School news roundup – April 2026
More boundary reviews – When the Fairfax County School Board approved comprehensive districtwide school boundary changes in January, it agreed to hold off on some of the changes, pending additional community engagement. The Bren Mar Park Elementary School community is invited to a meeting on potential boundary changes on Friday, April 24, 6-7 p.m., at … Continued
Virginia approves redistricting amendment
Virginia voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment on redistricting, according to results from the April 21 special election posted by the Virginia Department of Elections. As of 10 p.m. 51.28 percent of Virginians voted Yes, and 48.72 percent voted No. In Fairfax County, 69.49 percent of voters supported the amendment. Passage of the ballot measure … Continued
Annandale neighborhood hosts an Earth Day cleanup
The Hillbrook-Tall Oaks community is a lot nicer, since the Annandale neighborhood held an Earth Day cleanup on April 18. Thirty-one dedicated volunteers, with help from Clean Fairfax and the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, collected 24 bags of trash and recyclables from neighborhood streets and the grounds of Poe Middle School. “This effort … Continued
Practice safe driving – don’t get bitten by a ‘road shark’
The Fairfax County Police Department, in partnership with the Virginia State Police, is launching the 2026 Road Shark campaign, an initiative to crack down on dangerous driving. Road Shark will focus enforcement efforts in areas identified through crash data and traffic analysis. Officers will be watching for violations that commonly contribute to crashes, including: Increased … Continued
Farmers markets open the first week of May
Fairfax County farmers’ markets are opening for the season soon with some new vendors. The Wakefield Farmers Market opens Wednesday, May 6, 2-6 p.m., at the Audrey Moore Rec Center, 8100 Braddock Road in Annandale. The Annandale Farmers Market, at Mason District Park on Columbia Pike, opens Thursday, May 7, 8 a.m.-noon. The markets offer … Continued
SevaTruck celebrates 10 years of providing fee meals to local students
For the past 10 years, the SevaTruck Foundation has provided free nutritious meals to children in Title 1 schools. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the nonprofit hosted a family festival on April 18 at Braddock Elementary School in Annandale. The event featured crafts and games for kids, balloon animals, giveaways, sponsor tables, community resources, a … Continued
Fire damages Bren Mar Park Elementary School
UPDATE: FCPS announced Bren Mar will be open on Monday. A fire at Bren Mar Elementary School on Sunday afternoon filled the air with a huge cloud of black smoke. When firefighters arrived, shortly before 3:30 p.m. on April 19, flames were showing on the roof of a two-story addition under construction. The school is … Continued
Kites soar at a festival in Mason District Park
Brilliantly colored kites soared over Mason District Park Saturday at the Basant Kite Festival, an event that also featured music, food, and vendors selling elaborate jewelry and clothing. The event was a smaller version of the annual Basant kite festivals held in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to welcome the spring season, said organizer Sadaf … Continued
Person critially injured in Wedgewood fire
A person is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries following a two-alarm fire at the Wedgewood Apartments in Annandale, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. Fire crews responded to reports of smoke in an apartment at 7529 McWhorter Place shortly before 7:30 a.m. on April 18. When they arrived, fire was visible from … Continued
Assistance offered to first-time homebuyers
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority announced a new program on April 14 to assist first-time homebuyers. The agency is offering up to $50,000 in loans to qualified individuals for down payments for home purchases. The funds are from Virginia Housing. To qualify, applicants must have a household income at or below 80 percent … Continued
Federal court revisits officer-involved shooting case
A federal appeals court has ruled that Fairfax County police Sgt. Joshua Moser, who shot and wounded a suspected drug dealer in Seven Corners three years ago, might have violated the suspect’s constitutional rights. Judge Nicole Berner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on April 13 vacated a ruling in favor … Continued
Virginia is experiencing a severe drought
Fairfax County is under a drought warning advisory, as Virginia is experiencing its most severe drought in 20 years. “A prolonged stretch of warm, dry weather that began in fall 2025 has steadily worsened conditions across the state, and there is no significant rain in the immediate forecast,” the Fairfax County emergency blog posted on … Continued
Wedgewood tenants suffer without AC
While the area experienced an early heat wave this week, residents of the Wedgewood Apartments in Annandale suffered without air conditioning. Outside, the temperature has been in the 90s, which is 20 to 25 degrees above normal for this time of year. Inside Wedgewood tenant A. Osmani’s home, a thermometer recorded a temperature of 103 … Continued
Justin Fairfax kills wife in murder-suicide
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, 47, shot and killed his wife, Cerina, inside their home in Annandale, then shot and killed himself in the early hours of April 16. “This has been an ongoing domestic dispute,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a media briefing in front of their house in the … Continued
Vape shop coming to Little River Turnpike
A vape shop is coming to a building in Annandale formerly occupied by Tobacco Hut. Space on the first floor is being renovated for a shop called Blue Flame Smoke. The building, at 7221 Little River Turnpike, also has a Total Wireless shop on the first floor and Alianza’s Barber Shop upstairs. Related story: Anti-vape … Continued