Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

NEW: Former IRS agent indicted in double murders at Herndon house

Published September 16, 2024 at 5:45PM | Updated September 16, 2024 at 6:12PM

Herndon resident Brendan Banfield arrives at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center after being indicted for aggravated murder (courtesy FCPD)

A Herndon man has officially been charged with murder in connection to the 2023 deaths of his wife and another man at their home in the Frying Pan area.

Brendan Banfield, a former IRS criminal investigative agent, was indicted today (Monday) by a grand jury for his alleged involvement in the shooting and stabbing that killed Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, a 39-year-old Springfield man, the Fairfax County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced.

Countywide

Fairfax County bumps back tree-planting season due to warming climate

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 16, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated September 17, 2024 at 12:10AM

A tree seedling encased in wire (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Bad news for anyone who has already gotten roots in the ground: Fairfax County’s window for planting trees has shifted back following a record-hot summer.

Forest Conservation (FCON) staff in the county’s Department of Land Development Services (LDS) updated its policy this spring to designate Oct. 1 through May 31 as the recommended time frame for planting trees, pushing back the previous start date of Sept. 1 and extending it through the winter.

News

After tweaks, Idylwood water tank expansion clears hurdle

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 16, 2024 at 1:15PM

The proposed Poplar Heights water tank (via Fairfax Water)

Fairfax Water still intends to build a bigger water tank in Poplar Heights, but the new facility might be less visible than the Idylwood neighborhood’s residents feared.

After being challenged at a lengthy public hearing in July, the water authority revised its lighting, landscaping and construction plans enough to win the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support for the project last Wednesday (Sept. 11).

News

Traffic Alert: Tractor-trailer crash backs up I-495 North in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 16, 2024 at 10:30AM

Traffic congestion on I-495 North at Georgetown Pike after a tractor-trailer crash on Sept. 16, 2024 (via 511Virginia)

Rush-hour traffic slowed to a crawl on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean this morning (Monday), thanks to a truck crash.

All northbound lanes were shut down at Georgetown Pike around 7:30 a.m. due to a tractor-trailer crash, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. A video shared on Twitter showed the vehicle lying on its side across all lanes.

Around Town

Shrek takes center stage at next week’s fall Perchfest in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 13, 2024 at 2:30PM

Aerial view of The Perch at Capital One Center in Tysons (courtesy Capital One Center)

The star of Capital One Center’s next Perchfest will be a green ogre who speaks with a distinct Scottish brogue.

The Tysons development has teamed up with “Shrek the Musical” for the latest edition of its biannual festival, which will return to The Perch (1805 Capital One Drive) next Friday and Saturday (Sept. 20 and 21).

News

Mental health nonprofit celebrates Tysons move for 50th anniversary

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 13, 2024 at 11:45AM

The Women's Center leaders, Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert and Del. Holly Seibold cut a ribbon to celebrate the nonprofit's new office in Tysons (courtesy The Women's Center)

A Tysons-based mental health nonprofit recognized two milestones with one celebration earlier this week.

The Women’s Center held a ribbon-cutting and open house event on Tuesday (Sept. 10) to mark 50 years of serving in the D.C. area and formally unveil its new office at Courthouse Center (8230 Old Courthouse Road) in Tysons.

News

Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on Franconia Road

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 13, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated September 15, 2024 at 4:18PM

Eastbound Franconia Road at Elder Avenue in Springfield (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.

News

Kingstowne Towne Center owner seeks to drop retail from future housing

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 12, 2024 at 3:00PM | Updated September 13, 2024 at 12:08PM

Developer Halle Companies has proposed two residential buildings and a redesigned pedestrian plaza in Kingstowne Towne Center (via Ci Design/Fairfax County)

Two residential buildings planned for Kingstowne Towne Center might move forward without any retail.

The developer Halle Companies is seeking to remove a requirement that the 9-story buildings include non-residential uses on their ground floor, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on Monday (Sept. 9).

News

Tysons office center welcomes steakhouse, plans rooftop amenity

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 12, 2024 at 2:15PM

The entrance to 801 Chophouse in Tysons' Westpark Corporate Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new steakhouse has settled in at Westpark Corporate Center in Tysons.

The Midwestern chain 801 Chophouse quietly opened its first East Coast location on the ground floor of the office building at 8484 Westpark Drive in early August.

News

On 9/11 anniversary, McLean fire department gifted largest-ever donation

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 12, 2024 at 11:00AM

McLean Volunteer Fire Department President Patricia Moynihan accepts a check for a $75,000 donation from Bob Freda, manager of the Patricia A. Henriques Charitable Foundation (courtesy MVFD)

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) took a sizable step toward its goal of acquiring a new fire engine yesterday (Wednesday) after accepting the biggest single donation in its history.

An estate planning attorney and administrative volunteer for the department, Bob Freda, presented a check for $75,000 to MVFD President Patricia Moynihan on behalf of the Patricia A. Henriques Charitable Foundation.