Tysons | FFXnow - Part 499

Morning Notes

Published July 14, 2022 at 7:30AM

A hot summer day at The Boro in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

What Was Behind Tuesday’s Storms — “Hundreds of trees were toppled and hundreds of thousands of people lost power Tuesday afternoon and evening as three storm complexes roared across the Washington region. The storms were fueled by hot and humid air that surged into the region, and were powered and sustained by strong high-altitude winds along an approaching cold front.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Firefighter Charged in Fairfax County Armed Robbery — “A D.C. firefighter has been arrested and charged with robbery after police say he brandished a gun and took someone’s property in Fairfax County, Virginia. Fairfax County Police said the robbery happened in May” [WTOP]

News

Major Church Street development gets blessing of Vienna Town Council

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 13, 2022 at 3:00PM

Developer Bognet Construction has gotten approval for a three-story mixed-use building at 145 Church Street (via Town of Vienna)

A mixed-use development that will bring apartments, retail, and additional parking to Church Street in Vienna is moving forward.

During its meeting on Monday (July 11), the Vienna Town Council unanimously approved the project from developer Bognet Construction to replace two commercial buildings at 139 and 145 Church Street with a three-story building and two-level parking garage.

News

Longtime Vienna barber shop to close for good after August

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 13, 2022 at 11:00AM | Updated July 13, 2022 at 11:18AM

Charles' Barber Shop is closing after over three decades at the Cedar Park Shopping Center in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Haley Vananh is ready to lay down her scissors.

The owner of Charles’ Barber Shop will permanently shut down the small hair-cutting outlet tucked in the back of Vienna’s Cedar Park Shopping Center at the end of August, she confirmed to FFXnow.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 13, 2022 at 7:30AM

A rainbow at sunset over Reston Town Center (photo by Beth Allgaier)

Police Uses of Force Prompt Town Hall — Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk’s office will host a virtual town hall on July 21 to discuss recent use-of-force incidents by Fairfax County police officers. Lusk, who chairs the Board of Supervisors’ public safety committee, said he shares community concerns “about both the nature of these incidents, as well as the frequency at which they are occurring.” [Rodney Lusk/Twitter]

Possible Reston Arts Center Delayed — Reston Town Center developer Boston Properties got approval to extend the deadline for when Fairfax County has to decide whether to build a new performing arts center by six months. A proffer agreement for the next phase of the center’s development allows the county to require an arts center or a park on the site along Sunset Hills Road. [Patch]

Countywide

JUST IN: Tens of thousands in Fairfax County lose power after storm

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 12, 2022 at 7:30PM | Updated July 12, 2022 at 7:48PM

More than 4,000 people lost power in the Great Falls/Wolf Trap area after a July 12 storm (via Dominion Energy)

(Updated at 7:45 p.m.) More than 16,000 people in Fairfax County are currently without power after a rainstorm with high winds passed through the D.C. area earlier this evening (Tuesday).

As of 7 p.m., a total of 16,255 electricity users in the county had lost power, including 15,480 Dominion Energy customers, according to PowerOutage.US.

Countywide

Rising living costs hurt lower income county residents more, report says

By Matt Blitz

Published July 12, 2022 at 3:45PM

Regional price increases over the last decade on basic needs (image via Fairfax County)

Sufficient health care, college degrees, and homeownership are becoming increasingly unattainable for Fairfax County residents with low to moderate incomes, a new report finds.

Late last month, Fairfax County released its “Needs Assessment” study, which comes out every three years with data on the current economic conditions in the county and the impact those conditions have on residents.

Countywide

Fairfax County under Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Flood Watch

By Brandi Bottalico

Published July 12, 2022 at 3:00PM

Lightning (via Breno Machado/Unsplash)

Fairfax County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Flood Watch as storms are expected in the region this evening.

The National Weather Service issued the watches this afternoon. They both expire at 10 p.m.

News

Vienna ends town leaf grinding but will encourage residents to mulch

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 12, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated July 12, 2022 at 2:41PM

Fallen leaves can be turned into mulch (via Susan Jones/Unsplash)

The Town of Vienna will no longer grind up fallen leaves at its collection facility on Beulah Road NE, ending a program that has delivered free mulch to residents for decades.

The Vienna Town Council voted unanimously yesterday (Monday) to turn the upcoming leaf collection season into a trial period, maintaining the Beulah Road facility as a storage site while exploring the best method for transporting leaves for disposal.

News

McLean group calls for traffic signal or beacon at Ingleside Avenue

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 12, 2022 at 10:30AM

Afternoon rush-hour traffic clogs up Dolley Madison Boulevard at the Ingleside Avenue intersection in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As Fairfax County explores ways to improve the flow of traffic on Dolley Madison Blvd., the McLean Citizens Association sees an opportunity to also address safety issues at the Ingleside Avenue intersection.

The residents’ group urged the Fairfax County Department of Transportation last week to consider installing a traffic signal there or at the adjacent Elm Street intersection as part of the county’s ongoing Dolley Madison Corridor Study.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 12, 2022 at 7:30AM

Bella Mack of Vienna spins and jumps on roller blades at Wakefield Skate Park in Annandale (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Underground Utilities Proposed for Route 1 — Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck has joined many residents, businesses, and state Sen. Scott Surovell (D-36) as an advocate for moving power lines along Richmond Highway underground, though that isn’t in the current designs for widening the road. Advocates say undergrounding would limit storm damage and bring economic benefits. [On the MoVe]

Metro Plans for Budget Shortfall — “Metrorail has only recovered 42% of its ridership and Metrobus has recovered about 60%. This time, Metro officials are not banking on the cavalry — in the form of a federal bailout or additional local dollars — to arrive. Later this summer, board members and new Metro General Manager Randy Clarke will begin to calculate how to plug a $356 million operating budget gap.” [DCist]