Melanie Pincus | FFXnow

Planning commission OKs access-limiting gates for Herndon development

Published May 2, 2024 at 10:30AM

One Sunrise Valley developer Bittersweet Fields LLC is seeking to amend its plan for land units C and D, outlined in yellow (via Fairfax County)

A large residential development planned in Herndon will be allowed to use two access gates — at least for a few hours on weekdays, eventually.

Pomeroy Clark I, the land owner and developer, got Fairfax County’s approval late last month to amend its plans for One Sunrise Valley, which will deliver 1,093 housing units on about 44 acres of land near the Frying Pan Road and Sunrise Valley Drive intersection.

Around Town

Farmers market, big trucks to park in Herndon this week

By Melanie Pincus

Published April 29, 2024 at 2:30PM

Herndon's Big Truck Day will return Friday, May 3 (courtesy Town of Herndon)

The Town of Herndon’s farmers market is opening for the season this Thursday (May 2).

The market will then reoccur from 8 a.m. to noon every Thursday through the first week of November on Lynn Street in downtown Herndon.

News

Halal hot chicken restaurant opens in Reston’s South Lakes Village Center

By Melanie Pincus

Published April 16, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated May 8, 2024 at 11:15AM

The Red Bird is now serving up six tiers of hot chicken in Reston.

The halal hot chicken chain has joined the roster of restaurants in South Lakes Village Center (11120 South Lakes Drive) after opening its first Northern Virginia franchise location in Vienna five months ago.

Around Town

Vienna’s Green Expo to offer education, energy audit and lawn-mowing ewes

By Melanie Pincus

Published April 11, 2024 at 10:30AM

The solar power installation company Ipsun Solar at the 2023 Vienna Green Expo (courtesy Town of Vienna)

In Fairfax County, sheep mow lawns, beekeepers remove misplaced swarms and gardeners teach the community.

The Town of Vienna will feature organizations that do all that and more at its annual Green Expo at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE). Sponsored by the town’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission, the expo is set for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 18 — four days before Earth Day.

Countywide

Fairfax County may expand court access with remote kiosks, artificial intelligence

By Melanie Pincus

Published March 28, 2024 at 2:30PM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is considering using kiosks equipped with artificial intelligence to provide select legal information in a variety of languages.

The kiosks would feature a virtual assistant that could answer frequently asked questions using a closed-AI system (as distinct from open AI), according to Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, who introduced a board matter on the kiosks at the board’s March 19 meeting.

News

Group behind George Washington’s Mount Vernon honored by governor, first lady

By Melanie Pincus

Published March 21, 2024 at 9:30AM

Virginia First Lady Suzanne Youngkin presents the Spirit of Virginia award to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (official photo by Shealah Craighead)

The nonprofit responsible for historic preservation at Mount Vernon collected a state-level honor last week.

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association received the first of six 2024 Spirit of Virginia awards from Gov. Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin on Friday (March 15).

Countywide

Fairfax County kicks off menstrual supply drive for Women’s History Month

By Melanie Pincus

Published March 4, 2024 at 9:30AM

Menstrual pads and tampons (via Natracare on Unsplash)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is marking Women’s History Month with a menstrual supply drive.

Starting today (Monday) through March 29, sites throughout the county will collect new, sealed packages of tampons, pads, liners and menstrual cups.

Countywide

Fairfax County Park Authority launches survey to identify barriers to programs

By Melanie Pincus

Published February 26, 2024 at 9:30AM

The Fairfax County Park Authority's Providence Rec Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Park Authority wants to know how community members are using its park facilities.

The park authority has launched an equity survey, open through Monday, April 1, as part of its ongoing work to improve access to park programs.

Around Town

Construction nears on new South Block juice shop in Chantilly

By Melanie Pincus

Published February 13, 2024 at 11:45AM

South Block logo (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

South Block may be on the verge of an East Coast expansion, but for its next location, the regional juice and smoothie bowl chain is sticking relatively close to home.

Announced in a Halloween Instagram post, South Block’s 16th shop is set to open in The Field at Commonwealth (14383 Newbrook Drive) in Chantilly this summer. Construction will begin within the next couple weeks, South Block founder and CEO Amir Mostafavi told FFXnow in an email.

News

Design work on southern GW Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail upgrades can begin

By Melanie Pincus

Published January 30, 2024 at 3:30PM

Safety and operational improvements are planned for the GW Parkway's southern segment and Mount Vernon Trail improvements project scope (via National Park Service)

A stretch of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in southern Fairfax County is moving toward some major changes, as is the neighboring Mount Vernon Trail.

The National Park Service, which maintains the GW Parkway and much of the Mount Vernon Trail, plans to start “initial design work and planning for key aspects of the project” this year, per a Jan. 26 press release.