Alta Strada is bowing out of the Mosaic District about seven months shy of what would’ve been its 10th anniversary there.
The Italian restaurant and wine bar revealed on its social media pages yesterday (Monday) that its Merrifield location will be permanently closing its doors on Saturday, July 25.
Building on recent successes, destinations in Africa and Asia remain prime targets for new business opportunities, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) officials say.
But finding new opportunities necessitated nuance and persistence, said Paul Bobson, the authority’s vice president for airline business development.
For many Virginia homeowners, the family home is more than an asset. It’s where children grew up, memories were made, and decades of life unfolded. Placing your home in a trust can help protect that legacy while making things easier for your loved ones in the future.
A properly structured and funded trust may help avoid probate, provide continuity if you become unable to manage your affairs, and give your family clear instructions about what should happen to the home. Here’s what Virginia homeowners need to know.
A trust can provide several important benefits:
A trust isn’t necessarily the right choice for every homeowner, however. The appropriate plan depends on your family, finances, property, and long-term goals.
Virginia homeowners may use several types of trusts, including revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, testamentary trusts, special needs trusts, and charitable trusts.
For many homeowners who want to continue controlling and living in their home while simplifying the transfer after death, a revocable living trust may be appropriate. Other situations may call for a different type of trust.
The type of trust you choose can affect control of the property, taxes, creditor protection, and how the property is distributed.
The trustee manages the property and follows the instructions in the trust. With a revocable living trust, you can typically serve as your own trustee during your lifetime and name a successor trustee to take over if you become incapacitated or die.
Choose someone you trust to handle financial and property matters responsibly. Depending on your circumstances, that could be a family member, friend, or professional trustee.
The trust document identifies the person creating the trust, the trustee, the beneficiaries, and the rules governing the trust.
Because your trust should reflect your specific circumstances and comply with Virginia law, working with an experienced Virginia trust attorney can help avoid vague language, missing provisions, or other problems that could create confusion later.
Once the trust is drafted, you’ll sign the document according to the requirements of your estate plan. Notarization is generally recommended because it helps establish the authenticity of the document and can reduce the risk of challenges later.
Your attorney can make sure the signing process is completed properly.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored a local resident last Tuesday (July 14) for her 35 years of service to the Spring Hill Rec Center’s adapted aquatics program.
Bryna Helfer helped found the program in 1991, and continues to serve as an instructor and booster.
Fairfax County Public Schools has officially adopted a boundary map for attendance at the new Skyview High School, which will draw in students from Westfield, Chantilly, and South Lakes high schools to alleviate overcrowding at several schools on the western side of the county.
The new school assignments — unanimously approved by the school board during its July 16 regular meeting — are expected to impact 2,544 students, including 1,159 who will be assigned next year to attend Skyview’s campus at 2949 Education Drive, in the Floris area south of Herndon.
Join us on September 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time) at 12000 Government Center Pkwy for Pender’s First Annual Angel Fund 5K!
This fun community event supports the Angel Fund at Pender Veterinary Centre, which helps pet owners in Northern Virginia cover unexpected veterinary costs when finances are tight. For over 50 years, Pender Veterinary Centre has been proud to care for pets and their families, and this 5K is all about bringing everyone together to celebrate that bond.
A new data analysis finds two local communities have seen the largest year-over-year declines in median rents across the metro area.
Herndon posted a drop of 4.8% to $2,000, and Fairfax City saw a 3.8% dip to $2,010 in the median rental price of one-bedroom apartments in June, according to the latest monthly report from Zumper.
Hearing on Jimenez Reckless Driving Charge Postponed — “The reckless driving charge against Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez has been continued to Sept. 21 … The Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney asked to be recused from the case, so Judge Darwyn Easley on July 20 in Traffic Court granted a request by Jimenez’s attorney, Makan Shirafkan, to continue the case.” [Annandale Today]
Seven Corners Apartments Expansion Approved — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 14 approved a rezoning of the Cavalier Club apartments in Seven Corners to permit an additional eight-story apartment building with 238 units … The existing 12-story, 220-unit Cavalier Club building will remain.” [Annandale Today]
Springfield Man Convicted in Child Sex Abuse Materials Case — “Police began investigating 39-year-old Nathaniel Lee, who worked as a tax preparer and Franconia Museum guide, in December 2022. Lee was requesting child sex abuse images on the file sharing network Freenet, prosecutors said … Lee was convicted Monday following a bench trial on three total counts in connection to his possession of the images and is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6.” [WTOP]
Local Schools Given Some Funding Flexibility — “Virginia schools will have greater agency in administrative decisions and flexibility in how they spend federal funds heading into the upcoming school year, potentially affecting low-income student programs and teacher development.” The change is intended to reduce time spent on paperwork, but some worry it will result in funding shifting away from students who need the most resources. [Virginia Mercury]
Arlington to Ban Gas Leaf Blowers — “County Board members on Saturday adopted a 29-month phase-out period for gas-powered leaf blowers countywide, a timeframe officials said would help to make sure the transition goes smoothly.” County staff acknowledged that a challenge to the ban in court might be dicey, considering the General Assembly has yet to explicitly give localities the authority to regulate gas-powered leaf blowers. [ARLnow]
Mahjong Club Sets Opening Date — “The wait is almost over! We’re thrilled to open the doors of The Bamboo Room and welcome the Vienna community into our new home!” A soft opening is planned for the new social club at 101 Church Street NW, Unit D, on Aug. 2 from noon to 4 p.m. [The Bamboo Room/Instagram]
Early Fundraising Leaders in Fairfax City Elections — “City Council candidate Steve Chang has emerged as the early fundraising leader in Fairfax City’s 2026 election, while mayoral candidate Kirsten Sides Lockhart reported the highest fundraising total among candidates running for mayor, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Virginia Department of Elections.” [Patch]
Charity Softball Game Planned in Chantilly — “Calling all Chantilly Youth Association (CYA) and the Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) alumni: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Friends (ECLP) is hosting a charity softball game on Saturday, July 25, from noon to 3 p.m.” Funds will go toward scholarships for programs at the park. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms with a high near 91°F. There’s an 80% chance of rain, with up to half an inch expected. Night will bring more showers and thunderstorms, particularly before 2am, with lows around 73°F. [NWS]
Want more local news? Check out our newest sister site, WSHnow, with the latest from across the region.
Good Monday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Jul 20, 2026.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
Expect showers and thunderstorms, especially after 4 pm, with a high near 91°F. Southwest winds will range from 7 to 14 mph, gusting up to 20 mph, and there’s an 80% chance of precipitation with potential rainfall of a quarter to half an inch. On Tuesday night, showers and thunderstorms are likely before 2 am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 73°F. Southwest winds will be 9 to 11 mph, with a 60% chance of precipitation and rainfall amounts between half and three quarters of an inch. See more from Weather.gov.
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Fairfax County leaders are eager to get a jump start on a new option to automate monitoring for excessive vehicle noise.
The county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on July 14 to direct County Executive Bryan Hill to report a timeline by this fall for implementing the authority newly granted by the General Assembly to Fairfax and some other Virginia localities.
Ornery Beer Company is downsizing, sacrificing its Fairfax City restaurant to focus on ensuring the future of its other locations.
The brewpub announced today (Monday) that its location at 3950 University Drive, Suite 106, will permanently close on Sunday, July 26 after nearly eight years of operating in Old Town Fairfax.
