Santa’s Ride collects toys for hospitalized children
The 2017 Santa’s Ride stopped by Mason Crest Elementary School in Annandale. The Fairfax County Police Motor Squad, with help from other law enforcement agencies, will visit several local schools Dec. 10, including St. Ambrose Catholic School in Annandale, for the annual Santa’s Ride. The police are asking the public to donate unwrapped toys, games, … Continued
School news: Hands-on learning
Glen Forest Elementary School fifth-graders pose as famous scientists during an interactive science fair. School News is an occasional series highlighting information and photos from Fairfax County Public Schools and other sources. Partners of the Year – The Foundation for Public Schools is hosting its annual State of Education luncheon on Nov. 27 at the Falls Church … Continued
Sediment problems at Inova construction site not resolved, volunteer charges
Sediment found in a stream washed downstream from the Inova construction site. [Kris Unger] While Fairfax County officials insist controls put into place at the construction site for the Inova Center for Personalized Health on Gallows road are keeping sediment out of a Holmes Run tributary, environmental activists say the problem has not been adequately … Continued
Sports club gets grant to fix fencing at Pine Ridge Park
Pine Ridge Park [BRYC] The Fairfax County Park Authority Board awarded a $1,937 Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Grant to the Braddock Road Youth Club (BRYC) for improvements at Pine Ridge Park in Annandale. Black vinyl-coated chain link fencing will be installed at one of the corners of field #6 and will connect existing fencing, so players … Continued
Giant opens in Landmark Plaza
A new Giant grocery store opened in the Landmark Plaza shopping center in Lincolnia just in time for Thanksgiving. The store is in the space formerly occupied by Shoppers, which closed in June. At 56,000 square feet, the new Giant is much bigger than the Giant on Columbia Pike in Annandale, says store manager Norman … Continued
Man and woman found dead in domestic incident
Police are investigating a murder-suicide in a home in the Monticello garden apartments in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County. A relative discovered the bodies of Judith Garcia Gonzeles de Gudiel, 51, and her husband, Ever Gudiel, 60, in their apartment in the 7300 block of Parkwood Court shortly before 11 p.m. on Nov. … Continued
Fairfax County is merging community revitalization with planning and zoning offices
Byron The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is combining the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) with the Office of Community Revitalization (OCR) and on Nov. 20 appointed OCR Director Barbara Byron the director of the new agency. Organization of the new, as-yet-unnamed department is expected to begin in February or March 2019 and will … Continued
Rotary Club and students bring Thanksgiving meals to Culmore families
Justice High School students join Rotary Club members in packing meals for needy families. The Rotary Club of Bailey’s Crossroads and students from the Justice High School Interact Club delivered 100 meals to families in the Culmore area of Bailey’s Crossroads. This has been a Thanksgiving tradition for the Rotary Club for decades. This year, … Continued
Backlick Park totally renovated
The new playground at Backlick Park. Backlick Park in Annandale has a new playground, fitness equipment, pavilion, tennis courts with lights, asphalt trails,and landscaping. None of this would have happened if Elan Mews resident Binod Gupta, who lives next to the park, hadn’t complained, repeatedly, to county officials about the rundown and unsafe condition of … Continued
Cook won’t seek re-election as Braddock supervisor
Cook Braddock Supervisor John Cook announced Nov. 16 that he won’t be running for re-election in 2019, stating, after 10 years on the board, “it is time for me to focus on other priorities in my life.” James Walkinshaw, the chief of staff for Rep. Gerry Connolly, is running as a Democrat for the Braddock … Continued
Fairfax County disputes claims that Inova construction project is harming the environment
Fairfax County has taken exception to the post in the Annandale Blog on Nov. 13 that described the failures of Inova’s contractors to keep sediment out of the Holmes Run watershed during the construction of the Inova Center for Personalized Health on Gallows Road. The following response was submitted by Anne Cissel, public information officer … Continued
Fire damages townhouse in Pinecrest
A fire at Zoysia Court. [FCFRD] A fire swept through a townhouse in the Pinecrest area just east of Annandale Nov. 15, causing approximately $93,750 in damages, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. Fire units from Fairfax County and Alexandria were dispatched to the home, in the 6500 block of Zoysia Court, at … Continued
More flexibility sought for Landmark Mall redevelopment project
Advisory group members and the public take part in Alexandria’s re-planning process for redeveloping Landmark Mall. A new planning process is underway for redevelopment of the Landmark Mall property to address changes requested by the Howard Hughes Corp. (HH) in the plan previously approved by the City of Alexandria. The company is seeking more flexibility … Continued
Virginia to strengthen tech education in support of Amazon’s HQ2
An artist’s rendering of a new Metro entrance in Crystal City. [Virginia Economic Development Partnership] While the public debates the pros and cons of Amazon’s decision to locate a new headquarters in Crystal City – it’s good for property owners, bad for homebuyers, renters, and commuters – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans for a … Continued
Mediterranean restaurant coming to Seven Corners
The main entrance of Emessa on Leesburg Pike. Emessa, a Mediterranean restaurant, is set to open Nov. 24 in the spot formerly occupied by the Seven Corners Pub at 6315 Leesburg Pike. The space is being totally remodeled and will feature a hookah bar, live entertainment, and alcohol, as well as a menu featuring Middle … Continued