Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Vienna wants public’s input on what it should do with former Faith Baptist Church

Published March 10, 2023 at 10:30AM

Vienna's former Faith Baptist Church, now known as the Annex (via Town of Vienna)

The time has come for Vienna to decide as a community how the former Faith Baptist Church property at 301 Center Street South can best be utilized.

The Town of Vienna launched a survey earlier this week to gather public feedback on potential future uses for the 3-acre site, now known as the Annex.

Around Town

SCOOP: Vienna Cold Stone Creamery getting replaced by a Mediterranean restaurant

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2023 at 2:30PM

Cold Stone Creamery's Vienna shop is open for now, but its days are numbered (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

This summer will be Cold Stone Creamery’s last at Vienna Marketplace.

The ice cream shop will vacate 205 Maple Avenue by Aug. 31 to make way for fast-casual restaurant Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen, according to a leasing agent for KLNB, which owns the shopping center.

News

Vienna proposes real estate tax rate reduction in new budget, but resident bills will still jump up

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 9, 2023 at 9:30AM

Town of Vienna sign by the W&OD Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna intends to lower its real estate tax rate for a third consecutive year, as home values continue to soar.

Released on Monday (March 6), the town’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023-2024 — which will begin on July 1 — cuts the real estate tax rate by a quarter of a cent, decreasing it to 20 cents per $100 of a property’s assessed value.

News

Metro board set to approve changes to West Falls Church station parking and bus facilities

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 8, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated March 9, 2023 at 12:09PM

The south parking lot at the West Falls Church Metro station could be redeveloped with housing (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 12:10 p.m. on 3/9/2023) A plan to reconfigure the West Falls Church Metro station’s parking and bus facilities in anticipation of redevelopment will soon be finalized.

The finance and capital committee of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Board of Directors is set to vote tomorrow (Thursday) on whether to accept a staff report recommending the proposed changes, which would significantly reduce the number of parking spaces and bus bays at the station in Idylwood.

Around Town

For International Women’s Day, film festival in Merrifield salutes female filmmakers

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 8, 2023 at 11:45AM

A film screening during the 2022 Lunafest at Angelika Film Center (courtesy Girls on the Run Northern Virginia)

Though they won’t appear among the best director nominees at the Oscars this Sunday (March 12), female and gender non-conforming filmmakers will be celebrated tonight (Wednesday) at the Mosaic District.

The Merrifield neighborhood’s Angelika Film Center (2911 District Avenue) is hosting Lunafest — a traveling film festival that showcases movies by and about women — to mark International Women’s Day.

News

UPDATE: Former Hunter Mill District supervisor has been found, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2023 at 4:40PM | Updated March 7, 2023 at 6:57PM

Former Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins is missing (via FCPD/Twitter)

(Updated at 5:24 p.m.) Cathy Hudgins, Fairfax County’s former Hunter Mill District supervisor, has been found after she was reported missing earlier today (Tuesday).

Hudgins was last seen leaving the 2200 block of Colts Neck Road in Reston at 1:20 p.m., the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Countywide

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors opens door to potential pay raises

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated March 7, 2023 at 4:14PM

In front of the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Over the past two years, salaries have ticked up for local elected officials across Northern Virginia, and Fairfax County doesn’t want to get left out.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 today (Tuesday) to consider raising the annual pay to somewhere in the $125,000 to $130,000 range for board members and up to $140,000 to $145,000 for the chairman at a public hearing later this month.

News

Police: Vienna man dies in crash on I-66, possibly after speeding

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated March 7, 2023 at 5:11PM

Virginia State Police vehicle (photo by John Calhoun/JC Photography)

A 26-year-old man from Vienna died on Saturday (March 3) after crashing in the Rosslyn tunnel on I-66.

Virginia State Police are now investigating the single-vehicle crash in Arlington County, including to determine whether “excessive speed” was a contributing factor, according to a news release.

Countywide

Requests to seal criminal records soar in Fairfax County courts, as reforms take effect

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Courthouse (file photo)

An expansion of the criminal charges eligible for record-sealing in Virginia has led to a surge in petitions for expungement to Fairfax County’s courts.

Faced with that increased caseload, the courts have moved to streamline the process by no longer requiring those petitioning for an expungement to attend a hearing, the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney announced last week.

Around Town

Mezeh Mediterranean Grill to open tomorrow at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2023 at 9:30AM

Mezeh will open tomorrow at Tysons Corner Center (courtesy mezeh marketing team)

Mezeh is ready to open its doors at Tysons Corner Center.

A grand opening for the fast-casual Mediterranean chain’s new location at the mall will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). The restaurant is in the former Le Pain Quotidien next to Bloomingdale’s.