Student project tackles storm drain trash
When Dinmukhammed Adikhan, an incoming senior at Falls Church High School, noticed a lot of trash around the storm drains in his Westlawn neighborhood, he decided to do something about it. Adikhan, who goes by Dimash, signed up with a storm drain-labeling program run by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD). The … Continued
Annandale teacher honored for his work with special ed students
Jae Lee, the special education dean at Annandale High School, was honored with a 2023 First-Class Award for Excellence in Special Education in the middle/high school teacher category. The First-Class Awards recognize the exceptional contributions made by educators and administrators who improve outcomes for students with disabilities in Fairfax County public schools. Lee is featured … Continued
Annandale is getting a new grocery store
Construction is underway on a Megamart Supermarket at 4415 John Marr Drive in Annandale. It’s going into a storefront that’s been vacant since Party Co. closed in March 2020. Megamart is a regional grocery chain specializing in Hispanic items with 11 stores in Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia stores are in Arlington, Alexandria, and Manassas. … Continued
Pedestrian fatally struck, dragged over a mile on Columbia Pike
UPDATED: There was a fatal pedestrian hit and run in Mason District on Columbia Pike and Blair Road early this morning, according to a police scanner report posted on Twitter by Romeo @RVANOVA01. The victim was dragged by the driver for about 1.12 miles and was found by a passing officer at 2:13 a.m. The … Continued
Hangry Joe’s to open in Annandale
A Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken restaurant is bringing another type of chicken to Annandale, which already has numerous chicken options. The restaurant is moving into one of the vacant storefronts in the new shopping center at the corner of Little River Turnpike and John Marr Drive. It will be next to Wingstop, the chicken wings … Continued
The local Korean American community took part in the July 4 parade in D.C.
Members of the Korean American community from Annandale and the surrounding area took part in the annual Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., on July 4. The president of the Annandale-based Korean American Association of Greater Washington, Steve Lee, organized the parade group, which included a huge American Eagle balloon, a group from California playing … Continued
Join the Teen Chopped Challenge
The Fairfax County Public Library invites youths age 12-18 to show off their culinary skills by entering the Teen Chopped Challenge. To enter the contest, create an original recipe using three “mystery ingredients”: one can of black beans, one box of Jiffy corn mix, and one packet of Swiss Miss dark chocolate hot cocoa mix. … 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: July 5 July 4 July 3 July 2 July 1 June 30 June 29 June 28
It’s now just Route 29 and Route 50
Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway are no more. The names of those roads were officially changed to Route 29 and Route 50, respectively, as of July 5. Affected residents and businesses need to update their addresses on driver’s licenses, utility documents, business licenses, and advertising. The county recommends they also change land records, mortgage … Continued
Grants available for technical assistance to help small businesses thrive
If your company specializes in marketing, business operations, or financial planning, you can apply to be a coach or consultant for Thrive, a Fairfax County program aimed at helping small businesses grow and flourish. The Board of Supervisors allocated $7 million from the county’s share of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund … Continued
Fairfax County is developing a murals program
Fairfax County planners are developing a murals program to bring excitement to the county’s redevelopment areas, such as Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners. The goal is to use murals to support placemaking and enhance pedestrian passageways, Elizabeth Haag, head of the Community Revitalization Section in the Department of Planning and Development, told the Bailey’s … Continued
New Virginia laws took effect July 1
The following laws passed by the General Assembly this year took effect July 1 unless otherwise stated. For more information about these and other bills enacted in 2023, visit the Virginia Division of Legislative Services. Criminal offenses House Bill 1682, Senate Bill 1188 – A mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl is … Continued
City of Falls Church commits to preserving Vietnamese culture at the Eden Center
The Falls Church City Council approved the East End Small Area Plan June 26 that lays out the city’s vision for future reinvestment in a 10-block area that includes the Eden Center. The city’s plan for the Eden Center is to enhance its position as “a cultural anchor for the Vietnamese-American community.” The Eden Center … Continued
Park Foundation steps up removal of invasives at Lake Accotink Park
The Fairfax County Park Foundation received a $40,000 three-year grant to remove invasive plants from Lake Accotink Park. The funds, from the Society for Ecological Restoration, support the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area projects at the park. Related story: New task force will review options for the future of Lake Accotink The grant … Continued
BoS uses eminent domain to complete sidewalk on Little River Turnpike
Fairfax County’s project to construct a sidewalk on the south side of Little River Turnpike between Hillbrook Drive and Little River Run Drive in Annandale hit a snag when county staff couldn’t find the owner of a small piece of property. The county’s Land Acquisition Division obtained the land rights for nine of the 10 … Continued