News | FFXnow - Part 502

Morning Notes

Published April 26, 2023 at 7:30AM

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

Narcan Distributed at FCPS Opioid Town Hall — “At Woodson High School on Monday night, health officials, educators, and police addressed the issue at a town hall…Additionally, families were trained in how to use Narcan, and then dozens lined up outside the town hall to receive their own doses.” [DC News Now]

New Plan to Reduce Helicopter Noise Announced — “Helicopters will fly at higher altitudes and flight paths over Northern Virginia will soon be altered to reduce helicopter noise, US Representative Don Beyer announced Tuesday alongside representatives from the federal government, the aeronautics industry, and elected officials from Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, and Fairfax.” [Washingtonian]

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney candidates trade attacks on local radio show

By Matt Blitz

Published April 25, 2023 at 3:00PM

Steve Descano and Ed Nuttall (staff photo by Jay Westcott and via ABC 7)

The primary for Fairfax County commonwealth’s attorney may be the most cutthroat race on the ballot in a year when local voters will also choose representatives on the Board of Supervisors, school board and General Assembly.

On Friday (April 21), Democratic incumbent Steve Descano and challenger Ed Nuttall appeared together on WAMU’s “The Politics Hour,” the weekly radio show hosted by Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood, and the conversation got spicy.

Vienna Elementary, one of Fairfax County’s oldest public schools, to throw 150th birthday bash

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2023 at 2:15PM

Vienna Elementary School from 1915. The four-room building burned down around 1919 and was replaced by the current school in 1923 (courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division)

When Vienna Elementary School celebrates its 150th anniversary next month, the occasion will double as a milestone for the entire Fairfax County Public Schools system.

Opened in 1923, the 74,904-square-foot home of the Vikings at 128 Center Street South is the oldest continuously operating public school building in the county, though the school as an institution can trace its origins back to the founding of FCPS in 1870.

Lake Thoreau pool renovation slated for late summer completion

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 25, 2023 at 1:30PM

Construction on the project is more than 65 percent complete (Photo courtesy RA).

The massive renovation of Lake Thoreau’s pool is likely to be completed by late August or early September.

Reston Association spokesperson Mike Leone told FFXnow that the renovation is on track to finish later in the summer. If it’s completed by early September, RA’s Board of Directors will determine if the pool will reopen this year, since only a few weeks would remain in the pool season.

Columbia Pike intersection where crash killed teen secures funds for crossing beacon

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2023 at 11:45AM

A memorial at Columbia Pike and Tyler Street for Lesly Diaz-Bonilla, who was killed by a driver on Nov. 16, 2022 (photo by Ellie Ashford, courtesy Bailey's Crossroads and Culmore PBI Coalition)

To the relief of Bailey’s Crossroads residents, some traffic safety improvements are in the works for the often harrowing area where Columbia Pike and Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) meet.

Perhaps the most urgent change will be the addition of a pedestrian hybrid beacon at the crosswalk across Columbia Pike at Tyler Street — the intersection where a driver hit and killed Justice High School student Lesly Diaz-Bonilla in November.

Norton Scott takes county to court over handling of Reston Town Center North proposal

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 25, 2023 at 10:15AM

Norton Scott's plan for Reston's Civic Core is now a matter of litigation (Photo courtesy Norton Scott).

A developer that filed a plan for a new Reston Regional Library and affordable housing in the Reston Town Center North area is challenging Fairfax County’s handling of its procurement process in court.

The complaint, filed by Reston Civic Core LLC late last year, is being litigated even after developer Foulger-Pratt withdrew its offer of a public-private partnership for the same area — a move that leaves no immediate option for the redevelopment.

Three people taken to hospital after crash that closes John Marr Drive

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 25, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated April 25, 2023 at 11:23AM

The intersection of John Marr Drive and Little River Turnpike has been closed after a crash (via Google Maps)

Updated at 11:25 a.m. — All lanes on John Marr Drive and Little River Turnpike have now reopened to traffic, police say.

Earlier: A crash on John Marr Drive in Annandale took down power lines and sent three people to the hospital this morning (Tuesday).

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 25, 2023 at 7:30AM

Overhead screens show blue skies as a man walks by CVS Pharmacy at Reston Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

County’s Last Bed Bath & Beyond to Close — After three Fairfax County locations closed earlier this year, Bed Bath & Beyond’s recent bankruptcy filing means the last holdout in Bailey’s Crossroads will soon follow suit. With all 360 remaining stores shuttering by June 30, sales after tomorrow (Wednesday) will be final, and stores will stop accepting gift cards on May 8. [Annandale Today]

Motorcyclist Dies in Crash on I-66 — “A 29-year-old motorcyclist died late Friday night after a crash on Interstate 66 in Fairfax County, Virginia State Police say. Jeffrey R. Armstrong, of Sterling, was driving a 2006 Suzuki GSX east on I-66 near mile marker 50 at around 11:25 p.m. Friday when police said the cycle rear ended a 2003 Honda Odyssey, ejecting him from the bike.” [WTOP]

Huntington Club pauses development plans after years of groundwork

By Matt Blitz

Published April 24, 2023 at 3:00PM

The Huntington Club, a condo community, is slated for redevelopment (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

After years of groundwork, the Huntington Club is pausing its plan to terminate itself and delaying major redevelopment plans that would have tied into the nearby Metro station.

On Friday (April 21), the Huntington Club condo association announced it will no longer move to disband this year and has paused construction of a large mixed-use development near the Huntington Metro station.

Reston Hospital Center leads Fairfax County’s drug take-back haul

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 24, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated April 24, 2023 at 2:41PM

The police department collection more than 750 pounds of drugs this year (Photo courtesy FCPD).

Reston Hospital Center collected the most drugs during the Fairfax County Police Department’s annual national prescription drug take back day on Saturday (April 22).

The hospital’s location, one of eight drop-off sites, collected a whopping 226 pounds — far more than the 127 pounds collected by the second-place sites: West Springfield and Fair Oaks.