Free rides on Fairfax Connector and Metrobus end next month
A polycarbonate driver shield on a Fairfax Connector bus. Free bus rides on Metrobus and Fairfax Connector, in effect during the pandemic, are ending next month. Bus riders will start paying fares on Metrobuses on Sunday, Jan. 3, and on Fairfax Connector buses on Monday, Jan. 4. Rear-door boarding is also ending on those dates. … Continued
Pet grooming shop opens in Annandale
Bessie’s Pet Grooming opened Dec. 15 at 7139 Columbia Pike in Annandale. It’s in the building that formerly housed Heidi’s Nails. The interior of the building has been totally redone. Bessie’s offers a full range of dog bathing and grooming services. The owner, Mi Ok Cho (Bessie), plans to hire a cat groomer. A full-service … Continued
Park Authority puts out survey on pickleball
Pickleball [Fairfax County Park Authority] As pickleball is becoming increasingly popular, players are asking the Fairfax County Park Authority to provide more pickleball courts. In response, the Park Authority is carrying out a feasibility study and has put out a survey to gauge the public’s interest in the sport. The online survey will be open … Continued
Inova Fairfax Hospital begins COVID vaccinations for staff
Nurse Meg Sourbeer gets the first COVID vaccine at Inova Fairfax Hospital. [WJLA] Inova Fairfax Hospital received its first doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer Dec. 15 and immediately began training nurses and pharmacists who volunteered to inoculate their coworkers, WJLA/ABC7 News reports. Meg Sourbeer, a neonatal intensive care nurse and 40-year veteran at Fairfax … Continued
COVID fund provides relief for water bills
People hard-hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for a break on their water bill. Fairfax Water is working with Fairfax County to administer funds from the commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 Municipal Utility Relief Program. Eligible customers will need to apply for this relief program by Dec. 30. To qualify, you must meet certain … Continued
Sushi restaurant coming to Pinecrest Plaza
People wait in line for the grand opening of Lidl at Pinecrest Plaza in September. [James Albright] Pinecrest Plaza is getting another new restaurant. Akeno Sushi Bar & Restaurant is going into a 1,615-square-foot spot between Taco Rock and T-Mobile. Taco Rock is planning to open later this month. The other new restaurant in Pinecrest … Continued
Virginia healthcare workers start getting COVID vaccines
Yolanda Dumas, an emergency room nurse at Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk got the first COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia. Virginia received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines and began inoculating healthcare workers yesterday. Supplies are limited, so high-risk groups will be vaccinated first. The state’s initial shipment included 72,150 doses and is targeted to healthcare workers. … Continued
Salt on roads harms waterways
With wintry weather predicted for Wednesday, it’s a good time to think about the ecological damage caused by using salt on icy roads and driveways. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will introduce a new a Salt Management Strategy Toolkit at a public meeting next month with resources and recommendations for best practices to reduce … Continued
Girls invited to winter break virtual Girl Scout camp
Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital invites all girls in grades K-5 to a virtual Camp Tagalong during winter break, Dec. 21-23. The program, on Zoom, features STEM, arts, entrepreneurship, outdoor activities, and life skills. The camp is aimed at introducing girls to Girl Scouts, so if scouts want to participate, they need to bring … Continued
Studies underway to prepare for Lake Accotink dredging project
Lake Accotink Planning and analysis for the Lake Accotink dredging project is well underway. Construction is not expected to start until March 2023, however, as key decisions need to be made about how the dredging will work. The project involves construction of a pipeline and a large clearing in Wakefield Park for drying out the … Continued
Man shot in Annandale
A man was shot in the 4100 block of Wadsworth Court in Annandale, at Fairmont Gardens, at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. The victim either walked or ran to the Taco Bell at 7450 Little River Turnpike, where he was found by Fairfax County Police. He was taken to the hospital with minor … Continued
Body found at Annandale Community Park
Fairfax County Police discovered a body in the wooded area near Annandale Community Park at about 8 a.m. on Dec. 13. According to a death investigation, “there was no suspicious activity,” the FCPD reports. What that means is it was most likely a suicide. A local resident called it in. Annandale Community Park, at 4030 … Continued
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