Countywide
A mural of Mount Rushmore on the side of a Falls Church building (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Commonwealth’s Attorney Gets Grant for Witness Protection — “Fairfax County is getting a $25,000 grant that the top prosecutor in the Virginia suburb said will be used to offer security and support to victims and witnesses in criminal trials. The funding is from a $1 million grant program from Virginia’s Department of Criminal Justice Services.” [WTOP]

NATO Summit to Disrupt D.C. Travel — “Washington, DC, will host international leaders next week for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, setting off a number of disruptions and restrictions downtown…Traffic is expected to pile up, and the closures may change as the summit progresses.” [Washingtonian]

Crosswalks Added in Richmond Highway Corridor — “Part two of VDOT’s pedestrian improvement project in Woodlawn got underway July 2 with the installation of pedestrian crossing signals at newly striped crosswalks at Richmond Highway and Buckman Road near Radford Avenue.” The project’s first phase added accessible ramps to the sidewalks on both sides of Route 1. [On the MoVe]

Learn About Suffragists Jailed at Lorton Prison — Burke Centre Library hosts former history professor and Lucy Burns Museum consultant Alice Reagan tomorrow (Saturday) for a discussion about the National Women’s Party members who were incarcerated the Women’s Workhouse in Occoquan for picketing the White House in 1917. [Fairfax County Public Library]

Artists Wanted for Gardening Event — “The Garden Plot, the Mount Vernon area garden center…has put out a ‘Call for Local Artists’ for a special event next month. The business is planning an outdoor art and gardening event Aug. 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at which artists of all kinds can set up their own booths or tables to highlight and sell their crafts.” [On the MoVe]

Falls Church Soccer Team Competes for Championship — “Falls Church City’s semi-pro soccer team, Virginia Dream FC, are in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) Postseason Championship Game for the second consecutive season…They will play in, and host, the championship match this coming Saturday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Meridian High School.” [Gazette Leader]

Local Parks Host July Golf Tournaments — “Bring the heat at upcoming golf tournaments hosted by Golf Fairfax this July. Celebrate the patriotic vibes and light up the greens to celebrate July Fourth at two Red, White and Blue Tournaments.” The games start this weekend with a tournament tomorrow at Burke Lake Golf Center and on Sunday (July 7) at Pinecrest Golf Course in Lincolnia. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

It’s Friday — There’s a 40% chance of precipitation after 2pm, accompanied by a high temperature near 94°F alongside heat index values reaching up to 105°F. Heading into Friday night, showers and thunderstorms could linger until 2am. The sky will be mostly cloudy with a low temperature of 77°F and a 30% chance of precipitation. [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 — Jul 3, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

Sunny skies with occasionally scattered clouds will dominate the day, as temperatures rise to a comfortable high of 75°F. A light northeasterly breeze will blow at 5-10 mph, offering a refreshing feel. In the evening, a partly cloudy sky will develop with temperatures dipping to a cool low of 55°F, creating perfect conditions for a nighttime stroll or enjoying the outdoors. 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

This year’s Independence Day is shaping up to be a hot one in the D.C. region.

Fairfax County has activated its heat plan for tomorrow (Thursday) in response to a Heat Advisory from the National Weather Service, which predicts that warm temperatures and humidity will lead to a heat index of 100 to 105.


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.


News

Fairfax County staff are in talks with multiple developers about converting two office buildings in the Fair Oaks Business Park, including the NRA headquarters, into residential units, a county official has revealed.

In addition to the National Rifle Association’s building at 11250 Waples Mill Road, the neighboring office building at 3920 Pender Drive is being eyed for redevelopment.


Around Town

At a new store in Herndon, customers can survey the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum and the Empire State Building in miniature all at the same time.

Bricks & Minifigs, a national retail chain in the niche market of reselling LEGO mini-figures, bricks and sets, opened in Herndon on June 8. The occasion was reminiscent of Black Friday, with people standing in line two hours before the doors opened, franchise manager Soma Chatterji told FFXnow.


News

The owner and operator of a McLean nursing home built in the Baby Boomer era wants to give its residents more space with a proposed expansion.

Modalia Capital is seeking to build a new wing for its Vierra Falls Church community at 2100 Powhatan Street, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on June 28. The 11,869-square-foot, one-story addition would add 18 private units but no new residents.


News

A Springfield 7-year-old is a budding LEGO superstar.

After winning a regional LEGO competition in D.C. in May, youngster Lawrence Ross Jr. came up just short in the recent LEGO Mini Master Model Builder of North America competition.