A new PBS documentary is airing this weekend, and it features Northern Virginia’s own Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail.
Set to be broadcast on WETA Metro, the local public television station, “From Rails to Trails” highlights the decades-long struggle to transform abandoned railroad tracks into public trails. The film was adapted from Peter Harnik’s 2021 book of the same name.
The last undeveloped parcel in the Woodland Park East development near the Herndon Metro station will move forward with multifamily residential units and a self-storage facility, rather than the previously proposed twin office buildings.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday (Oct. 14) to support developer Trammell Crow Residential’s request for zoning changes on “Block E,” a 3.3-acre parcel on the northeast portion of the 32-acre Woodland Park property. It is located between the Dulles Access Road to the north and Woodland Park Drive to the south and Monroe Street to the east and Corporate Park Drive to the west.
By FATIMA HUSSEIN, JOEY CAPPELLETTI, JESSE BEDAYN and SAFIYAH RIDDLE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — With every passing day of the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay face mounting financial strain. And now they are confronting new uncertainty with the Trump administration’s promised layoffs.
Fairfax County Public Schools officials are planning to use a traditional model for the division’s first new high school to open in 20 years.
The county school board discussed the latest updates in planning for a new high school on the western end of the county during a work session last week (Oct. 7).
Fairfax County leaders are voicing concern that proposed Trump administration’s cuts in homeland security grants could have a major local impact.
“It is a significant hit to our public safety agencies,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the board’s meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 14). “We will be very loud and outspoken about it.”
One new poll suggests that a “growing supermajority” of Fairfax County voters would oppose a casino in Tysons.
The poll, commissioned by the lobbying group Freedom Virginia, found that three-quarters of county residents are against the potential project, with roughly 50% being “strongly” against a casino.
Reston Convenience Store Burglarized — “On October 12, at 10:13 p.m., officers responded to the Kile Mart located at 1611 Washington Plaza in Reston for an alarm. Three unknown suspects forced entry into the business and stole vape products and other merchandise. The suspects fled the business before police arrival.” Fairfax County detectives are looking for the public’s help to identify the suspects. [FCPD]
Va. ICE Facilities Using Solitary Confinement More — “Virginia’s ICE facilities in Farmville and Caroline County have risen in national rank for placing more people in solitary confinement between 2023 and this past August. Both are now among the nation’s top 10 for solitary confinement use despite being far smaller than other detention center sites in the U.S.” [Axios Richmond]
Braddock District Candidate Forum Tonight — The Democratic, Republican and independent candidates for the Braddock District supervisor seat will gather at Braddock Hall (9002 Burke Lake Road) at 7 p.m. for a forum. Organized by the Braddock District Council of Community Associations, the forum will give voters an opportunity to hear from all three contenders ahead of a special election on Dec. 9. [Braddock District Council/Facebook]
GMU Board Could Meet Despite Lack of Quorum — “State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, and Charles Stimson, the rector of the George Mason Board of Visitors, disagree on whether the board’s executive committee can meet and take actions this week … The GMU board currently only has six of the 16 board positions filled after Senate Democrats blocked several of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointments.” [Virginia Scope]
Brunch Chain Coming to Fairfax — “Another Broken Egg Cafe, a growing chain of restaurants open only for breakfast, brunch and lunch, has inked a lease to replace the McDonald’s that recently shuttered at University Mall.” The lease for 10645 Braddock Road, which was confirmed by property manager Van Metre Companies, will give Another Broken Egg its first Fairfax County location after the Florida-based chain announced plans for a Loudoun County franchise in June. [Washington Business Journal]
McLean Rideshare App Battles D.C. Regulators — Empower, a local startup that presents itself as an alternative to Uber and Lyft, has been embroiled in a years-long legal battle with D.C. officials over its lack of a license to operate in the city. “After the CEO was threatened with jail time, he said the company would shut down its D.C. operations by October 10. But in a Hail Mary play [last] week, Empower now says that it will break its contracts and offer the service to drivers for free.” [The 51st]
Local Furloughed Fed Shares Experience — “Jay Reddy has spent more than 30 years as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor. But even after decades of public service, he says this year has been the most unpredictable of his career. Reddy is one of thousands of federal employees currently furloughed as funding disputes continue.” [WUSA9]
Why Fall Leaves Have Been Less Colorful — “Leaf-peeping season has arrived in the Northeast and beyond, but weeks of drought have muted this year’s autumn colors, and sent leaves fluttering to the ground earlier than usual.” [Associated Press]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 70 degrees with a north wind at 8 to 11 mph, gusting up to 21 mph. For Wednesday night, the skies will remain clear, and the temperature will drop to around 45 degrees. The north wind will persist at approximately 9 mph. [NWS]
A New York City food hall venture is slated to open its two latest D.C.-area locations in Fairfax County later this month.
Wonder, which describes its food halls as a one-stop shop to conquer any craving, will soon begin serving diners in Franconia on Oct. 23 and in Reston on Oct. 30.
A Reston-based information technology company may lay off nearly 100 people by the end of this year.
Citing “uncertainty around the future of some contracts with federal agencies,” the contractor Peraton issued layoff notices to 92 employees earlier this month, the Washington Business Journal reported last week.
Dominion Energy is planning to take down more trees near its power lines along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail — this time, with the consent of NOVA Parks.
Starting next Monday (Oct. 20), the power company will begin “selective” pruning and removals of trees and other vegetation on a 2.6-mile section of the trail between its Clark substation in Vienna and the Hunter substation in Wolf Trap, just outside Reston.
