Countywide | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published March 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

Spring flowers bloom in Reston (photo by Ray Copson)

FCPD Commander Demoted Over Shooting Response — “A Fairfax County police commander has been demoted as part of an ongoing administrative investigation of suicides by a department recruit and his wife that occurred hours apart in their Mount Vernon-area home in late February, authorities said…The officer was the on-scene commander during the incident.” [The Washington Post]

Fire Put Out Near Vienna’s Flint Hill Elementary — “Crews responded this morning to the 2400 block of Flint Hill Road for a small fire in a chicken coop. #FCFRD firefighters were im-peck-able in quickly egg-stinguishing the fire. Everyone felt very cluck-y that there were no reported fowl-talities or injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will return to Tysons this weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2022 at 3:45PM

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will visit Tysons Corner Center on Saturday (courtesy of Sanrio)

A familiar cartoon character will swing by Tysons Corner Center this weekend, with a slew of new merchandise in tow.

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck will set up shop in the mall’s Plaza at 1961 Chain Bridge Road from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday (March 26), marking its first appearance in Fairfax County since March 2021.

Reston-based taco spot expands to Chantilly

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 21, 2022 at 2:15PM

Taco Zocalo's Chantilly location is the latest to open (Photo by Basir Ahadi).

A popular Reston-based taco spot is planning to expand in Chantilly at a time when others in the restaurant industry are scaling back.

Taco Zocalo — formerly known as Chef on Wheels from its days as a food truck — will open this Friday (March 25) at 14506 Lee Road.

Fairfax County’s Covid case decline nears pre-delta variant levels

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2022 at 1:30PM

The Fairfax County Government Center's COVID-19 vaccine clinic (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

About eight months after the delta variant revived face masks, Fairfax County’s COVID-19 case rate has dropped back into double digits.

With 53 new cases today (Monday), the Fairfax Health District, which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, is now averaging 87 cases reported a day for the past week — its lowest seven-day average since Aug. 1, 2021, when it was seeing 86 cases per day.

Fairfax County’s annual flush begins, changing water color and taste

By David Taube

Published March 21, 2022 at 12:45PM

Fire hydrant (via Fairfax County)

Your drinking water could see some changes — differences that water officials say are harmless.

Fairfax Water started its annual flushing program today (Monday). Instead of its usual practice of disinfecting the supply with chloramine, it will temporarily stop adding ammonia to drinking water in an effort to maintain the system’s quality.

Mass Covid vaccine sites in Tysons and Springfield to close this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2022 at 11:15AM

The Tysons Community Vaccination Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Virginia and Fairfax County health departments are shutting down two COVID-19 vaccination sites that have delivered thousands of shots during the pandemic.

The Tysons Community Vaccination Center will close at 4 p.m. on Friday (March 25) after administering roughly 58,000 doses since it reopened in Tysons Corner Center’s former Lord & Taylor store on Oct. 8, the Fairfax County Health Department announced today (Monday).

After alleged stabbings, Reston woman shot and killed by Loudoun County sheriff’s deputy

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 21, 2022 at 9:45AM

A Loudoun County Sheriff's Office cruiser (via Abigail Salomon/Loudoun County Sheriff's Office on Facebook)

A Reston woman was shot and killed by a Loudoun County sheriff’s deputy on Friday, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

Faubricia Vitraux Gainer, 36, was shot after she allegedly ignored deputy commands to drop her weapon at the entrance of an apartment on the 46600 block of Ellicott Square shortly after 4 a.m.

Fairfax County joins regional winter clothes donation drive for Ukraine

By David Taube

Published March 21, 2022 at 9:00AM

Flyer calls for help for Ukrainians (via Northern Virginia Regional Commission)

Northern Virginia is coming together to help Ukrainians struck by war.

Local leaders and community members, organized by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, will launch a donation drive at the Fairfax County Government Center on Wednesday (March 23), collecting items through April 15 to send to refugees in Ukraine and Poland.

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 21, 2022 at 7:30AM

With March 20 as the first official day of spring, cherry blossom season has arrived (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax Station Doctor Sentenced for Fraud — Physician Leonard Rosen was sentenced on Friday (March 18) to two years of probation, with six months of at-home confinement for his involvement in an $8 million fraud scheme where doctors prescribed expensive drugs to patients in exchange for bribes from pharmacists. [The Washington Post]

Connolly Announces Reelection Bid — “On Thursday, March 17, during his 28th annual St. Patrick’s Day Fete, held online, [Rep. Gerry] Connolly announced he would seek reelection to represent Virginia’s 11th Congressional District…The newly-drawn 11th District lies within the boundaries of Fairfax County…and includes Tysons, Fairfax City, Chantilly, and Reston.” [Potomac Local News]

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: March 14-18

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 18, 2022 at 3:45PM

The new dessert shop is coming soon to Reston (staff photo by Fatimah Waseem)

The weekend is almost here. Before you step outside to take in the cherry blossoms or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.

Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week: