A ramp from the Dulles Toll Road to Leesburg Pike (Route 7) in western Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Pedestrian Hospitalized by Annandale Crash — “A man remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 6600 block of Columbia Pike…on Sept. 12, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The crash happened in the crosswalk between Mason District Park and the Annandale Healthcare Center shortly before 9 p.m.” [Annandale Today]

Metro to Close Some Stations for Maintenance — “Several downtown D.C. Metro stations will be closed for track work around Christmas this winter, affecting mostly riders on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines…Trains will be replaced with shuttle buses from Dec. 20 to 30 at Farragut West, McPherson Square, and the Blue, Orange, Silver train level at Metro Center.” [Washington Post]

County Appoints New Equity Leader — “Toni Zollicoffer has been appointed chief equity officer for Fairfax County, effective Monday, Sept. 30. This role is a key component in advancing the One Fairfax policy, a racial and social equity initiative adopted by the Board of Supervisors…Zollicoffer succeeds Karla Bruce, the county’s first chief equity officer, who retires next week.” [Fairfax County Government]

McLean Bank to Go Public — “After nearly two decades in business, McLean-based Chain Bridge Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Chain Bridge Bank, is planning to go public…The price of the offering and the number of shares have not yet been determined, the company said” in a press release announcing its IPO plan on Friday (Sept. 13). [Washington Business Journal]

Police Investigate Larcenies — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying additional suspects responsible for stealing upwards of $12,000 worth of merchandise from department stores. Between July 9, 2024 and September 10, 2024, five suspects stole merchandise from nine” stores around Fairfax County. [FCPD]

Huntington Housing Development Nears Final Vote — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. on a rezoning plan application” for a 200-unit multi-family residential building near the Huntington Metro station. The site is “part of the larger ‘Parker’ development” and will include ground-floor retail. [On the MoVe]

Tysons Casino Opponents Plan Forum — “Last week, Virginia Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke) told Patch he intends to reintroduce his casino referendum legislation” after a Senate committee set it aside earlier this year. “At the same time, the anti-casino group No Fairfax Casino has scheduled a community forum for Sunday, Oct. 27, at McLean High School.” [Patch]

Reston Town Center Hosts Shredding Event — “The bi-annual R4 (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Reston) Collection Day returns on Wednesday, September 18! Drop off or drive through with any of the below recyclable items at Freedom Plaza…from 9 AM to 6:30 PM.” [Reston Town Center]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2pm, with patchy fog before noon. The day will be mostly cloudy with a high near 75. Precipitation chance is 60% but will drop to 30% at night, which will be mostly cloudy with a low around 65. [NWS]


Around Town

A nonprofit organization in downtown Herndon is celebrating 50 years of giving back to the community.

The Closet of the Greater Herndon Area, a faith-based nonprofit organization that distributes affordable home goods, clothing and other items, marked its 50th anniversary this month. The milestone will be formally celebrated at an invite-only event in late October.


Countywide

Fairfax County will break ground this month on a major rehabilitation of its Accotink Wastewater Pump Station.

The county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services approved a $71 million construction contract on July 3 that included the first-ever Project Labor Agreement (PLA) administered by a local government in Virginia, according to a press release.


News

The haze around Lake Anne Village Center’s future may soon begin to clear.

Fairfax County expects the final phase of its economic visioning study to conclude this fall with a final report and community meeting after a study conducted this summer looked at the Reston neighborhood’s residential market and potential to support new cultural facilities.


Around Town

GAMEmason, a two-day gaming convention, is returning to George Mason University’s Fairfax campus this weekend.

After first popping up in late February, the convention will take over GMU for a second time this year in collaboration with the university’s computer design program, GMU Esports club, The Center for the Arts and Student Involvement.


A U.S. flag hangs from a condo balcony at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston (staff photo)

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]


News

A Herndon man has officially been charged with murder in connection to the 2023 deaths of his wife and another man at their home in the Frying Pan area.

Brendan Banfield, a former IRS criminal investigative agent, was indicted today (Monday) by a grand jury for his alleged involvement in the shooting and stabbing that killed Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan, a 39-year-old Springfield man, the Fairfax County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced.


Around Town

The Reston Multicultural Festival is set to return this weekend with expanded offerings.

Presented by Reston Community Center, Boston Properties (BXP), and the Reston Town Center Association (RTCA), the annual community event will bring three performance stages this year to Reston Town Center on Saturday (Sept. 21).


Countywide

Bad news for anyone who has already gotten roots in the ground: Fairfax County’s window for planting trees has shifted back following a record-hot summer.

Forest Conservation (FCON) staff in the county’s Department of Land Development Services (LDS) updated its policy this spring to designate Oct. 1 through May 31 as the recommended time frame for planting trees, pushing back the previous start date of Sept. 1 and extending it through the winter.


News

A 33-year-old woman was shot and killed by a Fairfax County police officer this morning (Monday) at the VY Reston Heights apartment building.

Officers were dispatched to the residences at 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston around 10:03 a.m. for a welfare check, according to the county’s police scanner. Officers reported “shots fired” at 10:17 a.m.


View More Stories