Delegate Dan Helmer speaks at a luncheon for the grassroots Democratic organizing group Network NOVA (courtesy Dan Helmer for Virginia)
As early voting in Virginia’s November elections came to a close on Saturday (Nov. 1), Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) was on the road in a final push to secure a victory not just for himself, but for Democratic candidates across the state.
As the campaigns chair for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, a role he landed based on his defeat of Fairfax County’s last Republican delegate, Tim Hugo, in 2019, Helmer has been tasked with overseeing races in all 100 House districts — every single one of which will have a Democrat on the ballot.
The Bolden and Rise apartment buildings at The Boro in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County in October saw rising year-over-year apartment rents in most corridors except Tysons, which saw a decline but remains the priciest area countywide.
Six of seven areas across Fairfax posted median rent increases ranging from less than 1% to 7%, according to figures reported Oct. 30 by Apartment List.
Xcelerate Solutions leaders celebrate the company's expansion of its Tysons headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 28, 2025 (courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority)
A contractor that provides defense and national security support to the federal government more than doubled the size of its Tysons headquarters this week.
Based in the Highline at Greensboro District complex, leaders of Xcelerate Solutions celebrated the expansion of their office at 8405 Greensboro Drive from 7,759 square feet to 23,073 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Tuesday (Oct. 28).
Geese at Royal Lake in Kings Park West on a fall day (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Police Sergeant Arrested for Drinking in Public — “On November 1, the Leesburg Police Department arrested Sergeant Brett Choyce, 43, of Hamilton, a 23-year veteran of the department, who was off-duty at the time of the incident. The Sergeant has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs Bureau Investigation.” [FCPD]
Pedestrian Hospitalized From Route 50 Crash — Fairfax County police officers responded Friday night (Oct. 31) to a “pedestrian crash at Arlington Blvd and Woodlawn Ave near West Falls Church. The pedestrian, an adult male, was transported to the hospital in life-threatening condition. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on scene.” [FCPD/X]
Early Voting Up From 2021 — “Virginia voters this year are casting their ballots early at a higher rate than in the 2021 election, as both Democrats and Republicans have sought to drive early turnout in their bids to win the governorship and a majority in the House of Delegates.” [Washington Post]
Warner on Sidelines of Shutdown Talks — “Not so long ago, if there was a bipartisan group getting together to solve a problem in the Senate, you could count on Mark Warner to be involved … But as his colleagues hunt for a way out of the 31-day-and-counting government shutdown, Warner this time is hanging on the sidelines.” [Politico]
Teen Who Fled Police Back in Custody — “The 17-year-old suspect was in custody for trespassing and possession of Schedule I/II narcotics, when he fled from a county police officer around 3 p.m. [on Oct. 30] in the 4300 block of Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax City.” After a search of the School Street and Chain Bridge Road area that included assistance from a Fairfax County police helicopter, officers located the teen “a short time later” and took him back into custody. [Patch]
Baking Pop-Up to Close Next Year — King Arthur Baking Company is sticking around in Fairfax County through the rest of 2025. “After opening its doors at Fairfax Corner in September 2024, the pop-up location will serve its last customer on January 15, 2026. The store was originally slated to close in July 2025.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
University Appointee Fight Goes to Supreme Court — “Governor Glenn Youngkin asked the Supreme Court of Virginia Thursday to allow him to put a handful of appointees on state college Boards of Visitors. The brief hearing comes after state senators denied the appointments in a committee meeting and Youngkin claimed more steps were needed.” [WHRO]
Braddock District Candidate Forum Coming — A second candidate forum for the Braddock District supervisor race will be held this Wednesday (Nov. 5) at 7:30 p.m. by the North Springfield Civic Association Board. Interested community members can attend in person at North Springfield Elementary School or online via Zoom. [North Springfield Civic Association Board/Facebook]
It’s Monday — The weather will transition from mostly cloudy to sunny, reaching a high of around 62°F. Calm winds will shift to the west at 5 to 7 mph during the afternoon. Monday night will be clear, with temperatures dropping to about 44°F. Expect a northwest wind at around 10 mph and gusts up to 18 mph. [NWS]
Spring Hill Elementary School in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Families who need someone to watch their kids before or after school sometimes languish for years on the waitlist for School Age Child Care (SACC) in Fairfax County.
Beyond the Bell, a pilot program launched this fall by the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), is testing whether a new model for child care — one that is license-exempt and increases the maximum number of kids — can help solve that problem.
The Virginia Senate on Friday by a 21-16 party-line vote approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Virginia General Assembly the authority to redraw the commonwealth’s congressional districts mid-decade. The move follows the measure’s 51-42 party-line passage earlier this week in the House of Delegates.
If lawmakers approve House Joint Resolution 6007 again during the next legislative session in early 2026 and if voters back it in a statewide referendum, the General Assembly would gain the power — in narrowly defined circumstances — to alter the state’s 11 U.S. House districts between the 2025 and 2030 census cycles.
Abigail Spanberger speaks at a campaign event in Annandale (staff photo by Jared Serre)
Gubernatorial hopeful Abigail Spanberger took her “Virginia Votes Bus Tour” to Annandale yesterday (Thursday), continuing to sell her campaign to voters in Fairfax County mere days before Election Day.
Speaking to roughly 100 attendees at Soricha Tea & Theater (7112 Columbia Pike), the Democratic candidate reiterated her focus on addressing affordability challenges for residents, noting that prices have jumped across the Commonwealth for housing, energy, healthcare and more.
Hoping to schedule some HVAC maintenance before winter settles in? There are some great, reliable providers in and around Fairfax to consider.
Here are the nominees for “Best HVAC Company in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite provider below? If not, write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 8:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14.
A-1 Towing truck in Rose Hill (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Owners of vehicles towed for improper parking on private property across Fairfax County could soon see an increase of up to 40% in the fee to retrieve them.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (Oct. 28) set a public hearing for Tuesday, Dec. 9 to consider adjustments to towing fees most recently raised four years ago.
The filmmaker spoke in a panel discussion before sharing an outdoor preview of the new six-part series, which features George Washington and his pivotal role in winning the Revolutionary War. Episodes will air on PBS at 8 p.m. nightly from Nov. 16 to 21.
