Sunset over a parking garage near The Boro in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Guns Allegedly Found in Raided GMU Students’ Home — “Court documents, which do not publicly indicate a reason for the search, allege that authorities found guns and magazines inside the home — materials authorities say belonged to the father and brother of the George Mason students.” A lawyer for the family says claims the men posed a threat are “baseless and inflammatory,” and a judge denied Fairfax County prosecutors’ petition to bar them from having guns. [Washington Post]

Tysons Security Company in Demand After Health Care CEO Killing — “Since the shooting death of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the phones at Global Guardian have been ringing off the hook. The McLean-based company, which provides executive protection worldwide, has experienced a surge in demand for its services.” [WUSA9]

No Injuries From Centreville House Fire — “Just after 3:15pm [yesterday] #FairfaxsBravest responded to a reported outside fire in the 14000 blk of Coachway Drive in Centerville. As crews arrived on scene bystanders alerted the crew that the back of the house was on fire. Firefighters quickly went to work and were able to extinguish the fire preventing major exposure to the rest of the home.” [FCFRD/Instagram]

Bailey’s Crossroads Getting New Signage — “New gateway signage will be developed for the Bailey’s Crossroads and Seven Corners Commercial Revitalization District. The idea is to create a sense of place and branding for the area and encourage redevelopment, says Mike Van Atta, president of the Crossroads + Corners Coalition (C3).” [Annandale Today]

Pilates Studio to Open at Mount Vernon Plaza — “The new pilates studio at Mount Vernon Plaza may be opening just in time for fulfilling some New Year’s resolutions. Club Pilates franchise owner Valyn Jenkins said they are hopeful about starting their soft opening Dec. 31, though it could be pushed to the following week.” [On the MoVe]

Tysons Consulting Firm Head Named CEO of the Year — The Washington Business Journal has named Booz Allen Hamilton CEO, chairman and president Horacio Rozanski its CEO of the Year for 2024. This year, the company “has seen double-digit revenue growth driven by increased government demand for services tied to cybersecurity, defense and the rapid advance of technology.” [WBJ]

Fairfax City Welcomes Veterinary Clinic — “Fairfax business leaders joined Mayor Catherine S. Read on Thursday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome Bond Vet to the city. The urgent care veterinary clinic opened its doors at Scout on the Circle in October.” [Patch]

It’s Monday — Expect rain primarily between 7am and 1pm, with a high temperature of around 52°F. There’s a 90% chance of precipitation, with new amounts ranging between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. As for Monday night, anticipate mostly cloudy conditions and a low temperature near 43°F. [NWS]


Countywide

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Dec. 3) honored students and teams from the county’s public high schools for state-championship performances this fall.

“We have a long list of champions, which is fantastic,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said during a presentation that helped kick off the body’s final meeting of 2024.


Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of Corcoran McEnearney. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.

Hey Fairfax! Here are my must-do Christmas activities.

The holidays are here, and I’ve got the ultimate guide to celebrating the season in Fairfax!

Whether you’re looking for festive lights, community vibes, or magical memories, this list has you covered. Watch the video for all the details and check out the highlights below. Let’s dive in!

Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

Nothing says Christmas magic like strolling through Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights! Picture this: dazzling lights, a half-mile trail, and plenty of hot cocoa. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a s’mores kit — trust me, it’s the perfect family night out.
👉 Plan your visit here!

City Light Christmas Festival — December 18

This event is close to my heart. Join me at the City Light Christmas Festival for an evening of community, music, and holiday spirit. With two shows (5 p.m. and 7 p.m.), festive décor, and local vendors, it’s a chance to make meaningful memories with the people you love. And yes, I’ll be there, so come say hi!
👉 Learn more and reserve your spot.

Tacky Christmas Lights Tour

Break out the PJs, load up on hot cocoa, and hit the road for Fairfax’s Tacky Christmas Lights Tour! This self-guided tour is all about discovering the most over-the-top, dazzling displays in the area. Pro tip: check out the map to make sure you hit all the highlights!
👉 Find the tacky lights map here.

What’s Your Favorite Tradition?

Let me know in the comments below! Whether you’re creating new traditions or revisiting old ones, the key is making memories with the people you one. Don’t forget to watch the full video for more tips and behind-the-scenes fun.

Merry Christmas, Fairfax!

Must-do Christmas Activities

Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | Sharmane@soldbysharmane.com | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180

Corcoran McEnearney, 1320 Old Chain Bridge Road, Suite 350, McLean, VA 22101, 703-790-9090, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.


Countywide

An anticipated two-decade-plus effort to redevelop Fairfax County’s 48-acre judicial complex has taken its first major step forward.

County supervisors approved a conceptual plan on Tuesday (Dec. 3) that ultimately could add four new office buildings, affordable housing and parks to the site at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, adjacent to the City of Fairfax. The construction would bring the amount of development on the campus from 1.4 million square feet to about 2 million.


Countywide

With Fairfax County facing another major budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, local public school leaders are once again confronting difficult decisions regarding teacher pay raises.

This time, though, there’s a twist: Fairfax County Public Schools has a tentative agreement with the Fairfax Education Unions representing teachers and other employees that includes a roughly $150 million request for a 7% across-the-board pay hike for educators and support staff.


Around Town

The new year promises to bring at least one sure bet: First Watch cafes will continue to spring up across Fairfax County.

After opening its largest restaurant yet in Fair Lakes this summer, the national chain is expanding to three more locations in the county, all of them expected in the first half of 2025.


A display advertising the Winter Lantern Festival has been installed next to the longstanding “Tysons III” development signs off Route 123 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metrobus Cracks Down on Fare Evasion — “Before the pandemic, about 25% of passengers didn’t pay when they got on a Metrobus, General Manager Randy Clarke said. But since then, about 70% haven’t been paying. In an effort to address that, the transit agency launched a targeted campaign this week, hoping that officer visibility and efforts will make customers think twice before avoiding the cost.” [WTOP]

Springfield Neighborhood Braces for Data Center Impacts — “As [Richard Andre Newman is] approaching 60, he’s considering selling his Fairfax County home and moving away. That’s because he’s getting a new neighbor: Plaza 500, a 466,000-square-foot data center and an adjacent electrical substation to be built a few hundred feet from townhomes, playgrounds and a community center.” [Associated Press]

Dominion to Expand Annandale Substation — “The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Dec. 4 approved the expansion and modernization of the Westcott Substation along the Holmes Run trail.” Dominion Energy says the upgraded station will better “manage additional energy demand, such as electric vehicle charging and storage of surplus energy generated by solar power cells.” [Annandale Today]

McLean Central Park Ribbon-Cutting Delayed — “Due to the extremely cold temperatures forecasted for Saturday, the planned ribbon cutting at McLean Central Park will be postponed until early Spring on a date to be determined. Stay tuned for updates and announcements on my social media pages.” [Supervisor Jimmy Bierman/Facebook]

Google Among Investors in McLean Finance Company — McLean-based Range has raised $28 million from Google seed fund Gradient Ventures and others “to help it bring artificial intelligence to the forefront of the wealth management industry.” The company’s custom AI-driven software could someday provide direct assistance to its 1,200 clients, who must earn at least $350,000 a year. [Washington Business Journal]

Annual Pancake Breakfast Returns to Turner Farm — “The Turner Farmhouse Foundation is hosting its annual pancake breakfast and open house on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9:30-11 a.m. Parking is available on site with volunteers able to assist. The event is open to the public at no cost.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Mount Vernon Trail to Get New Water Fountains — “Thanks to a grant the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail received from the National Park Foundation this past summer, seven new water fountains will be coming to the Mount Vernon Trail in 2025.” [On the MoVe]

It’s Friday — Expect sunny skies, a high of 37 and a northwest wind with gusts as high as 23 mph. During Friday night, the skies will be mostly clear, and temperatures will drop to a low around 24 degrees. [NWS]


Countywide

Future parking lots and garages across Fairfax County will need to devote a larger percentage of spaces to support those with disabilities.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal Tuesday (Dec. 3) changing the ratio of accessible spaces to total spaces from the current one per 25 spaces to one in 15. The change took effect at midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 4.


Around Town

More details have been released about the restaurant that will occupy the lobby of Reston Town Center’s upcoming Marriott hotel.

Seven Restaurant will launch on the street level of Marriott’s AC Hotel and Residence Inn at 1975 Opportunity Way in January 2025, when the dual-branded hotel is expected to open its doors.


Countywide

After weeks of discussions, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted along party lines on Tuesday (Dec. 3) to adopt policy packages establishing its 2025 priorities for the Virginia General Assembly and Congress.

The packages seek additional funding from the state legislature, particularly for education and transportation, and set up potential conflict areas with the incoming Trump administration.


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