Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for May 14, 2025

By FFXnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — May 14, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 2pm, with patchy fog clearing by 11am. Gradual sunshine later, reaching a high of 79°F and calm southwest winds around 5 mph. Precipitation at 50%. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms likely before 2am, then briefly pausing until 5am, with patchy fog returning. Partly cloudy, a low of 66°F, and calm winds, with a 40% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

News

Police charge 80-year-old Herndon man with inappropriately touching child

By Angela Woolsey
A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A Herndon man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly grabbing and kissing a child.

The victim reported on Monday (May 12) at 8:40 a.m. that she had been walking in the 13300 block of Hungerford Place in the Hutchison neighborhood near Herndon when a man approached her, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Go to Police charge 80-year-old Herndon man with inappropriately touching child Read more
Sponsored

Trek & Treat returns this fall: Explore Tysons and earn big prizes

By Sponsor
Yellow Route Check-In Point sticker on a concrete sidewalk; person in black flats and jeans stands nearby, with shadow visible. Text on sticker says to scan to join the game.
Image from Trek & Treat returns this fall: Explore Tysons and earn big prizes
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Trek & Treat is back with a brand-new route, fun prizes, and a $150 Early Bird incentive if you register by October 1

Game on! The Tysons Trek & Treat Fall Challenge returns this week, running October 2 through November 1. Participants can walk, bike, or roll through Tysons while checking in at stops, earning points, and redeeming them for prizes.

Hosted by Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), the free mobility challenge features five walkable and bike-friendly routes—including a brand-new route this season!—for a range of ages and abilities. Explore The Boro on the Yellow Route, wander past Arbor Row and Tysons Galleria on the Green Route, stroll Scott’s Run Trail and Capital One Center on the Red Route, or take on the Orange and Purple routes by bike or wheels.

There’s no app to download, so just choose a route, grab your phone, and start exploring.

And there’s a good reason to sign up now: pre-register by October 1, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a $150 Experience Tysons e-gift card, redeemable at participating businesses throughout Tysons.

Explore More, Earn More

As you make your way through Tysons, be on the lookout for Trek & Treat check-in stickers posted at stops along each route. Scan the QR code on each sticker to check in, earn points, and keep moving toward your next prize.

While racking up points, you can earn prizes including wireless earbuds, a Bluetooth speaker, an OGIO backpack, Metro SmarTrip cards, portable chargers, and more. Participants can also earn Experience Tysons e-gift cards, including $300 for the Tysons Trailblazer grand-prize winner, $250 for second place, and $200 for third place.

Register and complete at least one check-in by October 10, and you’ll also receive an exclusive “I Trekked Tysons” t-shirt.

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to get outside, discover new corners of Tysons, or earn prizes along the way, Trek & Treat offers plenty of reasons to explore this fall. Registration is easy at tysonsva.org/exploretysons/gameon.

Tysons Trek & Treat Fall Challenge runs October 2–November 1

Register Today
News

Police: Fairfax man tied to several indecent exposure incidents over 10 years

By Angela Woolsey
Police shared a photo in April that they said shows a man who allegedly exposed himself in Chantilly (via FCPD)

A Fairfax man who allegedly exposed himself multiple times in Oakton and Chantilly over the past decade has been arrested.

The Fairfax County Police Department shared last month that detectives were investigating a series of indecent exposure incidents after receiving a report of an unidentified man exposing himself “to multiple victims” near the 4600 block of Stonecroft Road in Chantilly between 5 and 6 p.m. on March 30.

Go to Police: Fairfax man tied to several indecent exposure incidents over 10 years Read more
News

State Police: Driver pulled over for using phone on I-495, crashes into vehicles

By Angela Woolsey
I-495 North at the off-ramp to Braddock Road in North Springfield (via Google Maps)

A high-speed chase on the Capital Beltway (I-495) this morning started with a driver getting pulled over for using their cell phone, police say.

After allegedly seeing a violation of Virginia’s “hands-free” law banning the use of cell phones while driving, a trooper attempted a traffic stop on northbound I-495 near Braddock Road in the North Springfield area around 8:54 a.m. today (Wednesday), according to the Virginia State Police (VSP).

Go to State Police: Driver pulled over for using phone on I-495, crashes into vehicles Read more
Event

5dollar5k

Group photo of runners and families posing on a sunny field behind a banner that reads '5 Dollar 5K' during a community run event.

Event location

Bluemont Park

601 N Manchester St

Arlington, Virginia 22205

Add to Calendar

Join Comunidad for its Annual 5Dollar5K—a fun, family-friendly race that brings neighbors together in support of local children, teens, and families in Falls Church and Arlington. Run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, and bring the little ones for a special Kids’ Dash! Registration is just $5, and children ages 12 and under participate for free. Comunidad is a community development organization based in the Seven Corners area of Falls Church. We hope you'll join us and together help us build comunidad!

Go to 5dollar5k Read more
News

Former Chantilly private school teacher charged with child sex crimes

By Jared Serre
Nicolas Martin Zimmerman mugshot (courtesy of Loudoun County Sheriff's Office)

A longtime teacher in Chantilly faces decades in prison after being charged with numerous child sex crimes.

Nicolas Martin Zimmerman, who formerly taught at St. Veronica Catholic School in Chantilly, was arrested last month by law enforcement in Loudoun County, the sheriff’s office announced today (Wednesday).

Go to Former Chantilly private school teacher charged with child sex crimes Read more
Around Town

Popular brunch spot First Watch to open in Reston next week

By Angela Woolsey
First Watch's beverage menu includes juices, coffee and brunch cocktails (courtesy First Watch)

First Watch will soon start serving up its signature avocado toast and million dollar bacon to Reston diners.

The daytime cafe chain is set to open in the former Carrabba’s Italian Grill at 12192 Sunset Hills Road near RTC West next Monday, May 19, a First Watch spokesperson told FFXnow, confirming a report by The Burn.

Go to Popular brunch spot First Watch to open in Reston next week Read more
News

Greenbriar Park could be getting new pickleball courts

By Vernon Miles
Greenbriar Park pickleball courts concept rendering (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)

The Fairfax County Park Authority is inviting public comment on a plan to build three new pickleball courts at Greenbriar Park (4600 Stringfellow Road) near Fair Lakes.

The proposal aims to “address the growing demand for pickleball facilities” after the sport’s meteoric rise in recent years. The hope is also to cut down on community concerns about “shared court usage” at nearby parks.

Go to Greenbriar Park could be getting new pickleball courts Read more
Countywide

FCPS to share initial suggestions for school boundary changes

By Angela Woolsey
South County High School (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Hundreds of Fairfax County Public Schools students could be directed to different schools under initial redistricting scenarios developed as part of a systemwide boundary review.

The Connecticut-based firm Thru Consulting, which was hired by the Fairfax County School Board last September, will present its first draft of potential boundary changes at a series of community meetings starting tomorrow (Thursday).

Go to FCPS to share initial suggestions for school boundary changes Read more
Around Town

NEW: Another grocery store to replace Whole Foods in Idylwood

By Angela Woolsey
The now-vacant grocery store at Idylwood Plaza, formerly occupied by Whole Foods Market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Idylwood Plaza has secured a new grocery store anchor.

The German chain Lidl will take over space at the shopping center previously filled by Whole Foods Market, which relocated to the Broad & Washington development in nearby Falls Church City in February.

Go to NEW: Another grocery store to replace Whole Foods in Idylwood Read more
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