Fairfax County Public Schools Adult Community Education is based in the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning in Springfield (via Google Maps)
Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education is launching more than 250 new courses for the trades, construction, IT and health care.
The new courses include in-person, hybrid and asynchronous offerings in line with the program’s focus on “new collar” workforce development, according to a school system news release. New collar defines high-paying professions that combine technical skills with specialized education rather than a four-year degree. Those roles are found in industries with high demand for workers in Northern Virginia — especially the trades, health care and technology — according to Paul Steiner, head administrator of FCPS Adult and Community Education, also known as ACE.
Colored kites hang over Matcha Cafe Maiko in Tysons Corner Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
FCPS Details Cell Phone Storage Pilot — “Starting on the week of Sep. 2, students at certain middle schools will receive a Yondr pouch, which is magnetic and can only be unlocked at an unlocking station at the end of the day.” The schools participating in the pilot will be Frost, Irving, Luther Jackson, Poe, Robinson Thoreau and Twain. [WTOP]
Route 1 Communities Struggle to Stay Cool — The Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination recently worked with several community groups to provide air-conditioning units to Harmony Place Trailer Park residents in Hybla Valley. However, the local nonprofit United Community has had to repeatedly close its food pantry “due a malfunctioning AC system.” [On the MoVe]
Korean BBQ Restaurant Coming to FairfaxCity — “Chosun Hwaro Korean BBQ Restaurant is hoping to open its new location in the empty retail space in the Boulevard VI development within a month, a company spokesman told Patch on Monday.” Founding partners Sun Kim and Sung Kim started the business with a restaurant in Ellicott City, Maryland. [Patch]
Reston Community Center Offers Online Survey — Reston Community Center’s five-year strategic plan survey, which collects feedback on its facilities, programs and priorities, is now available online through Sept. 2. This year’s survey is particularly interested in what residents want to see from RCC’s Lake Anne facility. [RCC]
FCPD to Visit National Night OutEvents — “This year, National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 6th. This is a chance for neighbors and law enforcement to come together and build lasting relationships through various community events like block parties, festivals, parades, and cookouts.” [FCPD]
Langley Student Medals in Geography Competition — “Ryan Minton, a rising sophomore at Langley High School, secured a top-12 finish at the 2024 International Geography Championships, held in Vienna, Austria. Students from 21 U.S. states, 16 countries and Hong Kong competed, showcasing geographical knowledge and analytical skills.” [Gazette Leader]
Volunteers Assemble School Bags for Students — “More than 75 volunteers put together 2,000 backpacks full of school supplies in less than two hours in a highly coordinated assembly line arrangement. The annual event, known as the Great Assembly, took place Aug. 3 at the Moose Lodge in Bailey’s Crossroads.” [Annandale Today]
Farmers’ Market Week Underway — “Join the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Farmers Markets as we proudly participate in National Farmers Market Week from Aug. 4 to 10. Farmers Market Week will be celebrated at all 10 Market locations and will include a recipe swap and free reusable bags – perfect for your fresh finds!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, sunny skies, and a high near 95, with heat index values reaching 100. At night, the chance of precipitation increases from 50% to 60%. It’ll be mostly cloudy with a low around 74. [NWS]
Dump truck pouring trash into landfill (courtesy Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services)
Fairfax County is seeking feedback on its current solid waste management practices and strategies for achieving “zero waste.”
Open from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, the survey asks residents to share their opinions on how the county handles solid waste and possible ways it could divert 90% of trash from landfills and incineration. Participants have the chance to win a $100 gift card.
The Chicago-based tea and dessert chain Te'Amo Boba Bar is coming soon to the Mosaic District (photo by Dan Lam)
A boba tea chain that has won over the Windy City now hopes to capture hearts in the D.C. area.
Chicago’s Te’Amo Boba Bar is venturing to the East Coast for the first time with a cafe at the Mosaic District in Merrifield, where it’ll open at 8190 Strawberry Lane, Suite 5, next to Pastry Xpo on the ground floor of the Vantage Apartments.
If you’ve read any headlines over the past few months, you’ve heard there are changes coming to the way homes are bought and sold.
I’ve found that while most people acknowledge they’ve seen the headlines, they don’t actually know or understand what those changes mean. Here’s your summary of upcoming changes to real estate sales.
Traditionally, when a seller signed a listing agreement and hired a real estate broker to sell their home, part of that agreement specified what commission they’d pay their own agent and how much of that commission could be used to pay an agent representing a buyer.
Essentially, making it feel “free” to use a buyer’s agent because the buyer wasn’t paying them directly. That fee to the buyer’s agent was always listed in our MLS (the portal we used to advertise homes for sale that feeds to websites like Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com).
Beginning August 14, that commission will no longer be advertised in our MLS. The hope of the lawsuit is to decouple commission, i.e. the buyer will be responsible for paying for their own agent in the form of payment at closing like an additional closing cost, and the seller will be their own agent as well from their proceeds like they always have.
Top 3 Things to Understand
1. I have found most consumers believe the seller will no longer have to pay a buyer’s agent commission. This was always true. They never had to, but most did. They have changed our sales contract and added the buyer’s agent commission as a line item to our contract right under the price offered. So a seller/buyer can negotiate any compensation a seller would contribute towards the buyer’s agent commission. It’s plain and simple and easy to see and calculate. The takeaway: a seller can still choose to contribute money towards a commission for the buyer’s agent. They can also choose to strike it and offer zero or anything in between. It’s all negotiable.
2. You must have a signed agreement in place to see homes with a buyer’s agent. Buyer agency agreements have ALWAYS been required in Virginia. In truth, sometimes we were just a little more relaxed about when we had people sign them, but they were signed before making an offer. Now, you can’t see a home without signing one, even if it’s a short-term agreement or for a single house. That agreement will dictate how much a buyer has agreed to pay their agent, in the event the seller will not pay anything towards their commission. You can, of course, visit open houses without one since you’re not employing an agent to tour with you.
3. Just like anything new, expect the first few months to be rocky as everyone figures out the new normal. Human behavior is a funny thing, so we’ll see how many continue to act as everything is status quo and how many take this opportunity to try out something new. And once we get a few months into this new normal, it’ll just be the new way of doing things.
“Normal” is a relative term. We used to require 20% down on a loan. Now you can buy a house with as little as 3% down (and 0% if you’re a veteran!). Having inspections was “normal” until people started waving them to be more competitive. So too will this new change eventually become normal.
I think in practice, if you have multiple offers, any contract requesting a seller to pay money towards a commission will be at the bottom. I think if a house has been on the market for a while, that seller might be more willing to contribute money towards a commission, but that also might mean they’re less likely to reduce their price.
It’s all going to look different and feel different, but we’ll figure it out. I think experience matters more than ever right now.
If you still have questions — whether you’re in the market to move or not — you can always reach out to me with any questions.
Happy to give you more information if you need it!
The Fairfax County-based international urban search and rescue task force was deployed last night (Sunday) to assist with the emergency response to Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall as a hurricane near Steinhatchee on the west coast of Florida around 7 a.m. this morning (Monday).
Alta Strada's Chicken Parm (photo courtesy of Alta Strada)
The D.C. area’s annual summer restaurant showcase is set to kick off next week.
More than 30 Fairfax County restaurants will participate in the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s Summer Restaurant Week, which runs from Monday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 18.
A garden and bench in the Eileen Garnett Civic Space in Annandale (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
County Board Urged to Back Ceasefire in Gaza — “Several speakers at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ July 30 meeting criticized board members for not weighing in on current fighting between Israel and Hamas forces in and around Gaza.” Activists called for the board to support a ceasefire and “full divestment from Israel by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority,” which says it ended a contract that gave it a presence in Tel Aviv on June 30. [Gazette Leader]
Board Chairman on Data Centers — “Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay joined the show to explain what the county is trying to do and how data centers can help with much-needed tax revenue…Plus, will county residents be able to stomach a meal tax? McKay certainly hopes so, noting it’s potentially a good way for the county to diversify its revenue source.” [WAMU]
Tysons Mall Collects Back-to-School Donations — “Tysons Corner Center has partnered with nonprofits and the Fairfax County Police Department to spotlight community needs and entrepreneurship among children. You can drop off needed school supplies and buy products made by children at three mall events.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
W&OD Trail Users Praise Wiehle Bridge — “Now that there’s a new pedestrian bridge over Wiehle Avenue near Sunset Hills Road, many of those concerns have been addressed. The bridge opened July 24, and many people who have already used it said it’s making them feel safer.” [WTOP]
Behavioral Health Services Added in Hybla Valley — “The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) celebrated opening its newest location for providing community-based services to youth and their families. CSB behavioral health specialists will now be located at the Hybla Valley Community Center…to help the community along the Richmond Highway corridor access high-quality and affordable care and supports.” [Fairfax-Falls Church CSB/Facebook]
Encampment Emerges in Annandale — “Toll House Park, a tiny landmark at the intersection of Little River Turnpike and Annandale Road, was created as a focal point for the revitalization of Annandale. Now, however, it’s become a gathering place for unsheltered individuals struggling to survive during a weeks-long heat wave.” [Annandale Today]
Tysons VC Firm Plans Investments — “Blue Delta Capital Partners, a Tysons-based venture capital firm, is preparing to make more equity investments in local growth-stage tech firms serving the federal government following the close of a $250 million fund…The firm plans to back established firms that need additional capital for growth.” [Washington Business Journal]
Fort Hunt Playground Gets New Swings — “Extreme heat Aug. 2 couldn’t stop Fairfax County officials and residents of several Fort Hunt area neighborhoods from commemorating the completion of a new swing set at Gilbert S. McCutcheon Park playground.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high near 95 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind at 3 to 8 mph. Later in the night, partly cloudy skies will prevail with a low around 77, and a southwest wind around 7 mph. [NWS]
Bath & Body Works is bringing a giant champagne toast-scented candle to Tysons Corner Center (courtesy Bath & Body Works)
A very tall, champagne-scented candle is going to light up Tysons Corner Center this weekend.
The 6.5-foot-tall wax column will be stationed on the mall’s first floor near Bath & Body Works from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 3-4), kicking off a tour of shopping centers and festivals in multiple cities across the U.S.
Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by Hannah Wolf of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach Hannah at 724-561-4816.
Here in Fairfax County, we are blessed to have an incredible library system that is consistently ranked in the 10 top libraries in the United States.
And while you probably know that you can walk into your local branch and check out a book — I’m willing to bet that there are some features of the library that you hadn’t heard about before — I know that was true for me! This year is the 85th anniversary of the Fairfax County Library and with celebrations happening all year long, it’s the perfect time to open the doors to one of my favorite FREE activities to do, rain or shine, in Fairfax County — go to the library.
With over 3 million books in circulation at the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL), there is a book for everyone. Anyone who lives or works in Fairfax County can get a card and — get this — there are no longer fines for overdue books (just make sure you do return them in a timely manner)! But FCPL is so much more than just a place to borrow books!
One of my favorite things to do with my kids is visit one of the three Maker Lab locations (Herndon, Pohick, and Sherwood). Here you can solve riddles, play with coding programs, race friends with a Sphero Robot Ball, build a Lego design, or create a piece of art.
One of the most fun features of the Maker Labs is the 3D Printer , send your creation to the link on the library website and they will 3D print it for you! If you can dream it up, they can print it. Have old VHS tapes or slides you want to digitize? You can reserve a spot in the Memory Depot to convert them, and librarians will even train you on how to use it.
Andrew Carnegie once said that, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people.” That is certainly true at the Fairfax County Public Library, where community engagement and access is a top priority. All FCPL branches offer indoor Wi-Fi during operating hours, and some also provide outdoor Wi-Fi access from their parking lots from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., making them a great place to study, work and connect online.
You can also join a book club, attend a class, or even check out a Connect Kit with a Chromebook laptop and a Wi-Fi hotspot to take with you. Check out their calendar every month for a dynamic list of events.
The library’s extensive online resources are a treasure in themselves. You can read over 5,000 different magazine subscriptions through Magzter, and with access to the library’s subscription to Consumer Reports, research guides and online newspapers, you have access to valuable information right at your fingertips.
For those with a green thumb, the Seed Sharing Library allows you to grow your own garden while sharing seeds with others in the community. I finally know what to do with my leftover packet of sunflower seeds!
If you’re struggling with a computer or device issue, visit the Walk-In Tech Clinic, offering help with everything from setting up devices to troubleshooting technical issues. Additionally, for those looking to improve their English, the library provides conversation classes that offer a supportive environment for language learners to practice and enhance their skills, as well as homework help for students.
In the spirit of “why buy it when you can BORROW it”, the “Library of Things” offers an assortment of items patrons can use once and return. If you need to check out an interesting piece of art for a discussion — you might be able to find it at the library. If you’re interested in testing the air quality in your home, measuring the pH of your soil, or using a thermal camera — the Library of Things has you covered with meters and gauges. Want to grab a Nature Backpack that includes a state park pass? They have that too!
Fostering literacy is an obvious hallmark of the library, and they truly make it fun. My kids look forward to the Summer Reading Adventure every year and there are even exciting prizes and incentives for adults as well. From children’s story times to adult book clubs, story walks in nature, and short story contests for teens, the library makes reading dynamic and fun for all ages.
I hope I’ve inspired you to check out some of the things available to you with your library card! I’ll be seeing you at the library.
“I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
