News | FFXnow - Part 772

Morning Notes

Published June 10, 2022 at 7:30AM

Reston Town Center on a sunny day (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Annandale Subway Vandalized — “A rowdy group of youths vandalized the Subway on Heritage Drive in Annandale at about 10:15 a.m. this morning [Thursday]…It will cost $2,000 or $3,000 to fix the window, [owner Emil] Ranakusuma says. He plans to file an insurance claim.” [Annandale Today]

General Assembly Dumps Football Stadium Bill — “The state legislator who has led the charge to lure the Washington Commanders to Virginia gave up the fight Thursday…State Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said comments that Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio made this week about the Jan. 6 insurrection were the last straw for the stadium bill.” [The Washington Post]

Massive Inova expansion in Franconia gets planning commission’s support

By Matt Blitz

Published June 9, 2022 at 3:15PM | Updated June 9, 2022 at 3:55PM

The Inova HealthPlex at Franconia-Springfield (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) Inova is one step closer to getting the planned expansion of its Franconia-Springfield medical campus to 21 acres.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously last night (Wednesday) to endorse an amended plan for the multi-million dollar Inova HealthPlex on Walker Lane and bordering the Franconia-Springfield Parkway.

McLean Youth Soccer makes pitch for permanent restrooms at Lewinsville Park

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 9, 2022 at 1:30PM

Soccer players practice at Lewinsville Park in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Now that Holladay Field’s conversion to synthetic turf is complete, McLean Youth Soccer (MYS) has set its sights on a new project to bolster the area’s recreational amenities.

The nonprofit soccer club is collaborating with the Fairfax County Park Authority on plans to build a new, permanent restroom facility for Lewinsville Park, which currently only has port-a-potties.

Community rallies for fundraisers to help families of Oakton High students killed in crash

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 9, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated June 9, 2022 at 3:41PM

Community members have left flowers and a balloon along Blake Lane, where three Oakton High School students were struck by a car Tuesday (photo by Amy Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) The community is starting to rally to support the families of two Oakton High School students who died after a car struck them on a sidewalk Tuesday (June 7).

A GoFundMe was created for one of the students, identified as Ada Gabriela. As of this morning (Thursday), the fundraiser had raised over $60,000 to help the family cover funeral expenses and other costs, surpassing its goal in less than a day. Another GoFundMe that went live Thursday has collected more than $13,000 for the other student who died.

Vienna OKs funding for new parking ‘supply and demand’ study

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 9, 2022 at 10:15AM

The Patrick Henry Library parking lot in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As new development starts to emerge in Vienna’s commercial corridor, the town wants to make sure it’s staying in the lines when it comes to parking.

The Vienna Town Council approved $115,000 in funding on Monday (June 6) for a parking supply and demand study that will assess the current availability of parking, future needs, and potential strategies for managing parking going forward.

JUST IN: Amazon Fresh announces opening date in Lorton

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 9, 2022 at 9:30AM

Amazon Fresh has three new locations planned in Northern Virginia, including one in Lorton (courtesy Amazon Fresh)

Amazon is bringing its version of a grocery store — Amazon Fresh — to Lorton this month.

The business plans to open a 38,000-square-foot location on June 23. It’s one of three locations coming soon to Northern Virginia.

FCPD: Three Fair Lakes shooting deaths possibly prompted by suicide pact

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 9, 2022 at 9:00AM

Fairfax County Police Department Executive Deputy Chief Brian Reilly talks at a press conference (via Fairfax County Police Department)

Two women and a man found dead with gunshots wounds in Fair Lakes on Tuesday (June 7) may have made a suicide pact, Fairfax County Police Department said.

Police said they believe the man shot Angelica McIntosh, 26, and Anne Lollar, 31, before shooting himself in their apartment in the 4200 block of Mazarin Place. Police believe the man is Jose Gale Aliaga, 26, though they are still working to confirm that identification.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 9, 2022 at 7:30AM

Plants grow over Vienna Metro station sign and fence (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Police Arrest Suspect in Car Part Thefts — “A 33-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of vehicle parts in residential parking garages in Fairfax County and Fairfax City…The first theft was reported on April 19 in the 5800 block of Trinity Parkway in Centreville.” [ALXnow]

Fairfax Man Charged for Loudoun County Bomb Threat — “An 18-year-old man from Fairfax was arrested on Tuesday and charged in connection with a bomb threat that was emailed to Dominion High School on May 19.” [Patch]

Silver Line Phase 2 contractor eyes potential completion date

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 8, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated June 9, 2022 at 9:39AM

The extension could open in time for Thanksgiving travel.

Updated at 9:40 a.m. on 6/9/2022 — Metro could announce an operational readiness date for the Silver Line extension “within the next several weeks,” interim CEO and General Manager Andy Off told the Board of Directors’ safety and operations committee today (Thursday).

Earlier: Capital Rail Constructors — the builder of phase two of the Silver Line — estimated that the long-delayed project could be handed over to Metro by July 29.

VDOT tweaks 495 NEXT design as construction gets underway

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 8, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated June 8, 2022 at 3:15PM

The Virginia Department of Transportation has launched an interactive map showing the design and impacts of the 495 NEXT project (via VDOT)

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Construction to extend the I-495 Express Lanes from Tysons to the George Washington Memorial Parkway is moving full steam ahead, despite continued skepticism from many McLean residents.

The Virginia Department of Transportation shared revised designs for portions of the I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project at two public meetings earlier this week, one that convened in-person at Langley High School on Monday (June 6) and another held virtually yesterday (Tuesday).