School news roundup – March 2026
The following news items highlight student achievements and issues affecting Annandale/Mason District area schools. Deepfake crackdown – The Fairfax County School Board is considering updates to its Student Rights and Responsibilities document that would set clear consequences for students who create or share intimate images of their peers and staff, including digitally altered “deepfakes” and … Continued
Providence Rec Center to close for two weeks
The Providence Rec Center will be closed March 23-April 5 for maintenance, cleaning, and improvements, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced. Here’s what’s going to happen during the closure: Members who want to pause their memberships during the two-week closure can submit a request online or in person at the front desk before March 23. … Continued
Masonic lodge in Annandale for sale
The Elmer Timberman Masonic Lodge is selling its building at 6911 Columbia Pike in Annandale. The Masons only use it for monthly meetings. They own the building but they’re finding it hard to keep up with maintenance expenses. They used to rent out the space for events hosted by other organizations, but that has slowed … Continued
Stabbing victims honored at a vigil
About a hundred people paid their respects at a vigil for the two women who were stabbed to death at their Fairfax home on Feb. 23. Chhatra Thapa, 54, brutally murdered his wife, Binda, and daughter, Mamta, with a butcher knife. He was in the process of stabbing Mamta’s husband, Santosh Basnet, when police arrived. … Continued
A mural takes shape in Annandale
Mural artist Henley Bounkhong is covering a long-vacant building in Annandale with brightly colored images reflecting Asian culture. After the building, at 7219 Columbia Pike, is renovated, it will be a food hall, a contractor confirmed. The mural features a blue lion, which is a good-luck symbol in Vietnam; a red rabbit, also representing good … Continued
BoS approves loan for Coralain Gardens renovation
The Board of Supervisors has authorized the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) to loan up to $2 million to support the renovation of the Coralain Gardens Apartments in the Falls Church area of Mason District. Coralain Gardens, located at 7435 Arlington Blvd., is considered affordable to households with incomes 50-60 percent of the … Continued
Temporary music venue in the works for vacant Annandale building
Johnny P, a local entrepreneur, has big plans for the two vacant buildings on Columbia Pike that were damaged in a fire in 2023. He hopes to use the building that formerly housed the Thai Sushi Eats restaurant as a temporary live music venue called “Music Flavor” – until the building is torn down and … Continued
Federal funds will benefit Fairfax County projects
The FY 2026 appropriations bills approved by Congress include more than $13.4 million for projects in Northern Virginia, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-11th District) announced. “From safer streets and stronger public safety infrastructure to clean drinking water, workforce development, and environmental resilience, these investments reflect what Northern Virginia needs to stay safe, competitive, and forward-looking,” he said. … Continued
Early voting starts tomorrow on redistricting
Early voting starts tomorrow, March 6, on a state constitutional amendment authorizing a redistricting plan for members of the House of Representatives. The measure is designed to level the playing field to give Virginia Democrats an edge following redistricting actions by other states that benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. Virginia’s redistricting plan only … Continued
House of Delegates passes a casino bill
Legislation to allow a casino in Fairfax County moved a step closer to passage after the House approved the measure on March 4 on a 59-37 vote. Shortly afterwards, the Senate unanimously rejected the House substitute (SB 756). That means members of the House and Senate will have to work out a compromise in a … Continued
Drab building is getting a colorful makeover
Something exciting is happening in Annandale. The long-vacant building at 7219 Columbia Pike is in the process of being covered with designs in preparation for painting. Fairfax County land records show Annandale Social LLC is renovating the building to establish a restaurant/carryout. An ABC license for beer, wine, and mixed beverages is pending. This building … Continued
County leaders explain budget priorities
Fairfax County’s advertised budget for FY 2027 “reflects sound financial management during a period of economic uncertainty,” County Executive Bryan Hill said during a virtual Mason District Budget Town Hall on March 2 hosted by Supervisor Andres Jimenez. “We are making strategic investments while holding the real estate tax flat,” Hill said. While the advertised … Continued
Pasha Castle, a Turkish dessert shop, opens in Annandale
Pasha Castle, a Turkish/Middle Eastern dessert and coffee shop, is now open on Columbia Pike in Annandale. The shop offers booza ice cream, which is popular in the Middle East, and has a stretchy, chewy texture. When Pasha Castle has its grand opening in a couple of weeks, it will have 16 ice cream flavors, … Continued
Tom Dannan wins school board election
Braddock District voters elected Tom Dannan to the Fairfax County School Board in a special election on March 3. Dannan, who was endorsed by the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, got 65.5 percent of the vote, while the Republican-endorsed candidate, Saundra Davis, got 34.3 percent. A total of 3,355 votes were cast. Dannan beat Alexa Krezel … Continued
Seven Corners office building sold
A small, long-vacant office building at 6320 Castle Place in Seven Corners has been sold for $2.7 million, reports Pauline Thompson, president of Tysons Realty Inc. Thompson represented both the buyer and the seller in a confidential off-market sale. Fairfax County tax records list the buyer as Sleepy Castle LLC. The seller, Chalins Restaurants, purchased … Continued