News | FFXnow - Part 589

Morning Notes

Published February 2, 2023 at 7:30AM

Snow on bridge in Reston's The Glade (photo by Marjorie Copson)

Deadline for Feedback on School Calendars Extended — “Thank you to the approximately 23,000 families, staff, students, and community members who completed FCPS’ Calendar Feedback Form…The form will close on Monday, February 6, at noon. The School Board is scheduled to vote on a calendar on Thursday, February 9.” [FCPS]

McLean Teen Launches Swim School in South Africa — “An 11th-grade student at The Potomac School in McLean returned to the United States in late January after launching a youth swim academy in Alexandra…The not-for-profit Alexandra Youth Swim Academy, founded by Sasha Minsky, 17, provides free swim instruction to children aged 7 to 16 in the township, near Johannesburg.” [Patch]

Fairfax County gets funds to preserve historically significant map marking Alexandria boundaries

By Vernon Miles

Published February 1, 2023 at 3:15PM | Updated March 4, 2024 at 3:55PM

Part of the West End annexation map (image via Fairfax County)

A newly awarded grant will help the Fairfax County Circuit Court preserve some historical records dating back to the 18th century, including one map that laid out the battlefield in a small legal war between the county and Alexandria City.

The 4-foot-long, 3-foot-tall Alexandria Annexation Map was impossible to fully photograph in its entirety because of its rough shape, but restoration work should help clear it up, said Heather Bollinger, the historic records manager at the Fairfax County Historic Records Center.

Reston Association explores county pilot for more electric vehicle charger access

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 1, 2023 at 2:15PM

An electric vehicle charger has already been installed at the community center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reston Association is charging up to potentially take part in Fairfax County pilot to get more homeowners’ associations (HOAs) on board with improving access to electric vehicle chargers.

The pilot program, Charge Up Fairfax, would facilitate EV charging by residents in multi-family housing, especially HOAs and condominium associations, by circumventing technical and financial challenges linked to installing stations.

Development proposal that could’ve closed key road between Reston and Wolf Trap withdrawn

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 1, 2023 at 1:30PM

The current layout of Crowell Road in Wolf Trap (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County is no longer considering a proposal to allow more housing in Wolf Trap’s Crowells Corner neighborhood.

The Site-Specific Plan Amendment (SSPA) submission has been withdrawn by its nominator, county planner David Stinson said at a virtual meeting last night (Tuesday) to discuss requested land use changes in east Reston and along Hunter Mill Road.

TJ students win local Congressional contest by designing app to help kids with autism

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 1, 2023 at 11:45AM

Thomas Jefferson High School students Soham Jain, Rohan Kotla and Samvrit Rao (left to right) developed the app RoutineRemind to help kids with autism (courtesy Samvrit Rao)

An app created by a trio of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students to help kids with autism may someday be deployed in Fairfax County’s special education classrooms.

Sophomores Soham Jain, Rohan Kotla and Samvrit Rao have already earned recognition from Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10) for RoutineRemind, an app designed to help parents and kids keep track of their schedules.

Rise in pedestrian fatalities a top concern for FCPD, officials say

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 1, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated February 27, 2023 at 1:08PM

Police blocked off southbound Route 29 at Centrewood Drive last night after a fatal pedestrian crash (via VDOT Northern Virginia/Twitter)

The Fairfax County Police Department is doubling down on traffic enforcement and awareness efforts after a rise in pedestrian fatalities last year.

At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors safety and security committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday), Police Chief Kevin Davis stressed that the department is focusing on education and enforcement, with pedestrian safety as a primary mission.

JUST IN: Firefighter sustains ‘minor’ injury in Vienna house fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 1, 2023 at 9:30AM

Fairfax County firefighters respond to a fire in the 1000 block of Westwood Drive (photo by M. Clark via FCFRD/Twitter)

A firefighter was injured while responding to a house fire in Vienna just before midnight.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched to the 1000 block of Westwood Drive NE at 11:58 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday), according to a tweet.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published February 1, 2023 at 7:30AM | Updated February 1, 2023 at 8:27AM

A dusting of snow on trees (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Redevelopment Proposed in Bailey’s Crossroads — “Several community members who attended a Fairfax County Planning Department presentation on a proposal for a major mixed-use project on the Food Star site in Bailey’s Crossroads said the county should address the immediate problems in that area first. Those problems include crime, litter, traffic, weeds in the median, safety and trash issues at Skyline Park, and the lack of safety for pedestrians.” [Annandale Today]

Lorton Man Charged With DWI in Alexandria — “A 23-year-old Lorton man was charged with driving while intoxicated after allegedly crashing into four cars in Old Town. The crash occurred near the intersection of S. Patrick Street and Gibbon Street at around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21. Three people suffered minor injuries and went to the hospital, and the driver was released later that day.” [ALXnow]

Seven local restaurants recognized by Washingtonian’s Top 100 restaurants list

By Matt Blitz

Published January 31, 2023 at 3:00PM

A&J Restaurant, which has a location in Annandale, has the best brunch in the D.C. area, according to 2022 RAMMY public voters (file photo)

Seven restaurants in Fairfax County are part of this year’s Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurants list.

The restaurants that earned a coveted spot include:

Public feedback sought on redesign of Telegraph Road in Franconia

By Vernon Miles

Published January 31, 2023 at 11:45AM

Telegraph Road and Hayfield Road (via Google Maps)

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is looking for public feedback on some planned improvements — including a potential widening — for a stretch of Telegraph Road in Franconia.

The goal of the project is to cut down on congestion along the busy road as well as improve pedestrian mobility.