Fairfax County hardly needs fire to keep warm this summer, but Herndon hopes to bring people together over a symbolic flame nonetheless.
An 8-foot-tall metal sculpture dubbed the “Herndon Torch” will travel through the town this July and August to mark the Summer Olympics and forge community connections.
The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees is considering changing Woodrow Wilson Library’s name to Culmore Community Library following “significant community input.”
Library Board of Trustees Chair Brian Engler said many community members in the Mason District, where the library is located, have testified during public comment periods in recent months that they want the name changed.
Researchers found that some complex toll roads in Northern Virginia are “less understandable” for people who drive high occupancy vehicles and that inconsistent toll signage in Virginia may also cause driver confusion. The findings come after a months-long study into easing vehicle traffic congestion, specifically on popular Interstates 81 and 95, and possible ways to stop rising toll costs.
Cost concerns
Kingstowne residents are reeling after a fire blazed through 10 townhomes yesterday (Monday).
No injuries were reported in the two-alarm fire, which drew firefighters to the 6900 block of Banchory Court in the Terrington neighborhood around 12:40 p.m., the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department says.
With Route 7 still years away from getting a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, regional transportation planners want to improve Metro’s existing service in the corridor from Tysons to Alexandria.
In response to feedback suggesting the process could be sped up, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) is developing a strategic implementation plan that considers short-term enhancements for Metrobus 28A, even as it keeps studying how to eventually convert the route into a higher-capacity, higher-frequency BRT.
As the Fairfax County School Board considers a new boundary adjustment policy, a prominent citizens’ group has raised concerns about its potential impact on local families.
The Great Falls Citizens Association’s (GFCA) executive board took an official stance on the proposed policy changes on June 17, urging Fairfax County Public Schools and elected officials to hit the pause button until they solicit more community input.
Taxi Fare Increase on the Table — “Riding in a taxicab will become about 15 percent more expensive if Fairfax County supervisors approve recommendations that will be discussed at an upcoming public hearing. The Board of Supervisors [today] is expected to set a public hearing for July 30 to address the proposal.” [Gazette Leader]
DNA from Bottle Discarded at Dulles Key to Murder Case — A 44-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2001 death of Leslie J. Preer, who was found dead at her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Investigators say they solved the cold case after analyzing genetic material collected from a water bottle that Eugene T. Gligor threw away at Dulles International Airport. [Washington Post]
Springfield May Be Getting an Aldi — “General contractor L.F. Jennings is seeking subcontractors for a multistage project at the Rappaport-managed West Springfield Shopping Center on Rolling Road, to include… ‘facade demolition and modification for a new Aldi.’ It is unclear if Aldi has signed a lease, but Rappaport and L.F. Jennings are proceeding as if a deal is imminent, if not done.” [Washington Business Journal]
Former NFL Team Owner Seeks Record Price for House — “Dan and Tanya Snyder, former owners of the Washington Commanders who decamped for England roughly a year ago just before selling the franchise for $6.05 billion, are seeking $60 million for River View, a 16.5-acre estate in southeastern Fairfax County near George Washington’s Mount Vernon.” The couple bought the fully automated home in 2021 for $48 million, a record for the D.C. area at the time. [WBJ]
County Launches Paint Recycling Program — “Fairfax County launched a paint-recycling program that will provide job training while reducing waste in landfills. The 12-month pilot program, announced June 13,” will enlist Operation Stream Shield participants to “repurpose and package the paint” that will be shipped to Honduras, where it can be reused. [Annandale Today]
Fort Belvoir Delegate Reflects on First Legislative Session — “Rozia Henson Jr. was newly elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November 2023…During the 2024 legislative session, eight bills he sponsored made it to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk, and six of them became law. We caught up with Henson recently to find out what he’s been up to.” [On the MoVe]
Queen Tribute Band Coming to Tysons — “The Queen tribute band Killer Queen hits Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia on July 2. WTOP caught up with Patrick Myers, who projects the iconic voice of the late frontman,” Freddie Mercury. Killer Queen “has been rocking for 30 years. The band was formed in 1993, just two years after Mercury died in 1991.” [WTOP]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 91 with winds shifting from northwest, at 5 to 8 mph, to southwest as the day progresses. The night will be partly cloudy, with a low of around 75 and a steady south wind at 8 mph. [NWS]
The recent heat wave and a lack of rain could lead to a drought in much of Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says.
The department issued a drought warning advisory today (Monday) for the Northern Virginia and Shenandoah regions, announcing that “a significant drought is imminent.”
Community members recently got a closer look at the proposed performing arts center in Old Town Fairfax, including plans to mitigate traffic and increase parking.
Fairfax-based developer Ox Hill Companies held a virtual town hall on June 12 where it unveiled initial designs for a 2,410-seat concert hall that could accommodate up to 4,127 standing guests, along with a 170-room hotel, a 100-seat black box theater and a 26,000-square-foot convention center.
Fairfax County police have arrested a special education teacher at White Oak Elementary School in Burke for assaulting multiple students.
On April 12, Child Protective Services received a referral that a teacher was seen assaulting a student at school, police said in a Saturday news release.
Detectives took on the case and determined that between September 2023 and this April, Elizabeth Yoshimi Nagagata, 62, of Fairfax allegedly assaulted three students on separate occasions, the release said.
On Friday, Nagagata was arrested and charged with seven counts of simple assault. Nagagata was held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Detectives would like to speak with anyone who may have information about this case or others possibly related. Those with information are asked to please call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 4.
Screenshot via Google Maps. This article was written by FFXnow’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.
