Reston | FFXnow - Part 482

Morning Notes

Published September 8, 2022 at 7:30AM

Lake Fairfax Park in Reston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Updated Covid Boosters Now Available — “Effective immediately, eligible residents of Virginia are able to schedule appointments with their healthcare providers to receive the new, free COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccinations, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.” The Fairfax County Health Department and Giant Food’s pharmacies have confirmed the boosters’ availability. [VDH]

It’s Flu Shot Time Too — “Flu season is approaching in Virginia, and health experts are urging everyone over 6 months, with rare exceptions, to get their flu shots. Walgreens, CVS, Giant and other pharmacies in Virginia are already scheduling appointments or offering shots on a walk-in basis as health officials worry about what a worse-than-usual flu season in the Southern Hemisphere portends for the United States.” [Patch]

News

Draft Reston Comprehensive Plan outlines future of development, but some questions remain

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 7, 2022 at 3:00PM

Reston Town Center on a sunny day (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

After more than 50 meetings, Fairfax County will present draft amendments to Reston’s comprehensive plan at public meetings this fall, advancing the first major update to the planning document since 2015.

The process kicked off in 2020 to determine how new development will impact the community, public infrastructure and growth-related issues. Reston has seen more than 50 rezoning applications since the last update in 2015, prompting concerns about growth management.

Countywide

County library invites community to knit hats for charity, starting Monday

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 7, 2022 at 2:15PM

Colorful balls of yarn (via Margarida Afonso/Unsplash)

There’s no gift like one made by hand.

That sentiment inspired Fairfax County Public Library’s new “Knitting for Charity” initiative, a pilot project launching next week that encourages community members to craft winter hats for those who will need warm clothes as temperatures drop.

Countywide

County seeks pitches for contest on ways to boost energy efficiency

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 7, 2022 at 11:45AM

The Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County has issued a call for innovators to pitch solutions that work toward carbon neutrality and clean energy.

“Pitch and Pilot,” a county-led innovation challenge, aims to find and pilot new projects that improve energy efficiency, increase renewable electricity use, and encourage the use of electric vehicles.

Around Town

Fast-casual Indian restaurant to open in the Town of Herndon

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 7, 2022 at 11:00AM

The chain, which has a location pictured here in Texas, will open in Herndon (Photo via Google Maps).

A new fast-casual Indian restaurant is coming soon to the Town of Herndon.

Desi Chowrastha Indian Eatery — a fast-casual Indian chain that has two locations in Texas, New Hampshire, and Ohio — plans to open in the third quarter of this year at 905 Herndon Parkway.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published September 7, 2022 at 7:30AM

A turtle relaxes on a log at Royal Lake Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Deer Archery Program Starts Saturday — Fairfax County’s Deer Management Archery Program begins Saturday (Sept. 10). and runs through Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Part of a larger effort to “reduce and stabilize” the county’s white-tailed deer population, the program is overseen by the Fairfax County Police Department and takes place in parks and other locations throughout the county. [FCPD]

Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud in N. Va. — “A Northern Virginia contractor has pleaded guilty to taking down-payments for patio and deck projects that were never built in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Fauquier counties, and will also soon stand trial in Stafford County…Ryan Vanover, 40, of Haymarket, pleaded guilty Tuesday to contractor fraud in Fairfax County Circuit Court, as part of a proposed plea agreement.” [WTOP]

Countywide

New COVID-19 booster vaccines expected to be available in Fairfax County this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 6, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fairfax Health District COVID-19 cases over the past 26 weeks, as of Sept. 6, 2022 (via VDH)

Most booster shots against COVID-19 were put on hold over Labor Day weekend, as Fairfax County prepares for newly authorized vaccines designed to target omicron variants of the coronavirus.

Appointments for the updated boosters are expected to be available through the county’s Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) by tomorrow (Wednesday), the Fairfax County Health Department confirmed to FFXnow.

Around Town

Farm festival returns to Reston Farm Garden Market later this month

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 6, 2022 at 2:15PM

The annual festival returns this year with ticketed time slots.

A fall staple is returning to the Reston Farm Garden Market later this month.

Owners Lowell and Bonita Weinstein announced today (Tuesday) that the annual fall festival will return on Sept. 24 through Oct. 30, bringing activities like a petting zoo, a train, moon bounces, and seasonal produce to the farm.

Countywide

Fairfax County to move forward with proposal for new Reston library, apartments

By Fatimah Waseem

Published September 6, 2022 at 11:00AM

Reston Regional Library (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County is positioning itself to move forward with a proposal by developer Foulger-Pratt to build a new library and affordable units in Reston.

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will hold a public hearing next week to get input on a potential agreement with Foulger-Pratt for a redevelopment project called Bowman Towne Court, an area located at the intersection of Bowman Towne Drive and Town Center Parkway.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published September 6, 2022 at 7:30AM

Cranes work on the Monarch condos and other construction in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

I-495 Ramp to Close Tonight in McLean — “On or about Tuesday night, September 6, the ramp from southbound I-495 toward Tysons to eastbound George Washington Memorial Parkway is scheduled to be closed from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. the next morning. Crews will be conducting maintenance work on a stormwater management drain.” [VDOT]

Unattended Grill Causes West Springfield Fire — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units were dispatched for a house fire in the 6700 block of Portree Court at 6:40 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 3). Investigators determined that the fire, which was quickly extinguished at the one-story house, was started accidentally due to an unattended, lit grill. No one was displaced or injured, but the fire caused approximately $30,500 in damages. [FCFRD]