Fairfax County officials are working to get to know roughly 1,750 residents of the area’s eight manufactured homes better.
“We are really hoping to understand the needs,” Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Affordable and Manufactured Housing Program Manager Ivana Escobar told the Board of Supervisors housing committee at a Tuesday (Nov. 26) meeting.
Vienna Little League (VLL) has a new accolade under its belt, thanks to one standout coach.
Josh Cilman, who coaches boys and girls at the league’s “Majors” level, has been named 2024 Coach of the Year by Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care, which operates 23 urgent care centers in Northern Virginia. Announced on Nov. 19, the award comes with a $2,000 donation that the VLL can use for supplies and other resources.
Rideshare Startup Ordered to Halt D.C. Operations — The McLean-based startup Empower, which “markets itself as a cheaper, fairer alternative to Lyft and Uber,” was ordered to stop operating in D.C. by a D.C. Superior Court judge. The company could face contempt charges if it doesn’t comply and keeps providing rides to and from the District without registering with the city’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles. [Washington Post]
Reston Holiday Parade Returns Today — “The annual Reston Holiday Parade returns on Friday, November 29, 11:00 AM. Celebrating its 32nd year, the one-of-a-kind, one-hour, half-mile parade along Market Street also welcomes the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. Since 1992, rain or shine, the parade has been an annual tradition on the day after Thanksgiving.” [Reston Town Center]
Hot Chicken Restaurant Opens in Annandale — “Crimson Coward, a fast-casual restaurant featuring Nashville hot chicken, is expected to have a soft opening in Annandale on Black Friday, Nov. 29. The restaurant, located at 7004 Columbia Pike, features ‘the Crimson,’ a boneless chicken breast with Crimson sauce, slaw, and pickles in a brioche bun.” [Annandale Today]
Local TV Station May Have Pulled on Natural Gas Hazards — “It looks as if Washington Gas would very much prefer that people don’t read this new report from environmental advocates describing the health dangers of gas appliances they tested in the D.C. area. So much so that the company appears to have pressured local CBS affiliate WUSA9 into burying a story about the report that ran last week.” [Washington City Paper]
How McLean Got Its Name — “According to Chris Barbuschak, the Virginia Room archivist and librarian at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, the village that eventually became the suburban community of 50,000 was named after John Roll McLean, owner of The Washington Post, who acquired it in 1905. McLean was also president of Washington Gas Light Company and a director of two banks.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Falls Church Moving to Ease ADU Rules — “A majority of the 2,400 owners of single-family homes in Falls Church soon could be allowed to build standalone accessory-dwelling units (ADUs) with far less government oversight.” The city council agreed on Monday (Nov. 25) to start considering a policy change that would allow ADUs “by right” in low-density and medium-density residential neighborhoods. [ARLnow]
County EDA Donates to Food Drive — “Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) staff members proudly donated canned and other non-perishable food items through an annual food drive to Food for Others. This year, the FCEDA donated 2,335 pounds of food, and from 2021, staff members have donated 4,930 pounds to Food for Others.” [FCEDA]
Girls’ Wrestling Arrives as Varsity Sport in FCPS — With girls’ wrestling rolling out as a varsity sport this winter, students hope female participation in the sport will be more encouraged after some faced obstacles when the only option was coed teams dominated by boys. Justice High School girls’ wrestling coach Benjamin Alvarado expects to see eight to 10 wrestlers on the team. [WTOP]
It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching around 47 degrees, accompanied by a west wind blowing at 5 to 11 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. The night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 28 degrees, and a west wind persisting at 8 to 10 mph. [NWS]
With a seventh-place finish, sophomore Gavin Silva helped the Langley Saxons place eighth in the boys team standings at a big regional cross-country meet in North Carolina.
Silva’s time was 16:18 in the rising stars race on the 5,000-meter WakeMed Soccer Complex course in Cary, N.C., Nov. 23 at the Nike Southeast Regional high-school meet.
The first major redesign of Metro’s bus operating network since the system’s founding in the early 1970s will help Fairfax County riders and those across the region, local transit leaders say.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) board of directors approved the Better Bus Network redesign last Thursday, Nov. 21. Two years in the making, the changes aim to create a more seamless, easy-to-understand system for riders that’s also more efficient for the transit agency.
At least one gunshot was reportedly fired at apartments in Tysons Towers, a senior living community off of Gosnell Road near the Greensboro Metro station.
Police officers responded to the 8500 block of Tyspring Street in Tysons at 7:58 p.m. last Friday (Nov. 22) after receiving a call for a “missile” fired into an occupied dwelling, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The clock is ticking on Whole Foods Market’s time in Idylwood.
The grocery store has rolled out signs at its Idylwood Plaza location (7511 Leesburg Pike) announcing that it will relocate “soon” to Falls Church City, where it will anchor the new Broad and Washington development at 103 E. Broad Street.
County Shares Holiday Giving Guide — “There are many ways to support your neighbors and community this holiday season. We’ve rounded up a list of giving opportunities right here in Fairfax County.” Options include the Toys for Tots campaign, a Winter Gear Donation Drive hosted by the Providence District office, and gift card and food donations. [Fairfax County Government]
Help Wanted for Annandale Fire Victim — “Deveri White has launched a fundraising drive to support her friend and coworker, Catherine ‘Kitty’ Dragonera, who was injured in a fire at her apartment in Annandale in the early morning of Nov. 23. The fire totally destroyed Kitty and her husband Matthew’s apartment at 4925 Americana Drive, and they lost everything.” [Annandale Today]
Undeveloped Tysons Site Sold — “A piece of the 40-acre Scotts Run development that was approved for a high-rise apartment project has traded hands for the second time in five years. Northmarq announced Friday it brokered the $18.5M sale of the 1.3-acre site, and a spokesperson for the brokerage told Bisnow the buyer was Falls Church-based Rushmark Properties.” [Bisnow]
Fairfax City Ice Cream Shop Reopens With New Owners — “Earlier this year, Sugar Mama’s Ice Cream closed [its] doors, but new owners Neel Vaidya and Palak Pael decided to reopen the long-time Fairfax City favorite. The couple also owns and runs Troy’s Italian Kitchen in Arlington … On Friday, the couple celebrated Sugar Mama’s grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.” [Patch]
Groveton School Hopes to Phase in Montessori Program — “Administrative leaders from Bucknell Elementary School (ES) in Groveton recently informed FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid that based on feedback from the school community, they would recommend phasing in a Montessori program for Pre-Kindergarten through third grade students from the 2025-2026 through the 2028-2029 school years.” [On the MoVe]
Police Make Arrest in Woodlawn Robbery — A 36-year-old man was charged with robbery, drug possession and obstruction of justice after allegedly robbing a woman at knifepoint on Nov. 22. The victim told police who responded to the 8200 block of Richmond Highway around 3:58 p.m. that the man “approached her with a knife, pushed her to the ground, and took her handbag.” [FCPD]
Springfield Record Factory Keeps Vinyl Alive — WTOP recently got a backstage tour of Furnace Record Pressing, one of the world’s largest independent vinyl record pressing companies. “Metallica bought a majority stake in Furnace’s operation about a year ago, and the Northern Virginia team said they’re grateful that the heavy metal giants have allowed them to continue to make records their way.” [WTOP]
It’s Wednesday — Expect increasing clouds and a high of 54 with calm winds in the afternoon. Rain will begin late tonight, accompanied by patchy fog and a low of 45; precipitation chances are 90%, with up to a quarter-inch expected. On Thanksgiving Day, rain will continue until early afternoon, followed by dissipating fog by 10am. The high will be around 54. [NWS]
Three players from the state-runner-up Oakton Cougars girls field-hockey team were chosen to the Virginia High School League Class 6 all-state first team, as were three from Fairfax High School.
Oakton senior forward Avery DeKoven, junior midfielder Marisa Rubano and freshman defender Daniella Rubano were Oakton’s first-team selections.
It’s something that hasn’t been seen in nearly five years: A large percentage of the federal workforce exclusively back in the office — with many using Metro to get there.
But the incoming Trump administration has signaled it plans a major back-to-the-office push, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) leaders are watching carefully to see how it plays out.
