A Franconia nonprofit needing more space and an unused church building seems like a match made in heaven, but plans to expand Koinonia Foundation have been stuck in development hell Koinonia Foundation has long since outgrown its current space at 6037 Franconia Road and emergency financial aid with counseling — all in an 1,100-square-foot space “We outgrew that space a long time ago,” said Judy Davis executive director of the Koinonia Foundation Davis said the demand for services has stayed elevated since the pandemic and inflation driving up the price of goods has only increased the need for financial assistance the price of a new location remained out of reach for the Koinonia Foundation “We thought with all the empty businesses a nearby Episcopal church merged with another congregation and space just down the road at 6107 Franconia Road became available Koinonia signed a lease with the Saint Martin de Porres Episcopal Church and started to move in “It was perfect for us,” she said but then we found out about the permits.” As the foundation started to work on the building they discovered that they were in a bit of a bureaucratic quagmire A few initial zoning permits led them down a rabbit hole learning about past proffers from the church and zoning restrictions that limited the building to use only for a church or a related facility Now, Davis said the Koinonia Foundation has been working through an extensive zoning checklist in hopes that the nonprofit can move into the location sometime in the next few months “Zoning is a slow process,” Davis said the rezoning application requests that the proffers be amended to also allow a “club or community center” at the former Olivet Episcopal Church site It will need to be approved by both the county planning commission and Board of Supervisors Davis said the organization is seeking not only approval to operate in the new location but also permits for three partitions and updates to the building’s electrical wiring Davis said the Koinonia Foundation hopes to have a larger space to serve those in need around Fairfax “We all need a helping hand,” Davis said “You don’t know when it will be you who needs help.” Photo via The Koinonia Foundation/Facebook We’re thrilled to welcome powerhouse singer-songwriter Chastity Brown to the stage with an opening set by talented country singer Sophia LaVigne and soak up the sounds of the Women of Summer & Song surrounded by stunning outdoor sculpture An event every week that begins at 7:00 pm on Wednesday We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information you should always call ahead to confirm dates To submit an event for consideration, consult our calendar policies and guidelines. Fairfax County Planning Commission members opted Wednesday (April 30) to defer for a week final action on a hotly debated plan to build affordable housing on the site where the Franconia Governmental Center now sits The delay came after more than 90 local residents testified over the course of 3.5 hours, most in opposition to the proposal for a 4-story 120-unit apartment building on the 3.26-acre site at 6121 Franconia Road Another 50 speakers had already testified before the commission when the public hearing on a potential amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan started on April 9 Delaying a vote until next Wednesday (May 7) will provide “an opportunity to respond to anything we heard tonight,” Franconia District Commissioner Christopher Landgraf said at the outset of the hearing No additional public testimony will be allowed at the May 7 meeting but written comments will be accepted until that date Landgraf said as the hearing wrapped up around 11 p.m The planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for a final decision Another advisory panel, the Franconia District Land Use Committee, earlier voted to oppose the affordable housing component, which appears to be the lone sticking point in the proposal to change the land uses allowed in the Franconia Triangle the study area consists of a 22.75-acre site bounded by Franconia Road It’s currently home to an array of residential All those testifying in opposition to the affordable housing project on April 30 did so by pre-recorded video many hitting on the same themes of traffic and school impacts the site’s proximity to five gas stations pedestrian safety and a lack of nearby services for the future residents “The site is inappropriate for residential use of any kind,” said Stephanie Oetjen who lives nearby and complained that the project is being rammed through despite significant neighborhood opposition “Our voices have been ignored,” Oetjen said There also were concerns raised about the area’s increasing urbanization “Stop stuffing people into this county like sardines,” Constance DeSouza said The affordable housing project comes from a coalition that includes Good Shepherd Housing SCG Development and the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority According to a rezoning application filed in March, the 120 units would be available to those earning 30% to 80% of the area median income, which was $154,700 for a four-person household Some units would be set aside for those working in the public safety “This housing will help the very workers we depend on,” said Therese Chaplin who testified via video in support of the proposal we seem to excel at adding market-rate housing but not so much affordable housing,” she said “One way to lower housing costs back to historic norms is to increase supply.” argued that the Franconia area “seems to be getting a disproportionate share” of affordable housing proposals “Why don’t you look at all of Fairfax County [for affordable housing],” David Almasi said — specifically suggesting the area in Tysons where developers are seeking an entertainment district with a casino John Nicholson asked for a six-month deferral of consideration, citing uncertainty about the Trump administration’s commitment to financially backing affordable housing “Risks are high for adverse changes,” Nicholson said “It’s better to go slow and do things right the first time.” Steven Palmer, director of public policy for the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND) suggested to the planning commission that fears of nearby residents could be alleviated with more communication “I’m available to anyone who has concerns,” he said “This neighborhood will be benefited [by the project] as will this county and this state.” The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized a land-use study of the Franconia Triangle in April 2023, partly in anticipation of the Franconia Governmental Center’s pending move to a parcel located between Silver Lake Road and Beulah Street That new governmental center compound will include the Kingstowne Regional Library Franconia District supervisor’s office With the exception of the apartment proposal opposition to other proposed land use changes on the broader Franconia Triangle parcel: Olivet Episcopal Church and the Franconia Volunteer Fire Station are also located in the study area though no land use changes are being sought for those sites the county’s plan for Franconia Triangle would allow: Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible Reverts to original layout including graphics and images The Fairfax County Park Authority is undertaking significant revitalization projects at Oakmont and Franconia Rec Centers to enhance pool air quality for swimmers and spectators These efforts align with the county’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its facilities work is underway to upgrade the pool dehumidification system Patrons should expect occasional construction traffic Crane operations are scheduled for April 3 A scheduled pool outage will begin at 7 p.m with normal operations resuming on April 3 These improvements will significantly enhance air quality creating a healthier and more comfortable environment for swimmers and spectators Similar upgrades at Spring Hill Rec Center in spring 2024 have already demonstrated positive results Phase I of the revitalization project will begin in mid-April and conclude by early May 2025 Crane operations will take place on April 14 and April 17 the child care area will be blocked off until mid-morning lower dance room and lower meeting room will be closed until mid-morning ventilation and air conditioning upgrades and pool ductwork renovations These upgrades will improve ventilation and temperature control ensuring a better experience for all users For a full list of available Rec Centers during construction, visit the Rec Center website For further details, contact the Public Information Office at parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov 703-324-7329 Website Accessibility Translate Download Mobile App ADA Accessibility FOIA Requests Website Administrator Fairfax County Public Schools Economic Development Authority Visit Fairfax Council of Governments Commonwealth of Virginia USA.gov An avalanche shortly after noon on Sunday swept an ice climber approximately 300 feet in Franconia Notch State Park was heading towards the Cannon Cliffs with a 36-year old female companion from Concord The companion called 911 and alerted first responders “Though the male suffered injuries they were able to slowly self-evacuate toward the trail,” Fish and Game officials said in a statement Volunteers from the Pemi Search and Rescue Team along with a conservation officer and members of the Cannon Mountain Ski Patrol made contact with the pair at approximately 1:45 p.m. and used a snowmobile to get them to safety and was driven to the hospital by his climbing partner after declining an ambulance According to the Mount Washington Avalanche Center a considerable risk for avalanches at elevations above 3,000 feet currently exists in the White Mountains Anyone venturing into taller peaks is encouraged to use extreme caution We rely on readers like you to support the local and international coverage on this website Your support makes this news available to everyone A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference The Virginia Department of Transportation could be bringing changes to S including possible bicycle/pedestrian improvements A Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions (STARS) study is set to complete next year and VDOT is collecting feedback on what roadway improvements should prioritize A release said the study assesses “potential safety transit and bicycle/pedestrian improvements along the two-and-a-half mile stretch of South Van Dorn Street (Route 613) between Telegraph Road (Route 611) and the Alexandria city limits.” The road is currently three lanes in each direction South Van Dorn Street traffic counts range from 14,000 to 37,000 vehicles a day South Van Dorn Street has a 35 mph posted speed limit between Telegraph Road and Franconia Road (Route 644); a 45 mph posted speed limit between Franconia Road and I-95/I-495 (Capital Beltway); and a 35 mph posted speed limit between I-95/I-495 and the Alexandria city limits A survey on corridor priorities will be available through March 14 The survey asks respondents to rank priorities like reducing congestion along with identifying trends in usage and accessibility issues “STARS studies do not set construction dates for any improvements but develop proposed improvements that localities can pursue for funding,” the release said Photo via Google Maps SPRINGFIELD – The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking feedback on a STARS (Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions) study assessing potential safety transit and bicycle/pedestrian improvements for a half mile of Franconia Road (Route 644) between Backlick Road and Commerce Street/Loisdale Road (Route 789) and for a half mile of Commerce Street between Amherst Avenue and Franconia Road Franconia Road average traffic counts range from 60,000 to 78,000 vehicles a day and Commerce Street average traffic counts range from 12,000 to 21,000 vehicles a day Franconia Road has a 40 mph posted speed limit between Backlick Road and Commerce Street/Loisdale Road while Commerce Street has a 35 mph posted speed limit between Amherst Avenue and Franconia Road The study is assessing existing traffic and safety conditions in the Franconia Road and Commerce Street corridors including several congestion issues along Franconia Road related to the I-95 interchange The study team sought public input regarding corridor priorities during the previous round of public involvement in June 2023 This feedback was used to help develop proposed improvement alternatives that are being evaluated and presented during this round of public involvement The study is expected to be complete this summer STARS studies do not set construction dates for any improvements but develop proposed improvements that localities can pursue for funding VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact VDOT Civil Rights at 703-259-1775 or TTY/TDD 711. View more information on translation services Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova Please note that this file is not ADA compliant Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Two hikers may be stuck with the SAR bill after a winter hike went wrong in the White Mountains New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Department is recommending that a pair of hikers should be responsible for the cost of their recent rescue on Franconia Ridge after they were deemed ill-prepared for the conditions On January 18 a Connecticut man and his friend were rescued in New Hampshire’s White Mountains after the weather took a turn began a trek along Franconia Ridge early in the morning The route was difficult for them to follow due to inclement weather stating that they believed themselves to be hypothermic and off trail Two New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation officers located the duo once a hiker is deemed negligent in a search and rescue incident the recommendation goes to New Hampshire’s Attorney General’s Office where a determination is made about the responsibility of the cost The cost of most search and rescue operations ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, leaning towards the latter number when airlifting is involved. New Hampshire’s Fish and Game search and rescue missions cost about $309,000 every year and the department’s budget is nearly half of that New Hampshire has been sending hikers bills since 2008 for rescues that they deemed “preventable” Zienkiewicz was new to winter hiking and thought he’d dressed appropriately for the conditions, but hadn’t expected such a late return to the trailhead. He told NHPR “If I see a fine or a bill or whatever you need to call it I’m happy to be able to pay that bill versus not paying it if things had gotten really bad and they couldn’t find us.” He added that he owed his life to the rescuers This isn’t the first time that New Hampshire officials have gone after hikers for the cost of their rescue. Most recently, two New England hikers pled guilty to reckless conduct on the same New Hampshire ridge Across the nation, hikers almost never have to pay for the cost of their rescue. New Hampshire is an outlier, although hikers are deemed responsible for the cost of their extraction in less than a tenth of rescue operations States like Utah and Oregon also have laws that allow them to stick hikers with the bill although this typically only happens in cases of negligence and recklessness One option for New Hampshire hikers who want to avoid rescue fees is to purchase a $25 Hike Safe Card which covers the cost of a rescue within a year of the card’s purchase The 30-mile thru-hike was the ideal trip for putting our backpacking and hiking candidates through the wringer A private preschool franchise will soon replace a longtime laser tag spot in Fairfax County’s Franconia neighborhood Franchisees of The Goddard School officially purchased the nearly 1.8-acre property at 5508 Franconia Road last week paving the way to make the school a reality “My wife and I currently own a Goddard School in Alexandria West and we had been looking to expand,” said one of the owners “We think there’s a lot of good demand for childcare in our Alexandria/Springfield area The forthcoming school will be able to accommodate nearly 180 students a step up from the 144 maximum at the owner’s other location in Alexandria and hopefully assist with growing demand in Northern Virginia “We are operating at full occupancy with a six to eight-month wait list at our current location,” the owner said “This location is far enough that it’s going to draw its own target audience.” Instead of new construction, The Goddard School will take over the 20,000-square-foot building already on the site that housed ShadowLand Adventures — an activities venue featuring laser tag and an arcade — since 2006 Shadowland’s website now lists the Franconia location as permanently closed The forthcoming school will keep the same footprint as the existing building though it will undergo extensive interior renovations in the coming months “The building is going to stay as is but we will be doing some major improvements,” the owner said “The building itself is in pretty rough shape currently so we’ll be bringing it up to our standards and doing a lot of improvements — a playground for the kids a lot of parking and a lot of windows.” In all, the school is expected to take up three-fourths of the building’s space. The other portion will house SafeSplash Swim School which offers group and private swim lessons for swimmers of all ages The SafeSplash location will be the brand’s second in Fairfax County joining a location in Chantilly’s Sully Place “It’s a very complimentary business,” the owner said “We are kind of serving the same kind of population the families with kids 6 years and under kids that are trying to get their kids into swim school by offering these options in the same facility it’s going to make it seamless and easier for the parents.” The school is “at the tail end” of getting its building permit approved After taking possession of the property at the end of March ownership estimates nine to 10 months of construction will be required before the school opens its doors in the first quarter of 2026 Franconia Development Partners is moving forward with its proposal to replace the Franconia Governmental Center with affordable housing The units will be made available to households that earn 30-80% of area median income and 25 of them will be set aside for police according to the proposed development plan Proposed amenities include a fitness center including a “large” private courtyard for residents and a publicly accessible urban park “The final design would be coordinated with adjacent development but the publicly accessible urban park would include walking paths for exercise and seating areas designed for individuals to come close and reflect with nature,” a statement of justification said The current Franconia Governmental Center will be vacated and demolished after operations relocate to a new facility on Beulah Road this summer The statement of justification noted that the developers are seeking to a review and approval “without imposing zoning and land use conditions” related to affordable housing This would keep the project from needing to return through the proffer process in case amendments or refinancing are required The FCRHA voted on Oct. 17, 2024 to authorize an interim agreement with Franconia Development Partners that gives them exclusive rights to develop the 3.26-acre government center site and allowed the authority and developers to begin more detailed negotiations on the project Typically, when the housing authority sponsors a project, it will acquire the property and give the developer a ground lease guaranteeing the residential units will remain “affordable” for around 99 years. The authority will also sometimes pay a portion of the rent for eligible units through the county’s Project Based Vouchers program The prospect of public financing for the project has been a point of contention for critics expressed concern that there weren’t enough measures in place to ensure the building lives up to its affordable housing aims The project has also attracted pushback from neighbors who say it isn’t appropriate for the site with concerns including the additional traffic on Franconia Road and its proximity to multiple gas stations A report showed the site is well served by the Fairfax Connector but other transportation changes — like changing the western curb cut to a right turn exit from the site — would help to limit the impact of the development on local roads The statement of justification “acknowledged” staff feedback that roadway improvements would be necessary to minimize traffic impact on the adjacent residential area The residential building will be a maximum of four stories It will also have a parking garage with 126 spaces In the application’s statement of justification land use attorneys representing the developers said the project “will transform the former Franconia Governmental Center site and provide much-needed housing.” In addition to the governmental center project, the amendment would open the door for a proposed townhouse development to replace office buildings on Beulah Street and an option for housing on the site at 6323 Grovedale Drive currently occupied by the child care center Franconia Kindercare The Fairfax County Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing on the plan amendment at its March 12 meeting but opted to postpone the discussion until April 9 A planned Board of Supervisors hearing on March 18 was By: 4:30 am on November 9 Development permits have been filed seeking the approval of a new residential project proposed for development at 107 Franconia Street in Bernal Heights The project proposal includes the development of a new three-story The project calls for the demolition of an existing single-factory single-family residence on the sit Winder Gibson Architects is responsible for the designs 107 Franconia Street Elevation via Winder Gibson Architects 107 Franconia Street Section via Winder Gibson Architects The project site spans an area of 2,220 square feet The project site is developed with a single-story The scope of work includes the development of a new three-story single-family residence with four bedrooms and 3.5 baths The building height will rise to 30 feet span a total built-up area of 3,390 square feet 107 Franconia Street Section 2 via Winder Gibson Architects The project also includes the construction of an attached one-bedroom Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) at the first level 107 Franconia Street View via Winder Gibson Architects The estimated construction timeline has not been revealed yet Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews ga('send', 'event', ‘Robert ‘Becker, 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/desktop-ad.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ADVERTISEMENT ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sfyimbyadnews.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); ga('send', 'event', 'SF YIMBY', 'Impression', 'https://sfyimby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sf-yimby-dot-com-graphic.jpg', { nonInteraction: true }); Follow on Instagram © COPYRIGHT New York YIMBY LLC the Family Skate and Dance Nights at Franconia Rec Center will feature a lively schedule Skaters of all ages will enjoy the festive themes tasty food and fun music of these skate nights hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority Join the fun and break out your quad skates inline skates or dancing shoes (bring your own skates/footwear) and take a spin around Franconia Rec Center’s gym floor Each skate night includes music from a guest DJ snacks and drinks available for purchase (Please note that outside food/drink is not permitted) spectators and chaperones) cost $10 and can be purchased in advance online family and best skating partners out for a groovy time Register for Family Skate Night Franconia Rec Center is located at 6601 Telegraph Road in Alexandria. Visit the Franconia Rec Center website for more information and to stay up to date on future skate nights and other events at the Rec Center Host your very own private skate night to celebrate birthdays anniversaries or other occasions at the Franconia Rec Center gym Inova has broken ground on its new Franconia-Springfield hospital promising to bring full-service inpatient care to the area by 2028 Marking the start of construction on the expansion of Inova’s HealthPlex campus, the groundbreaking at 6361 Walker Lane in Franconia was the first of two ceremonies that the health system held yesterday (Monday), along with one for the new Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark Stephen Jones said it’s a special milestone for the health system “Each of these sites plays a significant role in our integrated health system serving all the communities of Northern Virginia,” Jones told an audience of elected officials “I’m particularly excited that soon we’ll have inpatient care right here in Franconia Springfield on this site.” Rina Bansal said the new 110-bed hospital will bring essential inpatient services and specialize in orthopedic care “No longer will patients from the HealthPlex here and emergency room here have to be transferred to Inova Fairfax Medical Campus or to Inova Alexandria hospital except in rare circumstances,” Bansal said we are bringing comprehensive care to the heart of our community.” Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said that the new hospital reflects a strong community “When you think about great communities all over the world many times you think about how well established is their healthcare system how good are their emergency services,” McKay said and we have it in a full-service way for the people of the greater Franconia-Springfield area.” Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said he looks forward to observing construction progress from the window of his new office “This will be a transformative project improving not only the health and welfare of our residents but also providing a welcome shot in the arm for our local economy,” Lusk said More on the Franconia-Springfield Hospital from Inova’s project page: The initial phase of the Franconia-Springfield project will include a state-of-the-art inpatient facility with 110 beds spread across two patient towers An adjacent building will offer a variety of outpatient services The existing HealthPlex will be linked to the hospital through new internal road and walkway connections Patients will continue to have access to the HealthPlex emergency room and other clinical operations during construction Inova plans to relocate the existing ER from the HealthPlex to the new hospital in an expanded space Inova will then renovate the former ER space for other community healthcare services Parking will be provided through a combination of above- and below-grade structures as well as retention of a portion of the existing surface parking Inova’s proposal includes a series of improvements along Beulah Street and the internal streets to improve the flow of traffic to and through the property A push to redevelop the former Franconia Governmental Center site with affordable housing is still in its early stages but passions are already running high among local residents and housing advocates Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) commissioners got to hear both supportive and oppositional arguments at a public hearing last Thursday (Sept. 12), as they weigh whether to accept an interim agreement with the project’s developers A vote is expected at the authority’s next meeting on Oct potentially kickstarting a more extensive county review and planning process “The interim agreement will allow the land use process and negotiations to move forward,” a staff representative from the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) said at the beginning of the hearing designating it as a possible affordable housing site A request for proposals in 2022 led to a joint pitch from SCG Development Partners and the nonprofits NFP Affordable Housing Corp and Good Shepherd Housing for a four-story building with 120 units and 6,000 square feet of ground-floor community space including a room that Good Shepherd would use to provide social and tenant services The housing will be reserved for residents who earn between 50% and 80% of the area median income (AMI), which would currently be about $54,000 to $86,650 for a single person, according to calculations for the county’s workforce rental housing program raising questions about the validity of land use decisions made at that time The zoning code was re-adopted on May 9, 2023, and the Board of Supervisors ultimately approved the transfer again on May 21 of this year Residents question site’s suitability Though Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk delayed a vote on the land transfer in February to allow more time for public input some residents who spoke at last week’s FCRHA public hearing seemed to find the outreach by both the county and developers superficial so far One resident who described herself as a “proud supporter” of affordable housing said the proposed interim agreement needs a “structure” to ensure the developers engage with the community More than one person lamented that the FCRHA didn’t let people testify remotely even though the hearing was at the Fairfax County Government Center a half-hour drive from the Franconia Governmental Center site though there is a small Mediterranean Gourmet Market across the street There are, however, four gas stations in the immediate area urging the FCRHA to put the project on hold until the potential health impacts can be reviewed “I don’t think anyone wants anyone to live at this site if it’s not safe,” Joy Waller with the North Franconia Civic Association said “Soil contamination can be mitigated Air pollution from five gas stations can’t be mitigated.” a resident of the Valley View neighborhood says the county “blew it” by relocating the Franconia Governmental Center to Beulah Road 6.6-acre site’s proximity to the Festival at Manchester Lakes shopping center and the Franconia Metro station would’ve made it more suitable for affordable housing “Are we saying that our residents who need affordable housing they should take a bus to do their grocery shopping They could’ve been right around the corner everything that they’ve said about this is wrong.” Construction on the new governmental center began in spring 2023 and is expected to finish next summer The county decided to consolidate several Franconia facilities on one site to make services more accessible lowering operational costs and making it more consistent with the North County Governmental Center in Reston which hosts the Franconia Museum and police station as well as the governmental center this site can’t handle the needs the police department has in terms of parking and staff,” he told FFXnow in an interview on Monday (Sept Not all residents came out against the redevelopment One longtime North Franconia resident said she took a while to figure out how she felt but the “critical need” for affordable housing prevailed over any concerns about neighborhood impacts “Franconia District needs to do its share to provide affordable housing,” she said “…I want to ensure firefighters and first responders can afford to live here.” SCG broke ground this summer on Somos at McLean Metro presented at the FCRHA hearing but declined to comment for now Representatives from Provision Church which operates a mobile kitchen that serves people in Northern Virginia said affordable housing is “one of the most common challenges” facing their clients from a special education teacher who works near the Franconia Governmental Center but lives in a motel because he can’t afford rent to a recently hired sanitation worker still experiencing housing insecurity “We know these projects take time,” pastor Alyssa Densham said “These are people we in Fairfax continue to fail time and time again Their stories are stories that would fill a place like this housing project…We can do better for them.” Some speakers contended that the general need for affordable housing shouldn’t override concerns about a specific site’s appropriateness “The problem we’re having is housing advocates feel like any affordable housing anywhere especially when you compound the health issues that have been raised and they’re very serious health issues,” Snyder told FFXnow Lusk stressed to FFXnow that “health concerns and the safety of the residents [are] a priority for me.” If the interim agreement is approved by the FCRHA county staff’s review of the expected rezoning application will include an environmental analysis along with evaluations of the transportation There will also be additional community meetings and public hearings “I want to be clear on saying that we want to have an open and transparent process We want to hear feedback from the community as it relates to the project if it’s…going to be moving forward and we want to have collaboration with the community in deciding what we ultimately do with this site,” Lusk said “I understand that there are some who have divergent opinions about this and that’s understandable…but I think we’re going to listen to all the voices and going to make the best decisions based on all the feedback all the analysis and all the recommendations that we received for this project.” The New Hampshire Fish and Game said it is considering charging two hikers for their rescue in the White Mountains Saturday “My answer was whatever you guys have to do,” said Bart Zienkiewicz I'm happy to be able to pay that bill versus not paying it if things had gotten really bad and they couldn't find us.” Zienkiewicz had never before hiked in the winter when he and a friend embarked on a nine-mile hike along the Franconia Ridge early Saturday morning They reached the summit but couldn’t find their way down because blizzard-like conditions had obscured the trail realized they were unprepared when they strayed into the woods and couldn’t find their way They hadn’t packed dry clothes or socks and had only water and protein bars don't just think that everything's going to work out,” Zienkiewicz said from his home Sunday “There is a chance that we may have to not only stay a few hours Two Fish and Game conservation officers reached the pair around 4:30 p.m. and escorted them to the trail head. Neither had Fish and Game’s $25 Hike Safe card It also comes with recommendations for safe hiking Scotti could not be reached for comment Sunday Zienkiewicz said he was so grateful to Fish and Game that he’ll make a donation if he doesn’t get a bill “I have my life to thank for doing this,” he said Fish and Game is urging people to prepare for any weather conditions which can change quickly in the White Mountains (7News) — A single-car crash prompted road closures in Fairfax County Sunday morning according to the Fairfax County Police Department Officials said that Franconia Road was closed in both directions at Bush Hill Drive in Rose Hill after a car crashed into a pole A Massachusetts man is accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 93 through Franconia Notch Officials said troopers spotted the driver heading towards them in the high-speed lane and attempted to stop him identified as 62-year-old Ronald Lerned of Lowell later pulled over after nearly hitting another vehicle Officials said Lerned was arrested and charged with reckless conduct third offense DWI and disobeying a police officer Vogue will livestream the Met Gala starting at 6 p.m its YouTube channel and across its other digital platforms La La Anthony and Ego Nwodim will host the stream Emma Chamberlain will also do interviews on the carpet Marvel Studios' "Thunderbolts" opened with $76 million in domestic ticket sales kicking off the summer box office with a solid No 1 debut that fell shy of Marvel's more spectacular launches Sean "Diddy" Combs was one of hip-hop's most opportunistic entrepreneurs spinning his hitmaking talents into a broad business empire that included a record label deals with liquor companies and a key role in a reality TV show Cinco de Mayo festivities are taking place across the U.S tequila and colorful displays of Mexican culture — even if they're not always the most authentic An Alexandria man has been charged with a felony hit-and-run for a crash in Springfield that killed a pedestrian allegedly left the scene after striking Julio Cesar Pasassi with his vehicle while driving east on Franconia Road near Elder Avenue around 6 a.m the Fairfax County Police Department said in a press release on Friday (Dec An investigation indicated that Pasassi was walking on the sidewalk when Allison’s 2012 Volkswagen Jetta came off the road and hit him “Allison then fled the scene before officers arrived and Pasassi was declared deceased at the scene,” the FCPD said Detectives obtained a warrant charging Allison with a felony hit-and-run on Dec and he turned himself into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center last Thursday (Dec Allison was being held without bond at the county jail but he’s scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at 8:30 a.m today (Monday) in Fairfax County General District Court A preliminary hearing has been set for April 1 Allison has faced numerous driving and vehicle-related citations in the past including infractions from July 25 for failing to have a vehicle inspected and operating an unlicensed vehicle Those citations were dismissed at an adjudicatory hearing on Sept Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in Fairfax County have doubled this year compared to 2023 according to data released earlier this month by the community advocacy group Northern Virginia Families for Safe Streets Overall, 51 people have died in traffic crashes in the county this year, per preliminary Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data The FCPD also announced last week that it was charging a man with involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated after he crashed on Fairfax County Parkway on Nov Image via Google Maps Fairfax County police are investigating a hit-and-run crash on Franconia Road in Springfield that resulted in a pedestrian’s death Officers were dispatched to Franconia Road at Elder Avenue near Frontier Plaza around 6:10 a.m. after passersby reported seeing a vehicle that drove off the road, hitting a pole, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz A responding officer found an unresponsive man “lying down inside the bushes.” Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units soon confirmed that the man had died and police determined that he was a pedestrian “It looks like there was no ejection from the vehicle itself,” an officer said at 6:21 a.m A witness at the scene said they saw the possible driver “grab a license plate after the accident and run off towards 7-Eleven,” the officer said at 6:24 a.m Franconia Road was closed at Elder Avenue while Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives investigate which advised drivers to “use an alternate route.” In an update published on Saturday (Sept. 14), the FCPD identified the pedestrian as Julio Cesar Pasassi Detectives believe he was walking west on the Franconia Road sidewalk along the eastbound lanes when the driver of an eastbound 2012 Volkswagen Jetta “drove off the roadway and struck” him “The driver of the Volkswagen abandoned the vehicle at the scene and fled before police arrived,” the FCPD said “The investigation into the crash continues as detectives work to identify the driver of the Volkswagen.” The department is asking anyone with information to contact its Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543 or to send an anonymous tip through Crime Solvers Screenshot via Google Maps Helicopter rescue by New Hampshire Army National Guard of Patrick Bittman of Maine from Little Haystack mountain on Thursday A hiker who climbed Little Haystack on Franconia Ridge to watch the sunrise Thursday morning lost the trail and became trapped in deep snow left on Wednesday evening to climb the 4,760-foot mountain by himself but near the summit he “encountered deep blowing snow and decided to come back down,” according to New Hampshire Fish and Game He lost the trail and headed into the Dry Brook drainage area before calling for help around 8 a.m Bittman said his limbs were frozen and he “could no longer move through the deep snow.” Temperatures were in the 20s with winds blowing consistently above 30 mph With too much cloud cover for a helicopter rescue volunteers had to bushwack through the forest more than 1,000 feet from Falling Waters Trail through dense vegetation and heavy snow – “snowshoes were a must,” Fish and Game wrote in a release – to get to him given dry clothing and warm fluids and placed in a container known as a Bothy Bag clouds lifted enough for an Army National Guard helicopter He was taken to Littleton Regional Healthcare Despite the lack of snow and ice in many areas Fish and Game said the rescue emphasized that winter weather has arrived in the mountains and hikers should be prepared for extreme conditions you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users 2025 at 5:05 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Concord woman was able to assist the injured Montgomery Center VT man while awaiting rescue near Cannon Cliffs NH - New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified of two climbers requesting assistance after being involved in an avalanche Sunday The caller provided the location of Cannon Cliffs in Franconia State Park A man and a woman climber had planned to ice climb the Black Dike climbing route and began to hike in that morning at 8:00 a.m Once the hikers reached the base of the climbing route causing an avalanche according to Conservation Officers The man slid approximately 300 feet before coming to a stop and was partially buried The woman was uninjured and was able to call 911 she was able to locate her friend waving downslope she could hike down to the man and offer assistance out of the snow they were able to slowly self-evacuate toward the trail Members of the volunteer Pemi Search and Rescue Team were driven to the trail via snowmachine by a NH Conservation Officer and members of the Cannon Mountain Ski Patrol Initial contact with the climbers was made by the rescue team at approximately 1:45 PM The climbers were identified as Vincent Lapointe The climbers were given a ride by snowmobile back to the awaiting Littleton Ambulance Though Lapointe suffered an unknown injury he refused medical assistance and chose to be driven to the hospital by Friel For safe hiking tips and a list of essential gear Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to purchase a Hike Safe card at wildnh.com/safe The card helps support Fish and Game search and rescue activities Three Massachusetts hikers were rescued Sunday evening after encountering whiteout conditions and cold-related injuries on Franconia Ridge in the White Mountains. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department responded to an SOS alert received at 5:30 p.m to complete the Falling Waters/Bridle Path Loop as part of a training hike for Mount Washington the group struggled with deep snow and near-zero visibility above the treeline they decided to continue toward Mount Lafayette rather than turn back Rescuers tracked the group’s slow progress toward Mount Lafayette using GPS data conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team began ascending the Old Bridle Path before guiding them safely to the trailhead by 10:20 p.m The hikers expressed gratitude for the quick response that pulled rescuers away from their families on Super Bowl Sunday Tragni admitted they panicked when activating the SOS but knew help would take hours to arrive Officials noted that while the group was well-prepared with winter gear and a Hike Safe Card they lacked experience with above-treeline conditions Their planned Mount Washington hike is now postponed Winter hikers are reminded to carry essential gear, including maps, compasses, warm clothing, extra food and water, headlamps, and first aid kits. For more safety tips, visit hikeSafe.com The ski and snowboard site with intelligence The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) took a procedural step forward last week in the controversial effort to redevelop the Franconia Governmental Center for affordable housing Authority members voted nearly unanimously on Thursday (Oct. 17) to approve an interim agreement with a consortium that is seeking to redevelop the 3.26-acre parcel at 6121 Franconia Road the vote was essentially administrative in nature director of the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development “This is a very narrow action,” he told authority members It allows staff to begin negotiating with Franconia Development Partners — a partnership between SCG Development Partners and Good Shepherd Housing — on its proposal to build 120 apartments and ground-floor community space “This is a very long process in terms of negotiating the business deal,” Fleetwood said Most of the details had been discussed during an Oct a number of critics of the project turned up at the Fairfax County Government Center to again put their concerns on the record “This has been so underhanded,” Amy Duncan said voicing her opposition to the project moving forward Duncan said she and other residents of the area are supportive of affordable housing but only if it’s done right and with true community engagement “What I see here is very disturbing,” she said “There has not been a lot of transparency.” Elaine Anderegg called the proposal a “giant scam” that would benefit the developers but not the community while several speakers wanted language included in the motion that would limit the units to those who currently live or work in Fairfax County (Anderegg clarified in a message to FFXnow that she believes the “scam” is the use of Project Based Vouchers for development on county-owned land “These developers will get the land essentially for free for 99 years are subsidized through tax credits and low interest rate loans from the county for construction costs (tax payer dollars) and then receive full market price for the rental units through housing vouchers paid for by the tax payers,” she wrote “When they have paid nothing for the land and get subsidies to build the units they should not be charging the tax payers full market rate for the units “Fairfax County taxpayers should be taking care of those people first,” said Joy Wahler, representing the North Franconia Civic Association Several speakers also voiced concern that the project which developers have pitched as “workforce housing” for those earning between 50% and 80% of the area median income (AMI) Their comments resonated with Paul Zurawski the Springfield District representative on the 11-member housing authority who ultimately cast the lone vote against the agreement voiced concern that previous commitments made by county staff and political leaders might not be met “How do we ensure that what we have told the public is reflected in the final agreement?” he asked staff “We need to make clear that if we said it Fleetwood said feedback from FCRHA members “will inform the deal” that’s negotiated But that wasn’t good enough for Zurawski who said he planned to come up with specific language to direct staff in the negotiating process But he will need a majority on the authority to go along with him Supporters weighed in at a public hearing last month but didn’t make an appearance for last week’s vote the FCRHA commission only took in-person testimony and the meeting wasn’t livestreamed — another point of contention for the critics Knowing which way the vote was headed and having had their say a week before, commissioners who supported the measure also were silent during the brief staff presentation that preceded the vote The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors transferred the parcel to the FCRHA in May, a precursor to its use for affordable housing. The Franconia Governmental Center’s operations will move to a new site on Beulah Street where it’ll be co-located with the Franconia District Police Station Kingstowne Regional Library and other public facilities Construction on the new governmental center is underway and the move is expected to occur next year Hikers gather on the summit of Mount Lafayette one of three peaks along the Franconia Ridge Loop An estimated 40,000 hikers visit this trail annually An AMC Professional Trail Crew member moves a boulder into the work zone using a highline rigging system Highlines are used to move rocks long distances without damaging sensitive habitat A member of the Appalachian Mountain Club Professional Trail Crew positions a split boulder into place on a pad of crushed stone An AMC Professional Trail Crew member drills into a boulder off trail The QR code on signs along the Old Bridle Path for more information about the project and how you can support restoration efforts A view down the Franconia Ridge Trail from the summit of Mount Lafayette the Appalachian Mountain Club will be tackling an ambitious $1.3 million trail restoration project on sections of the iconic Franconia Ridge Loop The current work is focused on stabilizing and realigning the Falling Waters Upper Greenleaf and Old Bridle Path trails through 2026 Future maintenance is also planned for sections of the Franconia Ridge Trail in the delicate Alpine zone have deteriorated from factors such as erosion — especially from increasingly frequent rain events — and overuse requiring technical trade work on trails that will ensure sustainability for years to come “One of our main goals is to build the tread back up to the level where the sides of the trail are and create built-in drainage,” shared AMC Professional Trail Crew Lead Lou Kimball from a work site on the Old Bridle Path in early August Since an estimated 40,000 visitors recreate on this loop each year Kimball and crew must take into consideration what people want to hike making hiker psychology an important aspect to consider when redesigning trails “What we see is that some people go around structures that were built in the past,” Kimball shared “And there’s no point in building something that’s going to be subverted So if we can build something that people want to walk on and then provide them with no other option that is the pinnacle of what we’re trying to achieve.” people tend to walk off trail to avoid these obstacles which causes the trails to braid and further widen a framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors is for travelers to remain on the trail to prevent unnecessary damage to natural areas Kimball and crew were building a series of staircases with 6- to 8-inch rise steps a noticeable contrast to the massive 18-inch “power steps” that one might find throughout the Whites making it more desirable for a hiker to climb Kimball’s crew is also adding what they call gargoyles or rocks used as a kind of side fencing on the trail banks to ensure navigation is easier and to retain the soils alongside the trail This type of maintenance begins with preparing materials Kimball and crew were drilling and splitting large boulders in half trail crew members drilled holes along the rock before placing pieces known as feathers and wedges into the holes Workers hammered the wedge and feather combination into the holes forcing the rock to split in half and leaving a clean in order to build up the tread level in the trail crews will make massive amounts of what they refer to as crush Crush builds drainage into the trail system providing air spaces for water to move through and mitigating the effects of erosion Kimball shared that any new staircase is sitting on a bed of 80 to 120 cubic feet of crushed stone so we’re not always able to be swinging a double jack hammer and letting hikers come by,” Kimball said adding that often they will crush stone off site and carry it onto the trail in large canvas bags relocation work is underway on both the Old Bridle Path and Falling Waters portion of the loop Trails in the Whites were traditionally built along the fall line as opposed to inclines that move across the slope at more gradual grades Because this design often contributes to trail degradation trail crews today realign sections of trails to follow the half rule which stipulates that a sustainably graded trail would not exceed half the grade of the slope it’s traversing the trail going across it wouldn’t be greater than 10% been a cultural resistance to altering trail alignment since some prefer the challenge that the steep the AMC’s Director of Trails and Recreation Management the purpose of the work is not to make the hiking easier “This is about sustainability and resource protection Not every trail needs this degree of restoration but some do and we’re trying to identify them.” Trail building techniques have evolved majorly in the last 20 years requiring the expertise of skilled laborers as well as contractors with technical and specialized skills the AMC has partnered with several local organizations and private contractors including the Northwoods Conservation Corps Student Conservation Association — New Hampshire Corps in order to make sure the work gets completed by their projected date and “There’s a much more collaborative approach to trail work now “It’s a really cool time to be working on trails.” Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Would you like to receive our daily news? Signup today Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Conservation officers recovered the body of a hiker found dead early Saturday morning after a search of a trail in Franconia of Littleton was found near the Coppermine Trail by a steep iced-over slide at about 2,800 feet in elevation Fish and Game had received a call at about 6:30 p.m Conservation officers and volunteers from Pemi Valley Search and Rescue Team were called to assist with the 3.2-mile carryout to the road and the crew reached the trailhead with Huyler about 9 a.m. It was apparent Huyler had suffered a significant fall from icy terrain Officials said Huyler had gone to check conditions of a ski glade and had communicated his plans to his wife He was wearing micro-spikes and was well-equipped for the hike Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application passed away with love and peace in his heart RI to parents Anna (Pappastratis) and Charlie Mellekas and grew up surrounded by his loving extended Greek family and friends in Middletown Bill’s trademark blonde curls and blue eyes were well known throughout his close knit neighborhood where he was kind hearted and quite reserved Bill went on to attend the University of Rhode Island where he studied business and changed his major to education and hit his stride.  Bill left Rhode Island in 1982 and moved to New Hampshire to pursue his dream of being an educator He began teaching at Carolina Crapo School in Sugar Hill and moved to Franconia where he fulfilled his life purpose for over three decades as a second and third grade teacher at the Lafayette Regional School Bill was known as the “fun teacher” and beloved by all clever activities and his empowering teaching style kept students engaged and eager to attend school.  At the core of Bill’s values were his commitment to community service and civic engagement Bill’s heartfelt work as an educator was just one of the ways he connected with the community He also served the community as Justice of the Peace and Bail Commissioner in the Littleton area You could say he taught most of the community and married the rest of them - or set their bail He was also well known at Polly’s Pancake House as the host extraordinaire and was sometimes confused as the owner joke or story for all who walked through the door.  Bill loved the theater and had many memorable roles with the Upstage Players continuing on to serve as a volunteer at the Weathervane Theatre in Whitefield He was also an active participant in the Sugar Hill Community Church He served as a library trustee at the Abbie Greenleaf library in Franconia and he emceed many old home day parades in Franconia - and was honored to be the grand marshall this past summer.  Bill had an incredible passion for traveling and meeting new people Beginning with a trip to Russia with colleagues in 1995 as part of a teacher exchange: Project Harmony Bill shared his smile and gregarious nature through travels around the world Some of his favorite excursions were to Africa Bill made friends (and sometimes broke hearts) everywhere he went.  Bill’s amazing heart was open to and encompassed his entire community He enjoyed many intergenerational friendships - connecting with people in all walks of their lives He always had a kind word to share and left lasting impressions on everyone he came in contact with as witnessed in the outpouring of messages from so many during his final days His legacy of love and light will be carried on through his sisters Phyllis Mellekas and Rita Rosenberg Barber please consider a donation to one of Bill’s chosen local charities in his name: Littleton Historical Museum Copper Cannon Camp or Second Chance Cat Shelter All are invited to a celebration of Bill’s amazing life which will be held at the Toad Hill Farm in Franconia on what would have been his 70th birthday: July 26 This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors or does blue line now service greenbelt?” A mechanical issue with a ski lift at Cannon Mountain in Franconia prompted the evacuation of 64 skiers on Wednesday afternoon Cannon Mountain said “a bolt affixed to the power take-off (PTO) shaft failed on the Peabody Express Quad lift” around 10:13 a.m “While all chairlifts and equipment at Cannon undergo regular inspection and testing mechanical issues can occasionally occur,” the statement read Ski patrol and mountain operations personnel performed a rope evacuation a process that involves attaching skiers and snowboarders on the chair lift to a rope and slowly lowering them to the ground Cannon said staffers safely evacuated all 64 passengers by 12:23 p.m The incident comes just days after a chair lift at Attitash Mountain Resort in Bartlett fell off its cable and dropped 20 feet to the slope on Sunday afternoon A skier on that Attitash lift was sent to the hospital in North Conway Attitash is owned and operated by Vail Resorts Cannon Mountain is a state-run ski area in Franconia Notch State Park which boasts the state’s highest ski area summit but lift service is limited to the Mittersill a lift that starts in front of the Peabody main lodge That lift gives skiers access to the upper slopes of the mountain Cannon is offering all guests at the mountain Wednesday either a full refund or future credit Charlie Brown skates July 18 on a motorized model of the outdoor ice rink in Franconia that has been proposed by the Franconia Rink Project the director of the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ office of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development; Xochitl Torres Small the deputy secretary of agriculture; and Jennifer Opalinski Jennifer Opalinski and her family were ice skating at the Boston Common Frog Pond when she had had an epiphany on how to possibly address a winter-recreation issue in her hometown which is on Main Street near the town hall and the Abbie Greenleaf Library The rink is annually brought to life by flooding it with water and hoping that Mother Nature will follow up with the requisite freezing temperatures that freezing has not happened on a recurring formed the nonprofit Franconia Rink Project the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and the U.S Department of Agriculture Rural Development announced that the Franconia Rink Project had received a $475,000 grant to support the construction of “a year-round recreation facility for key activities like an outdoor refrigerated ice rink and pickleball and basketball courts.” “will diversify outdoor activity options attract tourists year-round to the town center and provide a recreational resource for the local community.” Opalinski said after the award announcement The next phases may include the installation of a roof over the rink and a solar array to power the venue As she said earlier in her remarks thanking the NBRC and USDA Rural Aid Opalinski stressed that the goal of the Franconia Rink Project is to create an amenity that offers multiple recreational opportunities and that comes at no cost to the town of Franconia Opalinski and her spouse own the Dutch Treat Restaurant in Franconia Village which is a short distance west of the existing/proposed rink which has been a staple of the area for 70 years and run by the Opalinski family for the last 50 was featured in an episode of the Restaurant Impossible reality-TV show in April 2023 “This dream” — to bring a refrigerated rink to life in Franconia — “started in 2017 at the Frog Pond on the Boston Common” when temperatures were in the 50s and the realization that outdoor skating was possible The current Franconia rink is 100% dependent on cold weather adding that last winter it was open for only 10 days of skating The Franconia Soaring Association’s under-construction headquarters was the scene July 18 of the announcements of grants by the Northern Border Regional Commission and the U.S Department of Agriculture Rural Development a federal-state partnership whose mission is to “catalyze community vitality and economic prosperity in Maine and Vermont through flexible funding and strategic support,” said the grant to the Franconia Rink Project and other grants totaling $1.9 million help make life in rural communities more attractive to residents and visitors echoed that point at the July 18 announcement event and praised President Joe Biden for knowing the grant recipients represent “something worth investing in.” She said she was “deeply proud” to be part of the award announcements adding that Biden is committed to supporting the work of the USDA and its partners Asked by a reporter about what might happen if Biden is not reelected and that a government-reduction initiative known as Project 2025 could potentially come into play under Donald Trump Torres Small replied that there have been “historic” levels of investment in USDA programs by Biden (Biden has since dropped out of contention for reelection with Vice Preside Kamala Harris the likely Democratic nominee for president.) Saunders agreed that Biden has supported USDA and its partners with “historic levels of funding,” but unlike Torres Small is limited in making political pronouncements he freely opined on what a second Trump administration might mean for the NBRC Saunders said “the last president proposed eliminating my agency,” but was stopped by push-back from lawmakers in the states served by NBRC After her nonprofit was named a NBRC/USDA Rural Development grant recipient said it was her group’s goal to present Franconia “not  burden but a joy” in the form of proposed ice rink which could come with a dedicated capital fund for its maintenance We look forward to skating with you.” makes remarks on July 18 in Franconia after the Northern Border Regional Commission and the U.S including for a proposed skating rink in Franconia the executive director of Catamount Film & Arts in St which also received a $475,000 grant on July 18 from NBRC/USDA Rural Development said his organization long ago had decided to do “place-based economics” by literally bringing the show to communities in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and the Upper Connecticut River Valley of New Hampshire He noted that one of Catamount’s portable stages is frequently used to support events in Littleton and that one was used at Franconia’s Old Home Day on July 13 Catamount’s two portable stages will be used at 72 events — all of them free to the public in Vermont and New Hampshire — that are expected to draw 50,000 spectators The NBRC/USDA Rural Development said Catamount will use its grant money to renovate and revitalize its property “to include roofing and energy efficiency improvements.” Other grants announced July 18 will go to the University of Maine System-Farmington which received $475,000 to expand its Outdoor Recreation Business Administration program; to the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board to “assess the availability of cell service and conduct an in-depth analysis of deployable technology in the Adirondacks; and to the Hudson Valley Community Foundation to develop a Mechatronics Education and Training lab The White House wants to eliminate federal support for public media Congress will vote soon on a proposal to slash millions from NHPR and NHPBS’ budgets New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald is implementing a hiring freeze and warning of potential layoffs across the judicial branch as the Legislature looks to make deep cuts to the budget urged new Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to expand the branch’s fleet of submarines ships and aircraft carriers to better compete with China New Hampshire Senate President Sharon Carson is calling for a financial and performance audit of the settlement fund for abuse victims at the state’s youth detention center private businesses and for-profit enterprises have been able to claim a tax deduction to help lower the cost of green building infrastructure projects But only recently have some public sector and tax-exempt organizations been granted access As NH looks to reshape its solid waste future Kelly Ayotte took the stage at Saint Anselm College’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics on Wednesday for the first time since her gubernatorial debate last fall now as governor and following the NH House’s revisions to her proposal for the state’s next two-year budget A former top official with New Hampshire’s environmental services agency has been appointed to run the Environmental Protection Agency’s New England office speakers expressed the need for Manchester residents to share their views with the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Steering Committee to focus on mixed-use neighborhoods Snow and Mountain Lifestyle news and entertainment Franconia, New Hampshire — If there’s one place that’s become synonymous with fall foliage in New Hampshire, it’s Artist’s Bluff at Franconia Notch State Park Located across the street from Cannon Mountain the relatively short hiking trail gives access to a panoramic view of Franconia Notch and Cannon Mountain Its convenience makes for scenes like this… The situation came to a head during Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day weekend when hikers reported cramped and dangerous conditions to reach the viewpoint. Users on AllTrails reported hazardous conditions due to it being swamped with tourists and many did not know proper hiking etiquette One user compared it to waiting in line for a ride at Disneyland Tamara Breau spoke with NBC Boston about what she witnessed while hiking the trail: A few hikers came down from the summit saying they were terrified by how packed it was.” WMUR spoke with Jace Wirth, the new General Manager of Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch State Park they’re considering paid parking during the fall and timed entry New Hampshire’s legislature would have to approve these major changes if you’re going to hike to Artist’s Bluff it’s probably best to go anytime except during fall foliage season New Hampshire has many great trails to explore during the fall and Artist’s Bluff is as stunning at other times of the year If you do want to check out Artist’s Bluff during the fall Image/Video Credits: WMUR, Franconia Notch State Park Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox. ian@unofficialnetworks.com Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ian Wood became passionate about the ski industry while learning to ski at Mt. Sunapee. In high school, he became a ski patroller at Proctor Ski Area. He travelled out...