Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

NEW: Herndon appoints new police chief, ousting leader who clashed with Fairfax County

Published March 14, 2025 at 8:15AM

New Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak (courtesy Town of Herndon)

Maggie DeBoard is officially out as head of the Herndon Police Department.

The Town of Herndon announced yesterday (Thursday) that Captain Steven T. Pihonak has been appointed as its new police chief, just over a month after DeBoard was placed on administrative leave for reasons the town declined to disclose. Pihonak was serving in the role on an acting basis since Feb. 12.

News

FCPD: Man tried to sexually assault woman he offered a ride

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2025 at 11:00AM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

An Alexandria man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman in Hybla Valley.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the woman was walking in the area in the early morning of Sunday, March 9 “when an unknown man approached her in a vehicle.”

News

Reston Community Center revives annual prom dress giveway

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2025 at 9:45AM

Promotional display for Reston Community Center's 23rd annual Diva Central Formal and Prom Dress Giveaway (courtesy RCC)

For students looking to freshen up their look for an upcoming school dance, Reston Community Center (RCC) has you covered.

The community center will bring back its annual Diva Central Formal and Prom Dress Giveaway for a 23rd year on Saturday, March 22. The one-day-only event at RCC Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza North) offers students an opportunity to pick out formal clothes and accessories for free.

Around Town

New restaurant Sorn Thai ready for grand opening in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 13, 2025 at 8:15AM

Duck rolls from Sorn Thai (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

McLean’s newest restaurant leaves little doubt about its inspiration, with a sign above its front entrance that identifies her in bold black letters.

Owner Supisa “Boom” Teawbut developed Sorn Thai to honor her grandmother, who passed away two years ago but left behind a trove of recipes that will serve as the centerpiece of the restaurant’s menu.

News

Park Authority seeks to expand understanding of Sully Historic Site’s past

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2025 at 3:45PM

Sully Historic Site house (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

As a designated national historic place, Sully Historic Site’s backstory likely doesn’t qualify as obscure, but it may be incomplete, the Fairfax County Park Authority says.

The agency hopes to fill in some of those gaps with a new “Reimagining Sully” project expected to kick off this spring. The initiative will aim to tell “more complete and accurate and authentic stories” about the former plantation, according to FCPA Resource Management and Interpretation Division Director Laura Grape.

Around Town

Wolf Trap park adds Latin music festival to summer programming

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2025 at 11:15AM

A crowd on the Filene Center lawn at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (courtesy Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts)

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts has added a brand-new event to its summer calendar.

After unveiling an initial summer lineup last month, the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announced yesterday (Tuesday) that the park will also host the inaugural Todo Sonido, a festival celebrating Latin American music, this July 12-13.

Around Town

Pennsylvania brewery to open first D.C. area restaurant near Herndon

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 12, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated March 12, 2025 at 9:45AM

A burger and fries from Voodoo Brewing Company (courtesy Voodoo Brewing Company)

A brewery that has achieved cult status in its home state of Pennsylvania hopes to soon cast the same spell on Fairfax County.

Voodoo Brewing Company will open a restaurant — its first in the D.C. region — at the Makers Rise apartment building near the Innovation Center Metro station, just outside Herndon, property developer Crimson Partners announced yesterday (Tuesday).

Around Town

Dance studio circles potential new location in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2025 at 11:15AM

Landscaped area for 8603 Westwood Center Drive in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An office complex near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons could soon be reinvigorated by the power of dance.

A dance studio has expressed interest in opening a new location at the Westwood Center, Atlantic Realty Company — which owns and manages the adjacent buildings at 8603 and 8605 Westwood Center Drive — said in a zoning application submitted to Fairfax County in late February.

News

Town of Herndon considers first real estate tax hike in over a decade

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2025 at 9:45AM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 4:11PM

Lawn behind Herndon Municipal Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Town of Herndon is joining Fairfax County, Fairfax City and other Northern Virginia localities in contemplating real estate and meals tax rate increases to address growing expenses and prepare for potentially tough economic times ahead.

The proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released yesterday (Monday) by interim town manager Christopher Martino bumps up the property tax rate by 1 cent — from 26 cents to 27 cents per $100 of assessed value — and the tax rate on prepared food and beverages from 3.75% to 4%.

Countywide

Fairfax County to enforce school bus passing violations with cameras, starting this spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 11, 2025 at 9:00AM

The stop arm on a Fairfax County school bus (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

More than a decade after it started exploring a program, Fairfax County is finally ready to introduce school bus cameras designed to catch illegally passing drivers.

The county government and Fairfax County Public Schools will install stop-arm camera systems on 50 buses for the program’s initial launch, which will begin with a 30-day warning period on April 9.