A shelf of food items in Western Fairfax Christian Ministries' food pantry (staff photo by Vivian Hoang)
Fairfax County is seeing a rise in food insecurity, with nearly 27% of households struggling to afford enough nutritious food, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) found in its 2024 Hunger Report.
Though food insecurity has increased across all income levels, the sharpest growth has been among middle-income households earning between $100,000 and $150,000 annually. For those families, the cost of living in Fairfax County and rising prices for essentials like housing and food have outpaced wage growth.
The sun sets on “The Dancer,” a sculpture outside the City of Fairfax Police Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
D.C. Area to Get More EV Charging Stations — “A few dozen electric vehicle charging stations are coming into disadvantaged communities in Maryland and Virginia, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments announced.” Fairfax County and city will benefit from the nearly $4 million grant awarded to COG by the Federal Highway Administration. [WTOP]
Virginia Shares Respiratory Illness Data — “Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) launched a new Respiratory Illness Dashboard, which replaces several older dashboards. This dashboard provides key insights into respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).” [VDH]
West Falls Development Prepares for Residents — “Phase One of the West Falls Development Project…is nearing completion,” developer Hoffman & Associates shared on Monday (Sept. 9). An apartment building has begun accepting tenant applications, while a condo building “celebrated a grand opening on Sunday after its condos went on sale in March.” [ARLnow]
Deer Management Debate Emerges in Vienna — Vienna Town Council member Charles Anderson suggested exploring ways to control invasive species, including deer, in the town’s monthly newsletter. At the council’s meeting on Monday (Sept. 9), he said he was surprised to receive “15 or so e-mails” in response, and some residents shared their opinions. [Gazette Leader]
FCPS Releases Family Survey Results — “The results of FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey are now available. A key finding showed that 92% of respondents say they ‘feel welcome’ at their child’s school, an increase from 89% in the 2021-22 survey…Thank you to the more than 26,000 parents and guardians who participated!” [FCPS]
FCPD Hosts Mental Health Conference — “The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) hosted a Public Safety Suicide Prevention Conference, drawing over 130 first responders from across the National Capital area. Held on World Suicide Prevention Day, the event highlighted the importance of mental health support for those on the front lines of public safety.” [FCPD]
Celebrate Moon Festival at Oakton Library — “Celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival (The Moon Festival) with Oakton library! Listen to stories and learn some unique Taiwan Moon Festival traditions. There will also be crafts and activities to celebrate the Moon.” The event will take place this Saturday (Sept. 14) from 3-5 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Library]
It’s Thursday — Patchy fog will clear by 9am, making way for a mostly sunny day and a high near 81, accompanied by an east wind of 3 to 8 mph. Thursday night will be partly cloudy as temperatures drop to around 63, with the southeast wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
The CIA seal next to a U.S. flag at the agency's Langley headquarters (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
By JIM MUSTIAN and JOSHUA GOODMAN Associated Press
LEESBURG, Va. (AP) — At an impromptu party in the office to celebrate his 50th birthday, a veteran CIA officer got drunk, reached up a colleague’s skirt and forcibly kissed her in front of stunned co-workers, prosecutors alleged in the latest case of sexual misconduct to spill from the spy agency into a public court.
Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Fairfax County will review its property deeds to remove clauses that historically barred non-Caucasian individuals from owning or leasing property in specific neighborhoods.
In response to new research revealing the prevalence of racially restrictive covenants in Northern Virginia property deeds, the Board of Supervisors, led by Dan Storck and Rodney Lusk, unanimously approved a board matter yesterday (Tuesday) to allocate resources for eliminating any segregation-era language from county-owned property deeds and assisting private property owners in doing the same.
Attendees of the Fairfax County Planning Commission's June 5 public hearing call for stricter rules on data centers (staff photo by James Jarvis)
After a lengthy and contentious debate, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a revised zoning ordinance that imposes strict regulations on data center development in the county.
Yesterday’s 8-2 vote followed over a year of community input and revisions to the proposed ordinance, which tightens restrictions on where and how data centers can be built in Fairfax County.
The Lebanese restaurant Seray is now open in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
A high-end option for kebabs and other Middle Eastern cuisine has arrived in Vienna.
Seray, a new Lebanese restaurant from the former owner of Me Jana in Arlington, opened to diners on Sunday (Sept. 8) at 160 Maple Avenue West in the Vienna Shopping Center, bringing life back to a space that had stood empty since Chopt closed in December 2022.
Capital One Center across I-495 in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Person Rescued From Sewer — The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was called to the 4100 block of Wadsworth Court in the Annandale area around noon yesterday (Tuesday) after a person “fell 15-feet down a storm sewer. Technical rescue resources have successfully packaged and extricated the patient.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Where to Commemorate 9/11 in N. Va. — “A number of events are planned around Northern Virginia to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.” In Fairfax County, there are ceremonies this morning in Great Falls, Vienna, Fort Belvoir and Legato. [Inside NoVA]
Fairfax City Man Charged with Abduction — A 54-year-old Fairfax City man was charged with abduction after City of Fairfax police got a report around 6:53 a.m. on Sept. 5 for “a man acting erratically in the common area in the 10200 block of Aspen Willow Drive.” A person who was at the man’s home when police knocked later said “they were intimidated by the suspect, who told them to not answer it.” [Patch]
Fairfax City Extends RestaurantWeek — “The city’s Restaurant Week has been extended until Sunday, Sept. 15 with 20 eateries and options to choose from.” The promotional campaign’s popularity inspired Fairfax City Economic Development and other organizers to continue it beyond its original end date of last Sunday (Sept. 8). [DC News Now]
Vienna Students Surprise Custodian With Car — “A group of sophomore students at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, stunned their beloved school custodian Monday afternoon, by presenting him with something he’s dreamed about — a Jeep Wrangler.” Francis Apraku was greeted with the vehicle, which was made possible through community fundraising, at Vienna Inn. [WTOP]
New Film Festival to Offer FreeScreenings — “In commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the National Park Service plans to screen several movies at Fort Hunt Park next month involving World War II and featuring characters with disabilities.” [On the MoVe]
Sign Unveiled for 50 Years of W&OD Trail — “September 1974 also brought the opening of the first segment of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail. To mark the occasion, NOVA Parks (the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) held a special event Sept. 7, unveiling a permanent sign about the history of the W&OD Trail and its many enhancements over its first half-century.” [Gazette Leader]
Moon Gate Completed in Lincolnia Park — Construction a new moon gate, a circular stone structure, was completed at Green Spring Gardens in August. Conceived in 2020 to mark the park’s 20th anniversary, “the rest of the project – including a permanent path, an Asian-inspired garden, a bench, and plaques – is under development.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Expect sunshine and a high of 84 during the day, with light winds turning east at 5 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of 62. [NWS]
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Immigrations and Customs Enforcement's Washington Field Office in Chantilly (via Google Maps)
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an apparent challenge last week to Fairfax County and other localities over their policies on cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
In a response to an inquiry from Bedford County Sheriff Michael Miller, Miyares released an opinion last Thursday (Sept. 5) confirming that local sheriffs have the authority to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when someone wanted for deportation proceedings is scheduled to be released.
A close-up of a computer chip (via Adi Goldstein/Unsplash)
Fairfax County is giving financial boosts to several local startups that are developing technology to improve communications, make agriculture more efficient and more.
The county’s Department of Economic Initiatives (DEI) announced last Thursday (Sept. 5) that it has selected eight companies for the second round of its Fairfax Founders Fund (FFF), which provides up to $50,000 in grant funding and technical assistance to “promising, early-stage startups” that could “disrupt industries” and create new jobs.