County Lags Behind Regional Affordable Housing Goals — Producing just under 7,500 new affordable housing units over the past three years, Fairfax County is nearly 5,000 units behind a goal set by the Metropolitan Council of Governments in 2021. Inflation, rising construction costs and “skyrocketing” housing values could complicate the county’s efforts to meet its ambitious target for the next decade. [DCist]
McLean Man Arrested for Soliciting Minor — “Montgomery County police said they believe a Virginia man charged with sexual solicitation of a minor may have solicited other victims. Jose M. Jimenez, 34, of McLean, Virginia, was arrested after starting a social media conversation on Aug. 11 with a Montgomery County detective who was posing as a 15-year-old girl.” [WTOP]
Renovated Fire Station in Springfield Opens — “Station 26, Edsall Road, B-Shift moved into their newly renovated station. They did not have too far to move as the temporary station is located right across the street! Thank you #FairfaxCounty residents and leaders for your continued support of #FCFRD!” [FCFRD/Facebook]
Potential Republican School Board Candidates Laugh at Kid With Autism — “Two community members who have said they intend to run for seats on the Fairfax County School Board have apologized after laughing at footage of a student singing and playing the national anthem at a school board meeting. Stephanie Lundquist-Arora and Harry Jackson were captured laughing at the student in an episode of ‘Shadow Board,’ a live-streamed YouTube show” [The Washington Post]
Popular Springfield Restaurant to Close Sunday — “Della J’s, a Southern comfort food eatery, is relocating to…Mount Vernon Plaza in Hybla Valley. The Springfield location at 6558 Backlick Road will close on Sunday, Aug. 28. A grand opening date for the new Richmond Highway location will be announced soon.” [Patch]
New Clothes Brand Supports Athletes With Autism — “Victor Wear is an active wear brand recently launched by Lorton’s Tiffany Hamilton, a marketing and communications specialist. The business, which sells tees and hoodies…was inspired by her 16-year-old son Isaiah, who has high-functioning autism — 10% of the proceeds from every product sold are donated to the Special Olympics.” [Washington Business Journal]
Great Falls Park Gets Clean-up — “Great Falls Citizens Association (GFCA) board members in April endorsed creation of the Great Falls Grange Oak Grove Naturalization Project, which aims to transform about an acre of the historic building’s rear yard from a grassy lawn into a forest populated with native shrubs, ferns, herbs and trees.” [Sun Gazette]
Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Recalled — “Hyundai Motor America and Kia America recommend that owners of select Model Year 2020-2022 Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride vehicles park their cars outside and away from homes and other structures until their vehicles have been repaired, due to new recalls for the risk of fire.” [NHTSA]
It’s Thursday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 87 and low of 72. Sunrise at 6:33 am and sunset at 7:51 pm. [Weather.gov]
Ramón Santiago’s journey to the Little League World Series (LLWS) was a complicated one, filled with struggle as well as joy.
Thanks to the efforts of some supportive parents, the McLean Little League coach’s continued dedication to his team while undergoing treatment for cancer earned him an honorable mention for the 2022 Little League Baseball Coach of the Year Award.
Though they didn’t attend in person, Santiago and the other honorable mentions for the award got shoutouts during a plaque ceremony at the Little League World Series Complex in South Williamsport, Florida, on Saturday (Aug. 20).
New District Tacos are coming to Springfield and McLean, the first franchise locations for the regionally-based restaurant.
The Mexican fast-casual eatery, which started as an Arlington taco cart in 2009, will open its first franchise at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center.
McLean Project for the Arts is going to Tysons for its diamond jubilee.
The nonprofit will celebrate six decades of supporting and showcasing the work of artists in the mid-Atlantic region with a 60th anniversary gala at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) on Sept. 18.
Announced yesterday (Tuesday), the celebration will be highlighted by an augmented reality exhibit crafted especially for the occasion by Arlington painter and digital artist Joseph Cortina, whose work was previously displayed by MPA at its Emerson Gallery in December 2020.
Nine Displaced by Herndon Townhouse Fire — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to a fire in the 2100 block of Monaghan Drive at 5:46 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 22). Investigators determined it was ignited by a malfunctioning electrical circuit above the second-floor bathroom. There were no reported injuries, but the fire displaced nine people and caused about $70,000 in damages. [FCFRD]
Courthouse Road Lane Closed in Vienna — “The southbound traveling lane of Courthouse Road SW (south of Maple Ave and north of Nutley Street SW) will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the preparation of storm, sanitary, and waterline tie-ins. Please use caution when in the area.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
Governor Criticizes County for Police Shortage — Gov. Glenn Youngkin says Fairfax County “better get it together soon when it comes to supporting law enforcement,” attributing a personnel shortage to officers being “demoralized.” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said the shortage is a concern but hasn’t undermined public safety, while Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano expressed disappointment “that the governor would come and lie about the work we are doing.” [ABC7]
DMV to Build New Center in Fairfax Area — “Linda Ford, acting commissioner of the Virginia DMV, informed Fairfax County government officials that a contract was awarded for construction of [the] DMV’s Braddock Road Customer Service Center, according to Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw. The facility will be located on state-owned property at 9911 Braddock Road, east of Erickson Senior Living’s new Woodleigh Chase community.” [Patch]
Woman Reports Attack in Herndon — Herndon police are investigating an attempted abduction of a woman outside her home on Aug. 16, according to the weekly crime report. The victim told police that, around 11 p.m, a man walked up behind her and attempted to pull her behind some bushes. She was able to escape, and the suspect ran away. [Patch]
Falls Church Seeks Suspects in Motorcycle Burglaries — “Suspects are wanted for an overnight burglary of Coleman Power Sports (435 S. Washington Street). At about 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday, August 23, two Polaris Slingshot 3-wheeled motorcycles were stolen: a 2022 blue Polaris Slingshot valued at $33,600 and a 2020 blue and black Polaris Slingshot valued at $40,000.” [City of Falls Church]
Vienna Open for Halloween Float Applications — “Vienna’s Halloween parade will be here before you know it, but what’s a parade without the floats!? Vienna Parks and Recreation is accepting float applications for the parade until Friday, Sept. 16.” [Town of Vienna/Twitter]
McLean Church Plans Middle Eastern Food Festival — “Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church will host its 29th annual Middle Eastern Food Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3-4…The festival will feature authentic Middle Eastern food including kibbee, shish kebab, roast lamb, falafel, fattoush, hummus and stuffed grape leaves, along with Arabic pastries and coffee.” [Sun Gazette]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 86 and low of 68. Sunrise at 6:32 am and sunset at 7:53 pm. [Weather.gov]
By this time next week, the intersection of Route 7 and Lewinsville Road in the Wolf Trap area will have a whole new look, but drivers must endure some inconveniences before the result of the makeover is revealed.
An up-and-coming, local Chinese restaurant chain will open a new location in Tysons’ Scotts Run area later this year.
Construction has begun on Yu Noodles in The Commons at 1690 Anderson Road, Suite B. A brochure for the Safeway-anchored shopping center indicates that the restaurant is replacing Nouvelle Salon next to Lost Dog Cafe.
An end may be in sight for the local state of emergency that Fairfax County has had in place since the COVID-19 pandemic upended government operations and daily life in March 2020.
“A County Executive agenda item regarding ending the Local Emergency Declaration that was established to support response and recovery related to the COVID-19 pandemic will go before the Board of Supervisors at their next meeting on Tuesday, September 13,” Fairfax County Director of Public Affairs Tony Castrilli said in a statement.
Students Return for First Day of School — “There were celebrations across Fairfax County this morning as students greeted their classmates and teachers and administrators welcomed them back to the classroom. Students arrived at Fairfax County schools this morning, excited and ready to learn!” [FCPS, The Washington Post]
Teen Found Not Guilty of Murder in Springfield Killings — “A teenager was found guilty of manslaughter Monday in the shooting deaths of two high school students at a Springfield, Virginia, home last year, and ambulances responded to the courthouse when a victim’s mother and another relative collapsed in apparent shock over the verdict.” [NBC4]
Email Issues Delayed Notice of Counselor’s Arrest — “Emails from the Chesterfield County, Virginia, police department aimed at informing Fairfax County Public Schools that a middle school counselor had been arrested and charged with soliciting prostitution from a minor were sent to faulty email addresses, police said Monday.” [WTOP]
Police Co-Responder Program Expands — “The Fairfax County Police Department just expanded its co-response unit to better respond to mental health calls in the county. The program first began in September 2021 to provide an alternative approach to mental health emergencies. With the help of grant funding, police were able to add a second team on Monday as part of a multi-phase plan.” [WUSA9]
South Alex Workers Rescued by Fire Department — “On Saturday, August 20, at 4:46 p.m., Station 11, Penn Daw, B-Shift were dispatched for a rescue in the 2800 block of Poag Street in Groveton area. Two workers were assisted from the bucket of a stalled boom lift after an equipment malfunction. No injuries.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Herndon Theater Returns Sunday for New Season — “NextStop Theatre Company is kicking off its 2022-23 season with a musical production of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic ‘Little Women.’ While the story of the March family…may be familiar to many, the musical production takes the story into another realm, according to the show’s director Charlotte La Nasa.” [Patch]
Tysons’ Perch Putt Part of Golf Bar Trend — “Boozy golf bars are now par for the course for D.C. area adults, with ‘happy hour @ swingers?’ Slack messages and golfer-emoji reactions being flung left and right…Sip and swing experiences may abound, but to paint them all with a broad brush would be a mistake. They say different folks need different strokes; DCist is here to help you find yours.” [DCist]
GMU’s Fall for the Book Draws Notable Names — “After two years of offering the festival virtually, Fall for the Book is thrilled to be back with both in-person and online events for the 24th year. From October 11-15, the festival will be headlined by bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel, graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, comic book heavy-weight Alan Moore, and champion goalkeeper Briana Scurry.” [GMU/Patch]
It’s Tuesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 83 and low of 68. Sunrise at 6:31 am and sunset at 7:54 pm. [Weather.gov]
