Countywide | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published January 10, 2023 at 7:30AM | Updated January 10, 2023 at 5:17PM

Cranes are working on the West Falls development in Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 5:15 p.m.) Vienna Area Voters Elect New Delegate Today — “The special election to fill the Virginia House of Delegates 35th District seat is set for Tuesday. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m… The special election’s candidates are Democrat Holly Seibold and Republican Monique Baroudi.” [Patch]

Stolen Tractor-Trailer Holds up I-495 — “Officers from our Auto Crimes Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on a stolen tractor trailer on I495 SB just past Braddock Rd. The driver is in custody and tow truck [en route]. Lanes temporarily blocked as detectives investigate.” The vehicle was stolen in Florida, police told FFXnow. [FCPD/Twitter]

Fairfax County’s state lawmakers file bills for higher teacher pay, campaign finance reform and more

By Matt Blitz

Published January 9, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated August 13, 2024 at 12:31PM

The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

As the Virginia General Assembly convenes this week for its 2023 session, local lawmakers hope to pass bills highlighting campaign finance reforms, raising teacher pay, paid sick leave, and other issues.

The General Assembly will meet in Richmond on Wednesday (Jan. 11) for a 46-day session lasting until Feb. 25, though special and reconvened sessions later in the year are possible.

What Fairfax County restaurants to hit up for Restaurant Week

By Vernon Miles

Published January 9, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:41PM

Dish at Agora (image courtesy Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington)

Winter Restaurant Week is scheduled to kick off next week, and over 20 eateries across Fairfax County are signed up to offer special offerings as part of the event.

During Restaurant Week — a bi-annual event sponsored by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) — participating restaurants in the D.C. region offer special menus to encourage locals to try new locations around the area.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published January 9, 2023 at 7:30AM

Trees wrapped in lights at the Vienna Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

TikTok Video of Fake Fairfax Bus Sign Goes Viral — “The City of Fairfax does not want you to run over jaywalking pedestrians in order to teach them a lesson…A video posted to TikTok by the user @hamandgreenpepperomelette shows the back of a Fairfax City CUE bus with a bogus sign that reads: ‘Don’t stop for pedestrians if they jaywalk. Let them learn a lesson.'” [Patch]

Route 28 South Closure in Centreville Tomorrow — “Overhead sign installation on Route 28 South approaching I-66 will require overnight closures of the Route 28 South collector-distributor lane, the ramp from Braddock Road/Walney Road to Route 28 South and I-66 East, and the ramp from I-66 West to Route 28 South nightly, Tuesday, January 10, through Thursday, January 12.” [VDOT]

County files plan for redevelopment of Fairfax’s judicial complex

By Fatimah Waseem

Published January 6, 2023 at 11:45AM

The first phase of development will kick off with building one (photo courtesy handout/fairfax county government).

Plans are officially in for the massive redevelopment of Fairfax’s judicial complex — a 48-acre swath of land that is slated for redevelopment.

The complex is currently home to Fairfax County’s circuit, general, district and juvenile courts, along with the Historic Fairfax County Courthouse, jail and volunteer organizations.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published January 6, 2023 at 7:30AM

Winter decorations and a disco ball hang from the ceiling at Tysons Galleria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons Corner Center Sees Uptick in Arrests — “Arnest supervises the [Fairfax County Police] Tysons Urban Team. It’s a unit that launched in 2013. Data shared with WUSA9 shows the unit made 787 arrests in 2022. That’s compared to 377 in 2021 and 406 in 2020. They say…those number[s] were likely smaller because of the pandemic.” [WUSA9]

Nashville-Style Chicken Sandwich Chain Coming for Hybla Valley — “A rapidly expanding restaurant chain has plans to open a new location in the Hybla Valley section of Alexandria. Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken recently signed a lease with KLNB to occupy an end space at 7508C Richmond Highway.” [On the MoVe]

Covid hospitalizations jump over holidays, briefly putting county’s community level at ‘medium’

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 5, 2023 at 3:15PM

All Fairfax Health District COVID-19 cases, as of Jan. 3, 2023 (via VDH)

Fairfax County ended 2022 with a “medium” level of COVID-19 in the community, the first time it reached that level since August.

Continuing an upward trend that began around Thanksgiving, the county is averaging 291 cases per day for the past week, the highest weekly average since Aug. 13, per Virginia Department of Health data.

County’s running bamboo ordinance takes effect with potential fines

By Matt Blitz

Published January 5, 2023 at 9:30AM

Bamboo spotted by the Washington & Old Dominion Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County property owners are officially required to contain running bamboo on their property — or face potential fines.

Effective as of Jan. 1, the county’s new running bamboo ordinance calls for property owners to get the invasive grass species under control and imposes civil penalties on property owners who let it “spread to adjacent properties or any public right-of-way.”

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published January 5, 2023 at 7:30AM | Updated January 5, 2023 at 8:46AM

Sunset over Hidden Creek Golf Course in Reston (photo by Cindy Ross)

(Updated at 8:45 a.m.) Two Shot in Bailey’s Crossroads — “Officers are in the 6000 blk of Glen Carlyn Dr in Bailey’s Crossroads for a shooting. Two victims taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life threatening. No suspect description. Call 911 w/info.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Summer Camp Registration Coming Up — “Registration for Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) summer camps serving children ages 3 to 16 will begin Jan. 10, 2023. Registrations fill up very quickly, so families are encouraged to visit the Park Authority Camps webpage to view more than 1,000 programming options to prepare” [FCPA]

Fairfax County rec centers, golf courses and more could get pricier this year

By Vernon Miles

Published January 4, 2023 at 3:00PM

The mini golf course at Fairfax County's Jefferson District Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

It could be a little more expensive to visit some Fairfax County parks this upcoming year.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is soliciting public feedback on a proposal to push up fees at local park facilities.