Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Winter clothing donation drive starts today in the Providence District

Published December 19, 2022 at 1:30PM

A snow-covered mitten holds a paper heart (via Eli Pluma on Unsplash)

Winter is coming, and with temperatures projected to top out in the 30s and low 40s next week, staying warm will soon become even more of a challenge for many Fairfax County residents.

To help those in need get through the season, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik’s office will launch a winter clothes drive today (Monday), collecting coats, gloves and hats of all sizes for donation to local shelters.

Countywide

County prosecutor’s office awards grants for domestic violence victim services

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 19, 2022 at 11:45AM

Steve Descano named United Community’s Progreso Center as a recipient of a Community Partnership Grant (courtesy Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney)

A trio of local nonprofits that assist people who have experienced abuse and domestic violence got a little funding boost last week, courtesy of Fairfax County prosecutors.

On Thursday (Dec. 15), the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney named the Women for Afghan Women (WAW) and United Community’s Progreso Literacy and Citizenship Center as the inaugural recipients of its new Community Partnership Grants, which are intended for organizations that serve victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and crimes against children.

News

Robbery investigation sparked social media rumors of gunfire at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 19, 2022 at 10:20AM | Updated December 20, 2022 at 10:24AM

Tysons Corner Center at night (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 10:25 a.m. on 12/20/2022) Contrary to some reports on Twitter, there were no gunshots at Tysons Corner Center last night, Fairfax County police confirmed.

Officers with the Tysons Urban Team did take two people into custody at the mall as part of an investigation into a robbery in Arlington County, the department said.

News

Pedestrian killed in crash on Route 50 in West Falls Church

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 19, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated December 19, 2022 at 1:41PM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 1:40 p.m.) Another pedestrian has been killed on Route 50 (Arlington Blvd).

Tomas Escudero Machado, 76, of Falls Church died at the Westmoreland Blvd intersection in West Falls Church around 5:54 a.m. yesterday (Sunday) after he was struck by a driver who may have been speeding, the Fairfax County Police Department said today.

Countywide

McLean and Idylwood hit with delays in county leaf collections

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 16, 2022 at 1:30PM

Fallen leaves on the ground (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With winter on the horizon, Fairfax County is still racing to suck up the last leafy vestiges of autumn.

Specifically, the county’s crews have yet to pick up leaves in McLean and Idylwood, as a combination of staffing shortages, equipment issues and an early leaf fall have delayed collections, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services acknowledged yesterday.

News

National Building Museum executive tapped to lead McLean Community Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 16, 2022 at 10:15AM

The McLean Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The McLean Community Center has found a new executive director who will, hopefully, be a bit more permanent than its last one.

Fairfax County announced yesterday that the MCC Board of Directors appointed Betsy May-Salazar at a special meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 14) after an over four-month search for a long-term successor to Daniel Singh, who resigned on July 26 just 14 months into the job.

Around Town

MidnighTreats cookie bakery hopes to open in Vienna this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 15, 2022 at 3:00PM

The MidnighTreats team at their Reston store (courtesy MidnighTreats)

MidnighTreats and its softball-sized cookies are back in the Town of Vienna.

The business will potentially roll out its large, plant-based cookies this weekend with its new bakery at 167 Glyndon Street SE, fulfilling a dream that owner and Vienna resident Johnny Nguyen had since he started baking in his mom’s house.

Countywide

With cases on the rise, updated Covid vaccines added for kids under 5

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 15, 2022 at 2:15PM

Fairfax Health District COVID-19 cases over the past 26 weeks, as of Dec. 15, 2022 (via VDH)

Vaccines designed to combat omicron subvariants of COVID-19 are now available in Fairfax County for everyone 6 months and older.

The Fairfax County Health Department has obtained updated or bivalent vaccines for kids 6 months to 5 years old after federal health officials approved the shots to that age group last week.

News

Growing commercial law firm makes small move to bigger Tysons office

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 15, 2022 at 11:45AM

The office building at 1676 International Drive in Tysons (courtesy Brandywine Realty Trust)

A Richmond-based commercial law firm that dates back to the post-World War II era is inching closer to Tysons Galleria.

Citing a need for more space to accommodate its growth, Hirschler officially moved its Tysons office into a 12,200-square-foot suite at 1676 International Drive just before Thanksgiving, the company announced late last month.

News

Police link Lorton man charged with sexually assaulting minor to second assault

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 15, 2022 at 11:00AM | Updated December 15, 2022 at 1:14PM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) A Lorton man charged with alleged sexual battery of a minor may be responsible for a separate, earlier sexual assault against a woman in Mount Vernon, police say.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced today that additional charges have been filed against Louis C. Allen, 42, after they matched his DNA to evidence collected from a sexual assault at a Mount Vernon Lakes apartment on Feb. 2.