County Board Officially Adopts New Budget — “Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors Tuesday adopted a budget that lowers the property tax rate for homeowners and gives county employees raises, part of a larger effort to combat the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Northern Virginia.” [The Washington Post]
Terrorism Investigation Leads to Raid of Springfield Apartment — FBI agents recently raided an apartment on Kingsford Road and arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of providing financial support to ISIS members. Court documents filed on May 4 indicate that Mohammed Chhipa had been under investigation since 2021. [FOX5]
Parents Air FCPS Safety Concerns at Town Hall — “On Monday night, parents of Fairfax County students shared their concerns over school safety directly to the district’s superintendent. Their worries ranged from how threats are communicated to whether entrances are actually secure.” A systemwide security review is currently underway. [DC News Now]
Merry-Go-Round May Return to Springfield Town Center — “Heritage Amusements, the amusement concessionaire for mall owner Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (NYSE: PEI), is seeking Fairfax County’s OK to install a carousel on the first level of Springfield Town Center, near where Lego Discovery Center plans to open this summer.” A lease hasn’t been finalized, but the mall hopes to “align” the opening with that of the Lego center. [Washington Business Journal]
Route 1 BRT Among Projects Up for Funding — The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission “is considering 16 projects” to help fund with $48 million in I-395/95 toll revenue. “They include projects related to buses and trains, including an expansion of the Crystal City Virginia Railway Express station and a plan to put bus-only lanes on 16 miles of Route 1 in Fairfax County.” [ABC7]
Old and Young Collaborate on Great Falls Pollinator Garden — “The Residence at Colvin Run, a senior-living facility located in Great Falls, on April 29 welcomed young learners from Kashmir’s Pollinator Garden Club to participate in a Garden Design Challenge…The event was organized by the club…to create a community pollinator garden using the principles of geometry.” [Gazette Leader]
Vienna Church Hosts Prom for People with Disabilities — “It was a night filled with smiles, dancing and happy tears. This was the atmosphere at the Be Our Guest prom, which Vienna Presbyterian Church hosted for guests with special needs. This was a new effort by the church, which runs a Friendship Class for adults with special needs.” [Patch]
Skate Night Coming to Franconia Rec Center — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is hosting the first-ever Family Skate Night at Franconia Rec Center. Grab your roller skates and family and friends for an evening of fun at Franconia Rec Center on Saturday, May 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. The gymnasium…will be converted into a roller-skating rink, complete with a live DJ!” [FCPA]
It’s Wednesday — Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind around 7 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph after midnight. [Weather.gov]