Weekly crime report
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area are from the Fairfax County Police Department as reported on CityProtect: March 15 March 14 March 13 March 12 March 11 March 10 March 9
Decision deferred on McDonald’s improvements
The Fairfax County Planning Commission on March 15 deferred a decision on a zoning special exception for an upgrade of the McDonald’s at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads. The deferral will give the McDonald’s representative and county planners more time to agree on how the project can meet … Continued
Park Authority to manage the Annandale Greenway trails in parks
Now that the Annandale Greenway has been included in the ActiveFairfax Transportation Plan, the next steps involve putting up signage along the four-mile trail. The Annandale Greenway runs between Annandale Community Park and Green Spring Gardens. It encompasses existing trails in Mason District Park, the future Annandale Civic Space, Manassas Gap Park, and the Hidden … Continued
Incident involving a BB gun at Annandale HS
There was an incident involving a BB gun at Annandale High School this morning. Principal Shawn DeRose sent an email to the community at 10:47 a.m. stating, “during the transition between first and second block, a BB gun fell out of a student’s backpack. The BB gun was seen and confiscated by a staff member … Continued
Students are working on robotic gardening
Students at Annandale and Falls Church high schools are learning how to use FarmBots to automate gardening. FarmBots are robots that can be programmed to plant seeds, water plants, pull weeds, and harvest the produce. It slides back and forth on a specially constructed raised garden bed. Hands On Harvests The FarmBot program is a … Continued
Annandale fire causes $3 million in damages
The fire that totaled a building with four businesses on Columbia Pike in Annandale on March 12 caused about $3 million in damages, reports Bill Delaney, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s public information officer. The building houses the Bonchon restaurant at 7215 Columbia Pike, the To Sok Jip restaurant, Hanmi Post, and the … Continued
Moby Dick House of Kabob coming to Annandale
A Moby Dick House of Kabob fast-casual Persian restaurant is coming to Annandale. It will be located in the new building in the EastGate shopping center parking lot on John Marr Drive. The restaurant is expected to open within the next few months. The goal is 90 days, but it’s hard to tell, due to … Continued
Police target aggressive drivers
The Fairfax County Police Department rolled out its 2023 Road Shark campaign on March 13 targeting aggressive driving. Road Shark is a high-visibility coordinated enforcement and education effort aimed at reducing crashes, changing driving behavior, and, ultimately, saving lives. The police department will station officers in high-visibility areas all over the county. They will look … Continued
Mosaic Arts is more than an art gallery
Mosaic Arts, the new art gallery next to the Mosaic District, is more than a showcase for local artists; the gallery also has a studio offering art classes. There are two-hour workshops scheduled in acrylic painting, abstract painting, drawing, mosaics, and other topics. There are also creative happy hours where participants choose the medium they … Continued
Viewpoint: There are many problems with Parking Reimagined
By Donna Jacobson Fairfax County is proposing an amendment to Article 6 of the Zoning Ordinance that will reduce minimum parking requirements (MPRs) for new developments in residential and commercial areas. The Planning Commission has tentatively scheduled a public hearing on the amendment, known as Parking Reimagined, on April 19. [Update, March 27: The April … Continued
Fire strikes businesses on Columbia Pike
There was a fire this morning at a building in the 7200 block of Columbia Pike in Annandale occupied by the To Sok Jip restaurant, Bonchon restaurant, JJ Hair Salon, and the Hanmi Post International Ship Center. The bulk of the fire was under control by 10:30 a.m., the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department … Continued
Viewpoint: Pinecrest prepares students well for middle school
By Ragan Sawyer Transitioning to middle school can be filled with anxiety and feel like a mysterious next step for students and parents alike. Pinecrest School, an independent, private school in Annandale serving preschoolers through sixth graders, offers a special event every year called Life After Pinecrest to prepare students for middle school. At the … Continued
Fairfax County School Board passes a resolution to allow collective bargaining
The Fairfax County School Board passed a resolution on March 9 giving employees collective bargaining rights. The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers lauded passage of the resolution, stating teachers will now have “a seat at the table and be able to negotiate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.” Employee associations can demonstrate sufficient support … Continued
Planning Commission rejects development proposal for Little River Turnpike
The Fairfax County Planning Commission rejected a site-specific plan amendment nomination for a mixed-use development on Little River Turnpike, but agreed to proceed with four others. The Planning Commission reviewed five redevelopment proposals at a workshop on March 9 to determine whether they should be added to the planning staff’s Comprehensive Plan work program for … Continued
Mason District residents complain about rising assessments at budget town hall
Mason District residents complained about soaring real estate assessments at Mason Supervisor Penny Gross’ Budget Town Hall on March 9. While the county’s budget proposal for FY 2024 says the average property tax bill would increase by about $520 from last year, some Mason residents are seeing an increase of $1,000 or more. Real estate … Continued