Author: Melanie Pincus

Melanie Pincus is a reporter and editor from northern Virginia. She has contributed to FFXnow as a freelancer since 2022 and was a summer intern for Local News Now in 2018.

Around Town

Pride Month celebrations are coming to Fairfax County

By Melanie Pincus
The Mosaic District will hold its second annual Pride Parade this Saturday (via Mosaic District/Twitter)

Pride Month starts today (June 1), and opportunities to celebrate in Fairfax County extend through the month.

This Saturday (June 3) features events in the Mosaic District, Reston and the City of Fairfax. Closer to the end of the month, folk-rock musician Brandi Carlile will headline the Out & About Festival at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.

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Countywide

New Tysons-Bethesda route among possible changes to Metrobus system

By Melanie Pincus
The proposed future Metrobus network includes a new bus route between Tysons and Bethesda (via WMATA)

Local transportation officials are dreaming of a better future for Metrobus, including a 24-hour route connecting Tysons and Bethesda.

That route and others are part of Metro’s draft “Visionary Network,” an aspirational redesign of the 50-year-old bus network that will not be implemented — at least in full.

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Around Town

Community art event to celebrate spring at Mount Vernon Plaza parklet

By Melanie Pincus
A mural by McAlister's Deli at Mount Vernon Plaza (courtesy Federal Realty)

As roses, poppies and other May blooms flourish in Fairfax County, kids and adults can craft upcycled flowers at Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley next Saturday (May 20).

The Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC) will facilitate the art project at a free event dubbed “Chalkful of Flowers.” It will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the shopping center’s parklet at 7698 Richmond Highway, located behind Capital Chicken.

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News

County unveils student art submitted for future Richmond Highway bus stations

By Melanie Pincus
This artwork proposed by students for the Woodlawn station uses nature scenes to evoke the Pope-Leighey House and Arcadia Farm (via FCDOT)

In the year 2030, travelers on The One — the dedicated bus service planned for the Richmond Highway (Route 1) corridor — will be able to wait for their next ride while taking in artwork designed by local students.

Proposed artwork for seven of the nine future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit stations is now online, and county residents can share their preferences by filling out a survey that is open through April 3.

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Countywide

SCOOP: Fairfax County may explore ‘turn calming’ to improve pedestrian safety at intersections

By Melanie Pincus
A Route 50 intersection in Middleburg has a reduced turn radii and mountable apron to help slow traffic (via Fairfax County Trails, Sidewalks and Bikeways Committee)

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay plans to introduce a board matter next week that would direct county staff to analyze a road safety measure called turn calming.

The measure would direct staff to look at cities like Portland and New York City that have established turn calming programs, as recommended in a March 1 letter from the county’s Trails, Sidewalks and Bikeways (TSB) Committee.

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News

Construction now underway to widen Route 29 outside Centreville

By Melanie Pincus
Construction has begun to widen Route 29 between Legato and Centreville (via VDOT)

Fairfax County and the Virginia Department of Transportation have kicked off construction to widen a 1.5-mile stretch of Route 29 near Centreville.

Though there will be a ceremonial groundbreaking today (Wednesday), construction on the project began Feb. 9 to add two lanes to the roadway between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive.

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Countywide

Fairfax County sites linked to African American history could be eligible for national register, report says

By Melanie Pincus
Lane's Mill Archaelogical Park is one of two sites identified as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the county's African American Historic Resources draft report (via Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development)

Several locations linked to African American history in Fairfax County could be eligible to be designated as historic places.

Those buildings and neighborhoods include the Louise Archer School, the Tinner Hill neighborhood and Clifton Primitive Baptist Church. Along with other candidates, they appear in a draft African American Historic Resources Survey Report, which was released on Feb. 23.

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Countywide

After debate, Fairfax County School Board passes resolution on inclusivity

By Melanie Pincus
Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

The Fairfax County School Board passed a resolution on inclusive education at its meeting Thursday (Oct. 20), leaving aside an earlier version that  included references to social justice, equity and antiracism.

The 7-4 vote came with much back and forth about topics including board procedure and the resolution’s timeline.

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Countywide

Fairfax County could introduce speed enforcement cameras with pilot next year

By Melanie Pincus
A sign warns drivers on Blake Lane to slow down (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Fairfax County Police Department could begin using cameras to catch speeders in nine school crossing zones and one highway work zone as soon as early 2023.

The proposed photo speed enforcement pilot program was presented to the Board of Supervisors at a public safety committee meeting Tuesday (Oct. 4).

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Countywide

County’s new data dashboard shines a light on opioid overdoses, deaths

By Melanie Pincus
Fairfax County has launched a new data dashboard on opioid overdoses (via Fairfax County Health Department)

With opioids topping the list of causes of non-natural death in Fairfax County, local health officials have launched a new resource to give residents a better understanding of the situation.

A public-facing dashboard went live Monday (Oct. 3) with data about opioid overdoses and overdose deaths in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.

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