Beltway crash involved DUI drivers
UPDATED June 12: A crash on the beltway in Annandale on June 11 resulted in two DUI arrests and an injured Virginia State Police trooper. Shortly after 3 a.m., was dispatched to a sedan that had stopped in a northbound lane of I-495 near the Little River Turnpike exit. The driver, Erica Bernard, 43, of … Continued
Lake Accotink studies underway
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services is making progress on the evaluation of Lake Accotink, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw reports in the June edition of the Braddock Beacon. In December, the Task Force on the Future of Lake Accotink presented its Findings Report to the board of Supervisors. The report concluded that retaining … Continued
Animal shelter offers vouchers for pet neutering
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is partnering with three veterinarian practices to provide vouchers to lower-income households for big discounts on pet spaying and neutering. The goal of the program is to encourage pet owners to keep their pets and not surrender them to the animal shelter, says Lauren Krzywicki, manager of the shelter’s Pet … Continued
Boy killed by train remembered as a standout soccer player
Eli Medrano, the Weyanoke Elementary School second-grader killed in a train crash on June 5, is remembered for his “larger than life personality, terrific sense of humor, and a smile that could light up the room.” That quote is from a GoFundMe page set up by soccer coach Ben Sprague on behalf of Jeffrey Medrano. … Continued
Changes proposed for Wakefield courts
The Fairfax County Park Authority plans to change the configuration of the tennis and pickleball courts at Wakefield Park in Annandale. The park has nine tennis courts, two dual-use courts (two tennis courts and four pickleball courts), and two dedicated pickleball courts. “Over time, the use of the dual-use courts has trended strongly toward pickleball … Continued
Chico’s pet shop closed but might resurface in a new location
After 10 years and three different locations in Barcroft Plaza, Chico’s Natural Pet Market has closed for good. But it’s not going away forever, as the owner, Danielle Areco, is searching for a new location. Areco spent the store’s last day, Sunday, June 9, hosting an ice cream party for dogs with big markdowns on … Continued
Pupusa Fest highlights Salvadoran culture
The local Salvadoran community celebrated their culture at a Pupusa Fest June 9 hosted by the General Consulate of El Salvador. The event, on the grounds of Braddock Elementary School in Annandale, featured free pupusas, a pupusa-eating contest, vendors, giveaways, raffle prizes, songs, and dances from El Salvador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Paraguay. El Salvador’s Consul … Continued
School news roundup
The following news items and photos are from Fairfax County Public Schools. Students help refugees – The Fairfax County Public Schools website features a story about two members of the Annandale High School Class of 2024 – Sosan Barakzai and Husna Basiri – who helped found a club to help refugees adjust to life at … Continued
Park Authority will remove popular pickleball courts at Kendale Woods Park
Residents of the Broyhill Crest community in Annandale who’ve been fighting to retain the pickleball courts at Kendale Woods Park have lost their battle to retain them – at least for the time being. The Park Authority announced it will begin removing pickleball from the park this coming week. Players seek an injunction The fight … Continued
100+ volunteers clean up Americana Drive
Americana Drive in Annandale is a whole lot cleaner thanks to the 102 volunteers who collected litter and large items from the roadway last Saturday. The volunteers removed an estimated 1.5 tons of debris, including 163 bags of trash, 53 tires, a stroller, a bumper, a swing set, two mattresses, a bathroom sink, eight rolls … Continued
Train crash victims identified
The Fairfax County Police Department identified the victims killed by a train on June 5. Diego Arriaza, 28, of Annandale, Yeraldin Pardo, 28, of Lincolnia, and her 8-year-old child were on the elevated train tracks at Lake Accotink Park shortly before 8:30 p.m. when they were hit by a northbound Norfolk Southern freight train. Detectives … Continued
Annandale man wins fraud case against a bank
Richard Bennett, an 81-year-old Annandale resident who was scammed out of $1.5 million, had to sue Old Dominion National Bank to get his money back. A jury at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled in his favor on May 31. His attorney, Blake Weiner, charged the bank had transferred money … Continued
Planning Commission recommends zoning changes for data centers
The Fairfax County Planning Commission on June 6 recommended approval of a more restrictive zoning ordinance on data centers. Commissioners approved several amendments that address some of the concerns raised by residents and environmental groups at a five-hour hearing the previous evening. About 50 people testified at the hearing, including residents of Bren Mar Park … Continued
Three people killed after being struck by a train at Lake Accotink
Three people – two adults and a child – were killed after being struck by a freight train while walking on the tracks above Accotink Park Road shortly before 8:30 p.m. on June 5, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. All three were declared deceased on the scene. The Norfolk Southern train was heading northbound … 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: June 5 June 4 June 3 June 2 June 1 May 31 May 30