Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

Countywide

Fairfax County supervisors hope to move beyond annual battles over Tysons casino

By Scott McCaffrey
Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn with anti-casino forces in 2025 (courtesy Hunter Mill District Office)

Fairfax County supervisors opposed to a bill that would’ve allowed a casino in Tysons said this week they hope Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of the legislation puts an end to the matter once and for all.

“This has been a distraction — our residents have been traumatized,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said at the Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

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News

Opening of Kingstowne library gives Franconia residents ‘first-class’ branch to call their own

By Scott McCaffrey
Patrons get questions answered at Kingstowne Regional Library opening (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

“A first-class library that the people of Franconia deserve” is how Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay described the new Kingstowne Regional Library, which welcomed crowds measuring well into the hundreds at its April 11 opening.

“This is a huge day,” said McKay, who represented the Franconia District when it was still called the Lee District on the board before becoming chairman.

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Countywide

Home sales rise across Fairfax in first quarter of 2026, while prices show mixed results

By Scott McCaffrey
House for sale sign (file photo)

First-quarter home sales were up across Fairfax County, but pricing data offered mixed signals about the state of the market, new figures showed.

A total of 2,192 properties went to closing between Jan. 1 and March 31, according to data from MarketStats by ShowingTime. That’s up 5.2% from the 2,084 transactions during the same period in 2025.

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News

New Franconia Governmental Center seen as a model for future facilities

By Scott McCaffrey
County leaders cut ribbon on new Franconia Governmental Center (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

After a relatively brisk 25 minutes of speeches followed by the snip of a red ribbon, the new Franconia Governmental Center opened to the public Saturday morning (April 11).

That moment represented the culmination of “two and a half — plus — decades of planning,” said Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk at the dedication ceremony, which attracted hundreds to the facility at 7130 Silver Lake Blvd, located south of Manchester Blvd and east of Beulah Street.

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Countywide

Fairfax planning body suggests prioritizing preventive maintenance over new facilities

By Scott McCaffrey
Fiscal year 2027 capital improvement projects (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County Planning Commission members on Wednesday (April 8) joined a growing chorus calling on county leaders to emphasize maintenance of existing government facilities over construction of new ones.

“Prioritizing preventive maintenance and system renewal is a fiscally responsible alternative to the higher cost of full renovations or facilities replacements,” said at-large commissioner Timothy Sargeant.

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Countywide

Fairfax County hopes getting public input ‘early and often’ may speed transportation projects

By Scott McCaffrey
A construction barrier closes off a sidewalk on Sunset Hills Road near Fairfax County Parkway in Herndon (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Community members may soon get more information on local transportation projects across Fairfax County earlier in the development process — but they also may find their input opportunities cut off earlier, too.

That was one potential scenario considered by county supervisors and staff on April 6, as they brainstormed ways to improve a process they acknowledged can take frustratingly long.

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Around Town

Inclusive N. Va. theater troupe readies latest creations for opening night

By Scott McCaffrey
Cast and crew of ArtStream Company B (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

For the past six months, ArtStream’s Virginia Company B has been developing and rehearsing a war of the worlds, featuring a clash of famous show-business and historical figures.

And tomorrow night (Friday), “The Great Put-Together!” makes its world premiere at James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road, #114) in the West Falls Church area of Fairfax County.

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Countywide

Process for prioritizing sidewalk, crosswalk projects needs fixing, Fairfax officials agree

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County Department of Transportation director Gregg Steverson (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County transportation officials think they have found a better way to prioritize and manage sidewalk, trail and crosswalk improvements after several rocky years.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the Board of Supervisors informally ratified a proposal for Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff to develop a three-year cycle for listing all potential projects, then prioritizing them based on cost and community impact considerations.

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News

Despite pushback, Fairfax County is sticking with plans for second Justice HS sidewalk

By Scott McCaffrey
Proposed sidewalk route on Peace Valley Lane (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County leadership is sticking with plans for a sidewalk project near Justice High School that critics say is duplicative and would be destructive to the environment.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) expects to begin work in June on 825 linear feet of 5-foot-wide sidewalk between Mansfield Road near Justice Park and the cul-de-sac at Peace Valley Lane in the Lake Barcroft area south of Seven Corners.

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News

Upcoming roadwork will impact Fairfax Blvd for next 10 weeks

By Scott McCaffrey
Traffic on Fairfax Blvd at Draper Drive in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Motorists should plan for impacts as City of Fairfax officials launch a 10-week roadbed reconstruction project along Fairfax Blvd beginning Thursday, April 10.

Virginia Paving will repave all six lanes of the key east-west roadway from Draper Drive to Fairfax Circle as part of the $1.73 million project.

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