Around Town

FFXnow Daily Debrief for Nov 1, 2024

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 — Nov 1, 2024.

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

  1. Fairfax Water faces huge bill to comply with new EPA chemical removal mandate (4035 views)
  2. County leaders seek to ease strain on local jail from state inmates (2974 views)
  3. UPDATED: Fairfax County Parkway reopens after three-vehicle crash in Burke (2970 views)
  4. Number of kindergarten students from low-income families on the rise, FCPS says (2501 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 a mostly sunny day with a high temperature near 62 and a north wind blowing at 6 to 10 mph. As night falls on Saturday, the skies will remain mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a low around 40, accompanied by a light 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. 👋

Sports

Centreville, Langley, McLean, Oakton bring home district cross-country championships

By Dave Facinoli
The Oakton girls start the district race (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

Of the four winning teams at the Liberty and Concorde district cross-country championship meets, three finished first by thin margins — and the fourth by a more substantial amount.

In the girls races, the Langley Saxons won the Liberty crown by five points and the Oakton Cougars the Concorde by a comfortable 12. In boys, the McLean Highlanders (Liberty) and Centreville Wildcats (Concorde) each won by seven.

Go to Centreville, Langley, McLean, Oakton bring home district cross-country championships Read more
Sports

Potomac School football team has playoff hopes riding on final game

By Dave Facinoli
Potomac School quarterback Sean Sutherland leaps for a snap (staff photo by Deb Kolt)

It’s a tall order, but the Potomac School Panthers hope to gain a state football playoff berth with a big win in the team’s final regular-season game.

To do so, the Panthers (5-3) have to defeat the host North Cross Raiders (7-1) of Roanoke Nov. 2 at noon, then get some help.

Go to Potomac School football team has playoff hopes riding on final game Read more
Around Town

New Kingstowne Starbucks cafe to open before Thanksgiving

By James Jarvis
New Starbucks in Kingstowne Towne Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A new Starbucks is set to open in Kingstowne Towne Center before Thanksgiving.

A spokesperson for the coffee chain told FFXnow that the new location at 5890 Kingstowne Center, Suite 120 — formerly a My Gym — will be over 2,400 square feet with expanded seating and additional parking for customers.

Go to New Kingstowne Starbucks cafe to open before Thanksgiving Read more
Event

Who Am I Now? Identity and Possibility in the Menopause Transition

Event location

Kingstowne Regional Library

7130 Silver Lake Blvd

Alexandria, Virginia 22315

Add to Calendar

Menopause is more than a physical transition—it can also be a time of profound change in how we see ourselves and what we want from life. As familiar roles, responsibilities, and priorities shift, many women find themselves asking, “Who am I now?” In this presentation, we'll explore how our identities have been shaped and consider which parts of ourselves still fit and which may be ready to change.

RSVP: erica@indigotangles.com

Go to Who Am I Now? Identity and Possibility in the Menopause Transition Read more
Countywide

Fairfax planning commission backs more accessible parking in new development

By Scott McCaffrey
ADA parking spaces at the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Those with disabilities would see more accessible parking spaces connected to new development under new rules vetted Wednesday (Oct. 30) by the Fairfax County Planning Commission.

The body voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve a proposal to tweak accessible-parking ratios. Instead of the current minimum of one Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking space for every 25 spaces in a lot or garage, the ratio would be changed to one for every 15.

Go to Fairfax planning commission backs more accessible parking in new development Read more
News

Construction to advance on Tysons housing project’s second phase

By Angela Woolsey
Construction cranes mark the site of the forthcoming Somos at McLean Metro workforce housing development in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The developer behind Somos at McLean Metro is ready to begin construction on the affordable housing project’s second phase.

SCG Development announced yesterday (Thursday) that it has officially closed on the financing for the 225-unit apartment building, which will be constructed on top of an existing three-level parking garage at 1750 Old Meadow Road in Tysons.

Go to Construction to advance on Tysons housing project’s second phase Read more
Countywide

Fairfax leaders to push General Assembly for stricter data center rules

By James Jarvis
Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County supervisors will advocate for data center regulation to be a primary focus of the General Assembly’s 2025 legislative agenda.

Board members expressed support this week for several new recommendations from county staff aimed at granting state agencies and local governments broader authority to regulate data centers, including increased oversight of their environmental impacts.

Go to Fairfax leaders to push General Assembly for stricter data center rules Read more
News

Reston contractor on trial over alleged role in Abu Ghraib prison abuse

By Associated Press
A courtroom sketch depicts former Abu Ghraib prison detainee Salah Al-Ejaili at the trial of CACI, a Reston-based military contractor accused of contributing to the abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. District Court in Alexandria on April 16, 2024. (image by Dana Verkouteren via AP)

By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A military contractor accused of contributing to the abuse of detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison two decades ago is again on trial in a federal courtroom after a long-awaited civil case earlier this year ended with a hung jury.

Go to Reston contractor on trial over alleged role in Abu Ghraib prison abuse Read more
Countywide

Fairfax County invites residents to recycle gourds at annual Pumpkin Palooza

By James Jarvis
Pumpkin Palooza disposal bin (courtesy of Fairfax County)

Fairfax County is inviting residents to turn their post-Halloween jack-o’-lanterns from holiday decor to “compost gold” at this year’s Pumpkin Palooza.

Through Nov. 15, the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program is accepting used pumpkins and gourds for composting at the I-95 Landfill Complex (850 Furnace Road) and the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road).

Go to Fairfax County invites residents to recycle gourds at annual Pumpkin Palooza Read more
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