Former state Sen. Janet Howell passes away
Former Virginia Sen. Janet Howell has passed away at age 82. Howell, a Democrat, represented western Fairfax County and parts of Loudoun County in the state Senate from 1992 to 2024. She was the first woman to serve on the prestigious Senate Finance Committee. Howell was also the first woman and second non-lawyer to serve … Continued
Bailey’s Crossroads church cuts ties with pastor following arrest
Crossroads Baptist Church in Bailey’s Crossroads and other religious institutions have cut ties with Pastor Kenny Baldwin after Baldwin was charged with sending sexually explicit messages to a minor in Pennsylvania. Baldwin was charged with 13 offenses, including two felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor, one felony count of corruption of a minor, … Continued
The Mason Police Station has a new commander
Major Cristina Burrow has been appointed commander of the Mason Police Station, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on July 31. The former station commander, Major Erin Weeks, had been promoted to the position of deputy police chief and heads the Department of Internal Affairs. Burrow has been with the FCPD since 2011. She served … Continued
Virginia’s tax holiday is next weekend
Virginia is having a sales tax holiday the weekend of Aug. 7-9. Shoppers will be able to purchase certain items tax-free – including school supplies, clothing, emergency preparedness products, and energy-efficient appliances – between 12:01 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, and 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9. Here’s what’s eligible:
Beyer urges Planning Commission to reject data center substation
Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th District) urges the Fairfax County Planning Commission to deny the 2232 application for Dominion’s proposed substation to serve the Edsall Data Center planned for the Plaza 500 site in Bren Mar Park. “I have serious concerns about the potential impact of this project on residents,” Beyer wrote in a letter to … Continued
Affordable housing project will have limited parking
The Columbia Crossroads affordable housing project in the works for Bailey’s Crossroads might not have enough parking, members of the Mason District Land Use Committee said at a meeting on July 28. The seven-story apartment building will be located on the site of the Crossroads Interim Park on Columbia Pike between Radley Acura and the … Continued
Only a few more shows in the parks this summer
You’ve got only a few more chances to catch a free concert in Mason District this summer. Due to funding cutbacks by the Park Authority, only eight Spotlight by Starlight concerts are scheduled for 2026 in Mason District Park. a significant reduction from recent years. The most recent performance, featuring the Falls Church Concert Band … Continued
Police ID suspect who was shot after grabbing an officer’s firearm
The Fairfax County Police Department has identified the suspect in a police-involved shooting in Annandale on July 28. Officers responded to a residence in the 7000 block of Sutter Lane in Annandale at about 10 a.m. for a domestic incident involving a man armed with a knife, according to an update released by the FCPD … Continued
Community members speak out against a substation at Plaza 500
Residents of the Bren Mar Park area and beyond packed a meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC) on July 28 to oppose Dominion Energy’s proposal for a massive substation to serve the Plaza 500 data center on Edsall Road. Dozens of people who spoke at the meeting raised concerns about noise, the … Continued
Police shoot domestic violence suspect in Annandale
A domestic violence situation in Annandale ended with a non-fatal police-involved shooting. A woman called 911 before 9 a.m. on July 28 to say there was an altercation with her husband in their home on the 7000 block of Sutter Lane, behind the Heritage Shopping Center. He was stabbing himself with a knife and was … Continued
Business Spotlight: GoGoPhoto
Annandale Today is launching a new feature, “Business Spotlight,” offering brief posts about local businesses in the Annandale/Mason District area. If you would like to have your business highlighted, contact us at [email protected]. GoGo Photo, a tiny shop at 7031 Little River Turnpike in Annandale, offers three photo booths operated by customers. There’s a wide … Continued
Legal battles continue over the Zaaki eyesore
The tenants of the derelict building in Bailey’s Crossroads that formerly housed the Zaaki Restaurant have refused to fix up or vacate the property for years, despite court orders to do so. An eviction hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2 at the Fairfax County General District Court. The defendants, listed in court records as Khalid … Continued
New store in Seven Corners specializes in Japanese pop culture
Ebisu Life Store, a new retailer in the Seven Corners Shopping Center, specializes in pop culture items and snacks from Japan. Ebisu is located in the former JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts space between the UPS Store and the Vacuum Center. Related story: Joann will close all stores following the company’s bankruptcy There’s a huge selection … Continued
Bailey’s Crossroads pastor charged with sending explicit photos to a minor
The senior pastor at a church in Bailey’s Crossroads has been charged with sending sexually explicit photos to a 15-year-old boy in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State Police charged Kenneth Baldwin, of Crossroads Baptist Church, with several counts of indecent exposure, open lewdness, corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor, according to the Magisterial Court … Continued
Mason Arts 250 mural installed in Annandale
A new mural brightens up Annandale. The artwork, featuring the Statue of Liberty, was installed on July 24 on the fence around a construction site on John Marr Drive. Several volunteers painted the mural on June 27 at an Asian Night Market in Annandale under the direction of Omaid Sharifi, the president and co-founder of … Continued