Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

McLean church plans sale of century-old building to Montessori school

Published September 29, 2022 at 2:15PM

Chesterbrook United Methodist Church and Montessori School of McLean share a building at 1711 Kirby Road in McLean (via Google Maps)

The Montessori School of McLean could soon have the property at 1711 Kirby Road all to itself.

The private elementary school has occupied the nearly 4-acre parcel since the early 1970s, but the site has been shared with the Chesterbrook United Methodist Church, which constructed its longtime home there in 1920.

News

Police: Motorcyclist died after crash on I-495 near Inova Fairfax

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 29, 2022 at 11:45AM

Southbound I-495 approaching the exit to Gallows Road (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on I-495 South in the Annandale area last Friday (Sept. 23), the agency announced today (Thursday).

According to police, 25-year-old Carlos Javier Velez Mantalvo from Orlando, Florida, was riding a 2006 Honda CBR600 motorcycle, going south on I-495 early that morning.

News

New Sunrise Senior Living in McLean to welcome residents next spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 29, 2022 at 11:00AM

Sunrise of McLean Village will have a heritage garden with private and public sections (courtesy Sunrise Senior Living)

Construction continues to chug along on Sunrise Senior Living’s upcoming facility in McLean.

Sunrise of McLean Village broke ground at 1515 Chain Bridge Road on June 18, 2021 and is projected to move in its first residents in spring 2023, according to spokesperson John Chibnall.

Countywide

Morning Poll: How often will you ride Silver Line Phase 2 when it opens?

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 29, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated September 30, 2022 at 9:43AM

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation advertises the coming opening of Metro's Silver Line extension at the Mosaic District Fall Festival (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:40 a.m. on 9/30/2022) Metro’s extension of the Silver Line through Herndon into Loudoun County is finally starting to look like a reality, instead of a hypothetical, albeit expensive, project.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority unveiled new maps for its rail system last Friday (Sept. 23) that featured the six new stations, among other changes. A day earlier, its general manager got the go-ahead to set an opening date, though one has yet to be announced.

Countywide

Investigation into former Glasgow MS counselor finds “systematic issues” in FCPS hiring, firing processes

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 28, 2022 at 2:15PM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools will require all workers to undergo “regular” background checks after a now-terminated counselor remained employed at Lincolnia’s Glasgow Middle School despite being convicted of a sex crime.

The new policy is one of several changes announced yesterday (Tuesday) by FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid in response to an independent investigation into why the school system continued to employ Darren Thornton after he was convicted on March 11 of soliciting prostitution from a minor in Chesterfield County.

Countywide

County seeks $5M for multi-year effort to update voting machines

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 28, 2022 at 11:45AM

Voting in Fairfax County (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Early voting for the next general election has just gotten underway, but Fairfax County’s elections staff is already planning for next year and beyond.

The county’s Office of Elections has requested $5 million to launch a multi-year rollout of new, updated voting machines as part of a $190 million spending package carried over from fiscal year 2022, which ended on June 30.

News

FCPD: Rose Hill man charged with murder after father found dead

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 28, 2022 at 10:50AM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

An 82-year-old man died in Rose Hill yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) after an apparent assault by his son, Fairfax County police say.

Samy Hassanein, 36, was arrested overnight and has now been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his father, Talat Hassanein, the Fairfax County Police Department announced this morning (Wednesday).

News

Dog dies, home lost in McLean house fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 28, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated September 30, 2022 at 10:08AM

Firefighters assess the scene of a house fire in the 6900 block of Birch Street on the McLean border (via FCFRD)

(Updated at 10:10 a.m. on 9/30/2022) Four people lost their home and a pet dog early Wednesday morning (Sept. 28) after a fire at their house in McLean.

Fairfax County and Arlington firefighters were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. to the 6900 block of Birch Street, near the West Falls Church Metro station area, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department tweeted at 7:06 a.m. that day.

News

Regional Tex-Mex chain is coming to Merrifield’s Gatehouse Plaza

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2022 at 2:15PM

Guapo's will replace the now-shuttered Chevys Fresh Mex restaurant at Gatehouse Plaza in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A family-owned chain of Tex-Mex restaurants will soon add Merrifield to its roster of locations across the D.C. area.

Guapo’s plans to take over the former Chevys Fresh Mex restaurant at 3052 Gate House Plaza, as the Washington Business Journal reported on Friday (Sept. 23).

Countywide

Surveys give Fairfax County mostly high marks for Covid response

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2022 at 12:30PM

The Fairfax County Government Center's COVID-19 vaccination site in March 2021 (via FCHD/Twitter)

There were undeniably hiccups along the way, but Fairfax County’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic earned an overall positive assessment from community surveys conducted this summer.

A general community survey issued in June received 2,148 responses, representing just a fraction of the county’s over 1.1 million residents.