U.S. Park Police are investigating a crash that killed a 29-year-old Sterling man on the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean.
U.S. Park Police responded to the crash on northbound GW Parkway near Turkey Run shortly before 6 a.m. on Sunday (Aug. 11) and found a vehicle against a tree in the center median, Sgt. Eduardo Delgado, a U.S. Park Police spokesperson, said.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units extricated the vehicle’s only occupant, Santino Deleone, who was pronounced dead on scene, Delgado said.
The U.S. Park Police Criminal Investigation Division and Traffic Safety Unit is currently investigating the crash, Delgado said.
Anyone with information can contact (202) 610-8737, [email protected] or (202) 610-7500.
One dead after GW Parkway crash, northbound lanes closed https://t.co/5nli2zwdQF pic.twitter.com/GLipPPbTHh
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) August 11, 2019
Big Chimneys Park in the City of Falls Church will soon welcome new improvements.
Currently, the aging downtown park has a grill, a grass-covered area, picnic tables and a playground at 210 Gibson Street.
The park is named after two big chimneys, which are believed to have been apart of the first permanent structure built on the land in the city, according to the Falls Church Historical Commission.
The 1.7-acre park is slated to undergo an update, which includes:
- replacing aging play equipment
- adding ADA access from Gundry Drive
- updating landscaping and signage
- creating a new trail
- improving stormwater management
City Manager Wyatt Shields told the City Council at Monday’s meeting that the project will “really enhance that park and make it more welcoming.”
The construction contract is being finalized with the contractors before work starts in October, Shields said.
Shields said that the council may need to revisit the $1.3 million funding for the park’s improvements in the future.
“We are struggling actually to keep that project within the budget,” Shields said. “I’m hoping it won’t be a problem.”
The project is slated to finish next spring.
Image 1 via Google Maps, image 2 via City of Falls Church
Jonathan Fahey, a former federal prosecutor, has thrown his hat into the race for the commonwealth’s attorney position in Fairfax.
Fahey worked on drug, gang and white-collar crime cases as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, but resigned last month, the Washington Post reported.
He is listed as an Independent candidate for the spot, according to Fairfax County candidate information.
Fahey served as general counsel for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy last year, according to his LinkedIn. He also was an adjunct professor at American University’s law school and the George Washington University.
Fahey lives in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County near Belvedere Park, according to the Fairfax Bar Association.
Fahey will face off against former U.S. Department of Justice prosecutor Steve Descano, a progressive candidate who ousted Raymond Morrogh in a close race for the Democratic nomination.
The general election is Nov. 5.
Photo via Jonathan Fahey/LinkedIn
Paul Bolon died over the weekend while campaigning for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Providence District seat.
Bolon, 69, had a fatal heart attack after meeting voters in the Providence District on Sunday (Aug. 11) and died at the Inova Fairfax Hospital, the Washington Post reported. He was running as the Republican candidate against Democrat Dalia Palchik.
“Paul Bolon was a great candidate. A professional economist, he brought a clear-eyed, analytical perspective to issues facing our county,” Tim Hannigan, the chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, said in a statement. “As our committee’s Providence District Chairman, he served with distinction as a very effective grassroots leader and a tireless advocate for Republican values and Republican candidates.”
Hannigan added that Bolon was a “personable, unfailingly civil, generous and always kind” person.
Bolon was a retired manager from the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration and economist.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24.
New details have emerged about the “boutique hotel” in the upcoming Scotts Run development in Tysons East.
Archer Hotel recently released more information about the hotel’s design and offerings.
Situated adjacent to the McLean Metro station, the seven-story, 178-room hotel will have a bar and restaurant operated by chef Charlie Palmer, along with rooftop event space, a fitness studio and underground valet parking, the press release said.
The hotel is designed by LK Architecture — the same firm behind the Tysons Walmart and Hyatt House in Merrifield.
The hotel will be a part of the southern portion of the 8 million-square-foot mixed-use development, which is split into Scotts Run North and South.
Scotts Run South includes several apartments and office buildings — including the completed 425-unit apartment complex called The Haden and the 14-story office building Mitre 4 — the Archer Hotel and retail space.
Meanwhile, Scotts Run North proposes a high-density mix of residential and office buildings.
“The Tysons locale boasts megacity attributes and infrastructure, while retaining welcoming touches like tree-lined streets and a lower-stress lifestyle,” the press release said.
The Tysons location will be the seventh Archer Hotel and is slated to open in summer 2021.
Image via Cityline Partners, map via SmithGroup
Construction recently started on a new trail in Tysons East that will connect Westgate Elementary School to the McLean Metro Station.
Scott’s Run Trail will provide a half-mile, 8-foot wide trail spanning Magarity Road to Colshire Meadow Drive near the McLean Metro station.
Robin Geiger, a spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, told Tysons Reporter that construction on the trail started July 8.
“Work is just starting now with the placement of erosion control items prior to grading activities,” Geiger said.
Located within Scott’s Run Stream Valley Park and Westgate Park, the trail will be lighted and include two bridges — a 90-foot bridge over Scotts Run Stream and a 50-foot bridge over a tributary.
The $3.3 million project is being funded by the Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program and Fairfax County.
Geiger said that construction plans to wrap up in next September.
Photo via Fairfax County Department of Transportation
The annual Cops & Kids Fun Run will soon return to the Town of Vienna.
Scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 22, this free athletic event gives community members the chance to get to know members of the Vienna Police Department while enjoying various festivities.
The police department has arranged for family-friendly activities including police motorcycle and helicopter tours, a dunk-a-cop dunk tank, food, an obstacle course and a mile-long run.
The event will be held at the Vienna Elementary School (128 S. Center Street). Registration is now open, and the first 300 kids to register will receive a t-shirt and goody bag.
This community outreach tradition began in the ’90s but was recently revitalized.
“After a break of more than a decade, in 2016 Chief Morris assembled a team to revive the beloved community event with hopes of making it bigger and better than ever,” according to the event website.
The 2019 COPS AND KIDS FUN RUN registration is now open. Go to the website https://t.co/EO4QkelEk1 for more information. pic.twitter.com/cdDFtIXTVm
— Town of Vienna Police (@VPDVA) August 12, 2019
Photo via Vienna Police Department
Starting today, residents and business owners can head to the Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library to seek low-interest loans to help pay for flood damage repairs.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust shared in a newsletter to constituents Monday (Aug. 12) information about two loan centers — Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (7584 Leesburg Pike) and the Arlington County Trades Center (2700 S. Taylor Street).
Gov. Ralph Northam announced last Thursday (Aug. 8) that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer low-interest federal loans to people affected by the July 8 flooding in the City of Falls Church, along with Fairfax and Arlington counties and the City of Alexandria.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million, while homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 for damaged or destroyed real estate and up to $40,000 for personal property.
“In addition, the County has waived any permit fees that might apply to reconstruction efforts,” Foust wrote.
More from the newsletter:
The SBA may increase loans by up to 20 percent if officials verify the extent of physical damages. Agency officials also may support efforts by applicants to build storm shelters or safe rooms to protect against damage from a similar natural disaster in the future.
SBA officials will set the loans’ terms and amounts based on applicants’ financial conditions. The agency will offer loans with terms of up to 30 years and interest rates as low as 1.938 percent for renters and homeowners, 2.75 percent for non-profits, and 4 percent for businesses.
The loan center at the Tysons-Pimmit library will be open:
- Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 13-15: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 16: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 17: 1-5 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 19: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The loan center in Arlington will be open the same days and times, except for different hours on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Both centers will be closed on Sunday, Aug. 18.
“SBA officials will be available to answer questions about the agency’s disaster-loan programs and help applicants fill out the necessary forms,” Foust wrote in the newsletter.
Residents have until Oct. 7 to request a loan to cover physical property damage, while businesses have until May 7, 2020, to request a loan for economic injury.
Photo via Fairfax County
Fairfax County police arrested a Falls Church man after he allegedly wounded a man during a fight in a residential area by Haycock Elementary School.
The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, in the 2200 block of Orchid Drive.
“Officers responded to the area for two men fighting,” according to the police report. “Officers found and arrested the suspect nearby.”
The victim was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Police charged 50-year-old Spyros Pagonis with unlawful wounding.
In a separate incident, police arrested a Maryland man for grand larceny at a Home Depot (2815 Merrilee Drive) in Merrifield around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 11).
“Officers responded for a larceny at the Home Depot and found store security fighting with the suspect when they arrived,” police said.
Police said that the suspect “pulled away and ran from officers” while being arrested, but was caught after a short foot pursuit.
“It was learned that the suspect had committed grand larceny at another Home Depot just before coming to this location and had over $3,000 worth of stolen items with him,” police said.
Police charged 36-year-old Derik Henderson with grand larceny, assault and resisting arrest.
Photo via FCPD
Blend 111, a new restaurant and wine bar, will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday in Vienna.
Touting itself as “the region’s first biodynamic restaurant and wine bar,” Blend 111 will feature food and wine from Spain, France and Venezuela, according to a press release.
The locally-owned restaurant (111 Church Street NW, Suite 101) will offer a prix-fixe lunch and dinner options, cold-pressed juices and a “micro-cafe” with organic coffee, pour-over-brewed coffee and espresso-based drinks.
Head Chef Nicolas Terrassin is from Châtellerault, a small village in France, and has worked in restaurants in France, Québec and the D.C. area. Michael Biddick is the restaurant’s owner, sommelier and chief coffee roaster.
The dinner menu includes choices like sustainable scallops and chickpea salad, while the brunch menu offers Venezuelan scrambled eggs and oatmeal brulee.
“Everything from your morning coffee, post work out organic cold press juices, to weekend brunch, happy hour and late-night dining is available at Blend 111 — all offering unique experiences,” the press release said.
Photo via Blend 111/Facebook
