Lake Anne is welcoming a new festival on Sept. 10 at the plaza (1609 Washington Plaza North) in Reston.
The first annual Reggae at the Lake Festival will feature international reggae bands, food, crafts and family activities.
Ramon Pardo — a local realtor with Terra Properties and member of the Lake Anne Washington Plaza Merchants Association (LAWPMA) — created the festival after Culture Reggae Band, an internationally known band, performed at his wedding in Jamaica.
Trash collection has become a hot mess in Fairfax County of late.
After FFXnow reported earlier this week on local officials’ efforts to address an avalanche of complaints, many community members added their tales of woe to the ongoing saga of late or entirely neglected pickups, ineffectual communication, and reductions in service without accompanying decreases in fees.
New Vienna Police Station Cuts Ribbon — “After nearly three years of design and construction, the new, $14 million Vienna Police Department will…open its doors to the public. The celebration is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. at the headquarters building located at 215 Center St. S.” [Town of Vienna]
Man Faces Life in Prison for Killing Springfield Woman — “Yohannes Nessibu was convicted by a jury in the slaying of 22-year-old Kedest Simeneh, who was found fatally shot in the backyard of a Burke residence in December 2016. He is charged — but has yet to face trial — in the shooting of 22-year-old Henok Yohannes.” [The Washington Post]
Last Beagles Moved From Virginia Breeding Facility — “The Humane Society of the United States announced Thursday it had accomplished its mission to remove almost 4,000 beagles from a Virginia facility that bred dogs for animal experimentation…The last group of 312 beagles was taken out from the facility as 52 of them are on its way to an HSUS care and rehabilitation center.” [WTOP]
Volunteers Clean Fairfax City Park — “It takes a village! On Sunday, city residents joined forces at Ratcliffe Park — and collected lots of refuse that doesn’t belong there: household trash, bottles and cans, construction debris and materials, tires, a lopsided fitness/toy hoop, and more.” [City of Fairfax/Facebook]
Route 50 Bridge to Close After Labor Day Weekend — “The eastbound Route 50 (Lee Jackson Memorial Highway) service road bridge over Flatlick Branch will be closed to vehicles from 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 25 for cleaning and painting…The sidewalk along the bridge will remain open to pedestrians at all times.” [VDOT]
Tysons Company Awarded Medicare Contract — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has granted a new $6.6 billion contract to Maximus, which will continue running the federal agency’s call centers for potentially up to nine more years. The Tysons-headquartered company faced protests earlier this year by employees calling for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. [Maximus]
Military Veteran Career Fair Coming — “In support of veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses looking to advance their careers, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is leading a free, two-day career fair Sept. 21-22, 2022…Candidates will have the opportunity to network and interview with more than 40 leading companies in Northern Virginia” [Fairfax County EDA]
Travel Safe This Weekend — “As students head back to school and Virginians celebrate this last stretch of summer, Virginia State Police is urging those traveling this weekend to do so safely and responsibly. It is imperative for motorists to stay alert, drive sober and wear their seatbelts during the Labor Day holiday weekend and every day, all year long.” [Virginia State Police]
It’s Friday — Clear throughout the day. High of 84 and low of 67. Sunrise at 6:40 am and sunset at 7:39 pm. [Weather.gov]
Editor’s Note — Labor Day weekend is on the horizon, and for many, that means an extra day off work. That includes FFXnow, which will follow a shortened publishing schedule today and observe the holiday on Monday (barring breaking news).
With fall just around the corner, Fairfax County has begun to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers in favor of battery-powered blowers.
Last week, the county announced that its Park Authority and Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) are “in the process of phasing out gas-powered blowers” in favor of “exclusively purchasing” battery-powered blowers.
“Having a gas-powered leaf blower operating in your vicinity is like inviting someone to blow a cloud of potentially dangerous chemicals, dust, and other pollutants in your direction,” the county website says. “A gas-powered leaf blower produces exhaust containing both hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides both of which are components of smog.”
If you need furniture NOW at Labor Day Sale prices, Herndon’s Furniture Max is waiting for you.
Great news for Labor Day shoppers: Furniture Max in Herndon is reducing prices like never before.
The store-wide Labor Day Sale Event continues through the month with reduced prices and special deals that will appeal to anyone in need of furniture or fixtures for any room in the house.
This announcement comes with a warning: While everything is in stock and ready for delivery tomorrow, quantities at Furniture Max are limited.
While inventory lasts:
- Buy a leather sofa and receive a matching loveseat — free!
- Buy any recliner — get the second half off!
- Buy a five-piece bedroom set, get a Serta mattress — free!
Speaking of Serta mattresses, they are starting at just $599 — while inventory lasts!
Did we make it clear? These sale prices will reduce inventory quickly during the Labor Day Sale event — what are you waiting for?
Herndon’s family owned Furniture Max is the one-stop superstore for all-things furniture, for every room of the house. The store’s collection of living room, bedroom, dining room, entertainment room, and home office furniture is in stock and ready for delivery — at Labor Day Sale event pricing.
Financing is available, even online!
Furniture Max is at 2441 Centreville Road in Herndon. Call 571-459-2333 or email [email protected].
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The popular Water Mine at Lake Fairfax in Reston is officially closed for the season after its pool filtration system failed.
The closure at the Water Mine Family Swimming’ Hole was announced yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon by the Fairfax County Park Authority, which cited “mechanical failures beyond our control.”
The closure includes this coming Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-4) and an event for dogs scheduled for Sept. 10 is also cancelled.
New FCPS Superintendent Seeks to Restore Trust — “Schools are back in session in Fairfax County — and they’re under the direction of a new superintendent, Michelle Reid…Reid says that as superintendent she is trying to listen deeply to community members, and she sees part of her charge in Fairfax as restoring public trust in public education.” [WAMU]
Victim and Suspect in Hybla Valley Shooting Identified — The man who died on Tuesday (Aug. 30) after a shooting at the Mount Vernon Square apartments was D’Mari Norris, 21, of Alexandria. Fairfax County police say Francisco Juares, 22, of Alexandria, shot Norris “multiple times in the upper body” before being held down by “a nearby witness” until officers arrived at the scene. [FCPD]
Metro May Change Faregates Again — “Metro estimates it loses more than $25 million each year because of fare evasion. Sources said Metro’s new General Manager Randy Clarke wants to look at possibly modifying faregates to prevent such losses.” [NBC4]
Fair Oaks Ambulance Donated to Ukraine — “Working with the Chicago-based Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) and some related medical relief charities, the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company (FOVFR) has donated a retired ambulance to be shipped to Ukraine to assist with the relief effort there. Along with some additional supplies, the ambulance will be moved into Ukraine and used wherever the need is greatest” [FOVFR/Facebook]
Fairfax City Parks and Rec Director Retires — Cathy Salgado retired as Fairfax’s parks and recreation director on Tuesday after a 35-year career. Salgado joined Fairfax City in 2015 after serving in the same position for the Town of Vienna for 13 years. [Fairfax City Parks and Rec/Facebook]
Annual “Fill the Boot” Charity Fundraiser Returns — “Members of the Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics – IAFF Local 2068, and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will once again be conducting an in person ‘Fill the Boot’ campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This year’s campaign is scheduled to run Friday, September 2 through Monday, September 5.” [FCFRD]
Local Business Leaders Hear Pitches in Herndon — “Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a “Shark Tank” session Wednesday where local non-profits and community support groups pitched ways business leaders and elected officials could become involved in their efforts. The lunchtime session and discussion followed the Chamber’s Innovate Conference that took place Wednesday morning at the Crowne Plaza Herndon.” [Patch]
Reston Library Hosts Succulent Plant Swap — “Did you know that succulent plants are excellent at cleansing the air and removing toxins? Succulents are also a great choice for people who don’t have enough time to spend on a garden! Please bring spare plants if you have any to share with the community.” [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 85 and low of 66. Sunrise at 6:39 am and sunset at 7:41 pm. [Weather.gov]
The Fairfax County Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify a man in a photo who may be involved in multiple grabbings, assaults, and an attempted abduction over the last few weeks on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
In the latest incident last night (Tuesday), a man attempted to grab a teenage girl as she was walking on the 1800 block of Old Reston Avenue at around 8:10 p.m. The attempted abduction comes just a week after a naked man grabbed a woman last week and where other indecent exposures took place.
Reston Station is expanding near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
Comstock Holding Co., the Reston-based developer behind the project, acquired roughly eight acres — the largest swath of undeveloped land — in the Midline development, according to a company release.
A pair of three-story office buildings will be demolished to make for the redevelopment of the site primarily fronting Wiehle Avenue. But Comstock is exploring other changes, including improving the development’s connectivity to the Metro plaza.
Vehicle in Capital Beltway Shooting ID’d — “Virginia State Police have identified a suspect vehicle involved in last Thursday’s shooting incident on Interstate 495 in Fairfax County. According to a news release, it is a blue 2010 Honda Civic with Virginia license plates TWW 9398.” [WTOP]
Potomac Banks Could Be Virginia’s First TID — “In September, Visit Fairfax will hold meetings with local hotel and restaurant industry leaders as part of a campaign to turn Potomac Banks into a tourism improvement district, or TID, which would impose fees to fund tourism boosting activities and improvements and would be administered through a nonprofit.” [Virginia Business]
W&OD Trail Assault Suspect Still at Large — “Town of Herndon Police, along with Fairfax County police officers and the FFX 1 helicopter, failed to locate a suspect Tuesday morning in connection with the recent assaults that have occurred along the W&OD Trail, according to an HPD post on Twitter.” [Patch]
Virginia Judge Dismisses Obscenity Cases — “The long-awaited trial in Virginia Beach, Virginia, over the claims of obscenity in two books has ended in dismissal. Neither Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe nor A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas meet the legal definition of obscenity.” “Gender Queer” was one of two books challenged in Fairfax County Public Schools last year. [Book Riot]
Fare-Free Virginia Rail Starts Tomorrow — “Virginia Railway Express, a commuter rail taking passengers between Northern Virginia and DC, will seek to attract more riders through a fare-free initiative beginning Thursday. After a July vote by the VRE Operations Board, VRE will be free throughout September at all 19 stations and at certain stations in October.” [Patch]
County Names New Solid Waste Deputy Director — “The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is pleased to announce that Eric Forbes is the new Deputy Director leading the County’s Solid Waste Management Program. Forbes has been serving as the Acting Deputy Director and his new position becomes effective on September 10.” [DPWES]
Fairfax County NAACP Plans Blood Drives — “The Fairfax County NAACP is partnering with the American Red Cross and other area blood banks to host local blood drives. As required for sickle cell, we need both Black and White donors. Stay tuned for updates on dates, times, and locations of drives.” [Fairfax County NAACP/Twitter]
Hospitality Trumps Cuisine at Roberto’s in Vienna, Review Says — “I wish I could say that the $75 chicken is a revelation. It isn’t. The chicken’s skin isn’t soggy, but it isn’t crisp, either, a situation not helped by the robustly earthy sauce on top…But for those willing to pay a premium for contact with a culinary legend, it may still be worth it.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Wednesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 81 and low of 68. Sunrise at 6:38 am and sunset at 7:42 pm. [Weather.gov]
More than 200 people in Great Falls have lost power, and a key road may be closed for hours after a rain storm this afternoon (Tuesday).
According to Fairfax Alerts, Beach Mill Road will be closed to traffic in both directions for at least six hours at the Springvale Road intersection due to downed power lines.
Fairfax County is still having trash troubles.
Earlier this month in his weekly newsletter, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay wrote that he was “aware of multiple complaints” about the performance of some contracted trash collectors in the county.
While neighboring localities faced similar challenges earlier this summer, McKay said that was little excuse for haulers not providing customers proper service.
In the near-future, Reston will have an educational space center to call its own.
Interstellar Dreams, a project through The Pearl Project Institute for Innovation in STEM literacy, is actively scouting for a 40,000-square-foot space center in Reston. The center, which is expected to open by next year, will include training and simulations in real-world and virtual learning environments.
As schools and libraries across the U.S. grapple with a historic surge in book bans and challenges, the topic has inevitably become a concern for Fairfax County Public Library officials.
The FCPL Board of Trustees raised the possibility of revisiting the library’s collection development policies when it met on July 13, according to meeting materials.
While orange traffic cones are a familiar sight as the widening of Route 7 continues, more changes are afoot at the Baron Cameron Avenue intersection in Reston.
Night work on the project began last night, resulting in detours and changing traffic patterns on eastbound and westbound Route 7, Baron Cameron Avenue and Springvale Road. Detours are planned at night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. through Thursday (Sept. 1).
Beginning around Tuesday, Sept. 6, more detours and lane shifts are planned during the same hours, as crews reconfigure the intersection to shift traffic to the north.
