Major winter storm predicted, starting tomorrow morning
A snowplow in a parking lot by Gallows Road in Annandale in December 2020. The biggest winter storm of the year is headed out way Thursday morning. Three to six inches of snow and about a quarter-inch of ice are predicted for the D.C. metro area, the National Weather Service predicts. [Update: The Fairfax County Health … Continued
Town Hall on COVID-19 vaccination strategy next week
The community is invited to a COVID-19 Town Hall hosted by Supervisor James Walkinshaw (Braddock), on Feb. 22, 7 p.m. Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, director of the Fairfax County Department of Health, will discuss the county’s vaccine rollout and vaccination distribution strategy.
Fairfax County supervisors to consider banning plastic bags for yard waste
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is holding a hearing Feb. 23, 4 p.m., on a proposed ordinance to ban the use of plastic bags for yard waste collections. The proposed change is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in streams and soil, contaminating the environment.
Metro cuts rush-hour rail service
Transit ridership is way down. [Keith Pham] Metro has dropped rush hour service for Metrorail – its FY 2021 budget eliminated more frequent trains during peak hours – but has not dropped rush-hour fares. As of Feb. 15, trains are operating “at the same service frequencies through the evening rush hour,” Metro states. “The changes … Continued
Explore a park: Mason District Park has something for everyone
The pond at Mason District Park. This article is part of our series on parks in the Annandale/Mason District area. The last piece in this series explored Roundtree Park. At 60 acres, Mason District Park is the largest park in Mason District. It’s a great place for a nature walk, team sports, outdoor concert, and … Continued
Zoning board defers action on daycare proposal from Bailey’s Crossroads church
Columbia Baptist Church [Google Maps] The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals has again deferred a decision on an application from Columbia Baptist Church on Glen Carlyn Road in Bailey’s Crossroads for a building addition with a childcare center. At its Feb. 10 meeting, the BZA agreed to take up the application again on Feb. … Continued
Police report shooting in Bailey’s Crossroads
“A homeowner reported that a woman broke into their home and was subsequently shot,” the Fairfax County Police Department reports. That incident happened shortly before 3 a.m. on Feb. 10 in the 3300 block of Wilkins Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads. The woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The homeowners and the victim … Continued
Fairfax County issues new vaccine dashboard
School employees at a vaccination clinic. [FCPS] The Fairfax County Health Department has launched a COVID-19 vaccination dashboard that helps people understand why it’s taking so long for people who registered to get an appointment. The new dashboard provides information on when vaccinations are being scheduled for people who registered on a certain date, the … Continued
Zoning board approves backyard chicken coop in Annandale
Gerald Miranda’s backyard, where he plans to install a chicken coop. The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special permit Feb. 10 to allow Annandale homeowner Gerald Miranda to keep 10 chickens in his backyard. Under the zoning code, homeowners need at least two acres to keep domestic fowl by right. Miranda’s lot … Continued
College in the age of COVID
A screenshot of a Zoom conversation the Justice High School Scholarship Fund hosted for the JHS Scholars from the Class of 2020. By Jean King COVID-19’s impact on the Justice High School class of 2020 was almost immediate: The play was canceled a week before its premiere, sports did not get past the first round … Continued
Residents offer diverse views on flag restrictions
A flag in a residential neighborhood in Annandale. At a Fairfax County Planning Commission hearing on proposed zoning changes for flags and flagpoles, residents presented a wide range of reasons why flags, in general, should be restricted even more and why American flags should be exempt.
FCPS offers more details on the return to in-person learning
School staff prepare for the return to school. [Photos from an FCPS video] Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand offered more details on the return-to-school process at a town hall on Feb. 10. Groups of students will return to school buildings on a phased-in schedule, starting with certain special education and career and technical … Continued
Planning Commission to vote on zMOD next week
zMOD would ease the rules for home-based businesses. The Fairfax County Planning Commission had been scheduled to make a decision on zMOD Feb. 10, but instead agreed to defer a decision to Feb. 24. zMOD is a massive modernization and streamlining of the county’s Zoning Ordinance. The two most controversial provisions address Accessory Living Units … Continued
CVS COVID vaccination rollout poorly coordinated
This store in Annandale has begun providing COVID vaccinations to people 65+. The CVS COVID vaccine rollout in Virginia has been confusing and frustrating, Dr. Danny Avula, the state’s vaccine coordinator, acknowledged. As part of a federal vaccine partnership, CVS is providing 26,000 doses a week to 36 pharmacies across the state, including the CVS … Continued
Annandale church plans to expand services to the community but needs a rezoning first
The food pantry at the Heritage Mission Center operated by Annandale United Methodist Church. The church building next to Heritage Mall in Annandale has been distributing food to needy families in the surrounding community for years. The Annandale United Methodist Church, owner of the 1.7-acre property at 7910 Heritage Drive, has submitted a rezoning application … Continued