Last call at The Block
The Block food hall has scheduled a few final events before it shuts down for good at the end of the month. The venue is hosting an “everything-must-go thrift pop-up” every Tuesday, 5-9:30 p.m., on Aug. 5, 12, 19, and 26. On Aug. 16, it’s “Last Call at The Block,” featuring Arylia, DJ Knom, and … Continued
Gas company to impose a surcharge
Washington Gas customers in Virginia will pay higher bills from August through October 2025 to make up for warmer weather last winter. Due to above-average temperatures from October 2024 to May 2025, Washington Gas says it collected lower revenues than approved by the State Corporation Commission. As a result, the utility will impose a surcharge … Continued
Pet dies in apartment fire
A fire at the Vistas of Annandale affected 14 units in the garden-style apartments in the 7900 block of Charles Thomson Lane, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. The two-alarm fire started at night on Aug. 3. Firefighters arrived to find smoke and fire coming from the third floor. One pet was found … Continued
Mason Restaurant Week set for Oct. 20-26
Supervisor Andres Jimenez invites restaurants to participate in Mason District Restaurant Week, Oct. 20-26. Restaurant Week is a celebration of local dining, showcasing the vibrant cultural diversity and culinary talent across Mason District. This year’s theme is “Dine Around the World in Mason.” In a change from Mason District’s 2024 Restaurant Week, a new passport … Continued
Fired federal workers share their stories
Fired federal workers have been sharing their stories at a roundtable hosted by Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw and at a rally protesting the cuts at USAID. Participants at the July 31 roundtable ranged from young professionals just starting their public service careers to veteran civil servants nearing retirement. All have lost their livelihood due … Continued
Police find three homeless adults deceased in Annandale
Three apparently homeless people died on the streets in Annandale on July 29, the Fairfax County Police Department confirms. Officers responded to a report of two people unresponsive outside the Goodwill store at 7031 Columbia Pike at 6:45 a.m. They discovered an adult male and an adult female deceased. “There doesn’t appear to be foul … Continued
Fairfax County launches an Opportunity Youth Network
Fairfax County has launched an Opportunity Youth Network, an initiative focused on empowering young people ages 16-24 who are not in school and not working. The network is a collaborative effort involving several agencies to drive equity, elevate youth voices, and strengthen support systems for more than 9,300 young people facing disconnection in Fairfax County, … Continued
Free trees available for community groups
Fairfax County’s Urban and Community Forestry Division is offering free trees to community-based organizations. The program, offered in partnership with Casey Trees, is aimed at helping volunteer groups, civic associations, and faith-based organizations obtain high-quality, professionally grown trees suitable for planting. “This opportunity focuses on increasing tree cover in economically disadvantaged communities, which typically do … Continued
Sign design options revealed for Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads
Design consultants hired by Fairfax County’s Community Revitalization Section presented several gateway signage concepts for Seven Corners and Bailey’s Crossroads at a meeting on July 30. Ashton Design came up with several options for Seven Corners incorporating a symbol consisting of a star formed by seven number 7s. The symbol represents the convergence of many … Continued
A former courtroom artist brings art to his neighbors at Brightview Senior Living
By Shane Gomez From the Central Park Five to the man who killed John Lennon, Robert Smith has sketched some of the most well-known court cases of the 1980s and 90s. Now, Smith, age 80 and a resident of Brightview Senior Living Woodburn in Annandale, still does what he loves. He sketches entertainers who perform … Continued
Ken Balbuena launches campaign for Braddock supervisor
Springfield community leader Ken Balbuena is running as a Republican for the Braddock seat on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Balbuena seeks to succeed Supervisor James Walkinshaw if Walkinshaw wins a special election on Sept. 9 for Virginia’s 11th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. On the Democratic side, two school board members … Continued
Man arrested for multiple burglaries
Fairfax County Police detectives from the Fugitive Tracking and Apprehension Team arrested the man wanted for burglarizing a plumbing supply store on General Washington Drive in Mason District and multiple burglaries across the county. FCPD detectives, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, arrested Brian Serious, 29, in Clinton, Md. … Continued
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue celebrates Spam Musubi Day on Aug. 8
Residents are invited to drop by L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Annandale on Friday, Aug. 8, for a free Spam musubi from noon to 2 p.m. Aug. 8 is annual SPAM® Musubi Day, a holiday launched by L&L and officially established by the governor of Hawaii in 2021. The date, 8/08, pays homage to Hawaii’s 808 … Continued
Walkinshaw and Whitson clash over DOGE
Congressional candidates James Walkinshaw and Stewart Whitson clashed on just about every issue – DOGE, ICE detentions, climate change, school vouchers – that came up during a debate on July 28. The two candidates are vying in a special election for the 11th District seat formerly held by the late Rep. Gerry Connolly. Early voting … Continued
Voice coach arrested for inappropriate contact with minors
Fairfax County Police arrested a former voice coach for having inappropriate contact with multiple minors dating back to 2004. Detectives from the Child Abuse Squad received a referral on July 15 that a child was inappropriately touched by an adult male. Following an investigation, detectives arrested Christopher Dudley, 46, of Fairfax. Dudley gave private voice … Continued