Reston

County Shares Holiday Giving Guide — “There are many ways to support your neighbors and community this holiday season. We’ve rounded up a list of giving opportunities right here in Fairfax County.” Options include the Toys for Tots campaign, a Winter Gear Donation Drive hosted by the Providence District office, and gift card and food donations. [Fairfax County Government]

Help Wanted for Annandale Fire Victim — “Deveri White has launched a fundraising drive to support her friend and coworker, Catherine ‘Kitty’ Dragonera, who was injured in a fire at her apartment in Annandale in the early morning of Nov. 23. The fire totally destroyed Kitty and her husband Matthew’s apartment at 4925 Americana Drive, and they lost everything.” [Annandale Today]

Undeveloped Tysons Site Sold — “A piece of the 40-acre Scotts Run development that was approved for a high-rise apartment project has traded hands for the second time in five years. Northmarq announced Friday it brokered the $18.5M sale of the 1.3-acre site, and a spokesperson for the brokerage told Bisnow the buyer was Falls Church-based Rushmark Properties.” [Bisnow]

Fairfax City Ice Cream Shop Reopens With New Owners — “Earlier this year, Sugar Mama’s Ice Cream closed [its] doors, but new owners Neel Vaidya and Palak Pael decided to reopen the long-time Fairfax City favorite. The couple also owns and runs Troy’s Italian Kitchen in Arlington … On Friday, the couple celebrated Sugar Mama’s grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.” [Patch]

Groveton School Hopes to Phase in Montessori Program — “Administrative leaders from Bucknell Elementary School (ES) in Groveton recently informed FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid that based on feedback from the school community, they would recommend phasing in a Montessori program for Pre-Kindergarten through third grade students from the 2025-2026 through the 2028-2029 school years.” [On the MoVe]

Police Make Arrest in Woodlawn Robbery — A 36-year-old man was charged with robbery, drug possession and obstruction of justice after allegedly robbing a woman at knifepoint on Nov. 22. The victim told police who responded to the 8200 block of Richmond Highway around 3:58 p.m. that the man “approached her with a knife, pushed her to the ground, and took her handbag.” [FCPD]

Springfield Record Factory Keeps Vinyl Alive — WTOP recently got a backstage tour of Furnace Record Pressing, one of the world’s largest independent vinyl record pressing companies. “Metallica bought a majority stake in Furnace’s operation about a year ago, and the Northern Virginia team said they’re grateful that the heavy metal giants have allowed them to continue to make records their way.” [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect increasing clouds and a high of 54 with calm winds in the afternoon. Rain will begin late tonight, accompanied by patchy fog and a low of 45; precipitation chances are 90%, with up to a quarter-inch expected. On Thanksgiving Day, rain will continue until early afternoon, followed by dissipating fog by 10am. The high will be around 54. [NWS]

ICYMI: Hayfield Drops Out of Football Playoffs — Fairfax County Public Schools announced last night (Monday) that Hayfield Secondary School has withdrawn its football team from playoff contention as the fallout of alleged improper student-athlete recruiting practices continues. The Eagles were set to play Fairfax High School tonight at 7 p.m. [FCPS]

Reston Woman Killed in Maryland Car Crash — “Montgomery County police identified a Reston, Virginia, woman as the victim of a fatal single-vehicle collision Thursday evening in Gaithersburg, police said Monday in a statement. Alyssa Marie Clark, 42, was driving a blue 2007 Toyota Camry westbound on Darnestown Road near Bondy Lane when the car left the roadway and collided with a wooden utility pole.” [MoCo360]

GW Parkway Ramp to I-495 Closed — “The northbound GWMP exit ramp to I-495 north toward Maryland will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26 through 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 to continue curb demolition and reconstruction and asphalt paving … Motorists should continue along the detour route to access I-495.” [National Park Service]

Supervisor Advocates for Keeping Leaf Vacuuming — “Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez told Annandale Today he is working to ensure Fairfax County permanently retains its leaf vacuuming service. Jimenez is also urging the county executive to make the program more accountable by picking up leaves in a timely manner.” [Annandale Today]

Interactive Map Shows County’s Progress on Climate Goals — “We’re tracking our progress as a community toward a greener future with the Climate Action Viewer from our Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination … Use the map to find opportunities for climate action near you including where to bring compostable waste, recycle glass and charge your electric vehicle.” [Fairfax County Government]

Architectural Firm Opens New Reston Office — “The M Group Architects, an architectural firm specializing in data centers, corporate interiors and industrial projects, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 7, 2024, to celebrate the relocation of its office within Reston to RTC West.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]

Local Nonprofit Seeks Thanksgiving Day Volunteers — “Nonprofit The 25th Project says you can put your name on the list to volunteer with them on Thursday morning in Fairfax County.” The group will hopes to assemble enough meals at the Burke Community Church to feed 2,500 people, though it’s also still seeking donations of turkeys and ham. [WTOP]

Tysons Hotel Hosts Postpartum Care Center — “Nationwide, there are only a few places like Sanu — which opened this year inside the Watermark Hotel in Tysons, Virginia — that offer pampering and rest and a temporary village for those who may be far from family. But stays there don’t come cheap. Some can cost as much as $1,500 a night. Sanu’s nightly rate tops out at $880.” [Washington Post]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies until mid-morning. The skies will then gradually clear, and the temperature will reach a high near 61°F. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, but any new rainfall will likely be less than a tenth of an inch. Night will be mostly clear with a low around 36°F. [NWS]

Two Injured in Annandale Apartment Fire — “Two people were injured in a three-alarm fire that started at about 2 a.m. on Nov. 23 in a garden-style apartment building in the 4900 block of Americana Drive … Two occupants were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [Annandale Today]

Hybla Valley Popeyes Damaged by Fire — “Fairfax County firefighters responded to a fire shortly after 1 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Popeyes restaurant at Mount Vernon Crossroads shopping plaza in Hybla Valley.” The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but no injuries were reported. The restaurant has closed until further notice. [On the MoVe]

No Charges Against Officers in Fatal Penn Daw Shooting — Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced that no criminal charges will be pursued against the police officers involved in last year’s fatal shooting of Brandon Lemagne outside a McDonald’s in Penn Daw. The May 11, 2023 shooting followed a struggle where Lemagne was reportedly able to take a gun from one of the officers. [WUSA9]

Herndon Apartment Residents Report Mold — After experiencing an asthma attack, Cody Segraves investigated the HVAC unit at his home in the Trellis Herndon Apartments and “discovered what he suspected to be mold … Other residents of the Herndon, Virginia, complex said they’ve uncovered something similar in their units. But when the issue gets raised to building management, Segraves said it’s ignored.” [WTOP]

Popular Lorton Restaurant Appears to Have Closed — “The Hometown Grill and Bar, a popular dining establishment that opened in late 2021 at Lorton Station Town Center, has been closed for several days, according to multiple reports from community members. A ‘Closed’ sign appears at the restaurant entrance at 9000 Lorton Station Boulevard, #N, and the restaurant’s Facebook page is no longer active.” [On the MoVe]

State Legislators Consider Response to Student Protests — “House lawmakers studying how some of Virginia’s universities handle campus protests and free speech policies faced criticism Wednesday after arranging a hearing that some in attendance felt leaned heavily toward institutional and pro-Israeli perspectives.” [Virginia Mercury]

McLean Mansion Bought by Private Equity Leader — “A senior managing director with Vista Equity Partners manages Eagles Perch LLC, which paid $25.5 million cash on Oct. 31 for The Cliffs in McLean, according to Virginia records.” The sale of the 33,000-square-foot mansion was the priciest in the D.C. area so far this year and among the top five for the region ever. [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 59, with calm winds turning south at around 6 mph later in the afternoon. As for Monday night, there’s a 50% chance of showers after 1am, accompanied by mostly cloudy conditions and a low of around 49. South winds will persist at 5 to 8 mph. [NWS]