Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Columbia Pike intersection where crash killed teen secures funds for crossing beacon

Published April 25, 2023 at 11:45AM

A memorial at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street for Lesly Diaz-Bonilla, who was killed by a driver on Nov. 16, 2022 (photo by Ellie Ashford, courtesy Bailey's Crossroads and Culmore PBI Coalition)

To the relief of Bailey’s Crossroads residents, some traffic safety improvements are in the works for the often harrowing area where Columbia Pike and Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) meet.

Perhaps the most urgent change will be the addition of a pedestrian hybrid beacon at the crosswalk across Columbia Pike at Tyler Street — the intersection where a driver hit and killed Justice High School student Lesly Diaz-Bonilla in November.

Around Town

Fast food restaurant Z-Burger lands prime spot for new Vienna location

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2023 at 11:00AM

The fast food restaurant Z-Burger sells burgers, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes (via Z-Burger/Instagram)

McDonalds and Chick-fil-A will soon have some new competition for Vienna high school students looking to chow down while relaxing with friends after class.

The D.C.-based fast food chain Z-Burger is set to open later this spring in the former Pizza Hut at 541 Maple Avenue West, continuing an expansion into Northern Virginia that began in McLean and recently spread to Alexandria.

News

Three people taken to hospital after crash that closes John Marr Drive

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated April 25, 2023 at 11:23AM

The intersection of John Marr Drive and Little River Turnpike has been closed after a crash (via Google Maps)

Updated at 11:25 a.m. — All lanes on John Marr Drive and Little River Turnpike have now reopened to traffic, police say.

Earlier: A crash on John Marr Drive in Annandale took down power lines and sent three people to the hospital this morning (Tuesday).

Around Town

Volunteers wanted to plant cherry blossom trees in Tysons for Arbor Day

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 24, 2023 at 1:30PM | Updated April 27, 2023 at 11:36AM

A cherry tree in front of the Vita Apartments on the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 11:35 a.m. on 4/27/2023 — With rain in the forecast tomorrow (Friday), the cherry tree plantings have been postponed to May 6, the Tysons Community Alliance announced today.

Earlier: This year’s cherry blossom season has come and gone, but in Tysons, the seeds for future flowers are about to take root.

News

Reston contractor settles allegations of racial discrimination in hiring, says labor department

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 24, 2023 at 11:00AM

Two people shaking hands (via Cytonn Photography on Unsplash)

An IT contractor headquartered in Reston’s South Lakes area has agreed to pay over $435,000 to settle a federal investigation that found racial discrimination in its hiring practices.

Intelligent Waves LLC allegedly engaged in “systemic hiring discrimination” against 14 Black applicants who sought work in Arizona and Nevada as test instrumentation technicians, the Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced Friday (April 21).

News

Vienna Police: Reckless driver hits fences, tries to break into houses to escape officers

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 24, 2023 at 9:30AM

Vienna police officers on Church Street (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A 33-year-old man from Haymarket was charged with reckless driving and felony property destruction last week following a vehicle and foot chase with Vienna police.

The Vienna Police Department received a report around 2:28 p.m. last Tuesday (April 18) that a reckless driver was “harassing people” in the 300 block of Maple Avenue East, according to the department’s recap of the week of April 14-20.

Around Town

McLean Big Buns and Matchbox set grand opening with free food samples

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 21, 2023 at 1:15PM

Big Buns Damn Good Burgers and Matchbox in McLean (courtesy Thompson Hospitality)

After a few months of settling into McLean, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers and Matchbox are evidently ready for a housewarming party.

The two restaurants paired with McLean’s Lidl grocery store on Chain Bridge Road will get a grand opening celebration, complete with an official ribbon-cutting, this coming Wednesday (April 26).

Countywide

Local bards invited to summon their inner John Keats for county library’s poetry contest

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 21, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Poet Laureate Danielle Badra's recent Arab-American Heritage Poetry Reading included a workshop on Ghazal, an Arabic verse form (courtesy ArtsFairfax)

O, muse, send me your cleverest rhymes, your liveliest verses and most starry-eyed odes to nightingales.

So says Fairfax County Public Library, as time ticks down on its second annual poetry contest.

News

Moms rally to raise $400,000 for new McLean Central Park playground

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 21, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated April 25, 2023 at 4:28PM

The current tot lot at McLean Central Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 5:25 p.m.) McLean Central Park is getting a new playground, but the exact design will depend on whether a group of local moms can raise nearly $400,000 by the end of this year.

Ideally, the facility will have a rubberized surface to cushion the ground, tot lot fencing, additional seating and plenty of shiny, modern equipment, including an adaptive tandem swing and other elements accessible to people with disabilities.

News

One killed and two hospitalized in Seven Corners crash with vehicle fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 21, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated April 21, 2023 at 4:51PM

Northbound Arlington Blvd at Patrick Henry Drive in Seven Corners (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) One person died and two people were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash at the Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) and Patrick Henry Drive intersection in Seven Corners early this morning (Friday).

Emergency responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the scene of a crash with injuries around 1:11 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.