News

A home in Vienna was devastated early this morning (Thursday) by a sizable fire that sent one person to the hospital.

More than two dozen units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) responded to the 300 block of Blair Street NW at 1:15 a.m. after 911 received multiple calls for a house fire.


News

Some tree trimmings and removals were expected when Dominion Energy initated a project last year to replace electrical lines in the Vienna section of the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, but the extent of the clearings has taken local residents, elected officials and even the agency that owns the trail by surprise.

Starting in November, the utility began cutting down trees and vegetation along a 4-mile stretch of the trail from Vienna to Dunn Loring at a much more “aggressive” scale than it has in the past, according to Paul Gilbert, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks).


Around Town

The latest exhibition at the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) stays close to home when it comes to both artist and subject matter.

The Reston museum is launching “We Dwell in Between,” a solo show by Northern Virginia-based artist Marie B. Gauthiez, today (Thursday) at its satellite gallery in the Signature apartments (11850 Freedom Drive). An opening reception and talk by Gauthiez will be held tonight at 6-8 p.m.


Event

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.


Countywide
A Fairfax Connector bus heads west on Arlington Blvd near Seven Corners (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

County Opens Community Survey on Proposed Budget — “Fairfax County is seeking community feedback on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget Plan.” An online survey is now available in English, Spanish and Korean, and town halls and public hearings are planned this spring. [Fairfax County Government]

Sexual Assaults Reported in Falls Church — “The City of Falls Church Police Department is investigating a series of sexual batteries that occurred on the evening of Tuesday, February 25, 2025 and seeks possible additional victims or witnesses to the crimes. On February 25, officers were dispatched to four separate but similar reports of assault that occurred between approximately 8:55 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.” [City of Falls Church]

Falls Church’s Oldest Business to Close — “The oldest surviving business in Falls Church, Brown’s Hardware, is selling off the last of its wares as it prepares to close for good after 142 years … With about a fifth of all inventory remaining and an across-the-board 50% off sale, the store is on track to close at 100 W. Broad Street by the third week of March.” [ARLnow]

Federal Job Cuts Could Affect Cherry Blossom Festival — “More than 1,000 National Park Service staff, including rangers, have been laid off across the country. In the D.C. region, there are concerns that more cuts could be coming, affecting the experience of millions of tourists who flock to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms each year.” [WTOP]

Prepare for Reston Station Blvd Traffic Detour — “Due to the removal of a construction crane, Reston Station Boulevard will operate as a one-way road from Friday Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 2. Drivers will be directed eastbound toward Wiehle Avenue. Please follow the detour arrows when entering and exiting the Transit Center.” [Hunter Mill District News]

Police Investigate Convenience Store Theft — Fairfax County police are seeking help in identifying a man who allegedly “forced entry into a restricted area … and stole merchandise” from a convenience store in Pimmit Hills last Friday, Feb. 21. Officers responded to the 7400 block of Patterson Road the following morning for the larceny report. [FCPD]

CIA Gives Critic Rare Look at HQ Dining Room — “Cellphones are forbidden, so forget about recording the meal for posterity. That’s because the only people who can book a table here at one of the most secure compounds in the world are employees of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia.” [Washington Post]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% chance of rain, primarily before 4pm. Expect cloudy conditions with a high near 65. Southwest winds of 9 to 13 mph will shift to the west later in the day, and wind gusts may reach 22 mph. At night, anticipate partly cloudy skies and a low around 39. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Wednesday 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 — Feb 26, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌧️ Thursday’s forecast

Expect scattered showers mainly before noon, followed by cloudy skies and a high temperature near 68. The southwest wind of 11-16 mph will shift to the west during the afternoon, possibly gusting up to 29 mph. There’s a 50% chance of precipitation. As for Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low around 38, accompanied by a westerly wind of 9-15 mph and gusts potentially reaching 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.


Countywide

Fairfax County leaders met on Tuesday (Feb. 25) to address a growing school budget crisis, but after hours of debate, they left without a clear path forward.

Faced with rising costs and economic uncertainty heightened by threats of curtailed federal funding, officials agreed on support for Fairfax County Public Schools as a budget priority but remained divided on how to pay for it.


Around Town

The students of McLean will take center stage in two new arts exhibitions set to open next month.

To celebrate Youth Art Month, which is typically held every March, the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) is bringing back its annual youth art shows, which showcase work by students in elementary through high school in the McLean and Langley pyramids.


Around Town

At Reston Town Center’s newest dining venue, customers will be able to munch on wagyu sliders and sip cocktails while looking over the Metro station 16 stories below.

SYN Rooftop Bar & Lounge, which takes its name from the Greek word for “together,” is set to open on the top floor of Marriott’s recently launched AC Hotel and Residence Inn (1975 Opportunity Way) this Saturday (March 1).