A project to convert a former Inova office building in Merrifield into affordable housing is set to begin construction this May The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) and developer Conifer Realty announced late last week that they’ve closed on financing for the repurposing of the vacant four-story office building at 2990 Telestar Court The development represents Conifer’s first venture in Virginia and the county housing authority’s first effort to convert office space into affordable housing “We are thrilled to bring our expertise in affordable housing to Fairfax County and provide modern sustainable living options for residents,” Conifer Realty Vice President for Development Paul Marfione said “This development exemplifies our dedication to creating vibrant communities that offer residents access to both economic opportunity and quality living.” While an exact construction start date hasn’t been determined Conifer anticipates breaking ground “in the next few weeks” with a formal celebratory event planned for June or July communications director Dave Lanzillo told FFXnow If it stays on track, the renovation is expected to be complete by the end of 2026 delivering one and two-bedroom rental units that will be available to households earning 30 to 80% of the area’s median income (AMI) As of June 2024, Fairfax County’s AMI was $108,300 for one person, per the Department of Housing and Community Development. Under the county’s workforce dwelling unit (WDU) program rents for a one-bedroom apartment restricted to people making up to 80% of the AMI The county recently revised its WDU program which requires developers to provide income-restricted units in exchange for additional density by shifting the targeted income range from 80 to 120% AMI down to 70% to 100% but the Telestar development is the first to both reach construction and offer exclusively affordable units “There are many challenges involved in an office-to-residential conversion and ensuring affordability will be preserved for years to come,” FCRHA Chair Lenore Stanton said in a press release and very intensive analysis on the part of our staff and Conifer we have been able to outline a successful solution that will achieve our goals.” Proposed by developer Madison Highland, the workforce housing project was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in June 2023 in conjunction with a plan to convert a second office building at 8110 Gatehouse Road into live/work units The Telestar and Gatehouse buildings had served as Inova’s administrative headquarters until the nonprofit health system relocated those operations to its Center for Personalized Health (8100 Innovation Park Drive) in fall 2022 According to Madison Highland’s website its live/work conversion on Gatehouse Road is expected to start construction this spring and take about 18 months to complete The six-story building will feature 215 lofts that can be used as housing resident vegetable gardens and other amenities Madison Highland didn’t return a request for comment by press time According to Conifer Realty, the workforce housing project will cost $51 million, with funds coming from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and other public financing To ensure the site’s affordability status for the foreseeable future FCRHA has acquired the underlying land and entered into a 99-year lease with Merrifield Housing a new joint entity managed by Conifer Realty and its partner Joseph Browne Development Associates The building will include units in the county’s Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) program as well as its permanent supportive housing initiative which provides housing for formerly homeless individuals “ensuring that the community will serve a diverse range of residents in need,” Conifer said and I’m proud that we are delivering new affordable housing near transit and essential services,” said Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik who chairs the board’s housing committee and ensuring that people of all income levels can live with dignity and access opportunity is central to building a better Fairfax County and a place to call home.” – The Rio Arriba County sheriff was laid to rest as the investigation into his death continues Sheriff Billy Merrifield’s funeral was Wednesday afternoon A friend found Merrifield dead in his patrol vehicle outside his home near Abiquiu Lake New Mexico State Police say the sheriff was in a minor accident with a woman in his patrol car hours before Investigators are also waiting to find out if the sheriff had drugs or alcohol in his system when he died Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KOB via our online formor call 505-243-4411 Friends and supporters throughout Northern New Mexico mourned Merrifield's death Sunday describing him as a guardian and skilled investigator Email notifications are only sent once a day Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield died at his home early Sunday morning “Sheriff Merrifield dedicated his life to serving and protecting the residents of Rio Arriba County and his loss is felt deeply throughout our county,” county manager Jeremy Maestas said in a news release Sunday afternoon The cause of Merrifield’s has not yet been released though Maestas noted his death was unexpected and the county will share further details as they become available Merrifield became the Rio Arriba County sheriff by appointment in 2021 when former sheriff James Lujan resigned following his conviction on two felony counts Voters opted to retain Merrifield in the 2022 general election after he beat out five other Democratic candidates in that year’s primary Friends and supporters throughout Northern New Mexico mourned Merrifield’s death Sunday afternoon “May you find peace and comfort in the arms of angels Your leadership and presence will be missed,” Sen posted on social media in honor of Merrifield First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies remembered Merrifield as a skilled investigator with a deep commitment to the community he served “Sheriff Merrifield embodied the best of public service,” Carmack-Altwies said in a news release “We worked well together — with the same goal of making Rio Arriba County a safer place for everyone.” New Mexico Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie described the sheriff as a “steadfast guardian” and noted his department “stands ready” to assist Rio Arriba County following Merrifield’s death The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s office described him as a “leader and protector” on social media the Mora County Sheriff’s Office and Village of Chama also offered condolences and an unwavering dedication to protecting others,” the Española Police Department posted on Facebook Commissioners held a special meeting and unanimously appointed Maj Lorenzo Aguilar to serve the remainder of Merrifield's term Merrifield was found dead in the driver's seat by a friend who said he came to his aid when he crashed his truck hours earlier Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning get a preview of The New Mexican's big Sunday 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focusing on one-of-a-kind creations is opening in Merrifield’s Mosaic District this weekend The grand opening for District Candle Lab and Fawne — a joint endeavor in one storefront — is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) at 2910 District Avenue The first 50 guests in line when the shops doors open at 11 a.m will receive free “swag bags” as part of the festivities while all shoppers on the first day will receive special one-day pricing on all purchases customers can utilize the store’s wall of scents and work with “candle-tenders” to create a custom Customers can work with “charm baristas” to create custom chains that are both waterproof and hypoallergenic It will be the second brick-and-mortar space for the two brands “The popularity of these concepts has been beyond what we had dreamed of and the idea we would have two shops in less than a year was unimaginable,” said Ferzan Jaeger and we’re building plans for many more locations in and beyond our region.” Other retailers coming to the Merrifield neighborhood include the donut shop chain The Salty and the bridal fashion store Zakaa Couture Personalized news alerts with our mobile app Please subscribe to continue reading… Montana Tech head track and field coach Chuck Merrifield stands for a portrait during a track and field practice on Wednesday BUTTE —- The blue skies hanging above the Copper City slowly began to close up one Wednesday evening dark swaths of clouds eating up the remaining clear sky A winter weather warning was on the horizon And yet the Tech track and field team was not deterred Student-athletes slowly began trickling into Bulldog Memorial Stadium for practice first warming up on the sidelines as they chatted about their lectures and pro sports then on the asphalt with high knees and butt kickers and with it the Orediggers’ pace on the track Montana Tech track and field athletes warm up during a track and field practice on Wednesday First-year Tech track coach Chuck Merrifield bundled in a black and orange Orediggers hoodie observed his athletes’ initiative as they warmed up “You have a lot of great kids that are…this is really what they want to do here,” Merrifield said you get kids that come out for the social aspect kids that just want to be a part (of a team) They want to be the best athlete they can be.” Merrifield’s marvel at the drive in his college student-athletes is apparent; after 21 years of being the athletic director at Butte High and 11 years before that teaching math and physical education the difference between high school and collegiate athletics is particularly apparent Merrifield has coached everything from football to basketball to wrestling but his heart always lay with track and field Montana Tech head track and field coach Chuck Merrifield stands for a portrait during a Montana Tech track and field practice on Wednesday whose name graced the scoreboard of the stadium: Charles Merrifield Field “It all comes down to my father,” Merrifield said he was part of the track programs in Butte It’s just something that the whole family got behind him with and most of the whole family fell in love with.” The Merrifield name is synonymous throughout Montana Charles Merrifield coached for nearly 70 years at various schools and towns and in various sports A member of multiple Hall of Fames – Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame Western Montana College Hall of Fame and Butte Hall of Fame – his son Chuck reminisced on how his father touched so many lives coaching He remembers past athletes of his father’s always coming by the house to pay him a visit Chuck continues to carry on the Merrifield name in track as he came out of retirement to follow a dream of coaching track at the college level Montana Tech head track and field coach Chuck Merrifield watches Jadyn Vermillion and Abby Clark practice hurdles during a track and field practice on Wednesday After being so ingrained in high school sports for decades the biggest challenge that has come from pivoting to coaching college is schedule Coordinating practices amongst a large group of athletes all with different class schedules and job schedules is a challenge unique to coaching at the college level that might be the only challenge in his dream job Having three or four different practices a day is not a big deal when you love what you’re doing – a requisite for success in a program and to be a good leader “All the coaches have to love kids,” Merrifield said they have to be in it for the right reasons our coaches were in it for the right reasons And as long as you’re in for the right reasons “Everybody’s got to be looking to get better on a daily basis And as long as there’s people that are willing to learn willing to listen and they make their decisions based on what’s best for the kids Merrifield’s leadership philosophy has manifested into success on the track and field with athletes breaking personal bests and school records from throwing and sprinters to jumpers and distance runners Montana Tech students warm up in pole vault during a track and field practice on Wednesday Freshman Matthew Moreni placed first in the 100-meter dash at the Trudnowski Open in Helena this week en route to breaking the Tech school record in 10.72 seconds and he came in second in the 400-meter hurdles at 54.62 seconds Senior Abby Clark also saw success in Helena this time at the track and field multi-event Frontier championship this past weekend as she captured her fourth-straight heptathlon title for a total of 4,902 points – the second-best NAIA score this season Clark took victory in the long jump at 5.71 meters and the 800-meter run at 2:32.21 and took third in javelin at 33.42 meters Her 4,902 points were the second most ever in the heptathlon at the Frontier championship – the most being her own 5,009 points from last season the reigning NAIA indoor shot put runner-up broke an Orediggers record when he surpassed his own best shot put record with a distance of 17.23 meters at the Providence Open where he also won the hammer (51.23 meters) and discus throws (50.79 meters) and everybody is working hard,” Merrifield said and for them to be attending Montana Tech…the academics are second to none and to be able to be successful in the classroom and out on the track in addition to being successful in the classroom juggling jobs and dominating on the track outdoors also compete in an indoor track season in the fall It’s another aspect that Merrifield coaches them through – pacing themselves and making sure they’re healthy throughout the season He’d rather have his athletes 100% healthy than 80% in shape Montana Tech track and field students practice movement exercises while warming up for a track and field practice on Wednesday you’ve got to be real sure you’re giving them rest,” Merrifield said and making sure that they’re all taken care of and with all the mental that’s going on in their classrooms and their tests It’s really important that they take care of their bodies “It’s just pacing them for a very long season.” Merrifield’s leadership has thus far allowed the success Tech’s track team saw during indoor season to be transferred into the outdoor season the Orediggers will look to maintain their pace and finish strong as they prepare for the Montana Open in Missoula this weekend and then the Frontier Conference championships the weekend after that The outdoor season culminates May 21 at the national championship in Indiana A long haul for Merrifield’s track and field athletes – a long haul in which they are well equipped for Bria Manning is the sports editor of The Montana Standard. Follow her on X at @briaamanning or contact her at bria.manning@406mtsports.com “I wanna put myself in the best position to compete They know they’re getting a good competitor.” — Sacramento State tran… He wants a quarterback the team can know they can trust all the time Both were honored for their play at the Columbia Basin Invitational in Richland Lorenzo Aguilar represent the Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office at the National Sheriff’s Association in Washington Rio Arriba County commissioners Monday appointed a major to lead the sheriff’s office as New Mexico State Police continued to investigate the death of Sheriff Billy Merrifield at his home early Sunday The three commissioners held an emergency meeting in Española on Monday morning to choose a successor County Manager Jeremy Maestas said in an interview they unanimously appointed Maj who also was a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office to serve the remainder of Merrifield’s term The move comes as the circumstances of Merrifeld’s death remain unknown and state police had not released a cause of his death by Monday evening “We believed in his leadership,” Commission Chair Brandon Bustos said of the decision to appoint Aguilar and we came to a unanimous decision that he’d be the best fit for the role of sheriff in the meantime a lifelong resident of Rio Arriba County who grew up in Tierra Amarilla has worked in the sheriff’s office for 15 years He described the commissioners’ decision to appoint him as a “complete surprise.” “Our whole department is grieving for our sheriff that passed away,” Aguilar said Merrifield’s death drew social media tributes from friends supporters and law enforcement agencies statewide Some described him as an advocate for his agency and a “steadfast guardian” who cared about public service said he had “turned the department around.” He also recalled how Merrifield had coached him in baseball when he was young He said he was still in shock over the sheriff’s death Commissioners wanted to appoint someone to succeed Merrifield from within the sheriff’s office to continue the work he was doing and examined a list of employees before making a decision Aguilar noted some of the bigger projects underway within the agency including a potential new public safety complex The county received $3 million in state capital outlay for fiscal year 2026 to begin planning and design for the complex Aguilar was not second in command at the agency; that role is held by Undersheriff Monica Salazar who could not be reached for comment Monday Merrifield had named Salazar undersheriff in 2022 making her the first female undersheriff in Rio Arriba County “We saw that [Aguilar] could do it as well that he could carry out what Sheriff Merrifield’s vision was,” Bustos said “We needed someone immediately,” Commissioner Alex Naranjo said “I guess we could have put somebody on a temporary basis that we would select somebody within the force.” I think she is a respectable lady and everything else only because I have known him for a few years and I have known him to be an extremely intelligent and extremely well qualified individual for that position.” who had stepped into the role in fall 2014 was convicted in 2021 of aiding a felon and intimidating a witness former Española city councilor Phillip Chacon evade police in 2017 after Chacon had led officers on a chase He also was convicted of intimidating then-Deputy Cody Lattin by directing him not to tell anyone Lujan was released from prison in 2023 after serving 18 months a former police chief and several former officers in state District Court accusing them of conspiring against him during criminal proceedings Lujan was not the first Rio Arriba sheriff to be sentenced to prison time is serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison for roughing up a motorist and brandishing a firearm during an encounter in 2014 This story has been amended to reflect the following correction A previously version of this story incorrectly reported the location where the emergency meeting was held Merrifield’s Mosaic District has a potentially exciting year ahead A variety of new tenants have already set their sights on the mixed-use neighborhood while others are still considering one of many storefronts Here’s a rundown of what to expect at the Mosaic District in the months ahead A Florida-based donut shop is expecting to open in the retail center “around summer,” a spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow The Salty, which was founded in 2014, announced plans for its first Virginia location last summer It is set to take over the former Loyal Companion storefront The Salty’s menu features a variety of baked goods highlighted by a variety of donut offerings While a Merrifield-specific menu has not been announced many of the brand’s other locations offer homemade pop tarts Another chain making its Virginia debut at the Mosaic District, the New York-based cafe Maman also says it’s slated for a summer opening The cafe will be located at 2920 District Avenue An official grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m Also under the umbrella of Neighborhood Restaurant Group, the company behind Red Apron, HiFi can currently be found in Alexandria and offers traditional barbecue fare with a Tex-Mex influence Hawkers, an Asian street food chain, confirmed in 2023 that it’s coming to the retail center taking the spot long occupied by Four Sisters Signs advertising that the restaurant is “coming soon” have since been posted around the storefront but a spokesperson hasn’t responded to inquiries about a possible opening time frame Signage has appeared outside of a storefront at 2921 District Avenue announcing future tenant Herman Miller a furniture company perhaps most known for its office furniture The new store, which will neighbor Madison Reed Color Bar Initially founded in 1923 as the Michigan Star Furniture Company After closing for renovations last year, Parc de Ville may be gearing up to reopen in the coming weeks The restaurant’s Yelp page which is moderated by a confirmed representative of the restaurant However, the French restaurant no longer appears on the shopping center’s website the developer that owns and manages most of the Mosaic District said it was an “oversight,” but as of press time It is unclear what renovations are being completed as no construction permits have been issued for the restaurant’s space at 8296 Glass Alley according to the county’s permitting portal A request for clarification sent to representatives of the French restaurant went unanswered As Custom Ink prepares to vacate its space at the Mosaic District one company is looking to confirm that it can renovate and move into the space The Washington Business Journal first reported last month that Onelife Fitness submitted a zoning verification letter to Fairfax County officials seeking to clarify whether the space can accommodate a “full service health club with pool which had administrative offices on three non-ground floors at 2910 District Avenue intends to vacate the space by the time its lease expires on March 31 According to the Jan. 28 request which is still being reviewed by county staff the envisioned fitness center will be over 30,000 square foot in size with three swimming pools The anticipated hours of operation are 5 a.m Onelife Fitness operates 27 locations across Virginia A longtime tenant of Merrifield’s Gatehouse Plaza has permanently closed its doors Uno Pizzeria & Grill served its final slice late last month after 25 years in business “It is with profound sadness that on January 28, our beloved location permanently closed,” the chain restaurant announced on Facebook “Thank you to all who have supported us through the years We love you all and are eternally grateful to you.” A sign affixed to the restaurant’s door also acknowledged the closure, which was first reported by Annandale Today “It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you for the past 25 years,” the sign reads “We have enjoyed every minute of it.” No reason was given for the closure of the restaurant which was one of two Fairfax-area locations for the Chicago-based chain The self-proclaimed “birthplace of deep dish pizza,” Uno offered seven different deep dish options, as well as the ability for diners to create their own. Uno’s menu also included thin-crust pizza Uno’s only remaining location in Fairfax County and all of Northern Virginia is at Kingstowne Town Center — a 20-minute drive from the shuttered restaurant While not able to speak officially for Uno or the Merrifield restaurant a manager at the Kingstowne location said he heard that they had encountered leasing issues on top of struggling to bring in enough customers and money to justify keeping their doors open Uno also closed a longstanding corporate location at Union Station in D.C The Greater Merrifield Business Association (GMBA) which supports businesses in the area through marketing and networking acknowledged Uno’s closure in a newsletter yesterday (Wednesday) and very supportive to our organization and the local community,” the association said A variety of other dine-in restaurants remain at Gatehouse Plaza, including the neighboring Sweetwater Tavern and Guapo’s A sprawling collection of offices and warehouses in northern Merrifield could someday look more like the newer development around the nearby Dunn Loring Metro station Property owner Link Logistics and an affiliate of EYA Development hope to replace the 41-acre Prosperity Business Campus at 2750 Prosperity Avenue with a resident-focused “walkable urban neighborhood,” according to a development plan submitted to Fairfax County on Friday (Jan which will require the site to be rezoned from an industrial district to residential mixed-use creating a “logical transition” between commercial buildings to the east and the existing Dunn Loring Village townhomes to the west “The Applicant’s proposal presents an exciting opportunity to transform an aging suburban-style industrial office park into a thriving residential community,” Walsh Lubeley & Walsh land use attorney Robert Brant said in a statement of justification for the application the Prosperity Business Campus lines both sides of Prosperity Avenue with Hilltop Road to the south and I-66 to the north It’s about half a mile away from the Metro station and within a half-mile of the Mosaic District a position that makes it “an ideal candidate for redevelopment,” Brant argues in the statement Link Logistics began pursuing a potential overhaul of its property by nominating it for a comprehensive plan amendment in 2022 requesting that the county add an option for mixed-use housing that could allow up to 2.7 million square feet of development With a plan amendment now in the works, as authorized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in April 2023, the property owner partnered with EYA that year and has since been working to refine its initial development concept based on feedback from staff and the community the applicants are seeking two possible development options that would be delivered in phases: the multi-family buildings will include one to two floors with up to 5,000 square feet of non-residential uses and they would top out at 85 feet in height or six to seven stories The proposed townhouses would have four stories with a maximum height of 24 feet The application doesn’t specify whether the multi-family units will be rental apartments or owned condominiums. It states that the developers will meet the county’s requirements for affordable and workforce housing the multi-family buildings will be concentrated on the north side of the property near I-66 and be supported by parking garages with approximately 1,200 or 1,700 spaces depending on which option is ultimately chosen Adding in surface spaces and garages for the townhouses at least 2,287 parking spots are proposed for the overall development The development could bring 5.07 to 5.49 acres of publicly accessible park space Both plans call for a 3.27-acre Central Park on the west side of Prosperity Avenue with an open lawn but the size and location of an additional “gateway park” would vary based on the chosen option “This new open space represents a significant improvement over the existing condition and … fulfills an existing and growing demand for such space in the Merrifield Suburban Center,” Brant wrote townhouse residents will have access to a series of interior courtyards and plazas intended to “further break up the blocks into smaller Link Logistics and EYA are also committing to preserving Long Branch stream valley which runs along the west side of the business park and to making improvements along Prosperity Avenue A proposed landscaped median on a portion of the road would further enhance “the focus on the pedestrian experience,” the application says Fairfax County got some funding in 2023 to design a reconfiguration of Prosperity Avenue with a road diet and bicycle lanes to address safety concerns One man was killed in a single-vehicle crash at Prosperity Avenue and Morningside Drive near the Mantua neighborhood and south of Merrifield the driver struck a tree near the intersection and was declared deceased at the scene Prosperity Avenue was temporarily shut down between Little River Turnpike and Arlington Blvd and there are residual delays in the area Officers are on scene of a single-vehicle fatal crash at Prosperity Ave and Morningside Dr near Mantua. The driver, an adult male, was declared deceased at the scene. The intersection will be closed for the investigation. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/aj9tFnqGpf — Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) April 16, 2025 Image via Google Maps passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on March 17 Mary was born on February 10,1958 in Bisbee For years she worked at Captain Andy’s Lobster Shack Megunticook Market and Sodexo which was part of mbna in Camden She married Douglas Merrifield on August 16 They built their life together in Searsmont where Mary enjoyed planting flowers and working in her gardens while watching the hummingbirds throughout the spring four wheeling and spending endless hours with family and friends at MM Pond held many wonderful memories with all who were there with her and Douglas moving back to Arizona to care for her when she became ill and was by her mothers side for those last precious years Arizona; and special friend Nancy Stevens and special niece Suzanne Farley A Celebration of Life will be announced as a later date Arrangements are under the card of Riposta Funeral Home Thanks to our readers and especially our supporters who help to keep PenBayPilot.com an open and accessible community hub Your support is even more critical during rapidly changing times While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community We are grateful to those who already participate Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone X You need to be a member in order to leave a comment Sign up for a new account in our community passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 4 Ruth was born September 9,1936 to Lawrence and Viola (Skinner) Cushman Gregory (Jeannie Smith) Merrifield and Patricia (Jason) Fuller; five grandchildren: Erik Thompson Aaron and Sarah Fuller; four great grandchildren: Ashton and Remington Thompson and Chance and Sawyer Cunningham; and three great-great grandchildren Ruth is also survived by her siblings George Cushman Steve Cushman and Larry Cushman; special friends Gene and Luella Merrifield and DeeDee Doughty Ruth is predeceased by her parents; son Scott Merrifield; husband Richard Merrifield Ruth graduated from Crosby High School in 1955 After graduation she moved to New Hampshire for two years working as a dressmaker before returning to Searsmont She married Richard Merrifield on October 17 She worked as a seamstress for many years for Belfast Manufacturing and Creative Apparel She kept her judgments to a minimum and her advice was sound Ruth had a knack of making you feel better after a call or visit She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and if you needed something Her sudden loss has left a void for all that knew and loved her that will be felt for a long time Memories and Condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com McLean Police District— Following a five-hour barricade a wanted man was arrested after he brandished a machete in the Merrifield area officers responded to the 2700 block of Livingstone Lane in Merrifield for a brandishing call A local man observed a man brandishing a machete and provided a description of the suspect to officers Officers were able to identify the suspect as Cristofer Turissini and obtained information that he had multiple warrants for his arrest Officers searched the immediate area and did not locate Turissini After continuing their search that evening officers located Turissini inside a parked vehicle in the 2700 block of Livingstone Lane Officers initially attempted to have Turissini exit the vehicle After Turissini continued to refuse officers’ directions additional officers from FCPD’s Special Operations Division and Crisis Response Team responded to assist with the barricade officers from our Special Operations Division took Turissini into custody and located a machete inside of the vehicle Turissini sustained injuries from a K9 bite and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Turissini was then taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and charged with two counts of Simple Assault Turissini was also served with six outstanding warrants and is currently being held no bond Detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have information about this case Those with information are asked to call the McLean District Station at 703-556-7750 and ask for a detective. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477) Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers” Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you see what’s happening in your neighborhood and share any available surveillance footage with our department.  call (preferred) or text 9-1-1 (voice and TTY) Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Whit Merrifield, after becoming the latest Atlanta Braves player to get hit by an errant fastball blasted the "pathetic" current state of pitching in Major League Baseball saying "something terrible is going to happen" if the sport doesn't reintroduce repercussions for throwing wildly inside "It's bulls---; it's driving me nuts," Merrifield said Tuesday after being hit in the head by a 94.5 mph fastball in the Braves' victory over the Colorado Rockies "I hate where the game is at right now with that." Merrifield left the game in the seventh inning after rookie right-hander Jeff Criswell's fastball plunked the part of the helmet just behind his left ear yelling angrily toward Criswell while he was down before finally walking slowly to the dugout there's no remorse or regard for throwing up and in Guys are throwing hard as they can and they don't care where the ball goes that was my life on the line right there," Whit Merrifield said after being hit in the head It's happening way too much out there." Brett Davis-Imagn Images"It's bulls--- then our guy is going to get hit.' That's not the game anymore Merrifield is a player representative on MLB's competition committee and said he planned to have a "long conversation" with other committee members during a meeting Wednesday "Teams are bringing pitchers up that don't know where the hell the ball is going," he said Just set up down the middle and throw it as hard as you can.' And it's bulls---." Merrifield became the fourth Braves player in less than a month to get hit by a high-and-tight fastball Merrifield mentioned all three of his teammates Tuesday and also cited other major leaguers who recently experienced major health scares due to inside fastballs Whit Merrifield was hit in the head Tuesday by a 94.5 mph fastball that plunked his helmet just behind the left ear. Kevin D Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images"It's just ridiculous and it has to be fixed or God forbid If this hits me in a different spot -- it's just pathetic It's frankly pathetic some of the pitchers we're running out there that don't know where the ball is going at the major-league level Braves manager Brian Snitker said Merrifield passed the concussion protocol and might be able to play Wednesday but the nine-year veteran was still fuming after the game but [Criswell] gets to stay in and pitch," Merrifield said "I'm probably not going to be able to play [Wednesday] -- no repercussion on his part Merrifield seeks changes for hit-by-pitchesSeptember 6th This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. 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And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox He passed concussion tests and a CT scan was clean But the veteran infielder is among the many concerned that we could see a much different result during this high-velocity era “Teams are bringing pitchers up that don’t know where the [heck] the ball is going,” Merrifield said Just set up down the middle and throw it as hard as you can.’ It’s [crap] I hate where the game is at right now with that.” Criswell was making his seventh career appearance on Tuesday and Kochanowicz was making his fourth career start But there’s concern that the infatuation with velocity has led to too many pitchers coming up through the ranks without proving they have sufficient command and control “From our coaching and player development and at the big league level our focus is primarily on taking that stuff and commanding and controlling the baseball,” Rockies manager Bud Black said But there’s no doubt that there’s pitchers throughout the league in the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues who are turning the ball loose at times with .. but the focus is more on stuff over command.” many of us have argued with an older relative about how current players are throwing harder than the guys of yesteryear but we are a species that continues to become bigger So it shouldn’t be surprising to see just how much an average fastball velocity has changed over the past 17 seasons MLB’s average four-seam velocity2008: 91.9 mph2014: 92.8 mph2024: 94.2 mph There has also been a 36 percent increase in HBP totals over the past 14 seasons MLB’s hit-by-pitch totals since 19801980: 657 (2,105 games What might be a suitable repercussion for pitchers who hit a batter above the shoulders with a fastball Merrifield is part of the rules committee (six owners four players and one umpire) that will discuss this issue "If they follow through and move Chisholm to second base will they get enough production from third base with some type of platoon between DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera?" Bowden wrote "LeMahieu has struggled to stay healthy and Cabrera profiles more as a utility player The Yankees don’t appear to have enough left in the budget to make a run at free agent Alex Bregman and are concerned about the decline of Nolan Arenado." The Yankees have been linked to numerous infielders to fill their current void at second base. And in a January 9 article, The Athletic's Brendan Kuty reminded the baseball world about the past interest New York had in free agent Whit Merrifield "The Yankees were also in contact with Merrifield after the Philadelphia Phillies cut him in July," Kuty wrote "Merrifield landed with the Atlanta Braves While there's no indication that the Yankees are pursuing Merrifield this offseason they could quickly turn to targeting him if they decide doing so is worthwhile The career-worst .625 OPS he produced with the Phillies and Atlanta Braves during the 2024 regular season shows that he's not the same hitter he once was with the Kansas City Royals. Still, Merrifield's above-average baserunning ability and the fact that Spotrac projects he'll sign an affordable two-year $3.5 million contract this offseason might be enough to convince the Yankees' front office that he's low-risk high-reward enough to take a free agency flier on The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Neighborhood Restaurant Group will shake up its presence at the Mosaic District in Merrifield in 2025 Retail butcher Red Apron closed its doors permanently earlier this month after 11 years in operation but the storefront located at 8298 Glass Alley will remain in the family HiFi Tex-Mex BBQ is tentatively scheduled for a February opening flipping the space from a retail shop to a day-and-night outpost for good food and good company according to Neighborhood Restaurant Group partner Greg Engert retail in that corner of our neighborhood just hasn’t had the draw as it once did,” Engert told FFXnow Red Apron’s storefront at 8298 Glass Alley sits just off the main stretch of the Mosaic District which brings with it reduced foot traffic compared to other businesses in the mixed-use neighborhood Neighborhood Restaurant Group anticipates that a unique dining option — Mosaic’s lone barbecue restaurant — will be a more attractive option to customers than a niche retail store “Profit margins are slim in the restaurant business and we are just looking for something that can maximize our top-line sales,” Engert said HiFi’s Merrifield location will be the brand’s third in the D.C and another in Alexandria’s Del Rey neighborhood The menu features traditional barbecue fare like chopped pork distinguishes the restaurant from other barbecue joints “HiFi will feature everything from prime beef brisket wings and more,” the brand’s website says “Backstopped by a fun menu full of margaritas HiFi aims to become your one-stop shop for all things delicious.” A limited renovation of the store will introduce shuffleboard and vintage video games as well as updated decor and beverage options Despite the store’s closure, Red Apron’s Butcher Box Club will continue. For $85 a month, subscribers can receive a rotating selection “showcasing different meats” plus recipes. Neighborhood Restaurant Group is also looking for additional locations to revive Red Apron’s retail concept “at the right moment,” according to Engert. B Side, a bar and restaurant that’s also under the Neighborhood Restaurant Group umbrella, will remain open next door to the HiFi space. READ MORETalkin' Hockey: Meet Sarah Merrifield why is UHC struggling at home?by David James SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — As the Utah Hockey Club nears the season's midway point it is still trying to figure out how to earn more points at home Sarah Merrifield from the broadcast team joins David James in the studio to talk about that conundrum the re-emergence of "Spicy Tuna" Liam O'Brien and guess which player has 17 chickens so he can have fresh eggs UHC fans can also learn about Sarah's career path from San Diego to Syracuse to Abilene to Austin to Dallas to Utah Watch the interview here and watch Talkin' Hockey every Sunday at 11 p.m Merrifield released as Phils look to improve vs PHILADELPHIA -- The next couple weeks for the Phillies could shape their October successes or failures The July 30 Trade Deadline is approaching. They need to decide how they want to improve their 26-man roster. Do they spend resources on a right-handed-hitting outfielder? Do they get another late-inning reliever? Do they do both? To make the best decision possible, they released three-time All-Star on Friday less than five months after he signed a one-year 11 RBIs and a .572 OPS over 174 plate appearances He ranked last in average exit velocity (83.0 mph) out of 322 players with a minimum 100 balls in play “We’re trying to get a little more thump from the right side,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said The Phillies will spend the next couple weeks playing and evaluating Weston Wilson who they promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley It is no secret the Phils need help in the outfield There have been reports that they’ve focused solely on center field The Phillies are looking for corner outfielders Names often linked to the Phillies -- like Luis Robert Jr either because the Phillies would be unwilling to part with the prospects required to acquire the player or because they probably don’t have true interest in the player Phillies outfielders ranked 25th in baseball with a .661 OPS; their left fielders were 20th with a .681 OPS The Phils need an outfielder who can hit left-handed pitching who was batting .295 with a .938 OPS against lefties since May 19 entering Friday Here’s how the other Phillies’ outfielders have fared against southpaws entering Friday: • Merrifield -- .190 average; .567 OPS in 84 plate appearances• Brandon Marsh -- .149 average; .392 OPS in 54 plate appearances• Cristian Pache -- .210 average; .635 OPS in 73 plate appearances• Johan Rojas -- .186 average; .417 OPS in 62 plate appearances but it could become a major problem in the postseason if teams stack left-handed pitching against them “They’re going to put as many [lefties] as they can against us,” Thomson said “That’s something that hopefully Wes can provide.” 20 RBIs and a 1.185 OPS in his last 20 games Expect Wilson to play regularly in left field against lefties for the next couple weeks He has played 10 out of his 15 games in left field since June 1 including his final five games with the IronPigs “I’m looking at this like it’s a great opportunity,” said Wilson, who went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 6-2 loss to Oakland Philadelphia hoped that he would become a key utility player for them he instead seemed to be on the decline and by July they were ready to let him go The Braves gave him an opportunity to redeem himself In Atlanta his numbers improved drastically 17 stolen bases and 15 runs during his time with the Braves last season he remains a free agent and has not seen any action in Grapefruit League play yet this year With Opening Day looming closer it may be in the Braves’ best interest to hold onto him USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Whit Merrifield (9) after an inning against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park His versatility and ability to adapt to the game where needed are assets that make him a free agent that could fill holes on rosters looking to improve their depth for the upcoming season He has played third base and left field making him an option for teams looking to improve both their infield and outfield lineups turning a hit that should have been a double into a triple or going in as a pinch runner late in the game his speed makes him an asset to an offensive line up as well USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Whit Merrifield (15) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images  For a team like the Braves who last season faced one injury after another having a utility player on their roster like Merrifield seems like a no brainer  As long as he stays healthy Merrifield is the type of veteran player that is appealing to a lot of teams who are still evaluating their rosters or to teams like the Yankees who are now ridden with injury this early in the season.  The Braves may need to act fast if they want Whit Merrifield to stay in Atlanta this season Merrifield suffered the injury after fouling a ball off his foot in Friday's win over the Toronto Blue Jays A CT scan and MRI revealed a fracture in his foot and he was expected to be out six to eight weeks after consulting with a foot specialist Saturday "When they saw the CT scan and saw the small fracture automatically it was six to eight [weeks]," manager Brian Snitker said Merrifield called it a "stable fracture" and said it was going to be a "pain tolerance thing" once the swelling went down The Braves added Merrifield in July after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies He's batting .243 with a .701 OPS in 34 games with Atlanta this season Also Saturday, Atlanta acquired utilityman Cavan Biggio from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations. Biggio had been on a minor league deal with the Giants. The Associated Press contributed to this story. They look not only at offensive contributions individual achievements and postseason success to come up with the best of the best Recently, Bleacher Report has been publishing pieces that are a part of a Greatest of the Last 25 Years series, and their latest installment is on second basemen there's an extremely obvious choice for the top spot at second base who Bleacher Report named as the top "honorable mention" for the Royals a 15-year veteran who made the 1996 All-Star Game and then won his first Gold Glove in 2006 played a long career as a glove-first infielder who was well respected around the game His Royals years were from 2006-2008 at the tail end of his career ht hit 16 home runs while sporting a .300 batting average 96 OPS+ and 3.2 Defensive Wins Above Replacement — the most he ever had at a single stop in his career There's no doubt that he was a solid option at second but Whit Merrifield is the hands-down favorite to be labeled as the club's greatest second baseman of the past 25 years he's hit just .255 with a .674 OPS across 240 games He's also been worth just 1.0 bWAR in that stretch Where he first rose to prominence was in a Royals uniform one that he donned for the first seven years of his career played every single game of the year in three straight seasons led the AL in doubles and triples once each Merrifield fit the Royals' typical brand of baseball perfectly during his time there He was never a big power hitter — though he topped the double-digit home run mark four times — but he was a pesky contact-first bat who stole a ton of bases and always found a way to get on Second base was and always will be his position by trade but he logged considerable time at first and third base as well as all three spots in the outfield Merrifield stepped in to fill his role as a jack-of-all-trades Merrifield's career has consisted of 18.3 bWAR with 17.1 of them coming from his days in Kansas City He's still an immensely popular figure in the area and will forever be known as one of the best second basemen the Royals have ever rostered He's the clear best choice for the best they've had in the past 25 years © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands A Merrifield man who evaded arrest for eight years will spend the next decade in federal prison in connection to drug charges Otis Chevalier, 46, was sentenced last Thursday (April 10) to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to both the distribution of and the conspiracy to distribute the drug phencyclidine — otherwise known as PCP Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia Chevalier had shipped PCP through the mail twice to residences belong to the mothers of his children in Chantilly He would then take the substance to a Maryland storage unit where he stored and repackaged it for redistribution Postal Service received a report in June 2015 of a leaking package shipped to Alexandria that turned out to have PCP Inspectors also found the substance in a parcel seized in December 2015: Postal Inspectors responded to a report of a leaking parcel shipped from California to an apartment in Alexandria The parcel contained multiple Mason-style jars containing approximately two gallons of PCP Chevalier shipped three packages from California to Virginia and Maryland Postal Inspectors seized one of the packages which had been mailed to an address in Chantilly The parcel contained approximately 6.5 kilograms of a mixture containing PCP A search of Chevalier’s Mosaic District apartment the following year uncovered a variety of drug paraphernalia including items commonly used in the preparation and packing of PCP A federal magistrate judge issued an arrest warrant for Chevalier on Jan but after his attorney alerted him to the warrant He was ultimately taken into custody in Reston last August though court documents don’t reveal any details about how he was found who pleaded guilty to the two charges back in October had faced a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison Chevalier had a previous felony drug conviction for a PCP case where he “was found to have caused a residential explosion in Bowie 5 prospect in wake of Albies injuryJuly 23rd A day after losing Ozzie Albies to a left wrist fracture the Braves made a pair of moves aimed at mitigating the loss of their three-time All-Star second baseman Atlanta signed utility man to a Major League contract on Monday and recalled its No. 5 prospect, Nacho Alvarez Jr. was released by the Phillies on July 12 after hitting .199 with a .572 OPS in 53 games He's expected to provide infield depth for the Braves primarily a shortstop so far in the Minors is expected to play second base for Atlanta In 76 games this season between Double-A and Triple-A Since his promotion to Triple-A on June 12 he's hit .336 with a 1.007 OPS in 28 games In corresponding moves on Monday, outfielder Eli White was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett and outfielder Forrest Wall was designated for assignment The loss of Albies was the second injury blow for the Braves on Sunday. Atlanta also lost All-Star left-hander Max Fried with left forearm neuritis which is expected to keep him out of action for at least two weeks And those two setbacks were just the latest in what's been a season of obstacles for the Braves “It gets to a point where it’s kind of over the top a little bit,” manager Brian Snitker told reporters after Sunday's game Despite the rash of injuries, the Braves were 54-44 entering play Monday and held the top Wild Card spot in the National League MERRIFIELD — As the number of those who served in World War II dwindles one local veteran prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday Howard Caughey will hit the century milestone on Feb Friends and family will celebrate with him at his Merrifield home where he lives with grandson and nearby other relatives While Caughey doesn’t talk much these days after his last illness he did say nearing 100 doesn’t feel different than any other day Grandson James Caughey and daughter-in-law Loreen Nelson have plenty of stories of their own to share about the family patriarch beginning with the two Purple Hearts he earned while overseas in the Army “He was in an explosion of some kind,” James Caughey said and some shrapnel or something hit him in the collarbone on one of the sides of him He wanted to stay and help any way he could which meant working in the mailroom or driving He served primarily in Germany with the 334th Infantry Regiment Caughey still recalls buying some paintings in a German town to send home to his family The two framed works of mountain landscapes still reside on the wall in his home today near black and white photos from his childhood working on the family farm “Part of living to be 100 is to put stuff on the wall where you live to be a record of what you did,” Caughey said The work ethic he learned in his young days stayed with Caughey through the rest of his life through his military service and later civilian work helping his parents in operations like buying and selling cattle Then various jobs took him across the country working as a foreman in places like Chicago Florida and even the Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico Caughey started a business selling fertilizer made from a nearby peat bog to greenhouses When asked what he’s learned most from his grandfather over the years Many times that goal has seemed to be caring for his family Among James’s favorite memories with his grandfather is going to the Black Hills of South Dakota and prospecting for gold “We found little bits here and there,” he said “And he taught me a little bit about it — how you use the pan and then you go upstream because you’re looking for the source And he tried to explain to me what gold veins were and how they formed.” who’s been a part of the Caughey family since 1983 gleaned countless tidbits of wisdom and skills from her father-in-law over the years grow her own food and find the best places to go agate hunting “I have learned more life stuff from him than I have from anybody else in my life,” Nelson said He’s been and continues to be the family rock for years generous heart and helping nature down through the generations to four grandkids and two great-grandchildren “If you’re going to live to be 100,” Caughey said THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860 Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at info@insidenova.com or call us at 703-318-1386 as well as many other people throughout southern Maine and beyond continue to mourn the recent death of Lyle Merrifield who died at his home in North Gorham on Sept Merrifield’s many accomplishments include his service with the Gorham town planning board the Southern Maine Maple Producers Association (where he was one of the founding members); the Maine Maple Producers Association (where he was the current president) and the Cumberland Farmers Club (where he served as a superintendent he was serving as the president of the Cumberland County Fair Merrifield’s fascination for collecting antiques and his interest in New England agricultural history led him to start his own farm tool and implement museum at the family farm As a young man Merrifield worked at Hall Equipment in Windham he operated Merrifield Farm on North Gorham Road which continues to produce a variety of maple sugar products and is a popular spot on Maine Maple Sunday every March Merrifield resided in Gorham for most of his life He graduated from Gorham High School in 1981 Merrifield became a volunteer at the North Gorham Fire Station He was instrumental in the purchase of Gorham’s first Fire & Rescue boat A memorial service was held at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on Sunday Sept Jo-Ann (Pollard) Merrifield of North Gorham; two daughters Alexis Merrifield and Molly Bellefleur; his brothers and sisters Lawri Foye and Lindsey Merrifield; and many nieces and nephews [This article was compiled from information obtained from the website of the Gray The Gorham Times print edition is published every other Thursday It reflects the many components of our town It does not take an editorial stance but does encourage the airing of different viewpoints by providing a forum for fair-minded discussion.