If the Virginia General Assembly allows it, Fairfax County leaders are willing to be the guinea pigs in any effort to find more effective ways to tamp down on noisy vehicles.
The Board of Supervisors’ legislative committee took steps last Tuesday (Nov. 26) to request legislation allowing the county to host a pilot program that would use technology to catch drivers whose after-market mufflers pump out more noise than the 85 decibels allowed under state law.
McLean Central Park has reopened to the public following a major revitalization project nearly two years in the making.
The upgrades include modernized playgrounds, a new pavilion, improved walkways and enhanced green spaces. While the Fairfax County Parking Authority is still finalizing a new donor wall, a grand reopening ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. this Saturday (Dec. 7).
Fairfax County leaders have a nearly $300 million budget gap to fill between now and the time the fiscal 2026 budget is adopted in springtime.
“We have a lot of work to do,” County Executive Bryan Hill said last Tuesday (Nov. 26) at an occasionally testy joint meeting between the county’s Board of Supervisors and School Board.
Tysons Galleria’s newest dining option serves up pasta made by hand right in front of customers.
Scolapasta launched with a soft opening on Nov. 21 in the mall’s third-floor food court, which has been steadily filling back up after an apparently ill-fated partnership with the food hall operator Urbanspace petered out last year.
Tysons Corner Center Draws Crowds for Black Friday — “Shoppers flooded Tysons Corner Center Friday, causing typical traffic slowdowns and lines outside of several stores. In some cases, the lines began forming prior to 6 a.m.” For many local families, Black Friday at the mall has become a tradition. [DC News Now]
Burke Townhouse Fire Contained — Firefighters with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department managed to contain a townhouse fire in the 10200 block of Fern Pool Court on Saturday (Nov. 30) “to the end unit, preventing significant damage to neighboring properties. All occupants evacuated safely. No civilian or firefighter injuries.” [FCFRD/Facebook]
County Progresses Toward Affordable Housing Goal — “Fairfax County is making progress toward its goal of creating at least 10,000 affordable homes by 2034 … Tom Fleetwood, director of the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development, said the county’s approaching 35% of that goal with about 10 years to go.” [WTOP]
Police Search GMU Campus for Suspect — George Mason Police sent out an alert just before 9 p.m. on Saturday announcing that they were assisting in a search “for a wanted person” in the 4400 block of University Drive. A subsequent alert around 10:50 p.m. reported that the investigation had ended, but “no information was available about the nature of the investigation.” [Patch]
Virginia Could Elect First Female Governor — “Two women seem to have cleared the field for next year’s Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primaries. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has had the Democratic contest to herself since her lone competitor dropped out in April, while Winsome Earle-Sears’s long-anticipated rival for the GOP nod let it be known this month that he was taking a pass.” [Washington Post]
Church Street Stroll Returns to Vienna — Vienna’s annual Church Street Holiday Stroll will return tonight (Monday) with a tree lighting ceremony, visits with Santa, free marshmallow-roasting and, for the first time, a gingerbread decorating contest. “The merriment begins in front of the Freeman Store and Museum at the corner of Church and Mill streets on Monday, Dec. 2, from 6-8 p.m.” [Town of Vienna]
Ways to Help Kids in Annandale During Holiday Season — “For those of you who want to help the needy this holiday season, there are plenty of opportunities.” The Mason Police District Station is collecting toy and clothing donations, while the nonprofit New Hope Housing is seeking gift cards to Target, Walmart and grocery stores so residents can make needed purchases. [Annandale Today]
It’s Monday — Today will be sunny with a high near 38 and a northwest wind blowing 7 to 10 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 25 and a northwest wind at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
The undefeated, top seed and host Madison Warhawks (13-0) rallied to down the second-seed and previously undefeated Washington-Liberty Generals, 48-21, Saturday (Nov. 30) in the 6D North Region football final in Vienna.
It is the team’s fifth straight region crown, all won at home, and sets the squad up to host the Lake Braddock Bruins Dec. 7 in the first round of the four-team state finals.
A standout girls tennis season by the Potomac School Panthers was capped when three players from the high-school squad were selected to Division I all-state teams.
Juniors Riece Grimes-Thomas and Riley Williams made first-team private-school all-state. Sophomore Taylor Shen was chosen to the second team.
On the strength of a strong fall season with only one loss in singles competition, Flint Hill School junior girls tennis player Margaux DeVaul was chosen as the Division I private-school state Player of the Year.
Her play helped the Flint Hill team win six matches during the high-school campaign and earn a berth in the Independent School League postseason tournament.
The Virginia High School League recently announced its Class 6 all-state girls volleyball team, with Langley Saxons’ junior setter Claire Mo chosen as the Player of the Year and West Springfield head coach Stephanie Noriega Coach of the Year.
Mo helped Langley (28-2) win the state championship, the team’s fourth in program history, this fall. Noriega led West Springfield to the state-tournament semifinals, where it lost to Langley.
It will be the defending champion Lake Braddock Bruins hosting the Fairfax Lions tomorrow (Saturday) in the championship game of the 6C North Region high school football tournament.
The contest will begin at 1 p.m. at No. 2 seed Lake Braddock (10-2) in Burke. Fairfax High School (8-3), which won the 2022 regional champion title, is the third seed.
