Top Stories on Fairfax City Patch in August

The most-read stories on Fairfax City Patch in August were a mixed bag.

Two terrible accidents caught readers' attention this past month - one in which a man was killed after his car suddenly accelerated after a red light and crashed head-on into the T-Mobile store on Fairfax Boulevard, and another when a 17-year-old Fairfax boy walking along the side of the freeway on Route 66 was fatally struck by a passing car, in an incident state police said appeared to be suicide.

However, there were happy stories too - such as the addition of an exciting new coffee shop specializing in direct-trade, organic beans, and a unique contest to rename a local restaurant that has new management and a new menu in the works.

For more info on these, the month's top 10 stories, click on the links below - and let us know what you thought of August's biggest stories in the comments.

And - happy September, Fairfax!


10. New Details Revealed in Vanessa Pham Murder Investigation
The local area was rocked to its core a couple of years ago when a promising young high school graduate from Madison High in Vienna was found stabbed to death. The trial for her accused killer began this past month, and new details of the case being revealed are chilling.

9. Help Rename This Fairfax City Restaurant, And You Could Win $500 in Free Food
There's still time left to get your entry in, in this unique contest being run by a local eatery, which has new management and a revamped menu in the works, leading them to think a new name is in order - which they want you to help them choose.

8. Man Struck, Killed By Metro Train Was GMU Athlete
The George Mason University community mourned a couple of weeks ago when it was revealed that a young man killed while walking on Metro tracks in Falls Church was a bright athlete at GMU, who played on the team with his brother, and whom teammates say was liked by all who knew him.

7. Body Identified as McLean Teen, Labor Day Events, Boy Mugged, Restaurant Inspections and 'Char-a-oke'
This roundup of stories from the region last Tuesday included a chilling story of a 16-year-old McLean girl whose body was discovered in Vienna. 

6. Fairfax City's Newest Coffee Shop Has 'Perfect Cup' Down to a Science
Many locals were excited to learn of a new direct-trade, slow-brew, organic coffee shop that just recently opened in Fairfax City on Fairfax Boulevard. Read what this unique coffee shop has to offer, and hear from the owners.

5. Pedestrian Struck, Killed After Walking Along Route 66
Traffic was snarled for hours one morning a few weeks ago when a young man was killed walking along the side of the road on Route 66 in Fairfax. Sadly, the victim was identified as a 17-year-old Fairfax boy.

4. Puppy Purchased From Fairfax City Pet Store Dies From Parvovirus
A passionate debate sparked up amongst locals over the horrors of puppy mills and the merits of purchasing pets versus adopting or rescuing when a local family reported that the 11-week-old dachsund puppy they had purchased from Petland in Fairfax City died of this vicious virus only 36 hours after being brought home - despite the owners giving him a clean bill of health and telling them he'd had all his vaccinations, including that for parvovirus.

3. Police Investigate Route 66 Accident as a Suicide
Particularly since he was a 17-year-old boy, locals were shocked to hear that authorities said they had reason to believe the death of a 17-year-old boy who had been walking along the side of the road on Route 66 in Fairfax and was fatally struck by a passing vehicle might be suicide.

2. Fairfax Man Killed in Crash into T-Mobile Store
Another tragic accident occurred a few weeks ago when a local man was killed in a horrific accident that ended with his car plowing into the side of the T-Mobile store on Fairfax Boulevard. 

1. Officials: Death of Fairfax Teen on Route 66 Was Suicide
Sadly, Virginia state troopers concluded a few weeks ago that the death of a 17-year-old Fairfax boy struck by a passing vehicle on Route 66 in Fairfax after he was walking along the side of the freeway was suicide. 

Which story caught your eye the most during the month of August? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

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