News

A Centreville woman could face up to two decades in prison for embezzling thousands of dollars from the Herndon-based farmers’ cooperative where she worked.

Paula Sue Leventhal, 64, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday (Feb. 19) to wire fraud after she redirected $550,000 from the cooperative to her personal bank accounts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.


News

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved two redevelopment proposals on Tuesday (Feb. 18) that will turn areas in and around the Flint Hill Office Park near Jermantown Road in Oakton into residential communities.

The proposals to redevelop Redwood Plaza (10600 Arrowhead Drive) and a portion of the Flint Hill Office Park (10530 Rosehaven Street) were both approved unanimously.


Sponsored

Hi Fairfax,

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.

Why I started All Team Exteriors

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.

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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.

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Thanks for taking the time to read this and I sincerely hope we can help you and your family soon.


Sports

Counting swimmers, a diver and a relay team, there were four champions from local schools at the recent private school state meet in Stafford.

In swimming, juniors Kate Douglas from Potomac School and Elizabeth Bryan from Oakcrest School each won two races in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association girls’ competition, held at the Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center last Saturday (Feb. 15).


Countywide
Construction continues to widen Route 29 west of Fairfax County Parkway (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FCPS Reaches Out to Ousted Federal Workers — “Fairfax County Public Schools held an informational session for transitioning federal workers Wednesday night. The aim was to identify skills that can translate into new roles with the school district. The impact of mass firings is being felt throughout the Metro D.C. area.” [WJLA]

ICYMI: Student Charged With Bringing Gun to School — An Edison High School student has been charged with for allegedly bringing a gun to school yesterday (Thursday) morning. The student reportedly showed the gun to other students, one of whom alerted a school resource officer. A 16-year-old was arrested, and the gun confiscated, with no reported injuries. [FFXnow]

Teen Charged with Falls Church Robbery — “An Arlington teen awaiting trial over his alleged role in a 2023 stabbing has been arrested on a robbery charge.” The 19-year-old man “is one of four suspects accused of taking more than $300 in merchandise from a liquor store in Falls Church on Jan. 17.” [ARLnow]

How Federal Firings Might Affect Va. National Parks — “The Trump administration’s firing of hundreds of newly hired National Park Service employees could limit operating hours and cut a range of services at attractions such as Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, which bring in $32 million and $96 million, respectively, in tourism money to Virginia.” [Patch]

Workhouse Arts Center Leader Details Vision — “While driving by the Workhouse on his way to baseball games with his son, [Keith] Gordon used to ponder the 55-acre property and its potential. Last summer, he became the center’s president and chief executive officer. He sees the center as ‘a diamond in the rough, a story waiting to be told.'” [On the MoVe]

Fairfax County Hosts Black History Month Celebration — Fairfax County’s annual Black History Month Celebration will be held today (Friday) from 5-8:30 p.m. at the county government center. The festivities will include a variety of speeches and entertainment “to explore Black history in Fairfax County and celebrate perseverance and resiliency.” [Neighborhood and Community Services]

Lego-Building Contest Underway in Springfield — “Through March 2, kids looking to prove they’re the best young Lego builder in the area can participate in the 2025 Mini Master Model Builder competition for chance to win the title of DMV’s Mini Master Model Builder.” The winner will go to “Billund, Denmark, for the chance to become the first-ever Global Mini Master Model Builder.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny and breezy conditions with a high around 37 degrees and northwest winds at 17 to 20 mph, gusting up to 32 mph. Night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 22 degrees. Winds will decrease to 5 to 10 mph, still gusting up to 18 mph from the northwest. [NWS]


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.


Around Town

Good Thursday 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 20, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

💨 Friday’s forecast

Expect sunny and breezy conditions with a high around 36 degrees, along with a northwest wind blowing at 17 to 20 mph and gusts up to 33 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear with a low near 20 degrees, and a northwest wind at 6 to 11 mph, gusting up to 20 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.


News

An Edison High School student was arrested this morning (Thursday) for allegedly bringing a gun to the Rose Hill school.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, a student alerted the school resource officer (SRO) assigned to Edison “about a possible firearm on school property.”


Countywide

The new chair of the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics anticipates an expansive, inclusive, record-setting 2025 for the organization.

“We certainly have the opportunity to expose more local seniors to the challenges and pleasures of competing in the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics program,” Rod Hupp told FFXnow.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) could face a significant funding gap as county leaders weigh a budget proposal that falls short of what the school system requested, while looming federal policy changes threaten to cut millions in aid.

On Tuesday (Feb. 18), County Executive Brian Hill unveiled a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that includes $125.3 million in additional funding for schools, with $118.6 million going directly to FCPS’ operating budget.


News

Fairfax County residents who live on streets that limit cut-through traffic can now get exempted from those restrictions.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday (Feb. 18) to begin accepting petitions in July from neighborhoods that want to provide the carve-out for residents while retaining restrictions on other drivers.