Metro Worker Fired After Overrunning Innovation Station — “On March 17, safety commission officials said Tuesday, a train operator put his train into [automatic mode] several times during the day. He was caught when his train shot past the Innovation Center station platform in Virginia, triggering a Metro probe into the platform overrun.” [The Washington Post]
Disciplinary Incidents Rise in FCPS — “The number of disciplinary incidents reported in Fairfax County, Virginia, public schools more than doubled in the first semester of the current school year, compared to the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year, according to preliminary county data.” [WTOP]
Fairfax County Congressional Rep. Diagnosed With Parkinson’s — “Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia announced on Tuesday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease…Wexton said that she wants to use her platform to raise awareness and fight for a cure and made it clear that she doesn’t intend to leave office.” [CNN]
State Police Revise Account of I-95 Fatal Shooting — “The state police disclosed in a news release for the first time that a trooper talked to Tatiana N. David, 34, the woman who was reportedly abducted, during a traffic stop Wednesday that came just before a police chase and the shootout on the major highway.” [The Washington Post]
Designer of Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly Dies — “Bill Hellmuth, chairman and CEO of HOK Inc. and the backbone of the architecture firm’s D.C. presence, died April 6 after a long illness, HOK announced. He was 69. Hellmuth had a hand in the design of dozens of buildings in Greater Washington, including…the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.” [Washington Business Journal]
Metro to Unveil New Proposed Bus Map — “Metrobus planners are unveiling five years of work on Monday — a redesigned ‘visionary’ bus network map for the entire region, something that hasn’t been done in 50 years. The map includes 100 bus routes with 20-minute frequency or better (many have 12-minute frequencies), a 24/7 bus network, and simpler, more direct routes.” [DCist]
Police Credit License Plate Reader With Helping Find Missing People — “A new device that lets law enforcement officers track stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, and wanted persons helped Fairfax County Police to locate three out of four people recently reported missing, including a former member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.” [Patch]
Reston Homeowner Introduces Solar Shingles to Neighborhood — “He knew traditional panels would be a bear to install in a house with a loft, cathedral ceilings, and no attic to hide protruding infrastructure. And two, he feared tangling with notoriously strict homeowner associations. ‘The HOAs can be brutal in Reston,’ Hester said” [Energy News]
It’s Wednesday — Morning clouds. Pleasantly warm. High of 82 and low of 56. Sunrise at 6:36 am and sunset at 7:42 pm. [Weather.gov]
A display of peppers at a local farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Several county-run farmers markets are returning for the spring season this month with the remainder opening soon after.
The Fairfax County Park Authority operates 10 farmers markets across the county where residents can pick up fresh veggies, fruit, meat, and other locally produced goodies.
“Our markets are strictly producer-only, meaning that all of our farmers and producers may only sell what they raise on their farms or make from scratch,” reads the county’s website.
Three farmers markets are coming back later in April.
- April 19: McCutcheon/Mount Vernon on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon
- April 22: Burke on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
- April 29: Reston on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon
The seven remaining farmers markets will open in May.
- May 3: Oak Marr on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Wakefield on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m.
- May 4: Annandale on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon, Herndon on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- May 5: McLean on Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon, Kingstowne on Fridays from 3-7 p.m.
- May 7: Lorton on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Each market’s webpage has a list of vendors that are set to be selling. Besides food for sale, many markets will also offer family-friendly activities, live music, and civic-engagement opportunities.
Besides the county-run farmers markets, the nonprofit FreshFarm also has a number of local markets, including three that operate year-round.
- Oakton on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Mosaic District on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Reston on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Two other FreshFarm markets — Springfield and Mosaic on Thursdays — were open last year, but it is not immediately clear if those will be open starting next month. FreshFarm is the area’s largest farmers market operator, and in February, its employees voted to unionize.
(Updated at 3 p.m. on 4/12/2023) Pollo Campero is opening a new restaurant in the Town of Herndon.
The business plans to build a new nearly 3,000-square-foot restaurant at 1131 Elden Street, according to town documents. The restaurant announced its intention in 2021 to relocate from 496 Elden Street to the new location.
But the business needs an exception for trash collection. During review of the site plan, the company says it was not able to secure a contract with a trash collection company because a development condition restricts the trash pick-up hours from 7-10 a.m.
The proposed condition will restrict trash collection during lunch and dinner (11AM – 1 PM and 5 PM – 7 PM). The restaurant is allowed to be open outside of those hours.
“Based upon input from the trash collection providers, the applicant requests a special exception amendment to revise development condition four to restrict when trash collection cannot occur, instead of limiting the hours trash collection can occur,” Walsh Colucci land use planner Kelly Posusney said in a Feb. 15 letter.
Under the proposed revised condition, trash pick-up hours will be restricted during lunch (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) and dinner (5-7 p.m.) hours, according to the application. The restaurant would still be allowed to operate outside those hours.
(Correction: This story originally said the restaurant’s hours would be limited to lunch and dinner, but the proposed condition has since been clarified to FFXnow.)
Pollo Campero plans to demolish the existing auto repair structure on the site to build the new restaurant, which will have an outdoor dining area and a walk-up window for takeout orders. Items on the menu include fried chicken sandwiches, boneless wings, empanadas, and mashed potatoes.
After discussing the application last night (Monday), the Herndon Planning Commission is slated to vote on the trash collection request at its next public hearing on April 24.
(Updated at 5:10 p.m.) For the first time ever, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is allowing registered Democrats to vote on which school board candidates it will endorse this year.
The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) announced yesterday (Monday) that it will hold an open caucus to allow any voter who registers with the party to vote in this year’s nonpartisan races.
On the ballot will be several school board seats — three at-large members, the Mount Vernon District representative, and the Hunter Mill District representative — as well as a member of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) board of directors.
To vote in the caucus, voters are required to register with the FCDC. Registration opened yesterday and will continue until May 5. Online voting for candidates will be from May 13 through May 20, when there will also be an in-person voting option.
“With our new endorsement process, the Fairfax County Democratic Committee is giving the choice on our endorsed candidates to the voters,” FCDC Chair Bryan Graham wrote in a press release. “This process will strengthen our candidates for non-partisan offices and our party as we work to elect Democratic candidates to every position on the ballot this year.”
The county’s school board and the NVSWCD board are nonpartisan offices, meaning members don’t represent a specific political party, but the local Democratic and Republican committees can make endorsements.
For the school board, Kyle McDaniel, Ryan McElveen, Ilryong Moon, Hamid Munir, and Lawerence Webb will all be vying for three at-large spots. None of the incumbents are running for those spots again, though Rachna Sizemore Heizer is campaigning for the Braddock District seat.
Both Moon and McElveen are former members of the school board, having stepped down at the end of 2019, while McDaniel, Munir, and Webb would be new.
In the Mount Vernon District, Mateo Dunne and Harold Sims are looking to replace current representative Karen Corbett Sanders, who is retiring.
Melanie Meren is seeking FCDC’s endorsement for reelection as the Hunter Mill District representative, competing against Paul Thomas, a current member of the Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors.
The committee has already endorsed several school board candidates who were uncontested in seeking its support, including:
- Braddock District: Rachna Sizemore Heizer
- Dranesville District: Robyn Lady
- Franconia District: Marcia St. John-Cunning
- Mason District: Ricardy Anderson
- Providence District: Karl Frisch
- Springfield District: Sandy Anderson
- Sully District: Seema Dixit
The Fairfax County Republican Committee will determine its endorsements in the nonpartisan races at a meeting on April 19, according to Fairfax GOP Vice Chairman Nick Andersen.
The committee has hosted both in-person and virtual meetings in recent months so its members can get to know the candidates.
“The endorsement meeting itself will include district-level caucuses to provide recommendations to the full membership followed by a paper ballot-based vote for all members in attendance,” Anderson said. “Candidates for office must achieve a simple majority of voting members that are participating in the meeting in order to receive the FCRC endorsement.”
There are also a number of partisan races coming up this year, meaning candidates can represent a specific political party. Those primaries will be held on June 20.
Last week, the FCDC announced the candidates in those races that have officially qualified to seek Democratic nominations.
Notable contests include the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chair and four district seats, Commonwealth’s attorney, sheriff, four State Senate seats, and three House of Delegate seats.
The primary is set for June 20, and the general election is on November 7.
(Updated at 5:40 p.m.) Fairfax County transportation planners are considering the possibility of adding a traffic beacon to the intersection of Sunrise Valley Drive and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (W&OD) near Robert Fulton Drive in Reston.
(Correction: This story previously said the beacon is being considered for the intersection of Sunrise Valley Drive and Wiehle Avenue.)
Robin Geiger, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) , said that the project is in the early phases of planning.
“There is no specific timeline but the team is continuing to prioritize projects over the new few months to be included in the remaining $70 million the Board of Supervisors approved for active transportation projects,” Geiger said.
The board has committed to spending $100 million on projects that improve road safety or accessibility for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized travelers.
One of thousands of projects that are being considered by the county, the Sunrise Valley and W&OD project could be considered for funding this fall. FCDOT is considering adding beacons to the area because of the “historically elevated rate of bike crashes, likely because the W&OD trail is a popular bicycle route,” Geiger said.
Changes would also need to be coordinated with NOVA Parks and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Geiger said it is unclear what kind of signal would be installed.
Because of the speed limit, traffic volumes and lane configuration of Sunrise Valley Drive and the regional trail, a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon is not recommended based on state guidelines and national best practice, according to FCDOT.
County planners advise that a pedestrian hybrid beacon may be more appropriate, but more traffic analyses are required because of an adjacent signal at Robert Fulton Drive.
Last month, the county narrowed its list for $25 million of the pledged active transportation project funding. Planners combed through more than 2,000 possible projects to develop a draft list of priorities that’s set to be approved by the Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday).
Construction is currently underway on a pedestrian bridge for the W&OD Trail over Wiehle Avenue.
Photo via Google Maps
Northern Virginia is the place to be if you’re shopping in the D.C. area, a recent poll of local residents found.
A handy 61% of respondents favored Northern Virginia when asked what’s the best place to shop in the region by the Washington Post and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, which conducted the wide-ranging poll from Feb. 17-27.
In comparison, just 18% of respondents chose suburban Maryland, and 13% chose D.C., with 7% saying they had no opinion, according to results released on Friday (April 7).
Northern Virginia’s dominance in this particular area can likely be traced to Tysons — at least based on a comment by James Hackley, identified by the Post as chief style officer for a clothing store in Takoma Park, Maryland.
In the DMV area, without a doubt, Northern Virginia has the best shopping. The reason? You have the old Tysons and Tysons II. So if you’re looking for the higher-end designer things, that’s where you go. That’s just a known quantity. No one else really competes with that. D.C., they tried to make major inroads with the CityCenter area, but it’s still a nascent being compared to Tysons and Tysons II. Those are big malls. That’s where people go to shop, because if you’re driving in your car, you’re getting an hour to go shopping someplace, you want it to be a destination. You’re not just going to one store. You want to hit a bunch of other stores as well.
Established in 1968 and 1988, respectively, Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria transformed once-rural farmland into a regional retail destination, a reputation that has persisted even as malls decline nationwide and high-profile crime and gun violence incidents leave some skittish.
Touching on topics ranging from Metro to the Washington Commanders, the Post-Schar poll was administered by phone to a random sampling of 1,668 adults in the D.C. area.
While we don’t have the capacity to match that level of scientific rigor, FFXnow is curious how the results line up with your perception of the region. Is Tysons still a go-to place for shopping, or do you have another preference — perhaps even outside Northern Virginia?
Area Traffic Returning to Pre-Pandemic Levels — “In the ‘inner suburbs’ of Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, traffic was 94% of pre-pandemic norms as 2022 closed…Several factors may be contributing to this seeming disconnect — congested highways but half-empty offices — but most eyes have turned to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Canan said.” [Washington Business Journal]
Wolf Trap National Park Brings Back Food Service — “The Fermented Pig, a barbecue-focused food vendor, will return to Wolf Trap’s on-site restaurant Ovations. There will be an updated farm-to-table buffet menu with vegan and gluten-free options as well as a picnic box option and new quick service bar.” Picnic boxes will be available for the first time since 2019. [Patch]
County to Recognize Contributions to Black Community — “Nominations are now open for the 2023 Juneteenth Resiliency Award for residents ages 13-21. This award recognizes the incredible resiliency shown by young people in Fairfax County who have made meaningful contributions in their lives and in the lives of others.” [Fairfax County Government]
Virginia School Bus Driver Shortage Persists — “Public schools continue to face challenges transporting students to school amid ongoing bus driver shortages spurred by factors such as low pay and strict safety and retirement regulations…Data also reveal the situation is far more complicated, making it difficult to determine whether shortages are actually improving.” [Virginia Mercury/Inside NoVA]
Hundreds Join Herndon Easter Egg Hunt — “More than 300 children and their families descended on Bready Park on Saturday to take part in the annual Hoppy Egg Hunting event hosted by the Town of Herndon Parks & Recreation Department. Children up to the age of 7 took part in three egg hunts.” [Patch]
How Local Family-Owned Restaurants Are Faring — “Though she’s never been formally employed at her parents’ A&J restaurants in Rockville and Annandale, Debbie Tang says she’ll always be the general counsel — whether she wants to be or not. Her paid work is at an executive search firm, but she’s an attorney by training. So she will still look over a restaurant’s lease, for example, if asked by her parents, Elaine and Jye Tang.” [DCist]
County Could Support Bonds for Inova Projects — “Fairfax County supervisors on April 11 were set to authorize the county’s Industrial Development Authority to issue health-care revenue bonds periodically to support capital projects undertaken by Inova Health System…Inova’s revenues will support the bonds, which will not constitute a debt obligation to the county or the Board of Supervisors, county staff said.” [Gazette Leader]
Prepare for Library Catalog Outage — “FCPL’s catalog system will be undergoing maintenance Monday, April 17. Because of this maintenance, the public catalog including Libby and Overdrive will be unavailable to the public from 8 a.m. to approximately 1 p.m. that day.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Tuesday — Scattered clouds. Mild. High of 75 and low of 43. Sunrise at 6:38 am and sunset at 7:41 pm. [Weather.gov]
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is going to take a second stab at its ambitious Zoning Ordinance Modernization Project (zMOD) after Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down the prior approval.
The county’s zMOD overhaul involved a variety of sweeping changes to the zoning ordinance, from loosening limits on accessory dwelling units to changes in regulations governing flags and flagpoles.
Unfortunately for the Board of Supervisors, the Virginia Supreme Court voided the 2021 approval of zMOD because the meeting where it was approved and prior public hearings were held virtually, which it said violated the county’s Virginia Freedom of Information Act requirements.
The ruling raised questions about development and land use decisions made in the wake of the zoning code update, though Virginia passed a new law last year that loosened restrictions on virtual public meetings.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), the board is set to start the public hearing process to give zMOD approval another go. An administrative item at the board’s meeting for tomorrow would grant “authorization to advertise public hearings on the readoption of the zoning ordinance.”
According to the docket:
If the Board’s 2021 adoption of the zMOD Ordinance was void, so was the contemporaneous repeal of the 1978 Zoning Ordinance (as amended), leaving that earlier Ordinance still in effect. As a result, new public hearings are required for reconsideration of the zMOD Ordinance as previously adopted on March 23, 2021. And while subsequent Zoning Ordinance amendments are not addressed in the opinion, staff recommends that they be included as part of the complete Zoning Ordinance being considered.
Unsurprisingly, the county executive is recommending that the board authorize advertisement of public hearings for an ordinance it already approved in a 7-3 vote on March 23, 2021.
If the advertisement of public hearings is approved, those will come at the May 3 Planning Commission meeting and the May 9 Board of Supervisors meeting, meaning zMOD could be reapproved less than two months after the original approval was struck down.
(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) Reston Town Center Association wants to increase its number of sip-and-stroll-style events in the town center.
But RTCA needs the approval of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to increase the number of licenses it has per year for designated outdoor refreshment areas. The matter heads to the board for a vote tomorrow (Tuesday).
If approved, RTCA would have permission to host up to 50 events — up from 16 — with Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) licenses.
The association will work with the Fairfax County Police Department for security purposes. It is also working with an on-site security team to maintain the perimeter where alcoholic beverages are allowed.
The request comes after the association hosted several sip-and-stroll events last year in the town center, allowing individuals to purchase alcoholic drinks at participating restaurants into the streets or park.
The association’s board has approved similar events for this year, including at least 12 Darden and Friends jazz events for the spring and fall. There will also be 14 Reston Concerts on the Town, a concert series that returns this year after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic and renovations at the pavilion and Mercury Fountain.
Another half-dozen events are proposed on Saturdays.
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) can increase the frequency and duration of events after Fairfax County adopts an ordinance formally requesting an increase, according to a county memo.
“I don’t think there is any controversy here,” Robert Goudie, RTCA’s president said. “ABC is aware that we would be seeking an increase to the cap. Last year’s events were well-received and well-managed.”
RTCA is expected to reach its 16-event limit by July. In 2021, the General Assembly amended state code to create the licenses. A licensee is currently only allowed up to 16 events — each of which can last up to three consecutive days.
RTCA’s board is expected to vote on the issue on May 9 at 4 p.m. following an introduction of the proposal at the board meeting tomorrow.
The reconstruction of the Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) intersection at Baron Cameron Avenue begins this week in Reston.
Part of a massive project to expand Route 7, the construction will usher in new traffic patterns on the nights of April 10-14 and April 16-20 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The triple left-turn lanes from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue will be reduced to a single-left turn lane from 8-10 p.m. only. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is in the process of widening a nearly 7-mile stretch of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive.
“Please use caution and be alert to vehicles and equipment entering and exiting the work area. All work is weather-dependent and subject to change,” VDOT cautioned in a recent traffic alert.
Between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., drivers on Springvale Road to Baron Cameron Avenue will turn right onto westbound Route 7 and follow a detour route to Reston Parkway and Wiehle Avenue in order to get to Baron Cameron Avenue.
Drivers on Baron Cameron Avenue, Hunter Gate Way and Hunter Mill Road who are trying to reach westbound Route 7 will follow Baron Cameron Avenue westbound to a detour route along Wiehle Avenue and Reston Parkway.
Additionally, all Route 7 eastbound traffic will be reduced to a single-through lane.
Between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the triple left-turn lanes from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue will be completely closed. Drivers on eastbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue will use a service road at a nearby car wash to access Baron Cameron Avenue.
The right-turn lane from Baron Cameron Avenue to eastbound Route 7 will remain open at all times.
According to VDOT documentation from a recent meeting, the project is expected to cost roughly $314 million and should wrap up by the end of July next year. Construction began in May 2019.
Key milestones so far include the addition of a left-turn lane from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue, temporary intersection improvements at Towlston Road, and a third through-lane from Riva Ridge Drive to Reston Avenue.
The new Lewinsville Road intersection with a displaced left-run lane from eastbound Route 7 to Lewinsville is expected to open in late May, according to VDOT.
Driver Hospitalized After Mount Vernon Crash — “Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department are investigating the single vehicle crash that occurred on Sacramento Drive near Bedford Terrace on Saturday. Police say the driver was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries following the collision.” [WUSA9]
Man Shot in Kingstowne — Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting on Friday (April 7) near Barclay Drive and King Centre Drive. Police say a man was found with a gunshot wound to the upper body and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe preliminarily that it was “an isolated incident.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Metro Police Turn to Localities for Staffing Help — “Metro is working to increase its use of police officers from other agencies in the Washington region, paying overtime rates for extra shifts at train stations and bus boarding areas to combat a rise in crime within the transit system.” The Fairfax County Police Department says it doesn’t have a formal agreement with Metro but works with the agency on joint initiatives. [The Washington Post]
County Opens Mental Health Clinic on Richmond Highway — “A group of people, led by retired school social worker Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch, came together to address the local need for culturally competent, accessible, community based behavioral health care on Richmond Highway. Their work resulted in the opening of The Growth and Healing HUB, which provides affordable, inclusive behavioral health and wellness services to children and families in southern Fairfax County.” [FCHD]
Capital One Pushes Workers to Return to Offices — “The McLean banking and credit card giant, one of the D.C. region’s largest employers, is telling workers companywide that they will be required to be in their offices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday starting May 2, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported this week.” [Washington Business Journal]
Colvin Run Bridge Work Will Require Traffic Stoppages — “On Tuesday, April 11, weather permitting, Hunter Mill Road (Route 674) will have early afternoon traffic stoppages between Crowell Road (Route 675) and Cobble Mill Road to install beams for the new bridge over Colvin Run…The full traffic stoppages lasting up to ten minutes each will occur between noon and 3 p.m.” [VDOT]
Lawsuit Challenges Rollback of Felon Voting Rights — “A discretionary process being used by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to decide which felons can get their voting rights back is unconstitutional and could lead to decisions based on an applicant’s political affiliations or views, a lawsuit filed Thursday argued.” [Associated Press/WTOP]
George Mason University Band Goes to White House — “The Pep Band has some very exciting news… we are thrilled to announce we will be performing at the @WhiteHouse Easter Egg Roll on April 10th! We can not wait to perform at this amazing event!!” [GMU Green Machine/Twitter]
It’s Monday — Sunny. Mild. High of 65 and low of 38. Sunrise at 6:39 am and sunset at 7:40 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) The Fairfax County Police Department and George Mason University have joined forces with an Arlington-based think tank to study how the attitudes and behavior of police officers evolve over the course of their careers.
Touted as the first of its kind in the U.S., the long-term or longitudinal study is intended to give the FCPD and other police departments a better understanding of how to address staffing challenges by following a select group of officers, potentially over decades.
The results could inform the FCPD’s recruiting efforts and provide a new look at what makes someone a successful police officer, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a 1 p.m. press conference, noting that divorce, suicide, alcoholism and domestic violence rates among police are “higher than the national norm.”
“We’re really happy to engage in this long-term journey to figure out what success looks like for Fairfax County, because we want to continue to lead on behalf of our profession,” Davis said. “We think over time and hopefully over many years, we’ll learn a lot more about who wants to become part of this profession and, once they enter our ranks, what determines their trajectory for success.”
Looking at both applicants and current officers, the study will be conducted independently by Dr. Cynthia Lum, a criminology professor in GMU’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, and the National Policing Institute.
With a gift provided by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022, the institute is funding the estimated $300,000 cost of the study’s first three years. That includes $186,401 that went to GMU to support its costs, according to National Policing Institute President Jim Burch.
Researchers hope to get enough money from public and private funders to continue the study for 10 to 20 years, Lum said.
With a current vacancy rate of 206 positions, the FCPD has been operating under a personnel emergency since July 2022, meaning officers are required to work overtime with two shifts in rotation instead of the usual three.
Compensation has emerged as the top concern from interviews with officers, though it’s not the only one, according to FCPD Administrative Support Bureau Commander Major Gregory Fried, citing a desire for a better work-life balance as another issue that has come up.
The police department has recently committed more money to job advertising and pay for public safety workers, along with efforts to modernize the hiring process. The next academy class starting April 24 will have 58 graduates, the most in a decade, Davis said.
Still, officer recruitment and retention have become a struggle for law enforcement agencies across the country.
“We’re losing some of our best, and we struggle to bring in the best as well. As we face these challenges, though, taxpayers rightfully expect more,” Burch said. “Communities want more effective and fair policing. They want safer communities…The reality is policing is a profession. It’s not a vocation…We must invest, and that’s what this study is about, investing in those who step up to serve in their communities.”
The national exodus of officers has frequently been attributed to declining morale in the face of heightened public scrutiny, but Covid and mass early retirements may be bigger contributors to burnout, according to The Marshall Project, which reported earlier this year that local government employment in general has dropped since 2020.
Burch hopes to see the study of Fairfax County police officers replicated in other jurisdictions.
“What we learn here in Fairfax County will inform and improve policing across the United States,” Burch said.
The FCPD is also working with the D.C. nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) on a review of shootings by its officers, which increased last year. That study was initiated in early March after Maryland resident Timothy Johnson was shot and killed outside Tysons Corner Center on Feb. 22.
Davis announced on March 23 that the officer who fired the fatal shot that evening had been fired.
The popular outdoor concert series, Friday Night Live!, will return to the Herndon Town Green on May 5.
Organizers released the schedule for the program’s 29th season earlier this week.
“We have an exciting band lineup this year and can’t wait to see all our fans again this summer. It’s hard to believe that this is our 29th season,” Laura Poindexter, the chair of Friday Night Live!, said.
Sponsored by the Dulles Chamber of Commerce, the series will include 16 concerts every Friday through the end of August.
“We have a great variety of bands within the rock cover band genre. Where other venues and concert series have moved toward tribute acts, we’ve found that our audience prefers a more varied experience at our events,” Poindexter continued.
The complete schedule is below:
- May 5: Under the Covers
- May 12: Shake the Room
- May 19: It’s All Good
- May 26: Royals
- June 2: Herndon Festival (no Friday Night Live!)
- June 9: Gonzo’s Nose
- June 16: 8 Track Jones + Billy T Wilde Band
- June 23: JunkFood
- June 30: keeton + All-Star Band
- July 7: LauraLea & Tripp Fabulous
- July 14: Doc Marten and the Flannels
- July 21: Herr Metal + Dr FU
- July 28: Turtle Recall + More More More
- August 4: The Reflex
- August 11: The Rockets
- August 18 Screaming Mönkeys
- August 25: Social Call
Food from local restaurants like Bolay and Jimmy’s Old Tavern will be available on site. Beer and wine is also available for purchase. A portion of tip money from alcoholic purchases will go to the Herndon High School’s alcohol-free grad party.
Great Falls will officially have a Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) retail store.
The business will open on Wednesday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. at 9843 Georgetown Pike in the Great Falls Center.
“This new store means Great Falls residents no longer have to drive to Reston or the Tysons area to purchase their spirits,” Virginia ABC Chief Executive Officer Travis Hill said. “We hope to continue to offer a high level of convenience to our customers, both here and elsewhere in the commonwealth.”
The public is invited to the grand opening ceremony for the roughly 2,000-square-foot store, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m on Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
This is the authority’s 399th location in Virginia. Store inventory includes 232 different brands and sizes of American whiskeys, 132 cordials, 174 vodkas and 124 tequilas.
A Deep Dive Into the Fight Over the FBI HQ — “What both delegations agree on is that this is a once-in-a-generation contract that could serve as a 50-year anchor for either community, potentially bringing tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the winner. There are political legacies at stake here. Plus, there’s the CIA angle, which no one can talk about.” [Slate]
Lake Barcroft House Fire Starts in Jeep — “A fire caused by an electrical issue with a Jeep parked outside a Fairfax County home is responsible for a resident being displaced and thousands of dollars worth of damage.” One firefighter got “a minor injury” while responding to the fire in the 6300 block of Cavalier Corridor on March 31. [FOX5]
Construction on Historic Workhouse Buildings Prolonged — “Work at buildings W13 and W15 at the Workhouse Campus in Lorton is expected to extend into mid- to late summer 2023,” per the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. The buildings, one of which will house Bunnyman Brewing, were expected to be finished this spring. [On the MoVe]
Annandale Business Owner Joins Mason District Race — “Steve Lee, a business owner and community leader, announced Wednesday that he has filed the required paperwork to seek the Democratic nomination for the Mason District supervisor’s seat…If elected, Lee would be the first-ever Asian American on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.” [Patch]
Virginia First Lady Awards Fairfax Cafe — “First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented a 2023 Spirit of Virginia Award to Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, a retail location for the nonprofit, Every1 Can Work, whose mission is to provide employment to adults living with an intellectual disability through a supported group environment by teaching work and life skills to further independence.” [Fairfax City Economic Development]
Herndon Tech Company Plots Expansion — “Herndon cybersecurity startup Strivacity Inc. has raised $20 million in new funding to push forward on its research and bolster its sales, marketing and engineering teams, ultimately planning to grow the 42-person company to 70 in the next 12 months.” [DC Inno]
Netflix Wants Lovelorn Locals to Star in Blind Dating Show — “Casting directors are still scouring the D.C. area for folks who might want to star in a future season of Love is Blind. The show just released its fourth season based in Seattle but is continuing to cast for the future, with its fifth season predicted for a fall 2023 release.” [DCist]
The Dr. Seuss Experience Opens in Tysons — “Starting April 7, fans of Dr. Seuss can journey through popular children’s books like ‘The Lorax’ and ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ with immersive sets and sights at Tysons Corner Center…The experience will run until Labor Day.” [WTOP]
Entertainers Sought for Annual Reston Cultural Festival — “Reston Community Center is seeking performing arts groups of all ages and cultures for the 2023 Reston Multicultural Festival. The festival will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Reston Town Center with performances in the Pavilion and Reston Town Square Park.” [RCC]
It’s Friday — Sprinkles. Overcast. Cool. High of 57 and low of 48. Sunrise at 6:44 am and sunset at 7:37 pm. [Weather.gov]
