Reston | FFXnow - Part 497

Morning Notes

Published July 28, 2022 at 7:30AM

A flock of birds flies over Route 123 in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Real Estate Taxes Due Today — For Fairfax County property owners, it’s the final day to send in the first installment of your annual real estate taxes, which saw significant increases this year even with a 3-cent reduction in the county’s rate. Payments can be made to the Department of Tax Administration by phone, mail, drop box, mobile app and online. [DTA]

Springfield Man Convicted in 2020 Murder — A jury convicted Carlington Fitz Auther Campbell yesterday (Wednesday) for shooting and killing Anthony Sullivan outside a West Springfield apartment in November 2020, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced. Campbell was found guilty of second-degree murder and a weapons charge, which carry possible prison sentences of five to 40 years and three years, respectively. [WUSA9]

Countywide

After joining FCPS during pandemic, new teachers upbeat about futures in education

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 27, 2022 at 3:00PM

Riverside Elementary School teacher Shelby Press with students in Fairfax County Public Schools' Young Scholars summer program (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amelia Carr’s first year working for Fairfax County Public Schools was miles apart from what she had imagined when she declared that she wanted to become a teacher in her sixth-grade yearbook.

The Bucknell Elementary School kindergarten teacher began her career as an educator in the unpredictable world of September 2020, when classes were confined to the computer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

News

Verizon scouting for replacement site in Lake Anne area after cell service slows

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 27, 2022 at 1:30PM

Verizon truck drives through water while turning from Baron Cameron Avenue to Reston Parkway after rain (photo by Ed Schudel)

Verizon may soon have a solution for slow cell service in the Lake Anne area.

The cell phone provider is actively looking for sites of a new cell tower after its facility at Lake Anne Fellowship House was removed in anticipation of the building’s demolition.

Countywide

Plastic bag tax could raise over $1M for Fairfax County in first year

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 27, 2022 at 11:45AM

A plastic grocery bag (via Christopher Vega on Unsplash)

Fairfax County is on track to bring in more than $1 million in revenue from the first year of its plastic bag tax.

In the first five months after the tax took effect on Jan. 1, the county government received over $500,000, the Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination said in a memo to the Board of Supervisors.

News

One injured during Herndon assault and carjacking over the weekend

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 27, 2022 at 10:15AM

Town of Herndon police (courtesy Herndon Police Department)

A man was injured during a carjacking and shooting in Herndon over the weekend, the Herndon Police Department said in its weekly recap.

The man said that someone he knew assaulted him, fired a gun at him and stole his car in the 500 block of Fairfax Lane on July 23 around 9 p.m.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 27, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:11PM

A tiger swallowtail butterfly rests on a bergamot plant (photo by Marjorie Copson)

Funds Sought to Assist With Police Camera Footage — “Faced with a tsunami of digital evidence from body-worn and in-car video cameras, high-tech forensic tools and other devices, Fairfax County officials are seeking a $1 million grant to pay for staff to manage the data flow and ensure timely accessibility.” [Sun Gazette]

Reston Meal Delivery Service to Expand — “A Northern Virginia meal-delivery startup has raised $1.8 million in fresh capital and is using the funds to expand service into D.C. and beyond. Reston’s Frolick Inc…partners with local commercial kitchens to prepare full meals for under $15, with no fees or minimum orders.” [Washington Business Journal]

News

First pieces of Reston’s Isaac Newton Square development in the works

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 26, 2022 at 2:15PM

The design of the townhouses is similar to others in Reston (via Fairfax County)

The first and smallest pieces of a massive new neighborhood near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station are formally in the works.

At a Reston Planning and Zoning Committee earlier this month, Peter Lawrence Company and development partner MRP Realty said they plan to introduce a final development plan for mostly townhouses and stacked units at Isaac Newton Square.

Countywide

National outbreaks of salmonella include cases in Northern Virginia

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 26, 2022 at 11:45AM

A chicken on the move (via James Wainscoat/Unsplash)

Between the COVID-19 pandemic and growing concerns about monkeypox, a recent, national surge in salmonella cases linked to live poultry has flown relatively under the radar.

However, the bacteria has spread to 48 states since early February, infecting 572 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Northern Virginia hasn’t been immune.

News

Reston Multicultural Festival moves to town center with new line-up

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 26, 2022 at 11:00AM

The Reston Multicultural Festival returns this month with expanded stages to Reston Town Center (Photo via Reston Community Center).

A staple of Reston’s events scene — the Reston’s Multicultural Festival — returns in September with a new venue and line-up of presenters.

This year’s festival will take place at Reston Town Center through a partnership with the Reston Town Center Association instead of the typical location at Lake Anne Plaza.

Countywide

Fairfax County shelter to help with adoptions of beagles rescued from a research facility

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 26, 2022 at 9:30AM

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter will receive the beagles soon (Photo via Fairfax County Animal Shelter).

For the first time, animals from a research facility will be up for adoption at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

Roughly 4,000 beagles from a research facility will be transferred to the shelter. A spokesperson for the animal shelter says staff and volunteers are excited to welcome the animals to start the “next chapter of their lives.”