News | FFXnow - Part 492

Morning Notes

Published July 18, 2023 at 7:30AM

Clouds over the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Canadian Wildfires Affect Local Air Quality Again — “The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert Tuesday for Northern Virginia. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups.” [NWS]

Fairfax City Water Rescuers Assist Vermont After Floods — “The Arlington County Fire Department announced Sunday morning, that just the night before, they had teamed up with the City of Fairfax Fire Department to deploy eight swift water rescuers to Vermont to assist the state.” As of Friday (July 14), the storms that hit Vermont last week have been tied two deaths due to flooding. [WUSA9]

JUST IN: Man indicted for murder in fatal Mount Vernon shooting

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 17, 2023 at 3:10PM

Police say Brandon Wims was shot multiple times while in a car at the Old Mill Gardens apartments in Mount Vernon (via Google Maps)

A Mount Vernon man will be tried for murder after allegedly shooting and killing Brandon Wims outside the Old Mill Gardens apartments in October.

A grand jury indicted 43-year-old Kyjuan Trott-McLean today (Monday) for murder and three weapons charges, according to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano.

Survey finds traffic concerns, overall satisfaction in Town of Herndon

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 17, 2023 at 2:15PM

Traffic in downtown Herndon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Traffic concerns were among the top issues flagged in a survey of Town of Herndon residents.

Despite those frustrations, the survey by Priority Metric Group found high levels of satisfaction with town services and quality of life in the town.

Developer hopes to energize Spring Hill Metro area by swapping office for housing

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 17, 2023 at 1:30PM

The proposed City House residential high-rise from across Spring Hill Road in Tysons (via DCS Design/Fairfax County)

While new buildings continue to transform the Tysons skyline further east, the Spring Hill Metro station area has yet to see the same frenzy of development.

Developer American Real Estate Partners hopes to change that with City House, pitching the high-rise apartments to the Fairfax County Planning Commission last week as a way to revitalize its Highline at Greensboro District office complex at 8401 Greensboro Drive.

Herndon plunges into pool upgrades, tennis court renovation

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 17, 2023 at 10:15AM

The pool at Herndon Community Center is slated for renovations (Photo via Herndon Community Center/Facebook).

The tennis courts at Bready Park in Herndon are slated for major upgrades — one of several renovations projects undertaken by the town’s park and recreation department this month.

All six courts at 814 Ferndale Avenue will be closed today (Monday), as crews work to install new fencing and replace the court surface, bubble structure and mechanical equipment.

Fight breaks out at Italian restaurant in Vienna, drawing police

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 17, 2023 at 9:30AM

Pazzo Pomodoro in Vienna (via Google Maps)

Late night drinks ended in a round of fisticuffs at Vienna’s Pazzo Pomodoro last Wednesday (July 12).

Officers were called to the Italian restaurant at 118 Branch Road SE around 1:30 a.m. after getting a report of a fight, the Vienna Police Department said in a summary of notable incidents from the week of July 7-13.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 17, 2023 at 7:30AM

Metro's rail yard seen from the West Falls Church station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Man in Custody After Shots Fired Call — “Officers responded to the 13600 blk of Lee Jackson Mem Hwy in Chantilly for a shots fired call. Preliminary, there are no injuries, and all parties are accounted for. There is no apparent threat to the public at this time…Officers have one adult male in custody.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Eggs Rescued From Dumpster Result in Chicks — “More than 20 chicks have found homes with veterinary staff after being rescued from a dumpster in Fairfax County, Virginia. Late last week, Fairfax County Animal Protection Police were called to a shopping center in West Falls Church, where over 1,000 eggs had been abandoned in a dumpster.” [WTOP]

New condo high-rise officially opens in Tysons’ Arbor Row

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 14, 2023 at 1:30PM

Monarch is a 86-unit condominium high-rise coming to Jones Branch Drive in Tysons (courtesy Viewpoint Studios/Renaissance Centro)

A new housing option has opened up in Tysons — at least for those who can spare $1.7 million.

Developer Renaissance Centro recently celebrated the grand opening of Monarch, a 20-story, 94-unit condominium high-rise in the Arbor Row neighborhood.

New plan offers guidance for arts venues in Fairfax County

By Melanie Pincus

Published July 14, 2023 at 11:45AM

Capital One Hall in Tysons, one of Fairfax County's newest arts venues (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) Fairfax County has a new plan that could help inform arts venue development in the county for the next 20 years.

Adopted unanimously by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday (July 11), the 49-page Fairfax County Master Arts Plan: Facilities includes an inventory of the county’s arts venues, an examination of gaps in resources, options for funding new facilities and more.

Abundance of dogs at Fairfax County Animal Shelter fuels spread of ‘kennel cough’ illness

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 14, 2023 at 11:00AM

Dogs have become plentiful at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (courtesy FCAS)

Dozens of dogs at Fairfax County’s animal shelter have become infected recently by a respiratory illness known informally as “kennel cough.”

While it’s common to see some canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) cases, the current wave has been exacerbated by more dogs staying in the shelter for longer periods of time, according to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS).