Mosaic District draws crowds despite pandemic
A closed section of Strawberry Lane serves as a gathering space. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and a heat wave, the Mosaic District in Merrifield was fairly crowded on Sunday evening. While several places have closed in recent weeks, new ones have opened or are coming soon. Leon offers chicken, burgers, pitas, and slushies, among other … Continued
Nonprofits seek public donations for school supplies
Kids need school supplies whether they’re learning in class or online. [Collect for Kids] School may be virtual this fall, but students still need school supplies. Children from lower-income households in our community need more help than ever this year, as the coronavirus pandemic is taking an economic toll on families. Two Fairfax County nonprofits … Continued
Two die in Bailey’s Crossroads crash
A man and woman have died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash that occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 9 in the 3400 block of Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The passenger, Maria Crowder, 29, of Maryland, died at the scene, while the driver, … Continued
First tenants move in to Mission Lofts
So far, 30 of the 156 units at Mission Lofts have been leased. Located in a former office building at 5600 Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads, Mission Lofts allows tenants to use their units as a residence, office, or both. One unit is being used solely as a business, Johnson Construction & Design, says property … Continued
Mason District task force approves one development proposal and opposes another
One of the houses on Arlington Boulevard that could be demolished for a proposal for an assisted living facility goes forward. A Mason District Task Force voted to oppose a proposal to develop an assisted living facility on Arlington Boulevard and recommended approval for a housing project for seniors on a church property in Seven … Continued
Incorrect voting information sent to local homes
Tens of thousands of Virginians received an absentee ballot application with the wrong information. The Center for Voter Information sent out applications with the voter information already filled in and an enclosed envelope with the wrong address: Fairfax County residents received an envelope addressed to the City of Fairfax Registrar rather than the registrar for Fairfax County. … Continued
FCPS superintendent offers more details about what virtual education will be like this fall
Annandale High School, like all FCPS schools will remain empty this fall. Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand sent a letter to parents Aug. 4 offering more details about the virtual return to school. In July, FCPS scrapped a hybrid plan giving parents a choice of in-school learning two days a week or an all-online … Continued
Public comment sought on revised plan for Braddock Road improvements
Fairfax County has revised its plans for the Braddock Road multimodal transportation improvement project and cut the cost from $74 million to $48 million for phase 1. The county applied for funding for the project twice and was rejected twice, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw said at a virtual community meeting Aug. 3. “There is no … Continued
Local group provides rent relief to Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads residents
Dozens of Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads families were able to stay in their homes and feed their families over the past few months, thanks to the emergency assistance program run by the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA). ACCA received $3.1 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. About half … Continued
Suspect in Annandale homicide arrested in New Mexico
Police investigate a homicide at Fairmont Gardens. Updated, Aug. 9: Abel Alexander Castro Juarez, the suspect wanted by Fairfax County Police for a homicide at the Fairmont Gardens apartments in Annandale July 24, was arrested in New Mexico Friday night, the Associated Press reports. Castro Juarez, age 20, is a suspect in the shooting death … Continued
Fairfax County seeks input on new pedestrian signal for Little River Turnpike in Annandale
A HAWK signal is planned for this crosswalk on Little River Turnpike at Conwell Drive. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation seeks feedback from the community on a HAWK signal planned for Little River Turnpike at the Conwell Drive intersection in Annandale. The HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) is aimed at improving pedestrian safety, especially as … Continued
New Virginia grant program to help small businesses struggling during the pandemic
Restaurants that had to ban indoor dining due to the pandemic might want to consider applying for a new state grant program. A new state program, Rebuild VA, offers $70 million to help small businesses stay in operation as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. The application period opens Aug. 10. Business owners can apply for … Continued
Two restaurants and school burglarized
The Fairfax County Police Department reports three burglaries this week in the Annandale/Mason District area. A juvenile was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. on July 29 after officers responded to an alarm and found an open door at Annandale High School. A juvenile was found nearby in possession of items stolen from the school. He … Continued
Rep. Connolly calls for investigation of Annandale Healthcare Center following major COVID outbreak
The Annandale Blog article posted earlier this month on the unhealthy conditions at the Annandale Healthcare Center has gotten the attention of Rep. Gerry Connolly. That facility, at 6700 Columbia Pike, Annandale, has had the biggest outbreak of COVID-19 among nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) lists … Continued
Basketball courts at Mason District Park to be upgraded
Construction is expected to start around Aug. 10 on a project to renovate the basketball courts at Mason District Park in Annandale, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced. The project includes capping the center drain, milling the asphalt surface, adding a stone base followed by a new asphalt layer, new Bison goals, resurfacing, color coating, … Continued