A luxury hair salon has officially opened in the Town of Herndon.
The Salon de Muse held a grand opening in late January at Reston-Herndon Business Park.
Located at 366 Victory Drive, the salon has six chairs for independent hair stylists on the main level and an upper level with three treatment rooms that host massage therapists, estheticians, and make-up and eyelash extension technicians, according to its website.
The business is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays.
Nordic-Knot, a local business that specializes in pretzel baker, has also signed a lease for that building for a production-only location, the property manager announced earlier this week. Its flagship location at Lake Anne Plaza will remain.
Co-owner Melissa Romano emphasized that the second location is strictly for production only.
“There will be no change to operations for our business, we are simply adding additional production space off-site,” Romano wrote in a statement.
Nordic Knot specializes in hand-made pretzels that are baked to order.
The Fairfax County School Board will have a lot of new faces next year — and perhaps, a couple of members reemerging from its past.
The latest member to opt out of a reelection bid is at-large member Abrar Omeish, who told FFXnow that she has instead accepted a job with a nonprofit that focuses on youth law and advocacy.
She will also serve on the board of a national youth organization, though she’s not able to publicly announce the exact positions yet.
In a statement on her decision, Omeish cited frustrations with the legal and public relations battles that she says have undermined the school board’s efforts to further equity and inclusion.
“Because of how stifling these investigations have been on the ability of our school system to implement real change, I have accepted an offer to fight the very legal battles that have bled our system and so many others on a national level,” she said. “My work will allow school systems across the country to pass more equitable and inclusive policies without fearing the legal threats of lawsuits and investigations, fighting for every child in the nation.”
Elected to the school board in 2019 at 24 years old, Omeish was one of the first Muslim women and the youngest person at the time to win elected office in Virginia.
Sharing supportive comments from current and former students, she says her proudest accomplishments while on the board include advocating for free virtual tutoring and mental health services for students, the addition of more religious holidays to the school calendar, and support for expanded language translation services.
However, Omeish has clashed at times with her colleagues on the school board, some of whom publicly criticized her for calling Israel’s treatment of Palestinians “apartheid.” In addition, the student-led LGBTQ advocacy group, Pride Liberation Project, accused her in 2021 of making “bigoted comments” during a phone call, for which she later apologized.
Fairfax County Public Schools as a whole has faced political and legal challenges over the past few years, from the ongoing lawsuit over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions process to a federal review of its special education services during Covid and a state investigation of its handling of National Merit Scholarship commendations.
Omeish was one of three school board members targeted by recall campaigns in 2021 led by parents who opposed school closures for the pandemic. The petition against Omeish didn’t get enough signatures to reach court, while ones against Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen and Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen were dismissed.
Still, Omeish says she remains “proud of all that my team has been able to accomplish and bring to benefit Fairfax County.”
“I will remain a voice in our community and in FCPS — the system I grew up in and still have family in, the system I came to serve and love — to see much of what I will fight for come to life at the local level in my own home,” Omeish said. “For now, I will remain laser-focused on giving everything I have to this work. We still have a bright eight months ahead to do all that we can for our kids, and I still have a few ideas left for what I hope to accomplish.”
Even with Omeish withdrawing, the race for the board’s three at-large seats remains crowded, with 10 candidates in the running — including former members Ilryong Moon and Ryan McElveen, who had both stepped down at the end of 2019.
When officially announcing his candidacy today (Thursday), McElveen said he will advocate for “gun violence prevention, universal pre-kindergarten, free and healthy meals for every student, and solar panels on every school” if elected again.
“I see in the eyes of my daughters and all of our students that our best days are ahead of us,” he said. “As a county, we need to reset, reorient our priorities, and rebuild. I am ready to take on that challenge and work with our community to bring the joy back to education.”
Only three members of the 12-person school board will seek reelection to their current seats this November: Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill), Karl Frisch (Providence), and Ricardy Anderson (Mason).
At-large member and current board chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer could return as the successor to Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, who will join Tholen, Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Franconia) and Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon) in retiring.
Cohen, at-large member Karen Keys-Gamarra and Stella Pekarsky (Sully) have launched campaigns for General Assembly seats.
The Town of Herndon is considering a proposal to demolish two historic structures on the Adams-Green Funeral Home property.
At a Historic District Review Board work session yesterday (Wednesday), staff recommended denying the proposal to demolish a historic house at 724 Elden Street and and a historic carriage house near the primary house.
According to an application filed with the town in January 2020, there are no immediate plans to demolish the buildings and secure the site with fill dirt and grass.
“The applicant is not proposing any development or construction on this property at this time,” the application says.
In a Feb. 1 letter to the town, the applicant’s attorney, Michael O’Reilly, argued that it’s not practical or cost-effective to relocate the building — an effort that the applicant undertook when they previously relocated a building on the property in the early 2000s.
Both historic structures are located in the Herndon Historic District. They were built in the late 1800s by Charles Reed, a prominent member of the community at the time. His family also started the first funeral business in the town.
“The house is a classic and well-preserved example of the Folk Victorian residential architectural style,” the staff report said, stating that it retains much of its original structure despite alterations over the years. The carriage house on the lot is simpler in form.
Staff noted that the demolition of historic buildings in that area is strongly discouraged because it results in the permanent loss of the historical integrity of the district.
“Historic resources once removed are gone forever and create gaps in the fabric of historic neighborhoods,” the town said.
Staff also said the pair of historic buildings are in a particularly prominent location in the historic district and do not have any known damage or deterioration issues.
The applicant filed a demolition plan after an engineering analysis found that the building is “not a candidate for renovation and commercial reuse,” according to a report by Goughnour Engineering.
“The work to strengthen the structure and foundation and to meet fire code and accessibility requirements will result in the demolition and reconstruction of significant portions of the building to the extent that very little of the existing building will remain to be incorporated the new structure,” the O’Reilly wrote.
Vienna Metro Station Gets New Bikeshare Stop — “We partnered with @fairfaxcounty to install a new Capital Bikeshare Station at Vienna Metro Station and relocate our bike racks under a canopy for increased protection from the elements. This means a better biking experience for all of our customers!” [WMATA/Twitter]
Herndon Robbery Under Investigation — “The victim told police that two men approached him from behind as he was walking on the sidewalk on March 29. One of the men showed what appeared to be a handgun and they demanded the victim hand over his property, according to police. Once he did, the two men drove off in vehicle that was driven by a third suspect.” [Patch]
Republican Joins Senate Race Against Chap Petersen — “Ken Reid, a former Loudoun County supervisor and Leesburg council member, announced on Sunday that he was running to fill the 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate…[Petersen is also] facing a challenge from fellow Democrats Saddam Azlan Salim and Erika Yalowitz in the June 20 primary.” [Patch]
Restoration and Updated Trail Near Finish in Mount Vernon — “Around April 17, the scaffolding will come down from the exterior of Mount Vernon’s Mansion following a multi-year project to restore it to its 1799 appearance…Later this spring, an upgraded route to George Washington’s home will be unveiled as the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail fully opens for pedestrian and bike access from Richmond Highway.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Candy Corporation Swallows Vet Company — “Mars, best known for its candy empire including M&Ms and Snickers bars, also owns a large pet care business, and it’s adding to it with a $1.3 billion acquisition of veterinary diagnostic company Heska. Mars’ pet care business is one of the largest in the country.” [WTOP]
Local Arts Organizations Awarded Grants for Recovery — “ArtsFairfax [Wednesday] announces 29 nonprofit arts organizations as recipients of the ArtsFairfax Pandemic Recovery Grant. A total of $250,000 was allocated by the County for grants distribution to the arts sector in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” [ArtsFairfax]
Annual Horse Expo on the Horizon — “Calling all horse enthusiasts to the Annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park! This massive event is for everyone – experienced riders, beginners, and anyone who loves horses or hopes to become a rider. Trot over to the farm on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy the show!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Thursday — Thunderstorms late. Overcast. Pleasantly warm. High of 85 and low of 58. Sunrise at 6:45 am and sunset at 7:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County staff have pared down the draft of Reston’s proposed comprehensive plan from 180 pages to 133.
At a Fairfax County Planning Commission workshop on March 30, staff walked through their amendments to the proposed plan, a process that kicked off more than two years ago with a community-driven task force initiated by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
The task force approved draft recommendations on Aug. 28 after 58 public meetings, significant public feedback and rigorous debate. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn convened the task force after he took office in 2020.
Overall, staff’s version of the plan avoids policy and prescriptive language in specific areas, particularly land use. It also combines chapters about equity and community health — previously created by the task force as separate chapters — under the umbrella of “new town elements.”
St. Clair Williams, senior planner with the county’s Department of Planning and Development, said the change was intended to avoid language that could clash with current county policies, particularly the county’s One Fairfax policy on equity.
“There were concerns raised regarding new chapters. Was it created new policy or was it something that was exceeding current county policy?” Williams said.
Revising the community health section was challenging due to the lack of a formalized, countywide health policy that the plan could use as a basis, he said.
Hunter Mill District Planning Commissioner John Carter emphasized that staff’s edits are intended to “implement…instead of create new policy.”
“We’ve tried to emphasize the use of active verbs,” Carter said.
A road network near Association Drive was revised by staff in order to allow flexibility in the future. It now highlights that an east-west connection between Soapstone Drive and Association Drive should avoid tree areas.
The county is considering a major site-specific plan amendment (SSPA) that would redevelop the buildings on Association Drive into a mostly residential project.
Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said she hoped that nomination would preserve some of the historic aspects of the site.
Other major land use decisions in Reston’s transit-oriented areas were removed from the plan. Those proposals are currently being pushed through the SSPA process, which includes several redevelopment pitches for major projects in Reston.
The plan also adds additional water retention and quality targets for new development. Other general elements related to air, climate, resiliency and invasive plant species were removed, though the new draft has sections on vegetation and “green buildings.”
Staff also revised language guiding the number of full-size athletic fields in Reston’s TSA, saying that the “equivalent of 12 fields” should be provided.
“Staff had identified some of the challenges with finding sufficient space for full-size fields,” Williams said.
No land use changes for Reston’s golf courses are recommended — a major point of contention in the community.
For affordable housing, the plan ups the bar on requirements for developers on Reston projects.
In Reston’s transit station areas, affordable housing requirements for rental workforce dwelling units (WDU) are higher than surrounding areas. In the TSAs, 12% of units should be set aside as rental WDUs — half of which should target households making between 71 and 80% of the area’s median income.
The countywide policy requires that 8% of rental units in residential developments be set aside as WDUs.
Staff will release their final version of the plan on May 11. Public hearings are slated before the planning commission on June 14 and June 28, with potential action on the latter date. Meetings are tentatively scheduled with the Board of Supervisors this month, though the schedule is subject to change.
Fairfax County Public Library’s annual food drive “Read and Feed” is now underway, replacing the “Food for Fines” program.
The county library system is asking residents to drop off “unexpired, commercially produced food items” as well as new, reusable grocery bags and kitchen tools to any of its 23 branches during their regular operating hours.
Last year, “Read and Feed” replaced the “Food for Fines” program after FCPL stopped charging overdue fines on most materials. The program had given library cardholders a reduction on fines based on the number of donated items.
Donations go to the nonprofit Food For Others (FFO), which will then distribute the items across the county. Food For Others provides food to about 3,000 families and meals to 3,500 FCPS students at 44 schools every week, per the county’s press release.
That represents only a small percentage of students in need, though. There are another 13 schools on the waitlist.
There was about a 30% increase in terms of families that FFO helped between 2021 and 2022, FFO’s director of development and outreach Anna Slaten said in a county press release.
It’s anticipated that inflation over the past year will make the need even greater. Relatedly, donations in the summer of 2022 were down 30% from the previous year.
“With inflation, not just our clients are feeling the effects, but our donors are also,” Slaten said.
Additionally, pandemic-era emergency SNAP benefits ended last month, leaving locals looking for even more help.
FFO recently expanded its Merrifield warehouse to address the growing need.
Library branches across the county are accepting pretty much all canned foods, though there are a few items that FFO needs in particular:
- Oil
- Cereal
- Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. – 1 lb.
- Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. – 15 oz.
- Rice, 16 oz. packages
- Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. – 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass)
- Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. – 20 oz.
- Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.)
- Pasta
- Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. – 64 oz.
- New or clean reusable grocery bags
- Can openers
Items not accepted include food that is not labeled, food that’s cooked, opened items, and canned food that is more than three years past its expiration date.
A local nonprofit organization is hoping to expand its therapeutic riding services for people with disabilities in Great Falls.
Based at 9700 Georgetown Pike, Lift Me Up hopes to extend its services to a new horse barn with eight stables across six acres at 1051 Kelso Road near Difficult Run Stream Valley Park.
The expansion would allow the organization to offer “unmounted” wellness programs for groups such as first responders, veterans, seniors, and youth with mental challenges. The barn would serve as an equine-assisted wellness center for Lift Me Up.
“Wellness sessions are unmounted programs where participants interact with horses to learn lessons from equine behaviors. Riding lessons are not included in Wellness Sessions,” the special permit application says.
Received by Fairfax County on March 28, the application notes that the property could have been purchased by a developer and redeveloped with residential units. Instead, the current owners bought the house and barn to preserve the “serenity of fields with horses grazing.”
“Using the Kelso Road property as a horse barn INCREASES the harmony desired in the general purpose of the zoning district as it keeps the open and rural character of the district,” the application says.
The nonprofit organization was founded in 1975 by Colleen Zanin. It has 11 horses, according to its website.
(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) A shooting in a parking lot near Isaac Newtown Square and Wiehle Avenue in Reston left one individual hospitalized with life-threatening injures last night (Tuesday).
Police believe the individual was shot in an act that does not appear to be random, authorities wrote in a social media post.
“The victim remains hospitalized and there are no apparent threats to the community,” police said.
Though it wasn’t publicized until nearly 2 a.m. today, officers were called to the 1900 block of Isaac Newton Square for the shooting at 11:42 p.m. yesterday, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release.
Police believe the shooting occurred inside the victim’s vehicle, according to the release.
That shooting took place just minutes before officers were summoned to a different shooting in the 6300 block of South Kings Highway in Groveton, the FCPD said.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found an adult man who had been shot in the lower body, according to police. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he remains, as of this afternoon.
“Detectives believe the shooting occurred after a verbal argument and continue to investigate to identify a suspect involved,” the FCPD said.
Police said they continue to investigate both incidents.
Officers are in a parking lot near Isaac Newton Sq & Wiehle Ave, Reston for a victim who was shot by unk suspects. Vic was taken to a nearby hospital for injuries considered to be life threatening. Prelim, this does not appear to be a random act. Avoid area as ofcs investigate. pic.twitter.com/EDL1TiWmyJ
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) April 5, 2023
Officers are in the area of South Kings Hwy/Furman Ln in Groveton for an adult man who was shot by an unknown suspect. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for injuries considered to be life-threatening. Avoid area as officers investigate. pic.twitter.com/KLvB2apcAk
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) April 5, 2023
Reopening Date Set for Metro Yellow Line — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced [Tuesday] that the Yellow Line will open again on Sunday, May 7, at the start of rail service. The line has been out of service since September to allow work on the Potomac River tunnel and bridge.” [ALXnow]
Omicron Booster Vaccine Eligibility Expands — “The updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available as a booster dose for children 6 months-4 years old who completed their primary series of three doses.” Just 13% of Fairfax Health District residents under 5 have completed an initial series of Covid vaccinations. [Fairfax County Health Department]
McKay’s Use of County Car Draws Scrutiny — TV news station WJLA claims that Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay has gotten two complaints about his use of a county-owned vehicle. In one, a “concerned woman” saw the car at a community pool on a Sunday, and the other alleged McKay was “speeding and driving recklessly” on Oct. 2, 2021 after a political fundraiser. [ABC7]
McLean Community Center Sets Rules for Facility Visitors — “The new MCC Code of Conduct, adopted by the governing board on March 22, outlines unacceptable behavior and makes sure the public knows that community center staff can take action at their sole discretion against people who violate the Code of Conduct.” [Patch]
Vienna Pushes to Expand Availability of Public Art — “The Vienna Town Council on March 20 unanimously approved the group’s 38-page ‘Vision for Public Art Master Plan,’ which outlined dozens of ways of making the town more aesthetically pleasing and suggested where the improvements could be implemented.” [Gazette Leader]
Graduates of County Innovation Hub Hired by Inova — “Six months after the grand opening of the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub (WISH) at the Hybla Valley Community Center, several local participants in a training program conducted with Inova Health System have secured jobs with the nonprofit healthcare provider.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Wednesday — Cloudy. Warm. High of 86 and low of 59. Sunrise at 6:47 am and sunset at 7:35 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County wants your food scraps and yard waste.
The county will officially launch its new compost outpost at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Wednesday).
Part of a two-year-long pilot program, the facility consists of two 20-foot-long shipping containers modified so that visitors can drop off organic waste in the dirt-filled receptacles.
“It is designed to create optimal conditions for composting and is a test facility to demonstrate small-scale, decentralized, organics processing,” the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) said in a media advisory.
The pilot will expand the county’s efforts to promote composting, which makes soil healthier by returning nutrients to the earth, reducing erosion and improving its ability to hold water, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
The county has also been accepting food scraps for composting at the I-95 Landfill Complex (9850 Furnace Road) in Lorton and at some farmers markets, though the 2023 season isn’t set to begin until later this month.
The I-66 outpost will process food scraps and yard waste from residents and county facilities, though residents must drop off their collections directly.
“We will not be picking them up for this program,” DPWES spokesperson Sharon North said.
The resulting compost is expected to be initially used at county parks, according to North.
The pilot will help the county determine the facility’s effectiveness and provide a visible demonstration of “the ability…to take a waste product and turn it into a locally sourced and readily available resource that can be used to enhance the community,” said Matt Adams, director of the Solid Waste Management Program in the DPWES Engineering and Environmental Compliance Division.
“The Compost Outpost pilot demonstrates this by utilizing sustainable materials, such as plant material and food scraps that are currently treated as a waste products to be removed from the community, and transforming them into compost that can be used locally,” Adams said in a statement to FFXnow. “This greatly benefits the environment and the county’s overall sustainability goals by lowering emissions through the reduction [of] transportation/processing practices and adds to the resources available within a community.”
Here’s more on the pilot from DPWES:
The two-year pilot was approved by the Department of Environmental Quality and aligns with the county’s Zero Waste Policy by diverting food waste and other organics from municipal waste streams.
Over the course, the operational impacts, as well as the production of the finished compost will be assessed to determine the project’s feasibility and efficacy.
The Compost Outpost pilot will cost approximately $100,000. It is funded by the county’s Zero Waste Team and hosted by the Solid Waste Management Program and its partner, Compost Crew.
More information on the materials accepted for composting can be found on the DPWES website.
John Farrell, an attorney and longtime Reston resident, has officially withdrawn his candidacy in the crowded race for District 7 in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Farrell, who is currently running for a seat on Reston Association’s Board of Directors — a body he currently serves on — said the move was motivated by the inclusion of another candidate in the race.
In an email to FFXnow, Farrell said he is endorsing Karen Keys-Gamarra for the seat.
When Karen Keys Gamara announced her candidacy, I knew we had our candidate. She has spent her career representing kids in need of services before the courts More than 18,000 residents in HD 7 have already voted for Karen multiple times. We know her, we know her values and her commitment to our future and our children’s future. We’ve also seen her in action, fighting for our community and standing firm against efforts to force a far right agenda on Fairfax County schools.
Farrell said he entered the race in an effort to fight for Robert Simon’s founding principles for Reston.
Karen Keys-Gamarra, an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board, announced her bid to succeed Del. Ken Plum in early March.
Plum announced his intention to retire in late February following more than four decades in public office.
Keys-Gamarra has served on the school board since 2017. She is currently chair of the comprehensive planning development committee, a member of the Board Audit Committee, and a liaison to the Title I Parent Advisory Committee, the Fairfax County Planning Commission, and Educate Fairfax.
She also works as an attorney who handles family law matters, and she serves as a court-appointed guardian and litem in Northern Virginia.
She will face fellow candidates Paul Berry, Shyamali Roy Hauth, Mary Barthelson and John Farrell in the June 20 primary for District 7, which extends from Route 7 north of Reston down to Waples Mill Road near Oakton.
Early voting for the primary begins on May 6 and the Democratic primary is set for June 9. The general election is slated for Nov. 7.
The Reston location has officially opened (courtesy Ruth’s Chris)
A new steakhouse has landed in Reston Town Center.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House has officially opened at 11990 Market Street, the company announced today (Tuesday).
Formerly home to the Italian restaurant Il Fornaio, the roughly 7,400-square-foot location includes two dining rooms, a bar and bar lounge, a patio and two private dining rooms. It seats up to 270 people, including 48 diners on the patio.
“We’ve had the pleasure of serving the Fairfax County community for many years, and are fortunate to make our one-of-a-kind experience available to even more guests in the area,” Sierra Krynitsky, general manager for Ruth’s Chris in Reston, said. “Ruth’s Chris offers its guests an exclusive dining experience — whether they’re celebrating a special occasion or enjoying an intimate dinner — no matter the size, we look forward to welcoming guests into our restaurant and showcasing the same top-notch service they’re accustomed to from our brand.”
The Reston location is the third in the county. It has more than 150 restaurants around the world since it started in 1964.
“The Reston location is our third in the area, representing an exciting expansion in the region that further entrenches us in Fairfax County’s fine dining scene,” said Cheryl Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. “We’re thrilled to continue to serve this community and look forward to more opportunities for expansion in the future.”
Founded by Ruth Fertel in New Orleans, the restaurant is known for its prime beef that is served on a 500-degree plate.
The Reston location also offers a happy hour with full-size appetizers that start at $11 and cocktails and wine from 4-6 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
The resturant only operates during dinner hours from 4-9:30 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, 4-10:30 p.m. on Friday, and 5-10:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Inova Ends Mask Requirement — “Effective April 3, masking will be optional at Inova care sites. Exceptions will include high-risk clinical spaces and for anyone interacting with patients identified by their provider as immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease from COVID-19” [Inova Health/Twitter]
Rose Hill Redevelopment Proposal Recommended for Deferral — “The inclusion of the Rose Hill Plaza development plan in the work program, approved on March 29 by the planning commission, came with a condition: the proposal will remain a ‘deferred item’ until the owner of the shopping center, Combined Properties Inc., conducts ‘further community outreach.'” [Patch]
Fairfax Man Arrested for Allegedly Choking Woman — City of Fairfax Police arrested a 48-year-old man for allegedly choking the passenger of another car during a “traffic altercation” on Sunday (April 2) near Fairfax Blvd and Pickett Road. According to police, the man “left his vehicle, put his hands around the neck of a passenger sitting in the second vehicle, and began to choke her.” He also threw a ginger ale can. [Patch]
PNC Bank Set to Close Several Local Branches — PNC Financial Services Group Inc will shutter 11 Northern Virginia branches as part of a nationwide reduction in its footprint, particularly in grocery stores. The Oakton branch at 2964 Chain Bridge Road is the only standalone location targeted, but this round also includes Giant Food store branches in Oakton, Fairfax, Centreville, Herndon, Clifton and the Falls Church area. [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Gets New Ethiopian Restaurant — “JD Bar & Restaurant is located at 6669 Little River Turnpike in the same building that housed two previous Ethiopian places, Monarch, and before that, Damas. JD features traditional Ethiopian cuisine with injera, including geba weta, doro wat, lamb wot, kifto, tibs, and fish dulet.” [Annandale Today]
Republican Enters Virginia Senate Race — “An ex-adviser to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Monday he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in 2024, the first contender to emerge after Kaine committed in January to seeking a third term.” [The Washington Post]
GMU Works to Preserve Civil War-Era Graffiti — “While many see graffiti as an eyesore, students and staff at George Mason University are trying to digitally preserve 160-year-old wall art…[Mills] Kelly told WTOP that the graffiti left on the plaster walls at the Graffiti House in Brandywine Station and Historic Blenheim show a different side of history than what most usually see.” [WTOP]
Region Sees Increase in Older Population — “A new report found that Northern Virginia is one of the country’s fastest-growing populations of older adults, but more must be done to accommodate that age group. The number of adults 65 and older living in Northern Virginia increased by 61 percent since 2010, with approximately 310,000 living in the region as of 2020.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy. Warm. High of 77 and low of 55. Sunrise at 6:48 am and sunset at 7:34 pm. [Weather.gov]
A new Korean barbecue and hot pot restaurant called H Pot is coming soon to Herndon Centre.
A representative for real estate agency A.J. Dwoskin & Associates, Inc., which manages the property, declined to provide any information about the new business, including contact information for the owner.
Fairfax County has its fair share of eateries offering hot pot — where meat, vegetables and various sides are boiled in a soup base — or Korean barbecue, but ones combining the two are rarer. In both cases, the food is typically cooked at each diner’s table.
The restaurant has leased a 6,000-square-foot space at Herndon Centre, according to the shopping center’s current site plan. It’s replacing the ACE Learning Center at 400 Elden Street.
The shopping center’s website indicates that there are currently four vacancies. It is anchored by tenants like Lotte Market, LA Fitness, and Sprouts Farmers Market.
No property tax rate increases are proposed in the Town of Herndon’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2024.
The $62.5 million budget, submitted by town manager Bill Ashton II, represents a 9% increase over last year’s budget.
Ashton said the town was able to hold the line on its real estate tax rate despite the pressures of inflation and a tight labor market.
“Nevertheless, and through careful fiscal management, the proposed FY 2024 Budget allows for continuation of the programs and services town citizens expect and enjoy, as well as funding for new initiatives, chief among them preparatory work on the town’s Comprehensive Plan,” Ashton said in a news release.
But he cautioned that a mixed level of continued recovery is forecasted in the current economic environment.
“With significant levels of inflation, rising interest rates, and a looming national economic recession, the extent to which these pressures will affect the town’s revenue projections is unknown,” Ashton wrote in a letter with his budget proposal. “While we experienced significant revenue declines during the pandemic, we saw many revenue categories start to recover last year.”
Higher tax bills are expected still for most property owners because of rising real estate values. The real estate tax rate will still remain the same at 26.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.
But increases are proposed for water and sewer rates. The sewer service rate will go from $7.16 to $8.28 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption, and the water service rate will increase from $3.31 to $3.47 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption.
All water consumed during peak periods behind the average in the preceding two winter-quarter billing periods will be charged at a higher rate: $5.91 per 1,000 gallons.
The town also plans to use remaining funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to complete deferred maintenance projects, vehicle purchases and water-sewer infrastructure projects.
The Herndon Town Council will adopt the proposed budget on June 30 following a series of public hearings and work sessions.
The public hearings are slated for Tuesday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Ingram Council Chambers.
