Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

JUST IN: Teen charged with manslaughter for fatal Oakton crash

Published December 13, 2024 at 1:30PM

Northbound Hunter Mill Road at Lynnhaven Place in Oakton (via Google Maps)

A teenager is facing manslaughter and reckless driving charges in connection to a fatal crash that occurred outside Oakton Shopping Center last month.

According to police, the 17-year-old was driving a Toyota Camry north on Hunter Mill Road “at a high rate of speed” when he hit a 2001 Acura sedan turning left into the shopping center at Lynnhaven Place around 11:20 a.m. on Nov. 9.

News

Tysons makes more tax revenue for Fairfax County than it receives, study finds

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 13, 2024 at 9:00AM

The Tysons East skyline viewed from the Tysons Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons is an overall financial boon for Fairfax County, generating more tax revenue than it takes, a recent analysis commissioned by the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) found.

Presented on Nov. 21 as part of the TCA’s first Tysons Quarterly Market Report, the net fiscal impact analysis conducted by the consulting firm HR&A Advisors suggests that Tysons is generally living up to its reputation as the county’s “economic engine.”

Around Town

Reston hair salon to support South Lakes HS with fundraiser

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 13, 2024 at 8:15AM | Updated December 13, 2024 at 9:40AM

Great Clips at South Lakes Village Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

South Lakes High School’s parent-teacher-student association (PTSA) will get a holiday season boost from a local business for its food pantry and other activities.

Throughout the coming week, the Reston location of Great Clips will donate money to the PTSA for each paying customer it sees. The fundraiser is set to launch tomorrow (Saturday) and continue through Friday, Dec. 20.

Around Town

Downtown Herndon bookstore to close for good before Christmas

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 12, 2024 at 11:15AM | Updated December 12, 2024 at 12:06PM

The bookstore A Thousand Stories is located inside 750 Center Street, Herndon (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The full impact of Comstock’s decision to halt its plans for a mixed-use development in downtown Herndon is still solidifying, but at least one ripple effect of the project appears to be irreversible.

The independent bookstore A Thousand Stories announced earlier this month that Saturday, Dec. 21 will be its last day in business. In a push to clear its shelves, the store at 750 Center Street is offering extended hours and discounts of 20% to 40% off all items until it closes.

News

Design for Herndon Elementary School expansion wins key town approval

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 11, 2024 at 11:15AM

Herndon Elementary School renovation renderings (via Town of Herndon)

A plan to renovate and expand Herndon Elementary School got an enthusiastic vote of confidence from the town’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) last month.

At its meeting on Nov. 20, the Town of Herndon ARB unanimously approved Fairfax County Public Schools’ site design application for the project, which will update the existing building at 630 Dranesville Road and add another 25,000 square feet of space to better accommodate the growing student body.

News

Artwork could turn Dulles Toll Road bridge into Tysons gateway

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 11, 2024 at 9:45AM

Artist Vicki Scuri's proposed "Ripple" concept for the Tysons-Scotts Run Gateway (via Tysons Community Alliance)

The Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) wants to add a creative twist to what was originally planned as a straightforward refresh of a Dulles Toll Road bridge.

The nonprofit community improvement organization has been working with the artist Vicki Scuri on concepts for artwork that could transform the aging bridge over Route 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd) into gateway welcoming visitors entering Tysons from McLean.

News

Community college police chief charged in drunk-driving crash near Fairfax Corner

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 11, 2024 at 8:15AM

Prince George's Community College Police Chief Derek Myers (via FCPD)

The police chief for Prince George’s Community College in Maryland has been arrested after he allegedly crashed into another driver near the Reserve at Fairfax Corner Apartments while drunk earlier this month.

Derek Myers, a 55-year-old Burke resident, was driving east on Random Hills Road when he lost control of his Hyundai Elantra near Fairfax Hills Way around 7:30 p.m. last Friday, Dec. 6, the Fairfax County Police Department says, citing preliminary findings by detectives.

News

BREAKING: Comstock drops plan to redevelop downtown Herndon

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 10, 2024 at 9:45PM | Updated December 11, 2024 at 10:20AM

A sign showing the concept plan for Comstock's downtown Herndon redevelopment project (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Years of work to redevelop the core of downtown Herndon have officially fizzled out.

Developer Comstock informed town leaders last Friday (Dec. 6) that it will no longer move forward with a long-awaited project that promised apartments, retail, an arts center and a public parking garage, interim town manager Chris Martinez announced at the Herndon Town Council meeting tonight (Tuesday).

Countywide

Judge lets lawsuit challenging FCPS policies on gender identity proceed

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 10, 2024 at 1:15PM

A LGBTQ pride flag sticks in a woman's hair at a 2023 rally in support of transgender students outside Luther Jackson Middle School (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A right-wing group’s lawsuit challenging Fairfax County Public Schools policies designed to be inclusive of transgender and other gender non-conforming students will be allowed to move forward.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Brett A. Kassabian issued an order last Friday (Dec. 6) mostly overruling an attempt by the Fairfax County School Board to dismiss the civil suit, which argues that policies requiring students to be identified and treated based on their gender identity violate the rights of students who don’t want to follow those policies.

News

Great Falls Park will go cash-free for entry fees in 2025

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 10, 2024 at 9:00AM

An informational sign for Great Falls Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Great Falls Park has resolved to stop accepting cash as payment for its entry fees in the new year.

The National Park Service announced yesterday (Monday) that it will require visitors to the park at 9200 Old Dominion Drive to pay their entrance fees with a credit or debit card or by electronic means starting on Jan. 1, 2025.