News | FFXnow - Part 479

Morning Notes

Published June 9, 2023 at 7:30AM

A construction crane works on the Gallows Road bridge over I-66 in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

D.C. Area Briefly Had World’s Worst Air Quality — “‘Very unhealthy’ and ‘hazardous’ air quality put the health of people across the Washington, D.C., area at risk Thursday as smoke from wildfires in Canada brings some of the most polluted air ever recorded in the region.” Conditions improved to a Code Red into the evening, “but for a time Thursday, the D.C. area had the worst air quality in the world.” [NBC4]

Rep. Connolly Hosts Gun Violence Prevention Talk — In the wake of this week’s mass shooting at a Richmond high school graduation, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, and State Senator Jennifer Boysko will discuss gun violence prevention measures with local advocates. The panel will be streamed live at 10 a.m. today (Friday) on Channel 16. [Jeff McKay’s office]

Grassroots organization Hamkae Center celebrates ‘Asian American joy and glow’ on 10th anniversary

By Vivian Hoang

Published June 8, 2023 at 3:00PM

Hamkae Center members holding signs at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic with ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network in 2022 (courtesy Sookyung Oh)

Today (Thursday) marks a decade of community service, youth leadership, political activism and civic engagement in Virginia by the Hamkae Center.

Over the last 10 years, the local nonprofit has dedicated itself to achieving “social, racial, and economic justice” through Asian American mobilization and advocacy at both the state and local levels, per its website.

Vienna will send 1950s-era Faith Baptist Church building to ‘house heaven’

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 8, 2023 at 2:15PM

The former Faith Baptist Church building in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Faith Baptist Church that has occupied 301 Center Street South in Vienna for about seven decades will officially be torn down.

Faced with increasing maintenance costs, the Vienna Town Council voted unanimously on Monday (June 5) to demolish the entire two-story building, which was originally built in the 1950s, according to Fairfax County records.

Rearranging of buildings at Herndon’s Arrowbrook Centre approved

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 8, 2023 at 1:30PM

A map of the Arrowbrook Centre development in Herndon (via Arrowbrooke Centre LLC)

Arrowbrook Centre, an anchoring mixed-use neighborhood near the Innovation Center Metro station, is moving one step forward to completion.

Several pieces of the 54-acre development, which is bounded by the Dulles Airport Access Road to the north and Centreville Road to the east, were approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a Tuesday (June 6) meeting.

Annandale’s Seoul Plaza to swap parking for outdoor dining space

By Melanie Pincus

Published June 8, 2023 at 11:45AM

Seoul Plaza in Annandale (via Google Maps)

Annandale diners could soon see more outdoor seating at Izakaya Khan in Seoul Plaza (4231 Markham Street).

To make room for year-round outdoor dining at the Japanese restaurant, the center will lose off-street parking spaces, dropping its total from 210 to 200 spots. In addition to removing nine regular parking spaces, Seoul Plaza will also remove one accessible parking space to make possible a new trash dumpster layout.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 8, 2023 at 7:30AM

Haze turns the sky orange over the Vienna Metro station garage (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Air Quality Issues Continue Today — “Due to the wildfires in Canada, a Code Red Air Quality alert has been issued for Thursday, June 8, which means air quality is unhealthy for everyone in Fairfax County and the region…Take steps to limit your exposure,” such as by spending more time indoors “where particle pollution levels are usually lower.” [Fairfax Alerts]

Survivor of Fatal Blake Lane Crash Still Recovering — “Flowers, candles, crosses, rosaries and handwritten signs mark the spot where three students walking home from Oakton High School were struck by a speeding car driven by a fellow student on June 7, 2022…One year after the fatal crash and the victims’ families are still waiting for answers.” [Patch]

Recycling center or storage facility proposed for vacant Lorton property

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 7, 2023 at 3:45PM

A possibility of three uses is being proposed for the Lorton site (Image via Google Maps).

A vacant property along I-95 near Lorton Marketplace may not be vacant for much longer.

Milestone Properties is pitching either a recycling center or storage facility for the nearly three-acre site at 9420 Gunston Cove Road, which is currently home to a 75-foot retaining wall that will remain on the property.

Industrial tech manufacturer from Austria opens Herndon location

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 7, 2023 at 3:00PM

TELE opened its offices last month in the Town of Herndon (Photo courtesy TELE).

An industrial automation manufacturer from Austria is now a part of the business fabric in the Town of Herndon.

Tele Controls Inc., a 60-year-old, woman-owned manufacturer, opened its first U.S. subsidiary in Arlington in 2018, according to company spokesperson Apolinar Rivera.

New residents wanted to occupy and rehab historic Mount Gilead house in Centreville

By Matt Blitz

Published June 7, 2023 at 11:45AM | Updated June 8, 2023 at 11:00AM

Mount Gilead in Centreville (photo via Fairfax County Park Authority)

Fairfax County is beginning the process later this month of selecting the next inhabitants of the 238-year-old Mount Gilead property in Centreville.

The Fairfax County Parks Authority (FCPA) has scheduled a June 20 public Zoom meeting to discuss Mount Gilead’s inclusion in the county’s Resident Curator Program.

Code Red alert signaling unhealthy air issued for Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 7, 2023 at 11:10AM | Updated June 7, 2023 at 11:39AM

A haze hangs over I-66 in Dunn Loring (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 11:35 a.m.) Smoke drifting south from wildfires in Canada has introduced unhealthy levels of air pollution in the D.C. area.

A Code Red Air Quality Alert has been issued for the entire region, including Fairfax County, signaling that the air is unhealthy for everyone today (Wednesday), according to AirNow.