Reston | FFXnow - Part 286

Morning Notes

Published March 8, 2024 at 8:15AM

Girl Scouts sell cookies and a scooter user waits for the light at the corner of University Drive and North Street in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Prospect Iffy for Wiz and Caps Stadium in Alexandria — “A visibly frustrated Gov. Glenn Youngkin made a last-minute appeal to the Virginia legislature to support the Potomac Yard arena ahead of the General Assembly adjourning on Saturday…Senate Finance and Appropriations Chairwoman L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) told the Washington Post [on Wednesday] that the Potomac Yard arena won’t be in the budget compromise.” [ALXnow]

Design of Route 1 BRT Stations Under Revision — Fairfax County’s “Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project team continues to work on art design concepts for five of the nine future BRT stations…The county finalized artwork for windscreens to be located at the Lockheed, Hybla Valley, Woodlawn and Fort Belvoir stations” based on concepts submitted last year by high school students. [On the MoVe]

News

Herndon Community Center to celebrate 45 years with special deals, swim challenges

By James Jarvis

Published March 7, 2024 at 3:30PM

Herndon Community Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Herndon Community Center is planning a week-long series of events later this month to celebrate its 45th anniversary.

The center, which has been provided health, wellness, and recreational activities for the community since its inception in 1976, is inviting residents to participate in the festivities, starting Monday, March 25 and concluding on March 28.

Legal Insider: OPM disability retirement for federal employees

By Sponsor

Published March 7, 2024 at 12:30PM

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.

Around Town

River-Sea Chocolate Factory hones in on Reston location

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 7, 2024 at 11:00AM

River-Sea Chocolate Factory is moving its Chantilly production operations to Reston next year (courtesy River-Sea Chocolates)

River-Sea Chocolate Factory is making progress on its plans to open a production facility in Reston.

The company, which has a retail store and hot chocolate cafe in Chantilly, is seeking to add a location near Reston Station at 11495 Sunset Hills Road, according to county permits.

Countywide

Virginia House seeks more data for Fairfax senator’s bill to allow more accessory living units

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2024 at 10:15AM

State Sen. Saddam Salim testifies before the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns on his bill to require accessory living units (via Virginia General Assembly)

Final consideration of state Sen. Saddam Salim’s (D-37) proposal to expand the availability of accessory housing units in Virginia will wait until next year.

A Virginia House of Delegates committee voted on Feb. 23 to table Senate Bill 304, until 2025, suggesting that the delay would give Salim and other legislators more time to refine the bill and collect data on existing local policies allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are known in Fairfax County as accessory living units (ALUs).

Countywide

Former Trump advisor’s legal group sues FCPS over LGBTQ-inclusive policies

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 7, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated March 7, 2024 at 12:25PM

A community member waves an LGBTQ pride flag at the rally protesting Virginia's model policies on transgender students (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 12:25 a.m.) A right-wing legal group led by Stephen Miller, a former advisor to Donald Trump when he was president, is challenging Fairfax County Public Schools over its policies supporting transgender students.

America First Legal filed a complaint against the Fairfax County School Board on Monday (March 4) arguing that the school system is discriminating on the basis of sex and religion by letting students use the names, pronouns and bathrooms that match their gender identity.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published March 7, 2024 at 8:15AM

The Vita Apartments behind Macy's in Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax Connector to Restart Service Friday — Fairfax Connector workers represented by ATU Local 689 voted yesterday (Wednesday) to ratify a new contract with bus operator Transdev, ending their strike after 15 days, the union announced. The bus system will officially resume service on Friday (March 8). [FFXnow]

Annandale Man Charged in Baby Son’s Death — “Detectives from the Mason Police District arrested Shane Frye, 37, of Annandale, in connection with the overdose death of his 4-month-old son. Officers responded to the 4200 block of Americana Drive in Annandale on June 15, 2023, for an unresponsive baby, who was being cared for by Frye.” [Annandale Today]

News

Herndon moves to create its own version of county’s ‘One Fairfax’ equity policy

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 6, 2024 at 1:30PM

Entering the Town of Herndon (staff photo by Fatimah Waseem)

The Town of Herndon is exploring the adoption of new policy that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion.

Moved by council member Pradip Dhakal and created by the Herndon Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the “One Herndon” policy builds on the One Fairfax policy adopted by Fairfax County in 2016, which commits county and school officials to considering social and racial equity issues when providing services and making policy decisions.

Countywide

Fairfax County voters side with Biden and Haley in presidential primaries

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 6, 2024 at 11:45AM

A sign provides information about the March 5, 2024 Democratic and Republican presidential primaries (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Perhaps Nikki Haley’s rally in Idylwood last week made a difference after all.

In yesterday’s Republican presidential primary, the former South Carolina governor won more support from Fairfax County voters than frontrunner Donald Trump, though she trailed the one-time president by a sizable margin in Virginia overall.

Around Town

Local mom to open Dano’s Granola shop in Reston

By Fatimah Waseem

Published March 6, 2024 at 10:30AM

A small business by a Restonian is relocating to Reston (Photo via Dano's Granola).

A small business that specializes in all things granola is relocating its Chantilly location to Reston.

Dano’s Granola plans to open in 11495 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 105, by the middle to end of this summer, according to owner and mom of three, Dania Abimourched.