Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Nonprofit’s use of McLean senior center to make and distribute free meals approved

Published March 13, 2024 at 1:30PM

SevaTruck provides free meals at the Annandale Community Center in March 2023 (courtesy Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services)

SevaTruck Foundation has been granted permanent use of the Lewinsville Center’s kitchen for its food distribution operations.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a special exception on March 5 that will let the nonprofit continue making and providing free meals out of the senior center in McLean, which also houses adult day care and child care programs.

Countywide

Solar eclipse viewing glasses now available at Fairfax County Public Library branches

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2024 at 11:45AM

People at Reston Town Center witness the 2017 partial solar eclipse through viewing glasses (photo by Dave Emke)

Fairfax County Public Library is giving away free solar eclipse viewing glasses in anticipation of next month’s event, but to snag a pair, you’ll have to move fast.

Each branch will have “a very limited allotment” of a few hundred glasses at most, FCPL Board of Trustees chair Brian Engler confirmed. Though some branches received shipments early, the glasses were expected to be ready for distribution at all locations today (Wednesday), according to FCPL Director Jessica Hudson.

News

Funding for new tree plantings approved by Vienna Town Council

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2024 at 1:30PM

Entrance to the East Creek Trail in Vienna (via Google Maps)

The Town of Vienna will take a critical step this coming Arbor Day toward replenishing its tree canopy, thanks to the late councilmember Maud Robinson.

During its March 4 meeting, the current Vienna Town Council gave staff the go-ahead to spend $50,000 from the Robinson Trust on a planting project that will add 145 trees along local streets and the East Creek Trail.

News

Housing proposed to replace vacant office building in Westfields business park

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2024 at 12:15PM

The proposed plan to redevelop a vacant office building on Newbrook Drive in Chantilly as housing (via Fairfax County)

Another office building in the sprawling Westfields section of Chantilly is being targeted for redevelopment as housing.

Developer Network Realty Partners wants to replace a vacant office building at 14101 Newbrook Drive and some of the adjacent office building’s parking lot with 109 single-family townhouses and two multi-family condominium buildings, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on Friday (March 8).

News

Motorcyclist killed in Bailey’s Crossroads crash on Leesburg Pike

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2024 at 11:15AM

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

A 19-year-old man from Arlington died Sunday night (March 10) after reportedly crashing into a sedan while riding his motorcycle in Bailey’s Crossroads.

Officers responded to the intersection of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Glen Carlyn Drive at 11:10 p.m. on Sunday for a crash involving a 1996 Yamaha motorcycle and a 2000 Acura sedan, the Fairfax County Police Department said yesterday (Monday) in a news release.

News

Police charge West Falls Church man with assault, abduction after 7-hour barricade

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2024 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County police vehicle with lights (file photo)

A man who barricaded himself in his West Falls Church home on Sunday (March 10) is facing multiple criminal charges, including assault and abduction.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, a woman told officers that afternoon that she had been abducted and assaulted by a “known suspect” in the Mosby neighborhood.

Countywide

New federal budget funds Fairfax County homeless shelter, pedestrian projects

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2024 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County's existing Patrick Henry Family Shelter (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:35 p.m.) Congress has passed another short-term budget package, averting a partial shutdown of the federal government just hours before a midnight deadline.

In addition to funding the Justice Department, Housing and Urban Development, and other key agencies, the slate of bills passed 75-22 by the Senate on Friday (March 8) includes $12.7 billion in “pork” — money designated for local projects requested by lawmakers for their constituents.

Around Town

McLean Starbucks to close temporarily for renovation

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2024 at 2:30PM

Starbucks is planning an interior renovation of its shop at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean (courtesy Starbucks)

Starbucks is preparing to update its shop in McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center.

The coffee house at 6214 Old Dominion Drive will temporarily close for about a month during the interior renovation, which is slated to begin on next Monday, March 18. A sign posted to the door says that the last day of business before the closure will be this Saturday (March 16).

News

Resignation opens extra spot in McLean Community Center governing board race

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2024 at 11:00AM

McLean Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The deadline has arrived for candidates seeking a spot on the McLean Community Center’s governing board.

Nominating petitions must be filed by 5 p.m. today (Monday), according to MCC, which made the forms available at its main facility at 1234 Ingleside Avenue. Candidates need signatures from 10 residents of the McLean tax district (Dranesville Small District 1A) to be eligible for the ballot.

News

Three pedestrians killed in separate crashes in Fairfax County on Sunday

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated March 12, 2024 at 12:50PM

Westbound I-495 approaching the exit to Telegraph Road near Alexandria (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 12:50 p.m. on 3/12/2024) Fairfax County was the site of three different fatal pedestrian crashes yesterday (Sunday), two of them occurring just minutes apart in the same proximity on the Capital Beltway (I-495).

According to the Virginia State Police, troopers responded first at 3:39 a.m. to a crash on the westbound I-495 shoulder, east of the exit to Telegraph Road at the Alexandria border.