Eileen Garnett dies from injuries in crash
Eileen Garnett, one of the four pedestrians struck by a car in Annandale May 20, died from her injuries on May 25. Garnett, 83, was a longtime advocate for revitalizing Annandale. On the day of the crash, she was with a group of county and state officials on an inspection tour of Annandale hosted by … Continued
Annandale teacher volunteers at refugee center for Ukrainians
After volunteering to help Ukrainian refugees, Annandale High School teacher Meredith Hedrick has a better understanding of the issues students face in her English-as-a-second-language classes. Hedrick, the ESOL department chair, worked with World Central Kitchen May 6-17 in a Polish border town, where she helped distribute food and other supplies to newly arrived Ukrainians fleeing … Continued
Wakefield Skate Park to get a makeover
Demolition of the Wakefield Skate Park in Annandale is set to start soon to make way for construction of a new skate park, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced. A phased renovation of the skate park includes a new layout design, demolition of the unsalvageable equipment, and installation of new equipment. The new layout will … Continued
Man assaults juvenile at Lake Accotink
A 42-year-old man is facing charges after sexually assaulting a juvenile at Lake Accotink Park, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. Officers were called to the park in Springfield on May 21 for a report of an assault. The victim was on the playground around 6 p.m. when a man approached the victim, engaged in … Continued
Woman killed in crash at Skyline
Updated May 25: A woman was killed in a crash May 24 in the 3700 block of S. George Mason Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. She was later identified by police as Gladis Suyapa Deras, 54, of Falls Church. Deras was a passenger in a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. The car … Continued
New historic marker honors Vietnamese immigrants
A new historic marker unveiled May 24 on Wilson Boulevard in front of the Eden Center honors Vietnamese immigrants as an important part of Northern Virginia history. The marker was approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in 2021. Nomination for the historic marker was made by two students – eighth-grader Oliver Hardi and … Continued
Environmental group hopes to prevent developers from buying Annandale land
Fairfax County has again put up for auction seven undeveloped properties in Annandale in a flood plain next to Accotink Creek. The land owner, the Al Root Memorial Foundation, hasn’t paid taxes in years, so according to state law, the county has to auction off the properties to the highest bidder. The auction ends Tuesday, … Continued
RAMP offers fitness training
Pablo Amaya, former co-owner of PR Performance Fitness in Annandale, has ramped up his fitness training work since PR closed. Amaya had previously trained professional soccer players and was recently named the official performance coach for D.C. United. He also opened a new fitness center called RAMP (release, activate, mobilize, perform). RAMP provides fitness training … Continued
Granddaddy’s Skillet closed
Updated: Granddaddy’s Skillet, the soul food restaurant in Pinecrest Plaza, permanently closed on May 14. A recorded phone message says, “We are working very hard on reopening in a new location.” Roxanne and Andre David opened Granddaddy’s Skillet in early 2021 at 6544 Little River Turnpike. The Davids want to stay in the Annandale/Mason District … Continued
Pedestrian struck by hit-and-run driver
The Fairfax County Police Department reports a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on Little River Turnpike and Oasis Drive in Lincolnia Sunday night. A female was taken to the hospital with injuries considered life threatening. The vehicle involved in the crash is possibly a white or silver SUV with damage to the driver’s side. Witnesses … Continued
New retail center planned for Annandale
The retail center planned for the former Wendy’s property in Annandale will be bigger than previously reported. A site map on the leasing document by the Willard real estate company shows spaces for at least eight stores. The building, identified as Eastgate Square, will have 13,600 square feet. Willard touts the site’s “abundant surface parking … Continued
Videos highlight Mason police officers
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis has posted two videos highlighting the lifesaving work of Mason District police officers. The first two Chief’s Spotlight videos use footage from the officers’ body cameras to show what happens when they confronted people in crisis. One video shows how officers McGraw and Miller used their basic medical training … Continued
Lipsman wins GOP primary for 8th District
Delegates to Virginia’s 8th District Republican Committee selected Karina Lipsman to run for Congress in the 8th Congressional District. Lipsman received 61.5 percent of the vote at a firehouse primary May 21 using ranked-choice voting at the Waterford Event Center in Springfield. She beat four other candidates: Kezia Tunnell got 19 percent of the vote, … Continued
Pedestrian seriously injured in crash is longtime Annandale advocate
Updated – The four pedestrians struck by a vehicle in Annandale on May 20 were with the Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee (ACBDPC). One of the victims, Eileen Garnett, 82, is hospitalized in the intensive care unit with life-threatening injuries, including brain bleeds and multiple broken bones. [May 25 update – Garnett was taken … Continued
Weyanoke ES girls do STEM projects at TJ
Every Friday afternoon, members of the WISE Club (Women Interested in Science and Engineering) at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology host a group of girls from Weyanoke Elementary School for fun science projects. The program was highlighted in a feature story by the Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Communications and Community … Continued