A proposed casino in Tysons and calls for the state to provide more money for education and social services dominated a 3.5-hour public hearing hosted Saturday (Jan. 4) by Fairfax County’s delegation to the Virginia General Assembly.
About 70 people, speaking for themselves or on behalf of organizations, each had three minutes to make their case for priorities in the 2025 legislative session, which convenes tomorrow (Wednesday).
A sprawling collection of offices and warehouses in northern Merrifield could someday look more like the newer development around the nearby Dunn Loring Metro station.
Property owner Link Logistics and an affiliate of EYA Development hope to replace the 41-acre Prosperity Business Campus at 2750 Prosperity Avenue with a resident-focused “walkable urban neighborhood,” according to a development plan submitted to Fairfax County on Friday (Jan. 3).
Snowfall estimates from yesterday’s storm are in, suggesting experiences varied drastically across Fairfax County.
On the low end, residents in the northwestern area of the county, including Herndon, saw approximately 5.9 to 6.1 inches of snow, based on unofficial observations reported at 4:39 a.m. by the National Weather Service.
Thanks to the efforts of a local group of volunteers, nearly 300 unhoused residents in Northern Virginia are starting 2025 on the right foot.
The group, dubbed “Made in Reston,” collected and distributed 290 backpacks with winter goods in December to help people experiencing homelessness in Reston, Herndon and Vienna get “all the supplies they need to be ready to stay out for many hours and to make that time a bit more comfortable,” organizer Rosa Simon told FFXnow.
National Airport Runways Closed for Snow — Reagan National Airport closed all of its runways last night (Monday) “to allow crews to focus on snow removal and prevent refreezing amid plunging temperatures.” The snowstorm also prompted flight cancellations at Dulles International Airport, which advised travelers to check their flight’s status before arriving. [FOX5]
No Fairfax County Trash Collection Today — Fairfax County government offices will open at 10 a.m. today (Tuesday) after shuttering yesterday for the snowstorm. However, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will again forgo trash and recycling collection, and vacuum leaf services have been delayed by a week. [Fairfax County/Twitter]
ICYMI: Driver Uses Storm Drain to Elude Police — Virginia State Police spent hours scouring a storm drain in the Rose Hill area for a driver who allegedly fled two crashes on I-495 yesterday (Monday) afternoon. After stationing troopers at drain covers to watch possible exits, police eventually learned that the driver had been spotted coming out of a manhole a quarter-mile away from where he entered the drainage system. [FFXnow]
National Zoo Pandas Enjoy Snow — “The Smithsonian National Zoo’s new pandas didn’t have to wait long for their first D.C. snowfall, and they made the most out of it Monday. The zoo posted video on Facebook of giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao — who both arrived to the zoo from China in October — playing in their snow-coated outdoor habitat.” [WTOP]
Fairfax County’s IT Leader to Retire — Gregory Scott, Fairfax County’s chief technical officer and director of its Department of Information Technology, plans to retire after nearly six years in the role “once his successor is on board.” The county is now looking for applicants to fill the position, which requires overseeing a department with over 300 employees. [Government Technology]
Talk Reflects on History of Motels on Route 1 — “Between the late 1920s and mid-1960s, the Richmond Highway Corridor was blanketed with motels. Following U.S. Route 1’s paving in 1927, motels popped up ‘almost overnight,’ according to Chris Barbuschak, an archivist with Fairfax County Public Library’s Virginia Room.” [On the MoVe]
How Much Casino Opponents Have Spent So Far — “Opponents of the proposed Tysons casino have spent more than $755,000 in donations and on lobbying efforts to influence lawmakers in Virginia since the beginning of 2023.” Potential casino developer Comstock Companies and other proponents have spent a reported $1.2 million “on their lobbying efforts in Richmond during the same time period.” [Patch]
N. Va. Eateries to Try in 2025 — “Ring in the new year with a fresh batch of new restaurants that have opened recently in Northern Virginia. The eateries run the gamut, from Thai food to southern comfort. With every day comes a new opportunity for finding your new favorite restaurant.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 32 degrees accompanied by a northwest wind of 15 to 17 mph with gusts reaching 36 mph. Tonight, the skies will be partly cloudy, and the temperature will drop to around 18 degrees. The northwest wind will blow at 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. [NWS]
Fairfax County students will get a second extra day of winter break.
After a midday lull, snow is starting to fall again across the D.C. area, prompting Fairfax County Public Schools to cancel classes and all activities on its grounds for tomorrow (Tuesday). School-aged child care centers are included in the closures, and all workers not designated as “essential” have been granted administrative leave again.
It is safe to say that Monday’s snowstorm has impacted every inch of Fairfax County.
As numerous residents and businesses work to dig themselves out of roughly 6 inches of snow, some storefronts have opened their doors to offer various snow day specials. These include:
Northern Virginia’s wary embrace of data centers could have major long-term impacts on both water consumption and wastewater treatment across the region, the Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) says in its annual report for 2024.
The 134-page document offers a status update and recommendations on environmental issues, including land use, air and water quality, transportation, waste management, climate change and ecological conservation.
The snowstorm that began overnight has effectively shut down Fairfax County.
After closing most local government offices and facilities, the county announced this morning (Monday) that Fairfax Connector has suspended all bus service, as of 7:46 a.m., and no trash and recycling collection services will be provided today.
Favorite Local Spots for Sledding — In anticipation of the area’s biggest snow event in years, WaPo readers recommended D.C.-area sledding hotspots that included two places in Fairfax County: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (1551 Trap Road) and “Mount Reston,” the hill behind Reston’s Unitarian Universalist Church (1625 Wiehle Avenue). [Washington Post]
Metrobus Reduces Service Due to Snow — “Customers should expect disruptions to Metrobus service on Monday, Jan. 6, throughout the region due to snow route detours. Currently, there are no disruptions to Metrorail service, but some reduced service is expected as conditions develop.” [WMATA]
Police Seek Help to Solve 25-Year-Old Homicide — “Surinder ‘Paul’ Sharma was just 43 years old when he was stabbed to death in the Super 7 convenience store he owned on Richmond Highway in Woodlawn, according to Fairfax County police. Now, the police department is calling for the public’s help to solve the case.” [WTOP]
Mosaic District Accessory Shop Closes for Good — Lou Lou Boutiques announced on Dec. 29 that it was permanently closing its stores in D.C. and Merrifield. The business “was one of the first shops to open in the Mosaic District when the outdoor shopping center first opened in 2012.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Tysons Company Settles Fraud Allegations — Booz Allen Hamilton will pay the U.S. $15.875 million to settle allegations that one of its subsidiaries “violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting fraudulent claims … in connection with a General Services Administration (GSA) task order to supply computer military training simulators and systems to Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, including the Air Force.” [U.S. Attorney’s Office]
Former Lorton Prison Chapel to Get New Congregation — “By next December, a local congregation hopes to hold its first Christmas service at a permanent new home in Lorton — Liberty Chapel.” South County Church is now seeking the Fairfax County Architectural Review Board’s approval “and permits for construction, so the building can be brought up to code and adapted to the congregation’s needs.” [On the MoVe]
New Pavilion Proposed for Lincolnia Park — “The Fairfax County Park Authority invites the community to share their feedback in person at an upcoming public meeting on a proposed pavilion at Green Spring Gardens. The public meeting will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Horticultural Center’s library, located at 4603 Green Spring Road.” [FCPA]
It’s Monday — Expect snow in the morning, turning into a mix of snow and sleet between 10am and 1pm, followed by snow possibly mixed with freezing rain after 1pm. The high will be around 28, and precipitation chances stand at 100%. Night will bring snow mainly before 10pm, with a low of 19. Precipitation chances drop to 80%, with a new snow accumulation of less than an inch. [NWS]
