A plan to convert Fairfax County’s streetlights into LED lights is well underway.
At a Board of Supervisors’ safety and security committee meeting on March 22, Aileen Santiago of the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) said the program is expected to generate roughly $1.4 million in yearly savings when completed.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay lauded the conversion program’s work, which he called an investment with a significant return.
“It’s a really good news story in term of the environmental savings standpoint, and it shows the investment we made on the environmental front is paying itself back in a massive way,” McKay said.
The program kicked off in 2018 after the county reached a regional agreement with Dominion Energy to transition into more energy-efficient bulbs.
In Dominion Energy‘s service area — which accounts for 96% of the county’s 60,000 existing streetlights — the conversion process will be completed in fiscal year 2024 using roughly $9 million allocated for five years.
But Northern Virginia Electrical Cooperative (NOVEC) — which is responsible for the remaining 4% of the county’s lights — is largely not accelerating the conversion process for customers in its area, Santiago said.
“Currently, they’re not invested in accelerating and providing reduced rates similar to Dominion,” Santiago told the committee. So far, NOVEC has largely been converting street-facing lights into LEDs, and that inventory is overall limited.
Supervisors expressed disappointment on NOVEC’s progress thus far. Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith noted that the organization’s service area impacts her constituents significantly.
“It’s not right that NOVEC is not doing the conversions there,” she said.
The conversion program went into effect after the board made amendments to require new and existing streetlights be converted into LEDs with specific color temperatures.
Other board members focused on the need to conduct a more holistic study of lighting needs throughout the county. Currently, the supervisors push streetlight petition requests to county staff.
Referencing a similar board matter passed years ago, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk stated that the county needs to develop long-term strategies to fund streetlights that are being requested by individuals.
“My concern is that we really don’t have enough focus on what we’re gonna do with regard to the new streetlight requests,” Lusk said.
A programmatic process would require additional funding beyond the county’s current petition program, DPWES Director Chris Herrington said.
Man Pulled From Mud in Mount Vernon — “Units on scene of a rescue in the 5200 block of Burke Drive in the Woodlawn area. One adult male in the water 30 feet from the shore stuck in mud. Firefighters have successfully extricated the person. No reported injuries at this time.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Nearby: Suspect ID’d in Dulles Town Center Shooting — “Loudoun County police have identified the suspect in Sunday morning’s shooting inside the Dulles Town Center shopping mall that left one person in serious condition…The mall has been closed for the remainder of the day.” [WTOP]
Shooting Threat Found in John Lewis HS Restroom — “In response to the threatening graffiti found at John R. Lewis High School, a letter from Fairfax County Public Schools was sent home to parents and guardians. Officials say out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased security and police presence beginning Monday, April 10 and throughout the week.” [WUSA9]
Driver Crashes Into Annandale ESL School — “An elderly driver rammed into a Fairfax County school Friday afternoon, according to Fairfax County Police Department. The incident happened just before 4 p.m. at what appears to be the Evergreen Academy — a language school in Annandale.” At least one person in the building was injured. [ABC7]
Trader Joe’s Taking Over West Springfield Whole Foods — “Trader Joe’s, a longtime tenant of…Springfield Plaza on Old Keene Mill Road, has executed a lease to replace Whole Foods Market at Federal Realty Investment Trust’s Old Keene Mill Center three miles to the west.” Whole Foods will move “toward the end of 2023 for a much larger space at Springfield Plaza.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fairfax County Lost Residents in 2022 — “While some counties in Northern Virginia regained some of the population they lost during the first years of the pandemic, a Census Bureau report released Thursday shows Fairfax County’s population continued to drop.” [Patch]
Summer Camps Offered for Lower-Income Families — “NCS is partnering with the Fairfax County Park Authority to offer affordable summer camps to families with a household income of less than $132,500. Eligible families will pay reduced rates for children to participate in popular Park Authority summer camps offered at Sully Community Center.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
Sidewalk Construction Begins in Vienna — “Beginning…Monday, April 3 and lasting through the week, sidewalk, curb and gutter construction will occur at the corner of Courthouse Rd and Locust St, SW, from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Flaggers will be present. To avoid delays, consider an alternate route.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
It’s Monday — Broken clouds. Mild. High of 69 and low of 39. Sunrise at 6:50 am and sunset at 7:33 pm. [Weather.gov]
The time to get any patio furniture and other loose, outdoor objects inside is now.
At 2:29 p.m. today (Friday), the National Weather Service issued a High Wind Warning for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, in anticipation of an encroaching storm.
Set to take effect from noon tomorrow (Saturday) until midnight, the alert warns of wind gusts that could reach up to 60 mph, raising the potential for power outages and travel difficulties.
…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO MIDNIGHT EDT SATURDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph Saturday afternoon, becoming northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph Saturday evening.
* WHERE…Portions of central and northern Maryland, The District of Columbia, and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…From noon Saturday to midnight EDT Saturday night. The strongest winds are expected Saturday evening.
* IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
“People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches,” the NWS said. “If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.”
The storm has been moving east after slamming California with heavy winds, rain and snow earlier this week. Nearly 90 million people across 21 states are under a hazardous weather alert, as the Midwest and some Southern states face the risk of tornadoes just a week after one killed at least 26 people in Mississippi and Alabama.
[3/31 at 2:55 PM] The @NWS_BaltWash has upgraded the High Wind Watch to a Warning tomorrow (April 1). Sustained 20-30 mph winds can be expected, w/ gusts up to 50 mph Saturday afternoon. By the evening, sustained winds are expected to be 25-35 mph w/ gusts up to 60 mph. #VaWx pic.twitter.com/QKAzOkXvXU
— Ready Fairfax (@ReadyFairfax) March 31, 2023
The annual Tour de Hunter Mill bicycle ride returns to Reston next month (courtesy Lisa Connors)
The third annual Tour de Hunter Mill will return to Reston in May.
Participants take part in three routes that begin and end at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road).
The routes take riders through scenic areas of the Hunter Mill District, including a pitstop at Frying Pan Farm Park.
Three rides are available: a family ride of 5.9 miles, a short ride of 15.5 miles, and a long ride of 29 miles.
Registration is $30 — a portion of which will be donated to the Fairfax Alliance for Better Cycling and to purchase Tour de Hunter Mill socks.
Helmets are required, and the event will be held rain or shine. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult and are free. Volunteers can register to help via email.
Launched in 2021, the event is hosted by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn.
The final touches on the first phase of the Silver Line project that brought Metro into Tysons are falling into place, almost a decade after the five new rail stations in Fairfax County opened.
Construction on the shoulder of the Dulles Connector Road — which links the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons to the I-66 interchange in Idylwood — has been completed, according to a presentation that the Fairfax County Department of Transportation gave to the Board of Supervisors’ Phase 1 Dulles Rail Transportation Improvement District Commission on Tuesday (March 28).
The shoulder reconstruction, which began in April 2022, and some manhole repairs were the last “outstanding” items in the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project’s first phase, FCDOT Special Projects Division Chief Martha Coello told the commission.
Some lane closures were in place this week for the shoulder construction. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority didn’t respond by press time on whether that was the last round of closures.
With a total cost of $2.98 billion, the first phase expanded Metro to Tysons and Reston, launching passenger service in July 2014.
To continue paying off debt from the project, the commission approved a flat tax rate of nine cents per $100 of assessed value for commercial and industrial properties in the special tax district created to fund the Silver Line.
Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget Deputy Director Joe LaHait recommended continuing the current tax rate into fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1, “since coverage in the prior fiscal year (FY2022) cannot be maintained at or above the 1.4x threshold,” an advisory board reported to the commission.
The tax district’s policy, adopted in 2013, dictates that the tax rate should be set at a level that would cover 1.4 times the amount of debt owed each year. The rate can be lowered by up to two cents if that level of coverage has been maintained for two consecutive years.
Though coverage is projected to exceed 1.4 in 2023 and 2024, it dipped below that target to 1.36 for the first time ever last year, according to county staff.
Since it took effect in 2005, the Phase 1 tax district has generated approximately $428.5 million, including $15.5 million in the current fiscal year 2023, as of February — enough to cover the $400 million that Fairfax County was tasked with giving to the MWAA for the project.
“All debt has been issued for this tax district and reached the $400 million cap paid to the Airports Authority,” the advisory board’s minutes from its March 15 meeting said. “The funds were collected via cash contribution and bonds.”
With the county’s obligation covered, the tax district revenue will now be used to pay off debts. As of June 30, it had about $125 million in outstanding debt.
At its Tuesday meeting, the commission also approved a tax rate of 18 cents per $100 of assessed value for the special tax district for the Silver Line’s second phase, which extended Metro from Reston to Ashburn in Loudoun County.
The approved rate represents a two-cent reduction from the current fiscal year 2023 rate, which staff said in March 2022 couldn’t be lowered.
Per a staff presentation, the Dulles Airport and Ashburn stations remain the busiest of the new stations since they opened in November. New Fairfax Connector bus routes supporting the stations in Reston and Herndon are carrying 579 passenger trips per day.
The tax rates for both the Phase 1 and Phase 2 districts will be formally adopted when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approves a budget for FY 2024 on May 9.
Fairfax County could be putting a little more money into a program that aims to make paying taxes in the county easier.
At a budget committee meeting on Tuesday (March 28), the Board of Supervisors got a briefing on the fiscal year 2023 third quarter review, looking over how staff are proposing to use a net $51.2 million in available funding.
Most of that new funding comes from interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve to rein in inflation. That resulted in an additional $37.58 million for the county, which also saw an increase of $11.23 million in revenue from personal property taxes.
The lion’s share of that funding is going to capital projects, like courtroom renovations, but county staff have proposed using $18.96 million for information technology (IT) improvements that could, in part, go into effect by the end of the year.
The one most residents will likely notice is an upgrade to the county’s tax payment systems. While a precise timeline for what will be a multi-year overhaul is still being worked out, staff said the $4 million proposed in the FY 2023 third quarter review would give the program a substantial boost.
“This gives us a good downpayment to get the work started,” said Jay Doshi, director of the Department of Tax Administration. “[The IT Department] has been not only partnering with us, but reaching out to vendors who will offer services to get us to where we’d like to be.”
IT staff said the plan is to have some improvements in place by this fall for residents filing property taxes.
“We’ve relied for a long time on people mailing in checks, paying an exorbitant fee with their credit card, or standing right outside this hallway,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said. “I think this is a short-term improvement but will have long-term benefits…I’m glad to hear at least the beginning parts to this, some of the pieces our citizens will experience, will be forthcoming as soon as this fall.”
Other notable allocations in the third-quarter review include $400,000 to help the Fairfax County Park Authority clear running bamboo, $4.1 million to cover increased overtime costs for Fire and Rescue personnel, and a total of $1.75 million for road and parks signage related to the Route 29 and 50 renamings.
The removal of the names Lee Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway has to be voted on by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which has the authority to name state roads, Fairfax County Department of Transportation spokesperson Robin Geiger confirmed.
The board met earlier this week, but the topic wasn’t on its agenda.
“The allocation of funds is in preparation of the approval of the name changes,” Geiger said.
Residents are sounding off about a proposal to renovate the Barton Hill tennis courts in Reston.
Concerns about noise management dominated a March 22 community meeting where staff offered an update on the project, which would convert some tennis courts into six permanent pickleball courts.
Megan Murphy, a mom of two who moved from Rosslyn to Reston for the calm of the latter’s more suburban environment, said the pickleball court could compromise the quietness she desired for her 5-year-old child, who has special needs.
“I’m so excited for all the pickleball players that you have found your passion, that you found your love, that you’ve got something that’s getting you out there and active and social,” Murphy said. “But I think we need to be really careful and not just footstep all of the concerns that people have expressed.”
Concerns about the noisiness of the popular sport have mounted nationwide. Earlier this year, the Town of Vienna cut restricted pickleball hours at Glyndon Park due to noise complaints. Over in Arlington, the sport has fueled warring flier campaigns between neighbors and lawsuit threats.
The tennis courts on the west side of the facility at 1901 Barton Hill Road would have blended lines to allow additional courts as needed, and dividers would separate pickleball and tennis courts.
Both parking lots will be repaved, and drainage improvements are planned at the southeast corner of the site. The project is currently in the early phases of planning and scoping. Construction could begin later this year, depending on the approval process.
Chris Schumaker, Reston Association’s director of capital projects, said a noise study at the Autumnwood pickleball courts found that decibel levels did not exceed 60 or 100 beyond 150 feet of the facility. The March 9 study was done during peak afternoon play when all pickleball and hybrid courts were at capacity, according to RA.
The sound for pickleball ranges from 57 to 79 decibels, depending on proximity and the type of equipment used. That is 25 decibels more than a tennis racket hitting a ball, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Schumaker also noted that scheduling for pickleball and nearby soccer events can be staggered to reduce the chances of overflow into the street.
“What we did did is a preemptive measure to kind of see what we are dealing with from a data standpoint,” Schumaker told residents.
Laura David, a local resident, said she was concerned the “wonderful enthusiasm” of pickleball players would attract crowds, teams waiting for a turn, and significant noise in a natural habitat ravine near the property, which has a neighborhood in roughly 1,000 feet of the courts.
“There’s no way parking and traffic will be safe for our kids on bikes, for our people walking dogs, and for the general appreciation of a Sunday morning 7 a.m. quiet cup of coffee on the deck of our back of our properties,” David said.
In response to reservations about the safety of an adjacent crosswalk where turning vehicles are faced with a blind side, Schumaker emphasized that any changes would require VDOT approval and are not part of the project.
Rob Richardson, a player and local resident, said it was important to acknowledge that the scenario of having 24 players on the court and 24 waiting for their turn may only occur during peak hours. But he also conceded that “no one wants pickleball in their backyard,” and he might be opposed if it was in his.
Others voiced concerns about tension between tennis and pickleball players in the hybrid facility.
“The pickleball/tennis battle…can get nasty and contested,” resident Renee Shipe said. She suggested that RA implement a possible reservation system or process improvements to help enforce rules and regulations.
RA CEO Mac Cummins said the current plans are preliminary, and the feedback may inform future changes.
“Part of our job is to hear you all tonight and report back tot he board and make the final financial decision,” Cummins said.
Photo via Joan Azeka/Unsplash
Virginia Now Requires Slowing Down for Disabled Vehicles — “In Virginia, it is illegal to not move over or slow down when a first responder or construction vehicle is on the side of the roads with their lights flashing. What isn’t illegal is doing the same for a disabled vehicle, but that will change with a new law supported by Hurley’s family.” The state Senate version of the bill was led by Fairfax County’s Dave Marsden. [WTOP]
Five Displaced by Annandale Townhouse Fire — “On Thursday, March 23, at 1:49 p.m., units were dispatched for a reported townhouse fire in the 7800 block of Rectory Lane.” No one was home at the time. Investigators determined that the fire “was caused by an item left unattended on the electric burner of the stovetop,” resulting in approximately $75,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
FCPS Launches Online Class Registration — “Online registration will be available at more than 30 pilot Fairfax County schools beginning Friday, March 31. All FCPS schools will offer online registration beginning in June.” Fairfax County Public Schools says the new system will be more efficient and provide more flexibility for students. [FCPS]
New Groveton Wendy’s Plans Grand Opening Festivities — “The new Wendy’s fast food restaurant at 6634 Richmond Highway opened its doors to customers March 28, according to a company spokesperson. Originally slated to open in late 2022, the restaurant will hold its official grand opening celebration Apr. 15 with ‘free food for a year certificates’ for the first 100 guests.” [On the MoVe]
Reston Entrepreneur Adjusts Charity Ambitions — “Len Forkas will not be traveling to Norway in April as part of a planned skiing trip to the North Pole for charity. Instead, he is going to Nepal in order to climb Mount Everest. This won’t be the first mountain the 63-year-old Reston businessman has climbed.” [Patch]
State Legislator Retirements May Reduce N. Va’s Power — “Local government officials here worry that the shift in leadership positions in the state’s Democratic Party — southward to the Hampton Roads area — means Northern Virginia will lose important state funding for schools, transportation and other services” [The Washington Post]
Bench Installed at McLean HS for Former Baseball Player — “The late Caleb Beatty was a standout player for the McLean Highlanders. Beatty, 26, died unexpectedly this past October. He was a 2015 McLean graduate. In memory of the hulking catcher, a permanent homemade wooden cedar bench…has been installed at the field in foul territory along the left-field line.” [Gazette Leader]
Reston Tech Hiring Firm Seeks to Address Disparities — “Revature, a tech talent enablement firm, has joined forces with OneTen, a coalition committed to closing the opportunity gap for Black talent in the U.S…Revature and OneTen will work with companies across the country to fill vacancies while helping candidates build fulfilling careers in tech.” [Fairfax County EDA]
It’s Friday — Light rain in the evening and overnight. High of 64 and low of 42. Sunrise at 6:56 am and sunset at 7:32 pm. [Weather.gov]
The case against a man who allegedly fired a gun at Sully’s Pour House in 2021 is moving forward.
A status hearing has been set for Monday, April 3, a spokesperson for Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office told FFXnow.
The hearing comes after the owners of the gastropub in the Town of Herndon slammed Descano and his office, claiming that they’re pursuing a plea deal against defendant De’Quinn Le’Charn Hall, 29. Hall allegedly fired a gun at the gastropub in November 2021. No injuries were reported.
In several public social media posts, the owner stated that Descano had previously pledged not to pursue a plea deal and intended to pursue felony charges.
“We were PROMISED by STEVE DESCANO himself that he WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PLEA DEAL TO GO THROUGH. HE PROMISED — Why are we still shocked that HE LIED?!” Sully’s Pour House said in one Facebook post.
Laura Birnbaum, spokesperson for the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, said that no update on a plea bargain has been discussed.
“There hasn’t been any movement in this case since December or any updated discussion of a plea,” Birnbaum told FFXnow.
The confusion was caused by a clerical error in the court schedule, which mistakenly tagged the case with the label of “plea,” she said.
Birnbaum said there no other substantial developments to share about the case.
In December of last year, the restaurant’s owners voiced frustration with the overall handling of the case by prosecutors.
Photo via Google Maps
The renovation of Lake Thoreau Pool is roughly one month behind schedule, according to Reston Association staff.
At an RA meeting on March 23, capital projects coordinator Chris Schumaker said the delay is approximate due to unforeseen conditions.
“We are forecasting four-week delay due to site conditions,” Schumaker said.
So far, the project is roughly 50% complete. The pool base, retaining walls, propane tank and concrete structural supports have been completed.
Construction on the structural steel component of the deck, the storm drain, and parking is in progress.
Schumaker also said the addition to the bathhouse is on hold due to a problem with a sanitary sewer connection in the area.
Despite the unforseen delay, Schumaker said the pool’s reopening is still slated for sometime in the summer.
“We still hope to have an opening sometime in the last summer of this year,” he said.
Lake Thoreau’s pool has been closed since 2020 for the renovation project, which was originally scheduled to break ground two falls ago.
The new facility will include a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.
The project is expected to cost roughly $3.5 million.
An independent investigation found no basis to claims that notices of National Merit Scholarship commendations were intentionally withheld from students, Fairfax County Public Schools announced last night (Wednesday).
Conducted by the law firm Sands Anderson, the review confirmed that eight schools didn’t notify students designated as “commended” by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) until after Nov. 1, 2022, but it “found no evidence that this was intentional or reflected any policy decision by FCPS” or any of the individual schools, according to FCPS.
“There was no evidence to suggest that FCPS deliberately withheld notification of Commended Student status from any student,” Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a message to families. “In addition, they found no evidence of any inequity or racial bias in the actions taken by these schools regarding notifications or distribution of these certificates.”
Criticism of the school system’s handling of the recognitions emerged in late December, ignited by a City Journal article that suggested Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) intentionally waited until after early college applications were due to notify commended students.
Written by Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Nomani, the story argued that the delayed notices were part of a “war on merit.” The coalition has a pending lawsuit against FCPS over revisions to the magnet school’s admissions policies, which it says were designed to disadvantage the Asian students who make up a majority of TJ’s student body.
The story picked up steam when Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for an investigation into TJ on Jan. 3. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares complied, launching a review the following day that later expanded to all of FCPS after Westfield and Langley high schools informed families that they had failed to notify commended students.
Other schools where students experienced delays include Annandale, Thomas Edison, John R. Lewis, Marshall and West Potomac high schools, according to Sands Anderson’s review.
“It’s encouraging that FCPS is working to be more transparent about the inconsistencies surrounding their National Merit award decisions and process,” Miyares spokesperson Victoria LaCivita said. “The Office of the Attorney General will continue its investigation.”
Initially attributing the delays to human error, FCPS conducted an internal review and hired Sands Anderson for a third-party investigation in January.
According to the new report, factors contributing to the delays varied by school. Issues ranged from a clerical oversight and communication gaps due to absent or changing staff to the scheduling of fall awards ceremonies where the certificates get distributed.
In the case of Annandale High School, NMSC had reportedly neglected to mail the certificates until after Nov. 1.
Much confusion, including at TJ, stemmed from a belief that NMSC informs students directly of their “commended” status, which essentially serves as an honorable mention for students who score well on the preliminary SAT test but don’t reach the semifinals of the scholarship program.
“At no school was there any evidence that racial or other discriminatory considerations played any role whatsoever in the timing of notifying Commended Students, nor was there evidence of any effort to minimize recognition of student excellence or achievement,” the report said.
According to the report, the only affected school to receive actual complaints from parents and other community members about the award notices was TJ.
In its summary of the investigation’s findings, FCPS expressed hope that the report will enable it to move past “this unnecessary controversy,” which has required spending “significant division funds on legal counsel” and resulted in harassment of school staff with “hate-filled and threatening” phone calls and emails.
The emotional toll on our staff has been substantial, and, in addition, staff have been required to divert significant time and attention away from their education-focused roles to respond to these inquiries. All of this has harmed and undermined our core educational mission, and we do hope that the factual findings of this external investigation can put this entire issue, and the erroneous claims that sparked this controversy, to rest.
In response to the issues found by the investigation, FCPS has created a new regulation requiring principals or another designated administrator to notify commended students and their parents within two weeks of getting alerted to the honors by NMSC.
Reid said she has also proposed to NMSC and the College Board that they develop a national, “multi-layered” notification system.
“This solution must incorporate electronic notifications to each recognized student, their family, and school division central offices, which do not exist in the NMSC process today,” she wrote. “I am still hopeful that there can be a broader solution to this issue nationwide. In the meantime, we have put our own changes in place, which may serve as a model for other schools in Virginia and nationwide.”
Police Standoff Ends After 36 Hours — Fairfax County police took a reportedly armed woman into custody shortly after midnight, ending a barricade on Richmond Highway that began before noon on Tuesday (March 29). The standoff closed Route 1 between Lockheed Blvd and Boswell Avenue through multiple rush hours. [FCPD/Twitter]
Helicopters Expected at GMU for Training — “The @GeorgeMasonU Fairfax Campus will host an ROTC training exercise on the morning of Thursday, March 30. Helicopters will be coming on campus at 6:30 a.m. and departing from the West Campus parking lot (closest to Braddock Road) at approximately 8:15 a.m. Please do not be alarmed.” [GMU Police/Twitter]
Alta Crossroads Apartment Project Begins — County leaders, developer representatives and the Bailey’s Crossroads/7 Corners Revitalization Corporation gathered yesterday to break ground on the long-awaited Alta Crossroads redevelopment. It “will transform a partially vacant underused lot into a 370-unit multifamily building, three townhomes, enhanced streetscapes, and two park spaces on the corner of #ColumbiaPike and Moncure Avenue.” [Penny Gross/Twitter]
Community Shares Opioid Crisis at Town Hall — “Concerned that the deadly drug fentanyl is in schools and neighborhoods, parents gathered at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, Tuesday night to learn what they can do to protect their kids. More than 100 residents heard from a panel of experts, including school leaders, police and experts in substance abuse treatment.” [WTOP]
Popular West Falls Church Deli Featured in TV Show — “Chef Andre Rush upgraded the Celebrity Delly, a traditional delicatessen in Graham Park Plaza, and shared the results on his ‘Kitchen Commando’ TV series. The episode on the Falls Church restaurant can be viewed online on the Tubi TV channel.” [Annandale Today]
County Parks Facility Fee Changes Approved — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board approved the 2023 Fee Adjustment Schedule at its meeting on March 22, 2023.” The changes, which affect the price of golf courses, facility rentals, and more, will take effect on Saturday (April 1). [FCPA]
Tysons Media Company Continues Layoffs — “Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) has issued yet another round of a layoffs, this time affecting 44 employees in mostly back-office roles. It appears to be the media company’s third round of cuts in the past seven months, after it eliminated 400 jobs in August and began laying off roughly 6% of reporters and other staffers in its U.S. media division in the final months of last year.” [Washington Business Journal]
Street Changes Planned for Hybla Valley — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plans to start repaving and restriping Lockheed Boulevard, Fordson Road and several neighboring streets in Hybla Valley in late April…The restriping will include the addition of standard bike lanes to both Lockheed and Fordson, as well as the installation of a couple new pedestrian crosswalks on Fordson.” [On the MoVe]
Vienna Finalizes Cost of New Police HQ — “Vienna Town Council members on March 20 unanimously awarded an additional $18,503 to the Vienna Police Headquarters’ construction contractor as part of a final settlement for the project.” Supply-chain issues that complicated construction and some “unanticipated redesigns” by the town brought the final cost up to $14.2 million. [Gazette Leader]
McLean Teacher Seeks Art for Earth Day — “McLean art teacher Pamela Saunders is seeking aspiring young artists in McLean to join the community’s upcoming Earth Day observance…McLean Earth Day on April 22 will be a drive-thru event at the McLean Community Center with various opportunities to help the planet.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:57 am and sunset at 7:31 pm. [Weather.gov]
Bus stop improvements are proposed at the intersection of Wiehle Avenue and North Shore Drive in Reston.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is working on a design for the project, which will include the construction of a bus pad, bench, trash can, and curb-abutted sidewalk at the intersection just west of the Forest Edge neighborhood.
Curb and gutter will be added to both corners of the intersection. A bus pad and a 50-foot-long sidewalk will also connect to the existing sidewalk at North Shore Drive.
The project is located near the Wiehle Avenue overpass.
Reston Association is considering a request from FCDOT for the dedication of a 14-square-foot bus stop easement and 7-square-foot dedication for public street purposes so it can move forward with the project.
“Most of the project will be within the right-of-way,” RA Chief Operating Officer Larry Butler said in a memo. “However, there are parts that will extent to RA property adjacent to the project.”
FCDOT has acquired land rights for one of two properties where easements are needed for the project, according to spokesperson Robin Geiger. A final plan has been approved by the county and RA’s Design Review Board.
The county estimates that the project will cost a total of $105,500.
Taco Bamba is bringing its traditional tacos and some items with a local twist to Herndon next week.
The fast-casual taqueria will open its ninth location on April 4 at the Village Center at Dulles Shopping Plaza (2445 Centreville Road).
The business is led by chef Victor Albisu. The Herndon restaurant will have some food described as “original to the location.” That includes an Afghan item — a beef koobideh and garlic yogurt yogurt in a flour tortilla — and an item for fried chicken lovers.
“We get a constant drumbeat of requests to bring Taco Bamba to specific neighborhoods, cities, and even countries, but the most vocal and most frequent of all those requests have come from our fans in Herndon,” Albisu said. “I can see why. It’s a true melting pot of cultures and people from different backgrounds, exactly the type of place where Taco Bamba can thrive creatively.”
The Herndon location will also include “clean-style tacos,” which are only offered at some locations. They use a cabbage cup instead of a traditional tortilla.
The restaurant will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
It takes up roughly 2,850 square feet of space with 30 indoor seats.
The company is working on two additional Virginia locations in Arlington and Fair Lakes. The former is also expected to open this spring, while the latter at 12239 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive is anticipated in the fall.
Flags Lowered After Nashville School Shooting — “The U.S., state and county flags are lowered to half-staff today at all county government facilities as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27 in Nashville, Tenn. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on March 31.” [Fairfax County/Twitter]
Longtime Vienna Inn Co-Owner Has Died — “Mollie Bass Abraham, who with her late husband owned and ran the Vienna Inn for four decades, died at her home in Alexandria on March 25. She was 96. The couple bought the former Freddie’s restaurant in Vienna in 1960 and renamed it the Vienna Inn.” [Gazette Leader]
Motorcyclist Injured in Springfield Crash — “A motorcyclist was seriously injured Sunday night in a crash on the Franconia-Springfield Parkway, according to the Fairfax County Police Department…By 9:30 p.m…police announced that the motorcyclist’s condition had improved and that he was no longer in a life-threatening condition.” [Patch]
Phase 2 of Lorton Community Center Project Underway — “Now the county’s project team will focus on completing the open park area, connecting the walking trail around the park and completing the vehicle parking area with additional lights and landscaping, according to a spokesperson from the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. The contractor’s work is expected to be complete by May 2023.” [On the MoVe]
Wendy’s in Annandale Undergoing Interior Renovation — “The Wendy’s at 7530 Little River Turnpike in Annandale is closed for indoor dining while the restaurant is being renovated. The pick-up window remains open…The project is expected to be completed in two or three months.” [Annandale Today]
Study: Virginia in Middle of Country for Covid Deaths — “The study, published in the medical journal The Lancet, showed death rates varied dramatically by state, in analyzing the rates of COVID deaths in the U.S. between January 2020 and July 2022…Virginia ranked 20th, with 336 deaths per 100,000.” [WTOP]
Annandale Man Wins $1 Million in Lottery — “Man Nguyen of Annandale won $1 million in the Virginia Lottery’s Mega Millions drawing. ‘My wife’s birthday is coming up, and I’m thinking of buying her a new car,’ Nguyen told lottery officials.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 58 and low of 41. Sunrise at 6:59 am and sunset at 7:30 pm. [Weather.gov]
