Beyond snowmen and reindeer
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, front lawns throughout the area are full of Santas, reindeers, and brightly-lit trees. We found a few homes in Annandale that mixed in some unusual creatures along with the traditional decorations. How about a holiday octopus, a cow, or a hedgehog?
County facilities announce holiday schedule
Officers and recruits from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Criminal Justice Academy handed out donated pajamas to Culmore residents Dec. 19. [FCPD] Here’s the holiday schedule for Fairfax County facilities: Fairfax County government offices – Officially closed at noon on Dec. 23. Closed Dec. 24 and 31. Libraries – Open 10 a.m.-noon on Dec. 23. … Continued
Unisex hair salon opens in Annandale
A new hair salon for women, men, and children opened Dec. 18 on John Marr Drive in Annandale. K’s Hair Town offers haircuts, color, highlights, perms, and straightening. Walk-ins are welcome. It’s located in the East Gate shopping center between ToBe Nails, which also opened Dec. 18, and Ben Gong’s Tea. The owner, Yeon Kim, also … Continued
FCPS will notify parents about the importance of safe gun storage
Secure gun storage could help prevent school shootings, like the recent one at Oxford High School in Michigan. [Jake May/Flint Journal] Fairfax County Public Schools will notify parents and guardians about Virginia’s secure firearm safety law, Superintendent Scott Brabrand announced Dec. 16. FCPS will also inform parents about why secure storage is essential and other … Continued
Lincolnia church opens its doors to Afghan refugees
Rev. Sarah Scherschligt of Peace Lutheran Church officially opens a refugee resettlement center at the church. Peace Lutheran Church is extending its welcome to Afghan refugees through the opening of a new refugee resettlement center in its building operated by the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). Many of the refugees evacuated from Afghanistan after … Continued
‘Shopping Cart Killer’ murdered four people he met on dating sites
A container with human remains was found next to this shopping cart in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County. [FCPD] A serial killer, dubbed the “Shopping Cart Killer,” has been accused of murdering four people, including two in Fairfax County and two in Harrisonburg. Police believe there may be more victims. The suspect, Anthony Robinson, age … Continued
Scammers impersonating church pastors request gift cards
A phishing scheme targeted members of this Annandale church. Local churches are warning their members about phishing scams in which a scammer impersonates the pastor and asks people to send gift cards for those in need. Hope Lutheran Church in Annandale was struck three times by this type of scam – a year-and-a-half ago, this past … Continued
Park Authority calls for more pickleball courts
Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw gets a pickleball lesson at Wakefield Park. Fairfax County’s Pickleball Study calls for creating more courts to meet the demand for the increasingly popular sport, including a future complex with at least six courts. The study, endorsed by the Park Authority Board Dec. 8, will guide the planning, design, and operation … Continued
Covid cases rising again in Fairfax County
A temporary vaccine clinic at a school. [WJLA] The omicron variant hasn’t been officially reported in Fairfax County, but it’s likely here and spreading. The Fairfax Health District is currently experiencing a 5.4 percent COVID-19 positivity rate. That is expected to increase as people spend more time indoors and as the more-transmissible omicron variant takes … Continued
New nail salon to open in Annandale
A nail salon, called ToBe, is expected to open Saturday, Dec. 18, on John Marr Drive, Annandale, in the East Gate shopping center.
Construction of Skyline live/work project well underway
These office buildings are being turned into live/work units. Renovation is moving along quickly on the three vacant office buildings at the Skyline Center that are being converted to residential units tenants can use for living, working, or both. The first group of about 60 to 70 units will be ready for leasing in July … Continued
Pedestrian dies after being struck on Leesburg Pike
The general area on Leesburg Pike where the crash occurred. [Google Maps] The pedestrian struck by a car on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads at 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 has died, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. Nguyet Ly, 68, of Falls Church, was walking east in the westbound travel lane of Leesburg Pike … Continued
Viewpoint: A second attempt to create parking at Justice Park
The basketball court in Justice Park with the school in the background. By Nazir Bhagat Dec. 10 was the last day to respond to a survey about whether to build 67 parking spaces at Justice Park. School Board Member Ricardy Anderson (Mason) issued the survey, even though the proposal to build the parking lot had … Continued
Otters sighted in Annandale
A river otter in Long Branch Stream. Annandale has otters – or at least it did when a local resident took these photos. Three river otters were sighted this fall in Long Branch Stream near Woodland Way and Canterbury Woods Elementary School, according to the Friends of Long Branch Stream Valley.
Pedestrian hospitalized after crash on Leesburg Pike
A woman is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a car in the 5900 block of Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads at about 11 a.m. on Dec. 13, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The driver remained on the scene.