Feedback Sought on Proposed South GW Parkway Changes — The National Park Service is seeking public input on its assessment of how proposed improvements to the southern George Washington Memorial Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail could affect cultural and historic resources. Comments on the project, which could add a road diet and crosswalks, are due Sept. 1. [Patch]
FCPD Mistaken in Saying Teen Died From Overdose — Vilma Gonzalez was shocked when Fairfax County police reported that her 16-year-old son died from a drug overdose in Bailey’s Crossroads on June 25. Almost two months later, detectives told her that initial autopsy results showed he instead “had a lethal level of carbon monoxide in his system.” [NBC4]
Schools Must Follow State Policy on Transgender Students, Miyares Says — “Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s new model policies for the treatment of transgender students are in line with federal and state nondiscrimination laws and school boards must follow their guidance, the state’s attorney general said in a nonbinding legal analysis released Thursday.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
Northern Virginia Sees Spree of Auto Dealership Thefts — Eight vehicles have been stolen from dealerships in Fairfax City since July 21, part of a trend seen across Northern Virginia. The Fairfax cases occurred overnight between Thursday and Monday, and seven of eight targeted Dodge and Chevrolet vehicles, police say. [Fairfax City Police/Twitter]
Bailey’s Crossroads Park to Get New Swings — “The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is set to begin work on the addition of swings to the playground at Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park located in the Mason District. The playground is expected to be closed from Sept. 5 to Sept. 29 for work to be completed. The remainder of the park features…will remain open and accessible to the public.” [FCPA]
Annandale Church Hits Real Estate Market — “A prime church property in Annandale is on the market for $13.5 million. The congregation at Iglesia la Biblia, a bilingual Charismatic Pentecostal church at 5001 Backlick Road, has outgrown the space, so they want to relocate, says Josh Velez, the son of pastor Roger Velez and a real estate agent with Samson Properties.” [Annandale Today]
Great Falls Plans for 9/11 Commemoration — “The annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., honoring the six Great Falls residents and others who lost their lives and suffered in the 2001 attacks and their aftermath.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Friday — There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the area, with partly sunny skies and a high temperature near 90 degrees. At night, the chance of precipitation decreases to 30%, mainly before 8pm. The night is expected to be partly cloudy with a low temperature of around 72 degrees. [Weather.gov]
A Reston-based pub was voted as the best place to get a drink in the D.C. area.
A WTOP poll by readers and listeners ranked Makers Union, which is located at 1811 Library Street in Reston Town Center, as the best restaurant to get a drink. The pub beat out hundreds of other bars in the area.
Clyde’s — a chain that has locations throughout the region and is bringing a new one to Reston Station — and Bethesda, Maryland-based Caddies On Cordell came in third and second respectively.
Also named a runner-up for best brunch, Makers Union describes itself as a pub for the people. It has two new locations in the works at The Wharf in D.C. and at Metropolitan Park in Arlington, which are slated to open this summer.
According to its website, the pub uses local ingredients “whenever possible” and showcases destination drinks from local makers.
The poll also ranked restaurants and establishments across several other categories, including best bakery, brunch, burger, coffee shop, international cuisine, seafood and comfort food.
Other chains also ranked high on the lists. For example, Big Buns Damn Good Burger — which has locations in Reston, Herndon, Vienna and Fairfax — was voted as the best burger spot, and Ledo Pizza was named the best pizza spot.
Outside of Reston, Fairfax City’s High Side — an Asian street food restaurant and bar located at 4009 Chain Bridge Road — topped the list for best international cuisine. L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls and Our Mom Eugenia, which has restaurants in Great Falls and Merrifield, also made the top 10 for that list.
Photo via kazuend on Unsplash
(Updated at 5:30 p.m.) Sheetz is officially opening its doors in Herndon next Wednesday (Aug. 30), sneaking in just under the wire to make its projected summer launch.
To mark the grand opening celebration, the gas station and convenience store chain will offer free coffee and soda all day at 13840 McLearen Road.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Customers will also have a chance to enter giveaways and raffles, including a grand prize giveaway of a $2,500 Sheetz gift card.
To mark the opening, Sheetz is donating $2,500 to the Capital Area Food Bank, which addresses hunger and food insecurity issues in the D.C. region. The company will collect non-perishable food items at the location. In return, customers will receive a thermal bag while supplies last from 9-11 a.m.
The company also plans to donate $2,500 to the Special Olympics of Virginia.
Established in Pennsylvania in 1952, the company has more than 680 locations across the country. The store will be open all day and throughout the year.
The Herndon location has 20 fuel terminals and four electric vehicle chargers, a public relations representative for Sheetz said.
(Correction: FFXnow was initially told that the Herndon store had no EV chargers.)
Tysons Media Company Sued for Diversity Efforts — “Gannett Co Inc (GCI.N), the largest U.S. newspaper publisher, is facing a lawsuit claiming its efforts to diversify newsrooms led to discrimination against white workers. The proposed class action was filed in Virginia federal court on Friday by five current and former Gannett employees who say they were fired or passed over for promotions to make room for less-qualified women and minorities.” [Reuters]
FCPD Searches for Reported Robber With Parrots — Fairfax County police are on the lookout for a man who allegedly robbed a victim with a knife at a McDonald’s in Seven Corners on Tuesday (Aug. 22). Police say “surveillance video from a nearby business shows the suspect as wearing a black cowboy hat with two parrots, a patterned shirt, and a third parrot on the shoulder.” [WTOP]
State Lawmakers Hint at Budget Compromise — “A compromise deal on a state budget will likely be reached in the next few days, a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers who have been leading this year’s drawn-out negotiations said Wednesday.” Efforts to revise the two-year budget have stalled since the General Assembly session ended in February over whether to use a surplus for tax cuts or to boost government services. [Associated Press/WTOP]
Original Mount Vernon HS Construction Coming Next Spring — “Participants in South County Teen and Senior Center programming at the Original Mount Vernon High School (OMVHS) will be relocated to nearby Fairfax County facilities starting in September as the county prepares to…begin all-out renovations of the building in spring 2024.” [On the MoVe]
Huntington Apartment Building Pitches Pickleball Court — The owner of Huntington Gateway, a nearly 40-year-old multifamily complex at 5982 Richmond Highway, has proposed replacing its two tennis courts with a “multipurpose synthetic turf lawn” that will include a pickleball court and seating. In an application filed with Fairfax County, Air Communities says it wants to “modernize” its amenities. [Washington Business Journal]
N. Va. Leaders Talk Housing, Office Vacancies — Officials, including Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, “assessed the region’s economy and brainstormed how it can be improved through intergovernmental collaboration” at the eighth annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit. Education and Metro funding were also addressed. [Inside NoVA]
Cash Offered to Low-Income Seniors for Farmers Markets — “The Senior Farmers Market Program enables older adults to access fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at eligible farmers markets. That includes the Annandale Farmers Market at Mason District Park, the Wakefield Farmers Market at Wakefield Park in Annandale, the FreshFarm market at Mosaic, and many others.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax Connector Relocates Bus Stop in Reston — “Beginning 8/24, Stop ID# 3818 will be permanently relocated to the near side of Wiehle Avenue & North Shore Drive. This is directly across from Stop ID# 3817. This stop services Routes 552, 558, RIBS 1.” [Fairfax Connector/Facebook]
It’s Thursday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms with mostly cloudy skies, a high temperature of about 82 degrees and a 40% chance of precipitation. Night will be mostly cloudy with possible showers and thunderstorms, with temperatures dropping to around 69 degrees. The chance of precipitation will rise to 50%. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County is envisioning its forthcoming COVID-19 memorial as a space for reflection — something that’s been difficult to come by since the pandemic upended life temporarily for some and more permanently for others.
The concept comes from artists Miriam Gusevich and Salvatore Pirrone, who have been chosen to design and build the memorial, ArtsFairfax announced Monday (Aug. 21).
“We need memorial spaces and artworks to help us appreciate the bonds we share as human beings,” ArtsFairfax President and CEO Linda Sullivan said. “With such artworks, engagement invites us to learn from our pain and redouble our efforts to lift up each other every day, not just in emergencies.”
A nonprofit designated as the county’s official arts agency, ArtsFairfax and the Fairfax County Arts Committee selected Gusevich and Pirrone unanimously after putting out an open call for artists earlier this year.
According to ArtsFairfax, the pair proposed “a tall and slender memorial” called “Circles of Memory” that will “protect a contemplative space” in honor of local residents who have died from COVID-19, along with the health care workers, first responders and others involved in the county’s emergency response.
The memorial will be installed in front of the county’s Public Safety Headquarters and Herrity Building at 12055 Government Center Parkway.
“The monument will be comprised of a 27-foot tall hollow concrete cone, divided by a break in the center and topped with an oculus from which to view the sky. Visitors will be invited to sit inside the structure and on the surrounding benches,” ArtsFairfax said.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed county staff in February 2022 to start planning for a memorial that will symbolize the pandemic’s impact on the local community.
Since then, Covid has ceased to be designated as an official public health emergency both locally and nationally, but the disease continues to spread, albeit at lower levels of severity than in previous years. As of yesterday (Tuesday), the Fairfax Health District had recorded 273,842 cases, 5,403 hospitalizations and 1,794 deaths, according to Virginia Department of Health data.
The county’s memorial will create a communal space for visitors to acknowledge those losses.
“We hope to provide an environment that will bring people together,” Pirrone said. “The memorial strives to be a place of reverence for the lives lost and the people who honor them.”
The design will be finalized after the artists conduct a full site review, according to ArtsFairfax Director of Communications Allison Mui.
The agency says the project will take “several months to complete,” including opportunities for members of the public to meet the artists, discuss the design concepts and “share experiences.”
“Art does not cure, yet it can help us heal. Creativity can offer renewal; through it we can nurture faith in the future,” Gusevich said.
Here’s more on Gusevich and Pirrone from the press release:
Miriam Gusevich is a Cuban American environmental artist, architect, scholar, and educator. She was a Loeb Fellow (1997) at Harvard University and received her bachelor’s degree (1975) and master’s degree (1979) in architecture from Cornell University. Her built memorial projects include the “Jane Addams Memorial” (with Louise Bourgeois) and the “Cancer Survivor’s Garden” in Grant Park (with Julie Gross), both in Chicago. “Remember Sambir,” a Holocaust memorial site in Western Ukraine that she began with Peter Miles, is under construction and on hold because of the war.
Recent international commissions include two memorial masterplans in Kyiv, Ukraine: “Constellations” a memorial for Euro-Maidan (2015) and “Yahrzeit Candles” a memorial for the victims of Babyn – Yar (2016), and the “Zenicka Kilim,” in Bosnia – Herzegovina (2019). She is a Washington, D.C. resident and was a tenured professor at the Catholic University of America from 2000-2020.
Salvatore Pirrone is an American artist, designer, and educator. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree (2007) from Parsons at The New School in New York City, and a master’s degree in architecture (2000) from the University of Florida. He has exhibited regionally at Arlington Arts Center, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Cultural DC’s Mobile Art Gallery, Sandy Spring Museum, Transformer, Arlington Project for Affordable Housing, Maryland Art Place, Hillyer Gallery, and the Dittmar House at Marymount University. He lives and works in Upper Marlboro, Md. and is a tenured associate professor of Design and Art at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.
Little remains known regarding when the $101 million redevelopment of downtown Herndon will officially begin.
Comstock Companies, the Reston-based developer leading the project with the Town of Herndon, declined to provide information on the timeline of the delayed project, including an anticipated groundbreaking — even after the company recently submitted a revised site plan.
The project will transform nearly 5 acres of land into a mixed-use community with 273 apartments and roughly 17,000 square feet of retail. A new arts center and a 726-space parking garage are also planned.
But the project — which was supposed start construction more than two years ago — is now more than a year into a two-year pause requested by Comstock last summer. That means it has to break ground by April 2024.
A Comstock spokesperson told FFXnow that the company does not have “any updates” on the project. A spokesperson for the Town of Herndon also said no information is available on the development timeline.
Comstock recently submitted a revised development plan for the project, which was put on pause last year due to what the company said were market constraints. Since then, few details have been released to the public.
The new site plan doesn’t include substantive changes from one approved by the town back in May 2019.
Anne Curtis, a spokesperson for the town, told FFXnow that the site plan revision was a necessary step for the company to update its designs to meet the current building code.
“Building permit drawings must be consistent with the site plan drawings. What was submitted was a revision of the site plan that incorporates design changes needed for compliance with the latest version of the building code,” Curtis wrote in a statement.
The town continues to roll over roughly $4 million that was previously appropriated for parking in the redevelopment, which will involve nearly 4.7 acres of land bounded by Elden, Center and Station streets. The town has continued to carry over this amount into the next fiscal year as part of the reappropriation process, Curtis said.
The Coalition for TJ is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to consider its lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions policy, which was revised in 2020 with the goal of diversifying the student body.
In the petition filed Monday (Aug. 21), the advocacy group argues that the changes approved by the Fairfax County School Board discriminate against Asian students, who saw their share of the magnet school’s incoming classes drop from more than 70% to closer to 60% in the past few years.
The coalition indicated it would take the case to the country’s highest federal court after a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled 2-1 in the school board’s favor on May 23.
But the fight over TJ’s admissions has grown in significance following the Supreme Court’s June 29 decision to prohibit colleges from considering race in admissions decisions. Where that case tackled policies that explicitly take race into account, the Coalition for TJ contends that race-neutral policies designed to boost underrepresented groups can still violate other students’ equal protection rights.
“The Fourth Circuit’s ruling merits this Court’s review because it presents a question of national importance that the Court has yet to answer directly,” Pacific Legal Foundation attorneys representing the coalition wrote in their petition. “Coming as it does on the heels of last Term’s decision curtailing racial discrimination in higher education admissions, this is one of several ongoing challenges to competitive K-12 admissions criteria that seek to accomplish a racial objective ‘indirectly’ because it ‘cannot be done directly.’”
Spurred by student and alumni activism, the school board overhauled the TJ admissions process after Fairfax County Public Schools reported that fewer than 10 Black students had been accepted in both 2019 and 2020.
In addition to eliminating an application fee and rigorous standardized test, the new policy bumped up the GPA requirement to 3.5, granted eligibility to the top 1.5% of eighth graders at each middle school, introduced a “portrait sheet” where students discuss their skills and write a problem-solving essay, and allows consideration of students’ economic status or involvement in English as a Second Language and special education programs.
The changes were the latest attempt to bring more Black, Hispanic and low-income students to TJ, which is often ranked among the top high schools in the U.S. but has long faced scrutiny for admissions practices that critics argued catered to families who could afford to live in certain neighborhoods and pay for private tutoring and test-preparation services.
Since the revised policy took effect in 2021, FCPS has touted increased racial, geographic and economic diversity in each of the three admitted classes, which have all included students from every Fairfax County middle school — something that hadn’t happened in the prior decade.
FCPS has argued that the changes were race-blind and benefitted all groups, including lower-income Asian students. The appeals court judges who sided with the school board said the Coalition for TJ failed to prove that Asian students were “disparately” affected and “that the Board adopted its race-neutral policy with any discriminatory intent.”
FCPS didn’t return a request for comment by press time.
In a joint statement, a collection of civil rights and community advocacy groups — including the Virginia NAACP, TJ Alumni for Racial Justice, CASA Virginia, Hispanic Federation, Hamkae Center and Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development (AALEAD) — argued that the Coalition for TJ’s lawsuit would limit, rather than expand, equal access to education.
“In essence, the plaintiff seeks to cement pre-existing inequalities by prohibiting school districts from trying to remedy any unfairness in the admissions process that may change the racial makeup of accepted students,” the groups said.
“Every parent wants to know their child will not be disadvantaged in our public education system no matter their personal wealth or language abilities,” Hamkae Center Director Sookyung Oh said. “It is imperative that students from communities of color, including Asian Americans, will not be disadvantaged by an unfair admissions process and will have the same access…only previously afforded to those with the wealth and privilege to get their children into schools like TJ.”
A technology company has officially opened 10,000-square-foot offices in Herndon.
Eqlipse Technologies, a company that provides products and engineering services to the Department of Defense and the intelligence community, is set to celebrate its grand opening tomorrow (Thursday) at 2350 Corporate Park Drive.
Paul Frommelt, a spokesperson for the company, said the Herndon location was chosen because of its strategic location near major roadways, including Route 28, the Dulles Access Road and Fairfax County Parkway.
“The location…allows for employees from across the D.C. Metro area to conveniently commute into the office while enjoying our hybrid work options,” Frommelt wrote in a statement. “Additionally, we were able to build out our first-floor suite, taking advantage of modern workspace amenities, like collaboration spaces, vehicle charging stations and a gym for employee health and wellness.”
The company was formed by Arlington Capital Partners, a private equity firm, in March of this year.
“Eqlipse is launching with a strong foundation built on decades of history and experience working with our customers, a growing portfolio of proprietary technologies, and a cadre of world-class subject matter experts pushing the art of the possible every day,” David Wodlinger, a managing partner of Arlington Capital Partners, said in a statement.
Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Landlord — “Brian G. Sayrs Jr., now 27, confessed to killing his Lorton, Va., landlord, Emily Lu, who was last seen alive on the night of June 3, 2021, law enforcement officials said.” Sayrs pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and faces up to 32 years in prison. [Washington Post]
FCPS Bus Driver Vacancies Lead to Delays — “A school bus driver shortage is impacting students getting to school on time in Fairfax County. Fairfax County still needs 121 bus drivers to get kids to class for the new school year…In one Lincolnia neighborhood, some said buses were delayed more than 30 minutes.” [WUSA9]
Vienna Nonprofit Plans Move to Tysons — “The Women’s Center is gearing up to move 2 miles east from its longtime Vienna office to Tysons, but will continue to provide its usual offerings, the group’s leader said…The Women’s Center is among several groups being displaced from four Vienna Courts office-condominium buildings…which will be razed to make way for a residential development.” [Gazette Leader]
Stir-Fry and Salad Restaurant Coming to Mount Vernon Plaza — “Honeygrow, a create-your-own stir fry, salad and honeybar eatery, signed a lease with Federal Realty last spring, said a PR representative for the property management company.” The restaurant is expected to open in early 2024 at 7698-B Richmond Highway. [On the MoVe]
County Offers Funds for Human Services Programs — “The 2023 Innovation Fund seeks proposals from businesses and nonprofit organizations to develop creative innovative, sustainable and replicable human service programs. It will provide one-year seed funding to businesses and nonprofits to start a new social impact initiative or enhance a current initiative.” [Fairfax County]
Virginia Is Now Tracking Evictions — “After several years of attention-grabbing reports on high eviction rates in Virginia, the state has begun collecting data on the number and location of evictions that occur over the course of a year. The effort, which is being carried out by the Virginia courts…follows legislation that passed during the last General Assembly session.” [Virginia Mercury]
Metro Reports Drop in Fare Evasions With New Gates — “Higher faregates that Metro installed at several stations have reduced fare evasion by more than 70%, according to data Metro released Tuesday.” The project to retrofit all stations is “expected to take about 15 months and cost between $35 million and $40 million.” [DCist]
FCPS Kids Enjoy Lunch on First Day of School — “After a morning of introductions and instructions, this was lunchtime on the first day of school at Annandale Terrace Elementary in Fairfax County. Maybe second only to recess, lunch is the best part of the day, these kids say — a chance to reconnect with friends, exchange riddles and tell everyone how you learned to swim underwater this summer.” [Washington Post]
It’s Wednesday — The weather forecast predicts a sunny day with a high of 83°F, accompanied by a calm wind in the morning. Wednesday night will witness partly cloudy skies and a low of 66°F, as the south wind maintains a breezy 6 to 9 mph. [Weather.gov]
Reston Association (file photo)
Reston Association is in the midst of finalizing a vendor to redesign its website, which has posed problems in the recent past.
Over the last few days, the website’s host platform “encountered an issue” that deleted the website’s navigation bar.
“The navigation bar was replaced multiple times over the weekend by RA staff, but the problem continues to occur,” RA Chief Operating Officer Peter Lusk said in a statement.
The website is now functioning. As of yesterday (Monday) afternoon, staff were continuing to restore more webpages.
The project to replace the website has been ongoing for more than a year. RA plans to launch a new website by the end of the first quarter of 2024, Lusk said.
Technological mishaps are not an anomaly for RA. Last year, Wipfli — a consulting firm hired by RA — flagged several issues, including a compromised email that resulted in $187,000 in losses, embedded malware that froze the website, and a server crash that caused an additional $26,000 in losses.
In 2020, RA’s website was abruptly taken down due to outdated technology and stability issues, including the loss of financial records and issues with backing up information. RA established the IT committee in March 2021 to review its technology services and needs.
The current website is run on a platform called Squarespace.
Dulles International Airport will soon be able to generate solar energy on its grounds.
Dominion Energy and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will break ground on a new solar energy and storage project — called Solar + Storage Project — on vacant land near airport today (Tuesday).
The venture is the largest solar energy project developed at a U.S. airport, according to MWAA.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, according to Aaron Ruby, a spokesperson with Dominion Energy. The project will wrap up by late 2026.
“This will be the largest renewable energy project ever developed at a U.S. airport. Millions of travelers flying in and out of Dulles each year will see this powerful symbol of the clean energy transition,” Ruby said.
The utility company plans to install the tens of thousands of solar panels and will build and maintain a 2 megawatt solar carports. MWAA will also have access to electric buses, electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.
Approved by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in January, the project will cover 800 acres of land and is expected to generate enough electricity to power 25,000 homes, according to the Gazette Leader. It will support both the airport and surrounding neighborhoods through Dominion’s grid.
A groundbreaking on the project is set for 11:30 a.m. Sen. Mark Warner, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and other local and state leaders are expected to attend, according to a press release.
Environmental Groups File Lawsuit Against Youngkin — “Environmental groups filed suit Monday in Fairfax County Circuit Court to prevent Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) from taking Virginia out of a multistate carbon-credit market aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” The lawsuit argues that the governor doesn’t have the authority to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. [Washington Post]
Man Planned to Hit People With Van at Dulles Airport — “A Maryland man charged…with planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at [National Harbor] pleaded guilty on Monday to engaging in a separate plot to drive a stolen van into a crowd of people at a nearby airport…Henry admits that he stole a U-Haul van from a parking garage in Alexandria, Virginia, drove it to Dulles International Airport…and entered a terminal building on March 27, 2019.” [NBC4]
Fire Department Rescues Worker Injured in Tree — “#FCFRD units are working a technical rescue in the 5800 blk of Wood Laurel Ct in the Burke area. A worker suffered an injury while trimming a tree. Crews are working to lower the worker from the tree.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Lake Accotink Task Force Zeroes in on Issues to Study — “The Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink at its most recent meeting finalized the questions to be addressed by the consultant, WSP/LimnoTech.” Considerations include “downstream impacts, the impact of a major flood or extreme storm, whether the dredge sediment could be used to build a wetland, and the future of the amenities.” [Annandale Today]
County Animal Shelter Will Waive Adoption Fees — “Join us for this year’s Clear the Shelters event! On Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26, ALL adoptions for all pets will be fee-waived!” There will be nearly 100 animals looking for a home, Fairfax County Animal Shelter Director Reasa Currier says. [FCAS/Facebook]
RASA Offers Deal for One-Year Anniversary in Merrifield — The fast-casual Indian restaurant Rasa is celebrating its first anniversary at the Mosaic District in Merrifield with $1 bowls today (Tuesday). The eatery is located at 2905 District Avenue, Suite 160, and open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. [RASA]
Annandale Gets New Computer Lab — “The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington will hold a ribbon cutting for its new Cox Innovation Lab at the Annandale Community Center on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, at 4 p.m.” The event will include an appearance by football player Malcom Mitchell, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. [NCS]
It’s Tuesday — The weather forecast predicts a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 84°F and a North wind at about 10 mph. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 63°F, and a Northeast wind around 6 mph will become calm after midnight. [Weather.gov]
A 70-year-old woman died after a single-vehicle crash in the Herndon area earlier this month.
Flavia Caero, a Herndon resident, died three days after she crashed on Aug. 11 on Dranesville Road.
Police said she was traveling north on Dranesville Road near Shallow Ford Road in a 2018 Toyota Corolla when she lost control of the car and struck a retaining wall.
“She was taken to the hospital and sadly passed away away three days after the crash,” the Fairfax County Police Department said in a press release today (Monday).
Police do not believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.
The crash is the 10th non-pedestrian-related fatal crash in the county to date. Last year, there were 10 such total crashes.
Fairfax County health officials are monitoring a new COVID-19 variant that has gained traction in the U.S., becoming the most prevalent strain of the disease.
Since the pandemic ceased to be an official national health emergency in May, Covid has faded to the background for many, even as others struggle with long-term health issues after getting infected.
However, hospitalizations, test positivity rates and deaths have been on the rise across the country since early July, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
Fairfax County’s hospitalization rate remains low at 1.8 admissions per 100,000 residents for the week of July 30 to Aug. 5 — an increase from 1.2 admissions over the previous week. There were 35 hospital admissions that week, a 45.8% increase, and the percent of emergency department visitors diagnosed with Covid has gone from 1.1% for the week of July 2 to 3.2% last week.
The increase in Covid-related hospital visits coincides with the spread of the EG.5 variant, though officials say there’s no indication so far that it has exacerbated the disease’s severity. The variant now accounts for over 17% of cases nationwide, according to the CDC.
The Fairfax County Health Department says it’s “closely” tracking the variant’s circulation, but in Northern Virginia, levels were “either below detection or unchanged for the most recent reporting period available” based on wastewater surveillance, which can be used to detect the coronavirus that causes Covid.
“While the increase in the EG.5 variant may not be considered of high concern to most people in the general population, those who are more vulnerable to serious illness are urged to take steps to prevent illness and protect their health,” the FCHD said, advising community members to watch out for symptoms and get a test if needed.
Covid testing has become more complicated since the federal state of emergency ended, prompting a suspension of the government’s free program and enabling insurers to start charging for at-home kits. Testing sites can be found through the Virginia Department of Health’s online locator.
The FCHD will still provide testing to people who have symptoms, lack access to other options, have been identified as a close contact of someone with Covid or recently returned traveling internationally. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 703-246-2411.
With Fairfax County Public Schools kicking off its new academic year today (Monday), the county health department will “work closely with FCPS on health issues that impact the student and staff populations,” FCHD spokesperson Lucy Caldwell said.
“The Virginia Department of Health provides free at-home COVID test kits to all K-12 schools and childcare facilities in Virginia, so FCPS and other school systems have testing resources available upon request,” Caldwell told FFXnow. “It is my understanding that FCPS has ordered tests and will provide them to students who appear ill with covid-like symptoms in the health rooms.”
FCPS didn’t return a request for comment on its Covid protocols for the year by press time. The school system’s dashboard showing cases reported by students and employees is no longer on its website.
As of last Tuesday (Aug. 15), the Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, was averaging 61 cases per day for the past week — the highest rate since March 5, according to VDH data. Given the prevalence of at-home testing, health officials have shifted to measuring the disease’s severity instead of total case and death numbers, which haven’t been reported by the CDC since May 12.
In preparation for the colder weather and people spending more time indoors, a new Covid booster vaccine is expected to roll out this fall, as health officials hope to establish an annual schedule akin to the one for flu shots.
The new boosters were developed based on an earlier omicron variant known as XBB.1.5, but they will still provide protection for the new variant, which “is genetically similar,” according to the FCHD.
“As in other boosters over past year, it is anticipated that vaccines will be widely available in the community (medical providers/pharmacies/healthcare facilities),” Caldwell said by email. “The FCHD will also provide vaccinations for clients.”
As of Friday (Aug. 18), 80% of Fairfax Health District residents — 941,999 people — had received their initial, “primary” series of Covid vaccinations, according to FCHD data. Half of the population has gotten at least three shots, and just 25.6% have gotten the booster updated for the omicron variant, which has been available to those 6 months and older since December.
Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with a series of golf cart robberies at Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston.
Police arrested an 18-year-old from Lynchburg, a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old in connection with an Aug. 16 incident.
That day, around 6:40 p.m., one of the teenagers reportedly brandished a gun when an employee approached the group of teens, who were suspected of stealing golf carts in the past. During the verbal fight, one teenager brandished a gun, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
Later, around 8:06 p.m., the same group of teenagers reportedly stole a golf cart and crashed it. The group then robbed a party of golfers at gunpoint and drove away.
In both instances, police failed to find the individuals despite a helicopter-assisted search.
Police told FFXnow that three golf carts were also stolen on Aug. 13, but the management of the golf course did not seek to prosecute the case. The golf carts were recovered after a chase.
The FCPD announced yesterday (Sunday) that the individuals had been arrested and charged.
The 18-year-old faces a charge of possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. The 16-year-old was charged with possession of Schedule I/II Narcotics, and possession of a firearm while in possession of certain substances. The 14-year-old was charged with robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and underage possession of a firearm.
Four guns and suspected narcotics were discovered during the course of the investigation, police said.
