Despite calls for targeted raises for teachers and support staff, the Fairfax County School Board has approved 4% pay raises for all school employees as part of its adopted fiscal year 2025 budget.
The decision, voted on last Thursday (May 23), came after the Virginia General Assembly allocated an additional $35.5 million to Fairfax County Public Schools, allowing Superintendent Michelle Reid to increase employee pay raises from 3% to 4%.
Alleged Harassment by Justice’s Wife Reported to FCPD — “The police in Fairfax County, Va., received an unusual phone call on Feb. 15, 2021. A young couple claimed they were being harassed by the wife of a Supreme Court justice…The clash between the wife of a conservative Supreme Court justice and the couple, who were in their 30s, liberal and proud of it, played out over months on a bucolic block” in Fort Hunt. [New York Times]
FCPS to Give Workers Parental Leave — “Fairfax County Public Schools teachers and staff will be eligible to get maternity or paternity leave starting July 1. School Board Member Melanie Meren said Virginia’s largest school district is expected to learn more details about the county’s program this summer.” [WTOP]
Fire Department Makes Notable Promotion — “Fire Chief Butler is pleased to announce the promotion of Captain Felicia Barnes to Battalion Chief with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Battalion Chief Barnes is the first African American female battalion chief” in the department’s history. [FCFRD]
ArtsFairfax Launches County’s First Artist Survey — “The Fairfax Regional Artist Survey is the first study of its kind and is designed to identify the needs and obstacles for artists across all art forms living and working in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church.” The online survey will remain open through Dec. 31, 2024. [ArtsFairfax]
Casino Supporters and Opponents Make Cases at Vienna Fest — “Fairfax County residents may have been surprised to see two booths at last weekend’s ViVa! Vienna Festival operated by groups opposing and supporting the casino that Reston developer Comstock Holding Companies wants to build in Tysons.” [Patch]
New Annandale Coffee Shop in the Works — “A coffee shop is in the works for the ground floor of an office building at 7601 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. The owner, Fady Jouda, hopes to open the café, called Petra, in two or three months. He plans to focus on coffee and pastries.” [Annandale Today]
Gum Springs Considers Historic District Designation — “In the past few years, the Mount Vernon District has had two sites designated by Fairfax County as historic overlay districts (HODs) — Wellington at River Farm and Hollin Hills. Soon, community members will find out whether an HOD designation could be in the cards for Gum Springs, the county’s oldest African American community, as well.” [On the MoVe]
Park Authority Awarded for Preservation — “We’re proud to announce that The Fairfax County Park Authority has been honored with the 2023 Michael Hoffman Award from the Council of Virginia Archaeologists! This prestigious award recognizes our Archaeology and Collections Branch’s (ACB) commitment to preserving and investigating archaeological sites throughout the county.” [FCPA]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm, with increasing clouds and a high of 78°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation. For Wednesday night, skies will be partly cloudy with a low of 57°F. [NWS]
One of the largest bank mergers in U.S. history may be happening in Fairfax County’s backyard.
Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — the federal agency that regulates national banks — announced plans to hold a virtual public meeting on July 19 at 9 a.m. on Capital One Financial Corporation’s proposal to acquire Discover Bank.
Fairfax County staff are seeking additional funding to hire more personnel who could help expedite ongoing and future flood mitigation projects across the county.
However, with the county facing increasing financial challenges, worsened by inflation and reduced commercial tax revenue, some members of the Board of Supervisors said at a recent land use committee meeting that they are reluctant to commit to expanding the budget’s list of indefinite expenditures.
An upcoming GW Parkway ramp closure suggests the end of Memorial Day weekend will likely bring little relief from traffic in McLean.
The northbound exit ramp from the George Washington Memorial Parkway to the Capital Beltway (I-495) will be closed throughout this coming weekend, the National Park Service recently announced. The closure is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Friday (May 31) and remain in place until 5 a.m. next Monday (June 3).
Voter Registration Deadline Is Today — “The deadline to register to vote, or update an existing registration for the Democratic & Republican primaries is Tuesday, May 28. Note: You may register after May 28, through Election Day, and vote using a provisional ballot.” [Fairfax County/Twitter]
Body Pulled From Potomac River Near Great Falls — “A body recovered from the Potomac River on Monday is believed to be a young man who went missing last Friday while attempting to swim from Virginia to Maryland. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer told WTOP two swimmers near Great Falls tried to cross from Virginia into Maryland on Friday evening.” [WTOP]
Hidden Cameras Found in Falls Church Cafe — “Falls Church police are investigating hidden cameras found in the bathrooms of Northside Social. Police say someone placed cameras in two first floor restrooms, facing the toilets, at the popular Clarendon cafe’s Falls Church outpost, which opened in 2018 at 205 Park Avenue.” [ARLnow]
Arrest Made in 2013 Sexual Assault — “After over a decade on the run, a 2013 sexual assault suspect was arrested in El Salvador and extradited back to Fairfax County to face justice. On October 21, 2013, officers responded to the 7200 block of Commerce Street in Springfield for a sexual assault report. The victim was sexually assaulted by an unknown male while inside a residence.” [FCPD]
Solar Projects Hampered by New Rules — “Fairfax had completed six projects before Dominion Energy changed the requirements for midsize solar in December 2022. Since then, the county has downsized two projects to fall below the requirements’ parameters, while five others — including a police station, stormwater complex and library — are on hold.” [Washington Post]
County Affected by Dental Hygienist Shortage — “Dentists across Virginia are scrambling to fill a statewide shortage of dental hygienists. The gap is most acute in Northern Virginia, according to the Virginia Dental Association. ‘There’s a huge imbalance in the number of hygienists to dentists right now and Fairfax County is feeling it the worst,’ Dr. Justin Norbo, the association’s president-elect” said. [WTOP]
Food Delivery Driver Assaulted in Springfield — “A man has been arrested and faces charges for allegedly assaulting a food delivery driver in a road rage incident in Fairfax County…[The driver] is still shaken up after the suspect strangled him near a Wendy’s in Springfield” on the night of Monday, May 20.” [FOX5]
New Tysons Firm Lands Big Investment — “Veteran Ventures Capital (VVC) secured a $10 million institutional investment from Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC). This investment fuels VVC’s Veterans Fund II,” which will support veteran-owned companies. The venture capital firm relocated from its original home in Tennessee to The Boro in Tysons in April. [FCEDA]
It’s Tuesday — There is a slight chance of showers from 2pm to 5pm, followed by possible storms after 5pm. With sunny skies, the high temperature will be near 83°F. Precipitation chances are 20%. For Tuesday night, expect mostly clear skies and a low of around 61°F. [NWS]
A new public art piece is coming to downtown Vienna this year.
Rustic Love, a Vienna-based nonprofit focused on food insecurity, is partnering with local artist Teresa L.C. Ahmad to create a mural on the Greenheart Juice building at 208 Dominion Road NE. Owned by Commonwealth Home Design, the building is across the street from the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and the Red Caboose.
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 County is a treasure of incredible neighborhoods, each boasting its own distinct charm and amenities. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly haven, access to outdoor adventures, a thriving foodie scene, or a delightful combination of all these, Fairfax County has got you covered.
As a Realtor, Mom, and Fairfax Neighbor deeply rooted in the local community, I’m thrilled to share my top neighborhood picks based on my experiences and observations. Get ready to embark and discover Fairfax County neighborhoods that perfectly align with your preferences, turning your dream of finding the ideal home into a wonderful reality. So, don’t wait another moment – dive into the video and unlock the best neighborhoods Fairfax County has to offer.
Vivi Bubble Tea is now serving up boba, popcorn chicken and other Taiwanese snacks in Vienna.
Franchise owner Yaya Zhang, who also owns Fairfax City’s Vivi Bubble Tea, opened her second location at 233 Maple Avenue East in the Glyndon Shopping Center on May 13. During its soft opening, the cafe is offering 10% off all drinks.
Lane Closures Lifted for Holiday Weekend — “VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, May 24, until noon on Tuesday, May 28. While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time.” [VDOT]
D.C. Man Charged With Belle Haven Shooting — “A 44-year-old D.C. man has been charged with murder after a Tuesday morning argument at a gas pump in Fairfax County, Virginia, escalated into a fatal shooting, according to police.” The man is “charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting death of 38-year-old Arthur Edward Mann II.” [WTOP]
Busy Hurricane Season Expected — “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its forecast for the upcoming 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. According to NOAA, conditions are favorable for above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year.” [Fairfax County Emergency Information]
Burke Resident Wins Big in Lottery — “A construction worker from Burke, Virginia was the winner of $1 million from a Powerball ticket purchased April 1 at the Safeway supermarket at Engleside Plaza. Virginia Lottery announced the news May 23, noting that the man, Nicholas Perez,” was one of only six people in the U.S. to match the first five numbers. [On the MoVe]
Lincolnia Taco Restaurant Now Open — Taco Zocalo, which started in Reston in 2017, officially opened its new Lake Barcroft Plaza location yesterday (Thursday). “The menu features chimichangas, tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, and salads. Diners select among several types of meat, shrimp, or grilled veggies.” [Annandale Today]
Franconia Park Courts to Be Refurbished — “The Fairfax County Park Authority expects to begin athletic court revitalization work at the Franconia District Park on May 28.” The project will level out the asphalt, adjust gates and fencing as needed, and apply new seal and color coats and playing lines for the basketball and shared pickleball/tennis courts. [FCPA]
Herndon Mayoral Candidate Kicks Off Campaign — Councilmember Pradip Dhakal kicked off his campaign to become the town’s next mayor last Saturday (May 18). “We had more than 100 people attend our campaign kickoff at Arts Herndon despite the challenging weather!” he said in a follow-up Facebook post, thanking supporters. [Pradip for Herndon Mayor/Facebook]
Actors Wanted for Film in McLean — “A not-for-profit trilingual Japanese/Korean/English movie is being filmed in McLean and looking for Japanese actors ages 17-25 yrs old especially males who look like students. Also looking for locals to be a part of the large audience during the Jpop vs. Kpop competition scene.” [Patch]
It’s Friday — Expect a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms early in the day between 8am-11am. Later, mostly cloudy skies will slightly clear up, reaching a high near 82°F. Precipitation chance is 20%. In the evening, partly cloudy skies and a low around 65°F are anticipated. [NWS]
