The blacktop that passes for a basketball court behind Cedar Lane School in Vienna is up for some refurbishments.
Fairfax County Public Schools went before Vienna’s Board of Architectural Review last Thursday (Aug. 18) to obtain approval for proposed exterior modifications that would improve the 9,842-square-foot facility at 101 Cedar Lane with new basketball hoops, a resurfacing, and added playing lines.
Fairfax County Public Schools Kick Off New Year — Led by new Superintendent Michelle Reid, FCPS administrators and staff welcomed students back in a video message. “I can’t wait to see our bright future taking shape in our Fairfax County Public School classrooms as we all come together to learn and innovate this year. Our staff and leadership has been working hard all summer, and believe me, we are ready,” Reid said. [FCPS/YouTube]
Fire Department Investigates Fairfax Area Arson — “Fire Investigators are seeking the public’s help in obtaining information regarding an arson that occurred in the basement of a home under construction sometime between the evening on Monday, August 15, and the early morning on Tuesday, August 16, in the 11500 block of Leehigh Drive in the Fairfax area.” [FCFRD]
FCPS Sees Improvement in SOL Scores — “FCPS annual pass rates for 2022 indicate that, while the road to recovery continues, FCPS students made promising gains in reading, mathematics, and science over the course of the 2022 school year. The data show that FCPS reading rates this year are nearly commensurate with pre-pandemic levels at 79%, while math rates are up by 13 percentage points to 74%. Science pass rates have improved by a third this school year.” [FCPS]
D.C. Area Sees Increase in Heavy Rain — “The Washington area saw an increase in thunderstorms this summer, leaving tens of thousands without power, severe damage, and, recently, killing three in a lightning strike near the White House. August alone has seen eight hours of recorded thunderstorms in Washington, according to Iowa State University’s Iowa Environmental Mesonet — or about two hours more than the 49-year average of 5.9 hours.” [Inside NoVA]
New Fair Lakes Townhomes Now Open — “Great day for the ribbon-cutting at the Enclave at Fair Lakes yesterday. Integrity Homes did an outstanding job in their design of the project – from the rooftop decks, to the partial brick interiors, to the dog park and community gathering spots and much more.” [Supervisor Pat Herrity/Twitter]
Hundreds of Speeding Tickets Issued in One Day — “Officers from our Motor Squad wrote over 400 tickets along the Fairfax County Parkway in ONE day! Officers issued tickets for speeds up to 106 MPH. Please slow down, obey traffic signals & be a courteous driver. Everyone wants to get to their destination safely!” [FCPD/Twitter]
Herndon Hires New Town Clerk — “The Town of Herndon has named Kirstyn Barr Jovanovich as Town Clerk. Jovanovich replaces Viki Wellershaus, who is retiring from the town after 29 years of service…Jovanovich comes to the town following two tours of duty as town manager of the Town of Occoquan” [Town of Herndon]
Former County Executive Gets New Biography — “It’s been 32 years since J Hamilton Lambert finished his decade of service as Fairfax County executive, but his impact on the history of the county and Washington region is evident…Gerald Gordon, former president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, fleshed out Lambert’s life story in his latest book” [Sun Gazette]
Local Police Officer Wins Medal in Darts — “Lt. Michael Tucker of the Fairfax County Police Department who’s a tournament regular just won a silver medal at the World Police & Fire Games at Rotterdam, The Netherlands. As a New York native who relocated to Fairfax, Tucker is no stranger to the game of darts.” [Fairfax County Times]
It’s Monday — Rain until evening. High of 82 and low of 71. Sunrise at 6:30 am and sunset at 7:55 pm. [Weather.gov]
Fairfax County Public Schools has made several bus stop changes in the Oakton area after conducting a safety review of the Blake Lane corridor. Announced today (Friday), the school system…
A D.C.-based flamenco dance company will entertain McLean audiences for a full year as The Alden’s new artist-in-residence. The McLean Community Center announced last week that its in-house theater will…
A D.C.-based flamenco dance company will entertain McLean audiences for a full year as The Alden’s new artist-in-residence.
The McLean Community Center announced last week that its in-house theater will host public events and serve as an “incubator” for the Furia Flamenca Dance Company, which has performed in the center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue in the past.
“Alden audiences absolutely adore flamenco and pack the house at Furia Flamenca’s performances here,” MCC Performing Arts Director Sarah Schallern Treff said, noting that Furia founder and artistic director Estela Vélez de Paredez’s lectures on flamenco history and styles “have been especially popular.”
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.
As summer vacation is coming to an end, there are still a few weeks left before school starts to make memories with your family.
As a mom of three and a Realtor, I really try to be intentional about spending quality time with my kids. I challenged myself to have “dates” with each child to create special memories. Here are a few experiences that made a lasting impact on us!
A trip to the City of Fairfax Regional Library to see a puppet show or just grab a few books to engage with together later. Followed by a quick walk across the street to cool down at the Splash Pad and then to grab a treat at the legendary Woody’s Ice Cream. A perfect combination for all ages.
Point 50 StoryWalk is an opportunity to read “Nugget and Fang Go to School” and engage with businesses in Fairfax’s Point 50 Shopping Center. There are 15 stops with pages from the book featured in storefront windows plus additional fun activities along the way.
We had such an adventure at Roer’s Zoofari in Vienna. The new ownership did make changes to the overall experience which was great for those of us who love to feed the animals! Roer’s Zoo guarantees laughs and memories for the entire family. After a few hours at the zoo, we headed to Playa Bowl at Reston Town Center for the best acai bowls in the area. Our favorite is the Electric Mermaid!
When the heat’s too intense or the rain showers the day away, leave it to Chuck E. Cheese for a power hour of old school fun. $17.99 for ALL you can play for an hour. Also, who doesn’t love a quick Trader Joe’s stop to grab a few of those yummy staples to bring home?
Scramble has saved us this summer several times. Both the Falls Church and Alexandria locations are fun for all ages. They have thought of everything from quiet space to take a call or food options you will not regret. Great place for a PlayDate or just to get the wiggles out.
After hours of play at Scramble Falls Church we always head over to one of our favorite spots for a bite. Fava Pot offers authentic Egyptian food that everyone in our family loves from the hummus with pita bread to the grilled chicken seasoned to perfection — and don’t forget the famous fava beans!
When in Tysons we like to visit Bowlero, the newest bowling alley in the area. And they are still offering 50% summer game passes. This bowling alley is amazing! Of course, you will have to stop by Jeni’s at The Boro for your sampling of the most gourmet flavors in the area.
Pro Tip: 2 half scoops is the way to go so you can taste two flavors!
Explore Fairfax with Sharmane Medaris of McEnearney.
Sharmane Medaris | Live Fairfax | www.soldbysharmane.com | [email protected] | @soldbysharmane | 813-504-4479 | 374 Maple Avenue Suite 202, Vienna, VA 22180
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
After enduring roughly four years of construction, drivers will soon get access to the first piece of the revamped I-66 and Capital Beltway interchange in Dunn Loring.
A new flyover exit ramp from the northbound Beltway, also known as I-495, to I-66 West is set to open next Thursday (Aug. 25) morning, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday (Aug. 17).
While free school lunches ended nationally earlier this summer, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will still offer free meals to students at a select number of schools.
Earlier this month, FCPS announced that it will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which distributes breakfast and lunch to students attending schools in low-income areas at no cost.
I-66 Lane Closure in Vienna Area Starts Tonight — “The left travel lane on I-66 East between Cedar Lane and I-495 will be closed beginning around 9 p.m. Friday, August 19, through 5 a.m. Thursday, August 25, to allow for continued construction of the future I-66 Express Lanes…Drivers should plan for traffic delays and consider alternative routes during this period.” [VDOT]
Superintendent Says FCPS Prepared for New School Year, Despite Gaps in Staff — “Out of the 15,000 teachers employed by FCPS, about 150 of them are part of the residency program. But a look at Fairfax County openings still shows a lot. By our count, more than 350. The county says that where they still have vacancies, central office staff with teacher licenses will be asked to cover until a permanent teacher has been hired.” [WUSA9]
Korean Bakery Opens in Annandale — “The Tous les Jours bakery and café opened Aug. 15 in the East Gate Shopping Center in Annandale. The shop, at 4243 John Marr Drive, offers pastries, bread, fancy cakes, muffins, donuts, croissants, scones, buns, macarons, and other baked goods.” [Annandale Today]
Kingstowne Developer Plans Land Sale — “The Halle Cos. looks poised to sell off a Kingstowne parcel approved for multifamily development, its last piece of a sprawling retail-dominated site…Halle now has the final piece of the puzzle — a 4.7-acre parking lot sandwiched between Kingstowne Village Parkway and Kingstowne Towne Center — under contract with The NRP Group, a Cleveland-based real estate developer and manager.” [Washington Business Journal]
Firefighters Deliver Backpacks for Students — “On Tuesday, August 16, members of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, our retiree group, public safety partners Fairfax County Police Department, along with various community groups, came together at Station 11, Penn Daw, to provide 1500 backpacks and school supplies for deserving kids.” [FCFRD]
Fairfax Connector Changes Coming This Fall — “Later this fall, the Fairfax Connector bus service is set to make several service and fare changes, including changes to routes in the Springfield and Tysons areas. The changes are set to go into effect Oct. 1.” [WTOP]
Reston Hospital Patient Walks After Tractor Accident — “Yussif Alhassan did something last week that some might’ve thought impossible five months ago. He stood up and walked. On March 13, Alhassan arrived in the emergency room at Reston Hospital Center after his entire lower body had been crushed by a tractor.” [Patch]
County Well-Represented Among Fastest-Growing Companies — “This year, 113 Fairfax County-based companies, along with 72 companies located in additional Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance jurisdictions, made the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies.” [Fairfax County EDA]
GMU Reaches 50-Year Mark — “George Mason University in Fairfax is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year…Northern Virginians and outsiders alike have seen Mason transform into a hub for technology, politics, and more — and they’ve seen Mason transform the region along with it.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Friday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 86 and low of 68. Sunrise at 6:27 am and sunset at 8:00 pm. [Weather.gov]
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Step back in time!
Join a Reston Museum docent for the last walking tours of the summer! A free guided walking tour exploring Reston’s founding occurs Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
Tour starts at the Reston Museum and lasts approximately 30 minutes. The tour explores how Reston revolutionized America’s suburban neighborhoods. Advanced registration is encouraged to secure attendance, as tour size will be limited.
Those who wish to sign up for a tour can register here.
Marketing for this program is supported by the Virginia Tourism Corporation Grant in partnership with George Mason University and Reston Association.
Employee bonuses, facility improvements, and a study of middle school start times are among the priorities that Fairfax County Public Schools can now fund, thanks to some financial leeway from…
Five regional contemporary artists will highlight Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art‘s bi-annual Mary B. Howard Invitational. The group exhibition — slated to take place at the institute’s Reston Town Center…
Celebrate Fairfax Inc. will close out the summer tomorrow (Friday) with an outdoor bash and some tunes. The nonprofit organization best known for staging the annual Celebrate Fairfax! Festival will…
(Updated at 3:25 p.m.) Another Amazon Fresh is coming soon to Fairfax County, according to a report. The Washington Business Journal reports that Amazon.com Inc. is seeking subcontractors to renovate…
Registration is open now for the 15-week fall season of the Encore Chorale of Fairfax, a local group that sings an eclectic mix of music from many eras, and Fairfax ROCKS, a rock & roll chorus that sings favorite hits from the 50s through the 80s. No auditions needed!The Chorale meets Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning September 6th at St George’s United Methodist Church. Fairfax ROCKS meets Fridays, beginning September 9th, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna. Leading both groups is David Lang, prominent choral conductor, vocal coach, professional accompanist and concert organist throughout the greater Washington area.
The season will culminate in a concert that is free and open to the public. Come join a fun community of older adult singers, meet new friends and experience joy. Tuition: $190 per person per program.
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The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
Employee bonuses, facility improvements, and a study of middle school start times are among the priorities that Fairfax County Public Schools can now fund, thanks to some financial leeway from staff vacancies and state revenue.
The school system has about $90.9 million left over from fiscal year 2022, which ran from July 1, 2021 to June 30 of this year, FCPS leaders reported to the school board during its last regular meeting on July 14.
