Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Thunderstorm knocks out power for many in southeastern Fairfax County

Published August 14, 2023 at 5:55PM

Power outages in Belle Haven on Aug. 14, 2023 (via Dominion Energy)

Nearly 9,000 people in Fairfax County are without power after this afternoon’s storms, the most intense of which have moved on into Maryland.

As of 5:30 p.m., 8,971 Dominion Energy customers in the county had lost power, according to the real-time tracking database PowerOutage.US.

News

NOW: Flash Flood Warning issued for Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2023 at 4:05PM | Updated August 14, 2023 at 4:45PM

A storm has reached Fairfax County, as seen on radar around 4 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2023

Updated at 4:45 p.m. — The Tornado Warning was terminated early at 4:33 p.m., but Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flood warnings remain in effect until around 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., respectively.

Updated at 4:25 p.m. — A Tornado Warning has also been issued until 4:45 p.m.

News

VHC Health swiftly expands Fairfax County presence with offices in Vienna, Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated February 14, 2024 at 3:24PM

Officials cut a ribbon celebrating the opening of VHC Health's Vienna office (courtesy Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/Image Caffeine Photography)

VHC Health is making a big push to bring its health care services closer to Fairfax County residents.

With a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday (Aug. 9), the health system introduced its new Vienna practice to the community as part of a building-wide open house at 527 Maple Avenue, which also recently welcomed the gym Advanced Fitness & Sports Performance.

News

Driver in fatal Bailey’s Crossroads crash faces new charges

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2023 at 11:45AM

Eastbound Columbia Pike at Powell Lane in Bailey's Crossroads (via Google Maps)

The suspected driver in a crash that killed a pedestrian in Bailey’s Crossroads last month is now facing additional charges.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced today that 33-year-old Woodbridge resident Benjamin Lopez Encinas has been charged with aggravated DWI manslaughter and felony hit and run.

Around Town

NEW: Planned Spanish restaurant put on hold at Capital One Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2023 at 10:15AM

A map of Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Santi is no longer coming to Capital One Center — at least not in the immediate future.

Michelin-starred chef Pepe Moncayo, who recently opened Jiwa Singapura in Tysons Galleria, has paused plans to bring a new Spanish restaurant concept to Tysons, he confirmed through a public relations representative.

News

FCPD: Two arrested after woman is shot at Hybla Valley shopping center

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 14, 2023 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County Police Lt. James Curry addresses a shooting that occurred in a white sedan parked at Mount Vernon Plaza (via FCPD/Facebook)

A woman is fighting for her life in a hospital after a man shot her in a car parked at Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley on Saturday (Aug. 12).

Fairfax County police officers were called to the shopping center in the 7700 block of Richmond Highway at 3:49 p.m. that day in response to the reported shooting.

Around Town

Springfield Town Center gears up for new school year with food drive and ‘Paw Patrol’

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 11, 2023 at 3:00PM

A LOVE sign at the Springfield Town Center entrance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The dalmation and husky from “Paw Patrol” will be on call at Springfield Town Center (6500 Springfield Mall) tomorrow (Saturday) to give kids a day of fun before school resumes on Aug. 21.

Appearances by the animated dogs Marshall and Everest — or at least people costumed to look like them — are among the attractions promised for the mall’s “Fuel for School” event, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Grand Court near the newly opened Lego Discovery Center.

Around Town

Vienna’s Blend 111 is closing, to be replaced by a French bistro

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 11, 2023 at 2:15PM

The restaurant Blend 111 in Vienna will close for good on Saturday, Aug. 12 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tomorrow will be the chance to taste Blend 111’s tapas and cocktails.

The European and Latin American fusion restaurant will serve diners one final time on Saturday (Aug. 12) after more than four years at 111 Church Street in Vienna, an employee confirmed.

News

UPDATED: Man killed in three-vehicle crash on Route 50 in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 11, 2023 at 12:55PM | Updated August 13, 2023 at 6:46PM

Police direct traffic at Route 50 and Pickett Road after a three-vehicle crash (via VDOT)

(Updated at 6:30 p.m. on 8/13/2023) An 85-year-old man died Friday (Aug. 11) after getting seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash on Arlington Blvd (Route 50) in Merrifield.

Paul Hession, a resident of the Churchill neighborhood in the McLean area, was a passenger in a 2015 Toyota Camry that was turning left from westbound Arlington Blvd to Stonehurst Drive around 11:44 a.m. on Friday, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release on Saturday (Aug. 12).

News

UPDATED: Drivers critically injured in crash on Route 50 at I-66 near Fair Oaks

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 11, 2023 at 11:50AM | Updated August 13, 2023 at 6:40PM

Route 50 has been closed at I-66 after a two-vehicle crash near Fair Oaks (via Google Maps)

Updated at 6:40 p.m. on 8/13/2023 — Fairfax County police have determined that the crash on Route 50 started when the driver of a 2007 Jeep Laredo rear-ended a 2023 Lexus. The driver then hit a Land Rover and a guardrail, drove across the grass median and went airborne, striking a 2009 Ford U-Haul Truck.

The Jeep and U-Haul drivers were hospitalized with injuries initially considered life-threatening, but their condition has since been changed to non-life-threatening.