PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

Beloved teacher leaves 1 million dollar life savings to Prince William schools.

Lillian Orlich has left $1 million in savings to a local education foundation after passing at 95. Lillian was affectionately known as 'Ms. O' to the thousands of students she helped over her career. She retired in 2017 after serving Prince William schools for 67 years as both a teacher and a counselor. Ms. O was very invested in her students, often keeping touch with her pupils long after they graduated.

Her donation will expand a scholarship fund she had set up before passing. Dozens of students have already benefitted from the scholarship. This donation symbolize's Ms. O's life-long commitment to her students, and her lasting impact on the greater community.

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TRENDS

Why are Virginia residents buying houses with their friends?

Young people are pooling money together to buy houses these days. This growing trend in Zillow's Consumer Housing Trends Report for 2023 shows 6,500 surveyed buyers citing affordability as the primary motivation for co-ownership.

Rising home prices are a big challenge for aspiring homeowners. Right now the available solutions fall under two broad categories:

• Create more housing
  OR

• Use existing housing more efficiently

Co-ownership falls under the second category -- and Virginia leads the country in co-ownership transactions year-over-year. Northern VA counties in particular have seen a ton of growth in the amount of people co-owning houses. As companies establish new headquarters to be closer to Washington, attracting new talent from around the country, house prices surge. This matches the post-pandemic employment bounce back seen in Fairfax County recently.

Bulletin Board 📌 

Reader Restaurant Recommendation: One of our readers, Moiz, recommends you guys check out Rice Culture in Vienna.

It’s a new Asian dessert spot that just opened it’s first brick-and-mortar location a few months ago. Moiz says his go-to order is red bean filled taiyaki (fish shaped waffles) and an ube dessert jar (think rice pudding and candied yams had a baby) 🍚 🍠 👶 

If you want us to give you and your favorite NoVA restaurant a shout out in the newsletter, just fill out this form :) 

QUICK HITS 

• Airports: There’s been a proposal to rename Dulles Airport after Donald Trump.

• Alexandria celebrated it’s 275th year anniversary | Check out this interstellar-themed art piece on display until November | Robcyn’s is closing after 60 years in business.

• TV: A local butcher is featured on Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games competition.

• Crystal City Amazon Fresh announces closure shortly after 1,000 Indians news came out, with Fairfax location rumored next.

• Here’s how Virginia is helping out after the tragic bridge collapse in Maryland.

• Stephen Strasburg has announced his retirement.

• GMU Professor and economist Tyler Cowen interviews Jonathan Haidt on smartphones, social media, and teen mental health.

• Check out this blog post that goes in-depth on navigating Fairfax County by car — never change NoVa, never change.

EVENTS

• Capital One Hall is hosting Perchfest Spring — a retro music and mini golf festival in early May.

• The National Gallery of Art is having a Flowers After Hours event tonight — a celebration of spring and all things floral.

• Farmer’s Market season is upon us. Here’s a list of dates for this month.

• The Ugly Duckling is playing at the Lightwire Theater in McLean tomorrow.

• Falls Church City Hall is hosting the second annual World Art Day this weekend | The Boro is having their celebration on the 20th.

• Fairfax High School is performing Anastasia all throughout this month.

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