20 MPH Speed Limit, Plastic Bag Tax: Top Falls Church News Of 2022

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Between local government, transportation and business news, there was a variety of news that interested Falls Church Patch readers in 2022.

Business news tends to be a popular topic among readers. New businesses like Harvey's, Taco Rock and Bolay opened this year. Falls Church said goodbye to Dogfish Head Alehouse and Jason's Deli. In development news, the Broad and Washington mixed-use development project kicked off construction.

There were various police and fire stories that interested readers. The top stories were a shelter-in-place recommendation due to gun damage in Bailey's Crossroads, police pointed a gun at a teen near an IHOP, a large theft from Victory Comics, and a brutal homicide in Seven Corners.

In transportation news, the I-66 Express Lanes opened, the speed limit will be lowered to 20 mph on some streets, and residents are demanding safety improvements in Bailey's Crossroads.

We couldn't forget notable people and groups who have made a difference in Falls Church. Two businesses teamed up to offer the Battle of Broad Street to benefit education, a historical marker ceremony at the Eden Center honors Vietnamese immigrants. Volunteers provided critical home repairs to a veteran. Plus we remember Justice Thurgood Marshall's wife, Cecilia Suyat Marshall, who died in Falls Church.

Here's a roundup of top Falls Church stories in 2022. Click on the links to learn more.

To stay up to date on Falls Church news in 2023, subscribe to our free news alerts and morning newsletter. If you would like to share story ideas, send an email to Emily.Leayman@patch.com.

Business

• Harvey's Brings American Cuisine With A Twist To Falls Church
• Paragon Theaters Will Bring Movie Theater To Falls Church
• Taco Rock Opens In Falls Church, Serving Tacos And Cocktails
• Renovated Birch & Broad Shopping Center Reaches Full Occupancy
• Crumbl Cookies Sets Opening Date In Falls Church
• Five Guys Burgers And Fries Opens New Falls Church Location
• Dogfish Head Alehouse At Seven Corners Shutting Down In May
• Jason's Deli To Close Falls Church Location At Idylwood Plaza
• Free Food For A Year For First 100 At Bolay Opening In Falls Church
• Taste Of Falls Church 2022 Winners Chosen By Judges, Attendees
• Little City Gift Card Program Finds Early Success In Falls Church
• Hangry Joe's Brings Its Nashville Hot Chicken To Bailey's Crossroads
• Seven Corners-Based Company Expanding Headquarters

Police and Fire

• Shelter-In-Place Lifted After Gun Damage Found In Bailey's Crossroads
• Video Footage Of Fairfax County Officers Pointing Gun At Teen Released
• Seven Corners Homicide Victim's Family Assisted By Fundraiser
• Rare Comic Books Stolen From Falls Church Business, Reward Offered
• Video Shows Suspect Shooting At Police On Route 50 In Fairfax County
• Carjacking In Falls Church Under Investigation By Police
• Man Wearing Bugs Bunny Cap Wanted In 2 Falls Church Restaurant Thefts
• Discarded Smoking Materials Sparked Fire, Causing $158K In Damage
• Marshall Special Education Teacher Charged With Assault Of Student
• Student Dies After Crash In Bailey's Crossroads Crosswalk: Police
• 2 Residents, Dog Die In House Fire In Sleepy Hollow Area
• $300,000 In Checks Fraudulently Cashed From Falls Church City Accounts
• Pedestrian Death In Seven Corners Parking Lot Leads To Charges
• Falls Church Man Arrested Following Double Stabbing: Police
• Students Offered Ride By Suspicious Person: Falls Church Police
• Police Seeking Identity Of Man Who Touched Female Inappropriately
• Falls Church Man Pleads Guilty To Role In $3M COVID-19 Loan Fraud
• String Of Thefts Target Victims With Jewelry In Falls Church: Police
• Falls Church Resident Faces Child Pornography Charges: Police
• Police Chief Honors Falls Church, Alexandria Officers With Award
• A Ruff Day For Dog Ends Well In West Falls Church
• 2 Teens Charged In Fatal Shooting Of Falls Church Man At ATM
• Mother Of 5 Boys Requests Help After Husband Dies in Work Accident
• Hit-And-Run Crash In Bailey's Crossroads Leads To Charges
• Dog Dies, 4 Residents Displaced By Falls Church House Fire
• Pedestrian Dies In Arlington Boulevard Crash In West Falls Church
• Pedestrian Crossing Arlington Boulevard Dies In West Falls Church
• Carjacking Reported In Falls Church After Another Carjacking Attempt
• Former Falls Church Doctor Tied To Opioid Overdose Death Pleads Guilty
• Bailey's Crossroads Homicide Suspect Turns Himself In: Police

Politics

• Kamala Harris Visits Falls Church To Kick Off Clean School Bus Program
• VA Tech Property To Be Conveyed For West Falls Church Development
• Del. Marcus Simon Seeking Re-Election In Redrawn VA House District
• Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross Not Seeking Re-Election
• Officials Break Ground On Broad & Washington, Foresee 2024 Completion
• Plastic Bag Tax To Take Effect April 1 At Stores In Falls Church
• Falls Church Approves $112.8M Budget, Drop In Real Estate Tax Rate
• Falls Church Honors MLK With Focus On Passing Voting Rights Bill
• Pandemic-Era Business Flexibilities Extended In Falls Church
• Federal Spending Bill Includes Funds For Falls Church Projects
• Zoning Updates To Transition Zones Proposed In Falls Church
• Falls Church Car Tax Bills May Increase For Some Despite Lower Rate
• Real Estate Assessments Up 11.4% For Falls Church Property Owners

Notable People and Groups

• Cecilia Suyat Marshall, Widow Of Justice Thurgood Marshall, Dies At 94
• Winner Of Battle Of Broad Street Named, Sales Support Education Funds
• Eden Center Historical Marker Ceremony To Honor Vietnamese Immigrants
• Falls Church Man Named Sport Ambassador For USA Blind Soccer
• Falls Church Barbershop Owner Provides Haircuts To Homeless
• Falls Church Veteran Helped By Critical Home Repairs From Volunteers
• Interpreter And Volunteer Building Community: Falls Church Hero
• Meridian HS Students Welcome 105-Mile Runner Back To Falls Church
• Sen. Kaine Donates Blood In Fairfax To Address Regional Shortage
• Falls Church Artist Earns Latest Plein Air Festival Award
• Consultant Finds 'Life's Work' In Serving DC-Area Nonprofits
• Falls Church Restaurant Crawl To Benefit Ireland's Four Courts Workers

Transportation

• Falls Church Council To Allow 20 Mph Speed Limit On Certain Streets
• I-66 Express Lanes Open Ahead Of Schedule In Northern Virginia
• Interstate 66 High Occupancy Vehicle Rules Set To Change
• Roundabout Planned At Falls Church Intersection Near Bowling Alley
• New Signs In Falls Church Guide Drivers, Pedestrians To Key Sites
• Residents Demand Safety Changes On Route 7 In Bailey's Crossroads
• Safer Bailey's Crossroads: Groups Campaign For Pedestrian Safety
• Possible Speed Camera Location Presented To Falls Church Council
• Transportation Projects Impacting Falls Church In NVTA Long-Range Plan
• Reduced Parking For Redevelopment Proposed At West Falls Church Metro
• Free Metrobus Program Expanded To More Fairfax County High Schools
• DC Metro Changing 5 Station Names In Virginia, Maryland
• Falls Church Area Projects In Transportation Authority's 6-Year Plan

Schools

• School Safety 'Highest Priority' In Falls Church After Texas Shooting
• Falls Church Schools Rank First In Virginia On 2022 Niche Ranking
• Falls Church School Year To Start Earlier Under New Calendar Policy
• School Calendar Policy Change Explained By Falls Church School Board
• Transgender Model Policies Opposed By Falls Church School Board
• Photos: Transgender Student Guidelines Prompt Walkouts At VA Schools
• Falls Church School Board Issues Statement On Gun Violence
• Walkout, Die-In Staged At Falls Church Schools In Protest Of Shootings
• Falls Church Student Among 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars
• Marshall High Seniors Named 2023 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists
• Standards Of Learning Results 2022: How Falls Church Schools Performed
• Oak Street Elementary Gains New Principal For New School Year
• Meridian High School Student Scores Win At 2022 Cappies Gala

Other Community News

• Inova Pride Clinic For NoVA's LGBTQ Community Opens In Falls Church
• State Theatre Gets Back To Business With Return Of Live Music
• Niche 2022 Best Places To Live: How Falls Church Ranks
• Falls Church, Arlington Rank As Healthiest Localities In Virginia
• New Mural Unveiled In Time For Juneteenth In Falls Church
• Rent Prices Increase Near Falls Church Metro Stops Since 2021: Report
• Halloween Outdoor Painting Displays Return To Falls Church