morning notes

Heat-Related Deaths Reported — “Seven people have died as a result of heat in the Washington region, authorities confirmed Wednesday, as blistering temperatures have forced elected officials to cancel public events, close down athletic fields and encourage residents to stay indoors.” That includes one person in Virginia, though state officials didn’t provide details. [Washington Post]

Domestic Assault in Reston Under Investigation — “Fairfax County Police are investigating an assault that took place early Tuesday morning in Reston.” Officers were called to the 2300 block of Freetown Court for a report of a stabbing, but upon arriving, they found a man with injuries that “weren’t consistent with a stabbing,” police say. No hospital visit was needed. [Patch]

Funding Recommended for Transportation Projects — “The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority will present its ranked recommendations Thursday, for funding nearly $700 million in projects to advance the region’s multimodal transportation network.” Traffic signal improvements on Route 7 by Falls Church came out on top for its congestion relief potential relative to cost. [WTOP]

Middle Eastern Cafe Opens in Barcroft Plaza — “The new MQR Café in Barcroft Plaza serves breakfast, sandwiches, and coffee drinks all day. The café opened on July 6 at 6343-E Columbia Pike. Much of the food features Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flavors.” [Annandale Today]

Hybla Valley Mural Design Up for Vote — “Franconia Supervisor Rodney Lusk and the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services invite community input on a mural design for the exterior wall on the east side of Hybla Valley Community Center.” Voting on designs submitted by artists is open until 5 p.m. on July 26. [NCS]

McLean Group Calls for Ambulance Upgrades — “The McLean Citizens Association’s board of directors adopted a resolution July 3 urging Fairfax County officials to purchase power-load cots for the county government’s entire fleet of medical-transport vehicles to reduce injuries to patients and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel.” [Gazette Leader]

County Seeks Input on Disability Services — “The Fairfax Area Commission on Aging (COA) and the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board (FA-DSB) are seeking community input to identify systemic gaps in service and/or barriers Fairfax County residents with disabilities face.” Registration is open for virtual community forums on July 31 and Aug. 2. [FA-DSB]

Permitting Underway for High School Stadium Bathrooms — “Permanent restroom facilities for Mount Vernon, West Potomac, Edison, Hayfield and 11 other public high school athletic stadiums in Fairfax County are expected to be in place by the 2025-2026 school year.” A modular has arrived at Justice High School, but permits for the other sites are still being reviewed. [On the MoVe]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 91 degrees with a westerly wind at about 6 mph. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with a low near 73, as the northwest wind of around 5 mph becomes calm in the evening. There is a 50% chance of showers during the night. [NWS]

Idylwood Apartment Residents Struggle With Lack of AC — “Amid a severe summer heat wave, residents of the eaves Fairfax Towers apartments in Falls Church, Virginia, report enduring indoor temperatures as high as 93 degrees for more than two weeks…Residents say management provided temporary air-conditioning units, but they have not been effective.” [NBC4]

New Graves Found at Bull Run Park — “A few hundred yards from the popular Atlantis Waterpark at Bull Run Regional Park, in Centreville, Virginia, researchers identified nine graves Monday, using ground penetrating radar in a recently discovered cemetery of African Americans who were likely freed or enslaved.” [WTOP]

Fairfax City Police Investigate Bullet Hole — A resident reported hearing two gunshots at 9:49 p.m. on Monday (July 8), and police later found a bullet hole at the back of their home on Cardinal Road. Other residents later told detectives they had also heard shots but thought the sounds were fireworks. Fairfax City police officers have increased patrols in the area amid an active investigation. [Fairfax City Police/Twitter]

Arlington Chef Opens Restaurant in McLean — “Chef David Guas, a 24-year culinary vet by way of New Orleans, finally has a full-service restaurant to call his own. Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen quietly opened for dinner service last month in the downtown McLean space that formerly housed Assaggi Osteria & Pizzeria.” [Eater DC]

Springfield Man Found Guilty for Liquor Thefts — “A Springfield man was found guilty of stealing thousands of dollars of liquor from ABC stores in [Alexandria City], and is scheduled to appear again for other suspected incidents in Arlington and Fairfax Counties.” A Sept. 11 court hearing in Fairfax County involves charges of larceny, shoplifting, assaulting a law enforcement officer and more. [ALXnow]

Ramen and Taco Restaurants Heading for Richmond Highway Corridor — Yido Ramen and Sushi in Tysons is expanding to the Belle View Shopping Center, where it’s expected to open in January or February 2025. In Groveton, a tenant list for the South Alex apartments shows Big Papi’s Tacos coming to “the end unit directly across from the Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care clinic.” [On the MoVe]

Manager Chosen for Reston Marriott — “Crescent Hotels & Resorts has entered into a management agreement with an affiliate of Comstock Holding Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHCI) (“Comstock”) covering the JW Marriott at Reston Station.” The 28-story high-rise will include a 12-floor, 243-room hotel expected to open in mid-2025 and 94 condominiums that recently opened for sale. [Crescent Hotels and Resorts]

It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 5pm, with mostly sunny conditions and a high near 95, and a heat index reaching up to 105. Wednesday night, storms may occur mainly before 2am, while partly cloudy skies bring a low of 77. The chance of precipitation rises from 30% to 50%. [NWS]

Annandale Man Arrested for Carjacking — “Fairfax County Police detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau are seeking additional witnesses and victims following the apprehension of an Annandale man who committed a carjacking and multiple attempted carjackings within a 90-minute period.” The charges include assault after two victims were reportedly injured. [Annandale Today]

Thousands of Migrant Kids Resettled in Virginia — “Children who arrive to the U.S. without parents entered a sponsor’s care in 14 Virginia localities from Oct. 2023 to April 2024, including Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William and Fairfax Counties in Northern Virginia.” Since October 2014, 33,812 unaccompanied children have been released to a sponsor in Virginia, the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) says. [Virginia Mercury]

June Results of Crime Prevention Effort — The Fairfax County Police Department says its 2024 Summer Crime Prevention Initiative has resulted in over 60 felony charges and more than 150 misdemeanor charges so far. “Over 330 suspected fentanyl pills were taken off the streets, one stolen vehicle was recovered, and one stolen gun was seized from a convicted felon.” [FCPD]

Brush Fire Put Out at Huntley Meadows — “A fire broke out during the evening of July 6 at Huntley Meadows Park in Hybla Valley, burning around three acres of wooded area before it was extinguished, according to a spokesperson for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD).” The cause remains under investigation. [On the MoVe]

Metro Expands Use of Automatic Doors — The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission gave Metro the go-ahead yesterday (Monday) “to fully operate in Auto Door mode,” a function tested on the Red Line in December. All train doors will now automatically open within three to five seconds of stopping at a station platform, saving up to 10 seconds per stop. [WMATA]

Hearing on Fort Hunt Road Pedestrian Improvements — “The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a virtual design public hearing Wednesday, July 10 on planned improvements at the intersection of Fort Hunt Road (Route 629) and Rollins Drive/Westgrove Boulevard to improve pedestrian and driver safety and operations.” Feedback will be accepted through Aug. 7. [VDOT]

Free Water Sports Clinic Coming to Lorton — “The 14th Annual So Kids SOAR Adaptive Water Sports Clinic is scheduled to take place Saturday, July 13, at Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton. Children will have access to adaptive equipment and instructors. A total of about 120 families are coming this year, up from 57 families in 2023.” [WTOP]

Throwback to Fairfax County Bookmobile — “County supervisors approved funding for the first library in 1939, but that $250 wasn’t enough. The federal Works Progress Administration stepped in with funding and loaned Fairfax a bookmobile. The dark blue, converted 1-ton 1939 Chevrolet Suburban panel truck filled with books started Fairfax County on its road to reading on July 30, 1940.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny and hot day with a high near 97 and heat index values up to 106, along with a 20% chance of rain after 2pm. At night, there’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, with partly cloudy conditions and a low of 79. [NWS]

Heat Advisory Issued for Today — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, that will take effect from noon to 8 p.m. today (Monday). With heat index values of up to 105 expected, the county has activated its heat plan and will provide supplies like water at cooling centers. [NWS]

Witnesses Reportedly Stop Carjackings — “In the 7600 block of Allman Drive in Annandale, a 38-year-old man allegedly carjacked a victim then attempted carjackings on Lukens Lane and the 8600 block of Richmond Highway in Mount Vernon an hour later,” Fairfax County police said. “Several onlookers who witnessed the attempted carjackings stepped in and detained the man until officers arrived and responded to the scene.” [WUSA9]

Virginia Senator Allegedly Concerned by Biden’s Candidacy — “Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) is attempting to assemble a group of Democratic senators to ask President Biden to exit the presidential race, according to two people with direct knowledge of the effort…Warner spokeswoman Rachel Cohen would neither confirm nor deny that the senator thinks Biden needs to drop out of the race.” [Washington Post]

West Falls Church Road Closes for Pipe Project — “Weather permitting, Wayne Road (Route 2304) between Arlington Boulevard (Route 50) and Regent Lane (Route 2303) will be closed to through traffic Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day for drainage pipe replacement.” [VDOT]

Herndon Woman Wins Taekwondo Title — “Some of the best amateur taekwondo athletes in the United States spent the last week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, competing at the AAU Taekwondo National Championship…Elena Kelley of Herndon, Virginia, is bringing home the national championship in the 33-42 female bracket in the traditional open forms in poomsae.” [WTOP]

Annandale Stream Project Makes Progress — “The project to restore the Coons Branch stream in Annandale Community Park is ahead of schedule. Workers have completed stabilizing the stream banks, says project manager Jasdeep Saini, of the Fairfax County Stormwater Planning Division. However, the fence around the project area won’t be removed and the stream won’t be open to the public until late fall.” [Annandale Today]

Primark Plans Giveaways for Tysons Opening — “International clothing retailer Primark has planned special giveaways, complimentary sweet treats, food trucks and a visit from [SpongeBob] SquarePants to celebrate the opening of its first store in Virginia on July 16.” [Patch]

It’s Monday — It’ll be mostly sunny and hot conditions and a high near 97, feeling like 105 due to the heat index. There’s a 20% chance of precipitation of isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Monday night will be partly cloudy with a low of around 78. [NWS]

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gets Grant for Witness Protection — “Fairfax County is getting a $25,000 grant that the top prosecutor in the Virginia suburb said will be used to offer security and support to victims and witnesses in criminal trials. The funding is from a $1 million grant program from Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services.” [WTOP]

NATO Summit to Disrupt D.C. Travel — “Washington, DC, will host international leaders next week for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, setting off a number of disruptions and restrictions downtown…Traffic is expected to pile up, and the closures may change as the summit progresses.” [Washingtonian]

Crosswalks Added in Richmond Highway Corridor — “Part two of VDOT’s pedestrian improvement project in Woodlawn got underway July 2 with the installation of pedestrian crossing signals at newly striped crosswalks at Richmond Highway and Buckman Road near Radford Avenue.” The project’s first phase added accessible ramps to the sidewalks on both sides of Route 1. [On the MoVe]

Learn About Suffragists Jailed at Lorton Prison — Burke Centre Library hosts former history professor and Lucy Burns Museum consultant Alice Reagan tomorrow (Saturday) for a discussion about the National Women’s Party members who were incarcerated the Women’s Workhouse in Occoquan for picketing the White House in 1917. [Fairfax County Public Library]

Artists Wanted for Gardening Event — “The Garden Plot, the Mount Vernon area garden center…has put out a ‘Call for Local Artists’ for a special event next month. The business is planning an outdoor art and gardening event Aug. 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at which artists of all kinds can set up their own booths or tables to highlight and sell their crafts.” [On the MoVe]

Falls Church Soccer Team Competes for Championship — “Falls Church City’s semi-pro soccer team, Virginia Dream FC, are in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) Postseason Championship Game for the second consecutive season…They will play in, and host, the championship match this coming Saturday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Meridian High School.” [Gazette Leader]

Local Parks Host July Golf Tournaments — “Bring the heat at upcoming golf tournaments hosted by Golf Fairfax this July. Celebrate the patriotic vibes and light up the greens to celebrate July Fourth at two Red, White and Blue Tournaments.” The games start this weekend with a tournament tomorrow at Burke Lake Golf Center and on Sunday (July 7) at Pinecrest Golf Course in Lincolnia. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

It’s Friday — There’s a 40% chance of precipitation after 2pm, accompanied by a high temperature near 94°F alongside heat index values reaching up to 105°F. Heading into Friday night, showers and thunderstorms could linger until 2am. The sky will be mostly cloudy with a low temperature of 77°F and a 30% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Fourth of July Safety Tips — “As we prepare to celebrate America’s independence with fireworks, barbecues and community gatherings, we are sharing July 4th safety tips to help you have a safe and fun celebration.” The Fairfax County Police Department has advice for going to events, celebrating at home and traveling. [FCPD]

Korean Restaurant Opens in Herndon — In the works since early 2023, H Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot opened in Herndon Centre at 400 Elden Street in late June. Diners can “choose from a large selection of meats and other items” that can be cooked on a grill or in a simmering pot at their table. [The Burn]

Court Hearing Delayed in Fairfax City Shooting — “An Arlington man charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Fairfax City resident and DonorSee CEO Gret Glyer had his competency hearing pushed back to August, according to court records.” Joshua Danehower, 33, appeared in Fairfax County Circuit Court for a scheduled hearing on Friday (June 28), but it got postponed since the judge hadn’t gotten the results of his evaluation. [Patch]

Fireworks Light Up Lorton — “Friends and families packed the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton Saturday night for early Fourth of July festivities, including a dance party, live music, performances, food vendors and, of course, fireworks.” See photos of the scene. [Inside NoVA]

Fairfax City to Move Turtles for Pond Dredging — “Turtles in a popular City of Fairfax pond will be safely relocated in the next few days and weeks, ahead of a monthslong dredging and construction project at Ashby Pond.” The turtles will be moved this month before work to remove sediment from the stormwater pond starts in the fall. [WTOP]

Dulles Airport Revives Nonstop Flight to Mexico City — “Aeromexico had its inaugural nonstop flight from Dulles Airport to Mexico City on Monday. It is a return to the D.C. area for Aeromexico, which ended service at Dulles in 2019. The daily flights depart Dulles at 4:40 p.m. and depart Mexico City for Dulles…at 8:40 a.m.” [WTOP]

N. Va. Ice Cream Wars Has a Winner — “After a month of voting, Northern Virginians have selected Nathan’s Dairy Bar as the winner of the first-ever NoVA Wars: Ice Cream Edition. The Manassas ice cream spot was a top vote-getter each round, topping Moo Thru (which has NoVA locations in Herndon, Warrenton, and Hillsboro) in the final round.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 88. As night falls, the weather will shift to partly cloudy skies with a low of approximately 72. Independence Day has a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 pm, partly sunny skies, and a high of 95. The heat index may reach 101. [NWS]

McLean Bank Is Go-To Funder of Republican Campaigns — “Chain Bridge Bank, privately owned and with some 70 employees, has worked with the campaign of every Republican Party presidential nominee since John McCain in 2008, including Donald Trump.” The one-branch bank on Laughlin Avenue was founded by former Republican Senator Peter Fitzgerald and announced in May that it might go public. [Reuters]

FCPS Tweaks Grading Policies — “Fairfax County schools will allow students to retake tests for full credit and will add a D-minus to their grading scale as the district and others try to rethink how to measure student performance.” Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid says the new approach to grading will create more consistency and be clearer to communicate. [Washington Post]

Hybla Valley Affordable Housing Slowly Filling — “As of June 24, 2024, the Residences at North Hill had a total of 61 occupied units (22% occupancy) with 26 more units in-process according to Ivy Dench-Carter, senior vice president of development at Pennrose, which both owns and manages the property…Their goal is to have the residences at least 95% occupied by October.” [On the MoVe]

International Grocery Store Eyes Summer Opening — “Ummah Market, an international grocery store in Bailey’s Crossroads, could have a soft opening by the end of July and a grand opening by the end of August, says owner and CEO Jawad Yousufi…Yousufi describes the store as a ‘Mediterranean version of Whole Foods,’ featuring natural and healthy items from Turkey, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.” [Annandale Today]

Sheriff, Commonwealth’s Attorney Get Pay Raises — “Fulfilling a state-code requirement, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted June 25 to raise pay rates for three constitutional officers, effective July 1.” The new annual salaries for the clerk of the circuit court, commonwealth’s attorney and sheriff are $184,141, $204,274.49 and $259,158.99, respectively. [Gazette Leader]

Fire Department Celebrates First Hires — “75th ANNIVERSARY: On July 1, 1949, the first 10 career #FCFRD firefighters were hired. They served primarily as daytime apparatus drivers. Today we are the largest fire dept in Virginia and one of the best in the nation with w/ 1,400 career FFs, 170 civilians, & 370 volunteers.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

County’s Door-to-Door Shuttle Changes Departments — The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has taken over management of Fastran from the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS). “The realignment will streamline responsibilities and eliminate redundancies, allowing for improved service delivery and enhanced collaboration.” [NCS]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny conditions, reaching a high of approximately 85°F. In the afternoon, light wind will increase to 5-7 mph from the southeast. At night, the sky will turn partly cloudy and temperatures will drop to around 65°F. [NWS]

New Laws to Take Effect Monday — “Most laws that were passed by the General Assembly during the 2024 legislative session take effect in Virginia on Monday, July 1.” Highlights include a law championed by Fairfax County that will allow speed limits under 25 mph in business and residential areas, fines for moving violations in highway work zones and a ban on altering gun serial numbers. [Fairfax County]

Metro Fares Set to Increase — “Metro rail and bus riders: plan to start paying about 12 percent more per trip. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reminded passengers this week that fares on its whole system will be going up starting June 30.” The increase was approved in April to help Metro address a $750 million budget deficit. [Washingtonian]

Kids to Get Free VRE Rides — “The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will make modest adjustments to its fare schedule for the first time in five years and eliminate fares for those ages 18 and under beginning Monday, July 1, 2024. Adult fares will increase approximately 5 percent, well below the rate of inflation since 2019.” [VRE]

Route One BRT Starts Engineering — “The Richmond Highway Corridor’s future bus rapid transit (BRT) system has taken another significant step forward with the news that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the project’s entry into the Engineering phase” of a grant program that Fairfax County hopes will cover nearly half of the $937 million price tag. [On the MoVe]

N. Va. Restaurants Awarded for Their Wine — “Looking for a great selection of wine when you go out for dinner? Wine Spectator announced its 2024 Restaurant Awards on Tuesday, highlighting the best restaurants in the world for wine — and there are 31 winners in Northern Virginia.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Parking Restrictions Proposed around Madison HS — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a July 30 public hearing on whether to expand the Madison Residential Permit Parking District in response to a petition by residents on Carey Lane in Vienna. Residents say “large numbers” of James Madison High School students are taking up parking between Jerry Lane and Vale Road. [Gazette Leader]

Reston Arts Curator to Leave Post — “Jaynelle Hazard will be stepping down as executive director and curator of Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art on Aug. 1 to become the director and chief curator of Georgetown University Galleries.” She joined the Reston arts nonprofit — then known as the Greater Reston Center — in March 2020 and oversaw its rebranding in 2021. [Patch]

Park Authority Rolls Out Wonder Wagon for Summer — “The Park Authority’s new mobile nature center launched its 2024 Summer Activation series on June 19 at Justice Park with a wagonload of guided and fun-filled activities for the community. With 10 additional parks included in the series, our team invites you to accelerate your summer experience in a park near you” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching 84 degrees, accompanied by a gentle 8mph northeast breeze that will shift southeast later in the afternoon. Cloud cover will increase during the night, bringing temperatures to a low of 71 degrees. [NWS]

Animal Shelter Waives Fees for Small Critters — “The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is currently caring for a higher-than-usual number of small animals. To encourage adoptions and find loving homes for these pets, the shelter is hosting an ‘It’s a Small World’ fee-waived adoption event for all small pets from Thursday through Sunday, June 27 through 30.” [FCAS]

Some Parents Object to FCPS Early Release Days — “During a community meeting Tuesday, about a dozen Fairfax County parents and community members told the leader of Virginia’s largest school district that the decision to add extra elementary school early release days next year is disruptive and will impact their students’ learning.” [WTOP]

Compass Coffee Faces Unionization Battle — “Unionizing Compass workers allege the recent influx of new hires — 124 across five stores in total — is an attempt from Compass Coffee CEO Michael Haft to stymie the unionization push, as workers across the chain’s DC and Virginia locations seek higher wages and more workplace protections.” [Washingtonian]

Pickleball Lines Officially Gone From Annandale Courts — “Contractors hired by Fairfax County removed the pickleball markings from the courts in Kendale Woods Park June 25, as a security guard stood watch and a reporter from WUSA9 interviewed pickleball players…Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole said pickleball was removed from the courts because the residents of one nearby home complained about the noise.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons and Route 1 Boosters Share Vision — The Tysons Community Alliance and Southeast Fairfax Development Corp. “serve different constituencies, but are using similar techniques to foster ‘placemaking’ and business growth.” They shared their strategies, which utilize public art, parks and gathering spaces, and events to promote their areas, with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at an economic initiatives committee meeting. [Gazette Leader]

Board Chair Voices Support for Extending I-495 Express Lanes — While Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson expressed concern that express lanes “would make future rail plans unfeasible,” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at a recent Northern Virginia Transportation Authority meeting that “toll lanes were a stepping stone toward rail rather than an obstacle.” [ALXnow]

Uyghur Restaurant to Expand to Falls Church — “Dolan Uyghur Restaurant will open its second NoVA restaurant and its third in the DMV in early September in the Falls Church spot where Pizzaria Orso was.” The business currently has locations in Chantilly and in D.C.’s Cleveland Park neighborhood. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Traffic Safety Crackdown Produces Thousands of Tickets — “FCPD’s Road Shark campaign has successfully wrapped up its third wave. Officers and Troopers issued over 8,500 citations and warnings, with over 200 citations for reckless driving on our roadways.” A fourth wave of the initiative, which aims to improve traffic safety, will begin on Aug. 5. [FCPD]

It’s Thursday — Showers are possible before 8am, followed by cloudy conditions until mid-morning when skies will gradually clear. The high is expected to be around 88. The chance of precipitation stands at 30%. For Thursday night, expect mostly clear skies, a low of approximately 69. [NWS]