Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

JUST IN: Temporary homeless shelter to open in Reston next week

Published July 23, 2024 at 3:30PM

The North County Human Services Building in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is moving ahead with plans to open a temporary overflow shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Reston.

After weeks of planning, the shelter is officially scheduled to open at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 29 in the North County Human Services Center (1850 Cameron Glen Drive), the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced today (Tuesday).

Around Town

Vienna shows off landscaping with new floral downtown tour

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2024 at 2:30PM

Flowers planted along Maple Avenue in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

If you’ve driven or taken a stroll down Vienna’s Maple Avenue this summer, you might’ve noticed more pops of color than in previous years.

The Town of Vienna wants to draw more attention to the vivid flowers lining its main downtown streets with a new, self-guided “Vienna in Bloom” streetscape tour. The town’s economic development and parks and recreation departments unveiled a map last Friday (July 19) showing the locations of dozens of different flowers and nearby local businesses.

News

Reston school food pantry hits milestone in fight against hunger

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated July 24, 2024 at 9:50AM

Organizers and volunteers for the South Lakes High School PTSA celebrate the distribution of 2 million pounds of food and toiletries since 2017 (photo by Amber Badgley)

The food pantry run by South Lakes High School’s PTSA has collected 2 million pounds of food and toiletries to help local students and their families.

The parents, staff and other volunteers who operate the pantry achieved the milestone during their most recent distribution event held last Thursday (July 18) at the Reston school (11400 South Lakes Drive).

Around Town

Creole restaurant closes, donut shop coming to Mosaic District

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2024 at 10:30AM

A box of donuts from The Salty Donut (courtesy The Salty Donut)

The Mosaic District’s food scene is getting a shake-up.

First, Kreole Seafood and Cocktails permanently closed after July 14, less than a year after introducing its Creole-meets-Asian concept. Then, the Florida donut bakery, The Salty Donut, announced yesterday (Monday) that it will open its first Virginia location in the Merrifield neighborhood.

News

Three people killed in fiery crash on West Ox Road

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 23, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated July 24, 2024 at 9:21AM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

Three people were killed in a single-vehicle crash on West Ox Road this morning (Tuesday), Fairfax County police say.

Officers were dispatched to the crash on southbound West Ox Road over Route 29 in the Legato area around 3:55 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

News

Police: Fairfax City man charged with firing gun into townhome

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2024 at 3:45PM | Updated July 22, 2024 at 4:04PM

Old Fairfax Mews on Whitehead Street in Fairfax City (via Google Maps)

A Fairfax City man has been charged with reckless use of a firearm after allegedly firing a gun inside his home last week.

The City of Fairfax Police Department says its officers responded to the 10000 block of Whitehead Street in the Old Fairfax Mews townhomes at 12:26 a.m. on July 15 after a resident reported that a gun was fired into their home.

Around Town

Two restaurants with Fairfax County locations win RAMMYS awards

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fava Pot in the Shops at West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

When the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) handed out its annual awards celebrating the D.C. region’s food industry last night (Sunday), the winners included two restaurants that can be found in Fairfax County.

Fava Pot, an Egyptian restaurant in West Falls Church, won an award for Favorite Fast Bites, while Colada Shop, a Caribbean spot with a location in Merrifield’s Mosaic District, was named the area’s Hottest Sandwich Shop at the 42nd Annual RAMMYS Awards Gala, which was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C.

Countywide

Rep. Connolly, Va. senators react to President Biden ending bid for reelection

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2024 at 10:30AM

The White House (via René DeAnda on Unsplash)

After weeks of speculation and reported angst within the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden announced yesterday (Sunday) that he will no longer seek a second term, instead endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his party’s nominee.

Reps. Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer, who represent parts of Fairfax County in the House, and Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner quickly expressed support for Biden’s “difficult decision” and joined him in backing Harris.

News

FCPD identifies victims in fatal Lorton, Great Falls pedestrian crashes

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 22, 2024 at 9:30AM

Eastbound Lorton Road at Timarand Drive (via Google Maps)

Alcohol and drugs may have played roles in separate vehicle crashes that killed two pedestrians in Fairfax County this past Saturday (July 20), police say.

Yesterday (Sunday), the Fairfax County Police Department identified Giomarie Davila-Ocasio, a 26-year-old Reston resident, as the woman who died after being hit by a driver in the Great Falls area of Route 7 (Leesburg Pike). The department also announced that a teen was arrested in connection with a fatal crash in Lorton.

News

Fatal pedestrian crash on Route 7 in Great Falls under investigation

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 20, 2024 at 10:45AM

Westbound Leesburg Pike (Route 7) at Downey Drive in Great Falls (via Google Maps)

A woman died this morning (Saturday) after being hit by a driver in the Great Falls area of Leesburg Pike (Route 7).

Emergency medical services and police were dispatched to Leesburg Pike at Downey Drive around 3:44 a.m. for a crash involving a pedestrian with an injury, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.