Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Reston air-conditioning service to restart, thanks to community donations

Published April 3, 2024 at 1:30PM

Homes by Lake Anne in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston’s central air-conditioning service is officially returning to keep hundreds of residents and businesses cool this summer.

RELAC Water Cooling announced on Sunday (March 31) that it has received enough community donations to be able to provide chilled water for air-conditioning to roughly 635 residential and commercial properties in the Lake Anne area.

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Route 7 widening in Pimmit Hills among local transportation projects up for regional funds

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 3, 2024 at 11:00AM

Traffic southbound on Leesburg Pike (Route 7) at Ramada Road in Idylwood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) is seeking public input on several projects vying for inclusion in its six-year funding program.

The biggest request by far comes from Fairfax County, which applied for $587.2 million to fund four major projects — more than the other eight localities participating in the fiscal year 2024-2029 Six-Year Program combined.

Around Town

Fairfax County’s poet laureate reveals free poetry events coming to local parks

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 3, 2024 at 9:30AM

Two "Poetry Beneath the Stars" writing workshops are planned at Turner Farm Park for 2024 after a strong turnout for last year's inaugural event (courtesy of ArtsFairfax)

National Poetry Month has arrived, bringing a new slate of free poetry readings and other events at Fairfax County parks.

For the final year of her tenure, Fairfax County Poet Laureate Danielle Badra has organized a second “Poetry in the Parks” initiative, inviting community members to experience linguistic and natural beauty at the same time.

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Driver charged with traffic violation for fatal Bailey’s Crossroads motorcycle crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 2, 2024 at 3:30PM

Westbound Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) at Glen Carlyn Drive (via Google Maps)

The driver involved in last month’s fatal motorcycle crash on Leesburg Pike (Route 7) has been charged with failing to yield on a left turn.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Monday) that its detectives had arrested the 35-year-old man from Bailey’s Crossroads and charged him with the traffic violation. He was released from custody after being served a summons.

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Cherry blossom festival to bloom at the Mosaic District this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 2, 2024 at 2:30PM

Art Blooms at Mosaic in 2022 (photo by Katie Dance)

The Mosaic District will celebrate an unusually long cherry blossom season this weekend with the return of its annual Art Blooms festival.

Organized in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the two-day event will bring artisan and farmers’ markets, live entertainment and family-friendly activities to the Merrifield neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (April 6-7).

Around Town

Compass Coffee opens doors of drive-thru cafe in West Falls Church

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 2, 2024 at 9:30AM

Compass Coffee is now open in West Falls Church (courtesy Compass Coffee)

Compass Coffee has opened in West Falls Church.

The regional coffee shop chain began now serving customers yesterday (Monday) at its newest location in the Shops at West Falls Church (7393 Lee Highway/Route 29). Visitors on that first day included Falls Church City Mayor Letti Hardy and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.

Around Town

Pizzeria, brew pub and Perchfest coming to Capital One Center this spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 1, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated April 2, 2024 at 9:37AM

Starr Hill Biergarten in The Perch at Capital One Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 4/2/2024) Fresh off this past Saturday’s Easter celebration, Capital One Center in Tysons is gearing up to launch two restaurants and a new edition of Perchfest later this spring.

Stellina Pizzeria and Starr Hill Brewpub are both expected to open in late April, though precise dates haven’t been established yet, according to Capital One Center.

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State police intervene in race on I-395, leading to chase and multi-vehicle crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 1, 2024 at 11:45AM

Southbound I-395 approaching the exit to Edsall Road in Springfield (via Google Maps)

Multiple people were taken to the hospital early yesterday morning (Sunday) after an attempted drag race on I-395 turned into a police pursuit, resulting in a crash.

According to the Virginia State Police, troopers responded to southbound I-395 around 12:16 a.m. in response to an alert that two drivers were trying to race each other along the interstate in the Springfield area.

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Proposed condos in office park fit vision for downtown McLean, planning commission says

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 1, 2024 at 10:15AM

A condominium building could replace some of the McLean Professional Park's offices (via MV&A/Fairfax County)

A proposal to replace some office buildings in McLean Professional Park with condominiums won a unanimous recommendation from the Fairfax County Planning Commission on March 20.

During the public hearing, Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder lauded property owner T&M McLean Venture’s partial redevelopment plan as “a great opportunity” that will further the county’s efforts to rejuvenate downtown McLean.

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Mother of motorcyclist killed in West Ox Road crash ‘saddened’ by $50 fine for driver

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 1, 2024 at 9:30AM

Andrew Dearing, a 27-year-old fitness manager at Gold's Gym in Reston, was killed in a vehicle crash on Oct. 25, 2022 (photo by Cason Kimura/Golds Gym)

When Andrea Brubaker entered the Fairfax County Courthouse on Feb. 27, she expected to see a trial with witnesses testifying and evidence presented against the driver who had crashed into her son, killing him, almost one-and-a-half years earlier.

Instead, she watched the driver leave the courtroom after a brief talk with a judge through his son, who translated, to pay a $50 fine for failing to yield on a left turn.