Tysons | FFXnow - Part 504

Morning Notes

Published June 30, 2022 at 7:30AM

The sky is reflected by the office building at 8150 Leesburg Pike in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Warns of Hour-Long Waits for July 4 — “Due to the reduced number of railcars available for service, capacity on Metrorail will be less than previous Independence Days. That means customers should be prepared for longer wait times, up to 60 minutes, and for crowding to occur, especially at the conclusion of the fireworks.” [WMATA]

Unhealthy Air Possible Today — “Code Orange unhealthy air is forecast for tomorrow (Thursday) for the metropolitan Washington region. Area residents are encouraged to limit outdoor activities.” [Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments/Twitter]

News

Vienna to welcome new citizens with first-ever naturalization ceremony on Fourth of July weekend

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 29, 2022 at 2:15PM

The U.S., Virginia, and Vienna flags fly from the veterans' memorial fountain by the Town Green (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

More than a dozen immigrants will experience their first moments as U.S. citizens at the Vienna Town Green this Saturday (July 2).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will hold a naturalization ceremony that day for 15 people from Canada, the Congo, and other nations, who will take the Oath of Allegiance pledging support for their new home country at 5 p.m.

Countywide

New interactive climate map shows impact of heat, flooding in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 29, 2022 at 1:30PM

Fairfax County's interactive climate map shows heat and flooding conditions (via Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination)

As Fairfax County finalizes its first-ever plan to address the future effects of climate change, community members can see how the phenomenon already affects them with a newly released interactive map.

Launched last week, the climate map depicts heat and flooding data that can be viewed in conjunction with maps of the county’s population and infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and public facilities.

Around Town

Where to celebrate Fourth of July, watch fireworks in Fairfax County

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 29, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated June 29, 2022 at 4:07PM

Fourth of July fireworks (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) This weekend through next week is set to be full of fireworks, parades and celebrations for the Fourth of July.

In D.C., the National Parade returns for the first time since 2019 after the Covid pandemic canceled the festivities in 2020 and 2021. Nearby, the City of Alexandria is holding its annual birthday celebration on Saturday, July 9, after it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, and scaled back last year.

News

Multi-million-dollar Tysons condos expected to open next spring

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 29, 2022 at 10:15AM

Construction on the Monarch condominium building, pictured from early June, recently topped out (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Monarch, a 20-story condominium high-rise going up in central Tysons, has reached its pinnacle.

Developer Renaissance Centro celebrated the building’s “topping out” on Sunday (June 26), a key turning point in construction that comes when the main structure is fully in place. The milestone puts Monarch on track to open in spring 2023, according to a press release.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 29, 2022 at 7:30AM | Updated June 29, 2022 at 11:23AM

(Updated at 11:20 a.m.) Kitten Rescued in Groveton — Fairfax County firefighters from the Woodlawn station were dispatched to the 7000 block of Richmond Highway on Monday (June 27) after bystanders reported a stray kitten that got stuck in the engine compartment of their coworker’s SUV. First responders were able to “extriCATe the kitten without injury or damage to vehicle,” and a coworker of the original caller agreed to adopt the kitten. [FCFRD/Facebook]

(Correction: This article initially said the kitten was adopted by a firefighter, based on the department’s tweet about the incident.)

Countywide

Fairfax County to share available reproductive health resources after Roe v. Wade ends

By Brandi Bottalico

Published June 28, 2022 at 3:55PM

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a previous meeting

Information on reproductive rights resources will be posted to the Fairfax County website in light of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Last week’s decision leaves it up to individual states to determine regulations for abortions. Some states have trigger laws that went into immediate effect to ban abortions, but Virginia is not one of those states, though the governor has said he will seek to prohibit most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

News

Fairfax County seeks public input on proposed Dolley Madison Blvd fixes

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 28, 2022 at 2:15PM

To ease Dolley Madison Blvd. traffic in McLean, Fairfax County has proposed some changes to the Great Falls Street and Chain Bridge Road intersection (via Google Maps)

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is gradually whittling down its options for addressing traffic congestion on Dolley Madison Blvd. in McLean.

An online survey released on Friday (June 24) asks community members to share their thoughts on five proposals for improving the corridor, which is also known as Route 123.

News

J.R.’s Stockyards Inn, Tysons’ original steakhouse, has been demolished

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 28, 2022 at 11:00AM

The J.R.'s Stockyards Inn sign, the only remnant of the restaurant left after the building's recent demolition (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Where one of the first restaurants in Tysons stood for more than four decades, there is now only a square of dirt surrounded by asphalt.

Built in 1971, the red, two-story building that housed J.R.’s Stockyards Inn — the self-proclaimed Tysons original steakhouse — was demolished last week to make way for an expected redevelopment, though as of Saturday (June 25), its sign on Watson Street is still standing.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published June 28, 2022 at 7:30AM

A mural on the side of the Quality Inn on Fordson Road in Groveton (staff photo by Brandi Bottalico)

Motorcyclist Dies Falling from I-495 — “An Alexandria motorcyclist was killed Sunday afternoon (June 26) after crashing and falling nearly 30 feet off the westbound Interstate 495 overpass exit ramp for Eisenhower Avenue toward Mill Road…He was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.” [ALXnow]

System for Helicopter Noise Complaints Unveiled — D.C. area residents finally have a clear place to go to lodge complaints about helicopter-related noise. The site planenoise.com/dcmetro was unveiled yesterday (Monday) as part of a 60-day pilot program that could become permanent. Complaints can also be filed by phone at 877-209-3200 or a mobile app. [Rep. Don Beyer/ARLnow]