Tysons | FFXnow - Part 453

Morning Notes

Published November 22, 2022 at 7:30AM

A robot putters around George Mason University (photo by Susan Woolsey)

I-66 Express Lanes Fully Open Today — “The eastbound direction of the new 66 Express Lanes from Route 28 in Centreville to I-495 (Capital Beltway) is on track to open on Tuesday, Nov. 22…When this final section opens, the entire 22.5-mile 66 Express Lanes corridor from Route 29 in Gainesville to I-495 will be open with tolling and HOV-2+ rules in effect.” [VDOT]

Mini Satellite Built by TJ Students Going to Space — “On Tuesday, November 22, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, NASA is scheduled to launch the TJ REVERB CubeSat as part of the SpaceX-26 Commercial Resupply Service Mission en route to the International Space Station…Led by Robotics lab director Kristen Kucko, many students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology have had a hand in this historic launch.” [FCPS]

Countywide

Virginia history standards criticized by local teacher unions sent back to drawing board

By Matt Blitz

Published November 21, 2022 at 3:00PM

The Virginia Board of Education held a public hearing last week on new draft standards for history and social studies (via VDOE/YouTube)

Fairfax County’s teacher unions expressed relief after new state-proposed history standards were rejected by a governor-appointed board late last week.

On Thursday evening (Nov. 17), Virginia’s Board of Education voted unanimously to again delay approving new history standards drafted by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

News

Early voting in special election for Vienna area’s new delegate begins this week

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 21, 2022 at 2:15PM

35th House district candidates Holly Seibold and Monique Baroudi (courtesy Laura Goyer Photography, MP Photo Art)

Only a week after finalizing vote tallies from its last election, Fairfax County is gearing up to welcome back voters from several precincts for its next election.

Early voting will begin Wednesday (Nov. 23) to select a successor to Mark Keam, who resigned as delegate of Virginia’s 35th House District in September. A special election will be held Jan. 10, the day before the General Assembly convenes for its 2023 session.

Neighborhood Expert: Volunteer opportunities for the holiday season

By Sponsor

Published November 21, 2022 at 12:30PM

A donation drive is set for tomorrow at a Reston church (Photo by Aaron Doucett/Unsplash)

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or Laura@GuidingYourMove.com.

I am wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Countywide

Fairfax County firefighters vote to unionize for historic contract talks

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 21, 2022 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue engine ladder (file photo)

Firefighters, medics and other Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department employees will have a union represent them in the county’s first collective bargaining negotiations for public workers in over 40 years.

Over 800 FCFRD workers participated in a 13-day election last month to determine whether to have union representation for contract talks with the county government, which will establish pay, benefits and other working conditions.

Around Town

NEW: Popular New York City falafel eatery is coming to Pimmit Hills

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 21, 2022 at 10:15AM

Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen plans to open a restaurant at Tysons Station in Pimmit Hills in spring 2023 (courtesy Taïm)

A growing fast-casual, Mediterranean restaurant chain that started in New York City will open a location in Pimmit Hills next year.

Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen will bring its lauded falafels to Virginia for the first time with a 1,849-square-foot restaurant in the Tysons Station shopping center at 7502 Leesburg Pike. The company anticipates opening the new location this coming spring, possibly April.

Countywide

I-66 toll lanes will change from HOV2 to HOV3 starting next month

By Matt Blitz

Published November 21, 2022 at 9:30AM

A mini-van takes the I-66 Express Lanes, now open in the Centreville area (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

If you plan on driving the newly extended I-66 Express Lanes next month, make sure there are at least two other people in the car to avoid paying a toll.

The entire length of the I-66 toll lanes will shift from HOV2 to HOV3 in early December, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently announced.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published November 21, 2022 at 7:30AM

Potomac River looks calm from Scott's Run Nature Preserve (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

County Chair Reacts to Club Q Mass Shooting — “I want to be unequivocal: I stand with our LGBTQIA+ community. The repugnant violence we saw in Colorado Springs has no place in society. We will never give in to the forces of hate or oppression. My heart breaks for the victims and their families.” [Jeff McKay/Twitter]

Developer Hopes to Obtain Land for Housing at Innovation Station — “While the details haven’t been hammered out, Peterson hopes the county would sell or ground lease its parcel for some nominal price, Taylor Chess, Peterson’s president of development, said in an interview. Such a deal would help to make the project economically viable over the long haul” [Washington Business Journal]

Countywide

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: Nov. 14-18

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 18, 2022 at 3:00PM

A Metro employee hands out pennants commemorating the Silver Line Phase II grand opening (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The weekend is almost here. Before you hop on (or lament) the latest addition to the I-66 toll lanes or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.

Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:

Around Town

Basic Burger brings bagels to Tysons with plans for standalone store

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 18, 2022 at 2:15PM

Basic Burger is opening a bagel pop-up in its Tysons West restaurant (courtesy Basic Burger)

Basic Burger is circling the Tysons area as one potential location for a new, standalone bagel “concept.”

For now, the Arlington-based company will open a New York bagel pop-up in its Tysons West restaurant at 1495 Cornerside Blvd this weekend, Operations Director Jamie Mansy told FFXnow.