An electrical tower adjacent to the Dulles Toll Road in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The regional electric grid that supplies power to Virginia during times of extreme weather announced a 1,400% increase in some electric costs after its most recent capacity auction. But Dominion officials were quick to assure customers that they would not see an increase in their bills before the end of next year.
PJM Interconnection, which oversees the electric grid serving several mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia, announced the increase for its capacity market. Dominion buys electricity off of capacity markets during peak, or emergency, demands.
The Georgetown Pike Bridge over I-495 will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction during the weekend of Aug. 16-19 (via VDOT)
The Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 in McLean will partially close for a full weekend later this month so traffic can be shifted to new lanes.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is advising drivers to avoid the interchange during what it’s calling “Stay-Away Weekend” if they don’t want to get caught up in the congestion that’ll likely be created by the lane reductions and ramp closures.
Reston Association’s new, permanent website is almost ready to go live.
The redesigned website is expected to roll out September, communications director Cara O’Donnell told the Board of Directors on July 25. The launch would come more than four years after outdated software prompted the homeowners’ association to take down its previous online home and transition to a temporary, more limited platform.
People walking at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County has gained a couple spots in an annual ranking of the healthiest communities in the U.S.
The county snagged 14th place, up from 17th in 2022, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings of the nation’s healthiest communities. It came in higher than Fairfax City (no. 15) and Arlington County (no. 19) but couldn’t beat Falls Church City, which claimed the top spot.
A water main break has closed northbound South George Mason Drive in Bailey's Crossroads (via FCPD/Twitter)
Northbound South George Mason Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads has been closed for over 12 hours due to a major water main break.
The Fairfax County Police Department reported the break near 7313 South George Mason Drive near Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) in the Skyline neighborhood at 9:39 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday). Water can be seen gushing up from under the street in a video shared by the department.
A mixed-use residential building is under construction in Comstock’s Reston Row neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Virginia Declares State ofEmergency — “Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon ahead of Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to bring multiple days of heavy rainfall and storms to Virginia starting on Wednesday evening.” [Patch]
Reston Pool to Reopen After Vandalism — Lake Newport Pool has closed since Monday (Aug. 5) “due to vandalism. There is broken glass on the pool deck and in the water.” Reston Association announced around 5 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday) that the facility has been cleaned and repaired, so the pool will reopen at noon today. [RA/Facebook]
N. Va. Gets Noticed for Wine — “Northern Virginia was named America’s next great wine region by The Wall Street Journal’s wine columnist Lettie Teague.” Dave McIntyre, the Washington Post’s wine columnist, attributes the region’s growing reputation to more experienced winemakers, state support and marketing. [WTOP]
Fort Hunt Restaurant Changes Ownership — The “popular” Italian restaurant Via Veneto closed on Aug. 1 “so its new owners can make minor changes and reopen later this week under the same name.” The eatery is slated to reopen tomorrow (Aug. 8) at 4 p.m. under Sarai and Jose Navarette, who own the carryout restaurant Roseina’s that’s directly next door. [On the MoVe]
Glasses Recycling Site Moves to Annandale — “When the Lions Clubs’ Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia lost its home, Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stepped up to offer space in the Mason Government Center. Local Lions Clubs collect eyeglasses from people who no longer need them, fix them up, and ship them overseas.” [Annandale Today]
WaPo Rave for New McLean Restaurant — “David Guas, the veteran chef behind Bayou Bakery in Arlington, has rolled out a second place to eat, Neutral Ground Bar and Kitchen in McLean.” Opened in June, the American eatery that replaced Assaggi Osteria & Pizzeria has been dubbed “the most captivating new restaurant in Northern Virginia” by critic Tom Sietsema. [Washington Post]
Falls Church Draws More Grocery Stores — “Already home to a Giant, a Harris Teeter and an Aldi, the city is expected to add a new Whole Foods and Grocery Outlet within the next year or so, according to Economic Development Division Chief Becky Witsman. A Fresh Market is also slated to arrive within the next few years.” [ARLnow]
It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected, becoming more likely after 2pm, with a cloudy high of 86°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation. The night will remain cloudy, with a low around 72°F. [NWS]
A Chesterfield man has been arrested in connection with an attempted sexual assault in Bailey’s Crossroads over the weekend, police say.
Officers were dispatched to a small row of houses in the 3500 block of Carlin Springs Road around 5 a.m. on Saturday (Aug. 3) for a sexual assault, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The proposed Park East at Westfields housing development (via LDC/Fairfax County)
A proposal to redevelop a mostly vacant office park in Chantilly with housing has cleared its first regulatory hurdle and could receive full approval by next month.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approve a request last month to rezone the property between Poplar Tree Road and Newbrook Drive from medium industrial to a residential district.
Local high school student Bryce Merfeld donated 50 backpacks to Trinity Church Reston's school supply drive (courtesy Trinity Church Reston)
Hundreds of students at Reston’s Forest Edge Elementary School will head to class later this month with brand-new backpacks, thanks to a donation drive organized by a local church.
Congregants brought 240 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Trinity Church Reston campus (1950 Isaac Newton Square West) on Sunday (Aug. 4), according to campus pastor Robbie Hall, who thanked the donors for their generosity during the church’s 10 a.m. service.
Inside the historic Ash Grove house in Tysons (via Fairfax County Park Authority/Flickr)
The clock is ticking on a chance to live in Tysons rent-free — if you’ll agree to restore and maintain the historic property.
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is accepting applications until Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. for a resident curator for Ash Grove, one of the county’s few still-standing houses from the 18th century.
