Fall leaves on a gravel path in McLean (staff photo)

‘Heavy’ Building Fire in Great Falls — “Fairfax County Fire & Rescue personnel extinguished a fire Sunday night in the 800 block of Blacks Hill Road in the Great Falls area. When fire units arrived on the scene, they found a structure with heavy fire throughout.” [Patch]

Centreville Man Sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol Attack — A U.S. District judge sentenced Centreville resident Zachary J. Alam to eight years in prison last Thursday (Nov. 7) after a jury convicted him last year of “assaulting police, destroying public property and obstructing police during a civil disorder” at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. [Washington Post]

Navy Federal Hit With Record Fine — “Vienna-based Navy Federal Credit Union has been ordered by a federal regulator to pay $95 million in restitution and fines for allegedly charging illegal overdraft fees to customers” between 2017 and 2022. That includes $80 million in refunds to customers and $15 million for a victims’ relief fund — the largest fine ever levied against a credit union by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. [Washington Business Journal]

More Black and Latino Men Voted for Trump — “For DaSean Gallishaw, a consultant in Fairfax, Virginia, a vote for Trump was rooted in what he saw as Democrats’ rhetoric not matching their actions. ‘It’s been a very long time since the Democrats ever really kept their promises to what they’re going to do for the minority communities,’ he said.” [Associated Press]

GMU Students File Lawsuit Over Tampons — “In a lawsuit filed in federal court, third-year law students Selene Cerankosky and Maria Arcara said the school ordered them to have no contact with another student who proposed stocking all restrooms, including men’s rooms, with menstrual hygiene products.” [WTOP]

Tex-Mex Restaurant Opens in Falls Church — “A new Latin and Tex-Mex restaurant is currently hosting its soft opening in Falls Church. Casa Mariachi Bar and Grille expects to hold a grand opening sometime next week at 133 E. Annandale Road, manager Tony Flores told ARLnow” on Nov. 8. [ARLnow]

Belle Haven Residents Push for New Park — The Fairfax County Park Authority is finalizing the design concept for a trail system that could help address “the lack of readily accessible recreational opportunities in the highly developed, densely populated Kings Crossing area.” The concept will be presented to the community next spring. [On the MoVe]

Woodlawn Park to Unveil New Restrooms — “The Fairfax County Park Authority, Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck and members of the Woodlawn Little League community invite the public to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting for the newly completed restroom and concessions building at McNaughton Fields Park. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.” [FCPA]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 56 degrees, accompanied by a north wind blowing at 13 to 15 mph and gusts reaching up to 24 mph. The clear night will bring a low around 33 degrees, with a north wind at 7 to 9 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]


Sports

McLean High School held its 2024 Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony last week, announcing six new inductees during halftime of the Nov. 8 home football game against the Langley Saxons.

The new McLean members are David Daido, Susan South, Alexander Weatherbee, Donald Weatherbee, Ayanna Alexander and Sam Clark.


Sports

After being elsewhere for a year, the Rotary Cup is back in possession of the Langley Saxons.

Langley (8-2, 4-2) reclaimed the neighborhood hardware by blanking the host McLean Highlanders, 38-0, on Friday night (Nov. 8) in the final regular-season football game for both Liberty District high school teams.


Sports

The Potomac School Panthers girls cross-country team last Thursday (Nov. 7) placed second in Virginia’s Division I private-school competition on the 5,000-meter Panorama Farms course near Charlottesville.

The Collegiate School of Richmond won the high-school meet with 49 points. Potomac School had 98.


Sports

For the first time in 46 years, the Madison High School Warhawks finished undefeated at 10-0 in regular-season football action.

The Warhawks capped the perfect campaign with a 41-0 blowout victory over the visiting Centreville Wildcats Friday night (Nov. 8). Madison also wrapped up a perfect Concorde District record of 5-0 to clinch the outright league title.


Sports

By a comfortable margin of 17 points and a much closer two, respectively, the Langley Saxons and Chantilly Chargers won girls and boys region cross country-championships on Wednesday (Nov. 6).

Langley scored 61 points and had its top five runners finish among the top 21 in the 2.98-mile 6D North Region girls high-school race at Burke Lake Park. The Yorktown Patriots were second with 88 points.


Sports

It was deja vu all over again in the championship match of this season’s girls 6D North Region field hockey tournament, with one difference.

The Oakton Cougars won the title for the second straight year over the Yorktown Patriots, 1-0, but on the road instead of on their home turf. Oakton also won by a one-goal margin, 2-1, over the Patriots in 2023.


Countywide

Elections have consequences, and now, Northern Virginia leaders are in wait-and-see mode on what those could be for local transit and transportation funding.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) board met Thursday (Nov. 7) for the first time since the 2024 general election, when Donald Trump regained the presidency and Republicans took control of at least one chamber of Congress — an unnerving prospect for Northern Virginia’s mostly Democratic political leaders.


Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This recurring column is sponsored and written by Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Sharmane at 813-504-4479.

Fairfax, are you ready for a culinary gem that’s been taking Arlington by storm?

Ruthie’s All Day is officially expanding to Fairfax Corner in 2025, and it’s hard to overstate what a win this is for our local food scene. Imagine savoring Southern-inspired dishes that pack bold flavors, all crafted with love and care — that’s the Ruthie’s experience.

For those unfamiliar, Ruthie’s All Day has earned its reputation as one of Virginia’s top dining spots since opening in 2020. The restaurant draws crowds for its welcoming atmosphere and the nostalgic, homey feel that keeps people coming back. Owner and chef Matt Hill, a James Beard Award nominee, channels his North Carolina roots and honors his late grandmother, Ruthie, by creating the kind of warm, unforgettable meals that feel like they’re straight from her kitchen.

From tender, 14-hour, smoked brisket to addictive campfire cookies (pro tip: try them warm!), each dish is crafted with a blend of passion and skill that you can taste in every bite.

Ruthie’s has quickly become a local favorite, even snagging top spots on Northern Virginia Magazine’s Best Restaurants list year after year, and was featured by Virginia Living as a top pick for dining out. Their commitment to quality has earned Ruthie’s more than just high praise — it’s won the hearts of the Arlington community and beyond.

And now, with plans to open at Fairfax Corner, Ruthie’s is ready to bring that same charm and award-winning flavor closer to home for Fairfax residents. This new location promises a spacious, inviting layout, complete with outdoor seating, a full bar, and a menu filled with both Ruthie’s classics and seasonal specials. It’s not just a restaurant — it’s an experience.

Excited yet? The countdown is on, and this is one spot you’ll want to put on your 2025 to-do list. So Arlington fans, share your favorites in the comments, and Fairfax foodies, get ready to welcome this all-day eatery!

Ruthies All-Day | Live Fairfax

Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | Sharmane@mcenearney.com | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180


Countywide

Facing growing concerns over inconsistent grading practices, the Fairfax County School Board is moving forward with plans for a comprehensive update of its grading policy for the first time in more than a decade.

The policy revamp comes after years of complaints from teachers, parents, and students that the current system lacks clarity and consistency.


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