Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

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

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.

News

DEVELOPING: One person pulled from overturned car in Herndon crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2023 at 9:10PM

A car overturned in a crash at Monroe Street and Woodland View Drive in Herndon (photo by Thresher Capital/Twitter)

A two-vehicle crash on Monroe Street near the Dulles Toll Road in Herndon drew a big emergency response earlier tonight (Monday).

One of the vehicles involved in the crash flipped over, trapping its occupant inside, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson William Delaney said.

News

At vigil, Timothy Johnson’s family calls on FCPD to release unedited video of fatal shooting in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2023 at 2:30PM

Melissa Johnson speaks at a vigil for her son, Timothy McCree Johnson, who was shot and killed by Fairfax County police officers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As a steady drizzle of rain provided an appropriately somber atmosphere, the parents of Timothy McCree Johnson and their supporters gathered in front of the Fairfax County Government Center on Friday (March 3) to call for justice after his recent death in a police shooting outside Tysons Corner Center.

With support from the Fairfax County NAACP, top among the family’s demands are the continued call for an independent investigation of the shooting and the prompt release of body-worn camera footage captured by the two police officers who fired their guns.