Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Plan for Route 7 bus rapid transit in Tysons passes planning commission

Published June 26, 2023 at 11:00AM

The proposed route and stations for the Route 7 bus rapid transit system in Tysons (via FCDOT)

Fairfax County’s plan for bus rapid transit (BRT) service on Route 7 in Tysons sailed through the planning commission last week.

The commissioners recommended on Wednesday (June 21) that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approve a comprehensive plan amendment establishing guidelines for the future public transportation system, including the route and station locations.

Countywide

UPDATED: Fairfax County School Board approves salary increases

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 26, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated June 27, 2023 at 11:03AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

(Updated at 11 a.m. on 6/27/2023) The Fairfax County School Board voted 9-1 last night (Monday) to raise member salaries to $48,000 with an additional $2,000 for the board chair, starting Jan. 1, 2024.

Aiming lower than what staff proposed, the raises are comparable to compensation for other paid school boards governing large school systems elsewhere in the country and raises approved in previous years, Mount Vernon District School Board representative Karen Corbett-Sanders said.

Countywide

Plane flights into D.C. area diverted due to air traffic control repairs

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 25, 2023 at 7:10PM

Washington Reagan National Airport (file photo)

Issues with a communications system in Warrenton resulted in a temporary suspension of most flights coming into the D.C. area, including at Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a “ground stop” shortly after 6 p.m., pausing departures to the D.C. area so that repairs could be made to a communications system at the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Warrenton.

News

JUST IN: Man who fired gun in Tysons Corner Center sentenced to prison, banned from mall

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 23, 2023 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County police cars line up outside Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by James Cullum)

The man who fired multiple gunshots in Tysons Corner Center last summer has been sentenced to three years in prison, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced today (Friday).

Noah Settles, a 23-year-old D.C. resident and rapper with the stage name No Savage, pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to three counts of maliciously discharging a firearm in an occupied building and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.

News

Vienna to rejuvenate Maple Avenue and Church Street landscaping

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 23, 2023 at 2:15PM

The Town of Vienna's planters on Maple Avenue are set to be replaced after 20 years (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new crop of plants will take root this fall along Maple Avenue and Church Street, the Town of Vienna’s main commercial roadways.

LSG Landscape Architects, a landscaping firm contracted by the town, will present its proposed design for the new planters next Thursday (June 29) after sharing the concept with the Vienna Town Council this past Tuesday (June 20).

News

Upcoming Tysons strategic plan will pinpoint area’s strengths and areas for improvement

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 23, 2023 at 11:00AM

Development continues at Scotts Run in Tysons East (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

After introducing itself earlier this year with a website update and some cherry blossom-related events, the Tysons Community Alliance is now digging into the area’s strengths, needs and what needs to be done to set it up for future success.

Picking up where the now-defunct Tysons Partnership left off, the nonprofit community improvement organization launched a strategic planning effort for Tysons this week by convening a series of work groups that will focus on different topics, such as residential development, transportation and parks.

Around Town

Women’s fitness studio sets sights on summer opening in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 22, 2023 at 1:30PM

The locally owned gym StarFit Studio is coming soon to Vienna's Cedar Park Shopping Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Northern Virginia gym aimed at women hopes to flex its way into the Town of Vienna this summer.

StarFit Studio is expanding from its existing Arlington and Alexandria locations to the Cedar Park Shopping Center. The business has leased a 1,740-square-foot space at 266 Cedar Lane, according to property manager First Washington Realty’s website.

News

Falls Church Metro stations to reopen next week, as rail replacement enters new phase

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 22, 2023 at 10:15AM

Commuters wait at the closed Vienna Metro station for an express shuttle to Ballston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Some good news is on the horizon for local Metrorail riders: the West and East Falls Church stations are set to reopen on Monday (June 26) after a 23-day closure.

The bad news? The Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will remain closed through July 16.

Around Town

Springfield Town Center to celebrate LGBTQ Pride night for first time

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 22, 2023 at 9:30AM

Drag queen Evry Pleasure will perform and have a meet-and-greet at Springfield Town Center's inaugural Pride Night Out (courtesy Springfield Town Center)

A Pride Month celebration is coming to Springfield Town Center for the first time ever.

The shopping center at 6500 Franconia-Springfield Parkway will host its inaugural Pride Night Out tomorrow (Friday) from 6-9 p.m. in the lower level Grand Court area near Starbucks.

Countywide

Fairfax County Democrats oust two established senators, as incumbents prevail in local races

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 21, 2023 at 2:15PM

Stella Pekarsky and Saddam Azlan Salim defeated established senators George Barker and Chap Petersen in the 2023 Democratic primary (courtesy Stella Pekarsky for Senate, Salim for Senate)

Fairfax County’s General Assembly delegation will look drastically different next year after a pivotal Democratic primary yesterday (Tuesday) that also bolstered incumbents in most county-level races.

In two upsets, Sully District school board representative Stella Pekarsky eked out a win over veteran state Sen. George Barker for the 36th District nomination, while Fairfax Young Democrats vice president Saddam Azlan Salim ousted Sen. Chap Petersen in the 37th District.