morning notes

Driver Hospitalized in Richmond Highway Crash — A man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after crashing on Route 1 at Janna Lee Avenue in Mount Vernon yesterday (Thursday). Fairfax County police say “excessive speed was a factor” in the single-vehicle crash, which occurred down the road from a fatal pedestrian hit-and-run that morning. [FCPD/Twitter]

Springfield Woman Charged in Fatal Crash — “Police have charged a 21-year-old Springfield woman with DUI manslaughter in connection with a Sept. 13 crash in Woodbridge that killed a passenger in her car and left another driver seriously injured.” [Inside NoVA]

Man Who Shot at Police Officers Sentenced to Jail — “A man who led police on a wild, high-speed chase involving gunfire and damage to numerous vehicles has been sentenced to two years of active incarceration.” Ricardo Singleton pleaded guilty in Arlington County Circuit Court but “still faces several weightier charges in Fairfax County.” [ARLnow]

Baby Reunited with Family After Carjacking — “The mother of a 4-month-old child has been reunited with her baby after the child was taken during a carjacking in Fairfax County. The carjacking took place just before 2 p.m. on Wednesday outside the Apple Federal Credit Union on Richmond Highway.” [NBC Washington]

Reston Company Raided by FBI Involved in Price-Fixing Case — The FBI has yet to confirm what prompted its recent raid of Carahsoft’s Reston headquarters, but there has been “speculation about possible — but thus far unsubstantiated — links to an ongoing court case that was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last year and involved efforts to defraud government agencies.” [Government Executive]

Uyghur Restaurant Eyes Falls Church Expansion — Dolan Uyghur, which can currently be found in D.C. and Chantillly, “plans to expand further into Northern Virginia with a new Falls Church location. The new eatery hopes to open by Friday, Oct. 18 at 400 S. Maple Avenue, in the space formerly held by Pizzeria Orso.” [ARLnow]

Reston Contractor to Help Build Lunar Rover — “Lunar Outpost in Golden, Colorado, announced this week that Leidos has joined its effort to create a new class of lunar terrain vehicles to be used by astronauts on Artemis missions. Leidos, which already supports a number of NASA missions, will be part of a team that also includes General Motors, Goodyear Tire & Rubber and MDA Space.” [Washington Business Journal]

Marshall Girls’ Basketball Team Gets New Top Coach — “It makes sense that Doug Sawitzky is the new coach of the Marshall Statesmen’s girls varsity high-school basketball team. He knows both the school and the hoop programs very well.” [GazetteLeader]

It’s Friday — Expect showers throughout the day, with possible thunderstorms after 5pm and a high of 76°F. Precipitation is likely at 70%, with rainfall amounts ranging up to a quarter of an inch. Rain will likely continue until 2am, as temperatures drop to around 70°F. [NWS]

Task Force Activated for Tropical Storm Response — “VA-TF1 has been activated by @fema as an 80-person, 4-canine Type 1 US&R team for TC Helene.” The task force prepared “over 30 tons of equipment, including tents, boats, and rescue equipment,” before leaving Chantilly yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon for Florida. [VA-TF1/Twitter]

Langley Student Hit by Car on Way to School — McLean resident Nadia Leonova recalls the morning of Aug. 21, when her son “was struck by a car as he was trying to cross Georgetown Pike near Pine Hill Road. There is no crosswalk at the intersection. In fact, there are no crosswalks between the street on which the Langley freshman lives and his school.” [Patch]

GW Parkway Views to Be Restored — “Drivers on the George Washington Memorial Parkway may soon have clearer views of the Potomac, but they should also expect weekend lane closures during restoration work. The National Park Service announced…that crews will ‘rehabilitate’ 15 scenic vistas between the North Donaldson Overlook and Spout Run Parkway.” [ARLnow]

Metro to Bring Back Self-Driving Trains — “Metro’s Red Line trains will drive themselves starting in December, and the self-driving trains will be used across the rail system by spring 2025…The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority used to use automation to operate trains, but pulled the system after the 2009 Red Line crash at Fort Totten that killed nine riders.” [WTOP]

Potomac River Water Critical to Region, Report Shows — “Think of this the next time you kayak, drive over, run by or, simply, stare at the Potomac River: Its ruin would cost the D.C. region nearly $15 billion in the first month, according to a report released Tuesday.” [Washington Post]

Annandale Road Diet Gets Support — Fairfax County transportation staff detailed their proposal for a road diet on Annandale Road “between Little River Turnpike and Gallows Road at virtual community meeting on Sept. 23…The seven people who commented on the proposal at the meeting all said they supported it. Several people called for more bike lanes on other roads.” [Annandale Today]

Fairfax City Offers Grants to Nonprofits — “The City of Fairfax has established a grant program to help support nonprofit human services organizations that serve city residents…Applications will be accepted from Sept. 23 through 4 p.m Nov. 4. Recipients will be announced Dec. 10.” [City of Fairfax]

It’s Wednesday — There’s a 60% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. Patchy fog may occur between 7am and noon. The day will be cloudy with a high near 73 and a southeast wind around 9 mph. Wednesday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with cloudy conditions and a low around 68. [NWS]

Man Found Shot Near Herndon Park — “Police are investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday evening in the vicinity of Hutchinson Park.” Officers found a 21-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the lower body in the 13000 block of Parcher Avenue. A preliminary investigation indicated that he was shot during a fight that “broke out near where the man was found.” [Patch]

Construction to Start on Mount Vernon Apartments — Developer Elm Street Communities anticipates starting site work on its new residential building between Richmond Highway and Buckman Road within the next couple of weeks. The 280-unit Elms Mount Vernon apartments are “the first phase of the broader Mount Vernon Gateway project.” [On the MoVe]

Herndon Police See Tire-Slashing Spree — “Herndon PD has received calls for multiple tires slashed in town over the past week and half. A total of 15 vehicles have been identified at the following locations: 9/14/2024: 3rd Street/Stanton Park Court, 9/14/2024: 1100-blk Casper Court [and] 9/19: 12900-blk Alton Square.” [Herndon PD/Instagram]

Fairfax Block Party Raises Funds to Fight Cancer — A Fairfax neighborhood raised over $87,000 for the Pancreatic Action Network with a block party that drew over 400 people. The tradition began last summer to help a resident’s relative Kyle, who died this past June from pancreatic cancer. Organizers decided “to continue their tradition in honor of Kyle’s memory by raising funds for others going through their own cancer journeys.” [WUSA9]

GMU to Accept Students Without Applications — “Some Northern Virginia seniors will be admitted to George Mason University without having to fill out an application, as part of a pilot program that aims to address the falling number of underrepresented students applying to college. The initiative, which is part of the university’s Direct Admissions Program, includes a partnership with several D.C.-area school divisions.” [WTOP]

County to Extend Lease for Wellness Services — At its meeting today (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to authorize an Oct. 22 public hearing on a lease extension for Inova Health Care Services. Inova has leased the top floor of the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health in Merrifield since 2015 for community wellness services. [Gazette Leader]

Reston Eye Doctor Wins Lottery Money — “A Reston optometrist was blown away after winning $195,543 on the Virginia Lottery’s VIP game recently…[Dr. Michael] Khalil, who works at the Khalil Eye Care in the North Point Village Center in Reston, has no immediate plans for his winnings.” [Patch]

It’s Tuesday — Scattered showers and cloudy skies are expected with a high near 70 and an east wind of 6 to 9 mph; the chance of precipitation is 40%. Tuesday night will have a 50% chance of scattered showers and potential thunderstorms after 2 am with a low around 65. [NWS]

Early Voting Brings Out Crowds in Fairfax County — “Lines were long at early voting locations, including at the Fairfax County Government Center where hundreds stretched from the front door to the parking lot.” Fairfax County general registrar and director of elections Eric Spicer called the turnout for the first day of early voting in the Nov. 5 general election “record-breaking territory.” [WTOP]

Missing Campaign Signs Under Investigation — “When Mayor Catherine Read and a member of the City of Fairfax Democratic Committee arrived at City Hall around 7:35 a.m. on Friday, they discovered that someone had removed campaign signs they’d placed outside the polls on Thursday.” The missing Harris-Walz signs, which appeared to have been replaced with Trump signs, were reported to police. [Patch]

Guns Stolen from Newington Store — Fairfax County police are searching for four people who allegedly stole 14 guns from Dominion Defense on Fullerton Road around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday (Sept. 18). The theft of over 50 guns from the same store in May led to prison sentences for two men who pleaded guilty to the crime. [WUSA9]

Kids Design New Fairfax City Voting Stickers — “Since 2020, the City of Fairfax has given voters and future voters custom stickers at the polls. These stickers are designed by city students. The city has selected new stickers for the Nov. 5 General Election, and the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts and the City of Fairfax Electoral Board honored the two young artists who created them at a special reception on Sept. 17.” [City of Fairfax]

Floor and Wall Store Opens in Bailey’s Crossroads — “A huge store that sells almost nothing except flooring and wall materials had a grand opening on Sept. 19 in Bailey’s Crossroads. Floor & Decor took over two large commercial spaces formerly occupied by A.C. Moore and Bed Bath & Beyond at the Crossroads Center on Leesburg Pike.” [Annandale Today]

Mental Health Crisis Center Helps Address Trauma — “When [Wellness Circle Crisis Stabilization Unit Program Manager Amy] Miller and her staff began to track trends in the behaviors and needs of the individuals they were serving, the demand for a specialized program that addressed trauma was at the top of the priority list…The Trauma Resilience Program launched at Wellness Circle earlier this year.” [Fairfax-Falls Church CSB]

South Lakes Kicker Breaks Barrier — “Lila Jaster is the first girl to ever score a point in a football game for South Lakes, whose program dates back to the mid-1970s.” The junior varsity kicker first made a point-after kick against Falls Church High School last year, and she had a repeat on Friday (Sept. 20) when South Lakes High School enlisted her to make the kick with a 28-point lead. [Patch]

It’s Monday — Expect drizzle in the area starting around 11am, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 72. The drizzle will continue into Monday night, mainly between 11pm and 2am, while it remains cloudy and the temperature lowers to approximately 62 . [NWS]

County Releases New Youth Survey — “Young people in our community report noticeably lower rates of mental health concerns compared to prior years, according to the 2023-2024 Fairfax County Youth Survey. Overall, youth in Fairfax County report prevalence rates near historic lows for risky behaviors…However, there remain some challenges.” [Fairfax County Government]

CIA Veteran Sentenced to Prison — “A longtime CIA officer who drugged, photographed and sexually assaulted more than two dozen women in postings around the world was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Wednesday after an emotional hearing…Prosecutors say the 48-year-old Raymond’s assaults date to 2006 and tracked his career in Mexico, Peru and other countries.” [Associated Press]

Herndon Police Issue Scam Alert — “Multiple residents have reported receiving emails in which their home address and a photo of their home (from Google Maps) is included. The email requests bitcoin and threatens to release compromising photos of the recipient if demands are not met. This is a scam. Do not engage with the sender and do not send any kind of payment.” [Herndon Police/Twitter]

Fairfax Restaurant Nears Public Debut — “Former Clarity chef Jon Krinn has been quietly operating a tasting menu restaurant in Fairfax as ‘invitation only.’ To snag a seat at Elyse, you had to be in the know and subscribe to Krinn’s email list to book a reservation. But after some final touches to the 30-seat dining room, the restaurant is gearing up for its public debut on Wednesday, October 9.” [Washingtonian]

Mars ‘Excited’ by Planned Kellanova Merger — “One of a string of Mars’ acquisitions in recent years, the deal will have massive implications…The combined company would generate more than $63 billion based on 2023 figures. That would make the 113-year-old Mars the third-largest private company in the U.S. based on revenue, up from No. 4 now.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Tysons-Bethesda Bus Celebrated — “Fairfax County held a ribbon cutting event [yesterday], Sept. 19, 2024, to officially kick off the new Fairfax Connector Express Route 798 bus service…Route 798 provides regional connectivity between Tysons West*Park and Tysons Metrorail Station in Virginia, and Bethesda, Maryland.” [FCDOT]

Annandale Road Diet Proposed — “Annandale Road currently has two traffic lanes in each direction. Under the road diet plan, there would be one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and bike lanes in both directions. FCDOT invites the community to a virtual meeting on reconfiguring Annandale Road on Monday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.” [Annandale Today]

Metro Finishes Installing Taller Fare Gates — “All 98 stations across the Metrorail system now have more secure, retrofitted faregates to deter fare evasion. The improvements have led to an 82% drop in fare evasion…More than 1,200 five-foot-tall gates and taller fences have been installed across all stations. The project began in July 2023.” [WMATA]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies today as temperatures reach a high near 84. A north wind of around 6 mph will shift east during the morning. Tonight, the weather will be partly cloudy and cool, with lows around 63, and a southeast wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

Car Tax Payment Deadline Looming — “Personal property taxes — better known as car taxes — are due on Monday, Oct. 7. Bills were mailed this summer, and there are many convenient ways to pay.” The tax can be paid online, by phone, by mail and in person at the Fairfax County Government Center or a designated library. [Fairfax County Government]

Animal Cruelty Investigation in Reston — “An officer with Fairfax County Animal Protection Police is investigating the report of an animal cruelty incident involving dogs at a home in Reston, according to court documents…The witness told police he saw a man ‘using a child’s bicycle to strike what he believed to be a dog in the backyard of the residence.'” [Patch]

Longtime Fairfax Senator Gets Portrait — “Virginia’s longest-serving state senator when he retired in January, [Richard] Saslaw is getting his own permanent perch in the white-columned building where he spent 44 years as a senator and four before that as a state delegate: an official portrait. Unveiled on Wednesday afternoon in the General Assembly Building, the painting was installed afterward in the Capitol next door.” [Washington Post]

Solar Energy Program Opens to Residents — “Solar Switch is back for another round. The group buying program helps residents learn about and save on rooftop solar systems, optional electric vehicle chargers and/or battery storage…To date, over 6,000 households have accepted an offer from Solar Switch, including 248 in Fairfax County.” [Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination]

Reston Safeway to Stay Put — “The Chevy Chase Land Company…announced a total of 105,954 square feet of eight new leases and six renewals in their office and retail portfolio in Chevy Chase and Bethesda, MD, as well as Reston…Safeway and Cafesano both renewed leases totaling 56,835 square feet at South Lakes Village [Center].” [CityBiz]

West Falls Church Medical Center Plans Move — “ProHealth Medical Center is slated to relocate to an office nearly five times its size, Human Resources Manager Haley Bui told ARLnow. Currently located at 2946 Sleepy Hollow Road, the provider intends to move to a 7,200-square-foot office at 107 Park Place sometime between April and June of 2025.” [ARLnow]

McLean Home for Sale for Over $22M — “A nearly 3-acre McLean estate marked by a ‘timeless’ 14,000-square-foot mansion and lush landscaping has hit the market for $22.25 million.” Features of the property at 1150 Chain Bridge Road include a “library with built-in bookcases…lower-level game and exercise rooms and sauna, an outdoor pool, tea house and koi pond and an expansive north lawn the listing describes as ideal for a ‘game of croquet or garden party.'” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Thursday — Showers are possible before 11am and after 2pm, accompanied by mostly cloudy skies and a high around 78°F. Expect a 20% chance of precipitation. Thursday night will be partly cloudy, and the temperature will drop to around 63°F. [NWS]

Circuit Court Welcomes New Judge — “Patrick M. Blanch will be presented with his official commission as a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge on Friday, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m. at the Fairfax County Courthouse…The public is invited to attend the investiture ceremony.” Blanch officially joined the circuit court when he took his oath of office on April 1. [Fairfax County Government]

Reston Library Reopens to Public — “The Reston Regional Library welcomes you back…Doors open at 10 a.m., following 10 weeks of renovations that included upgraded lighting, refurbished bathrooms, a first-ever water bottle filling station and carpet replacements.” [Supervisor Walter Alcorn/Facebook]

Yoga Studio Coming to Belle View — “Belle View Shopping Center is now fully leased following the signing of a new tenant at a unit that was recently vacated. Jess Purtell Yoga, a yoga studio, will soon be opening at the space between Roy Rogers and GOLFTEC.” [On the MoVe]

Bailey’s Crossroads Community Center Renamed — “Descendants of Minnie Peyton, residents of the Springdale community, and Fairfax County officials cheered as a new sign was unveiled designating the Bailey’s Community Center as the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s.” The renaming was celebrated at a ceremony on Saturday (Sept. 14). [Annandale Today]

Dance Studio to Open in Annandale — “International Dance anticipates opening in the former Treasure Trove spot in the Annandale Shopping Center in early October. The dance studio will offer lessons in ballet, tap, lyrical dance, jazz, modern dance, and Broadway dance for children ages 3 and above, teens, and adults.” [Annandale Today]

Reston Contractor Buys Fairfax IT Firm — “CACI…said early Monday that it would pay $1.275 billion in cash for Azure, a 17-year-old engineering firm that develops radio-frequency hardware and software for the Department of Defense. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.” [Washington Business Journal]

Local Restaurant Chain Celebrates 50 Years — “When Randy Norton opened a tiny Fairfax City pizza restaurant in 1974, he had no idea he would one day become a restaurant tycoon…Norton is now celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ultra-successful dining chain he and wife Patsy built from the ground up — Great American Restaurants.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Parking Restrictions Approved Near Madison HS — “Trash, lawn damage and safety were among factors Fairfax County supervisors considered before unanimously agreeing Sept. 10 to expand the Madison Residential Permit Parking District (District 11)” to Carey Lane between Jerry Lane and Vale Road after residents reported “large numbers” of students parking there. [Gazette Leader]

It’s Tuesday — Expect cloudy conditions with a 50% chance of showers and a high near 75. Tuesday night will see a 60% chance of precipitation, including potential thunderstorms, with a low around 67. Rainfall amounts could range from a quarter to half an inch. [NWS]

Pedestrian in Fatal Franconia Road Crash ID’d — Fairfax County police have identified the pedestrian killed in a hit-and-run crash on Franconia Road on Friday (Sept. 13) as 43-year-old Springfield resident Julio Cesar Pasassi. Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives are still working to identify and find the driver. [FCPD]

Lake Accotink to Be Temporarily Lowered — “The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to begin an assessment of the dam structure at Lake Accotink in mid-September. To carry out the study, the water level in the lake will be lowered by up to five feet, which is expected to expose the muddy lakebed in many areas.” [Annandale Today]

Police Focus on Trespassing Issues — “The Mount Vernon Police District’s new station commander, Maj. Matthew Luik, told attendees of the Mount Vernon Community Advisory Committee meeting Sept. 12 that the station is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to prevent trespassing at vacant parcels along the Richmond Highway Corridor.” [On the MoVe]

NHL Team Partners with Herndon Company — “The LA Kings have announced a new strategic, multi-year partnership with Herndon-based Iron Bow Technologies, which marks Iron Bow’s first official sports partnership in Los Angeles,” the team announced earlier this month. “Iron Bow’s logo will appear on the front of all the Kings’ away jerseys.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]

Eden Center Hosts Moon Festival — “This year, bakery owner Vinh Tran said they made more than 500 mooncakes in preparation for their busiest day of the year: the Eden Center’s Moon Festival celebration Saturday. The Vietnamese shopping center hosts the annual event to honor the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated in many Asian cultures.” [Washington Post]

Local Restauranteurs to Compete in Capital Food Fight — “The Capital Food Fight is back this fall for its 20th year, presenting an evening of great food with some of the region’s best chefs to support DC Central Kitchen in its mission to combat hunger.” Four chefs will engage in a competition at the Anthem in D.C. on Nov. 7, while over 60 restaurants hawk samples to attendees. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Latino Conservation Week Underway — “The Fairfax County Park Authority proudly honors the cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities during Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino Conservation Week. Park enthusiasts are invited to join in celebrating the diverse traditions that have shaped our nation and local community — particularly within our parks.” [FCPA]

It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high of 77 accompanied by an east wind at around 9 mph. Tonight, there’s a 50% chance of showers starting after 2 am, with cloudy conditions and a low of 66. [NWS]