Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources: "If you’ve always wanted to try fishing, now is your chance! You may fish without a license again this year during the first weekend in June. Take advantage of the free fishing days, June 2-4, and enjoy the great outdoors with your family and friends without having to spend money for a fishing license."
"Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will be hosting the following events during Free Fishing Days weekend. Agency staff and volunteers will be on site with rods & reels, terminal tackle, and bait, ready to instruct you on how to fish. Events are free and no registration is required. If you’re interested in learning how to fish, you can attend an event with family and friends at one of the following locations:
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Inova: “Today Inova announced a transformational gift from long-time supporters of Inova, Dwight and Martha Schar, to support the hospital system’s heart and vascular programs. The Schars’ gift of $75 million – one of the largest to advance heart health in the country – will accelerate innovative cardiovascular care in Northern Virginia through the enhancement and expansion of what will become “Inova Schar Heart and Vascular.” The funds will be used to grow specialty services; focus on research, outreach, prevention and early diagnosis; recruit and retain top care team talent; and promote health equity across the Northern Virginia region.”
“The Schars have given or pledged more than $126 million to Inova Health System since 1993, including a $50 million gift in 2015 to establish the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Seeking to expand the impact of their latest gift, the Schars are also challenging the Northern Virginia community to match their pledge.”
“Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds.”
A 27-year-old Maryland man apparently thought it was a good idea to smash his car into a police SUV that had been chasing him.
At approximately 10:49 a.m. Wednesday (May 17), Virginia State Police located a GMC Yukon that Prince William County Police was looking for in connection with an ongoing investigation. The GMC was on Route 1 in Prince William County heading north towards the Fairfax County line.
The trooper activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop, but the GMC refused to stop and sped off. A pursuit was initiated and continued into Fairfax County.
During the course of the pursuit, the GMC rammed the trooper’s marked patrol SUV three times, until the SUV became disabled. The pursuit ended with the GMC stopping at Pole Rd. and Highland Lane. The driver, a 27-year-old male from Brooklyn, Md., was taken into custody with the assistance of a Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy and Prince William County Police.
As a precautionary measure, both the trooper and driver were transported to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital for medical evaluations.
The trooper was not injured.
Charges are pending as the investigation remains ongoing.
The Workhouse Arts Center announces BrewWorks, an outdoor beer, wine, and spirit tastings festival, on May 20.
In addition to sampling microbrews, wine, and spirits, participants can enjoy food and lawn games while listening to local bands throughout the day.
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At 3:59 p.m., a Virginia State Police Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a pickup truck traveling east on I-66. The pickup pulled off onto the shoulder and stopped for the trooper at the 50 mile marker. The violation for the traffic stop was speeding.
After making initial contact with the pickup truck’s driver, the trooper was walking back to his patrol SUV when a Camaro ran off the right side of I-66 and slammed into the back of the VSP SUV. The impact of the crash launched the state police SUV forward striking the trooper and knocking him into the right eastbound travel lane. The SUV also struck the rear of the pickup truck.
The trooper was able to recover quickly enough and get out of the travel lane before being struck by oncoming traffic.
The driver of the Camaro, Khadija F. Sayyid, 24, of Bristow, Va., was treated and released from Fairfax Inova Hospital. She was wearing a seatbelt.
The trooper was also treated and released from Fairfax Inova Hospital. The state police SUV was stopped on the right shoulder and had its emergency lights flashing at the time it was struck.
Sayyid has been charged with reckless driving.
— Virginia State Police
The 25th Annual Eagle Festival at Mason Neck State Park in Lorton returns on May 13.
This family-friendly event is free, and there will be two early morning bird walks led by volunteers from the Audubon of Virginia. Both walks begin at the Bay View Trailhead near the picnic area.
The first bird walk is at 8:15 a.m., and the second is at 9 a.m. The walks are free to the public but limited to 15 participants for each walk. Registration will be required, and to register, interested guests should visit mnsp.eventbrite.com.
The Eagle Festival includes live animal shows, hands-on educational opportunities, and outdoor recreation clinics that all aim to highlight the rich natural history of Northern Virginia and foster stewardship of our environment.
“New this year will be a special performance by Janice the Griot, a multi-cultural storyteller based out of Maryland,” said Mason Neck Park Chief Ranger of Visitor Experience Jamie Leeuwrik. “Weather permitting, we will be bringing back the Boating Bonanza at the paddle launch, where participants may use a canoe, kayak or paddle board on Belmont Bay.”
This event celebrates the decades of conservation work that has taken place on the Mason Neck Peninsula. Had it not been for the work done by individuals like Elizabeth Hartwell, nicknamed “The Eagle Lady” and for whom the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge is named, the area would look drastically different today. Eagle Festival is an opportunity to unite the local community for programs and activities, all in the name of conservation and preservation.
“Conservation efforts began to save the bald eagle, but there have been so many other species of flora and fauna that have benefitted from the thousands of acres of public land preserved along the peninsula,” said Mason Neck State Park Manager Lance Elzie. “Eagle Festival is a day where we can all come together to celebrate the work that has been done in the past and learn how to continue that work in the future while also having fun.”
Guests will have the opportunity to see live reptiles, hawks and owls up close as well as learn about the park’s resident bald eagles and see them fly overhead. There will be live music, food, pony and wagon rides and exhibits from conservation partners.
For more event details visit virginiastateparks.gov/
Mason Neck Park sits at 7301 High Point Road in Lorton.
The Workhouse Arts Center announces BrewWorks, an outdoor beer, wine, and spirit tastings festival, on May 20.
In addition to sampling microbrews, wine, and spirits, participants can enjoy food and lawn games while listening to local bands throughout the day.
A variety of food trucks will be on campus for the duration of the event. During the festival, the art galleries, artist studios, gift shops, and Lucy Burns Museum will be open.
This year’s event will showcase approximately 15 local breweries, three wineries, and two-spirit distilleries. While the details are still being finalized, the anticipated participating vendors include:
- Bunnyman Brewing
- Ono Brewing Company
- Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.
- Väsen Brewing Company
- Fair Winds Brewing Company
- Mustang Sally Brewing Company
- Buskey Cider
General Admission tickets are $40; Premium Admission tickets $75. Designated Driver and Child Admission tickets are available.
The Workhouse Arts Center sits at 9518 Workhouse Way in Lorton.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. today, Thursday, April 6, 2023.
DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight
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Police said a road rage incident escalated, leading to one of the drivers pulling a gun and firing rounds into traffic. No one was injured, but traffic was detoured around the scene on the incident date so police could collect the shells that fell onto the pavement.
Fairfax County police tell us:
