Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Jun 26, 2024

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 — Jun 26, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

🌤️ Thursday’s forecast

Showers are possible before 8am with a 30% chance of precipitation. Cloudiness will persist until mid-morning before gradually clearing up, reaching a high near 87°F. The northwest wind will blow at 5 to 7 mph. Towards Thursday evening, expect mostly clear skies and a low of around 67°F, accompanied by a 7 mph north wind. 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.

Countywide

Fairfax County explores creating agency to enhance recreation, sports facilities

By James Jarvis
A basketball court at Jefferson District Park in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is considering creating a specialized agency to enhance its recreational facilities and boost sports tourism.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a board matter yesterday (Tuesday) directing County Executive Bryan Hill to explore the establishment of a Public Recreational Facilities Authority.

Go to Fairfax County explores creating agency to enhance recreation, sports facilities Read more
News

Herndon proposes new look and amenities outside Old Town Hall

By Angela Woolsey
Herndon Old Town Hall (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Town of Herndon hopes to bring more energy to the plaza outside Old Town Hall by giving it a new look and additional amenities.

Town staff will present updated plans for landscaping, a new pergola and other design changes to the Historic District Review Board when it meets at 7 p.m. today (Tuesday).

Go to Herndon proposes new look and amenities outside Old Town Hall Read more
News

Marshall HS students help draft Congressional bill to boost teen voter registration

By Angela Woolsey
Marshall High School students (left to right) Nia Gouvis, Eleanor Liang, Vedansh Garg, Samad Quraishi and Miranda and Julia Elliot Ortega advocate for youth voter registration (photo by Donnie Biggs/Fairfax County Public Schools)

Future high school students across the U.S. may find it easier to register to vote, an expansion of access that would be made possible in part by some current students at Marshall High School.

A group of students at the Pimmit Hills school spent the past year advocating for federal legislation that would designate all high schools as voter registration agencies, allowing them to host registration drives and receive reimbursement for the costs.

Go to Marshall HS students help draft Congressional bill to boost teen voter registration Read more
News

Firefighters battle two-alarm fire at Idylwood apartments

By Angela Woolsey
A two-alarm fire at the Falls Church Garden Condominiums in Idylwood (via FCFRD/Twitter)

A fire blazed through multiple units of an apartment complex in Idylwood this morning (Wednesday), prompting a heavy response by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

Units were called to the Falls Church Gardens Condominiums in the 2700 block of Hollywood Road around 9:15 a.m. for what turned into a two-alarm apartment fire.

Go to Firefighters battle two-alarm fire at Idylwood apartments Read more
News

GMU breaks ground on building for Green Machine pep band, athletics

By Angela Woolsey
A rendering of George Mason University's Activities Community Wellness building, now under construction (courtesy Powers Brown Architecture)

Construction work is underway on a new athletics and activity facility for George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.

Contractor Hoar Construction announced last Thursday (June 20) that it has broken ground on a 25,000-square-foot Activities Community Wellness Building, which will give GMU’s acclaimed Green Machine pep band its first dedicated home, among other functions.

Go to GMU breaks ground on building for Green Machine pep band, athletics Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County to request bond funding for Metro, public safety renovations

By James Jarvis
Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is looking to fund upgrades for its aging public safety facilities and transportation network through bond referenda that may appear on the November ballot.

The supervisors unanimously endorsed a plan yesterday (Tuesday) to seek voter approval for a $306 million investment that would modernize Metro facilities, refurbish old fire stations and build a new police training center.

Go to Fairfax County to request bond funding for Metro, public safety renovations Read more
News

Two pedestrians hit, one killed in Centreville crash, police say

By Angela Woolsey
The left-turn lane on Braddock Road at the Pickwick Road intersection in Centreville (via Google Maps)

A woman was killed and a man got injured in a crash just south of Route 29 in Centreville on Monday (June 24), police say.

Officers responded to the intersection of Braddock and Pickwick roads around 9:50 p.m. after getting a call that two pedestrians had been hit by a driver, the Fairfax County Police Department reported in a press release published last night (Tuesday).

Go to Two pedestrians hit, one killed in Centreville crash, police say Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com
Geese cross the road near the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Uptick in ER Visits During Heat Wave — “Heat-related visits to emergency rooms in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore region were up during the current heat wave that brought sweltering temperatures to Northern Virginia last week, according to federal health data.” [Patch]

Metro Converting Buses to Vinyl Seats — “Nearly 40 buses have had their cloth seats replaced with modern, easier-to-clean and maintain vinyl, similar to the material used on Metrorail trains. Customers have long asked for more sanitary material that doesn’t absorb spills, stains, and odors.” Metro hopes to finish the seat replacements on all 1,500-plus buses in 2025. [WMATA]

Transit Enthusiast Evaluates Walkability of Tysons — “Walking in Tysons feels like horror without end. Or like central Paris. One of those two. It’s hard to say and it depends on where you are and who you ask. Here’s a look at the state of walkability in Tysons after 34 years of attempted reform, and a couple of suggestions.” [Greater Greater Washington]

Vietnamese Restaurant Closes Hybla Valley Location — “Lotus Pho & Grill, a Vietnamese restaurant that opened in September 2022, is no longer in business at its Hybla Valley location, though its original site at Shoppes of Lorton Valley on Ox Road remains open.” In the same shopping center, Sun Sew Vac will close for good this Saturday (June 29). [On the MoVe]

Local Woman Opens Skin Care Studio in Fairfax City — “Fairfax City business leaders, elected officials, and family members joined Stephanie Dallojacono celebrate the grand opening Friday of Smiley Skin Beauty, a skin care and spray tan studio…Located upstairs at 10373-B Democracy Lane, Smiley Skin offers Glo2Facials and air brush tanning by appointment only.” [Patch]

Excavation Underway on Tysons Housing Project — “At The Exchange, crews…for Bethesda, Maryland-based Clark Construction currently are at work on excavation, which the contractor expects to finish by the end of August, a company spokesperson told Construction Dive. On the broader timeline, the project is eyeing a summer 2027 completion.” [Smart Cities Dive]

Meet Library Poetry Contest Winners — “We are celebrating the winners of the library’s Poetic Musings 2024 Contest! Meet the winners and listen as they share their poems.” The celebration will take place at 7-8:15 p.m. today (Thursday) in the meeting room at Burke Centre Library. [Fairfax County Public Library]

It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are expected after 2 pm, with a high of 98 and a heat index of 101. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation. At night, the chance of precipitation increases to 70% with thunderstorms likely before 11 pm and a low temperature around 72. [NWS]

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