A sign for Hayfield Secondary School in Franconia (via Google Maps)
Hayfield Secondary School has received a temporary injunction that will allow the powerhouse football team to play in the postseason.
The Virginia High School League confirmed that an appeal filed in Fairfax County Circuit [Court] by Hayfield parents regarding the reinstatement of the Hayfield football team to the league’s Class 6 Region C football playoffs has been granted. The VHSL had no additional comment.
A flock of pigeons flies above Frying Pan Farm Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Toddler Killed by Truck Driver in Chantilly — “Officers responded to the 4200 block of Airline Pkwy in Chantilly [on Saturday, Nov. 16] where the driver of a truck had struck a 3-year-old in the roadway. The child was declared deceased on scene. The driver remained on scene.” [FCPD/Twitter]
Virginia to Fund New Workforce Housing — “Virginia will help fund housing construction near major business developments, Gov. Glenn Younkgin announced [last] week. A new executive order … sets a goal of investing $75 million towards localities that want to bolster housing supply tied to new job creation over the next five years.” [Virginia Mercury]
Silver Line Phase 2 Marks Anniversary — “Happy 2nd birthday to the Silver Line Phase 2! The extension added 11.4 miles of track outbound from Wiehle-Reston, 6 new stations, and extended service to @Dulles_Airport and Ashburn, VA. Over 8M trips later, it’s keeping the region on the move!” [WMATA/Twitter]
Falls Church HS to Get Athletic Improvements — “Many of the improvements in the Falls Church High School renovation/expansion project have been completed, but much more work needs to be done.” Mason District School Board Representative Ricardy Anderson shared on Nov. 13 that the project will now include athletic field improvements previously “cut due to cost increases.” [Annandale Today]
Children’s Art Studio to Open Fort Hunt Space — “Hooray Art! is slated to open at Hollin Hall Shopping Center in January 2025. The children’s art studio, founded in 2023 by local resident Paige Bradford, will occupy the space between the Hollin Hall Variety Store and Nature’s Nibbles at 7908 Fort Hunt Road.” [On the MoVe]
GMU ‘Body Farm’ Supports Forensic Research — “O’Toole now heads the George Mason University Forensic Science Program, which includes a facility informally called a ‘body farm’ — one of only 10 in the world… The outdoor forensic research lab provides hands-on training and research, in the blending of science and the search for justice.” [WTOP]
Chefs Reflect on First Year in Tysons — “Ometeo has carved out a niche with its Tex-Mex offerings, helmed by chefs Manuel Perez and Gabe Erales. As the restaurant celebrates its first year, the duo … reflected on the challenges and triumphs of introducing authentic Tex-Mex cuisine to a region where tastes and traditions differ.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
McLean Citizens Association Celebrates 110 Years — “Thursday night at the McLean Community Center, one of many institutions that owes its existence to the McLean Citizens Association (MCA), local luminaries mingled with dozens of McLean area residents to toast MCA on its 110th Anniversary. As the County’s oldest continuously operating civic association, MCA had plenty to celebrate.” [MCA]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 67 degrees and a northwest wind ranging from 5 to 9 mph. The night will be partly cloudy with a low around 46 degrees and a slightly lighter northwest wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
The parking lot for the Virginia Railway Express Backlick Road station in Springfield (via Google Maps)
The Virginia Department of Transportation is experimenting with a mobile app that will enable commuters to find available parking spaces in real time at select lots.
The app ParkZen began collecting data at six parking lots, including three in Fairfax County, this month for an initial evaluation period slated to continue until January 2025, VDOT announced on Tuesday (Nov. 12).
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid has had her contract extended (via Fairfax County Public Schools/YouTube)
Dr. Michelle Reid is going to stick around as superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools.
Though her existing contract was set to run through June 2026, the Fairfax County School Board voted yesterday (Thursday) to give Reid a new four-year contract that could bring her annual salary close to a half-million dollars by its conclusion.
The Tysons Community Alliance's beautification project for the Route 7 and Route 123 interchange is underway (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) is turning to the Virginia Department of Transportation for support in its effort to spruce up the area’s highway interchanges.
Building on an ongoing pilot project focused on the Route 7 and Route 123 interchange, the booster organization plans to apply for the state’s Comprehensive Roadside Management Program (CRMP), which lets sponsors landscape and maintain in areas within VDOT’s right-of-way.
A 10-week-old maltipoo puppy was taken from the Chantilly pet store XO Pups (via XO Pups/Instagram)
Two men walked into a pet store in Chantilly last month and left with a puppy they didn’t pay for, police say.
The Fairfax County Police Department released photos pulled from security camera footage today (Friday) that show the reported larceny, which occurred on Oct. 16.
Developer Pulte Homes is seeking to add residential buildings to the Caywood at Woodland Park office park in Herndon (via Fairfax County)
A proposal for new housing in the Woodland Park community near Herndon is moving to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday (Nov. 13) to approve the plan by Pulte Homes to put two five-story buildings with 72 total residential units on a parcel near the intersection of the Dulles Access Road and Centreville Road, just north of Sunrise Valley Drive.
Fentanyl pills designed to resemble oxycodone, a prescription drug (via DEA)
A Maryland man will spend the next decade in federal prison for selling fentanyl to a buyer who was actually an undercover officer with the Fairfax County Police Department.
U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff sentenced Jahrulle Terrence Whyte t0 10 years or 120 months in prison yesterday (Thursday) after the 29-year-old Glen Burnie resident pleaded guilty earlier this year to distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.
Drivers head east on Route 29 near Fair Oaks (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
McKay Worried About Trump’s Impact on Local Economy — “A second Trump presidency could have a devastating effect on the Fairfax County economy, Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay warns.” He’s also concerned about potential cuts to federal health and housing programs, but says the county’s Trust Policy provides some protection for undocumented immigrants, as Trump promises mass deportations. [Annandale Today]
Man Gets Life in Prison for 2022 Shootings — Jordan Cochran was sentenced to life in prison yesterday (Thursday) after being “convicted in August of fatally shooting 18-year-old Kebbren Leigh-Gaye at a bus stop in the Hybla Valley area of Richmond Highway in a disagreement that began over a pair of shoes.” He then shot a man who declined to give him a ride, permanently blinding him. [Washington Post]
Uptick in Pneumonia Cases Reported — “D.C.-area urgent care centers are reporting a big uptick in ‘walking pneumonia’ cases … According to MedStar, which operates 33 urgent care centers in the D.C. region, it saw 1,758 cases this October — a 358% increase from the 391 cases seen in October of last year.” [WTOP]
Cybersecurity Firm Opens Tysons Office — Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Censys has signed a four-and-a-half-year lease for 4,471 square feet at 8260 Greensboro Drive in Tysons. Expected to have 20 workers, the new office is the company’s first in the D.C. area, bringing it closer to federal customers like the defense and homeland security departments. [Washington Business Journal]
Retired Firefighter With Cancer Honored by Friends — “On a pristine Saturday along Pohick Bay in Fairfax County, Va. a parking lot full of first responders and military dignitaries gathered in unison. They weren’t there for an emergency, but to honor a gifted colleague who was forced to retire after 25 years of service to focus on the fight of his life.” [WJLA]
Nonprofit Launches Annual Holiday Donation Drive — “Britepaths, a Fairfax-based nonprofit, is seeking donations from the community to provide holiday meals and gifts for children of Fairfax County area families in need. Last year, Britepath’s holiday program helped 265 children during the holiday season.” [Patch]
How N. Va. Private Schools Are Using A.I. — “Many independent K-12 schools are … forming policies and educational standards that aim to utilize AI’s potential benefits without compromising the quality of instruction students receive. Here’s how some members of NoVA’s private-school community are addressing AI now and for the future.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Lorton Neighborhood Working to Add EV Chargers — “This past summer, the Mount Vernon District registered its first participant in Charge Up Fairfax — the county’s program designed to help residents of community associations more easily access electric vehicle (EV) chargers.” The Shepherd Hills Homeowners Association hopes to have its charging stations in place next spring. [On the MoVe]
It’s Friday — With patchy fog clearing by 9am, the sky will transition from cloudy to mostly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high near 56 degrees. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature around 45 degrees. [NWS]
The Virginia Department of Transportation is studying Walker Road in Great Falls for potential safety improvements (via VDOT)
The Virginia Department of Transportation has a plan to improve safety along Walker Road in Great Falls, targeting persistent concerns with visibility, speed and overall road design.
The proposed changes — detailed in a safety assessment finalized in October — address high-risk areas identified by residents, who flagged specific trouble spots where conditions are particularly dangerous.