News

Residents of Reston and the Vienna area will soon have their interests represented by a new face on the Fairfax County Planning Commission.

Hunter Mill District Commissioner John Carter announced Wednesday (July 22) that he is retiring, making that his last meeting after almost nine years on the body charged with making land use and development-related recommendations to the county’s Board of Supervisors.


Close-up of orange daylilies with red spots blooming outdoors against a blurred green background.
Blackberry lilies in a Vienna garden (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Motorcyclist Killed in Fairfax Station Crash — Fairfax County police responded last night (Thursday) to “a fatal crash involving a motorcycle at Ox Rd and Chapel Rd in Fairfax Station. The adult female motorcyclist was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the other vehicle remained on scene.” [FCPD/X]

Sen. Warner Making Final Reelection Bid — “U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said that, if he’s reelected in November, this upcoming term would be his last, Daily Press reported. Warner said that he believes it was time to bring younger people into office. The senator is 71 and would be 78 at the end of the next term.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Metrobus Ridership Dips After Overhaul — “A year after the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority reconfigured its entire bus network with the goal of improving service, ridership is down and buses are actually moving slower than they were before – frustrating both riders and Metro officials alike.” [The 51st]

History of Va. Gun Debate — A Virginia Declaration of Rights clause supporting “a well-regulated militia” didn’t address individual gun ownership until “1971, when Virginia amended Section 13 to add, ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.’ That’s the moment gun rights and militia rights became legally braided together in Virginia, and why untangling them in court today might be difficult. ” [Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism]

New Watch Boutiques in Tysons Galleria — “The new 2,800 square foot Rolex boutique opened this month alongside a Patek Philippe showroom … Rolex and Patek Philippe have been relocated to the new 2nd floor position at the main entrance to Tysons Galleria and part of a recently upgraded cluster of prestigious brands including Cartier, Prada and Balenciaga.” Louis Vuitton also recently expanded its store at the mall. [WatchPro]

Lifeguards Honored for Pool Rescue — “Four Fairfax County Park Authority staff members were recognized on July 16 with lifesaving awards from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for their extraordinary actions during a water emergency at Providence Recreation Center earlier this year.” [FCPA]

Peach Truck Visits Springfield Town Center — “The Peach Truck is coming to Springfield Town Center on Sunday, July 26th from 1-2:30pm! Don’t miss your chance to grab a box of fresh, juicy peaches — picked at their peak and bursting with flavor. It’s the perfect way to sweeten up your summer.” Pre-orders are closed, but walk-ups will be allowed “while supplies last.” [Springfield Town Center]

Job Openings at Burke Lake Park — “Spend the rest of your season at Burke Lake Park, one of Fairfax County’s most beautiful outdoor destinations! Positions are available to start immediately and continue through the end of the season in October. Drop-in interviews will be held at the Burke Lake Park Information Center on July 29-31 and Aug. 5-7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.” [FCPA]

New Legal Notice — Restaurant applying for on/off-premises wine and beer license. [Public Notices]

It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny weather with a high of about 82 degrees, and a calm wind that will pick up to 5 to 8 mph from the east in the morning. Night will be mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 65 degrees. [NWS]


News

A child has died after he was struck by a minivan driver while riding an electric scooter in Herndon’s Highland Mews neighborhood just east of Dulles International Airport.

Units with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the 3000 block of Madden Court near Food Lion at around 5:30 p.m. today (Thursday) for the crash, according to scanner traffic.


Countywide

Going forward, Fairfax County Public Schools will prohibit the use of generative artificial intelligence by elementary school students, tablets and laptops in preschool and kindergarten, and student use of personal electronic communication and computing devices during instructional time.

The Fairfax County School Board approved the restrictions — which include a handful of narrow exceptions — at its July 16 meeting, along with several directives for the superintendent to report back to the board about the potential additional limitations on technology.


Around Town

The award-winning Vienna restaurant Clarity will finally open its long-awaited second location at Reston Town Center tomorrow (Friday).

The 4,500-square-foot restaurant at 1996 Opportunity Way in the town center’s expansion will have a grand opening at 11 a.m.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools’ integration of technology into its operations will extend to its transportation system in the coming academic year.

New identification cards that can be used to track when students get on and off a school bus will be rolled out across the division when the 2026-2027 school year starts on Aug. 24, FCPS announced on Tuesday (July 21).


News

One of the oldest buildings in Reston is at risk of falling into disrepair after a tree on a neighboring property toppled on its roof during a storm that swept through the area on July 5.

Built in the 1890s, the two-story Robert Wiehle House has endured more than a century of fluctuating weather and suburban development, still standing at 1830 Old Reston Avenue even as condominiums and apartments sprouted up around it.


Brown wooden railroad station labeled 'Vienna' with white-framed windows and doors, green base, and a tall semaphore signal on the roof; cyclist in green rides by.
A bicyclist near the historic Washington & Old Dominion Railroad train depot in Vienna (photo by Amy Woolsey)

Dulles Airport Roads to Close Overnight — “Construction alert: Arrivals & departures roadways will be closed at the Main Terminal from 11 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday this week for construction. Drivers should follow the detour to rideshare lanes for passenger pick up and drop off. Allow extra time.” [Dulles Airport/X]

Former CIA Director Dies — “R. James Woolsey Jr., a Rhodes Scholar and lawyer who led the CIA and the rest of America’s intelligence community for two troubled years during the Clinton administration, as the nation’s spy services struggled to adapt to the post-Cold War era, died Tuesday at his home in Washington. He was 84.” [Washington Post]

Assault Gun Sales Resume — “Gun shops across Virginia resumed sales of assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines [on Tuesday, July 21] after a statewide injunction blocking enforcement of the new ban officially took effect.” Multiple lawsuits challenging the state’s restrictions, including one filed by the Trump administration, are still working their way through the court system. [WSET]

Va. Drivers See Gas Prices Soar — “Virginia households have paid $573 more for gas since the U.S.–Iran war began in late February, a recent congressional report found, placing them among the citizens who have experienced the highest fuel costs jump in the nation … According to the report, Virginians have paid $1.8 billion more for gas since February.” [Virginia Mercury]

Algae Bloom Spotted in Lake Anne — “RA’s watershed team has discovered a small amount of blue-green algae in areas around Lake Anne … At this time, there are currently no restrictions on boating or fishing, but [stand-up paddleboard] rentals have been temporarily suspended on Lake Anne. Members are advised to avoid contact with lake water.” [Reston Association]

Culmore Clinic Relocating Again — “Five months after the Culmore Clinic moved to a temporary location in Bailey’s Crossroads while a new permanent space is being constructed, it’s being forced to move again … The Culmore Clinic’s new space will be located in a 13-story high-rise office building at 6400 Arlington Blvd., Suite 940B, at the Seven Corners interchange.” [Annandale Today]

More Housing Considered Near Fairfax Border — “The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday voted to initiate — albeit not yet approve — two sprawling comprehensive plan amendments” for 256-acre Manassas Preserve and 293-acre Catharpin Valley Estates developments that, combined, could “bring nearly 4,000 new homes to western Prince William.” [Inside NoVA]

Metro Reviews Possible Train Platform Doors — “Metro released renderings of train platform doors that could soon be coming to D.C. Train platform doors are a part of WMATA’s rail modernization plan. They’re used for extra safety, preventing anyone from falling, being pushed or jumping into the train tracks.” [WUSA9]

It’s Thursday — The weather will be partly sunny in the morning, becoming fully sunny later in the day, with a high of around 80°F. Expect a gentle north wind at 5 to 7 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to about 63°F and calm winds. [NWS]

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News

A Lake Braddock Secondary School art teacher spent 30 years sharing her passion for painting, photography, and pottery with students — a legacy that her family has carried on for nearly a decade through whimsical, often high-tech educational creations.

When Theresa Jacobs passed away from a fast-growing cancer in 2017, her son Eric Jacobs, a Fairfax County native, wanted to honor her love for learning and ignite that same spark in others.


News

Travelers seeking the VIP treatment at Dulles International Airport — and willing to pay for it — will have another option in coming years.

The board of directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) approved a 20-year contract on July 15 with DAA International Ltd to develop and operate a remote VIP passenger facility at the airport.


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