The Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering (DAS) will likely assume the duties of the Animal Protection Police, starting this summer.

At a mark-up session last Tuesday (April 30), the Board of Supervisors indicated that it will implement the consolidation by transferring a position from the Fairfax County Police Department and creating a new chief animal control officer (ACO) as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget, which is scheduled to be formally adopted tomorrow (Tuesday).

However, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity argued that eliminating animal protection police officers (APPOs) is not in the best interest of residents, echoing concerns raised by the county’s police union that the new arrangement might reduce officers’ benefits and impact both public safety and animal welfare.

“We still haven’t addressed what’s gonna happen with wildlife services,” Herrity said. “‘I will figure it out later’ is not good enough when you’re looking at a major restructuring like this. We heard overwhelming opposition from a very diverse group of our residents…from employee groups to HOAs, to wildlife rehabilitators to environmentalists. There’s been no cost impact analysis done.”

The county sees the creation of the ACO position as the first step in the planned consolidation, which will take 18 to 24 months to fully implement, according to the DAS budget. If it’s approved, most funding and positions will be included in next year’s proposed budget.

Herrity proposed amending the FY 2025 budget, which will take effect on July 1, to remove the position transfer, but the motion died without a vote after no one seconded it.

Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman argued that civilian animal control officers could handle the services provided by APPOs, freeing up police officers to focus on higher-priority calls.

“Most emergency calls from Animal Services in Fairfax County are not law enforcement matters,” Bierman said. “The majority of calls or requests for assistance…involve minor code violations.”

Staff have been instructed to provide additional information about the roles of DAS staff and police officers under this new structure and any changes in their approach to wildlife and other services.

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said the board will focus on best practices regarding the new configuration moving forward.

“This is not an easy decision, but from what I have seen, the potential impact and improvements on our current offerings are excellent in many ways,” she said. But I think we could really use—as we’ve all agreed—some improvements in the way it’s communicated and structured, meeting our needs, wanting to continue to be the best, and looking at best practices.” Read More

The Washington Capitals will soon unveil a new sports facility in Northern Virginia — one likely to be much less controversial than the team owner’s failed push for an arena in Alexandria.

Installation of the inline skate rink donated by the D.C.-based professional hockey team to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) in Reston is expected to finish this week, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

The park authority and Capitals will celebrate the project’s completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free ball hockey clinic at the rink this Saturday (May 11) from 10 a.m. to noon.

Located next to Lake Fairfax Park’s campground, athletic fields and skate park, the 85-foot-by-185-foot rink is the first facility of its kind at a county park, FCPA spokesperson Benjamin Boxer says. It features player and penalty boxes, hockey goals, bleachers and “ample” lighting to support daytime and evening use.

Under construction since last June, the rink was built with sport floor tiles on an asphalt pad, making it “ideal for roller hockey and skating” and allowing for “easy maintenance and modular tile replacement,” according to the park authority.

“There is literally something for everyone in the Fairfax County park system,” Boxer told FFXnow by email. “This new inline skate rink is a first for the Park Authority and it opens up another recreational opportunity for residents to enjoy and continues our commitment to provide wide diversity in program and facility offerings to serve the interests and needs of a diverse community.”

The inline skate rink is the product of an ongoing partnership between Fairfax County and the Capitals that began in 2021, when Fairfax County Public Schools joined the NHL team’s Hockey School Program, according to Capitals Director of Youth Hockey Development Peter Robinson.

Offered in 1,601 local schools that collectively reach over 1 million students, the program provides floor hockey equipment, teacher training and a custom curriculum to physical education teachers in all FCPS elementary and middle schools.

“The Washington Capitals are dedicated to growing the game of hockey by providing access to the sport in all its forms,” Robinson said. “A portion of that growth strategy is investing in the off-ice game by building facilities and creating programming within the community.”

Robinson says the team “jumped” at the opportunity to expand its partnership with the county by collaborating on the ball/inline skate rink at Lake Fairfax Park.

Though the facility was donated by the Capitals, the park authority was responsible for preparing the site and supporting infrastructure. The project cost the county an estimated $1.9 million, which came from park bonds approved by voters in 2020.

“Over the past ten years the Washington Capitals, along with the NHL/NHLPA, have invested over $3.5 million in growing the game off the ice,” Robinson said by email. “This rink project is a part of that overall investment strategy, and we are excited to begin offering programming at the new rink starting this summer.”

The Capitals’ programming at the rink will begin this Saturday with the free hockey clinic, which is part of the team’s Try Hockey for Free program. Starting at 11 a.m., the clinic will give attendees a chance to practice their stickhandling, passing, shooting and small games.

Though the clinic is free, advance registration is required, since spots are limited. Community members don’t need to bring equipment or prior hockey experience to participate.

Details about future programs, including classes and summer clinics, will be posted on the Capitals’ youth hockey development website.

The Lake Fairfax inline skate rink will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The rink can be reserved for $75 per hour, but when not reserved, it’s open to the general public for free on a first-come, first-served basis, Boxer says.

Going forward, developers in the Town of Vienna will be required to save trees, not just replace them.

After years of study and discussion, the Vienna Town Council voted on April 29 to adopt a new tree conservation ordinance and create an advocacy committee in a bid to preserve and expand the town’s declining canopy.

Effective July 29, the town code amendments require anyone building on at least 2,500 square feet of land to cover 10 to 25% of the property with tree shade, depending on its zoning district. The developer must try to preserve existing trees before removing and replacing them to meet the 20-year canopy requirement.

If they fall short of the requirement, developers can contribute cash to a new Tree Preservation and Planting Fund that the town will use to fund planting projects in the community.

The new Tree Advocacy Committee replaces an existing tree board under the Conservation and Sustainability Commission (CSC). Made up of nine appointed residents, it will advise and assist the town with issues related to plant conservation and management, including by crafting an urban forest management plan and helping staff compile annual reports.

Anticipating concerns or questions from affected property owners, Councilmember Jessica Ramakis suggested before last week’s vote that the town should stress the benefits of the policy changes when communicating them to residents.

“There are positive environmental impacts. I think the tree canopy in the town is something that is valuable for that reason,” she said. “…Also, I think a lot of residents in the town find it to be part of the character of the town, so there are a lot of benefits, to be sure.”

Despite its designation as a “Tree City” by the Arbor Day Foundation, Vienna’s tree canopy has dwindled over the past decade, shrinking by 163 acres, or 13%, between 2011 and 2021, according to a report released in October 2022.

Per a town press release, about 38.7% of Vienna currently has tree cover — a rate lower than that of Falls Church City (46%) but higher than Arlington County (38%) and Alexandria City (32.5%).

Town staff unveiled the proposed tree conservation ordinance last May, noting that adding preservation rules would align Vienna with Fairfax County. The town has had 20-year canopy standards since 2014, but it didn’t dictate how developers should meet the required minimums.

Though it was a priority for the town council, the road to adoption was prolonged by debate over the structure of the amendments, including whether they should be enforced by the planning or parks and recreation department. The town also sought Virginia’s permission to set a 10-year canopy requirement, but state Sen. Saddam Salim’s bill died in the General Assembly.

Calling the vote “a long time coming,” Mayor Linda Colbert and Councilmember Chuck Anderson gave kudos to former council members Steve Potter, Nisha Patel and Ed Somers for their efforts in advancing the tree conservation measures.

“I was hoping he could be here tonight, because Steve put his heart and soul into this. It was extremely important to him,” Anderson said. “…There’s a lot of people who worked on this, but this was Steve’s passion, and I think he’s probably drinking some sort of red [wine] in our favor tonight to see this pass.”

Reston Association will kick off a summer of family-friendly outdoor movies later this month.

The first entry in the RA at the Movies series will be “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” at Browns Chapel Park on Saturday, May 18.

The theme is “Family Superhero Night” — moviegoers are encouraged to dress as the masked, pizza-loving mutant ninja turtles or another favorite superhero.

Theme nights are one way the association is building on the movie night experience, said RA communications director Cara O’Donnell. For example, a June 8 showing of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” at Lake Newport’s soccer field is billed as a “Date Night.”

The summer series will shift from land to water in July with Dive-In Movies. First, swimmers can catch “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” on July 11 at Lake Newport Pool. Then, RA at the Movies will wrap for the year on Aug. 7 with a showing of “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Lake Audubon Pool.

Started more than 20 years ago, the swimming pool-based Dive-In Movies screenings have become a staple in Reston. RA introduced Movies in the Park during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was so popular the association decided to make it a part of the summer series, according to O’Donnell.

“Movies usually have anywhere from 100 to 500 people,” she said. “We try to provide selections so that a wide range of audiences can come and enjoy throughout the summer.”

Admission is $6 for RA members, $10 for nonmembers and free for children under 3. Guests can bring their own food, but there will also be items for sale. Shows could be canceled due to inclement weather.

Tickets can be purchased through RA’s registration website and by contacting events@reston.org or 703-435-6571.

The full RA at the Movies schedule is below:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Saturday, May 18
Doors open: 7:45 p.m., show starts at 8:30 p.m.
Browns Chapel Park (1575 Browns Chapel Road)
Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Saturday, June 8
Doors open: 8 p.m., show starts 8:45 p.m.
Lake Newport Soccer Field (1550 Reston Parkway)

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Thursday, July 11
Doors open: 8 p.m., show starts at 8:45 p.m.
Lake Newport Pool (11601 Lake Newport Road)

Kung Fu Panda 4
Wednesday, Aug. 7
Doors open: 8 p.m., show starts at 8:45 p.m.
Lake Audubon Pool (2070 Twin Branches Road)

Two people, including a 73-year-old Burke resident, were killed yesterday (Sunday) when their plane crashed in central Virginia, police say.

According to the Virginia State Police, the sheriff’s office in Fluvanna County got a 911 call at 8:54 a.m. from residents of Palmyra who reported seeing a “low-flying plane,” followed by “what sounded like an explosion.”

While searching “a densely wooded area” off of Miles Jackson Road, the state police, sheriff’s office and Virginia Conservation Police uncovered the airplane, which was on fire.

“The Palmyra, Fork Union, Kents Store and Lake Monticello Fire Companies responded to the scene to attend to extinguish the fire and assist law enforcement,” the VSP said. “Fluvanna County Emergency Services also responded to the scene.”

The pilot, 63-year-old John W. Latham from Haymarket, and passenger, Niiben C.A. Ayivorh of Burke, both died in the crash, according to the state police.

The privately owned plane — a twin-engine 1975 Rockwell Aero Commander 690A — left the Manassas Regional Airport yesterday morning and was bound for the Georgetown County Airport in South Carolina, the VSP says, noting that “there was a light rain at the time of the crash.”

Latham’s and Ayivorh’s remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond for examination and autopsy. An investigation into the crash will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

Barnes & Noble has closed up shop at Tysons Corner Center for the year.

Yesterday (Sunday) was the bookstore’s last day serving customers in the two-level space it has occupied since the mall’s expansion wing opened in 2005. In the month leading up to the closure, shelves were emptied and some areas closed, including the cafe, as the store cleared merchandise through “last chance sale” discounts.

Fortunately for local book lovers, the chain’s absence won’t be felt as long in Tysons as it was in Reston: Barnes & Noble announced that it will return with “a beautiful new store here in Tysons Corner Center,” as first reported by Northern Virginia Magazine.

“We thank our wonderful Tysons Corner booksellers for their many years of hard work and dedication,” the B&N Tysons Corner team said in the announcement. “They, as we, cannot wait to welcome you back into our brand-new bookstore.”

Barnes & Noble is still in the planning and design stages for the new store, but it hopes to reopen in the late spring or early summer of 2025, according to Janine Flanigan, the company’s senior director of store planning and design.

With the move, Barnes & Noble will trade approximately 30,000 square feet of space for a one-level, almost 17,000-square-foot spot that was vacated by Arhaus when the furniture store relocated to Tysons Galleria in 2021.

The store will follow the theme-oriented layout that Barnes & Noble adopted for new locations after CEO James Daunt took over in 2019. Expect “light oak-colored bookcases” with Victorian lace and a “soft pink paint color,” Flanigan told FFXnow.

“The store is designed [by] creating book rooms for categories that lead one on a journey of discovery,” she said. “…The store will house all the best books, toys, games and gifts that our customers expect from their Barnes & Noble store.”

Flanigan confirmed that the smaller location will still have “well curated selections” of DVDs, Blu-Rays, CDs and vinyl music, along with an “updated” B&N Café.

The bookstore’s last days in its current spot came during a busy weekend for the mall, which hosted its second annual Taste of Tysons Corner on Saturday (May 4). Renovations to improve the look and accessibility of some parking garages are also under construction into October.

During its temporary closure in Tysons, Barnes & Noble is encouraging customers to visit its other locations in the Spectrum at Reston Town Center and the Mosaic District in Merrifield. The Northern Virginia Book Crawl showcasing local independent bookstores is also underway.

Early Voting Underway for Congressional Races — Fairfax County opened three early voting sites on Friday (May 3) for the June 18 Democratic and Republican primaries, which will determine nominees for multiple House and Senate seats. “An additional 13 early voting sites open on June 8…The last day to vote early in person is June 15.” [Fairfax County, NBC4]

One Injured in Merrifield House Fire — “Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personel extinguished a fire late Thursday night at a two-story home in the Merrifield area. Initial reports said no one was injuried, but a department spokeswoman told Patch on Friday afternoon that one civilian was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.” [Patch]

Star Wars-Themed Drone to Land in Chantilly — “Coinciding with Star Wars Day, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum announced that a new artifact — a new themed Boeing CV2 Cargo Air Vehicle — will go on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center…in May.” The aircraft was outfitted to resemble an X-wing Starfighter for Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge resort. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Dunkin’ Donuts Plans Store in Annandale — “The small building at 7025 Columbia Pike in Annandale undergoing renovations will house a Dunkin’ Donuts shop, according to a building permit posted on the structure. The building was formerly occupied by Annandale Florist but has been vacant since a fire in August 2022.” [Annandale Today]

Report Finds Gender Disparities in Fairfax County — “The report, ‘Gains, Gaps & Goals: The Status of Women and Girls in Fairfax County,’ explored how women and girls fare in economics, health and overall well-being, painting a picture of what one expert called, ‘the good, the bad, the ugly.'” Findings include a wage gap between male and female workers as well as “significant mental health disparities.” [WJLA]

New Student Rep Chosen for School Board — “Megan Sawant, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology, has been elected by the countywide Student Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board, beginning July 1.” [Gazette Leader]

Reston Community Center Celebrates 45 Years — “The Reston Community Center (RCC) is celebrating its 45th anniversary. In a recent episode of the ‘County Conversation’ podcast, Bev Cosham, chair of RCC’s Board of Governors, spoke about what makes RCC so special and highlights its 45th anniversary.” [Fairfax County Government/Twitter]

It’s Monday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 2pm, with patchy fog clearing by 10am. Expect mostly cloudy conditions with a high near 80. Monday night, the chance of rain continues, with a low around 65 and light winds. Precipitation chances are 40% in the day and 50% at night. [NWS]

Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — May 3, 2024.

• 8:15 am: Morning Notes | 🗣️ Comments
• 9:45 am: FCPD: Lorton man arrested for shooting at fellow rideshare passenger | 🗣️ Comments
• 10:30 am: Developer proposes hotel with condos in place of long-planned Tysons office building | 🗣️ Comments
• 11:30 am: Reston Association launches public survey on proposed Shadowood renaming | 🗣️ Comments
• 1:30 pm: Fairfax pro golfer to compete among nation’s best in 2024 PGA Championship | 🗣️ Comments
• 2:30 pm: Bike to Work Day returns to D.C. area this month, promising a workout and swag | 🗣️ Comments

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

1. Fairfax restaurant listed among 25 best in D.C. by New York Times (17940 views)
2. Expanded Route 7 is now fully operational from Reston to Tysons (10230 views)
3. Fairfax board eyes lower-than-proposed real estate tax hike amid budget constraints (6807 views)
4. Herndon cements vision for development of transition zone near Metro station (5438 views)
5. Google to invest $1 billion to expand data centers in Northern Virginia (5212 views)
6. Fairfax County board approves real estate tax hike, laments state under-funding (4961 views)
7. Farmers market, big trucks to park in Herndon this week (4907 views)
8. County board backs Maryland’s push for funds to replace American Legion Bridge (3212 views)
9. Elden Street Tea Shop to launch new Reston location with tea festival (2440 views)
10. Sushi Umi’s new Tysons restaurant is now open (2280 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

• 8:00 am: Community Yard Sale
• 10:30 am: How to Play Mahjong
• 12:00 pm: Reston Water Safety Day
• 1:00 pm: Craft Gallery of Artisans United: Show Opening Reception
• 2:00 pm: Romeo and Juliet at Lake Braddock Theatre
• 2:00 pm: Freaky Friday “Mother-Daughter Matinee” at Westfield High School
• 👉 3:00 pm: Encore Creativity for Older Adults at Capital One Hall
• 6:00 pm: Family Roller Skate and Dance Night
• 7:00 pm: Dispatches from Appalachia – Real Stories from The Big Stone Gap Post
• 7:00 pm: U.S. Army Brass Quintet Military Appreciation Concert
• 7:00 pm: Freaky Friday at Westfield High School
• 7:30 pm: Big Fish at South Lakes High School
• 8:00 pm: Brian Ganz: A Chopin Recital – Romantic Revolutionary
• 9:00 pm: The Phantom Jay Band The Old Fire Station Fairfax

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

• 9:00 am: Hopecam 5K Run and Walk
• 2:00 pm: The Joy of Creating Exhibit
• 5:30 pm: Blues Open Mic at The Old Fire Station

🌧️ Saturday’s forecast

Rain and drizzle are expected mainly before noon, followed by more rain in the afternoon, with a high temperature near 57°F and an east wind at 9 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%, and new amounts may range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch. Saturday night will see continuous rain, with a low temperature around 56°F, an east wind at 10 mph, a 90% chance of precipitation, and similar new precipitation amounts. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋

Local morning commuters can save on gas and win a free t-shirt when Bike to Work Day returns to Fairfax County this month.

The 23rd annual Bike to Work Day is scheduled for Friday, May 17, offering residents across the D.C. area the opportunity to celebrate cycling. Fairfax County will host 27 designated pit stops, with additional stops organized by Commuter Connections, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and local governments in the region.

Participants are encouraged to register and visit a pit stop by bike to receive a complimentary T-shirt in this year’s color (orange), along with snacks and door prizes. A total of 110 pit stops will be available throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Most pit stops will operate in the morning, with some offering afternoon hours. Commuter Connections, a regional network of transportation organizations, offers turn-by-turn directions for routes that would take cyclists on safe, bicycle-friendly paths and roads.

While Bike to Work Day is a free event, T-shirts are reserved for the first 16,000 registered participants. All registered participants will be eligible to win grand prizes, including bicycles, through raffle drawings.

Each pit stop will offer amenities, including complimentary snacks, beverages, swag bicycling information and raffle prizes. Cyclists can also join free Bike to Work Day convoys led by experienced volunteers.

Bike to Work Day will proceed rain or shine, though individual pit stops can make adjustments in extreme weather conditions. Participants are advised to bring rain gear and stay informed of updates from their pit stop manager.

A full list of pit stops in the Fairfax County area is below. Read More