off Fall Fest — “Reston Farm Garden Market is excited to announce our annual Fall Fest, which runs from September 23rd to October 29th, including a special session on October 9th for Columbus Day. Join us on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online or on-site.” [Reston Farm Garden Market]
Auto Century Expands with Fairfax, Herndon Locations — “Celebrating nearly two decades of automotive service excellence, Auto Century is excited to unveil two new service centers in Fairfax and Herndon, Virginia.” [Digital Journal]
It’s Thursday — There is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with mostly sunny conditions and a high of 96°F. Light south wind will increase to 5-10 mph in the morning. Thursday night, a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, turning mostly cloudy, with a low of 71°F. Southwest wind of 5-8 mph will become light and variable after midnight. [Weather.gov]
Plans for Herndon’s first beer garden — Herndon Biergarten — are still brewing, although at a slower place than previously anticipated.
In November 2021, the Town of Herndon’s Historic District Review Board (HDRB) reviewed the company’s plan to demolish a two-story building at 771 Center Street to make way for the business.
According to Town of Herndon spokeswoman Anne Curtis, the town is currently awaiting the resubmission of the plan by the applicant. The site plan is currently in the town’s review process.
Curtis said that the resubmission was sought as a “standard part of a site plan application” in October.
“The various reviewers provided several comments regarding design elements that did not meet applicable standards. The applicant’s engineer and design team is working to revise the application at their discretion for resubmission and re-review,” Curtis wrote in a statement.
The owner of Herndon Biergarten indicated that an update would likely be available in a few weeks.
The plan reviewed by the HDRB in November included an open kitchen area, barn doors opening to the rooftop bar area and green house room, and two dining areas. At the time, the application was in its early staged.
The Herndon Biergarten is expected to host daily activities, games, events and beer festival. The Tysons location closed in 2018 due to property redevelopment.
Reston Now, a sister site of FFXnow, previously reported that the Herndon location was expected to open in the spring of 2021.
Major improvements on Van Buren Street are officially complete.
The Town of Herndon is set to celebrate the completion of the project at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday (Sept. 7) at Halley Smith Park.
The project kicked off in the spring of 2022. It cost $12.4 million, including $4.7 million for improvements to the Herndon Parkway intersection. Roughly $8 million was funded through federal, regional and local grants.
“The projects provide significant enhancement to these primary roads in the town, particularly necessary due to their proximity to the Herndon stop on Metrorail’s Silver Line,” according to the Town of Herndon.
The most significant improvements — two left turn lanes on west bound Herndon Parkway and a right-turn lane to eastbound Herndon Parkway — took place at Herndon Parkway’s intersection with Van Buren Street. a right-turn lane was also built on northbound Van Buren Street.
Upgrades include widening lanes to 15 feet to accommodate bike lanes, the addition of five-foot sidewalks with streetlights, improved pedestrian crosswalks with ADA signals, upgraded storm water management facilities and relocated overhead utility lines.
At Alabama Drive, crosswalks and traffic signals were also added, along with a turn lane for northbound Van Buren Street at Herndon Parkway.
The county is activating its heat plan for the second day in a row this week.
With a Heat Advisory in effect from noon to 7 p.m. today (Wednesday), the heat plan intended to offer cooling centers during normal operating hours. The centers will also provide supplies like bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and body wipes.
Heat index values of up to 107 degrees are expected.
Three emergency shelters for single adults will activate day and night overflow shelter capacity.
Here’s more from the National Weather Service:
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 911.
County School Board Candidate Sends Controversial Mailer — “School board candidate Harry Jackson is pictured on the front of a postcard sent to voters in Fairfax County. On the flip side are illustrations of sex acts depicted in some of the books he wants FCPS to remove from schools. Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reports,” [NBC 4]
Man Injured in Fairfax County Crash — “Several exit ramps from Interstate 66 in Greenbriar were closed temporarily after a crash Tuesday morning, according to Fairfax County police.” [WJLA]
Affordable Housing to Accept Waitlist Applications in Fairfax County — “Individuals interested in applying to affordable housing waitlists will have the opportunity to do so on September 11, 2023 for select properties in the county.” [Fairfax County Government]
Native American Festival Comes to Riverbend Park — “Immerse yourself in the Virginia Native American Festival on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Riverbend Park. The Native American Festival brings together tribal members from throughout the Commonwealth.” [Fairfax County Government]
It’s Wednesday — The weather forecast predicts a sunny and hot day, reaching temperatures near 100°F with a northwest wind at approximately 6 mph. During Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy skies with lows around 75°F. The southeast wind at around 5 mph will eventually become light and variable. [Weather.gov]
For local bookworms who missed out on last month’s National Book Festival in D.C., you’re in luck.
Fairfax County Public Library will launch a book festival of its own on Sept. 30 with an exclusive focus on writers based in Northern Virginia.
That mission separates the Local Author Book Festival from not just the Library of Congress literary extravaganza, but also George Mason University’s annual Fall for the Book, which will mark its 25th year in October with top-billed guests like “High Fidelity” author Nick Hornby and Man Booker Prize winner Marlon James.
“You would be surprised at the number of writers who live in Northern Virginia!” FCPL Program and Educational Services Director Renee Edwards said. “Every year, we get requests from writers who want the library to host author events where they can meet the public and talk about their books. To bring special attention to our writers and give them the opportunity to meet community members and talk about their books, we are hosting our first Local Author Book Festival.”
Kicking off the festival at 9:30 am with a V.I.P. meet-and-greet at Chantilly Regional Library (4000 Stringfellow Road) will be bestselling suspense novelist David Baldacci. The Fairfax Library Foundation, which is sponsoring the festival, describes him as a “Fairfax County favorite son.”
The meet-and-greet will be limited to 50 people, who must purchase a $75 ticket to attend. However, as the festival’s headline speaker, Baldacci will also discuss his novels and answer questions in a free presentation from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a book sale and signing.
Meet-and-greet participants will get a reserved seat for the general presentation.
A lifelong Virginia resident, Baldacci is a mainstay of the local literary scene, appearing in past events at various county library branches and launching a book at Bards Alley in Vienna last year. The Fairfax Library Foundation honored him and his wife in 2012 for starting the Wish You Well Foundation, a Reston-based charity that supports literacy programs.
“David Baldacci is a local author who is a fan of public libraries. In the past, he has presented at several of our branches and people are always excited to hear him speak!” Edwards said. “We think he is the perfect author to kick off the Local Author Book Festival.”
Overall, there will be 40 authors at the inaugural Local Author Book Festival. FCPL invited authors based on a list of people who had signed up to present at the library, according to Edwards, who says “there was a lot of interest.”
Other confirmed participants include “Instant Pot Asian Pressure Cooker Meals” author Patricia Tanumihardja, “Chronicles of a Royal Pet: Princess and an Ooze” author Ian Rogers, “Havana Hardball: Spring Training, Jackie Robinson, and The Cuban League” author César Brioso, and Jennifer Garman, author of “Flourish: 7 Ways Gratitude can Transform Your Life.”
In addition to allowing community members to meet local authors and buy their books, the outdoor festival will feature snacks, a bookmaking area for kids, a caricature artist, a Silly Shotz photo booth, a raffle for $25 Visa gift cards, and more.
While this festival last just one day, concluding at 3 p.m., FCPL hosts author events year-round. This fall, the library is planning to bring back its Indie Author Day program, which is dedicated to recognizing self-published authors.
Edwards says the library hopes to invite 24 authors to participate in virtual panels from Nov. 1-4.
“Authors and books are our business!” Edwards said. “We love bringing special attention to the people who are right next door — in our county — that may go unnoticed. It is important to us to make sure we are always connecting readers to books.”
The former director of communications and media relations for Arlington Economic Development (AED) is set to take over the communication’s department at Reston Association.
Cara O’Donnell — who spent the last 11 year managing communications for the AED — will begin her first day on Sept. 25. She replaces Mike Leone, who left his position earlier this year.
“I have spent the majority of my career sharing the stories of communities, and I look forward to now bringing that expertise to Reston and engaging with the community,” wrote O’Donnell in a statement. “This is a wonderful opportunity to support and serve the area I call home, and I am excited and humbled to join the RA team.”
O’Donnell is a Reston resident. She led media campaigns related to Arlington’s recruitment of Amazon HQ2 and “secured national and international media placements focusing on Arlington both as a center for business attraction and as a tourism destination,” according to RA.
She previously worked in state government, destination marketing and higher education communications in Pennsylvania. She also worked as a local television news reporter.
She can also been seen “periodically” onstage with Reston Community Players, according to RA.
“Her background and experience in community building and reaching the membership will be felt as soon as she steps into her role in September. Her work with Arlington County in communications will greatly aid RA as we advance many strategic initiatives in the coming months,” RA’s CEO Mac Cummins said.
Securiport, a border security firm, is planning to relocate its headquarters from DC to Reston Station.
The company signed a 24,800-square-foot lease at 1900 Reston Metro Plaza — a portion of the Reston Station mixed-use neighborhood that is currently under construction, according to a commercial real estate news website.
In the interim, the company will move to 11480 Commerce Metro Center this month as construction continues.
As a condition of its tenancy, the company wants to ensure that one of its sixteen signs is located along the Dulles Toll Road next to its planned office place.
Comstock Companies is seeking the county’s permission for approval of the change to its sign plan, citing the “dismal state of the office market in the region” in an Aug. 23 memo.
“Particularly in light of the current office vacancy rate in Fairfax County (at an all-time high of 16.7%), which is universally projected to remain; or worse, continue to rise, for the foreseeable future, the decision to accommodate this critical DC Tenant’s reasonable request for signage on the building which it intends to occupy, was an obvious one for Comstock and is a must for the County,” according to the application.
Securiport was founded in 2001 in order to “address the security challenges of the 21st century,” according to its website. The company — which has called DC home for more than two decades — provides intelligent immigration and civil aviation security solutions and services
The county issued submission deficiencies for the application.
The county has activated its heat plan for today (Tuesday) as temperates climb today.
Cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours in response to a National Weather Service heat advisory that is in effect from noon to 8 p.m.
Heat index values are expected to reach between 100 and 105 degrees across the region.
Supplies like bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellant and body wipes will be available at the cooling centers.
Three emergency centers for single adults with also activate day and night overflow shelter capacity, according to the county.
Here’s more from NWS on the alert:
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
Our county has activated its Heat Plan for today, Tuesday, Sept. 5, in response to a @NWS_BaltWash Heat Advisory, in effect from noon to 8 p.m.
For details, visit: https://t.co/8AmmGoUNX6 pic.twitter.com/bgrcnABug0
— Fairfax County Government
(@fairfaxcounty) September 5, 2023
Teen Charged in Fatal Fairfax County Shooting — “Police in Fairfax County, Virginia, have arrested and charged a 17-year-old who they say is responsible for the fatal shooting of a man in a parking lot in the Woodlawn area on Friday evening.” [WTOP]
New Stroller Policy In Effect for Fairfax Connector Buses —“. Effective immediately, adults boarding with a child in a stroller are no longer required to fold the stroller and hold the child in their lap. This family-friendly approach allows passengers to board Fairfax Connector buses with children comfortably secured in their strollers,” [Fairfax County Government]
Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Fairfax Station — A 22-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Sept. 1 in Fairfax Station. Police believe the man as speeding a stolen motorcycle. When he crestted a hill, he lost control and fell off the motorcycle, police said. [Fairfax County Police Department]
A Look Inside the Life of Herndon’s ‘Baby Doctor’ — “Dr. William Meyer was a popular doctor in Herndon, from the 1920s to 1960, and was well known for delivering many babies, earning him the moniker: ‘The Baby Doctor.’” [Reston Patch]
Pricey McLean Home Hits Market — One of the state’s priciest homes is officially on sale for $25 million. It includes about 210 feet of frontage on the Potomac River. [The Wall Street Journal]
It’s Tuesday — The weather forecast for Tuesday is primarily sunny and hot, with temperatures reaching around 97°F and a north wind at about 8 mph. As for Tuesday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low temperature of approximately 74°F. The north wind will be around 6 mph before becoming calm in the evening. [Weather.gov]
One individual was injured in a Reston apartment fire that broke out shortly before midnight last night (Thursday).
The fire broke out in garden-style apartments in the 1400 block of Esplanade Court, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
The man was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Crews believe the fire — which was extinguished —started in the bathroom. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.
Teens in Custody After Watergun Incident in McLean — Teens seen on a roof on the 1400 block of Chain Bridge Road were taken into custody last night. A water gun was recovered at the scene. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fairfax Startup Selected by Google for Accelerator — “Aravenda, a Fairfax e-commerce software company targeting consignment shops and resellers, has landed a spot in the latest women’s founders cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator.” [Washington Business Journal]
Crews Tackle Sink Hole and Water Main Break in Annandale — A water main break and sink hole left Annandale Road Bryce and Poplar Road closed due to ongoing repairs. [FCPD]
Native American Festival Coming Soon to Great Falls on Sept. 16 — “The Native American Festival brings together tribal members from throughout the Commonwealth. Discover the history and long-standing tradition with the Rappahannock Native American Dancers and Drum group.” [Fairfax County Government]
Work on New Playground in Springfield Begins — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is set to begin work on the installation of a new playground at Lake Accotink Park, with construction activities slated to begin on or about Tuesday, Sept. 5, weather permitting.” [Fairfax County Government]
George Mason University Ranked High for LGBTQ+ Students — “George Mason University is one of only 30 institutions nationwide, and the only one in Virginia, to be awarded a 2023 “best of the best” ranking in Campus Pride’s recently released survey.” [George Mason University]
It’s Friday — The weather forecast for Friday will be sunny with a high temperature near 80°F. A north wind around 7 mph will shift to the east during the afternoon. The night will be clear, with a low temperature around 59°F and a southeast wind ranging from 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]
How public records should be handled will be a key issue in the race to replace retiring Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk John Frey.
Democrat Chris Falcon and Republican Gerarda Culipher are both vying to fill the position that Frey will vacate when he retires in December. Frey, a Republican, has served as clerk of the county’s circuit court for the last 32 years. He ran for Virginia Attorney General in 2012.
Election Day is Nov. 7, but early voting starts in less than a month on Sept. 22.
The two candidates have distinctive points of view when it comes to how public records — like divorce cases, property records, and civil matters — should be made accessible.
Under Frey’s tenure, Fairfax County made records available online through its Court Public Access Network (CPAN) system, but it has a paywall, costing $150 a quarter, or $600 a year, to access.
While most jurisdictions utilize a platform run by Virginia’s Supreme Court, Fairfax County uses its own system and is the only Northern Virginia jurisdiction to charge for viewing information remotely, as permitted by Virginia code.
Records can be accessed for free in person at the Fairfax County Courthouse, and the court launched an e-filing system last year so residents and lawyers can submit documents online, though it also comes with subscription and search fees.
Currently the deputy clerk of the court for Arlington County, which offers free access to records through the Virginia platform, Falcon resides in Annandale and is a graduate of W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax.
He told FFXnow that he’s running for court clerk to bring some reforms from Arlington to his home jurisdiction.
“I’ve encountered countless people who have reached barriers along the way when trying to access justice and access the court system,” Falcon said. “Those can be barriers because of their inability to pay for counsel or because of their lack of proficiency with the English language, or even because of transportation issues or childcare issues. For the past nine years, I’ve been working for the court system over here in Arlington, and I’ve been very proud that we’ve been able to take down a lot of those barriers.”
He called it a “real shame” that Fairfax County does not provide “free, online case information” — and he intends to change that if elected.
Falcon said this lack of access particularly hurts those representing themselves in civil cases or those who may not know the process.
“A lot of those people are not able to find the necessary information that they need, like their case numbers, their hearing dates and times, because that information is currently blocked behind a paywall that the Fairfax Circuit Court clerk’s office has in place,” he said. “I don’t know that they understand actually how many people it’s hurting.”
Culipher argues there are good reasons why the county handles its records and operates in the way it does. Currently the chief deputy clerk, she’s worked in the Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office for a decade.
She agreed with Falcon that the “default posture” of the court is to provide public, open records, but there are “notable exceptions.”
Calling the Fairfax County Circuit Court the “hearth and home” court, since it deals with life events like probate, adoption, marriage, and divorce, Culipher noted that many records are “sensitive” and deserve to be treated “thoughtfully.”
Her office also has concerns about “bad actors” and “attempts to abuse” the open record system. Charging for subscription access allows the court to monitor and limit access as needed, she said.
“We have technology that helps us identify people who are…screen scraping or they’re data mining,” Culipher said. “We have the ability to say we’re going to suspend your account. You’re not going to have remote access anymore. In over a decade [working in the office], I’ve seen it [happen].”
Culipher cited the growing concern around artificial intelligence and how it may make the office’s job harder. Providing safeguards and limits may be the only way to protect residents’ private and sensitive information.
“We have responsible custodianship of it and we take it seriously,” she said. “So, yes, I’ve seen [attempts to abuse the system] and I will say, into the future, I think there’s probably going to be more of it.”
Fairfax County is also about twice the size of the next largest circuit court. The sheer amount of information and records was another reason why a separate system needed to be built out, Culipher said.
Last month, Frey has endorsed Culipher. In the announcement, he called Falcon a “nice guy,” but noted that Fairfax County Circuit Court has four times as many employees and six times the budget of Arlington County.
“Gerarda’s opponent would like to put all of the court’s data online for free,” Frey said. “That sounds great at first but when you consider that Fairfax County is home to federal and state judges, CIA, DEA, FBI, military leaders, state and local police, and your family, the idea of putting court data online for free does not sound like a great idea.”
Falcon called that an “inaccurate representation” of his stance.
“I’m talking about case numbers, names of cases, and hearing dates and times. And it’s already put out into the public sphere by every other county except for Fairfax County in Virginia,” he said. “So I’m certainly not talking about leaking people’s private information. We don’t do that here in Arlington and this is the home of the Pentagon.”
Falcon also wants to improve language access, start Saturday service, and improve constituent services, like virtual name change applications and marriage licenses.
“At the end of the day, it’s about helping people,” Falcon said. “It’s about increasing transparency in this very important office and delivering better service to our residents.”
Culipher said she’s also for much of that and isn’t opposed to ensuring public records are accessible. But she wants there to be careful consideration of what is public and to whom it’s available.
“I stand for that balancing act, and I stand to be a major voice for Virginia as she begins to look at more open access to records,” she said. “And maybe I just want to be that cautionary voice.”
An annual event that brings 35 bands from around the region is coming to Herndon next month.
The 26th annual Showcase of Bands will take place on Sept. 30 at Herndon High School (700 Bennett Street). This year’s event features bands that will perform throughout the day — including the Pride of Herndon, which is set to perform in the middle of the day.
Entree is free for students who wear a Herndon Pyramid school shirt with a paying adult. General admission is $6 for students between the ages of six and 12 and $12 for all others, although children age five and under is free.
Kathleen Jacoby, band director of the Pride of Herndon, said the event will kickstart the marching band season. Bands are expected to come from as far Shenandoah Valley, according to event organizers.
“It’s such a festive event with all the different show themes and storylines, uplifting music and precision marching,” Ms Jacoby added. “Invite your friends and bring your sunscreen – it’s the perfect outdoor event for a fall weekend.”
Each band will compete with bands of a comparable size. Performances are judged based on music and visual work.
“Showcase is great for camaraderie amongst musicians, and for bands around the state to encourage and support each other” Jacoby said.
A new clinic that offers mental health services is opening its doors in Reston this November, according to the company’s website.
Columbia Associates is expected to open at 12007 Sunrise Valley Drive in Suite 120.
“This state of the art clinic will allow us to better support our clients and provide care for even more people,” the company’s website states.
A spokesperson for Columbia Associates did not return multiple requests for comment from FFXnow.
The company has locations throughout the region, including Aldie, Arlington and Alexandria.
The clinic offers therapy, psychiatry across a continuum of care, mental health treatment, and psychotherapy.
Providers speak of mix of language, ranging from Arabic to Sindhi to French, according to the company.
Image via Google Maps
