Around Town

Booz Allen Hamilton is in, and Puttshack might be out at Reston Station.

Developer Comstock Companies announced last month that the federal contractor will move its corporate headquarters to Reston Row, occupying 310,000 square feet. That includes the entire office building at 1870 Reston Row Plaza, where over 29,000 square feet had been reserved for Puttshack for the past three years.


A peacock frames the entrance to the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Voting Underway in Special Election — Polls opened at 6 a.m. today (Tuesday) in the special election to choose a new Braddock District supervisor. “Do you know if you live in the Braddock Supervisory District? Before you head to the polls, confirm your registration status and polling place.” [Fairfax County Government]

Pedestrian in Fatal Crash Identified — Fairfax County police have identified the pedestrian killed in a crash on Richmond Highway on Sunday (Dec. 7) as Roger Brown, a 67-year-old Fort Belvoir resident. The crash remains under investigation, but police say “alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors.” [FCPD]

State Pulls Back Funding for Lake Accotink Dredging — “The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has withdrawn $60.5 million in construction loans previously allocated for dredging Lake Accotink, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services announced.” County staff say the move doesn’t affect their ability to reapply for loans in the future, but they will “continue pursuing alternative funding sources” in the meantime. [Annandale Today]

Mount Vernon Mansion Reopens — “George Washington’s Mount Vernon is celebrating the completion of several phases of a $40 million revitalization project. In late November, the Mount Vernon Ladies Association reopened all first and second-floor rooms in the historic mansion for the first time since January 2024.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

GMU Rector Defends Meeting Without Quorum — “As George Mason University Rector Charles Stimson addressed his colleagues Thursday, he sat across from faculty members, students and campus workers holding signs plastered with images of his face, gathered in opposition to his decision to hold a second executive committee meeting with only six voting members.” [Virginia Mercury]

Dems Split on Right-to-Work Repeal — “A Virginia Democrat has filed legislation that would repeal its “right-to-work” law, which would allow for mandatory fees on employees who benefit from union-negotiated contracts. While a repeal of the law is popular with labor groups, debates among General Assembly Democrats could showcase rifts within their party.” [VPM News]

Sidewalk Project Starts Despite Objections — “Despite strong opposition from nearby residents, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation is proceeding with a sidewalk project next to Justice Park along Peace Valley Lane … Residents’ outrage is less about the sidewalk than the lack of communication, said Ravenwood resident Kathleen Brown.” [Annandale Today]

Walkinshaw Visits Reston Book Store — Rep. James Walkinshaw visited Scrawl Books yesterday (Monday) for a roundtable with local business owners, who discussed how they’re being affected by rising costs and the Trump administration’s tariffs. “Local small business owners told me plainly: Trump’s tariffs are driving up costs, forcing some to raise prices and lay off employees,” the Congressman says. [James Walkinshaw/Bluesky]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 35 with calm winds turning south at 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Tonight, it will be mostly cloudy with a low around 30 and south winds at 8 to 10 mph. [NWS]


News

A craft brewery or veterinary hospital could be in Woodland Park Crossing’s future, if Fairfax County approves.

The owner of the Harris Teeter-anchored shopping center, located just west of the Herndon Metro station’s south entrance, is seeking amendments to the development plan that would allow more flexibility in terms of the types of businesses it can host.


Countywide

The cost to rent an apartment is increasing in some parts of Fairfax County, but declining in others.

Four of seven corridors of the county posted year-over-year drops in median rental prices in November, while the other three showed increases, according to new data from Apartment List.


News

Northern Virginia political leaders have reacted coolly to President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Dulles International Airport and his calls for a major rebuilding project there.

Trump called the airport “terrible” and suggested it was “incorrectly designed” during a Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting. Hours later, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would seek proposals for new terminals and concourses to replace or enhance the facility, which straddles the Fairfax and Loudoun line.


A bluebird sits on a bare tree branch in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Family Seeks Help Finding Missing Man — “A family is pleading for help to find a missing 78-year-old man who left his home in Northern Virginia Monday and hasn’t been seen since that afternoon. Quang Hang left his Chantilly home about 2:30 p.m. to take his car, a 2007 red Toyota Camry, to a mechanic in Leesburg but never arrived.” [NBC4]

Shooting in Burke Under Investigation — “Fairfax County police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on Sunday in the 5500 block of Burley Court in Burke. Shots were fired around 5:40 p.m., resulting in damage to multiple vehicles, police said.” A man was driven to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. [WJLA]

Man Convicted for Fatal Crash — “A jury today (Friday) found a Fairfax man guilty of aggravated involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol for a series of crashes on April 16 that killed a teenager.” Jilmar Doria-Medina, 42, was charged with fatally striking 19-year-old Abdullahi Mumin on King Street in Alexandria while the teen was walking with his brother to a nearby McDonald’s. [ALXnow]

GMU Board Denies Settlement Drafted — “George Mason University officials said Thursday that no settlement agreement has been proposed with the federal government as it navigates four civil rights investigations … Outside of the meeting, a group of faculty members protested against the board, accusing it of meeting improperly because it lacked the required members to form a quorum.” [Virginia Mercury]

Braddock Candidate Suggests ‘Mega Mansion’ Tax — Carey “Chet” Campbell, an independent candidate to become the next Braddock District supervisor, says funding county schools is his top priority. He’s also proposing a “progressive tax on ‘mega mansions’ valued at more than $5 million,” among other measures, to fund services without raising property taxes on everyone. [WJLA]

Tires Piling Up Under Springfield Mixing Bowl — “FOX 5 inspected the scene underneath the Mixing Bowl in Springfield, along the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that carry VRE’s Manassas line — a somewhat hidden place that’s become a dumping ground for car and truck tires.” While the sources of the tires is unknown, the Virginia Department of Transportation said it’s “aware of the situation” and will lead cleanup efforts “since it is located within our right of way.” [FOX5]

Portable Solar Systems Proposed — “Allowing Virginians to generate their own electricity using small solar panel systems plugged in at home was among more than a dozen proposals that a state commission voted Thursday to recommend to the Virginia General Assembly.” The report from the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation could inform legislation considered during the 2026 session. [Cardinal News]

Fairfax City Restaurant Adds Play Space — “Ned’s New England Deck in Fairfax was already a family-friendly destination for lobster rolls and fried clam strips … Now, with their own two- and four-year-old boys, the [owners] wanted to do more for families with young kids. Recently, they opened Play Date Social on the top floor of the restaurant, featuring a 500-square-foot play area in the middle of the dining room.” [Washingtonian]

It’s Monday — There’s a 20% chance of snow from 8am to 2pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 32. Monday night, the clouds will gradually clear, and the temperature will drop to around 20. [NWS]


News

Despite political drawbacks, a sales-tax surcharge across Northern Virginia could end up being the main source to increase transit funding in the coming year.

Increasing the sales tax regionally is “probably going to be looked at,” Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said in a Dec. 4 legislative forum sponsored by the Dulles Area Transportation Association (DATA).


Countywide

Though snow is no longer falling in Fairfax County, below-freezing temperatures could combine with drizzly weather to extend this morning’s tough travel conditions into the evening.

The National Weather Service issued a new Winter Weather Advisory for the D.C. region shortly before 1 p.m., warning of the potential for “very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges” tonight (Friday). The alert is scheduled to take effect from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday).


Whether opting for braces or more subtle tools like Invisalign, there are orthodontic practices around Fairfax County that can make the experience of getting your teeth straightened easier to swallow.

Here are the nominees for “Best Orthodontist in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite orthodontist below? If not, write them in!

Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19.

Voting in our poll for the Best Electrician serving Fairfax County closed last week on Nov. 28. Since the Readers’ Choice Awards took a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, here are the official results:

  1. Poppy’s Family Electric Service
  2. AJ Long Electric
  3. Mid Atlantic Wiring and Absolute Electric (tie)

Countywide

Snow has arrived in Fairfax County, creating slick, dangerous roads during this morning’s rush hour.

Richmond Highway has been closed in both directions in the Lorton area after “several vehicles … spun out” on the snow-covered road, the Fairfax County Police Department said shortly after 8 a.m.


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