News

A 2,300-mile trek by Buddhist monks advocating for unity and compassion will soon enter Fairfax County.

The Walk for Peace is currently scheduled to arrive in Lorton at Richmond Highway and Furnace Road on Sunday (Feb. 8) around 8 a.m., according to the Fairfax County Police Department, which will provide an escort for the pilgrimage while it’s in the county’s borders.


News

Two churches in Vienna have found a way to live together in harmony, while still staying true to their distinct religious identities.

The Vienna Baptist Church has now fully moved into the Emmaus United Church of Christ building at 900 Maple Avenue East after finalizing a sale of its longtime home at 541 Marshall Road SW.


News

The current school year will be the last official one for King Abdullah Academy.

After close to a decade in the Herndon area, the Islamic private school announced in late January that it will close for good after the 2024-2025 academic year, citing challenges with identifying a “viable financial path to self-sustainability.”


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution last Tuesday (Oct. 22) honoring the importance of faith communities in the county. But it was a far cry from the intent of the measure’s initial sponsor.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the board’s lone Republican, attempted to convince his Democratic colleagues for the second board meeting in a row to declare Nov. 21 as Church Heritage Recognition Day in the county.


Around Town

Shotted may be the only coffee shop in Fairfax County with a midnight rush.

Where most coffeehouses see business peak in the morning or late afternoon as patrons drop in before and after work, the Tysons Corner Center kiosk comes to life at night — particularly during Ramadan, which began this year on March 22 and will end with the holiday Eid al-Fitr on Thursday (April 20).


Countywide

The clock is ticking on Fairfax County’s goal of achieving net-zero new carbon emissions by 2050.

With local government and school operations accounting for just 5% of all emissions, the county is developing a plan to help residents and organizations take action to reduce their carbon footprint and combat climate change.


News

A Hindu temple in Chantilly is seeking the county’s permission to build a community center across the street from its main religious temple.

The team behind the Rajdhani Mandir has filed an application with the county to construct a community building on a 10-acre site across the road from the existing temple building at 4525 Pleasant Valley Road.


News

The Fairfax County School Board is looking at adding more holidays, including Diwali and Yom Kippur, to a proposed calendar for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.

The board reviewed a proposed calendar from Fairfax County Public Schools staff during a work session yesterday (Tuesday), with a vote on the matter scheduled for their next regular meeting on Jan. 27.


News

A retired priest who headed the Catholic Diocese of Arlington’s Office of Child Protection and Safety for seven years has been indicted for allegedly sexually abusing a boy in Fairfax County two decades ago.

Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General announced this morning (Tuesday) that a grand jury handed down two felony charges against Terry Specht, 69, of Donegal, Pennsylvania on Dec. 20.


News

Fairfax County housing officials want to assist religious congregations interested in using their existing buildings or land to help create affordable housing.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors talked about the idea at its housing committee meeting last Tuesday (Nov. 23). While in the preliminary stages of discussion, the proposed collaboration could help religious groups that need to sell vacant property to address struggling finances, officials suggested.