News | FFXnow - Part 355

Morning Notes

Published March 26, 2024 at 8:15AM

Moonrise near Reston Town Center, seen from the Dulles Toll Road (staff photo)

Local Figure Skater Wins World Championship — “Ilia Malinin, the 19-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, put on a dominant display Saturday night in Montreal and took the world figure skating crown in record performance. His free program included a jaw-dropping six quadruple jumps — including his patented quad axel” and setting a record for the competition’s free skate. [WTOP]

Police Investigate “Suspicious Package” in Reston — Sunset Hills Road closed outside of the Reston Town Center Metro station yesterday (Monday) after Fairfax County police got a report of a “suspicious package” in the area at 4:40 p.m. An investigation determined the item wasn’t an explosive device, and there was “no apparent threat to the community at this time.” [Patch]

Pedestrian improvements for Elden Street, Fairfax County schools get federal funding boost

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 25, 2024 at 3:45PM | Updated March 26, 2024 at 10:19AM

Signs for Lynn Street and Elden Street in downtown Herndon (staff photo by James Jarvis)

(Updated at 9:40 a.m. on 3/26/2024) A federal funding boost is coming to help improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities on the Town of Herndon’s main through street and more than a dozen other sites around Northern Virginia.

At its meeting last Thursday (March 21), the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) approved $19.5 million through the federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program for 15 non-highway transportation projects in the state.

FCPD: Man arrested for two ‘brutal’ sexual assaults in Annandale

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 25, 2024 at 3:00PM

NOVA Police Chief Jake Jacoby, Fairfax County Police Captain Dan Spital and Chief Kevin Davis announce the arrest of a suspect in two sexual assault cases in the Annandale area (via FCPD/Facebook)

A man who sexually assaulted two women in the Annandale area on consecutive days last week is now in custody, police say.

Kevin Lopez Altan, 24, of Annandale was arrested on Friday (March 22) after allegedly raping a business owner multiple times two days earlier and separately attacking a Northern Virginia Community College student the previous day, the Fairfax County Police Department announced this afternoon (Monday).

McLean Community Center reveals long slate of candidates for board election

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 25, 2024 at 1:30PM

McLean Community Center governing board candidates (left to right) Tarek Atia, Jonathan Broom, Mike Drabyk, Michael Monroe, Peggy Richardson, Doug Jeffery, Matt Colsia, Lisa Mariam and Ron Keesing (courtesy MCC)

More than a dozen candidates will vie for six seats — four held by adults, two by teens — on the McLean Community Center’s governing board this spring.

The community center announced on Friday (March 22) that 10 adults and five teens have qualified to run in this year’s board election, which has one more open seat than usual with current board member Ari Ghasemian resigning at the end of March.

Senior housing now complete near GMU, helping county’s affordable housing goal

By James Jarvis

Published March 25, 2024 at 11:45AM

Rendering of Ilda's Overlook in Fairfax (courtesy of Jeffrey Sauers of CPI Productions)

Eighty new affordable homes for seniors have become available just east of George Mason University.

Located at 10055 Braddock Road, Ilda’s Overlook Senior Residences serves individuals aged 62 and over with incomes at or below 60% of the area median, developer Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) said in a press release.

NEW: ArtsFairfax hires New York arts education leader as president and CEO

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 25, 2024 at 11:00AM

ArtsFairfax Board Chair Scott Cryer (left) with president and CEO Stuart Holt (photo courtesy PaperKite Photography LLC)

A longtime arts educator and administrator who has helped keep opera alive in cities as different as New York City and Nashville will soon bring that expertise to Fairfax County.

ArtsFairfax has hired Stuart Holt as its new president and CEO to replace Linda Sullivan, who retired on Feb. 29 after a 14-year tenure that saw the organization evolve from a council most known for producing the International Children’s Festival into a key advocate and source of funding for the county’s artistic community.

First rooftop solar panels on the horizon for Reston Town Center

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 25, 2024 at 10:15AM

A solar-powered Bikeep station outside Reston Town Center's green garage (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Town Center’s first solar panels are on the horizon.

Boston Properties (BXP) plans to install solar panels on top of the green garage in the town center, the property owner and developer announced Friday (March 15). The installation will feature a 1.3-megawatt solar photovoltaic renewable energy system.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 25, 2024 at 8:15AM

People walk across Van Gogh bridge at Lake Anne in Reston during cherry blossom season (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Developer Suggests Combining Casino and Arena — “With Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s plan to build a $2 billion arena in Alexandria for the Washington Capitals and Wizards in jeopardy, three political and business figures have been pitching an unlikely Hail Mary: an idea to pair the sports arena with a new casino in Fairfax County…The idea has been flatly rejected by Youngkin (R) and the teams’ owner, Monumental Sports & Entertainment.” [Washington Post]

No Injuries in Transformer Fire Near NRA HQ — “Just after 7am [Saturday] morning #FCFRD and City of Fairfax Fire Department responded to the 11200 Blk of Waples Mill Rd for a reported building fire. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find an outside transformer on fire. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire preventing any exposure to the building.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Teen arrested in McNair shooting that killed Westfield HS student

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 22, 2024 at 1:15PM

Ismael Cruz-Delcid, 18, of Herndon has been arrested for allegedly fatally shooting a teen outside a hotel in McNair (courtesy FCPD)

An 18-year-old suspect turned himself in last night in connection with the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old Westfield High School student on Wednesday (March 20), police say.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced the arrest of Ismael Cruz-Delcid, 18, of Herndon at a press conference this morning (Friday).

County board to consider more funding for library books in new budget

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 22, 2024 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Public Library (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s next budget could give its public libraries a little more spending money for books.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (March 19), Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn proposed allocating an additional $500,000 in the upcoming fiscal year 2025 budget to Fairfax County Public Library’s book collection.