News | FFXnow - Part 374

Morning Notes

Published February 12, 2024 at 8:15AM

Two ducks in Wolftrap Creek near Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Pastor Dies After Fire at Newington Home — “The Northern Virginia pastor who was sent to the ICU with severe burns after an explosion in his Fairfax County home last month has died, according to his daughter. Kevin Corey was burning documents in a firepit in the backyard of his townhome on Powderbrook Lane…when neighbors heard the explosion about 8:30 p.m.” [NBC4]

FCPD Targets Crime at Annandale Apartments — “The Mason Police District reports ‘significant and positive outcomes’ from a crime suppression effort at Fairmont Gardens in Annandale. Between Jan. 3 and Feb. 3, patrol officers and detectives charged 85 people with 137 crimes in the area around Wadsworth Court.” [Annandale Today]

McLean team win region girls gymnastic championship

By GazetteLeader

Published February 9, 2024 at 6:00PM | Updated September 30, 2024 at 10:25PM

Depth played a big role in Highlanders’ victory

Their team score was lower than a week before when they won a district title, but the mark was still high enough for the McLean Highlanders to add this season’s 6D North Region girls gymnastics championship to the high-school squad’s litany of accomplishments.

Herndon Councilmember Pradip Dhakal joins race for mayor

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 9, 2024 at 2:30PM

Pradip Dhakal, who has served on the council for three terms, is running for Herndon mayor (via Pradip Dhakal)

Another town council member has thrown his name in the mix in the race for Herndon mayor.

Councilmember Pradip Dhakal, who has served on the council for three consecutive terms, is running for the position. His colleague, Councilmember Keven LeBlanc, announced his intention to run earlier this week.

New name proposed for Vienna’s soon-to-be-renovated library

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 9, 2024 at 1:30PM

Patrick Henry Library (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A new look could come with a new name for Patrick Henry Library.

With a major renovation on the horizon, the Fairfax County Public Library’s board of trustees is set to vote next Wednesday (Feb. 14) on whether to rename the Vienna facility after William and Lillian Carter, who co-founded the nonprofit friends’ group that has supported the library for over half a century.

Local experts propose strategies for turning Richmond Highway into vibrant community hub

By James Jarvis

Published February 9, 2024 at 11:45AM

Cars head south on Richmond Highway (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Public art and social spaces will be key to transforming southern Richmond Highway into a community, a panel of local land use experts says.

Last week, the consulting nonprofit Urban Land Institute (ULI) presented recommendations at the Hybla Valley Community Center for how to foster economic growth in the corridor, while preserving its cultural identity through “placemaking.”

Plan for townhouses to revitalize Herndon-area site gets planning commission support

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 9, 2024 at 11:00AM

The newly approved Towns at Dulles Center development will add 48 townhomes near the intersection of Centreville and Coppermine roads (via Fairfax County)

Another bundle of houses is on the path to development in McNair near Herndon.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a plan on Wednesday (Feb. 7) to build 48 stacked townhouses at the northwest intersection of Coppermine and Centreville Road — potentially revitalizing a swath of land near Dulles International Airport that has sat mostly vacant for around 20 years.

Compass Coffee advances in quest for West Falls Church drive-thru cafe

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 9, 2024 at 10:15AM

Compass Coffee will limit the travel aisle near Route 29 to one direction of traffic to accommodate its planned drive-thru cafe in West Falls Church (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Compass Coffee is still weeks, if not months, away from opening its first Fairfax County cafe, but it’s already being warmly welcomed — at least by local planning commissioners.

After a public hearing on Wednesday (Feb. 7), the Fairfax County Planning Commission voted in support of the D.C.-based coffee company’s application to convert a vacated BB&T bank at 7393 Lee Highway (Route 29) in West Falls Church into its second drive-thru restaurant.

State Police to step up traffic enforcement on I-66 over Super Bowl weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 9, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated February 9, 2024 at 9:51AM

Westbound traffic I-66 by the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Virginia State Police will be quick to call foul on any drivers behaving poorly on I-66 before, during and after the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers’ big game this Sunday (Feb. 11).

With many sports fans planning visits to their local bar or stocking up on snacks and drinks for at-home Super Bowl parties, state troopers from the Fairfax and Culpepper divisions will have an increased presence in the 76-mile-long I-66 corridor throughout the weekend.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published February 9, 2024 at 8:15AM

Looking up at the Blvd Reston apartments building (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Man Charged With Stealing FBI Car — “A man working as a contractor at FBI headquarters in downtown D.C. stole a bureau car from the building’s basement garage Tuesday and was arrested hours later after trying to drive onto the grounds of an FBI facility in Northern Virginia, authorities said.” The man allegedly posed as an agent in a failed attempt to access the Vienna facility. [Washington Post]

Overdose by Herndon HS Student Reported — “A non-fatal student overdose was reported by the Fairfax County Public Schools District Tuesday night. The overdose, which was reported by Fairfax County police, involved a student from Herndon High School. Officials said the overdose did not happen at the school.” [WJLA]

Four arrested in Georgia for Fairfax County home burglaries, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 8, 2024 at 3:45PM

Fairfax County police say several recent home burglaries have involved a woman who pretends to be delivering flowers (courtesy FCPD)

Police have arrested four people in connection with multiple home burglaries involving pretend flower deliveries in Fairfax County.

The Fairfax County Police Department announced on Jan. 10 that it was investigating five recent home burglaries linked by a woman who was seen on surveillance cameras pretending to deliver flowers. After determining that no one was inside, she alerted two men in a waiting vehicle who broke into the houses and stole cash, purses and other valuable items, police said.