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Morning Notes

Published April 27, 2022 at 7:30AM

Blossoms are out at Lewinsville Park in McLean (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

West Potomac Soccer Coaches Fired After Hazing — “In a message to West Potomac High School soccer families, Principal Tanganyika Millard said that after an April 21 practice, a ‘parent reported a student was injured after being singled out to run through a ‘gauntlet/tunnel.” Head coach Ahmad Sasso and two other coaches were fired after the incident.” [WTOP]

Dead Firefighter Escorted to Funeral Home — “#FCFRD members gathered to salute Captain Kimberly Schoppa during her dignified transfer. Units from her last assignment, Fire Station 27, West Springfield, carried her to the funeral home. Thank you to Fairfax County Police Department for the escort.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department/Facebook]

‘Saddened and dumbfounded’: Case against Park Police officers who shot Bijan Ghaisar dismissed

By David Taube

Published April 26, 2022 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County Police Department footage of Park Police shooting McLean resident Bijan Ghaisar (via FCPD)

The parents of 25-year-old Bijan Ghaisar, the McLean resident killed by U.S. Park Police in 2017, and Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano have voiced their dismay over Virginia’s decision to drop a criminal case against the officers.

At the behest of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, the Commonwealth filed a motion on Friday (April 22) to drop the manslaughter charges against the officers. A federal appeals court officially dismissed the case yesterday (Monday).

‘Dirty soda’ shop coming to Vienna in May, bringing sweet refreshments

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2022 at 3:00PM

Vienna's new Coco's Sodas + Sweets will serve soft drinks flavored with syrup, fruit, and other add-ins (courtesy Coco's Sodas + Sweets)

During a recent sojourn to Utah, Ben and Heather Cichelli concocted a drink that changed their lives.

Now, the couple is bringing that drink — a blend of Diet Coke, coconut syrup, and fresh lime dubbed The Coco — and many others to the Town of Vienna, where they will open a new soda shop, Coco’s Sodas + Sweets.

Frying Pan Farm Park to host first-ever horse expo

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 26, 2022 at 2:15PM

Frying Pan Farm Park, the site of the Fairfax County Park Authority's upcoming horse expo (via FCPA)

Frying Pan Farm Park will host its first-ever horse expo this weekend.

The inaugural event, which takes place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include horse-related demonstrations, speakers, food trucks and businesses selling horse-related products and services.

New retail building proposed at Huntwood Plaza on Richmond Highway

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 26, 2022 at 12:45PM

A new retail building has been proposed on Richmond Highway. (Image via handout/Fairfax County Government).

A 6,000-square-foot retail building could be coming soon at the corner of Fort Hunt Road and Richmond Highway in Belle Haven.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission is set to consider the proposal by Huntwood LLC this Wednesday (April 27) to build a retail addition to the site, which is located at Huntwood Plaza (5845 Richmond Highway).

JUST IN: Fairfax County firefighter captain dies from work-related cancer

By David Taube

Published April 26, 2022 at 9:45AM

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Capt. Kimberly Schoppa (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Capt. Kimberly Schoppa died today (Tuesday) from occupational cancer, Fire Chief John Butler and the department announced.

Schoppa was hired as a firefighter in 2004 for the department and served over 18 years. She was assigned to Fire Station 27 in West Springfield at the time of her death.

Victim in Herndon shooting recovers, as police investigation continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 26, 2022 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A shooting in Herndon earlier this month remains under investigation, the Fairfax County Police Department says.

Several community members reported hearing gunshots around 5:31 a.m. on April 16, drawing police to the 2100 block of Astoria Circle, just outside the Town of Herndon’s limits. Upon arriving, officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 26, 2022 at 7:30AM

At the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial in Lorton's Occoquan Regional Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

SCOTUS Lets TJ Admissions Policy Stay During Appeal — With three justices dissenting, the Supreme Court denied the Coalition for TJ’s request to block the new admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The denial will let Fairfax County Public Schools use the policy to evaluate the incoming Class of 2026, as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond considers the case. FCPS says the appeals court has approved its request for “an expedited schedule to resolve the legal issues involved in the admissions process.” [SCOTUSblog/Twitter, FCPS]

No Injuries in Turnpike Shopping Center Crash — The driver of a sedan that crashed into an empty storefront next to Kokee Tea in the Fairfax City shopping center on Saturday (April 23) survived unharmed, city officials said yesterday (Monday). Damages to the building at 9668 Main Street are estimated to be between $20,000 and $30,000. [City of Fairfax Fire Department, Patch]

Robot helpers planned for upcoming senior living high-rise in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2022 at 3:45PM

Mather Director of Culinary Operations Thad Parton with a food-running robot that the senior living facility operator is testing in Arizona (courtesy Mather)

When The Mather Tysons opens in 2024, the senior living facility might employ some workers of the artificial intelligence variety.

Rest assured, these robots won’t be capable of planning a HAL 9000-style takeover. Instead, they will perform simple, repetitive tasks, such as delivering food to tables and apartments and cleaning hallways.

Fairfax County plans more salary increases for public safety workers

By David Taube

Published April 25, 2022 at 3:00PM

A Fairfax County fire truck departs station 34 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Additional raises are coming for Fairfax County government employees, specifically firefighters, police officers and other uniformed public safety workers.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors plans to allocate $6.1 million in the upcoming budget to give a step increase to certain public safety workers hired on or before June 30, 2021. The proposal is part of a mark-up package that will go before the board tomorrow (Tuesday).