Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Vienna’s Louise Archer Elementary takes step closer to renovation

Published July 7, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated July 11, 2022 at 5:36PM

Louise Archer Elementary School (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated on 7/11/2022) Fairfax County Public Schools has officially committed $36 million to renovating Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna.

The Fairfax County School Board awarded a contract to Henley Construction Company, Inc. during its June 16 meeting. The contractor beat out two other bidders for the project, which will roughly double the size of the school building.

Around Town

Korean BBQ and ramen eatery joins Merrifield’s Pan Am Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 7, 2022 at 11:00AM

The Korean and Japanese restaurant Rateba Grill and Ramen had its grand opening in the Pan Am Shopping Center on July 5 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rateba Grill and Ramen has opened at the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield.

Offering a combination of Korean food and Japanese noodle soups, the new restaurant celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday (July 5). It replaced Lo’s Restaurant at 3075 Nutley Street, next to Bangkok St. Thai.

Countywide

FCPD: Detectives identify ‘Christmas Tree Lady,’ solving 26-year cold case

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 7, 2022 at 10:15AM | Updated July 7, 2022 at 10:53AM

Known as the "Christmas Tree Lady," a woman now identified as Joyce Meyer died by suicide in Annandale in 1996 (via FCPD)

(Updated at 10:55 a.m.) A woman who died by suicide at a cemetery in Annandale 26 years ago has been identified.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced this morning (Thursday) that the woman known colloquially as the “Christmas Tree Lady” was 69-year-old Joyce Meyer. Detectives made the link using DNA tests and genomic sequencing by the Houston-based forensic laboratory Othram Inc.

Countywide

JUST IN: Tractor-trailer fire shuts down Capital Beltway at Route 50

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2022 at 4:35PM | Updated July 6, 2022 at 8:52PM

Fire and Rescue vehicles block off southbound I-495 at Route 50 after a tractor-trailer fire (via VDOT Northern Virginia/Twitter)

(Updated at 5 p.m.) A tractor-trailer caught fire on I-495 this afternoon (Wednesday), shutting down all southbound lanes at the Route 50 interchange in Merrifield.

The fire appears to have sparked right as the afternoon rush hour was getting underway. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported at 4:16 p.m. that it has units on the scene working to extinguish the fire.

News

McLean Community Center issues apology for Fourth of July fireworks cancellation

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2022 at 2:25PM

A sign for the McLean Community Center (file photo)

This weekend, McLean got its first Fourth of July fireworks since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020 — only no one was around to see them.

The McLean Community Center held its annual Independence Day Celebration at Langley High School on Saturday (July 2) to accommodate a staffing shortage at its fireworks vendor, an issue that affected several other Fourth of July events in the area as well.

Countywide

Flooding possible for Fairfax County this afternoon and evening

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated July 6, 2022 at 2:25PM

A Flood Watch has been issued for the D.C. area on July 6 (via National Weather Service/Twitter)

Updated at 2:25 p.m. — The Flood Watch has been extended to 5 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday), per Fairfax County.

Earlier: A Flood Watch is on the horizon for much of the D.C. area, including Fairfax County.

News

Tysons Corner Center to add more electric vehicle charging stations

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2022 at 11:00AM

Electrify America's electric vehicle charging station at Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

More electric vehicle charging stations are on their way to Tysons Corner Center, though exactly when they’ll arrive and how many there will be remains to be determined.

Right now, locating a station at the mall requires some hunting or the assistance of a mobile app. Of the approximately 11,000 parking spaces, just seven are outfitted with electric vehicle chargers.

News

Woman hospitalized after car is hit by tractor-trailer on I-66 in Fair Lakes

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2022 at 9:30AM

The I-66 ramp onto and off of Stringfellow Road in Fair Lakes (via Google Maps)

A woman was hospitalized after her car was hit by components of a tractor-trailer on I-66 in the Fair Lakes area.

The woman was driving onto I-66 East from Stringfellow Road around 1:34 p.m. on Friday (July 1) when her black 2015 Nissan Murano “was struck by a wheel hub and tire assembly lost from a tractor-trailer traveling west on I-66,” the Virginia State Police said on Saturday (July 2).

News

Fairfax County releases plan for new, two-story Tysons community center

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated April 11, 2023 at 2:48PM

A rendering of the proposed community center in the southeast corner of Dominion Square West Building C5 (via KGD Architecture/Fairfax County)

Tysons residents will soon get to shape the plan for Fairfax County’s community center in the upcoming Dominion Square West housing development.

The county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) staff will host a trio of community engagement forums later this month to gather feedback on potential services, activities and programming for the new facility, which will fill 30,000 square feet at the base of a 20-story residential high-rise at 1592 Spring Hill Road.

Countywide

Maryland driver charged after I-495 police pursuit ends with car flipping in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2022 at 10:15AM

A Virginia State Police vehicle (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Maryland driver has been arrested after leading police on an extended chase down the Capital Beltway yesterday (Monday) that crossed state lines and ended with a car flip in Tysons.

According to Montgomery County police, its officers were on the lookout for 26-year-old Frederick K. Njihia of Germantown after getting a report of a man shooting a rifle at people, including a local sanitation worker whose vehicle was hit multiple times.