News | FFXnow - Part 462

Morning Notes

Published November 21, 2023 at 8:15AM

A couple walks on a path beside Lake Audubon in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Car Crashes Into Electric Pole on Route 29 — A two-vehicle crash took out an electrical pole at the Graham Road intersection in Idylwood early last night (Monday). No injuries were reported, but all eastbound lanes were blocked during the afternoon rush-hour as police and Dominion Energy responded to the scene. [FCPD/Twitter]

Tysons Corner Center Lights Holiday Tree — “Step into a winter wonderland at Tysons Corner Plaza, where the festive spirit comes alive! This quick highlight reel captures the essence of the Tysons Corner Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration that took place on November 17, 2023.” [Drew Lehmann/YouTube]

After a state study found Virginia is underfunding schools, local governments want action

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

Published November 20, 2023 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County school bus (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Before the new class of General Assembly members takes office in January, they are facing a push from local government leaders to quickly address Virginia’s historical underfunding of its school divisions.

In September, the General Assembly convened a group to examine how the state’s funding formulas could be updated to fix the problem, with recommendations due next November, ahead of the 2025 legislative session. However, many local governments say the timeline needs to be faster and are urging the legislature to take action immediately, at the start of the new budget cycle.

Tysons man arrested for illegal machine gun possession

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 20, 2023 at 1:30PM

A Tysons resident was arrested after police found machine guns his home (courtesy FCPD)

Fairfax County police confiscated multiple machine guns last week from a Tysons man who was suspected of sending sexual messages to a juvenile.

Detectives began investigating Craig Strasbourger, 31, after receiving a tip in September from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, which gets reports of child sexual exploitation incidents, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Maryland man dies after crashing into Old Keene Mill Road jersey barrier

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 20, 2023 at 11:45AM

Northbound Backlick Road at Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield (via Google Maps)

A Maryland man died early yesterday (Sunday) morning after crashing into the jersey barrier at the Old Keene Mill Road and Backlick Road intersection in Springfield.

Issac Garcia Mendoza, 21, of Oxon Hill was seen driving north on Backlick “at a high rate of speed” around 1:21 a.m., according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Herndon startup among five to get grants from inaugural Fairfax Founders Fund

By Fatimah Waseem

Published November 20, 2023 at 11:00AM

Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust with NearStar Fusion CEO Amit Singh and Vice President and co-founder Christopher Faranetta (via NearStar Fusion/FCEDA)

A medical device printer in Herndon is among five local companies that will receive funding from Fairfax County’s new grant program for startups.

3D Orthobiologic Solutions (3DOS), which launched in 2019, seeks to manufacture 3D-printed medical devices and dental impacts.

UPDATED: Annandale man arrested for fatal shooting at Fairview Park Marriott

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 20, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated November 20, 2023 at 12:56PM

The entrance to the Marriott hotel at 3111 Fairview Park Drive (via Google Maps)

Updated at 1 p.m. — Hiep Van Vo, the suspect in Sunday’s shooting at the Fairview Park Marriott, was arrested at 11 p.m. yesterday outside a Giant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Fairfax County police said today (Monday).

Vo is in custody at the Montgomery County Detention Center “awaiting extradition back to Fairfax County,” according to police.

BREAKING: Six teens seriously injured, one arrested in Idylwood crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 20, 2023 at 9:20AM | Updated November 20, 2023 at 8:44PM

Fairfax County Police Department Lt. James Curry addresses media after a crash in Idylwood injured six teens (via FCPD/Facebook)

Updated at 8:40 p.m. — The 17-year-old driver who crashed on Pioneer Lane this morning was arrested for driving under the influence, but the Fairfax County Police Department says it will wait to officially file charges after consulting with the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

“Charges are pending as the investigation continues,” the FCPD said in a news release. “Detectives believe speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.”

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published November 20, 2023 at 8:15AM

A bridge over Holmes Run in the Fairview Park area (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Hayfield Student Overdoses — “In a letter to families and staff, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle C. Reid said a student at Hayfield Secondary School overdosed Friday. It is unclear if the student was on school property when the overdose occurred. Reid said in the letter that out of concern for the student’s privacy, the district will not be releasing any further information regarding the overdose.” [WUSA9]

Metro Fare Revenues Dip Despite Ridership Improving — “Revenue from fares, parking, advertising and other sources during the fiscal quarter amounted to $108.4 million, which is $17.7 million less than Metro predicted…Metro leaders didn’t express significant concerns Thursday while learning of the quarterly revenue gap, saying the pandemic proved the agency can’t rely so heavily on fares.” [Washington Post]

Tysons-based Hilton named world’s best workplace in annual Fortune ranking

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 17, 2023 at 1:15PM

Hilton has been based at Park Place II in Tysons since 2009 (courtesy Hilton)

The best place to work in the world can be found right in Tysons, according to a new Fortune magazine ranking.

Hilton, the hotel company headquartered at Park Place II (7930 Jones Branch Drive), topped the 2023 World’s Best Workplaces list released yesterday by Fortune and Great Place to Work, a research and data platform that bills itself as the “global authority on workplace culture.”

Oakton park, rec center no longer ‘Marr-ed’ by Confederacy-linked name

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 17, 2023 at 11:45AM

Oak Marr RECenter has been renamed Oakmont Rec Center (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County has shed another vestige of its Confederate past.

Oak Marr Park, which is home to the Oak Marr RECenter and Golf Center Complex, was renamed “Oakmont” earlier this month by the Fairfax County Park Authority board, which approved the change at its Nov. 8 meeting.