At Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn’s request, the Board of Supervisors authorized staff today (Tuesday) to begin the process of conveying the 16.49-acre property at 1527 Cameron Crescent Drive to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA).
Is 2025 your year to achieve something extraordinary?
Whether you’re advancing your career, building new skills, or exploring a fresh path, George Mason University is here to support your journey. Located in the heart of Arlington, Virginia, George Mason offers unmatched flexibility with part-time and full-time enrollment options, plus online, in-person, and hybrid classes, making it easier than ever to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Discover what’s possible at our Arlington Graduate Open House. This in-person event brings together four renowned schools to showcase their graduate programs, each designed to unlock exciting opportunities:
Antonin Scalia Law School
Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Costello College of Business
Schar School of Policy and Government
Date: Tuesday, February 4 Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: Van Metre Hall Multipurpose Room, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia — conveniently accessible via the Virginia Square Metro (Orange/Silver Lines) and Metrobus/ART bus stops
What to Expect:
Connect with expert faculty
Explore program tables to find the right fit for your goals
Get a quick resume review
Speak directly with admissions representatives
See how a George Mason graduate degree can transform your future
Scaffolding has been erected around the U.S. Capitol for the 2025 presidential inauguration (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Inauguration Day is less than a week away, inviting either celebration or terror, depending on your political leanings.
The latter emotion is likely more prevalent in Fairfax County, where voters in all but two precincts favored Democratic nominee and current Vice President Kamala Harris even as a rightward shift in Virginia overall helped secure the 2024 election for former and incoming president Donald Trump.
The Fairfax County Public Schools administrative center in Merrifield (file photo)
Fairfax County Public School teachers have more rights than they did a week ago after the school board unanimously approved the Fairfax Education Unions’ (FEU) first collective bargaining agreement in nearly 50 years on Thursday (Jan. 9).
The agreement promises better wages, hours, benefits and working conditions, but questions still remain about how much funding the Board of Supervisors will provide when it finalizes the county budget in May.
Sunset Hills Road near the Reston Town Center Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
D.C. Area on ‘High Alert’ for Bird Flu — “Bird flu outbreaks have been detected at three poultry operations in Maryland and Delaware, impacting more than 500,000 chickens and leading to heightened alert among officials in the Washington region.” The Maryland H5N1 case was reported on Friday (Jan. 10) and detected in a chicken in Caroline County. [Washington Post]
FCPS Not Affected by Data Breach — “K-12 education vendor PowerSchool experienced a data breach. While FCPS is a customer of PowerSchool, we do not utilize their Student Information System product, which was the system impacted by the data breach.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Governor Highlights Priorities for Final Year — “Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin launched his priorities in his State of the Commonwealth speech Monday morning. The speech, and the start of the 2025 Virginia General Assembly, was postponed until after the water crisis in Richmond could be resolved.” [WTOP]
High School Stadium Bathrooms Expected ThisSummer — “The long-awaited permanent restroom facilities at several high school athletic stadiums around the Richmond Highway Corridor are expected to be ready this summer, according to leaders at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).” [On the MoVe]
Proposed Bill Would Make School BreakfastsFree — “Public school students across Virginia would soon be getting free breakfasts under a newly proposed bill by Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) and Sen. Danica Roem (D-30) … The new bill only covers breakfast and costs $43 million, Bennett-Parker said.” [ALXnow]
Annandale Cancer Patient Finds Solace in Singer — “It’s been an incredibly tough year for Cassidy Rajala, an Annandale sixth-grader who’s spent months in the hospital since being diagnosed with leukemia in December 2023. One of the bright spots has been her discovery of pop singer Benson Boone.” [Annandale Today]
N. Va. Social Services Nonprofits Merge — “Northern Virginia Family Service, which offers a variety of help to those in need, last week announced its merger with Alexandria-based Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia. The entities will be combined under the Northern Virginia Family Service, or NVFS, name and will broaden services to better aid children in the region, a spokeswoman for NVFS said.” [Inside NoVA]
It’s Tuesday — Scattered flurries are expected after 4pm, accompanied by increasing clouds and a high near 32. Winds will be from the northwest at 9 to 11 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. For Tuesday night, expect scattered flurries to cease before 9pm, leading to partly cloudy skies and a low around 19. Northwest winds will be stronger, at 13 to 16 mph, and may gust as high as 30 mph. [NWS]
A lobbying flyer shared with state lawmakers in January 2025 includes a rendering of Comstock's envisioned casino development in Tysons (via Access Point Public Affairs)
Advocates for a referendum to allow a casino in Tysons have a formidable ally in the General Assembly this year.
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34) is carrying the 2025 bill to add Fairfax County to Virginia’s short list of casino-eligible localities, taking over from Sen. Dave Marsden (D-35), who introduced legislation in 2023 and 2024.
Bookcases inside the City of Fairfax Regional Library (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
In its 85th year of existence, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) saw a surge in demand for digital materials, reflecting the ongoing expansion of its services beyond traditional print books.
The library system recorded 3.8 million digital checkouts in 2024, pushing it past the all-time milestone of 25 million checkouts, FCPL shared in an overview of the last calendar year published on Jan. 2, 2025.
Reston residents participate in a community service project for Martin Luther King Jr. Day (courtesy Reston Community Center)
Reston Community Center (RCC) will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day for a 40th consecutive year with a full weekend of events and community service projects.
Set for this upcoming Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 18-19), RCC’s celebration will come after the actual anniversary of the civil rights leader’s birthday, which falls on Wednesday (Jan. 15), but precede the observed federal holiday next Monday (Jan. 20).
Two deer stand in a snowy front yard in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fundraiser Set Up for Drowning Victims’ Families — “Community members have raised thousands of dollars Saturday night for the funeral expenses for two men who were killed after their car was submerged” in a Chantilly pond. Driver Karna Kadka had three children, while passenger Nischal Bhatta had left his native Nepal about six months ago to live in the U.S. on a student visa, per a Gofundme page. [WUSA9]
FCPS Reopens Schools on Time — For the first time since winter break began in mid-December, Fairfax County Public Schools started classes in line with its regular schedule today (Monday) after a week of weather-related closures and delays. “Thank you again for your trust and patience during last week’s challenges,” Superintendent Michelle Reid said when announcing the decision. [FCPS]
Former TGI Friday’s Restaurant Has Been Leased — “DLC, the relatively new owner of the Springfield Commons shopping center, recently updated its site plan to show Jason’s Crab House in the 6,300-square-foot space formerly occupied by the troubled Fridays chain.” State corporation filings suggest the new tenant is affiliated with a series of businesses that includes 54 Restaurant at nearby Springfield Town Center. [Washington Business Journal]
Pricey Home Sales Tied to Incoming Trump Admin — “Last year, the Washington area experienced its highest number of homes selling for $5 million or more in over a decade, with a significant spike in sales during November and December ahead of the new administration, according to Bright MLS data.” [Axios DC]
Stir-Fry Chain Expanding to Barcroft Plaza — “Honeygrow, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in stir-fry bowls and salads, is coming to Barcroft Plaza. It will be located at 6464-A Lincolnia Road in the space formerly occupied by Chico’s Natural Pet Market. It’s expected to open in July, says Issa Abuelhawa, manager of the Honeygrow in Tysons.” [Annandale Today]
Newington-Area Trail Maintenance Delayed — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is providing an update on the ongoing trail maintenance project in South Run Stream Valley Park … Unfortunately, the colder-than-anticipated December temperatures have necessitated postponing the remaining repairs until the spring, when warmer weather will allow for proper paving and completion of the work.” [FCPA]
Head of Kevin Bacon’s Local Nonprofit Shares Story — “Fast forward to 2007 when Kevin Bacon decided to launch a Northern Virginia-based nonprofit organization supporting impactful initiatives to sustain and enrich local communities … Now at the helm of SixDegrees.org is Stacy Huston, Executive Director,” who spoke to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority about making the transition from business development to the nonprofit world. [FCEDA]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 40°F and calm winds shifting to the west at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 20°F and a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
The National Weather Service's forecast for total snow amounts in the D.C. region on Jan. 10-12, 2025 (via National Weather Service)
Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area could be hit with another round of snow starting tonight (Friday), though it’ll likely be much less intense than the storm that passed through on Monday (Jan. 6).
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for much of the region, including Fairfax County, projecting 1 to 2 inches of snowfall between 10 p.m. today and 7 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday).