It has been an absolute joy producing Braddock Buzz, which has given us the opportunity to learn more about our community and interview dozens of interesting people whom we wouldn’t have met otherwise.

Thank you to the 1,245 subscribers who have sustained this newsletter and provided feedback and encouragement.

Thank you, as well, to the sponsors whose financial support made Braddock Buzz possible: realtor Jennifer Mack and Susan King Glosby of WorkAway Solutions.

Jennifer was with us from nearly the beginning and was much more than just an advertiser. Her column was full of exciting insights that our readers looked forward to each week. For those who want to continue receiving Jennifer’s take on real estate issues and market trends, you can sign up here for her monthly newsletter.

If you want to keep up with WorkAway Solutions, you can follow the company on its website, Facebook, and Instagram.

We’d also like to plug several local news sources that we are indebted to for providing such great material that we often rounded up in Braddock Buzz:

• Ellie Ashford does an incredible job reporting on hyper-local news in the Annandale Blog, which is truly a community treasure.

• FFX Now is a great resource for anyone keeping up with news about the county.

• Hannah Natanson does a stellar job reporting on Northern Virginia schools for The Washington Post. You can follow her on the Post’s website or on Twitter.

• Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw puts out a regular newsletter with important information about the county government and other issues affecting our community. You can subscribe here.

As for the two of us, you can continue to reach us at BraddockBuzz@gmail.com

All the best,

Leanne & Austin Wright

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week offers advice for anyone thinking about purchasing a vacation property. Reach out to Jennifer with real estate questions and column ideas at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers half-day and full-day passes, with coffee and refreshments included. Book a tour today!

Subscribe now

Pandemic

Eighteen percent of county’s 5-11 years olds have received at least one vaccine dose: Vaccinations began earlier this month for children ages 5-11, and already Fairfax County has seen 18% of that age group receive a first dose, according to the state’s vaccine dashboard. Overall, 83% of adults in Virginia are now fully vaccinated–a milestone Gov. Ralph Northam celebrated in a press release. “Virginia ranks 10th among all states and 1st in the South in the percent of people fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” Northam said. “So many Virginians have done their part to make our Commonwealth a safer place.” 

An interview with Jennifer McLaughlin of Caboose Commons

The Braddock’s Best-winning brewery is taking the old and making it new

This is the second in a series of interviews with the people behind the winning restaurants in our inaugural reader survey, Braddock’s Best.

Today we’re talking to Jennifer McLaughlin, co-owner of Caboose Commons, which won first place in the “Best Brewery” category. McLaughlin launched the Caboose Brewing Company in 2015 with her husband and another family, the Greers. The original location, Caboose Tavern, is in Vienna. Caboose Commons opened in 2018 in Mosaic.

The interview was conducted at Caboose Commons, and the transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Hi, Jennifer! Can you start with the Caboose origin story?

The Vienna location, Caboose Tavern, is the original, and that’s close to our house. We enjoy good beverage and good food, but finding the two under one roof that's walkable from home–it didn't exist. So we built it. The concept is really good beer and farm-to-table food. Here at Caboose Commons, the volume is too high to do farm to table. We still use a lot of local vendors, though.

Q: And it’s named after the old red caboose on the W&OD trail in Vienna, right?

Yep. The concept in both locations is taking old industrial and making it something fun and new. So, the W&OD Trail is the “rails to trails” concept–it's taking something old and making it something new. A caboose is the same concept–something old that doesn’t really exist anymore. We’ve taken that name and we’re making it something fun and new. All of our beer cans have the power lines that go along the trail–just a shoutout to that. 

Q: What was your background before Caboose?

Nothing to do with restaurants, at all. My husband and I are both engineers by degree. He's in software, and I was a math teacher, and then a mom, and then a nutritionist–lots of paths. This is a fun one.

Q: Can you tell me about how the brewery is split between the two locations?

We ferment at both locations. The hot side of the brewery is over at the Tavern, in Vienna. And then we have the “wort wagon.” We create all the wort there and then, if it's coming here to ferment, we pump it into the wort wagon, drive the four-and-a-half miles, and put it into the ferment vessels here.

Q: This is a really unique building–it’s just very open and spacious. What was it previously?

It was a tool and equipment rental company. That's why all these cranes are here. There was an elevator, too. The brewery wall didn't exist–it was just a big open frame, and there was no drywall.

Q: What do you think people like about the space?

I hope they're comfortable here. That's what we aim for–a place where you can come however you want to be and enjoy yourself. We get sweaty runners and bikers and we get people super dressed up. We have newborn babies, baby showers. We do weddings in here; we do military promotions in here–just the full spectrum of celebrations and hanging out. We want everybody to just feel welcome and comfortable.

Q: Is it unique to have a coffee house and brewery under the same roof?

It is, but it's really the same passion. For example, on the wall in our office, we have the full coffee flavor wheel and the full beer flavor wheel. Once a barista sees the beer flavor wheel, they’re always very intrigued, and same for the beer connoisseurs when they see the coffee wheel. They both geek out in the same way.

Q: What's your philosophy on what makes a good beer?

Quality ingredients–that's true with everything. The beer, the food, the coffee. Coffee is easy to explain. If you have beautiful, perfectly roasted beans come in, but you blast them with too much hot water for too long, you're gonna have a bad cup of coffee. If you have terrible beans coming in, you can never get a good cup of coffee. It's the same with beer–you need high quality ingredients and then a very carefully controlled process.

Q: How do you find the best ingredients?

My brewers do that. Some of it is local; some of it is not. Our yeast is all local–most of the local breweries use Jasper Yeast. They do a fantastic job. Malt and hops don't really grow that well in Virginia, so most of that comes from either the west coast or Germany. We have a "For Lovers" series that focuses on the local, using Virginia-based ingredients. We're trying to support that industry and see if we can get them up and off the ground. It's more expensive, though.

Q: Employee retention is a big issue affecting the entire service sector right now. How is that playing out at Caboose?

Before COVID, we really had no turnover. During the pandemic, we went down to just a few employees, then we started hiring everybody back. We did get a lot of our old employees back. We also got a lot of new employees. Getting enough staff has really been our problem. We'll put jobs out there and we get zero responses. We still have a few jobs that have been open for a while–just nobody's applying. We're paying well–it's just there's nobody there. A lot of people left the industry. I understand why–there were no jobs in restaurants for a while, and they moved on. It makes sense; it was a good move. But now, it's hard to find people. 

I worry about a lot of restaurants because the cost of doing business is just going up and up and up. Employees are demanding more–rightfully so. The food and gas costs are going up. Garbage costs have gone up. It’s everything–it’s across the board. I worry some businesses are going to start going under again.

Q: Home brewing has become a big hobby. Any advice for someone looking to open their own brewery?

The first thing that comes to mind is the mistake we made at both locations–water on the ground. You have to make sure your drainage is on point. But that's probably not very interesting.

Q: It's very practical.

It is. Both of our buildings are very old and so we're using a lot of the old drainage, and it's just not ideal. We should have jack-hammered the whole thing up and re-done it. 

But, really, starting your own brewery comes down to employees. Having employees who love what they're doing and paying them adequately–that's where it's at. And that's expensive. But it makes it fun–you get all these people with all this passion about what they do.  

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

County Government

Public weighs in on redistricting proposals: The Annandale Blog has coverage of last week’s redistricting hearing:

As the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors prepares to redraw the boundaries of the supervisory districts, community members weighed in with suggestions at a board hearing Nov. 9.

The board is scheduled to approve a redistricting plan on Dec. 7. It is considering 64 plans submitted by the Redistricting Advisory Committee.  

Many of the plans would shift the boundaries of the Mason District by moving sections to or from the Providence, Braddock, or Lee districts. Some of the plans would add one or two new districts.

Redistricting must be carried out every 10 years to accommodate the latest Census data. The population deviation between the most and least populated districts must be less than 10 percent.

You can read the full story, including a list of suggestions put forward by county residents, here.

County to phase out government use of gas-powered leaf blowers: The Board of Supervisors last week passed a measure phasing out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers by the county government. The measure, which passed 9-1, was co-introduced by Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw and three other board members.

“I'm thrilled that Fairfax County is moving forward to create a cleaner and quieter community by phasing out our use of gas-powered leaf blowers,” Walkinshaw said in a statement. “By taking an incentive-based approach to our procurement policies, we can jumpstart the transition from dirty and noisy gas-powered blowers. This initiative sends a strong signal to landscaping contractors that now is the time to invest in cleaner equipment."

Events

• Tuesday, Nov. 16: The Braddock District Land Use and Environment Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. The agenda includes a discussion of a McKenzie Avenue rezoning proposal. You can join online or by phone: (571) 429-5982, Phone Conference ID: 730 922 969#.

• Wednesday, Nov. 17: The Braddock District Council holds its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m., virtually. Representatives from the county’s public works department will discuss the process of switching from private to county waste collection. Zoom details below:

URL: Click HERE to Join the Meeting

Meeting ID: 847 0528 0359

Passcode: 880675 

Dial In: 301-715-8592 (audio ONLY)

News in Brief

• Starting tomorrow, vaccines will be offered for children ages 5-11 at nine school-based clinics across FCPS. Clinics will be held after school hours, evenings, and on weekends, and you don’t need an appointment. You can find a list of locations here.

• Conservative news outlets are expressing outrage over the 2021 Fairfax County Youth Survey, a partnership between the county government and FCPS, which will ask students as young as 12 about their sex life, gender, home life, and more. The survey is anonymous, voluntary, and offers “a barometer of the community’s effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people,” reports ABC News 7.

• The Fairfax County Park Authority is looking to create options for pickleball at Lewinsville Park in McLean as part of an effort to boost pickleball options across the county to meet growing demand. The effort included the conversion of two platform tennis courts to pickleball at Wakefield Park in the Braddock District.

• The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has adopted a zero waste plan, which seeks to reduce the total amount of waste generated by the county and schools by 25% by 2030, and divert 90% of waste away from landfills and incinerators.

• The county has launched a “Parking Reimagined” project, the first comprehensive review of the its parking and loading requirements since the 1980s.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: Questions to answer before purchasing a vacation property

The demand for purchasing vacation properties has continued through the last year. Some want to be at the beach, others in the mountains. But the common theme is a desire to be near nature and away from traffic.

If you are thinking of purchasing a vacation property, here are some factors to keep in mind.

One of the biggest decisions to make is whether you want to rent it out to paying guests or if you will keep it for your exclusive use. If you want to rent it out, the first thing to research are local ordinances as well as any restrictions that an HOA may impose. Many HOAs limit the number of rentals an owner can entertain in a time period or restrict the length of the stay. Most local jurisdictions also collect taxes from homeowners for these stays, so it is important to understand what those amounts will be and how often they are remitted. Some areas inspect the properties and grant business licenses for them.  

Property insurance is another big factor—you have to do your research to make sure you can get insurance on a rental property for a reasonable price. You will also want to be sure the house has an adequate number of bedrooms and bathrooms and space to yield the rental rates you want to command. In addition, there are safety considerations if the property has a pool, hot tub, or boat access.

You will want to think about how long it will take you to get there in the event of a guest emergency, or if you will hire someone locally for this. Cleaners are in demand and can be difficult to find, so start researching them early.

If you plan to just use the home for yourself and your family, the key factors are ease of maintaining the property, travel time to ensure you will actually use it, and how many months out of the year you would be able to best utilize it based on where it is located. A vacation home can be a wonderful investment, especially in these stressful times, but must be carefully considered to ensure it will give you the rest and relaxation you crave.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

4292 Gifford Pinchot Dr, Annandale | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,862 sf | $859,990

5428 Rilian Ct, Burke | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,368 sf | $800,000

4413 Holborn Ave, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,016 sf | $799,900

4204 Kilbourne Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 1,664 sf | $765,000

5002 Dulce Ct, Annandale | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,341 sf | $725,000

Top sales

7215 Hansford Ct, Springfield | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,893 sf | 2 days on market | $899,900

8917 Prince Caspian Ct, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,664 sf | 5 days on market | $890,000

7209 Countrywood Ct, Springfield | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,366 sf | 4 days on market | $866,000

4711 Briar Patch Ln, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,714 sf | 2 days on market | $835,000

10843 Burr Oak Way, Burke | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,312 sf | 5 days on market | $830,000

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week explains why she doesn’t foresee a housing market crash in 2022. Reach out to Jennifer with real estate questions and column ideas at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers half-day and full-day passes, with coffee and refreshments included. Book a tour today!

Subscribe now

An interview with Eleni Linardakis of Spartans Family Restaurant

The Braddock’s Best-winning restaurant is truly a family operation

This is the first in a series of interviews with the people behind the winning restaurants in our inaugural reader survey, Braddock’s Best.

Today we’re talking to Eleni Linardakis of Spartans Family Restaurant, which won first place in the “Best Family Restaurant” category. The interview was conducted by Braddock Buzz author Austin Wright, and the transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Hi, Eleni! So Spartans was started in 1995 by your parents?

Yes! My mom and dad came from Greece. They were 20 years old and barely had $20. My mom was a seamstress, and my dad had worked in different restaurants and always wanted to own a restaurant. I was 16 when they opened Spartans.

Q: Why did you decide to make Spartans your career?

So, I went to George Mason and got a degree in public relations. But I always loved working with my parents, my family. I’ve never worked anywhere else. Around the time I got married, we opened the other restaurant, Olympians in Alexandria. My husband is from Warrenton–his parents had a restaurant there. So that was the route we were going.

Q: This is truly a family-run operation.

Yes. My brother, husband, sister, cousins, aunt, uncle, myself, and of course my mom all work together. In 2007, my dad passed away. It was sudden–he was only 52. That rocked our world. He loved Spartans, so, in turn, we do too. He used to be like, “I love the restaurant more than my kids.” People would think, “Oh my gosh, is he crazy?” But he would say, “If it weren’t for Spartans, I wouldn’t be able to provide for my kids.” My parents, they were all about the guests. They became friends with the guests. People were coming to our house. For my wedding, we closed the restaurant, because we were like, we spend more time with our staff and team than anybody else, so how could we have a wedding and them not be there?

Q: You seem to be able to attract a very professional staff who stay with you for a long time.

We've had some of our staff here since we opened. We try to treat everybody like they're part of our family and lead by example. My dad was always like that. You can’t expect your staff to treat guests well, or treat each other well, if you’re treating them poorly. If there’s a complaint from a guest, I tell everybody on our team–they all know–you just solve it. You don’t come find me or call me. If a guest doesn’t like their food, you get them something else and take it off the check. Because they know I wouldn’t tell them any different. 

Q: You seem to have a lot of customer loyalty, as well.

Our guests, they want to come here and feel good. And you never know what somebody’s going through. One time, when I was younger, my dad was teaching me how to drive. And he said, “Never follow close behind someone who's going slow. You don't know what's going on in their life. You don't know what happened. You don't know anything about their situation.” On the day he passed away, I noticed I was driving slow in the left lane and people were right behind me. And I remember, in that moment, I was like, “Oh my gosh, they have no idea that my life just turned upside down.” It’s the same with the guests. We don't know how their day went. Even our staff, we want them to come in here and know that things are going to be good, that things are going to be consistent.

Q: What do you mean by “consistent?”

That was a big thing for my dad. He always said, “You have to be consistent.” It means greeting guests and staff with a smile every day. But we also have consistency in our ordering. My uncle will not veer from the brands we use. With COVID, that’s been hard, because things are so hard to get–they’re out of this and they’re out of that. We’ve been sold out of crab cakes and calamari because we can’t get the brand that we always use. Sometimes our vendors try to send us something different and we’re like, “No, we can’t use it,” because, God forbid, it tastes a little different. We have to be consistent.

Q: If someone came here for the first time, what would you tell them to order? What’s the essential Spartans?

We always are super consistent on the meat we get–both the gyro and the chicken. Every day we're cutting chicken and we're marinating chicken. The most popular items are the Greek salad with grilled chicken, the gyro, and also the chicken souvlaki. We also recently started a trio dip where we make the spicy feta, tzatziki, and hummus. If we love it, we're going to serve it. 

Q: When I was here, I got the trio dip and it was great.

Oh my gosh, that's my favorite. I'm obsessed. I'm always sending people the trio dip, just because I like it so much.

Q: I also had the Greek bowl with chicken–delicious.

That's a new COVID creation. My cousin would always make a Greek bowl to eat on her own. I thought, since she loves it so much–let’s make it! It’s been super popular. 

Q: Spartans won Braddock’s Best in the “family restaurant” category. What makes Spartans a great place specifically for families?

A big reason is that everybody can get what they want. If I’m in the mood for spaghetti, one of my kids wants pizza, another wants chicken–we can all order what we want. I also feel like, at Spartans, it’s OK if your kids are “outgoing,” because my kids are here too. My sister was born into the restaurant. She used to come here every Friday night and the guests would be babysitting her because my mom was working. They would pass her around. My dad used to always tell us, “We're part of the community.” 

Election 2021

Voters approve $360M school bond: In last week’s election, Fairfax County voters overwhelmingly approved a $360 million school bond. This will fund renovation projects throughout FCPS, including two in the Braddock District: a $38 million expansion of Bonnie Brae Elementary and a $30 million overhaul of Wakefield Forest Elementary.

Overall, voter turnout in Fairfax County was 55%, just shy of the 56% who voted in the 2017 governor’s race. The county’s early voting rate was 39%, down from 69% last year but still a significant increase from pre-COVID levels, per numbers released by Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

The county’s unofficial results are here.

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

Events

• Tuesday, Nov. 9: The Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing to consider proposed redistricting plans. New local election districts are expected to be adopted on Dec. 7.

• Tuesday, Nov. 9: Fairfax County’s new police chief, Kevin Davis, will speak at a 7 p.m. community engagement meeting hosted by the West Springfield District Community Advisory Committee. Dial-in instructions are in the latest edition of Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw’s newsletter.

• Thursday, Nov. 11: The Friends of Accotink Creek and the Fairfax County Restoration Project will hold a Veteran’s Day cleanup event along Americana Drive, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. More info here.

• Sunday, Nov. 14: The Friends of Lake Accotink Park will host its monthly park cleanup, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., starting at the Lake Accotink Marina. Register here.

• Tuesday, Nov. 16: The Braddock District Land Use and Environment Committee will hold a virtual meeting at 7 p.m. The agenda includes a discussion of a McKenzie Avenue rezoning proposal. You can join online or by phone: (571) 429-5982, Phone Conference ID: 730 922 969#.

News in Brief

• Children ages 5-11 are now eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more–and find out how to schedule an appointment for your child–here.

• Ninety-seven percent of FCPS staff are vaccinated, with the remaining 3% now subject to weekly testing, WTOP News reports.

• Two people were injured Saturday night in a two-vehicle car crash in Fairfax Station, at the intersection of Fairfax County Parkway and Freds Oak Road, police said on Twitter. One man remains hospitalized with injuries considered life threatening.

• Andrew Paulucci, 21, of Centreville, was killed Friday in a motorcycle crash in Fairfax Station. Detectives believe speed may have been a factor for the motorcycle, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: Why I don’t foresee a housing market crash in 2022

At least once a week I get asked if the housing market will crash in 2022. The short answer: No, I don’t think so, though there will of course continue to be seasonable price fluctuations.

Here are three reasons why I don’t foresee a crash:

Inventory remains low. Unlike during the 2008 housing bubble, inventory has become extremely scarce. According to a new analysis from the mortgage-finance company Freddie Mac, the U.S. housing industry is nearly 4 million single-family homes short of what is needed to meet demand. Previously, in 2018, Freddie Mac had estimated that the housing market was 2.5 million units short. The new estimate is as of the end of 2020, and it emphasizes the severity of the housing supply crunch. While low inventory is a problem, it also creates an opportunity for home equity to rise. The bottom line: Next year will likely continue to be a strong seller’s market.

We’re seeing more lenient forbearance terms than expected, with the new payment deferral options announced in June 2020. Borrowers who can return to making their normal monthly mortgage payments may choose to defer their missed payments until they sell or refinance their home, or until mortgage maturity. Here’s an explanation from Mark Calabria, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency: 

For homeowners in forbearance due to COVID-19, payment deferral allows them to make up missed forbearance payments when they sell their home or refinance… This new forbearance repayment solution responsibly simplifies options for homeowners while providing an additional tool for mortgage servicers. Borrowers who can pay their mortgage should, because missed payments remain an obligation that will ultimately have to be repaid.

The economy continues to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an occupational outlook each year that goes into great detail about each industry and occupation. Overall, BLS expects total employment to increase by 6 million jobs between 2019 and 2029. Manufacturing and retail industries will continue to shed jobs, while e-commerce will continue to grow. Diane Swonk, Chief Economist at Grant Thornton, said she expects 2021’s growth rate to be 6.6%, the strongest year since 1984. 

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

4314 Duncan Dr, Annandale | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,672 sf | $849,900

10906 Fox Sparrow Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,324 sf | $769,900

5503 Landmark Pl, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,090 sf | $764,900

4704 Duncan Dr, Annandale | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,214 sf | $750,000

9205 Burnetta Dr, Annandale | 4    beds, 2.5 baths, 2,875 sf | $744,888

Top sales

10865 Santa Clara Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,630 sf | 3 days on market | $842,000

5945 Oakland Park Dr, Burke | 6 beds, 5 baths, 3,500 sf | 6 days on market | $827,000

10329 Commonwealth, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 3,509 sf | 2 days on market | $800,000

5210 Grinnell St, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 3,213 sf | 3 days on market | $795,000

10125 Glenmere Rd, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,450 sf | 4 days on market | $775,000

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, who’s hosting a free online seller’s seminar tonight at 7 p.m. You can register here, or contact Jennifer directly at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers half-day and full-day passes, with coffee and refreshments included. Book a tour today!

Subscribe now

Tomorrow is Election Day! 

The governor’s race is shaping up to be a nail-biter, with the RealClearPolitics polling average putting it at a statistical tie. Make sure your voice is heard–you can look up your polling location here.

Pandemic

Vaccines for children ages 5-11 expected to begin this week: The CDC is expected tomorrow to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11, which will kick off an effort to vaccinate the 97,000 children in that age group in the Fairfax Health District. Here are some fast facts about the “pediatric” vaccine, via the Fairfax County Health Department:

• The vaccine regimen for this age group requires two Pfizer doses, 21 days apart.

• Children ages 5-11 will get one-third of the dose given to those ages 12 and up. Vaccine trials showed this lower dose produces the same antibody response in children as the higher dose does in adults.

• The vaccine will be available through pediatric and family medical practices, as well as local pharmacies, the Tysons Community Vaccination Center, and the county Health Department. FCPS is also planning to launch school-based vaccination clinics. Once the CDC approves the vaccine, you’ll be able to schedule an appointment by contacting your child’s medical provider or through www.vaccines.gov.

• The pediatric vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19.

• Clinical trials found no serious adverse events related to the vaccine in children, but there are mild side effects including pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. Side effects are more common after the second dose.

Scenes from Halloween

The Little Run Citizens Association hosted its second annual Haunted Woods of Ilda event on Saturday. More than 300 people dared to venture through the spooky trail, generating $675 for the Ilda Pool. Here are some photos, courtesy of LRCA:

Public Safety

Three injured after stabbing, car crash in Annandale, via FFX Now:

One man was stabbed and two others were injured after a pickup truck crashed into an apartment in Annandale Saturday night.

The incident happened around 7:20 p.m. on the 4500 block of Commons Drive and reportedly involved a gathering of about 60 people.

After the stabbing, the suspect drove his pickup into a sliding glass door injuring the two other men. Amazingly, Sgt. Ian Yost, Fairfax County police spokesman, says all of those injured had non-life threatening injuries. He said the three men who were injured were all adults.

The suspect is in custody, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a statement.

Man killed by train in Burke: A pedestrian was killed just after midnight last Tuesday/Wednesday after being struck by a freight train at the 9000 block of Burke Road. Here’s the statement from the FCPD: 

Preliminarily, detectives determined Kenneth Little, 51, of Maryland, was walking east on the train tracks. The train was traveling on the eastbound tracks and struck Little who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives do not believe that speed or alcohol were factors in the crash for the train engineer. They continue to investigate if alcohol was a factor in the crash for the pedestrian.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543.

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

Service

Americana Drive cleanup scheduled for Nov. 11: The Friends of Accotink Creek and the Fairfax County Restoration Project will hold a cleanup event along Americana Drive in Annandale on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers can sign in at the intersections of Americana and Patriot Drives. The road is “plagued by illegal dumping,” says a sign-up form on the Friends of Accotink Creek website. “We can expect to encounter large quantities of trash of all kinds, from bottles and cans, to tires, to construction debris. Come prepared to get tired and dirty!”

News in Brief

• There was expanded police presence at malls and shopping centers in Northern Virginia over the Halloween weekend because of intelligence suggesting a threat possibly linked to ISIS, reports ABC7.

• Fairfax County police have released additional video footage and are offering a $10,000 reward for information related to the Oct. 20 murder of Nelson Alexander, 73, at an ATM off Annandale Road, the Annandale Blog reports.

• Seven tax-delinquent properties adjacent to Accotink Creek were pulled from auction after Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross requested more time to allow the county and nonprofits “to establish partnerships regarding the possible purchase or bid for the properties” to prevent them from being developed, the Annandale Blog reports. 

• In response to the June high-rise condo collapse in Surfside, Fla., officials are examining aging high-rises throughout Fairfax County, reports FFX Now. Over 200 high-rises have been identified in the county that are 25 years or older–and officials are evaluating how best to ensure these buildings are safe.

• Starting today, new speed cameras are operating in school zones throughout Fairfax City, along with two schools in Fairfax County: Woodson High School and Frost Middle School.

Real Estate

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Jennifer Mack column: Should I wait until after the holidays to list my home?

Some people hesitate to list their home over the holidays because they’re concerned they won’t be able to decorate and have their traditional celebrations. In my experience, the holidays can actually be a great time to list your home—and this doesn’t have to prevent you from celebrating. 

In fact, many homes show really well with festive decorations. It is best to keep it slightly toned down, but most decorations add warmth and a feeling of comfort. I have seen some absolutely beautiful exterior photos of homes lit up in white lights with holiday wreaths on the door. Buyers may tend to be more emotional during the holidays as they picture themselves celebrating future holidays in your home.

Additionally, you may find that you have less competition if your neighbors decide they want to wait to go on the market until the holidays are over. Buyers who are out looking over the holidays tend to be serious and have a sense of urgency. They usually want to make a quick decision and not waste a lot of time looking around so they can spend time with family instead of house hunting. Also, there are many “relo” buyers (those moving to the area because of work with a corporate relocation package) who are house hunting during this time and starting new positions at the beginning of the year. 

When my clients list over the holidays, I can easily block off certain days and times that aren’t convenient to have showings. Most buyers don’t want to look at homes on the actual day of a holiday, for example. We are very flexible when working with our clients to achieve win-win results. If you are motivated to move, don’t let the holidays be a reason to wait—you can achieve a great outcome listing in November and December and be on the way to your new home, wherever that may be! 

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

4558 Andes Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 4 baths, 4,184 sf | $1,200,000

4054 Doveville Ln, Fairfax | 4 beds, 4 baths, 3,114 sf | $975,000

4709 Declaration Ct, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,183 sf | $774,900

4914 Wakefield Chapel Rd, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,998 sf | $745,000

10811 Burr Oak Way, Burke | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,728 sf | $739,900

Top sales

4424 George Mason Blvd, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,754 sf | 2 days on market | $988,500

8927 Burbank Rd, Annandale | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,872 sf | 2 days on market | $940,000

4715 King Carter Ct, Annandale | 4 beds, 4 baths, 3,113 sf | 3 days on market | $890,000

11311 Megan Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 4.5 baths, 4,487 sf | 3 days on market | $825,000

4505 Mullen Ln, Annandale | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,714 sf | 3 days on market | $825,000

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, who’s hosting a free online seller’s seminar Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. You can register here, or contact Jennifer directly at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers half-day and full-day passes, with coffee and refreshments included. Book a tour today!

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Make sure to vote! Election Day is Nov. 2. There are 16 early voting locations open through next Saturday–you can find a list here. And if you plan to vote on Election Day, you can look up your polling location here.

Trick or Treat!

(pandemic style)

Fairfax County issued guidelines last week for celebrating Halloween safely amid the pandemic, encouraging youngsters to keep activities outdoors, wear a cloth or surgical mask, avoid crowded doorsteps, and wash hands before eating candy. This is especially important since children under the age of 12 aren’t yet eligible to be vaccinated.

On that note…

FCPS is preparing school-based vaccination clinics as soon as mid-November, under the expectation that federal officials will soon authorize COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11, FFX Now reports. These clinics would be open during evenings and weekends and require a parent or guardian to be present. Clinics open during the school day are expected to become available after winter break and will require parental consent.

Highlights from last week’s School Board update

Superintendent Scott Brabrand and other FCPS officials last week briefed the School Board on the return to full-time, in-person learning. Here are some highlights from the presentation:

• From Sept. 16 to Oct. 14, FCPS had 567 COVID-19 cases among students, or 0.32% of the in-person student population, and 147 cases among staff, or 0.53% of the in-person staff population. FCPS officials consider this a very strong record and have not had to close any schools.

• According to a district-wide survey, 76% of parents with kids ages 5-11 plan to get their kids vaccinated once the vaccine is approved for that age group. Most parents would prefer the vaccine be administered by their child’s doctor, with just 35% open to a vaccination during the school day without a parent or guardian present.

• Mandatory COVID-19 testing for student athletes who are not fully vaccinated is set to begin on Nov. 1; mandatory testing for unvaccinated FCPS staff is also set to begin in November.

Enrollment down 10k from pre-pandemic levels: FCPS enrollment has fallen by over 10,000 students since the start of the pandemic, reports Sun Gazette News, citing the latest public figures released Sept. 30. This reflects the lingering impact of the shift to virtual learning, which led many parents to opt for homeschooling or private school.

County government

Redistricting hearing set for Nov. 9: The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a public hearing Nov. 9 to consider redistricting proposals for the local districts that elect county supervisors and School Board members. The districts will be in place for 10 years and are designed to account for population growth in the latest Census.

Fairfax County currently has nine electoral districts. By law, it can have as few as five and as many as eleven. Sixty-four proposed maps have been submitted to the board, ranging from nine to 11 districts. The board is expected to adopt a new electoral map on Dec. 7.

You can view the proposed maps here.

Hopefully Braddock Buzz won’t get redistricted out of Braddock ;-)

“Best of Braddock” event to return on Dec. 8: The annual “Best of Braddock” event–hosted by the Braddock District supervisor’s office and the Braddock District Council–is returning on Dec. 8 following last year’s hiatus due to the pandemic. The event honors “those in the Braddock District who make our community a better place to live and work.”

Nominations are open through this Friday, Oct. 29, in the categories below, and can be submitted by emailing braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov

• Young Person of the Year

• Organization Making a Difference in the Braddock District

• Neighborhood Beautification, Enhancement, or Community-Building Effort

• Braddock District Citizen of the Year

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Crime

Suspect at large after shooting that disrupts Annandale High School football game: Via the Annandale Blog:

A shooting Friday evening in the 7700 block of Suraci Court in the Wedgewood Apartments disrupted a football game at Annandale High School.

The Fairfax County Police Department reported the shooting on Twitter at about 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, noting one man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The FCPD later downgraded the injuries to non-life-threatening. 

The suspect ran from the scene and is still at large. He was described as Black, with a white shirt and checked shorts. 

In an email to the community, Annandale High School Principal Shawn DeRose wrote, “During the 4th quarter of our varsity football game tonight vs. Falls Church, we were notified of an active shooter near the Annandale campus.”

“Out of an abundance of caution, we paused the game with 5:21 left in the 4th quarter,” DeRose said. “Fans were instructed to proceed directly to their vehicle. Those without transportation were directed to the main gym until a ride was secured. Working with the Fairfax County Police Department, we received an all-clear at approximately 10 p.m., at which point all remaining students were released.”

Two women sexually assaulted 10 days apart at Gateway park off Pickett: Two women were sexually assaulted 10 days apart in Gateway Regional Park off Pickett Road–the first on Oct. 10 and the second on Oct. 20, reports NBC4 Washington. According to the article, both women are homeless and have since returned to the streets, facing a long waitlist for spots at local shelters.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his 20s who fled on bicycle after both incidents. Police are asking anyone with information about the assaults to call 703-385-7953.

Events

NOVA’s Annandale campus to host pottery sale: There will be a pottery sale on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College, featuring items handcrafted by faculty and students. The event will be held outdoors, at the CA Building’s first floor patio, with the building’s entryway as a rain location. All proceeds will go to the college’s ceramics program.

News in Brief

• The Fairfax County School Board has selected the firm GR Recruiting to conduct a nationwide search for a successor to Superintendent Brabrand, who’s set to depart at the end of June.

• FCPS is raising pay for substitute teachers by as much as $3 per hour in response to the ongoing labor shortage, reports WTOP News.

• The Board of Supervisors last week approved a measure allowing collective bargaining by the county’s 12,500 employees, The Washington Post reports.

• The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust is scrambling to acquire seven properties adjacent to Accotink Creek that have been put up for auction, the Annandale Blog reports. Otherwise, it’s possible the land near Spicewood Court in Annandale could be developed.

Real Estate

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Jennifer Mack column: The latest trends in kitchen design

Kitchen renovations are extremely complex–and can require what seem like hundreds of decisions. The pandemic has made the process even harder, with supply chain issues causing low inventory and long waits for many needed items such as appliances and cabinets.

Still, kitchen renovations remain one of the most popular ways to modernize a home–and we’re continuing to see design trends evolve.

Although many people are still opting for all-white kitchens, we are starting to see more contrast and even some very bold choices such as black cabinetry, as well as natural wood tones. The ultra-industrial look is on its way out, although many people are opting to retain some industrial elements with hardware in particular.

Mixing gold and silver is becoming more common, although some homeowners still shy away from that departure from tradition. Designers say there is nothing wrong with having a different color metal on the sink, cabinet hardware, and appliances. Replacing your sink faucet, lighting, and cabinet hardware can be a budget-friendly way to update your kitchen and bring in some of the new trends.

Open shelving continues to be popular, even as many homeowners struggle to keep the shelves visually appealing with no way to hide anything. Some are turning to pantries for storage space, and we are seeing amazing pantry designs for storing much more than just food items.

Tiered kitchen islands are not in demand as much anymore–one level seems to work just fine according to most homeowners and kitchen designers. The huge island "trend" seems like it is here to stay, as I tour many new construction homes with massive islands, some as long as 20 or more feet, replacing eat-in-kitchen spaces in some cases. 

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

10981 Clara Barton Dr, Fairfax Station | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 4,771 sf | $950,000

5216 Claridge, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,900 sf | $889,500

4037 Doveville Ln, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,956 sf | $875,000

10329 Commonwealth, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 3,509 sf | $799,999

11106 Del Rio Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,016 sf | $725,000

Top sales

4502 Olley Ln, Fairfax | 6 beds, 4.5 baths, 5,075 sf | 4 days on market | $1,035,000

9305 Nester Rd, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,340 sf | 5 days on market | $845,000

5560 Queen Victoria Ct, Burke | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,582 sf | 5 days on market | $810,000

8257 The Midway, Annandale | 7 beds, 5.5 baths, 6,055 sf | 6 days on market | $810,000

10718 John Turley Pl, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,170 sf | 2 days on market | $769,900

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, who’s hosting a free online seller’s seminar on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. You can register here, or contact Jennifer directly with real estate questions and column ideas at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers half-day and full-day passes, with coffee and refreshments included. Book a tour today!

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Athletics

Robinson football wins “Battle of Burke:” The undefeated Robinson Secondary School football team mounted a thrilling comeback Friday against its Burke rival, Lake Braddock Secondary School. The game came down to the final seconds, as WUSA9 reports:

Robinson scored in the fourth quarter with 42 seconds left in the game to win 35 - 31 over its rival. It was an impressive win for Robinson, [which] came back from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to win. … Both teams are likely to make the playoffs come the end of the season, so who knows, they may match up again in 2021.

Woodson routed on Homecoming: Meanwhile, Woodson High School was routed 50-0 by Fairfax High School on Woodson’s Homecoming night, according to the game recap from MaxPreps. Nevertheless, Woodson students and alumni enjoyed the homecoming festivities, including a parade that snaked through nearby neighborhoods. 

Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw posted a video on Twitter of him and Braddock District School Board Member Megan McLaughlin walking the parade route:

Schools

What’s in the school bond? When Fairfax County voters head to the polls Nov. 2, one item on the ballot will be a $360 million school bond referendum. School bonds are intended to spread the cost of school construction and renovations over the years the facilities will be used–essentially a tax on the future county residents who will benefit from upgraded schools.

This year’s bond, if approved, would fund projects at two schools in the Braddock District:

• Bonnie Brae Elementary would get $38 million for a 13,000-square-foot expansion and to add “modern amenities.”

• Wakefield Forest Elementary would get $30 million to add 35,000 square feet, boost the school’s capacity from 560 students to 800, and improve traffic flow during pickups and dropoffs. You can read more about the WFES renovation here.

The bond would fund a number of other projects across Fairfax County, as you can see in this map, courtesy of FCPS:

Lake Braddock’s founding principal passes at 93: John Alwood, the founding principal of Lake Braddock Secondary School, passed Sept. 18 in Oakton. Services will be held Oct. 27 at 1 p.m. at McLean Presbyterian Church on Balls Hill Road in McLean. All are welcome to attend, and memorial donations may be made to Capital Caring Health Philanthropy.

Alwood’s obituary, which you can read in full here, recounts his extraordinary leadership when he and nine other people were taken hostage at Lake Braddock in 1982: 

Maybe most poignant was the way his Christian faith sustained him in what became a national hostage crisis story in 1982 at Lake Braddock. Reason and compassion are what he used when an 18-year-old, rejected by his girlfriend, took 10 people hostage in the school with a deer-hunting rifle and held them all night. The boy threatened to turn the violence on himself, John says. “I told him he'd made a bad mistake, but he could overcome it and make a life for himself.” John was the last hostage to leave, “and instead of being worried about himself or those waiting for him, he was worried about the boy,” recalls his wife Betsy. The boy threw out the rifle and came out alive.

You can read Education Week’s 1982 coverage of the hostage crisis here.

And you can read The Washington Post’s 2018 interview with the perpetrator, James Quentin Stevens, here. Based on the interview, Stevens appears to have lived up to Alwood’s admonition that he could still overcome his mistake and make a life for himself.

Wildlife

Invasive lanternfly seen in Annandale: A spotted lanternfly, an invasive species that can wreak havoc on home and commercial gardens, was found recently in a food shipment at a grocery store in Annandale, reports the Annandale Blog. The species, originally from Southeast Asia, is a threat to Virginia’s peach, apple, grape, and wine industries. If you see a spotted lanternfly, the county advises you to kill it immediately. 

Here are photos of the spotted lanternfly at different stages of life, courtesy of Pennsylvania State University:

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Service

Jessica Morris named VP of Friends of Lake Accotink Park: Real estate agent Jessica Morris has been named vice president of Friends of Lake Accotink Park. A FLAP email describes Morris as a “longtime Lake Accotink visitor and caretaker,” adding: “As a park and nature lover, when the opportunity to assist in preserving a local park, Lake Accotink, arose she was thrilled for the opportunity.”

Events

Canterbury Woods to host beer tasting: The Canterbury Woods pool is offering the chance to “kick off your Halloween Saturday with an afternoon of beer tasting with your friends and neighbors.” The event is Oct. 30 at 4:30 p.m. at the Canterbury Woods Swim Club Pavillion. A flight of five four-ounce tastings is $10. Register here.

News in Brief

• Stefan Bieret, 41, of Burke, was arrested last week and charged with 10 felonies related to the posession of child pornography. Per the Fairfax County Police Department blog, the investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was notified of a potentially illicit image being uploaded to a Dropbox account.

• The county is seeking public input on new names for Lee Highway (Route 29) and Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50), which are set to be changed because of their connection to Confederate generals.

• The Fairfax County Office of Elections is mailing sample ballots to each of the county’s 727,000 registered voters ahead of the Nov. 2 election. The mailings will list each voter’s assigned polling location, along with other information.

• The vast majority of Fairfax County employees have complied with the mandate to get vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing, reports FFX Now. As of last week, 12,799 employees were fully vaccinated, 295 were partially vaccinated, and 492 had applied for religious or medical exemptions.

• The George Mason Regional Library will hold a 10-day book sale starting Oct. 22, the Annandale Blog reports. Books, CDs, and DVDs will be available.

• Fairfax City and George Mason University have agreed to move the Mason Enterprise Center, a business incubator offering office space and other services to startups, from Old Town Fairfax to a bigger space in the Northfax District, reports Washington Business Journal.

Real Estate

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Jennifer Mack column: The September slowdown

For the last several columns, I’ve discussed changes in the market. Now that September statistics are out, it’s abundantly clear the shift I’ve detected was not an exaggeration: We’re continuing to move away from the extreme seller’s market that has characterized much of the past year.

Let's take a look at the most recent stats from Bright MLS, the multiple listing service that our area uses.

Month-over-month: In Fairfax County, September sales were down 11% from August. Inventory is holding constant, with 1,986 new listings in September. This is what’s causing the slowing market conditions–less buyer demand with a constant flow of listings.

Changes from spring: Back in May, the average sale price in Fairfax County was $732,000. In September, it was $695,000. This is evidence of the slowdown in buyer demand since spring. In March, April, and May, the median days on market was only five, meaning most homes were selling essentially right away. Last month, the median was 10 days on market, with an average of 18.

Year-over-year: For Fairfax County, the sold dollar volume was almost unchanged from a year ago. The average sale price was up by 2.5% year-over-year. The average days on market was almost the same, 18 versus 19 days a year ago. 

I predict that we will see these numbers remain constant until we start getting close to the holidays and/or start having severe weather, which will cause more of a slowdown. Spring could come early though, and I recommend that sellers looking to get top dollar target a March list date.

Jennifer Mack Properties is hosting a free online seller seminar on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Register here: https://bit.ly/jmpsellerseminar

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

5308 Crown Point Rd, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,784 sf | $959,999

4806 Sligo Ln, Annandale | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,214 sf | $879,900

10865 Santa Clara Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,630 sf | $789,000

4402 Weyburn Dr, Annandale | 5 beds, 4 baths, 2,256 sf | $730,000

4908 Springbrook Dr, Annandale | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,083 sf | $719,888

Top sales

5211 Holden St, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,270 sf | 5 days on market | $829,000

9320 Winbourne Rd, Burke | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,250 sf | 2 days on market | $800,000

5012 King David Blvd, Annandale | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,206 sf | 6 days on market | $684,888

9039 Ashmeade Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 4 baths, 1,963 sf | 5 days on market | $676,000

4713 Wakefield Chapel Rd, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,530 sf | 3 days on market | $650,000

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week offers three tips for fall buyers. Reach out to Jennifer with real estate questions and column ideas at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers half-day and full-day passes, with coffee and refreshments included. Book a tour today!

• We’re looking for a third regular advertiser for this space. If interested, email braddockbuzz@gmail.com

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One of Northern Virginia’s oldest Boy Scout troops at risk of losing charter with Annandale United Methodist Church

Other local troops’ charters also at risk over rift stemming from proposed sexual abuse settlement

Local Boy Scouts are at risk of losing their charters because of a national rift between the scouts and the religious organizations that sponsor individual troops. The rift stems from the Boy Scouts of America’s proposed $850 million settlement with tens of thousands of alleged sexual abuse victims—a settlement that would shield the Boy Scouts from further legal liability but doesn’t appear to extend that protection to sponsoring organizations.

As of last week, several local troops had either lost their charters or were set to lose them at year’s end, but the agreements are now back in place through March because of a deal reached Wednesday between the Boy Scouts and the United Methodist Church. The deal is intended to buy more time for both sides to “resolve important issues affecting chartered organizations, including a favorable release for chartered organizations for any Scout abuse claims,” says a joint statement from the Boy Scouts and United Methodist leadership.

Prior to the deal, Troop 150 of Annandale United Methodist Church had been set to lose its charter, which would have been a sad milestone for a troop that notes on its website it has been continuously re-chartered for over 93 years. Troop 150 is “the oldest continually operating Troop in Fairfax County and among the oldest in Northern Virginia,” the website says, adding: “Throughout the long history of Troop 150, our sponsors have been organizations associated with Annandale United Methodist Church.”

Scout troops are extremely dependent on their chartering organizations because the troops themselves are not legal entities—they’re owned and operated by their sponsors, similar to a church youth group.

Other local troops are also grappling with the possible loss of their charters if the Boy Scouts and its church partners cannot resolve their differences before the current deal expires in March.

At Burke United Methodist Church, the governing body is expected to meet soon to determine the next steps for its three scout troops: Cub Scout Pack 1347, Scouts BSA Troop 1347B for boys, and Scouts BSA Troop 1347G for girls. “We are still collecting information to better understand the chartering organization’s liability in issues involving BSA troops that we would charter,” said Rev. Dr. Jason Snow of Burke UMC. Added John Vanden Berghe, the church’s chartered organization representative: “If Burke UMC does not renew the charters, those units will need to find a new organization to charter them. We’re all hopeful that things will be resolved in a manner that will allow Burke UMC to continue its relationship with the scouts.”

Meanwhile, Troop 1525 of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is “taking steps to find new chartering organizations in case nothing new is negotiated” by the March deadline, according to a parent who’s involved with the troop. “The church has been very supportive and positive with the troops that it charters,” said the parent, who asked not to be identified.

On its website, the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church posted an FAQ document explaining its dispute with the Boy Scouts. The document says church leaders are “disappointed and quite concerned” that chartering organizations were not included in the proposed settlement with the roughly 84,000 men who say they were sexually abused by scout leaders when they were children.

The document, posted before church leadership had reached the deal that extends current charters through March, encouraged individual churches to end all existing charters and instead move to “facilities use agreements” that would have shifted legal liability to the scouts. “It is essential that The United Methodist Church in Virginia and nationwide reevaluate our relationship with the Boy Scouts,” the document says.

In a statement, Aaron Chusid, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America’s National Capital Area Council, said the organization was “committed to ensuring that all families who want to participate in the Scouting program continue to have the opportunity to do so.” He added: “Already this year over 3,200 boys and girls have joined Cub Scouts–more than joined in all of last year–and we look forward to working with all of our chartered partners to provide an outstanding program for young people in our community.”

In its FAQ document, the United Methodist Church implores its members to “pray and pray fervently for the survivors of child sex abuse and their families.”

County Government

Plan to improve county-run trash service due in December: Public works officials are expected to present a plan in December for improving trash service for the 10% of households that have county-run waste pickup, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw tells us. 

As we reported last Tuesday, that plan is now a prerequisite for expanding county-run service to Canterbury Woods and other neighborhoods that have petitioned to ditch their private trash haulers. The board had been expected last week to approve county-run waste collection for Canterbury Woods, but the vote was deferred because the county faces a severe shortage of commercially licensed drivers that has led to missed pickups in its current service areas.

“There’s no point in expanding and creating new districts if we can’t handle what we’ve got,” one Herndon resident testified at a board hearing last week, noting that the county hasn’t picked up his yard waste in over four weeks. Added Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross: “Adding this many households in January makes no sense. … The service is in a hole, and it needs to stop digging.”

Board approves Kenilworth II development over the objections of some residents: By unanimous voice vote last week, the Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning application from Christopher Land LLC to develop a 4.43-acre property just south of the Kenilworth community at Caprino Court and Braddock Road. The applicant is seeking to build 12 single-family homes, nine as part of the first phase.

Some residents of Penns Crossing oppose the plan because it would connect Banting Drive and Caprino Court to Braddock Road–causing concern that their neighborhood could be used as a cut-through. But board members said their hands were tied because of a state law requiring new streets to be connected to existing road and pedestrian networks to provide better traffic flow and access for emergency vehicles.

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Events

D1 Training hosts launch event in Pinecrest Plaza: The new D1 Training facility in Pinecrest Plaza in Alexandria is hosting a grand opening celebration today from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The celebration will feature “fun activities for kids and sports fans alike,” says spokesperson Katie Kissal, noting that it’s a perfect event for the school holiday. “The athletic training facility ‘soft’ opened about two weeks ago, and aims to help athletes of all ages prepare for their gameday, or achieve their fitness goals,” Kissal adds. You can find more information on the D1 website.

Fairfax City’s “Fall Crawl” set for Oct. 30: Fairfax City will host its third annual “Old Town Fairfax City Fall Crawl” on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 2-7 p.m. Ten restaurants are participating, offering “scary good bites” and special offers when a crawl passport is shown, according to a news release. Attendees will need to check in at the Old Town Plaza to get their passports. More info here.

News in Brief

• George Mason University has completed its “master plan,” which calls for raising $10 billion over the next 10 years to overhaul its campuses in Fairfax, Manassas, and Arlington, reports Washington Business Journal.

• The Board of Supervisors is set to vote Oct. 19 to allow collective bargaining by county employees. As The Washington Post reports, labor unions and advocacy groups are rallying against the measure, saying it doesn’t go far enough.

• The Annandale Parade, which had been set for Oct. 23, has been canceled due to COVID-19 for the second straight year, the Annandale Blog reports. The parade has been an annual tradition since 1950.

Real Estate

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Jennifer Mack column: 3 tips for fall buyers

As we covered last week, the market has shifted recently in favor of the buyer. Of course, there are still exceptions, but overall we are seeing fewer offers per home, longer days on market, and buyers able to retain more contingencies. This means it’s more important than ever for homes to be well priced and in excellent condition. 

I have three tips for buyers looking for new homes right now and wanting to take advantage of current market conditions:

1. Tour homes mid-week, preferably Tuesday or Wednesday, before the weekend competition. If you write an offer mid-week, many sellers will respond before the weekend, giving you an advantage over buyers who only look at homes on the weekend.

2. Monitor list prices closely and try to time a below-list-price offer right before a price change is expected. I can usually predict when a price change is coming and what the approximate amount of the change might be. Price changes usually bring renewed interest to a property, so if you wait until after an adjustment, you could find yourself in a bidding war.

3. Monitor homes that are coming "back on market," as these sellers tend to be highly motivated. Often, homes fall out of contract for reasons that have nothing to do with the house itself, such as buyers getting cold feet or losing their financing. Keeping tabs on these homes is a great way to position yourself to be able to negotiate favorable terms. You can ask whether the house had a home inspection and whether you can review a copy of it prior to submitting your offer. Sometimes the agent is able to release these to you; other times they cannot because they don’t have permission from the former buyer who paid for the report.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Select new listings

8708 Chippendale Ct, Annandale | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,180 sf | $895,000

8917 Prince Caspian, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,664 sf | $874,888

5902 Carters Oak Ct, Burke | 5 beds, 4 baths, 3,882 sf | $829,888

5110 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,340 sf | $789,900

10820 Broadwater Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,642 sf | $784,900

Top sales

11311 Bellmont Dr, Fairfax | 6 beds, 6.5 baths, 7,338 sf | 2 days on market | $2,000,000

4703 Pontiac Dr, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,914 sf | 2 days on market | $802,000

9124 Lake Braddock Dr, Burke | 4 beds, 3 baths, 3,663 sf | 4 days on market | $801,000

5835 Oakland Park, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,133 sf | 3 days on market | $800,000

4213 Sherando Ln, Annandale | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,688 sf | 5 days on market | $800,000

The reason for the delay: a severe shortage of commercially licensed drivers that has left bags of yard waste piling up in areas currently served by the county, which handles waste collection for about 10% of households.

The majority of the county is served by private haulers—American Disposal Services and Republic Services—which have also struggled with staffing shortages and missed pickups.

It’s been over a year since 292 of the 517 homes of Canterbury Woods voted to move to county trash collection—surpassing the 55% threshold to trigger a board decision. Since then, it’s been a roller coaster process—initially put on hold because of the pandemic and the driver shortage, then restarted, and now put on hold again.

During a hearing this afternoon, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw expressed frustration over the “mixed messaging” from the county’s public works department, which had told Braddock Buzz in August it was confident it could provide quality service to Canterbury Woods—but then reversed itself during today’s hearing.

“In terms of providing the service that we would want to provide, no, we cannot do that,” said Christopher Herrington, director of the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, in response to questioning from Walkinshaw.

The vote on the trash petitions has been delayed until public works officials can present a plan for improving service for the county’s existing sanitary districts.

“There’s no point in expanding and creating new districts if we can’t handle what we’ve got,” one Herndon resident testified, noting that the county hasn’t picked up his yard waste in over four weeks.

Added Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross: “Adding this many households in January makes no sense. … The service is in a hole, and it needs to stop digging.”

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column explores a recent study that says this week, Oct. 3-9, is the best week of the year to buy a home. Reach out to Jennifer with real estate questions and column ideas at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

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HAPPENING TOMORROW: County supervisors to consider Canterbury Woods trash petition: The Board of Supervisors will meet tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. to consider petitions from Canterbury Woods and several other neighborhoods to move from private to county waste pickup. The hearing comes more than a year after 292 of the 517 homeowners in Canterbury Woods voted in favor of county trash collection–a process that has been delayed because of the pandemic and a national shortage of licensed commercial drivers.

“I'm looking forward to the public hearing,” said petition organizer Dale Johnson, president of the Canterbury Woods Civic Association. “We are grateful as a community that we have the opportunity to get our request in front of the board, as we know that not all of the communities that submitted a trash petition were able to get in front of the board due to the backlog due in part to COVID.”

A few quick facts:

• The county’s public works department had originally opposed the petition, saying it lacked the resources to add new trash routes, but has since reversed itself. “We are confident that we can provide quality service to the Canterbury Woods neighborhood,” said Lainie Shifflett, an official with the county’s Solid Waste Management Program.

• Back in August, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw expressed optimism that the petition would be approved. “Throughout this process, I've said that I will support the community's desire to have county waste collection as long as I am confident that the county has the capacity and workforce to provide the high-quality service our residents deserve,” he told us. “I look forward to hearing from the community during the public hearing and am optimistic that the board will approve the creation of the new district.” 

• Other neighborhoods, including Truro, are watching the process closely and may consider petitions of their own because of frustrations with the two private trash collectors, American Disposal Services and Republic Services.

You can find information on how to attend or stream the hearing here.

Yard waste delays plague Mason District: Last week, the Annandale Blog ran a story that we expect opponents of the Canterbury Woods petition will bring up during tomorrow’s hearing. Bags of yard waste are piling up all over the Annandale/Mason District, including in one neighborhood where a resident says there hasn’t been a yard waste pickup in over four weeks. The Annandale Blog notes that Fairfax County handles waste pickup for just 10% of households–but that covers the majority of the Mason District.

The reason for the pickup delays is the ongoing driver shortage, according to John Kellas, the county’s director of solid waste and recycling. “There is a tremendous amount of competition for drivers, which has an impact on our ability to recruit and retain,” Kellas said. “Since COVID-19, the home delivery business has skyrocketed, often providing more attractive and lucrative trucking jobs in the private sector. Even private solid waste/recycling haulers are struggling during these times.”

Schools

Consulting firm evaluates school boundaries: FCPS has hired a national consulting firm, MGT, to review its decades-old policies for adjusting school boundaries–an extremely sensitive issue in a high-cost county where parents often choose their homes based on the quality of the school pyramid. MGT executives have held several virtual meetings to explain the objectives of their study and assure parents their review will not make any specific recommendations regarding boundaries. “This process is not about changing the boundaries today,” said Kasey Price, director of MGT’s education solutions group. “It is about understanding what the policy is and what should be considered when reviewing the policy.”

MGT conducted a parent survey and will share its findings with the School Board later this year. Boundary adjustments are expected in the coming years because of several factors:

• Some schools are chronically overcrowded, which is expected to get worse because of projected population growth.

• Many schools currently rely on trailers, with more than 750 in use across the school system.

• There is increased demand for pre-K classrooms.

• The current level of bond funding is not enough to keep up with the school renovations needed to meet capacity demands. Schools are renovated on a 37-year cycle, and MGT estimates it needs to be about half of that.

“The efficient use of infrastructure is of the utmost importance because there’s only a finite amount of money that school districts have, and it is the goal of most school districts to spend that on the success of students and not on school buses or keeping buildings open that are not at capacity,” said Mike Raisor, MGT’s executive vice president for client solutions.

School Briefs

• FCPS had a record-high graduation rate for the class of 2021, with 94.6% of students graduating on time, up from 93% in 2020, WTOP News reports. Significant achievement gaps remain, though, including for English Language Learners.

• Superintendent Scott Brabrand sent a letter to parents warning that “challenges” being promoted on the social media site TikTok, including videos encouraging kids to vandalize school bathrooms and “smack a staff member,” could lead to severe disciplinary measures and criminal charges, reports NBC4 Washington.

• FCPS has removed two books from high school libraries after speakers at a School Board meeting denounced them for having sexually explicit content, The Washington Post reports. Two committees are now reviewing the books, “Lawn Boy” by Jonathan Evison and “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, to determine if they’re appropriate for school-age children.

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Service

Stuff the Bus food donations accepted next Saturday: The next Stuff the Bus food drive will be held on Saturday from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. at locations throughout the county, including the Braddock District supervisor’s office (9002 Burke Lake Road) and the Oaks Community Center. More information on the Stuff the Bus website.

News in Brief

• A house fire Sept. 26 on the 4000 block of Ossian Hall Lane in Annandale was caused by improperly discarded ashes from a fire pit, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Nobody was home at the time of the fire, which caused an estimated $4,000 in damages.

• The Fairfax County Health Department is now offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots for those who qualify under CDC guidelines. More information, including a list of the four groups who are eligible, is here.

• The county has set a deadline of Oct. 11 for all employees to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing, reports FFX Now.

• The Fairfax County Police Department has stopped publishing the names of people arrested and charged with crimes because of concerns the information could be used by federal immigration officials, WTOP News reports. The department’s latest weekly crime report instead identifies those arrested only by their ages, genders, and, in some cases, locations of residence.

• The union representing Fairfax County police officers says the department is more than 100 officers short and faces a staffing crisis because of low pay, reports ABC 7 News.

• Construction is underway on a $1.2 million expansion of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center, the Annandale Blog reports. The center will be closed for several months starting early next year for interior renovations including new offices, a new multipurpose room, and accessible restrooms.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: It’s the best week of the year to buy a home

A new study from Realtor.com indicates that this week, Oct. 3-9, may be the best week of the year to purchase a home. Realtor.com analyzed historical sales data, including listing prices, inventory levels, days on market, price adjustments, and views per property on their real estate website. According to the study, during the week of Oct. 3, you should expect to see 7.2% more active listings than the average week, and 17.6% more than at the start of a typical year. This means that homebuyers will face 18% less competition from other buyers than during the summer peak and 6% less than during an average week. 

This can translate to big savings for buyers–as much as $10,000 on a median priced home in the U.S. Since our area is priced well above the national average, local buyers could see even more savings. All of these factors, combined with the current low interest rates, make it a great time for buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines to pull the trigger on a new home in time for the holidays. 

Anxious or analytical buyers will appreciate that, because of the longer days on the market during this week, they get seven more days than average to consider a home. This is welcome news for those who find it difficult to make decisions within one or two days, as was the case this spring and summer. The homes in best condition will still sell the first weekend, but many good homes are lasting longer. 

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

5571 James Young Way, Fairfax | 6 beds, 5.5 baths, 5,481 sf | $1,275,000

8284 Private Ln, Annandale | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,332 sf | $1,049,000

10711 Oakenshaw Ct, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,136 sf | $850,000

8609 Pappas Way, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,840 sf | $799,888

5210 Grinnell St, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,966 sf | $795,000

Top sales

8515 Raleigh Ave, Annandale | 4 beds, 4 baths, 3,714 sf | 3 days on market | $929,000

8914 Kenilworth Dr, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,882 sf | 6 days on market | $860,000

4907 Hollybrook Ln, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,976 sf | 3 days on market | $825,000

5301 Sideburn Rd, Fairfax | 6 beds, 3 baths, 3,002 sf | 2 days on market | $805,000

4361 Patriot Park Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 4.5 baths, 2,654 sf | 3 days on market | $800,000

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week declares that the real estate market correction has arrived. Reach out to Jennifer with real estate questions and column ideas at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers long-term and short-term coworking space for individuals and teams—along with meeting rooms, business mail service, and more. Book a tour today!

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Early voting has begun: Early voting began Friday and will continue through Oct. 30 in the Nov. 2 election for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and House of Delegates. You can find information on where and how to vote here.

Development

Big changes coming to Fairfax Circle: Fairfax City is considering major changes to Fairfax Circle, the “hamburger” roundabout where Route 50 meets Route 29, near Mantua. The changes will include improvements to the intersection itself, described in a recent report as accident-prone and confusing, along with a new vision for the surrounding area, which the city wants to develop into a “vibrant, walkable location featuring a mix of uses and a variety of mobility options.”

The new vision for Fairfax Circle was outlined in an “alternatives study” released by the city. The report describes the intersection as “sprawling, confusing to navigate, and intimidating” for pedestrians and bicyclists, with one of the highest rates of vehicle crashes of any intersection in the city. It’s one of the last remaining “hamburger” roundabouts in Virginia, which began phasing out such intersections in the 1970s. The report lists several potential alternatives, including a traditional intersection with a skew, a roundabout with grade separation, and a quadrant roadway intersection.

As part of its “2035 Comprehensive Plan,” Fairfax City has designated the area around the intersection for commercial and residential development. Citing the new Scout on the Circle development as a potential model, the city is looking to create a “vibrant, transit-supportive, mixed-use gateway,” which will likely require adding more side streets. A key goal of the project is to make the area friendlier for pedestrians and bicyclists, creating connections to nearby by trails and access to the Vienna Metro Station.

The project is still in the planning stage, with the intersection improvements set to begin in several years.

The public is invited to submit ideas and feedback here.

County Government

Supervisors approve 5-cent plastic bag tax: A 5-cent tax on plastic bags provided by grocery stores, convenience stores, and drugstores will take effect Jan. 1, following a 9-1 vote last Tuesday by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Arlington and Alexandria quickly followed suit, passing their own 5-cent bag taxes on Saturday, as WTOP News reported. The coordinated effort follows last year’s passage of enabling legislation by the Virginia General Assembly, which included a requirement that the revenue go toward environmental programs.

The Fairfax County measure was put forward by Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who issued the following statement after the vote:

Plastic bags are one of the most common items found during community cleanups of our parks, streams, and lakes. They damage aquatic ecosystems and the micro-particles of plastics created when they break down [and] make their way into our water sources. Plastic bag taxes are proven in jurisdictions across the nation. This measure will reduce plastic pollution and the modest funds collected will be reinvested into litter prevention and to providing reusable bags for low-income community members.

-Walkinshaw spars with Trump’s EPA chief: Ahead of the bag-tax vote, a high-profile witness spoke out in opposition: Andrew Wheeler, who led the Environmental Protection Agency under former President Trump. Wheeler, testifying in his capacity as a Fairfax County resident, called the tax “misguided,” adding: “One more tax in the name of the environment will not solve this environmental problem, but only further hurt low-income households across the county.”

As chronicled in E&E News, Walkinshaw did not pass up the opportunity to tangle with a national political figure. “Mr. Wheeler’s tenure at the EPA was a disaster from an environmental perspective,” Walkinshaw said at the hearing. “And I would recommend, for us on this board, if Andrew Wheeler says that we should turn right on an environmental issue, we should turn left. If he says that we should go down, we should go up. If he says that we should do ‘x,’ we should do ‘y.’ And that’ll help guide us, I think, tonight.”

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

Community mourns passing of Canterbury Woods, Woodson alum

Annandale native among five killed in Navy helicopter crash: A tragic message sent earlier this month to the Canterbury Woods Elementary School community:

We learned this week about the passing of a former CWES Cougar and child of a former CWES staff member, Lieutenant Paul Fridley. On Tuesday, August 31st, 2021, Paul lost his life in an MH-60S helicopter crash off the coast of San Diego, California with four other members of his squadron.

Some of our teachers remember Paul fondly from his elementary days at Canterbury Woods. After graduating from Woodson High School in 2011, he went to UVA and [joined] the Navy. His mom, Pam, served as a Cued Language Transliterator at our school.

The Fridley family has been an integral part of the Canterbury Woods community for decades and still live in the neighborhood. Paul is survived by his wife, Sarah.

A fundraiser set up by the HSC-8 Spouses Club to support the Fridley family is available here.

Parks

Deer management program to run through Feb. 19: The annual Deer Management Archery Program began Sept. 11 and will run through Feb. 19. You may have noticed signs like the one below cropping up in local parks and along trails:

Here’s a statement from the county explaining the rationale for the program:

The archery program began in FY 2010 and is part of an integrated Deer Management Program to reduce and stabilize the white-tailed deer population in Fairfax County in [an effort] to minimize safety and health hazards and other impacts related to an overabundance of deer. These impacts include deer-vehicle collisions, potential spread of diseases, and environmental damage attributed to deer that can impact the ecosystem. The program was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2000 and is recognized as a safe and efficient method of deer population control by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Because of its proven track record of safety, archery is a preferred deer management method in Fairfax County. Archery is a compatible use with residential areas and community parks, allowing for deer population management in urban and suburban areas. Since Virginia began tracking hunting injuries in 1959, no bystanders have been injured by an archer hunting deer anywhere in the Commonwealth. The Fairfax County Deer Management Program is conducted on approximately 100 properties countywide. Last year, 823 deer were harvested through the use of archery by hunters in the county program. The archery program accounted for 94% of the total deer harvests in the Fairfax County Deer Management Program.

More info here.

Service

Kids Give Back to host fundraiser Oct. 16: The organization Kids Give Back, which provides volunteer opportunities for children, is hosting a fundraiser Oct. 16 from 12-3 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church off Little River Turnpike. The event is called “The Costumes for Kids Fall Volunteer Festival.” Tickets are $10/person, and activities will include a volunteer project, face painting, a DIY costume station, and more. You can purchase tickets here.

News in Brief

• For the second straight year, the Oak Hill Plantation House will not be open to the public because of the pandemic. A virtual tour was offered on Saturday and can be viewed here.

• Lake Braddock Secondary School sent a letter to parents about vandalism in the bathrooms, including missing soap dispensers—which appears to be a national trend promoted on the social media site TikTok, reports NBC4 Washington.

• FCPS is looking to provide livestreamed or recorded classes for students whose in-person learning is paused due to COVID-19, reports FFX Now.

• Over 60 Afghan refugees have enrolled in FCPS, including several at Annandale High School, reports NBC4 Washington. “We have social workers, parent liaisons, and we have counselors all here, and ready to support students that come in,” said Meredith Hedrick, Annandale’s English as a Second Language department chair.

• The NCAA has placed George Mason University’s athletic department on a one-year probation for improperly awarding scholarships to 18 athletes, The Washington Post reports.

• Jai Cole has been named executive director of the Fairfax County Park Authority, succeeding Kirk Kincannon, who retired this year. Cole comes from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery Parks, where she was chief of the park planning and stewardship division.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: The market correction has arrived

With home prices surging, many would-be buyers have been hoping for a market correction.

From what I’m seeing, that correction has arrived.

Starting about the third week of July, I could feel a slowdown and that has continued through August and into September. The August statistics reveal this to be true across Fairfax County (and in many other areas, as well). 

From July to August, the average days on market for homes in the county increased over 30% to 17 days. I expect that, starting with September closings, we will see lower average prices. This is in line with normal seasonal fluctuations, but I think there are additional factors at play. We had a lot of sellers enter the market late after seeing the high prices their neighbors were getting in the spring. By the time their houses were prepared to go on the market, it was simply too late in the season, with demand leveling off. They will not get the spectacular results that the spring sellers saw. Still, I do see accurately priced homes in excellent condition receiving multiple offers. Realistic, well-prepared sellers continue to be rewarded with strong contracts.

Additionally, many buyers decided to pull out of the home search at some point in June or early July, as they were tired of bidding wars and losing out on so many homes. Many renewed their leases or decided to stay in their current homes. Some will re-enter the search once they see prices coming down, along with other signs that the market is slowing, such as the increase in the average number of days on market. Others may take a longer break.

For sellers who "missed the boat" last Spring, I recommend preparing to go on the market as early as March 1. My team is currently scheduling advance photos sessions for spring sellers so they have some photos to post of their yards looking better than they will in the winter. We can take interior photos whenever a seller is ready and hold everything until we feel the market heating up and be ready to go on the market at the prime time to capitalize on pent-up buyer demand from the winter.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

8601 Forest St, Annandale | 6 beds, 5.5 baths, 6,341 sf | $1,739,900

4008 Guinea Rd, Fairfax | 6 beds,  5.5 baths, 6,341 sf | $1,649,900

9324 Old Burke Lake Rd, Burke | 5 beds, 3 baths, 4,662 sf | $1,000,000

4403 Random Ct, Annandale | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,432 sf | $959,900

4715 King Carter Ct, Annandale | 4 beds, 4 baths, 3,113 sf | $929,000

Top sales

5607 Tilia Ct, Burke | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 3,404 sf | 2 days on market | $870,000

5622 Kemp Ln, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,160 sf | 3 days on market | $851,000

4540 Gilbertson Rd, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,512 sf | 2 days on market | $815,000

5551 Shooters Hill Ln, Fairfax | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,790 sf | 6 days on market | $759,000

9704 Galsworth Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 1,409 sf | 4 days on market | $730,000

Programming note: There will be no newsletter next week, as we’ll be traveling. We’ll be back in your inboxes Monday, Sept. 20.

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, who has some exciting news: She’s the listing agent for a historic property built in 1911 that was once a two-room schoolhouse in Burke. The home will be open to the public for the first time in 70 years on Sept. 18. There’s more info in Jennifer’s column—and you can always reach out to her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers long-term and short-term coworking space for individuals and teams—along with meeting rooms, business mail service, and more. Book a tour today!

• We’re looking for a third regular advertiser for this space. If interested, email us at braddockbuzz@gmail.com

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Laura Jane Cohen to parents angry over last year’s school closures: “Reach out to me”

An interview with the Springfield District School Board member

Laura Jane Cohen is one of three School Board members being targeted for recall by the Open FCPS Coalition, a group of parents angry over last year’s pandemic school closures.

The Springfield District representative got good news last month when a judge dismissed the recall proceedings against her colleague, the Dranesville District’s Elaine Tholen. Nonetheless, the Open FCPS Coalition continues to collect signatures—and the group’s leader, Dee O’Neal, says they’re 800 away from the 4,000 needed for a recall filing against Cohen.

We spoke with Cohen about the recall effort, the start of the 2021-22 school year, pandemic preparations, and more. The transcript is below, edited for length and clarity.

Q: Hi, Laura. Based on what you’ve seen so far, how are you feeling about the preparations FCPS put in place for COVID-19?

By and large, it's going great. There's always room for improvement, and we tweak as we go. Most of my calls and emails have revolved around a couple things.

One is lunch and the availability of outdoor space. Last month, we decided unanimously to allocate some of our federal relief dollars to ensuring there are opportunities for every child to eat outside. If that means we have to hire lunch monitors, if it means working to recruit more parent volunteers, if it means borrowing tents from families—whatever needs to happen, it needs to happen. Unless there's significant inclement weather, we need to be encouraging kids to eat outside, especially our elementary kids who are unvaccinated. 

Another one is the buses. I know there've been a lot of stories about the national bus driver shortage. We're certainly feeling it here. The School Board voted last month to raise bus driver salaries to be competitive with neighboring counties, and we also approved a recruitment incentive. When you come to us with your Commercial Driver’s License, you get a $3,000 signing bonus.

Q: Are you confident in the process in place for when a student, teacher, or staff member tests positive?

I don't want to say I’m 100% confident, because what we’re doing today may not be exactly what we’re doing next week. As we learn more, we do better. This is one of those things that’s ever-changing, and you have to check every day if there’s new guidance. We’re learning more about some of the states that have put in place a test-and-stay mechanism. That’s when kids who were close contacts but are asymptomatic can be tested and returned to school in a shorter time period. We're certainly looking into that. By October 13, we will implement a policy where employees have to be vaccinated or be subject to weekly testing.

Q: What’s being done to make up for the lost learning from the past year-and-a-half and the impact to students’ social-emotional well-being?

As we’re looking at some of the test scores coming back, it’s clear that our kids struggled whether they were in-person or virtual. Every kid has been affected by what's happened, and some families have experienced employment insecurity, food insecurity, and housing insecurity. Of the state and federal relief dollars that we’ve gotten, 90% are going to direct student interventions and support. Nine months in school is not going to fix what's happened—I wouldn't begin to say that. We will still be offering a really robust summer school program, and we will continue to offer additional supports for the long haul.

The pandemic has really shined a light on things that a lot of us in education have seen and known for so long, and there's no question there’s a gap in success for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities. If there’s anything good to have come from the pandemic, it’s that it has put a magnifying lens on how we address these gaps.

Q: You’re one of three School Board members being targeted by the Open FCPS Coalition for recall. What would you say to parents who still feel angry—angry enough to sign a petition—over the way school closures were handled?

One thing I would say is, reach out to me. Talk to me. Whether you signed the petition or not, if your kid is struggling, I will be there. I will do everything in my power to make sure they have a successful year in school and that they feel successful in school, which sometimes are two different things. 

The best thing about this country has been that reasonable discourse and reasonable disagreement has always been encouraged, from our foundation. I don't take any fault with people being angry or upset with how we’ve navigated this past year and a half. Everybody has a right to do that. But I certainly would argue that in a representative democracy, the ballot box is where you take that. 

Q: Do you regret anything about the way school closures were handled?

Everything we did, we relied on the best information we had at that moment in time. Every school system navigated the pandemic as best they could, and almost everybody did something different. School boards were not given a lot of direction from the state and from the federal government about what we needed to do and what criteria we needed to use, and so I think we navigated it as best we could. I don't mean we're not open to criticism. Different people can absolutely have different feelings about how they would have handled it sitting in the seat. But when you're sitting there and your responsibility is to 189,000 kids, real kids, two of them mine by the way, and to every family in this district, and to every single one of our 28,000 staff members and their families, when you sit at the table with limited right answers—I feel very confident that this board sat together and at every decision point tried to make the very best decisions we could.

Q: Have you had to hire a lawyer because of this process?

Because the recalls deal with actions we took as a function of our job, we're represented by FCPS. Our tax dollars are being put to defending this case. Tax dollars are also being put to prosecuting it because the law requires it to be handled by the Commonwealth’s Attorney. It does cost a lot of taxpayer dollars to do this, which is a real shame and I think takes away from resources that could be going toward kids.

Q: Anything else you’d like to say about the recall process?

I'm very happy for Elaine [Tholen]. I am really pleased that the judge saw that the petition is unfounded and not factual. My hope would be we can all find a way to work together.

Q: Can you provide an update on the superintendent search, and what role the public should expect to have? 

We have already put out the request for proposals, which ended on August 18. So any firm in the country that wanted to compete in the process of being the search firm for finding the new superintendent—they've already submitted their proposals. Those will come back to the full board for review, and we ultimately will choose a national search firm. My understanding is that process will go into late fall or early winter, when we’ll begin getting names of candidates and conducting interviews. The goal is to have no gap, so in a perfect world the new superintendent would start in the summer after Dr. Brabrand's contract expires. 

We will absolutely be taking public input. We will take input from our staff and principals and any administrators, who will be able to weigh in on what kind of qualities and qualifications they want to see in a new leader. There will be focus groups, public testimony, and many other ways to gather input.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

It's definitely been interesting getting to see FCPS from so many different lenses—parent, former teacher, and now a School Board member. I always have a very active focus group at my home for every decision that we make and how things are actually working on the ground, and I really appreciate that. I also appreciate all the perspective from my friends who are still out there in the field teaching, god bless them. They are always very effusive in their comments about how our policies are actually working. It's so important because a lot of times policymakers don't think about the unintended consequences of the decisions they make and don’t take the time to learn how things are actually implemented on the ground. Sometimes it’s different than the way things were envisioned at 30,000 feet.

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County Government

Supervisors to consider plastic bag tax next Tuesday: A week from today, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will hold a 4:30 p.m. hearing to consider a 5-cent tax on plastic bags from grocery stores, drugstores, and convenience stores. The measure was put forward by Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who said it’s “intended to discourage consumption of single-use plastic bags, which often end up as litter in local streams and waterways, harming fish and other wildlife.”

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the board’s lone Republican, has come out against the measure, saying now is not the time for any new tax. “While people who are well-off will largely feel little impact, it will disproportionately burden lower-income families both in cost and convenience without changing their behavior,” he said. He cited a study from the University of Ottawa that found that Toronto’s plastic bag tax “was highly effective in encouraging people who already used reusable bags to use them more frequently” but had no behavioral impact on people with lower socio-economic status.

The Virginia General Assembly last year authorized localities to collect plastic bag taxes as long as the revenue is put toward: 

• Environmental cleanup programs

• Pollution and litter mitigation programs

• Educational programs on environmental waste reduction

• Provision of reusable bags to recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) benefits

News in Brief

• FCPS is speeding up the process for returning vaccinated students to the classroom after they’re identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Starting today, the close contacts can return to class if their parents show proof of vaccination and confirm that the child is asymptomatic—and then receive verification from the county health department.

• Effective Nov. 8, FCPS will require students to be vaccinated to participate in school sports, according to Tysons Reporter.

• Also from Tysons Reporter: Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William, and Stafford counties are joining to create SportsNOVA, a partnership aimed at drawing more sporting events to Northern Virginia.

• Inova Health System has unveiled plans for its new campus in Springfield, which will include a 425,000-square-foot inpatient facility and a 140,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery and outpatient center, reports Washington Business Journal.

• Transfers to and from Metrorail and Fairfax Connector buses are now free, the Annandale Blog reports. The free transfers do not apply to Fairfax Connector Express service, which will instead have a discount.

Events

• Saturday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Fairfax County’s Stuff the Bus Food Drive is collecting nonperishable food donations at the Braddock District office (9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, Virginia 22105), the Oaks Community Center (5708 Oak Leather Dr, Burke, VA 22015), and at 19 additional locations throughout Fairfax County and Fairfax City. More info here.

• Sunday, Sept. 12, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: The Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) holds its monthly park clean-up, starting at the Lake Accotink Marina.

• Saturday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: FLAP hosts a tribute ceremony in the McLaren-Sargent Pavilion for Dick Sargent, a longtime park volunteer who passed away last November. Register here.

• Monday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: Braddock District Supervisor Walkinshaw hosts a community meeting on the Countywide Strategic Plan. Register here.

Real Estate

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Jennifer Mack column: Burke’s original schoolhouse open to the public for the first time in 70 years

Normally I don't discuss my specific listings, but this one is extremely special, so I hope you’ll indulge me. For the first time in over 70 years, Burke's original schoolhouse, located at 9324 Old Burke Lake Road, is for sale and will be open to the public! 

This home, named Whiteoaks, was built in 1911 and served as Burke’s first two-room schoolhouse, then known as Burke Elementary School. In the 1920s, a third room was added to the property. As Burke’s population continued to grow, a bigger school was needed, and so in 1939 the school moved to a new location and Whiteoaks was converted to a residence. It was purchased by a neighbor.

In the 1940s, the 12-foot ceilings were lowered to add a second floor with two bedrooms and a full bath as well as additional storage space. Electricity was also added to power the Pullman-style kitchen.

In 1950, the Cornelson family purchased the property and it has remained with them until now. They have worked over the years to modernize the property, adding air conditioning as well as a sunroom. Improvements have been made to open up the rear wing into an open concept kitchen and breakfast room with a sunroom overlooking the private rear yard. 

I have the honor of listing this little piece of Northern Virginia history for sale starting Sept. 16th. The home will be open to the public during our open house on Saturday, Sept. 18th from 1-4 p.m. 

I hope you’ll come check out this amazing property—I’d love to meet you! 

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

8914 Kenilworth Dr, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths,  3,882 sf | $849,900

11311 Megan Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 4.5 baths, 4,487 sf | $825,000

5220 Dunleigh Glen Ln, Burke | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,016 sf | $825,000

5945 Oakland Park Dr, Burke | 6 beds, 5 baths, 3,500 sf | $819,000

4022 Elizabeth Ln, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 1,392 sf | $800,000

Top sales

4632 Caprino Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 4.5 baths, 4,900 sf | 7 days on market | $1,200,000

4313 Holly Ln, Annandale | 4 beds, 4.5 baths, 6,026 sf | 5 days on market | $1,160,000

5274 Dunleigh Dr, Burke | 3 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,364 sf | 3 days on market | $799,900

5304 Rich Ct, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,530 sf | 6 days on market | $780,000

4623 University Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,330 sf | 4 days on market | $775,000

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week answers the question: Is staging necessary when listing a home? Reach out to Jennifer with column ideas or real estate questions at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers long-term and short-term coworking space for individuals and teams—along with meeting rooms, business mail service, and more. Book a tour today!

• We’re looking for a third regular advertiser for this space. If interested, email us at braddockbuzz@gmail.com

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Announcing the winners of Braddock’s Best!

Big thanks to the 142 readers who cast votes to help decide the best restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries in our area. We look forward to doing this again next year with some of the same categories and a few news ones.

Without further ado, here are the winners of our inaugural reader survey:

Best Pizza

1. Giardino Italian Restaurant in Springfield (29 first place votes)

2. Mamma Lucia in the Fair City Mall (27 first place votes + 16 second place votes)

3. Villa Bella in Burke (14 first place votes + 15 second place votes + 11 third place votes)

Best Burger

1. Five Guys (multiple locations) (40 first place votes)

2. Silverado in Annandale (10 first place votes + 18 second place votes)

3. Elevation Burger (locations in the Turnpike Shopping Center, Falls Church, and the Fair Oaks Mall) (15 first place votes + 12 second place votes + 16 third place votes)

Best Date Night

1. Hamrock's Restaurant in Fairfax City (17 first place votes)

2. Bartaco in Mosaic (12 first place votes + 20 second place votes)

3. [tied] Sisters Thai (locations in Mosaic and Fairfax City) (13 first place votes + 11 second place votes + 12 third place votes); Trummer's Restaurant in Clifton (15 first place votes + 11 second place votes + 10 third place votes)

Best Family Friendly Restaurant

1. Spartans Family Restaurant in Burke (21 first place votes)

2. Sweetwater Tavern in Falls Church (16 first place votes + 18 second place votes)

3. Coyote Grille in Fairfax City (12 first place votes + 13 second place votes + 18 third place votes)

Best Coffee Shop/Bakery

1. Swiss Bakery and Pastry Shop in the Ravensworth Shopping Center (54 first place votes)

2. Peet's Coffee (locations in Springfield, the Fair City Mall, and Fairfax Corner) (15 first place votes + 17 second place votes)

3. Foundation Coffee Roasters in the Fair City Mall (14 first place votes + 11 second place votes + 6 third place votes)

Best Brewery

1. Caboose Commons in Mosaic (33 first place votes)

2. Bunnyman Brewing on Guinea Road (22 first place votes + 15 second place votes)

3. Ornery Beer Company in Fairfax City (15 first place votes + 10 second place votes + 17 third place votes)

Local History

Article delves into the hidden history of Oak Hill, Ilda, and more: Braddock District resident Tom Shoop, the former editor-in-chief of Government Executive Media Group, has published an article delving into some of the hidden Black history of our area. The article, published in Route Fifty, shines a light on Moses Parker and Horace Gibson, two formerly enslaved men who founded the Ilda community after the Civil War, and discusses the increased attention now being paid to the many people who were once enslaved at the Oak Hill Plantation House. 

Here’s an excerpt:

State and local government officials around the country are reevaluating the past, paying more attention to stories that have been discredited as unverified and removing monuments to those who betrayed their country to fight for the right to hold human beings as property. In the process, they’re often accused of erasing history. In fact, says [Braddock District Supervisor] Walkinshaw, “we’re bringing to light a history that has been erased.”

You can read the full article here.

What happens if a student tests positive for Covid-19?

The first week of school saw small numbers of students test positive for COVID-19 at Woodson High School, Canterbury Woods Elementary, and other schools in our area, according to the FCPS pandemic dashboard.

To understand what happens when a student tests positive, here’s an excerpt from a COVID-19 notification letter sent last Wednesday by Braddock Elementary School Principal Keesha Jackson-Muir:

Dear Braddock Staff and Community:

In cooperation with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD), this letter is to inform you [that a] student at Braddock Elementary School has reported testing positive for COVID-19. 

The FCHD will identify and communicate with close contacts of this individual and tell them what action to take, such as testing or quarantine. 

If you do not receive a call from the Health Department, you have not been identified as a close contact to this case. A close contact is any person, regardless of vaccination status, who is within six feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for equal to or greater than 15 minutes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) K-12 Exception states students will not be identified as close contacts if they are at least three feet apart and consistently wearing masks (adults are not included in this exception).

When the FCHD has completed its contact tracing and investigation of this case, FCPS will send an email to notify you the FCHD has closed the case. ...

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Crime

Suspect arrested in Burke double homicide

An update on the tragic events that occured in Burke earlier this month, via the Fairfax County Police Department blog:

A 33-year-old man is in custody and awaiting extradition at the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Facility for the murder of Susan Lister, 67, and Amber Currie, 41, both of Burke. Bradley Lister, 33, is facing two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of use of a weapon in the commission of a felony.

Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau determined Bradley Lister killed his mother and sister in the home where they all resided in the 6100 block of Eagle Landing Road. Officers discovered the victims on the morning of August 20 following a request for a welfare check. Detectives immediately sought Bradley Lister for questioning, but he could not be found or contacted.

Bradley Lister was located [Aug. 23] by the U.S. Marshals Service at a hospital in Baltimore and was taken into custody for charges unrelated to the homicides. Detectives responded to the Baltimore City Police Department Headquarters to interview Lister and determined he shot both victims on August 17.

Following the murder, Lister fled to Baltimore City. Detectives believe Lister removed multiple firearms from the home. Lister will remain in custody at the Baltimore Central Booking Intake Facility until he is extradited back to Fairfax County.

News in Brief

• The School Board last week approved one-time, $1,000 bonuses for FCPS employees, to be paid out at the end of November.

• The board also increased starting pay for school bus drivers to $22.91/hour, in addition to a $3,000 recruitment bonus, amid a national shortage of commercially licensed drivers.

• Fairfax County has recorded its first death of a minor from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, The Washington Post reports. Officials described the child as younger than 10.

• A child died last Wednesday from drowning in a residential pool in Braymore Circle in Fairfax Station, WTOP reports.

Real Estate

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Jennifer Mack column: Is staging necessary when listing a home?

A reader asked whether staging is necessary when listing a home. The answer, as usual, is that it depends. 

A vacant home will typically show better with some furniture in it. Staging makes the photos more visually appealing and enticing to buyers. It adds warmth and character to a home, which can help a buyer feel that ever-important emotional connection. Additionally, some homes have floor plans that make it difficult for a buyer to imagine the purpose of each room, and furniture can help delineate this. Some rooms are unusually small or large or irregularly shaped—and staging can help overcome potential objections buyers may have. 

An occupied home may need little to no staging, depending on the type of furniture the owners have and their style of decoration. The most important thing is to keep in mind the probable demographic of the buyer and cater the staging to appeal to them. For example, when we have a home with seniors in it, their style may not appeal to a family in their 30s. I usually recommend that sellers pack up quite a few of their belongings, to include collectibles and accessories so there is a more minimalist look. 

When buyers look at photos, the goal is for them to notice the features of the room such as flooring, windows, and light fixtures. If the personal items are too overwhelming, they can take over the photo so that the buyer doesn’t notice anything else. Sellers who plan to dispose of some of their furniture before moving should go ahead and do that before listing in most cases. I ask sellers to do the majority of the work for their move before they go on the market so the actual move is not painful. We walk our clients through this step by step so they know exactly what to do to show their home in its best light.

Sometimes we have sellers who do not want any type of staging done. I do understand this and am happy to accommodate as long as the seller understands that it could impact the sale price. One of the goals of staging is to get the home sold faster so that a seller doesn't have to live with the inconvenience of their home being on the market any longer than necessary.

Staging isn't limited to just the interior either. For example, a small backyard can be transformed in the buyer's mind by having a beautifully staged patio where buyers can imagine themselves entertaining and relaxing. Staging doesn't have to feel like an overwhelming task for the sellers. With proper planning and execution we can prep the home to appeal to the majority of buyers.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured New Listings

8927 Burbank Rd, Annandale | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,872 sf | $949,500

4305 Wakefield Dr, Annandale | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,800 sf | $865,000

4907 Hollybrook Ln, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,976 sf | $824,900

10318 Collingham Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,187 sf | $785,000

5212 Noyes Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,168 sf | $759,714

Top Sales

4335 Amnesty Pl, Fairfax | 6 beds, 4.5 baths, 4,564 sf | 2 days on market | $985,000

9706 Doulton Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,600 sf | 5 days on market | $980,000

4226 Rose Thickett Ln, Fairfax | 6 beds, 5.5 baths, 3,835 sf | 6 days on market | $975,000

5605 Glanmore Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,284 sf | 5 days on market | $837,500

4826 Ponderosa Dr, Annandale | 5 beds, 3 baths, 1,961 sf | 5 days on market | $750,000

Voting closes at noon today in our inaugural reader survey, Braddock’s Best.

Make your voice heard by voting here:

Vote Now!

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week is about school boundary changes. Reach out to Jennifer with column ideas or real estate questions at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers long-term and short-term coworking space for individuals and teams—along with meeting rooms, business mail service, and more. Book a tour today!

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Voting begins for Braddock’s Best!

See who was nominated by clicking the voting link below

Thank you to the 30+ readers who submitted nominations for our inaugural reader survey, Braddock’s Best! Now it’s time to vote on the top restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries in and around the Braddock District. We’re using ranked-choice voting, so you can pick your top three in each category. Please only vote once—we require you to provide a valid email address to prevent double-voting. And feel free to share the voting link with your friends and neighborhoods—the more people who vote, the better.

Voting will close this Thursday, and the winners will be announced in next week’s edition.

So what are you waiting for? Click the button below to see the nominees and cast your votes!

Vote now

An update on the Virginia Youth Club

The door-to-door solicitation group’s top executives charged with human trafficking in Georgia

In January, we published an investigation into the Virginia Youth Club, which recruits teenagers from low-income areas to go door-to-door in affluent neighborhoods selling candy and branded merchandise. Our article revealed that the group was under active investigation by the state of Virginia and that group members were using a forged letter that falsely claimed they were authorized to solicit donations in Fairfax County.

Earlier this month, some of the Virginia Youth Club’s top executives were charged with fraud, racketeering, and human trafficking in connection with a separate operation, the Georgia Peach Youth Club. They stand accused of supporting criminal gang activity, even though their charities purport to keep children from joining gangs. The Virginia Youth Club’s top executive, Jule Huston, faces up to 126 years in prison if convicted on all charges in Georgia, and Public Affairs Director Nathan Jackson, who was interviewed extensively for our article, faces up to 101 years.

According to the Georgia indictment, the Georgia club “operated as a human labor and trafficking organization” that funneled money to the Nine Trey Bloods street gang, an East Coast subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based Bloods gang. A total of 14 people were charged. You can read the indictment here.

School Board

Judge dismisses case against Tholen, ending recall effort

On Friday, a Fairfax County circuit court judge dismissed a petition to recall the Dranesville District’s Elaine Tholen, one of three School Board members being targeted by an advocacy group unhappy over last year’s pandemic school closures. This is a major blow for the Open FCPS Coalition, which is also collecting signatures against the Springfield District’s Laura Jane Cohen and At-Large Member Abrar Omeish.

As The Washington Post reports, the judge granted a motion to dismiss the case from Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney James Hingeley, who handled the case because the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney had a potential conflict of interest. Hingeley said he looked into the allegation against Tholen and found them baseless.

In a statement, Open FCPS Coalition Founder Dee O’Neal said, “It is a shame that the voices of thousands of parents have been silenced by a Commonwealth’s Attorney, who just like the School Board, is more interested in politics than the well-being of our kids.” Our previous edition of Braddock Buzz features an interview with O’Neal about the recall efforts.

For her part, Tholen said she was “gratified” by the decision. “This legal case has been an ordeal for me, but our students have been struggling through a much greater one,” she said in a statement to the Post. “Please, let us put these divisive events behind us and work together to give our students the positive, undivided attention they deserve.”

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

It’s the first day of school for FCPS!

Students head back to school for five days of in-person learning

Today, FCPS students return to five days a week of in-person instruction for the first time since the 2019-2020 school year. Below is a Q&A about the return to school—with answers drawn from last week’s town hall with Superintendent Scott Brabrand, a return-to-school email from Braddock District School Board Member Megan McLaughlin, and other sources.

Is it safe to return to in-person instruction with the delta variant surging? According to Brabrand, data from last year show that “even when we had high rates of COVID transmission in our community, as we do now with the delta variant, that we had very, very low transmission within our schools.” Additionally, “we are prepared with multiple layered mitigation strategies this school year to make sure that we have great results again.”

Is there a level of community transmission that would cause schools to close again? Also from Brabrand: “We believe very strongly with the mitigation strategies we have had in place and will have in place this year, that we will not have to be in a position where we close schools.” But, he added, “if our health officials tell us that more concerning health trends have arrived with COVID-19 and the delta variant, we are fully prepared with plans to transition a class, a school, or the school district virtually.”

Are masks required? Yes, indoors. From McLaughlin’s email: “Masks will be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, inside FCPS buildings and on school buses. Outdoor masking is recommended for those who are unvaccinated. Masks are not required when actively eating or drinking, or when outside during recess, PE, or other activities.”

Is there a vaccine requirement for teachers? Yes. From an FCPS news release: “By late October, all FCPS employees will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to routine negative COVID-19 tests, a move that reinforces existing layered prevention strategies and the division’s commitment to safety.”

What happens if someone tests positive? From Michelle Boyd, assistant superintendent of the FCPS Department of Special Services: “If someone tests positive in your child’s class or your child’s school, families will be notified. We believe in open and transparent communication. … You’ll get a notification that there was a positive case in your class, and if your child is going to be temporarily paused for contact tracing and investigation, you will receive direct communication from your school. And if your child is identified as a close contact, you would have that conversation directly with persons from the [Fairfax County] Health Department who will give you guidance about next steps.”

What will lunch look like? From a slide presented by Boyd at the town hall: Students will wear masks when not actively eating and drinking. Elementary schools will have seating charts to minimize the number of close contacts while masks are removed. Cafeteria spaces will be regularly cleaned and sanitized. And it’s recommended that students wash their hands with soap and water before and after eating.

Featured Photo

The photo shows yesterday’s Canterbury Woods Triathlon, which had the highest participation in the event’s 13-year history. Organizer Beth Byron sent us the following email:

The Canterbury Woods Swim Club hosted a successful triathlon on Sunday, August 22 with record levels of participation in the 13 and older category. 71 participants took to the 250m swim, 7.6 miles bike and 2 mile run comprised of 35 solo racers and 12 teams. The 6-12 year old event included over 50 racers as well.

The community event is a fundraiser for the pool and an opportunity for children and adults to get out of their comfort zone and challenge themselves athletically as summer comes to a close.

We owe a huge thank you to Braddock Buzz for publicizing our event and a notable group of first time racers came from the distribution list. We definitely expanded our reach beyond just neighborhoods that belong to our pool.

Crime

Police identify person of interest in Burke double homicide

Some horrible news from Saturday in Burke, via the Fairfax County Police blog:

Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau continue to investigate a double homicide in the 6100 block of Eagle Landing Road in Burke. Officers responded at 8:15 a.m. for a welfare check at the home after the caller had not heard from the occupants for several days. Officers entered the home through an open window and discovered two women deceased inside a bathroom. Autopsies to confirm the identities of the women are underway by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Preliminarily, the investigation revealed there were no obvious signs of forced entry into the home. Detectives believe these homicides to be domestic-related and not a random act of violence. A third resident of the home, Bradley Lister, 33, is unaccounted for at this time. Lister is considered a person of interest as detectives believe he could have more information as to the circumstances that led up to the homicides. Additionally, detectives want to locate him to check on his welfare. A car related to the home was missing from the driveway but has since been recovered and detectives will be processing the car for evidence.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact us at 703-691-2131, or call 911. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), by text – Type “FCCS” plus tip to 847411, and by web – Click HERE. Download our Mobile tip411 App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest.

News in Brief

• Starting this fall, all Fairfax County employees will be required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.

• County residents have been reporting mysterious bug bites that may be from oak mites, which feast on cicada eggs, according to Tysons Reporter.

• Also from Tysons Reporter: The latest U.S. Census data shows white residents now make up less than half of Fairfax County’s population, with the Asian and Hispanic/Latino populations increasing substantially.

• Construction is expected to begin in 2023 to convert the West Falls Church Metro Station into a 1-million-square-foot mixed-use development, Virginia Business reports.

• FCPS and the surrounding school districts are facing a severe bus driver shortage as they prepare for the beginning of the school year, reports ABC 7 News.

• A virtual meeting will be held Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. to discuss the Park Authority’s draft pickleball study, which we summarized in our Aug. 9 edition.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: What I tell clients who ask about potential school boundary changes

A reader sent a question about school boundary changes. It’s a question I get a lot—and one that’s extremely important to many people. No one wants to purchase a home because of a particular school zone and then find out it’s being changed, especially after your kids are established in the school.

As a real estate agent, I would never tell a client that their assigned school won't change. That would be irresponsible, as I can't possibly know that for sure. Typically, I tell my clients to contact the local school principal as well as their local school board representative to ask if they’re aware of any potential boundary changes. Also, the Office of Facilities Planning Services for FCPS can provide assistance. Boundary changes are more common than you would think, and occasionally schools close permanently. This happened with Clifton Elementary several years ago. Usually when redistricting happens it’s to ease overcrowding. Currently the county is utilizing over 750 trailers to house overflow classes that don't fit in the schools. When schools close, it’s usually for low attendance or outdated/unsafe infrastructure that would be too costly to fix.

One item to note that often comes up in boundary discussions is that FCPS Superintendent Brabrand has stated, "Busing students out of their neighborhoods or open boundaries (which would allow students to enroll in schools other than their base school) is NOT a part of the boundary review process presented by my office nor is it on the table for consideration."

There is always an opportunity for public hearings when school changes are proposed so the public can voice opinions before the changes are approved. If you look on the FCPS website, you can review the current proposed boundary changes. For example, there is currently a proposed boundary adjustment under consideration for the elementary schools in the Justice High School pyramid and a boundary adjustment has been proposed to provide capacity relief to McLean High School.

The public can also review Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) on the FCPS website. The Fairfax County School Board has adopted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-26 CIP, which focuses on capital projects, including new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations. This information may be helpful to review if you have concerns about boundary adjustments as well.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Featured new listings

5110 Holden St, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,419 sf | $840,000

5239 Harrowby Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,187 sf | $770,000

4713 Wakefield Chapel Rd, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,530 sf | $769,000

8832 Burbank Rd, Annandale | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,277 sf | $765,000

9300 Wynyard Pl, Burke | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,324 sf | $749,999

Top sales

10713 Kelley Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,934 sf | 4 days on market | $950,000

10611 Burnside Landing Ct, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,636 sf | 4 days on market | $885,000

8601 Sinon St, Annandale | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,971 sf | 3 days on market | $880,000

10367 Steamboat Landing Ln, Burke | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,960 sf | 2 days on market | $857,500

4710 Duncan Dr, Annandale | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,471 sf | 5 days on market | $852,400

Nominate now!

A quick programming note: There will be no edition next week, as we’ll be traveling for work. We’ll be back in your inboxes Monday, Aug. 23.

Until then, keep the news, tips, and feedback coming to braddockbuzz@gmail.com

Gift Card Giveaway

It’s International Coworking Day! And in honor of the occasion, our sponsor WorkAway Solutions is giving away $5 Peet's Coffee gift cards to the first three readers who send the correct response to this trivia question:

What is the name of the San Francisco software engineer who's credited with starting the first coworking space?

To get your caffeine hookup, send answers to WorkAway owner Susan King Glosby at susan@workawaysolutions.com

Thank you, as well, to sponsor Jennifer Mack of Jennifer Mack Properties, whose column today answers a reader question about the difference between homeowner associations and civic associations. Reach out to Jennifer with column ideas or real estate questions at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

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Pandemic

Back in masks: Fairfax County is once again recommending face masks in public indoor settings—and is requiring them in county facilities—even for those who are fully vaccinated, as cases spike due to the highly contagious Delta variant. The decision came after the county reached a level of COVID-19 transmission that the CDC categorizes as “substantial,” with 192.1 cases per 100,000 people over the last 14 days.

“While this is a frustrating turn in events for everyone, we have the ability to make this better,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in a statement, urging those who have not already done so to get vaccinated.

As of yesterday, 76.8% of those 18 and older who live in the Fairfax Health District had received at least one vaccine dose, or about 65% of the health district’s total population. Across Virginia, 97% of those hospitalized for COVID-19 in the past week were unvaccinated, and 98% of deaths were among the unvaccinated, according to the state’s health department.

You can schedule a vaccination here.

School Board recall petitions gaining steam

An interview with Dee O’Neal of the Open FCPS Coalition

If Dee O’Neal had her way, the entire Fairfax County School Board, save one member, would be out of a job.

A year ago, O’Neal was a single mom juggling parenting, private tutoring, and flexible contract work—with a political resume consisting of a single item: She’d once made calls on behalf of a Democratic School Board candidate. But in late 2020, her outrage over pandemic school closures boiled over, and she founded the Open FCPS Coalition, which is waging recall campaigns against three School Board members: the Dranesville District’s Elaine Tholen, Springfield’s Laura Jane Cohen, and At-Large Member Abrar Omeish.

Last month, the coalition hit a major milestone, surpassing the 3,600 signatures required for a recall filing against Tholen. The recall process in Virginia is murky, and there are few precedents, but at the very least Tholen has to defend her record before a Fairfax County circuit judge. At most, Tholen could face a trial and be removed from office, potentially triggering a special election in the Dranesville District. A hearing is scheduled for this Friday to determine next steps.

Meanwhile, in Springfield, the Open FCPS Coalition is “closing in” on the 4,000 signatures needed for a recall filing against Cohen and has set an informal deadline of Aug. 31, according to O’Neal. If successful, the coalition plans to target additional School Board members.

An interview with O’Neal is below, edited for length and clarity.

Q: Hi, Dee. So what’s the next step for the Tholen recall?

To be honest, we really don't know. This hasn’t been done before, so we're not exactly sure how it looks. If she were to be removed from office, we’re assuming a special election would be the next thing. There are a lot of gray areas, and some legislators are already talking about changing recall laws as a result of what we’re doing to make the process clearer.

Q: Has your group identified a candidate to run in a special election, should one be held?

We’re talking to different parents, and people have emailed us, but we're not waiting in the wings with a surprise person or anything. 

Q: You’re also working on recalls for the Springfield District’s Cohen and for At-Large Member Omeish.

Yes, we are. In Springfield, there’s a lot of enthusiasm. We did a signing the other day in that district and in an hour and a half we got 47 signatures. If you know anything about this kind of thing, that's a lot. We have the same person who validated Tholen signatures validating the signatures for Cohen. We think we're less than 1,000 signatures away, and we’ve set a soft deadline of Aug. 31.

On Omeish, we’re pretty far behind, but a lot of people are really geared up to sign for her because of a lot of things that have happened in the last few months.

Q: Our newsletter covers the Braddock District, so we want to ask about our School Board member, Megan McLaughlin, who’s been the strongest voice on the board pushing for schools to reopen. What do you and your organization think of her?

She's the only champion we've had. There are things she's done that I don't agree with, but she's put her neck out. The consensus within our group is that Megan is the only one who’s spoken for the children. She’s the only authentic person who is there to do the will of the voters and act on behalf of families and children.

Q: Let’s back up a bit. Can you tell us about why you founded the Open FCPS Coalition?

You know, I'm just a regular parent. I'm a member of a couple open school groups, and I attended rallies in the fall and summer of last year. One day, I was just like, I’ve had it. This is morally wrong. I felt that it was deeper than just people being cautious. Other states were doing the right thing by their kids, and we were not. At first, I suggested we do a lawsuit, but it took us about 10 minutes to realize a lawsuit was going to cost too much money that we didn’t have. So we thought, why don’t we do recalls? Now, I’m thinking a lawsuit might have been easier.

Q: Had you been involved in political organizing previously?

Not really. I helped with one or two School Board campaigns—doing calls and stuff like that. Funnily enough, when I helped with the School Board in the past, it was for a Democrat. And now everyone's like, “You guys are going after the School Board because you hate Democrats.” I considered myself politically dialed in, but I guess I wasn't when it came to the School Board. I honestly did not have a clue when we decided to do a recall that the entire board was made up of Democrats.

Q: Do you feel any sympathy for the difficult choice that Superintendent Scott Brabrand and the School Board faced last fall, before we had vaccines?

No, I don’t. Miami-Dade is a larger school district, and they were in school five days a week. It's happened all over the country, in places bigger than we are, and they figured it out. FCPS parents voted in June and July of 2020, and 60% wanted to send their children back to school. An unending amount of federal cash came in because of COVID, and the governor gave us even more, and they didn't even attempt to make it happen. I just absolutely have no respect for what they did.

Q: Brabrand has promised five days of in-person learning this fall. How confident are you in that pledge, and do you see a need to continue advocating for open schools?

I’m confident in it, but only because of SB1303, which is the bill that passed the state legislature that requires in-person learning. In my opinion, they wouldn’t be opening if it wasn’t for that and for the recalls and pushback they’ve received.

What I’m worried about is how loosely they will interpret it. I feel like they'll push it as far as they can with early release days and partial days. That's one of the reasons we went for the recall—because we wanted to shake them up and let them know people are not going to stand for this foolishness. 

Q: What do you see as the next step for your group beyond the three recalls?

If the Tholen recall is successful, we’re going to continue to recall people. The damage they've done—the number of children experiencing depression and anxiety and other psychological issues—we can’t forget this. We can't let go of what they did. 

FCPS and Tholen respond

FCPS spokesperson Julie Moult, in a statement:

A petition drive to remove Board member Elaine Tholen, and a broadside attack on the Board and FCPS, is misguided and based on incorrect information. The decision to provide learning through a virtual format last year was a direct result of the circumstances and the health and medical advice available at the time. The School Board and FCPS leadership was responsible for ensuring the health and wellbeing of its 189,000 students during the unprecedented circumstances of a pandemic. FCPS moved to reopen its schools as quickly as circumstances allowed and did so ahead of many other school districts in the area. The decision to conduct classes online was a difficult decision, but it was the right one. Most school districts across the country followed the same path.

Tholen, in a statement provided to Tyson’s Reporter: 

I look forward to continuing to earn my constituents’ trust and support as we prepare to welcome all students in person five days per week. As a former classroom educator and now a School Board member, I have always worked for my students’ well-being and to help them reach their utmost potential. I will continue to put our students’ best interests first.

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

Parks

Park Authority staff release draft pickleball recommendations: Park Authority staff have unveiled the draft recommendations of a comprehensive pickleball study, the final version of which is due out this fall. The study was prompted by calls from pickleball advocates for more dedicated and shared-use courts for a sport that’s surging in popularity—and they’ve zeroed in on Wakefield Park as an ideal spot for a pickleball hub.

The draft report recommends the Park Authority consider creating at least one pickleball-only facility with six or more courts to support large groups and tournaments. The report suggests funding could come from the 2024 park bond or other sources. It also recommends that, starting in FY22, existing tennis courts be evaluated for potential conversion to shared-use or pickleball-only.

The report found that Fairfax County is in the middle of the pack for pickleball facilities per capita when measured against nearby jurisdictions, as you can see in this table:

The Park Authority is currently converting two little-used platform tennis courts at Wakefield Park to pickleball.

Neighborhood News

Truro featured in Washington Post real estate section: The Washington Post real estate section last week profiled the Truro neighborhood, calling it a place where “people come to live and rarely leave.” Here’s more from the story:

What truly sets Truro apart is its homeowners association. “We are one of the few remaining, if not the sole remaining, self-managed homeowners associations in Northern Virginia,” said [Dave] Watts, a former association president. “We do it all ourselves. . . . Everybody volunteers.”

Although the association pays for a treasurer and a record-keeper, all the other positions are unpaid. Volunteers run the swim and dive program, the tennis program, the parkland cleanup program, the social committee and the architectural control committee. The clubhouse with its pool and tennis courts is the neighborhood hub. Dues are $210 annually for homeowners and an additional $560 annually for use of the amenities.

“They have a very active social community,” said Jay D’Alessandro, a real estate agent with Long & Foster, who doesn’t live in Truro but has been selling houses in the neighborhood for 20 years. “It feels like you are in a little village when you get there. . . . I think whoever has been organizing the social community built around the pool has been very good about being inclusive of everyone.”

Read the full article here.

News in Brief

• The Fairfax County Police Department has released body-worn camera footage showing a 30-year-old woman, Jiyoung Lee, being shot by a police officer at a group home in North Springfield on July 19, The Washington Post reports. Police Chief Kevin Davis said the woman, who was wielding a knife, “posed a deadly threat to our police officers.” Lee is recovering from her injuries and has been charged with assault on an officer.

• The Virginia Department of Transportation will present its design plans for the Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements project by the end of the year, according to the latest edition of Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw’s newsletter. As we reported in June, VDOT will provide more than $50 million for the project through its Smart Scale program.

• FCPS will hold more than 40 vaccination clinics this fall to boost vaccination rates among those ages 12 to 17, WUSA9 reports.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: The difference between HOAs and civic associations

I received a reader question asking the difference between a formal homeowner association (HOA) and a civic association. We have both throughout our reader area, and if you live in a townhouse there’s a very good chance you have an HOA. Many single family homes are part of HOAs, as well. 

The main feature that sets HOAs apart from civic associations is that HOAs have legal recourse options if you violate the rules. They can fine you, although they are required to provide a written warning first to give you a chance to remedy the violation. In addition, they can put a lien on the home and even initiate foreclosure as an attempt to recover unpaid assessments.

When viewing a home, you should be able to see on the MLS data sheet whether it’s part of an HOA. The data sheet will not necessarily state whether there’s a civic association. If you’re selling a home with an HOA, your real estate agent will instruct you or order a resale package on your behalf from the management company or responsible party on the HOA board. This document can take a couple weeks to prepare. For sellers, this is something you will need to provide buyers for review. In Virginia, buyers have three days to review these documents, which include the association's Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs), meeting minutes, budget, a copy of the master insurance policy, and other important information. If a buyer is not satisfied with these documents for any reason, they are allowed to void the contract with no recourse. Some buyers feel strongly about purchasing a property with an HOA, and this decision is an important part of my conversations with new buyers.

Civic associations are voluntary, and the dues are typically minimal, often collected just once a year by neighborhood volunteers. These dues can pay for such items as a neighborhood social event, community directory, entrance signs, or landscaping in common areas. Civic associations do not issue citations or notices of violations. Some people prefer this to an HOA, but understand that if your neighbor decides to paint their garage door purple or leave Christmas lights up all year, there may not be any legal recourse unless they are violating city or county code.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Select new listings

4305 San Carlos Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 2 baths, 1,986 sf | $895,000

5607 Tilia Ct, Burke | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 3,404 sf | $849,900

9706 Dansk Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,038 sf | $838,900

5622 Kemp Ln, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,160 sf | $835,000

9900 Mosby Rd, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,768 sf | $825,000

Top sales

10176 Red Spruce Rd, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,512 sf | 2 days on market | $865,000

9606 Jomar Dr, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 3,114 sf | 5 days on market | $817,500

10401 Ashcroft Way, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,068 sf | 5 days on market | $806,100

5269 Dunleigh Dr, Burke | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,530 sf | 2 days on market | $800,000

8615 Dora Ct, Annandale | 4 beds, 3 baths, 2,426 sf | 6 days on market | $785,000

Send news, tips, feedback, and more to braddockbuzz@gmail.com

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week answers a reader question about whether landscaping can turn off potential buyers who might be worried about maintenance. Reach out to Jennifer with column ideas or real estate questions at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers long-term and short-term coworking space for individuals and teams—along with meeting rooms, business mail service, and more. Book a tour today!

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Introducing Braddock’s Best!

Nominations open for our inaugural reader survey of best eateries

We’re thrilled to introduce the inaugural edition of our annual reader survey, Braddock’s Best. This is your chance to spread the word about your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries—and discover hidden gems you’ve been missing.

How it works: The first step is to nominate your favorite eateries across six categories. Nominations are open through Aug. 27. After that, Braddock Buzz readers will vote to decide the best of the best.

You can access the nominations form here.

Categories: We’ve chosen six categories for the inaugural survey:

• Best Pizza

• Best Burger

• Best Date Night

• Best Family Friendly Restaurant

• Best Coffee Shop/Bakery

• Best Brewery

Geographic limits: Our goal is to bring attention to some of our readers’ most beloved drinking and dining destinations—and we recognize these could be outside the Braddock District. So, there are no strict geographic limits, except to say that any business you nominate should be within a 15 minute’s drive from your home.

The fine print: We reserve the right to disqualify nominations that don’t fit their category or don’t seem like an easy drive for Braddock District residents—or for other reasons we haven’t thought of yet.

So what are you waiting for?

Nominate Now!

Neighborhood News

Canterbury Woods trash petition hearing set for October: After a long delay, the Board of Supervisors last week authorized a public hearing in October to consider last year’s petition in the Canterbury Woods neighborhood to move from private to county trash collection. And, in a reversal, the effort now has the support of county public works officials, whose previous opposition had been a major obstacle to moving forward with the Canterbury Woods petition and petitions in several other neighborhoods outside the Braddock District.

“After a thorough review of resources and the seven petitions that were placed on hold during the pandemic, our operations team has decided to recommend approval for these petitions,” said Lainie Shifflett, an official with the county’s Solid Waste Management Program. “Although there are still major challenges for waste collection service providers due to a national labor shortage and pandemic impacts, we are confident that we can provide quality service to the Canterbury Woods neighborhood.”

Other neighborhoods, including Truro, are watching the process closely and may consider petitions of their own because of frustrations with the two private trash collectors, American Disposal Services and Republic Services.

Canterbury Woods completed its petition in June 2020, reaching the required 55% of “yes” votes. Of the neighborhood’s 517 homes, 292 were in favor, 141 were opposed, and 84 were non-responsive. But the process ended up being put on hold because of the pandemic and the truck driver shortage referenced in Shifflett’s statement.

In an email, petition organizer Dale Johnson, president of the Canterbury Woods Civic Association, said he was “grateful that our petition finally has the opportunity to be presented to the government for a vote.” He added: “An overwhelming majority of our residents voted in favor of creating a sanitary district and receiving trash and recycling services from the county, and for this reason I sincerely hope that our voices are heard and that the petition is approved.”

Ultimately, it will be up to the Board of Supervisors. And in a statement, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said he was optimistic it will be approved. 

“Throughout this process, I've said that I will support the community's desire to have county waste collection as long as I am confident that the county has the capacity and workforce to provide the high-quality service our residents deserve,” Walkinshaw explained. “I look forward to hearing from the community during the public hearing and am optimistic that the board will approve the creation of the new district.” 

The hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. If approved, county waste pickup would begin Jan. 1, 2022.

Lake Accotink Dredging

County narrows dewatering site options to four: If you’ve noticed the “No Mud” signs cropping up near Lake Accotink, it’s because the county is planning a three-year dredging project that could impact those who use the lake, Wakefield Park, Braddock Road, and several major running and biking trails. The biggest point of contention is where to pump the sediment for dewatering before it’s hauled away by truck. At an in-person forum last week, project manager Charles Smith announced that the county has narrowed its list of potential dewatering sites to four. Each option has pros and cons, as detailed in a new study by the engineering contractor, Arcadis:

• Wakefield Park maintenance facility

-Pros: avoids closure of park facilities and minimizes impacts to trails and residential areas

-Cons: would require tree clearing and a pipeline to carry the sediment from the lake

• Dominion right-of-way within Wakefield Park

-Pros: minimal tree clearing

-Cons: would require a pipeline and trail closures, is located within the floodplain, and trucks would have to drive through the park

• Lake Accotink upper settling basin:

-Pros: proximity minimizes the need for piping and would make it easy to return water to the lake

-Cons: truck access would require trail closures, there would be noise impacts for nearby neighborhoods, and it’s unknown if the current basin is stable enough to handle truck traffic

• Lake Accotink island (possibly with an expanded footprint):

-Pros: no permanent pipeline required, and it would be easy to return water to the lake

-Cons: located within the floodplain, limited space for dewatering equipment, and would require truck traffic through residential areas

The county has eliminated several sites from consideration, including Howrey Field Park, as we reported in a July 20 news alert. For now, project leaders want to keep the four remaining options open to give them maximum flexibility as they continue firming up design and construction plans.

Lake Accotink has been dredged three times since the 1960s, most recently in 2008. For this dredge, set to begin in 2023, the county wants to install permanent infrastructure to enable more frequent future dredges. That’s because the lake is filling with sediment faster than it used to, due at least in part to climate change. Without the dredge, the lake would eventually turn into a wetland area unusable for recreational activities like boating and fishing.

Public comments are being accepted through the project website, and a second community forum—this one virtual—is slated for Thursday at 7 p.m. You can register here.

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

News in Brief

• A Chopt restaurant is coming to the Pickett Shopping Center at 9424 Main Street, near the Orangetheory and Chuck E. Cheese, according to a building permit posted on the door.

• The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Sept. 14 to consider a 5-cent tax on plastic bags. The measure was put forward by Braddock District Supervisor Walkinshaw.

• The board voted last week to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for Fairfax County employees, with religious and medical exceptions, reports NBC4 Washington. The decision will ultimately be made by County Executive Bryan Hill.

• FCPS will require students and teachers to wear masks inside school buildings this fall, regardless of vaccination status, according to Tysons Reporter.

• The School Age Child Care (SACC) program will return this fall to 142 locations throughout FCPS, Patch reports.

• Shared e-scooters will soon be coming to the streets and sidewalks of Fairfax County, with two vendors—Link and Bird—approved for 300 scooters each, the Annandale Blog reports.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: Can landscaping turn off potential buyers?

I received a great question from a reader regarding landscaping and whether buyers might be turned off by a heavily landscaped yard.

If you enjoy gardening, I wouldn’t hold back on doing what you want with your yard. After all, you live in your home and should enjoy all aspects of it, including the yard. Of course, there could be one or two potential buyers who rule it out because they’re worried about maintenance, but, as I always say, you only need one strong buyer! 

I have had many sellers offer to give the buyer a tour of the yard before closing to explain the plantings and give tips on how to care for everything properly. Some sellers prefer to leave a note or video.

Universal aspects that most every buyer will appreciate include added trees and bushes for privacy, a fence for kids and pets, and outdoor entertaining areas. I encourage buyers to plant trees and bushes as soon as they realistically can after purchasing their home so they can benefit from the privacy and beauty during their time of ownership and also when they sell. 

Hardscaping is currently very expensive, and if you plan to sell soon, I would not spend too much money on a fancy patio—a basic one that is well done is usually just fine. Shade is always appreciated, and there are many reasonably priced shade covers available online to make the hottest months more bearable outside. Outdoor lighting is another item that makes almost every patio look more inviting. We offer twilight photo shoots to show off the lighting to potential buyers and encourage them to tour the property in person. We also offer advance photo shoots to capture the yard when it’s in full bloom that can be saved for a later listing.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Select new listings

4900 Tarheel Way, Annandale | 6 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,557 sf | $974,750

10737 Burr Oak Way, Burke | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,208 sf | $875,000

10171 Red Spruce Rd, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 2,149 sf | $824,998

5605 Glanmore Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,284 sf | $769,500

5551 Shooters Hill Ln, Fairfax | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 2,790 sf | $769,000

Top sales

5304 Esabella Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 5 baths, 5,370 sf | 3 days on market | $1,025,000

10209 Burke Chase Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 4,198 sf | 2 days on market | $925,000

5324 Black Oak Dr, Fairfax | 3 beds, 3 baths, 2,496 sf | 2 days on market | $925,000

9512 Spode Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,217 sf | 5 days on market | $920,100

4929 Althea Dr, Annandale | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 3,195 sf | 6 days on market | $900,000

We reported in Monday’s newsletter that the new brewery on Guinea Road would open today, but the business experienced “a late issue and had to postpone,” according to the owners.

It will be open Saturday from 12-10 p.m. and Sunday from 12-7 p.m.

You can read our interview with owners Sam Gray and Eric Barrett here.

The news comes as the county prepares to release an alternatives analysis conducted by the engineering contractor, Arcadis, which evaluated potential locations where sediment from the lake could be pumped and dewatered before being hauled away by truck. The study is expected to be posted on the project website this week.

The decision to rule out Howrey will come as a relief to the Annandale-North Springfield Little League, which operates at the park and had protested its inclusion as a potential dewatering site.

“If Howrey Park is selected as the ‘Spoils’ holding location, we will lose the use of the park fields for as many as five years and it could be more if the ‘Spoils’ contain hazardous waste,” ANSLL President Don Pedersen said in an email last month to the Little League community.

Smith, the project manager, noted that the county had received about 120 comments through the project website, the majority of them expressing opposition to the use of Howrey.

“Howrey Park is not recommended for further consideration due to both lower suitability and impacts to the community,” he explained in an email.

Four other locations are being considered:

• a Dominion Energy site in Wakefield Park

• a maintenance area in Wakefield Park

• a settling basin in Lake Accotink Park

• the island in Lake Accotink

Two meetings are currently scheduled to review the alternatives analysis: an in-person session July 29 at 7 p.m. in the Annandale High School auditorium, and a virtual meeting Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. Postcards are expected to be sent this week to 4,000 households alerting them of the two meetings.

The public comment period for the alternatives analysis will close Aug. 19.

The Lake Accotink dredging project is set to begin in 2023 and will remove 350,000 cubic yards of sediment to prevent the lake from becoming a wetland unusable for boating and fishing. 

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the fact that several of the potential dewatering sites would require land to be cleared to make way for a pipeline.

We’d like to give a shoutout as well to a local Boy Scout, Kevin Read of Troop 1523. Kevin recently interviewed us for a Merit Badge—and came prepared with excellent questions about journalism and the state of local news. We wish him and his troop all the best.

A quick programming note: There will be no newsletter next week, as we’ll be traveling. We’ll be back in your inboxes Monday, Aug. 2.

Keep the news, tips, feedback, and more coming to braddockbuzz@gmail.com

Thank you to our sponsors:

• Realtor Jennifer Mack, whose column this week answers a reader question about what to look for in an investment property. Reach out to Jennifer with column ideas or real estate questions at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com

• WorkAway Solutions, your neighborhood coworking space in Ravensworth. WorkAway offers long-term and short-term coworking space for individuals and teams—along with meeting rooms, business mail service, and more. Book a tour today!

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Bunnyman Brewing to open this Thursday

A sneak peek inside the new brewery on Guinea Road

After months of delays, opening week has finally arrived for Bunnyman Brewing, at 5583 Guinea Road in Burke. There was a “soft launch” this weekend, including several private parties, and the doors will officially open to the public this Thursday, barring any last-minute hiccups.

We recently got a tour from owners Sam Gray and Eric Barrett, pictured above—two Fairfax County natives who’ve already managed to generate quite a lot of buzz for their new business.

The buzz is in part because of the location—a residential area with few other drinking options that was once ranked one of the most boring places in Virginia, as they proudly acknowledge. But it’s also because of the name, Bunnyman—a reference to a spooky urban legend that originated in Burke about an axe-weilding man in a rabbit costume.

The brewery will offer 18 drink selections on tap, including two kombuchas and three hard seltzers. Patrons will serve themselves through a self-pour system intended to free up the staff to focus on customer interactions.

“We’re not doing it to take staff out of the mix,” Barrett said of the self-serve model. “We want to make sure we provide a really high-end customer service on the beer side—talking to customers about beer.”

Fairfax County prohibits breweries from having full-service kitchens, though Bunnyman does eventually plan to offer reheated food items such as hot dogs and brats.

To start, though, there will be food trucks in the parking lot.

The brewery also has an upper level, pictured below, that can be reserved for private events.

As of now, Bunnyman is still in the “experimental” phase—and its beers will not be given official names.

“We have some pretty cool marketing names for the beers, but we’re not using them yet,” Barrett explained. “We have great artwork and everything, but we’re holding off—everything’s experimental for now.”

He said he hopes to eventually have six to eight base beers in rotation that can also be canned and sold.

“This is a retirement thing for both him and I from other careers,” Barrett said. “This is about giving back to the community—building something in the community that's cool.”

Schools

Superintendent to depart in June 2022: FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand has announced plans to depart at the end of the coming school year. This is consistent with his contract, which was extended by a year to avoid a leadership change during the pandemic and to give the School Board time to conduct a search for his successor.

A news release announcing Brabrand’s departure lists several accomplishments during his tenure, including two that have proven politically divisive: “embedding an equity focus through the division” and “broadening access” to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology through a new selection process that no longer includes an admissions test.

“In the best of times and the worst of times, I have always strived to lead with a steady hand and a full heart,” said Brabrand, who began his FCPS career as a social studies teacher in 1994.

School Board meeting on transgender rights draws dueling protests: The School Board voted last week to update its “Student Rights and Responsibilities” document to clarify the rights of transgender students. Under the new guidelines, they’ll be able to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, and FCPS employees will be required to address them by their preferred names and pronouns. As The Washington Post reported, the meeting drew dueling protests from parents and activists—with one side in support of transgender rights and the other side decrying critical race theory. 

Four FCPS grads to compete in Olympics: FCPS boasts four former students who will compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which begin this Friday:

• Andrew Seliskar, a 2015 graduate of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, will swim for the Team USA 4x200 relay team. 

• Chioma Onyekwere, a 2012 Robinson Secondary School graduate, will throw discus for Team Nigeria.

• Trevor Stewart, a 2016 South County High School graduate, will run track for Team USA in the 4x400-meter relay. 

• Lucas Kozeniesky, a 2013 Robinson Secondary School graduate, will compete for Team USA in Rifle Shooting: 10-meter air rifle, three-position. 

You can find profiles and photos of the four athletes here.

Business

Bloomie’s coming to Mosaic: WTOP has the story:

Bloomingdale’s is embracing its own nickname for the first time, opening the nation’s first Bloomie’s store in Fairfax, Virginia. And it will have a Colada Shop.

The 22,000-square-foot store, about a tenth the size of some of the largest Bloomingdale’s department stores, opens Aug. 26 in the Mosaic District. Bloomingdale’s describes the Bloomie’s concept as a new store experience with design concepts and a distinct assortment of  contemporary and luxury brands across women’s and men’s fashions and beauty products. …

The Mosaic District Bloomie’s will have a Colada Shop location as well, serving a full menu of signature cocktails, roasted coffee and Caribbean-inspired small bites.

Sponsor Message

WorkAway Solutions offers flexible coworking space in Ravensworth

Book a tour with WorkAway Solutions today, or contact owner Susan King Glosby with any questions you might have about coworking at susan@workawaysolutions.com

Parks

Pickleball study team to preview findings July 28: County officials are scheduled to present the findings and draft recommendations of a comprehensive pickleball study at the Park Authority Board’s July 28 meeting. Pickleball advocates have high hopes for the report—and are pointing to Wakefield Park as a prime location for more dedicated courts.

“The pickleball study team is finalizing its analysis now, and is scheduled to share the findings and draft recommendations with the Park Authority Board at its regular meeting on July 28,” Park Authority spokesperson Judy Pedersen said in an email. “We anticipate finalizing the study this fall.”

County to share Accotink dredging alternatives at two upcoming meetings: The county has scheduled two meetings to review a study into alternative dewatering sites for the Lake Accotink dredging project. As we reported in our last edition, several sites are under consideration, including Howrey Field Park—which has led to protests from the Annandale-North Springfield Little League that operates there.

An in-person meeting will be held July 29 at 7 p.m. in the Annandale High School auditorium, and a virtual meeting will be held Aug. 5, also at 7 p.m.

The alternatives analysis is expected to be posted online today.

News in Brief

• The Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale will soon get a $1.2 million renovation including new offices and a multipurpose room, the Annandale Blog reports.

• Also from the Annandale Blog: The Board of Supervisors has approved a rezoning application to allow Annandale United Methodist Church to expand the operations of a social services center off Heritage Drive.

• The county is considering a tax on plastic bags used by grocery stores and retailers—a measure put forward by Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, according to Tysons Now.

• The county has committed to being carbon neutral by 2040, meaning it will remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it emits through government operations such as facilities and transportation.

• A task force will kick off the process of renaming Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, the latest effort to rid Fairfax County of tributes to the Confederacy, The Washington Post reports.

• The Fairfax County Police Department will offer free safety checks for children’s car seats this Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 3911 Woodburn Rd., Annandale.

Real Estate

Sponsored Content

Jennifer Mack column: What to look for in an investment property

Thank you to our readers for all the great real estate questions you submitted for the giveaway! We’re sending out gift cards to the first three people who responded.

One of the questions we received was about investment properties for people who live in our area. Here are my thoughts on that question: 

Rentals are in high demand right now. Many buyers who are not able to compete in this market are renting instead—and they are well qualified and probably make great tenants. Although there are plenty of rentals available, the quality of many of them leaves a lot to be desired and picky renters are passing them up. 

My top recommendation would probably be to purchase a townhouse in a good school district. Maintenance on a townhouse is less than a single family house and you can still charge a good rental amount. Pick one in a good location with decent parking but don't get in a bidding war for it. This may mean you need to put some money into making updates, but you can do this in a budget-friendly way. When you look for one, be especially cognizant of the things you can’t change, such as the location, the lot, and the floorplan. Look at the rental history on MLS for homes in the same neighborhoods you are targeting and see which ones rented quickly and for the most money. 

Another option for a rental property is to purchase a property to use as a short-term vacation rental. First, identify a property in an area you would like to vacation—whether that’s the mountains, lake, beach, etc. You will need to research how saturated the market is and what types of homes are in demand. You will also need to research local restrictions to be sure you’re allowed to rent out the property. You will need to decide whether you need a property manager or intend to self-manage. 

These types of properties can be very lucrative since you are charging a premium for the short-term rental period. For example, if you can charge $500 a night and you keep it rented 20 nights a month on average, that is $10,000 in monthly revenue, which is far more than you would make renting it long-term. You can charge additional for a cleaning fee so you don't have those extra costs incurred. 

There’s a lot to consider with short-term rentals, so feel free to reach out with any questions. My family owns one and rents it out on AirBnB—and I’m happy to help you get started if you’re interested.

Jennifer Mack has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate industry, with her team servicing Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Contact her at jennifer@jennifermackproperties.com or by calling 703-672-0038.

Select new listings

4733 Powell Rd, Fairfax | 5 beds, 5 baths, 5,866 sf | $1,349,000

8140 Halleck Pl, Springfield | 5 beds, 4.5 baths, 3,920 sf | $1,199,000

9653 Sherman Oaks Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,990 sf | $949,000

9706 Doulton Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,600 sf | $890,000

8601 Sinon St, Annandale | 5 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,971 sf | $850,000

Top Sales

4911 Maury Ct, Fairfax | 4 beds, 4.5 baths, 5,540 sf | $1,145,000

4721 Western St, Fairfax | 4 beds, 3.5 baths, 3,786 sf | $990,000

10625 Regent Park Ct, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3.5 baths, 4,414 sf | $960,000

8817 Woodland Meadows Ct, Annandale | 6 beds, 4 baths, 4,298 sf | $930,000

4316 Braeburn Dr, Fairfax | 5 beds, 3 baths, 2,839 sf | $925,000

There will be no Braddock Buzz this week. Our entire family came down with a stomach bug that put us out of commission.

We’ll be back next week with lots of exciting content, including a sneak peek inside Bunnyman Brewing, which is opening soon on Guinea Road.

Until then, you can always drop us a note at braddockbuzz@gmail.com

Cheers,

Leanne & Austin