morning notes

New Dunkin’ Donuts Coming to Woodlawn — “The next-generation Dunkin’ under construction at Woodlawn Shopping Center is tentatively slated to open toward the end of third quarter 2023, according to the public relations firm for the ownership group. The store originally had hoped to be open for business early this year.” [On the MoVe]

Taller Metro Fare Gate Installations Begin — “After more than half a year of testing, Metro has finalized a taller faregate design that will roll out across the entire rail system in the coming year. The goal is to reduce fare evasion, which costs the agency about $40 million a year.” Vienna will be the first Fairfax County station to get the new gates, likely in early fall. [DCist]

County on the Lookout for Spotted Lanternfly — “Fairfax County Forest Pest Management unit…is asking County residents to help slow the spread of this invasive pest by being vigilant about not moving spotted lanternfly life stages when traveling through known infested areas and to vacuum nymphs and adults with a shop vac and scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water, as well as report sightings.” [DPWES]

Longtime Seven Corners Clothing Store to Move — “After outfitting local healthcare workers for 20 years, Gallo Clothing in the Seven Corners Shopping Center is closing for good. The store’s last day is Thursday, July 27. Meanwhile, just about everything in the store is marked down 25 to 75 percent…The landlord is raising the rent, so Gallo Clothing is relocating, says manager Doris Zelaya.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons Contractor Will Settle Fraud Lawsuit — “Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton has agreed to pay $377 million to settle a long-standing Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the Northern Virginia-based company overcharged the U.S. government to help cover losses in other areas of its business, federal authorities announced Friday.” [The Washington Post]

Burke Residents Call for Traffic Light After Fatal Crash — “A petition garners over 1,100 signatures for Fairfax County to install a stoplight at the site of Tuesday’s fatal crash along Burke Centre Parkway. Police said that speeding was likely a factor, as man driving a car, collided with four teens. The driver, Rebekah Zarco, 17, was killed immediately.” [DC News Now]

County Breaks Ground on Housing Project Near Arrowhead Park — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Michaels Development, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and other partners celebrated the groundbreaking of The Lodge at Autumn Willow on July 20th, new affordable housing for older adults” at 13090 Autumn Willow Drive. It will have 150 independent living units, outdoor amenities and walkways. [FCRHA]

Six People Displaced by Annandale Apartment Fire — Firefighters were dispatched around 11 a.m. on Tuesday (July 18) to a fire at a three-story building in the Fairmont Gardens Apartments. There were 11 people in the building at the time of the fire, but no one was home in the unit where the fire was started by “an electrical event involving an extension cord,” resulting in an estimated $93,750 in property damages. [FCFRD]

Memorial Created for Teen Killed in Crash — “The uncle of a teenage girl killed in a fiery crash in northern Virginia said she just left church service and was heading to eat with her brother and friends when the deadly collision occurred. Henry Zarco brought a stuffed teddy bear, flowers and a balloon” to the crash site on Burke Centre Parkway. [FOX5]

Telegraph Road Ramp Closes in Newington — “The ramp from Telegraph Road (Route 611) to southbound Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) will be closed from 10 a.m. Thursday, July 20 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 31 for stormwater pipe repairs…Drivers are asked to follow posted detour signs.” [VDOT]

Virginia Releases New Policies on Transgender Students — “The final model policies…include many of the same guidelines with an emphasis on parents’ rights ‘to make decisions with respect to their children.’ The policies, a version of which each of Virginia’s schools systems would be required to adopt, outline that teachers and other school personnel may not refer to a student by a different name or pronoun unless parents request the switch in writing.” [The Washington Post]

Northern Virginia Center Expansion Gets Support — The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended approval last week of Virginia Tech’s proposed campus redevelopment near the West Falls Church Metro station. Proponents said the promised affordable housing and more transit-oriented focus are necessary, while some critics feared the new buildings will overshadow existing condominiums. [Gazette Leader]

Canadian Wildfires Affect Local Air Quality Again — “The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert Tuesday for Northern Virginia. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups.” [NWS]

Fairfax City Water Rescuers Assist Vermont After Floods — “The Arlington County Fire Department announced Sunday morning, that just the night before, they had teamed up with the City of Fairfax Fire Department to deploy eight swift water rescuers to Vermont to assist the state.” As of Friday (July 14), the storms that hit Vermont last week have been tied two deaths due to flooding. [WUSA9]

Man in Custody After Shots Fired Call — “Officers responded to the 13600 blk of Lee Jackson Mem Hwy in Chantilly for a shots fired call. Preliminary, there are no injuries, and all parties are accounted for. There is no apparent threat to the public at this time…Officers have one adult male in custody.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Eggs Rescued From Dumpster Result in Chicks — “More than 20 chicks have found homes with veterinary staff after being rescued from a dumpster in Fairfax County, Virginia. Late last week, Fairfax County Animal Protection Police were called to a shopping center in West Falls Church, where over 1,000 eggs had been abandoned in a dumpster.” [WTOP]

Reston Parkway Bridge Repairs Continue — “Motorists can expect delays on Reston Parkway/Route 602 at Sunset Hills Road/Route-675E to continue until Monday afternoon due to emergency bridge work, according to VDOT. A truck traveling southbound on Reston Parkway to the eastbound entrance ramp to the Dulles Toll Road in Reston struck the bridge on Monday morning” [Patch]

Opening Date Set for Lorton Lidl — “The long-awaited Lidl supermarket in Lorton will officially open July 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration…The 30,000 square-foot Lidl will soon be joined by several neighboring retail businesses and a childcare center that are slated to open this fall or winter.” [On the MoVe]

Army Acquisition of Mason Neck Land Halted — The Army had recommended a transfer of 50 acres of public land in the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area “for long-term usage” by horses in its Caisson Platoon, which supports military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Congress dropped the language from its draft defense budget after an outcry from the community. [On the MoVe]

Overhaul of Virginia Education Funding Recommended — “Virginia’s complicated formula for funding K-12 schools needs an overhaul in order for the state to adequately fund public education, according to the results of a major legislative study presented Monday…School divisions receive 14% less funding from the state than the 50-state average, JLARC found, equal to about $1,900 less per student.” [Virginia Mercury]