Community Corner

New Brewhouse, Toby Keith, Meals Milestone, Police Shooting, JFK Assassination News, the Sweetest Chocolate Story Ever and a $100,000 Win at the Buzzer

Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and Washington.

Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and Washington. Here are some of the top stories from around the region this week.

BJ's Brewhouse Opens in Tysons Corner

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse opened Wednesday in Tysons Corner, the Washington Business Journal reports. The restaurant is located at 8027 Leesburg Pike in Virginia.

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BJ’s serves deep-dish pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, steaks, and their own crafted beer line (take a look at their full menu). The California-based chain has 143 casual dining restaurants nationwide, with the Tysons Corner location being the first in Virginia.

BB&T Bank at Fairfax Towne Center Robbed, Police Say

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The BB&T Bank at the Fairfax Towne Center was robbed Wednesday, and authorities are seeking help from the public. The incident took place just before 4 p.m. at the bank on 12220 Fairfax Towne Center in Fairfax, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Police said that a man entered the bank and passed a note to an employee, demanded money, and indicated that he had a gun. The man left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Eternal Flame Restored in Time for 50th Anniversary of Kennedy Assassination

The eternal flame at the Kennedy family gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery has been restored in time for the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

In April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District and its contractors lit a temporary flame from the permanent burner at the gravesite. That temporary flame was on display for the past few months while crews installed a new burner, along with gas, electric and compressed air lines and more accessible pressure regulators, according to a news release.

Tuesday, the temporary flame was used to light the upgraded eternal flame.

New Red Light Cameras on Hold Indefinitely in Arlington

Plans to add new red light cameras at dangerous Arlington intersections are on hold indefinitely as officials continue to gather information and determine the actual intersections that will be monitored.

Arlington County already has four such cameras, installed in 2010. Motorists who get caught running a red light have to pay a $50 fine.

Since March 2012, various news outlets have reported six, seven or eight new cameras are coming to Arlington. A planned deployment earlier this year was put off until the fall, ARLnow reported in June. But fall has arrived and no new cameras have been installed.

McLean Woman, 103, Dies Following Car Crash at Old Dominion & Dolley Madison

A 103-year-old McLean woman died Monday following a car crash at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Dolley Madison Boulevard.

At about 3 p.m. Monday, a 2001 Toyota Sienna was traveling north on Dolley Madison, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. It was driven by an 81-year-old Falls Church woman, and Katie Grosse, 103, of McLean, was riding in the front passenger seat.

The driver of the Sienna apparently lost control while attempting to turn right onto Old Dominion, according to police. The car jumped the median on Old Dominion, struck a 2008 Audi sedan and then struck a 2008 Toyota Camry, according to police.

Stop Hunger Now: McLean to Hit 1 Million-Meal Milestone Saturday

More than 1,100 McLean residents — representing a number of churches, schools and civic groups — plan to come together Saturday to Stop Hunger Now and likely will hit a major milestone.

The one-day goal is to package 300,000 meals in three shifts, starting at 8 a.m., at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 1545 Chain Bridge Road.

It will be the fifth such meal-packaging event over the past three years. At the end of the day, McLean volunteers will have packaged 1 million meals for hungry children in Haiti.

Police: Victim Robbed at Gunpoint in the Fair Oaks Mall Parking Lot

A 48-year-old man was walking in the parking lot of the Fair Oaks Mall when he was robbed at gunpoint, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Authorities said that at about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, the victim was approached by a man with a handgun. Police said that the victim knew the robber. There were no injuries in the incident and authorities were called.

The subsequent investigation led police a home on the 2700 block of Willow Drive in the Oakton area, where they believe that the robber had gone. Police found the man there and initially there was a standoff, but eventually the suspect surrendered, police said.

Woman, 21, Seriously Injured in Hit and Run; Police Seek Information

Authorities are looking for help in finding a car that struck a 21-year-old woman Sunday.

The incident took place at about 7:30 p.m. Gambrill Road near Vogels Way in the Springfield area, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Toby Keith’s in Woodbridge Still Has No Opening Date

The Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill under construction at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center still has no opening date, according to two representatives on site at the restaurant on Oct. 29. The restaurant's Facebook page says it is coming soon, but also gives no opening date.

The restaurant has been under construction for months now, prompting questions as to when it would ever be completed. Currently, the inside of the restaurant appears to be mostly set up, although some cleanup work is needed.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Local Officials Announce Dyke Marsh Restoration Funding

U.S. Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell and other local officials officially announcing nearly $25 million in funding for the restoration of Dyke Marsh in the Alexandria area in a ceremony Tuesday morning.

The funding is part of a $162 million investment by the Department of Interior in 45 projects for wetland and beach restoration, rebuilding shorelines and researching the impacts and modeling mitigation of storm surges.

Fairfax County Police Shoot, Kill Man at Homeless Shelter

Fairfax County Police are investigating the killing of a man at a homeless shelter by an officer who responded to a call of a fight.

FCPD officers responded to a report of a fight at 9155 Richmond Highway at about 6 p.m. Wednesday. A man had assaulted several individuals, according to a news release from the department.

New Coffee & Chocolate Shop in Fairfax City Has One Very Special Twist

It’s always fun when a new business opens in town, particularly when the two main products are coffee and chocolate—but the new Cameron’s Chocolates and Coffee shop in Fairfax City has one very special feature of its business that will warm your heart.

Jersey Mike's Subs to Offer Free Subs Opening Day

Jersey Mike’s Subs opens next week, and the owners are kicking off opening day with a fundraiser for local high schools.

The sub shop on 25360 Eastern Marketplace Plaza in South Riding opens Nov. 6.

Owners will distribute 10,000 coupons offering a free regular sub for a minimum $1 contribution to Freedom High School or John Champe High School. The promotion will be valid from Nov. 6 through Nov. 10. Customers can pick up the coupons at the restaurant.  

Crime Report: DWI Checkpoint Results in Two Arrests

One driver was charged with driving while intoxicated during a DWI checkpoint conducted Friday at Route 50 and Stringfellow Road in Chantilly, according to police. In another DWI checkpoint on Saturday, one driver was charged with driving while intoxicated. The checkpoint took place at Route 50 and Rugby Road in Chantilly, according to police.

Hundreds Swarm Herndon Middle School for Clinton, McAuliffe

More than two hours before the start of the event, hundreds, if not more than a thousand, people were queuing up in a line that stretched around the corner at Herndon Middle School to see former president Bill Clinton speak at a campaign rally for Democratic candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe. It was a star-studded event all around, with Congressmen, County Supervisors, state and federal Senators, councilmembers and more from all over the region in attendance.

Police: Manassas Park Woman Robbed in a Parking Lot

A 45-year-old Manassas Park woman was robbed in a parking lot, according to the Prince William County Police Department. At 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, authorities said they responded to a reported robbery on the 8300 block of Shoppers Square in Manassas.

Authorities said that the woman was loading her car when she was approached by an unknown man. The man demanded the woman’s purse, and when she refused, there was a struggle. The man was able to get the woman’s wallet and escaped in an older-model sedan, police said.

WMATA Breaks Ground on Cinder Bed Metrobus Facility in Lorton

Monday morning marked a big step for transportation improvement in the Northern Virginia area as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) broke ground on a new metrobus facility in Lorton.

The new, state-of-the-art facility, which will be located at 7901 Cinder Bed Rd., will replace Metro’s nearly 70-year-old Royal Street Bus Garage. This facility has exceeded its life and cannot accommodate the new buses.

Alexandria Woman Claims $100,000 Lotto Prize Hours Before Expiration

In early May, Alexandria resident Karen Gentry bought a Cash 5 lottery ticket at the 7-Eleven located at 5834 North Kings Highway. On Tuesday, Gentry finally claimed her $100,000 prize after six months and only four hours to spare before the ticket expired.

According to the Virginia Lottery Office, Gentry said she found out on Tuesday about the ticket expiring by 5 p.m. on a TV news report.

“So I looked, and there it was!” she told lottery officials. “I called my husband and he said, ‘Yeah, right.’”

Stabbing Outside Home on Shepherd Street

A 33-year-old Fredericksburg resident told police he was returning home with his girlfriend just after 1 a.m. on Oct. 28, when he saw two unknown male subjects outside of his house in the 500 block of Shepherd St.

The victim told the subjects to leave, but they allegedly continued to approach and made derogatory comments aimed at him and his girlfriend. A fight ensued and during the assault, the victim was stabbed multiple times in his arm and shoulder.

One of the suspects was charged with malicious wounding and assault and battery. The second suspect was released without charges. The investigation is ongoing.

High Court Rules in Favor of Old Dominion Boat Club in Wales Alley Case

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Old Dominion Boat Club maintains a vested easement over Wales Alley, reversing a circuit court ruling in a long legal battle concerning a pivotal piece of waterfront property.

The circuit court had previously found that the boat club’s interest in Wales Alley was dedicated to the city, giving it authority to alter the alley.

Virginia’s high court ruled Thursday that evidence in the case was insufficient to support that the boat club expressly or impliedly dedicated its easement to the city.

Driver Strikes Child on Halloween Night in Alexandria

A driver struck an 8-year-old boy who was trick-or-treating Thursday night near the corner of Russell Road and Aspen Street in Alexandria.

The child was transported to Children’s National Medical Center and is in stable condition after suffering a broken leg.

A police spokesperson said the driver initially left the scene but contacted police within 10 minutes of the incident and was taken into custody.

Fairfax County Police Arrest West Springfield Serial Peeper Suspect

Fairfax County police have arrested a Woodbridge man they believe is linked to more than 200 peeping incidents in the Franconia, West Springfield and Sully District areas.

Michael C. McCarter, 40, was arrested and charged with peeping warrants on Oct. 25 after police received a tip from a Kingstowne-area resident.

The peeping incidents date back to 2011, with more than 200 cases reported in the Franconia District, and approximately 50 incidents reported in the West Springfield and Sully Districts, according to police.

Three Women Reportedly Robbed on Commons Drive in Annandale

Three women were robbed in Annandale Sunday, according to Fairfax County police.

The women were entering an apartment around 7:32 a.m. in the 4000 block of Commons Drive on Sunday when a man approached them, according to the daily crime report released by the Fairfax County Police Department Monday.

The man displayed a handgun, took cash from the women and then fled.


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