Tysons | FFXnow - Part 526

Morning Notes

Published August 1, 2022 at 7:30AM

Why did the geese cross the park trail? (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Person Hospitalized After Vienna Shooting — “Officers are in the 8400 blk of Wesleyan St in Vienna for a shooting. Prelim info, a man shot a roommate inside the home. Victim taken to hospital w/non-life-threatening inj. Suspect is in custody.” [FCPD/Twitter]

Report: Police Declare Personnel Emergency — “Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and senior staff declared a personnel emergency Thursday, according to a police source, which means mandatory overtime for police officers as FCPD grapples with an ongoing police officer shortage.” [ABC7]

Countywide

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: July 25-29

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 29, 2022 at 3:00PM

Acrobats with Cirque du Soleil's Kurios show rehearse in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The weekend is almost here. Before you read up on local history 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:

News

Vandals damage country club golf course in Vienna, police say

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 29, 2022 at 1:30PM

The entrance to the Westwood Country Club in Vienna (via Google Maps)

Vienna police are on the lookout for men who reportedly damaged the Westwood Country Club’s golf course last week.

Surveillance video footage showed “a group of unidentified males” destroying the grounds and equipment of the country club at 800 Maple Avenue East between 2 and 3 a.m. last Saturday (July 23), the Vienna Police Department said in a flier included in its crime recap for the week of July 22-28.

Around Town

Bad Axe Throwing is out at Mosaic District but aims to reopen elsewhere

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 29, 2022 at 11:00AM

Bad Axe Throwing has vacated its Mosaic District space (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The former Bad Axe Throwing spot at the Mosaic District in Merrifield is being wiped clean.

Work to demolish Suite 190 at 2985 District Avenue has been underway for the past month, based on Fairfax County permits, as property owner EDENS prepares the space for a potential new tenant.

Countywide

Morning Poll: Should Fairfax County’s major roads have lower speed limits?

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 29, 2022 at 9:30AM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:00PM

Cars head south on Richmond Highway (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Driving on Richmond Highway in Fairfax County could get a little slower, potentially by the beginning of next year.

Virginia Department of Transportation staff said last week that the speed limit should be reduced from 45 to 35 mph along a 7.31-mile stretch of the roadway from the Capital Beltway at the Alexandria border to Jeff Todd Way in Mount Vernon.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 29, 2022 at 7:30AM

A family hits the mini golf course at Jefferson District Park in Idylwood (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro Promises Relief for Train Riders Next Month — Starting Monday (Aug. 1), the addition of more rail cars will speed up service on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines to every 15 minutes on weekdays instead of the current wait times, which can reach up to 20 minutes. Metro says it anticipates expanding those service adjustments to weekends in September. [WMATA]

Man to Plead Guilty to Herndon Murder — A Virginia man told a Fairfax County judge he wants to plead guilty to the 1987 killing of 37-year-old Eige Sober-Adler in Herndon after being indicted in the case in January. Charles Helem is already serving life in prison for strangling and killing his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Bentley, in Chantilly in 2002. [WTOP]

Around Town

Photos: Cirque du Soleil prepares for Friday’s ‘Kurios’ Tysons premiere

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 28, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated July 29, 2022 at 12:13PM

Cirque du Soleil acrobats rehearse a banquine act ahead of Kurios' July 29 premiere in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Cirque du Soleil is almost ready to shine its lights on Tysons once again.

After a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canada-based circus and entertainment company raised its big top tent at Lerner Town Square (8025 Galleria Drive) on July 21 in anticipation of premiering its “Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities” show tomorrow (Friday).

News

Pedestrian bridge over Beltway in Tysons expected to finish this fall

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 28, 2022 at 11:00AM

Construction continues on the new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I-495 in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Construction on the bicycle and pedestrian bridge over the Capital Beltway in Tysons will take slightly longer than anticipated.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says the first phase of the project — which will eventually connect Tysons Corner Center and the McLean Metro station via Old Meadow Road — is now expected to be completed this fall, behind the previously advertised summer 2022 timeline.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published July 28, 2022 at 7:30AM

A flock of birds flies over Route 123 in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Real Estate Taxes Due Today — For Fairfax County property owners, it’s the final day to send in the first installment of your annual real estate taxes, which saw significant increases this year even with a 3-cent reduction in the county’s rate. Payments can be made to the Department of Tax Administration by phone, mail, drop box, mobile app and online. [DTA]

Springfield Man Convicted in 2020 Murder — A jury convicted Carlington Fitz Auther Campbell yesterday (Wednesday) for shooting and killing Anthony Sullivan outside a West Springfield apartment in November 2020, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced. Campbell was found guilty of second-degree murder and a weapons charge, which carry possible prison sentences of five to 40 years and three years, respectively. [WUSA9]

Countywide

After joining FCPS during pandemic, new teachers upbeat about futures in education

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 27, 2022 at 3:00PM

Riverside Elementary School teacher Shelby Press with students in Fairfax County Public Schools' Young Scholars summer program (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Amelia Carr’s first year working for Fairfax County Public Schools was miles apart from what she had imagined when she declared that she wanted to become a teacher in her sixth-grade yearbook.

The Bucknell Elementary School kindergarten teacher began her career as an educator in the unpredictable world of September 2020, when classes were confined to the computer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.