Press Releases

George Mason University announced today that its Arlington Campus will be renamed Mason Square as the new centerpiece of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor for multi-disciplinary talent and business development, as well as a civic and cultural destination.

Also being announced is Fuse at Mason Square, the name of the new technology-forward building that is the heart of Mason’s commitment to growing Northern Virginia’s next-generation workforce. A groundbreaking ceremony for Fuse at Mason Square will take place April 6.

“As the largest producer of computing graduates in Virginia, George Mason University is building a new model for education’s role in economic development,” said Dr. Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University. “Mason Square brings scholars, students, industry and the region together at a destination–unlike any other–that takes ideas and research to market faster, and drives policy and technology solutions forward for decades to come.”

Located just outside Washington, D.C., and next door to Mason’s renowned policy, business, and law schools, Fuse at Mason Square is a first-of-its-kind facility bringing together the public and private sectors in a collaborative alliance to solve grand challenges. Fuse will house faculty and students working with the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) and their partners, and graduate programs from Mason’s new School of Computing. Designed to support digital innovation, active learning, cutting-edge research, business entrepreneurs, and tech incubators alongside education and policymakers, the new space offers 345,000 square feet designed for the needs of the next generation of Northern Virginia’s technology workforce.

Developed in partnership with Mason Innovation Partners, led by Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate,  Fuse at Mason Square will be a LEED Platinum, smart, net-zero-ready building with Fitwel 2-star and RELi resiliency certifications. The site will also feature retail amenities and a public plaza for programming as well as a below-grade parking garage. Estimated completion for the building is  summer 2024.

“Fuse at Mason Square blends Mason’s best-in-class programs and the Institute for Digital Innovation with the expansion of connected industry partnerships and research endeavors on the Arlington Campus,” said Jamie Martin, Vice President at Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate. “Fuse will ignite Mason Square as a destination for tech talent development and industry-directed research and will become the center of digital innovation in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C. region.”

The new Mason Square, located in Arlington’s Virginia Square neighborhood, will support a multi-disciplinary ecosystem of expertise from engineering, computing, entrepreneurship and business, policy and law to enable rapid incubation and scale of new ideas and inventions. In addition to the new building, Mason Square includes the integrated capacities of the Antonin Scalia Law School, the Schar School of Policy and Government, the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, programs in Arts Management and the School of Business, Mason Enterprise, and Continuing and Professional Education, as well as state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities.

“We look forward to this new building and program, Fuse at Mason Square, attracting start-ups, investors and community organizations to Arlington in order to work alongside Mason innovators,” said Katie Cristol, Arlington County Board Chair. “This proximity will spark innovation and new partnerships, and the research, programs and talent that will thrive here will be a cutting-edge asset for the regional economy for decades to come.”

The Arlington expansion at Mason Square supports the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Tech Talent Investment Program (TTIP), a 20-year program designed to produce 25,000 additional graduates in computer science, computer engineering and software engineering.

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Representative of Northern Virginia and member of the Quiet Skies Caucus, today wrote to the heads of the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Aviation Administration seeking a halt to procedural changes for regional airplane flight patterns. Beyer’s letter noted that the because the changes were not preceded by an environmental review process and were implemented just before a major drop-off in flights caused by the pandemic, their impact on noise levels in the region is just starting to be felt in full for the first time now.

Beyer wrote:

“I write to request an update on the ‘Prohibited Area 56 National Security Project (Project),’ which changed approach and departure procedures at Washington National Airport (DCA) at the request of the United States Secret Service, in order to reduce incursions into restricted airspace by the White House, National Mall, and Naval Observatory. While I understand the national security implications of these procedural changes, I remain concerned about the concentration of airplane noise it has caused in Northern Virginia and the process by which the changes were undertaken.

“As of January 30, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began a new departure procedure and database waypoint for aircraft operating at DCA, in which the RNAV departures waypoint was moved from the middle of the Potomac River into Virginia. These changes were implemented without an environmental review and substantive community engagement, which are both crucial steps in the normal procedural change review process. In fact, the procedure in question had been previously proposed and rejected by the community because it concentrated air traffic over neighborhood and school in Maryland, Virginia, and DC.

“Additionally, since these changes were implemented just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative impact on air travel, the effects are just now being felt within the community. According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, there were about half as many passengers passing through DCA in 2020, as compared to 2021. As such, air traffic has picked up significantly in the past year and my constituents are now bearing the burden of the procedural changes through increased and concentrated aircraft noise over their neighborhoods.

“I urge the FAA, in consultation with the U.S. Secret Service, to halt these procedural changes until a proper environmental review process is completed and the concerns of affected communities are taken into consideration and look forward to receiving the update on the Project.”

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation to rename the post office in Arlington on George Mason Drive (currently designated “Arlington Post Office”) after local letter carrier Jesus Collazos. Collazos immigrated to Northern Virginia from Colombia in 1978 and worked for 25 years as a USPS postal carrier in Arlington. He died of COVID-19 early in the pandemic

“Jesus Collazos was a beloved figure who personified the American dream and gave back to the Arlington community he loved,” said Rep. Beyer. “It is extremely fitting that we would rename a postal facility in Arlington after this person who delivered mail there for 25 years until his retirement. His untimely death was a great loss to the region, but I hope this commemoration will bring a measure of solace to his family.”

During his tenure as a postal carrier, Jesus left a positive impact on his community, his colleagues, and most importantly, his family. While working one of his first postal routes, he fell in love with the neighborhood and eventually bought a home there. He was passionate about ensuring his children received an education and helped put his children through school. Both ultimately received their master’s degrees. Motivated by a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, Jesus retired in February 2019.

In early 2020 he was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma, an aggressive cancer. While being treated, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was intubated a week later, then suffered a stroke which put him in a coma. Jesus passed away on June 6, 2020, at the age of 67. The Collazos family immediately began to receive an outpouring of love via messages, calls, cards, and meals from countless family members and friends. An outdoor memorial service for Jesus was held June 26, 2020, which saw many community members, family, and friends came together to honor his memory. His USPS coworkers opened the ceremony with a mail truck parade – all of this as a testament to Jesus’ impact on his community.

On Monday, Marymount University announced to students, faculty and staff that the institution’s indoor mask requirement will no longer be in effect starting this Tuesday, March 1. This decision is based upon low COVID-19 metrics in Arlington County, Va., in addition to other University health and safety protocols such as COVID-19 vaccination and booster requirements. Members of the Marymount community who feel more comfortable wearing masks are encouraged to continue doing so.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance last week on the use of masks in indoor settings, stating that based on new metrics that take into account COVID-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new COVID-19 cases, more than 70 percent of U.S. citizens live in areas where masks are no longer recommended indoors. In Arlington County, Va., the COVID-19 transmission rate is considered to be “low” at this time, with a COVID-19 inpatient bed utilization rate of 5.2 percent and a community test positivity rate of 3.8 percent.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Marymount has followed recommendations from the CDC and the Arlington County Health Department to inform its own health and safety protocols in response to the virus. The decision to ease the University’s indoor mask requirement is in continuation with that decision-making process, and Marymount will continue to remain vigilant in monitoring trends and implementing best practices in order to keep the entire University community healthy and safe.

For the latest information on Marymount’s COVID-19 policies, including an active case count tracker, click here.

Beginning Tuesday, March 1, all 396 Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores will return to normal operating hours.

All stores will open by 10 a.m. every day, apart from some stores which regularly open later on Sundays. Store closing times, which were not part of the month-long adjustment, will remain the same. Closing times vary by store.

“With COVID-19 case numbers once again falling in Virginia, we are now able to return to our normal operating hours,” said Travis Hill, chief executive officer of Virginia ABC. “We truly appreciate our retail team’s dedication and flexibility throughout this pandemic, and we look forward to serving our customers with expanded hours soon.”

All ABC stores have been observing reduced hours since Jan. 24, opening daily at noon in response to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases making staffing difficult.

As an alternative to in-store shopping, customers can place orders online at www.abc.virginia.gov for curbside pickup or home delivery in nearly all areas of the commonwealth.

ABC continues to monitor information regarding COVID-19. Future decisions related to ABC store operations will be made based on the best information available to ABC and implemented on a case-by-case basis.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents the Northern Virginia suburbs of the nation’s capital, today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol:

“One year ago today insurrectionists launched a violent assault on the home of American democracy.

“The crowd that attacked the Capitol included white supremacists and violent rightwing paramilitary groups. They constructed a gallows, and called for the assassination of the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. Incited by the Big Lie of a lawless President bent on retaining power at any cost – a fact we know is true because the insurrectionists themselves repeatedly confirmed it – they hoped to halt the peaceful transfer of power and overturn the results of an American election. They failed.

“They failed because of the courageous actions of heroes in uniform, many of whom have not fully recovered from the significant injuries they suffered that day. Some of them lost their lives. Today we remember the pain and suffering inflicted on those who defended the Capitol, and their incredible heroism. We remember USCP Officers Brian Sicknick and Howie Liebengood and MPD Officers Jeffrey Smith, Kyle DeFreytag, and Gunther Hashida, and the anguish their families still feel.

“Donald Trump and his insurrectionists also failed because of our collective determination that democracy must prevail. Congress’ return to the House Chamber that night to finish the work of certifying the election results ensured that the will of the people would win the day. It was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history.

“But that night also foreshadowed what would follow. Radicalized Republicans took the floor to spread the lie that ‘Antifa’ or ‘leftists’ had staged a false flag attack, just hours after several of them helped incite the crowd that marched on the Capitol. Two thirds of House Republicans voted against certifying the election results, including their party leaders. They justified their votes with thinly disguised versions of the same Big Lie cherished by the insurrectionists.

“In the months that followed, many Republicans became bolder in spreading lies about what happened on January 6th, even as they opposed the creation of a bipartisan commission to establish the truth. Donald Trump’s malign influence spread in statehouses across the country, where legislators wrote laws empowering state officials to overturn the will of the voters. Voter suppression laws proliferated while Senate Republicans blocked action to protect Americans’ voter rights.

“Over the past year, the House has worked to right these wrongs. We created a Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack and establish the truth. We passed bills to ensure that Americans can vote, and that their votes determine who leads this country. It is vital that the Senate take the actions necessary to enact these reforms. Protecting our elections is vastly more important than arcane rules and procedural precedents. My Senate colleagues must remember the crucial lesson of January 6th: democracy must prevail.

“Finally, on this anniversary I send my best wishes, support, and love to the Capitol Hill community and the D.C. region. The aftershocks of trauma and heartbreak of January 6, 2021 are ever-present for many, and this will surely be a difficult day. Let us take care of each other, be unafraid to ask for help when we need it, and go forward together in the knowledge that none of us are alone.”

Beyer represented Officers Sicknick, Smith, and DeFreytag, and represents many other officers who responded to the Capitol on January 6th, including retired MPD Officer Michael Fanone.

On Monday, Marymount University administrators shared with its community members an enhanced COVID-19 vaccination policy that will require a booster shot for all students, faculty and staff who will be physically present on campus during the upcoming semester, a precautionary measure designed to ensure the best possible protection against the virus.

The institution is requiring proof of a booster shot by January 18, 2022, or within two weeks of booster eligibility. The Pfizer booster shot, which is recommended following initial shots of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson, will be available by appointment for all Marymount students and employees at the on-campus Student Health Center. Community members also have the option to receive the booster shot off campus in locations such as doctor’s offices, clinics and pharmacies.

Prior to the University returning to a fully in-person learning and living model for the Fall 2021 semester, it required COVID-19 vaccination for all community members and offered on-campus vaccine clinics to provide efficient access. This policy resulted in an eventual 98 percent vaccination rate across the institution – and over the course of the semester, only 40 positive COVID-19 cases were reported on campus overall.

“Our outstanding vaccination rate is a credit to all of our University members, who since the beginning have demonstrated a commitment to stopping the spread,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “Here at Marymount, we are well known for our core value of service to others. By receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot, you are protecting not just yourself but those around you as well from serious health complications. In the face of an ongoing, dangerous pandemic, what better way to demonstrate your servant’s heart?”

“Throughout the semester and going back to the beginning of the pandemic, we have prioritized the health and safety of our campus community above all else,” added Dr. Laura Finkelstein, Associate Vice President of Student Health and Well-Being and Title IX Coordinator at Marymount University. “This policy decision is in line with our goal of maintaining protection for our students, faculty and staff against COVID-19, and is a proactive step in keeping us ahead of potential disruptions from the Omicron variant.”

Marymount approved a very limited number of medical and religious exemptions to the vaccination policy during the fall semester, based on stringent standards. Those exemptions, and any approved for newly-admitted Spring students, will be upheld for the Spring 2022 semester, but no other exemptions will be granted at this time. Those who have received an exemption must be tested weekly for COVID-19 during the spring semester.

In addition to the booster requirement, Marymount is requiring students to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before they return to campus following the upcoming holiday break. During the Spring 2022 semester, the University is planning to once again coordinate a random COVID-19 testing program community-wide as well to limit the spread of the virus.

Arlington Community Foundation (ACF) launched its 2022 scholarship application today, providing Arlington high school students with an opportunity to compete for more than 70 scholarships worth over $525,000 in student aid. A single, common application gives students an easy way to apply for an award from more than 55 individual scholarship funds, each with their own unique criteria, ranging in size from $1,000 to $5,000. Several of the awards are renewable. Students must submit their application by January 31, 2022 to be considered.

Generous individuals, families, companies and organizations fund the scholarships, which have their own unique eligibility criteria, including scholarships for students of immigrant parents, students who participate in a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) program, and students entering STEM and healthcare programs, among several others.

Earlier this year, former scholarship recipients shared their stories, struggles, and words of inspiration for the new scholars. Enji Tuvshinzaya, who received an ACF scholarship from 2014 to 2018 while attending James Madison University, reflected, “When I received the scholarship, I cried. It meant an open door and new opportunities. It was special because I felt supported by my community.”

“Each and every student who completes high school should have a chance to continue their education, and we want to see as many of our local students apply for an award as possible to make that goal attainable,” said Jennifer Owens, Arlington Community Foundation president and CEO. “We are deeply grateful to our many donors and community partners who generously support the Foundation’s scholarships, as well as the dozens of volunteers who review the applications to help us make good decisions about these awards.”

Each scholarship award is made possible by the generosity of numerous individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who have established named scholarship funds or provided gifts to our Community Scholarship Fund. For information on how you can start a new scholarship fund or contribute to an existing scholarship fund to help deserving Arlington students attend college, please call 703-243-4785 or email [email protected].

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About Arlington Community Foundation: Arlington Community Foundation was established in 1991 to serve as a permanent community endowment built by the gifts and charitable legacies of individuals, families, and businesses for the betterment of Arlington County. As a grantmaker, convener, and sponsor of special initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the needs of Arlingtonians, and address the most critical issues of our time to ensure that our community provides opportunity for everyone. For more information on Arlington Community Foundation please visit our website at www.arlcf.org or call 703-243-4785.

Leading tech repair provider uBreakiFix® by Asurion has opened its newest location in Pentagon City at 1101 S. Joyce St., Suite B-12 on Pentagon Row. The store offers professional repair services for anything with a power button, from smartphones, tablets, and computers to game consoles, smart speakers, and drones–and everything in between.

While common repairs include cracked screens, battery issues, and water damage, uBreakiFix repair experts have fixed more than 13 million devices and can help with most tech mishaps, with most basic repairs completed in two hours or less.

“What I love most about uBreakiFix is its customer-friendly business model,” said Tristan Johnson, uBreakiFix District Manager. “Broken devices are more than just an inconvenience when so much of our work, education, and daily lives revolve around technology. We have an experienced team of professionals who are well-versed in customer service which allows us to provide a positive repair experience.”

The store’s expert repair technicians fix all types of electronics, regardless of make or model, and uBreakiFix is an authorized repair provider for some devices, including Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones. Customers can book a repair appointment online or stop by the store for walk-in service. uBreakiFix offers free, no-obligation diagnostics on all gadgets, as well as a low-price guarantee and 90-day warranty on all repairs.

uBreakiFix was founded in 2009 after Co-founder Justin Wetherill dropped and shattered his own smartphone, sparking the idea for a convenient, affordable repair option. Wetherill partnered with David Reiff and Eddie Trujillo to bring the concept to life, and it has since grown from a single storefront in Orlando, Florida, to more than 700 locations across the U.S. and Canada. uBreakiFix joined the Asurion family in 2019 and now operates as a subsidiary of the tech care company.

“We are excited to serve people in Pentagon City with fast and affordable tech repair,” said uBreakiFix CEO Dave Barbuto. “We all rely on our phones and laptops more than ever before, and at uBreakiFix our mission is bigger than repairing shattered screens and broken charge ports. We fix tech because people rely on tech to stay connected to things that are important to them. I look forward to serving this community through our new Pentagon City location.”

For more information, to view a service menu, or to book a repair appointment, visit ubreakifix.com/locations/pentagoncity. uBreakiFix Pentagon City is located at:

uBreakiFix Pentagon City
1101 S Joyce St Suite B-12, Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 721-6562

Real estate leader American Real Estate Partners (AREP) has completed an $11 million reinvention of 2000 15th St. N. (formerly known as Arlington Plaza) in Arlington, Virginia.  This reimagined business destination features a 16,000-square foot lushly landscaped outdoor plaza for work and gathering, the largest outdoor plaza of any office building in the R-B corridor, a bright new 5,300-square-foot conference center and tenant lounge, full-floor tenant availability, and unobstructed views of monuments in neighboring Washington, D.C.

“Virginia has once again been ranked by CNBC as the number one place for business and AREP is creating some of the most exciting places in Northern Virginia for business locations. The transformation of 2000 15th St. N. is emblematic of our commitment to deliver inspired experiences that go beyond the expected and environments where people and businesses prosper,” said Paul Schulman, Principal and Chief Operating Officer at AREP. “The renovated plaza, wired for connectivity, extends the office to the outdoors, offering all season, year-round use as a work and meeting space, and provides a spectacular backdrop to the indoor conference and amenity spaces, creating an urban oasis,” he said.

The former Arlington Plaza has been reinvented to amplify the holistic balance of nature in the workplace with the ability to excel in a collaborative, highly productive, and wellness-centered environment. A refreshed ceremonial lobby welcomes tenants and visitors. With its stunning array of mature elms and dogwoods with additional landscaping of lavender, Echinacea, and American Hollies, the outdoor plaza provides a calming and relaxed feel to this extension of the amenity space.

In addition to the abundant outdoor workspaces, 2000 15th Street North incorporates rigorous health and wellness features that include MERV 13 filters, electrostatic cleaning, and air purifiers in the elevator cabs.  AREP’s focus on enhanced health and safety protocols and standards at 2000 15th St. N. have helped it earn the UL Industries Verified Healthy Building Mark for Indoor Air (AREP is the first in the country to achieve this recognition portfolio-wide) and the International Well Building Institute’s WELL Health- Safety rating, also portfolio-wide.

“As the pandemic eases its grip and companies return to work, we are ready to welcome them back to elevated and dynamic places where they can feel comfortable, confident and inspired to work and be at their best,” Schulman said.

The 11-story, 195,128 square foot office tower, at one of the highest elevations in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood, offers light-filled spaces throughout, clear views of Washington’s monumental core from its upper floors and 14-foot ceilings on the elevated outdoor plaza level.

Steps from the Courthouse metro station, 2000 15th St. N. is easily accessible from Rt. 50, I-66 and a main Arlington thoroughfare of Wilson Boulevard and offers ample parking exceeding market norms.  Immediate road and transit access provides exceptional connections to downtown D.C., the Pentagon, and Amazon’s HQ2 at National Landing. Nearby amenities include 130 restaurants and retail destinations.

On Small Business Saturday 2021, November 27th, Arlington and Falls Church shoppers will get a chance to participate in a shopping “Passport” program to discover unique shops, find deals, keep their shopping dollars local and be eligible to win prizes.

Led by One More Page Books, the Passport enables shoppers who are looking to participate in the national #shoplocal effort to easily discover small businesses near them.

“We loved creating this program in 2019 and missed doing it again last year because of Covid,” said One More Page Books owner, Eileen McGervey. “Small Business Saturday is an important day every year to our business and to many others in Arlington and Falls Church. All of the stores and restaurants participating in the Passport program hope to see many familiar faces as well as new customers who get to discover our local businesses on the 27th.”

Customers can pick up the Passport at any of the participating businesses. Many of the businesses will also be running special deals on Nov. 27th. To be eligible to win one of three Grand Prize Baskets of goods and gift certificates, customers need to collect “stamps” from at least five of the participating businesses on Nov. 27th. Once completed, the Passports can be dropped off at One More Page Books, or they can be left at the last participating business customers visit that day. Winners of the baskets will be randomly drawn from all completed Passports on Sunday, Nov. 28th at 3pm at One More Page Books and notified via email.
More information about the Passport program, participating businesses and their Small Business Saturday deals and a Google Map of the participating stores can be found here: https://www.onemorepagebooks.com/small-business-saturday-2021-arlington-and-falls-church-shopping-passport

Businesses participating in the Arlington/Falls Church Small Business Saturday Passport Program:

• Ayers Variety & Hardware
• Bakeshop (Arlington and Falls Church)
• Botanologica
• Cafe Kindred
• Covet
• Dopplehopper 4 Kids
• One More Page Books & More
• Preservation Biscuit Company
• Rare Bird Coffee Roasters
• Stylish Patina
• TINT – A Modern Makerspace
• Two the Moon
• Urban Farmhouse

Small Business Saturday®, founded by American Express in 2010, is a day designated by the national Shop Small® movement to support small businesses around the country and encourage holiday shoppers to patronize local businesses during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Always celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday® takes place on November 27th this year.