Press Releases

Today, Kalis Development Corporation’s Nicholas Kalis announced Mayer Smile Be Bright – leasing 1,781 square feet in its Williamsburg Shopping Center – will open January 2024. Mayer Smile Be Bright is located at 6500 Williamsburg Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22213. This dental practice will be headed by Dr. Kelly O. A. Mayer DDS. Mayer Smile Be Bright joins Seven Eleven, Deli Italiano, Commonwealth Restorations and many other tenants at this center.

Construction work was performed by YBM Construction Inc. headed by Ben Bashiri 301 370-4233.  Project Management was by Colin Chiarodo, MBA. The architects are Jayanan & Burney. Architectural & Interior Design. The landlord would like to thank Nora Eways Saa of Renaud Consulting who represented the landlord and Patty I. Brown, CCIM of Marathon Realty Group, Inc. who represented the tenant. Property owned by The Kalis Companies.

Artificial intelligence has rapidly expanded in both importance and scale over recent years, with concerns about its safe use and development even leading the White House to issue an executive order related to its ‘extraordinary potential for both promise and peril.’

In higher education specifically, supplemental grants have been fundamental to advancing research that focuses on artificial intelligence. This year, Marymount University was one of only 15 universities awarded with the National Institutes of Health’s AIM-AHEAD Program for AI Readiness (PAIR) grant, which will be implemented by Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging. A team of three Marymount faculty and staff members — Dr. Nathan Green, Dr. Patricia Heyn and Dr. Diane Murphy — were instrumental in earning this grant.

“Our excitement stems from the potential impact this grant will have in propelling our research and engagement efforts forward at Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging,” Dr. Heyn said. “This grant is not just a financial resource, but a catalyst that will enable us to expand our scientific innovation horizons and impact more lives positively.”

The AIM-AHEAD Program for AI Readiness seeks to leverage resources to jumpstart AI research for health equity, particularly within minority-serving institutions such as Marymount — the only four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in Virginia. It integrates artificial intelligence and health care for aging facilities across the U.S., particularly within underserved communities. Through the grant, Marymount will now be connected with critical AIM-AHEAD resources such as AI/health equity experts and grant-writing coaches to establish research labs that host cross-disciplinary teams for research projects and grant writing, as well as participate in a variety of sessions and training opportunities.

The Center for Optimal Aging was founded in 2021 as the first interdisciplinary research center at Marymount, dedicated to fulfilling a critical societal need by connecting and supporting aging-related service providers, community-based groups and professionals in identifying, implementing, evaluating and sustaining best practices to maximize the health and overall well-being of older adults. Since its founding, the Center has continued to gain momentum by receiving various grants, earning recognition from notable organizations and attending prominent conferences to showcase research.

“Receiving this grant is a monumental step for Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging and Marymount University as a whole,” Dr. Heyn added. “Our ultimate goal is to establish the Center as a leading authority in AI aging-related research and practices, contributing significantly to the well-being of older adults.”

December 7, 2023 (Alexandria, VA) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today announcing that he will seek reelection to a sixth term as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District:

“I am seeking reelection to Congress to carry forward our work on building a stronger and more equitable economy, to be the most powerful voice and vote against climate change that I can, and to fight for my Northern Virginia constituents. I will also do all I can in 2024 to help retake the majority in the House, elect Hakeem Jeffries Speaker, and prevent would-be dictator Donald Trump from getting anywhere near the White House ever again.

“There is so much work ahead of us, including delivering world class constituent services, passing new reforms to prevent gun violence, lowering costs for the American people, delivering guaranteed paid family and medical leave to every American worker, and much more. If elected to a sixth term I will strive to be the most effective advocate I can be for progress and positive results. I am humbled by the trust Northern Virginians have placed in me as their elected Representative since 2014, and it is my great honor to serve them.”

To learn more about Congressman Beyer’s record of leadership or to get involved in his campaign, visit FriendsOfDonBeyer.com.

The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), a nonprofit organization with a mission to address long term food insecurity in Arlington County and Northern Virginia, served a record number of 3,807 families in need of food assistance during their Thanksgiving “Chicken Week.” The week of November 13-18, 2023, AFAC gave out 3,579 whole chicken roasters in addition to their weekly grocery distribution to ease the burden of added financial costs on neighbors in need leading up to the holiday season.

While these numbers are an all-time high for AFAC, the milestone number did not come as a shock. Steadily increasing numbers have been the norm since the same time last year. In 2022, AFAC served 2,900 families during their distribution the week preceding Thanksgiving. The consistent rise of 50 to 100 new families coming to their doors every month underscores the persistent need for food assistance in Arlington County and the surrounding areas.

In the past, AFAC provided whole turkeys the week leading up to Thanksgiving. However, this year they made the switch to giving out whole chicken roasters. This decision allows the food bank to now allocate a significant amount of the extra funds that would’ve gone to purchasing turkeys on other essential food items as well as address the cultural needs of AFAC’s diverse client population.

Chief Executive Officer of AFAC, Charles Meng, expressed gratitude for the steadfast support from the community and emphasized the collective effort required to address the ongoing challenges of food insecurity. “The record breaking week and the steady increase in families seeking assistance emphasizes the critical need for ongoing local support,” Meng stated. “We are grateful for the generosity of our donors, volunteers, and partners who enable us to make a direct impact on the lives of those facing food insecurity in our community.”

AFAC remains dedicated to its mission of creating a community where all individuals have dignified access to nutritious food supply. For more information about AFAC and to learn how to contribute, please visit www.afac.org.

ABOUT AFAC: The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) is an independent, community-based non-profit food pantry that provides dignified access to nutritious supplemental groceries to neighbors in need. Over 3,300 families are coming to AFAC each week at 21 distribution sites throughout Arlington County, Alexandria, and Falls Church to access fresh and healthy supplemental groceries, freeing up tightly stretched funds for child and health care, rent, and other financial demands. For more information, visit www.afac.org and follow @afacfeeds on social media.

Today, Judge David Schell set the date for a five-day trial, commencing July 8, 2024 trial date in the case against the Arlington County Board seeking to invalidate Missing Middle Housing/Expanded Housing Options (EHO) zoning.

In his October 19 ruling, Judge Schell denied the County’s efforts to have the case dismissed, stating repeatedly that the plaintiffs – 10 Arlington homeowners – had alleged direct violations of Virginia law in the County’s process of adopting EHO zoning.

During the September hearing that led to that ruling, Arlington’s County Attorney argued that the judiciary should not question the County Board’s actions in adopting EHO zoning and that the lawsuit was “improper” and “a subversion of the democratic process.”

Arlingtonians for Upzoning Transparency (AFUT) wrote to the County Board asking it to disavow the County Attorney’s statement. Instead, Board Chair Christian Dorsey doubled down in a November 3 response to AFUT, stating that the Board’s EHO decision “is wholly within the purview of the local legislative body, which has the constitutional authority to make county-wide land use decisions, revisions, and repeals if necessary. It is our position that the Judiciary should not substitute its judgment for decision-making expressly reserved for the local legislative body.”

Judge Schell also ruled on October 19 that the plaintiffs’ rights will be affected by the ruling in this case and, therefore, have standing to sue the County. The Judge stated that when the plaintiffs’ property was rezoned from single-family to multi-family, “the nature of their ownership was changed.” He further stated that it “is difficult to understand how a property owner whose property has been rezoned would somehow not have standing” to challenge the rezoning.

Today, the County notified the Court that is will seek an interlocutory appeal of the Judge’s standing ruling and a January 11 hearing date was set. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Gifford Hampshire, indicated that he will oppose the County’s effort for an appeal at this stage of the litigation. If Judge Schell grants the County’s motion after the hearing, the County then would request that the Virginia Court of Appeals consider the standing issue. The Court of Appeals has discretion whether or not to accept the case on standing.

Dan Creedon, speaking for Neighbors for Neighborhoods Litigation Fund, LLC, stated today: “The County’s hubris in claiming that the courts don’t have a role in reviewing EHO zoning is astonishing.” He added, “But now that a trial date has been set, and maybe reality is setting in, the County is seeking an appeal that could delay the trial and add tremendous expense to the litigation.”

For more information: [email protected]

Arlington, VA – In honor of Veterans Day, more than 30 of Amazon’s operation sites around the U.S. and the company’s headquarters in King County, Washington, and Arlington County, Virginia will participate in Operation Green Light for Veterans from November 6 – 12. Amazon is proud to be an official partner of Operation Green Light for Veterans, which aims to raise awareness of the challenges that veterans and military families face, and the resources available to them at the county, state, and federal levels.

Amazon’s employee affinity group, Warriors at Amazon, includes current and former active military personnel, their families, and the Amazon employees who support them. This group provides members with a professional network, organizes community outreach programs, and assists veterans during their transition into civilian life within Amazon. Warriors at Amazon hosted a reception at HQ2 to celebrate and acknowledge Operation Green Light for Veterans. Attendees networked with Amazonians from the military community and heard remarks from John Quintas, Amazon’s Director of Military Affairs, Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, and representatives from the National Association of Counties.

By shining a green light this November, we will let veterans and military family members at Amazon and in our communities know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Additionally, the campaign will encourage counties to support veterans year-round by purchasing supplies from veteran-owned businesses in a dedicated Amazon Business storefront.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with the National Association of Counties and encourage organizations across the country to join us in support of our veterans,” said John Quintas, Director of Inclusive Communities at Amazon and retired Air Force General. “At Amazon, we value the unique skills and experience that the military community brings to our company. With more than 50,000 veterans and military spouses working with us around the globe, and a pledge to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by next year, we are committed to helping veterans transition into roles in the private sector.”

The National Association of Counties (NACo) and its affiliate, the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO) once again invite the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs to show support for veterans by participating in Operation Green Light for Veterans, lighting county buildings and landmarks in green.

Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) has received a $200,000 philanthropic gift from the congregation of Arlington Presbyterian Church (APC). The funding supports the ongoing rent relief needs of up to 30 households at Gilliam Place Apartments experiencing continued housing instability for a period of two years. This is APC’s second leadership gift of this size in 2023 for rent relief supporting APAH residents.

“Stewardship at Arlington Presbyterian Church isn’t about simply paying the congregation’s bills; it’s about human flourishing. Our faith mandates us to put the well-being of our neighbors at the center of all we do as a community,” said Rev. Ashley Goff, pastor at Arlington Presbyterian. APC’s gift will enable APAH to establish EASE (Encouraging Affordability and Stability for Everyone), which will stabilize housing and create paths for stronger financial futures.

EASE is based on the Arlington Community Foundation’s Shared Prosperity Initiative, which piloted private subsidies to lower rents temporarily. Households that participated in the program, some of which lived in APAH communities, benefitted from temporarily affordable rents to gain stability.

Recent data from Arlington County show that the percentage of rent-burdened households is around 38%. For most APAH families, whose average annual household income is just $37,000, the likelihood of being rent-burdened is high, even when living in an income-restricted apartment. Federal and state rental programs have ended, and some private funding sources have also been exhausted.

“With this incredible gift from APC, APAH is positioned to bring solace to participating households. Pastor Ashley and APC’s example inspires us. We hope this will inspire others to step up to help us keep more families housed and positioned to thrive and not just survive,” said APAH President and CEO Carmen Romero. EASE will start by enrolling ten households and will phase in additional families, allowing APAH to continuously improve based on lessons learned from the Shared Prosperity Initiative and in real-time.

Marquan Jackson, Vice President of Resident Services, shared, “The program will first provide respite to participating households as it relates to their rent, especially those who are paying more than 30% of their income.” Though residents will have the autonomy to utilize the relief funds for their family’s highest needs, participants will be encouraged to address future financial stability through workforce training or the creation of an emergency savings account. APC’s gift includes funds to match savings through APAH’s Individual Development Account program.

“The data shows these programs have real promise. How much better off would our communities be if those who could lean in made more opportunities like this come to life for families who need it most?” asked Romero.

“We care deeply about our Gilliam Place neighbors. Everyone at Gilliam Place has a right to dream about their lives, and we all need to show up with that belief. We are proud that with APAH, we can come alongside those dreams and generate real power for change. This financial gift is one way we live out this narrative, our faith, and our core values,” said Goff.

Community organizations, businesses, and individuals interested in supporting APAH’s mission and its residents can visit www.apah.org/get-involved/donate/ways-to-give/ or email [email protected].

According to the September 2023 Virginia Home Sales Report released by Virginia REALTORS®, there were 8,023 homes sold across the commonwealth last month. This is 2,149 fewer sales than last year, a drop of just over 21%.

This is the slowest September market Virginia has had in more than a decade. Interest rates continued to climb in September and the inventory became tighter, both of which subdued sales activity.

In total, were 18,188 active listings throughout Virginia at the end of September, 1,605 fewer than a year ago, an 8.1% decrease. However, while much of the commonwealth is seeing an inventory drop, there are markets experiencing growth.

“The sharpest reductions in listings continue to be in Northern Virginia, as well as some segments of the Richmond metro region,” says Virginia REALTORS® 2023 President Katrina M. Smith. “However, we are seeing growth in some places. Parts of western Virginia, including the Shenandoah Valley and New River Valley, have more listings on the market than a year ago. Because these are smaller markets, these increases don’t move the needle on the overall state number.”

Even with the slowdown in transactions, the market remains competitive as evidenced by climbing prices and the fact that sellers continue to get above asking price, on average. In addition, homes continue to sell quickly, as there are few options to choose from. The statewide median sales price in September was $380,000, climbing $15,000 from September of last year, just over a 4% increase. Home prices are climbing in most regions in Virginia despite the sharp slowdown.

“There have certainly been setbacks that are impacting the already mounting affordability challenges,” says Virginia REALTORS® Chief Economist Ryan Price. “Many potential buyers are currently in ‘wait it out mode,’ while others are being priced out of the market all together. One positive piece of news for those buyers is that while, on average, prices are still climbing, the rate of growth is slowing. This trend is likely to continue as buyers grapple with higher mortgage rates. This could soften price growth in some markets.”

The Virginia Home Sales Report is published by Virginia REALTORS®. Click here to view the full September 2023 Virginia Home Sales Report.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is once again the top spirit of choice among customers at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores, garnering $72 million in sales in fiscal year 2023. Tito’s was followed by Hennessy VS cognac ($44M), Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey ($30.1M), Patron Silver tequila ($28.6M) and Jim Beam straight bourbon whiskey ($24M). Tito’s sales grew by $5.1M compared to the prior year as it continues its six-year run as the top selling product in the commonwealth.

Best-selling products
Among the top 10 best-selling products, Jameson Irish whiskey rose to No. 6; Maker’s Mark straight bourbon remained at No. 7; while Crown Royal Canadian whiskey dropped to No. 8. Grey Goose vodka rose to No. 9. Lunazul Blanco tequila joined the top ten – rising from No. 20 to No. 10 – while Fireball whiskey fell to No. 14.

The biggest movers among the top-50 products were all tequila brands: Lunazul Reposado (up 127%), Lunazul Blanco (up 71%), Casamigos Blanco (up 67%), Teremana Reposado (up 57%) and Teremana Blanco (up 45%).

Among the top-50 products, Fireball represented the largest decline by percent (18.4%) and total sales (declining by $3.2M); followed by Crown Royal Regal Apple, which declined by 15.2% or $2.2M.

Best-selling categories
Virginia ABC’s best-selling categories remained relatively steady, led by vodka at 1.64 million cases sold. Tequila (885,876 cases) overtook straight bourbon whiskey (780,777 cases). Cordials/liqueurs (514,517 cases) and rum (470,292 cases) rounded out the top-five categories.

The tequila category showed strong growth, with an 18.4% increase in cases sold. Tequila grew from an 11.8% to 13.7% market share.

The fastest-growing categories* were moonshine at 25.6%; tequila at 18.4%; specialty (such as gift sets) at 14.8%; domestic ready-to-drink cocktails at 10.1% and straight rye whiskey at 9.8%. The biggest declines were seen in Cognacs/Armagnacs at 14.6%; and Canadian whiskey at 10%.

*Sloe gin grew 64% but is Virginia ABC’s smallest category, at only 141 cases sold.

Best-selling Virginia spirits

Virginia ABC is proud to offer nearly 300 Virginia-distilled spirits. Sales of Virginia-distilled spirits grew to $24.1M of sales, with more than one million bottles sold.

The top-sellers in this category were Bowman Brothers Virginia straight bourbon ($1.6M), Cirrus Vodka ($1.2M), John J. Bowman Virginia straight bourbon ($841,852), Isaac Bowman port finish whiskey ($623,848) and Virginia Highlands War Horn Whiskey ($446,898).

Top-performing stores
Virginia ABC added four stores in FY23 (among them Store 523 in Great Falls), bringing its total to 399.

The top-five stores by gallons sold were Store 256 in Virginia Beach (113,346); Store 219 in [Tysons] Fairfax County (103,139); Store 278 in Virginia Beach (97,326); Store 225 in Virginia Beach (94,302) and Store 280 in Chesapeake (92,432).