A sign for Graham Center in West Falls Church (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
When it got approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors this fall, VHC Health and Intuitive Health’s planned hybrid emergency room and urgent care facility was touted as a clear upgrade for West Falls Church’s Graham Center, transforming the aging strip mall with an innovative health care resource and much-needed road safety improvements.
However, for the small businesses that in some cases have been housed at the Graham Center for decades, the impending redevelopment has brought stress and upheaval, as they consider whether to relocate or possibly close their doors for good.
The Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
In 2023, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors allocated $15 million to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board to construct or renovate a crisis receiving center for youth behavioral health emergencies.
After more than a year, however, Fairfax has yet to pick a location – the next step to getting the center operational.
Difficult Run in Great Falls on Dec. 29, 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Driver in Fatal Hit-and-Run Still Unknown — “A Fairfax County family is still searching for answers after a devastating hit-and-run crash claimed the life of their matriarch, Mary Wong. The crash happened on Huntsman Boulevard near Bridle Wood Drive just before 8 p.m. on December 27th, 2023 — just two days after Christmas.” [FOX5]
Metro Construction Finishes Ahead of Schedule — Metro resumed normal service at 5 a.m. today (Monday) after suspending operations on parts of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines in D.C. for 10 days of track repairs and upgrades. The construction work finished a day early and “more than $450,000 under budget.” [WMATA]
Motorcyclist Killed in Fair Lakes Crash Identified — Police are continuing to investigate a crash that killed motorcyclist Michael Yung of Lorton at West Ox Road and Piney Branch Road on Friday (Dec. 27). Detectives are looking at whether “speed was a factor” in the crash, which saw Yung collide with an SUV that was turning left in the intersection. [FCPD]
Police Investigate Reston Burglary — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying suspects who burglarized a business and stole electronics in Reston on Christmas Eve.” Police say four people broke into the business in the 1600 block of Reston Parkway and stole electronics around 5 a.m. on Dec. 24. [FCPD]
Critic’s Take on Year’s Best New N. Va. Restaurants — “I’ve been through the good, bad, and forgettable this year, all to bring you a list of my favorite Northern Virginia restaurants of 2024. From vegan soups to dry-aged fish, these are the new restaurants that I’ve measured most favorably.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
This Silver Line Station is Metro’s Least Used — “About 400,000 people ride Metro trains daily, making it the second-busiest subway system in the country behind New York City’s … But at Loudoun Gateway, the second-to-last stop on the Silver Line extension, there is never any bustle,” with an average of 317 people entering the station each day this year. [Washington Post]
Community Centers Start Lending Tech Devices — “Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services is pleased to announce the new Technology Lending Program available at 12 NCS centers.” Any county resident can borrow technology, such as Canon EOS cameras, 3D printers and, in the future, Chromebooks, for 14 days. [NCS]
Local Student Builds Career on TV, Broadway — “Braden Allen King grew up in Fairfax County and watched as his dad and brother took part in local theater productions, and his mom taught dance, with his sister dancing at her studio. So, it wasn’t much of a shock to anyone in his family when he decided he wanted to pursue a career as an actor.” [Fairfax County Times]
It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy morning followed by gradual clearing and a high around 57°F. There will be west winds blowing at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. As for Monday night, the sky will be mostly clear with temperatures dipping to around 38°F. A southwest wind of around 5 mph will become calm in the evening. [NWS]
Brad Leydig, left, and Kevin Roller (courtesy of Chopticon basketball)
As he continues head-coaching duties of a boys varsity high-school basketball team in Southern Maryland, Brad Leydig credits two people for influencing his career path.
Those impressions were made when Leydig was a student/athlete at Madison High School in Vienna, learning from the Warhawks’ late head football coach Lenny Schultz and current head boys hoops coach Kevin Roller.
Anya Rahman, holding the ball, scored her 1,000th point (courtesy of Langley athletics)
On a turnaround 12-foot jump shot in the middle of the lane, Anya Rahman scored her 1,000th career point for the Langley Saxons girls basketball team in a recent high-school game.
The basket came with 2:39 left in the second quarter against the Bishop O’Connell Knights on Langley’s home court, giving the Saxons a 20-9 lead.
Scott's Run Trail near Westgate Park in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County has bumped up the amount of money developers must contribute toward public facilities in Tysons if they’re unable to deliver the goods themselves.
As of Dec. 16, the county is charging developers who submit rezoning applications for Tysons sites $2.22 per square foot of their project’s gross floor area to support the construction of roads, parks and other public spaces and infrastructure, Department of Planning and Development (DPD) staff said in a recent report to the Board of Supervisors.
Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) is closed at Serenity Woods Lane in Great Falls after a two-vehicle crash (via Google Maps)
A driver was critically injured in a crash this morning (Friday) that has completely shut down Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) near Colvin Run Mill Park.
Fairfax County police officers and Fire and Rescue responders were dispatched to eastbound Leesburg Pike at Serenity Woods Lane in Great Falls around 9:20 a.m. for a two-vehicle crash, according to scanner traffic.
Construction continues on a shared-use path and other improvements on Wiehle Avenue near Reston Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Kid-Friendly Ways to Celebrate New Year — For anyone with young kids who can’t or don’t want to stay up until midnight next Tuesday (Dec. 31), options for ringing in the new year include Rocknoceros New Year’s Eve Ball at Jammin’ Java in Vienna and Noon Year’s Eve Party at Shipgarten in Tysons. Some Fairfax County libraries are also planning “Noon Year’s Eve” celebrations. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Library ContestOffers Free Signed Books — To wrap up its 85th year of service, Fairfax County Public Library is giving out 13 free books signed by its visiting authors. Until next Tuesday, Dec. 31, patrons can enter to win a copy by sharing “how much Fairfax County Public Library has saved you this year (hint: it’s found at the bottom of your checkout receipt).” [FCPL/Instagram]
Local Mom Honors Son Lost to Drug Addiction — For Fairfax resident Debbie Zane, Christmas has become a time for mourning and remembering her son, Alex, who died in January 2022 “after a ten-year battle he had with serious mental illness and addiction.” She has written a book as “a cathartic and giving way to honor Alex while hopefully helping others.” [NBC4]
Falls Church Considers Design for ‘LOVE’ Sculpture — “It was not love at first sight, art-wise, for members of the Falls Church City Council. As a result, city staff will return early in the new year with refinements to a proposed ‘LOVE’ sculpture that will adorn the west side of the City Hall campus.” [ARLnow]
When Fairfax County Will Pick Up Christmas Trees — “Natural Christmas trees will be collected from January 6 to 17, 2025 for recycling. Lights, decorations, and stands must be removed to ensure collection. After January 17, please schedule a brush Special Pickup to have the natural Christmas tree removed.” [DPWES]
Inova Urgent Care Opens inAlexandria — “Inova opened a new urgent care center in Alexandria’s West End on Monday (Dec. 23). The Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care opened at 4600 Kenmore Avenue in the Seminary Plaza shopping center, and it’s the ninth center to open this year in Virginia.” [ALXnow]
Area Restaurants Repurpose Former Pizza Huts — “What do a taqueria, a Korean-Chinese restaurant, and a barbecue joint have in common? They all used to be Pizza Huts. The restaurant chain ditched its distinctive red-hut architecture in 2016, but you can still find the structures around the area, now housing other eateries.” [Washingtonian]
It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies, with temperatures reaching a high of around 43 degrees. Chances of rain will increase at night, mainly after 1 am, accompanied by patchy fog and overcast conditions, with lows around 38 degrees. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall possibly accumulating between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. [NWS]
Madison gathers with the championship banner (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
The Madison Warhawks finished ranked second, seventh and ninth in three different final statewide high-school football polls for the 2024 season as compiled by MaxPreps.com.
In the public-school Class 6 (schools with the highest enrollment) poll, the Concorde District and 6D North Region champion Warhawks (14-1) were ranked second.
