Family-friendly triathlon next Sunday
Here’s your chance to try an easy triathlon while helping to support children’s charities: Join the Charity Triathlon Family Event next Sunday, Aug. 28, 7:30-10 a.m., at the Sleepy Hollow Recreation Association on Sleepy Hollow Road. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the ACCA Child Development Center in Annandale and the Kisima … Continued
Free meals at 13 Annandale/Mason schools
Fairfax County Public Schools will continue to provide free breakfasts and lunches during the 2022-23 school year at 34 schools, including these schools in the Annandale/Mason District area. Annandale High School Annandale Terrace Elementary School Bailey’s Elementary Bailey’s Upper Elementary Beech Tree Elementary Braddock Elementary Glasgow Middle School Glen Forest Elementary Justice High School Parklawn … Continued
Pedestrian killed in Seven Corners
A pedestrian was struck and killed in a parking lot in Seven Corners following a vehicle crash on Wilson Boulevard on Aug. 18. Police identified the pedestrian as Albert Sweat, 62, of Maryland. Sweat was walking through a parking lot in the 6200 block of Arlington Boulevard shortly after 8:30 a.m. when he was struck … Continued
Recent crimes: robbery and assault
The Fairfax County Police Department reports the following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area: Three men abducted and assaulted a man in the 3800 block of Millcreek Drive in Annandale on Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. One man displayed a handgun, and the victim was thrown into a vehicle. He was able to escape … Continued
Glasgow counselor fired for sex offense
Fairfax County Public Schools has fired a counselor at Glasgow Middle School who had been previously convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution. According to news reports, the counselor, Darren Thornton, had already been arrested and convicted outside of Fairfax County before he started working at FCPS. He started working at Glasgow in 2020. In … Continued
Deer hunting in parks starts Sept. 10
Deer hunting season starts in Fairfax County parks on Sept. 10 and will run through Feb. 18, 2023. The county’s deer management program allows qualified hunters to use archery to reduce the deer population in designated parks. The 2022-23 deer program allows archery in these parks in the Annandale/Mason District area: • Accotink Stream Valley … Continued
Schools are over 99 percent fully staffed
When public school starts on Monday, Aug. 22, there will be “a certificated adult in every classroom,” said Superintendent Michelle Reid. Fairfax County Public Schools are “over 99 percent fully staffed,” Reid said during a virtual community meeting Aug. 17. FCPS is still hiring, though. The school system has been struggling with a teacher shortage, … Continued
Backlick signal improvements underway
Construction is underway on improvements to enhance pedestrian and driver safety and traffic operations at the intersection of Backlick Road and Leesville Boulevard in the Springfield area of Mason District. The traffic signal upgrades include new mast arm poles, foundations, wiring, electrical equipment, high-visibility signal backplates, and signs, VDOT reports. Drivers on Backlick Road will … Continued
Tous les Jours opens in Annandale
The Tous les Jours bakery and café opened Aug. 15 in the East Gate Shopping Center in Annandale. The shop, at 4243 John Marr Drive, offers pastries, bread, fancy cakes, muffins, donuts, croissants, scones, buns, macarons, and other baked goods. Drinks include various kinds of coffee, tea, and smoothies made with fresh fruit. Bing soo … Continued
Credit union opens in Bailey’s Crossroads
Apple Federal Credit Union opened a new branch in Bailey’s Crossroads with a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 16. The new branch is located at 5701-D Columbia Pike. The public is invited to drop by this week to enter a raffle for a chance to win one of these prizes: a 50-inch Toshiba TV, Xbox Series 5 … Continued
Police Dept. copes with personnel shortage
Faced with a personnel shortage, the Fairfax County Police Department is stepping up its recruiting efforts. FCPD has 195 operational vacancies, but that doesn’t account for the 50 recruits in the Police Academy, a public information officer reports. The vacancies are across the department and not concentrated in specific areas. The police department launched an … Continued
O’my ChiQ & Bar to open next month
O’my ChiQ & Bar is expected to open in late September at 7023 Columbia Pike in Annandale. A patio is under construction. The restaurant will specialize in rotisserie, grilled, and barbecue chicken and barbecue ribs, says the future manager, who now works at Omy Hot Pot on Annandale Road. It is being developed by the … Continued
Smoke & Vapor Planet opens in Annandale
Another vape shop is now open in Annandale. Smoke & Vapor Planet is located at 4425 John Marr Drive next to Duck Chang’s. A grand opening is planned for Sept. 15. The shop sells vaporizers, disposable vapes, glass water pipes, hookah pipes and supplies, CBD products, cigarettes, cigars, smoking accessories, incense, and more. Exotic snacks … Continued
Historic Overlay District proposed for Holmes Run Acres
Holmes Run Acres residents appear to be divided on whether their community should have a Historic Overlay District (HOD). How residents stand on the issue won’t be known until October when the results of a poll will be announced. The poll opened Aug. 1 and will close Sept. 9. Supporters say an HOD will prevent … Continued
Murder victim fondly remembered by family and friends
Family and friends of Sylvia Vaca Abacay (known as Kelly Kelyta), who was brutally murdered Aug. 10, in Seven Corners, remember her as a devoted mother and loving wife. A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for funeral costs says Kelly, who is from Bolivia, “leaves behind her beloved husband, 14-year-old daughter, and 17-year … Continued