Student sexually assaulted at Annandale HS
A female juvenile was sexually assaulted inside Annandale High School this week, the Fairfax County Police Department reported on Jan. 12. The assault happened near a stairwell. The victim was able to flee from the suspect, which stopped the assault, and she reported the incident to the school resource officer. The suspect is a 17-year-old … Continued
Two-alarm fire engulfs Annandale home
A fire engulfed a single-family home in the 4800 block of Bradford Drive in Annandale during the early morning of Jan. 12. According to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the house was unoccupied. There were no injuries.
County planners recommend more robust reviews of data centers
Fairfax County planning staff issued a report on data centers that recommends additional requirements to address the potential negative impacts on the environment and nearby residential communities. Last May, the Board of Supervisors directed to staff conduct research and present recommendations on how proposals for data centers should be considered with regard to zoning, siting, … Continued
Culinary training available for offenders
The Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney and its partner agencies celebrated the anniversary of the Taking Root diversion program and announced a new component to teach graduates culinary skills. Taking Root provides extensive, individualized services to people charged with non-violent offenses. Offenders accepted into the program receive case management, mental health assessments, substance … Continued
New DMV center to open this month
A new Department of Motor Vehicles Service Center is scheduled to open Jan. 22 at 9855 Braddock Road in Fairfax. It will replace the much smaller one in Fair Oaks Mall, which is closing on Jan. 11. The new DMV center will have 20 service windows, a new countertop design to improve customer flow, and … Continued
FCPS will get more electric school buses
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Fairfax County Public Schools $16.59 million to purchase 42 electric school buses. The EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program grant competition is aimed at accelerating the transition to low and zero-emission vehicles. “These awards will improve air quality for children and their families and advance environmental justice, all … Continued
New owner of Coralain Gardens plans to keep it affordable
Enterprise Community Development, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, has acquired Coralain Gardens, an apartment complex in the Falls Church area. The company plans to rehabilitate the community and keep rents affordable. Work is expected to start in the first quarter of 2025. The total cost of acquisition is $21.7 million. Coralain Gardens, located at … Continued
Police, prosecutors are cracking down on felons with guns
The Fairfax County Police Department and Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney are collaborating on a new initiative to curb violent crime. The goal is to build safer communities by taking a high-level, multi-pronged approach to crack down on felons who illegally possess firearms, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano at a Jan. 9 press briefing on … Continued
Town hall at Justice High School addresses fentanyl overdoses
Parents need to establish strong bonds with their kids and talk to them about the dangers of fentanyl, school officials advised during a town hall on drug abuse Jan. 8 hosted by the Justice High School PTSA. “Kids are dying,” said PTSA President Kim Lanoue, referring to Justice 10th-grader Madeline Valeria Mora Centeno, who died … Continued
One vape shop closed but another is opening
Annandale has lost one vape shop but is getting another. Tobacco Luxe, at 7109 Columbia Pike, closed at the end of December. Meanwhile, a Tobacco Hut is coming to 7221 Little River Turnpike. That building has been vacant for years since a title lender moved out. Tobacco Luxe opened two years ago. The previous tenant … Continued
New homes for sale in Annandale
Three new houses developed by Evergreene Homes at the corner of Little River Turnpike and Lee Place in Annandale are listed at $1.649,500 to $1,774,500. The three-house development, called Wakefield Grove, was built on the site of a single-family home. The first open house was held on Jan. 6. All have six bedrooms. The smallest … Continued
Free consulting available for small businesses
Small businesses struggling financially could be eligible for free consulting services from Fairfax County worth up to $10,000. The county’s Department of Economic Initiatives is opening a second round of Thrive funds. Applications will open on Jan. 16. The first round of Thrive, which closed Dec. 21, provided assistance to 250 businesses. Applications will be … Continued
Weekly crime report
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area are from the Fairfax County Police Department as reported on CityProtect: Jan. 3 Jan. 2 Jan. 1 Dec. 31 Dec. 30 Dec. 29 Dec. 28
New dining options at the Eden Center
Lots of new things are going on at the Eden Center, the Vietnamese-focused shopping center in Seven Corners. A sugarcane juice shop, called Mia & More, opened Dec. 29. Crabby Noodles, a restaurant specializing in pho and seafood, also opened last month. And the Pop Up District, a food hall plus short-term popup shops, is … Continued
Volunteers will assemble 1,700 meals for those in need
The Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club, the Bailey’s Crossroads Host Lions Club, and the Arlington Moose Lodge are hosting a community meals packaging event on Saturday, Jan. 6. Community members are invited to participate, too. Sign up for a shift here. Volunteers will measure and weigh ingredients and assemble 1,700 meals for distribution to those in … Continued