(Updated at 1:50 p.m. on 6/24/2023) Reston Association’s Board of Directors has filled a seat vacated by Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza last month.
At a meeting last night (Thursday), the board voted unanimously to select Jalal Mapar as the next at-large board director. He was one of six candidates who filed applications to fill the vacated seat and one of three who spoke at the board meeting.
Mapar will remain in the seat until the next annual election, during which members will select the new director. RA’s elections typically take place in the spring.
As a senior advisor for Emerging Technologies, Mapar has lived in Reston for more than 30 years. Earlier this year, he campaigned for an at-large seat on the board of directors that ultimately went to Trevor Grywatch.
He told the board that he hopes to establish and implement a strategic plan that prepares Reston’s infrastructure for its future and meet the needs of RA members.
“Our infrastructure is aging,” Mapar said. “At the same time, our population is growing. We need forward-thinking leadership now more than ever.”
Other candidates who spoke at last night meeting’s included Margaret Perry — a former board director — and Amir Golalipour, a Reston resident since 2016 and a program manager with the Federal Highway Administration.
Fellow candidates William Rountree and Allen Schissler appeared for interviews in person and by Zoom, respectively, according to RA President John Farrell. Radhika Murari submitted an application but did not testify.
(Correction: This story originally said Roundtree and Schissler didn’t testify to the board.)
Selvaraj-D’Souza, former president of RA’s board, resigned on May 26 to focus on her other projects and her nonprofit advocacy organization Reston Strong.
This past spring, Fairfax County Public Schools launched a new Twilight Program to assist students whose “life circumstances” beyond the classroom complicated their ability to attend classes.
The program operates outside of the traditional 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. high school day with the goal of helping students graduate on time, FCPS Special Projects Administrator for the Non-Traditional Schools and Programs Joe Thompson says.
According to FCPS, 90 seniors in the program attended extra classes in-person for three days a week from 4-6 p.m. and worked remotely for the remaining two days of the week. The evening instructional hours are meant to compensate for the classes students may miss in the morning or afternoon for external responsibilities, such as child care or a part-time job.
“A lot of our students are closing down a restaurant and not getting home until they’ve cleaned the kitchen at 3 in the morning sometimes, so catching that bus at 7 in the morning is really a very difficult thing to do,” Thompson said. “Or the parents are working late, and they need to watch them and get their own younger siblings off to school, so they were missing their first couple of classes of the day — not because they didn’t want to be there, but just that they have priorities.”
While numbers haven’t been reported for this past year yet, FCPS reported that 94.2% of the Class of 2022 graduated on time. However, the rate dropped to 82.9% for Hispanic students and 72.8% for English language learners.
The program was piloted at six high schools: West Potomac, Justice, Herndon, Mountain View, Bryant and Fairfax County Adult High School. For students not in areas districted to those schools, Thompson says “alternative schools” were used “to supplement the pilot schools.”
He credits FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid with petitioning principals to voluntarily take on the challenge of implementing the program halfway through the academic year — a busy time for any school.
“During the seventh semester, all the seniors are getting their grades off to colleges, and we’re scheduling for next school year, so for schools to take that on during that time of year was actually pretty surprising and pleasing for us,” Thompson said.
Since the program’s conclusion, Thompson says the pilot schools gave positive feedback on how “powerful” the program has been. Though there were no “set benchmarks” for the program, he believes it was “very successful.”
“We were able to help students get back on track and reengage with school and feel confident about their learning again, so the students were very thankful,” Thompson said. “…It really gave them the confidence to come back into the classroom and feel like people understood their needs and that they could get their education without falling so far behind or having to give up a diploma to help their family.”
“I was so stressed because I knew I was failing a class I needed to graduate,” Madelyn, a Twilight student, told FCPS. “Joining the program was like a second chance and brought so much relief to me.”
The program’s benefits are not only limited to students, Thompson says. While the students receive the necessary support to complete their educational careers in the face of hardship, teachers derive personal fulfillment from helping students succeed and avoid burnout.
“[Teachers] were revitalized by the opportunity to help,” Thompson said. “These students are the underdogs that everybody’s rooting for to do well, and these teachers are having a hand in bringing these students back from possibly not graduating.”
Additionally, the Twilight Program gave teachers — who often already work second jobs and stay after the end of the school day to coach or supervise clubs — the “real advantage” of being able to gain that extra compensation from their own classrooms with familiar faces, Thompson says.
With the school year over, as of June 16, administrators and teachers are evaluating the most effective way to take the program forward. While Thompson isn’t sure the program will start on “day one of school” next fall, he’s optimistic it will continue based on the success indicated by the pilot schools.
“I think this is something that’s going to continue and hopefully grow over the next couple of years,” Thompson said. “We want to grow it right and slow so that we don’t throw people into a position where they can’t succeed. But I do think that based on the success this year, we should see this be something that’s very much sustainable for the next several years.”
One change Thompson aims to implement is an earlier start to the program to “catch a few more students who are struggling.”
“Now, what we want to do is fine-tune timing. Obviously, if we can get students involved earlier, maybe we can catch more before they disengage from school,” Thompson said. “…So we’re hoping that not only will [the program] grow to more schools in our region, but also more students within those schools will see this as an opportunity for them.”
While the future of the program is not set in stone, Thompson hopes to continue making schooling more flexible for FCPS students.
“We really think all students can learn, and it’s just a matter of getting them in the right environment,” Thompson said. “This was our chance to do it, and it worked out as well as we could have hoped.”
Inline skating may soon become an option at Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is expected to begin building an inline, outdoor skate rink next to the existing skate park this month.
“Site work will include clearing and grading, paved rink surface, a new gravel parking area, LED rink lighting, and supporting infrastructure to include stormwater management facilities,” the FCPA said, noting that construction isn’t expected to affect the park’s operations.
The Washington Capitals donated the inline skating rink, while FCPA will prepare the site and supporting infrastructure. The project is expected to cost the county around $1.9 million, which will be funded through 2020 park bond funds.
The project will wrap up in the spring of 2024.
The park’s current outdoor skate park includes a 15,000-square-foot area with a shark fin, annual pad and gap with ledges and rails. The bowl has three section and an eight-foot radius throughout the facility. It’s currently open from 8 a.m. to 9:20 p.m.
Reminder: Last Day to Ride Self-Driving Shuttle — “Relay, the autonomous electric shuttle, is scheduled to take its final spin around Merrifield’s Mosaic District on Friday. The pilot project designed to test the effectiveness of driverless public transportation will be coming to an end.” [Patch]
McLean’s Spring Hill Road to Close — Spring Hill Road between Georgetown Pike and Old Dominion Drive will be closed from Monday, June 26 through Thursday, June 29 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day “for a pipe replacement…Through traffic will be detoured via Old Dominion Drive, Towlston Road (Route 676) and Georgetown Pike” [VDOT]
GMU Professor Loses “Anti-Male Bias” Lawsuit — An appeals court rejected George Mason University psychology professor Todd Kashdan’s argument that the university discriminated against him when it punished him for sexual harassment. Kashdan was barred from teaching graduate students for two years, among other measures, after four female students reported him for “repeated inappropriate comments and behavior.” [The Washington Post]
Teens Charged with Springfield Smoke Shop Burglary — “Four teenagers from Lorton have been arrested for a brazen smoke shop burglary in Fairfax County last month. The teens were caught on camera ramming a stolen car into the Smoke Bazaar store on May 21…Detectives determined two of the teen suspects were also connected to two additional commercial burglaries a week before at different Springfield smoke shops.” [WUSA9]
No Takers for Vacant Falls Church Motel — “The Stratford Motor Lodge has been an eyesore for neighbors and passerbyers since it closed and was boarded up in 2021…Development proposals have come and gone — including a senior living center and a Wawa convenience store — but high construction costs and interest rates have presented challenges to soliciting proposals.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Fairfax City Police Introduce Hybrid Vehicles — “The City of Fairfax Police Department recently rolled out its first four hybrid vehicles…The new Hybrid Ford Police Interceptor Explorers are a step toward modernizing the city’s fleet of public safety vehicles to meet the current and future needs of residents, the city, and the environment while maintaining the highest performance and safety standards.” [City of Fairfax]
Lorton Woman Added to World Cup Team — “Two soccer players from Northern Virginia have made the U.S. Women’s National Team for this summer’s Women’s World Cup. Defender Emily Fox from Ashburn and midfielder Andi Sullivan from Lorton were named to the 23-woman roster announced earlier this week.” [Inside NoVA]
Herndon Roofing Company Pursues Expansion — “Beacon, a Herndon roofing and building materials company that has been aggressively expanding throughout the U.S., has opened three new distribution centers in New England, northeast Ohio and southwest Virginia…The company has now opened 10 new distribution centers…since January and intends to add five more by the end of the year.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Friday — Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 81. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Low around 69. [Weather.gov]
A pair of 480-unit buildings in the massive Halley Rise mixed-use development in Reston is nearing completion.
The Arbor at Halley Rise, located at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive, includes a pair of towers built on a common podium. It will also include 9,500-square-feet of retail, outdoor courtyards, a pool, amenities areas, club rooms and a fitness center.
Fairfax County is in the early phases of considering a sign plan for the project. In the application, the developer notes that the branding of the apartment building was “inspired by the serenity of nature.”
“This concept focuses on creating a sanctuary at home,” the application says. “A stylish font paired with a vintage illustration set creates a system that feels chic yet comfortable.”
Construction on the apartment component began in July of last year. Retail is expected to deliver in October 2024, with opening slated for April 2025, according to a site plan.
At completion, Halley Rise will include nearly 2 million square feet of office space, 1,600 residential units, 246,000 square feet of retail, 5 acres of parks and 3,700 parking spaces. The development’s most recent addition was the long-anticipated opening of Wegmans in January.
The project is divided into two phases. The first phase, which will be completed this year, includes 90,000 square feet of retail, 480,000 square feet of office space, 532 residential units and 771 parking spots.
The convenience store Sheetz is expected to land in Herndon this summer.
A spokesperson for the company told FFXnow that the 6,000-square-foot location is set to open in July or August. An exact opening date has not yet been finalized.
It’ll be located at 13850 McLearen Road, replacing a two-story office building that was built in the late 1970s.
Sheetz will operate around the clock and will have 49 parking spots, five of which are dedicated as electrical vehicle charging stations.
The model combines a gas station, food store and restaurant with a drive-through. There are multiple locations through Virginia, including Sterling, Ashburn, South Riding and Leesburg, but this will be the first Sheetz in Fairfax County.
FCPD Adopts Bean-Bag Shotguns — “Police in Fairfax County, Virginia, are repurposing a long-carried weapon in patrol cars — the shotgun. But now, those weapons are being converted to only contain ‘less-lethal’ bean bag rounds…Since March, the department has removed all 800 of its shotguns and replaced the weapons with 630 less-lethal beanbag shotguns.” [WTOP]
Workshop on Parking Overhaul Tonight — The Fairfax County Planning Commission will hold a workshop at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the “Parking Reimagined” initiative, the county’s first major overhaul of its parking regulations since 1988. Proposed changes include bicycle parking requirements and a tiered system for off-street parking. There will also be a public open house on June 29. [Zoning Administration Division]
What Primary Results Mean for General Assembly — “The ideological middle ground is fast disappearing, meaning [Gov. Glenn] Youngkin will probably face feast or famine in the next legislative session…The Democratic shift was most apparent in Northern Virginia, where at least two veteran incumbent senators lost to younger challengers from the left.” [The Washington Post]
First Task Force Meeting Set on Lake Accotink — “The Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink, established at the June 6 Board of Supervisors meeting, will hold their first meeting on Monday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at the Government Center. The task force will produce findings that will inform the Board of Supervisors’ decision regarding the future of Lake Accotink.” [Fairfax County Government]
Dulles Airport to Update 1960s-era People Movers — “Dulles architect Eero Saarinen saw mobile lounges as a convenient way to shorten walks from ticket counters to far-off planes. A Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority committee approved $16 million to completely rehabilitate two of the 60-plus-year-old vehicles.” That will take about three years and could lead to updates of the remaining people movers, which would cost $160 million total. [DCist]
Restaurant Sought for Vacant Lincolina Site — “The new owner of 6499 Little River Turnpike in Lincolnia is renovating the property and hopes to lease it to a restaurant…[Jay] Jasany is adding a new section in the back of the building and would like to have rooftop dining. The contractor hopes to complete construction in four or five months.” [Annandale Today]
Reston Company Helps Businesses Reduce Emissions — “Reston energy technology company GridPoint Inc. works with commercial businesses to help them reduce carbon emissions and save money doing so. A $150 million credit facility it just secured from Annapolis-based climate investment firm HASI…will help it continue doing just that.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Thursday — Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 73 between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a low temperature in the evening around 66. Chance of precipitation is 80%. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County’s General Assembly delegation will look drastically different next year after a pivotal Democratic primary yesterday (Tuesday) that also bolstered incumbents in most county-level races.
In two upsets, Sully District school board representative Stella Pekarsky eked out a win over veteran state Sen. George Barker for the 36th District nomination, while Fairfax Young Democrats vice president Saddam Azlan Salim ousted Sen. Chap Petersen in the 37th District.
Currently in her first term on the Fairfax County School Board after getting elected in 2019, Pekarsky received 52.2% of the vote — just 662 more votes than Barker, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.
First elected in 2007, Barker was pursuing a fifth term in the state Senate. Encompassing Chantilly, Centreville and Clifton, the 36th District was created by the Virginia Supreme Court during the 2021 redistricting process and includes just a portion of Barker’s former 39th District.
In a statement, Pekarsky thanked Barker “for a hard fought campaign on the issues.”
“Our constituents benefited from the conversation and I look forward to uniting behind our shared vision of standing up for Democratic values,” she said. “I am running to stand up for public education, protect abortion access, keep our community safe from gun violence, and build a brighter future for the next generation. I look forward to sharing that message with every voter in the district leading up to November’s election.”
Pekarsky will face Republican nominee Julie Perry, a history teacher, in the general election on Nov. 7.
In the 37th District, which covers Tysons, Fairfax City, Vienna, Oakton, Falls Church and Merrifield, Salim beat Petersen by 999 votes, or 53.8%. He campaigned as a progressive alternative to the more conservative Petersen, challenging the incumbent on issues like gun violence prevention and reproductive rights.
“This was an incredible grassroots movement of constituents all across the district and we achieved this victory together,” Salim said in a statement. “I look forward to being your Democratic nominee and continuing our fight for the issues that we care about: gun violence prevention, affordable housing, reproductive rights and so much more.”
If he wins in November, when he will face Republican nominee Ken Reid, Salim will become the first Bangladeshi-American elected to Virginia’s state Senate, according to his campaign.
First elected to the House of Delegates in 2001 before moving to the Senate in 2008, Petersen presented himself as a business-friendly, “common sense” candidate. In a statement to supporters, he admitted “the results last night were not what we expected but that happens in a democracy,” congratulating Salim on earning the nomination.
“My term in office and my season in politics is coming to a close,” Petersen said. “I want to thank everyone who helped me in any way along this long and winding journey, especially over the last six months. We ran a positive campaign for re-election based on my past record as a Senator. It didn’t work this time and I bear all responsibility.”
Notably, Petersen and Barker both significantly outraised their challengers, reporting over $1 million each in campaign contributions, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. In comparison, Salim raised just $188,653, and Pekarsky got a total of $639,435.
The Democratic nominees in the other General Assembly races on the primary ballot are:
- Senate District 33: Jennifer Carroll Foy
- Senate District 35: State Sen. David Marsden, seeking to replace Dick Saslaw, one of several retiring state legislators who represent parts of Fairfax County
- House District 7: At-large school board member Karen Keys-Gamarra
- House District 15: Springfield District school board representative Laura Jane Cohen
- House District 19: Rozia Henson Jr., though Fairfax County voters favored Makya Little by 38 votes in the mostly Prince William County-focused district
Local residents are asking Reston Association to change the name of Shadowood pool once again.
The effort — which previously came up over a decade ago — is primarily underway in order to tackle the assumption that the pool is only for the use of the Shadowood Condominium Association instead of for all RA members.
Residents want to rename the area to South Lakes Recreation Area, which includes the pool and tennis courts at 2201 Springwood Drive, according to materials for the RA Board of Directors meeting on Thursday (June 22).
They argue the name change would improve usability and encourage access for all paying members.
“The Shadowood Pool name change issue has been dragged ad nauseam, but is not going away and it will not go away,” Connie Fiorito, secretary of the Colonial Greene Cluster, wrote in a 2011 memo. “Why? Because even if some may think that it is a mundane issue, it is a real issue for the members whose use Shadowood pool, as shown by the signatures of support.”
The issue first arose in 2009 and 2010 when some residents approached RA for a name change. The board ultimately voted against a change in 2011, citing a lack of the required number of signatories for a petition.
A new official name change request was submitted by Alan Nathanson in December. Staff recommended reviewing the issue soon — but not on an expedited timeline.
“As staff does not believe this item is a high priority in the midst of the park and recreation staff’s busy season, staff recommends the Board take this issue up in the fall and winter in advance of next year’s aquatics season,” staff said in the meeting materials.
Several RA members petitioned the board to approve the name change at a May 25 meeting.
The request comes as Shadowood pool undergoes major renovations. In the first phase of the project, refurbishment and squaring is planned before the facility reopens in the middle of the summer.
The remainder of the work — including a wading pool conversion — will happen in the off season. The pool is expected to then reopen before the 2024 swim season. First built in 1976, the pool has been replastered several times because surrounding trees drop debris that stain the white plaster surface.
Since then, RA’s board approved $1.1 million for construction-related costs. Renovations include chipping out the tile and coping. A gas line will also run from South Lakes Drive to allow the installation of heaters to heat the main pools.
Repairs to the bathhouse roof, flooring and exterior lighting are also planned, and the wading pool will be converted into an interactive splash pad with a recirculating filtration system to save water.
Fairfax County residents will finally get the chance to satisfy their sweet-tooth cravings this fall.
For the second year in a row, the DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival is returning to Dulles Expo Center (4320 Chantilly Shopping Center) on Oct. 7 and 8.
Tickets for the event are currently on sale for 50% off until 11:59 p.m. on June 30. With the discounted rates, general admission tickets start at $8.00, and VIP tickets are priced at $13.50.
With ambitious plans to expand from its first run, this year’s festival will be transitioning from the Dulles Expo Center’s North Hall to the South Hall, giving vendors an additional 70,000 square feet — roughly three times as much space as last year, says John Hill, half of the husband-wife duo behind the festival.
John, and his wife Lindsay, hope the increased space will accommodate the influx of visitors to Dulles Town Center after last year’s festival hit max capacity at over 8,000 people, according to a press release.
To ensure the thousands of visitors projected to attend have plenty to see, the festival will feature over 100 different vendors from around D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Vendor applications are still being accepted in a search for what John described as the “most unique” businesses.
Many small businesses based locally in the Fairfax County area will appear in hopes of finding lifelong customers. Among the list are Weird Brothers Coffee, Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates, Le Papiyon Chocolatier, Dano’s Granola and River-Sea Chocolates.
“What we’ve heard from our vendors is that by coming out to this event, they’re able to reach people that have never heard of them before,” John said. “Like River-Sea is right there next to the center, but they’ve had new customers come in their doors because they found them at the Chocolate Coffee Festival, and now they’ve learned that there’s a storefront location.”
Other interactive additions slated for the festival include educational classes, chocolate and coffee mascots for photo opportunities, and a kids’ craft table. Carrying over from last year, attendees will also get access to “tons and tons and tons of free samples,” John says.
The festival has again partnered with the Christian radio station WGTS 91.9, with a portion of every ticket sale being donated back to the organization.
Festival guests are encouraged to bring canned food donations to the WGTS 9.19 tent to support Food for Others, a nonprofit food bank. Donors will have their names entered into a prize drawing and get a chance to win an assortment of artisan goods donated by participating vendors.
Giving back through supporting local communities and small businesses is ultimately what fuels the Hills’ passion for hosting events like the DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival.
“We really care a lot about small business, which is why we got involved in this — it’s to help other businesses grow,” John said. “That’s an exciting, fun thing for us, just to help people with great ideas share their ideas with the world.”
The couple became inspired to lead the festival after helping a friend tour the country to promote their small business and seeing a similar event on the West Coast.
“[The tour] opened open our eyes to the world of events and how beneficial events can be helping small businesses get attention for their products and their brand and tell their story,” John said. “It’s a lot easier to tell your story face-to-face with an attendee than through the internet or email.”
The Hills transported the chocolate and coffee festival from across the country to Chantilly “so that county residents can get the closest, best experience of having [a DMV-region event] right in their backyard,” John said.
This fall marks the Hills’ second year of running the DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival, and they have no plans to make it their last.
“When we see those vendors selling out of product as most of our vendors did last year, it just like makes us feel like, ‘Okay, we’re doing the right thing, we’re helping these people,’” Lindsay said. “And that’s why we want to keep doing the event.”
(Updated at 10:50 a.m.) At-large Fairfax County School Board member Karen Keys-Gamarra secured the Democratic nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates’ District 7 race, according to the Virginia Department of Election’s unofficial results.
Keys-Gamarra had a solid 37.1% of the total vote, outpacing three other candidates.
Paul Berry, an educator, gathered 28.5%, followed by Shyamali Roy Hauth, an Air Force veteran and adviser to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn. Mary Barthelson, a systems engineer, came in last with 8.3% of the vote.
Praising the level of camaraderie in the community and how informed the voters are, Keys-Gamarra told FFXnow that she looks “forward to working towards the interests of our community.”
Keys-Gamarra was one of four local candidates who sought to fill the seat being vacated by Del. Ken Plum, who has represented Reston in the House of Delegates for more than 40 years. Plum announced his intention not to seek reelection in February.
A fifth candidate, attorney John Farrell, withdrew from the race in order to support Keys-Gamarra, who also got Plum’s endorsement. Farrell is now Reston Association’s board president.
Plum lauded Keys-Gamarra for her win in a social media statement.
“Thank you to all who voted and worked for Karen Keys-Gamarra for her win in the Democratic Primary election yesterday. Now on to the General Election in November. Karen will make a great delegate,” Plum wrote.
As an Oakton resident, Keys-Gamarra has served as a school board member since 2017. She is the mom of three FCPS graduates, an attorney and court-appointed guardian.
No Republican candidates have come forward to challenge the Democratic nominee for the seat.
Barthelson congratulated Keys-Gamarra on her win.
“This election helped raise awareness about the growing challenges of housing insecurity and need for improved mental health services. Until solutions are achieved, I pledge to remain involved and a champion for progress,” she wrote.
The results from yesterday’s Democratic primary — which saw voters choose nominees for several General Assembly seats, Commonwealth’s Attorney, sheriff, and Board of Supervisors — will be officially certified by the state next Tuesday (June 27).
Metro Warns of $750 Million Budget Gap — “Tuesday, Metro painted a dire picture of what would happen if the problem festers: service cuts that would ‘devastate the region.’ These cuts would include eliminating two-thirds of bus and rail service resulting in worse service quality and degraded safety and accessibility.” [DCist]
County’s Auditor to Review Recent Police Shootings — “Because of the ‘dramatic uptick’ in officer-involved shootings by Fairfax County police in the past two years, the county’s Office of the Independent Police Auditor in coming months will review all 15 police shootings of people since 2017.” A nonprofit is also reviewing shootings since 2021. [Gazette Leader]
Tysons-Based Newspaper Publisher Sues Google — “Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) said Tuesday it has sued Google and parent company Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), alleging ‘monopolization of advertising technology markets and deceptive commercial practices.’” The lawsuit “alleges Google and Alphabet force publishers ‘to sell growing shares of that ad space to Google at depressed prices,’” reducing revenue for newspaper publishers. [Washington Business Journal]
Republicans Threaten FBI HQ Funding — “Some House Republicans, angered by the indictment of former President Donald Trump, are threatening to withhold funding for the FBI and put the brakes on plans for the agency to move out of D.C…Trump has been indicted on 37 counts related to the mishandling of sensitive documents.” [WTOP/Inside NoVA]
Penn Daw Walmart Reopens After Renovation — “Dozens of employees from the Walmart Supercenter at Kings Crossing gathered June 16 to celebrate the grand re-opening of the store following a three-month remodel.” Updates include new register technology and changes to the store inventory, with an expansion of the pick-up and digital area expected in the next three months. [On the MoVe]
Reston Data Center Acquired — “Data center firm Edge Centres has acquired a facility in Reston, Virginia. The company said the newly-acquired carrier hotel facility, renamed EC104, offers 1MW with room to scale, and has 20 individual carriers present…Though the company didn’t disclose the precise location, the data center matches 11513 Sunset Hills Rd” [Data Center Dynamics]
Financial Aid Offered to Child Care Providers — “Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services invites eligible child care providers to apply for $2.5 million in grants intended to help county child care providers recover from the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.” [NCS]
Wolf Trap Hosts First Out & About Festival This Weekend — “Brandi Carlile is certainly a big enough draw on her own, but Wolf Trap decided to expand her visit into a special two-day festival for Pride Month with the Out & About Festival in Vienna, Virginia this Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Showers likely, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%, rising to 80% at night. New precipitation could range from a tenth to half of an inch. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 1 a.m. on 6/21/2023) The Fairfax County Democratic Committee has congratulated incumbent Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano as its nominee in one of the most closely watched races in the 2023 Democratic primary.
Descano received about 55.4% of the vote over challenger Ed Nuttall, who ended with 44.6% after shrinking a larger early deficit, according to the Virginia Department of Elections’ unofficial results.
With 75% of the vote, Sheriff Stacey Kincaid has been congratulated by the FCDC as its nominee, putting her on track for a third full term. The county’s first female sheriff, she faced a challenge by former D.C. police officer and Herndon High School football coach Kelvin Garcia.
Incumbents Jeff McKay and Dan Storck also snagged nominations, respectively, for the chair and Mount Vernon District seats on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
In the Dranesville District, the FCDC has declared its former Democratic committee chair, Jimmy Bierman, as its nominee to succeed longtime Supervisor John Foust, who is retiring after this year. Bierman bested McLean Citizens Association board member David R. Fiske with about 70% of the vote.
The Mason District supervisor race — the most crowded local contest on the ballot — is leaning toward Mason District Planning Commissioner Andres Jimenez, who has just 134 more votes than the next-highest candidate, local business owner Reid Voss.
Vying for the chance to challenge incumbent Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the board’s only Republican, tech entrepreneur Albert Vega has 55% of the vote so far compared to 44.9% for Fairfax County firefighter John Nowadly.
Looking at the Virginia General Assembly, some upsets may be in store for the 36th and 37th Senate Districts.
In the 36th District, Sully District school board representative Stella Pekarsky currently has just a 394-vote lead over George Barker, who has served in the state Senate since 2008 but was one of several local senators affected by redistricting in 2021.
In the 37th District, challenger Saddam Azlan Salim has a 592-vote lead over incumbent Chap Petersen, who has represented the Vienna and Fairfax City area for 16 years. Salim campaigned as “progressive” alternative to Petersen, who sometimes deviates from the party line and joined forces with Kincaid and Nuttall as a “common sense team.”
Incumbent state Sen. Dave Marsden is poised to win in the 35th District, while one-time gubernatorial Jennifer Carroll Foy looks likely to beat former lieutenant governor candidate Hala Ayala for the Senate District 33 nomination.
In a four-way race to succeed longtime Del. Ken Plum for the 7th House District, at-large Fairfax County School Board member Karen Keys-Gamarra is ahead with 36.5% of the vote, followed in order by Air Force veteran Shyamali Roy Hauth, teacher Paul Berry and systems engineer Mary Barthelson.
Retiring after 44 years in office, Plum endorsed Keys-Gamarra as his successor earlier this year, stating that she “reflects the progressive Democratic values I have always represented.”
Finally, Springfield District school board representative Laura Jane Cohen has been declared the nominee for the 15th House District after securing 68% of the vote.
“When I decided to run for the House of Delegates I promised that I would stand up to Governor Youngkin and the far right to defend public education, reproductive freedom, voting rights, our environment, and the progress we’ve made on gun violence prevention,” Cohen said in a message to supporters. “I maintain that promise, and am honored that the people of the 15th district have chosen me to be their Democratic nominee.”
Voter turnout for today’s Democratic primary has been more of a trickle than a stream, despite some pivotal races appearing on the ballot in Fairfax County.
By 1 p.m., just 2.6% of registered voters had cast a ballot today, the Fairfax County Office of Elections reported. That put the total turnout for the primary at an estimated 7.2%, including early in-person and mail voting.
Vienna’s Cunningham Park Elementary School was creeping past 180 voters around 1:30 p.m. The precinct hoped to reach 300 voters for the day, according to a volunteer handing out pamphlets for 37th Senate District candidate Saddam Azlan Salim, who’s challenging incumbent Chap Petersen.
Over in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Bailey’s Community Center had counted just 91 voters by that time.
In our 2nd report for the day, estimated turnout at the polls has now reached 2.6% for today's Democratic primary. So far, the total turnout for this election is estimated at 7.2% when including the #votebymail & early votes cast before today. pic.twitter.com/g2u74LT88Q
— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) June 20, 2023
With the county leaning decidedly Democratic in recent years, the primary results could determine the ultimate winners of key local and state elections, including Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney, where incumbent Steve Descano is in a heated battle with defense attorney Ed Nuttall. No Republican candidates for the office have emerged so far.
Other races in today’s primary include county sheriff, five Fairfax County Board of Supervisors seats and seven seats in the Virginia General Assembly. The full Board of Supervisors and General Assembly, along with the Fairfax County School Board, will be on the ballot in November’s general election.
Today’s turnout will need to double by the time polls close at 7 p.m. for the percentage to match the last Democratic primary with the same races on the ballot. The June 11, 2019 primary recorded a 10.3% turnout, per county records.
Notably, the number of active, registered voters in the county was actually higher four years ago at 721,716 people. The county currently has 717,116 active, registered voters, according to an Office of Elections spokesperson.
The exact reason for the drop is unclear, but the county’s population growth has slowed since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, declining in 2021 for the first time since 1840 before a slight uptick last year.
A man who was shot in Herndon on Sunday (June 18) remains in critical condition, the Fairfax County Police Department says.
Police said the man was found with a gunshot wound to his upper body on Sunday morning in the 2500 block of Cornelia Road. That day, he was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
At 4:05 a.m., a dispatcher said 911 had received three different calls for “suspicious noise.” Two of the callers reported hearing seven gunshots followed by screaming, according to scanner traffic.
In a statement, FCPD told FFXnow that the victim is “in critical but stable condition.”
“No arrest has been made at this time,” police said.
A possible white SUV was seen fleeing the area, according to authorities. Detectives continue to investigate.
Officers are in the 2500 blk of Cornelia Rd in Herndon for a shooting. Officers found a man w/a gunshot wound to the upper body. Victim taken to hospital w/life-threatening injuries. Possible white SUV seen fleeing the area. Call 911 w/info #FCPD pic.twitter.com/8eVYh93exl
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) June 18, 2023
