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Morning Notes

Published August 31, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated August 31, 2022 at 9:17AM

A "now hiring" sign outside the new Sully Community Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Vehicle in Capital Beltway Shooting ID’d — “Virginia State Police have identified a suspect vehicle involved in last Thursday’s shooting incident on Interstate 495 in Fairfax County. According to a news release, it is a blue 2010 Honda Civic with Virginia license plates TWW 9398.” [WTOP]

Potomac Banks Could Be Virginia’s First TID — “In September, Visit Fairfax will hold meetings with local hotel and restaurant industry leaders as part of a campaign to turn Potomac Banks into a tourism improvement district, or TID, which would impose fees to fund tourism boosting activities and improvements and would be administered through a nonprofit.” [Virginia Business]

Trash troubles persist in Fairfax County, with residents reporting missed pick-ups

By Matt Blitz

Published August 30, 2022 at 3:45PM

An American Disposal truck in Fairfax County (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Fairfax County is still having trash troubles.

Earlier this month in his weekly newsletter, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay wrote that he was “aware of multiple complaints” about the performance of some contracted trash collectors in the county.

Educational space center to launch by 2023 in Reston

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 30, 2022 at 1:30PM

The space center is expected to open by 2023 (Photo via Interstellar Dreams).

In the near-future, Reston will have an educational space center to call its own.

Interstellar Dreams, a project through The Pearl Project Institute for Innovation in STEM literacy, is actively scouting for a 40,000-square-foot space center in Reston. The center, which is expected to open by next year, will include training and simulations in real-world and virtual learning environments.

Fairfax County Public Library board sticks by materials selection policy

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 30, 2022 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Public Library eliminated overdue fines, saying they discouraged patrons from returning (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As schools and libraries across the U.S. grapple with a historic surge in book bans and challenges, the topic has inevitably become a concern for Fairfax County Public Library officials.

The FCPL Board of Trustees raised the possibility of revisiting the library’s collection development policies when it met on July 13, according to meeting materials.

Reconstruction of Baron Cameron Avenue intersection underway

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 30, 2022 at 10:15AM

Detours and lane shifts are planned as the Baron Cameron Avenue intersection is reconstructed (Photo via VDOT).

While orange traffic cones are a familiar sight as the widening of Route 7 continues, more changes are afoot at the Baron Cameron Avenue intersection in Reston.

Night work on the project began last night, resulting in detours and changing traffic patterns on eastbound and westbound Route 7, Baron Cameron Avenue and Springvale Road. Detours are planned at night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. through Thursday (Sept. 1).

New Sully Community Center will get grand opening next month

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 30, 2022 at 9:30AM

Construction on the new Sully Community Center began in 2020 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A grand opening for the new Sully Community Center is set for Sept. 17 at noon, celebrating the conclusion of a nearly $22 million project by Fairfax County.

County board members and county officials will celebrate the opening of the nearly 36,000-square-foot center, which is located on five acres at the intersection of Wall Road and the Air and Space Museum Parkway in Chantilly.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 30, 2022 at 7:30AM

Construction continues on the "Block A" mixed-use tower at Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

IRS Data Shows Exodus in Northern Virginia — “Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax city, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County all saw more people move out in 2020 than move in — basically everything in Northern Virginia except for Loudoun County and outlying areas such as Fauquier County and Stafford County.” [Cardinal News]

Lake Accotink Celebrates Past, Prepares for Future — “The Fairfax County Park Authority hosted a 60th-anniversary celebration of Lake Accotink Park Aug. 27…The next big thing to happen at Lake Accotink Park will be a major dredging operation to prevent the lake from filling up with sediment.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax County Covid cases continue decline, as free at-home test program winds down

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 29, 2022 at 2:15PM

An at-home rapid COVID-19 test (via Steve Nomax/Unsplash)

Put in your final requests for free at-home COVID-19 tests now, because once Labor Day weekend arrives, that will no longer be an option.

The federal government’s offer of free, at-home test kits to all households will be put on hold Friday (Sept. 2) after Congress failed to renew funding for the program, which launched in January during the pandemic’s biggest surge so far.

VDOT to lift HOV and toll restrictions over Labor Day weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published August 29, 2022 at 11:45AM

I-66 construction in Fairfax County (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

To help ease congestion, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said it will suspend work on many highway projects and lift lane restrictions on interstates and other major roads.

VDOT said in a release that Labor Day is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Past traffic data suggested the congestion is heaviest from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday and intermittently throughout the holiday weekend, Monday included.

Naked man accosts woman on W&OD Trail in Reston, may be involved in other exposure incidents

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 29, 2022 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

A naked man grabbed a woman at the Washington & Old Dominion Trail between Town Center Parkway and the Fairfax County Parkway in Reston on Friday (Aug. 26), according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The suspect may be connected to other indecent exposure incidents in the area, police say. Later that day, police officers in the Town of Herndon investigated an indecent exposure on the trail near Ferndale Avenue.