Fed Up: Fairfax Connector Workers on Strike
Union cites unfair labor practices and Transdev’s ‘slow-walking the talks.’
Bus Strike
County Executive Presents FY 2025 Advertised Budget
Tax increase proposed; jobs cut; state underfunds schools; supervisors will make changes.
Budget
House of Delegates Considering SB 280, Medical Aid in Dying
Death with dignity bill passed in Virginia Senate.
Death with Dignity
DOJ Releases Uvalde Review in mid-January
Where are comments by Fairfax County and Virginia on recommendations?
Review
County’s FY 2025 Budget Process Kicks Into Gear
Potential budgetary shortfall of $284.5 million complicates matters.
Budget
Casino Bill SB 675 Carries Over in 13 to 2 Vote
VA Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee ends consideration of a Tysons casino for this session; likely to be back in 2025
Casino bill
Casino Bill is Dead for 2024
Carried it over until 2025.
Sen. Marsden’s SB 675 Casino Bill Carried Over: Opponents react; Marsden touts benefits.
FCPS Proposed Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan
Climate change, gerrymandering, and inequitable funding discussed.
Climate change, gerrymandering, and inequitable funding discussed.
January as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month
Prevention, detection, badge-to-badge support, and data gathering.
Cancer Month
Spotlighting the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate
The Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services facility empowers individuals and families.
The Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate in Reston is a vital, active neighborhood hub. Located at 12125 Pinecrest Road, Dogwood Elementary School, a Fairfax County Title 1 grant program school, anchors the community.
Multiple Rotary Clubs Collaborate for Rise Against Hunger
Volunteers and sponsors needed.
Volunteers and sponsors are sought for the Rise Against Hunger Food Packaging event at Aldrin Elementary School, 11375 Center Harbor Road, Reston, VA, Saturday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; set-up at 8:30 a.m.
Volunteer Fairfax Mobilizes Hundreds for
Weekend of Service 2024 benefits those in need and bolsters volunteerism.
Volunteerism
Reston Community Center’s Annual MLK Celebration
Rev. William J. Barber II calls on us to recommit to the fight for justice and remember the real King.
MLK Day
Herndon Festival ‘Permanently Canceled’
Reasons why may differ from what you think.
The award-winning outdoor Herndon Festival, held yearly and produced by the town’s parks and recreation department, supported by volunteers since 1981 (except for one year during COVID) is permanently canceled.
Looking for Miracles- Public Menorah Lighting
Five oil pots lit commencing the 5th day of Chanukah.
One of the traditions that is widespread among people of faith is celebrating the holidays with light.
Cornerstones Opens Food Hub
Other nonprofits can supplement their resources.
A challenge existed for Cornerstones: wasted food, tons of it destroyed in the communities the nonprofit organization served, yet people were going home and going to sleep at night hungry.
Supervisors Recognize Penny Gross
Thanking outgoing Mason District Supervisor for years of service to Fairfax County.
After serving seven consecutive terms as the Mason District Supervisor and attending more than 700 Board of Supervisors meetings, the Dec. 5, 2023 meeting will forever be etched in the memory of Penny Gross, who currently serves as vice chair. It was her final board meeting with colleagues.
Angels Soar in Great Falls
Wish List Project 2023 benefits Fairfax County foster care, The Women’s Center, Second Story, Herndon ES and Aldrin ES
As part of the Wish List Project in its 23rd year, donors brought hundreds of gift items they purchased to the Perez family home in Great Falls on Saturday, Dec. 9.
Supervisors Recognize Outgoing Dranesville District Supervisor John W. Foust
Thank you for years of dedication and service to Fairfax County!
At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution honoring Dranesville District Supervisor John W. Foust for his community service.
Vouchers Help Erode Barriers to Affordable Housing
One option to open the door to the county’s lowest income residents.
Vouchers
Supervisors Approve Good Faith Funding for Police & Firefighters
Fiscal Year One Impacts: $33 million for police and $24.7 million for firefighters and paramedics
Funding
Food Lines Resemble Bread Lines of Great Depression
2,000 people in need show up for help.
“The need was great — at one point, people were lined up around the block waiting to receive canned food, dry goods, fresh produce, and winter clothes.” — Herndon Vice Mayor Clark Hedrick
Supervisors Approve Good Faith Funding for Police & Firefighters
Fiscal Year One Impacts: $33 million for police and $24.7 million for firefighters and paramedics
“Many of the commitments that are in this, that we are expecting the county executive to include in his budget proposal to us, are things likely we would have done anyway.” — Chairman Jeff McKay (D)
Impact of Fairfax’s High Rental Costs and Low Income
Validity of the point-in-time count
Rents out of control
Veterans Day 2023
Observance at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial
“The willingness with which young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars are treated and appreciated by their nation,” — Bruce Fein, Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army Reserves
Veterans Day 2023
Coming together “to honor generations of women and men who have served and sacrificed.”
In the Town of Herndon, members of the Wayne M. Kidwell American Legion Post 184 members started their day’s observance at dawn.
Name Change for W. T. Woodson High School
Intentionally uplifting people who were held down.
Woodson name
Wrapping Up Matters in 2023, or Not
Supervisors to take action on two controversial items, a data center in Chantilly and Dark Skies in Great Falls.
Election
Virginia Dems: Blue Wall in Both Houses
One Republican Supervisor-elect, zero Republican-endorsed school board member-elects
Election
County’s Hypothermia Prevention Program Opens Dec. 1
2023 homelessness statistics show 10 percent increase in people experiencing homelessness at the Point in Time count.
Hypothermia
2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's
Northern Virginia’s Alzheimer's Association provides support, help, research and more.
Northern Virginia’s Alzheimer's Association provides support, help, research and more.
Member School Board by District
Franconia, Mount Vernon Districts
In November, Fairfax County voters will choose 12 school board members to serve four-year terms starting Jan. 1, 2024. Nineteen candidates are running for the nine magisterial district seats. There are also three at-large seats in the November election. Virginia's School board elections are nonpartisan, meaning that party affiliations can not appear on the ballots for school board candidates. Nevertheless, parties may publicly endorse their candidates.
District Members, Board of Supervisors
Braddock, Franconia, Mount Vernon, Providence & Springfield Districts
The Nov. 7 election includes the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Nine members are elected by voters in local districts to serve four-year terms. Twenty-one district candidates are in the race, with seven incumbents.
Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 11-18
Hunger and homelessness growing in Fairfax County
Hunger and homelessness growing in Fairfax County
Police Challenge Some Professional Recommendations
Chief gives status implementation to supervisors.
Police
Candidate Connection: Candidates for Sheriff, Fairfax County, City of Fairfax
Candidates for Sheriff, Fairfax County, City of Fairfax
Election
Candidate Connection: School Board At Large
Three open seats, zero incumbents, nine challengers
School Board
Fairfax County NAACP Condemns Chief Davis’s Action
Chief rejects recommendations and measures to save lives.
Fairfax County police chased and killed Timothy Johnson during a foot pursuit seven months ago; he was suspected of stealing sunglasses. Community leaders, Fairfax NAACP, ACLU People Power, and faith leaders say Fairfax County must prioritize police reform before another death.
Chief to Present Foot Pursuit Policy to Supervisors
Oct. 3 Public Safety Committee meeting will bring some long awaited responses from FCPD.
Foot
Students Protest VDOE’s Policies
Flash point awaits as some schools balk at implementing policies.
Policies
Great Falls Author Unravels an Eight-Generation Truth
"The Politzer Saga" tells the story of a remarkable family whose history was shrouded in secrecy when they came to the U.S.
Author
