Around Town

In mere days, the Town of Vienna will kick off its annual Restaurant Week.

More than 40 restaurants will offer prix fixe menus, discounts or specials as part of the event, which starts Friday, March 7. A “festive social event” will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. that day at the Vienna Town Green, featuring music, giveaways and free refreshments.


A construction crane next to the Reston Row buildings along Sunset Hills Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Hazardous Weather Possible Today — “A powerful storm system is moving into our area, bringing serious weather risks on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook about these dangerous conditions.” Thunderstorms, damaging wind gusts, hail and even “a tornado or two” are possible. [Fairfax County Emergency Information]

ICE Raids Reported in N. Va. — “Local communities were already on the alert when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement carried out multiple raids in Northern Virginia yesterday and today (Tuesday) … This morning, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem brought an ABC News crew along for an ICE operation.” [ARLnow]

More Criticism of Commuted Sentence for Former FCPD Officer — Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to commute the prison sentence given to former Sgt. Wesley Shifflett, who was convicted of recklessly handling a gun in the fatal shooting of Timothy McCree Johnson, “denies the Johnson family the justice they were promised,” the Fairfax County NAACP says. The move was also condemned by the Virginia Black Legislative Caucus. [Fairfax County NAACP]

Arrest Made in County Facility Burglary — A 44-year-old Roanoke man has been arrested and charged in connection with a burglary of a Fairfax County facility in the 14000 block of Flint Lee Road in Chantilly that was reported at 4:39 a.m. on Feb. 26. “He is being held at the Western Virginia Regional Jail and is awaiting extradition to Fairfax County.” [FCPD]

Bill Would Address Payments for Wrongful Convictions — “While Virginia law allows people like Merritt — who were wrongfully convicted based on fabricated testimony or intentionally suppressed evidence — to get additional compensation, that compensation isn’t always approved. Del. Rip Sullivan (D–Fairfax) said that’s because the law states that payments from the commonwealth can’t happen until the locality agrees to pay its share.” [Virginia Public Media]

Catholic Schools to Host Teacher Job Fair — “On March 8, school principals from 40 Catholic schools will be scouting for new teachers for pre-school, elementary school, middle school and high school-level positions. Prospective teachers are encouraged to attend the fair,” which will be held from 9-11 a.m. at St. Bernadette School (7602 Old Keene Mill Road) in Springfield. [Catholic Diocese of Arlington]

Students at Vienna School Start Mentoring Program — “Cunningham Park Elementary School sixth grader Ruth Gaffiney told WTOP the plan came to her at the beginning of the year, when she and her classmates were helping first graders log on to computers for the first time.” The experience inspired a “Cardinals Care for Cardinals” program where the students help their younger peers with reading. [WTOP]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 4pm, with a high near 64 and winds at 15-21 mph, gusting up to 37 mph. Precipitation chance is 100%. Showers are likely at night with a possible thunderstorm, a low around 43, and winds at 9-15 mph shifting west after midnight, gusting up to 22 mph. [NWS]


Around Town

Our Mom Eugenia’s Merrifield expansion is complete.

The family-owned Greek restaurant announced last week that its new, private dining room and outdoor patio at the Mosaic District (2985 District Avenue, Suite 185) are now available for reservations.


Countywide

The Democratic majority on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (March 4) called on Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to use his influence to lobby against potential moves of federal government agencies to areas outside the local region.

The Trump administration sent out a memo last week giving all federal department and agency heads until April 14 to submit proposals for relocating facilities outside the D.C. region to “less-costly parts of the country,” the Washington Post reported.


Countywide

A ridership revival has led to a $20 million increase in projected revenue from Metro passengers in the coming fiscal year.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) released new budget forecasts last week that now anticipate $464 million in passenger revenue for fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1.


Sports

The Langley High School girls basketball team won its second-ever region title and first since 2017 by defeating the Oakton Cougars Friday night (Feb. 28) in a championship game at Wakefield High School.

The Saxons (24-3) won the game and the 6D North Region title with a 54-37 victory. Oakton fell to 23-5 for the season, but both teams move on to the state tournament, which opens this week.


Countywide

A Fairfax resident who served in the U.S. Army and was recently let go by the Federal Aviation Administration job as part of the current White House’s push to drastically downsize the federal government will attend President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress.

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine announced yesterday that he has invited Jason King as his guest for Trump’s first speech to Congress since the president returned to office for a second term on Jan. 20.


A pair of ducks on Wolftrap Creek in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Ice Skaters Emotional at DCA Crash Benefit — “A low murmur of crying pierced a lengthy moment of silence as fans lit the arena with their cellphones, riding waves of emotion through a poignant figure skating show Sunday in the nation’s capital to remember and raise money for the victims of the midair collision outside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.” [Associated Press/WTOP]

Annandale Private School Teacher Arrested — “Eric Sean Williams of Annandale, a longtime substitute teacher at St. Michael’s Catholic School in Annandale, was arrested on Feb. 27 for multiple counts of sexual assault involving a minor, the Catholic Diocese of Arlington announced. No known criminal incidents took place on parish or school property, the diocese states.” [Annandale Today]

Beware Unpaid Toll Bill Texting Scam — “From Northern Virginia Department of Transportation — Have you received a text message like this? IT IS A SCAM. Toll bills are NOT sent via text message and Virginia DMV doesn’t do this. Do not click on any links or give financial info through text messages.” [Fairfax County/Facebook]

N. Va. Business Leaders Brace for Layoff Impacts — “As thousands of federal workers are abruptly fired under the Trump administration’s plans to slash government spending, business leaders in the D.C. region consider the impact that could have on individuals and businesses alike.” Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce President Julie Coons says “the next 18 to 24 months could be very challenging for our region.” [WTOP]

Italian Restaurant Opening Near Fort Belvoir — “A new ‘farm-to-fork’ restaurant specializing in rustic Italian cuisine will open March 5 at Hillside Village Center … The Farmhouse Tuscan is the fifth restaurant concept from Titan Hospitality Group,” which also runs Blackwall Hitch in Old Town Alexandria. [On the MoVe]

Feedback Wanted for Franconia Street Study — “The Virginia Department of Transportation could be bringing changes to S. Van Dorn Street in Franconia … including possible bicycle/pedestrian improvements. A Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions (STARS) study is set to complete next year and, as part of that study, VDOT is collecting feedback on what roadway improvements should prioritize.” [ALXnow]

Contractor Might Have Relocated to Tysons — “Cybersecurity company and federal contractor BigBear.ai appears to have quietly shifted its headquarters from Columbia, Maryland, to Northern Virginia.” In a regulatory filing yesterday, the company listed 7950 Jones Branch Road as the address of its executive offices, a move that “appears to have coincided with the company’s naming of former acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan as its new CEO in late January.” [Washington Business Journal]

It’s Tuesday — Expect partly sunny skies and a high near 60 degrees, accompanied by a south wind between 6-11 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. Tonight, there is a 30% chance of showers after 1 am as clouds increase. The temperature will dip to around 50 degrees, with a south wind at 8-14 mph and gusts reaching 23 mph. [NWS]


News

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano slammed Gov. Glenn Youngkin today (Monday), accusing the Republican executive of commuting a former police officer’s prison sentence without regard for “the law or the facts.”

The governor’s office announced late Sunday that Youngkin had commuted the sentence of former Sgt. Wesley Shifflett only two days after it was handed down by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Randy I. Bellows.


Countywide

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is cooking up changes for next year’s school menus, and students got a first taste at the second annual FCPS Student Food Show last Thursday (Feb. 27).

Held at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, the event invited hundreds of students — from elementary through high school — to sample and rate more than two dozen potential meal options, helping determine what could land on breakfast and lunch menus across the district’s 199 schools next year.


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