Mason Art Festival brings creative inspiration to Annandale
The Mason District Art Festival brought loads of art and a spirit of creativity to Columbia Pike on Saturday. Artists and crafters displayed paintings, pottery, and jewelry; residents participated in communal art projects; and performers entertained the crowd with music, dance, drama, and stand-up comedy. The festival, organized by the Mason District Arts Council with … Continued
Two people seriously injured in house fire
Firefighters rescued two occupants trapped by a two-alarm townhouse fire Sunday afternoon in Springfield, the Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department reported on X. Both occupants were transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The fire happened in a middle-of-the-row townhouse at the intersection of Leestone Court and Leebrad Street, near the Baclick/Braddock intersection. As fire … Continued
Pedestrian suffers life-threatening injuries after being struck on Route 7
An adult female pedestrian was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Oct. 16 in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Fairfax County Police Department reported. The crash happened at Leesburg Pike and S. George Mason Drive in the Skyline area on Friday evening. The driver remained on the scene and … Continued
Speed limits on five Mason District roads will be reduced from 25 to 20 mph
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is reducing the speed limit from 25 to 20 miles per hour on 10 roads across the county this fall, including these streets in Mason District: The 20 mph speed limit pilot study will determine the impact of slower speeds on road safety. In May 2024, the Virginia General … Continued
School news roundup – October 2026, part 2
A distinguished school – Annandale High School has once again earned a “distinguished” rating, the highest performance category on Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework. The framework, established by the Virginia Department of Education, measures high school performance in three areas: mastery (how students are meeting academic expectations), readiness (how schools are preparing students for … Continued
An at-large school board candidate emerges
Joy Jiandani, a child behavior educator and PTA leader, has launched a campaign for an at-large seat on the Fairfax County School Board. A resident of Springfield, Jiandani is expected to face stiff competition in a Democratic Primary next spring. All Fairfax County school board members and supervisors are up for re-election in 2027. The … Continued
Capital Bikeshare is increasingly popular
Capital Bikeshare is increasingly popular in Fairfax County, with the bike rental company setting an all-time monthly record of 6,560 trips in August, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation reports. There were 5,770 trips in September, making it the highest September ridership ever and the third-highest month overall. Since June, each month has set a … Continued
Supervisors propose a 3.5 percent tax on marijuana sales
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a motion on Oct. 13 to consider a 3.5 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana. The biennial budget adopted by the Virginia General Assembly in June authorized the establishment of a cannabis retail market with sales beginning July 1, 2027. Retail licenses would begin to be issued in … Continued
New alert system warns property owners of real estate fraud
Fairfax County property owners can now receive alerts whenever any documents are filed in connection with their real estate records. The Fairfax Circuit Court Property Alert Notification System was launched Oct. 9 by the Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in collaboration with the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration and the Department of Information Technology. … Continued
Fairfax County assures voters that election security measures are in place
With Election Day just three weeks from today – and early voting already underway – Fairfax County wants the public to know that strict security measures are in place to protect ballots and voting machines. Members of the U.S. Senate and House are on the Nov. 3 ballot, along with three constitutional amendments and two … Continued
Sidewalk and fence installed at Justice Park
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has completed the $900,000, 825-foot sidewalk on Peace Valley Lane next to Justice Park. The sidewalk had been bitterly opposed by nearby residents, who complained that the funds could be better spent on more worthy projects. Among other issues, they argued the sidewalk wasn’t needed because, since it was … Continued
George Mason Friends installs bin for book donations
While the George Mason Regional Library closes for renovations for two years, beginning Oct. 23, George Mason Friends plan to continue raising funds for library activities. The Friends groups will resume collecting new or gently used books, CDs, and DVDs at a donation bin on the southwest side of United Baptist Church, 7100 Columbia Pike, … Continued
Residents urge Virginia to impose a data center moratorium
About 200 people – young activists, older adults, and parents with strollers – came out to a rally and march on Oct. 10 to show their support for a moratorium on data centers in Virginia. The event took place outside the Plaza 500 site in the Bren Mar Park community where Starwood Capital is planning … Continued
Weekly crime report – Oct. 4-11
The following incidents in the Annandale/Mason District area are from a Fairfax County Police Department report. Oct. 4 Larceny – 7500 block of Kingman Drive, Annandale Drunk or profane in public – 7200 block of Columbia Pike, Annandale Fraud (identity theft) – 6200 block of Seven Corners Center Trespassing on private property – 3556B S. … Continued
FXCO wants to make it easier to provide home-based childcare
A proposed Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance amendment would reduce the regulatory barriers for home-based daycare facilities with the goal of expanding access to childcare. The Department of Planning and Development is hosting three virtual community meetings on the changes: at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14, 12 p.m. on Oct. 15, and 12 p.m. on Oct. … Continued