The No Casino Coalition had a booth at the ViVa Vienna festival in May (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Though the Virginia General Assembly won’t convene for another six months, Reston Association is starting to lay the groundwork for a major advocacy push.
The homeowners’ association recently issued a request for proposals seeking research and communications firms that could assist it in lobbying state lawmakers, particularly regarding the expected return of legislation to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino.
Target’s logo sticks out at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Geese Escorted Across I-395 — “If you were wondering about all the honking [was] on I-395 [Tuesday] morning: a gander of geese briefly took over a portion of the express lanes near Edsall Road…The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) briefly shut down two lanes of I-395 and received an escort from Virginia State Police and Safety Service Patrol.” [ALXnow]
Fundraiser Launched for Boy Killed by Train — “Eli Medrano, the Weyanoke Elementary School second-grader killed in a train crash on June 5, is remembered for his ‘larger than life personality, terrific sense of humor, and a smile that could light up the room.’ That quote is from a GoFundMe page set up by soccer coach Ben Sprague on behalf of Jeffrey Medrano.” [Annandale Today]
Blake Lane Improvements Proposed — “Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik’s office is soliciting feedback about the recently released final report from the Blake Lane Pedestrian Road Safety Audit. Members of the public can provide feedback about the report by completing an online survey.” [Patch]
Rehabilitations Planned for Historic Homes — “Several houses built in Southeast Fairfax County between the Civil War and World War II period are in the process of getting rehabilitated through preservation projects by federal and county organizations. The exterior repair and rehabilitation of the Non-Commissioned Officer’s Quarters at Fort Hunt Park is one such example.” [On the MoVe]
Clarification on Justice Alito’s Residency — “Samuel Alito lives in Fairfax County. His Fort Hunt neighborhood is about six miles from Alexandria’s city hall, about as close to that building as the Jefferson Memorial is. His taxes go to Fairfax County…And yet, in the eyes of many national outlets, Alito is an Alexandrian.” [Washingtonian]
Tysons Business Leader Builds McLean Mansion — Cvent Inc. co-founder and CEO Reggie Aggarwal and his wife have sold their existing McLean home and moved into a new, 19,000-square-foot mansion on Mackall Farms Lane that features “seven bedrooms, eight full-baths and three half-baths, an indoor pool and hot tub, kitchen with double island, golf simulator, indoor basketball court and fitness center, wine storage, theater with seating for at least 15, outdoor pizza oven, tennis courts and a seven-car garage.” [Washington Business Journal]
Local Author Reflects on Past With New Novel — “Author Frances Park takes you from the streets of postwar Korea to an apartment complex in Fairfax County in her sweeping historical novel, Blue Rice…The cinematic tale hits close to home for Springfield native Park, whose mother grew up in northern Korea and immigrated to the U.S. after the war.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny skies and a high near 83 with a calm wind that shifts westward at around 5 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low temperature around 66. [NWS]
2023 Fairfax County Demographics report (via Fairfax County)
Fairfax County’s population is older, more diverse, and wealthier than it was a year ago.
After a pandemic-induced slump in population and the economy, Fairfax County is showing signs of recovery with increases in population, wages, and housing production, according to a the county’s 2023 demographic report. However, the cost of buying and renting a home continues to rise.
A turkey vulture flies over Great Falls Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Northern Virginia Magazine has unveiled the results of an extensive reader poll to determine the best spots for dining, shopping and entertainment in the region.
Fairfax County establishments came out on top in several categories, claiming the region’s best barbecue, Chinese and Korean food, water park, outdoor shopping district and more, according to the annual poll. The results were published online yesterday (Monday) after first appearing in print in the magazine’s June issue.
I looked at the 93 degrees headed our way next week and am already thinking ahead of what to do with the kids this summer. I’ve compiled a list of cheap things to do this summer to keep the kids entertained!
Movies
The Boro at Tysons: $6.50 matinees on Tuesdays
Summer Movie Clubhouse: $1.75 movie tickets on specific movies each Wednesday throughout the summer (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic 2, Shrek, Paw Patrol, Lego Movie, Trolls, How To Train Your Dagon, Migration, Hotel Transylvania, and Paddington 2)
Regal Fairfax Summer Movie Express: $1 movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through the summer. Movies include: Peter Rabbit 2, Puss in Boots, TMNT, Angry Birds 2, Despicable Me 3, Migration, Spiderman, Paw Patrol, Clifford and many more!
Mosaic Films in the Park: Free movies every Thursday at 7 p.m. on the big screen through August 25. Movies include: Barbie, Top Gun Maverick, Wish, The Marvels, and more.
Starlight Cinema: Drive-in cinema at the Sully Historic Site with free movies on Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. in August only (Aug. 3 Migration, Aug. 10 Paw Patrol, Aug. 17 Wish, Aug. 24 Elemental)
Cocoa Vienna has $1 days for special treats: Chocolate Dipped Pretzel, Choc Strawberries, Deal of the Day, Choc Dipped Frozen Bananas, Choc Dipped Oreo through September
Sports
Bowling: Bowlero has a summer pass where kids can bowl 3 games everyday for one price (check the locations as they have different pricing, which includes shoe rental)
Potomac Nationals Game in Fredericksburg: Has $2 Tuesdays plus other promotions, Fireworks Fridays, and other fun events
The Fairfax County library offers a Summer Reading Adventure where kids earn prizes (usually coupons for free or discounted things) for reading. You can go into the library to collect their reading log or create an account online.
Fairfax County police have arrested a Maryland man who allegedly burglarized multiple homes in Dunn Loring.
The 58-year-old man was arrested following a burglary that was reported in the 7900 block of Tire Swing Road in the Shreve Hill neighborhood around 10:25 a.m. on May 24, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a news release.
Started on Monday, June 3, the project will replace each of the escalators to the train platform one at a time with new escalators that are “more durable and reliable,” the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced.
Fairfax County Public Schools workers wear Fairfax Education Unions T-shirts after electing FEU as their collective bargaining representative (courtesy Fairfax County Federation of Teachers)
Fairfax County Public Schools teachers and other workers have elected a union to represent them in forthcoming labor contract negotiations.
The Fairfax Education Unions (FEU), a team-up of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT) and the Fairfax Education Association (FEA), announced yesterday (Monday) that it will represent over 27,500 FCPS employees in their first collective bargaining effort since they secured that right in March 2023.
A male clouded sulphur butterfly on a flower in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Teen Acquited of Murder in Mount Vernon Shooting — “After about six hours of deliberation, a Fairfax Circuit Court jury found Kareem Valentine, 18, not guilty of murder and felony firearm use in the Sept. 1 killing of Joshua Fieldings. Valentine was found guilty of juvenile gun possession, a misdemeanor charge that holds a maximum sentence of one year in prison.” [Washington Post]
County to Offer Free HIV Testing — “Throughout the last week of June, the Fairfax County Health Department is offering free HIV and STI testing and education at our health clinics. If needed, care and treatment support will also be offered.” The clinics will coincide with National HIV Testing Day on June 27. [FCHD]
Popular Lincolnia Pet Store Closes — “After 10 years and three different locations in Barcroft Plaza, Chico’s Natural Pet Market has closed for good. But it’s not going away forever, as the owner, Danielle Areco, is searching for a new location. Areco spent the store’s last day, Sunday, June 9, hosting an ice cream party for dogs with big markdowns on pet supplies for humans.” [Annandale Today]
Advocacy Group Questions I-495 Southside Plan — “A proposal to add express lanes, and even Metro, to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is getting some pushback from the Coalition for Smarter Growth. The Coalition says that, if enacted, the Virginia Department of Transportation’s 495 Southside Study will create traffic bottlenecks.” [ALXnow]
Water Mains to Be Replaced in Fairfax Neighborhood — “Fairfax Water will replace selected water mains in an area of the Fairview neighborhood due to increased maintenance problems…Fairfax Water’s contractor, A&M Concrete Corp., is scheduled to begin work in June.” [Fairfax City]
Chantilly Contractor Buys Reston Startup — “Chantilly government contractor VTG…announced Monday that it has acquired Clear Cloud LLC, a Reston startup that, like VTG, provides technology services to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies.” Clear Cloud has between 51 and 200 employees, while VTG had 1,300 employees, as of the end of 2022. [Washington Business Journal]
The Who Singer to Rock Wolf Trap — “Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, performs live at Wolf Trap on Wednesday, June 12, with a touring band that includes Pete Townshend’s younger brother Simon Townshend.” Daltry reflects on the rock band’s origins and work through its Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1990 in an interview. [WTOP]
Name Suggestions for Former School to Be Unveiled — “Fairfax County is seeking community feedback on a new name and identity for the Original Mount Vernon High School (OMVHS) as part of the building’s ongoing renovation and adaptive reuse project.” Name and branding design options will be presented at a meeting on June 18 at the Gerry Hyland Government Center. [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high near 77 and a gentle northwest wind at around 6 mph. As for Tuesday night, the skies will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 60, with a north wind at around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. [NWS]
Attendees of the Fairfax County Planning Commission's June 5 public hearing call for stricter rules on data centers (staff photo by James Jarvis)
New regulations on the construction of data centers in Fairfax County cleared their first major hurdle last week.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously endorsed zoning amendments on Thursday (June 6) that aim to restrict the size, location, equipment screening and design standards of any new data centers in the county.