Man dies in crash on Little River Turnpike in Annandale
The wrecked car on Little River Turnpike is towed away. [Oscar Martinez] Updated Dec. 14: An adult man is dead following a single-vehicle crash at Little River Turnpike and Duncan Drive in Annandale, the Fairfax County Police Department reported shortly before 7 a.m. on Dec. 13. Police identified the victim as Dixon Joel Martinez Rodriguez, … Continued
More Fairfax County students returning to virtual learning, due to COVID surge
Safety teams are making spot inspections at Fairfax County schools to ensure compliance with health protocols. Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, Fairfax County Public Schools has determined that students in Group 3 (which includes various categories of special education) will return to virtual learning, beginning Monday, Dec. 14. Those students had been in … Continued
New owners promise to renovate Fairmont Gardens
Fairmont Gardens The new owners of Fairmont Gardens in Annandale plan to renovate the garden apartment community, according to a Dec. 10 report on GlobeSt.com. Joint-venture partners – the Donaldson Group, Declaration Partners, and a fund managed by DRA Advisors – purchased the 388-unit apartment complex on Wadsworth Court for $84 million. The partners are … Continued
Community meeting will address Backlick Road improvements
The main north-south road is Backlick Road. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation invites the public to an online meeting Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m., on the Backlick Road Spot Improvements Project. The project is aimed at relieving congestion and improving safety at the intersection at Backlick Road and Industrial Road in Mason District … Continued
Police report robberies in Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads
Charles Thomson Lane in Annandale. A man was robbed in the 7900 block of Charles Thomson Lane in Annandale on Dec. 7, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The victim was waiting in a parking lot at the Vistas of Annandale when he was approached by a man who displayed a handgun, took his personal … Continued
History Commission documents Confederate place names in Fairfax County
A report by the Fairfax County History Commission on Confederate names in the county offers exhaustive details on the origin of John Marr Drive in Annandale and reveals a couple of communities in the Annandale area – Broyhill Crest and Ravensworth – with many streets named for Confederate military leaders. The Fairfax County Board of … Continued
Annandale choral students perform a virtual concert featuring African-American composers
The Annandale High School Choral Department hosted its first virtual concert, “Lift Every Voice,” featuring all five of the school’s choirs performing works of six living African-American composers with a focus on hope, equity, and unity. The concert is available on YouTube. Several choral members speak during the performance about what the songs mean to them. The … Continued
Virginia Gov. Northam imposes new restrictions in response to COVID surge
Northam speaks at a briefing on COVID Dec. 10. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Dec. 10 announced new rules aimed at combatting a surge in COVID 19 cases, including a curfew and stepped-up enforcement. COVID cases are now at the highest level ever since the pandemic started last winter. Statewide, there are now 4,000 new … Continued
Fairfax County school board considers revised proposals for TJ
TJ students in the school’s robotics lab. [File photo] The Fairfax County School Board is considering two revised proposals for changing the admissions process to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. The board has been discussing TJ admissions for months in response to concerns that the current system for the elite school discriminates … Continued
Explore a Park: Luria Park is a green oasis on the edge of Holmes Run Stream Valley Park
This is the third article in the Annandale Blog’s Explore a Park series. The previous stories were about Manassas Gap Park in Annandale and Lillian Carey Park in Bailey’s Crossroads. Luria Park is a 5.3-acre neighborhood park at 7624 Holmes Run Drive in the Holmes Run Acres neighborhood in the Falls Church area of Mason District. It’s … Continued
Work underway on new Korean Community Center in Annandale
The Korean Community Center will be located here. Renovations started last week on a Korean Community Center in Annandale, and the project is expected to be completed in early 2021, says Steve Lee, president of the Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area. The center is located in an office building at 6601 Little … Continued
Park bonds: The public needs good reporting
This chart is from a Park Authority brochure on the 2020 park bond. By Marie Reinsdorf A few weeks ago I wrote about my experience looking into bond fund expenditures at the John & Margaret White Gardens. I decided to write more about park themes and issues. In this piece, I take a quick look … Continued
With winter weather on the horizon, TaskTeens is available for snow shoveling
A teen gets the work done. [TaskTeens] TaskTeens, the online service that matches homeowners with teens available for yardwork, is ready for winter. The company, run by a high school student, has about 260 teens from all over the Northern Virginia area ready to perform all kinds of outdoor work. During the summer, most of … Continued
Virginia hosts community conversations on COVID vaccine
COVID vaccines are undergoing testing. [Pfizer] The Virginia Department of Health is hosting community conversations for various populations on how the state is preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s the schedule: Dec. 8 – Asian American and Pacific Islander community Dec. 9 – LatinX community Dec. 10 – LGBTQIA+ community Dec. 15 – African American … Continued
Annandale High School featured in TV news report on failing grades during pandemic
A screenshot from a “Good Morning America video, shows reporter Alex Presha interviewing Annandale High School teacher Catie Bishop in front of the school. Annandale High School was featured in a segment on “Good Morning America” Dec. 5 on how students across the nation are failing academically due to the challenges of online learning during the … Continued