School Board Member Joins Race to Replace Ken Plum — Karen Keys-Gamarra won’t return as an at-large member of the Fairfax County School Board, instead filing to become delegate in Virginia’s new House District 7. She is the fifth candidate vying to succeed Del. Ken Plum, who confirmed last month that he won’t seek reelection after representing Reston for 44 years. [Patch]
County Breaks Ground on New Government Center — “We celebrated the beginning of construction on the new Franconia Governmental Center and Kingstowne Regional Library this week. The new facility — projected to open in 2025 — will provide a safe, convenient and friendly environment for the residents of the Kingstowne area to gather and to access county services in one central location.” [Fairfax County]
Virginia Makes Final Pitch for FBI HQ — “Virginia leaders met with federal officials on Thursday to make their final pitch to bring the…headquarters from downtown Washington, D.C. to Fairfax County…According to Virginia officials the Springfield site offers infrastructure, Metro and railway access that other options do not.” [FOX5]
Students Design Art for Future Route 1 Bus Stations — “Students from three area high schools recently completed design concepts for artwork at seven of the nine future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations. The preliminary designs will be presented at the BRT Executive Committee meeting March 10 before community feedback is sought” [On the MoVe]
Weather Affects Local Wine Vineyards — “This winter has been one of the warmest in recent years, and Northern Virginia winegrowers say they are worried about how the rise in temperature and a potential drop in temperature could impact the production of grapes and growth of vineyards.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Community Meeting on Pan Am Redevelopment Coming — “The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development will hold a community meeting for residents to learn more about the Pan Am Shopping Center Project on Thursday, March 30th from 7PM to 9PM at the Pan Am Shopping Center (3069 Nutley Street).” [Palchik Post]
Park Service Previews Upcoming GW Parkway Changes — “The George Washington Parkway is in the process of getting some much-needed TLC. In order to rehabilitate the road, drivers will see lower speed limits, changing road configurations and even a reversible lane that would begin operating in just over a month.” [WTOP]
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday — “Remember, we move our clocks forward one hour Sunday morning at 2 a.m. Also remember when you change your clock we want you to check your smoke alarms to ensure they work.” [FCFRD]
It’s Friday — Possible light rain until evening. High of 47 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:29 am and sunset at 6:11 pm. [Weather.gov]
Chase Bank is expected to open a new location in Herndon.
The bank will take over space formerly occupied by SunTrust at the Village Center at Dulles (2445 Centreville Road). The 3,200-square-foot space is expected to open before the end of this year, a company spokesperson told FFXnow.
“This branch is part of our continued expansion into Northern Virginia,” the spokesperson said. “We currently have 17 branches throughout Northern VA and expect to have a total of 26 open by the end of the year.”
The village center’s website states that six spaces are available, including three restaurant uses and one fitness space. The center has tenants like Giant, Starbucks, Gold’s Gym, Chuck E. Cheese and HomeGoods.
Image via Google Maps
A private library for the local LGBTQIA+ community is expanding its reach in Reston.
NoVA Prism Center, a planned community center and private library, is working with Reston Museum to tour its collection books and resources on March 18. The pop-up collection will be featured at the museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The community is invited to come to the museum, relax with a book, connect with the local LGBTQIA+ community and support our mission to bring access to information about LGBTQIA+ lives, stories, and history to Northern Virginia while participating in the LGBTQIA+ community by gathering to celebrate ourselves, friends and loved ones,” event organizers said in a news release.
NoVA Prism was founded as a nonprofit in May 2022 by local educators and activists in response to an attempt to eliminate two books dealing with LGBTQ topics from Fairfax County Public Schools.
“As a LGBTQ+ run organization with roots in the community it serves, NoVA Prism Center & Library is an answer to both the threat of lost access for LGBTQ+ teens in the region, as well as being the community resource that the LGBTQ+ community desperately needs moving forward,” Leon van Der Goetz said on behalf of the organization.
NoVA Prism has pop-up events and hopes to open a physical location. Planning for the project is in the preliminary stages, and a location has not yet been determined. The organization is currently funded by individual and corporate donations.
Alex Campbell, Reston Museum’s executive director, said that the partnership came about after a board member connected the two organizations.
“NoVA Prism Center & Library was looking for a space to do a pop up event and the museum was a good fit,” Campbell said.
Reston Museum is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve Reston’s past, form its present and influences its future. The museum features a collection of archival material and artifacts.
It’s open from Tuesday through Saturday.
Photo via Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
High School Students Will Get Free Virtual Mental Health Services — “Fairfax County Public Schools has partnered with Hazel Health, giving some 61,000 students access to the service, according to the county’s contract…A pilot program was expected to launch by the beginning of January but was delayed. Access to Hazel Health’s services is expected to be available later this spring” [WTOP]
Doctor Gets Prison Time for Prescribing Drugs in Fatal Overdose — A federal judge sentenced Dr. Robert Cao, 39, of Lafayette, Louisiana, to 15 months for “illegally prescribing controlled substances to a man who died of an overdose” in Fairfax in May 2021. A former Falls Church resident, Cao wrote prescriptions for oxycodone and hydrocodone to the victim at least five times despite not being his doctor. [NBC4]
Health Clinic in Groveton Plans Expansion — “Thanks to an $800,000 federal grant, Neighborhood Health is in the process of renovating and expanding its medical facilities at 6677 Richmond Highway, according to Dr. Basim Khan, the nonprofit’s executive director and a primary care physician.” The project is expected to finish by the end of the year. [On the MoVe]
Traffic Change Coming to Baron Cameron — Starting around next Wednesday (March 15), the “two right-turn lanes from Baron Cameron Avenue to eastbound Route 7 will convert from a stop condition to a single free-flow right-turn lane while crews continue reconstruction of the intersection. After turning right onto eastbound Route 7, drivers will use a 1,000-foot acceleration lane to merge with eastbound traffic.” [VDOT]
Parking Still an Issue With Justice HS Expansion — “Justice High School staff expressed strong concerns about the lack of parking during the construction of a new addition and beyond…FCPS has worked out a temporary arrangement with the Church of Christ, located a quarter of a mile from the school, to share their parking lot with Justice staff and students, said Heather Dietz…at a March 7 community meeting.” [Annandale Today]
County No Longer in Proposal to Lift Emissions Rules — “After opposition during a public hearing and comment period, Virginia regulators are scaling back a proposal to allow data centers in Northern Virginia counties to run diesel generators over a three-month period to alleviate potential electric grid strains…On Monday, DEQ restricted the variance to facilities in Loudoun.” [Virginia Mercury/Inside NoVA]
Peraton Leases Office Space in Springfield — “The privately held Reston government contractor, which won a deal in December worth up to $342.7 million over five years to provide IT services to the Transportation Security Administration, has inked a 6,000-square-foot lease at 6700 Springfield Center Drive. The new TSA headquarters is just steps away” [Washington Business Journal]
Mount Vernon Ice Skating Classes Relocate — “When the Mount Vernon Rec Center closed for renovation, the Fairfax County Park Authority remained committed to finding opportunities to offer ice skating programs. The exact same classes, with the same coaches are now available at The Ice House, located within the St. James in Springfield.” [FCPA]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 31. Sunrise at 6:30 am and sunset at 6:10 pm. [Weather.gov]
A popular theater artist is slated to bring to life the stories of five Restonians to Reston Community Center’s CenterStage this month.
Ping Chong, a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Obie Award and National Medal of Arts, will create a residency format that his New York-based company — Ping Chong and Company — has adapted in communities around the country.
Starting next Monday (March 13), his artists will create performances featuring the stories of five Restonians as they navigate the world: Robin Feldman, Carmah Owen, Rosa Simon, Semret Worku and Natsu Zavala.
Chong, who plans to retire in the near future, has created more than 100 works for the stage. His company focuses on the connections between cultures and the multifaceted nature of identity.
He said in a statement that he’s “delighted” to spend part of his final working days in Reston:
Fifty years have passed since I began my life as a theatre practitioner. I am now in the process of retiring. I will be 77 years old this year and it is time for reflecting on a fortunate, rich life. Time passes. I am delighted to share this moment of transition here in Reston. If theatre can do one thing, it is to bring community together. Thank you for this opportunity to remind us all that we are all connected by our humanity, that we are all human beings regardless of where we come from. All islands connect under water.
RCC Board Chair Bev Cosham said the center’s partnership with Chong’s company offers an opportunity for a “once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a theatrical trailblazer.”
“The work his company and our local team have created will reach deep into our emotional wells and surface the compelling stories of how we navigated these last traumatic years. It promises to be both a revealing and a healing experience,” Cosham said.
RCC’s staff will support the project and the work will by recorded by Storycatcher Productions, Inc.
A breakdown of the planned events is below:
Story Circle with Ping Chong and Company (free)
Monday, March 13 7:00 p.m.
RCC Hunter Woods – the CenterStageJoin artists from Ping Chong and Company and connect with other Reston community members to share, listen, and learn about our individual and collective relationships to where we live. Story Circles invite us to share our unique individual stories with others from our community in a guided, facilitated way. As we listen and share, we’ll discover connections, differences and intersections in our stories that inspire us to learn about our individual and collective relationship to Reston.
An Evening with Ping Chong
Wednesday, March 15, 8:00 p.m.
RCC Hunters Woods – the CenterStage
$15 Reston/$20 Non-RestonTheatre artist and National Medal of Arts recipient Ping Chong will join Reston Community Center for a conversation about theatre and social transformation. Chong will share his visually compelling body of work – ranging from puppet theatre to large-scale, multidisciplinary projects to community-based programs – that have been presented at some of the most illustrious venues around the globe. Chong will lead a discussion of the evolution of his theatre work in relationship to the changes in contemporary arts and culture over the last 50 years. It is recommended that children under 16 be accompanied by an adult.
Generations Rise: Reston
Friday, March 24, 8:00 p.m. & Saturday, March 25, 8:00 p.m.
RCC Hunters Woods – the CenterStage
$10 Reston/ $15 Non-RestonAcclaimed New York theatre group Ping Chong and Company will partner with Reston Community Center and local theatre artist Tuyet Pham to create Generation Rise: Reston, to uplift and share real-life stories made by people from Reston, VA, reflecting on the challenges and joys of living in Reston during a time of pandemic and global upheaval.
After an unsolicited redevelopment proposal was pulled by a developer, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is charting a new future for the Bowman Towne Court site in Reston.
At a board meeting yesterday (Tuesday), the board approved a motion by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn to procure the 4.5-acre site and direct the RTC North task force to help plan its future.
“There is a pressing need for new and updated public facilities and affordable housing, including a new regional library and emergency shelter for our homeless population, as those facilities are at or near the end of their functional life,” the board matter states.
The move comes just a month after Foulger-Pratt withdrew its proposal to redevelop the property with 350 affordable housings units and a new Reston Regional Library, citing increasing construction costs. The proposal had been processed through the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority owns a little over half of the property, along with a nearly 1.6-acre parking lot for the Reston District Police Station.
Alcorn directed the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services to develop a plan for health and human services in the RTC North area.
“This motion will, I think, really help with the process forward as the community starts to basically get its arms around what needs to happen in RTCN,” Alcorn said.
The motion also asks FCRHA to create a procurement strategy for the development of the property.
Alcorn created a task force last spring to make recommendations on the redevelopment of the 47-acre RTC North property, which is composed of several parts of land at the intersection of Bowman Towne Drive and Town Center Parkway.
The task force has been meeting this year and will also make recommendations about replacing the Embry Rucker Community Shelter and building a new county health and human services facility.
Meetings have been ongoing by the task force, which is chaired by former board chair Kate Hanley.
County Advertises Flat Real Estate Tax Rate — “The advertised real estate tax rate is $1.11 per $100 of assessed value. That is the county’s current rate and was proposed to remain the same under County Executive Bryan Hill’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal. The same rate or a lower rate can be adopted during the budget process, but a higher rate can not be considered.” [Patch]
Eight Displaced by Pimmit Hills House Fire — Fairfax and Arlington county firefighters were dispatched to the 2000 block of Griffith Road at 9:02 p.m. on Monday (March 6) after an unattended candle ignited a fire in the one-story house. No one was injured, but eight people were displaced and the fire caused about $30,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
No Reelection Bid for Fairfax County Delegate — “Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax), the first woman and first person of Jewish faith to serve as speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates, said she will not seek reelection this fall, adding to a historic loss of senior lawmakers ahead of next year’s legislative session. Filler-Corn said she plans to work to get other Democrats elected” and may run for governor in 2025. [The Washington Post]
Archaeologists Start Digging in Vienna — “An archaeological dig is taking place on our grounds! It’ll be fascinating to learn what the archaeologists uncover. The public is invited to stop by and observe the dig, see the excavation in action and talk to the archaeologists. Please visit on March 8, 11, 14, 17 during the hours of 1-3pm.” [Freeman Store & Museum/Instagram]
Majority Oppose Co-Ed Sex-Ed in Survey — “About 85% of people who responded to a Fairfax County Public Schools survey oppose proposed changes that would put boys and girls in the same classroom for certain sex education lessons…[FCPS] discussed proposed changes to its family and life education curriculum last spring, but opted in May to delay a vote on the recommendations.” [WTOP/Inside NoVA]
Search Continues for Suspect in Kingstowne Murder — “Monday marks one year since Fairfax County woman Hannah Choi vanished…Fairfax County police continue to look for [suspect Joel Mosso] Merino, who was charged in Choi’s murder. He is being charged with second-degree murder and the disposal of a body.” [ABC7]
Metro Regulator Questions Plan to Auto-Pilot Trains — “Metro announced Monday it is aiming to convert the system to a self-piloting system…by December, with the possibility of Red Line automation weeks sooner. The nearly 50-year-old rail system was designed to operate automatically and did so until a deadly train crash in 2009 prompted Metro to disable the system.” [The Washington Post]
Springfield Town Center Hops Into Spring Events — “Springfield Town Center will be celebrating the start of spring with the Bunny, the Mad Hatter and other special guests. Family photos with the Bunny and a Mad Hatter Tea Party will be held at Springfield Town Center starting later this month.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 49 and low of 30. Sunrise at 6:32 am and sunset at 6:09 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 5:24 p.m.) Cathy Hudgins, Fairfax County’s former Hunter Mill District supervisor, has been found after she was reported missing earlier today (Tuesday).
Hudgins was last seen leaving the 2200 block of Colts Neck Road in Reston at 1:20 p.m., the Fairfax County Police Department said.
She was considered endangered “due to mental &/or physical health concerns,” according to the police.
The FCPD described her as a 5-foot-7, 162-pound woman with grey hair and brown eyes. She was seen wearing a gray jacket, blue jeans, and gray sneakers.
Hudgins represented Reston, the Vienna area, and the rest of the Hunter Mill District on the Board of Supervisors for 20 years until she retired in 2019. The Southgate Community Center was renamed after her in 2021.
#Missing 79-yr-old Catherine Hudgins last seen 1:20 pm leaving the 2200 block of Colts Neck Rd in Reston. 5’7″, 162lbs, grey hair, brown eyes, gray jacket, blue jeans, gray sneakers. Endangered due to mental &/or physical health concerns. Call 703-691-2131. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/WIbGR3jLsO
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) March 7, 2023
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Over the past two years, salaries have ticked up for local elected officials across Northern Virginia, and Fairfax County doesn’t want to get left out.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 today (Tuesday) to consider raising the annual pay to somewhere in the $125,000 to $130,000 range for board members and up to $140,000 to $145,000 for the chairman at a public hearing later this month.
Current Board Chair Jeff McKay earns $100,000 per year, while the supervisors earn $95,000 a year.
“I recognize all the challenges we have with compensation,” said Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, who introduced the motion. “We’re all committed to addressing them as best we can, but I just think we should be able to move forward with this and ensure future board are adequately compensated.”
In accordance with Virginia law, the new salaries would go into effect when a new board takes office on Jan. 1, 2024, if they’re approved. The Board of Supervisors last got a pay raise in 2015.
According to data collected by staff, Fairfax County pays its board chair and supervisors more than any other locality in Northern Virginia, where the next highest salaries can be found in Loudoun County. On the low end of the scale, Alexandria City Council members receive just $37,500, and its chair gets $40,000.
The proposed ranges would bring Fairfax County closer to D.C. and Maryland, where legislators are compensated as full-time employees. In Virginia, even state lawmakers officially work part-time, an approach that some argue is outdated and untenable.
Foust, who is retiring after this year, said he views his position as a full-time job, noting that supervisors participate in regional groups like the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and are “rightly” expected to be responsive around the clock, thanks to the availability of email, texting and social media.
From Foust’s board matter:
A reasonable compensation increase recognizes the growing responsibilities and expectations of this job and will help Fairfax County attract Board members who are able to meet those demands, reflect the age, gender, and racial diversity of our County, and who do not need to rely on outside employment or personal wealth to do so. Compensation should not be a barrier to run for, or serve in, public office.
However, some board members balked at the idea of raising their own salaries at a time when the county is grappling with high real estate taxes and inflation.
While agreeing that the life of a supervisor is busy, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity lamented that board raises are being considered when the county’s starting pay for police officers is reportedly the lowest in the D.C. region, according to ABC7.
He also noted that the budget for fiscal year 2023, which began on July 1, allocated an additional $1.1 million to cover personnel and operating expenses for the chair and district superviors offices. Read More
The exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of Tephra (Photo corutesy Cognate Collective)
A new exhibit opening this week at Reston’s Tephra Institute for Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) celebrates the richness and complexity of the immigrant experience.
Partly powered by a partnership with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Mexico’s embassy in the U.S., the exhibit “Hacia la Vida/Toward Life” features work from artists of Mexican descent: Baltimore-based Hoesy Corono and the California duo Cognate Collective.
The exhibit, which opens on Saturday (March 11), aims to create a new framework to understand the position of immigrants. Registration for the free event is open online.
“There is a fearlessness in this exhibition that I find so compelling,” Tephra ICA Associate Curator & Festival Director Hannah Barco said. “Just as these artists do not shy away from the daunting political issues of immigration and climate change, they are not afraid to be bold, colorful, and vibrant; and to work with the quotidian, the simple objects, and materials around them. They are not afraid to follow their joy.”
The exhibit is the first of three planned to mark the 50th anniversary of Tephra, which launched in 1974 as the Greater Reston Arts Center.
This is Tephra’s first time partnering with the Mexican Cultural Institute. It will host workshops with the artist team during the exhibit.
“The Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington, DC is committed to enriching the relationship between Mexico and the United States and we are very excited to partner for the first time with Tephra ICA for this program celebrating life, art, and its 50th anniversary,” said Min. Ix-Nic Iruegas Peón, executive director of the Mexican Cultural Institute.
Corona will headline a performance at this year’s Tephra ICA Arts Festival — formerly known as the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival — on May 20 and 21.
The festival, which is presented by Reston Community Center (RCC), will feature an artistic performance that explores migration and displacement caused by climate change.
“RCC is delighted to present a riveting and spectacular performing arts experience in combination with this exceptional Festival,” RCC Board Chair Beverly Cosham. “We look forward to immersing ourselves in beauty and thought-provoking creativity at Reston Town Center.”
Cognate Collective primarily develops research projects, public interventions and experimental teaching programs with communities across the U.S. and Mexico border.
A workshop with the collective is slated for March 11 from 11-12:30 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute in D.C. A date for the workshop with Corona has not yet been announced.
An artist talk and opening reception is slated for March 11 from 5-7 p.m. at Tephra ICA (12001 Market Street, Suite 103). Visitors will active the installation by lighting a candle and reciting an incantation to express solidarity with migrants. Cognate Collective will lead the interactive performance.
An expansion of the criminal charges eligible for record-sealing in Virginia has led to a surge in petitions for expungement to Fairfax County’s courts.
Faced with that increased caseload, the courts have moved to streamline the process by no longer requiring those petitioning for an expungement to attend a hearing, the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney announced last week.
As of March 1, a court hearing is only required if a petition is rejected.
“Previously, individuals would have to come to court for a one-minute hearing, which is a considerable burden if you’re unable to take off work, get childcare, or have other barriers to attending,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said. “Now, individuals can petition for an expungement by filing paperwork, which will be reviewed weekly.”
The process change was initiated by the Fairfax County Circuit Court judges, according to Court Clerk John Frey. It was implemented in a partnership between the judges, the clerk’s office and county prosecutors.
In Virginia, expungement removes criminal records from public view and prohibits access to them without a court order.
The Fairfax County Circuit Court received 701 expungement petitions between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023 — about three times more than the 211 petitions taken up the preceding year, according to data provided by Frey.
The court has taken in a total of 1,438 expungements over the past five years, including 168 petitions from March 1, 2018 to March 1, 2019, 200 in 2019-2020 and 158 in 2020-2021.
Frey attributes the increase over the past year directly to new laws adopted by the General Assembly in 2021 that introduced automatic sealing and significantly expanded the kinds of charges that can be sealed with a petition.
“The General Assembly made it much easier to obtain an expungement,” he said.
Currently, Virginia only expunges records if the petitioner is found not guilty, has the charges dropped or dismissed, or gets pardoned. In other words, a conviction will be public forever, regardless of how much time passes or the type of crime.
Under the 2021 law, which will take full effect in 2025, the state will automatically seal dismissed charges, acquittals, certain misdemeanor convictions, and cases where the person completes a “deferred disposition program,” such as Fairfax County’s specialized drug and mental health dockets.
Misdemeanors eligible for automatic sealing include simple marijuana possession, underage drinking, shoplifting, trespassing and disorderly conduct. The person must wait seven years since the conviction and have no new convictions during that time to have their record sealed.
The law also allows individuals convicted of other misdemeanors and Class 5 or 6 felonies to petition for expungement.
While automatic sealing won’t begin until 2025, the law has simplified the petitioning process by eliminating a fingerprint requirement, according to the Legal Aid Justice Center, which says expunging a criminal record typically takes at least nine months.
“A person’s criminal record can follow them around for a lifetime — even if they haven’t been convicted of the charges — potentially limiting their ability to get a job, benefits, or housing,” Descano said. “For people who want to start fresh, old criminal charges can prevent them from stabilizing their lives.”
Gym-goers will soon expect a change of scene at Gold’s Gym in Reston.
The Plaza America location is expected to close sometime this summer and relocate to 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive, according to the company.
While the company’s media department did not return multiple requests for comment, a store employee told FFXnow that an exact date for the closure of the Plaza America location has not yet been determined.
The Sunrise Valley Drive location is expected to open in the summer, according to the company’s website.
FCPD Uses Tech to Track Guns Used in Crimes — “A computer technology that can match the unique marks a gun makes on cartridge casings is helping detectives in Fairfax County, Virginia, to track down people suspected of violent crimes more quickly…Fairfax County is the only local department in the region with the system.” [NBC4]
County Highlights Women’s Stories — “In honor and recognition of Women’s History Month, we are sharing a few stories of amazing women leaders throughout Fairfax County, as well as events in March that highlight compelling stories about women’s contributions to society.” [Fairfax County]
McLean Woman to Plead Insanity in Murder Trial — “Potential jurors were told Monday that a Fairfax County, Virginia, woman charged with killing her 5- and 15-year-old daughters in their McLean apartment in 2018 will use an insanity defense…Youngblood is accused of shooting her daughters, 5-year-old Brooklynn Youngblood and 15-year-old Sharon Castro, in their home in August 2018.” [WTOP]
Independent Joins School Board Race — “Saundra Davis…announced her candidacy Monday for one of the three at-large seats on the Fairfax County School Board. Davis, who lives in Burke with her family, said she is running for the school board partly in response to the county school system’s policy of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.” [Patch]
Dunn Loring Fire Caused by Smoking Materials — “On Saturday, March 4, at 6:02 p.m., units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Arlington County Fire Department were dispatched for a house fire in the 2100 block of Tysons Executive Court.” There were no injuries, but three people have been displaced, and the fire caused approximately $100,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
Open Strollers Now Allowed on Metrobus — “Effective immediately, open strollers are welcome on Metrobus, replacing a policy that required strollers to be folded before boarding. The public is invited to learn more about the policy and enjoy kid-friendly giveaways…March 7, from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. near Eastern Market Station” [WMATA]
Former Herndon Delegate Will Seek Senate Seat — “[Ibraheem] Samirah originally planned to run for the 26th House District this year but decided to run for the 32nd Senate District after its incumbent, John Bell, announced last week that he would not run for reelection while he seeks treatment for prostrate cancer.” [Washingtonian]
Overnight Lane Closures on Maple Avenue — “Commuter Alert! Due to utility work, lane closures on Maple Avenue, between Glyndon Street and Branch Road, will begin at 9 p.m. [Monday]. The utility work and lane closures will occur from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday, March 9. Please use caution when driving in the area.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
Route 1 Widening Requires Bank to Relocate — “The Wells Fargo branch located in the Colonial Revival-style building at 8770 Richmond Highway in Woodlawn will relocate to the opposite side of the highway later this spring as part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements project.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 51 and low of 37. Sunrise at 6:33 am and sunset at 6:08 pm. [Weather.gov]
A two-vehicle crash on Monroe Street near the Dulles Toll Road in Herndon drew a big emergency response earlier tonight (Monday).
One of the vehicles involved in the crash flipped over, trapping its occupant inside, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson William Delaney said.
The person was transported to the hospital with injuries that were reportedly life-threatening, according to Delaney.
The crash occurred around 7 p.m. near the Woodland View Drive intersection. Emergency vehicles blocked Monroe Street in both directions while responding to the crash.
https://t.co/BMaWGFNAe7 pic.twitter.com/GBCeWqM2mm
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) March 7, 2023
Photo by Thresher Capital/Twitter
Fairfax County could be getting more money from opioid settlements, funding that local leaders said is desperately needed to stem a growing crisis.
Opioid Task Force Coordinator Ellen Volo spoke to the Board of Supervisors’ Health and Human Services Committee at a meeting last Tuesday (Feb. 28).
“Across the state, there’s been a shocking increase in overdoses in the last couple of years,” Volo said. “We’ve seen an increase across all ages locally as well.”
Volo said Fairfax County has seen a concerning increase in youth overdoses. Nearly all of them involved fentanyl.
The report to the Board of Supervisors said fatal and non-fatal overdoses for youth trended higher in 2022 compared to previous years.
The report also indicated that 6 out of every 10 counterfeit prescription pills in a Drug Enforcement Agency test contained a lethal dose.
Volo said Fairfax County’s focus is on expanding substance abuse treatment facilities.
“The big bucket of work has been enhancing and expanding substance abuse treatment for youth,” Volo said. “When you look at the nation, certainly the region as well, there is a scarcity of appropriate treatment options.”
Volo said a regional, multi-pronged approach is needed to build capacity for substance abuse treatment, but Fairfax County has hit some stumbling blocks along the way.
“It’s been difficult to find providers of detox and residential service,” she said. “We’re working to establish partnerships. It’s ideal to have this capacity in the region and in-house.”
For the opioid settlements, Volo said the situation is “very fluid” in terms of how much money is available, but it’s clear that the funds must be used for abatement purposes.
In the near-term, Fairfax County should apply this spring to the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to fund detox and treatment services at a regional level, Volo said. The county should also launch a survey to gather local and regional input on substance abuse treatment services and other opioid resource needs.
In the October 2023 to April 2024 time frame, Volo said the county should undergo an internal process to organize requests for funding to opioid-related projects and an Opioid Settlement Executive Committee will vet the proposed projects.
County leaders said the help can’t come soon enough.
“We lost a 17-year-old student in my community last summer,” Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said. “We’ve heard consistently [there’s a] need for additional treatment service, for inpatient and outpatient services, but the outpatient ones are critical.”
Photo via DEA/Flickr
