After an “unexpected delay,” the Virginia Tire and Auto state at 141 Maple Ave in Vienna is scheduled to open early next year.

The Virginia Tire and Auto was originally scheduled to open in October, but a delay pushed the grand opening back. An employee at Virginia Tire and Auto confirmed that the new opening was scheduled for early January but could not comment on what had caused the delay.

The dealership has been expanding recently, with two new locations opening in Richmond and Herndon. The new locations will bring the total number of dealership locations to 16.

The location had previously operated for 30 years as Merchant’s Tire & Auto Center, but had been renovated with new equipment like new in-ground lifts. The Vienna Virginia Tire and Auto will have nine bays available for mechanical work.

The new Virginia Tire and Auto is near the center of Maple Avenue, located between the newly opened Nothing Bundt Cakes and Maple Ave Restaurant, recently featured as one of Northern Virginia’s Top 50 restaurants.

FCPD Reports Increase in Hate Crimes — “County police have documented 77 crimes and incidents motivated by racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and other kinds of bias in 2018 so far. With one month remaining in the year, Fairfax County seems to be on pace to end 2018 roughly in line with 2017, which saw 87 hate crimes and incidents, a two-thirds increase from 2016.” [Fairfax Times]

Fairfax Flags at Half-Mast for Bush — “The U. S., Virginia and Fairfax County flags are lowered in respect and memory of President George H.W. Bush. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset 30 days from the day of his death on Nov. 30.” [Twitter]

Candle Caution Urged for Hanukkah Celebrations — “While the use of open-flame candles can add ambiance to a holiday and provide ‘warmth’ to a home, battery-powered candles are a safer alternative and one our firefighters and paramedics highly recommend you use.” [Fairfax County Fire & Rescue]

Santa Snapper Sells Spiffy Shoes — Andrea Smith’s current job is taking photos of children with Santa Claus at the Tysons Corner Center mall, but her passion is beautifying old and unwanted sneakers and boots. [Washington Post]

High Student Debt Hurts Regional Home Sales — “Prospective buyers in the local region could afford to purchase 71 percent of homes in the market if they do not carry student debt, but only 62 percent if they carry an average level of debt.” [InsideNova]

Big backups have formed on the Inner Loop of the Beltway due to a jackknifed tractor trailer.

The crash happened in the northbound lanes of I-495 between I-66 and Route 7, north of Merrifield. Two lanes of traffic appear to be getting by the crash scene, based on traffic camera images, but major backups have formed.

One person was reported injured and has been transported to a local hospital.

Units on scene of jack knifed tractor-trailer I495 NB Prior To Leesburg Pike. One person transported to area hospital. 3 main lanes closed on I495 NB due to crash. Only right lane is open. Unknown duration. @VSPPIO on scene. pic.twitter.com/ykya39bSIJ

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 3, 2018

Looking for a way to kick off the last month of 2018 in style?

There are plenty of holiday and nightlife events around Tysons this weekend, including McLean’s annual WinterFest and an auction featuring a Star Wars Episode IV movie poster signed by the original cast.

Tomorrow (Dec. 1)

22nd Annual ReinDog Parade (8-9:30 p.m.) — In exchange for two cans of dog food, the community is invited to bring their dogs and costumes to a dog parade at the Langley Shopping Center (1398 Chain Bridge Road). The parade, hosted by the McLean Animal Hospital, will include gift bags, hot chocolate, and donuts.

Sensation Saturday Grand Opening (6 p.m.-2 a.m.) — The Palladium (1524 Spring Hill Road), Tysons’ newest club, is hosting its first “Sensation Saturday.” The event will be DJed by Jeff Carr and DJ Pootie.

Wilder vs. Fury Live at Tysons’ Biergarten (7 p.m.-1 a.m.) — The Tysons Biergarten will host a cover-free viewing of the boxing match between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. Sound will be on for the event. Registration is required.

Merry & Bright Bash (8 p.m.-11 p.m.) — The Junior League of Northern Virginia, a women’s organization devoted to voluntarism, is hosting a gala in the Sheraton Tysons Hotel (8661 Leesburg Pike). The event will feature an open bar, a DJ, and an exclusive auction and raffle. Items at the raffle include the aforementioned Star Wars Episode IV poster, as well as an NHL hockey puck signed by Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and an autographed Taylor Swift album. The event is black tie optional and tickets are $90, with proceeds going towards the Junior League’s community and leadership development programs.

Sunday (Dec. 2)

Santa Breakfast (8-10 a.m.) — Tysons Corner Center is hosting its 2018 Santa Breakfast. Guests can bring their own camera to get a picture with Santa or have professional photographs taken. Those attending are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys for the mall’s Help Through Holiday Giving program. The breakfast is first-come, first-serve at 8 a.m. and Santa is scheduled to leave promptly at 10 a.m.

After Thanksgiving Healthful Hike (1-2:30 p.m.) — The Friends of Wolf Trap are hosting a group hiking tour through the forests and trails around Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. The event is free, but attendees can bring canned or non-perishable food items for humans, dogs or cats to be donated to local food pantries and animal rescues. The group will meet at the Ranger Station to the left of the Filene Center Box office for an easy-moderately paced three-mile hike.

McLean WinterFest Parade (3:30 p.m.) — McLean’s annual parade starts at the Langley Shopping Center, with pre-parade entertainment beginning at 2:30 p.m. before the parade’s start at 3:30 p.m. Be aware, there may be road closures along Old Chain Bridge Road as a result of the parade from 2-5 p.m.

Also this weekend, Santa will be traveling McLean via fire truck, courtesy the McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD). Tomorrow he will be in the Kings Manor/Dolley Madison Library area and on Sunday he will be at Churchill Road in the McLean Central Park area. The MVFD’s Santa Tracker will allow locals keep track of where they can find Santa.

The reindeer are getting the day off: Santa Claus is coming to Vienna on a fire truck.

From Dec. 12-19, the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (VVFD) will be escorting Santa around the town in a 1946 Maxim fire engine.

“Look for Santa as he drives around the town’s residential streets,” said the VVFD in a press release. “When you hear the sirens and music and see the flashing lights, please come outside to see Jolly Old Saint Nick and to receive a candy cane from one of his honorary elves.”

According to the VVFD, Santa will be making the rounds to most Vienna neighborhoods, stopping at 5 p.m. in various parts of the town.

• Dec 12: Southwest Vienna between Park Street and Hillcrest Drive
• Dec 13: Northwest Vienna between Lawyers Road and W&OD trail
• Dec 14: Northeast Vienna between W&OD and Beulah Road
• Dec 15: Southwest Vienna west of Hillcrest Drive. Note: this will be the only scheduled Santa stop at 1 p.m. rather than 5 p.m.
• Dec 15: Northwest Vienna west of Madison High School and Lawyers Road
• Dec 18: Southeast Vienna east of Center
• Dec 19: Northeast Vienna east of Beulah Road

Santa will also make an appearance at a Holiday Pancake Breakfast on Dec. 15. The doors open at 8 a.m. and Santa will be available between 9:30-11 a.m.

Tickets to the breakfast are $8 for adults or &7 for seniors. Children ages 5-12 are $6 and those under 4 are free. All proceeds will benefit the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

Photo via Facebook

The following article excerpt is from our content sharing partner, FairfaxNews.com.

Today — Friday, November 30 — would not be a good day to try to sneak through on the I-66 HOV lanes without either paying the toll or having enough people in your vehicle to avoid it.

Virginia State Police plan to crack down on HOV violators along the portion of I-66 that runs inside the Beltway. The troopers will be out in force during both morning and afternoon rush hours.

HOV hours run Monday through Friday, from 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. eastbound and 3 to 7 p.m. westbound. All vehicles with two or more people are allowed to use the road during rush hours for free, but need an E-ZPass Flex switched to HOV-mode.

Read more at FairfaxNews.com

Wawa is still coming to Vienna, but not to the former BP station site at Maple Ave and Park Street in Vienna, as reported earlier.

“I apologize for confirming the Maple Ave and Park Street address,” a Wawa spokeswoman said via email. “This was incorrect and is not a location we are considering. We are still actively looking for new locations in Vienna and look forward to sharing confirms plans and locations as they take shape.”

The convenience store and gas station chain has been expanding throughout the Washington, D.C. area with plans to add 30-50 stores in the region.

News of Wawa’s plan to come to Vienna was greeted with jubilation on social media from the chain’s fervent fans.

“As a Philly native, I am thrilled to hear this!” said a reader on the Tysons Reporter Facebook page.

“Our new go-to lunch spot,” wrote another.

Tysons Reporter initially asked Wawa about plans for the site after hearing from a tipster and, subsequently, two local business owners that they heard that the company would be opening a new store there. It is unclear where else in Vienna Wawa may now be looking.

Fairfax Co. Sales Tax Receipts Rise — “The Virginia state government distributed $15.6 million in sales-tax receipts to the Fairfax County government in October, an increase of 4.3 percent from a year before, according to new figures from the Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget.” [InsideNova]

Local Nonprofit Seeks Holiday Volunteers — “Fairfax-based non-profit Britepaths (formerly Our Daily Bread) is seeking individuals, families, companies and community groups to assist 800 individuals and families in need who reside throughout the Fairfax County area for the December holidays.” [Britepaths]

Taxpayer Groups, County Employees Split on Pension Proposal — “Before deciding on proposed changes to Fairfax County’s pension plans early next month, the Board of Supervisors will have to weigh the potential impact on employee happiness and recruitment versus the public’s ability to pay.” [InsideNova]

Markus Williams, the musical director for the upcoming A Civil War Christmas production at 1st Stage Theater, passed away one week before his play at Tysons’ 1st Stage Theater Company was scheduled to premier.

“I am very sorry to share the news that Markus Williams, the musical director for A Civil War Christmas, passed away suddenly in his home last week,” said Alex Levy, 1st Stage Artistic Director, in a press release. “Markus was a brilliant musician and leader whose passion for his work was contagious. Our entire company mourns this loss.”

The press release noted that the show, which is scheduled to open tonight, has added Walter McCoy and Leigh Delano to the show’s musical directon team.

The Vienna Shopping Center, already a popular local lunch destination with fast-casual spots like Cava and Mod Pizza, is about to add Don Pollo to the local casual food offerings.

The charbroiled chicken eatery is scheduled to open at 146 Maple Ave. W sometime in December, according to its website. The Vienna location will be the sixth for the chain and the first outside of Maryland.

Don Pollo features Peruvian cuisine, from its namesake chicken dishes to steak and seafood. Sides include South American staples like yuca and chaufa (Peruvian fried rice).

A new Ben & Jerry’s also opened in the Vienna Shopping Center on Sept. 21.

Hat tip to “Vienna J.”