Good Friday 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 — Oct 11, 2024.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Two Fairfax County restaurants rank among 40 best in D.C. area, WaPo critic says (25035 views)
  2. BREAKING: Man shot at Herndon’s Worldgate Centre (20865 views)
  3. Report: Apartment costs in Tysons highest in D.C. metro area (6253 views)
  4. Bicyclist killed in West Ox Road car crash, county’s first fatality since 2021 (6050 views)
  5. Lawsuit alleges Fairfax County and other Virginia voters illegally removed from rolls (3093 views)
  6. Fairfax County’s retired chief equity officer sees ‘a lot more work to do’ (2465 views)
  7. Noted lighthouse preservationist offers to care for historic Tysons house (2215 views)
  8. Fashion accessories and home goods store coming to Springfield Town Center (2212 views)
  9. Fairfax County awaits clarity from state on new Chesapeake Bay protection rules for developers (2088 views)

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect sunshine and a high near 76 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 6 to 8 mph. Saturday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 54 degrees and light, variable wind. 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.

We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋


A streetlight at the end of Tapawingo Road in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Northern Lights Visible in Fairfax County — Thanks to a strong geomagnetic storm, the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, became visible across the D.C. area last night (Thursday), with sightings reported from Reston and Herndon to Fairfax Station, Lincolnia and neighboring Arlington County. Thank you to everyone who shared photos with FFXnow! [FFXnow/Twitter]

Fairfax Nonprofit Joins Hurricane Milton Response — “Members of the nonprofit, Tidewater Disaster Response, had been working to ease suffering in western North Carolina but rushed down to Florida this week to be in the path of Milton.” The civilian organization deployed a four-person “swift water rescue team that’s been cross trained with chain saw and route clearance operations.” [WTOP]

Beyer Family’s Auto Dealerships Acquired — “A Fairfax-based investment group has acquired a majority stake in Beyer Auto Group. Open Road Capital closed a deal today (Thursday) on the family business of U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), the congressman confirmed with ARLnow.” [ARLnow]

Global Earthquake Drill Coming Up — “Knowing what to do before a big earthquake can determine how well you survive and recover. Join in and participate in the world’s largest earthquake drill at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17. Register today so that you or your organization will be counted.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Army to Study D.C. Area Water Supply Alternatives — “The District and its Virginia and Maryland suburbs are dependent on the Potomac River as the main — or sole — source of drinking water … The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set to begin a three-year feasibility study of ways to bolster the resilience of the area’s water supply.” [WTOP]

Playground Near Fairfax Station Closed for Construction — “The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin work on replacing the wooden border that surrounds the playground at Country Club View Park. Active construction activities are scheduled to begin on October 10. Weather depending, work is anticipated to be completed by October 18.” [FCPA]

N. Va. Houses Go All Out for Halloween — “If you’re looking for more than jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows, visit the houses that have some of the best Halloween decorations across Northern Virginia.” Options include The Historic Herndon Halloween House, which teamed up with The Beastro at Queens Row to create a “space alien-themed display.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Friday — Expect sunshine and a high of around 68 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind between 5 and 8 mph. In the evening, the sky will remain clear with temperatures dropping to approximately 48 degrees, and a southwest wind of around 6 mph. [NWS]


Good Thursday 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 — Oct 10, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high of 67 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. As night falls, the sky will remain clear with the temperature dropping to a low of around 47 degrees, and a southwest wind blowing at approximately 6 mph. 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.


The entrance to the picnic area at Gateway Regional Park in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

MS-13 Member on Trial for Murders — Elmer Alas Candray, allegedly a key leader for the gang’s Reston crew, “faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted. Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia say it is the biggest murder case they have taken to trial in recent years, with five victims in Fairfax County and one in Massachusetts killed between 2018 and 2022.” [Washington Post]

Two Injured in Vehicle Crash — “First responders took two people to the hospital after a serious multi-vehicle crash Wednesday at the intersection of Roberts Road and Collingham Drive in the Kings Park West area.” In one case, the injuries are considered life-threatening, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said. [FOX5]

Dulles Airport Access Highway Entrance Closes — “Starting Thursday, October 10, the first entrance to the @Dulles_Airport Access Highway west of I-495 will close 24/7 for paving. Westbound airport traffic should keep left and follow signs. All local traffic should keep right.” The closure will be in place through Sunday (Oct. 13). [Dulles Toll Road/Twitter]

Stir-Fry Chain to Expand Fairfax Presence — “Philadelphia-based fast-casual restaurant honeygrow recently announced that it had signed leases with two locations in Northern Virginia, one on Old Keene Mill Road in Springfield and the other at 9650 Main St. in Fairfax City. The Fair City Mall location is scheduled to open in spring 2025.” [Patch]

Look Out for Spotted Lanternflies — “It’s spotted lanternfly season … If you see adult spotted lanternflies, stomp/kill them immediately. If they evade you, then scrape them into the bottom of a cut plastic water bottle, shake it to disorient them, then dump them on the ground and stomp on them.” [Fairfax County government]

Local Schools Awarded by State — “Five Fairfax County public schools have been awarded a 2024 Virginia Board of Education Exemplar Award,” which are based on academic, attendance and graduation criteria. Sangster Elementary and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology won achievement awards, while Lewis, South Lakes and West Potomac high schools were recognized for improvement. [FCPS]

Virginia Wineries Showcase Native Grape — “Nearly two dozen vineyards and wineries are embracing the only grape native to Virginia, sharing best practices about growing Norton and turning it into wine — and getting wine enthusiasts to try it.” A wine tour organized by the new Norton Network will include events at Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton and The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville on Nov. 8-10. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions and a high temperature near 63 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 6 to 10 mph. The evening will remain clear with temperatures dropping to around 42 degrees, and the north wind will decrease to 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]


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 — Oct 9, 2024.

📅 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

Expect sunny conditions and a high of approximately 62 during the day, accompanied by a north wind ranging from 6 to 14 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. Thursday night will be clear with a low temperature near 41, and a steady north wind at around 6 mph. 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.


People walk along Strawberry Lane in Merrifield’s Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Victims of Fake Immigration Attorney Testify — Immigrants defrauded by a woman who posed as an attorney and threatened to report them to immigration officials when questioned shared their stories to a Fairfax County judge on Monday (Oct. 7). Jasmine Moawad will be sentenced next month after pleading “guilty in February to one felony count of obtaining money by false pretenses.” [NBC4]

Metro Proposes New Funding Model — “Leaders at the D.C. Metro system have been touting a huge drop in fare evasion at train stations since new, higher gates were installed. But only 30 percent of bus riders pay for the service, and the agency is considering a dramatic change to its funding model that would reduce the cost for jurisdictions whose riders pay their fares.” [Washington Post]

Hurricanes Send More Animals to Fairfax Shelter — “More animals are coming. Homeward Trails expects 30 pets from an affected shelter in Galax, Virginia, to arrive Wednesday, right before Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida. The rescue anticipates even more pets will arrive in the DC area later in the week.” [Washingtonian]

County Expands WiFi to Parking Lots — In time for Digital Inclusion Week from Oct. 7-11, the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services has expanded free Wi-Fi to the parking lots of over 20 community, senior, teen and adult day health centers. It also now offers iPads, 3D printers and robotics kits at some senior and community centers. [NCS]

Speakeasy-Style Restaurant Opens in Fairfax City — “Chef Jon Krinn’s restaurant Elyse in Fairfax officially opens on Wednesday, October 9. Until now, the 29-seat restaurant on Fairfax Boulevard has been ‘invitation-only’…Krinn describes the restaurant as having a speakeasy vibe with a tasting menu format paired with wine and spirits.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Women-Owned Businesses Awarded Grants — Six women-owned business in Fairfax City won grants totaling $27,859 from Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED). The inaugural recipients of the Women’s Entrepreneur Grant Opportunity were announced at the Women’s Entrepreneur Empowerment Luncheon on Sept. 25. [FCED]

Snake Meat Found in Bag at Dulles Airport — “A 4-year-old beagle working as a detector dog at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia discovered two pounds of snake meat inside a traveler’s baggage recently…Although the meat is a routine protein source in Equatorial Guinea, it is one of the animal products that is illegal to import into the U.S.” [Patch]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 71 degrees, accompanied by a west wind at 5 to 10 mph. At night, the sky will be clear, with the temperature dipping to a low of around 47 degrees. A northwest wind of approximately 7 mph will persist. [NWS]


Good Tuesday 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 — Oct 8, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect sunny skies and a high near 69 degrees, accompanied by a light west wind that will increase to 11-16 mph in the morning, potentially gusting up to 29 mph. As nighttime falls, the sky will remain clear, and the temperature will dip to around 45 degrees with a northwest wind at approximately 8 mph. 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.


Workers take down banner over Maple Avenue for Vienna’s 2024 Oktoberfest (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Merrifield Barricade Resolved — Police have arrested “a wanted man who is possibly armed & refusing to exit his vehicle,” leading to a barricade situation in the 2700 block of Livingstone Lane in Merrifield. [FCPD/Twitter]

Fairfax Motorcyclist Dies After Crash — Joshua Doan-Ha, 20, died Sunday (Oct. 6) from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Braddock Road near Kings Park West. Police say Doan-Ha crashed into the driver of a 2016 Toyota Corolla on Oct. 3 while traveling east on a 2023 Kawasaki Ninja. “Detectives continue to investigate whether speed or alcohol were a factor in the crash.” [FCPD]

Security Company Expands Tysons HQ — “Alarm.com Holdings Inc. has renewed its headquarters lease at The Boro in Tysons, marking not only one of the largest recent deals in Northern Virginia but also a rare expansion. The residential and commercial security company inked a lease for a little more than 246,000 square feet at EastBoro III,” a 29% increase in space. [Washington Business Journal]

County Shares Respiratory Illness Data — “The Fairfax County Health Department has published a new Respiratory Illness Dashboard to help residents stay informed about the prevalence and trends of respiratory viruses in the Fairfax Health District. This tool offers real-time updates and data on various respiratory illnesses such as flu, COVID-19, and RSV.” [FCHD]

The State of Abortion Access in Virginia — “Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two and a half years ago, states around the country have shored up their protections or enacted various bans and restrictions. And though Virginia is the least restrictive Southern state — and a bastion for out-of-state patients — a new report indicates some hurdles.” [Virginia Mercury]

Road Diet Proposed for Huntington Avenue — “The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold a virtual public meeting Oct. 9 to brief community members on a proposed road diet along Huntington Avenue between Richmond Highway and Telegraph Road.” One travel lane in each direction will be converted into a buffered bicycle lane, and a center turn lane will be added. [On the MoVe]

Fairfax Connector Unveils ‘Spooky Bus’ — “A peek at the ‘Spooky Bus’ wrapping process! This is one of three designs you’ll see on roadways in Fairfax County beginning this week.” People who share a photo of the Halloween-themed bus on social media “will be entered to win a $50 SmarTrip card.” [Fairfax Connector/Twitter]

Reston Contractor CEO Buys Former Nats Star’s Home — “Steve Schorer, who replaced Stu Shea at Peraton in early September, recently paid $8.55 million for the McLean home of Stephen Strasburg, the retired Washington Nationals’ pitcher and 2019 World Series MVP, according to public records. Schorer closed the deal Sept. 27, paying $1.2 million less than the original list price.” [WBJ]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 69 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at approximately 6 mph. The night will be mostly clear with a low of about 49 degrees and a gentle west wind. [NWS]


Good Monday 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 — Oct 7, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect sunny conditions and a high of around 68 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 6 to 8 mph. The evening will remain mostly clear with a low of approximately 48 degrees and a west wind at 3 to 5 mph. 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.


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