News | FFXnow - Part 794

Morning Notes

Published May 3, 2022 at 7:30AM

Construction cranes at Reston Station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax Resident Faces Prison for Unruly Airplane Behavior — “Last week, Kameron C. Stone, 30, of Fairfax, Virginia, was sentenced to one year in federal prison for interfering with flight crew and assault by striking and wounding in special aircraft jurisdiction after pleading guilty on February 8, 2022.” [Department of Justice]

Vienna Crash Leads to Power Outage and Evacuations — “According to a Town of Vienna alert, a traffic crash resulted in live, downed wires in the area of Cottage and Elm Streets. Homes on Elm Street from Cottage to Plum Streets and Cottage Street from Cherry to Battle Streets were evacuated due to the potential for fire, according to the town.” [Patch]

Fairfax County now averaging over 300 Covid cases a day

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 2, 2022 at 3:45PM

Fairfax Health District COVID-19 cases for the past 13 weeks, as of May 2, 2022 (via VDH)

The calendar may have turned a page, but COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County keep going up.

The Fairfax Health District, which also includes Fairfax and Falls Church cities, has added 812 cases over the past three days, according to the Virginia Department of Health, which didn’t report new cases on Saturday or Sunday (April 30-May 1).

Motel could switch to supportive housing for homeless in Fairfax City

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 2, 2022 at 3:00PM

The mote could become an affordable housing development (Image via handout/City of Fairfax)

Hy-way Motel — an aging 12-unit motel just off of Fairfax Circle — is slated for redevelopment.

The Lamb Center, a daytime drop-in homeless shelter, and Wesley Housing, a Springfield-based affordable housing developer, have filed plans to redevelop the motel at 9640 Fairfax Boulevard into a five-story building with 55 residential units for low-income individuals, along with ground-floor office and retail uses.

New maps drop Cub Run, Wolftrap Creek, and more from Fairfax County floodplain

By David Taube

Published May 2, 2022 at 2:15PM

A preliminary flood insurance map shows highlighted areas of potential concern (via FEMA)

The parts of Fairfax County most at risk for flooding have shifted over the past 10-plus years, according to new flood insurance maps that are currently available for public review and appeals.

“Residents, business owners and other community partners are encouraged to review the updated maps to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a news release on Wednesday (April 27).

McLean Community Center staff ‘under severe duress’ amid vacancies

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 2, 2022 at 1:30PM

The McLean Community Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

About half of the McLean Community Center’s staff positions are currently vacant, leaving its existing workers reportedly struggling to keep up with an increased workload.

As of last Thursday (April 28), the center had filled 58 of its 125 positions, 25 of which are considered full-time, MCC Marketing and Communications Director Sabrina Anwah told FFXnow in a statement. Only one of the vacancies is a full-time position.

FCPD ups traffic enforcement for cyclist, pedestrian safety campaign

By David Taube

Published May 2, 2022 at 11:15AM

Cyclist rides alongside cars (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Spring weather has arrived, inspiring more bicyclists and pedestrians to hit the pavement.

With a variety of travelers mingling on local roads, the Fairfax County Police Department is increasing its traffic enforcement for the next month, reminding drivers how to safely share the road with cyclists and pedestrians.

Scotts Run wins county approval to turn vacant block into park of some kind

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 2, 2022 at 10:30AM

A conceptual rendering for The Block at Scotts Run, which will occupy a currently vacant lot in Tysons (via Fairfax County/VIKA Virginia)

Will it be a hub for food trucks? How about an indoor spa, or a trampoline park with pop-up retail stalls? Why not all of the above?

Cityline Partners, the developer behind the Scotts Run neighborhood in Tysons, can let its imagination run wild — to a point — after the Fairfax County Planning Commission approved its proposal on Wednesday (April 27) to “activate” the 1600 block of Anderson Road.

Reston’s Ridge Heights pool opening, Lake Thoreau pool groundbreaking delayed

By Fatimah Waseem

Published May 2, 2022 at 9:45AM

The groundbreaking of the project has been delayed (Image via RA).

Two Reston pool projects are facing some delays.

The Ridge Heights Pool will open two weeks later than anticipated.

Police: Fairfax driver charged after pedestrian death in April

By David Taube

Published May 2, 2022 at 9:00AM

Guinea Road facing Olley Lane in Burke (via Google Maps)

A 40-year-old Fairfax driver faces criminal charges for a vehicle crash that resulted in the death of a 58-year-old man who was using a crosswalk in Burke, police said yesterday (Sunday).

Rachel Isner was charged with careless driving and infliction of injury on a vulnerable road user. The crash happened at the intersection of Guinea Road and Olley Lane on April 20 when Lloyd Ingram, of Burke, was in the crosswalk and had the right of way, police said.

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published May 2, 2022 at 7:30AM

The crowds returned for the first Taste of Vienna since the COVID-19 pandemic started (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reminder: FFXnow Wants Your Input — FFXnow is conducting a survey to learn more about our readers and help shape future coverage. What kinds of stories interest you? Have strong feelings about the Tysons Reporter and Reston Now merger, or the length of our stories? Let us know before the survey closes after Sunday, May 15.

Former Falls Church Bicycle Shop Owner’s Mythology Unravels — “We’re not just talking about one man’s fabrications, but the ripples from those fabrications: a team of riders that allege abuse at [Nick] Clark’s hands, a series of embellished life events stretching back to the 1990s, ties with the political and military elite, alleged misrepresentations across multiple industries, and possible stolen military valour.” [Cycling Tips]