Mercia Hobson

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

Challenges Don’t Take a Holiday

What about those experiencing hunger and homelessness?

Hunger

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.

“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

Name Change for W. T. Woodson High School

Intentionally uplifting people who were held down.

Woodson name

Virginia Dems: Blue Wall in Both Houses

One Republican Supervisor-elect, zero Republican-endorsed school board member-elects

Election

Nov. 7 General Election

What’s happening at polling places on Election Day.

Election Day

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.

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.

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.

Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 11-18

Hunger and homelessness growing in Fairfax County

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.

Va. Supreme Court Refuses Second Petition to Rehear zMOD

What now?

zMOD

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

The Dr. Larry Bussey Family & Community Library: FCSB approves renaming Family Resource Center library

Library renaming

Learning Outside the Classroom

Students raise funds to build schoolhouse in Africa.

School house

FCPS First Day of School 2023

New strategic plan, expanded bus pass, and Metrobus program.

School Starts

Environmental Groups Sue to Stop Exit from RGGI

Legal action calls for Virginia to remain in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and continue participation; challenging Youngkin administration action.

Greenhouse gas

Bandaid Approaches to Food Insecurity

School system extends summer food program at public school sites.

School food program

FCPS Responds to State Policies for Trans Students

Reactions and concerns

Trans students

Does FCPS Have Enough Air Purifiers?

Deadline passed for more free help for classroom air.

Air purifiers

Programs Assist Seniors and Others with Home Repairs

Help is on the way, one way or another.

Home repair

Executive Director of Police Review Panel to Resign.

Richardson served less than 18 months in the newly created position.

Resignation

Phase 1, Fairfax County’s Master Arts Plan, Facilities

Arts

PERF: FCPD Lacked Crisis, Decision Making Training

5 of 7 police shooting incidents involved mental health crises, but training for such situations has been lacking for years.

Police training

Women's Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund Breaks Fundraising Records

All-volunteer organization raises $100,000; learn how.

The Women's Club of Great Falls Scholarship Fund reached new fundraising heights last month. The organization's spring fundraiser, Miami Vice, raised over $100,000, shattering previous records. As the board and the event committee put in many hours of preparation. They raised $53,000 more than they did the year before.

Action Deferred on Reston Comp Plan Study

Public hearing testimony fraught with details, one-offs and major issues.

When the Fairfax County Planning Commission convened for its meeting on Wednesday, June 14, it granted unanimous approval to defer action on the Reston Comprehensive Plan Study application PA 2020-III-UP1 Hunter Mill, until June 28. Additionally, the commission approved keeping the record open for written comments through June 28.

Significant Uptick in FCPD Officer-Involved Shootings

PERF review of FCPD policy and shooting incidents

Police Shootings

Final Visioning Presentation for Lake Anne

Streetsense and county staff conduct community meeting; Phase 2 in the works

Herndon Festival Returns After Four Years

Final attendance expected to break 30,000.

Last Minute Concerns Erupt Over Reston Comprehensive Plan

Planning commissioner hosts event one week before public hearing.

Why the urgency? The Planning Commission Public Hearing is June 14, Planning Commission Action is June 28, and the Public Hearing and Final Approval by the Board of Supervisors is July 25.