Inside the historic Ash Grove house in Tysons (via Fairfax County Park Authority/Flickr)
The clock is ticking on a chance to live in Tysons rent-free — if you’ll agree to restore and maintain the historic property.
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is accepting applications until Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. for a resident curator for Ash Grove, one of the county’s few still-standing houses from the 18th century.
Fairfax County Public Schools Adult Community Education is based in the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning in Springfield (via Google Maps)
Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education is launching more than 250 new courses for the trades, construction, IT and health care.
The new courses include in-person, hybrid and asynchronous offerings in line with the program’s focus on “new collar” workforce development, according to a school system news release. New collar defines high-paying professions that combine technical skills with specialized education rather than a four-year degree. Those roles are found in industries with high demand for workers in Northern Virginia — especially the trades, health care and technology — according to Paul Steiner, head administrator of FCPS Adult and Community Education, also known as ACE.
Colored kites hang over Matcha Cafe Maiko in Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
FCPS Details Cell Phone Storage Pilot — “Starting on the week of Sep. 2, students at certain middle schools will receive a Yondr pouch, which is magnetic and can only be unlocked at an unlocking station at the end of the day.” The schools participating in the pilot will be Frost, Irving, Luther Jackson, Poe, Robinson Thoreau and Twain. [WTOP]
Route 1 Communities Struggle to Stay Cool — The Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination recently worked with several community groups to provide air-conditioning units to Harmony Place Trailer Park residents in Hybla Valley. However, the local nonprofit United Community has had to repeatedly close its food pantry “due a malfunctioning AC system.” [On the MoVe]
Korean BBQ Restaurant Coming to FairfaxCity — “Chosun Hwaro Korean BBQ Restaurant is hoping to open its new location in the empty retail space in the Boulevard VI development within a month, a company spokesman told Patch on Monday.” Founding partners Sun Kim and Sung Kim started the business with a restaurant in Ellicott City, Maryland. [Patch]
Reston Community Center Offers Online Survey — Reston Community Center’s five-year strategic plan survey, which collects feedback on its facilities, programs and priorities, is now available online through Sept. 2. This year’s survey is particularly interested in what residents want to see from RCC’s Lake Anne facility. [RCC]
FCPD to Visit National Night OutEvents — “This year, National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 6th. This is a chance for neighbors and law enforcement to come together and build lasting relationships through various community events like block parties, festivals, parades, and cookouts.” [FCPD]
Langley Student Medals in Geography Competition — “Ryan Minton, a rising sophomore at Langley High School, secured a top-12 finish at the 2024 International Geography Championships, held in Vienna, Austria. Students from 21 U.S. states, 16 countries and Hong Kong competed, showcasing geographical knowledge and analytical skills.” [Gazette Leader]
Volunteers Assemble School Bags for Students — “More than 75 volunteers put together 2,000 backpacks full of school supplies in less than two hours in a highly coordinated assembly line arrangement. The annual event, known as the Great Assembly, took place Aug. 3 at the Moose Lodge in Bailey’s Crossroads.” [Annandale Today]
Farmers’ Market Week Underway — “Join the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Farmers Markets as we proudly participate in National Farmers Market Week from Aug. 4 to 10. Farmers Market Week will be celebrated at all 10 Market locations and will include a recipe swap and free reusable bags – perfect for your fresh finds!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, sunny skies, and a high near 95, with heat index values reaching 100. At night, the chance of precipitation increases from 50% to 60%. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 74. [NWS]
Dump truck pouring trash into landfill (courtesy Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services)
Fairfax County is seeking feedback on its current solid waste management practices and strategies for achieving “zero waste.”
Open from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, the survey asks residents to share their opinions on how the county handles solid waste and possible ways it could divert 90% of trash from landfills and incineration. Participants have the chance to win a $100 gift card.
The Fairfax County-based international urban search and rescue task force was deployed last night (Sunday) to assist with the emergency response to Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall as a hurricane near Steinhatchee on the west coast of Florida around 7 a.m. this morning (Monday).
A vacant lot next to the completed Townhomes at Reston Station is slated for development as a 227-unit apartment building (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
More pieces of the Reston Midline development near the Wiehle Metro station are starting to fall into place.
Developer EYA hopes to begin construction on an apartment building within the next year after completing its Townhomes at Reston Station earlier this summer. All 113 townhouses were sold by August 2023, and they were officially delivered to buyers by June, EYA President and CEO McLean Quinn told FFXnow.
A garden and bench in the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
County Board Urged to Back Ceasefire in Gaza — “Several speakers at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ July 30 meeting criticized board members for not weighing in on current fighting between Israel and Hamas forces in and around Gaza.” Activists called for the board to support a ceasefire and “full divestment from Israel by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority,” which says it ended a contract that gave it a presence in Tel Aviv on June 30. [Gazette Leader]
Board Chairman on Data Centers — “Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay joined the show to explain what the county is trying to do and how data centers can help with much-needed tax revenue…Plus, will county residents be able to stomach a meal tax? McKay certainly hopes so, noting it’s potentially a good way for the county to diversify its revenue source.” [WAMU]
Tysons Mall Collects Back-to-School Donations — “Tysons Corner Center has partnered with nonprofits and the Fairfax County Police Department to spotlight community needs and entrepreneurship among children. You can drop off needed school supplies and buy products made by children at three mall events.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
W&OD Trail Users Praise Wiehle Bridge — “Now that there’s a new pedestrian bridge over Wiehle Avenue near Sunset Hills Road, many of those concerns have been addressed. The bridge opened July 24, and many people who have already used it said it’s making them feel safer.” [WTOP]
Behavioral Health Services Added in Hybla Valley — “The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) celebrated opening its newest location for providing community-based services to youth and their families. CSB behavioral health specialists will now be located at the Hybla Valley Community Center…to help the community along the Richmond Highway corridor access high-quality and affordable care and supports.” [Fairfax-Falls Church CSB/Facebook]
Encampment Emerges in Annandale — “Toll House Park, a tiny landmark at the intersection of Little River Turnpike and Annandale Road, was created as a focal point for the revitalization of Annandale. Now, however, it’s become a gathering place for unsheltered individuals struggling to survive during a weeks-long heat wave.” [Annandale Today]
Tysons VC Firm Plans Investments — “Blue Delta Capital Partners, a Tysons-based venture capital firm, is preparing to make more equity investments in local growth-stage tech firms serving the federal government following the close of a $250 million fund…The firm plans to back established firms that need additional capital for growth.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fort Hunt Playground Gets New Swings — “Extreme heat Aug. 2 couldn’t stop Fairfax County officials and residents of several Fort Hunt area neighborhoods from commemorating the completion of a new swing set at Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park playground.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high near 95 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind at 3 to 8 mph. Later in the night, partly cloudy skies will prevail with a low around 77, and a southwest wind around 7 mph. [NWS]
A solar panel array has been installed on the roof of the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmetal Services' Newington Collections Facility (courtesy DPWES)
A trash collection facility in Lorton is the first Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) building to install a rooftop solar system.
The Newington Collections Facility’s 150-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array will reduce carbon emissions “the same amount per year as recycling the contents of nearly five garbage trucks full of waste,” DPWES announced in a news release on Wednesday (July 31).
A futsal court similar in style to the proposed Stratton Woods Park facility (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority)
Reston is getting a combined basketball and futsal court, but it’ll be at a different site than what the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) previously proposed.
After seeking public input this spring on upgrades at South Lakes Drive Park, the park authority has teamed up with the Volkswagen Group of America and the Great Outdoor Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to recreational amenities, to instead build the dual-purpose court at Stratton Woods Park (2431 Fox Mill Road).