Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 14, 2025

By FFXnow.com

Good Monday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 14, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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.

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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.

Around Town

Yemeni coffee brand opens first D.C.-area cafe in Fairfax City

By Jared Serre
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.

Go to Yemeni coffee brand opens first D.C.-area cafe in Fairfax City Read more
Sponsored

Ten Things I Learned in the First Summer Season of My Roofing Company

By Sponsor
Image from Ten Things I Learned in the First Summer Season of My Roofing Company

Incredibly excited to wrap up an awesome first summer. I’ve learned a lot, and I thought I’d share some of those lessons with you.

1. Hiring a JMU intern is a great idea.

This summer we were lucky enough to hire a young man from Woodbridge named Owen, who is a rising senior at JMU. He was exactly the spark we needed to help us push through our first busy summer season. We’ve already made him a job offer for next summer when he graduates, and we’re hopeful he’ll join us full-time.

2. People are generally helpful and want to see you succeed when you’re first starting out.

Over the summer, I was amazed by how many people wanted to help me get a strong start in my business. There were definitely times when I knew folks might not need a new roof, but they were still kind enough to let me come by, take a look, and give them a free estimate just in case. It was inspiring and motivating to know that there are strangers out there who don’t even know me but still want to see me win.

3. Hard work solves most problems.

From the beginning, I’ve been honest about having a lot to learn in this industry. What I’ve come to find is that even when I don’t know exactly what I’m doing, hard work will still often get me to the right result. When in doubt, just keep pushing. This is something I’ll remember as more hard times come and as we get ready to go through the cold winter season.

4. Working with property managers and realtors can be a win-win for everyone.

This year, we’ve built some great relationships with property managers and realtors. These folks are hardworking and busy, and the last thing they have time to worry about is a roof for their clients. We’ve worked with them to install new roofs, windows, gutters, doors, and siding on multiple occasions.

5. Some folks will slam the door in your face without thinking twice.

Things aren’t always easy in this game, and I don’t want to paint an overly rosy picture without talking about some of the hard stuff too. As a new person working hard to get your name out there, it can definitely be a little daunting when someone yells at you or slams the door in your face. Luckily, most people are warm and will at least talk to you, and we’ve appreciated that as we navigate these bumps along the way.

6. Most homeowners just want transparency and great customer service.

It’s wild how many contractors out there really can’t be trusted. We’ve come to learn quickly that homeowners just want fantastic customer service and transparency throughout the process. If you can honestly show someone how the process is going to take place and hold their hand a little along the way, you can make almost all of your customers pretty happy.

7. Homeowners taught me more than any training could have.

(more…)

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News

Fairfax sees jump in number of unemployed residents with latest state data

By Scott McCaffrey
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.

Go to Fairfax sees jump in number of unemployed residents with latest state data Read more
Announcement

EvolveAll Launches Youth Martial Arts Program Built for Homeschool Families

By EvolveAll
Group of children in white gi practicing kicks in a dojo; girl in foreground executes a high side kick against the wall with a purple belt.

For homeschooling families, finding activities that fit a non-traditional school day can be a challenge. EvolveAll, the martial arts and fitness studio that’s served the local community for more than 15 years, is addressing that gap with a new Homeschool Youth Martial Arts (YMA) program.

The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:15 to 2:00 PM and follows EvolveAll’s established YMA curriculum, which focuses on discipline, focus, coordination, and self-defense fundamentals for kids ages 5 to 10. Classes are led by EvolveAll’s head YMA Instructor Mr. Christian, who has over a decade of instructing experience. The class size is capped to keep the student-to-instructor ratio low.

Go to EvolveAll Launches Youth Martial Arts Program Built for Homeschool Families Read more
News

Merrifield drug trafficker who evaded police sentenced to 10 years

By Jared Serre
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.

Go to Merrifield drug trafficker who evaded police sentenced to 10 years Read more
Event

Reston: Exemplar of Urban Design

Event location

REston Community Center Lake Anne

1609-A Washington Plaza

Reston, Virginia 20190

Add to Calendar

The Reston Museum invites the community to a special program on Wednesday, September 16th from 7:00 to 8:00PM featuring urban geographer, Shelley Mastran, who will explore the history of planned communities using Reston as a case study. Her presentation will examine the ideas and movements that influenced Reston's design and explore how urban design shapes our sense of community.

Go to Reston: Exemplar of Urban Design Read more
News

Potential Reston developers face mostly distrustful community at packed meeting

By Angela Woolsey
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.

Go to Potential Reston developers face mostly distrustful community at packed meeting Read more
Countywide

Cover your grass: Fairfax County starts accepting unmown lawn complaints today

By Vernon Miles
Lawn grass (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Keep an eye on your grass: Fairfax County’s Department of Code Compliance (DCC) will start investigating grass complaints starting today (Monday).

In a newsletter last week, Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw noted that today marks the start of “grass season,” the period when the county accepts complaints about too-tall grass. The season typically lasts from April through October.

Go to Cover your grass: Fairfax County starts accepting unmown lawn complaints today Read more
News

Trooper, three others injured in crash following pursuit on I-66 Express Lanes

By Inside NoVA
I-66 Express Lanes sign (file photo)

A trooper and three others, including a 4-year-old child, were injured in a crash following a pursuit Saturday [April 12] on Interstate 66 eastbound in Fairfax County.

Just before 9 p.m., Virginia State Police were called about an occupied vehicle on the left shoulder of the I-66 Express Lanes at the 58-mile marker [near Oakton].

Go to Trooper, three others injured in crash following pursuit on I-66 Express Lanes Read more
Countywide

Morning Notes for April 14, 2025

By FFXnow.com
A flowering tree near the Shops at Avenir Place courtyard (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Search and Rescue Task Force Returns From Floods — On Friday night (April 11), Virginia Task Force 1’s “45 team members and 2 canines returned home to waiting family members after assisting Frankfurt, Kentucky with swift water rescue resources and damage reconnaissance. We are honored to be able to serve whenever and wherever the need arises.” [Virginia Task Force 1/Facebook]

Chantilly Pickleball Facility to Open This Week — “The Dill Dinkers team has announced that their 12 p-ball courts will be ready for players on Thursday, April 17. The 30,000 s.f. sporting venue is located in the Sully Place Shopping Center off of 50, east of State Road 28. The space used to be a Babies R Us store.” [The Burn]

Pilot Falsely Linked to DCA Crash Sues for Defamation — “A transgender pilot is suing a popular right-wing influencer after he falsely connected her to the midair collision that killed 67 people near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, in January. Jo Ellis, a helicopter pilot with the Virginia Army National Guard, filed the defamation lawsuit against social media personality Matt Wallace in a Colorado federal court.” [WTOP]

Single-Family Residents Object to Apartment Expansion — “Residents of the single-family neighborhood that backs up to The Jefferson Apartments in Seven Corners expressed significant concerns about a proposal to add more housing to the site. The property owner has submitted an amendment to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan to add 101 additional multifamily units on the surface parking lot at … 6166 Leesburg Pike.” [Annandale Today]

First Look at Forthcoming Reston Restaurant — “Award-winning Vienna restaurant Clarity is eager to complete its new outpost near Reston Town Center, with a goal to be open for business in the spring of 2026 … Expect vibrant lunch offerings and a robust happy hour.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

VDOT to Pause Lane Closures for Easter Weekend — “Whether you are on spring break or driving to see family and friends, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) wants to help make your travels egg-cellent. VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, April 18, until noon on Tuesday, April 22.” [VDOT]

Deadline to Get a Real ID Approaches — “You have under a month to obtain a Real ID before it’s required for domestic flights and access to some federal facilities like courthouses and military bases — but if you’re a D.C. or Maryland resident, chances are you’re on it.” In comparison, only 59% of Virginia residents have obtained the new ID. [Axios DC]

Local Food Critics Check Out Tysons Supermarket — “Move over H Mart, Great Wall and 99 Ranch. Tysons has a new Asian market and it’s a stunner. Opened in January, the 18,000-square foot Marufuji Japanese Market is a Japanophile’s dream, chockablock with (mostly Japanese) food products, plus some home goods thrown in.” The Washington Post’s Tom Siestema also recently assessed the new specialty grocer. [Arlington Magazine]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly cloudy day with temperatures reaching near 69, and a calm wind turning south at 5-7 mph in the morning. Night will likely bring showers and possibly a thunderstorm, with a low temperature around 58. There is a 60% chance of precipitation. [NWS]

Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Apr 11, 2025

By FFXnow.com

Good Friday evening, Fairfax County. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Apr 11, 2025.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  • Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza to welcome beer and bratwurst restaurant (10271 views)
  • Reston man dies in motorcycle crash off Loudoun County road (6458 views)
  • Capital One Hall announces latest season of ‘Broadway in Tysons’ (5689 views)
  • Police officer who shot, killed Reston woman will not face criminal charges (5459 views)
  • Fairfax County apartment rents still rising, with Tysons leading region in cost (5418 views)
  • In stormy meeting, Fairfax leaders rip VDOT again on January snow cleanup (4601 views)
  • Fairfax economic forecasts show impact of federal job losses could be worse than Covid (4042 views)
  • D.C.-area leaders pledge ongoing support as WorldPride festival hits hurdles (3814 views)
  • Families move into new Fair Ridge homeless shelter after closure of temporary Reston site (3205 views)
  • Planned ‘commuter path’ from Newington Road to Springfield Metro met with ongoing concern (3039 views)
  • Reston resident sentenced to prison for downloading child porn (2971 views)

    • 📅 Upcoming events

    Here is what’s going on Saturday throughout the county, from our event calendar.

    Here are the events planned for Sunday:

    🌧️ Saturday’s forecast

    Expect showers mostly before 8am, cloudy skies, and a high near 53°F accompanied by a north wind at 10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with under a tenth of an inch possible. Saturday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers before 2am, with a mostly cloudy low around 42°F and a 7 mph north wind. See more from Weather.gov.

    🌅 Tonight’s sunset

    The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

    We hope you have a great weekend! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋

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