Proposals to streamline the process of applying for community special event permits from the county government won the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s general support on Wednesday (Jan. 8).
However, with a number of details left unresolved, members deferred final action on whether to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the changes to next Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Older adults looking for a more affordable place to live in Fairfax County will have the opportunity to get in line for an apartment next week.
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) will accept waitlist applications for its affordable housing properties reserved for seniors from 8 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 13) through Sunday, Jan. 19 at 11:59 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools has anointed a new principal for its prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ).
Michael Mukai, a TJ alum who currently serves as the principal at West Springfield High School, was hired after a nationwide search following the departure of Dr. Ann Bonitatibus, who led the magnet school for about seven years, FCPS announced yesterday (Thursday).
Winning First Hike Photos Unveiled — The Fairfax County Park Authority got submissions from more than 400 people for its 2025 First Hike Fairfax photo contest. Best-in-show prizes were awarded in four categories — scenery and landscapes, people, wildlife, and pets, along with director’s and judge’s choice awards. Voting for a People’s Choice Award is open through 5 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 14). [FCPA]
Seafood Restaurant Arrives in Chantilly — “Despite frigid temperatures and blustery weather, Ford’s Fish Shack in Chantilly launched this Tuesday just in time for dinner … The Chantilly outpost marks the restaurant chain’s third sit-down venture, joining locations in Ashburn in Lansdowne.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Fairfax City Seeks Acting City Manager — The Fairfax City Council voted on Tuesday (Jan. 7) to contract an executive search firm that will recommend candidates for acting city manager after former city manager Laszlo Palko was terminated in December. Assistant City Manager Melanie R. Zipp is filling the role for now after her predecessor, Valmarie Turner, previously the city’s deputy manager, left for a job in Roanoke. [City of Fairfax]
New Korean Restaurant in the Works — “Oiso Korean Street Food is expected to have a soft opening in March in the retail strip anchored by Giant in central Annandale, says owner and chef William Kim. Oiso will be located at 7133-C Columbia Pike between Wellbeing More and a vacant storefront being renovated for a future Bonchon restaurant.” [Annandale Today]
Falls Church Considers Bicycle Plan Updates — “An update to the Falls Church Bicycle Master Plan has the potential to remake some city streets. But only if there is more effort put into turning aspirations to reality than has been the case with the existing plan, adopted in 2015, according to some members of a key advisory panel.” [ARLnow]
GMU School Aims to Continue Jimmy Carter’s Legacy — “A school on George Mason University’s campus in Fairfax, Virginia, started over 40 years ago as a small center with a handful of faculty members in the 1980s. Since its opening, it has emerged as one of largest conflict resolution schools in the world, and ever since 2020, the school has honored former President Jimmy Carter.” [WTOP]
Meeting on Lincolnia Park Pavilion Rescheduled — “The Fairfax County Park Authority has postponed the public meeting on the proposed pavilion at Green Spring Gardens due to inclement weather. The meeting, originally scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, will now take place on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high near 30, with northwest winds at 5 to 10 mph shifting to light west winds in the afternoon. Snow is expected Friday night, primarily after 1am, with a low temperature around 25 and light south winds. There is a 90% chance of precipitation, and new snow accumulation may be less than an inch. [NWS]
Fairfax County Public Schools will be back in session tomorrow (Friday).
After four straight snow days that extended a two-week winter break, FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid announced this afternoon that schools will open on a two-hour delay.
For some Fairfax County students, this week’s snow days have been a welcome postponement of their return to school from a winter break that began on Dec. 23. Others, however, face the risk of going hungry during the extended school closures.
With over 35% of its student population coming from low-income households, defined by their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, Fairfax County Public Schools has spent the past few days distributing thousands of food kits to students and families in need.
A new yoga practice is heading to the Arrowbrook Centre in the McNair area south of Herndon.
Before launching its permanent studio, though, True North Power Yoga has started warming up with a nearby pop-up location that opened at 2545-Q16 Centreville Road in the Village Center at Dulles on Dec. 16.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By Melissa L. Watkins, Esq.
Security clearance questionnaires are an essential part of the process for individuals seeking access to classified information in the U.S. government or related sectors.
These forms, known as Standard Form 86 (SF-86) (electronically known as the eApp), require applicants to provide personal, professional, and financial details to assess their trustworthiness and reliability. Given the complexity of these forms and the high stakes involved in securing clearance, it’s not uncommon for applicants to make mistakes, whether unintentionally omitting information or providing incorrect details.
It is also the case that some individuals intentionally omit unfavorable information, for example, a prior criminal record, in hopes that it will increase their likelihood of being approved for a security clearance. Understanding how to address these issues promptly is crucial to maintaining both your eligibility for clearance and your integrity in the process.
Errors on the SF-86/eAPP
The SF-86 requires the applicant to disclose a wide range of sensitive data, including criminal history, financial status, foreign contacts, and drug use, among other things. Any misrepresentation, even if accidental, can lead to significant consequences, such as delayed processing, denial of clearance, or potential disqualification.
For those misrepresentations that are material to determining if someone is qualified to hold a security, such errors can call into question the applicant’s integrity and potentially lead to security concerns related to personal conduct. The government relies heavily on the accuracy of the information provided to make determinations about a person’s suitability for access to national security information. Therefore, correcting mistakes in your submission should be a top priority.
State legislators representing Fairfax County are taking the lead on major issues in the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 session, filing proposals addressing reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, gun control and election reforms.
Originally slated to begin yesterday (Jan. 8), the legislative session has been delayed by water service issues in Richmond stemming from the snowstorm on Monday (Jan. 6). Lawmakers will now convene on Monday, Jan. 13 and remain in session through Feb. 22.
Fairfax County police have recovered the bodies of two men who apparently drowned in a pond near the Staybridge Suites in Chantilly.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units, including boats, were dispatched to the 3900 block of Centerview Drive at 7:26 a.m. for a water rescue, according to scanner traffic.
