FCPS preparing for school-based vaccination clinics - Redistricting hearing set for Nov. 9 - “Best of Braddock” to return Dec. 8

Trick or Treat (pandemic style) - Suspect at large after shooting that disrupts Annandale High School football game

Oct 25, 2021

Welcome to Braddock Buzz, your source for news and information about the Braddock District of Fairfax County. Contact us at braddockbuzz@gmail.com

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!

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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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