With the 2024-2025 school year in full swing, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is still working to get thousands of students up to date on their required vaccinations.
FCPS officials reported last week that over 9,000 students — down from 29,000 in July — still need vaccinations against diseases like measles, polio and meningitis, potentially putting their enrollment at risk. The division has approximately 181,000 enrolled students for this year, as of September, according to FCPS data.
This summer is closing out with one final heat wave that’s expected to peak in the D.C. area tomorrow (Wednesday).
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory that’s scheduled to take effect from 1-7 p.m. tomorrow. On top of that, the air quality is expected to enter Code Orange territory for a second straight day, meaning it’ll be unhealthy for people with lung and heart disease, outdoor workers and other sensitive groups to spend time outside.
It’s that time of the year when algae tends to surface in Reston’s lakes.
Reston Association reported yesterday (Monday) that “potentially harmful” blue-green algae was seen that morning in Lake Anne, advising community members to avoid contact with the lake’s waters.
Heman Bekele has another title to go along with his status as America’s reigning Top Young Scientist.
The 15-year-old Fairfax resident has been chosen as the 2024 Kid of the Year by Time for his efforts to create a soap that could help treat skin cancers. The magazine’s issue recognizing Heman and five other “Kid of the Year” honorees hit newsstands today (Friday).
The illness popularly known as “whooping cough” is on the rise in Fairfax County, according to local health officials.
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) shared yesterday (Wednesday) that it’s seeing an increase in pertussis throughout the Fairfax Health District, which also includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. Cases are also up statewide and nationally.
Fairfax County has gained a couple spots in an annual ranking of the healthiest communities in the U.S.
The county snagged 14th place, up from 17th in 2022, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 rankings of the nation’s healthiest communities. It came in higher than Fairfax City (no. 15) and Arlington County (no. 19) but couldn’t beat Falls Church City, which claimed the top spot.
Fairfax Water customers weren’t affected by the recent Boil Water Advisory that went out to D.C. and Arlington County residents before Independence Day.
The utility, which serves almost 2 million people in Northern Virginia, suspended its use of the Washington Aqueduct early on Wednesday (July 3) before the advisory was issued later that day. Though D.C. and Arlington both lifted the advisory yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax Water says it hasn’t yet resumed getting water from the aqueduct.
The Vienna Business Association is reviving its Get Healthy Vienna! Expo for 2024.
First introduced last May, the health and fitness showcase will return to the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE) on April 6, from 10 am. to 2 p.m. The event is intended to highlight health-related businesses and resources available in the local community, VBA Health, Wellness & Fitness chair Karen Kerrigan says.
A small business that specializes in all things granola is relocating its Chantilly location to Reston.
Dano’s Granola plans to open in 11495 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 105, by the middle to end of this summer, according to owner and mom of three, Dania Abimourched.
A local teen who was recently named the “Top Young Scientist in America” got a round of applause this morning (Tuesday) from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Heman Bekele, a ninth-grader at Woodson High School, won the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge in October for developing a soap that could potentially be used to treat skin cancer. He beat out nine other finalists for the 2023 contest’s grand prize, which came with $25,000 and the aforementioned title.
