News | FFXnow - Part 371

Morning Notes

Published May 6, 2024 at 8:15AM

Fog shrouds Capital One Center in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Early Voting Underway for Congressional Races — Fairfax County opened three early voting sites on Friday (May 3) for the June 18 Democratic and Republican primaries, which will determine nominees for multiple House and Senate seats. “An additional 13 early voting sites open on June 8…The last day to vote early in person is June 15.” [Fairfax County, NBC4]

One Injured in Merrifield House Fire — “Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personel extinguished a fire late Thursday night at a two-story home in the Merrifield area. Initial reports said no one was injuried, but a department spokeswoman told Patch on Friday afternoon that one civilian was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.” [Patch]

Oakton hoop coach inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

By GazetteLeader

Published May 3, 2024 at 6:00PM | Updated October 1, 2024 at 5:49PM

Priester has won more than 800 career high-school games at the helm

Quite a gathering assembled with Fred Priester the evening of April 28 in Charlottesville to watch the longtime Oakton High School girls basketball coach be inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.

Fairfax pro golfer to compete among nation’s best in 2024 PGA Championship

By James Jarvis

Published May 3, 2024 at 1:30PM

Larkin Gross celebrates sinking a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Frisco on May 1, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. (courtesy of Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America)

Local golf professional Larkin Gross has qualified for the 2024 PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, where he will face off with some of the U.S.’s top male golfers in two weeks.

Gross, a Fairfax resident and assistant professional at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna, secured a spot in the Professional Golfers Association of America’s annual tournament after competing in the PGA Professional Championship in Frisco, Texas.

Reston Association launches public survey on proposed Shadowood renaming

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 3, 2024 at 11:30AM

A sign for Reston's Shadowood Recreation Area (via Reston Association)

The push to rename Reston’s Shadowood Recreation Area has reached a new phase with the launch of an online survey.

Reston Association announced on Wednesday (May 1) that it’s officially seeking community input on a possible name change for the swimming pool and tennis courts on Springwood Drive.

Developer proposes hotel with condos in place of long-planned Tysons office building

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 3, 2024 at 10:30AM

Plans to construct a City View office building at 7901 Westpark Drive in Tysons have stalled, leaving the site vacant (via Google Maps)

A D.C. developer is officially scuttling plans for City View, an office high-rise once expected to break ground near Tysons Galleria a decade ago.

Four Points has asked Fairfax County to amend its plan for the 1.7-acre site at 7901 Westpark Drive so it can build a 28-story hotel and condominium tower instead of the 10-story office building that the Board of Supervisors approved in 2012 as part of the Arbor Row development.

FCPD: Lorton man arrested for shooting at fellow rideshare passenger

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 3, 2024 at 9:45AM

Fairfax County police logo (file photo)

Police arrested a Lorton man earlier this week in connection to a March 1 incident where he allegedly fired a gun at another rideshare passenger.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, officers responded to the 9200 block of Ashland Woods Lane in Lorton shortly after midnight for a call about a shooting.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published May 3, 2024 at 8:15AM

The Scout on the Circle apartments in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

School Bus Catches Fire in Reston — “#FairfaxsBravest are on scene of a school bus fire on SB Fairfax County Parkway at Fox Mill Road. The driver exited the bus prior to #FCFRD arrival. The bus was otherwise unoccupied. The fire is out.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

Record Heat Reported at Dulles Airport — “By 6 p.m. Thursday, the record for Thursday’s date was tied at Reagan National at 91 degrees…and the record was broken at Dulles International Airport when temperatures hit 91 degrees…The previous record for May 2 at Dulles was 88 degrees, and the average high in the region for this day of the year is 73 degrees.” [WTOP]

Fatal McLean police shooting was ‘tragic’ but not ‘legally unreasonable,’ auditor says

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 2, 2024 at 4:30PM

Media gathered for a police briefing on officer's fatal shooting of Jasper Aaron Lynch in McLean on July 7, 2022 (via FCPD/Twitter)

An officer who fatally shot a McLean man in 2022 violated Fairfax County Police Department policies, but the shooting itself was within policy and legal bounds, a new report on the FCPD’s investigation says.

In the report, which was released yesterday (Wednesday), Fairfax County Independent Police Auditor Richard Schott affirmed the police department and Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s findings that none of the three responding officers violated criminal law when they tased and shot 26-year-old Jasper Aaron Lynch at his home on July 7, 2022.

Historic Ellmore Farmhouse reopens with new cafe and gift shop run by people with disabilities

By James Jarvis

Published May 2, 2024 at 2:30PM

Elmore House Service Source ribbon cutting ceremony on May 1, 2024 (courtesy of ServiceSource)

The historic Ellmore Farmhouse at Frying Pan Farm Park has finished renovations and is now ready to offer programming for adults with disabilities.

The two-story farmhouse, which dates back to 1891, was restored and repurposed by ServiceSource, a national nonprofit that provides employment training and support resources to adults with disabilities.

Report: Inova backs off plans for mixed-use ‘innovation district’ on Merrifield campus

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 2, 2024 at 11:30AM

Inova's Center for Personalized Health campus in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Inova Health System appears to be narrowing its vision for the former ExxonMobil headquarters site in Merrifield to health care.

The nonprofit has “no immediate intention” of pursuing previously approved plans to turn the 117-acre campus at 8095 Innovation Park Drive into a mixed-use development, Inova President and CEO Dr. Stephen Jones recently told the Washington Business Journal.