News | FFXnow - Part 742

Park Authority grapples with staffing challenges during busy summer

Published August 9, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated August 16, 2022 at 12:12AM

A lifeguard at The Water Mine in Reston (via Fairfax County Park Authority/YouTube)

A shortage of seasonal workers has the Fairfax County Park Authority straining to stay afloat at the time of year when many of its facilities — from swimming pools to the Scotts Run Nature Preserve — tend to be busiest.

The agency announced last week that the visitor center at Huntley Meadows Park in Hybla Valley will have reduced hours throughout August, citing difficulties in recruiting staff. While the park itself will remain open from dawn to dusk, the visitor center’s indoor exhibits and public restrooms are currently only available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Midtown Jewelers in Reston Town Center to open new location

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 9, 2022 at 3:00PM

For more than 10 years, a family-owned jewelry boutique has called Reston home.

That will change in the fall of this year when Midtown Jewelers leaves Reston Town Center for a new location in the Town of Herndon.

Chocolatier behind Belgian pralines to set up shop in Mosaic District

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 9, 2022 at 2:15PM

The Belgian company Neuhaus Chocolate will open a boutique at the Mosaic District (photo by Federica Carlet/Neuhaus Chocolate)

The Mosaic District has a new chocolate shop on the way to fill the hole left two years ago by Artisan Confections.

Neuhaus Belgian Chocolate will open its first Northern Virginia store in the Merrifield neighborhood this fall, confirmed Antony Verbaeys, the company’s U.S. managing director.

Fairfax County could raise building standards to address flood risk from severe storms

By Matt Blitz

Published August 9, 2022 at 11:45AM

Rain collects around a storm drain (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is considering making all existing and future development built to lessen flooding risks from huge, 100-year event storms, as opposed to a 10-year storm.

The risk of flooding in the county is rising due to climate change, staff told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors environmental committee late last month. While preventing flooding is impossible, its impact can be mitigated, they said.

Historical marker for McLean’s old firehouse to get overdue dedication

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 9, 2022 at 11:00AM

A historical marker for the McLean Volunteer Fire Department was installed outside the Old Firehouse Center in 2020 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

If buildings could speak, the Old Firehouse Center in McLean would have some tales to tell — almost a century’s worth, in fact.

Originally built in 1925, the low-lying brick structure hosted the McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) as well as the wider community, which was starting to take shape.

Weird Brothers Coffee plans to relocate in Herndon

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 9, 2022 at 10:15AM

The current location in the Worldgate area is relocating (Staff photo by Fatimah Waseem).

Weird Brothers Coffee — a staple in the Town of Herndon’s coffee scene — is expected to relocate one of its locations in Herndon.

The coffee shop and roastery, a veteran-owned business that is managed by brothers Paul and Kenny Olsen, intends to move its Worldgate Metro Plaza location to Worldgate Centre.

Rescued beagles arrive at Fairfax County shelter in anticipation of adoptions

By Matt Blitz

Published August 9, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated August 16, 2022 at 12:12AM

A rescued beagle at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is about to become a paw-pular place for beagle devotees, with 16 pooches saved from a Virginia research facility last month set to go up for adoption later this week.

On Monday morning (Aug. 8), a number of the spirited, tail-wagging beagles made their first public appearance since arriving at their new, temporary home. Dogs with names like Rosebud, Mint, and Bergamot hopped around in the grass, gnawed on a toy, and sat in their water bowl outside of the facility.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published August 9, 2022 at 7:30AM

A frog statue looks up at Giant in University Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Army Nurse Thanks Fairfax County Firefighters — “Sunday, August 7, was a powerful and inspiring day at Station 11, Penn Daw, C-Shift. U.S. Army Captain Paul Petrie, an OR Nurse at Fort Belvoir, stopped by to thank the shift for their role in saving his life in May. Injuries he sustained are fatal a vast majority of the time. Watch to learn more!” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Long-Term Fix for AT&T Service Issues in Reston Coming — A permanent proposal to restore full cell service in the Lake Anne area isn’t expected to come until later this fall, according to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn. Alcorn says AT&T is looking at installing equipment on the new Fellowship House roof, but that will require approvals from Fairfax County and the Reston Association Design Review Board. [Patch]

‘Fresh Baguette’ promised at McLean bakery opening this fall

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 8, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fresh Baguette specializes in organic bread, made daily (photo by Leilani Lujan)

The concept behind Fresh Baguette is self-evident from its name.

Serving freshly baked, artisanal bread and pastries, the Bethesda-based bakery is on the rise in the D.C. area, with its newest store expected to open in McLean early this fall.

Free fresh food marketplace coming to Reston this week

By Fatimah Waseem

Published August 8, 2022 at 2:15PM

The marketplace concept is inspired by farmers markets (Photo via Anne Preble/Unsplash).

This month, Fairfax County residents in need will have a couple of opportunities to stock up free fresh produce and other food.

The Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate is taking part in the Capital Area Food Bank‘s Community Marketplace program, which provides fresh produce every second Saturday of the month. The next distribution is slated for Saturday (Aug. 13) from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the center, which is located at 12125 Pinecrest Road in Reston.