Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Longtime Esposito’s Fairfax patrons launch fundraiser to help owner of now-shuttered restaurant

Published March 28, 2024 at 9:30AM

The Esposito's Fairfax is closing after 40 years in Fairfax City (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After years of enjoying the homey Italian cuisine served at Esposito’s Fairfax, Colleen Lester and her family decided the time had come to give back to the woman behind the restaurant.

So, when they learned that Esposito’s would close for good on March 10, ending a 42-year run in Fairfax City, Lester created an online fundraiser to support owner Maria Esposito. The campaign has now raised $4,100 out of a $20,000 goal, as of press time.

News

UPDATED: Man shot into West Springfield day care, hitting two employees, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2024 at 4:05PM | Updated March 28, 2024 at 4:26PM

West Springfield KinderCare (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 4:25 p.m. on 3/28/2024) Fairfax County police have arrested an Arlington man who allegedly shot two women, including his wife, at a day care center in West Springfield.

Officers were dispatched to the West Springfield KinderCare at 8518 Bauer Drive at around 2:14 p.m., according to the police scanner on Open MHz.

News

Virginia plans for signs to alert Maryland drivers to new I-495 toll lanes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2024 at 2:30PM

Signs for I-495 in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Maryland’s plans for the American Legion Bridge and its side of the Capital Beltway remain a big question mark, but its drivers at least will get a head’s up before they reach the toll lanes now under construction in McLean.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is working with its Maryland counterpart on an agreement that will enable the I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) builder to install signs related to the project on the northern side of the Potomac River.

Countywide

First wave of FCPD’s bad driving crackdown results in thousands of tickets

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2024 at 1:30PM

A Fairfax County police officer with a radar gun (via FCPD)

Fairfax County police officers issued almost 5,700 citations and warnings during the first phase of their year-long “Road Shark” safety campaign, the department announced this morning (Wednesday).

A collaboration with the Virginia State Police, the initiative aims to crack down on aggressive and unsafe driving by increasing patrols in high-crash areas and promoting education about traffic laws and responsible driving behavior.

Around Town

Burger 7 is out, Japanese restaurant will be in at Dunn Loring’s Avenir Place

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2024 at 10:15AM

Burger 7 has permanently closed in the Shops at Avenir Place in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

One restaurant has closed, but another will soon open in the Shops at Avenir Place near the Dunn Loring Metro station.

Burger 7 is no longer serving up patties and gyro wraps at 2670-A Avenir Place. The doors of the fast-casual eatery were fastened shut with a padlocked chain, and the interior looked partially deserted when FFXnow recently stopped by, though there was no sign announcing or explaining the closure.

Countywide

Report: Inova lands $10M donation to help expand Fairfax hospital

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 27, 2024 at 9:30AM

Inova Fairfax Medical Campus patient drop-off (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Inova Health Systems is working to boost the capacity of its emergency room in Merrifield with the help of a $10 million gift from the co-founder of an international IT consulting firm.

The nonprofit announced last Thursday (March 21) that it received the planned gift commitment from Apex Systems co-founder Win Sheridan. The money will go to Inova’s Greatest Needs fund, which is administered by its CEO to support “critical projects and initiatives.”

News

Federal research nonprofit opens lab for evaluating artificial intelligence at Tysons HQ

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2024 at 1:30PM

Elected officials and Mitre leaders cut a ribbon to celebrate the opening of Mitre's AI Discovery and Assurance Lab in Tysons (courtesy Office of Senator Mark Warner)

When you have concerns about an artificial intelligence-based technology, who are you going to call? For many federal government agencies, the answer is now the Mitre Corporation.

The not-for-profit research organization launched a new AI Assurance and Discovery Lab at its Tysons headquarters yesterday (Monday) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and Reps. Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer.

Countywide

Poll: What would you think of a Capitals and Wizards arena in Fairfax County?

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2024 at 11:45AM

A rendering of Monumental's proposed sports arena in Alexandria's Potomac Yard (courtesy JBG Smith)

State lawmakers punted consideration of a casino in Fairfax County to next year, but that hasn’t stopped some proponents from seeking to assist in the divisive plan to bring the Washington Wizards and Capitals to Northern Virginia, whose odds of a comeback win are looking slim.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, who represents Fairfax County’s Richmond Highway corridor, recently pitched the idea of bringing both a casino and the sports arena to Tysons to a representative of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the basketball and hockey teams, the Washington Post reported on Sunday (March 24).

News

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve to close for emergency wastewater pipe cleaning

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated March 29, 2024 at 3:28PM

Repairs are needed to clear pipes that carry wastewater from McLean through Scott's Run Nature Preserve and across the Potomac River (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:30 p.m. on 3/29/2024) Clogged-up pipes will force Scott’s Run Nature Preserve to close for more than a month, starting later this week.

Contractors will begin work on the “emergency project” to clear and repair wastewater pipes in the McLean park this Thursday (March 28), the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services recently announced.

News

FCPD: Man arrested for two ‘brutal’ sexual assaults in Annandale

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 25, 2024 at 3:00PM

NOVA Police Chief Jake Jacoby, Fairfax County Police Captain Dan Spital and Chief Kevin Davis announce the arrest of a suspect in two sexual assault cases in the Annandale area (via FCPD/Facebook)

A man who sexually assaulted two women in the Annandale area on consecutive days last week is now in custody, police say.

Kevin Lopez Altan, 24, of Annandale was arrested on Friday (March 22) after allegedly raping a business owner multiple times two days earlier and separately attacking a Northern Virginia Community College student the previous day, the Fairfax County Police Department announced this afternoon (Monday).