Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Man who stabbed woman in Seven Corners, set body on fire convicted of murder

Published October 6, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated October 6, 2023 at 11:36AM

Police are conducting a homicide investigation at The Villages at Falls Church (photo by Ed O'Carroll)

(Updated at 11:35 a.m.) An Arlington man could be sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing a woman and setting her body on fire in a Seven Corners condominium last year.

A Fairfax County Circuit Court jury has convicted 48-year-old Richard Montano of first-degree murder and arson for killing Silvia Vaca Abacay, whose body he subsequently attempted to burn, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced yesterday (Thursday).

Countywide

Emerging disease is killing young plants in Virginia, county warns

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 5, 2023 at 3:40PM

A redbud with scorched and yellowing leaves, signs of the disease vascular streak dieback (photo by Nicole Kopas/VDACS, courtesy DPWES)

Any Fairfax County residents who recently bought a budding tree or shrub may want to keep an eye on its leaves.

A relatively new disease called vascular streak dieback is killing plants from nurseries in Virginia and five other states, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services’ (DPWES) Urban Forest Management Division says.

News

Newly completed high-rise will bring retail, outdoor plaza to Scotts Run in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 5, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated October 9, 2023 at 12:10PM

Construction is complete on Heming, a 28-story, mixed-use apartment building in Scotts Run (courtesy Skanska)

(Updated at 12:10 p.m. on 10/9/2023) A central piece of the Scotts Run development near the McLean Metro station is now in place.

Distinguished by a tall, glass-box front, the 28-story Heming has wrapped up construction after more than three years, bringing 410 new apartments and 38,000 square feet of retail space to 1800 Chain Bridge Road in Tysons, developer Skanska announced yesterday (Wednesday).

Around Town

Peter Chang’s Chinese restaurant to open in McLean next week

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 5, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated October 5, 2023 at 2:29PM

Peter Chang opened his first D.C.-area restaurant in Arlington in 2015 (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 2:30 p.m.) Peter Chang’s new McLean restaurant is almost ready for diners.

The eponymous restaurant from the prolific Chinese chef will open at 6715 Lowell Avenue in one week on Oct. 12.

Countywide

Fairfax and Loudoun office cleaners vote to strike if needed over wages

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 5, 2023 at 9:30AM

Alejandria Paz, a member of 32BJ SEIU's bargaining team, addresses fellow cleaners ahead of a strike vote in Reston (courtesy 32BJ SEIU)

Another strike may be on the horizon for the D.C. area, this time led by office cleaners who say wages have stagnated even after they were expected to keep working through the pandemic.

About 9,100 janitors, more than 3,000 of them in Northern Virginia, are voting this week on whether to go on strike if they’re unable to agree on a new contract with the Washington Service Contractors Association (WSCA) before the existing one expires on Oct. 15.

Countywide

FCPS dominates ranking of top high schools in Northern Virginia

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 4, 2023 at 3:30PM

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (courtesy Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology)

Six of the 10 best high schools in Northern Virginia belong to Fairfax County Public Schools, as newly declared by Northern Virginia Magazine.

For its recently published October issue, the magazine’s editorial staff ranked the top 25 top public high schools in the region based on graduation and chronic absenteeism rates, Standards of Learning test pass rates, and other data from the 2021-2022 school year.

Around Town

Tysons Corner Center is getting its own fall festival this month

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 4, 2023 at 11:45AM

Maniac Pumpkin Carvers after Tysons Corner Center's Fall Festival on Saturday (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons Corner Center is jumping into the abundant pile of local fall festivals.

The mall announced yesterday (Tuesday) that it will host a fall festival on its plaza from noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, declaring that the event will be “one of our biggest” of the year.

Countywide

FCPD says expanded oversight not needed, still working on foot pursuit policy

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 4, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated October 6, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis presents the police department's responses to reform recommendations (via Fairfax County)

(Updated at 3:30 p.m. on 10/6/2023) The Fairfax County Police Department has come out in opposition to the prospect of enhanced powers for the two entities charged with overseeing its handling of community complaints and conflicts.

The department has adopted or is in the process of adopting all but nine reforms proposed by the nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and community members in a Police Reform Matrix Working Group (MWG), Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis told the Board of Supervisors at a safety and security committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

Around Town

Family-friendly ‘beerstro’ coming to Dunn Loring Metro station this fall

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 3, 2023 at 1:15PM

The Casual Pint will open in The Shops at Avenir Place tomorrow (courtesy The Casual Pint)

An upcoming bar and restaurant hopes to turn the Dunn Loring Metro station into a hopping place.

On track to open in late October next to Quickway, The Casual Pint (2676 Avenir Place, Unit F) is envisioned as a family-friendly gathering spot, where community members of all ages can relax even as adults 21 and older savor a range of craft beers and wine — and yes, the brews will come in pints.

News

Apartment building with retail proposed for former Fuddruckers site in Fairfax

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 3, 2023 at 11:00AM

A proposed mixed-use development concept for the northeast corner of Chain Bridge Road and Fairfax Blvd (via Fairfax City)

The vacant Fuddruckers building along Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) in Fairfax City may not be standing for much longer.

The site at 3575 Chain Bridge Road, which has been empty since the burger joint closed in 2017, is being eyed for a potential mixed-use development that would also encompass the adjacent Exxon gas station and Tobacco Hut lots, covering about 2.3 acres total at the corner of Chain Bridge and Fairfax Blvd (Route 50).