Fairfax County Native Earns Super Bowl Ring — “Years before making it to the most elite game in football, Nick Scott, the starting safety for the Rams, suited up for Fairfax High School, where he wowed fans, connected with coaches, and made lifelong friendships.” [FCPS/Inside NoVA]

Vienna Reexamines Leaf Collection Practices — The Vienna Town Council will hold a public hearing on March 21 to get feedback on potential changes to the town’s practice of collecting leaves and turning them into mulch. Alternatives proposed by a contractor would eliminate mulch delivery and the use of a controversial facility on Beulah Road. [Sun Gazette]

Valentine’s Cards Delivered to School Employees — “7,000 personal valentine cards were delivered to FCPS staff members in more than 40 schools last week as a part of the @VolunteerFFX annual #Valentines Challenge. Thank you @GrandInvolve & all who supported the effort!” [FCPS/Twitter]

Masks No Longer Required in Falls Church City Schools — Falls Church City Public Schools now allows parents to opt their children out of wearing masks, following through on a plan announced last month as COVID-19 cases continue to fall. Students who aren’t wearing masks and haven’t been vaccinated are required to participate in weekly PCR testing screenings. [WTOP]

Election Day Is Here — “Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin were campaigning in many of the same, highly competitive parts of Virginia on Monday, trying to secure last minute support in a governor’s race that has captured national attention as a major referendum on Joe Biden’s presidency.” [Associated Press/WTOP]

County Leaf Collection Season Begins — “Leaf Season begins today Nov. 1. Fairfax County provides vacuum collection of leaves from the curb three times each season to a portion of the residences located in Fairfax County Solid Waste Collection Areas.” [Supervisor Dalia Palchik/Twitter]

Vienna Could Resume In-Person Meetings Soon — The Town of Vienna’s emergency ordinance allowing council, board, and commission members to participate in public meetings remotely due to COVID-19 concerns is currently set to expire on Dec. 7. It can be extended to Dec. 31 at the latest, but Town Attorney Steven Briglia expects the “broader methods of public participation” introduced during the pandemic will continue to be encouraged. [Sun Gazette]

Marshall HS Drama Plans In-Person Return — “Live theatre is back at Marshall High School after nearly two years. Statesmen Theatre will present William Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream from Nov. 11 to 13…Masks will be required for admissions, and concessions will not be available.” [Patch]

Autumn has arrived, and that means Vienna homeowners are about to shift from mowing their lawns to raking them.

However, exactly when that transition will begin remains a little hazy.

The Town of Vienna announced earlier this week that fall leaf collection is coming soon, but the specific details of this year’s schedule have not yet been determined, according to town spokesperson Karen Thayer.

“The weather has been so warm, we haven’t seen much leaf litter, yet,” Thayer told Tysons Reporter. “Typically leaf collection starts toward the end of October or beginning of November, and the timeline depends on Mother Nature.”

According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Northern Virginia’s average temperature in October is 69 degrees Fahrenheit, and fall foliage in the region usually reaches peak color around Oct. 15-25.

This October, though, temperatures have lingered in the 70s with today (Friday) reaching a high of 83 degrees, even as winter arrived early on the other side of the country.

The unusually mild weather falls in line with scientists’ expectations for how the seasons will evolve with climate change, according to the Capital Weather Gang, which predicts that the western cold front will travel east and bring more typical autumnal conditions by Sunday (Oct. 17).

Given the weather’s current volatility, the Town of Vienna is holding off on announcing a concrete timeline for its fall leaf collection, though some other localities in the area, including the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, have already unveiled start dates.

Once collections begin, Vienna’s crews will make at least three passes through town by the end of the calendar year. Residents can see the routes through a map on the town website, and “Leaf Collection Coming Soon” signs will be posted in local neighborhoods in advance of each round.

Leaves should be raked to the curb for collection, or they can be bagged and picked up as part of Vienna’s weekly trash collection services, the town says in its news release:

Residents are asked to rake leaves to the curb for collection. Leaf piles should be free of limbs, sticks, acorns, and other debris that may clog the vacuum hose.

Alternatively, Town residents may, if desired, bag leaves for pick up on regular weekly trash collection days. Please place leaves in paper yard waste bags available at garden and home supply stores or loose in a can. In accordance with anti-pollution laws, burning leaves is prohibited. For more information about leaf collection, call 703-255-6380.

Rake leaves just to the curb. Raking leaves into the street is dangerous because:

• Cars parked on leaf piles may catch fire.
• Children playing in the leaves may be struck by a passing vehicle.
• Leaves may prevent rainwater from reaching storm drain inlets.

Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Now Available — Fairfax County Health Department clinics can provide a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine to people who are fully vaccinated but whose immune systems have been compromised by certain medical conditions or treatments. The third dose is thought to boost the immune response and can be administered at least 28 days after the individual gets their second dose. [FCHD]

Law Firm Moves into Boro Tower — The law firm Williams Mullen announced yesterday (Monday) that it has moved about 30 attorneys and staff members into its new Tysons office at Boro Tower (8350 Broad Street, Suite 1600). The Boro’s developers said in May that the firm had leased 14,950 square feet on the office building’s 16th floor. [Williams Mullen]

McLean Project for the Arts Announces Fall Classes — “Registration is currently underway for fall art classes at McLean Project for the Arts (MPA). Autumn offerings include the return of many popular classes, as well as the debut of exciting new options. MPA will be holding fall classes both online and in-studio.” [MPA]

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

The wind and rain yesterday had me checking my drains and downspouts, but I know not everyone has a fall “to do” list for prepping their home for the winter.

I hope you’ll take into consideration some of these suggestions to get your house ready for the colder months. I’m including some of my favorite vendors below, but if you want my full list of go to people, you can download it for free here.

• Clean your gutters! You may need to do this a few times depending on how many trees are around your home, but make sure you check that the gutters stay empty to allow rain/snow somewhere to go! My go to: Maple Leaf and Gutterman Services.
• Check your drains, especially if you have basement stairs — the easiest way to prevent water in your basement is to keep the drains free and clear of debris! You can do this yourself. Also check gutter downspouts that they’re not blocked by leaves or other debris.
• Have your chimney checked and cleaned. You want to have it checked for cracks to make sure the smoke doesn’t blow back into your house. I use Chimney Doctor (they give a 10% off coupon if you say a realtor referred you). If you have gas fireplace and need help, call Mike at Nova Green Energy.
• Get rid of the leaves! Town of Vienna has leaf collection, but in case you miss your day, or just want to bag up the leaves and dispose of them, my go to is Victor’s Lawn Services (703-593-7776) or [email protected].
• Having any issues with your appliances? Call Vienna local Master Appliance Service.
• Winterize your hose bibs! When our temp drops below freezing, your water lines to the outdoor can freeze and then burst. Find the shut off valves and turn them off, then turn on the hose bibs outside to let all of the water drain out. Leave it like that until the weather warms up again next spring. If you know where your shut offs are, this is easy to do yourself. If you need help and need a plumber, try Hicks Plumbing, Don’t forget to bring hoses inside.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors! Make sure there are new batteries installed and if the device is more than 10 years old, replace it!
• Have your HVAC serviced. This should be done twice a year, but you don’t want to run into an unexpected issue. I use Mannix Heating and Cooling.
• If you’ve just moved or just bought a home, go buy a shovel now! You can get them at McLean Hardware.
• Holiday Décor! One of my neighbors already has their white holiday lights up and it brought so much joy just seeing them! If you’re looking to have holiday lights installed, many landscaping companies will do it. You can also try Shack Shine, Wheat’s, or Christmas Illuminations.

Bonus Tip: Have a long list of general to-do items you want repaired? Change out some lights, touch up painting, or change some tile? My handyman can do it all: C&M Handyman.

School Board Votes Unanimously to Rename Mosby Woods Elementary School — The Fairfax County School Board unanimously approved a name change for Mosby Woods Elementary School during its regular meeting on Thursday (Oct. 8). Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand will present recommendations for possible new names to the board on Oct. 22. [Fairfax County Public Schools]

IT Company Paradyme Management Opens Tysons Office — “To support this growth and also serve as a hub for its growing IT lab, the company opened a new Tysons office at 8255 Greensboro Drive in McLean, Virginia, with close to 4,000 square feet of space.” [Herald-Mail Media]

McLean Area Pumpkin Patch Guide — “If your family has a visit planned to a local pumpkin patch in McLean or Fairfax County, we have a list of stands open in the area.” [Patch]

Staff photo by Michelle Goldchain

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].

This list will look different from last year’s list, where we were blissfully unaware of overcrowding and social distancing.

Lucky for us, if you’re still looking for that Fall Festival feeling, some of the great farms around us are still trying to pull something together for everyone to enjoy. If you go to any of these places, please report back! You can comment below or DM me on Instagram (@LauraSchwartzRealtor).

Cox Farms — Centreville, Virginia
September 25 — November 2, Hours Vary, Close Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
Instead of piling into their hayride, this year they’re offering a self-driven hayride through the fields. Don’t worry — that treacherous puddle we all drive through is only 2 inches deep. Must buy tickets in advance. At the end, there’s an opportunity to get out of the car and takes pictures, do curbside pickup for food/pumpkins at their market.

Great County Farms — Bluemont, Virginia
September 28 — October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market.

Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park — Leesburg, Virginia
September 19 — November 3, Closed on Mondays
Festival activities scavenger hunt, animal barn, live performers, and treats. Purchase tickets online in advance.

Reston Farm Fall Fest — Reston, Virginia
Friday, Saturday and Sunday — now through November 1
Weekends feature a pumpkin moon bounces, moon bounce slides, corn maze moon bounce, train rides, farm animals, balloon artist, face painter and caricature portrait artist! Buy tickets online.

City of Fairfax Fall Festival — Open Virtually Only
Month of October
The festival will be virtual for the entire month of October. No details currently provided, but check the website for more information.

Whitehall Farms — Fairfax, Virginia
Weekends through October 31
Wagon rides, nature trails, lawn games, animals and fields of pumpkins. Bonus: their menu is prepared by local favorite The Fermented Pig. Make sure you buy tickets online.

Wayside Farm — Berryville, Virginia
Fridays — Mondays, through November 1
Amazing Corn Maze (that reads: Wayside Farm Fun Thanks Our Everyday Heroes), pig races, pumpkin patch, farm animals, slides, play area, jumping pillows and more. Buy tickets online.

Don’t Forget

Town of Vienna has Halloween in a Bag available for purchase. Each bag includes: 2 pie size pumpkins, 2 cape kits, pumpkin decorating kits, pumpkin scoop, various Halloween theme toys, candy, activity packet and more. Buy online here.

Vienna Halloween Parade this year is now coming to you! The floats will drive through the Town on October 31 starting at 10 a.m. Read more here.

McLean Fall Scavenger Hunt — Offered through the McLean Community Center through December 7. The hunt includes 75 challenges both indoors and outdoors, such as take specific photos, geocaching, or completing specific tasks. For teams of 4-10.

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

Here is your quarterly reminder on how to care for your home this fall and prepare for the cooler temps, falling leaves and time spent indoors.

If you ever need a contractor, you can always email me for a recommendation. My rolodex is large and full of great tradesman!

• The leaves are falling, so clean your gutters, clear your downspouts and make sure all drains are clear (especially the ones at the bottom of your stairs near your basement).
• Clean your window wells, and if you don’t have a cover, consider installing one. It’ll help prevent water from coming in.
• Winterize your irrigation system and closer your pool!
• Check your roof for damage or missing shingles.
• When the weather drops to freezing temps, don’t forget to winterize your hose bibs. Before then, make sure you remove hoses and bring them inside for protection.
• Check for drafty windows or doors. You can use a strip of paper to check — if you suspect a draft, update your weather-stripping.
• If your driveway or front steps have cracks, they can expand when water gets in and freezes. Seal any cracks before that happens. You can use concrete crack sealer or higher a mason to help.
• Change your HVAC filters. Have an HVAC company perform a seasonal service (should be done twice a year — fall and spring).
• Fertilize your lawn. Those brown spots won’t fix themselves!
• Check your smoke detector, carbon monoxide and flashlight batteries.
• Get your chimney swept before use.
• Prep by buying winter supplies now. Home inspectors advise you not to use salt on your driveway, as it can erode the concrete. Use sand if you’re looking for traction, but that won’t melt the snow either.

Autumn has officially arrived today (Monday) despite it still feeling like summer with temperatures in the 80s and 90s.

While the weather doesn’t have that crisp fall feeling (yet), other signs ushering in the new season have arrived. Pumpkin spice lattes returned a month ago and Halloween-themed stores and selfie museums are popping up in the Tysons area.

To celebrate the start of a new season, Tysons Reporter wants to know what your favorite fall activity is.

As fall approaches, the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons announced a new line of spa treatments.

The company added four new items to their list of services, including a new CBD facial, a velvet massage and an apple manicure.

“As autumn approaches, days get shorter and the weather gets cooler — it’s time to talk skin. Chill temperatures make for dry, stale air and even drier skin,” Corryn Hurrington, a Ritz-Carlton spokesperson, said.

Each treatment is meant to relax and rejuvenate guests, according to the website.

Among the new treatments, the Seaberry Orange CBD Hemp Hydration Facial works to counteract several signs of skin damage and aging, according to the press release.

These seasonal treatments will be available from Sept. 15-Nov. 30. All treatments can be booked online or by calling (703) 744-3924.

Prices range from $55-205.

The spa operates on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Image courtesy Ritz-Carlton