Many candidates are running for the Fairfax County School Board
The Fairfax County School Board is going to be very different next year, as seven of the 12 incumbents are not running for re-election. At least six candidates are seeking the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s endorsement for the three at-large seats on the school board: Moon has been endorsed by Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, and state … Continued
Alexandria City Council approves hospital at former Landmark Mall site
The Alexandria City Council on March 18 unanimously approved Inova Health System’s application for a special use permit to construct a medical campus at the WestEnd Town Center (formerly Landmark Mall). This new Inova Alexandria medical campus will have an acute-care hospital, cancer center, and specialty care center. The hospital will have a large emergency … Continued
Pedestrian safety projects proposed
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation has developed a list of pedestrian safety projects recommended for funding, including several in Mason District. Michael Guarino, head of FCDOT’s capital budget section, presented the proposals for the next $25.2 million in active transportation access and safety improvements to the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation on Committee on March … Continued
Metallica acquires majority interest in local record-pressing company
The rock band Metallica has acquired a controlling stake in Furnace Record Pressing, a company that produces high-quality vinyl records in the Alexandria part of Mason District. “While the ownership structure is changing, under the hood, everything stays the same: the same people, same spirit, same culture, and the same never-ending quest to perfect our … 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: 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