🌱 Local Sentenced For Drug Trafficking + Lorton > FL Amtrak Sale

Good morning, everybody. Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your fresh copy of the Lorton Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the most important things happening in our community.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Partly sunny and windy. High: 51 Low: 30.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and milder. High: 59 Low: 43.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy and mild. High: 66 Low: 49.

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Here are the top three stories today in Lorton:

1. Last summer, a local man was found with over 18,000 fentanyl pills following a police pursuit in Lorton. On Friday, Mar. 10, the man was sentenced to over 11 years in prison for "engaging in a conspiracy to distribute thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl around Northern Virginia." Alpha Amin Kamara, a 25-year-old resident of Alexandria, had still been under supervised custody for another drug trafficking-related crime at the time of the incident. (FFXnow)
2. Have you gotten to check out the two new restaurants that recently opened at Gunston Plaza in Lorton? Rana Café, which opened on Jan. 28, serves Middle Eastern desserts along with specialty coffee and juices. America's Best Wings, which opened just two days ahead of Rana, offers dishes like organic buffalo wings and Cajun-inspired grilled seafood. Additionally, one more eatery is expected to hit the block: Sushi Queen, an "all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant," has signed a lease for a space in Gunston Plaza. (Mount Vernon on the MoVe)
3. If you're headed to Florida for spring break, you might catch a great deal by taking the train. Amtrak has announced a sale on its Auto Train tickets for southbound travel from Lorton to Sanford, Florida. Tickets begin at $29 and can be purchased for getaways between Mar. 10 and Jun. 8; blackout dates apply from Mar. 30-Apr. 2 and Apr. 6-8. For more information, visit the Amtrak website. (Kansas City Star)

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Coming up in and around Lorton:

Wednesday, March 15

• Wednesday Night Lenten Series At Pohick Episcopal Church, Parish House Annex (5:30 PM)

Thursday, March 16

• Karaoke Thursdays At Shipgarten, McLean (5:00 PM)

Friday, March 17

• St. Paddy's Day At William Jeffrey's Tavern, Arlington (5:00 PM)

Saturday, March 18

• Saint Patrick's Celebration At G34.3 Brewing Company (11:59 AM)
• Collect 2023 Hey Daddy-O! At McGuireWoods Gallery (7:00 PM)

Sunday, March 19

• Sound Bath: Re-Set For New Beginnings With Iris McCray At Workhouse Art Center (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Heads up, local house hunters! Five new properties have just hit the Lorgon real estate market. (Lorton Patch)
• A wind advisory remains in effect for Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. through this morning. According to the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang, winds and temperatures should level out by "late Wednesday." (Arlington Patch)
• The Fairfax County Animal Shelter showed off Tom the cat, a handsome and affectionate boy with "the frecklyest nose and mouth." Those interested in adopting Tom or another available pet are encouraged to visit the shelter. (Fairfax County Animal Shelter via Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Jazzercise Fairfax Police Association Fitness Center — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Homebuyer Blueprint Live Webinar (March 16)
• Spring Fling Event (March 24)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.