An early win for school boards in mask mandate suit
A judge with the Arlington County Circuit Court has granted a temporary restraining order Feb. 4 against Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s ban on mask mandates. The ruling by Judge Louise DiMatteo involves a lawsuit filed by seven school boards, including Fairfax County, Alexandria, Arlington County, Falls Church, Hampton Roads, Prince William County, and Richmond. Related … Continued
Recent crimes: Reckless discharge, robbery
The Fairfax County Police Department reports the following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area: Several community members reported hearing gunfire at the Fairmont Gardens apartments on Wadsworth Court in Annandale at about 7 p.m. on Jan. 29 and saw a potential suspect leaving the area on foot. When officers found the man, a 27-year-old … Continued
The Annandale Greenway gets a green light
By James Albright Much has happened since my last post on the proposed Annandale Greenway, the four-mile “braided” trail that winds its way through Northern Virginia’s most intriguing community. As I described it last year, the trail crosses Annandale just to the north of Little River Turnpike, providing an alternative east-west passage that accesses six … Continued
New stores at Landmark Plaza
Several new shops have recently opened or are coming to the Plaza at Landmark in Lincolnia. America’s Best Wings opened in late January at 6244-E Little River Turnpike in the spot formerly occupied by GNC. The shop offers 33 flavors of buffalo wings, says co-owner Ahad Ali. Some of the popular varieties include garlic parmesan, … Continued
Little River Turnpike targeted for improvements
The state of Virginia has identified a section of Little River Turnpike in Annandale as in need of improvements. The goal is to reduce congestion and make the corridor safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. A study assessing traffic capacity and safety on a half-mile stretch of Route 336 between Prosperity Avenue and Wakefield Chapel Road … Continued
Lane closures on Duke Street
There will be lane shifts on Duke Street in the Landmark area starting today as Virginia Department of Transportation crews work on the bridge over Interstate 395. The westbound lane between S. Walker Street and Oasis Drive will be closed this morning for the installation of temporary striping for the traffic shift. Around 3 p.m., … Continued
Resident injured in house fire
A resident of a house in the 4700 block of Autumn Cove Court in Lincolnia was injured in a house fire on Jan. 29, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. The occupant was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. When firefighters arrived at the two-story, single-family house shortly after 1 a.m., fire … Continued
Woodson fire causes $8 million in damages
Investigators with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department estimated the fire on the Woodson High School campus Jan. 30 caused more than $8.85 million in damages. The two-alarm fire was accidental and started in an office in an administrative building next to the school. Woodson is located at 9525 Main Street in Fairfax. Related … Continued
Should Mason District be renamed?
The Redistricting Advisory Committee has agreed to consider whether five of the nine Fairfax County supervisory districts should be renamed. That list includes Mason District, as well as Lee, Mount Vernon, Springfield, and Sully. The committee will make a recommendation by March 1 on whether any of those districts should be renamed but will not … Continued
Metrobus to resume regular service
Metrobus will return to regular weekday service on Feb. 7, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced. Metrobus has been operating on a modified Saturday schedule, offering approximately 75 percent of normal weekday service, since Jan. 10 due to Covid-related staffing shortages. The Covid Omicron surge has affected about 10 percent of Metro’s workforce since … Continued
Schools try Test to Stay program
Seven Fairfax County schools, including Glasgow Middle School and Bailey’s Elementary School, began implementing the Test to Stay pilot program Jan. 31, Test to Stay (TTS) allows students who are close contacts to people who tested positive for Covid at school to stay in the classroom, rather than quarantine at home – if they take … Continued
More school holidays next year
The Fairfax County School Board adopted a calendar for the 2022-23 school year that adds four religious holidays. Schools will be closed next year on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Orthodox Good Friday, and Diwali. (Eid and Lunar New Year fall on a non-school day in 2022.) There will be 14 professional work days for educators. … Continued
Fire damages Woodson HS admin building
Firefighters spent about five hours on the Woodson High School campus Saturday night controlling a fire on the roof of an administrative building adjacent to the school. The fire did not spread to the main building of the high school, at 9525 Main St., Fairfax. When fire units arrived at about 3 a.m., they believed … Continued
Use QR codes to access new fitness trail
The Fairfax County Park Authority has opened two QR code fitness trails at Mason District Park in Annandale and Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly. The Trail Mix program allows visitors to use a phone to scan the QR code on a sign and select a low-impact, medium, or advanced exercise option There are eight … Continued
Board considers curbing bamboo
Bamboo might be beloved by pandas, but it’s an invasive species that spreads aggressively and creates a nuisance for homeowners. The Board of Supervisors agreed on Jan. 25 to consider an ordinance to require property owners to contain running bamboo and set civil penalties for the failure to do so. The board will consider adoption … Continued