Fairfax County voters will soon have more options for casting their ballot ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
The county is set to open 13 more in-person early voting sites tomorrow (Thursday), bringing the total number of sites up to 16. The Fairfax County, Mount Vernon and North County government centers have been available since Sept. 20.
New D.C. Pandas Land at Dulles Airport — A FedEx plane carrying two pandas destined for the National Zoo in D.C. touched down at Dulles International Airport shortly before 10 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday). Now in a 30-day quarantine, Bao Li and Qing Bao will make their public debuts on Jan. 24, with Zoo members getting a sneak peek earlier in January. [NBC4]
Local Cafe’s Pumpkin-Shaped Bagels Go Viral — “Pumpkin-shaped bagels have taken the internet by storm. And the trendsetter is no other than Northern Virginia’s Bobby’s Bagel Cafe … The viral treat is available at the shop’s Herndon, Oakton, and Reston locations. Customers need to preorder their bagels two to three days in advance due to high demand.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Community College Teachers Challenge President — “Faculty of Northern Virginia Community College, the second-largest community college in the nation, gave the president an overwhelming ‘no confidence’ vote. In a draft statement organized by the 9-Month Teaching Faculty Caucus Executive Committee, members outlined their concerns with Anne Kress, Ph.D., who has been serving as president of the school since 2020, along with Vice President Eun-Woo Chang.” [Fairfax County Times]
FCPS Seeks Boundary Review Committee Members — “As part of its community engagement plan, FCPS is accepting applications until Oct. 18 for its Boundary Review Advisory Committee,” which will meet biweekly to provide feedback on “potential future school boundary changes.” A consultant recently launched a systemwide review that’s expected to wrap up in January 2026. [On the MoVe]
Asian Restaurant in Vienna to Close — “The family-run Asian fusion restaurant Mixx Delight will be looking for a new location after just opening last year in Vienna. In a social media post, the Tran family said the Vienna location at 448 Maple Ave. E. will close ‘due to unforeseen circumstances.’ The Vienna location will be open until Nov. 17.” [Patch]
Hunter Mill Coat Drive Launches — The Reston nonprofit Cornerstones launched its annual Winter Coat Closet donation drive yesterday, accepting new or gently used heavy winter coats as well as new hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves through Nov. 8. Donations can be dropped off at 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday to Friday. [Hunter Mill District Office]
Retired Supervisor Honored With Tree Planting — “Fairfax County leaders honored former Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross by planting a tree … at Mason District Park on Oct. 11. The Roots of Leadership event focused on Gross’s key role in establishing the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ regional tree canopy goal.” [Annandale Today]
Affordable Housing Developments Win Awards — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority is the recipient of several recent national awards, recognizing its leadership, innovation and equitable strategies in affordable housing.” Awards went to the Residences at North Hill, which opened last year, and One University near George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. [FCRHA]
It’s Wednesday — The forecast shows sunny skies and a high temperature near 56, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 8 to 11 mph with gusts reaching 20 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with the temperature dropping to around 40 degrees. [NWS]
Fairfax County has a new policy that could lead to the prosecution of individuals who were removed from the voter rolls after being identified as possible non-citizens.
The move comes after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a new executive order in August directing the Virginia Department of Elections to update the voter rolls by removing deceased individuals, felons, those deemed mentally incapacitated and non-citizens before the general election on Nov. 5.
A project to build a wastewater pump station project for McLean and eastern Tysons got off to an inauspicious start last week when a lack of community outreach forced the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to postpone a scheduled public hearing.
The board authorized the hearing in September to get testimony on whether the county should exercise its eminent domain powers to acquire the land rights to a residential property at 1310 Scotts Run Road in McLean — the site chosen for the future pump station.
Fairfax County planners have settled on a final proposal for Wiehle Avenue’s future design.
After presenting three options for community feedback this spring, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation is leaning toward a concept that reduces the Reston road to two travel lanes in each direction, while providing space for a two-way cycle track along the west side. The area would maintain its current speed limit of 35 mph.
Some last-minute heartburn over the details led the Fairfax County Planning Commission to defer a series of votes last week that would have advanced the county government’s plans for redeveloping its judicial complex.
After a public hearing last Wednesday (Oct. 9), Providence District Commissioner Jeremy Hancock ultimately pulled back his initial proposal to recommend approval of the submitted plans for the 48.2-acre judicial and public-safety compound surrounded by the City of Fairfax.
Fairfax County police released body camera footage yesterday (Monday) of the Sept. 16 shooting of a 33-year-old woman during a welfare check in Reston.
An officer trained in crisis intervention fatally shot and killed Sydney Wilson, a Reston resident, after Wilson injured the officer with a knife, the video shows, corroborating the Fairfax County Police Department’s previous description of the encounter.
Fairfax County police are investigating a late September crash in Seven Corners that turned fatal this weekend.
Glen Simmons, 57, died on Sunday (Oct. 13) — almost three weeks after he was struck by a driver while walking on Patrick Henry Drive shortly before 8 p.m. on Sept. 25, the Fairfax County Police Department announced yesterday (Monday).
An instructional assistant at Langley High School in McLean was arrested last week after a student allegedly saw him masturbating in a classroom.
During school hours on Friday (Oct. 11), David Scalea, a 40-year-old resident of Great Falls, “began inappropriately touching himself underneath his desk” in a classroom, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
New D.C. Pandas to Arrive Via Dulles — “Two giant pandas … have departed China for an hours-long flight to Washington and a new home at the National Zoo. A FedEx cargo jet from Chengdu via Anchorage is scheduled to arrive at Dulles International Airport at 9:55 a.m. Tuesday, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air traffic.” [Washington Post]
Truck Driver Crashes into Fairfax Station Home — “A driver in a flatbed truck crashed into a home on Paynes Church Drive in Fairfax, leaving a gaping hole in their living room.” No injuries were reported as a result of the Oct. 11 crash, but neighbors say speeding and stop-sign-running are issues on the road. [NBC4]
Civic Group Proposes Shifting Flights to Dulles — The Arlington County Civic Federation is calling for changes at Reagan National Airport to address safety, noise and environmental concerns. Current proposals include diverting “excessive and unsafe levels of traffic to Dulles Airport through increased subsidies for landing fees…to encourage airlines to use this facility as a departure and destination location.” [ARLnow]
Lorton Gets New Dining Options — “Several new restaurants are opening — or signing on as future tenants — at shopping centers in the Lorton area. At Liberty Market, which is anchored by the Lidl grocery store, a Hangry Joe’s franchise marked its soft opening Oct. 5 and will soon hold a grand opening.” Also look for Naz’s Halal Food and Nash & Smash at Gunston Plaza. [On the MoVe]
Former Commanders Owner’s Home Finds No Buyers — Former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s mansions in Potomac, Maryland, and Fort Hunt remain on the market. “So far, the properties have found no buyers in an otherwise thriving D.C.-area market of what is known as ‘ultra luxury’ real estate, even after one of the Snyder homes was donated to charity and its price was repeatedly cut.” [Washington Post]
Coyote Spotted in Vienna — “Residents in one part of Fairfax County, Virginia, are seeing coyotes in their neighborhood. The most recent sighting was near Southside Park in Vienna on Thursday…The Tanglewood Community Association also put out a notice about the coyotes, saying ‘please take care around the wildlife.'” [WTOP]
Kevin Bacon’s Band Rocks Reston — “Famous actor and musician Kevin Bacon and his equally talented brother, Michael Bacon, rocked the Reston Town Center Saturday night where the duo performed as The Bacon Brothers. The event was held at the RTC’s pavilion and drew a large crowd.” [The Burn]
‘Love Is Blind’ Contestant Now Living in Tysons — Nick Dorka, a “duck-riding real estate agent” and contestant on the ongoing D.C. area-set season of the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind,” says he “got a place here in Tysons Corner” shortly after filming. [Washingtonian]
County Opens Registration for Winter Camps — “Registration for NCS’ Camp Fairfax and Teens in Action Camp Winter and Spring Programs will open on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. NCS’ camp programs offer fun and creative opportunities to help participants develop valuable life skills and make positive social connections during school breaks.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]
It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly cloudy day with temperatures reaching around 56 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 5 to 8 mph. As nighttime approaches, the skies will become partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 42 degrees and a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]
