Fairfax County’s commemoration of the nation’s 250th birthday isn’t on the move just yet, but it soon will be.
A “mobile museum” housed in a recreational vehicle is expected to be the county government’s signature educational offering during the 2025-26 celebration of America’s declaration of independence from England, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors heard Tuesday (Oct. 8).
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]
Fairfax County has updated its Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance to reinforce requirements for developers along the Potomac River and its tributaries to protect older trees and guard against rising sea levels.
However, even as they voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to amend regulations related to the ordinance, Fairfax County supervisors expressed some frustration with a lack of clarity in the guidance handed down by Virginia’s State Water Control Board (SWCB).
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]
Fairfax County’s recently retired chief equity officer is asking local leaders to be vigilant in their efforts to promote a more just community.
“Fairfax is an amazing place — yet we know that is not the experience of everyone,” Karla Bruce said after being honored by the Board of Supervisors this morning (Oct. 8).
By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A coalition of immigrant-rights groups and the League of Women Voters in Virginia has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares of an ongoing “purge” of voter rolls that will disenfranchise legitimate voters.
The Washington & Old Dominion Trail’s history as a rail line was on full display yesterday (Monday) during the latest 50th anniversary celebration organized by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks).
After listening to local elected leaders, park officials and advocates reflect on the trail’s importance to the region, ceremony attendees could pore over old photographs of train stations and touch a rusted railroad spike, just steps from where the W&OD tracks once ran through the heart of the Town of Vienna.
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman found himself lost in the weeds.
While he might not have been the only person to lose track of the conversation, Bierman was the one who spoke up Thursday (Oct. 3) as the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) discussed regional coordination and the potential of creating a dedicated stream of tax revenue to fund local transit.
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]
Metro’s new inspector general is under no illusions about the perceptions of her office.
“There is a big question about…independence. The thought was we didn’t have independence,” Michelle Zamarin told the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) at its meeting on Thursday (Oct. 3).
