Each of the trees is located within VDOT right of way and is either dead or in decline with multiple defects.

Following the tragic death of a motorist July 17 when a 40-ton decayed Oak tree fell onto his car on Georgetown Pike, several residents alerted Fairfax County and VDOT to other potentially unsafe trees.  A team of arborists from Fairfax County’s Urban Forestry Branch spent several days inspecting trees in Great Falls, and ultimately recommended the removal of 59 trees. A VDOT arborist agreed with the recommendation.

The team compiled a list of trees that require removal. The list includes tree type, size, exact location, and condition.  The 59 trees are located within VDOT right of way on the following roads:

• River Bend Road – 25 trees
• Browns Mill Road west of Difficult Run – 15 trees
• Beach Mill Road – 7 trees
• Georgetown Pike – 6 trees
• Walker Road – 4 trees
• Utterback Store Road – 2 trees

The two trees at the corner of Georgetown Pike and Walker Road which have been the subject of recent news articles are not among the 59 trees scheduled for removal as they are not considered to be an immediate danger.  Those trees will be inspected by an arborist in the coming weeks.

Police have characterized fugitive Todd Michael Corrado, 39 as armed and dangerous and are seeking any information leading to his whereabouts.

Corrado has escaped from police agencies across the area multiple times over the past year. There are warrants for his arrest for felony larceny, felony speed to elude, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer, DWI, burglary, auto theft, numerous drug charges and others.

Corrado is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 160-180 pounds, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. He frequently is seen around Tyson’s Corner, Annandale and Alexandria areas of Fairfax County. There is a reward leading to his capture.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477

Reconstruction Unit detectives are continuing to investigate the crash.

Previous Report Fatal: Crash in McLean

Mclean Police District – Police responded to the report of a crash in the 8200 block of Greensboro Drive shortly before 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 12. Crash reconstruction detectives were called to the scene.

The initial investigation revealed that an 89-year-old man was driving a 2008 Scion on Greensboro Drive and lost control. The vehicle accelerated as it entered a parking garage and traveled approximately 225 feet down a narrow ramp. The Scion continued until it struck a concrete support pole and an unoccupied parked vehicle head on. The driver and the 81-year-old, female passenger were transported to a local hospital. The passenger, Sumiko Hagan, of the 7400 block of Northrop Road in the Hybla Valley area died at the hospital.

The initial investigation revealed that an 89-year-old man was driving a 2008 Scion on Greensboro Drive and lost control. The vehicle accelerated as it entered a parking garage and traveled approximately 225 feet down a narrow ramp. The Scion continued until it struck a concrete support pole and an unoccupied parked vehicle head on. The driver and the 81-year-old, female passenger were transported to a local hospital.

The passenger, Sumiko Hagan, of the 7400 block of Northrop Road in McLean died at the hospital.

Wait, what?

Berryville sits west of the Blue Ridge mountains and across the Shenandoah River, yet the performing arts juggernaut has hired the DC firm Arent Fox LLP to file suit against the bucolic outpost for the arts.

The suit filed on December 14th 2001 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria states that The Barns of Rose Hill, by the use of its name,  will confuse Wolf Trap’s patrons and concert-goers and thus harm Wolf Trap’s concert and cultural activities business.

In what amounts to a classic David and Goliath story, the Wolf Trap Foundation seems to have made a massive public relations blunder. The community organization they are now suing has an annual budget of $150,000 a number which Ann St. Clair Lesman, Chair of the Board of Directors for The Barns of Rose Hill, says is roughly one-third of the salary for the CEO of the Wolf Trap Foundation.

The genesis of the project and the name has a clear lineage in the Town of Berryville where it stands. “Rose Hill” was a dilapidated farm donated to the town in 1964. In the 1970s civic leaders proposed that it be turned into an arts center.  In 1978 the mansion burned, so the plan shifted to  the property’s two dairy barns.  Over the next forty years, the barns fell into increasing disrepair as the town lacked restoration funds and several citizen efforts fell short.

Then in September 2004, the present group of local volunteers, organized The Barns of Rose Hill as a nonprofit.  In a six year effort, they raised the $2.4 million necessary to transform the old barns into a 21st Century arts and visitors center.   The Barns of Rose Hill is the largest private undertaking in Clarke County, Virginia, and represented a true community effort.

One week after its Grand Opening on September 6, 2011, Wolf Trap attorneys sent The Barns of Rose Hill a letter asserting trademark infringement.

A month later on October 7, 2011, Wolf Trap filed application with the U.S. Trademark Office to attempt to lock down “The Barns.”

Finally a summons was served on The Barns on Thursday January 12, 2012.

Residents are outraged at the lawsuit. Comments are pouring in from all over the area decrying what residents call “Bullying with Cash.”

Unfortunately this may turn out to be a losing battle for the little guy in the fight. Lesman said that the Barns cannot possibly go up against a giant foundation like Wolf Trap in court whose annual operating budget is in the range of $28 million. They have however started a fund to “Save our Name,” and plan to raise money for the fight. For more information visit their website at www.barnsofrosehill.org

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, Inc., carrying on-trend merchandise from Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com at 50 to 60 percent off original Nordstrom prices. Nordstrom Rack also offers a wide selection of apparel, accessories and shoes from many of the brands carried in Nordstrom stores. These items are purchased specially for Nordstrom Rack, with most at savings of 30 to 70 percent off.

The new store will be conveniently located off I-495 at Leesburg Pike (Route 7) near the intersection with Old Gallows Road, and across the street from Tysons Corner Center. Nordstrom Rack will open in the former Filene’s Basement space and join tenants Morton’s Steakhouse, Bertucci’s restaurant and Bank of America in a 215,000-square-foot mixed-use project. The project is owned by Rocks Tysons Two LLC and managed by Allen & Rocks, Inc. with KLNB Retail handling leasing.

When it opens, the Tysons Corner Rack store will be the ninth in the Washington metropolitan region. Nordstrom also operates nine full-line stores in the area. In 1988, the retailer opened its first east coast full-line store at Tysons Corner Center, which then led to further national expansion. Since its opening, the Tysons Corner Nordstrom has remained one of the company’s top-performing stores. “Tysons Corner is special to us,” said Geevy Thomas, president of Nordstrom Rack. “This community helped us become a truly national company when we opened here over two decades ago, and we’re excited to now be able to better serve our customers with a Nordstrom Rack across the street from our full-line store at Tysons Corner.”

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The field trip to the Library of Congress will include a special research lesson by the head reference librarian for early American history, including information about the library’s print, rare books, and digital collections. Students will learn how to request books at the library in order to delve into sources specific to the historical character they are studying. Research classes at the Library of Congress are usually taught to professional researchers and university students.

The students are focusing on historical figures from the Colonial and American Revolution periods as part of the Living History class, unique in Fairfax County high schools and in its first year at McLean. Students thoroughly research and practice a character they select within the appropriate historical era, then engage in performances at historic institutions such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, James Madison’s Montpelier, and elementary schools in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Characters can include statesmen, soldiers, scientists, philosophers, foreign dignitaries, artists, musicians, wives and daughters of 18^th century historical figures, merchants, and farmers. Students perform in authentic voice, manner, and attire.

Prior to their visit to the Library of Congress, the students will attend a presentation by a James Madison re-enactor, who will discuss how to develop a character. Students incorporate period clothing, language, and mannerisms while providing their audiences with the human side of historical content learned in class and through research.

The class grew out of the school’s Project Enlightenment Historical Re-Enactment Club, which is open to all students at McLean; its goal is to nurture awareness and appreciation for American heritage through the  performance of interdisciplinary recreations of 18^th century life. Students in the Living History class, in grades 11 and 12, assume leadership and organizational roles in the club.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear and both sides of the one and one-half story home upon arrival. Firefighters conducted an aggressive interior fire attack, bringing the fire under control in approximately 20 minutes. Firefighters also conducted extensive overhaul operations to ensure all hidden fire hotspots were exposed and extinguished. Two occupants have been displaced. Red Cross support was unnecessary. There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated $100,000.

According to the incident commander, the fire was accidental. An electrical panel circuit breaker caused the fire.

Crash Reconstruction detectives determined before Flom was struck by the pumper truck, she was attempting to merge from the right lane of Leesburg Pike into the center lane when the two vehicles collided. She pulled slightly forward, exited her vehicle and stepped in front of the truck, but below the driver’s line of sight.  The driver, moving forward with the flow of traffic, could not see Flom and she was hit by the truck.

Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the front, left side, and rear of the second floor of the three-story home upon arrival. The incident commander struck a second alarm, bringing approximately 60 firefighters to the fire scene. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes. Two adults, two juveniles, and two dogs have been displaced. Smoke alarms provided warning to one of the juveniles who was home when the fire broke out. Red Cross assistance was not necessary. There were no transports for injuries.

Damage is estimated at $300,000.

According to fire investigators, the fire originated in a second floor bedroom. The fire is under investigation.

The suspect is described as white, around 5 feet 10 inches tall, 180 pounds, with dark hair. He wore a black leather jacket, with a black hoodie underneath and black jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477

Detectives have identified a suspect in connection with the carjacking incident that took place in the Tyson’s Corner area on Saturday, November 19. Police obtained an arrest warrant on Monday, November 21 for Stephanie Lynn Schwab, 26, of the Manassas area for the charge of carjacking.

Schwab is also wanted by Prince William County Police for a bank robbery that took place on Friday, November 18 in that jurisdiction. Police ask that the public continue to be on the lookout for Schwab, and the stolen 2003 silver Acura, Virginia tag XEK8095.

The Good Samaritan had her car stolen at knife-point around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, November 19. A 59- year-old Fairfax woman was approached in the Tyson’s Corner II parking lot of Neiman Marcus by a woman who claimed she was out of gas and needed a ride to a station.

The victim invited the woman into her vehicle but as she drove toward Route 123 the suspect produced a knife and told the driver to get out of the vehicle. The victim was left at the intersection of Old Courthouse Road and Route 123.
There were no injuries and police are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477

Essex Avenue in Springfield, which has been closed since Sept. 8, will re-open to traffic Monday.

Construction will also be complete on Sunrise Valley Drive in Reston which remained open to traffic but required extensive repairs.

A total of seven roads were closed to traffic following the storm.

Here is the status of those repairs:

Hunter Mill Road – re-opened to traffic  Oct. 4

Lorton Road – re-opened to traffic Oct. 8

Essex Road in Springfield – re-opens Oct. 24

Towlston Road over Rocky Run in McLean – re-opens by Nov. 7

Beach Mill Road over Nichols Branch in Great Falls – re-opens by Nov. 14

Hillside Road in Springfield – re-opens by Nov. 8

Backlick Road over Mason Run – re-opens mid-December

Eight other roads did not close to traffic bur required extensive repairs.

Here is the status of those road repairs:

Carper’s Farm Way – repairs complete Oct. 6

Walker Road – repairs complete Oct. 6

Sunrise Valley Drive  – repairs complete Oct. 24

Tanager Street – completion by Oct. 28

Ridgely Drive – completion by Oct. 31

Millwood Drive – completion by Nov. 11

Falls Forest Place – completion by Nov. 4

Valley View Drive – completion by Nov. 11

The operation was conducted using two teams, each consisting of one plain-clothed officer, one uniformed officer, and one cadet.
Underage possession of alcohol continues to be a concern to the Fairfax County Police Department. For more information on underage drinking and prevention programs, log on and learn more about the Unified Prevention Coalition at http://www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org/.