News

2025 Statewide Candidates: Democratic Primary

The 2025 statewide Democratic primary features a diverse group of candidates competing for various key offices, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, and seats in the state legislatures. Fairfax City residents will be voting for Lt. Governor and Attorney General candidates in the Democratic primary.

Search for Fairfax City Manager Still Ongoing

Five months after the removal of Laszlo Palko from the City Manager position, Fairfax is still searching for a permanent candidate to hold the position. A spokesperson from the City Manager’s Office said there has been no updates on the search for a permanent City Manager.

WorldPride DC Hosts Music Festivals, Sports Championships, and Art Exhibits

WorldPride 2025 comes to Washington, D.C., in celebration of its 50th anniversary between May 17 and June 8. Locals seeking exciting weekend activities can attend vibrant marquee events including electrifying music festivals, empowering marches, lively street parties, and cultural showcases.

Congressman Gerry Connolly Passed Away At 75: End of An Era. He Will Be Missed By Many.

U.S. Representative and Northern Virginia’s beloved, Gerald "Gerry" Connolly, a stalwart of Northern Virginia politics and a dedicated public servant, passed away on May 21, 2025, at the age of 75. He died peacefully at his home in Fairfax, surrounded by family, after a battle with esophageal cancer. 

City Council Matters: Environment, Budget & Zoning (op-ed by Kate Doyle Feingold – former City Council Member)

There was a great win for the Fairfax City environment on Earth Day. And a great lesson for tireless residents who continued to speak up about taxpayer dollars going to build destructive, wide, paved roads through our dwindling forests.

Real Estate Taxes are Going Up This Year

Real Estate taxes are going up. The City Manager’s proposed budget increases the real estate tax rate by $0.095 to $1.125 per $100 of assessed value. For CY 2025, the average City resident’s (assessed value of $694,503) annual real estate tax bill would raise the average annual bill by $1,126.

Latest

2025 Statewide Candidates: Democratic Primary

The 2025 statewide Democratic primary features a diverse group of candidates competing for various key offices, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, and seats in the state legislatures. Fairfax City residents will be voting for Lt. Governor and Attorney General candidates in the Democratic primary.

“Why Now May Be the Smartest Time to Move in the DMV Real Estate Market”

While economic activity has remained relatively stable across the country, several Federal Reserve districts are beginning to show signs of a slowdown. Uncertainty surrounding future trade policies and tariffs is contributing to a more cautious business climate. Car sales have ticked upward, but tourism has slowed, and many companies are holding off on hiring decisions due to ongoing tariff concerns.

Fairfax Teen Named National Young Marine of the Year: Congratulations!

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has announced the 2025 National Young Marine of the Year, Chingiz Bahadur, 17, of Fairfax, Virginia, a member of the Potomac River Young Marines in Washington, D.C. Bahadur is a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. 

Reston Pride’s 8th Annual Pride Festival

Reston Pride's 8th annual Pride festival starts on May 31st 6-9pm with its first ever Rising Voices concert featuring young local queer bands. Following that, we have our main festival on Sunday June 1st from 11am-6pm. This year our theme is RISE UP!

Local VIPs Help Food For Neighbors Mark Milestone in Teen Food Insecurity Fight

As National Volunteer Month draws to a close, Food For Neighbors celebrated reaching a milestone in the fight against student hunger by opening their tenth food sorting site.  The Katherine Johnson Middle School in Fairfax is the latest public school to serve as a distribution and sorting site for donated food and toiletries that will reach 8,700 students in 53 local middle and high schools in Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties.

The George Snyder Trail Controversy:  “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, ….” 

The rationale for building an over $21.M, 1.7-mile through-the-woods George Snyder Trail (GST) is falling apart. Initially, the purpose of the GST was to get people from Point A to Point B and support local businesses along Fairfax Boulevard. How does a through-the-woods trail away from businesses do that? How does the less expensive alternative design concept, which creates a shared-use path along Eaton Place and Fairfax Boulevard, not do that?
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Opinion

Response to Open Letter to Mayor and Council: George Snyder Trail

I disagree that there is an effort to stop the construction of the GST. I have been attending and speaking out at city council meetings regularly since 2023, and have met no one who is against implementing some bike trail connectivity between Route 123 and Fair Woods Pkwy, and east to connect with Draper Dr. at Fairfax Blvd. The choice is not a bike trail or not; it’s a question of the footprint of the GST.

The George Snyder Trail Controversy:  “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, ….” 

The rationale for building an over $21.M, 1.7-mile through-the-woods George Snyder Trail (GST) is falling apart. Initially, the purpose of the GST was to get people from Point A to Point B and support local businesses along Fairfax Boulevard. How does a through-the-woods trail away from businesses do that? How does the less expensive alternative design concept, which creates a shared-use path along Eaton Place and Fairfax Boulevard, not do that?

When Wayward Judges Overstep Their Boundaries, We All Lose: Reflections by a defense attorney from a troubling day in Arlington’s courtroom 10A (Op-Ed by...

In late November, I sat in Arlington County Courthouse's courtroom 10A and witnessed a scene that left me deeply unsettled as a veteran defense attorney. A young prosecutor, Abhimanyu Mehta—whose name fittingly translates to "warrior" in the mythological Mahābhārata story about war—stood before Judge Daniel S.  Fiore advocating for the dismissal of charges against a young black man, 31, whom I’ll refer to pseudonymously as Ross Lamas. Charged in late 2022 with one count of felony intent to distribute drugs and four counts of illegal possession of a firearm, Mr. Lamas’ case had been delayed multiple times over two years. Lamas sat quietly with his public defender, Brad Haywood, waiting for what should have been a routine resolution.
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Business

“Why Now May Be the Smartest Time to Move in the DMV Real Estate Market”

While economic activity has remained relatively stable across the country, several Federal Reserve districts are beginning to show signs of a slowdown. Uncertainty surrounding future trade policies and tariffs is contributing to a more cautious business climate. Car sales have ticked upward, but tourism has slowed, and many companies are holding off on hiring decisions due to ongoing tariff concerns.

Discover Peak Shenandoah

The Peak Shenandoah Wine Region is a collaboration of Virginia wineries, located between Delaplane and Strasburg, and comprised of superior viticultural sites, with higher elevation plantings on mountain geological soils.

Fairfax Cities Proposal to Increase Meals Tax – Op-ed by Bill Hamrock

This proposal will significantly hurt restaurants in Fairfax City. From my restaurant point of view customers will see this as a 12% tax. Currently Meals tax is 4% and Sales...

Community

“Why Now May Be the Smartest Time to Move in the DMV Real Estate Market”

While economic activity has remained relatively stable across the country, several Federal Reserve districts are beginning to show signs of a slowdown. Uncertainty surrounding future trade policies and tariffs is contributing to a more cautious business climate. Car sales have ticked upward, but tourism has slowed, and many companies are holding off on hiring decisions due to ongoing tariff concerns.

Fairfax Teen Named National Young Marine of the Year: Congratulations!

The Young Marines, a national youth organization, has announced the 2025 National Young Marine of the Year, Chingiz Bahadur, 17, of Fairfax, Virginia, a member of the Potomac River Young Marines in Washington, D.C. Bahadur is a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. 

City

Search for Fairfax City Manager Still Ongoing

Five months after the removal of Laszlo Palko from the City Manager position, Fairfax is still searching for a permanent candidate to hold the position. A spokesperson from the City Manager’s Office said there has been no updates on the search for a permanent City Manager.

The George Snyder Trail Controversy:  “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, ….” 

The rationale for building an over $21.M, 1.7-mile through-the-woods George Snyder Trail (GST) is falling apart. Initially, the purpose of the GST was to get people from Point A to Point B and support local businesses along Fairfax Boulevard. How does a through-the-woods trail away from businesses do that? How does the less expensive alternative design concept, which creates a shared-use path along Eaton Place and Fairfax Boulevard, not do that?

Government

2025 Statewide Candidates: Democratic Primary

The 2025 statewide Democratic primary features a diverse group of candidates competing for various key offices, including lieutenant governor, attorney general, and seats in the state legislatures. Fairfax City residents will be voting for Lt. Governor and Attorney General candidates in the Democratic primary.

Reston Pride’s 8th Annual Pride Festival

Reston Pride's 8th annual Pride festival starts on May 31st 6-9pm with its first ever Rising Voices concert featuring young local queer bands. Following that, we have our main festival on Sunday June 1st from 11am-6pm. This year our theme is RISE UP!
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Entertainment

Reston Pride’s 8th Annual Pride Festival

Reston Pride's 8th annual Pride festival starts on May 31st 6-9pm with its first ever Rising Voices concert featuring young local queer bands. Following that, we have our main festival on Sunday June 1st from 11am-6pm. This year our theme is RISE UP!

WorldPride DC Hosts Music Festivals, Sports Championships, and Art Exhibits

WorldPride 2025 comes to Washington, D.C., in celebration of its 50th anniversary between May 17 and June 8. Locals seeking exciting weekend activities can attend vibrant marquee events including electrifying music festivals, empowering marches, lively street parties, and cultural showcases.

Richmond

When Wayward Judges Overstep Their Boundaries, We All Lose: Reflections by a defense attorney from a troubling day in Arlington’s courtroom 10A (Op-Ed by...

In late November, I sat in Arlington County Courthouse's courtroom 10A and witnessed a scene that left me deeply unsettled as a veteran defense attorney. A young prosecutor, Abhimanyu Mehta—whose name fittingly translates to "warrior" in the mythological Mahābhārata story about war—stood before Judge Daniel S.  Fiore advocating for the dismissal of charges against a young black man, 31, whom I’ll refer to pseudonymously as Ross Lamas. Charged in late 2022 with one count of felony intent to distribute drugs and four counts of illegal possession of a firearm, Mr. Lamas’ case had been delayed multiple times over two years. Lamas sat quietly with his public defender, Brad Haywood, waiting for what should have been a routine resolution.

Governor Youngkin’s 2025 Legislative Actions

Governor Glenn Youngkin has concluded his actions on the 916 bills sent to him during the 2025 General Assembly session, a process marked by both cooperation and conflict. He signed 599 bills into law, amended 159, and vetoed 157, also returning the budget with numerous amendments and item vetoes.

Sports

Congratulations! 2025 National STEM Finalists

Congratulations to this year’s National STEM Finalists from all across the United States. The National STEM Festival celebrates the exceptional talents of our nation’s youth and the innovative businesses driving progress, all year round. The Festival’s mission is to guide bright minds toward careers in STEM and to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s Festival was hosted by EXPLR and was held from March 19 - 21 in DC. 

Still Feeling March Madness!

March Madness is in full swing, with both the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments advancing toward their respective championships. Here's an overview of the current developments:​

Technology

Running Out of Space on Your iPhone or iPad? Here’s How to Free Up Storage

Low storage space on your iPhone/iPad can be annoying. From sluggish performance to failed app downloads, storage issues can disrupt your daily activities. This guide will help you understand...

Congratulations! 2025 National STEM Finalists

Congratulations to this year’s National STEM Finalists from all across the United States. The National STEM Festival celebrates the exceptional talents of our nation’s youth and the innovative businesses driving progress, all year round. The Festival’s mission is to guide bright minds toward careers in STEM and to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s Festival was hosted by EXPLR and was held from March 19 - 21 in DC. 

Can Water Damage Be Fixed at Cell Phone Repair Shops?

Our cellphones in the modern world almost seem to be a mirror of us. They contain priceless memories, close friends, and necessary everyday apps among other things. It might therefore seem like a tragedy when our phones fall into a sink, toilet, or get trapped in a deluge. You might be shocked to find, though, that water damage is often treatable with professional assistance before you settle for a different phone.

The Looming Public Health Crisis: AI Data Centers and Air Pollution

The relentless march of artificial intelligence, with its insatiable hunger for data and processing power, is creating an unforeseen environmental and public health crisis. As computer processing demands surge,...

Wellness

What’s The Big Deal About Magnesium?

Magnesium is a vital mineral participating in over 300 bodily enzymes, crucial for energy creation, healthy muscles and nerves, strong bones, balanced blood sugar, and mental well-being. Many individuals do not consume enough magnesium. This article will discuss magnesium's importance, signs of deficiency, recommended intake, food sources, and the role of supplements.

What is Earth Day? Our Power, Our Planet

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day is celebrated with the kickoff of thousands of green programs, activities, and community events around the globe. 

Kader’s Barbershop: Fairfax City’s Trusted Grooming Destination

Kader’s Barbershop has been a cornerstone of the Fairfax City community, offering exceptional men's grooming services with a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Established in 2018, this family-owned...

Volunteering and Civic Life In America: Estimated Worth $5.2 billion per year

In Northern Virginia and all across the state, volunteers play an integral role in supporting robust community life and ensuring access to vital programs and resources. Since 1974, National Volunteer Week has provided an opportunity to recognize these volunteers and the impact their volunteerism can make by tackling society’s greatest challenges, building stronger communities, and transforming the world. This year, National Volunteer Week takes place April 20–26, providing an opportunity for us to celebrate the volunteers who make our community better every day.  
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