Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

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

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).

News

McLean Community Center reveals long slate of candidates for board election

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 25, 2024 at 1:30PM

McLean Community Center governing board candidates (left to right) Tarek Atia, Jonathan Broom, Mike Drabyk, Michael Monroe, Peggy Richardson, Doug Jeffery, Matt Colsia, Lisa Mariam and Ron Keesing (courtesy MCC)

More than a dozen candidates will vie for six seats — four held by adults, two by teens — on the McLean Community Center’s governing board this spring.

The community center announced on Friday (March 22) that 10 adults and five teens have qualified to run in this year’s board election, which has one more open seat than usual with current board member Ari Ghasemian resigning at the end of March.

Countywide

NEW: ArtsFairfax hires New York arts education leader as president and CEO

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 25, 2024 at 11:00AM

ArtsFairfax Board Chair Scott Cryer (left) with president and CEO Stuart Holt (photo courtesy PaperKite Photography LLC)

A longtime arts educator and administrator who has helped keep opera alive in cities as different as New York City and Nashville will soon bring that expertise to Fairfax County.

ArtsFairfax has hired Stuart Holt as its new president and CEO to replace Linda Sullivan, who retired on Feb. 29 after a 14-year tenure that saw the organization evolve from a council most known for producing the International Children’s Festival into a key advocate and source of funding for the county’s artistic community.