Around Town

Good Monday 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 — Jun 29, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

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

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

☀️ Tuesday’s forecast

Expect a sunny day with a high around 90 degrees and a light southwest wind shifting to the south at 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tuesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to about 71 degrees. South winds will continue at 8 to 10 mph, with gusts reaching 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.


Countywide

Dr. Michelle Reid will be sticking around as the superintendent of Virginia’s largest school district for the foreseeable future.

The Fairfax County School Board voted Thursday (June 25) to extend Reid’s contract with Fairfax County Public Schools until 2030. This would replace the four-year contract extension that the school board gave her in November 2024 that would have paid her an annual salary of almost half a million dollars by its conclusion in June 2028.


News

The Fairfax County Planning Commission voiced support last Wednesday (June 24) for the construction of 143 townhomes on the northern portion of Isaac Newton Square in Reston.

If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the project will represent the second phase of a larger plan greenlit in 2019 that calls for the 36-acre office park to be redeveloped with 2,100 residential units, plus new office, retail and potentially hotel space.


Around Town

An Arlington-based dessert shop has opened its long-awaited Vienna location, the third in Virginia.

Bakeshop — which specializes in cupcakes, cakes, and macarons, in addition to breakfast sandwiches — opened its doors at 421 Maple Avenue East on June 20. The bakery and cafe took over and renovated the site of Skorpios Maggio’s Greek Family Restaurant, which closed in June 2024.


Event

Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.

New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.


News

The PARC at Tysons will shut down at the end of this month, a few months shy of five years since it transformed a vacant retail building on Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) into a vibrant community events venue.

Announced on June 17, the closure wasn’t planned or requested by events organizer Celebrate Fairfax, which has called the PARC its home since it opened in 2021. But the nonprofit is approaching the news with a positive outlook, using the occasion to reflect on the venue’s impact on local residents, artists and businesses.


Around Town

Construction is well underway to transform Herndon’s former Burger King into a future Panda Express.

The Chinese American chain is “tentatively” aiming to open at 598 Elden Street in late July, though the timing could be affected by any construction delays, Panda Express public relations representative Brittany Rouse says.


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on June 23 to petition the Circuit Court to place two bond referendums on this year’s general election ballot.

County leaders will seek voter support on Nov. 3 for a $180 million parks bond and $75 million human services bond to support a number of capital improvements.


News

The driver believed to be involved in a crash that killed a pedestrian on Fairfax County Parkway last December has turned herself in and been charged in the pedestrian’s death.

Shaza Edris, 20, of Fairfax, was charged with felony hit and run involving in death, and using a handheld personal communications device while driving, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on Friday (June 26).


Countywide
A red car parked at Fair City Mall in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Driver Rescued From Chantilly Pond — “This afternoon, @ffxfirerescue & @FairfaxCountyPD rescued a person trapped inside a vehicle after it crashed into a pond near Walney Rd & Westfields Blvd. Responders formed a human chain to bring the driver safely to shore. She was treated for minor injuries.” [FCPD/X]

Restaurants Support Earthquake Relief — “While large search and rescue missions are underway in the South American country, the Venezuelan restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are working around the clock organizing donations … The earthquakes have killed more than 1,400 people and injured more than 3,000.” [NBC4]

Dulles Airport Overhaul Backed by United — “Discussions between United (NASDAQ: UAL), the Transportation Department and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority are ‘going on in earnest,'” according to United Airlines Vice President of International Regulatory and Policy Steve Morrissey, who said the reported proposal for sped-up renovations is the Trump administration’s “preferred option.” [Washington Business Journal]

Lincolnia ABC Store Closing — “The Virginia ABC store at 6343 Columbia Pike in Barcroft Plaza is permanently closing. The store’s last day is July 12.” The Lincolnia area will still have an ABC store in Landmark Plaza at 6206 Little River Turnpike. [Annandale Today]

Capital Beltway Trail Now Open — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban [on Saturday] officially opened the new 495 Express Lanes Extension’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail … Hundreds of community members gathered [that] morning in the future Scott’s Run Nature Preserve annex parking lot to celebrate the opening of the approximately 2.5-mile trail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and family-friendly fitness events.” [VDOT]

Va. Seeks More Reporting on Data Center Water Use — “New regulations taking effect next January will shine more light on how much water data centers use in Virginia — though information on specific facilities is still protected as a trade secret. And a state budget amendment seeks to add more reporting requirements.” [VPM News]

Colleges Support Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees — “Higher education leaders in Virginia and Ohio announced Thursday that they will join forces to create a model for three-year bachelor’s degrees, cutting the traditional timeframe of obtaining the credential by one year.” [Virginia Mercury]

Historic Blenheim Closes for a Week — “Historic Blenheim will be closed June 29-July 8. The city is renovating the lobby of the modern Civil War Interpretive Center building. The grounds remain open, including goat viewing, and house tours will resume after renovations are completed.” [City of Fairfax]

New Legal Notice — Public hearing on school boundaries July 13, 2026, 6 p.m. [Public Notices]

It’s Monday — Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. At night, skies will be mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]