The McLean District Station collected the second-highest amount of prescription drugs during the 18th Annual Drug Take Back Day.
The annual event aims to curb safety and public health issues from unused or expired drugs. The event took place on Saturday (Oct. 26).
“Unused or expired over-the-counter or prescription medicine left unsecured are susceptible to misuse and can contribute to overdoses and accidental poisonings,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
All of the Fairfax County police district stations participated, along with the Wegmans in Chantilly. In total, 1,246 pounds of unused and expired prescription drugs were collected, according to the police department.
“Since the implementation of the drug take back boxes in November 2017, we have collected 4,183 pounds of prescription drugs,” according to the police department. “This includes 3,448 pounds of prescription drugs collected to date in 2019. These amounts do not include the Drug Take Back Day collections.”
The West Springfield District Station filled 12 bags with 249 pounds of drugs, followed by the McLean District Station, which had six bags with 210 pounds of drugs.
People who want to dispose of unused medicine — excluding needles, liquids, illegal drugs, ointments and inhalers — can drop it off at take back boxes available year-round at the eight police stations.
Work is underway to get flood-damaged Kirby Road in McLean reopened before the end of the year.
At a meeting hosted last night (Thursday) by Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation told attendees about the process behind reopening Swinks Mill Road and about the work done on Kirby Road.
The 1300 block of Kirby Road and Swinks Mill Road by Scott’s Runclosed due to severe storm damage from July 8 flash flooding. Swinks Mill Road reopened last week.
Kirby Road was damaged in two places from the storm — the roadway and the bridge. For about 12 hours after the storm, 21 homes were landlocked.
VDOT was able to restore access to the homes by 2 a.m. on July 9, VDOT official Denise Cantwell said.
After some delays with the bidding process, Martins Construction Corporation was awarded the $2.1 million emergency contract for repairs, Cantwell said.
The roadway work is expected to done by mid-November and then the crews will switch over to the bridge to get that done by mid-December. The date to get everything back open is Dec. 15.
To get the work done as soon as possible, VDOT has incentivized the contractor by offering up to $2,000 for every day completed early — capped at $120,000. And if the contractor goes past the Dec. 15 deadline, they will then have to pay $2,000 for every day the project is late.
Cantwell said that work cannot be done simultaneously on the bridge and roadway because then access would be cut off to the 21 homes again.
Work to add surface asphalt and striping is expected to be completed by May 2020. The work is dependent on the weather, Cantwell said.
People in McLean and Tysons have the chance to help others through a series of upcoming donation drives.
With the holiday season approaching, Toys for Tots has set up a drop-off area for toy donations in Tysons, while Soles4Souls will collect gently used shoes in McLean.
Toys for Tots is organized through the United States Marine Corps to help struggling families afford Christmas gifts for their children. Around 97% of proceeds go to families in need, according to the website. The remaining 3% covers administrative costs.
Anyone wishing to donate toys can bring them to Meineke Car Care Center (1524 Spring Hill Road). The last day for donations to Toys for Tots is Dec. 12.
Soles4Souls is a non-profit based in Nashville that fights poverty, according to its website.
Shoes will be accepted at the Joy Deevy Relator Office (6849 Old Dominion Drive, Suite 400) until Dec. 1.
Photo via Toys4Tots/Facebook
Design work is set to start at the end of the year to look for ways to reduce flooding in a McLean neighborhood.
The Tucker Avenue Neighborhood Stormwater project aims to reduce flooding and erosion, while improving stormwater drainage.
The area was reportedly damaged from severe flooding in July, along with several spots in McLean.
The project, which is located in the Pimmit Run Watershed, will look at the current drainage and stormwater infrastructure in the neighborhood and within a 67-acre drainage area that leads to Pimmit Run. The project is divided into three areas.
“All three areas have inadequate drainage systems that result in street, yard and/or house flooding during certain storm events,” according to Fairfax County. “Additionally, portions of lower Tucker Avenue are in a FEMA floodplain along Pimmit Run that creates further drainage problems.”
Fairfax County has teamed up with the Virginia Department of Transportation on the project, according to the county.
“A concept design is currently scheduled for late December or early January,” Dranseville District Supervisor John Foust said in an email.
So far, Foust was able to share that the project will upgrade the conveyance system and propose a new stormwater management system.
Foust has said that this is one of several projects meant to address flooding issues in McLean.
“Coordination with homeowners including [the] acquisition of additional storm drainage easements will be required prior to final design and construction,” according to Fairfax County.
Construction costs are expected to total $3.7 million and will be funded through Fairfax County’s Stormwater Service District fee.
New systems will be installed along VDOT’s right of way based on the neighborhood drainage pattern, Foust said.
Map via Google Maps
Fairfax County is looking to scrutinize Fairfax Connector routes for riders around the Tysons area starting next year.
The county plans to start looking at five-year route optimization next year for riders in the Vienna and Merrifield areas next year, FCDOT officials told the Board of Supervisors during the Transportation Committee meeting today (Tuesday).
Then, the county would turn to Tysons, McLean and Falls Church areas in 2021.
Currently, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is seeking the public’s input on proposed service changes to routes in Herndon and Reston.
FCDOT is looking at Fairfax Connector routes because overall ridership is below targetted levels, according to the presentation. Additionally, shifting demographics and job opportunities have changed travel patterns.
Restoration recently finished on a stream in McLean as part of Fairfax County’s larger efforts to improve water quality and reduce flooding.
Restoration started at Bull Neck Run, a stream just north of Tysons, in 2018 and included improving the ecological function of the stream and extracting nitrogen and phosphorous from the soil.
Before the project, the banks of the stream were eroding and the stream bed was identified as instable.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust celebrated the project’s completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday (Oct. 21).
“Projects like this will help ensure the health of our watersheds for generations to come and I look forward to continue working with the community on these improvements,” Foust said in a press release.
The project cost $1.6 million and was funded through the county’s stormwater service district.
Lewinsville Coalition, a local advocacy group, provided input during the project’s design and construction, along with pushing for trails to stay open while work was underway, according to a press release from Foust.
“The work involved restoration of approximately 2,000 linear feet of Bull Neck Run and several tributaries and will remove 800 pounds of nitrogen and 71,000 pounds of suspended solids per
year,” according to the press release.
Work to restore the native trees along with other landscaping is expected to wrap up next month.
The project is the latest stormwater project completed.
Upcoming projects include the restoration of Dead Run toward Georgetown Pike and work on Tucker Avenue in Falls Church.
Photo courtesy John Foust
Fairfax County officials are set to consider changes to the intersection of Swinks Mill and Lewinsville Roads in McLean later this fall.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is currently studying the intersection.
The study “included survey, operational analysis, intersection concepts and collaboration with Fairfax County,” Jenni McCord, a VDOT spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter.
A traffic signal, a traffic signal with intersection modifications and a roundabout are under consideration, she said.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said that the intersection would need more than a traffic signal to improve congestion and safety.
“Given the layout of the current intersection, installing a traffic signal is not straightforward,” Foust said. “Even though the intersection meets the VDOT warrants for a traffic signal, VDOT is required to evaluate other measures to make the intersection safer.”
Foust said that he plans to meet with VDOT and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation in late fall to discuss the options and funding.
“The final report is being drafted and should be completed later this fall, and will include high-level cost estimates for all three concepts being analyzed,” McCord said.
Map via Google Maps
Tonight, locals can find out more information about the status of the project to bring new sidewalks to Chesterbrook Road in McLean.
The work plans to stretch along the road from Chesterford Way to Maddux Lane.
“The project will include a new 5-foot wide sidewalk, curb and gutter along the south side of Chesterbrook Road, with storm sewer and water utility infrastructure improvements,” according to Fairfax County.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold the meeting tonight at Chesterbrook Elementary School (1753 Kirby Road) at 7 p.m.
The project is the latest of nearby sidewalk improvements in McLean.
Map via Google Maps
Swinks Mill Road Reopens in McLean — Severely damaged by flooding in July, the road at Scotts Run reopened Friday (Oct. 18). [VDOT/Twitter]
McLean Resident Retires From NVTC — “Northern Virginia Technology Council’s (NVTC) president and CEO Bobbie Kilberg is set to retire on June 30 after 22 years leading the organization.” [Technical.ly]
Pedestrian Killed Along Route 50 in Falls Church — “A police cruiser struck and killed a man who was crossing an intersection in West Falls Church, Virginia, early Sunday morning, police say.” [NBC4]
Home Catches Fire in Dunn Loring — Firefighters responded to a house fire in the 8100 block of Timber Valley Court in Dunn Loring area on Saturday. The fire is now out. “No reported injuries at this time.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]
How Walkable is Tysons? — Find out what it’s like to stroll around Tysons with a walkability researcher, who measured the noise levels and air quality. [Greater Greater Washington]
New Leader at McLean Private School — “BASIS Independent McLean, a preK to grade 12 private school in McLean, Va., recently named Paul Geise as its head of school. As a veteran educator with more than 40 years of experience, Geise excels in leadership of schools in the United States and United Kingdom, specializing in strategic plans and fostering student and community development in schools.” [Patch]
Marshall HS Students Visit Capital One HQ — “Members of Marshall High’s Latinos United Club took a field trip to Capital One’s headquarters in McLean to meet with their mentors. Students learned about the vast career opportunities in technology at Capital One and participated in various activities with the mentors including job shadowing, panel discussions, and a tour.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
USA Today May Phase Out Print Edition — “After a nearly 40-year run, USA Today and its digital sites are about to undergo a major restructuring that will include building up digital marketing while phasing out the print edition.” [Poynter]
Falls Church Receives High Bond Ratings — “For the second consecutive year, the city has earned the highest credit rating from all three major bond rating agencies.” [City of Falls Church]
Falls Church Polling Place Moved — “Due to delays in a renovation of the Falls Green apartments (formerly Oakwood), the City of Falls Church’s Ward 2 polling place has to be moved for the upcoming Nov. 5 election.” [Falls Church News-Press]
New Natural Health Center in Vienna — “The Health Improvement Center, a natural health care center, has moved to a new location in Vienna. The move to a larger space happened in August, while a ribbon-cutting is set for Nov. 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The new location is 407 Church Street NE Suite C.” [Patch]
(Updated 10/21/19) Firefighters extinguished a blaze that broke out in a McLean home this afternoon (Friday, Oct. 18) near the Charles Wesley United Methodist Church.
Firefighters from Fairfax and Arlington counties were dispatched to the fire in the 1700 block of Maxwell Court shortly after 4 p.m. today (Friday).
“Crews checking for extension,” according to a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweet. “One person being transported [to the hospital] with minor injuries.”
The one person who was home at the time of the fire sustained minor burns while trying to extinguish the fire, according to the fire department.
“The occupant was cooking on the stove when the oil ignited in the pan,” the fire department said in a press release. “The cause of the fire was the auto-ignition of cooking oil that spread to nearby combustibles.”
The fire department said that the person was displaced because of the accidental fire, which totaled roughly $123,750 worth of damages.
Units on scene of house fire in 1700 block of Maxwell Court in McLean area. Fire has been knocked down. Crews checking for extension. One person being transported with minor injuries. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/0Yprv8CvWb
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) October 18, 2019
Map via Google Maps
