Classes are out, and summer reading is in for Fairfax County students.
Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) officially kicked off its annual Summer Reading Program on Wednesday (June 12), encouraging youngsters and adults alike to dig into books and tackle various literary activities to earn prizes.
Reston Association has decided not to move forward with a proposed name change for its Shadowood Recreation Area, which includes a swimming pool and tennis courts.
The RA Board of Directors voted 7-2 last night (Thursday) to retain the current name of the recreational area at 2201 Springwood Drive after public feedback suggested community members were split on a change.
Local Man Raises Money to Feed People in Gaza — “On Wednesday, the head of the World Health Organization said that thousands of people in Gaza are facing ‘catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions.’ For months, a man in Fairfax County has been raising money to provide food for starving families in his homeland.” [FOX5]
Fairfax Police Investigate Reported Gunshots — “City of Fairfax Police and Fairfax County Police responded to the report of gunshots being heard over four recent nights in the area of Arlington Boulevard and Pickett Road…The sound of gunshots were reported Wednesday-Friday, June 5-7 and Monday, June 11, according to police. No injuries have been reported.” [Patch]
Man Recognized for Upkeep of Historic Cemetery — “The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution’s Arlington House chapter recently honored Fairfax County resident Bill Muras with its Community Service Award” for his involvement in the Fairfax Villa community, his role as a local coach and his assistance in maintaining “a small historic cemetery located northwest of the Fairfax campus of George Mason University.” [Gazette Leader]
Vienna Bids Farewell to Old Merry-Go-Round — “Community members bid farewell [on June 11] to the beloved, yet broken merry-go-round at Meadow Lane Park. All of the kids and kids at heart had one last opportunity to enjoy a snack with friends by the memory-making spinning machine…A new and improved one will be installed so stay tuned for updates.” [Town of Vienna/Facebook]
New Name Proposed for Metrobus Route — “The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) 11Y bus service, otherwise known as the Mount Vernon Express, could be renamed under the WMATA’s system-wide Better Bus Network redesign.” The route would continue to offer direct service between Mount Vernon and D.C. [On the MoVe]
Bagel Shop Opens in Dulles Airport — “NOW OPEN!!! Stop into Bagels & More Cafe Bakery in Concourse C and indulge in our delightful selection of bagel sandwiches, paninis, and other mouthwatering options!” [Dulles Airport/Twitter]
Grant Approved for Annandale Park Fencing — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board has approved matching funds in the total amount of $6,205 to support the extension of the fencing around field 6 at Pine Ridge Park.” The other half of the funding will come from the Braddock Road Youth Club (BRYC). [FCPA]
Reminder to Get Kids Vaccinated — “As the 2023-24 school year ends and summer begins, it’s a great time for children to get up to date on their immunizations. Parents and caregivers are urged to make an appointment for their child now with their health care provider to avoid the last-minute rush before the 2024-25 school year starts.” [Fairfax County Health Department]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies today, with the temperature reaching a high of around 93 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms are possible after 5pm, with a 30% chance of precipitation. Night will have mostly cloudy skies and a low of about 67 degrees. [NWS]
The Town of Herndon is looking to improve the designs of Ferndale Avenue and the Park Avenue and Monroe Street intersection, two spots with histories of crashes.
Staff with the town’s Department of Public Works will present their initial proposals for the two projects at a community meeting tonight (Thursday) in the town council’s chambers at 765 Lynn Street. The meeting is scheduled to last from 7-8:30 p.m., and Spanish translation services will be available.
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Juneteenth is just under a week away, but in many places around Fairfax County, the celebrations will start this weekend.
Officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, it is observed annually on June 19, the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to liberate some 250,000 enslaved people who had not been freed despite President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
One half of a paired ice cream parlor and coffee shop in the Reston-Herndon Business Park has arrived.
Moo Thru opened an anticipated storefront for its Herndon franchise at 317 Spring Street last Friday, June 7, roughly a year after the Virginia-based ice cream maker rolled into town with a food truck.
Free Meals Available for Kids This Summer — “In Fairfax County, most summer meal programs begin June 17, offering breakfast and lunch at schools and community centers in Alexandria, Falls Church, Reston, Herndon, McLean, Springfield, Chantilly, Burke, Annandale and Vienna.” The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is also providing meals to participants in its Camp Fairfax and Teens in Action programs. [Inside NoVA]
New Lake Accotink Studies Coming — “The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is making progress on the evaluation of Lake Accotink, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw reports in the June edition of the Braddock Beacon.” A team of county staff and a consultant will “share the scope and timeline with the public in July before authorizing work on the feasibility study.” [Annandale Today]
Meeting to Seek Ideas for RTC North Green Space — “Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn is hosting a town hall meeting on Monday to begin the planning process to determine what should be done with the central green that’s included as part of the Reston Town Center North project.” The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive). [Patch]
No McLean Art Festival This Year — “MPAartfest, which each October brings throngs of visitors to McLean Central Park to view artworks and take part in children’s activities, will not be held this year because Fairfax County Park Authority renovations at the park will wrap up too close to the festival date, McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) officials announced recently.” [Gazette Leader]
Amazon Replenishes Affordable Housing Fund — “Amazon has committed an additional $1.4 billion to its Housing Equity Fund to provide more affordable housing in the National Capital region, Seattle, and Nashville.” The new funding is expected to add 35,000 homes in those areas. “The company will release more information about the funding later this summer.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
FCPD Gets New LGBTQ Liaison Officer — “We’re proud to introduce PFC Tiara Goode as our new LGBTQ Liaison Officer! Starting her journey in the McLean District, PFC Goode is a valued Honor Guard member and currently works as a detective in our recruiting section. Her role is vital in fostering inclusivity and support within the department and the community.” [FCPD/Facebook]
Reston Construction Contractor Exec Dies — “Jason Wilt, a top executive at Winmar Construction and Winmar Advisory, has died after a brief illness, according to a Monday post from the company on LinkedIn. He was 53. Wilt was a principal and vice president of operations at the Reston-based general contractor.” [Washington Business Journal]
Tysons Events Company Makes Acquistion — “On Monday, Cvent closed its third acquisition this year, buying Reposite, a New York vendor whose artificial intelligence-powered database helps match event planners with suppliers. While Cvent already has a vendor marketplace, the addition of 4-year-old Reposite will allow it to integrate things like requests for proposals and payments into its existing system, Cvent said.” [WBJ]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny conditions with a high near 88 and a gentle south wind ranging from 3 to 8 mph. For Thursday night, it will be mostly clear with a low around 70 and a south wind maintaining a speed of around 7 mph. [NWS]
A Reston-based national food brand and multiple nonprofits are distributing thousands of pounds of food to combat food insecurity in Fairfax County and the broader Northern Virginia region.
Last week, the American canned seafood company StarKist, the D.C.-based nonprofit Feed the Children and Reston nonprofit Cornerstones announced they collected over 100,000 pounds of food during their third annual Summer Food Rally on June 6 in Sterling.
Though the Virginia General Assembly won’t convene for another six months, Reston Association is starting to lay the groundwork for a major advocacy push.
The homeowners’ association recently issued a request for proposals seeking research and communications firms that could assist it in lobbying state lawmakers, particularly regarding the expected return of legislation to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino.
