Reston

County Opens Community Survey on Proposed Budget — “Fairfax County is seeking community feedback on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget Plan.” An online survey is now available in English, Spanish and Korean, and town halls and public hearings are planned this spring. [Fairfax County Government]

Sexual Assaults Reported in Falls Church — “The City of Falls Church Police Department is investigating a series of sexual batteries that occurred on the evening of Tuesday, February 25, 2025 and seeks possible additional victims or witnesses to the crimes. On February 25, officers were dispatched to four separate but similar reports of assault that occurred between approximately 8:55 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.” [City of Falls Church]

Falls Church’s Oldest Business to Close — “The oldest surviving business in Falls Church, Brown’s Hardware, is selling off the last of its wares as it prepares to close for good after 142 years … With about a fifth of all inventory remaining and an across-the-board 50% off sale, the store is on track to close at 100 W. Broad Street by the third week of March.” [ARLnow]

Federal Job Cuts Could Affect Cherry Blossom Festival — “More than 1,000 National Park Service staff, including rangers, have been laid off across the country. In the D.C. region, there are concerns that more cuts could be coming, affecting the experience of millions of tourists who flock to the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms each year.” [WTOP]

Prepare for Reston Station Blvd Traffic Detour — “Due to the removal of a construction crane, Reston Station Boulevard will operate as a one-way road from Friday Feb. 28 to Sunday, March 2. Drivers will be directed eastbound toward Wiehle Avenue. Please follow the detour arrows when entering and exiting the Transit Center.” [Hunter Mill District News]

Police Investigate Convenience Store Theft — Fairfax County police are seeking help in identifying a man who allegedly “forced entry into a restricted area … and stole merchandise” from a convenience store in Pimmit Hills last Friday, Feb. 21. Officers responded to the 7400 block of Patterson Road the following morning for the larceny report. [FCPD]

CIA Gives Critic Rare Look at HQ Dining Room — “Cellphones are forbidden, so forget about recording the meal for posterity. That’s because the only people who can book a table here at one of the most secure compounds in the world are employees of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Virginia.” [Washington Post]

It’s Thursday — There’s a 30% chance of rain, primarily before 4pm. Expect cloudy conditions with a high near 65. Southwest winds of 9 to 13 mph will shift to the west later in the day, and wind gusts may reach 22 mph. At night, anticipate partly cloudy skies and a low around 39. [NWS]

GMU Law School Removes Diversity-Related Webpages — “George Mason University’s law school has removed webpages related to diversity, equity and inclusion, sparking student criticism and casting doubt on the future of related programs.” Some Scalia Law students recently wrote a letter to the administration questioning the changes and calling for the school to reaffirm its commitment to diversity. [ARLnow]

Compromise Keeps Traffic Camera Reforms Alive — “Virginia lawmakers delivered a last-minute compromise on a contentious safety bill — ushering in high-tech school zone cameras and speed camera guardrails — just as the General Assembly wrapped up its session. However, the measure’s future now rests with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s pending approval.” [Virginia Mercury]

FCPS Reports Improvements in Teacher Retention — “After taking several steps to address these concerns, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is seeing major results — for the first time in four years, they are seeing more than 90% of teachers staying on … The district also now has between 4,500 and 5,000 substitute teachers.” [WJLA]

GMU Basketball Team Vying for March Madness Spot — “VCU and George Mason could both squeeze into the NCAA tourney if they stumble in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Rams beat the Patriots last week for their sixth straight win, one that ended George Mason’s 11-game winning streak.” [Associated Press]

BBQ Restaurant Opening at Mosaic District — “Big announcement! 🚨 Hi/FI’s new location in the Mosaic District is officially opening this Saturday, March 1st, at 11:00 AM! 🎉 Come celebrate with us at 8298 Glass Alley, Fairfax, VA 22031.” An initial soft opening is planned today (Wednesday). [HiFi Tex-Mex BBQ/Instagram]

Fort Belvoir Reopens Long-Closed Gate — “U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir recently announced some additional gate changes, effective Feb. 24. Perhaps the biggest change is the reopening of the installation’s Walker Gate along Mount Vernon Memorial Highway on weekday mornings. The gate … had been closed since late November 2022 due to staffing shortages.” [On the MoVe]

Reston Association Recreation Passes Available — “Reston Association is excited to announce that recreation passes for the 2025 season are now available. Recreation passes provide access to RA pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and once again are available to all RA members at no additional charge as part of RA’s annual assessment.” [Reston Association]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunny weather and a high near 63 degrees, accompanied by a 6 to 8 mph west wind that will shift to the south in the afternoon. At night, skies will see increasing clouds, and the temperature will drop to around 49 degrees. The south wind will maintain a speed of 6 to 8 mph. [NWS]