Driver of Tractor-trailer Killed in Crash — The driver of a tractor-trailer that was traveling north on I-485 ran off the road and hit a pole near the Georgetown Pike exit. An investigation is currently underway.
Segment of New I-66 Express Lanes Open — The western section of the new I-66 Express Lanes open today. The nine-mile section runs between Route 28 in Centreville and Route 29 in Gainesville. [WTOP]
Tysons Corner Metro Station Changes Its Name — Corner is no longer a part of the Tysons Corner Metro Station’s name after four other station in the system changed names. Metro’s board approved the changes, which went into effect yesterday (Sunday), earlier this month. The changes come after requests from local jurisdictions to do so. [Washington Post]
Police Investigate Robbery at Reston Hotel — A man reportedly took merchandise without playing at the Westin on 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive. When the man was confronted, he allegedly assaulted a victim and ran away. [FCPD]
Prince Jewelers Robbed in McLean — Two men entered Prince Jewelers at 1961 Chain Bridge Road, destroyed cases and took merchandise. The case is under investigation. [FCPD]
It’s Monday — Rain starting in the afternoon. High of 82 and low of 72. Sunrise at 6:49 am and sunset at 7:23 pm. [Weather.gov]
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Town of Herndon police officers gathered on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail Wednesday to celebrate a peculiar site: a retired flight attendant pushing a beverage cart. “It was an…
The McClean Community Center’s annual Fall Community Parking Lot Sale — a large flea market for local residents and businesses — is returning next weekend. The sale is scheduled to…
Open Houses includes a 7 BD/7.5 BA home with a floor to ceiling fireplace, fenced yard and finished lower level.
Theoretically, an intrepid day drinker could hit up all three of the Oktoberfest celebrations around the Tysons area scheduled for next weekend. Provided they have a designated driver or don’t…
The McClean Community Center’s annual Fall Community Parking Lot Sale — a large flea market for local residents and businesses — is returning next weekend.
Theoretically, an intrepid day drinker could hit up all three of the Oktoberfest celebrations around the Tysons area scheduled for next weekend.
Provided they have a designated driver or don’t mind quick Uber trips from the Metro: here’s where they’ll be going:
The idea behind the McLean Community Business Center (CBC) was to create an active and thriving downtown for the community. So far, a planning memo says those plans are moving along slowly.
The CBC segments downtown McLean into zones: a center zone — a sort of Times Square for McLean — with development scaling down to a general zone and an edge zone beyond that, where development will remain residential and low-intensity uses.
The plan was adopted in June 2021, and Supervisor John Foust said the first approval under the new plan was a modest rezoning that turned a commercial space into 18 residential units.
“The first approval under the new Plan was a modest rezoning for the Ashby apartment community to permit the conversion of existing commercial space to 18 residential units,” Foust said. “It was approved by the Board in February 22.”
So far, the memo marks the only McLean CBC project approval. A 44-unit redevelopment of 6707 Old Dominion Drive approved in 2018 is the only other pending residential addition to the center zone of the McLean CBC.
County kicks off opioid emergency training — The county is kicking off a series of trainings on opioid overdoses and naloxone education. The series, called ‘REVIVE!’, trains attendees on how to administer naloxone. [Fairfax County Government]
Town of Vienna to celebrate Patriot Day — Vienna’s American Legion Post 180 and local leaders will celebrate Vienna Patriot Day on Sunday at 9 a.m. on the Freeman Store lawn. [Town of Vienna]
Oak Hill Manor reopens after two years — The historic Oak Hill Manor in Annandale will open on Saturday, Sept. 17 from noon to 4 p.m. after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. [Fairfax County Government]
Release of suspect in home break-in upsets local family — “A Fairfax County family is living in fear after their house was broken into while they were home… On July 6, 2022, English and his family were at their Fairfax County home when they heard a window break downstairs.” [WJLA]
Mill Street to remain closed — The portion of Mill Street between Church Street and Maple Avenue will be closed this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a special event. [Town of Vienna]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 79 and low of 64. Sunrise at 6:46 am and sunset at 7:28 pm. [Weather.gov]
After accepting a position in the Office of National Travel and Tourism in the Biden administration, Keam announced on Tuesday (Sept. 6) that he has submitted his resignation as delegate for the 35th House District, which includes Tysons, Vienna, Dunn Loring, Oakton and Fair Oaks.
Vying to succeed him in a special election set for Jan. 10 — one day before the legislature convenes for its 2023 session — will be Providence District School Board Representative Karl Frisch and BRAWS Executive Director Holly Seibold. Candidates can file to run until 5 p.m. on Nov. 14.
In a brief interview with FFXnow, Keam reflected on legislative highlights from his six-and-a-half terms in office, the increased diversity of the General Assembly, and his advice for the district’s next delegate.
(Editor’s note: The following interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.)
What are the accomplishments you’re most proud of?
I’ve been very, very honored and fortunate to work on many, many issues…I’ve been able to pass, last time I counted, it was about 120 bills that I drafted myself, either under my name or something I drafted was incorporated into somebody else’s bill.
Among them, I think the one that stands out the most to me in terms of significance and [that] I feel very proud of is the Virginia Environmental Justice Act. It requires Virginia state government agencies, as they’re issuing permits and authorizations, to look at the environmental justice impact, not just in terms of how much it’s going to cost and the economics, but also who’s going to be harmed and who’s going to be benefitted from something where we’re allowing — let’s say, for example, a pipeline to go through a neighborhood or we’re building something that’s going to create smog and pollution. Because unfortunately, a lot of environmental impact, the worst part falls on people of color and minorities, poor people, uneducated people who don’t have a voice in our government.
…Another one I’m very proud of supporting and pushing through after years and years of trying is the Solar Freedom Act, which means that we allow now solar energy to be provided a lot more accessibly for families and homes and businesses and local governments, so that was something that I was very proud to do.
I think the other thing I was really, really proud to accomplish is I worked for years to get rid of the taxes on tampons and personal hygiene products, because I think that’s so discriminatory for women to have to pay taxes on tampons and menstrual pads. Guys never have to do that, so I always thought that was an unfair thing, and after working for years and years, I put the first bill in in 2016, and after working for five years, Governor Youngkin’s budget actually gets rid of that now. We were able to accomplish that, so I feel good about that.
This sponsored column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road in Arlington). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Experience Arrowine’s Tastings & Events. Have a question? Email [email protected].
Hello again, it’s your favorite neighborhood wine merchant, Doug Rosen.
In my previous article, I stated there was one simple thing you can do that is guaranteed to heighten your enjoyment of drinking wine (or anything else)! And it’s easy.
Rule number one: thoroughly wash your glass with soap and water before using it! Why is it so important?
The culprit is the sealants used to protect every kitchen cabinet’s interior. For example, suppose you take a glass from your kitchen cabinet without the critical step of first washing your glass thoroughly before using it. In that case, you unknowingly add the flavors and aromas of your cabinets to whatever you pour into them. Allow me to prove my point.
Grab two glasses from your kitchen cabinet, take a whiff and you will immediately see what I mean. Wash only one glass thoroughly with soap and water until it smells like fresh tap water. If the glass has been in the cabinet for a prolonged period, it might take as many as five washings to get the funk out. Make the extra effort to get the glass to a pristine state. Don’t worry about chlorinated water; the wine will pour right over it. And no, using wine instead of water doesn’t work! The sealants are “water soluble” and formulated to bond with water, not wine.
Next, grab a bottle of wine you know to heighten the drama, open your libation and pour about an inch of it into each glass. Swirl, take in the aromas and then taste. I just rocked your world, didn’t I?
The culprit is the micro-particles of the sealants. I’m not a scientist, but this is how it was explained: Wood breathes, as we already know. That’s why wine is aged in barrels, not to season with the wood, like adding salt or pepper to your food but to allow the wine to experience micro-oxidation. This mico-oxidation softens the tannins, making the wine less raspy and smoother on the palate.
The respiration inside your kitchen cabinets allows microparticles of the sealants to fall into your glasses. They stick to the surface like glue, causing the glass to smell like your kitchen cabinet and impact the flavor of the wine. Now your wine smells and tastes like the cabinet! Yuck and double yuck.
Try this experiment at home and report back. I already know how it will go, and you can thank me later.
Rule number two: expect a wine to be shy within 24 hours of a storm, rain or snow, or turbulent weather. Like Willard Scott, I can tell if we will get any precipitation within 24 hours just by tasting wine. I have fascinated multitudes with my accuracy; it’s no parlor trick.
When a storm front approaches, a wine will close up or shut down, making the wine “less fruity” and much less enjoyable. Luckily there is a 1/2 remedy; open a bottle of 14.5% plus alcohol, or better still, a sparkling wine. Those wines are less affected; they will still be shy, but if you’re having a dinner party before a storm, you have an alternative, albeit an imperfect one.
My business partner Shem Hassen and I were in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, a suburb of Paris, to attend a tasting of 140 wines — we only had that day. We began the tasting with the tenth wine; we looked at each other and asked ourselves, “when is it supposed to start raining?” So we had four hours to kill.
We walked into a nearby Armenian Cemetery, looked at the tombstones, and paid our respects until the rain started. When we returned to the tasting, the wines had opened and tasted as expected. True story.
Cheers,
Doug Rosen
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
More rescued beagles are coming today to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. The arrival comes after a first wave of 16 dogs arrived at the shelter in early August.
The floppy-eared, tail-wagging beagles come from Envigo research facility in Cumberland after a judge ordered the facility to relate the dogs due to their inhumane treatment. The facility bred the dogs to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation.
:Our newest ten are all boys, and they were quiet and well-behaved on the drive back. Once back at the shelter they were so happy to stretch their legs, play with each other, and get lots of attention from shelter staff,” according to the animal shelter.
Reasa Currier, the director of the animal shelter, says that the new beagles are not available yet. They will be neutered but should be available later this week.
With the region’s office market still in flux, the developer behind Arbor Row in central Tysons will bet on housing instead.
Cityline Partners recently submitted a proposal to Fairfax County asking to swap an office building that had previously been approved for the neighborhood’s Block C2 for a residential high-rise with ground-floor retail.
“This proposal to develop Block C2 with a high-rise residential building with ground floor retail/service uses and significant park space will progress Arbor Row into a more complete and vibrant neighborhood,” land use lawyer John McGranahan wrote in a statement of justification on the applicant’s behalf.
Encompassing 19.4 acres along Westpark Drive near Tysons Galleria, the plan for Arbor Row was originally approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 2012. It calls for eight blocks of development, including the completed Nouvelle apartments.
Construction is underway on the Monarch condominiums and The Mather, a two-building senior living facility.
