Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Proposed design guidelines imagine downtown McLean as ‘neighborhood village’

Published April 28, 2023 at 11:00AM

Proposed design guidelines for downtown McLean envision Elm Street as one of two future main streets (via Fairfax County)

In the future, the heart of downtown McLean will be at the meeting of Beverly Road and Elm Street.

A newly released set of draft design guidelines for development in McLean’s Community Business Center (CBC) designates Beverly and Elm as “main streets” that will help turn the area from a collection of strip malls into an active, more streamlined neighborhood village.

News

Two hospitalized after pickup truck crashes on Beltway, catches fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 28, 2023 at 9:30AM

A Virginia State Police vehicle (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A pickup truck carrying multiple vehicles became consumed by fire after crashing on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in the Rose Hill area early this morning (Friday).

Virginia State Police responded to the crash near the Van Dorn Street exit at 3:50 a.m., according to a news release.

News

BREAKING: Three people found shot dead in West Springfield house

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2023 at 4:30PM | Updated April 28, 2023 at 2:20PM

Fairfax County Police Deputy Chief Eli Cory updates media on an investigation into three shooting deaths in the 8500 block of Wild Spruce Drive (via FCPD/Facebook)

Updated at 2:20 p.m. on 4/28/2023 — Police are officially investigating yesterday’s shooting as a double murder and suicide case.

Based on a preliminary investigation, detectives believe that 47-year-old Tiku Berhane Gebreeyesus shot his wife, 38-year-old Meskerem Belachew Solomon, and her brother, 31-year-old Amanuel Belachew Solomon, before shooting himself.

News

Fence-jumping reckless driver nearly hit people in shopping center parking lot, Vienna police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2023 at 1:30PM

A reckless driver allegedly nearly hit several people in the Maple Avenue Shopping Center parking lot (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna police have identified the alleged reckless driver who was arrested last week after leading officers on a wild vehicle and foot chase.

John Thomas Prince IV of Haymarket has been charged with three felonies and four misdemeanors, for reckless driving, property destruction, eluding police, attempted unlawful entry and driving on a revoked license — and that’s just in Vienna.

Around Town

Taste of Vienna is back for a 10th year to showcase local restaurants

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2023 at 10:15AM

Himalayan Soul Foods was among the five food trucks at the 10th annual Taste of Vienna in 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Taste of Vienna has reached the decade mark.

The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s annual fundraiser will shine a spotlight on local restaurants for a 10th year this Saturday (April 29) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — coincidentally the same day as Taste of Annandale’s comeback.

News

Centreville resident arrested after allegedly stabbing man, family dog

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated March 1, 2026 at 8:32PM

A Fairfax County police SUV with lights on (file photo)

Fairfax County police are investigating an apparent domestic dispute that involved a Centreville man and his family’s dog getting stabbed.

A 22-year-old man from Centreville was arrested by Virginia State Police on Tuesday (April 25) after a pursuit that extended into Lorton. He has been charged with malicious wounding, animal cruelty, and disregarding police commands to stop.

News

Dominion Energy to begin prep work on undergrounding Tysons power line

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated April 27, 2023 at 12:19AM

Tysons to Spring Hill transmission line construction phases (via Dominion Energy)

(Updated at 12:15 a.m. on 4/27/2023) Preliminary construction activities will kick into gear this weekend on a long-gestating project to move part of an electric transmission line underground in the Spring Hill area of Tysons.

Starting this Friday (April 28) evening, Dominion Energy will close the Vesper Trail from Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) to Vesper Street so its crews can install a manhole needed for the project, spokesperson Peggy Fox said. The trail closure will last until Tuesday (May 2).

News

Vienna Town Council approves larger tax rate reduction than first proposed

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2023 at 10:15AM

Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna will reduce its real estate tax rate by a full cent for the upcoming fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1.

Approved unanimously by the town council on Monday (April 24), the reduction is bigger than the quarter-cent decrease first proposed by Town Manager Mercury Payton last month, but it still won’t be enough to completely counterbalance the rising property values most homeowners experienced this year.

Countywide

FCPS expands background checks for employees in wake of ex-counselor’s conviction

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2023 at 9:30AM

The Fairfax County Public Schools administrative center in Merrifield (file photo)

Going forward, all Fairfax County Public Schools workers will be required to undergo regular background checks and notify the school system of any arrests while they’re employed.

The expanded background check policies will be implemented after an investigation last year found “systemic gaps” in the hiring process, FCPS announced yesterday (Tuesday).

News

Vienna Elementary, one of Fairfax County’s oldest public schools, to throw 150th birthday bash

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2023 at 2:15PM

Vienna Elementary School from 1915. The four-room building burned down around 1919 and was replaced by the current school in 1923 (courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division)

When Vienna Elementary School celebrates its 150th anniversary next month, the occasion will double as a milestone for the entire Fairfax County Public Schools system.

Opened in 1923, the 74,904-square-foot home of the Vikings at 128 Center Street South is the oldest continuously operating public school building in the county, though the school as an institution can trace its origins back to the founding of FCPS in 1870.