Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

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

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.

News

DEVELOPING: Man stabbed in Sunoco parking lot near RTC West

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 20, 2023 at 6:35PM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 6:45 p.m.) A man has been taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after getting stabbed in Reston.

Fairfax County police officers, including a K9 unit, are currently at the scene in the parking lot of a Sunoco (12191 Sunset Hill Road) near RTC West.

News

JUST IN: Democratic challengers for 37th Senate District team up in push to oust Chap Petersen

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 20, 2023 at 3:00PM

Erika Yalowitz, candidate for State Senate in the 37th District (photo courtesy of Erika Yalowitz)

Community organizer Erika Yalowitz has suspended her campaign for the Virginia State Senate’s 37th District.

One of three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, Yalowitz announced today (Thursday) that she is withdrawing from the race and will instead endorse her opponent, Saddam Azlan Salim, a financial consultant and vice president of the Fairfax Young Democrats.

News

McLean office park owner makes bid to add housing, underground utilities

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 20, 2023 at 1:30PM

Several offices in McLean Professional Park could be redeveloped as a multifamily residential building (via Walter Phillips/Fairfax County)

Some more construction could be in store for the southwest corner of Chain Bridge Road and Tennyson Drive in McLean.

The owner of the McLean Professional Park is seeking to replace six buildings in the office complex with a five-story, 104-unit multifamily residential building, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on Monday (April 17).

Around Town

Taste of Annandale festival returns next week after pandemic hiatus

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 20, 2023 at 11:45AM

The Taste of Annandale festival will return on April 29 for the first time since 2019 (photo by Ellie Ashford)

Annandale will close out April by resurrecting its annual celebration of food, diversity and local businesses after four dormant years.

The Taste of Annandale will return next week for the first time since COVID-19 emerged, taking over Tom Davis Drive on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.