At a work session yesterday (Tuesday), the school board delved into several proposals from the North Carolina-based consulting firm Prismatic Services that would push middle school start times to 8 a.m. or later. Advocates say aligning start times with adolescent sleep patterns could improve students’ mental health and academic performance.
Fairfax County leaders are taking preliminary steps to potentially restrict new tobacco and hemp retailers from locating in close proximity to schools and day-care facilities.
The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to direct county staff to begin studying the regulatory options available to localities under a law passed earlier this year by the Virginia General Assembly.
Voting for the 2024 general election at the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Despite continued growth in early voting, Fairfax is facing an increasing space crunch at its Election Day voting locations.
“Many precincts are growing rapidly,” Fairfax County Electoral Board chair Kate Hanley told the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday (Tuesday) during a review of the 2024 election season.
Construction work continues on Dulles International Airport's new Concourse E on Dec. 3, 2024 (courtesy United Airlines)
Construction is moving along on United Airlines’ new concourse at Dulles International Airport, a 14-gate expansion that officials say will usher in a “new era of growth” for the D.C. region’s largest airline.
Expected to open in late 2026, the 435,000-square-foot Concourse E will directly connect to the airport’s underground Aerotrain station, add capacity for international flights and offer new amenities, including retail, concessions and a 40,000-square-foot United Club for the airline’s members.
Boats are docked on Lake Thoreau with Reston Station in the background (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
County Police Step Up DWI Enforcement for Holidays — “Our DWI Enforcement Squad ramps up at the end of every year to focus on Safe December. During this campaign, running from December 4 to December 29, the squad will increase their staffing and focus on ensuring our roadways remain safe this holiday season.” [FCPD]
Two People Shot Near Annandale Bowlero — “Police are investigating a shooting by the Bowlero bowling alley at 4245 Markham St. in Annandale on Dec. 1.” Officers who responded around 5 p.m “found a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body.” Detectives believe an adult man who appeared at Virginia Hospital Center with a gunshot wound was also involved. [Annandale Today]
FCPS Still Looking Into Hayfield Football Program — “A week after Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid withdrew Hayfield Secondary School’s football team from the playoffs, the Virginia school system is still investigating troubling text messages that led to the high school athletic director’s resignation.” [WTOP]
Capital Bikeshare Use Growing but Uneven — Capital Bikeshare “has hit new monthly ridership records for six months and counting, and year over year, ridership jumped up a whopping 47.7% between October 2023 and October 2024 … But CaBi’s growth is uneven outside of the District itself, despite significant pockets of density and transit usage in the area’s suburbs.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Route 1 Widening to Close Local Bank — “United Bank, a community bank located at the corner of Richmond Highway and Sherwood Hall Lane in Gum Springs, will be permanently closing in February 2025, a spokesperson from the bank confirmed … The bank falls within the proposed right of way for the future Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit system.” [On the MoVe]
Pupatella Marks Reston Anniversary With Discount — “Wednesday, December 4th our Reston location is celebrating their Anniversary with $10 pizzas all day! Join us for great food, great fun, great prizes, and so much more!” [Pupatella/Instagram]
GMU Student Art to Be Displayed at Metro Stations — “You may spot some new works of art on your daily commute, thanks to four George Mason University student artists. These students will have original animations displayed on screens in six Metro stations as part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Art in Transit Program.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Reston Association Seeks Board Candidates — “Reston Association is seeking candidates to serve on its Board of Directors. A total of three seats will be open for the election in March 2025,” including one at-large seat and the seats for the Tall Oaks/Lake Anne and North Point district directors. [Reston Association]
It’s Wednesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 42 and southwest winds increasing to 10-15 mph and gusts up to 24 mph. At night, there’s a 40% chance of rain and snow showers after 1 am, coupled with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 34°F. [NWS]
Men working in an office (via Austin Distel/Unsplash)
Those employed in Fairfax County saw the 10th highest average weekly paycheck among the nation’s 370 most populous localities, according to new federal figures.
The average weekly wage for those who work in the county, no matter where they might live, was $2,143 in the second quarter of 2024, according to data reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in November.
The Town of Vienna illuminated its Christmas tree on Monday, Dec. 2 as part of its annual Church Street Holiday Stroll (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
County Opens Hypothermia Prevention Shelters — Fairfax County has launched its annual Hypothermia Prevention Program, which offers overnight shelter, food and other resources to those in need during the cold winter months. Continuing until March 31, 2025, the program involves permanent shelters and temporary sites hosted by local nonprofits and faith communities. [Fairfax County Government]
Man Last Seen in McLean Still Missing — Virginia and Fairfax County police are looking for 80-year-old Robert Williams, who has now been missing for over a week. He was last seen around noon on Nov. 25 in the 2100 block of Westmoreland Street in McLean, driving a pickup truck that was found parked and empty on Fairfax Drive in Arlington on Sunday (Dec. 1). [WUSA9]
Dominion Energy Station to Power Data Center — “Bren Mar Park community representatives are urging residents to come out in force to a Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) hearing this Thursday on Dominion Energy’s application for the Edsall substation and transmission lines. The substation would power Starwood Capital’s planned data center at the Plaza 500 site.” [Annandale Today]
Stolen Vehicle Crashed on GMU Campus — “Around 7:38 p.m., a vehicle that had been stolen from Prince William County earlier in the day [on Saturday, Nov. 30] careened onto the school’s Fairfax campus and slammed into the pole.” GMU Assistant Chief of Police Emily Ross says police took two juveniles in the vehicle into custody, but two others are still at large. [Patch]
Woman Arrested at Dulles Airport for Marijuana — “A Texas woman is facing felony drug charges after authorities said she tried to bring 71 pounds of marijuana onto a flight at Dulles Airport that was destined for London.” Customs officers discovered 60 vacuum-sealed bags filled with the drug in the woman’s two suitcases on Nov. 23. [WTOP]
Local TV News Anchor on Hiatus — “NBC Washington announced Monday that anchor Leon Harris is ‘stepping away from the anchor desk to focus on health issues’ … The announcement comes after Harris appeared unwell during a 6 p.m. newscast Thanksgiving Day,” prompting viewers to raise “concerns that the anchor could be suffering a medical emergency after he stumbled over his words several times.” [WTOP]
Mount Vernon Farmers Market Adds Vendors — “Prep your palate for some mouth-watering treats as ‘pop-up’ vendors new to this year’s McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market will offer their wares starting Dec. 4.” The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Reston and Burke markets will also remain open until this Saturday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 21, respectively. [On the MoVe]
Falls Church May Discuss Allowing Deer Hunting — “On Monday, new City Council member Laura Downs asked City Manager Wyatt Shields if coming months would include a discussion of whether Falls Church should join the growing number of Northern Virginia localities that permit deer levels to be controlled on public property.” [ARLnow]
It’s Tuesday — The weather will be sunny, reaching a high of approximately 41 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 9 to 11 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 24 degrees, and a west wind at a speed of 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]
Automotive exhaust (photo via Oscar Sutton/Unsplash)
If the Virginia General Assembly allows it, Fairfax County leaders are willing to be the guinea pigs in any effort to find more effective ways to tamp down on noisy vehicles.
The Board of Supervisors’ legislative committee took steps last Tuesday (Nov. 26) to request legislation allowing the county to host a pilot program that would use technology to catch drivers whose after-market mufflers pump out more noise than the 85 decibels allowed under state law.
