Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Police: Man fired gun in Bailey’s Crossroads bar, injuring women

Published July 26, 2023 at 3:45PM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

An Arlington man was arrested in Alexandria yesterday (Tuesday) for a shooting incident that occurred in Bailey’s Crossroads earlier this month.

Fairfax County police officers were called to the Lion’s Den Lounge at 5820 Seminary Road around 4 a.m. on July 16 after getting a report of gunshots being fired.

Around Town

New wellness center in Vienna offers deals for grand opening

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 26, 2023 at 2:15PM

Restore Hyper Wellness has opened a center in Vienna (courtesy Restore Hyper Wellness)

A wellness center that says it can help people defy the signs of aging, if not the actual process, has set up shop in Vienna.

After a recent soft opening, Restore Hyper Wellness will celebrate its arrival at 214 Maple Ave West more officially tomorrow (Thursday) with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, starting at 10 a.m.

Countywide

D.C. area will be under Heat Advisory on Thursday

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 26, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated July 26, 2023 at 2:04PM

Forecasts suggest Thursday, July 27 could feel like 107 degrees in the D.C. area (via NWS/Twitter)

(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) A Heat Advisory will take effect tomorrow (Thursday) for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, with temperatures expected to near 100 degrees.

Released by the National Weather Service this morning, the alert is slated to be in place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.

News

Upcoming task force will study how to preserve ‘Tysons Last Forest’

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 26, 2023 at 10:15AM

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn tours Tysons Forest with community members (courtesy Hunter Mill District Office)

With development starting to pick up in the Spring Hill area, the need to protect some of the last remaining natural green space in Tysons has taken on a new level of urgency.

Acknowledging the potential threat, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn — who represents Tysons west of Route 7 and north of Route 123 — will create a community task force to determine the best way to preserve Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley, also known as Tysons Forest.

News

County board redirects funds to remove hills from Fairfax Station road where teens died in crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County plans to remove hills that limit driver visibility on Lee Chapel Road (via Google Maps)

In the wake of a fatal crash earlier this year, Fairfax County intends to get rid of the hills that make Lee Chapel Road near Fairfax Station so harrowing to navigate.

Eliminating the two hills has emerged as “the most prudent” mid-term option for improving safety on the 1-mile stretch between Ox Road (Route 123) and Fairfax County Parkway, where two teens were killed and another seriously injured in a crash on Jan. 10, according to Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.

News

McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center will get solar panels, energy upgrades

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 1:30PM

A man on a bench outside the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s efforts to become more energy efficient will get a power boost this week, as work begins on improvements at McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center.

Set to break ground at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday), the project will add the recreation center at 1239 Spring Hill Road to a growing list of county facilities supported by solar panels. Other planned changes include pool dehumidification unit replacements, LED lighting upgrades, improved building automation systems and a new geothermal HVAC system.

Countywide

County’s 911 center ramps up staffing to fill vacancies after pandemic

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County's 911 operations floor in the McConnell Public Safety & Transportation Operations Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Handling 911 calls has never been a regular 9-to-5 job, but a national staffing shortage has increased the hours and pressure felt by call takers and dispatchers across the country.

Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications wasn’t spared from the workforce challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from close to 180 staffers before 2020 to about 160 people right now.

Around Town

Falafel restaurant Taim is opening in Pimmit Hills this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 9:30AM

Taim Mediterranean Kitchen serves falafels, pita and more (courtesy Untamed Brands/Taim)

Some of New York City’s finest falafels will be available in Pimmit Hills starting this week.

The fast-casual eatery Taim Mediterranean Kitchen will give the community a preview of its first Virginia location at 7502 Leesburg Pike in the Tysons Station shopping center tomorrow (Wednesday), followed by an official grand opening on Thursday (July 27).

News

FCPD steps up presence on Burke Centre Parkway after fatal crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2023 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County police are stepping up their presence on Burke Centre Parkway this week (via FCPD/Twitter)

Drivers on Burke Centre Parkway can expect to see more police than usual this week, as the community still reels from a crash that killed one teen and put three others in the hospital.

The Fairfax County Police Department launched a High Visibility Enforcement (HIVE) initiative today (Monday) that will increase the presence of motor and patrol officers along the roadway between Fairfax County Parkway and Burke Lake Road.

News

Court rejects petition from police officer fired after fatal Tysons shooting

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 24, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated August 3, 2023 at 4:41PM

Fairfax County Courthouse (file photo)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on 8/3/2023) The former Fairfax County police officer who reportedly shot and killed D.C. resident Timothy Johnson on Feb. 22 in Tysons lost a court petition seeking reinstatment earlier this month.

Wesley Shifflett’s petition alleging that the county violated his due process rights and its own policies during a grievance review was rejected by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Shannon, who affirmed County Executive Bryan Hill’s conclusion that the Fairfax County Police Department had followed proper county procedures.