Bear spotted in Annandale
The bear takes a rest in an Annandale backyard. A young black bear has been spotted in Annandale in recent days – on Garlot Drive in the Camelot neighborhood, Lutrell Road, and Queen Elizabeth Boulevard – and further west, on El James Drive, Red Fox Drive, and other locations in the Braddock District. The bear … Continued
Fairfax County board chair creates task force on equity
Local residents march for racial justice along Columbia Pike in Annandale. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, at its June 9 meeting, issued a statement condemning the “senseless murder of George Floyd” and affirming that “Black Lives Matter.” Board chair Jeffrey McKay announced plans to form a Task Force on Equity and Opportunity to “bring … Continued
New lane on I-395 opens June 12
Smooth sailing on I-395 southbound. (VDOT) A new, fourth travel lane is scheduled to open on or about this Friday, June 12, on Interstate 395 southbound between Duke Street and Edsall Road, the Virginia Department of Transportation reports. The new travel lane will provide additional capacity in a busy stretch of I-395. It is part … Continued
Northam reveals guidelines for opening schools
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued guidelines June 9 for reopening preK-12 schools for the 2020-21 school year. Whether school buildings will open or not, all schools must offer new instruction. Fairfax County school buildings have been closed since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in mid-March, and all instruction has been virtual since then. State guidelines call … Continued
Northam says Northern Virginia is ready for Phase 2
Northam Northern Virginia can enter Phase 2 of the state’s plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions on Friday, June 12, Gov. Ralph Northam announced today. According to Northam, positive Covid-19 tests have declined to about 10 percent of tests given in Northern Virginia and are trending downward. The region is two weeks behind the rest of … Continued
Hundreds gather for Black Lives Matter rally in Annandale
What was planned as a small family-friendly Black Lives Matter march and rally by a group of Mason Crest Elementary School parents to teach kids about racial justice and the value of protest, attracted many hundreds of participants. After marching along Columbia Pike from Barcroft Plaza to the Mason Government Center June 8, there was … Continued
Annandale youths march for racial justice
More than 100 high school and college students and community members took to the streets of Annandale Monday afternoon to advocate for racial justice, oppose police brutality, and honor George Floyd and all the other African Americans murdered by the police. June 8 marked the two-week anniversary of Floyd’s death after a Minneapolis police office … Continued
Annandale parents raise $15,000 for needy families
A Safeway employee with a receipt for gift cards purchased by the Mason Crest PTO. After the pandemic shut down local schools in March, a group of parents at Mason Crest Elementary School in Annandale raised a total of nearly $15,000 to help the school’s large number of students from lower-income households struggling with food … Continued
Skyline live/work project moves forward
The redeveloped Skyline project would have a more inviting entrance. The plan to transform three mostly vacant office buildings in the Skyline Center to live/work units is moving forward. The Fairfax County Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for July 15. The three buildings, at 5201, 5202, and 5203 Leesburg Pike, would … Continued
Lincolnia teen raises $8,000 for first responders
Mealy Cronin [WUSA9] Local teen Mealy Cronin raised $8,000 on GoFundMe to support first responders and essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. She is using the funds to provide hundreds of meals to Fairfax County and Arlington police stations and to six Inova hospitals. She organized a delivery from District Taco at the Skyline Center … Continued
Two community events for social justice in Annandale on June 8
The Annandale community is invited to two marches on Monday, June 8, in support of racial justice and Black Lives Matter. June 8 marks the two-week anniversary of the death of George Floyd, who died after a police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. There will be march and gathering … Continued
Drive-by celebration honors Annandale HS graduates
The Class of 2020 missed out on prom, the all-night graduation party, and spring sports. The stay-at-home order aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to all the fun activities that cap off 12 years of schooling. As one Annandale High School student put: “Senior year kind of sucked.” But while they … Continued
Small businesses and non profits have just one week to apply for Fairfax RISE grants
Restaurants forced to close during the pandemic urge people to take advantage of carryout options. Small business owners and the heads of nonprofit organizations can begin applying for Fairfax RISE grants of up to $20,000 on Monday, June 8. The application period closes June 15. To be eligible, applicants must have a physical location in … Continued
Food donations help residents of Annandale apartments
About 200 residents of Fairmont Gardens in Annandale collected donated food Thursday afternoon at a weekly event in the parking lot hosted by the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC). World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit founded by Chef José Andrés, and the SevaTruck Foundation contributed packaged meals – chicken, rice, and vegetables – and there were … Continued
School news: Celebrating achievement
Students and teachers in Mason District have been accomplishing great things. The following news briefs are from Fairfax County School Board member Ricardy Anderson’s (Mason) newsletter to the community. Environmentally conscious schools – Belvedere Elementary School and Beech Tree Elementary School have received Eco-Schools Awards. The Eco-Schools program improves student academic achievement, contributes to financial savings through … Continued