
Uptick in catalytic converter thefts
The Mason Police District has seen a recent uptick in the theft of car parts, including catalytic converters, airbags, rims, and tires. These thefts have been mostly around Beauregard Street in Lincolnia and Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads. Thieves are targeting Toyota Priuses for catalytic converters and Honda Accords and Civics for tires, rims, and … Continued

Homicide victim set on fire
Fairfax County Police are investigating a homicide involving a woman on fire this afternoon in the 2900 block of Willston Place in Seven Corners. Police are talking to a “person of interest” whom they believe might be responsible for the crime. At a news briefing on Willston Place, Major Ed O’Carroll, head of the FCPD … Continued

Former Inova buildings to be repurposed
Highland Square Holdings and Madison Marquette, the partnership converting five vacant offices at the Skyline Center into live/work units, are bringing that concept to an office building in Merrifield. Madison Highland Live Work Loft Services LLC plans to transform two former Inova Health System buildings at 8100 Gatehouse Road and 2990 Telestar Court into residential … Continued

Holmes Run is in ‘fair’ condition
Holmes Run, which flows through the Annandale area, is not in great condition, according to a report released Aug. 10 by the Audubon Naturalist Society. The report, The Story of the Streams, evaluates the health of three waterways in the D.C. region. It finds Holmes Run and the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River to … Continued

Six arrested for soliciting sex with children
Fairfax County police arrested six men in an online sting operation for the sexual exploitation of children. Under the Summer Traveler Operation, conducted over several days, detectives from the FCPD Child Exploitation Unit and Organized Crime and Intelligence bureaus used online platforms to identify and apprehend predators who use the internet to exploit children. The … Continued

Amazon Fresh could open in late 2022
Amazon Fresh is expected to open at the Crossroads Center in Bailey’s Crossroads by the end of the year, says a representative of the shopping center. The 40,000-square-foot grocery store will allow customers to avoid checkout lines by having their purchases automatically scanned. Related story: Amazon Fresh to open in Bailey’s Crossroads Lease negotiations are … Continued

Beech Tree ES to get a new principal
Karim Daugherty is moving on after 13 as principal of Beech Tree Elementary School. Daugherty, a 20-year veteran with Fairfax County Public Schools, has accepted a position as principal of Oak Street Elementary School in Falls Church City. Stephanie Carpenter, the current assistant principal at Westlawn Elementary School, will serve as acting principal at Beech … Continued

Volunteers pack backpacks for students
Nearly 100 volunteers gathered at the Arlington Moose Lodge in Bailey’s Crossroads Aug. 6 to put together 2,000 backpacks full of school supplies for students in the Justice High School pyramid. Half of the backpacks will go to Justice High School and Glasgow Middle School; the rest will go to elementary schools, said Kate Walter, … Continued

It’s Farmers Market Week
Special activities are happening at Mason District Park and Wakefield Park Aug. 10 and 11 for Farmers Market Week. On Wednesday, Aug, 10, 2-6 p.m., the Wakefield Farmers Market, will host fun and educational activities for families. Hands On Harvests will teach people how to harvest milkweed seeds. The Fairfax County Library will have a … Continued

Board expands small business support
Fairfax County plans to roll out the Fairfax Founders Fund this fall to provide seed capital for innovative and early-stage businesses. The funds will be focused on underrepresented communities that have struggled to obtain early-stage financing from traditional lending sources. The Board of Supervisors committed $1 million from its Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund for the … Continued

Fire damages flower shop
Fire damaged Annandale Florist last week. The store, at 7025 Columbia Pike, is closed but the shop is still taking orders by phone. The owner hopes to reopen soon. Meanwhile, she is waiting for an inspection by the insurance company. The fire started at 4 a.m., so the store was unoccupied. She doesn’t know what … Continued

Crime report: shooting, carjacking, barricade situation
The Fairfax County Police Department reports the following crimes in Mason District: A 23-year-old man was shot in the upper body Aug. 4 shortly after 9 p.m. in the 3500 block of Leesburg Court in Bailey’s Crossroads. He was transported to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening. There was also property … Continued

Resident rescued from house fire
Firefighters rescued an occupant trapped in a bedroom during a house fire on Aug. 5 in the 4900 block of Grafton Street in Lincolnia. When fire crews arrived shortly after 3 a.m., smoke and fire were visible on the second floor. The fire was six feet from the occupant’s bedroom, the Fairfax County Fire and … Continued

VDOT pursues safety improvements for Route 7 in Culmore
Several projects are underway or planned to improve pedestrian safety along a section of Leesburg Pike in the Culmore area of Bailey’s Crossroads. More than 120 community members showed up at a meeting Aug. 4 to hear officials from the Virginia and Fairfax County transportation department describe their plans at Bailey’s Elementary School. Before the … Continued

Metal store to open in Mason District
Need metal? Metal Supermarkets is opening a branch in the Alexandria area of Mason District this month. The store sells all kinds of metal, including hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel, aluminum, stainless steel, alloy steel, brass, bronze, copper, galvanized steel, tool steel, and rare/exotic metals. The products come in a variety of shapes, such as bar, … Continued