Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Sep 16, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

⛈️ Thursday’s forecast

Showers and thunderstorms may develop after 2pm, with mostly sunny skies and a high of 89°F. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation with light south winds. Thursday night, expect a 50% chance of showers and storms before midnight, becoming a slight chance between midnight and 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 70°F, and winds shifting to light and variable. See more from Weather.gov.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


News

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Sept. 15) approved the framework for a major future redevelopment of the 46.6-acre Reston Town Center (RTC) North, allowing the county and Inova Health to move forward with long-sought plans for mixed-use and public facilities.

The action paves the way for the eventual construction of about 1,000 units of new housing, retail and office space. The redevelopment will also deliver a central park, a new recreation center, and replacements for Reston’s regional library and Embry Rucker Community Shelter, which would be accompanied by supportive housing.


Sponsored

When a loved one passes away, families often face difficult decisions about funeral arrangements, finances, and the distribution of property. One common question is whether having a will automatically means the estate must go through probate.

Not necessarily. Whether probate is required in Virginia depends largely on how the deceased person’s assets were owned and whether those assets have another method of transferring to heirs or beneficiaries.

Understanding when probate is required—and when it can be avoided—can help families navigate estate administration with greater confidence.

What Is Probate in Virginia?

Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets belonging to a deceased person, or decedent. In Virginia, probate generally takes place through the circuit court in the city or county where the decedent lived.

When probate is necessary, the court recognizes the will, if there is one, and appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. The personal representative is responsible for identifying and collecting assets, addressing valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property according to the will or Virginia’s intestacy laws.

Importantly, having a will does not automatically mean every asset must pass through probate. A will generally controls probate assets, while certain property passes directly to another person through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations.

When Is Probate Required?

Probate is generally necessary when someone dies owning assets in their individual name that do not have another method of transferring ownership.

Examples can include:

  • Real estate owned solely by the decedent
  • Bank accounts without joint ownership or beneficiary designations
  • Vehicles, jewelry, collections, or other personal property owned individually

In these situations, probate may be necessary to give the personal representative authority to transfer or distribute the property.

When Is Probate Not Required?

Some assets can transfer automatically after death and therefore may not need to pass through probate.

Jointly owned property: Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship generally pass to the surviving owner.

Beneficiary-designated accounts: Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain bank accounts can pass directly to the beneficiaries named on the account.

Revocable living trusts: Assets properly transferred into a revocable living trust generally avoid probate because the trust owns the property rather than the deceased individual.

Virginia also provides a simplified option for certain small estates. Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, qualifying personal property valued at $75,000 or less may be transferred using a small estate affidavit rather than a full probate proceeding, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.

This simplified procedure applies to qualifying personal property, not real estate, and can be particularly useful when an estate consists of modest assets such as a bank account or vehicle.

What Happens When Probate Is Required?

When probate is necessary, the personal representative must complete several steps before the estate can be closed. These typically include identifying and valuing estate assets, filing the required inventory, addressing creditor claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Virginia also imposes deadlines for certain estate filings. The inventory generally must be filed within four months after qualification, while the first accounting is generally due within 16 months.

(more…)


Countywide

Amid a growing national backlash to automated license plate readers (ALPRs), Fairfax County leaders want to take a closer look at their partnership with Flock Safety, the country’s leading provider of the controversial cameras.

In response to “hundreds of emails” sent by residents to their offices in recent weeks, county supervisors, led by Board Chair Jeff McKay, voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to pause the installation of new Flock cameras by the Fairfax County Police Department.


Announcement

For homeschooling families, finding activities that fit a non-traditional school day can be a challenge. EvolveAll, the martial arts and fitness studio that’s served the local community for more than 15 years, is addressing that gap with a new Homeschool Youth Martial Arts (YMA) program.

The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:15 to 2:00 PM and follows EvolveAll’s established YMA curriculum, which focuses on discipline, focus, coordination, and self-defense fundamentals for kids ages 5 to 10. Classes are led by EvolveAll’s head YMA Instructor Mr. Christian, who has over a decade of instructing experience. The class size is capped to keep the student-to-instructor ratio low.


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday (Tuesday) to adopt a code amendment that would address the issue of criminal blight, which Virginia law defines as criminal activity on property that endangers the public health or safety of residents.

The new ordinance will be enforced through a multi-step process that starts with law enforcement identifying and investigating a property where there are recurring issues with drugs, prostitution or guns being discharged.


Event

In a world that moves faster than ever, inner peace is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.

Join us for the Inner Peace Summit, a transformative gathering where leaders, professionals, educators, public servants, families, students, faith communities, wellness advocates, and spiritual seekers come together to discover practical tools for living with greater clarity, resilience, compassion, and purpose.


News

Fairfax County supervisors celebrated milestone anniversaries yesterday (Tuesday) of an elementary school and a community hospital, with proclamation presentations slated for later in the year.

County supervisors honored the 150th anniversary of Groveton Elementary School (6900 Harrison Lane).


News

Jeff McKay has some neighborly advice for a next-door locality considering changing its governance structure.

“There is no perfect model. There are nuances to every one of these structures,” the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chair said at a Sept. 9 forum.


News

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is considering a number of service changes for its Fairfax Connector bus system next spring, including cutting four routes due to low ridership and adding new limited-stop service between the Tysons and Franconia-Springfield Metro stations.

In advance of the service changes, which are concentrated in the Franconia and Springfield area, FCDOT will host two virtual community information meetings: one on Sept. 23 at noon, and another on the same day at 7 p.m. Residents can also leave feedback via an online survey that will be open through Sept. 30.


Around Town

A pair of fast-casual eateries have permanently closed in the Town of Vienna.

First, ViVi Bubble Tea shuttered its location in the Glyndon Plaza shopping center on Aug. 30. Then, Crumbl Cookies notified members of its loyalty program this week that its Vienna bakery has closed after six years.


Countywide
A butterfly on purple flowers at Mason Neck State Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Congress Could Subpoena Descano — “Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s lawyers said they have been informed that the House Judiciary Committee plans to subpoena him this week and expand its inquiry beyond immigration-related issues … The attorneys said staff members are seeking information about all cases that were nolle prossed [voluntarily stopped] during Descano’s tenure.” [WTOP]

Kennedy Center Apparently Closed — “President Donald Trump’s 19-month effort to seize full control of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts came to a head Tuesday as its board voted to immediately close the building for a two-year renovation — a roughly $250 million overhaul that Trump publicly threatened to block unless his name is added to the institution.” All doors to the venue were reportedly locked by 6 p.m. yesterday. [Washington Post]

Spanberger Nixes Proposed Trans Sports Ban — “Governor Abigail Spanberger quietly ended a rulemaking process initiated in the waning days of former-governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration. The rule would have limited transgender students’ ability to play sports and use facilities. But Spanberger said over the weekend the rule is now dead.” [WVTF]

Beyer Calls for ICE Shutdown — Rep. Don Beyer expressed support for shutting down ICE during a recent candidate forum that also touched on President Donald Trump’s proposed arch in Arlington and data centers, among other topics. “His challengers offered differing takes on the agency and its management,” with Republican Tony Sabio saying there needs to be “accountability … but we cannot throw a whole system out.” [ARLnow]

Algae Spotted in Lake Anne — “Small clumps of potentially harmful algae have been observed on the surface of Lake Anne following resident reports. While boating activities can continue, residents and visitors should avoid contact with algae and lake water in areas where algae is present.” [Reston Association]

Reston Hospital Adds Cardiac Center — Reston Hospital Center opened a dedicated open-heart surgery center on Monday (Sept. 14) in response to “heightened demand” in western Fairfax and Loudoun counties. The $15 million project added 35 employees, converted four “immediate care unit rooms into specialty cardiac care rooms,” and installed an elevator between operating rooms on the first floor and an ICU on the second floor. [Washington Business Journal]

Industrial Development Planned at Dulles — “Nearly 3 million square feet of new industrial development is slated for Dulles International Airport, a project that will clear space for its decade-long $22.5 billion redevelopment.” The MWAA board is scheduled to approve four ground leases at its meeting today (Wednesday) for cargo and aviation support facilities as well as other projects that are currently confidential “until a lease is signed.” [Washington Business Journal]

New Middle School Option in Reston — “Seven students make up the inaugural class of Reston Montessori School’s Secondary I Program, which extends Montessori education into the middle school years. The idea grew out of a vision Head of School Eliana Jaoude developed while teaching Upper Elementary students.” [Reston Letter]

Silent Reading Event in Fairfax Corner — “Fairfax Corner will hold its third Silent Read & Sip on Friday, September 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Previous events have proven popular and attracted between 150 and 200 participants.” In addition to sitting down with a book and beverage, attendees can check out a free book swap, browse the mobile store Wandering Shelf and craft bookmarks. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies with a high near 86°F and a gentle south wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 66°F, and the south wind will continue at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

There’s more local news to explore. Check out WSHnow, with stories from around the region.