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 board questions cost of sliding-fee plan for park services

By Scott McCaffrey
A person sits on a bench outside the Providence Rec Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County Park Authority staff laid out a $12 million, multi-year plan on Tuesday (Jan. 28) to factor equity into the costs paid by county residents for park services.

However, FCPA Executive Director Jai Cole’s presentation of the proposal to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at a health and human services committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 28) sparked concerns about the expected administrative costs.

Go to Fairfax County board questions cost of sliding-fee plan for park services Read more
News

Van Dyck Park enhancements top Fairfax City’s capital spending priorities

By Scott McCaffrey
Kids in bubbles at Van Dyck Park (via City of Fairfax)

Fairfax City hopes to advance its master plan for the 36-acre Van Dyck Park under an updated capital improvement program (CIP) for fiscal years 2026 to 2030.

Laid out in a master plan approved back in 2018, the upgrades at Van Dyck Park (3720 Blenheim Blvd) are the most substantial investment proposed in the CIP, which is heading to the Fairfax City Council after getting the city planning commission’s recommendation on Monday (Jan. 27).

Go to Van Dyck Park enhancements top Fairfax City’s capital spending priorities Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County joins national effort to protect monarch butterflies

By Scott McCaffrey
A monarch butterfly spotted by the W&OD Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County leaders have joined hundreds of municipalities across the nation in pledging to do more to help the monarch butterfly’s survival.

The county’s Board of Supervisors agreed during its Jan. 14 meeting to sign on to the National Wildlife Foundation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Program, which commits local governments to take various actions to stem loss of habitat for pollinators.

Go to Fairfax County joins national effort to protect monarch butterflies Read more
Countywide

Park Authority overhauls camp registration to prevent system crashes

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County Park Authority offers a robust summer-camp program (screenshot via Fairfax County Park Authority)

Hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s technology meltdown, Fairfax County Park Authority officials are making revisions to their 2025 spring and summer camp registration procedures.

The biggest change: The first day of registration will vary depending on where a camp program is located.

Go to Park Authority overhauls camp registration to prevent system crashes Read more
News

Fairfax open to joining Falls Church in ‘Saigon Blvd’ renaming, board chair says

By Scott McCaffrey
Elected officials and the local Vietnamese American community unveil a sign for Saigon Blvd, an honorary designation for Wilson Blvd in front of Eden Center in Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County could be next in bestowing the honorary name “Saigon Blvd” on a stretch of Wilson Blvd near Seven Corners.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay nodded in the affirmative when asked at a Wednesday (Jan. 22) ceremony whether Fairfax would be willing to join Falls Church in renaming the area in front of the Eden Center in honor of the one-time South Vietnamese capital.

Go to Fairfax open to joining Falls Church in ‘Saigon Blvd’ renaming, board chair says Read more
News

Herndon leaders plan to give ‘streeteries’ another try in 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Mile 20 at Mediterranean Breeze set up a 'streetery' in its parking lot under Herndon's pilot program, seen in August 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Herndon town leaders didn’t find much success with the 2024 “streeteries” outdoor-dining initiative.

However, they’re hopeful some tweaks in 2025 will provide the data needed to determine whether to move forward with the effort on a permanent basis.

Go to Herndon leaders plan to give ‘streeteries’ another try in 2025 Read more
Countywide

Regional airport leaders pursue additional service from Dulles to Asia

By Scott McCaffrey
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority officials attend an event in Taipei, Taiwan (via MWAA)

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) officials are hoping connections made in 2024 will pay off in the form of additional service options to Asia in 2025.

Authority staff attended three conferences in Asia over the past year, with a total of 51 face-to-face meetings promoting the D.C. region and Dulles International Airport.

Go to Regional airport leaders pursue additional service from Dulles to Asia Read more
Countywide

More flexibility needed for food truck operating hours, Fairfax planning commission suggests

By Scott McCaffrey
Himalayan Soul Foods was among the five food trucks at the 10th annual Taste of Vienna in 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission thinks the county might want to revisit its time limits on food trucks.

Commission members requested at their Jan. 15 meeting that the Board of Supervisors consider increasing the existing limit of four hours at a single location.

Go to More flexibility needed for food truck operating hours, Fairfax planning commission suggests Read more
News

County board allows denser development on site near Mosaic District

By Scott McCaffrey
The Alliance Center property in Merrifield (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday (Jan. 14) that ultimately could lead to the redevelopment of the Alliance Center office condominiums adjoining the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

Though there’s no current development proposal on the table, the amendment would allow nearly 360 residential units with 60,000 square feet of ground-floor uses on the 3.2-acre site, which currently hosts two buildings with 24 aging commercial-condominium units, surrounded by surface parking.

Go to County board allows denser development on site near Mosaic District Read more
Countywide

Metro readies for potential ridership boost from federal workers returning to offices

By Scott McCaffrey
Inside a Metro train car (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro has the capacity to accommodate federal workers ordered back to the office by the Trump administration, one top transit leader says.

President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders after his inauguration yesterday (Monday), including ones to eliminate telework options for all federal government employees, freeze hiring and terminate diversity initiatives.

Go to Metro readies for potential ridership boost from federal workers returning to offices Read more
View More Stories