The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has begun looking at reducing speed limits on a select number of roads across the county.
The board’s transportation committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday) included a preliminary discussion on how the county can get the ball rolling on addressing roads with speed limits of 25 mph.
The greatest concentration of wealth in Fairfax County isn’t in the mansions of McLean or the waterfront estates near Mount Vernon that once counted former football team owner Dan Snyder among their residents.
The county’s wealthiest spot is, in fact, a sliver of Dunn Loring off of the I-495 and I-66 interchange that’s packed with single-family homes, according to the Business Journals Wealthy 1,000, a ranking of the 1,000 wealthiest zip codes in the U.S.
Pedestrian Hospitalized by Annandale Crash — “A man remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 6600 block of Columbia Pike…on Sept. 12, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The crash happened in the crosswalk between Mason District Park and the Annandale Healthcare Center shortly before 9 p.m.” [Annandale Today]
Metro to Close Some Stations for Maintenance — “Several downtown D.C. Metro stations will be closed for track work around Christmas this winter, affecting mostly riders on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines…Trains will be replaced with shuttle buses from Dec. 20 to 30 at Farragut West, McPherson Square, and the Blue, Orange, Silver train level at Metro Center.” [Washington Post]
County Appoints New Equity Leader — “Toni Zollicoffer has been appointed chief equity officer for Fairfax County, effective Monday, Sept. 30. This role is a key component in advancing the One Fairfax policy, a racial and social equity initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors…Zollicoffer succeeds Karla Bruce, the county’s first chief equity officer, who retires next week.” [Fairfax County Government]
McLean Bank to Go Public — “After nearly two decades in business, McLean-based Chain Bridge Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Chain Bridge Bank, is planning to go public…The price of the offering and the number of shares have not yet been determined, the company said” in a press release announcing its IPO plan on Friday (Sept. 13). [Washington Business Journal]
Police Investigate Larcenies — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying additional suspects responsible for stealing upwards of $12,000 worth of merchandise from department stores. Between July 9, 2024 and September 10, 2024, five suspects stole merchandise from nine” stores around Fairfax County. [FCPD]
Huntington Housing Development Nears Final Vote — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. on a rezoning plan application” for a 200-unit multi-family residential building near the Huntington Metro station. The site is “part of the larger ‘Parker’ development” and will include ground-floor retail. [On the MoVe]
Tysons Casino Opponents Plan Forum — “Last week, Virginia Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke) told Patch he intends to reintroduce his casino referendum legislation” after a Senate committee set it aside earlier this year. “At the same time, the anti-casino group No Fairfax Casino has scheduled a community forum for Sunday, Oct. 27, at McLean High School.” [Patch]
Reston Town Center Hosts Shredding Event — “The bi-annual R4 (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Reston) Collection Day returns on Wednesday, September 18! Drop off or drive through with any of the below recyclable items at Freedom Plaza…from 9 AM to 6:30 PM.” [Reston Town Center]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm, with patchy fog before noon. The day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 75. Precipitation chance is 60% but will drop to 30% at night, which will be mostly cloudy with a low around 65. [NWS]
Fairfax County will break ground this month on a major rehabilitation of its Accotink Wastewater Pump Station.
The county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services approved a $71 million construction contract on July 3 that included the first-ever Project Labor Agreement (PLA) administered by a local government in Virginia, according to a press release.
GAMEmason, a two-day gaming convention, is returning to George Mason University’s Fairfax campus this weekend.
After first popping up in late February, the convention will take over GMU for a second time this year in collaboration with the university’s computer design program, GMU Esports club, The Center for the Arts and Student Involvement.
Circuit Court Welcomes New Judge — “Patrick M. Blanch will be presented with his official commission as a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge on Friday, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse…The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony.” Blanch officially joined the circuit court when he took his oath of office on April 1. [Fairfax County Government]
Reston Library Reopens to Public — “The Reston Regional Library welcomes you back…Doors open at 10 a.m., following 10 weeks of renovations that included upgraded lighting, refurbished bathrooms, a first-ever water bottle filling station and carpet replacements.” [Supervisor Walter Alcorn/Facebook]
Yoga Studio Coming to Belle View — “Belle View Shopping Center is now fully leased following the signing of a new tenant at a unit that was recently vacated. Jess Purtell Yoga, a yoga studio, will soon be opening at the space between Roy Rogers and GOLFTEC.” [On the MoVe]
Bailey’s Crossroads Community Center Renamed — “Descendants of Minnie Peyton, residents of the Springdale community, and Fairfax County officials cheered as a new sign was unveiled designating the Bailey’s Community Center as the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s.” The renaming was celebrated at a ceremony on Saturday (Sept. 14). [Annandale Today]
Dance Studio to Open in Annandale — “International Dance anticipates opening in the former Treasure Trove spot in the Annandale Shopping Center in early October. The dance studio will offer lessons in ballet, tap, lyrical dance, jazz, modern dance, and Broadway dance for children ages 3 and above, teens, and adults.” [Annandale Today]
Reston Contractor Buys Fairfax IT Firm — “CACI…said early Monday that it would pay $1.275 billion in cash for Azure, a 17-year-old engineering firm that develops radio-frequency hardware and software for the Department of Defense. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.” [Washington Business Journal]
Local Restaurant Chain Celebrates 50 Years — “When Randy Norton opened a tiny Fairfax City pizza restaurant in 1974, he had no idea he would one day become a restaurant tycoon…Norton is now celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ultra-successful dining chain he and wife Patsy built from the ground up — Great American Restaurants.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Parking Restrictions Approved Near Madison HS — “Trash, lawn damage and safety were among factors Fairfax County supervisors considered before unanimously agreeing Sept. 10 to expand the Madison Residential Permit Parking District (District 11)” to Carey Lane between Jerry Lane and Vale Road after residents reported “large numbers” of students parking there. [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — Expect cloudy conditions with a 50% chance of showers and a high near 75. Tuesday night will see a 60% chance of precipitation, including potential thunderstorms, with a low around 67. Rainfall amounts could range from a quarter to half an inch. [NWS]
Bad news for anyone who has already gotten roots in the ground: Fairfax County’s window for planting trees has shifted back following a record-hot summer.
Forest Conservation (FCON) staff in the county’s Department of Land Development Services (LDS) updated its policy this spring to designate Oct. 1 through May 31 as the recommended time frame for planting trees, pushing back the previous start date of Sept. 1 and extending it through the winter.
Pedestrian in Fatal Franconia Road Crash ID’d — Fairfax County police have identified the pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run crash on Franconia Road on Friday (Sept. 13) as 43-year-old Springfield resident Julio Cesar Pasassi. Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives are still working to identify and find the driver. [FCPD]
Lake Accotink to Be Temporarily Lowered — “The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to begin an assessment of the dam structure at Lake Accotink in mid-September. To carry out the study, the water level in the lake will be lowered by up to five feet, which is expected to expose the muddy lakebed in many areas.” [Annandale Today]
Police Focus on Trespassing Issues — “The Mount Vernon Police District’s new station commander, Maj. Matthew Luik, told attendees of the Mount Vernon Community Advisory Committee meeting Sept. 12 that the station is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to prevent trespassing at vacant parcels along the Richmond Highway Corridor.” [On the MoVe]
NHL Team Partners with Herndon Company — “The LA Kings have announced a new strategic, multi-year partnership with Herndon-based Iron Bow Technologies, which marks Iron Bow’s first official sports partnership in Los Angeles,” the team announced earlier this month. “Iron Bow’s logo will appear on the front of all the Kings’ away jerseys.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Eden Center Hosts Moon Festival — “This year, bakery owner Vinh Tran said they made more than 500 mooncakes in preparation for their busiest day of the year: the Eden Center’s Moon Festival celebration Saturday. The Vietnamese shopping center hosts the annual event to honor the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated in many Asian cultures.” [Washington Post]
Local Restauranteurs to Compete in Capital Food Fight — “The Capital Food Fight is back this fall for its 20th year, presenting an evening of great food with some of the region’s best chefs to support DC Central Kitchen in its mission to combat hunger.” Four chefs will engage in a competition at the Anthem in D.C. on Nov. 7, while over 60 restaurants hawk samples to attendees. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Latino Conservation Week Underway — “The Fairfax County Park Authority proudly honors the cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities during Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino Conservation Week. Park enthusiasts are invited to join in celebrating the diverse traditions that have shaped our nation and local community — particularly within our parks.” [FCPA]
It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 77 accompanied by an east wind at around 9 mph. Tonight, there’s a 50% chance of showers starting after 2 am, with cloudy conditions and a low of 66. [NWS]
Changes will be coming to taxicab rates and charges in Fairfax County.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a staff recommendation to permanently increase rates for the first time in a decade during a meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 10).
Western D.C. Area Now in Drought — “Few locations in the D.C. area have seen more than a ground-dampening so far this month, and drought concerns are mounting yet again. The District has received just 0.02 inches of rain in September, while Dulles Airport hasn’t even received a trace.” [Washington Post]
Indian Restaurant Opens in Herndon — Maharani Palace Fine Indian Cuisine and Lounge, an “upscale Indian restaurant and banquet hall,” opened yesterday (Thursday) at 1030 Elden Street in the space previously filled by Mellow Mushroom. “Spice Holdings…is behind the new venture. This is the group’s first Virginia location.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Vienna Sidewalk Projects Approved — “The Vienna Town Council has approved two new sidewalk projects. With time running out for spending funds from the Maud Ferris Robinson Charitable Trust, Vienna Town Council members voted Sept. 9 to award” construction contracts for sidewalks on Frederick Street SW and Kingsley Road SE. [Gazette Leader]
Budweiser Horses to Appear at Frying Pan Park — “You’ve seen the Budweiser Clydesdales in Super Bowl ads, but now you can meet in person at Frying Pan Farm Park on Tuesday, Sept 17 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Grab a selfie with them and you’ll be a star at your next Super Bowl party.” [Supervisor Walter Alcorn/Twitter]
Repairs Starting Soon on Mason Neck Courts — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon be repairing the tennis court and basketball court at Mason Neck West Park. Weather pending, active construction is expected to conclude the second week of October 2024.” [FCPA]
Bird Advocates Warn About Light Pollution — “The Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, formerly known as the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, is raising awareness about the impacts of light pollution on birds. DarkSky International is partnering with the National Audubon Society on a Lights Out [campaign] to protect migrating birds.” [Patch]
Taste of Annandale Offers Entertainment Preview — “The Taste of Annandale will feature a packed entertainment schedule all day. The Taste is a free community festival on Sept. 21, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., at 7200 Columbia Pike. The lineup hasn’t been finalized yet, but here’s a preview of the expected performers.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high of around 82. Friday night is anticipated to be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to a low of 64. [NWS]
