The Washington & Old Dominion Trail bridge over Center Street in Herndon (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

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]


Sports

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.


Countywide

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.


News

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is making progress on the design of a street that will provide a new connection between Tysons East and Pimmit Hills.

Building on a concept presented in 2022, county staff shared a more detailed “30% design” plan for Lincoln Street between Old Meadow Road and Magarity Road at a virtual community meeting on Nov. 13. Feedback on the proposal is being accepted through an online survey until Dec. 6.


Red trees line Strawberry Lane leading into the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

ICYMI: Hayfield Drops Out of Football Playoffs — Fairfax County Public Schools announced last night (Monday) that Hayfield Secondary School has withdrawn its football team from playoff contention as the fallout of alleged improper student-athlete recruiting practices continues. The Eagles were set to play Fairfax High School tonight at 7 p.m. [FCPS]

Reston Woman Killed in Maryland Car Crash — “Montgomery County police identified a Reston, Virginia, woman as the victim of a fatal single-vehicle collision Thursday evening in Gaithersburg, police said Monday in a statement. Alyssa Marie Clark, 42, was driving a blue 2007 Toyota Camry westbound on Darnestown Road near Bondy Lane when the car left the roadway and collided with a wooden utility pole.” [MoCo360]

GW Parkway Ramp to I-495 Closed — “The northbound GWMP exit ramp to I-495 north toward Maryland will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26 through 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 to continue curb demolition and reconstruction and asphalt paving … Motorists should continue along the detour route to access I-495.” [National Park Service]

Supervisor Advocates for Keeping Leaf Vacuuming — “Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez told Annandale Today he is working to ensure Fairfax County permanently retains its leaf vacuuming service. Jimenez is also urging the county executive to make the program more accountable by picking up leaves in a timely manner.” [Annandale Today]

Interactive Map Shows County’s Progress on Climate Goals — “We’re tracking our progress as a community toward a greener future with the Climate Action Viewer from our Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination … Use the map to find opportunities for climate action near you including where to bring compostable waste, recycle glass and charge your electric vehicle.” [Fairfax County Government]

Architectural Firm Opens New Reston Office — “The M Group Architects, an architectural firm specializing in data centers, corporate interiors and industrial projects, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 7, 2024, to celebrate the relocation of its office within Reston to RTC West.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]

Local Nonprofit Seeks Thanksgiving Day Volunteers — “Nonprofit The 25th Project says you can put your name on the list to volunteer with them on Thursday morning in Fairfax County.” The group will hopes to assemble enough meals at the Burke Community Church to feed 2,500 people, though it’s also still seeking donations of turkeys and ham. [WTOP]

Tysons Hotel Hosts Postpartum Care Center — “Nationwide, there are only a few places like Sanu — which opened this year inside the Watermark Hotel in Tysons, Virginia — that offer pampering and rest and a temporary village for those who may be far from family. But stays there don’t come cheap. Some can cost as much as $1,500 a night. Sanu’s nightly rate tops out at $880.” [Washington Post]

It’s Tuesday — Expect mostly cloudy skies until mid-morning. The skies will then gradually clear, and the temperature will reach a high near 61°F. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, but any new rainfall will likely be less than a tenth of an inch. Night will be mostly clear with a low around 36°F. [NWS]


Sports

Winning four state championships, as the Langley Saxons have now done, puts the girls team among rarified company in Virginia High School League (VHSL) volleyball competition.

Langley won its fourth overall Va. crown and second in a row Saturday (Nov. 23) at the Siegel Center in Richmond by edging the Chantilly Chargers, 3-2, in a seesaw Class 6 state-tournament title match.


Countywide

Hayfield Secondary School has withdrawn its football team from playoff contention, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced tonight (Monday).

According to Reid, the decision was made by Hayfield principal Darin Thompson as questions continue to mount about the recruiting practices used by head coach Darryl Overton and his staff and how FCPS has responded to the allegations.


Around Town

McLean’s Holiday Homes Tour is coming back.

The previously annual fundraiser organzied by the Women’s Club of McLean will return on Dec. 5, inviting community members to visit local houses decked out for the winter holidays for the first time since 2019.


News

As a whole, the office market in Tysons remains challenged, but declining demand for office space, a national trend in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is hitting some properties harder than others.

The area’s office vacancy rate continues to climb, reaching 22% as of Sept. 30, up from 19% at the same time in 2023 and 14% in mid-2020, according to data from the Tysons Community Alliance’s (TCA) inaugural Tysons Quarterly Market Report.


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