Fairmont Gardens kids celebrate Halloween
Halloween came early to the Fairmont Gardens apartments, as families brought their children to a Trunk & Treat event organized by Opportunity Neighborhoods–Annandale. There was a long line of decorated cars in the parking lot, with costumed adults – including several teachers – handing out candy and other goodies to the children. Children voted for … Continued
Man fatally shot at Skyline Towers
A man was fatally shot in an apartment at Skyline Towers in Bailey’s Crossroads on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 30, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. A witness inside the apartment, in the 5500 block of Seminary Road, called the police at about 2:45 p.m. Officers found an adult male with gunshot wounds on the third … Continued
Bailey’s Community Center hosts Fall Fest
Children were treated to a haunted house, candy, and other giveaways at the Fall Festival at Bailey’s Community Center on Oct. 28, while local agencies and nonprofits shared information about their programs. “A lot of kids don’t get opportunities like this. They’ve never been to a haunted house,” said Bryan Linton, youth and family director … Continued
Residents oppose industrial rezoning
After hearing numerous complaints from local residents about a proposal to rezone the industrial Plaza 500 property in the Alexandria area of Mason District, the Fairfax County Planning Commission deferred a decision to Nov. 16. At an Oct. 26 hearing, people who live nearby urged the Planning Commission to reject the proposal, citing noise and … Continued
Halloween creepy creatures fill this yard
Many people put out skeletons and graveyards for Halloween, but Cat Tallant’s decorations are so over the top, people wait in line to walk through her front yard. This year’s theme is a haunted pumpkin patch, so Tallant’s display, on Carolyn Drive by Sleepy Hollow Road, includes animatronic scarecrows, a huge pile of pumpkins, a … Continued
Pedestrian killed on Route 7
Updated 3:30 p.m., Oct. 27: A woman is dead after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 5600 block of Leesburg Pike at Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads at 10 p.m. on Oct. 26. The Fairfax County Police Department identified the victim as Elise Ballard, age 40. The driver of a 2017 Infiniti … Continued
Supervisors approve convenience store at Ravensworth Shell station
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 25 approved a zoning special exception to allow Capital Services Inc. to convert the vehicle repair shop at the Ravensworth Shell station to a convenience store. The service station is in the Ravensworth Shopping Center on Braddock Road. It was built in 1966. The project also includes … Continued
Two schools have new principals
Two schools in the Annandale/Mason District area have new principals. Raven Jones is the new principal at Luther Jackson Middle School, and Taiia Clarke will start work as principal of Beech Tree Elementary School on Nov. 14. Jones was formerly the administrator of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Montrose Alternative Learning Center in Alexandria. Before that, … Continued
Transportation officials talk safety
Improving safety on the region’s busiest roadways requires retrofitting an infrastructure built decades ago, cooperation among jurisdictions, and changing drivers’ mindsets. Those were the key points from a discussion among regional transportation leaders at a recent webinar hosted by the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. Annual traffic fatalities in Virginia … Continued
Historic Overlay District fails to gain sufficient community support
A proposal to create a Historic Overlay District in Holmes Run Acres will not go forward following a poll that found insufficient support. According to the poll results, 52.5 percent of homeowners opposed an HOD, and 45 percent supported it. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross said she will introduce a board matter before the Board of … Continued
Police report a shooting in Lincolnia
Fairfax County Police are investigating a shooting this evening in the 6300 block of Little River Turnpike in Lincolnia. That appears to be in the Landmark Plaza area. The victim has been transported to the hospital with an injury to the lower body that is not considered life-threatening, the FCPD tweeted shortly after 6 p.m. … Continued
Inova activates emergency plan due to surge of patients
In response to a significant surge in patient volume, which is straining hospital capacity, Inova Health System activated its internal emergency operations plan on Oct. 24. The surge is primarily affecting emergency departments, due to an increase in the circulation of respiratory viruses and other illnesses. Inova is standing up its Emergency Operations Center and … Continued
Crime report: theft, assault, larceny
The Fairfax County Police Department reports the following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area on CityProtect. FCPD recently replaced its weekly crime reports with the CityProtect program, which shows crimes on a map but doesn’t provide a lot of details, such as whether any of the crimes resulted in an arrest. Vehicle theft – … Continued
Healthcare facility to open Oct. 31
A Vista Medical Center is opening Oct. 31 in the Bradlick Shopping Center in Annandale. That building was previously a Capital One bank. Vista Medical Center is replacing an existing pediatrics practice at 7501 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. That office is closing, and staff is moving to the new place on Oct. 29-30, says … Continued
School news roundup
The following news briefs and photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools. Where’s the equity? – The Fairfax County School Board passed a watered-down resolution Oct. 20 supporting educators “as they deliver FCPS-approved curriculum and classroom resources that are inclusive and meet the high aspirations of our students, families, and the Fairfax County community.” The … Continued