RELAC will live to cool down residents and businesses near Lake Anne in Reston for at least one more summer.
Reston RELAC President Mark Waddell informed customers on Monday (March 31) that he’s in discussions to transfer ownership of the chilled-water cooling system to a contractor in Maryland, enabling operations to continue after a previously planned hand-off fell through.
Captain Barry Maham, who served with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) for more than 25 years, has died of an occupational-related cancer.
Maham, 50, died Monday (March 31), nearly four-and-a-half years after he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. His death is considered to have occurred in the line of duty, the department said.
Fairfax County’s leadership appears willing to move cautiously forward in considering the creation of a sports and entertainment authority.
However, the responsibilities of a potential independent agency, where it would get its funding and how it would interact with existing public and private facilities still need to be ironed out.
Fairfax County staff have sketched out details of a series of bond referendums for the next five years that would raise just under $2 billion for facility construction and renovation projects.
With both economic uncertainty and higher interest rates causing headwinds, however, alterations could be possible — even likely.
Parents Reflect on Tragic Clifton House Fire — “One year ago, the Brice family’s lives changed forever, by a fire. On April 10, 2024, their Clifton home went up in flames. Zachariah, 3, and William, 6, were trapped inside the home and had to be rescued by firefighters.” [WUSA9]
Advocates Question Closure of Temporary Shelter in Reston — “A temporary overnight shelter that opened in Reston last summer — just before a tent encampment was cleared out — closed its doors Tuesday. Now advocates for unhoused people are expressing deep concern.” The group RestonStrong says the county’s now-open Fair Ridge shelter doesn’t have enough beds to accommodate all of the displaced individuals. [NBC4]
Parents Concerned by Potential College Help Funding Cuts — Local parent Michael Newman says his stepson, who has autism, passed all of his classes at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) last year, thanks to a program called College Steps that supports students with disabilities. However, Fairfax County’s proposed budget eliminates funding that helps families pay for the program. [WTOP]
New Fire Station Gets Closer to Construction — “Construction of the new Gunston Fire Station on Mason Neck in Lorton is slated to begin early this summer, according to Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES). The two-year project … is currently wrapping up the bidding phase.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Restaurant Bans Political Talk — “Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen makes good on its name. Even before McLean’s coastal chic restaurant opened last year, its owners, industry vets chef David Guas (Bayou Bakery) and wife Simone Rathle, knew they wanted to create a ‘neutral zone’ for their neighborhood’s many politicos.” [Axios DC]
County Launches Housing Data Dashboard — Fairfax County has launched a new data dashboard with information on housing and neighborhood livibility. Metrics include “housing costs and inventory, homelessness, the county’s progress towards creating new affordable homes and accessibility to public transit, fresh food locations, mixed-use centers and parks.” [Fairfax County Government]
Planner Proposes ‘Purple Line South’ for N. Va. — “I would argue that we need to build a rapid transit route between Tysons Corner and the denser communities along the southern beltway, carrying people to Alexandria and Counties in Maryland.” The op-ed suggests a rail line would be more efficient than bus rapid transit service, which is currently planned from Tysons to Alexandria on Route 7. [Greater Greater Washington]
Reston Scholarship Fund Accepts Student Applications — “The Reston Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is excited to announce it is now accepting applications for its annual scholarships for the academic year 2025-2026.” Up to 10 scholarships are available for South Lakes High School seniors looking to attend NOVA or George Mason University. [Reston Scholarship Fund]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies and highs near 61, along with southeast winds ranging from 8 to 15 mph and gusts up to 23 mph. Wednesday night will be cloudy, with lows around 53, accompanied by southeast winds at around 13 mph and gusts reaching 21 mph. [NWS]
Another person in custody at Fairfax County’s jail has died.
A man identified as as Sam Zu Yung, 32, was found unresponsive in his cell by a sheriff’s deputy around 6:17 p.m. yesterday (Monday), the Fairfax County Police Department said today (Tuesday) in a press release.
Wistful remembrances mingled with excitement for the future, as local elected officials, library staff and community members gave Patrick Henry Library in Vienna an early send-off over the weekend.
The 13,800-square-foot library building, which has stood at 101 Maple Avenue East since 1971, is set to be replaced this summer. When the branch reopens in about two years, it’ll feature not only expanded and upgraded facilities, but also an entirely new name — the Vienna-Carter Library.
A strewn cigarette butt appears to be the cause of a two-alarm house fire in Springfield over the weekend.
The “improper disposal of smoking materials” caused more than $90,000 in damages to a house in the 7000 block of Hill Stream Court on Sunday (March 30), the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said.
Fairfax County leaders have agreed to some proposals from the local NAACP branch on how to address homeless encampments, but divides between the civil rights organization and county government on the issue remain.
Perhaps the biggest point of contention is whether outside observers should be allowed on site when camps are dismantled.
Fairfax has scored a Top 5 spot on a ranking of the healthiest counties in the U.S.
The 2025 Niche rankings released last week found that Fairfax County is the fifth healthiest county in the country based on a review of 2,764 counties.
