(Updated at 5 p.m.) An hours-long barricade and hostage situation was resolved shortly before 9 a.m. in the Town of Herndon, police say.
A man who barricaded himself in his home on Hemlock Court last night “surrendered peacefully” and is now in police custody, according to the Herndon Police Department.
In a statement released this afternoon, police identified the man as 66-year-old Paul Graves. He has been arrested and charged with three felonies: abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and shooting in an occupied building.
The incident began when police received a call from a person inside the home at 9:16 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday), saying that someone else fired a gun in the home, an HPD spokesperson told FFXnow.
“The incident quickly escalated into a hostage and barricade situation. Fairfax County Police Department’s SWAT Team responded to the scene and took over command,” the spokeperson said.
Herndon Parkway between Van Buren Street and Maple Avenue was closed throughout the nearly 12-hour-long incident.
Local police officers, state tactical officers, and SWAT officers from the Fairfax County Police Department responded to the scene in and around the 700 block of Hemlock Court.
“The lone hostage was able to escape the home unharmed,” HPD said. “Graves surrendered peacefully this morning at 8:47.”
According to the department, Graves had “minor” injuries that were not related to the incident. He was taken to Reston Hospital for treatment before being taken to HPD headquarters for questioning.
He is currently being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝟏 𝐨𝐟 𝟐: Paul Graves, 66, of Herndon, VA, has been arrested and charged with three felonies stemming from a hostage and barricade situation that lasted nearly 12 hours. Statement below. Photo in following tweet. pic.twitter.com/F5D0HfzeoS
— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) December 28, 2022
Regional Airports Hit by Flight Cancellations — “Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights have been canceled at Eastern airports Tuesday as the fallout from the pre-Christmas storm continues. At Reagan National Airport…89 flights were canceled in the past 24 hours as of Tuesday morning, according to the tracker site FlightAware. Dulles Airport said 30 flights were canceled in the past day.” [Patch]
Mount Vernon Post Office Sued — The U.S. Postal Service has defaulted on more than $71,000 in rent payments and must vacate its 21,392-square-foot space in Mount Vernon Plaza by Feb. 28, the property owner claims. Federal Realty filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday (Dec. 22), stating that the agency hasn’t responded to repeated notices, including a default letter sent by USPS in September. [Washington Business Journal]
Franconia Wegmans Reportedly Robbed on Christmas — “Police are searching for four men who forced their way into a Wegmans store in Fairfax County early Christmas morning, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). At 3:05 a.m., four men dressed in dark clothing and masks forced entry into the Wegmans at 7905 Hilltop Village Center Drive, police said.” [ABC7]
Local NAACP Pushes for Literacy Education — “The Fairfax group, and its neighboring chapter in Arlington, Virginia, are among a growing number of NAACP organizations that have in recent years turned their attention to how reading is taught in school. They are part of a nationwide movement to embrace what cognitive science shows us about how students learn to read, particularly about the role of phonics — and they see this as a path toward social justice.” [The Hechinger Report]
New Electoral Board Member Appointed — “Jeffrey K. Shapiro was recently appointed and sworn in by the Fairfax Circuit Court as a member of the Fairfax County Electoral Board for a three-year term that begins on Jan. 1. He replaces Bettina Lawton, whose term will end on Dec. 31.” [Fairfax County Government]
McLean Theater Offers Behind-the-Scenes Look — “A program exploring how productions are put on at the Alden Theatre of the McLean Community Center will be presented on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m…The event is designed to ‘take the mystery out of what goes on behind the curtain,’ MCC officials said.” [Sun Gazette]
Critic Recommends Tysons Korean Steakhouse — Ingle Korean Steakhouse, a recent arrival at Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons, was named among food critic Tom Sietsema’s top seven favorite restaurants to eat for December. He says the restaurant offers “some memorable dishes and, in combination with the service and setting, plenty of bang for your buck.” [The Washington Post]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 41 and low of 26. Sunrise at 7:27 am and sunset at 4:55 pm. [Weather.gov]
Lake Audubon — a man-made lake in Reston — may soon chart new waters with a new name.
Reston Association’s Board of Directors has begun preliminary conversations to consider launching a community dialogue on potentially renaming the lake, which is named after 19th century artist and known enslaver John James Audubon.
The move, pitched by at-large director John Farrell, would kickstart a community dialogue on the possibility of a name change. Early next year, Farrell and others will host an exploratory meeting with area stakeholders to discuss whether or not there is interest in changing the name of the lake.
“It seems to me that there needs to be a reconciliation of our fundamental founding principles of inclusion with this guy’s history,” Farrell said at a Dec. 15 board meeting.
Audubon enslaved at least nine people and was publicly dismissive of the abolitionist movement.
Earlier this month, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to rename Lee District to Franconia District. The effort is part of a series of moves to disentangle the county from names honoring Confederate leaders.
Farrell pointed to two articles from Audubon Magazine that highlight Audubon’s history, which state that he enslaved several people and didn’t recognize black and indigenous people as equals. They also highlight a story in which Audubon returned a family of escaped slaves to their enslavers and say the ornithologist was “prone to exaggeration,” writing about discovered birds that did not exist.
In October 2021, the Audubon Naturalist Society — a major US conservation group — said it will change its name due to the “pain” caused by Audubon.
“The deliberate and thoughtful decision to change our name is part of our ongoing commitment to creating a larger and more diverse community of people who treasure the natural world and work to preserve it. It has become clear that this will never be fully possible with the current name,” ANS Executive Director Lisa Alexander said in a news report on the issue.
Audobon is famed for his studies of American birds.
Residents of Faraday Park, an apartment community in Reston, may have noticed that several pending maintenance issues have been recently resolved.
Rooney Properties recently resolved maintenance issues at the community, according to a statement from the company.
“We take the concerns of our residents and larger community incredibly seriously. There is one remaining maintenance issue that is actively being resolved and scheduled to be completed in the coming weeks,” Rooney Properties said in a statement to FFXnow.
The resolution comes months after a Restonian contacted the company to address the issues on the site. For example, cables and wires that were strewn on a portion of the property were recently removed.
However, a vault still remains raised above the surface and a sidewalk extension appears to be incomplete, according to Adam Rubenstein, the resident.
Rubenstein said he was told that a contractor was unavailable to complete the work.
“Recently, after contacting the press, they suddenly were able to find a contractor and fix a couple of issues,” Rubenstein said.
The spokesperson for the company noted that none of the issues brought to the company’s attention “pose a safety risk to the community.” The spokesperson did not elaborate on what issues were resolved and exactly when they were resolved.
FFXnow contacted the company for a statement in early December about the maintenance issues. Several days later, wires on the property were removed.
The spokesperson did not respond to several requests for additional information.
Don’t Dump Your Christmas Tree in a Park — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is asking the public to respect both common courtesy and the law, and not dump disused Christmas trees on county parkland…All licensed trash collectors in Fairfax County are required to collect and recycle live Christmas trees less than 8 feet tall that have been separately set out…during the first two weeks of January.” [Sun Gazette]
Springfield House Fire Displaces 11 — A gas water heater contributed to a fire at a house in the 6300 block of Abilene Street in the Springfield area on Dec. 8, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says. The blaze displaced 11 people, injured one, and caused approximately $175,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
Fertility Clinic Coming to Annandale — “Mate Fertility, a Los Angeles company, has teamed up with Annandale OB-GYN — which has offices in McLean, Annandale, Alexandria and Falls Church — to bring its model to Fairfax County, starting with a new lab at 2810 Old Lee Highway.” [Washington Business Journal]
Tysons Apartment Community Purchased — “Avalon Park Crest…has changed hands for nearly $146 million. Bethesda-based Combined Properties Inc. bought the 354-unit, 364,000-square-foot mid-rise at 8250 Westpark Drive from AvalonBay Communities Inc…Redevelopment doesn’t appear to be in the cards, Avalon Park Crest having been built only a decade ago. But Combined looks forward to ‘future opportunities to creatively enhance the property,’ Hill said.” [Washington Business Journal]
Tractor-Trailer Catches Fire on Beltway — “A tractor-trailer burst into flames Friday afternoon on Interstate 495 in Fairfax County, Virginia, the Virginia Department of Transportation confirmed. Lanes were closed off, causing major backup near the incident.” [ABC7]
Firefighters Visit Inova Hospital for Holidays — “We had very special visitors ‘drop-in’ to Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital [on Dec. 21] to spread holiday cheer! Thank you to @ffxfirerescue for bringing Santa and his elves, as well as their good friend Elsa, to visit the kids at our hospital.” [Inova/Twitter]
Thefts Reported in Vienna — “Vienna Police have received reports of stolen mail from a mailbox and theft of AirPods from a vehicle in the latest weekly crime report. The mail theft happened at the mailbox at the Vienna Post Office, 200 Lawyers Road NW. According to police, someone pried open the mailbox and stole the mail between 5 p.m. on Dec. 13 and 7 a.m. on Dec. 14.” [Patch]
Vienna Band Looking for Musicians — “The Vienna Community Band will resume rehearsals on Jan. 8 after a holiday break, with efforts culminating in the band’s next concert, slated for March 12. ‘We are recruiting enthusiastic new musicians in all sections,’ band leaders said. ‘We are especially looking for flutes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, oboes and tubas.'” [Sun Gazette]
It’s Tuesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 36 and low of 23. Sunrise at 7:27 am and sunset at 4:54 pm. [Weather.gov]
The next step in a major rewrite of Reston’s Comprehensive Plan is on the horizon.
At a media briefing earlier this week, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said that the draft plan is slated for public hearings before the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in April and May.
Because of the nature of the update, Alcorn expects county planners to hold one or more workshops on the update.
Despite some concerns about the ambition of the rewrite, Alcorn said he expects the draft to include tweaks.
The task force approved draft recommendations on Aug. 28 after 58 public meetings, significant public feedback and rigorous debate. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn convened the task force after he took office in 2020.
“What I’m hoping for is any additional improvements to the plan language, where there might things that either need tightening up or maybe need additional attention,” Alcorn said.
Last month, the board’s land use policy committee asked county staff to incorporate the equity and community health focuses of the draft into a countywide policy plan. The county already has a policy broadly related to equity — One Fairfax.
Because of this direction, Alcorn noted that the plan will likely be rewritten in some areas to apply the ideas directly to Reston.
“Once again, Reston is leading the county on those social issues, which certainly we’ve seen before,” Alcorn said.
Beware Hypothermia From Freezing Weather — “The National Weather Service forecast calls for overnight lows Friday and Saturday night reaching well below freezing. High temperatures this weekend are not expected to rise above 26 degrees, and wind could be a factor as well.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
No Lane Closures This Holiday — “With the holidays hopping and the new year around the corner, 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: Christmas, from noon Friday, Dec. 23 until noon Tuesday, Dec. 27 [and] New Year’s, from noon Friday, Dec. 30 until noon Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.” [VDOT]
Burke Man Indicted for Child Porn — “A Fairfax County, Virginia, man arrested in October has been formally indicted on eight felony counts related to child pornography. The defendant, 25-year-old Dominick Baldi, of Burke, has pleaded not guilty and will go on trial in the beginning of March.” [WTOP]
Ceremonial Army Horses Coming to Lorton — “The horses that help transport military service members to their final resting place at Arlington National Cemetery will soon find a temporary home just off Gunston Road in Lorton. On Dec. 15, the U.S. Army and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that the Caisson Platoon horses…will be housed at the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area on a rotational basis through December 2027.” [On the MoVe]
Vienna Brings Message From Santa to Kids — “Children who celebrate Christmas can hear a very special message from Jolly ole Saint Nick by calling 703-255-6333…Children can listen for the sounds of sleigh bells and other last-minute activities as Santa explains how teamwork, Mrs. Claus and the elves helped him stay on schedule this holiday season. Santa’s message will…remain on the line through Dec. 25, 2022.” [Town of Vienna]
New Firefighters Graduate — “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department on Dec. 16 welcomed its 21 newest members at its 155th Recruit School Graduation, held at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre…The department now has more than 1,400 uniformed personnel assigned to 39 fire stations.” [Sun Gazette]
Herndon Contractor Shares Hiring Plans — “Herndon government contractor Serco Inc. plans to hire 120 new workers in 2023 and up to 200 total over the next two years after winning a five-year contract from the Naval Air Systems Command to support the Department of Defense’s F-35 program.” [Washington Business Journal]
McLean Blood Drive Coming Before New Year’s Eve — “As the region’s blood supplies remain extremely low due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the McLean Volunteer Fire Department is teaming up with Inova Blood Donor Services to hold a blood drive on Friday, Dec. 30. The Inova bloodmobile will be located in the fire department’s lower parking lot, with access from Lowell Avenue in McLean.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — Rain (with a chance of 1-2 in. of snow) in the morning. High of 51 and low of 15. Sunrise at 7:26 am and sunset at 4:52 pm. [Weather.gov]
Seven incumbent delegates have confirmed to FFXnow that they are gearing up to run in 2023, the first election since redistricting.
With all 100 Virginia House of Delegate seats up for a vote next November, a number of incumbents representing parts of Fairfax County — all Democrats — have started making plans to run for reelection in the recently redrawn districts, including:
- Irene Shin in District 8
- Karrie Delaney in District 9
- David Bulova in District 11
- Vivan Watts in District 14
- Paul Krizek in District 16
- Kathy Tran in District 18
- Eileen Filler-Corn in District 18
In addition, Del. Marcus Simon announced his reelection campaign for District 13 last week in a Falls Church News-Press column. While both Shin and Delaney told FFXnow they plan to run, they said formal announcements will come early next year.
The redistricting process, which drew new electoral lines based on population changes over the past 10 years, has shaken up at least a few races.
Most notably, both Filler-Corn and Tran have committed to running in the redrawn District 18, which encompasses a large portion of Springfield to the county border in Occoquan. It’s made up of residents from four previous districts, including ones that the delegates each previously represented.
With both being Democrats, they’ll have to face each other in a June primary to earn the Democratic nomination for the November general election.
In October, Tran announced on social media that she will seek reelection “to fight for our rights and build a more just and equitable future for all of our kids.”
I’m excited to announce my campaign in the new 18th House district!
I’m proud to live in the heart of the district, raise my kids here & already represent so much of the community. I’m running to fight for our rights & build a more just & equitable future for all of our kids. pic.twitter.com/Id0rC3akCH
— Kathy Tran (@KathyKLTran) October 6, 2022
A spokesperson for Filler-Corn, the former House speaker, told FFXnow in an email that she plans on “running in the district where she lives, which is HD18.”
Earlier this year, Filler-Corn was ousted as the minority leader by her colleagues in a private vote. Tran has not said if she voted for or against Filler-Corn.
FFXnow asked them about running against one another in the primary, but neither has responded as of publication.
That isn’t the only district where incumbents may be pitted against one another in a primary in about six months from now.
While Simon has already announced his reelection bid in District 13, which includes Merrifield through Falls Church City and to the border with Arlington, longtime Del. Kaye Kory told FFXnow by email that she has not made a decision yet on running.
“Right now, I am focused on preparing legislation for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session in Richmond,” she wrote. “Since the filing deadline is not until April 2023, I will have plenty of time to act following adjournment.”
In District 6, which covers Great Falls and McLean, Delegates Kathleen Murphy and Richard “Rip” Sullivan would potentially face each other as well. So far, neither has announced their candidacy or respond to FFXnow’s inquiries as of publication.
Del. Ken Plum (D), whose 40-year tenure representing Reston and other portions of the county makes him the longest-serving member of the House, told FFXnow by phone that he’s still considering whether to run again in District 7.
“I’m getting through these legislative sessions and will make a decision, probably, in February,” Plum said. “I haven’t really decided yet.”
He told Reston Now last year that he had “no such plans currently” to retire.
Redistricting also created three open seats, including districts 15 and 19, which both have portions of the county.
In District 15, which covers Burke to the county line, Springfield District school board representative Laura Jane Cohen declared her candidacy for the Democratic nomination back in November.
At least two Democratic candidates — Woodbridge residents Rozia “J.R.” Henson and Mayka Little — will vie to represent District 19, which is mostly in Prince William County. It is 39% Fairfax County constituents, concentrated in Lorton and the southern portion of Richmond Highway.
It’s a bit more complicated in District 12, which covers Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, most of Tysons, and Fair Oaks. Back in September, delegate Mark Keam resigned to work in President Joe Biden’s administration, triggering a special election under the old boundaries prior to last year’s redistricting.
In October, nonprofit leader Holly Seibold won the Democratic nomination over Providence District school board member Karl Frisch by just 67 votes. Later that month, Monique Baroudi secured the Republican nomination.
Early voting has already started, with the special election set for Jan. 10. The winner would only serve for about a year and would have to run again in November in the new district.
In other local elections coming next year, five county supervisors will run again, while two are stepping down. Several Fairfax County School Board members will not seek re-election.
Fairfax County top prosecutor Steve Descano told FFXnow last week that he’s gearing up for 2023 as well, in what could be the most heated local election race of the cycle.
Photo via Doug Kerr/Flickr
A cycle path to the Innovation Center Metro station is circling closer to construction.
Roughly $4 million in federal funding was secured for the project, which will include a cycle path from Sunrise Valley Drive to Innovation Metro Station, Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced yesterday.
Funds were designated in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill, a $1.7 trillion spending package that must be adopted by midnight tomorrow (Friday) to avoid a partial federal goverment shutdown.
The upgrades are part of the county’s Active Transportation Program, which covers non-motorized methods of travel and aims to reduce vehicle traffic.
The changes to the four-lane boulevard, which also has additional turning lanes at various intersections, would connect to existing bicycle and pedestrian paths, notably the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, FFXnow previously reported.
“This project will provide significantly improved access to several Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail Stations and high-density transit-oriented development near the Metrorail Stations and activity centers,” said a statement breaking down the funds designated for Northern Virginia.
Other projects also fit the bill in Fairfax County.
Among them is a neighborhood job and entrepreneurship research center for teens and young adults in the county’s community centers. The centers will offer teens and young adults career readiness skills, job training and leadership programs, according to the release. That project is expected to cost $2.1 million.
In Springfield, the Northern Virginia Community College’s Medical Education Campus will receive $2.2 million to grow its nursing program. Funds will also go towards buying computerized manikins and other technology to supplement clinic training for nursing, respiratory therapy and EMS students.
Other cyclist-related improvements include $1 million for bicycle and pedestrians upgrades near the Vienna Metrorail Station in Oakton. The project is targeted to the area near the station and Oakton High School.
A complete list of secured funds is available online.
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.
Do you love Christmas lights?
If so, this insider video is for you. I surveyed Facebook groups for the must-see Christmas lights and these made the top of the list!
Hope you enjoy piling into the car with hot chocolate and your people as you make memories that will turn into traditions.
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Despite a hiccup in the planning process, the popular Reston Farmers Market will remain at the Lake Anne Plaza next year.
Last week, the Fairfax County Park Authority signed a new use agreement with the Lake Anne Reston Condominium Association (LARCA) to continue the market at its longstanding location in 2023.
“We signed a license agreement last week with the Fairfax County Park Authority and we look forward to hosting the County-run Farmer’s Market in 2023,” LARCA President George Hadjikyriakou wrote in a statement.
Contract negotiations were hung up by an issue revolving around insurance, according to Ben Boxer, a spokesperson for the county.
“Farmers Markets have received significant community support at all ten locations throughout the county and we are appreciative of the ongoing partnerships with our vendors and hosts that make this program such a remarkable success,” Boxer said.
Both parties and the county did not comment further on the nature of the issues. Boxer noted that the context of the discussion was related to “contract negotiation,” and Hadjikyriakou deferred additional comment to the county.
Earlier this year, a free summer concert series relocated to Reston Station after the Reston Community Center failed to reach an agreement with LARCA.
The market takes place at 1608 Washington Plaza North.
More than a year after Fairfax County government workers got collective bargaining rights, a proposal could extend the option to their public school counterparts.
After months of work, Fairfax County Public School administrators presented a draft resolution to the school board last week that would let employees organize and elect a union to negotiate labor contracts, setting terms for pay, benefits and work conditions.
The 22-page document was developed by a workgroup of FCPS leaders and 17 different school employee associations.
“Over the course of a full year of meetings, totaling over 60 hours together and untold number of hours of prepwork by workgroup members, we reached consensus on the framework for a resolution,” Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT) President David Walrod said at the public hearing on Dec. 15 public hearing.
The proposed resolution guarantees workers the right to discuss workplace issues and engage in collective bargaining activities without facing coercion or intimidation. It also asserts that the school board has the authority to determine budgets and funding and can “take whatever actions may be necessary to carry out its mission during emergencies.”
If approved, FCPS would recognize separate bargaining units for:
- Licensed instructional staff, including full and part-time teachers, librarians and counselors
- Operational support employees, such as assistants, custodians, food service workers and bus drivers
- Administrators and supervisors, including principals and program administrators
Substitute and temporary employees are currently excluded from collective bargaining, but after July 1, 2023, they could seek inclusion in one of the existing units or file a request to be recognized as their own unit.
Walrod and other employee group representatives urged the school board to adopt the draft resolution.
“FEA agrees with the strong resolution presented to the FCPS School Board and the community,” Fairfax Education Association President Leslie Houston said. “Our number one priority was to ensure all FCPS employees were represented at the bargaining table. This resolution must be passed swiftly and intact.”
With the narrow adoption of House Bill 582 in 2020, Virginia opened the door for public workers to collectively bargain for the first time in 44 years.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution for county employees on Oct. 19, 2021, and last month, fire department workers became the first group to elect a union representative for negotiations.
Leaders of SEIU Virginia 512, a union representing general county employees, said they support FCPS workers also getting the right to unionize and negotiate their work contracts.
“The Fairfax County employees of SEIU believe that every working person deserves the right to join a union with their co-workers and bargain for a better future for all families,” SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax County President Tammie Wondong said. “When FCPS educators and support staff have a seat at the table, kids and families throughout our community will succeed. That’s why we fight for Unions for All.”
The school board hasn’t set a timeline to vote on the resolution, but any contract talks won’t apply for the fiscal year 2024 budget, which will be proposed on Jan. 12. According to the draft resolution, any negotiations with financial implications need to start by Sept. 1 and be agreed to by Nov. 1 to be included in the next budget.
School Board Chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer, an at-large member, said by email that the board will continue working on the collective bargaining resolution after FCPS finishes its winter break on Jan. 3:
I appreciate the efforts of the working group consisting of many stakeholders that worked hard to come to consensus on the draft collective bargaining resolution. I also appreciate the time and perspectives of those who came out to speak to the school board at the collective bargaining public hearing. It is vital to hear from our community on this important topic. I will take the comments under advisement as the school board continues to work on collective bargaining after the winter break.
Photo courtesy David Broder/Twitter
Rainy Day Ahead — “Rain spreads over the area during the morning and becomes heavy at times during the midday to afternoon. Any isolated pockets of freezing rain well west or northwest dwindle quickly. Rain could even linger through the evening. Pretty much a washout.” [Capital Weather Gang]
New Park Now Open in Bailey’s Crossroads — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has achieved substantial completion on the development of Boyd A. and Charlotte M. Hogge Park in Falls Church. The ADA-accessible park includes a picnic pavilion, open play area, multi-sport courts for pickleball and basketball, playground, community gardens, trails and parking.” [FCPA]
Local Families Struggle to Find Child Care — “Across Fairfax County, families have faced a challenging child care environment since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the county’s plans to add more child care facilities and spaces in coming years…The county will soon have one fewer daycare center when Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (IMVH) closes its onsite child care provider” [On the MoVe]
Murder Charge in Rose Hill Man’s Death Dismissed — “A Fairfax County judge on Tuesday dismissed the second-degree murder charge against a man who had been accused of fatally assaulting his 82-year-old father, ruling that investigators had not gathered adequate probable cause to move the case forward.” [The Washington Post]
Bill Would Require Notification of School Employee Arrests — “Law enforcement and court officials would be required to notify Virginia school systems any time a school employee gets arrested under a bill introduced ahead of the 2023 General Assembly session…The bill comes months after a Fairfax County middle school guidance counselor remained employed by the state’s largest school system, despite an arrest and conviction.” [WTOP]
Frying Pan House Fire Started with Ashes — “House fire 12/19/22 at 2:12 p.m., in 13000 block of New Austin Court in Frying Pan area. Cause: improperly discarded firepit ashes inside of plastic trash garage. Damages: $5K. No injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
County Maps Out Food Inspections — “A map-based food inspection report app provides instant access to thousands of inspection reports conducted by the Health Department. The environmental health team permits and then inspects more than 3,500 retail food establishments within Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.” [Fairfax County Government]
Bicycle Ride Raises Funds for Veteran Suicide Awareness — “A 435-mile bike ride for veteran suicide awareness that started in Springfield, Virginia has raised nearly $4,000 in just four days…U.S. Navy veteran Jake Welch completed his second cycling challenge in November to help bring attention to veteran suicide and raise funds for Hope For The Warriors.” [ABC7]
It’s Thursday — Rain throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 34. Sunrise at 7:25 am and sunset at 4:52 pm. [Weather.gov]
A major winter storm is headed for the D.C. area, just in time to disrupt holiday travel.
While the snow and ice created by a “bomb cyclone” is expected to stay further west, Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area are in for a downpour, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS has already issued a Flood Watch for the region that’s set to be in effect from 11 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) to 1 a.m. Friday (Dec. 23).
…FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE THURSDAY
NIGHT…* WHAT…Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
* WHERE…DC and portions of Maryland and northern Virginia, including the following areas: District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Cecil, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Fairfax and Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park.
* WHEN…From Thursday morning through late Thursday night.
* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Moderate rainfall is expected Thursday into Thursday evening, with rainfall totals of one to two inches. This may lead to isolated instances of flooding, especially in urban and poor drainage areas.
The Virginia Department of Transportation advises those planning to travel for Christmas to leave today instead of tomorrow, particularly if they’re going to be in the western half of the state.
“Crews have already begun pretreating and brining the roads and will begin deploying trucks early Thursday morning to treat roads as needed,” VDOT said in an advisory.
The department also warned that temperatures are expected to plummet into Friday, meaning fallen rain might refreeze into ice. Forecasts indicate this weekend may be the coldest Christmas in decades.
#NOVA fam – take 70 seconds to get the #WinterWeather update you need before #WinterTravel! We've got precipitation and LOW temps headed our way soon
@VaDOT @NWS_BaltWash @VDEM pic.twitter.com/O9sUTMNyul
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) December 21, 2022
As they turn the page on 10 years of marriage, a local couple is looking to mark the milestone by giving back to the community.
Molly Bloudoff-Indelicato is seeking Reston Association‘s approval of a Free Little Library near the walking path between 12700 and 1652 Thunder Chase Drive. She pitched the idea as a gift to her husband, Greg.
“We are hoping to share our love of reading with the community,” said Greg. The couple has lived in Reston for two years.
The structure — which stands on a three-foot base — is mostly designed for children’s books and smaller young adult books. RA’s permission is required because the structure would be installed on an RA common area.
Neighbors and passersby can take and leave books in the collection. Reston already has several in cluster common areas like the Waterview, Whisperwood and Old Westbury clusters.
At a meeting on Dec. 15, RA’s Board of Directors voted to approve the project.
Due to concerns about the precedent that the approval could establish, the board moved to approve a covenant agreement that would require Bloudoff-Indelicato to take over responsibility for the maintenance and monitoring of the installation.
Attorney Anthony Champ cautioned that the approval could result in possible liabilities if inappropriate or offensive materials circulate in the library.
“You can only imagine how this community would come out if something inappropriate ended up in one of those,” Champ said.
Board member Laurie Dodd also noted that the standard to judge content as inappropriate or offensive is often subjective. She specifically referred to concerns about the repeated use of the n-word in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
“I’m not suggesting that there is a right or wrong answer,” Dodd said. She voted in favor of the project.
Molly said that parents would like be the “gatekeepers” of content and that the couple would take charge of ensuring appropriate content was available.
The proposal must now make its way through RA’s Design Review Board.
