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.

News

After semester of scrutiny, Mason president urges new graduates to stay true to core values

By Scott McCaffrey
George Mason University president Gregory Washington (screenshot via George Mason)

The newest graduates of George Mason University came from 38 states and 87 countries, overcoming obstacles and charting their own paths en route to commencement day.

“You did it!” university president Gregory Washington exclaimed during the university-wide commencement ceremony, held Dec. 18 at EagleBank Arena.

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Countywide

Report: D.C.-area homes dip in value, but most local owners still turn profit

By Scott McCaffrey
House for sale sign (file photo)

More than 40% of homes across the D.C. region lost value over the past year, a new analysis found. But that doesn’t mean homeowners in Fairfax or surrounding areas are taking major losses on their properties.

Only 2.6% of D.C.-region home sales in the past year were listed for sale below the home’s previous sales price, according to data compiled by Zillow.

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News

Fairfax County Park Authority rec centers may have to wait in line for upgrades

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County Park Authority executive director Jai Cole (via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) officials want to renovate three aging recreation centers, but with money tight, at least one project will have to be put on hold.

Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole told members of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Dec. 16) that she is hopeful the full $60 million in funding needed for the Audrey Moore Rec Center will be included in the 2026 park bond sent to voters next November.

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Countywide

Final Fairfax board meeting of 2025 ends late with comments on rogue towing, budget

By Scott McCaffrey
Mandy Nicksolat speaks to county supervisors (screenshot via Fairfax County)

They had signed up to make public comments at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ final meeting of 2025, and about five hours behind schedule, they finally got the opportunity.

The public comment period provided at select board meetings typically is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., but because it is the last item on the agenda, it can start late.

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Countywide

Prices for single-family houses dip in Fairfax for November, new data shows

By Scott McCaffrey
The townhomes and condos in the new Overlook at Fairfax Boulevard neighborhood near Fairfax City were sold out, as of October 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Prices of single-family homes declined year-over-year, but townhouses and condominiums saw increases across Fairfax County in November, according to new data.

The average sales price of a single-family home countywide dipped 3.2% to $1,138,036, according to figures reported Dec. 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

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Countywide

Fairfax board backs DMV Moves proposals for sustainable Metro funding

By Scott McCaffrey
An Orange Line train pulls into the Vienna Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

It wasn’t unanimous, but the leaders of Virginia’s largest locality have gone on record supporting a regional plan for funding to sustain Metro into the future.

With a 8-1 vote on Dec. 9, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors backed the DMV Moves initiative started by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to identify dedicated funding options for the rail and bus transit system.

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Countywide

Fairfax leaders to honor police for response to 2021 attack on U.S. Capitol

By Scott McCaffrey
The U.S. Capitol Building in D.C. (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors next month will honor the efforts of local police to restore and maintain order at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

With the attack’s five-year anniversary nearing, the board voted 9-0 at its Dec. 9 meeting in support of a proposed commemorative proclamation sponsored by supervisors Rodney Lusk (Franconia) and Dan Storck (Mount Vernon) with Chairman  Jeff McKay.

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Countywide

Fairfax County board reworks towing rules, increases fees

By Scott McCaffrey
A-1 Towing truck in Rose Hill (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night (Dec. 9) to raise the maximum base charge for trespass towing by 40% to the new state maximum of $210.

Maximum allowable fees for the drop charge, storage and administration also would increase. The new fees went into effect immediately.

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News

County board approves expansion of facilities for Barns at Wolf Trap

By Scott McCaffrey
The Barns at Wolf Trap entrance (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

New facilities to enhance the visitor experience at the Barns at Wolf Trap have been approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors voted unanimously at their Dec. 9 meeting in support of land-use changes requested by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts for a 9,300-square-foot addition to the 352-seat performance facility, located at 1635 Trap Road in the Vienna area.

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News

Advocates seek more protections for manufactured home residents in Fairfax

By Scott McCaffrey
The Harmony Place mobile homes front office in Hybla Valley (via Google Maps)

Residents of Fairfax County’s manufactured home communities pressed county leaders yesterday (Tuesday) to do more to protect the properties from redevelopment and those who live there from displacement.

“We don’t want to be moved out of the county — we’d like to stay in our homes,” said Denia Moya, a resident of the Harmony Place Mobile Home Park (8018 Richmond Highway) in Hybla Valley.

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