Alexander Anspach, 7, plants a miniature American flag outside a home in McLean Hamlet (photo by Cameron Delean/Inside NoVA)
Under a blazing summer sun, volunteers spent Wednesday evening planting an American flag at every mailbox in McLean Hamlet, transforming the 507-home neighborhood into a patriotic display ahead of the Fourth of July and the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.
The effort, organized by the McLean Hamlet Community Association, saw a team of volunteers spread throughout the neighborhood, placing one miniature American flag at each home while others decorated neighborhood entrances with patriotic ribbons and larger American flags.
Only Lorton saw an increase in figures released June 30 by Apartment List. Its median rent was up 0.2%, standing at $2,250 for one-bedroom units, $2,728 for two bedrooms and $2,778 for all bedroom sizes.
This fun-filled celebration takes over eight blocks around the Clarendon Metro Station with live music, dancing, a vibrant beer and wine garden, delicious offerings from local restaurants and food trucks, a dedicated Kids Zone with family-friendly activities, and 150+ vendors featuring Arlington’s best artists, makers, and small businesses. Thousands of residents and visitors gather each year to enjoy great food, entertainment, shopping, and community spirit—all in one of Arlington’s most walkable neighborhoods. Don’t miss this showcase of local flavor, creativity, and fun for everyone!
Richmond Highway sign (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)
An adult woman who was walking in the Richmond Highway (Route 1) area when she was hit by a truck has died from her injuries, the Fairfax County Police Department said last week.
Detectives from the Crash Reconstruction Unit are investigating the crash that took place around 7:45 p.m. on Thursday (July 2), as the woman was crossing at the intersection of Richmond Highway and Dart Drive.
Fireworks with red and green sparks at Yeonas Park from Vienna’s Independence Day celebration on July 2, 2026 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Spike in Heat-Related ER Visits — “According to the Virginia Department of Health, 737 people visited emergency departments because of heat-related illnesses in just a four-day span from July 1 through July 4. Of those days, Friday, July 3 was the worst with 225 medical visits.” Since May 1, emergency departments in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church have seen 128 visits for heat-related illnesses, the most in the state. [WAVY/DC News Now]
Reston and Annandale Residents Without AC — Residents of the Vantage Hill Condominiums in Reston and the Wedgewood Apartments in Annandale have been forced to endure the recent heat wave without functioning cooling systems. The Wedgewood property manager was reportedly working to fix the air-conditioning, while the Vantage Hill management says necessary electrical upgrades won’t be completed until next spring, per FOX5. [Annandale Today]
Teen Found Dead in Potomac River — “The body of a 16-year-old boy who was reported missing was found Friday in the Potomac River near Great Falls Park in Montgomery County, Maryland … The boy had been swimming there. He was with a group when he entered the water and never resurfaced.” [WTOP]
Chantilly Man Arrested for Shooting — “A Chantilly man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Loudoun County early Saturday … Deputies responding to the home for a shooting call discovered 33-year-old Brandon Fadden of Centreville dead at the scene.” Joshua Soroko, 31, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and other gun-related offenses, the county sheriff’s office said. [Inside NoVA]
No Injuries in Groveton House Fire – “The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said crews responded around 6:35 p.m. [on July 4] to the 2700 block of Schooley Drive in Groveton, where they found flames showing from multiple sides of the home and through the roof upon arrival … The cause of the fire remains under investigation.” [WJLA]
Reproductive Rights Amendment Faces Legal Challenge — “A legal challenge to Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is headed toward a hearing later this month, with potential implications for two other pending constitutional amendments.” The lawsuit centers around “an argument that the clerk of the House of Delegates, Paul Nardo, failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit court clerks.” [Virginia Mercury]
Burke Family Struggling With Storm Recovery — “For Tony and Adrienne Toledo, the recovery is far from over. They spoke to WUSA9 shortly after the storm ripped the chimney off of their home the night of June 22. They were one of the many homeowners in the area impacted by the storm.” [WUSA9]
Warmth Could Increase Tick-Borne Illnesses — “Northern Virginia residents should brace for a surge in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses as warmer weather following a mild winter creates ideal conditions for ticks.” McLean-based Dr. Gary Kaplan says Northern Virginia has a “very high concentration of ticks,” with the highest risk area being “the edge of most people’s backyards.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Monday — Chance of precipitation is 40%, with a higher likelihood of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. The day will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures reaching around 87°F. Overnight, there’s an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms with a low near 71°F. [NWS]
Featuring both voice and instrumental performance on vielle, lute, gittern, harp, recorder, douçaine, and bagpipe, the program will include works by, among others, Johannes Ciconia, Trebor, Johannes Senleches, Solage, Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume Dufay, and Gilles Binchois, rousing dance music from medieval Florence and finely wrought instrumental arrangements from the Faenza codex and the Buxheim Organ book.
Expect sunny and hot conditions with a high of 102°F and a heat index reaching 109°F, with a west wind at 3 to 7 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear with a low of 79°F and light west winds. On Independence Day, showers and possible thunderstorms are likely after 2 PM, with increasing clouds and a high near 101°F. The chance of rain is 60%, and the heat index could reach 109°F. West winds will be between 3 and 8 mph. Rainfall amounts will generally be less than a tenth of an inch, though thunderstorms could bring more. See more from Weather.gov.
Images from the "America at 250" exhibition at the McLean Art Gallery (Courtesy McLean Art Society)
There’s bad news and good news for anyone who wants to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial this weekend.
While soaring temperatures will create dangerous conditions during daytime hours Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, an indoor option for commemorating the occasion is available, courtesy of the McLean Art Society.
The 13,859,735 enplanements for the year represented a 6.6% increase from 2024, based on preliminary figures reported this week by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Electric vehicle charging stations at a Fairfax County facility (courtesy Fairfax County Department of Environmental Services and Public Works)
By the end of this year, workers and members of the public will be able to charge up their electric vehicles while at the office or accessing services at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Construction started Monday (June 29) on installations of the first EV charging stations at the county government’s headquarters (12000 Government Center Parkway) that will be available for public use, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) announced.
The Jim Scott Community Center in Oakton on a summer day (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
With the D.C. region facing scorching heat through this weekend, Fairfax County is adjusting its holiday closure plans to allow for a 24-hour cooling center at the Jim Scott Community Center in Oakton.
On top of previously announced alerts for today and tomorrow (Friday), the National Weather Service has issued another Extreme Heat Warning for the region on the Fourth of July, predicting potential heat index values of up to 113.
