Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Fairfax officials reject blame for collapse of Prince William’s Route 28 bypass project

Published February 24, 2025 at 1:15PM

Construction crews continue work along Route 28 on Monday, March 7, 2022 (photo by David Taube)

A number of factors reportedly brought Prince William County’s long-gestating plans for a Route 28 bypass to a halt, but top Fairfax County officials say they were surprised to find fingers pointed at them.

The Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted 5-3 on Feb. 4 to cancel the Route 28 Bypass Project, which aimed to relieve traffic congestion by extending Godwin Drive at Sudley Road in Manassas to Route 28 (Centreville Road) near Compton Road in Fairfax County’s Centreville area.

Around Town

Chef visit to Tysons Corner Center among upcoming Black History Month events

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2025 at 11:15AM

Nordstrom's Marketplace Cafe at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Customers who stop by Tysons Corner Center’s Nordstrom this weekend will get a chance to sample free food — and meet the chefs behind the culinary creations.

As part of a Black History Month collaboration, the department store’s Marketplace Cafe will host chefs David and Tonya Thomas, founders of the Baltimore-based catering company H3irloom Food Group, for a pop-up meet and greet on Sunday (Feb. 23) from 12:30-2:30 p.m.

News

Woman pleads guilty to defrauding Herndon farm cooperative

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 21, 2025 at 9:45AM

Dairy cows (via Daniel Quiceno M on Unsplash)

A Centreville woman could face up to two decades in prison for embezzling thousands of dollars from the Herndon-based farmers’ cooperative where she worked.

Paula Sue Leventhal, 64, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday (Feb. 19) to wire fraud after she redirected $550,000 from the cooperative to her personal bank accounts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

News

FCPD: Student arrested after allegedly bringing gun to Edison HS

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2025 at 6:10PM | Updated February 21, 2025 at 9:13PM

Thomas A. Edison High School along Franconia Road (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

An Edison High School student was arrested this morning (Thursday) for allegedly bringing a gun to the Rose Hill school.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, a student alerted the school resource officer (SRO) assigned to Edison “about a possible firearm on school property.”

News

Fairfax County seeks land rights for new Tysons West sewer line

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 20, 2025 at 11:15AM

A map of Fairfax County's planned Tysons West wastewater enhancements, with the force main in blue and the gravity sewer in green (via DPWES)

Fairfax County is making headway in its push for the land rights needed to allow construction of a new sewer line in western Tysons.

In the past month, county staff have secured deals for five additional properties west of Route 7 (Leesburg Pike), Tajera DeSena, a senior right of way agent for the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES), told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Feb. 18).

Around Town

Award-winning Vienna restaurant and more coming to Reston Town Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 19, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated February 25, 2025 at 11:07AM

A sign lists upcoming restaurants and retail stores at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Several new restaurants and retail stores are in the works at Reston Town Center, including a few that haven’t been previously confirmed.

Six new retail leases were announced today (Wednesday) by property owner, manager and developer BXP, which touted the signings as a mix of local and national businesses that will “continue to enhance Reston Town Center’s ability to offer something for everyone.”

News

Reston Association board election draws sparse field of candidates

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 19, 2025 at 11:45AM | Updated February 19, 2025 at 12:13PM

Reston Association's headquarters building (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The upcoming election for Reston Association’s board of directors will be a quiet one.

Only two candidates applied and were certified by the association’s elections committee to appear on the ballot, each vying for a different seat. A third open seat representing the Lake Anne and Tall Oaks District didn’t receive any candidate applications, so current director Irwin Flashman will continue serving, according to an RA spokesperson.

News

Former Wolf Trap Hotel developer hopeful construction could begin this year

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 19, 2025 at 9:45AM

A portion of the fence around the future 444 Maple Avenue development site is sagging (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The corner of Maple Avenue and Nutley Street where the Vienna Wolf Trap Hotel and Tequila Grande continues to lie fallow, but the developer hoping to revitalize the site is at least working to make it more presentable.

Hekemian & Company and its civil engineering firm Walter L. Phillips got the Vienna Board of Architectural Review’s (BAR) approval on Jan. 16 to maintain a chain-link fence around the 2.8-acre property at 444 Maple Avenue West through the end of this year.

Countywide

Fairfax County board urges Gov. Youngkin to support federal workers amid ‘reckless’ cuts

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 19, 2025 at 9:00AM

Gov. Glenn Youngkin discusses concerns about sweeping federal workforce cuts at a Feb. 18, 2025 press conference (via Governor of Virginia/Facebook)

A majority of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors criticized Gov. Glenn Youngkin yesterday (Tuesday) for backing the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the federal workforce, warning that the sweeping cuts could undermine the economy of Fairfax County and, by extension, Virginia.

Led by Chairman Jeff McKay, the mostly Democratic board suggested that Youngkin, a Republican, could support President Donald Trump’s goals or the people in Virginia he was elected to represent, including thousands of federal workers and contractors, but not both.

Around Town

Ramen shop eyes summer opening at Arrowbrook Centre in Herndon

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 18, 2025 at 1:15PM

Kyuramen is introducing a new interior design to its restaurants, including the one under construction at Arrowbrook Centre in Herndon (courtesy Kyuramen)

A restaurant that showcases different varieties of ramen is heading to the Herndon area.

Kyuramen has begun construction at Arrowbrook Centre and anticipates opening in August of this year, a spokesperson told FFXnow.