Oakton | FFXnow

Morning Notes

Published June 13, 2022 at 7:30AM

A Ben and Jerry's truck hands out ice cream in a Vienna neighborhood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Criminal Case for Bijan Ghaisar Shooting Ends — The Justice Department won’t reopen a federal investigation into two U.S. Park Police officers who fatally shot McLean resident Bijan Ghaisar in 2017. Ghaisar’s family called the decision “a betrayal,” but it will allow their civil lawsuit that has been pending since October 2020 to move forward. [WTOP, The Washington Post]

Police Look for Man Reported Missing — “53YO Juan Ward last seen at 12:47pm on May 25 in 12500 blk of Dillingham Sq. in Woodbridge. 5’11”, 185lbs, black/grey hair, brown eyes, wearing a long-sleeve grey sweatshirt. Missing under unusual circumstances. Call 703-691-2131 w/info.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Countywide

Community rallies for fundraisers to help families of Oakton High students killed in crash

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 9, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated June 9, 2022 at 3:41PM

Community members have left flowers and a balloon along Blake Lane, where three Oakton High School students were struck by a car Tuesday (photo by Amy Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) The community is starting to rally to support the families of two Oakton High School students who died after a car struck them on a sidewalk Tuesday (June 7).

A GoFundMe was created for one of the students, identified as Ada Gabriela. As of this morning (Thursday), the fundraiser had raised over $60,000 to help the family cover funeral expenses and other costs, surpassing its goal in less than a day. Another GoFundMe that went live Thursday has collected more than $13,000 for the other student who died.

News

Trail link to Vienna Metro station recommended for funding after all

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 7, 2022 at 3:00PM

The proposed Vienna Metro station segment of the I-66 Trail will extend from Nutley Street to Blake Lane (via VDOT)

Thanks to some unanticipated financial wiggle room, Fairfax County’s request for funds to build pedestrian facilities near the Vienna Metro station now has support from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission.

At a meeting on Thursday (June 2), the regional group of elected officials approved the proposed trail as one of seven projects recommended for I-66 Commuter Choice funding, which comes from toll revenue and supports transit and infrastructure improvements in the corridor.

Countywide

UPDATED: Lanes reopened on I-66 East in Oakton after two-vehicle crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 1, 2022 at 9:35AM | Updated June 1, 2022 at 12:19PM

Eastbound I-66 at Route 123 blocked by crash (via VDOT)

(Updated at 12:15 p.m.) All travel lanes on eastbound I-66 in the Oakton area have reopened after a two-vehicle crash closed multiple lanes this morning, causing miles of traffic backups.

Just before 9 a.m., an armored vehicle and Ford F-350 truck collided in the eastbound lanes near Exit 62, Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said. The crash initially shut down all eastbound lanes just before the Nutley Street interchange.

News

Construction for $37 million sewer upgrades near Vienna Metro could start next year

By David Taube

Published May 31, 2022 at 12:45PM

A map shows how a sewer project would affect an area crossing I-66 west of the Beltway (via Fairfax County)

A sewer infrastructure project in the Vienna Metro station area is in the works, anticipating future needs in northern Fairfax County.

The Accotink Gravity Sewer Improvements Project will upgrade existing facilities that are projected to be insufficient, county staff say.

Countywide

UPDATED: Over 700 Fairfax County residents without power after storm

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 27, 2022 at 3:30PM

A power outage along Stuart Mill Road in Oakton (via Dominion Energy)

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) While the weather has died down for now, almost 800 people in Fairfax County lost electricity when a thunderstorm passed through the D.C. region this morning, bringing flood and tornado risks.

Dominion Energy has 761 customers currently without power, as of 3:20 p.m., according to PowerOutage.US.

Countywide

Settle Down Easy Brewing to open second location in Fairfax County

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 12, 2022 at 11:15AM

The second location is slated to open this summer in Oakton (Photo via SDE/Facebook).

After first setting its roots down in Falls Church, Settle Down Easy Brewing is planning to open a second location soon.

The brewery, which describes itself as a “nano brewing operation” on its website, plans to open up shop at 2952E Chain Bridge Road in Oakton.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 4, 2022 at 7:30AM

A guard tower on the former Lorton Prison grounds, now turned into the Workhouse Arts Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Man Dies After Crash in Oakton — “A 78-year-old man has died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 2:01 p.m. on March 30 in Oakton. Thomas Peregoy of Alexandria was driving eastbound on Lawyers Road near Kedge Drive when his 2014 Toyota Tacoma drifted off the roadway to the right, striking a tree head on.” [FCPD]

Genomic Sequencing Could Help ID “Christmas Tree Lady” — “For 25 years, the Fairfax County police have tried and failed to identify ‘the Christmas Tree Lady,’ so named because she placed an 8-inch Christmas tree with gold balls and red ribbons on the clear plastic sheet she put on the ground…She is the only person to die by suicide in Fairfax whom authorities have been unable to identify, before or since.” [The Washington Post]

Countywide

Another new I-66 ramp from Chain Bridge Road set to open

By David Taube

Published March 28, 2022 at 12:45PM

View of the Route 123 and I-66 interchange on March 2, 2022 (via VDOT)

Drivers going from Route 123 to I-66 will finally get to see the outcome of construction crews’ work.

An on-ramp to I-66 East from southbound Chain Bridge Road in Oakton is slated to open during the day tomorrow (Tuesday).

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

Spring flowers bloom in Reston (photo by Ray Copson)

FCPD Commander Demoted Over Shooting Response — “A Fairfax County police commander has been demoted as part of an ongoing administrative investigation of suicides by a department recruit and his wife that occurred hours apart in their Mount Vernon-area home in late February, authorities said…The officer was the on-scene commander during the incident.” [The Washington Post]

Fire Put Out Near Vienna’s Flint Hill Elementary — “Crews responded this morning to the 2400 block of Flint Hill Road for a small fire in a chicken coop. #FCFRD firefighters were im-peck-able in quickly egg-stinguishing the fire. Everyone felt very cluck-y that there were no reported fowl-talities or injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]