A Tysons Community Alliance sign outside the Spring Hill Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
In the future, a share of tax revenue generated by the Tysons Transportation Service District could go to transportation-related projects shepherded by the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), including ones on private property.
The district’s advisory board voted last Wednesday (April 9) to recommend that $1 million be allocated to the TCA for fiscal year 2026 to support its work to close gaps in the Tysons transportation network, reduce traffic from single-occupant vehicles, and boost public awareness and engagement.
The tarmac at Dulles International Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
A Maryland man who reportedly punched a gate agent at Dulles International Airport is scheduled to make his first federal court appearance later this week.
Accused of striking an employee of United Airlines “in the face with a closed fist,” Christopher Stuart Crittenden will appear in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on Thursday (April 17), according to court records.
My name is Drew, and I wanted to take a moment to tell you about what I’ve been working on as I try to make my way in the world.
This past year, I took a leap that honestly scared me. I challenged the comfortable path I’d been on and built something new with trusted partners and friends: a local roofing and home‑exterior company called All Team Exteriors. On paper, it’s a business. But in my heart, it’s something much more personal than that.
I don’t just want to make a living here — I want to contribute something meaningful to a place that’s helped mold me.
I’ve worked in environments where professionalism, follow‑through, and integrity weren’t optional — they were the baseline. But when it came to home services, especially roofing, I saw how often homeowners were left frustrated, confused, or ignored. Slow responses. Vague communication. Contractors disappearing mid‑project.
And I thought:
Someone young, hungry, and honest should try to fix this.
So… I’m giving it everything I’ve got.
What I’m trying to build
All Team Exteriors isn’t a giant corporation. It’s not some out-of-state outfit with a call center. It’s me — and a small team of people committed to doing things the right way. We spent an extensive amount of time training under a perennial award-winning roofing company in Arizona this winter and learned what great looks like.
We’re bringing modern tools, photo-documented inspections, real-time updates, fast communication, and a “do what we say we’ll do” mentality. Not because it looks good in a brochure, but because that’s how I’d want someone to treat my own family.
So far we are off to an absolutely amazing start. It’s been a great first summer and we’d love to help you as well. You can give us a call anytime at 703-705-7207 for an absolutely free inspection and estimate on your roof, siding, gutters, doors, and windows. I’d love to have a chance to swing by and meet you and take a look at how we can work together to make your home safer and more secure.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I sincerely hope we can help you and your family soon.
Lorton Farmers Market on June 30, 2024 (courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority, 2024 Farmers Markets)
The Fairfax County Park Authority’s annual farmers market season kicks off Wednesday (April 16) with the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers’ Market outside the Sherwood Regional Library (2501 Sherwood Hall Lane) in Fort Hunt.
It will be one of three sites to begin 2025 operations in April, with seven others opening their seasons in May.
Turtles on a log in Wolftrap Creek (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
States Jockey to Poach Federal Agencies From D.C. Area — “Ahead of Monday’s deadline for agencies to submit plans to relocate offices out of the region, officials in Ohio, Texas and Florida have been lobbying to land key agencies, sensing that D.C.’s loss of these major employers could be their economic gain.” [Washington Post]
School Board Debates Expanding Cell Phone Restrictions — “During a recent work session meeting, FCPS proposed to ban the use of cellphones from the start to end of school, including lunchtime and in between classes. Phones and tablets would no longer be used for instructional purposes … The recommendations would align with a new law passed by the Virginia General Assembly to keep phones away from bell-to-bell.” [WUSA9]
Seven Corners Bakery to Close After 30 Years — “After 30 years in the Seven Corners Center, Tiffany’s Bakery is closing for good. Their last day is April 26. Owner Beatrice Echegoyen plans to focus her energies on the other Tiffany’s Bakery, at 7022 Columbia Pike in Annandale … Both shops offer cakes, cookies, pastries, croissant sandwiches, and made-to-order cakes.” [Annandale Today]
Possible Summer Opening for Reston Shake Shack — Shake Shack is aiming to open its new location at Reston Town Center in June. Construction “was well underway” when The Burn recently passed the nearly 2,800-square-foot space previously occupied by The Counter. [The Burn]
Virginia Opts Out of Michelin Guide — “Virginia is noticeably absent from the forthcoming Southern restaurant guide that Michelin announced earlier this month … The state tourism office declined to participate in the pay-to-play guide — a whopping $360,000 to be included, reports Axios Richmond’s Karri Peifer.” [Axios DC]
Local Teacher Competes to Be ‘America’s Favorite’ — Marcy Fisher, a first grade teacher at Union Mill Elementary School in Clifton, says it’s a “very emotional experience” to reach the quarterfinals of a national “America’s Favorite Teacher” contest. Voting to determine the semifinalists is open to the public until Thursday (April 17) at 7 p.m. [WTOP]
County’s Poet Laureate Offers Free Workshop — “To celebrate National Poetry Month, explore the intersection between music and spoken word at the Making Your Mixtape: Poetry Writing Workshop on April 19, led by the Fairfax County Poet Laureate Angelique Palmer.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Metro Recognizes Anniversary of Train’s Debut — “On this day 10 years ago, the first 7000-series train debuted on the Blue Line, departing from Franconia-Springfield.” The trains became a headache for Metro after a derailment in Arlington in 2021 led to all of them being removed from service for inspections. [WMATA/Bluesky]
It’s Tuesday — Scattered showers and possible thunderstorms after 2pm accompany a partly sunny day with highs near 65. West winds start at 10-15 mph, increasing to 21-26 mph and potentially gusting up to 41 mph. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation. At night, expect mostly clear skies with lows around 44. [NWS]
Local author and Fairfax County Public Library librarian Luis D. Aponte invites parents and community leaders to an empowering discussion inspired by his book “A Safe Place: How to Prevent the Next School Shooting.” Drawing on seven years of research into more than 1,200 U.S. school shooting incidents, he shares practical, nonpartisan, research‑based steps families and schools can use to strengthen safety and emotional well‑being. Discover hopeful, community‑building solutions that help every child feel supported and able to thrive. Attendees receive two free ebooks, with a paperback signing to follow.
Adults. No registration required. Free event. For more information, visit ASafePlaceBook.com.
Here is what’s going on Tuesday throughout the county, from our event calendar.
No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.
⛈️ Tuesday’s forecast
Scattered showers and possible thunderstorms after 2pm give way to gradual sunshine and a high of 65. Expect a breezy west wind of 10-15 mph, increasing to 20-25 mph in the afternoon and gusting up to 43 mph, with a 30% chance of precipitation. Tuesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 43, west wind at 13-17 mph, and gusts as high as 25 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
Inside the Haraz Coffee House in Fairfax City (photo courtesy DMM Communications)
A Yemeni coffee brand has taken the first step in an expansion to the D.C. area.
Haraz Coffee House kicked off a soft opening today (Monday) for its first location near the nation’s capital. The cafe is housed in Fairfax City’s Fairfax Junction, formerly known as the Westfair Shopping Center.
Virginia unemployment rate from February 2023 through February 2025 (via Virginia Employment Commission)
The number of Fairfax County residents counted as unemployed and looking for work in February spiked 17% from the same month in 2024 in new data.
The city and county-level unemployment figures released by the Virginia Employment Commission last Thursday (April 10) kickstarted what could be a series of punishing monthly jobless reports in coming months, as the D.C. region begins to adjust to the ripple effects of the Trump administration gutting the federal government and tariff-related uncertainty.
The Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria (file photo)
A Merrifield man who evaded arrest for eight years will spend the next decade in federal prison in connection to drug charges.
Otis Chevalier, 46, was sentenced last Thursday (April 10) to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to both the distribution of and the conspiracy to distribute the drug phencyclidine — otherwise known as PCP, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
A full house at Langston Hughes Middle School for Fairfax County's community meeting on Site-Specific Plan Amendment proposals in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Three proposals for future development in Reston were mostly greeted with varying degrees of skepticism by community members who crowded into the cafeteria at Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) last Monday (April 7).
Drawing an estimated 350 to 400 attendees, the meeting was one of three held by Fairfax County planning staff over the past two weeks to gather feedback on 11 different pitches for changes to land use guidance in the Reston Comprehensive Plan.
