News | FFXnow - Part 616

Morning Notes

Published October 10, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated October 10, 2022 at 9:17AM

Outside the National Air and Space Museum Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Local Bus Changes for Indigenous Peoples’ Day — In observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, formerly known as Columbus Day, Fairfax Connector will operate on a holiday weekday schedule today (Monday). Metrorail is following a standard weekday schedule, but Metrobus is using a Saturday supplemental schedule. [Fairfax Connector, WMATA]

Local Tourism Spending Starts to Bounce Back — “Though still down from pre-pandemic levels, Fairfax County continued to make inroads in terms of rebounding tourism spending in 2021, according to new state figures. Domestic visitors spent an estimated $2.4 billion in Fairfax County in 2021, up more than 22 percent from 2020, according to figures reported Oct. 4 by the Virginia Tourism Corp.” [Sun Gazette]

Senior living facility opens in Great Falls, filling major housing need

By Matt Blitz

Published October 7, 2022 at 2:30PM

The Residence at Colvin Run Ribbon Cutting (photo courtesy of The Residence at Colvin Run)

A much-discussed senior living community is now open in Great Falls.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last month to open the Residence at Colvin Run at 1131 Walker Road. In attendance were a few local officials, including Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust.

New pickleball courts in McLean and Mount Vernon now complete

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 7, 2022 at 1:15PM

The Fairfax County Park Authority has proposed converting one of the Lewinsville Park tennis courts into pickleball courts (via FCPA)

Fairfax County’s inventory of pickleball facilities has expanded with the arrival of 10 courts dedicated to the increasingly popular sport.

Newly renovated courts at Lewinsville Park in McLean and George Washington Park in Mount Vernon will officially open on Saturday, Oct. 15, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced yesterday (Thursday).

Planned Herndon water pump will have capacity for 10M gallons a day

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 7, 2022 at 11:45AM

Herndon will work with Fairfax Water to add a pump station next to the police station (via Town of Herndon)

A pump station proposed for the Herndon Police Department site will be able to process 10 million gallons of water per day, town staff say.

The station is part of a broader retooling of Herndon’s Utility Master Plan, which outlines how the town will bolster its water infrastructure in preparation for development around the downtown and future Metro station.

VDOT offers new park to make up for 495 NEXT encroaching on Scott’s Run Nature Preserve

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 7, 2022 at 10:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:43PM

The Potomac River seen from Scott's Run Nature Preserve in McLean (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The ongoing widening of I-495 from Tysons to McLean will require the permanent taking of 1.15 acres from Scott’s Run Nature Preserve.

As compensation, the Virginia Department of Transportation has proposed building a new park for the Fairfax County Park Authority on a 1.83-acre site at the corner of Georgetown Pike and Balls Hill Road that it currently uses as a maintenance yard.

Police: Man shot at officers and led chase from Arlington to West Falls Church

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 7, 2022 at 9:30AM

Joined by Arlington County Police Chief Charles Penn, Fairfax County Police Chief discusses a chase with shots fired that ended in West Falls Church (via FCPD/Facebook)

A 27-year-old man was arrested in West Falls Church last night after fleeing from and shooting at police officers and troopers in both Fairfax and Arlington counties.

Identified as Ricardo Singleton, the man fired “several rounds” at Fairfax and Arlington officers and Virginia State Police troopers who converged on the Bestway Supermarket shopping center at the intersection of Arlington Blvd and Graham Road, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a joint media briefing.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published October 7, 2022 at 7:30AM

Railroad tracks are elevated above Lake Accotink Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Retired Priest Found Not Guilty of Sexual Abuse — “Terry Wayne Specht, 69, of Pennsylvania was found not guilty by a jury in Fairfax County of one felony count of aggravated sexual battery of a child younger than 13, court records show. Investigators claimed the assault took place in 2000, according to an indictment, when Specht was chaplain and assistant principal at St. Paul VI Catholic High School.” [The Washington Post]

Vehicle Hits Pedestrian in Groveton — Fairfax County police officers were dispatched to the 7200 block of Fordson Road yesterday morning (Thursday) after a driver hit an adult, male pedestrian. The crash closed the street between Richmond Highway and Lockheed Blvd for more than an hour. Initially considered life-threatening, the man’s injury condition was later upgraded. [FCPD/Twitter]

Virginia’s limits on local authority are becoming “more intrusive” for Fairfax County, board chair says

By Matt Blitz

Published October 6, 2022 at 3:30PM

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay (file photo)

Fairfax County deserves more local authority, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay says, calling Virginia’s Dillon Rule “increasingly more intrusive” in day-to-day operations.

The Dillon Rule dictates that localities only have the authority to create laws, set guidelines, and wield power if the state expressly grants it to them.

JUST IN: Police identify victim and possible suspect in Mount Vernon homicide

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 6, 2022 at 12:30PM

Fairfax County police car lights (file photo)

Fairfax County police are searching for a 43-year-old man from Mount Vernon who they say is a suspect in a fatal shooting on Sunday (Oct. 2).

Detectives believe Kyjuan Omar Braxton Trott shot Brandon Wims, 31, of Maryland multiple times after approaching the vehicle where Wims and two other people were sitting at the Old Mill Gardens apartment complex in Mount Vernon, the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Thursday).

Reston’s Lake Thoreau pool has been demolished for major renovation

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 6, 2022 at 11:30AM

Set for a major renovation, the Lake Thoreau pool has been demolished (via RA/YouTube)

The Lake Thoreau pool in Reston has been reduced to a dirt ditch at the corner of Sunrise Valley and Upper Lake drives, paving the way for a full renovation of the facility.

On-site work at 2040 Upper Lake Drive began over the summer. The pool has now been completely demolished, including the pool shell and concrete deck, according to the latest update from Reston Association.