Reston residents will soon get a chance to share their thoughts on a proposed name change for the Shadowood Recreation Area.
Reston Association plans to host a town hall meeting in early May after its Board of Directors voted last week to defer the initial date of April 15.
Area residents are seeking the name change to the recreational area, which includes a swimming pool and tennis courts, in order to clarify that the pool is open to all RA members, not just Shadowood Condominium residents.
With the results of a board election set to be revealed this month, RA board president John Farrell said at a meeting last Thursday (March 28) that conducting the town hall while new members transition to the board would be an “uncomfortable moment.”
The delay, which was approved by the majority of the board, was criticized by board member Margaret Perry, who noted that neighbors have been seeking the name change for several years.
“The Shadowood neighbors have been asking for that name change to happen for years and so, I think to continuously put it off and put it off is at this point once again ignoring member requests to at least go in and see what can be done and get it moving,” she said.
Farrell emphasized that a similar request to change the name of the facilities at 2201 Springwood Drive was ultimately voted down in 2011.
“This group of people who are interested in this have already had their day in court. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to give them another one,” Farrell said, adding that the date change would delay the timeline by three weeks.
In addition to the town hall workshop, RA plans to launch an online survey to gauge feedback on the name change.
RA CEO Mac Cummins said the hope is to line up the proposed name change — if approved — with the reopening of the Shadowood pool this year. The renovation project shifted to a new phase last fall and is expected to be complete in time for the upcoming summer pool season.
RA is also exploring a name change for Lake Audubon, but a meeting on the proposal was unexpectedly cut short due to a health emergency.
Fearing that new interconnection rules from Dominion Energy could derail its carbon reduction targets, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has asked Virginia’s utility regulator to step in.
In a near-unanimous vote, supervisors authorized Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw on March 19 to send a letter asking the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to evaluate whether the new regulations create unnecessary hurdles for small renewable energy projects attempting to join the power grid.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity was the only abstention.
Dominion maintains that the new regulations are necessary to ensure grid reliability and the safety of field workers, but Fairfax County and other stakeholders statewide remain skeptical, contending that they make renewable energy projects more expensive and less feasible.
“In the Hunter Mill District, I have an elementary school [project] that has been complicated by this requirement,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said. “It’s gonna be coming to the Board of Supervisors here the next couple of months, but this is creating a real impediment to doing what we need to do.”
Cost added for dark fiber lines
Dominion says it updated its interconnection requirements in response to the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act, which increased the capacity limit for non-residential solar developments from 1 to 3 megawatts (MW).
As a result, Virginia experienced a surge in solar, wind and other renewable energy installations that generate over 1 megawatt looking to connect to the power grid. To accommodate more and bigger energy sources, Dominion began requiring smaller energy projects from 250 kilowatts (kW) to 3 MW to install a high-speed fiber optic communication line — known as “dark fiber” or “direct trip transfer” (DTT) — between the project site and the nearest substation in 2022.
Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby says dark fiber is “more reliable” than cellular communication, which is prone to receiving mixed or missed signals. This could lead to unnecessary power outages if a solar facility’s power is mistakenly cut off due to a weak signal.
In addition, if there’s an emergency, dark fiber can more reliably signal the power source to turn off, ensuring line workers can fix the problem safely.
“So, this is not an issue of being ‘pro-solar’ or ‘anti-solar,’” Ruby said by email. “It’s simply about having the same basic safety and reliability standards for all solar systems that connect to the grid. The standards for medium-sized systems (i.e., 250 kW-3MW) are the same standards that apply to all of our solar facilities. These standards ensure the reliable operation of the grid and the safety of our line workers when they’re out in the field.”
Ruby noted that Dominion has one of the largest solar fleets in the country, and solar will be “by far the largest source of new power generation in Virginia over the coming decades.”
Yet, Fairfax County officials argue that no other utilities in the region place the entire cost burden of installing dark fiber lines on developers.
“Our staff has gone and looked — we couldn’t find any other utilities in the region that require this level of cost and expense,” Walkinshaw said during the board’s March 19 meeting. “So, are they necessary? Other utilities have determined that they aren’t, and as to who bears the cost, given that there are benefits both to the new interconnection and the owner of that interconnection and everyone else who utilizes the grid…we would not accept that they are all necessary.”
Requirement raises cost of solar projects
The county says roughly one-fourth of its planned solar projects are affected by Dominion’s dark fiber connection requirements. Since the county would be the main user of this energy, it could face an additional $3.5 million in costs from the energy producers, according to the board’s letter.
John Morrill, director of Fairfax County’s Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination, says the new rules threaten eight solar projects in the county’s pipeline, each over 250 kW and collectively totaling about 5 MW.
“Some of these buildings are still in design or construction, so there’s some uncertainty, but looking years into the future, we see a number of substantial solar projects that would be affected by this cost,” he said.
Typically, utilities like Dominion share the costs of system upgrades among their customers. However, in this instance, developers must bear the entire expense of the fiber optic connection.
Though he didn’t directly address the rationale for not distributing the cost of fiber-optic connections, Ruby says Dominion requires the dark fiber connection, and other utilities don’t, because it has “far more medium-sized solar systems” connected to its grid.
Dominion also uses higher-voltage lines than other utilities, which makes it harder for solar systems to “detect faults,” he says.
Morrill acknowledges the safety reasons for needing dark fiber, but he expressed skepticism of Dominion’s reasoning for making developers pay the entire cost of fiber optic connections and asked why less expensive cellular communication lines aren’t considered sufficient.
“Is this fiber optic connection needed for these smaller installations? That might be best answered or evaluated by an independent, third-party, non-utility expert, and then the State Corporation Commission can also weigh in on it,” Morrill told FFXnow. “And then, should that be paid by the customer or by the utility, mindful that Virginia’s policy is to enable widespread use of renewable energy resources?”
SCC reviewing dark fiber rules
Last year, the SCC tasked its staff with forming two working groups of solar industry stakeholders — including Dominion — to examine dark fiber’s necessity, cost sharing and transparency, among other topics.
In their January report to the SCC, stakeholders outlined strategies for managing the costs of linking renewable energy projects to the power grid. Among the suggestions were a tariff-based approach and a project-specific payment system.
In the tariff-based approach, the SCC would introduce a specialized category for renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind, where developers would pay a specific rate or tariff that would be determined by the size of their project.
Another approach would have the utility company initially pay for the necessary infrastructure upgrades, then recoup the costs by charging for each project based on its size and the extent of the upgrades.
The report also suggested that the SCC mandate utilities explain why dark fiber is needed for grid connections.
A case concerning Dominion’s rules for connecting to the power grid is currently before the commission. The period for public comments closed on March 22, and the SCC plans to conduct a public hearing soon.
After a hearing, the agency will issue a final decision, potentially introducing new regulations for the utility.
Herndon Municipal Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Water and sewer rates are set to increase as part of the Town of Herndon’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025.
Released on Friday (March 29) by Town Manager Bill Ashton II, the proposed budget leaves the real estate tax rate unchanged at $0.26 per $100 of assessed value, though bills are still expected to go up due to rising property assessments.
However, the water service rate is set to increase from $3.47 this year to $4.08 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption in the next budget year, which starts July 1. The sewer rate is set to increase from $8.27 to $8.93 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption in fiscal year 2025.
The changes were spurred by higher supply and treatment costs that have affected the region, the Town of Herndon said in a press release. Town staff have been examining potential increases since 2022.
Ashton emphasized that the state of the economy calls for “fiscal prudence.”
The Proposed FY 2025 Budget allows for continuation of the programs and services valued by our residents and businesses, as well as funding for new initiatives such as previously deferred public works projects as well as work on the town’s Comprehensive Plan, a document that guides our present and future in such elements as land use, transportation, historic areas, community service facilities, public buildings and utilities.
The quarterly service charge for water per bill will be $16.34 under the proposed budget. An additional fee of $6.94 per 1,000 gallons would be charged for all water consumed during peak use periods that’s in excess of the average consumption for the preceding billing periods.
The overall $74 million budget package increases spending by 19.9%. If approved, funding would go toward employee pay raises, increased pension and retirement costs, and capital projects, among other expenses.
Notable initiatives for the coming year include the Herndon Police Department’s plan to re-introduce a dedicated traffic section with motor officers “to enhance roadway safety through education and enforcement.” A second part-time parking enforcement official will be hired to help address parking violations.
“Overall, these changes reflect the town’s commitment to maintaining and improving its infrastructure, public safety, and recreational facilities for its residents,” the budget document says. “These budget changes also demonstrate the town’s responsible financial management and dedication to providing quality services to its community.”
The budget is officially adopted on June 30 following a series of meetings, including public hearings on the proposed budget on April 9 and April 23. Both meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Ingram Council Chambers.
Fatal Shooting Reported in Mosby Woods — Mohammad Zekria, 37, of Fairfax was found dead in a vehicle on Friday (March 29) after a woman told police that her husband had shot someone and was threatening her and her family. Waisuddin Quraishi, 50, was taken into custody early Saturday morning and has been charged with second-degree murder. [FCPD]
Teens Driving Stolen Vehicle in Reston Arrested — “Three teenagers are in custody for evading police in a stolen car in Fairfax County. On March 19, just after 9 p.m., officers from the Reston Patrol Unit allegedly located a stolen car near the intersection of Centreville Road and Parcher Avenue. When they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, two teens hopped out of the car and began running away.” [WUSA9]
Bailey’s Crossroads Man Indicted for Bringing Gun to Church — “A 35-year-old Falls Church man faces a possible life sentence after a federal grand jury indicted him Wednesday for threatening members of a Haymarket church and bringing a dangerous weapon to a service there last September in an attempt to kill, according to court documents.” [Patch]
Foxes Found on School Playground Killed — “Fairfax County Public Schools officials had foxes on the playground of Bucknell Elementary School trapped and killed, earning the ire of some community members who are expressing disapproval of the decision…According to an FCPS spokesman, the Office of Facilities Management followed state regulations in deciding to trap and remove foxes.” [Fairfax County Times]
Virginia Member Sought for Metro Police Oversight Board — “Through April 11 at 5 p.m., the Investigations Review Panel for Metro will be accepting multiple recommendations to the Metro Transit Police Department for a member of the public to represent Virginia on the advisory board. It is also working to identify potential members for Maryland and at-large slots, which will be vacant in October.” [WTOP]
County Library Offers Light Pollution Monitoring Kits — “The Light Pollution Monitoring Kit, also known as the Dark Skies Kit, empowers citizens to fight light pollution by providing them with the tools needed to measure and monitor light levels in their communities. Starting April 2, twenty-five Light Pollution Monitoring Kits will be available as part of FCPL’s Library of Things.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
Clothing Store Relocating to Belle View — Top It Off, which sells women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, will mark its final day at Hollin Hall Shopping Center on April 14 after nearly a dozen years. “The store plans to hold a grand opening at its new Belle View Shopping Center location at a yet to be announced date.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Student Wins State Chess Tournament — “BASIS Independent McLean student Charles Wang finished first in the K-3 group of the 2024 Virginia Scholastic Chess Tournament, held recently in Roanoke. Charles outplayed more than 350 participants over the two-day event, coming out on top after five rounds of intense battles.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Monday — Expect showers throughout the day, with possible thunderstorms. High temperatures will be around 63, while lows will drop to 49. Rainfall may range between a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Chance of precipitation is 80% during the day and 90% at night. [NWS]
Horse enthusiasts will once again get a chance to enjoy the Annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park’s Equestrian Center.
The event, which is set for April 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is open to all and will include equestrian demonstration, a variety of horses in a Parade of Breeds, speeches by expert speakers, and businesses offering horse-related products and services.
“This featured event is for everyone — experienced riders, beginners, and anyone who loves horses or hopes to become a rider,” the Fairfax County Park Authority said in a press release.
Pony rides are also available for $10, though pre-registration is required. Registration for the overall expo is free.
This year’s expo features new and additional vendors onsite as well as new topics for demonstrations and speakers, such as trailer safety, equine entertainment and liberty training, according to FCPA spokesperson Roberta Korzen.
The equestrian center is a public facility in Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 West Ox Road). It offers rental events, horse shows, trailer-in schooling options and short-term stabling. It also features two full-size outdoor riding rings and a rally field.
Highway Lane Closures Lifted for Easter — “To help motorists get to their destinations without hassle, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will suspend most highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia for the Easter holiday from noon Friday, March 29, until noon Tuesday, April 2.” [VDOT]
Minimum Wage and Marijuana Sales Bills Vetoed — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation Thursday that would have established a retail marijuana market in Virginia and raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, torpedoing two top Democratic priorities from the 2024 General Assembly session.” [Virginia Mercury]
Annandale Sexual Assault Suspect Has Previous Arrests — “The man arrested March 22 for two brutal sexual assaults in Annandale has a lengthy arrest record, has been in court multiple times, but never served time in jail. Court records show he was arrested on Oct. 3, 2023, for attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer’s stun gun, a felony. On Aug. 15, 2021, he was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer.” [Annandale Today]
GMU Shares Spring Graduation Plans — “Barbara Humpton, president and CEO of Siemens, will deliver the main address during George Mason University’s spring commencement ceremony, Mason officials announced. The event is slated for Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. at EagleBank Arena on the university’s Fairfax campus.” [Gazette Leader]
New Principals Needed for Two Elementary Schools — “Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is in the process of identifying new principals for two more elementary schools in the Mount Vernon District — Hollin Meadows and Belle View Elementary.” Hollin Meadows principal Jon Gates has held the position since August 2002, and Thomas Kuntz has led Belle View since July 2006. Both men plan to retire. [On the MoVe]
Bikeshare Stations Added at GMU — Capital Bikeshare has added three new bicycle docking stations around George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. Supported by GMU and Fairfax Connector, the stations can be found at Patriot Circle and York Drive, on Rappahannock River Lane, and outside Horizon Hall and Harris Theater. [Capital Bikeshare/Twitter]
County Introduces Solar Panel Recycling — “Fairfax County launches a Solar Panel Recycling Program! Drop off your unwanted panels at I-66 or I-95 Recycling areas. A green step forward for our community. Drop-offs only. Let’s protect our planet together!” [Fairfax County Public Works/Twitter]
Create Eclipse Viewers at Kings Park Library — The library in Burke will help attendees create an eclipse viewer tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 p.m. ahead of the partial solar eclipse on April 8. “An eclipse projector is an easy and safe way to view the eclipsed Sun. We’ll provide supplies to make a pinhole camera or projector that lets you watch safely and easily from anywhere.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high around 60 degrees with breezy conditions, as a northwest wind starts at 11-16 mph and later increases to 18-23 mph with gusts up to 32 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 41 degrees. [NWS]
An encampment has taken shape in recent years near the Sunrise Assisted Living in Reston (staff photo by Fatimah Waseem)
A tent encampment housing between 20 and 35 individuals in the woods between Inova’s emergency room and Sunrise Assisted Living Center in Reston may soon fold.
Fairfax County officials hope to open up a temporary overflow shelter in a government building in the Reston Town Center North area to accommodate the people who’ve been living in the tents.
“No Trespassing” signs are set to go up around the encampment, which is located on county property, in the coming weeks, as the county’s hypothermia shelters close their doors for the 2023-2024 winter season on Sunday (March 31).
The Reston encampment is the largest one in the county, according to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn. Cornerstones — the nonprofit that runs Reston’s Embry Rucker Community Shelter — and its outreach teams plan to discuss their options with residents as the transition is phased in over the coming weeks.
“It’s really an unmanaged campground,” Alcorn said yesterday (Wednesday) in a call with media. “You know, if you walk through and talk to people, that’s really how its functioning at this point. So, I have concerns about, frankly, the safety of the folks living there now and the personal safety.”
Many details of the overflow shelter, including when it will open and how many people it can fit, remain to be determined, but it’s intended to help wind down activities in the encampment that has occupied the hill for years.
In some cases, neighbors have complained about the encampment, though data on how many police calls have been placed wasn’t immediately available.
According to Alcorn, there have been issues at the Reston Regional Library and reports of break-ins in some of the surrounding communities, but he cautioned that it would be “unfair” to attribute all incidents to the encampment.
Sunrise recently put up a fence around their property, creating a buffer between their property and the encampment.
Alcorn said he asked staff for an “effective and humane” plan for winding down the camp. He emphasized that its future is already in limbo because that property and the rest of Reston Town Center North are slated for major redevelopment. Plans call for a new Embry Rucker shelter and a new library, though an earlier agreement with a private developer fell through.
The encampment first began as a handful of tents but has since grown substantially. Reston Strong, a local nonprofit organization, began offering support to the area, providing food, tents and other supplies.
The organization launched a Neighbors in Tents campaign in 2022 to raise awareness about homelessness in Fairfax County. A temporary tent community was set up in front of the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive) as an alternative after the county’s hypothermia and COVID-19 emergency shelters closed for the season.
The organization called for permanent solutions to address homelessness in the county, which saw a 10% increase in people experiencing homelessness from 2022 to 2023. The results of the county’s most recent point-in-time count — an annual survey of the number of people without housing — are expected to be released in May.
Reston Strong says it welcomes the plans for a temporary overflow shelter to assist “our most vulnerable residents,” but it still has “many unaddressed concerns and questions.”
“We have not received answers from the county about when the shelter will be ready or if there is enough capacity for the Hill residents and those already in hypothermia, but we have been told via a letter from Supervisor Alcorn that no trespassing sign will be posted and we are not allowed to set up new tents,” Reston Strong organizer Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza said. “The Hill will be closed in the near future for the planned land swap with Inova. We are hoping for a timely resolution that meets everyone’s needs.”
Alcorn said the logistics of the overflow shelter are still being ironed out.
News of a plan to clear the encampment comes as the county’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority prepares to implement a $20 million agreement that will provide housing for those in need, specifically individuals with serious mental illnesses.
Starting in May, the county will receive 300 new supportive rental assistance vouchers for residents over three years and three new staff positions to manage the program.
Alcorn says both initiatives are the beginning of important steps to addressing chronic homelessness.
“It’s going to make a big dent in the problem,” he said of the voucher program.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering using kiosks equipped with artificial intelligence to provide select legal information in a variety of languages.
The kiosks would feature a virtual assistant that could answer frequently asked questions using a closed-AI system (as distinct from open AI), according to Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, who introduced a board matter on the kiosks at the board’s March 19 meeting.
“The distinction is that we will program the answers to frequently asked questions into the system using curated templates and language,” Lusk told FFXnow. “The AI program will not be creating its own answers.”
None of the questions are finalized yet, but they could help users identify forms and address other process-related queries. The virtual assistant would also be available online, and both resources would have accessibility features.
County and court staff are reviewing the kiosks and online AI program, and the board voted on March 19 to direct staff to finalize its review and report back. The county also plans to reach out to relevant nonprofits to assist in testing the kiosks, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the meeting.
The kiosks and online resource would be an “extension” of the self-help resource center that the county rolled out in October, according to Lusk’s board matter. Staff at the resource center can explain court operations, provide contact information for legal services and answer some general questions.
The resource center launched to assist county residents who are representing themselves in court. The new resources could help residents who aren’t able to travel to the center, which is located in the Fairfax County Courthouse (4110 Chain Bridge Road), though no kiosk locations have been selected.
“Personally, I feel it could be beneficial to be placed in government facilities that are remote from the Fairfax County Government Center and the Fairfax County Courthouse,” Lusk said by email, citing the Gerry Highland Government Center (8350 Richmond Highway) or Franconia Governmental Center (6121 Franconia Road) as examples. “We know that people live great distances from the Government Center and Courthouse, which limits the accessibility of these services.”
The board matter passed unanimously, despite a public meeting notice issue that McKay said left some board members without the opportunity to see the kiosks. Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik also said she was concerned about making sure the kiosks were fully vetted before they’re implemented.
The topic will come to the board’s health and human services committee for additional discussion, though the board didn’t specify a date. The committee’s next meeting is currently scheduled for June 4.
Testing the kiosk with actual users and not rushing the process will be important, McKay said, adding that the county should also plan to reach out to the state about support for the program.
“What we don’t want to do is just rush in and further complicate and frustrate people where there’s a misinterpretation and they’re getting the wrong documents that they need to help their case,” McKay said.
(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) It has not been a great week for plans to bring professional sports teams to Northern Virginia.
Just a day after negotiations for a Washington Wizards and Capitals arena in Alexandria officially fell through, George Mason University has announced that it’s no longer planning to build a joint baseball and cricket stadium in Fairfax for the Washington Freedom.
“After hard work and due diligence from the team at Mason, we have concluded that this opportunity does not meet the strategic objectives and interests of our campus and community and the Washington Freedom,” GMU President Gregory Washington said in a statement. “We appreciate the continued feedback and dialogue with leaders across the Commonwealth and with the local community.”
The decision to part ways was mutual, according to a statement from the Washington Freedom, which indicated that it’s still looking to build a stadium somewhere in the D.C. area.
“While we have decided to go in a different direction, we are appreciative of the dialogue and partnership with GMU,” the team said. “We remain committed to working with the broader DMV community to grow the sport of Cricket in the region and to build a multipurpose stadium that will be the future home of the Washington Freedom.”
The university first announced in 2022 that it was partnering with Major League Cricket and Washington Freedom owner Sanjay Govil to study the feasibility of a multi-purpose facility at its West Campus that could host professional cricket matches and college baseball games.
GMU’s governor-appointed Board of Visitors gave university administrators the green light in January to start negotiating a ground lease for the prospective stadium site, which encompass 15 acres between Braddock Road and Campus Drive.
Though the project was still in the planning phase, Mason staff and Govil said at a virtual town hall on Jan. 29 that they hoped to finish construction on a temporary facility that could seat 7,000 to 10,000 spectators by 2025.
As the proposal gained more attention, residents of the area around GMU’s campus began to organize opposition, raising concerns about the potential traffic and environmental impacts, noise and light pollution, and a process they perceived as lacking in transparency.
In a Feb. 7 letter to elected officials, the GMU Board of Visitors and the GMU president’s council, a group of neighborhood associations working together as the GMU Braddock Road Adjacent Community Coalition called for a halt in the stadium project “until a thorough and proper evaluation can be accomplished with all affected parties in attendance.”
“While we recognize change is necessary it also needs to be targeted and sized appropriately to address known university problems with consideration of adjacent neighborhood concerns paramount,” the coalition wrote. “The creation of a commercial zone that benefits some and punishes others on state supported property is an egregious abuse of positional power.” Read More
Fox Mill Road will be closed at the beginning of next month to allow for a pipe replacement.
Virginia Department of Transportation crews are replacing a drainage pipe, prompting the closure between Pinecrest Road and John Milton Drive in Herndon on Monday, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Individuals who need to access properties along Fox Mill Road will still have access, but drivers will not be allowed to go beyond the point where the pipe is being replaced, which will be located roughly at 2516 Fox Mill Road near Pinecrest Road.
“Through traffic will be detoured via Pinecrest Road, Viking Drive (Route 5340) and John Milton Drive back to Fox Mill Road. Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs,” VDOT said in a press release.
N. Va. Sees Rise in Home Sales — “The number of home sales in Northern Virginia rose 2.2% compared to a year earlier, the first year-over-year increase since November 2021. That is in contrast to the national housing market, which saw sales fall 3.3%. Northern Virginia also saw a dramatic increase in home sales from the previous month, up 32%.” [WTOP]
Governor Vetoes Gun Safety Bills — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed an assault weapons ban and a slate of other gun-control bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly, but he signed a pair of…measures into law: One bans a device that turns a semiautomatic firearm into a machine gun, and the other allows a parent or guardian to be charged with a felony for allowing a child who has been deemed a threat to have access to a gun.” [Washington Post]
Marshall HS Hires First Varsity Boy’s Volleyball Coach — “Marshall High School has named Chris Denny as its head boys volleyball coach for what is anticipated to be a varsity team for the first time this coming fall season. Previously, boys volleyball was a club team in Fairfax County Schools, but that status is expected to be [change] to full varsity for the 2024 fall campaign.” [Gazette Leader]
Police Warn Against “Rescuing” Baby Wild Animals — “Our Animal Protection Police Officers and Wildlife Management office receive many calls this time of year from residents who are seeking help for young wildlife that appear to be orphaned or abandoned. While these actions are well-intended, it is important to realize intervention may be unnecessary and can be detrimental to wildlife.” [FCPD]
Virginia Among Leaders in Book Bans — “Nearly 400 book titles were targeted for bans in Virginia libraries last year, among the most in the nation, according to new data from the American Library Association (ALA)…Virginia had the fifth-most challenged titles in the country at 387 — and more than any other state on the East Coast, except Florida where there were 2,672.” [Axios Richmond]
McLean Alum Recognized for Nonprofit Work — “One McLean HS alumna is uplifting pediatric cancer patients and making a major impact while studying at Harvard University. Olivia Zhang, a freshman at Harvard University, was honored with the prestigious Diana Award for founding and operating Cancer Kids First, the world’s largest youth-led pediatric cancer nonprofit.” [Fairfax County Public Schools/Facebook]
Vienna Pizzeria Offers Free Slice to Marshall Students — “Pizza Vienna…celebrates the incredible achievements of our local talent, Ilia Malinin, a proud graduate of Marshall High School in Vienna…All John Marshall High School students are invited to enjoy a FREE Cheese Pizza Slice on us! This offer is valid for any between 10.30 am and 5 pm every day till Mar 31st, 2024.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 11am accompanied by patchy fog until 10am. The day will be cloudy with a high near 53 and a 60% chance of precipitation. Night will be initially cloudy but gradually clear, with a low around 38 and 9-14 mph winds gusting as high as 22 mph. [NWS]
The Town of Herndon’s indoor tennis center has closed early for the season, the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department announced yesterday (Tuesday).
The closure was prompted by damage to the tennis enclosure, according to Reid Okoniewski, a spokesperson for the town’s parks and recreation department.
Located next to the Herndon Community Center at 814 Ferndale Avenue, the tennis enclosure was “significantly deflated and a door was open for unknown reasons, which had caused the air to escape,” Okoniewski said. The town learned of the issue early Sunday (March 24) morning.
A later safety check found that 75% of the lighting was damaged, along with a portion of the courts due to fall lights.
“The lead time to get the specialized bulbs and the contractors to install them would extend beyond the April 14 season closure, which would not allow us to have it repaired safely in the time that remains,” Okoniewski said.
Individuals with tennis contracts, classics and leagues were notified of next steps earlier this week. Indoor classes will move outside, and men’s double league and indoor tennis contracts have been cancelled for the reminder of the season. Patrons who are affected will have their refunds processed.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and hope we see you on our outdoor tennis courts,” the town wrote in a statement.
A new, temporary tennis structure will be installed for the new indoor sports season by the fall.
Fairfax County police officers issued almost 5,700 citations and warnings during the first phase of their year-long “Road Shark” safety campaign, the department announced this morning (Wednesday).
A collaboration with the Virginia State Police, the initiative aims to crack down on aggressive and unsafe driving by increasing patrols in high-crash areas and promoting education about traffic laws and responsible driving behavior.
“Our dedicated officers and Virginia State Troopers play a pivotal role in the effectiveness of this campaign aimed at curbing the presence of reckless drivers in Fairfax County,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.
The first wave of this year’s campaign took place during the week of March 17-23. Some drivers were caught speeding over 100 mph, including in a 35-mph zone in at least one case, according to the FCPD.
The 5,695 warnings and citations issued exceeded the 3,786 violations recorded in the first wave of last year’s “Road Shark” campaign, which launched around the same time in response to a surge of pedestrian fatalities in 2022.
Like last year’s effort, the 2024 campaign will consist of four week-long waves. The second one will begin on April 22, the FCPD says.
Photo via FCPD
Reston’s annual Founder’s Day returns next month (courtesy Reston Museum)
Reston founder Bob Simon Jr. will once again be the focus of celebrations next month during the annual Founder’s Day celebration.
The festivities are set to take place at Lake Anne Plaza (1609 Washington Plaza North) on April 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It began as a celebration of Simon’s 90th birthday in 2004, when artist Zachary Oxman unveiled a sculpture commemorating him.
Organizers say this year — which is the 20th anniversary of the event — is “extra special” for several reasons.
“Besides being the 20th anniversary of Founder’s Day, the event will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Reston documentary ‘Reston: Another Way of Living‘ and is in remembrance of what would have been Simon’s 110th birthday,” Reston Museum Executive Director Alexandra Campbell said.
The celebration will kick off at 11 a.m. with a community cleanup. The afternoon program features a reading of Reston’s 1966 dedication and remarks from local elected officials. Performances and exhibits are also planned.
It will also feature a book fair celebrating local authors, bookshops and community organizations. Authors in the “Pages on the Plaza” fair will speak at their booths, Reston Museum, Reston Community Center and Reston’s Used Book Shop.
“The addition of a Book Fair as a component of Founder’s Day is a wonderful way to celebrate Reston’s living legacy and also April as National Poetry Month and National School Library Month,” Campbell said. “Featured in the program this year is Reston’s Used Book Shop, which has been at Lake Anne Plaza since the 1970s and is Reston’s oldest bookshop still here today.”
Between 2 and 4 p.m., attendees can also decorate a journal with Public Art Reston at Reston Art Gallery & Studios.
The event is presented by Reston Museum and Reston Community Center with support from Public Art Reston.
Inova Health Systems is working to boost the capacity of its emergency room in Merrifield with the help of a $10 million gift from the co-founder of an international IT consulting firm.
The nonprofit announced last Thursday (March 21) that it received the planned gift commitment from Apex Systems co-founder Win Sheridan. The money will go to Inova’s Greatest Needs fund, which is administered by its CEO to support “critical projects and initiatives.”
Right now, those critical projects include a $161 million expansion of Inova Fairfax Hospital’s emergency department, the Washington Business Journal reported.
“Every gift to our Greatest Needs fund is a vote of confidence in our team, our shared vision and our enduring ability to care for our community,” Inova CEO and President Dr. J. Stephen Jones said in a press release. “Win’s commitment takes this a step further, with the conviction that Inova is the right partner to entrust with this most important task — the health of our community, now and into the future.”
Inova Health Foundation President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Sage Bolte told the WBJ that the expansion will help ease “surges in patient volumes” at the 923-bed hospital (3300 Gallows Road), which currently has limited space for patients to get care in private bays.
According to the WBJ, the expansion will include renovations, and the first phase is expected to be completed this year.
A venture capitalist who currently works as a partner in Alexandria Restaurant Partners, Sheridan co-founded Apex Systems in 1995 and later started his own investment firm, BDW Investments LLC. Apex is headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia, but it has an office in Fairview Park, just on the other side of I-495 from Inova’s Fairfax campus.
According to Inova, Sheridan also donated $1 million in 2021 to create the Sheridan Director, Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. The board helps match people with rare or recurring advanced cancers with personalized treatment.
“When you’re battling a serious disease, having world-class care that you don’t have to travel for makes all the difference,” Sheridan, an Alexandria native, said. “At the end of the day, I want Inova to continue providing the best possible care, if and when it’s needed by me, by my family, my friends, my community.”
Recently rebranded with a new logo, Inova is expanding its Franconia-Springfield HealthPlex campus with a planned hospital and developing a new campus in Alexandria, replacing the former Landmark Mall. The health care system has said it hopes to begin construction on both projects this year.
In addition to building up its campuses, Inova has been working to add services in the community, opening additional urgent care centers around Fairfax County and a pediatric sick clinic near Seven Corners earlier this year.
