Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

UPDATED: Equipment failure causes power outages at Tysons malls

Published April 27, 2022 at 6:50PM | Updated April 27, 2022 at 8:43PM

Tysons Corner Center plaza entrance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Updated at 8:10 p.m. — The power outage in Tysons has been isolated to Tysons Corner Center, with Dominion Energy identifying a failed piece of equipment as the cause.

“Repairs are underway,” Dominion spokesperson Peggy Fox said at 7:44 p.m. “We’re hoping to have power back on within the hour.”

Countywide

JUST IN: Teen charged in fatal crash on Georgetown Pike was speeding, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County police badge (via FCPD/Facebook)

A teenager faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter after a woman died in a three-vehicle crash on Georgetown Pike in McLean last month.

While alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, detectives have determined that the 16-year-old, male driver was going more than 80 mph in a section of the roadway with a 35-mile-per-hour speed limit, the Fairfax County Police Department reported today (Wednesday).

Around Town

Capital One Center will offer preview of mini golf, food trucks next month

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2022 at 1:30PM

Work continues on the Perch Putt mini golf course and food trucks (courtesy Capital One Center)

Perch Putt is on its way.

The public will get its first look at the 18-hole mini golf course and food trucks being set up at Capital One Center’s The Perch skypark (1805 Capital One Drive) in Tysons on May 21 and 22 as part of a weekend-long “Perchfest Spring Edition” celebration.

Countywide

Here’s the new plan to redevelop the Commons of McLean apartments

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2022 at 10:30AM

Developer LCOR has proposed a more mixed-use neighborhood, McLean Crossing, to replace the Commons of McLean (via Fairfax County)

The Commons of McLean’s days are numbered.

As anticipated, developer LCOR has filed a new plan with Fairfax County for the Tysons East apartment complex that provides fewer housing units in favor of more commercial space, including potential senior living, office and hotel facilities.

Countywide

Masks still encouraged on Fairfax Connector amid rising Covid cases in community

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 27, 2022 at 9:00AM | Updated April 27, 2022 at 9:26AM

Fairfax Connector buses in Reston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax Connector has not formally rescinded its requirement that all passengers wear face masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

However, a court ruling that struck down federal mandates last week means that the public bus service can no longer enforce its policy, which relied on a now-halted directive from the Transportation Security Administration.

Around Town

‘Dirty soda’ shop coming to Vienna in May, bringing sweet refreshments

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2022 at 3:00PM

Vienna's new Coco's Sodas + Sweets will serve soft drinks flavored with syrup, fruit, and other add-ins (courtesy Coco's Sodas + Sweets)

During a recent sojourn to Utah, Ben and Heather Cichelli concocted a drink that changed their lives.

Now, the couple is bringing that drink — a blend of Diet Coke, coconut syrup, and fresh lime dubbed The Coco — and many others to the Town of Vienna, where they will open a new soda shop, Coco’s Sodas + Sweets.

News

A $650K tennis court renovation at Lewinsville Park could include permanent pickleball courts

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2022 at 10:30AM | Updated May 4, 2022 at 8:00PM

The Lewinsville Park tennis courts are in need of repair (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking $650,000 to renovate the aging tennis courts at Lewinsville Park in McLean.

The proposed project will restore the surfacing and fencing at all six existing courts at the park, and one of the courts will be converted into four dedicated pickleball courts.

Countywide

Victim in Herndon shooting recovers, as police investigation continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2022 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A shooting in Herndon earlier this month remains under investigation, the Fairfax County Police Department says.

Several community members reported hearing gunshots around 5:31 a.m. on April 16, drawing police to the 2100 block of Astoria Circle, just outside the Town of Herndon’s limits. Upon arriving, officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

Countywide

Robot helpers planned for upcoming senior living high-rise in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2022 at 3:45PM

Mather Director of Culinary Operations Thad Parton with a food-running robot that the senior living facility operator is testing in Arizona (courtesy Mather)

When The Mather Tysons opens in 2024, the senior living facility might employ some workers of the artificial intelligence variety.

Rest assured, these robots won’t be capable of planning a HAL 9000-style takeover. Instead, they will perform simple, repetitive tasks, such as delivering food to tables and apartments and cleaning hallways.

Countywide

Covid cases in Fairfax County rise to mid-February levels

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2022 at 1:30PM

Based on case and testing positivity numbers, Fairfax County is seeing "high" COVID-19 community transmission, as of April 25, 2022 (via CDC)

Officially, Fairfax County’s COVID-19 community level remains low, but when the county last saw this many cases, Fairfax County Public Schools was still fighting to keep masks in place.

The Fairfax Health District, which also includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, is now averaging 270 cases a day for the past week — the highest seven-day average since Feb. 13 (274 cases) — after adding more than 300 cases each on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (April 21-23).