Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Vienna may soon require developers to plant and preserve more trees

Published May 15, 2023 at 11:00AM

A tree on Branch Road in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna is ready to turn over a new leaf in its commitment to tree plantings and preservation.

In the hopes of reversing a significant decline in canopy coverage over the past decade, staff proposed a tree conservation ordinance to the Vienna Town Council last week that would require developers to preserve existing trees when possible.

News

County bans overnight commercial parking on downtown McLean street

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 12, 2023 at 2:15PM

Commercial vehicles, like charter buses, have been taking up parking on Whittier Avenue in McLean, businesses say (via Google Maps)

Businesses along Whittier Avenue in McLean will soon get some relief from the trucks, trailers and other vehicles hoarding parking spots on the downtown street.

At the request of the business owners, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously at its meeting on Tuesday (May 9) to restrict overnight, on-street parking on two blocks between Old Dominion Drive and Laughlin Avenue.

Around Town

Dior’s first Virginia store has opened in Tysons Galleria

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 12, 2023 at 11:00AM

Dior is now open at Tysons Galleria (photo by Andrea Brizzi)

Dior has arrived at Tysons Galleria.

The French fashion house’s new boutique is now in business on the mall’s second floor near Neiman Marcus. Tysons Galleria announced that the store had opened on April 28 — beating its previously projected timeframe of summer 2023.

News

Man sentenced to prison for selling fentanyl in fatal Clifton overdose

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 12, 2023 at 9:30AM

U.S. Attorneys Office in Alexandria (via Google Maps)

An Alexandria man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday (May 10) for selling fentanyl to a woman who died from an overdose in Clifton in 2021.

Reza Hashemi, 34, was sentenced for conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl in Northern Virginia between July 2020 and June 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release announcing the judgment by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

News

UPDATED: Police fatally shoot man who fought with officer in Penn Daw

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 11, 2023 at 4:50PM | Updated May 12, 2023 at 2:02PM

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis addresses a fatal police shooting near Citgo in Penn Daw (via FCPD/Facebook)

(Updated at 2 p.m. on 5/12/2023) A man from Newport News was killed during a struggle with police in Penn Daw where two officers fired their guns.

No officers were injured in the gunfire, which occured outside a McDonalds (6239 Richmond Highway), but one officer was hospitalized with head injuries from a fight with 38-year-old Brandon Lemagne prior to the shooting, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Around Town

Mosaic District’s Four Sisters to close on Mother’s Day after 30 years

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 11, 2023 at 2:30PM

The Vietnamese restaurant Four Sisters is closing this weekend after nearly 15 years in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Four Sisters will serve customers at the Mosaic District for the last time this Sunday (May 14).

The family-owned Vietnamese restaurant will permanently close after 30 years of business, about half of them spent anchoring the prominent corner of Strawberry Lane and Yates Way in Merrifield.

News

Report: Mars Inc. eyes Tysons office for temporary HQ in anticipation of expansion

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 11, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated October 13, 2023 at 2:39PM

A conceptual illustration of Mars Inc.'s planned headquarters expansion (via Fairfax County)

Though a proposal to expand its headquarters in McLean is still under review, Mars Inc. has apparently gotten a head start on scouting locations to temporarily host employees during construction.

The candy and pet food manufacturer has submitted a bid for construction work on the 10th floor of 1676 International Drive in Tysons, the Washington Business Journal reported yesterday.

Countywide

With federal public health emergency ending, Covid tests and vaccines may now come at a cost

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 10, 2023 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County nurse holds a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

After more than three years, COVID-19 will officially cease to be a federal public health emergency in the U.S. tomorrow (Thursday), bringing an end to the days of free testing and vaccinations.

The Fairfax County Health Department will still provide free services by appointment to people who don’t have insurance or otherwise can’t pay, but private insurance companies and health providers will be allowed to start billing patients, the department explained in a May 5 announcement.

News

DEVELOPING: Police look for suspect in shooting near Culmore 7-Eleven

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 10, 2023 at 2:20PM

The 7-Eleven on Glen Carlyn Drive in Culmore (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County police officers are searching the Culmore area for a man who reportedly shot a person near the 7-Eleven on Glen Carlyn Drive.

The victim has been transported to a hospital with serious injuries, the Fairfax County Police Department said just before 2 p.m.

News

Sunrise Senior Living’s new McLean village is now open to residents

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 10, 2023 at 1:15PM

Cindy Skelton, one of the first residents, helps cut the ribbon to mark Sunrise of McLean Village's opening (courtesy Sunrise Senior Living)

Sunrise of McLean Village has officially opened.

As anticipated, residents began moving into the new senior living community at 1515 Chain Bridge Road this week, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 27, Sunrise Senior Living announced today (Wednesday).