The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is seeking community feedback on some potential improvements at Hybla Valley Park.
The agency is considering replacing the two existing tennis courts at the park near Hybla Valley Elementary School (3431 Lockheed Blvd) with a combination basketball and futsal court. A new playground has also been proposed.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors wants to change how it assesses transportation impacts by switching from an automobile-focused methodology to a more inclusive approach.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is working on a Comprehensive Transportation Analysis (CTA) to collect data and identify the trade-offs between different modes of transportation, FCDOT planner Tim Kutz told the board during a transportation committee meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 17).
McLean’s Winterfest Parade is reawakening after an extended hibernation.
The McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC) announced earlier this month that the once-annual celebration will return on Dec. 8 for the first time since 2018. Coupled with a free movie screening tonight (Friday), the parade’s revival reflects a shift in the nonprofit’s efforts to boost activity in downtown McLean.
Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election in Fairfax County kicks off today (Friday) at three polling locations.
Voters will not only be deciding between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump in the presidential race, but also choosing candidates for Congress and, for Herndon residents, the town’s mayor and six council members. Several bond referenda and a proposed amendment to Virginia’s constitution will also be on the ballot.
County Releases New Youth Survey — “Young people in our community report noticeably lower rates of mental health concerns compared to prior years, according to the 2023-2024 Fairfax County Youth Survey. Overall, youth in Fairfax County report prevalence rates near historic lows for risky behaviors…However, there remain some challenges.” [Fairfax County Government]
CIA Veteran Sentenced to Prison — “A longtime CIA officer who drugged, photographed and sexually assaulted more than two dozen women in postings around the world was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Wednesday after an emotional hearing…Prosecutors say the 48-year-old Raymond’s assaults date to 2006 and tracked his career in Mexico, Peru and other countries.” [Associated Press]
Herndon Police Issue Scam Alert — “Multiple residents have reported receiving emails in which their home address and a photo of their home (from Google Maps) is included. The email requests bitcoin and threatens to release compromising photos of the recipient if demands are not met. This is a scam. Do not engage with the sender and do not send any kind of payment.” [Herndon Police/Twitter]
Fairfax Restaurant Nears Public Debut — “Former Clarity chef Jon Krinn has been quietly operating a tasting menu restaurant in Fairfax as ‘invitation only.’ To snag a seat at Elyse, you had to be in the know and subscribe to Krinn’s email list to book a reservation. But after some final touches to the 30-seat dining room, the restaurant is gearing up for its public debut on Wednesday, October 9.” [Washingtonian]
Mars ‘Excited’ by Planned Kellanova Merger — “One of a string of Mars’ acquisitions in recent years, the deal will have massive implications…The combined company would generate more than $63 billion based on 2023 figures. That would make the 113-year-old Mars the third-largest private company in the U.S. based on revenue, up from No. 4 now.” [Washington Business Journal]
New Tysons-Bethesda Bus Celebrated — “Fairfax County held a ribbon cutting event [yesterday], Sept. 19, 2024, to officially kick off the new Fairfax Connector Express Route 798 bus service…Route 798 provides regional connectivity between Tysons West*Park and Tysons Metrorail Station in Virginia, and Bethesda, Maryland.” [FCDOT]
Annandale Road Diet Proposed — “Annandale Road currently has two traffic lanes in each direction. Under the road diet plan, there would be one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and bike lanes in both directions. FCDOT invites the community to a virtual meeting on reconfiguring Annandale Road on Monday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.” [Annandale Today]
Metro Finishes Installing Taller Fare Gates — “All 98 stations across the Metrorail system now have more secure, retrofitted faregates to deter fare evasion. The improvements have led to an 82% drop in fare evasion…More than 1,200 five-foot-tall gates and taller fences have been installed across all stations. The project began in July 2023.” [WMATA]
It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies today as temperatures reach a high near 84. A north wind of around 6 mph will shift east during the morning. Tonight, the weather will be partly cloudy and cool, with lows around 63, and a southeast wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
Jim Adkins coached the Warhawks to three state championships
Jim Adkins, the successful head coach of the Madison Warhawks girls high-school softball team the past 11 seasons, recently stepped down from that position.
The superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools is the second-most influential person in Northern Virginia — just behind occasional-FCPS-critic Gov. Glenn Youngkin, according to a new ranking.
Northern Virginia Magazine awarded Dr. Michelle Reid the no. 2 spot in its newly released list of the 50 Most Influential People in Northern Virginia, highlighting her efforts to guide the state’s largest public school system through the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trial for a Herndon man facing charges in the slaying of his wife and another man will begin nearly two years after the killings occurred.
Brendan Banfield, 39, was indicted Monday (Sept. 16) on four counts of aggravated murder in connection to the stabbing of his wife, Christine Banfield, and the shooting of a man at their home in the Frying Pan area in February 2023.
The Fairfax County County Board of Supervisors is exploring its taxing options, including possible taxes on meals and event admissions, in the hopes of reducing its reliance on property taxes.
Supervisors discussed new revenue diversification proposals at Tuesday’s (Sept. 17) budget policy committee meeting after calling on County Executive Bryan Hill to identify ways to ease the tax burden on homeowners and fill reported shortfalls in state funding for public schools.
A push to redevelop the former Franconia Governmental Center site with affordable housing is still in its early stages, but passions are already running high among local residents and housing advocates.
Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) commissioners got to hear both supportive and oppositional arguments at a public hearing last Thursday (Sept. 12), as they weigh whether to accept an interim agreement with the project’s developers.
