Caitlyn Meisner | FFXnow

Monument Drive commuter garage to begin operations this Saturday

Published June 17, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:15AM

A Fairfax Connector bus at the new Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage and Transit Center (via Fairfax County's Channel 16)

Commuters in the Fairfax Corner and Fair Oaks area will soon have a brand-new facility where they can park their car or bicycle before catching a bus or rideshare.

The Monument Drive Commuter Parking Garage will become operational this Saturday, June 22, following a ribbon cutting on Thursday (June 20), according to a Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) spokesperson.

News

Renovation of Mount Vernon Woods Park set to begin next week

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published June 7, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:15AM

A rendering of the planned renovations at Mount Vernon Woods Park (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

Work is about to begin on some brand-new recreational facilities at Mount Vernon Woods Park.

The contractor DeBorn Construction is set to begin active construction Monday (June 10) on a first phase of renovations at the neighborhood park. Depending on the weather, this phase is expected to finish early next year, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.

News

Final plan for new residential building in Tysons West approved

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 30, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:16AM

A rendering of the newly approved Building C in Tysons West, seen from Cornerside Boulevard and the future Yard Street (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission approved alterations on May 22 to a mixed-use residential building already planned for Tysons West.

The building at 8740 Yard Street is proposed to be a five- to eight-story multi-family building with up to 265 dwelling units and 5,000 square feet of retail space. Owned by JBG Smith, the property is situated near Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and is currently undeveloped.

News

Vienna nonprofit to paint mural as fundraiser for local food pantries

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 24, 2024 at 3:00PM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:16AM

A rendering of Rustic Love's planned mural on the building at 208 Dominion Road NE in Vienna (courtesy Vienna Business Association)

A new public art piece is coming to downtown Vienna this year.

Rustic Love, a Vienna-based nonprofit focused on food insecurity, is partnering with local artist Teresa L.C. Ahmad to create a mural on the Greenheart Juice building at 208 Dominion Road NE. Owned by Commonwealth Home Design, the building is across the street from the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and the Red Caboose.

News

Child care center eyes expansion with new franchise in Franconia

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 21, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:16AM

The location for The Learning Experience's proposed Franconia child care center (via Google Maps)

The Learning Experience, a national child care company, is looking to expand into Franconia.

Franchisee Manoj Gandhi has filed a special exception application with Fairfax County seeking to build a 10,000-square-foot child care center on undeveloped land at 7715 Beulah Street.

News

Community suggests fire station relocation, new rec center at Franconia Governmental Center

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published May 8, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:17AM

The existing Franconia Governmental Center is adjacent to the Franconia Fire Station (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County is taking another look at its plans for the Franconia Governmental Center.

After two initial meetings to gather input from the community in April, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk hosted a final community conversation at John Lewis High School on Monday (May 6) to share preliminary feedback on what the county should do with the nearly 3-acre property at 6121 Franconia Road.

News

Longtime FCPS educator named ‘Teacher of the Year’ by Washington Post

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 30, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:17AM

Colin Powell Elementary School teacher Laura Senturia was named the Washington Post's 2024 Teacher of the Year (photo by Karen Bolt/Fairfax County Public Schools)

A fourth-grade teacher at Colin Powell Elementary School in Centreville for more than 20 years has been named the Washington Post’s 2024 Teacher of the Year.

The newspaper announced last Tuesday, April 23 that Laura Senturia had earned the title — and a $7,500 prize — for her “rare talent for identifying her students’ innermost strengths.”

News

Vienna Town Council mulls changes to improve downtown parking and traffic flow

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published April 23, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:18AM

Sign for a private parking lot limited to Vienna Shopping Center customers and tenants (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna is considering several options to improve parking availability along its commercial corridor.

At a conference session on April 15, the Vienna Town Council reviewed recommendations to its update zoning laws, promote shared parking and improve signage, aiming to optimize downtown parking usage and reduce traffic in busy areas.

Around Town

Fairfax City Restaurant Week returns soon with diverse cuisine options

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published February 22, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:18AM

The Korean restaurant Meokja Meokja is among the 2024 participants in Fairfax City Restaurant Week (courtesy Meokja Meokja

(Updated at 11:50 a.m.) Fairfax City will soon invite community members to experience cuisines from Azerbaijan and the Caribbean to Ireland and Vietnam for its seventh annual Restaurant Week.

From Monday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 3, promotions will be available to diners at more than 25 restaurants, according to the event’s website.

News

New name suggestions wanted for historic Mount Vernon High School

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published February 8, 2024 at 2:30PM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 10:18AM

The Original Mount Vernon High School (via Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services)

Fairfax County is seeking public input on a new name and brand for Original Mount Vernon High School ahead of its redevelopment.

The county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services recently launched a survey that asks community members to consider feelings evoked by a new name, inspirations for the new name and themed word pairings.