morning notes

‘Heavy’ Building Fire in Great Falls — “Fairfax County Fire & Rescue personnel extinguished a fire Sunday night in the 800 block of Blacks Hill Road in the Great Falls area. When fire units arrived on the scene, they found a structure with heavy fire throughout.” [Patch]

Centreville Man Sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol Attack — A U.S. District judge sentenced Centreville resident Zachary J. Alam to eight years in prison last Thursday (Nov. 7) after a jury convicted him last year of “assaulting police, destroying public property and obstructing police during a civil disorder” at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. [Washington Post]

Navy Federal Hit With Record Fine — “Vienna-based Navy Federal Credit Union has been ordered by a federal regulator to pay $95 million in restitution and fines for allegedly charging illegal overdraft fees to customers” between 2017 and 2022. That includes $80 million in refunds to customers and $15 million for a victims’ relief fund — the largest fine ever levied against a credit union by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [Washington Business Journal]

More Black and Latino Men Voted for Trump — “For DaSean Gallishaw, a consultant in Fairfax, Virginia, a vote for Trump was rooted in what he saw as Democrats’ rhetoric not matching their actions. ‘It’s been a very long time since the Democrats ever really kept their promises to what they’re going to do for the minority communities,’ he said.” [Associated Press]

GMU Students File Lawsuit Over Tampons — “In a lawsuit filed in federal court, third-year law students Selene Cerankosky and Maria Arcara said the school ordered them to have no contact with another student who proposed stocking all restrooms, including men’s rooms, with menstrual hygiene products.” [WTOP]

Tex-Mex Restaurant Opens in Falls Church — “A new Latin and Tex-Mex restaurant is currently hosting its soft opening in Falls Church. Casa Mariachi Bar and Grille expects to hold a grand opening sometime next week at 133 E. Annandale Road, manager Tony Flores told ARLnow” on Nov. 8. [ARLnow]

Belle Haven Residents Push for New Park — The Fairfax County Park Authority is finalizing the design concept for a trail system that could help address “the lack of readily accessible recreational opportunities in the highly developed, densely populated Kings Crossing area.” The concept will be presented to the community next spring. [On the MoVe]

Woodlawn Park to Unveil New Restrooms — “The Fairfax County Park Authority, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and members of the Woodlawn Little League community invite the public to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for the newly completed restroom and concessions building at McNaughton Fields Park. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.” [FCPA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 56 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 13 to 15 mph and gusts reaching up to 24 mph. The clear night will bring a low around 33 degrees, with a north wind at 7 to 9 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]

County Warns About Fake Shredding Events — “Residents have recently reported arriving at Fairfax County facilities for shredding events that were falsely advertised on a suspicious website. These events are not associated with the county and we urge you to take steps to avoid misinformation and potential scams.” [Fairfax County Government]

Hayfield Argues Against Potential Postseason Ban — “Hayfield Secondary School made its final appeal Thursday to overturn a recommended two-year postseason ban in football. The hearing was held before a Virginia High School League three-person Executive Committee subcommittee,” which now has five working days to reach a final decision. [Inside NoVA]

FCPD Details Results of License Plate Readers — “The Fairfax County Police Department reports strong results from license plate readers.” Since the tools were introduced in November 2022, they have led to arrests of 514 people, 200 stolen vehicle recoveries, 43 gun recoveries and the locations of 30 missing people. [Annandale Today]

Local Voters Cite Economy, Abortion Among Top Issues — “Originally a Republican stronghold, Fairfax began to shift in the early 2000s as its population grew more diverse and younger families moved in. From student loan debt and health care to economic stability, these issues drive voters to make their voices heard in what many see as a defining election.” [The Wash]

Speculation on Youngkin Joining Trump Team — “Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been getting closer to Donald Trump in recent months, with the two even appearing together on stage, leading to questions about whether Youngkin would possibly leave the state and join the incoming Trump administration.” [WTOP]

Herndon Cybersecurity Firm Buys Competitor — Everfox “previously known as Forcepoint Federal, has acquired Frederick, Maryland-based Yakabod Inc., a 23-year-old software company that provides cybersecurity and related services to federal agencies, corporations, universities and other organizations.” Announced on Nov. 1, the deal is Everfox’s second acquisition in three months. [DC Inno]

Herndon Homecoming Parade to Close Streets — “The Herndon High School Homecoming Parade is set to take place this Saturday, November 9th, kicking off at 9:30 am… To ensure the safety and smooth flow of the event, please take note of the following street closures and parking restrictions on Saturday morning.” [Town of Herndon]

Meadowlark Gardens Lets Kids See Winter Lights for Free — “Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights has four nights when kids will be admitted for free. On those nights, kids ages 2 to 12 will be admitted to the botanical gardens when they are accompanied by someone who has paid to get in.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees with a light northwest wind that will reach 5-10 mph in the morning and potentially gust up to 20 mph. Clear conditions will continue into Friday night, with a low around 45 degrees. [NWS]

Republicans Projected to Control Senate — “The GOP has won control of the Senate as Sen. Deb Fischer secures reelection in Nebraska. With at least 51 Senate seats secured, Republicans will retake control of the chamber for the first time in four years.” [Associated Press]

Fairfax Businessmen on Trial for Selling Tech to Russia — “Two senior executives from the Fairfax-based Eleview International Inc., made their initial appearance in federal court on Monday to face charges of transferring critical systems and technologies — some with military application — to Russia.” The alleged sales violated restrictions that the U.S. imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. [Patch]

Fairfax City Candidates Hear Voter Concerns — “Candidates running for office in the City of Fairfax entered the final stretch of their months-long campaign on Tuesday, with many making a final appeal to voters at polling sites around the city. By noon on Tuesday, 2,599 people — about 14.87 percent of the city’s active, registered voters — had cast in-person ballots,” the city’s general registrar said. [Patch]

FCPS Sets Meeting Dates on Boundary Review — “Our first set of boundary review meetings will begin in a few weeks, with a meeting scheduled in each of our six regions. Families, staff, and community members will be able to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.” [FCPS]

New Name Proposed for Eden Center Road — “The Falls Church City Council is expected to approve a resolution on Nov. 12 to designate the section of Wilson Boulevard in front of the Eden Center as ‘Saigon Boulevard’ … It will be an honorary name, not recognized by the U.S. Postal Service.” [Annandale Today]

Tea Shop Plans Fairfax Location — The Alley, a tea shop chain with locations around the world, has chosen Fairfax City as the site of its first Virginia location. The shop will open at 11017 Main Street and appears to specialize in “bubble teas or boba teas with tapioca balls in them.” [The Burn]

Cloned Ferret Gives Birth in Virginia — A female black-footed ferret that “was created by cloning gave birth to two healthy offspring at a Smithsonian Institution/National Zoo center in Virginia, in what a federal agency called a conservation milestone. Authorities indicated that techniques used in their work with black-footed ferrets could help preserve other endangered species.” [Washington Post]

It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high around 79 degrees and southwest winds at 10 to 13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. The night will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 63 degrees. The southwest wind of 6 mph will become calm after midnight. [NWS]

Poll Worker Removed for Citizenship Question — Fairfax County’s Office of Elections removed a poll worker from the Franconia Governmental Center’s early voting site who asked an elementary school principal to show proof of her citizenship — a violation of state law. Liza Burrell-Aldana, once named principal of the year by the Washington Post, believes she was questioned because she looks and sounds Latina. [Washington Post]

Man Charged With Assault on Dulles Flight — A man has been charged with felony assault after allegedly punching another passenger “repeatedly in the face and head” during a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Dulles International Airport. An FBI agent says the attack against the sleeping passenger on Monday, Oct. 28 was unprovoked. [Associated Press/WTOP]

How County Is Ensuring Security of Election — With Election Day here, the Fairfax County Office of Elections offered a breakdown of the steps it takes to ensure “every vote is accurately recorded, safely stored and properly counted. From safeguarding ballots and voting machines to conducting post-election canvassing, the county’s Office of Elections prioritizes security at every step.” [Fairfax County Government]

Local Restaurants Offer Election Day Specials — “Make the most of Election Day by picking up a few free treats and special deals just for voters. Here’s where you can find food and drink specials on November 5.” Offers include a free nonalcoholic drink from Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar in Chantilly and Fair Oaks, and a themed cocktail from Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen in McLean. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Trail Proposed Along GW Parkway — “A coalition of environmental advocacy groups is hoping recent controversy over tree-clearing along the Potomac River leads to creative thinking about the future.” The group suggested that the National Park Service create a trail along the George Washington Memorial Parkway’s full Arlington County length. [ARLnow]

Buyer Search Underway for Vacant Annandale Building — “There is a lot of interest in the vacant property on Columbia Pike next to the Giant parking lot. But don’t expect anything to happen any time soon. The 1-acre site is available for a ground lease or sale for $3.5 million, says Craig Cheney with KLNB.” [Annandale Today]

Tysons Coffee Shop Opens Loudoun Expansion — “The new Shotted Specialty Coffee shop coming to Loudoun County has announced that its grand opening will be this coming Friday, November 8. They have already started a soft opening and busy brewing.” The cafe can be found in Fairfax County at both Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria. [The Burn]

It’s Tuesday — The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, reaching a high of about 73°F. There will be south winds ranging from 5 to 13 mph, gusting up to 22 mph. At night, expect partly cloudy skies with lows around 60°F and a consistent south wind at approximately 9 mph. [NWS]

‘Ghost Gun’ Seller Settles Lawsuit over Fatal Shooting — “The sellers of a ‘ghost gun’ kit that a Fairfax County teenager used to build a working pistol, and then kill two of his classmates, agreed Friday to pay more than $2 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the parents of the slain teens.” [Washington Post]

Alleged Drivers in Tysons Street Race Arrested — “Two drivers featured in a video of an illegal street race posted on social media were identified and arrested, according to the Fairfax County Police Department… A Tesla Cybertruck and Lamborghini illegally raced Oct. 13 near Leesburg Pike and Westwood Center Drive in Tysons, authorities said.” [Patch]

Safety Watchdog Sues Metro Agency — “The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission sued Metro on Thursday, alleging that WMATA authorities, who operate D.C. Metrorail and Metrobus, did not hand over information related to its workers’ safety, including a required asbestos program.” [WUSA9]

Fairfax Man Convicted Based on Drone Footage — “A Virginia man was found guilty of second-degree assault in Montgomery County after a jury trial where drone footage from Montgomery County’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program showed him stabbing a man in Silver Spring. This case marks the county’s first jury conviction using drone evidence.” [MoCo Show]

Local TV News Anchor to Retire — “Longtime DC-area news anchor Dave Lucas will step down from the anchor desk this month to retire, 7News/WJLA-TV announced in a news release [Friday]. Lucas, the weekday anchor of WJLA’s 24/7 news at noon and the afternoon editions between 2 and 5 p.m., will host his final afternoon newscast on November 22.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Sample of Early Voters in Annandale Favors Harris — “With the election just two days away, we dropped by the Mason Government Center on Saturday, the last day of early voting, to ask random people who they were voting for for president. We then asked them to give a reason in one or two sentences.” [Annandale Today]

Park Authority Proposes Fee Changes — The Fairfax County Park Authority is accepting public comments on proposed adjustments to the fees it charges for use of its golf courses, rec centers and other facilities. Currently under review by the park authority board, the changes would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. [FCPA]

It’s Monday — Expect a partly sunny day with a high near 63, and a light southeast wind between 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Monday night brings patchy fog between 1 am and 4 am, but it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 53 and a southeast wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]

Former CIA Trainee Found Not Guilty of Assault — “A former CIA officer trainee was found not guilty Wednesday of assaulting a fellow trainee inside the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in the second trial in a case that helped spark an agency-wide reckoning over sexual assault and harassment within the famed agency.” [Washington Post]

McLean Mansion Tops D.C. Area Sales for 2024 — “The most expensive home to sell in the DC region in years closed on Halloween for an eye-popping number. The eight-bedroom, 35,000 square-foot home in McLean known as The Cliffs … given its location perched above the Potomac River, sold on Thursday for $25.5 million.” The buyer was unidentified. [UrbanTurf]

Annandale on Upswing, Residents Say — “Visitors to the Annandale Today table at the Taste of Annandale last month were asked to fill out a brief, nonscientific survey with the question: ‘Is Annandale getting better or worse?’ Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73.6 percent) checked ‘better.'” A town hall to discuss Annandale’s future is planned for Nov. 13. [Annandale Today]

Local Ice Skating Star to Perform in Showcase — “Vienna native and defending World Champion Ilia Malinin is returning to Northern Virginia to perform in front of the home crowd” as part of the upcoming Xtreme Ice World Premiere, an ice skating showcase coming to Leesburg’s Ion Arena on Nov. 15. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Broken Pedestrian Beacon Getting Fixed — “The rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) at the intersection of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (MVMH) and Southwood Drive … stopped functioning last December and is in the process of being fixed, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.” [On the MoVe]

Oakton Rec Center Upgrades Complete — “Oakmont Rec Center has reopened after a monthlong closure during which the facility underwent … environmental upgrades and building improvements that include mechanical and plumbing systems and many aesthetic changes throughout the facility.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Blood Drive Planned in McLean — “VFW Post 8241 in McLean is hosting a Red Cross blood drive on November 22, 2024, from 10 am to 3 pm, at 1051 Spring Hill Road (corner of Spring Hill and Old Dominion). The Red Cross is also giving away holiday socks to donors. Please help the Red Cross save lives by donating blood before the holidays.” [VFW Post 8241]

Reston Store Launches Chocolate Bar Line — “Following a year of development, OmBaked CBD Boutique is rolling out a new line of CBD chocolates.” Owner and founder Radhika Murari says the Lake Anne Plaza store won over customers with its chocolate when it first opened, but they had to be removed so the labels could be adjusted “to comply with Virginia laws.” [Patch]

It’s Friday — There’s a 20% chance of brief showers before 2pm. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 75°F. In the evening, the skies will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 47°F. [NWS]

Regional Campaign Urges Drivers to Slow Down — “As part of National Pedestrian Safety Month, the [Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments] is launching a new Street Smart safety campaign with the slogan, ‘Slow Down, Life Ahead.’ The campaign aims to cut down on distracted and impaired driving this fall and winter, when there’s fewer daylight hours and decreased visibility on the road.” [WTOP]

Driver Rescued From Potomac River — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to a vehicle crash “into the Potomac River in the area of Waynewood Blvd/George Washington Memorial Pkwy. Bystanders were able to extricate the occupant prior to firefighter arrival. The occupant was transported to a local hospital.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Hazmat Response Company Opens New HQ — CHEMTREC, which provides hazardous materials emergency response services, celebrated the grand opening of its global headquarters at 3130 Fairview Park Drive on Tuesday (Oct. 29). After 12 years in Fairfax County, the company will spend the next 13 years at “its new 25,000-square-foot headquarters, which will accommodate 100 full-time employees. [Fairfax County EDA]

Halloween Safety Tips — “Halloween is one of the most highly anticipated holidays, especially for children. Dressing up in costumes, going trick-or-treating and collecting loads of candy is a highlight for kids every Oct. 31. However, it’s important for both parents and children to prioritize safety during the spooky festivities.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

Reston Town Center Classified as Business District — BXP classified Reston Town Center as a “central business district” asset in a third-quarter report released Tuesday (Oct. 29). The categorization suggests the developer views RTC as more like urban properties in D.C., Boston and other cities than “suburban” sites like Kingstowne Towne Center’s movie theater. [Washington Business Journal]

New Park Proposed in Falls Church — The Falls Church City Council appears supportive of plans to allocate $1.5 million of $5.3 million in unspent fiscal year 2024 funds “to complete design and move forward with construction on what they call the Fellows site.” The planned park will be on a 1.9-acre property near Oak Street Elementary School that the city acquired in 2019. [ARLnow]

GMU Expands Work with Reston Contractor — “George Mason University and General Dynamics recently expanded an existing partnership to give students more access to career development in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud, and software development.” The space and defense company will offer recruitment, mentorship and other initiatives. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Yoga Studio Opening in Belle View — “Jess Purtell Yoga will hold its first classes Nov. 1 at its new space at Belle View Shopping Center.” Meanwhile, a butcher shop is coming to Fort Hunt, possibly early next year, and the international supermarket Fresh World has bumped back its expectations for opening in Mount Vernon to December or January. [On the MoVe]

It’s Thursday — Expect sunshine, a high around 79 degrees and a southwest wind between 7 and 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. At night, there will be a 20% chance of showers after 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 64 degrees. The southwest wind will continue at 11 to 14 mph with gusts as high as 22 mph. [NWS]

Potomac River Levels Still Below Average — “Flows in the Potomac River have fallen far below normal averages raising the prospect of a continued drought watch in the region and the restarting of daily drought monitoring by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, according to ICPRB executive director Mike Nardolilli.” [WUSA9]

Reston Station Leads Drug Take-Back Day — “On Saturday, our district stations joined forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other Fairfax County agencies to collect 818 pounds of expired medications and prescription drugs from the community during the 27th Annual National Drug Take Back Day Initiative.” [FCPD]

Firefighters Distribute Winter Coats — On Monday, Oct. 28, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department “hosted a winter coat distribution event at FS11, Penn Daw. Firefighters & volunteers distributed approximately 1,800 coats to local schools, shelters, & non-profit groups that will go to deserving kids. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success!” [FCFRD/Twitter]

A Look at the Future of Dulles Airport — “Dulles Airport has presented its latest 25-year master plan to the FAA.” Anticipating close to 30 million annual passengers by 2030, the Metropolitan Area Airports Authority is planning for a new runway, a new concourse that’s now under construction, a three-level parking garage and “potentially development like new offices.” [NBC4]

Tysons Korean Steakhouse to Expand — Ingle Korean Steakhouse is planning to open a second restaurant in fall 2025 at 1926 14th Street, NW in downtown D.C. Named one of the 50 best restaurants in Northern Virginia this month, Ingle was started by former Donburi owner James Jang and opened at Pike 7 Plaza in Tysons in 2022. [Popville]

Mural Completed in Annandale — “The Annandale community celebrated the completion of the mural at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space with a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 26 … The mural on the [Child Development Center] building is the first in the county’s Paint It, Fairfax! initiative to facilitate murals in commercial revitalization districts.” [Annandale Today]

ArtsFairfax Reports Fundraising Record — The ArtsFairfax Awards, which were held in Tysons last Friday (Oct. 25), “raised a record high” of $200,665 by the end of the event. With fundraising still open, ArtsFairfax says it “intends to raise operating funds in order to dedicate more County funding towards grants to arts and culture partners.” [ArtsFairfax]

Trendy Foods Available at Local Cafes — “Viral TikTok food trends are live at D.C.-area restaurants.” That includes the traditional Chinese dessert tanghulu at Shilla Bakery in Annandale, dirty sodas from Coco’s Sodas and Sweets, and Dubai chocolate from Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee, which can both be found in Vienna. [Axios DC]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 77 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind at about 7 mph. As for Wednesday night, anticipate partly cloudy conditions and a low around 60 degrees, with the southwest wind persisting at approximately 7 mph. [NWS]

Plea Deal Expected in Herndon Double Murder Case — “An au pair accused in a double homicide in Northern Virginia will take a plea deal in the case, according to a commonwealth’s attorney spokesperson.” Juliana Peres Magalhaes is scheduled to face a jury trial in November, followed next year by a trial for Brendan Banfield for their alleged roles in the killings of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. [NBC4]

D.C. Area Rent Increases Highest in U.S. — “The study by the Redfin real estate company found that median rents in the capital region rose by 12 percent between September 2023 and last month, the highest among the regions analyzed. Virginia Beach saw the second-biggest rise, followed by Cleveland, Baltimore and Chicago.” [Washington Post]

Affordable Housing Developer Wanted for Bailey’s Crossroads Site — “Fairfax County plans to issue a request for proposals by the end of 2024 seeking a developer to build affordable housing in Bailey’s Crossroads … It would replace the Crossroads Interim Park at 5872 Columbia Pike between Radley Acura and the market-rate Alta Nova apartment building under construction.” [Annandale Today]

Casino Opponents Skeptical of Economic Benefits — At a community forum on Sunday (Oct. 27), Dranesville Distict Supervisor Jimmy Bierman “disagreed with the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO’s contention that building a casino, performance space and convention center in Tysons would create 5,000 new jobs.” Bierman, who previously expressed opposition to the idea of a Fairfax County casino, argued it would “make the area less attractive to the business community.” [Patch]

Tysons Holiday Pop-Up Store Now Open — “Creative Collective Holiday Pop Up is now open! Meet the makers, artists, designers, and the people behind the brands! Shop small and local this holiday season! We are located on the lower level of Tysons Corner Center, @shoptysons, across from Camp, near Coastal Flats restaurant.” [Creative Collective/Instagram]

Turkish Cafe Opens in Chantilly — “The new Moda Cafe & Bakery has opened in the Route 50 corridor of Chantilly — and it’s bought a luxury vibe to an otherwise nondescript strip mall.” Located in the Chantilly Park Shopping Center, the restaurant has been “getting good reviews for its brunch, lunch, and dinner menus of Turkish-focused cuisine.” [The Burn]

Tysons Development Tracker Updated — “The Tysons Tracker, a community resource for monitoring the growth and development of the Tysons Urban center, is now updated with projects from June 2023 to May 2024.” Highlights include the construction of two new residential buildings and the addition of park spaces. [Fairfax County Government]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly sunny skies, a high temperature near 70°F, and a south wind of 3 to 8 mph during the day. In the evening, anticipate partly cloudy conditions, a low temperature around 53°F, and a south wind of approximately 6 mph. [NWS]