Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 9, 2024

By FFXnow.com

Good Friday 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 — Aug 9, 2024.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. More than 30 Fairfax eateries to participate in upcoming Summer Restaurant Week (9901 views)
  2. Chantilly housing development advances after facing questions about wildlife, traffic impacts (7395 views)
  3. Reston Midline takes shape with more residential development in the works (4506 views)
  4. Fairfax County executive unveils proposal for $260 million budget surplus (4431 views)
  5. Park Authority seeks tenant to rehabilitate historic Tysons house (3991 views)
  6. NEW: Bonchon to revive Herndon and Annandale restaurants (2922 views)
  7. Fairfax County Public Schools ACE launches over 250 new training, certification programs for adult learners (2697 views)
  8. Avoid Georgetown Pike bridge over I-495 during coming lane closures, VDOT warns (2303 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high of around 86 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. As night falls on Saturday, the skies will turn partly cloudy and the temperature will drop to approximately 65 degrees, with the north wind maintaining a speed of around 5 mph. 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.

We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋

News

After 55 years, Mount Vernon’s horticulturist and longest-serving employee is set to retire

By Inside NoVA
Mount Vernon Director of Horticulture and Livestock Dean Norton is retiring (courtesy George Washington's Mount Vernon)

Dean Norton, Mount Vernon’s Director of Horticulture and Livestock, will retire at the end of the year after an “extraordinary” 55-year career, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association announced this week.

Upon his retirement, Norton will receive the honorific title of Director of Horticulture and Livestock Emeritus, in recognition of his service to George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The association is also compiling an oral history which will become part of its permanent archives.

Go to After 55 years, Mount Vernon’s horticulturist and longest-serving employee is set to retire Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County goes for ‘gold’ in federal initiative to expand EV charging

By James Jarvis
An electric vehicle charging station in a parking garage at The Boro in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In a bid to upgrade its electric vehicle infrastructure, Fairfax County is turning to the federal government for a little extra support.

The Board of Supervisors approved a board matter on July 30 directing staff to join U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) new “Charging Smart” pilot program, which offers free technical assistance to help local governments in eight states, including Virginia, expand EV charging infrastructure “efficiently and equitably.”

Go to Fairfax County goes for ‘gold’ in federal initiative to expand EV charging Read more
News

JUST IN: Man who killed wife in West Falls Church pleads guilty 33 years later

By Angela Woolsey
Jose Lazaro Cruz has been arrested for allegedly murdering his wife, Ana Jurado, in West Falls Church on April 30, 1991 (courtesy FCPD)

A 60-year-old man pleaded guilty today (Friday) to killing his wife outside her West Falls Church home in 1991.

Jose Larazo Cruz pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after prosecutors made the case at a Fairfax County Circuit Court hearing that he stabbed Ana Jurado on April 30, 1991 during an argument over an affair she was allegedly having, Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced.

Go to JUST IN: Man who killed wife in West Falls Church pleads guilty 33 years later Read more
Around Town

D.C. chef starts fresh at Tysons Galleria with new Mexican street food eatery

By Angela Woolsey
Rabbit Taco is now open in Tysons Galleria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A different kind of taqueria has hopped into Tysons Galleria.

Conceived by some of the team behind D.C.’s Maïz64, Rabbit Taco opened on the mall’s third floor on June 24, selling tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more near Empanadas De Mendoza.

Go to D.C. chef starts fresh at Tysons Galleria with new Mexican street food eatery Read more
News

First phase of mixed-use Herndon Parkway development under review

By Angela Woolsey
A rendering of Fairfield Residential's planned 555 Herndon Parkway redevelopment (via LandDesign/Town of Herndon)

At least one development project near the Herndon Metro station is moving forward.

The Town of Herndon is currently reviewing a site plan and architectural designs for a mid-rise residential building at 555 Herndon Parkway, the first of two phases of mixed-use development approved to replace the low-lying, vacant office building on the site.

Go to First phase of mixed-use Herndon Parkway development under review Read more
Around Town

Bob & Edith’s Diner cooks up expansion to Newington

By Jared Serre
Bob and Edith's Diner will open a new location at Hilltop Village Center near Newington (courtesy Bob & Edith's Diner)

A local diner chain is expanding its footprint across Northern Virginia.

The family-owned and operated Bob & Edith’s, which already features seven different locations, will open its next restaurant in Hilltop Village Center on the border of Newington and Franconia.

Go to Bob & Edith’s Diner cooks up expansion to Newington Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes for August 9, 2024

By FFXnow.com
A view from a Metro train of the Adaire Apartments and the Spring Hill kiss-and-ride lot in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Felony Voting Rights Case Tossed — “A federal court has thrown out a lawsuit challenging Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s process for restoring voting rights for people convicted of a felony, ruling that the suit was filed under an incorrect section of law but also seeming to criticize the governor’s use of power by comparing it to that of a monarch.” [Washington Post]

Falls Church Council Member Resigns — Falls Church City Council member Caroline Lian has resigned after the city found that she hadn’t reported her job as deputy director for D.C.’s buildings department in a recent employment disclosure form. Lian left that post earlier this week after D.C. fined her $25,000 for failing to report her work with Falls Church or Tysons-based Freddie Mac. [ARLnow]

Restauranteur Seeks Help Catching DoorDash Thieves — “Fairfax City Police say thieves are exploiting a loophole in Doordash’s system, where the thieves put in an order, wait until the food is ready, and then cancel the order, but still pick up the food. [Okonomi Asian Grill owner Alex] Kang says thieves have been hitting his restaurant since April.” [WUSA9]

Fatal Food Poisoning Reported in Virginia — “Three people have now died in a listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, federal food safety officials announced Thursday, and the overall number of people sickened rose to 43.” The latest death happened in Virginia, following earlier deaths in New Jersey and Illinois. [Associated Press/WTOP]

How Drought Conditions Are Affecting Local Farms — Despite recent rain from tropical depression Debby, Fairfax County has spent much of the summer under the threat of a drought. Farms and gardens around the Mount Vernon District shared “how the excessively hot and dry conditions have been impacting them and what they’ve been doing to keep plants growing.” [On the MoVe]

Opening Date for Tysons Burger Spot — “We’re so excited to finally announce Char’d is opening its doors at Tyson’s Galleria on 08/18/2024, at 12 PM! Join us for our GRAND OPENING and come hungry! See you there!” [Char’d/Instagram]

Vienna Baseball Facility to Expand — The baseball training facility “Pitchers Edge LLC, located at 516 Mill St., N.E., on July 17 received unanimous approval from the Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) for a conditional-use permit to expand into the space next door.” [Gazette Leader]

Repairs Coming for Burke Lake Marina — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin repairs to the marina parking lot at Burke Lake Park. TMG and Southern Asphalt contractors will mobilize on site, with active construction activities scheduled to begin the third week of August.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — Expect showers, potential thunderstorms, and a high of 82°F today. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from three quarters to one inch. Temperatures will drop to around 70°F at night, and the chance of precipitation decreases to 60%. [NWS]

Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Aug 8, 2024

By FFXnow.com

Good Thursday 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 — Aug 8, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

Expect showers and possible thunderstorms with a high near 81, accompanied by breezy southeast winds at 20-23 mph, gusting up to 33 mph. Rainfall amounts may reach between three quarters and one inch. On Friday night, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 11 pm, followed by partly cloudy skies and a low around 68. Southwest winds of 11 mph will shift to the west after midnight and may gust up to 20 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with potential amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, increasing during thunderstorms. 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.

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