As homelessness increases in Fairfax County, affected residents can use revamped county resources to cope with extreme summer heat.
The county will activate its extreme heat response when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory, excessive heat watch or excessive heat warning.
As part of the response, 47 county facilities are now designated as cooling centers and will provide supplies, such as water, sunscreen, insect repellant, body wipes, and bus passes, according to a presentation to the Board of Supervisors’ health and human services committee last week.
“Like in previous years, all county facilities that are open to the public can be used by residents to come in for cooling,” Jill Clark, health and human services policy and planning manager with Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services, said in the presentation.
The cooling center facilities include all libraries and community centers. In those locations, staff will be prepared to welcome residents in need, and there will be supplies and seating in designated spaces.
Supplies will also be available at shelters and drop-in centers and from outreach workers. Most of the supplies are single-use and/or lightweight and portable. The decision to supply single-use items, among other parts of the plan, came from feedback from a September 2022 survey of 81 unsheltered residents.
“In the responses, you could hear the challenges they experienced both in terms of discomfort and real negative health effects from the extreme heat, including nausea, shortness of breath, exhaustion, asthma attacks, inability to eat as well as sunburns and rashes,” said Tom Barnett, deputy director of housing and community development in the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.
The county will also aim to better notify unsheltered residents about heat advisories by using a new dedicated channel of Fairfax Alerts.
“We learned through the unsheltered residents survey that most respondents actually have a phone with internet access, and actually prefer getting information about resources and heat alerts via text messages and emails,” Barnett said.
To help residents get to cooling centers, drop-in centers or weather-related overflow sites, the county will offer free Fairfax Connector bus passes in the form of 3,000 postcards that cover two rides each. In addition, the county will provide pre-loaded Transportation Options, Programs & Services (TOPS) cards to assist unsheltered residents who cannot access Fairfax Connector buses.
These changes came out of recommendations from a workgroup that formed in August 2022 in response to concerns raised by the Fairfax County NAACP. The board received the workgroup’s recommendations in a March memorandum.
“The work group and its four committees included a robust membership across many different county departments as well as key partners and representatives from the homeless service providers, the faith community and advocates,” Barnett said.
Fairfax County wants to bridge the gap between employers and qualified talent through a work-based learning opportunity initiative.
Talent Up will match local employers facing hiring challenges with qualified talent through paid temporary-to-permanent work-based learning internships, staff explained to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at an economic initiatives committee meeting last week.
According to the presentation, Talent Up will offer a variety of solutions to employers facing hiring challenges:
- Targets hard-to-fill, entry-level professional gateway jobs
- Repositions work-based learning as low-risk temporary to permanent hiring on-ramp
- Incentivizes employer participation by underwriting work-based learning wages
- Advises employers on revising job descriptions to focus on skills-based hiring, increasing the pool of qualified applicants by up to 50%
- Easy access to hundreds of candidates via talent development partners
“There’s a lot of movement going on in the workforce space right now — movement towards skills-based hiring, and we believe that this can dramatically accelerate that movement,” Bill Browning, workforce innovation manager at the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, said of the initiative.
The focus will be on gateway jobs such as information technology specialists, accounting clerks, sales representatives, and office administrative support.
“These are entry-level professional jobs, where there’s reams of data showing that they’re great springboards for future advancement and career advancement for candidates,” Browning added.
According to his presentation, Fairfax County had more than 67,000 job openings in May of this year, and 71% of employers in Northern Virginia reported it being more difficult to fill jobs now than last year, or even just a few months ago.
The initiative will also address what Browning called the “missing middle.”
“We’re looking at middle-skilled jobs that require some skills beyond high school, but perhaps not a college degree,” he said. “And we’re also looking at some of those midsize employers that don’t have some of the advantages large employers have.”
How it works:
- Business outreach: Initial focus on small to medium-sized employers
- Advise: Address hard to fill occupations and sponsor new temporary-to-permanent internships
- Match: Talent partners’ referrals to generate qualified candidates to interview
- Choose: Employers select interns
- Support: Coaching and training support during internship to increase success rates
- Success: Convert internships into full-time offers or place interns into new jobs
Theresa Benincasa, manager of economic mobility with the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, said the plan is to get started right away with the board’s approval.
“We’re going to just go ahead and do a launch event in the fall with board approval. We’ll start doing events with workers to communicate, we’ll do some one-to-one engagement,” she continued.
To be eligible for Talent Up, employers must have a physical presence in Fairfax County and be ready to establish a work-based learning internship.
Job seekers must be county residents, meet the skills requirements of an open internship and be impacted by pandemic-related unemployment, underemployed or seeking greater economic mobility.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay voiced support for the initiative, saying it builds resilience.
“If you can help some folks move into these jobs, not only do we help our employers, we help those individuals. But it’s a resilience thing where their lives can change dramatically for the better,” he said.
The program will seek the board’s approval at the July 11 meeting.
Photo via Eric Prouzet/Unsplash
A Springfield motorcyclist was killed in a Reston crash Friday (June 16) night, according to Fairfax County police.
The 37-year-old man — identified as Dominique Hunt-Brown — was traveling southbound on Fairfax County Parkway when he ran a red light and struck a Sienna that was trying to turn left from Sunset Hills Road onto Fairfax County Parkway on a green light, the Fairfax County Police Department said.
Hunt-Brown was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The crash happened shortly before 8 p.m. Detectives are investigating if speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.
No other injuries were reported.
Friday’s crash is the seventh non-pedestrian-related fatal crash that the FCPD has recorded in the county to date. Last year, there were four non-pedestrian-related fatal crashes.
Officers are on scene of a fatal motorcycle vs a car accident at southbound Fairfax County Pkwy near Spring St. The motorcyclist, an adult man, was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries where he was pronounced deceased. Please avoid area. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/jV5ryfQHe5
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) June 17, 2023
Polls Open for Democratic Primary — “Tuesday, June 20 is primary election day, though early voting began in early May. While the general election is set for November, the county is overwhelmingly Democratic, so the candidates who win the primaries will be favored this fall.” [FFXnow]
Five People Attacked by Dogs in Oakton — “Two dogs are in Animal Protection Police custody after they bit & attacked five people to include 2 officers. Incident occurred in 3100 blk Elmendorf Dr, Oakton. Dog owner has been located. All parties being treated for injuries not believed to be life threatening. Preliminarily, dogs have been identified as pitbull mixes.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Three Displaced by Belle Haven House Fire — “On Friday, June 9, at 8:31 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched for a house fire in the 2300 blk of Windsor Road.” Investigators determined the fire was accidentally ignited in the basement by an overheated surge protector. It caused about $100,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
Lawsuit Over McLean Bible Church Election Revived — “The Court of Appeals of Virginia says members of a Tysons Corner megachurch can continue part of their lawsuit over a disputed 2021 leadership election…The suit was filed by five church members who alleged senior pastor David Platt and the board of elders violated the church’s constitution by wrongfully deeming members ‘inactive’ and therefore deprived of them of their right to vote in a regular election for three elder positions in June 2021.” [WUSA9]
Dead Body Subject of Fairfax Homicide Investigation — “City of Fairfax Police identified city resident Luis Barahona Reyes, 50, on Friday, as the deceased adult found [June 4] morning in a dumpster at a strip mall on Fairfax Boulevard. Reyes’ death is being investigated as a homicide.” [Patch]
FCPS Apologizes for Phishing Test Email to Staff — “The email was seemingly sent from the school district — complete with a Fairfax County Public Schools logo — thanking employees for their work and offering gift cards as a sign of appreciation…But teachers who clicked the link didn’t get a gift card. They had just been phished — sort of.” [The Washington Post]
Fairfax Kids Raise Money for Animal Rescue — “It’s time to get uplifted with 9-year-old Ashley and 8-year-old’s Caroline and Harper — three friends who have been hard at work raising money for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue by selling lemonade and pastries. This is the second year that they’ve set up shop, and business is booming.” [WUSA9]
Local Residents Share Owl Sightings — “Some people in Fairfax County, Virginia, are spotting more and more owls, right in their backyards. ‘Be happy you got the chance to see an owl, you don’t get to see them everyday,’ Fairfax County Ecologist David Lawlor said.” [WTOP]
It’s Tuesday — A slight chance of rain after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 80. East wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. [Weather.gov]
In the future, Reston’s Lake Anne neighborhood should chase an economic vision where it will blossom into a local destination with a regional draw, according to a presentation by a Fairfax County-hired consultant.
At a community meeting on June 8, consultant Street Sense laid out the economic vision for the Lake Anne Commercial Revitalization Area following months of surveys, interviews and meetings with the community. The final report is expected to come out sometime this month, according to the county’s website.
The plan suggests concentrating new apartment units on the Crescent property at 1527 Cameron Crescent Drive, the addition of cultural attractions, a parking structure, a centralized green space, connections from the Crescent site to Lake Anne Plaza via a new park, and the restoration of a tunnel to the east side of the area.
The next phase of the project will include discussions with stakeholders — particularly the many property owners in the area — to determine if and when there is buy-in for the vision suggested by the Lake Anne Economic Visioning Study. That process could take between three to four months.
Street Sense kicked off the visioning study in mid-February with focus group sessions, followed by several community meetings and workshops. The study came at the request of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who sought to build consensus on the economic vision for the area.
Alcorn said redevelopment of the Crescent Apartments property — a prospect for years — is now on the horizon within “the next few years.”
“I didn’t want to move forward with the Crescent until this project moved forward,” Alcorn said, adding that the study was critical to ensuring that the Crescent project aligns with the community’s desire for the surrounding area.
Bruce Leonard, managing principal of Street Sense, said building consensus will be a key decision point.
“The vision isn”t from coming from the county. The vision is not coming from Street Sense. The vision is coming from you,” Leonard said.
Elizabeth Hagg, director of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development’s community revitalization section, said buy-in from stakeholders will be necessary to determine if property owners want to participate.
Leonard emphasized that additional retail was impractical, noting that the retail market is especially saturated in Northern Virginia.
“You’re kind of at a sweet spot now,” he said.
Angela McGarvey, managing director of brand at Street Sense, repeatedly noted the uniqueness of the Lake Anne area.
“It’s supremely local, it’s supremely special and it’s supremely one of a kind,” she said.
County officials and the consultants said most community members agreed on the need for a cultural anchor, maker spaces, seasonal amphitheaters, more parking and a centralization of housing at the Crescent site.
But mixed feedback was received on other issues, including how to manage infrastructure improvement and maintenance, the permanent structure of the farmers’ market, the location of the cultural anchor and amphitheater, and the extent to which the local village center can and should become a regional draw.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously deferred a decision on the Reston Comprehensive Plan overhaul at a public hearing Wednesday (June 14) night.
The move — which delays a vote to June 28 — came as public testimony at the hearing centered around a challenge facing Reston: navigating growing pains as it chases a new transit-oriented future while also trying to preserve its past.
Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter said county staff and the commission will release a new document that outlines community requests by chapter, staff responses and the commission’s decision on each item.
“We’re going to be working hard in the next couple of weeks,” Carter said.
Some residents and community organizations asked the commission to defer a vote because they needed more time to review a supplement to the plan that staff released on June 13, one day before the hearing.
“We are still pouring through the 25-page addendum,” said Lynne Mulston, president of the Reston Citizens’ Association.
Notable revisions in the addendum include a recommendation that multifamily housing be allowed anywhere in Reston’s transit station areas, not just within a half-mile of the Metro stations, and language encouraging the addition of affordable housing, not just the preservation of existing units.
Underway since 2020, the Reston Comprehensive Plan update lays out the county’s vision for the 6,750-acre area’s development, touching on everything from transportation to density recommendations for the transit station areas and village centers.
The proposed draft was shaped by county staff and a community task force convened by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn in 2020.
Speakers overwhelmingly opposed a proposed vehicular connection between North Shore Drive and Sunset Hill Road via American Dream Way. Citing concerns about traffic safety, residents argued that the proposal would turn North Shore Drive into a thoroughfare and cut-through street.
“It would be highly unsuitable and dangerous for North Shore Drive to become a thoroughfare,” said local resident Christopher Bean.
Another resident who took issue with the proposal said he moved to the area to have a place for his daughter, who stood alongside him as he testified.
Speaking on behalf of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Mike Jennings emphasized that the task force did not reach consensus on the version it produced.
Jennings said a tie vote on the initial plan was broken when an abstaining member shifted the vote in favor of the plan. He called staff’s version of the plan a “significant improvement” because it trimmed down “erroneous,” “impractical,” and “prescriptive” language.
Trimming the task force’s version of the draft plan from 180 pages to 133, county staff’s version is intended to avoid prescriptive language in specific areas, especially land use, that could conflict with countywide policies. Initially separate chapters about equity and community health were consolidated into one chapter related to “new town” elements.
The plan also covers Reston Town Center North — an area that is in limbo but is also slated for major redevelopment. The proposed draft recommends limiting residential development to 1,000 dwelling units with all new market rate units consolidated on three blocks. The remaining four blocks would have up to 150,000 square feet of nonresidential development, including civic and public uses.
Carter said another task force currently working on planning for the area will determine the specific civic uses, but the Reston Comprehensive Plan — if approved — will set the general guidance.
Tammi Petrine — a task force member and resident — delivered impassioned testimony about her experience with a county staff member. She described “surprise edits,” including one in the staff addendum she said would allow 30 affordable townhouses in RTC North to be replaced with hundreds of low-income housing units.
“This is outrageous,” Petrine said. Her testimony was interrupted by Planning Commission Chair Phillip Niedzielski-Eichner, who asked for constructive comments and not a personal attack on a staffer.
Per the addendum, staff removed a line stating that 30 existing affordable townhomes near the Embry Rucker Community Shelter in RTC North shall remain, saying that the units shouldn’t be referenced in a section on housing and facilities for the homeless population.
The section has also been revised to remove language deemed “prescriptive” and to “allow greater flexibility if needs are adjusted” for a planned replacement and expansion of the shelter.
Carter said he would also like to see more visuals, fonts and efforts to make the plan more engaging for the public. Some of those elements were removed from the existing plan.
“It’s not very visionary for me,” Carter said, adding that he understood the impracticality of incorporating text and visuals from a planning perspective.
Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina lauded staff’s version of the transportation chapter of the plan. But she also called for more careful attention to pedestrian connectivity and pedestrian safety.
“It defeats the purpose to cross a six-lane road to get to the [Reston Town Center] Metro station,” Cortina said.
The Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental advocacy organization, asked for the reinstatement of edits proposed by the task force on environmental measures like stronger protections against runoff and enhanced electric vehicle charging guidance.
The Baltimore-DC Building Trades Council suggested the plan incorporate workforce protections and training programs to promote the local workforce.
(Updated at 12:25 p.m.) Tuesday could be among the most consequential days in recent Fairfax County election history.
Tuesday, June 20 is primary election day, though early voting began in early May. While the general election is set for November, the county is overwhelmingly Democratic, so the candidates who win the primaries will be favored this fall.
With five Board of Supervisors seats, Commonwealth’s Attorney, sheriff, and a number of Virginia General Assembly seats on Tuesday’s ballot, the primary could set the course for the county for years to come.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
While five supervisor seats are on the primary ballot, the two open seats are getting the most attention.
Last August, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust announced he won’t run for reelection this year, opening the door for two candidates who have emerged to take his place. Jimmy Bierman formerly chaired the Dranesville District Democratic Committee, and David Fiske is on the McLean Citizens Association board. In March, Foust endorsed Bierman for the seat.
Late last year, longtime Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross also said she will retire. Now, four candidates are vying for the vacant seat. They include Congressional staffer Jeremy Allen, Mason District Planning Commissioner Andres Jimenez, local business owner Steve Lee, and local business owner Reid Voss.
Jimenez is currently considered the frontrunner for the seat, winning a straw poll by Fairfax County Democratic Committee straw poll in March. His endorsements include actor Jane Fonda, whose political action committee also weighed in on three local General Assembly races yesterday (Thursday).
However, Voss supporters have accused him of being absent from his duties on the planning commission.
In other races, Board Chairman Jeff McKay is facing a primary challenge from retired CIA staffer Lisa Downing, while incumbent Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck is on the ballot against grassroots leader Martiza Zermeno.
In addition, two candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination to take on Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity in November. Herrity, the board’s only current Republican, doesn’t have a primary challenger.
County firefighter John Nowadly has a number of notable endorsements, including from McKay, Rep. Gerry Connolly and several local state senators. Local tech entrepreneur Albert Vega is endorsed by Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, who is facing his own challenge on Tuesday.
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney and Sheriff
The primary race between Descano and prosecutor-turned-defense attorney challenger Ed Nuttall for the Commonwealth’s Attorney may be the most hotly contested on this year’s ballot.
Since announcing his candidacy back in February, Nuttall has criticized how Descano manages the office as well as not appropriately supporting victims of crimes. During a joint appearance on the WAMU show The Politics Hour, Descano accused his opponent of associating with “MAGA, antisemitic conspiracy theorists,” while Nuttall responded by calling the incumbent “incompetent” and a “liar.”
The Washington Post has endorsed Nuttall, while Descano has endorsements from Connelly, Rep. Don Beyer, former governor Terry McAuliffe, and five county supervisors, per his website. He also has the support of musician John Legend.
Another notable race on the ballot is for Fairfax County sheriff, where former D.C. police officer and current Herndon High School football coach Kelvin Garcia is challenging Stacey Kincaid, the county’s first female sheriff. Read More
Deal Would Allow More Long-Distance Flights at National Airport — “Leaders of a Senate committee reached a tentative deal Thursday to add four long-distance flights at Reagan National Airport, dealing a setback to D.C.-area lawmakers and the airport’s management, which have campaigned to leave current restrictions in place.” [The Washington Post]
Free Lunches Available for Kids This Summer — “School systems in Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Stafford and Manassas are providing free breakfast and lunch to children under 18 through the summer…In Fairfax County, most summer meal programs begin June 20, offering breakfast and lunch at [select] schools and community centers” [Inside NoVA]
Police Investigate Sexual Assaults — Fairfax County police are searching for a man who allegedly dragged a woman in a wooded area near Seminary Road and raped her on June 11. Then, in a separate incident on Tuesday (June 13), a man was charged after allegedly trying to rape and abduct a woman near a bus stop in Hybla Valley. [FCPD, WUSA9]
Spree of Pharmacy Robberies Under Investigation — “Since March of this year, detectives have been investigating four pharmacy burglaries in the Mason Police District. Through their investigation, detectives believe all these incidents are related.” The most recent burglary occurred at Hann’s Pharmacy in Annandale on June 10. [FCPD, FOX5]
Vienna Council Member Won’t Seek Reelection — “Vienna Town Council member Ed Somers announced on Facebook June 11 that he would not be seeking another term in November. According to Somers’ statement, he needed to focus on ongoing health matters, both for himself and his family.” Steve Potter and Nisha Patel have also stated that they won’t run again this fall. [Gazette Leader]
County Shelter Wants You to Adopt a Dog — Nearing capacity, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter “is putting out an urgent plea for potential adopters to help clear the kennels” before it undergoes HVAC maintenance this summer. It will waive adoption fees for the nearly 100 dogs in its care and halve fees for other animals from June 22-25. [FCAS]
Fairfax Kid Adds to TV Resume — “It’s not every day that a kid from Fairfax, Virginia, gets to hang out with Spider-Man, but 8-year-old Thomas Parobek joins Tom Holland in the Apple TV+ series ‘The Crowded Room,'” where he plays the son of Emmy winner Amanda Seyfried. Now on his last day of third grade at Mantua Elementary School, he previously appeared in the popular “Karate Kid” spinoff show “Cobra Kai.” [WTOP]
Reston Cybersecurity Firm Seeks to Grow — “Silent Push Inc. is coming out of stealth mode with a $10 million seed round to bring its proactive cybersecurity software to a wider market by ramping up hiring for sales and marketing. The company was founded three years ago by CEO Ken Bagnall and CTO John Jensen to research a way to detect cyberattackers building malicious cyberinfrastructure…and then stop breaches before they happen.” [DC Inno]
It’s Friday — A chance of showers before 11 am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 60%. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County can officially retire Lee Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway as its names for routes 29 and 50.
The highways will be renamed after their route numbers effective July 5, the county announced today (Thursday).
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on Sept. 13 to drop the highway names, which were homages to Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, but the Commonwealth Transportation Board didn’t approve the changes until May 24.
“The renaming of both roadways signifies our unwavering dedication to acknowledging the experiences of our community, especially our African American neighbors,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in a statement. “Thanks to the dedicated work of all the community members who participated in the Confederate Names Task Force, we can put these divisive names behind us and continue to move our County in the right direction.”
According to the county, its records will automatically update on July 5 to reflect the new street names, including for property taxes, voter registrations and Fairfax Water.
However, individual property and business owners will be responsible for updating their address when it comes to their driver’s license, legal documents, utility bills, mail and other services.
The county says it’s developing a grant program to provide financial assistance for those affected by the name changes, though the program needs to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will replace the road signs, but the county has agreed to cover those costs, which were previously estimated to range from $1 million to $4 million, depending on the length of the new names.
The Board of Supervisors created the Confederate Names Task Force in 2021 after the Fairfax County History Commission identified hundreds of sites bearing names associated with the Confederacy, including Lee and Lee-Jackson Memorial highways.
According to the task force’s report, Lee Highway covers about 14 miles from Centreville to Falls Church, with a break in the middle where Route 29 meets Route 50 in Fairfax City. It was named after Robert E. Lee in 1919.
Lee-Jackson Memorial consists of about 8 miles of Route 50 in western Fairfax County. The name was adopted in 1922.
The highways have already undergone renamings in other jurisdictions, including Arlington County, Fairfax City and Loudoun County.
Barnes & Noble has officially opened a new chapter in Reston.
The national bookstore opened its newest location today (Thursday) at The Spectrum at Reston Town Center — space formerly occupied by Office Depot. The store opened at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting by author Tania James, who also signed copies of her latest book “Loot.”
The opening marks a comeback for the bookstore, which had a store in the same shopping center nearly a decade ago.
Elisabeth Swift, the store manager of the Reston location, said opening the Reston location was an “obvious choice.” While working at other Barnes and Noble locations in the D.C. area, Swift said she frequently heard from customers lamenting the closure of the Reston store in 2013.
“Reston has been a community that has been passion about books and reading books forever,” Swift said.
When asked to comment on what the bookstore adds to the local mix — local bookstore Scrawl Books has a location in Reston Town Center — Swift said that the company is used to being in communities with other bookstores.
“The more bookstores the better, in my opinion,” she told FFXnow.
The nearly 28,000-square-foot store features a B&N Cafe, along with books, toys and gifts.
In a statement, the company noted that Reston’s location is the first to open in Fairfax County since 2019. The store was originally expected to open yesterday (Wednesday).
The Reston location will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m on all other days.
Grand opening day featured other events like storytime with Pete the Cat at 11 a.m. and book signings with author Liz Lawson. The store will host additional story times, author signings, and other special events over the next month.
One customer who recalled frequenting the old Reston Barnes & Noble said the new store is bigger, both in physical size and the amount of materials being sold. A self-described bibliophile, he was particularly interested in the history and current events sections.
“I’m quite pleased. I’ll hang out here sometimes,” he said while sitting at the cafe.
Reston resident Nicole Harker stopped by the grand opening with her two kids, who were drawn to the Legos in the children’s area.
“It’s a nice thing to have in Reston,” she said. “It’s a place I might take the kids to during the day. During the hot summer or if it’s too cold out for winter, we could come hang out here.”
Angela Woolsey contributed to this report.
Fairfax County residents will now be able to access some data related to local temporary gun removal cases.
On June 13 (Tuesday), Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano released to the public a continuously updated digital dashboard that tracks ongoing and past Emergency Substantial Risk Orders — known more commonly as Red Flag Orders — as well as view demographic breakdowns of those subjected to ESROs by race, gender and age.
Instituted in 2020, Virginia’s red flag law gives the Fairfax County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney the authority to temporarily remove a gun or guns from someone’s possession if they have probable cause that the individual poses a ‘substantial risk’ to themselves or others.
When contacted by community or family members seeking to initiate a red flag order under a civil order, law enforcement will begin an independent investigation to determine whether one is appropriate.
If an order is granted, individuals are barred from purchasing, possessing or transporting any firearms for up to 14 days with opportunities for extension.
Fairfax County is the only jurisdiction in the state with a team dedicated to red flag orders, Descano told FFXNow by email. The county is the source of 75% of red flag orders in Virginia, he said when announcing the new dashboard.
The dashboard is intended to improve public communications and demystify the court processes for the general public, similar to one on bond decisions that the prosecutor’s office launched last year.
“We wanted this dashboard to bring transparency and awareness to the community about this law and that it can be a tool that saves lives,” Descano wrote. “By showing that it is being used, I hope Fairfax residents will know that if they have a dangerous situation, they can pick up the phone and get help.”
In addition to allowing community members to be more knowledgable about Virginia’s red flag law, the dashboard aims to be a useful tool for prosecutors in guiding their work.
“The other important role of the dashboard is how it informs my prosecutors’ decision-making,” Descano wrote. “We’re using this internally to track cases and make sure nothing falls through the cracks, and that’s a key piece of our day-to-day work on these cases. We have about nine months of data now that we’re working with, and as we get more data on Red Flag Orders, we’ll be able to identify trends that may help us and law enforcement further protect the community and handle these cases.”
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has opened 108 red flag cases since May 2022, 92% of them against men, according to the dashboard.
The data will expand over time as Descano’s office works to incorporate more and varied trends and demographics into the board, Public Information Officer Laura Birnbaum says.
“There’s a lot more in this story to tell about how these orders are coming to the police, who’s initiating them, who are the respondents and what kind of situations are we seeing these these orders come out. There’s more data and more trends to pull apart,” Birnbaum said. “…Are there times of year where we see more of these and others? What does that help inform us about other ways we could do gun violence prevention work?”
Jeopardy!, a popular quiz show, will have some local flair today (Thursday).
Suzanne Goldlust, a marketing manager from Reston, will compete on the show tonight. The show — which is produced by Sony Pictures Television — is in its 29th season of syndication.
Goldlust said she has enjoyed watching Jeopardy for years and enjoys trivia.
“I have a lot of trivia in my head and was always able to call out a lot of the answers – well, questions – at home,” she said.
Goldlust first tried out in 2013 but did not make it beyond the audition stage.
“I was super nervous beforehand, just trying not to get my hopes up too high or build up expectations. I only told a few friends and family members that I would be playing. Since my taping, I’ve been nervous about accidentally spilling the beans! But I have literally told no one—not even my sister or my kids! And of course I’m nervous about looking like a dork on national TV,” Goldlust told FFXnow.
She says she’s excited for her friends and family to see how she did on the popular quiz show.
The episode featuring Goldlust airs tonight on WJLA (ABC).
Fairfax County will alight with joy and celebration with a variety of opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth this coming weekend (June 17-19).
Just last week on June 6, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors officially recognized Monday, June 19 of this year as Juneteenth. Only recently anointed a state and federal holiday, the occasion commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved men and women in Galveston, Texas finally heard the news that they had been freed two years prior under the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Below is a sampling of Juneteenth celebrations taking place across the county this weekend.
Fairfax Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
Begins at 10 a.m.
Opening ceremony at Veteran Amphitheatre, then parade to Mount Calvary Baptist Church
Co-hosted by the City of Fairfax and Mount Calvary Baptist Church, the Fairfax Juneteenth Celebration will begin with a formal ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Veteran Amphitheatre at City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street), featuring anthem performances and guest speakers.
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to participate in a parade from the amphitheatre to the Mount Calvary Baptist Church entrance on School Street (4325 Chain Bridge Road). From there, festivities will commence, including food trucks, craft and informational vendors, live music and dance, a car show, family activities and sharing of African American history and genealogical resources.
Bull Run Church and Harris Cemetery Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
10:30 a.m.-noon
Bull Run Regional Park, behind the Atlantis Waterpark
Returning for a second year in a row, the Juneteenth Celebration at Bull Run (7700 Bull Run Drive) seeks to “recognize the largest private emancipation of the enslaved” as a joint initiative between Virginia NAACP and NOVA Parks, per its website.
Attendees will hear from a guest speaker and participate in a Black Expo and a children’s activity. They are strongly encouraged to bring toddler and children’s books as donations to Centreville United Methodist Church’s local literacy ministry.
Gum Springs Community Day/Juneteenth
Saturday, June 17
10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Reservable Picnic Area
This Community Day/Juneteenth celebration commemorates the 190th anniversary of the founding of Gum Springs, the oldest African American community in Fairfax County, by West Ford. The day will begin at the park (8115 Fordson Road) at 10:30 a.m. with a historic marker dedication and unveiling of a new sign with Ford’s story. A parade will kickoff at 11 a.m., and guests can also enjoy an auction, health fair, carnival rides, food and music.
Juneteenth Fairfax County Celebration at Frying Pan Farm Park
Saturday, June 17
11:00 a.m.-2 p.m. (divided into three one-hour-long sessions that you can sign up for here)
Frying Pan Farm Park
In addition to the chance to see adorable farm animals, Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road) is offering families a venue for celebrating Juneteenth. Guests will be able to engage in African American culture and history through “a special guest storyteller, live music, crafts, history, and food trucks offering African American cuisine,” per the county website.
Vienna Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
First Baptist Church
As the kickoff event to Liberty Amendments Month, which honors the passage of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments, the Town of Vienna is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration at the First Baptist Church (450 Orchard Street NW). Food trucks, moon bounces, a photobooth, live performances on an outdoor stage, and children’s activities begin at 11 a.m. George Mason University President Gregory Washington will present the opening ceremony at noon.
Vienna Juneteenth Classic Car Show
Saturday, June 17
Begins at 11 a.m.
James H. Hayes/Bull Run #529 Elks Lodge
Just up the road from the Juneteenth Celebration at First Baptist Church will be an impressive array of vintage cars and trucks with makes and models from 1990 and older. On-site registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m. Shuttles are available from the First Baptist Church.
Herndon Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17
12-8 p.m.
Arts Herndon
Nonprofit Arts Herndon (750 Center Street) is offering no shortage of ways to celebrate Juneteenth with its eight-hour lineup of events. The day will consist of a reading of Herndon’s Juneteenth proclamation, a performance of the anthem, children’s activities including story time and crafts, a historical presentation and live blues music from a band from D.C.
Annual Juneteenth Lunch and Learn Experience
Monday, June 19
12-4 p.m.
Sully Historic Site
At Sully’s Lunch and Learn Experience, attendees can immerse themselves in Sully’s rich history through interactive exhibits, presentations and traditional soul food freshly made on site. The historic site will be fully open for exploration.
For those who want a more in-depth tour, the City of Fairfax is offering free Forgotten Road Tours of Sully’s outbuildings and slave quarters on Juneteenth Weekend from Thursday, June 15 through Saturday, June 17 from 2-2:45 p.m. each day. Tickets must be reserved in advance online.
FCPD Cracks Down on Retail Theft — The Fairfax County Police Department is launching a 2023 Summer Crime Prevention Initiative that will focus on retail theft for June, with increased patrols and public engagement efforts in affected areas. Deputy Chief of Patrol Bob Blakely says 20% of all crime in the county only occurs at 20 addresses, and “most of that crime is larceny.” [ABC7]
Police Called on Local Prosecutor at Manassas Bar — “Police body camera footage shows a Deputy Fairfax County prosecutor refusing to leave a Manassas bar after closing…A second woman, who identified as an assistant Fairfax County prosecutor, and the drunken woman as her superior, was also trying to coax the woman into the car so that she could drive her home.” [Potomac Local News]
Reston Man Charged With Animal Cruelty — “According to court documents, authorities seized 30 cats from a home on Southgate Square on Nov. 17, 2022. The living conditions included ‘large amounts of fecal material and urine inside and outside the litter boxes, poor lighting, poor air circulation, and prominent smell of ammonia and feces.'” [DC News Now]
Vienna Eatery’s Burger Named Among Region’s Best — The double-stacked Nick-ster from Social Burger in Vienna landed at no. 9 on food critic Tim Carmen’s ranking of the 10 best burgers in the D.C. area. Fairfax County is also represented at no. 2 with the Red Apron Original from the butcher shop Red Apron, which has a location at the Mosaic District in Merrifield. [The Washington Post]
Vienna Releases Full Draft of Zoning Code — “Three years — and about 30 meetings and work sessions — after initiating the sweeping new ‘Code Create Vienna’ zoning rewrite, the Vienna Town Council on June 12 voted unanimously to discuss the draft proposal at joint public hearings with the town’s Planning Commission July 10 and 12.” [Gazette Leader]
Laurel Hill Golf Club Adds Training Lab — “The new Performance Lab provides a fantastic proving ground for seasoned golfers looking to advance their game and beginners looking to get their start under the tutelage of experienced instructors…Come tour and test out the new lab on June 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at our opening day event!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
New Private Preschool Coming to Merrifield — “The Goddard School of Falls Church, a childhood education franchise, will open its first Falls Church area location at 2921 Telestar Court in September. It will provide early childhood education and care for 190 children between 6 weeks and 6 years old as well as 30 teaching jobs.” [Patch]
A Look at County’s Urban Search and Rescue Team — “Fairfax County’s USAR program has deployed on 134 missions and has responded to the most devastating natural- and human-caused disasters. From the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon to Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana in 2005 to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti to the 2011 earthquake in Japan, team members have aided victims across the globe.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph. At night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. [Weather.gov]
The work of local school students will be on display in the latest exhibit at the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) in Reston
Part of a partnership with local schools that’s in its fifth year, the “Emerging Visions” exhibit will feature work created in response to an exhibit put on by artist Dominic Chambers last fall.
Titled “What Makes the Earth Shake,” Chambers’s exhibition featured vibrant paintings that focused on contemporary concerns related to race, identity, leisure, color field theory and gestural abstraction.
‘Through the Emerging Visions program, Tephra ICA extends its mission beyond the gallery walls, creating opportunities for students to engage with contemporary art in the classroom,” Tephra ICA wrote in a statement. “Students and educators are invited to participate in this unique, ongoing program designed around Tephra ICA exhibitions or projects.”
Every year, Tephra works with Fairfax County Public Schools art educators on classroom materials with themes and supporting concepts that can be integrated into their curricula for all students. Lesson plans are designed by art educators and Tephra ICA staff.
This year’s exhibit features work by students from Cunningham Park Elementary School in Vienna, Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, and Justice High School in Lake Barcroft.
The program is free and open to all. This year’s exhibit is on view from June 17 through July 15 at Tephra, which is located at 12001 Market Street, Suite 103.
An opening reception that is open to the public is slated for Saturday, June 17 from 4-6 p.m.
