Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Construction begins on upgrades to busy Backlick Road intersection

Published August 18, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 1:59PM

Safety and operational improvements are under construction at the Backlick Road and Leesville Blvd intersection in Springfield (via VDOT/Twitter)

Work is underway on traffic signal and crosswalk improvements at a heavily used intersection in Springfield, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday (Wednesday).

Drivers and pedestrians at the intersection of Backlick Road and Leesville Blvd will see a number of changes intended to improve the site’s safety and functionality:

News

New Vienna police station could open to public in September

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 17, 2022 at 3:00PM

The Vienna Police Department's new headquarters is in the final stages of construction (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Workers are putting the finishing touches on Vienna’s new police station, which will consolidate all police operations under one roof and provide new community spaces.

After some disruptions earlier this year due to supply chain issues, the $14 million facility is scheduled to finish punch-list items and get a final Fairfax County inspection next week, according to an Aug. 12 update from the Town of Vienna Police Department.

News

UPDATED: Man shot in Huntington, prompting police search

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 17, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated August 18, 2022 at 3:14PM

Police block off Huntington Avenue for a shooting investigation (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Updated at 3:15 p.m. on 8/18/2022 — Paul Malone, 52, of Alexandria was arrested and charged with yesterday’s shooting in Huntington. Police currently don’t believe he knew the victim, who hasn’t been publicly identified yet. A handgun was found near the scene, police say.

Earlier: A 33-year-old man was shot just before 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) near Richmond Highway in Huntington, Fairfax County police say.

News

Tysons Galleria’s upcoming dine-in movie theater has a premiere date

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 17, 2022 at 10:15AM

The restaurant/movie theater CMX CineBistro will open at Tysons Galleria on Sept. 23 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In just over a month, Tysons Galleria patrons will be able to get dinner, a drink and a movie — all from the same reclining, leather armchair.

The mall’s new CMX CinéBistro will open on the third floor of the redeveloped Macy’s wing on Sept. 23, as noted on the movie theater company’s website.

Countywide

Appeals court sides with transgender woman in lawsuit over treatment at Fairfax County jail

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 16, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated August 18, 2022 at 4:56PM

The Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) A transgender woman’s lawsuit alleging discrimination at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center will be allowed to move forward in a potentially landmark decision in the fight for trans rights.

Former inmate Kesha Williams can pursue her complaint arguing that the harassment she experienced at the county jail violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, a U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled in an opinion released today (Tuesday).

Countywide

Fairfax County volunteer’s petition urging Home Depot to stop sales of invasive plants takes root

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 16, 2022 at 11:45AM

English ivy at Home Depot's garden center in Merrifield (photo by Lauren Taylor)

Once McLean resident Lauren Taylor learned how to identify invasive plants in Fairfax County’s parks, she couldn’t stop noticing them.

They take a variety of forms, from shrubs like Japanese barberry — distinctive for the red coloring and spatula-like shape of its leaves — to creeping vines such as wintercreeper and English ivy that essentially strangle trees.

News

Coworking company will open shared office spaces in Merrifield this winter

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 16, 2022 at 11:00AM | Updated August 16, 2022 at 3:18PM

Venture X's Merrifield franchise will include a community space (courtesy Venture X)

(Updated at 3:20 p.m.) A coworking company that advertises its flexible offices as “the future of workspace” is bringing that future to Merrifield.

Venture X has leased nearly 28,000 square feet of space on the third floor of Williams Crossing (3060 Williams Drive) and will open its first coworking location in Fairfax County on Jan. 2, 2023, the company announced last Wednesday (Aug. 10).

News

Smoothie King stakes out Vienna for new franchise

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 15, 2022 at 2:15PM

The former Savvy Rest store is being renovated for Smoothie King (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Another health-focused juice bar is laying claim to territory in the Town of Vienna, joining the likes of South Block and Greenheart Juice Bar and Cafe.

The Texas-based chain Smoothie King will take over the space at 258 Maple Ave East that Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom vacated last summer after 10 years in the town.

Countywide

Fairfax County now seeing ‘low’ level of COVID-19 in community, CDC says

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 15, 2022 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County's COVID-19 community level is now low, as of Aug. 11, 2022 (via CDC)

Fairfax County’s COVID-19 community level has dropped from “medium” to “low,” as anticipated based on a steady decline in case numbers over the past month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed the county’s community level with its weekly update on Thursday (Aug. 11), as its case rate of 187.71 cases per 100,000 residents dipped below the 200 mark for the first time since early May.

Countywide

Expanded W&OD Trail, Occoquan adventure center and more planned for Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 15, 2022 at 11:45AM

The dual W&OD Trail in Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Within the next decade, Fairfax County could see pedestrians and bicyclists split up along its stretch of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, among other potential changes at its regional parks.

In a new, five-year strategic plan released last Tuesday (Aug. 9), the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks) proposes expanding the “dual trail” design introduced last year in Falls Church to other segments of the 45-mile, cross-county park.