Police have made another arrest in connection to the theft of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Chanel’s store in Tysons Galleria.
The Fairfax County Police Department previously identified three individuals as suspects in the June 25 robbery. One man was arrested in Pennsylvania on Aug. 7, but two others — a 27-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, also from Pennsylvania — were still being located.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS) will waive adoption fees this Friday through Sunday (Aug. 23-25).
The shelter has more than 160 animals waiting for adoption, it said in a press release. That includes cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice and rabbits.
A Vienna man who came under FBI scrutiny for allegedly suggesting a militia make explosives could serve prison time for having a deadly toxin.
Russell Richardson Vane IV, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday (Wednesday) to possessing ricin — a poison derived from castor beans that can be fatal to people exposed to it — without a registration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.
Police Search for Kingstowne Robbery Suspects — A worker was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a commercial robbery in the 5700 block of Kingstowne Blvd on Aug. 7. Police say the employee “attempted to stop” a man and woman from leaving the store after they took merchadise without paying. The woman then “discharged pepper spray at the employee.” [FCPD]
Circus Coming to GMU — “Tickets for the upcoming performances of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus in Fairfax are now on sale. Billed as The Greatest Show on Earth, Ringling Bros. will be bringing more than 75 performers from 18 countries and presenting 50 circus acts from March 23 to April 6, 2025 at EagleBank Arena” on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. [Patch]
Metro Workers Secure New Contract — “Metro workers will have to take at least 10 hours off between shifts and see some caps to their raises, under the terms of a new union contract signed Wednesday…The changes address long-standing concerns over worker exhaustion as well as high labor costs.” [Washington Post]
State Police Release Annual Crime Data — “Virginia had fewer homicides, but more vehicle thefts and drug arrests, during 2023, according to the annual statewide report released Aug. 20 by Virginia State Police…There were 20,824 violent-crime offenses reported last year versus 20,549 in 2022, a 1.3 percent increase.” [Gazette Leader]
Events Venue Opens in Hybla Valley — “Tucked away toward the rear of an unassuming Richmond Highway strip mall, a former mattress and furniture store has been transformed into a high-end event and meeting space. Known as Vista Banquet Hall, the new facility has been a labor of love for its owner, Lydia Kassa, who first started searching for a space to open it four years ago.” [On the MoVe]
Learn About Fairfax City School Bond Projects — “There will be a school bond referendum on the city ballot for the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election — and you can learn more about it at community engagement sessions on Aug. 22, Sept. 30, and Oct. 15.” The requested $220 million in bonds will be used to renovate the Providence and Daniels Run elementary schools and replace Fairfax High School’s roof. [City of Fairfax]
Kristin Chenoweth Teases Wolf Trap Show — “You’ve seen her on Broadway and on TV. Ahead of her September 13 show at Wolf Trap, this Emmy- and Tony Award–winning actress talks about what she’s been up to and the magic you’ll see on stage,” where she’ll perform with fellow movie, TV and theater actor Alan Cumming. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunshine and a high around 79°F with a northwest wind at 5 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, reaching a low of approximately 58°F with calm winds. [NWS]
With temperatures at least temporarily feeling almost autumnal, the Vienna Business Association (VBA) is already starting to hype up its upcoming Oktoberfest.
The annual festival and fundraiser for the VBA will celebrate its 15th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, bringing food, beer, artisan and business vendors, and live entertainment to the Church Street area in downtown Vienna.
Fairfax County is taking a new approach to economic development, one that it hopes will place a greater emphasis on results rather than process.
By replacing the long-standing Economic Advisory Commission (EAC) with a Council for Economic Opportunity (CEO), the county’s Board of Supervisors can modernize its efforts to encourage county-wide economic growth, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck says.
Virginia students’ reading and math assessments for the 2023-24 school year saw some improvement over last year after months of recovery efforts, according to data released by the Department of Education Tuesday. However, pass rates in other subjects are still behind results from the 2022-23 school year.
Pass rates for grades 3 through 8 in reading, math, and science Standards of Learning tests all showed increases statewide by at least 1%. Writing showed the highest increase — 17 percentage points — while history and social science saw little gain, less than a percentage point.
Te’Amo Boba Bar is now serving tea, along with other sweet treats, at the Mosaic District in Merrifield.
The boba tea cafe chain had a soft opening at 8190 Strawberry Lane, Suite 5, on Monday (Aug. 19), making the Merrifield location its first outside of the Chicago, Illinois, area where it originated in 2018.
Arrest Made in Reston Shooting — A suspect in yesterday’s fatal shooting at Gold’s Gym in Reston has been arrested and is now in custody, Fairfax County police announced last night. Charges are expected today. [FCPD/Twitter]
Army Horses Not Going to Live at Mason Neck — The U.S. Army has decided not to stable “the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment’s famed Caisson horses at Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area.” After Mason Neck residents raised concerns, a search for a long-term home for the ceremonial animals continues. [On the MoVe]
Temporary Baking Shop Coming to Fairfax Corner — “King Arthur Baking Company, which started out as a flour company in 1790, is opening a pop-up restaurant next month in Fairfax Corner. The bakery chain’s new location is set to operate for a limited time as a pop-up shop next door the REI outlet at 11948 Grand Commons Drive.” [Patch]
Tysons Coffee Shop Eyes Loudoun Expansion — “The Burn has learned that Shotted will be taking a spot in the food court at the Dulles Town Center mall. It will be going into a vacant spot…previously occupied by a cupcake business.” The coffee shop can be found at Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center, where it recently moved from a kiosk to a storefront. [The Burn]
McLean Defense Startup Lands Big Investment — “Defcon AI, a McLean startup that aims to simplify logistics operations in complicated and dynamic military environments, has raised $44 million in funding led by prominent San Francisco investment firm Bessemer Venture Partners. It brings the company’s total outside funding to $47 million following the startup’s 2022 spinout from Tysons investment and incubation firm Red Cell Partners LLC.” [Washington Business Journal]
Annandale Mural Design Revealed — “The community got a sneak peek at the mural design for the ACCA Child Development Center building at the Art Appreciation Festival Aug. 17 at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale. The mural should be mostly completed in time for the Taste of Annandale, which will be held at the civic space on Sept. 21.” [Annandale Today]
Winter-Themed Playground Open in Franconia — “Parents who are looking for ways to beat the heat can now take their kids to a new winter-themed indoor playground in Franconia. Hyper Kidz Alexandria opened [on Aug. 1] in the Festival at Manchester Lakes shopping center.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Lake Accotink Park Celebration Coming Up — “Join the Fairfax County Park Authority and Friends of Lake Accotink Park for a free day of family fun at Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Celebrate summer with free amusements, boat rentals, hikes, mini golf, face painting, history activities and more!” [FCPA]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny conditions with a high near 76 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 7 to 11 mph. For Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear with a low around 57 degrees and a gentle north wind at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
A family-owned ice cream shop is now churning the frozen dessert daily on the ground floor of Tycon Courthouse, the office building better known to locals as the “Toilet Bowl” building.
Terra Bechara, who lives in nearby Vienna with her husband and five kids, opened Terra’s Ice Cream, Coffee and Sweets at 2070 Chain Bridge Rd, Suite 180, in Tysons on Thursday, Aug. 8, overcoming months of permitting and construction hurdles.
