Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Fires at Annandale house, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve under investigation

Published March 19, 2025 at 2:15PM | Updated March 19, 2025 at 2:47PM

Firefighters work to extinguish a building fire in the 5600 block of Leesburg Pike in Bailey's Crossroads on March 13, 2025 (photo by Gerald Martineau)

The past week has been busy for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD), which is investigating the causes of incidents in Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads and McLean.

Most recently, firefighters were dispatched at 12:13 a.m. today (Wednesday) to the 6600 block of Locust Way in Annandale for a house fire. Upon arriving, crews found “heavy fire” throughout the single-family home.

News

UPDATED: Man taken into custody after barricade incident at CIA HQ in McLean

By Angela Woolsey and Jared Serre

Published March 19, 2025 at 11:30AM | Updated March 19, 2025 at 4:14PM

The CIA headquarters at Langley seen from the air (staff photo)

Police set up a barricade at the CIA headquarters in McLean this morning (Wednesday) in response to a possibly armed man who appears to have been experiencing a mental health crisis.

Fairfax County police were dispatched shortly before 10 a.m. to assist the CIA police. Responders described a man with a gun to his head on a bench outside the facility’s security gate, according to the police scanner.

Around Town

Citibank unveils new design at grand opening of Vienna branch

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 19, 2025 at 8:15AM | Updated March 19, 2025 at 10:05AM

Citibank in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Citibank has officially joined the assortment of financial institutions dotting the Town of Vienna.

After starting operations on Jan. 27, the New York-based bank celebrated the grand opening of its newest D.C.-area branch at 201 Maple Avenue East yesterday (Tuesday) morning. The event included a ribbon-cutting, remarks from local elected officials and snacks courtesy of neighbors Call Your Mother and Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee.

Around Town

Women’s Storytelling Festival returns to Fairfax City this week for a sixth year

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 18, 2025 at 3:45PM

Andrea Kamens from Boston performs at the 2024 Women's Storytelling Festival (courtesy Better Said Than Done)

More than a dozen female spoken-word artists, authors and performers from around the country will convene in Fairfax City this week for the 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival.

Now in its sixth year, the festival organized by local nonprofit Better Said Than Done serves as a showcase for the art of storytelling, which is defined as any performance of a story — a personal narrative or folk tale, for example — in front of a live audience.

Around Town

Chinese restaurant chain from New Jersey plans expansion to Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 18, 2025 at 11:15AM

Chef Tan will open in the former Zenola space at Danor Plaza in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A chain of Chinese restaurants specializing in Hunan cuisine could soon make the leap from the Garden State to Northern Virginia.

Chef Tan, which originated in New Jersey over a decade ago, has landed on Danor Plaza in Vienna for its first location in the D.C. area. The restaurant will take over the former Zenola space next to Norm’s Beer and Wine at 132 Branch Road SE.

Around Town

Lakeside Asia Cafe announces reopening date in Reston after extended closure

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 17, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated March 25, 2025 at 11:06AM

Lakeside Asia Cafe at South Lakes Village Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — Lakeside Asia Cafe didn’t reopen on March 18 as previously advertised. In an updated announcement on its website, the restaurant now says it will open its doors again on April 1.

Earlier: By this time tomorrow (Tuesday), Lakeside Asia Cafe should be back up and running.

News

Vienna proposes flat property tax rate, sets aside funds for aquatics facility in budget

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 17, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated March 17, 2025 at 10:11AM

Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna plans to stick with its current real estate tax rate, breaking from the hikes floated by many of its neighbors in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon and Fairfax City.

However, rising property values will still result in higher bills for most residents, while enabling the town to fund employee pay raises, an initial allocation toward a potential swimming pool and fitness center, and other priorities, according to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released on March 5 by Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton.

News

Great Falls man who ran laser tag businesses sentenced for tax and investment fraud

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 17, 2025 at 9:00AM

Stock and crypto market trends (via Maxim Hopman on Unsplash)

A Great Falls businessman has been ordered to serve prison time and pay restitution for stealing nearly $4.5 million from the IRS and his customers.

A federal judge sentenced Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, on Friday (March 14) to six years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and intentionally failing to report and pay taxes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

Countywide

N. Va. colleges offer free job training, arts tickets to recently laid-off federal workers

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 14, 2025 at 9:00AM

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Local colleges have joined the rush to support workers affected by the Trump administration’s broad purge of the federal government’s ranks.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the biggest public higher education institution in Virginia, launched a NOVA New Employment, Exploration and Transition program (NOVAnext) on Wednesday (March 12) that will give laid-off federal workers and contractors free access to select classes and employment workshops.

News

NEW: Herndon appoints new police chief, ousting leader who clashed with Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 14, 2025 at 8:15AM

New Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak (courtesy Town of Herndon)

Maggie DeBoard is officially out as head of the Herndon Police Department.

The Town of Herndon announced yesterday (Thursday) that Captain Steven T. Pihonak has been appointed as its new police chief, just over a month after DeBoard was placed on administrative leave for reasons the town declined to disclose. Pihonak was serving in the role on an acting basis since Feb. 12.