Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Police seek information on N. Va. cheerleading businessman charged with child porn

Published May 21, 2024 at 10:45AM

Jason Fragale, 38, of Leesburg and Kissimmee, Florida, faces 10 felony child porn charges (courtesy Florida Department of Law Enforcement)

Investigators have put out a call for additional information on a child pornography case involving a Leesburg man who ran a cheerleading business based in Reston.

The Virginia State Police says it has learned that, in addition to running The Crimson All-Star Cheerleading Club, Jason R. Fragale, 38, presented himself as a coach for USA Cheer and a “modeling” recruiter to young girls. During that period in late 2022 and spring 2023, he went by the alias “Jason Mariani.”

News

Men indicted in Marriott hotel and Burke Lake Park murder cases

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 20, 2024 at 3:45PM

The entrance to the Marriott hotel at 3111 Fairview Park Drive (via Google Maps)

Men arrested last fall in connection to two separate killings were both indicted on murder charges by grand juries today (Monday), the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney has announced.

Rami El-Sayed, a 34-year-old Vienna resident, per court records, faces a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing Cara Abbruscato, a 40-year-old Fairfax resident who was found dead in Burke Lake Park’s campgrounds on Sept. 30, 2023.

News

Tysons condo project survives grilling over developer’s workforce housing pledge

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 20, 2024 at 11:00AM

Developers Cityline Partners and Renaissance Centro have proposed a condominium building in place of offices for Block C2 of Arbor Row in Tysons (via Fairfax County)

Developer Cityline Partners got its plan to swap an office building for condominiums in Tysons’ Arbor Row neighborhood past the Fairfax County Planning Commission last week, but concerns about its affordable housing commitments remain a hurdle.

The commission voted 8-1 last Wednesday (May 15) to recommend approval of a 23-story, 240-unit residential high-rise at 7925 Westpark Drive. The lone “nay” came from Hunter Mill District Commissioner John Carter, while Mount Vernon District Commissioner Walter Clarke abstained after arriving late to the meeting.

News

Herndon to add road diet as safety measure for Sterling Road

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 20, 2024 at 10:15AM

Sterling Road at the Elden Street intersection (via Google Maps)

A road diet is coming to a portion of Sterling Road in Herndon, providing interim safety improvements while the town scours for funding to support a larger-scale overhaul.

Crews are slated to begin restriping the road between Herndon Parkway and Elden Street tomorrow (Tuesday), necessitating detours and lane closures, the town said in a newsletter sent Friday (May 17). The Herndon Police Department advises avoiding the area “until the road work has been completed.”

News

CNN pundit found dead in Belle View neighborhood

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 20, 2024 at 9:30AM

CNN commentator Alice Stewart was found dead in Belle View on Saturday, May 18 (via CNN)

Fairfax County police are investigating the death of a conservative political advisor and CNN commentator who was found in a ditch in the Belle Haven area Saturday (May 18) morning.

CNN announced that evening that Alice Stewart had died at 58 years old after what officers believe was a medical emergency. Her body had been found outdoors in the Belle View neighborhood, but “no foul play is suspected,” the news organization said.

Around Town

Nearing 1-year anniversary, Joon in Tysons unveils new bar and patio

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 17, 2024 at 2:30PM

May Bar, a new bar and lounge, shares space with the Persian restaurant Joon in Tysons (courtesy May Bar)

Joon has expanded its offerings in Tysons with the addition of a bar and patio.

Named after a poetic Farsi term for “wine,” May Bar began serving customers inside the Persian restaurant at 8045 Leesburg Pike yesterday (Thursday). The launch was timed for late spring to coincide with the opening of an outdoor patio that will host DJs on Friday nights going forward, Joon co-owner Reza Farahani told FFXnow.

Around Town

Tysons Corner Center to kick off summer with grand opening for new garden

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 17, 2024 at 10:30AM

The country band Delta Spur performs on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center for the mall's 2023 summer concert series (courtesy Tysons Corner Center)

Fresh produce, good dogs and live music are coming to the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center this summer.

The mall has announced an extensive lineup of events for the next few months, highlighted by the introduction of the Giving Garden, a 500-square-foot urban farm that was installed on the Plaza Wednesday night (May 15).

News

County board allows fewer parking spots at Reston Town Center expansion

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2024 at 2:30PM

The Reston Town Center expansion seen from the Dulles Access Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fewer parking spaces will be required in the expansion of Reston Town Center than previously anticipated.

During its May 7 meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed to vacate the parking reduction that it granted developer Boston Properties (BXP) when the project known as RTC Next was originally approved in 2018.

Around Town

Vienna, McLean restaurants among D.C. area’s best newcomers, WaPo says

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2024 at 9:30AM

Peter Chang opened at 6715 Lowell Avenue in McLean on Oct. 12, 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Two relative newcomers to Fairfax County’s dining scene have found favor with the Washington Post’s food critic.

Tom Sietsema, a critic for the newspaper since 2000, included The Maple Room in Vienna and Peter Chang in McLean on his round-up of the 26 best new restaurants in the D.C. area. The list was published yesterday (Wednesday) as part of a spring 2024 dining guide to celebrate “what’s new, but also what’s worth your time and money,” Sietsema wrote.

News

Annandale residents question county’s plan to remove Kendale Woods pickleball courts

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2024 at 3:30PM

Kendale Woods Park's racquetball courts are currently striped so they can be used by both tennis and pickleball players (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

News that the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) will eliminate the Kendale Woods Park pickleball courts came as a complete surprise to Sarah Wysocki.

An Annandale resident whose house backs up to the park, Wysocki says she and other neighbors first learned about the plan to renovate the courts in June from Annandale Today, which shared the FCPA’s announcement on May 3.