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The Fairfax Independent, 3976 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA (2025)

09/08/2025

Candidate Forum - Virginia House of Delegates

09/08/2025

Pickleball: Yes, More Paddles! Back in 2017, Fairfax County gave a collective nod to the pickleball boom—either that or they were just jealous of the fun everyone was having—and decided to add more courts. Fast-forward to 2024, and the county was slapping down 84 total courts, of which 16 were hardcore, dedicated pickleball-only zones. Think of them as the VIP suites of the pickleball world—exclusive, no tennis allowed.

As expected, the racket (pun intended) got quiet objections. A few pickleball court share-holders—or, as the less enthused might call them, "neighbors"—complained the noise was hitting their chill zone levels too hard. The Park Authority blinked and conjured up a compromise: transform those noisy courts back into tennis land. Cue the pickleballers staging a mini revolt. The Park Authority, wisely, hit pause and said, "Let us hear you, Fairfax… from a safe distance." Community feedback was solicited, feedback forms were filled, and debates were had over snacks and sodas.

Now in 2025, the verdict’s in: the pickleball hype train is back on track. Wakefield Park and Greenbriar Park are getting brand-new courts. Fairfax County just upgraded from “maybe?” to “heck yes, more paddles!”

Oh, and by the way: pickleball comes in two flavors:

Dedicated courts: strictly pickleball—no tennis followers allowed.

Shared-use courts: a hybrid zone. Tread carefully, tennis players and pickleballers alike.

If you're looking to channel your inner competitor or just want to d**k around with friends, Fairfax has your spots—Green Acres Center and Van Dyck Park, plus a few others marked on the official map. Want tournaments? Try Down the Line Sports Center (DTL)—they’ve got leagues, matches, and open play. FCPA surfaces too, while private venues like FXA Sports, Legend Sports, and Global Pickleball Network let you play for a fee. Open play needs registration and is for players aged 12+. Popular times? Weekday afternoons (8 a.m.–2 p.m.) and cozy evening sessions (5 p.m.–10 p.m.). Feeling addicted? Memberships are always an option.

In Vienna, Glyndon Park is the lone court in town—and it’s a bit dramatic. Out of 18 noise complaints, 10 led to police warnings. This prompted reduced hours and a reservations-only system. After collecting feedback, the town said things have chilled somewhat, but noise is still a concern. Vienna’s Town Council politely nudged the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to find non-residential pickleball locations. The county’s response? A shared-use pickleball court at Cunningham Park. And you have to be a Vienna local to snag a timeslot at Glyndon—plus, reservations are mandatory. Want lessons? They've got those too (for a price, natch).

With pickleball fever still running at an all time high, has anyone floated ideas to Fairfax officials to create private-public partnerships and flip dilapidated tennis courts, such as at Idylwood Towers, into a joint venture?

08/29/2025

2025 World Happiness Report: America Is Not Happy https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/2025-world-happiness-report-america-is-not-happy/ Happiness News People Wellness The World Happiness Report, first published in 2012, is an annual survey that ranks countries by their citizens' self-reported happiness levels. Commissioned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report utilizes data from the Gallup World Poll, which gathers responses from approximately 1,000 people per country. Respondents evaluate their lives on a scale from 0 to 10, assessing their overall satisfaction.

08/29/2025

GMU Women’s Basketball https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/gmu-womens-basketball/ News Sports George Mason University's women's basketball team has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years, solidifying its position as a rising power in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Under the leadership of Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis, the Patriots have achieved unprecedented success.

08/29/2025

2025 Cherry National Cherry Blossom Festival https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/2025-cherry-national-cherry-blossom-festival/ Happiness News

08/29/2025

Sign the Petition: Havabite's Last Cry for Help https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/sign-the-petition-haveabites-last-cry-for-help/ City Community Latest News People Restaurant Havabite Eatery, a cherished family-owned restaurant in Old Town Fairfax will be closing its doors at 10416 Main Street on March 31, 2025, after 47 years of serving the community. Havabite Eatery is a staple in the Old Town Fairfax, offering homemade Greek, Italian, and American cuisines.

08/29/2025

Governor’s pardon of Tyson's shooter https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/governors-pardon-of-tysons-shooter/ County Courts News On Feb. 22 2023, police sergeant Wesley Shifflett shot and killed Timothy McCree Johnson in an incident that has since sparked extensive controversy and debate around the use of deadly force by law enforcement. Johnson had reportedly fled after being caught shoplifting two pairs of sunglasses from the Nordstrom inside Tysons Corner Center. Police confronted him in a poorly-lit wooded area following a short foot pursuit. After issuing two commands to get on the ground, Shifflett fired two rounds at Johnson, striking him in the chest. He was pronounced dead 44 minutes later at Fairfax Hospital.

08/29/2025

Virginia Colleges Dismantle DEI Programs Amid Political Pressure https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/virginia-colleges-dismantle-dei-programs-amid-political-pressure/ News In recent months, we have been reading in the media from AP News to Axios, about several Virginia colleges and universities that have begun dismantling their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in response to political pressures and potential federal funding implications. This trend aligns with broader national movements influenced by directives from the Trump administration and state-level leadership.

08/29/2025

Real Estate Taxes are Going Up This Year https://fairfaxindependentnews.press/real-estate-taxes-are-going-up-this-year/ Community Latest News 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.

08/29/2025

Old Food Color, New Food Color Stories Latest News Shopping Wellness Vibrant shades of red and blue are seemingly the trademarks of American candy. Such colors, however, do not occur naturally.

Synthetic dyes have been used to color American foods for decades, helping to provide the signature vivid appearances that most are familiar with. However, health advocates have long called for the removal of such dyes in food ingredients, citing their adverse health effects in the hyperactivity of children, potential cancer-causing risks, and a plethora of other issues. Dr. Peter Lurise, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, spoke on this issue, stating, “ “Their only purpose is to make food companies money. Food dyes help make ultraprocessed foods more attractive, especially to children, often by masking the absence of a colorful ingredient, like fruit.”

This was addressed by U.S. health officials’ declaration to urge food makers to filter out the use of petroleum-based artificial colors in food production, specifically to eliminate the use of synthetic dyes by the end of next year. Rather than providing a formal agreement, health officials announced that they would rely on voluntary efforts from the food industry, and that the Food and Drug Administration would be establishing guidelines and a timeline for the industry to swap synthetic dyes with natural alternatives, which have long been used by Canada and Europe. While this move is intended to promote the health of American children, it has not all been smooth sailing.

Despite claims regarding the health issues of synthetic dyes, the Food and Drug Administration has continued to state that scientific evidence supports the safe nature of foods containing color additives. Meanwhile, other associations have stated that the entire removal of such dyes by the end of 2026 will prompt other issues, such as a spike in grocery prices. Different angles to this complex issue have carried different arguments, but the promised changes are likely to be noticeable soon.

The Food and Drug Administration announced that they would be initiating the process to revoke authorization for Citrus Red No. 2—which is commonly used to enhance the peel coloring of oranges—and Orange B—often used for sausage casings—within the approaching months. Meanwhile, they are working to entirely eliminate FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2 by the end of next year. These dyes are prevalent in cereals, candies, beverages, chips, and other token items of American pantries.

08/29/2025

Walkinshaw & Whitson Set for High-Stakes Showdown in VA-11 Special Election Latest News Following a short few weeks of intense political engagement and several days of firehouse primary caucus and canvass, both major parties have now selected their nominees for the September 9th Special Election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The race, triggered by the passing of longtime Democratic Congressman Gerald Connolly on May 21st, promises to be one of the most closely watched contests in the Commonwealth this year.

Democrats Rally Behind Walkinshaw After Historic Turnout

Democratic voters turned out in record numbers for a firehouse primary that saw 37,624 votes cast over three days of early voting and election day balloting. The 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee declared James Walkinshaw the winner with an unofficial total of 22,403 votes—representing 59.54% of the vote—in what is now the highest-turnout firehouse primary in Virginia history.

“We were fortunate to have 10 candidates to choose from in an intense and robust campaign, and we offer our sincere gratitude to all who participated,” said 11th CDDC Chair Manisha Singh. “Democrats turned out in record numbers and put Republicans on notice that we reject their extreme agenda. It is now time for us to unite behind the Democratic nominee, James Walkinshaw, and send him to Congress on September 9th.”

Walkinshaw, a former aide to Rep. Connolly and a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, now carries the party banner into the general election. The full (official) Democratic primary results will be posted on the following VA Dems 11th Congressional District website.

Republicans Choose Whitson in Energetic Canvass

On the Republican side, Stewart Whitson emerged victorious from Saturday’s GOP Canvass held at Fairfax High School, following early voting on Friday, June 27th. A total of 2,601 Republican voters cast ballots over the two days in what party leaders called a strong showing of enthusiasm for flipping the district red for the first time since 2009.

“The turnout shows that 11th District Republicans are fired up and ready to flip the 11th District red,” said Rosie Oakley, Chair of the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee. “While the Democrats spent time rigging their primary for an establishment candidate who wants to raise taxes and continue the useless investigations of President Trump, we had a fair and open process that selected a true conservative fighter, ready to represent the concerns of Virginia families.”

Whitson, a conservative legal advocate and former federal prosecutor, positioned himself as a reformer focused on fiscal responsibility and government accountability—messages aimed at the district’s approximately 80,000 federal workers and suburban voters.

“This is a new day for the Republican Party in Northern Virginia,” Oakley added. “With Stewart Whitson as our nominee, we're ready to take our conservative message directly to the voters and win this seat back for the people of the 11th District.”

All Eyes on September 9

The stage is now set for a competitive general election in a district long dominated by Democrats but seen by Republicans as ripe for an upset in a lower-turnout special election. Early voting begins on July 25, 2025, and both parties are expected to mobilize heavily over the summer.

With contrasting visions and energized bases, the Walkinshaw–Whitson faceoff will be a bellwether for suburban political trends in Northern Virginia—and possibly a preview of national dynamics heading into 2026.

08/29/2025

GMU President Gets Pay Raise Amid Federal Investigations and DEI Policy Changes Stories Latest Neighborhood News On August 1, 2025, George Mason University’s Board of Visitors voted Friday to grant President Gregory Washington a 1.5% pay raise, bringing his annual salary to roughly $823,452. The decision comes at a time when the university is facing four federal investigations and preparing to make significant changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The vote followed a lengthy closed-door session in which board members reviewed Washington’s performance. According to the board, the raise is in line with statewide guidance for public university leaders.

In the same meeting, the Board approved a resolution requiring GMU to eliminate all DEI programs not mandated by state or federal law within 30 days. The move follows new political pressure from Richmond and Washington to reduce diversity-based hiring and training initiatives at public universities. The resolution directs the university to replace those programs with what it calls “merit-based excellence” policies for hiring and promotion.

Some faculty and student groups have expressed concern that the cuts will weaken GMU’s commitment to supporting underrepresented communities on campus. The local chapter of the American Association of University Professors issued a statement backing Washington but opposing the DEI changes.

GMU is currently the subject of four investigations by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice. The probes center on allegations of race- and sex-based discrimination in faculty hiring, as well as the university’s handling of antisemitism complaints.

These inquiries are part of a broader national push by the Trump administration to challenge DEI practices in higher education. Earlier this summer, similar political and legal pressures led to the resignation of the University of Virginia’s president.

Washington, who became president in 2020 and is the first African American to lead GMU, has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the university’s hiring practices comply with all applicable laws. In his report to the board, titled “Navigating Rough Waters,” he highlighted enrollment growth, increased state funding, improved rankings, and reduced institutional debt as evidence of the university’s strong trajectory.

“I remain committed to ensuring that George Mason University is a place where all students can thrive, and where we operate within the law while pursuing excellence,” Washington said in a brief public statement.

With the start of the fall semester just weeks away, GMU now faces the dual challenge of complying with the new DEI resolution while responding to ongoing federal investigations. For local students, faculty, and alumni, the coming months will be a critical test of the university’s direction under Washington’s leadership.

President Washington’s 2025 President’s Report is available on the website

The Fairfax Independent

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