Countywide

Fairfax County school officials fear Virginia’s new accreditation system could disproportionately harm schools with large populations of English learners and students with disabilities.

Adopted last month by the Virginia Board of Education, the School Performance and Support Framework places more weight on standardized test scores and graduation rates — a move state officials argue will hold schools to higher educational standards and improve accountability.


Around Town

An annual fundraiser supporting Special Olympics Virginia is set to return to Dulles International Airport next week.

The 32nd annual Dulles Day is scheduled to be held Saturday, September 14. Entry to the event is free, but visitors can participate in a variety of activities with a donation.


Join Our Team – Youth For Tomorrow

If you’re looking for an opportunity to make an extraordinary impact in the lives of young people and families, and work alongside a supportive, encouraging a group of colleagues, Youth For Tomorrow is for you.

As we continue to grow and expand our program services to support more troubled teens, we have an immediate need for additional staff members in several areas within our residential programs. We are seeking compassionate individuals who want to make a positive impact on the lives of the youth in our care. Perhaps you, or someone you know, would be interested in joining our team!

“YFT reminds me of a big family. Family is very important in everything we do here. We work for the good of those we serve and strive to provide a safe haven for those in need.”

“Everyone here builds unique relationships with their co-workers, uplift each other, prays for one another and work together, which, of course, are examples of core family concepts. YFT brings together a multitude of people from all walks of life and encourages growth — personal and professional — amongst its employees.”Mikka Sturdivant (YFT Staff Member, 20 years)

We are seeking qualified staff for several positions, including Residential Counselors, Case Managers, Mental Health Counselors, Teaching Assistants and more. Each position plays a vital role in providing children and their families the opportunity to refocus their lives and to develop confidence, life skills, intellectual ability, spiritual insight, and moral integrity.

Our greatest needs are for individuals who are passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of young people. Whether you are interested in direct care with the kids, or supporting them from behind the scenes, we are looking for compassionate and dedicated individuals who share our commitment to fostering growth and healing. These roles are essential to maintaining the high standards of care and support that YFT is known for.

As a YFT team member, you will receive comprehensive training, opportunities for professional development, and a supportive work environment where your contributions are recognized and valued. If you are ready to contribute your time and talents to change lives, we encourage you to apply today.

Youth for Tomorrow provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits illegal discrimination and harassment based on race, sex, color, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status.

Youth for Tomorrow exercises its right as a religious organization to employ people consistent with its religious beliefs, practices, and observances.


Countywide

Fairfax County let loose its archery program aimed at controlling the local white-tailed deer population this past Saturday (Sept. 7). 

The Fairfax County Deer Management Archery Program allows qualified bowhunters to hunt deer in areas where firearm use is restricted or not an effective or sustainable method. The program started in 2010 to minimize the impacts of an overabundance of deer. 


Around Town

A sweet staple at Lake Anne Plaza is set to close its doors later this month.

Chesapeake Chocolates announced last Tuesday (Sept. 3) that it will shutter at the end of September after 17 years in Reston at 11426 Washington Plaza West.


A mural of a train was painted along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Vienna (photo by Amy Woolsey)

Flooring Stores to Shut Down — “Just weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announcing it was seeking a buyer, LL Flooring says it will close all of its stores and cease operations.” Closing sales began last Friday (Sept. 6) at all 424 stores, including ones in Lorton (8245 Backlick Road, Suite I) and Chantilly (14310 Sullyfield Circle). [Washington Business Journal]

Longstanding Herndon Deli Gets Support — “Community members and local businesses have been posting messages encouraging people to take their sandwich business to The Deli Herndon at 480 Elden St. as it experiences financial hardships. On September 3, an anonymous patron posted a plea on Next Door for members of the community to patronize The Deli.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

School Board Allocates Unspent Funds — “Fairfax County Public Schools is spending millions in previously unused funds to support security upgrades, new sports and bonuses for substitute teachers.” Approved by the school board at its Aug. 29 meeting, the year-end budget review also replenished the staffing reserve with $16 million and included another $200,000 for Woodson High School’s renaming. [WTOP]

Funds Available for Affordable Housing Development — “The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) has issued a request for proposals for affordable housing with a notice of more than $50 million in local funding available for affordable housing projects.” [FCRHA]

GMU Announces Fall Visual Arts Exhibits — “Through exhibitions and inclusive programming in seven galleries across George Mason’s three Northern Virginia campuses, Mason Exhibitions engages community members around current issues and new ideas through visual art.” This fall’s signature exhibition “Nothing Personal: A Collaboration in Black and White” is on view on the Fairfax campus until Nov. 15. [Gazette Leader]

Toll Lanes Operator Donates to Nonprofit — I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), the private builder and operator of the I-66 Express Lanes, recently donated $10,000 to the Merrifield-based nonprofit Food for Others. Employees also gathered at the food pantry’s warehouse to pack 660 Power Packs for local school-aged children. [I-66 EMP]

Local Police Captain Wins Award — “The FCPD is proud to announce Captain Hudson Bull has been recognized as one of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 40 Under 40 Award recipients for 2024. This prestigious award honors law enforcement professionals under 40 who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to public safety.” [FCPD]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 78 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. Monday night will be clear, with the temperature dropping to around 56 degrees and the southwest wind maintaining a speed of approximately 6 mph. [NWS]


News

Residents of a Herndon townhouse neighborhood have been cleared to return home after police determined that chemicals found in one unit during a search were safe.

According to the Herndon Police Department, its officers and detectives went to the 200 block of Herndon Station Square around 11:30 a.m. today (Friday) to arrest 44-year-old Steven Timothy Kyle, who is facing criminal charges in Pennsylvania.


News

A pair of buildings in Reston’s Campus Commons office park may soon get a facelift, including a less common upgrade for office spaces: pickleball.

TF Cornerstone, the property owner of 1900 and 1902 Campus Commons Drive, has asked Fairfax County to determine whether proposed amenity upgrades conform to the conditions of the existing development.


Construction cranes working on the Exchange at Spring Hill housing development stand behind a Porsche dealership in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Dulles Greenway Toll Hike Rejected — Drivers who use the Dulles Greenway will not have to pay higher tolls to use the privately owned 14-mile road” after Virginia’s State Corporation Commission rejected proposed increases. “The commission issued a final order Wednesday, denying the request, saying it would ‘materially discourage’ the public’s use of the Greenway.” [WTOP]

Lt. Gov. Announces Gubernatorial Candidacy — “Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the first Black woman to hold statewide office in Virginia’s long history, has officially set her sights on the state’s top political office.” She is the first Republican to join the 2025 race for governor, while Rep. Abigail Spanberger is currently the only person seeking the Democratic nomination. [NBC4]

Community Center Library Dedicated to Police Shooting Victim — “On Wednesday, Bijan Ghaisar’s family and friends dedicated a library to his memory on what would have been his 32nd birthday. The quiet, reflective space of books and art has been established inside the Iranian American Community Center in Tysons.” [WTOP]

Lawsuit Filed Over Reston Station Development — Tokyo-based Daito Trust Construction filed a federal lawsuit on Aug. 30 alleging that Reston Station developer Comstock “breached its contract by wrongly reducing Daito’s ownership share” in the BLVD apartments at 1908 Reston Metro Plaza. Seeking $10 million in damages, the complaint centers on whether Comstock met a condition that would’ve required Daito to contribute $40 million to the project. [Washington Business Journal]

Arrests Made for Reported Tysons Larceny — Detectives with the Fairfax County Police Department’s Tysons Urban Team arrested three people on Sept. 1 for a larceny reported in the 8300 block of Leesburg Pike around 3:30 p.m. Police say the trio had over $1,700 in stolen merchandise in their possession and an additional $20,000 worth in their vehicle and hotel room. [FCPD]

Mason District Gets Its Own Restaurant Week — “Mason District’s first-ever Restaurant Week starts Sunday, Sept. 8, and runs through Sept. 15. Nine restaurants are participating, and a few more might be added. Some restaurants will offer limited set meals and others will have discounts and special deals.” [Annandale Today]

Fire Department Finishes Muscular Dystrophy Fundraiser — “#FCFRD is thrilled to announce another successful Fill the Boot campaign for MDA, which raised an amazing $174,855.51! We thank our community, donors, volunteers, and partners for their support!” [FCFRD/Twitter]

It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 81, accompanied by a 6 mph east wind. Friday night will see mostly cloudy conditions and a low around 66, with a southeast wind of the same speed. [NWS]


News

A significant portion of Reston Association’s future capital planning will depend on the future of its pools, according to a recently released reserve study.

A report by DMA Reserves estimates that it’ll cost RA nearly $94 million to replace its pools and splash pads in the coming decades — a whopping 49% of the roughly $191 million in anticipated facility replacement costs facing the organization.


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