Fatimah Waseem | FFXnow

Housing affordability, post-pandemic recovery dominate House District 7 candidate forum

Published May 18, 2023 at 3:45PM | Updated May 19, 2023 at 9:52AM

(Updated at 9:50 a.m. on 5/19/2023) A slate of four candidates running to represent Reston in the House of Delegates aired their ideas on housing affordability, mental health issues and post-pandemic recovery at a candidate forum last night (Wednesday).

Organized by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Cornerstones, the forum at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (1441 Wiehle Avenue) challenged the District 7 candidates with questions from a panel, followed by meet-and-greet time with the audience.

Countywide

Report urges changes to FCPD’s use of force policy, expanded oversight

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 18, 2023 at 11:15AM

Fairfax County police cruiser (via FCPD/Facebook)

A board-commissioned workgroup is calling for changes to Fairfax County Police Department’s use of force policies and expanded independent oversight.

At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors safety and security committee meeting on Tuesday (May 16), a 10-member Police Reform Matrix Working Group (MWG) created by the board released a broad 46-page report that establishes the need for policy changes and additional accountability.

News

Plan to convert bank in South Lakes Village Center on hold

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 18, 2023 at 10:30AM

The vacant bank in South Lakes Village Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Plans to convert a drive-thru bank into a fast food restaurant in Reston’s South Lakes Village Center are on hold.

At a June 21 meeting, the Fairfax County Planning Commission plans to indefinitely defer the application, which would have converted the bank into drive-thru restaurant.

News

Herndon High School band plans big concert to celebrate 75th anniversary

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 17, 2023 at 3:30PM

The Pride of Herndon is marking its 75th anniversary with a special spring bash (Photo courtesy Herndon HS).

Herndon High School’s Pride of Herndon will celebrate its 75th anniversary later this month with a spring bash.

The band — which served as a landmark program in the county — was established in 1947. Since then, the program has ballooned into a program with nearly 200 students.

News

Town of Herndon seeks to fill funding gap for East Spring Street widening

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 17, 2023 at 11:15AM

Work on improvements on East Spring Street in Herndon are set to begin next year (via VDOT)

Rising construction costs have created a funding gap for the widening of East Spring Street.

The Town of Herndon is seeking roughly $3.1 million in federal funding for the project, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Around Town

Fast food franchise Wingstop coming to Fairfax Centre

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 17, 2023 at 10:30AM

Wingstop is coming soon to Fairfax (photo by Angela Woolsey).

Wingstop is planning to open a new location in Fairfax County.

The franchise is expected to open at 11181 Lee Highway in Fairfax Centre. A sign posted at the front of the business says it is slated to come soon.

News

New trail to Herndon Metro Station finished ahead of schedule

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 16, 2023 at 1:30PM

The trail was completed two months ahead of schedule (Photo courtesy Town of Herndon).

A connection has now been solidified between Herndon Metro station and Van Buren Street.

The Town of Herndon has completed construction of an 800-foot trail for pedestrians and bicyclists that connects the Metro station to Van Buren Street by Worldgate Centre.

News

Herndon man arrested for three armed robberies in Sterling over two days

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 16, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated May 16, 2023 at 11:19AM

A Herndon man has been arrested for three armed robberies in Sterling, including one at the 7-Eleven on West Church Road (via Google Maps)

A 26-year-old Herndon man was arrested yesterday (Monday) in connection with a trio of armed robberies in Sterling over a 36-hour period.

According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, the first robbery happened at a 7-Eleven in the 700 block of West Church Road. A man brandished a knife and demanded money from the clerk shortly before 1:50 a.m. on Sunday (May 14).

News

Metro: Over 1 million people have ridden Silver Line Phase 2 so far

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 15, 2023 at 1:30PM

A woman exits the Innovation Center Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Two stops on Metro’s Silver Line have risen above all others since the rail line was extended into Loudoun County last fall.

The stations at Dulles International Airport and Ashburn remain the most popular so far, continuing a trend seen in the first month of operations for the extension, according to Metro officials.

Countywide

Fairfax County contests Va. Supreme Court ruling on zMOD even with code readopted

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 15, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated May 15, 2023 at 2:24PM

The Fairfax County Government Center (file photo)

(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) Fairfax County officials are hoping to clear up a legal kerfuffle over its zoning ordinance, which was readopted last week after getting voided by the Virginia Supreme Court earlier this year.

Before readopting a modernized version of the zoning ordinance — known as zMod — on May 9, the county filed a petition for a rehearing in the Supreme Court case Berry v. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.