Community center opens at Fairmont Gardens
A new community center has opened at the Fairmont Gardens apartment complex in Annandale. The center is a project of FACETS, the nonprofit that operates the Opportunity Neighborhoods-Annandale program for the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. Located in a former apartment, the FACETS Cares Community Development Center will offer after-school tutoring, access … Continued
Cameras will catch drivers who don’t stop for school buses
Some Fairfax County Public School buses will soon have cameras installed on the stop-sign arms that activate when the buses stop to let children on and off. The cameras will record drivers who fail to stop when the buses are loading or unloading children. Violators will receive a $250 citation in the mail. The cameras … Continued
Silent auction to benefit Afghan refugees
Peace Lutheran Church in Lincolnia invites the public to a silent auction next Saturday. Community members will have an opportunity to bid on some great items while enjoying live music and supporting refugees from Afghanistan. The event is March 15, 1-4 p.m., at 6362 Lincolnia Road. Peace Lutheran has a longstanding relationship with the local … Continued
Fired federal workers worry about financial security in a tight job market
Federal workers who’ve been fired, or expect to be, are angry, confused, and worried about making ends meet. Hundreds of people came to a resource fair for federal workers and contractors hosted by Rep. Don Beyer on March 8, and several of them shared their stories with Annandale Today. Lives upended A federal contractor worker … Continued
New grocery store offers free rides to shoppers
Megamart, the new Latin American supermarket on John Marr Drive in Annandale, offers free rides to shoppers. Anyone who spends more than $75 can get a free ride home, says assistant manager Nestor Flores. The store will even pick up customers at home if they intend to spend $75. Employees at the exit hand out … Continued
Middle Eastern eatery opens in Seven Corners
Hamza & Madina Halal Food is now open in the Seven Corners Center. The eatery offers $10.99 platters featuring chicken, lamb, fish, kofta, or falafel over rice or salad. Other menu items include gyros, burgers, chicken sandwiches, burritos, Philly cheesesteaks, falafel, wings, cheese fries, baklava, and sweet potato pie. The eatery is designed for takeout; … Continued
GSA lease terminations causing headaches for landlords
The Trump Administration’s attempt to cancel commercial leases for federal agencies is creating confusion and disruptions for property owners throughout the region. In one example described by the Washington Business Journal, the General Services Administration sent a notice to Tom Cafferty, president of Commercial Real Estate Services, that it is terminating its lease for … Continued
TJ students invent a cheaper braille reader for the blind
Two juniors at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology have invented a device that makes it easier and more affordable for blind people to read braille. Anush Devkar and Ansh Malhotra gave a presentation on their device, Braillesense, at MIT in October. They were invited to demonstrate Braillesense at a research conference at … Continued
Weekly crime report
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area are reported by the Fairfax County Police Department on CityProtect: March 5 March 4 March 3 March 2 March 1 Feb. 28 Feb. 27
BoS urges Youngkin to oppose Trump’s attacks on federal workers
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on March 4 approved a letter to Gov. Youngkin urging him to step up for Virginians affected by the Trump administration’s actions to slash the size of the federal government. “We urge the governor to take action to prevent further attacks on Virginia’s federal workers and private sector contractors,” … Continued
Ethiopian shop opens in Annandale
Annandale has a new shop specializing in products imported from Ethiopia. Lidya Market & Café opened in late February at 4544-A John Marr Drive. The store offers pantry items, such as berbere, a mixture of ground chili peppers and spices; shiro, made from ground chickpeas; lentils; rice flour; coffee; dates; snacks; and incense. Among other … Continued
Stay up-to-date on the newest scams
Scammers keep coming up with new ways to bilk people out of their hard-earned money. The Fairfax County government has posted a new online resource on scams with advice on how to protect yourself. In one example currently making the rounds, people are getting text messages claiming they owe money for unpaid tolls or … Continued
You’re all invited to the next Taste of Annandale planning meeting
Join the Taste of Annandale Planning Committee at our next meeting. Bring your ideas to the meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Mason Government Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale. The 2024 Taste of Annandale was a big success, so we’re hoping for an even bigger event this year. The 2025 festival will … Continued
Youngkin commutes sentence of police officer who fatally shot a shoplifter
Gov. Glenn Youngkin commuted the sentence of the police officer convicted of fatally shooting an unarmed Black man outside the Tyson’s Corner Center in 2023. Former sergeant Wesley Shifflett and his partner had responded to a call for a shoplifting incident at Nordstrom involving designer sunglasses. They chased the suspect, Timothy McCree Johnson, 36, and … Continued
Mulch sales support HS grad parties
Get ready for gardening season by buying mulch to support local high schools’ all-night graduation parties. The parties are safe, drug and alcohol-free events for seniors to celebrate the end of high school. Orders for the Annandale High School PTSA’s annual Mulch Madness sale are due March 15. Access the order form here. A 50-pound … Continued