Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Compass Coffee advances in quest for West Falls Church drive-thru cafe

Published February 9, 2024 at 10:15AM

Compass Coffee will limit the travel aisle near Route 29 to one direction of traffic to accommodate its planned drive-thru cafe in West Falls Church (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Compass Coffee is still weeks, if not months, away from opening its first Fairfax County cafe, but it’s already being warmly welcomed — at least by local planning commissioners.

After a public hearing on Wednesday (Feb. 7), the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted in support of the D.C.-based coffee company’s application to convert a vacated BB&T bank at 7393 Lee Highway (Route 29) in West Falls Church into its second drive-thru restaurant.

Countywide

State Police to step up traffic enforcement on I-66 over Super Bowl weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 9, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated February 9, 2024 at 9:51AM

Westbound traffic I-66 by the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Virginia State Police will be quick to call foul on any drivers behaving poorly on I-66 before, during and after the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers’ big game this Sunday (Feb. 11).

With many sports fans planning visits to their local bar or stocking up on snacks and drinks for at-home Super Bowl parties, state troopers from the Fairfax and Culpepper divisions will have an increased presence in the 76-mile-long I-66 corridor throughout the weekend.

News

Four arrested in Georgia for Fairfax County home burglaries, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 8, 2024 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County police say several recent home burglaries have involved a woman who pretends to be delivering flowers (courtesy FCPD)

Police have arrested four people in connection with multiple home burglaries involving pretend flower deliveries in Fairfax County.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced on Jan. 10 that it was investigating five recent home burglaries linked by a woman who was seen on surveillance cameras pretending to deliver flowers. After determining that no one was inside, she alerted two men in a waiting vehicle who broke into the houses and stole cash, purses and other valuable items, police said.

News

Injured bald eagle set free at Burke Lake Park after rehabilitation

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 8, 2024 at 11:45AM | Updated February 8, 2024 at 3:54PM

An injured bald eagle recovered in Fairfax Station by Fairfax County police officers was recently rehabilitated by Wildlife Veterinary Care (courtesy FCPD)

(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) A local bald eagle stretched its wings for the first time in over a month when it got released at Burke Lake Park this past weekend.

The adult, male bird was found in Fairfax Station on Dec. 23 by Fairfax County Animal Protection Police officers, who were responding to a call for service. In addition to being “underweight,” the eagle had head injuries and “a deep laceration on a leg,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Around Town

Post-pregnancy retreat for new parents launches in Tysons hotel

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 8, 2024 at 11:00AM | Updated February 9, 2024 at 6:02PM

The postpartum retreat Sanu operatees in The Watermark Hotel in Tysons (courtesy Sanu)

(Updated at 6 p.m. on 2/9/2024) A former staffer for state Sen. Barbara Favola has ushered a new postpartum care center into the world.

Sanu Postnatal Retreat launched on Jan. 31 at The Watermark Hotel (1825 Capital One Drive South) in Tysons, offering stays ranging from three to seven or more nights to new parents in the post-hospital period of recovery from a pregnancy.

Countywide

Fairfax County board approves permanent regulations for outdoor dining

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 8, 2024 at 9:30AM

Silver Diner in Fair Lakes has a temporary outdoor dining area in its parking lot (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Restaurants in Fairfax County are officially free to set up temporary outdoor dining areas as they wish — provided they adhere to a handful of new regulations.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a zoning ordinance amendment on Tuesday (Feb. 6) to create a permanent outdoor dining program, codifying many of the more relaxed measures that the county adopted to help local eateries stay open during the pandemic.

Around Town

Disability-inclusive circus to soar again in Tysons this month

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2024 at 3:30PM

Omnium Circus is coming to Capital One Hall in Tysons, with a diverse cast including aerial silk artists Jen Bricker-Bauer and Dominik Bauer (courtesy Omnium)

A circus that accommodates both performers and audience members with disabilities will swing back into Tysons later this February for a new, one-day-only show.

Omnium Circus will launch its 2024 tour of the production “I’m Possible” at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) on Feb. 24. It will be the third visit to the Tysons performing arts venue for the nonprofit-run circus, which first stopped by in February 2022.

News

FCPD: Man arrested for sexual assault of woman at Lorton park

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2024 at 1:50PM

Fairfax County police car with lights on (file photo)

Fairfax County police recently arrested a D.C. man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at a park in Lorton on New Year’s Day.

Police believe Mohannad Yousef Abura, 39, may have posed as a ride-share driver when he picked up the woman in Dupont Circle after midnight on Jan. 1, according to a news release published today.

News

Road near Westfield High School shut down due to ‘significant’ gas leak

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2024 at 1:00PM | Updated February 7, 2024 at 1:31PM

A Fairfax County Fire and Rescue hazmat unit is on the scene of a gas leak on Willard Road in Chantilly (via FCFRD/Twitter)

(Updated at 1:30 p.m.) An 8-inch natural gas line was ruptured near Westfield High School this morning (Wednesday), forcing a closure of Willard Road in Chantilly.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responders, including a hazmat team, were dispatched to the 14800 block of Willard Road around 10:26 a.m. for a “hazardous material emergency,” according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

News

Vienna seeks faster timeline for developers to provide tree coverage

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 7, 2024 at 11:00AM

Trees line Park Street near the Church Street intersection in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Future developers in Vienna may have half as much time to cultivate tree shade on their properties.

The Virginia State Senate recently passed legislation that would enable Vienna to adopt 10-year tree canopy requirements in place of the current 20-year time frame, getting the town a step closer to accomplishing one of its top priorities for the past couple of years.