morning notes

Watch for Returning Students — “As students across Fairfax County head back to school on Monday, August 18, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) encourages families and community members to participate in Walk, Bike & Ride to School Safely Day. Whether students walk, bike, ride the bus, or are dropped off, their safety starts with all of us.” [FCPD]

Va. National Guard to Deploy — “About 60 Virginia National Guard members will be deployed around the state as early as September to support immigration enforcement agents … Immigrant advocacy groups, including Ayuda — which provides legal, social and language access services to low-income immigrants in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — have condemned Youngkin’s plan.” [VPM News]

Teen Reported Missing Found Dead — An 18-year-old who was last seen driving in the 9500 block of Old Creek Drive around 6 a.m. on Saturday (Aug. 16) “was found deceased in another jurisdiction,” police said yesterday (Sunday). “Our thoughts are with his friends and family. No foul play is suspected.” [FCPD/X]

NOVA Parks Chooses New Leader — “Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson has been selected as the next executive director of NOVA Parks, the regional park authority announced Friday.” He will officially assume the role “beginning Oct. 6, succeeding Paul Gilbert, who announced his retirement in April after 20 years leading the organization.” [ALXnow]

Mars to Introduce ‘Natural’ Dyes for Candy — “McLean-based food and pet care company Mars Inc., Greater Washington’s largest private company, will … release natural-dye options for its M&M’s, Skittles, Starburst and Extra Gum Spearmint products” starting in 2026. The company made the announcement on July 24, shortly after leaders met with Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, but it hasn’t committed to a timeline for phasing out artificial dyes yet. [Washington Business Journal]

Menswear Store to Open in Falls Church — “Withered Fig, an online menswear retailer, is coming to Falls Church in 2026 … This will be Withered Fig’s first brick-and-mortar location. The new storefront will be located in West Falls at the base of The Oak at West Falls.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Rec Center Pools Temporarily Close — “Projects at Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers will result in temporary closures for pools and spas.” In addition to the Franconia facility’s previously reported closure, the pools at the Oakmont, Audrey Moore, Cub Run, George Washington and Spring Hill rec centers will shut down for varying periods to allow repairs and system maintenance. [FCPA]

McLean Native Develops Resale App — “When McLean, Virginia native Sophia Kianni and her roommate Phoebe Gates (yes, that Gates) asked their classmates at Stanford University if they shopped secondhand, they were shocked to see only two people raise their hands … Kianni and Gates came up with an idea for an app that compares prices on items across many retailers and secondhand shopping sites.” [NBC4]

It’s Monday — Showers are most likely between 2pm and 5pm, with cloudy skies and a high temperature near 79°F. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. For Monday night, expect another chance of showers mainly after 8pm, mostly cloudy conditions, and a low temperature around 68°F. [NWS]

Reston Row Bakery Now Open — “Tous Les Jours, a French-Asian bakery café chain, has officially opened its doors in The Row at Reston Station … Opening [Thursday] at 1800 Reston Row with a soft launch at 10:00 AM, the bakery is now serving customers daily as the team prepares for a grand opening celebration in September featuring special promotions and giveaways.” [Comstock]

Mold Reported at Hayfield School — Parents and students who recently returned to Hayfield Secondary School for band practice and other activities saw they encountered mold and visible water damage. One parent says they were told that the school’s drains got backed up during heavy rain over the summer, but she feels efforts to dry out the building with fans and air purifiers were inadequate. [NBC4]

Top Issues in Va. Governor’s Race — “Recent polling shows Virginia voters are heading into the 2025 governor’s race with three issues top of mind: The cost of living, reproductive rights and immigration …  Some voter priorities have already majorly shifted from a VCU Wilder School poll earlier this year, which suggests that Virginians are reacting to real-time pressures.” [Axios Richmond]

Police Investigate Indecent Exposure — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are asking for the community’s help to identify a suspect believed to be responsible for an indecent exposure. “On August 7, shortly after 9:00 a.m., officers responded to Sprague Avenue and Hammersmith Lane in Oakton” after someone reported seeing a man “masturbating” nearby. [FCPD]

Udvar-Hazy Adds Fighter Jet to Collection — “A McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle arrived at the National Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly [on Aug. 13], where it will become part of the museum’s permanent exhibit.” The first fighter plane of its kind to be acquired by the Smithsonian, the F-15C Eagle was introduced “in the early 1970s, when the Air Force was looking to improve its air-to-air combat capabilities,” a curator said. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Falls Church Settles on Possible Trash Fees — “After nearly two hours of trash talk, Falls Church City Council leaders have settled on two potential options for funding future garbage collection and recycling services.” Council members decided to advertise two possible fee structures: charge households $292 per year for a 35-gallon bin and $327 for a 65-gallon bin, or $236 and $336, respectively. [ARLnow]

Firefighters Hand Out School Supplies — Yesterday, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department “hosted its annual Backpack and School Supply Distribution at FS11, Penn Daw. Firefighters, retirees, and volunteers worked together to distribute 1,600 backpacks filled with school supplies to families, schools, and nonprofits throughout the county. A huge thank you to all who helped make the event a success!” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Park Volunteer Award Winners Revealed — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards, recognizing exceptional service and contributions to the county’s parks, natural and cultural resources and recreational opportunities. The awardees will be honored during a recognition ceremony on Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.” [FCPA]

It’s Friday — There’s a 30% chance of rain, with possible showers between noon and 2pm, followed by potential showers after 2pm. Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 88. Friday night holds a 20% chance of showers before 11pm. The night will be partly cloudy with a low of 72. [NWS]

Virginia Loses Solar Power Funding — “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Virginia $156 million last year through Solar for All, a $7 billion program launched under the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s signature climate legislation.” After the Trump administration announced last week that it’s canceling the grant funding, Virginia Energy confirmed that it received a termination notice and removed the program’s webpage. [WHRO]

Firefighters Injured in Springfield House Fire — A two-alarm house fire in the 5900 block of Amherst Avenue on July 27 was caused by an “electrical event” on the home’s patio, the Office of the Fire Marshal found. Two firefighters and one resident were treated for injuries, and two pets were found dead inside the home. The fire resulted in an estimated $697,986 in property damages. [FCFRD]

N. Va. Hit Hardest by Federal Worker Cuts — The D.C. region has shed roughly “20,000 federal government jobs so far this year while federal government contracts and grants procured by companies in the region fell by $1.7 billion or 13% since the start of the year, according to CBRE’s research.” Northern Virginia saw the biggest drop in federal employment, while contract and grant terminations have especially shaken suburban Maryland. [Washington Business Journal]

Beyer Primary Challenger Emerges — “Former Alexandria City Councilman Mohamed “Mo” Seifeldein announced Tuesday to reporters that he will seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District, challenging five-term incumbent Rep. Don Beyer and positioning himself as a voice for economic change.” [ALXnow]

Fairfax City Police Chief Sworn In — “Raul Pedroso, Fairfax City’s new chief of police, was sworn in Monday during a ceremony at the Stacey C. Sherwood Community Center, which is located just across the parking lot from police headquarters.” Formerly an assistant police chief in Alexandria City, he took over from interim chief Capt. Natalie Hinesley after former Chief Erin Schaible retired. [Patch]

No More Flights to New Delhi — “Air India … is pulling out of Dulles International Airport as it suspends nonstop service to New Delhi next month despite recent passenger growth along the route.” Set to end on Sept. 1, the three-times-a-week route is the only nonstop option between the D.C. region and the Indian subcontinent. The airline says the change was needed due to a $400 million process to update some of its Boeing aircraft and Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian carriers. [WBJ]

Pro Women’s Baseball League Holds Tryouts — “The first women’s professional baseball league in more than 70 years is hosting historic tryouts in D.C. next week … Women’s pro sports are surging nationwide — and the new Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) is among the few with DMV ties.” [Axios DC]

It’s Thursday — Expect showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 89. Light northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. On Thursday night, a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, followed by a slight possibility of showers until 2am. Partly cloudy skies with a low around 73 and light, variable winds. [NWS]

Va. National Guard to Train With ICE — “The Virginia National Guard says solders will begin training with Immigration and Customs Enforcement later this month. In a statement, the Guard said the soldiers will deploy with ICE in early September to ‘provide administrative and logistics support’ to the federal agency.” [WVTF]

White House to Review Smithsonian — “The White House is ordering a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country’s 250th birthday with a goal of aligning the institution’s content with President Donald Trump’s interpretation of American history.” The eight museums subject to the initial review include the National Air and Space Museum, whose Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly. [Associated Press]

Fairfax Man Charged in Fatal Crash — “A Fairfax driver has been charged in a crash killing a motorcyclist and injuring two others in Nokesville Monday, according to Prince William County Police.” An 18-year-old driver of a 2012 Mazda 5 has been charged with reckless driving for allegedly failing to yield the right of way on a left turn, which caused a motorcyclist to crash into a Jeep Wrangler. [Patch]

Dems Push for Indigenous People’s Day — “State Democrats plan to make Indigenous People’s Day an official holiday in Virginia and will discuss the proposal in the next legislative session in January, a state delegate said over the weekend. The measure could face opposition from Republicans and others because it would mean replacing Columbus Day.” [Virginia Mercury]

Beyer Clashes With DHS — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security “publicly criticized U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D) in a press release after he visited Farmville Detention Center on Friday. It accused him of prioritizing detainees with criminal convictions over crime victims.” Beyer’s spokesperson responded with criticism of the conditions at the immigration detention center. [ARLnow]

Arrest Made in 7-Eleven Robberies — “A man being held without bond in the Alexandria jail faces robbery charges for allegedly walking into convenience stores in Alexandria and Fairfax County with a hammer or tire iron and stealing cigarettes from behind the counters.” [ALXnow]

Changes to Expect in New School Year — “It’s back-to-school season already, and many NoVA families will notice some significant changes.” For Fairfax County Public Schools, notable changes will include an expansion of weapons scanners to all high and middle schools, new cell phone restrictions, and additional speed cameras. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Free Car Wash for School Workers — “In celebration of the start of the new school year, Mr Wash Car Wash is offering free car washes for all school employees on Thursday, Aug. 14 at all of its Northern Virginia locations, including the Mr Wash Car Wash at 8218 Leesburg Pike in Tysons.” [Patch]

It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a high temperature around 89°F. The 60% chance of precipitation declines to 40% at night, with showers and thunderstorms possible before 2am. Anticipate a mostly cloudy evening with the temperature dropping to around 73°F. [NWS]

Lawmakers Criticize Trump Move on D.C. — “Alexandria’s congressional delegation joined a chorus of regional lawmakers Monday condemning President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize Washington D.C.’s police department and deploy National Guard troops, with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine calling the move a ‘waste of taxpayer dollars’ designed to distract from other issues.” [ALXnow]

Virginia Shares Personal SNAP Info — “The Virginia Department of Social Services is sharing the personal information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants with the federal government, a VDSS spokesperson confirmed to VPM News Friday.” Names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses and other data were requested in May by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump. [VPM News]

Reston Man Sentenced on Child Porn Charges — “A 52-year-old Virginia man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 188 months in prison on child pornography charges, according to court records.” The man pleaded guilty in April to possessing hundreds of videos and images that were found on his phone by police, who arrested him at Dulles International Airport last year. [Patch]

Amtrak Hits Record Ridership — “Amtrak Virginia’s ridership numbers continue to show increases, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. Ending fiscal year 2025, more than 1.4 million passengers traveled on state supported rail service — an increase of 4.8% compared to the same time last year.” [Virginia Mercury]

Inova to Add Hospice Care — “Falls Church’s Inova Health System has teamed up with a Baltimore-area hospice and palliative care provider to bring its end-of-life services into Northern Virginia.” Expected to begin in early 2026, the new service from Gilchrist Hospice Care will be available to patients in Inova’s hospitals and senior living facilities as well as their own homes, addressing “an unmet need” in a region where 18% of the population is older than 60. [Washington Business Journal]

Cheese Shop Coming to Falls Church — “Contractors are currently building the storefront for The Cheese Cartel at 922 W. Broad Street, founder Alyssa Romashko told ARLnow. The new small business plans to carry a rotating selection of meats, cheeses, wines and bread.” [ARLnow]

Vienna Baker Frosts Cupcake Delights — “Adam Wald, a Giant associate for eight years, has captured the hearts of the Vienna community with his elaborate pull-apart cupcake creations. Wald transforms simple treats into dinosaurs, dragons, unicorns, and firetrucks. What started as a small creative experiment during the pandemic has grown into a full-blown bakery sensation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Tuesday — Expect patchy fog to clear by 8am, making way for partly sunny skies and a high near 91. A calm wind will pick up from the south around 6 mph in the afternoon. As for Tuesday night, it’ll be partly cloudy with a low of 74, and the south wind will continue at around 6 mph. [NWS]

Free Advice on Fighting Mosquitoes — “In Fairfax County, Virginia, the health department is working to ‘fight the bite’ of mosquitoes by visiting residents’ homes and providing advice on how to reduce the pests. Through Fairfax County’s free inspection program, Andy Lima visits homes and scours the property for mosquito havens.” [NBC4]

Man Dies After Jumping From High-Rise — “A man died Friday morning after jumping from a 15th-floor balcony while FBI agents were attempting to serve a criminal arrest warrant at the Alexander Apartments on King Street.” A neighbor told NBC4 that he “woke to the sound of banging” and shouts of “FBI” before hearing someone running and shouting “No! Don’t!” [ALXnow]

Clifton House Fire Extinguished — Fairfax County firefighters responded Saturday (Aug. 9) to “a house fire in the 13000 blk of Sturno Drive in the Clifton area of Fairfax County. Units arrived with fire showing from a rear deck attached to the home. Crews were able quickly extinguish the fire preventing any extension to the home. No firefighter or civilian injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]

Dollar Tree Opening New Fairfax Store — “The new Dollar Tree store coming to the Shops at Fairfax/Boulevard Center is hiring sales associates and has hung a ‘Grand Opening’ sign … Located at 10700 Fairfax Blvd., the new Dollar Tree will be located adjacent to Panera Bread in the storefront formerly occupied by Party City.” [Patch]

Potomac River Water Supply Doing Well — “Above average rainfall in the area in May, June and July is contributing to the positive outlook and resulted in the drought watch for our area being dropped in late June, after being in place for more than a year … The seasonal outlook calls for a continued likelihood of above-normal rainfall.” [WTOP]

Metrobus Riders Weigh in on Changes — “The 51st heard about how it’s going from more than 30 bus riders who shared their experiences with the new system. The verdict? Well, it’s mixed. While some commuters say they’ve benefited from new connections and more frequent service, others say the overhaul has involved more confusion than clarity.” [The 51st]

Annandale Bowling Alley to Rebrand — “The Bowlero bowling alley in Annandale will soon be renamed Lucky Strike. The change follows the move by the Bowlero Corp. last December to rebrand as Lucky Strike Entertainment, reflecting its expanded mission to offer more than traditional bowling.” [Annandale Today]

Police Academy Welcomes New Recruits — On Friday (Aug. 8), “Assistant Chief Eli Cory welcomed 51 recruits at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, marking the start of their 25-week basic training and the initiation of their careers in law enforcement … Session 90 includes a diverse group of recruits and is comprised of individuals from all walks of life.” [FCPD]

It’s Monday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures peaking at around 88°F, accompanied by calm winds that will gradually shift to the southeast at around 6 mph in the afternoon. Towards Monday night, the sky will remain predominantly clear with lows settling at roughly 71°F and south winds blowing at a gentle 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]

FCPS Says Bodyguard Needed After Threats — “Brian Lambert, the school division’s chief of security, said in an interview that he had been pushing for more security for Reid for months. She initially resisted efforts to institute a security detail, Lambert said, but the threats made against her, political tensions and recent targeted violence across the country helped make the case.” [Washington Post]

Secretive Investor Group Looks for Va. Venue — “Dialog — a secretive, invite-only network founded two decades ago by Peter Thiel and Auren Hoffman, the star investors and entrepreneurs — is preparing a major expansion, including a real estate purchase to build a campus in the D.C. suburbs, a tipster familiar with the group’s plans tells Axios.” The tipster says Dialog is “in active discussions to buy a physical venue in Virginia … as a permanent hub for its off-the-record meetings.” [Axios]

Report Predicts More N. Va. Power Outages — “The Northern Virginia area could face more than 430 hours of power outages per year by 2030 as the power grid struggles to keep up with the growth of AI and data centers, a report from the Department of Energy says. That’s a significant increase from the current rate of 2.4 hours per year.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Parkour Gym Open in Reston — “When Urban Evolution announced it was closing down and Wotowie was about to retire from the federal government, he decided to take the leap and open his own parkour facility in Reston. MindShift Gym, located at 11501 Sunset Hills Road in Reston, specializes in teaching parkour, acrobatics, and aerial silks.” [Patch]

Mars Invests in Gene-Editing Tech — “McLean, Virginia-based Mars Inc., the world’s largest candy maker, is investing in gene-editing technology to make cacao plants less vulnerable to disease and changes in climate patterns that have pushed prices to near record highs. Mars has licensed gene editing tools for cacao research and development with biotech company Pairwise.” [WTOP]

WaPo Exodus Continues — “The exodus of staff began as a trickle early this year and grew to a steady flow last week as the paper’s beleaguered staff approached their July 31 deadline for making final decisions on the buyout offer. Current and former Post journalists feel conflicted about what this moment represents — a bittersweet group retirement party that gives younger reporters an opportunity for growth, or an exodus that hollows out the heart of the paper and leaves it directionless.” [Washingtonian]

Why Annandale HS Has a Bomb Shelter — “Annandale High School has a secret underground chamber that stems from its establishment in 1954, the height of the Cold War. That history lives on in the school’s nuclear age iconography, like its mascot, the Atoms, red and white colors, and newspaper, the A-Blast. Annandale also has a lesser-known feature from that era – a bomb shelter, offering a safe space during a nuclear attack.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching about 83°F, accompanied by a gentle northeast breeze at 6 to 8 mph. As night falls, the skies will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 64°F and an east wind blowing at 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]

Canada Wildfire Smoke in D.C. Area — “A thin veil of smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is worsening air quality and putting a lid on temperatures in the D.C. area. The smoke, which has resulted in some of the world’s worst air quality in the Upper Midwest and Northeast, is wafting through the Mid-Atlantic only in limited quantities, but it’s enough to have a small impact.” [Capital Weather Gang]

Algae Spotted at Lake Accotink — “The blue-green algae bloom has been identified at Lake Accotink Park. While these blooms are seasonally normal and typically clear on their own with the rains, higher concentrations can certain blue-green algae produce toxins that pose serious health risks to people and animals.” The park authority is working with the Virginia Department of Health to monitor the bloom, but for now, it advises avoiding contact with the water. [FCPA/Instagram]

FCPS Seeks Superintendent Bodyguard — “Fairfax County Public Schools is planning to hire a bodyguard for Superintendent Michelle Reid, a move the Virginia school district said is necessary to bolster security in response to recent ‘highly publicized tragic events around the country.'” An unnamed source told WTOP that “Reid has received credible threats,” though the job posting has drawn criticism after FCPS had to reduce promised staff pay raises. [WTOP]

Local Restaurant Owners Share Concerns — “A growing number of restaurant and hospitality business owners across Northern Virginia say a combination of rising costs, worker shortages and economic uncertainty is threatening their ability to stay afloat.” They voiced their concerns to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine during a roundtable on Tuesday (Aug. 5) at Glory Days Grill in Burke. [FOX5]

Dems Suggest Redistricting Change Needed — “Virginia Democrats in leadership are open to the idea of redoing the Commonwealth’s redistricting process. The idea comes after pushes from President Donald Trump and Democratic legislative groups across the country for pre-midterm redraws to benefit their respective parties in 2026.” [WVTF]

How N. Va. Hospitals Are Using AI — “In U.S. hospital systems, AI is particularly revolutionary, with some enlisting the technology to help lighten administrative burdens and improve diagnostic accuracy. Here’s what some Northern Virginia health care professionals have to say about the ways they’re using AI now — and where they might use it in the future.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Arts Organizations Secure Grant Funding — ArtsFairfax has awarded 56 operating support grants totaling nearly $600,000 to dozens of arts organizations based in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church for fiscal year 2026. “Despite funding uncertainty at the federal level, the County sustained its allocation of approximately $1.5M for the arts … allowing ArtsFairfax to continue support of the local arts sector as planned.” [ArtsFairfax]

Lobster Truck Coming to Chantilly — Virginia’s Cousins Maine Lobster truck will bring its lobster rolls and other seafood specialties to the Preserve at Westfields community (4950 Westcroft Blvd) in Chantilly today (Thursday). The truck will operate from 4-8 p.m. Future local stops will include the Lowe’s home improvement store at Beacon Center in Groveton from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Tuesday (Aug. 12). [Cousins Maine Lobster/Facebook]

It’s Thursday — Expect mostly sunny skies, reaching a high of around 82 degrees, accompanied by an east wind blowing at approximately 10 mph. The wind may pick up, gusting as high as 22 mph. As the night sets in, it will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to about 65 degrees. The east wind will slow down to around 5 to 8 mph. [NWS]

Police Seek Fatal Crash Witnesses — “Virginia State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed or taken video of Saturday night’s fatal crash on I-66 in Fairfax County to contact the person investigating the incident, according to authorities.” [Patch]

Immigrants Rights Groups Launch Hotline — “The new PODER Virginia campaign is looking for immigrants, their families and allies to call in with stories in order to paint a more complete picture of deportation activity to possibly identify patterns.” Taking calls from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., the hotline at 844-ALERT-VA was announced by Centreville Immigration Forum, the Legal Aid Justice Center and other groups that advocate for immigrants. [NBC4]

Dulles Flight Had Engine Failure — “A United Airlines flight bound for Germany declared ‘mayday, mayday, mayday’ with an engine failure last month, forcing the jet to hastily retreat to the Washington, D.C., area, tower recordings and the carrier said Monday … Flight 108, a Boeing 787 with 219 passengers and 11 crew members, was headed to Munich when it had to turn back for Dulles International Airport.” [NBC News]

Reston Man Deported to Belgium — A 33-year-old Belgian man living in Reston was deported on July 31 after authorities learned he was a fugitive convicted of sexually exploiting a child in his native country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said. The man allegedly fled to the U.S. in April 2013 to avoid serving prison time and didn’t disclose his criminal history. An immigration judge ordered his removal on June 26, ICE said. [WJLA]

Metro Radio Issues Found — “The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission released its study of Metro’s radio communication system on Monday and revealed that some key deficiencies remain, despite a plan to improve the system after response delays during a deadly 2015 incident.” [WTOP]

Local Restauranteur Wins Award — “The DMV’s premier Laotian chef Seng Luangrath, the owner of several restaurants, including Padaek in Seven Corners, was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. The award was presented on Aug. 3 at the 43rd annual RAMMYS Gala at the Walter Washington Convention Center.” [Annandale Today]

McLean Startup Offers Autism Care — “Positive Development Inc. has raised $51.5 million in new funding to expand autism care to more kids and families as demand for its services mounts.” Making headway on getting its services covered by insurance companies, including Anthem in Virginia and CareFirst in the D.C. region, the startup hopes to “double its footprint in the next handful of years.” [Washington Business Journal]

Merrifield Furniture Business Promises Discounts — “Merrifield-based GoodbyHello, founded by longtime friends Michelle Baldwin and Mollie Skopil, works with manufacturers to sell their overstock, canceled orders, and returns in like-new condition. It also sells lightly used items right from its customers. With these methods, it’s able to offer furniture and other home goods for lower prices.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Wednesday — There is a 20% chance of showers after 3pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 82°F accompanied by an east wind at 3-7 mph. Wednesday night, expect cloudy skies to turn partly cloudy, with a low of around 67°F and an east wind near 6 mph. [NWS]

Falls Church Getting First Roundabout — “Construction work on the first traffic circle in Falls Church is gearing up. Signs are in place for the project at S. Maple Avenue and Annandale Road, which will convert the existing four-way stop with traffic lights into what transportation planners hope will be a better travel experience.” [ARLnow]

DCA Crash Review Could Change Air Travel — “The National Transportation Safety Board is now reviewing three days of testimony from last week’s public hearings into the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. One of the country’s leading aviation safety analysts believes that sweeping changes are likely to come not only to the operations near DCA, but to the entire aviation system as a result of this crash.” [WTOP]

Vacant Tysons Parcel Up for Auction — “The vacant 1.8-acre lot at 8346 Leesburg Pike on a map — technically 8350 Leesburg Pike in property records — will be auctioned off Sept. 4, according to Alex Cooper Inc., the auctioneer.” Owned by an affiliate of NVCommercial Inc, the parcel was slated to become two high-rises — one with a hotel and housing over retail and another with apartments and a “public facility” over retail — under the Tysons Central plan approved by Fairfax County in 2013. [Washington Business Journal]

Dolphins in Chesapeake Bay — “The researchers had found their subjects: Tamanend’s bottlenose dolphins that call the waters around Chesapeake Bay home. Researchers estimate at least 500 to 600 of these dolphins have regularly visited the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay over the past decade, with one sighting dating back to the 19th century.” [Washington Post]

Popular Tysons Cafe Expands — “Shotted Specialty Coffee, a Saudi-inspired coffee bar, has opened its newest location at 7380 Atlas Walk, Gainesville, VA. This is the fourth Shotted location, joining ones at Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Galleria and Dulles Town Center.” [Patch]

Police Celebrate National Night Out — “RA members are invited to join their neighbors in celebrating National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, with two free events focused on building community spirit and strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement. Reston Association is proud to support both events, which are open to the public and offer fun, food and family-friendly activities.” Other events are planned at Fairfax County’s community centers, the Mosaic District, Annandale Shopping Center and elsewhere. [Reston Association]

Final Events at The Block — “The Block food hall has scheduled a few final events before it shuts down for good at the end of the month. The venue is hosting an ‘everything-must-go thrift pop-up’ every Tuesday, 5-9:30 p.m., on Aug. 5, 12, 19, and 26. On Aug. 16, it’s ‘Last Call at The Block,’ featuring Arylia, DJ Knom, and DJ Adobo, 10 p.m.-2 a.m.” [Annandale Today]

More Stops Added to Discovery Trail Challenge — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is proud to announce that three exciting new sites have been added to the odyssey! Discover hidden wildlife hotspots at Huntley Meadows, step into a bygone era at Grist Mill Park’s historic barn and check out Mount Vernon Rec Center’s brand-new recreation facilities.” [FCPA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies with a high near 84 and calm winds shifting to an easterly 6 mph breeze in the afternoon. Tuesday night will see similar cloud cover, alongside a low of 69 and a southeast wind at 5 mph, diminishing to calm winds later in the evening. [NWS]