Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Vienna Town Council aims for fall deadline to complete zoning code rewrite

Published May 17, 2023 at 2:30PM

The Vienna Town Council discusses its zoning code overhaul at a conference session on May 8, 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna has set a tentative timeline for wrapping up the first overhaul of its zoning code since Richard Nixon occupied the White House.

At a May 8 conference session, the Vienna Town Council urged staff to have the rewritten code ready for adoption on Oct. 23 — its final meeting before a new council is elected on Nov. 7.

News

Email sent to Oakton HS cheerleading coach suggests racist culture, NAACP says

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 17, 2023 at 1:15PM

Oakton High School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Public Schools plans to hire an investigator to find the source of an anonymous email that decried the idea of a “colored individual” coaching Oakton High School’s cheerleading team.

Referencing former coaches from the past two years, the email was sent to the school’s current cheerleading coach, Jillian Domenech, shortly after she took over the position in March, as first reported by WTOP.

Countywide

First section of new I-66 Parallel Trail will open in Vienna area today

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 17, 2023 at 9:30AM

Portions of the new 66 Parallel Trail are on the I-66 side of the soundwall (via VDOT)

The first segment of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s planned shared-use trail along I-66 has been completed.

State and Fairfax County officials will celebrate the milestone today (Wednesday) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by an inaugural bicycle ride or walk on the finished section, which starts east of the Vienna Metro station and extends to Cedar Lane near Merrifield.

News

JUST IN: Woman shot in Hybla Valley

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2023 at 5:50PM

Fairfax County police car lights flashing (file photo)

A woman was shot in the arm after someone fired multiple gunshots near the Hybla Valley Community Center this afternoon (Tuesday).

The Fairfax County Police Department is advising community members to avoid the 7900 block of Janna Lee Avenue, where officers are currently gathering evidence from the shooting.

Around Town

Outdoor movies and music return to Tysons Corner Center this summer

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2023 at 2:15PM

Tysons Corner Center will host programming throughout the summer at its Plaza (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Though the solstice won’t arrive for another month, the spirit of summer is already alive at Tysons Corner Center.

After drawing a crowd earlier this month with its first-ever Taste of Tysons, the mall has lined up a variety of free Summer on the Plaza events and activities, including returns of its outdoor family movie nights and a concert series.

Around Town

Tysons fitness studio gets belated ribbon cutting, new name

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2023 at 11:00AM

The fitness company P20 will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Tysons studio on Friday (courtesy P20)

A fitness studio that quietly opened near The Boro in Tysons during the COVID-19 pandemic will finally get an official welcome this week.

P20 EMS Fitness Experts will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its Tysons studio this Friday (May 19) — more than two years after the location opened inside OneLife Fitness at 8250 Greensboro Drive.

News

Richmond Highway speed limit will drop to 35 mph starting next week

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 16, 2023 at 10:15AM

The speed limit on Richmond Highway will be reduced to 35 mph from Jeff Todd Way/Mount Vernon Memorial Highway to the Alexandria city limits (via VDOT)

The speed limit on Richmond Highway (Route 1) has been permanently lowered through much of Fairfax County.

Starting next Tuesday (May 23), the legal limit will be reduced from 45 to 35 mph along a roughly 7-mile stretch between the Alexandria City limits at the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Jeff Todd Way/Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, the Virginia and Fairfax County transportation departments announced yesterday (Monday).

Countywide

Park Authority’s ‘Wonder Wagon’ mobile centers will bring nature to people

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2023 at 3:30PM

The Fairfax County Park Authority wants to expand access to nature with planned mobile centers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In the future, Fairfax County residents won’t need to trek to a park to experience nature.

Instead, the park will find them with the Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature Center, a Fairfax County Park Authority initiative that will bring educational programs on nature and the environment to underserved communities and Title I schools with limited access to green spaces.

Around Town

McLean Day festivities are back this weekend for 108th year

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2023 at 2:30PM

Like in past years, McLean Day will feature a petting zoo (courtesy McLean Community Center)

McLean Day is just around the corner.

The annual outdoor festival will return for a 108th year this Saturday (May 20), bringing amusement rides, live music, food and carnival games to Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Countywide

BREAKING: Rep. Gerry Connolly’s staff members assaulted in Fairfax City

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 15, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated May 15, 2023 at 9:23PM

Rep. Gerry Connolly has a Fairfax District Office in the 10680 Mainland Building in Fairfax City (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 9:20 p.m.) Two members of Rep. Gerry Connolly’s staff were assaulted this morning by a Fairfax resident with a baseball bat.

The City of Fairfax Police Department and the United States Capitol Police (USCP) are investigating the incident at 10680 Main Street, Suite 140. The suspect has been arrested, while the victims were taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.