Morning Notes

Cats Rescued From Reston House Fire — Two people were displaced by a house fire in the 2300 block of Whitetail Court that started around 12:16 p.m. on April 29 due to an “electrical event involving a power strip” in a second-floor bedroom. Firefighters rescued two cats from the house, which totaled about $50,000 in damages. [FCFRD]

Homelessness Rates Rise Across D.C. Area — “The metropolitan Washington region experienced an 18% increase in homelessness between January 2022 and January 2023, the region’s Council of Governments announced Wednesday.” All nine jurisdictions, including Fairfax County, saw a rise, which is “pretty unprecedented,” COG’s housing program manager said. [DCist]

FCPD Hosts Conference on Auto Thefts — More than 20 law enforcement agencies from around the D.C. region attended the Fairfax County Police Department’s first auto theft symposium yesterday (Wednesday). The FCPD launched an Auto Crimes Enforcement unit in March 2022 that has “recovered 141 stolen vehicles, and helped seize various illegal narcotics and weapons which have led to a total of 402 felony charges.” [FCPD]

West Springfield Girl Wrestlers Recognized — “Three wrestlers from the West Springfield High School girls wrestling team made it to the first-ever Girls’ State Wresting Meet in Manassas in February, with one of the girls winning the state title in her weight class…The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on Tuesday honoring the school’s ‘trailblazing’ girls wrestling team.” [Patch]

Reston Food Collection Organization Nabs Grant — “A Simple Gesture Reston recently received a $5,000 grant from the Closet of the Greater Herndon area to expand its food collection program in order to keep food pantry shelves across Northern Virginia fully stocked…Currently, more than 1,500 families are donating food [to the nonprofit] every two months.” [Patch]

Vienna Man Hosts Croquet Tournament in Backyard — “Doug Grimsley bought his house in Vienna, Va., 13 years ago specifically because, at 15,000 square feet, the backyard could accommodate a full-size croquet court…He was up at 7 in the morning, mowing it for the second day of the Arizona Closed, an annual four-day tournament that Grimsley, 73, and his wife have hosted since 2016.” [The Washington Post]

McLean Community Center Board Election Day Nears — “Four of the five candidates seeking three adult positions on the McLean Community Center’s Governing Board this year gave presentations at the McLean Citizens Association’s board meeting May 3 as to why voters should choose them.” Absentee ballots must be cast by 5 p.m. on May 17, while in-person voting will be held at McLean Day on May 20. [Gazette Leader]

It’s Thursday — Sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the morning. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 3 to 5 mph. [Weather.gov]