Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

New plan submitted for Virginia Tech campus redevelopment near West Falls Church Metro

Published September 27, 2022 at 11:00AM

Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia Center in Idylwood (via Google Maps)

A developer has officially filed plans with Fairfax County to bring housing, retail, and new office and academic facilities to Virginia Tech’s campus in Idylwood.

As a joint entity named Converge West Falls LLC, real estate investment firm Rushmark Properties and the construction company HITT Contracting have proposed replacing the existing Northern Virginia Center at 7054 Haycock Road with a 283,000-square-foot office building, up to 440 residential units, and a 2,000-square-foot retail pavilion.

News

Upgraded bridge on Mount Vernon Trail in Fort Hunt officially reopens

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 27, 2022 at 9:30AM

National Park Service staff, elected officials, and community volunteers celebrate the reopening of Mount Vernon Trail's Bridge 12 (via National Park Service)

The National Park Service has completed the first of four planned projects to reconstruct bridges along Mount Vernon Trail.

Park service staff, elected officials and community members celebrated the reopening of Bridge 12 near Fort Hunt Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday (Sept. 24). The occasion coincided with National Public Lands Day, which encourages volunteers to help restore and improve national parks and other public lands.

News

Vienna proposes bonuses to attract more maintenance truck drivers

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2022 at 2:30PM

A kid runs past Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With the national shortage of commercial drivers continuing to strain services from trash collection to school buses, the Town of Vienna plans to increase salaries and offer bonuses to bolster its maintenance workforce.

As part of a new incentive program, the Department of Public Works recommends that the town increase its entry-level salary for maintenance workers to $55,000 and offer a $2,000 hiring bonus to new employees with a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

News

West Falls Church development plans will require major Metro parking cuts

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2022 at 1:30PM

A rendering of the proposed development outside the West Falls Church Metro station (via WMATA)

Metro anticipates reducing the parking capacity at its West Falls Church station by over 700 spaces in order to accommodate a planned redevelopment of the property between I-66 and Haycock Road.

Under review by Fairfax County, the project would replace the Metro station’s surface parking lots with 24 acres of mixed-use development, including up to 900 residential units, 110,000 square feet of office, and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

News

Remains found in Tysons identified as teen who disappeared 47 years ago

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2022 at 11:45AM

Police have identified the remains of Patricia Gildawie, a 17-year-old Fairfax City resident who went missing in 1975 (via FCPD)

Human remains discovered by a drainage ditch in Tysons over two decades ago have been linked to a teen who went missing back in 1975, Fairfax County police announced today (Monday).

With help from the private forensics lab Othram Inc., cold case detectives have identified the remains found behind the Post apartments in 2001 as those of Patricia Agnes Gildawie, a Fairfax City resident who disappeared when she was 17.

Countywide

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: Sept. 19-23

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 23, 2022 at 3:00PM

A duck takes a bath in Royal Lake near Burke (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The weekend is almost here. Before you double check your Congressional district or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.

Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:

News

McLean HS teacher will compete in upcoming ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episode

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 23, 2022 at 2:30PM

McLean High School teacher Jeffrey Brocketti can’t wait to tell everyone what he discussed with host Pat Sajak during a “Wheel of Fortune” commercial break.

He will soon be allowed to share that story and more after his episode — the 10th of the game show’s 40th season — airs at 7 p.m. Monday (Sept. 26) on ABC.

News

UPDATED: Police search for suspect after gunshots shut down Bailey’s Crossroads

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 23, 2022 at 12:40PM | Updated September 23, 2022 at 6:16PM

Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) closed in both directions around Bailey's Crossroads as police investigate gunfire (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 6:15 p.m.) — Bailey’s Crossroads, including Route 7 and Crossroads Place, has reopened and shelter-in-place orders have been lifted after reported gunshots prompted a massive police response to the area.

The Fairfax County Police Department continues to investigate the shooting, which reportedly damaged two cars in the 3500 block of Jefferson Street but didn’t result in any injuries.

Around Town

Local resident unleashes pet care service Woofie’s in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 23, 2022 at 11:45AM

Woofie's of McLean is owned by local residents Ana and Socheat Hul (courtesy Hul family)

A pet care business that brings grooming, dog walking, pet sitting and other services directly to owners has expanded into McLean.

Launched earlier this month, Woofie’s of McLean introduced itself to the community on Saturday (Sept. 17) at the kick-off for Shipgarten’s seven-week Oktoberfest celebration in Tysons. The “Dogtoberfest” event on Oct. 22 will serve as a grand opening.

Countywide

Fairfax County to launch early voting for Congressional midterms on Friday

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 22, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated September 22, 2022 at 9:11PM

A Fairfax County Office of Elections ballot drop box from 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 9:10 p.m.) In Fairfax County, the battle for control of Congress starts tomorrow (Friday).

The county will open three early voting sites and start mailing out absentee ballots for the Nov. 8 general election, which will decide three seats in the House of Representatives as well as the Town of Herndon’s leadership.