Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Burke school overhauls leadership after assaults of students

Published November 6, 2024 at 1:15PM

White Oaks Elementary School in Burke (via Google Maps)

White Oaks Elementary School’s principal and assistant principal have both been permanently removed from their posts after a special education teacher was charged in June with multiple assaults of students.

In a message sent to the school’s staff and families on Oct. 30, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid confirmed that principal Ryan Richardson and assistant principal Dana Chen won’t return after they were put on administrative leave this summer during a police investigation into the assaults.

Around Town

Winter holiday festivities begin with Santa coming to Tysons and Fair Oaks

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 6, 2024 at 11:15AM

Santa's Flight Academy, which will host photo sessions throughout the winter holiday shopping season, is set up at Fair Oaks Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Tysons Corner Center and Fair Oaks Mall are getting into the winter holiday spirit with Santa Claus gliding into both shopping centers tomorrow (Thursday).

At Fair Oaks, the man in red will set up shop for photo sessions at Santa’s Flight Academy in Center Court, starting around 2 p.m. Tysons Corner Center will greet Santa with a VIP arrival event from 10 a.m. to noon on the mall’s lower level near Wasabi.

News

NEW: Councilmember LeBlanc wins Herndon mayoral election

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 6, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated November 6, 2024 at 12:21PM

Voters queue outside Herndon Fortnightly Library for early voting in the 2024 general election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Town of Herndon has elected a new mayor and town council.

Councilmember Keven LeBlanc will be Herndon’s first openly gay mayor after defeating fellow Councilmember Pradip Dhakal with 55.3% of the vote to his opponent’s 43.5%, according to unofficial returns from the Virginia Department of Elections.

Countywide

Poll: How do you feel about the future after Election Day?

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 6, 2024 at 9:00AM

"I Voted" stickers at the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jared Serre)

The polls have closed, and the results of the 2024 general election are in.

While the results in Fairfax County and elsewhere won’t be certified for days, unofficial returns indicate that Republican nominee Donald Trump will once again be president of the United States, defeating Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris in a high-stakes race that will shape the country’s direction on issues from abortion and immigration to climate change, health care and, according to many voters, the very future of democracy.

Countywide

UPDATED: Incumbent Dems poised to win in Congress, Harris has edge in Fairfax County

By James Jarvis and Angela Woolsey

Published November 5, 2024 at 8:40PM | Updated November 6, 2024 at 12:12AM

Election signs outside the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Results from today’s general election are starting to trickle in, and Fairfax County’s initial batch of tallied votes strongly favor Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race.

As of 9:24 p.m., Harris has about two-thirds or 66% of the votes that the county has counted so far, which include some early votes and Election Day results from 127 of the county’s 264 precincts, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections.

News

Vienna considers new rules for outdoor lighting, accessory living units

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 5, 2024 at 3:45PM

The lights stands at Waters and Caffi Fields in Vienna have turned on (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna is looking to further illuminate its regulations for outdoor lighting after adopting new standards last year with a comprehensive zoning code overhaul.

The town’s Department of Planning and Zoning will hold two information sessions tomorrow (Wednesday) — one geared toward local businesses and the other for residents — to share its plans for updating the rules and gather feedback.

Countywide

Voter turnout for 2024 general election tops 60% so far in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 5, 2024 at 2:00PM

Voting at the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jared Serre)

More than 60% of registered voters in Fairfax County have cast a ballot so far in this year’s general election.

As of 12:30 p.m., 18.7% of voters have cast a ballot on Election Day since polls opened at 6 a.m. today. Combined with the 43% of voters who participated in early voting or sent in an absentee ballot by mail, the county has seen a total turnout of 61.7%, the Fairfax County Office of Elections reported.

News

Canadian plane tech manufacturer to open Reston research facility

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 5, 2024 at 11:15AM

Electronic displays in an airplane cockpit (via Rodrigo Soares on Unsplash)

A Canadian company that makes electronic systems for airplanes is swooping into Reston.

CMC Electronics will invest $5 million to establish an office and research and development facility in Reston, bringing 89 new jobs with plans for more positions as it builds up its operations in the area, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Friday (Nov. 1).

Around Town

Apple store to close at Fair Oaks Mall ahead of relocation

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 5, 2024 at 9:45AM

The Apple store at Fair Oaks Mall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Apple’s days at Fair Oaks Mall are running low.

The tech giant will have its last day of business at the shopping mall (11750 Fair Oaks Mall) this Thursday (Nov. 7), an employee confirmed to FFXnow. The closure will precede a relocation to the nearby, outdoor shopping center Fairfax Corner, where the store will open Saturday (Nov. 9).

Around Town

Timber Pizza’s McLean restaurant officially opening today

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 5, 2024 at 8:15AM

Timber Pizza's wood-fired oven (courtesy Timber Pizza)

A new dining option is arriving in McLean, just in time to fortify local voters looking for some grub after they stop by the polls today.

Timber Pizza will serve its first official customers this afternoon (Tuesday), holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. and opening its doors at the McLean Village shopping center (8100 Old Dominion Drive) at 5 p.m.