Apartment fire displaces four
An apartment fire in the 7800 block of Patriot Drive in Annandale displaced two adults and two children and caused an estimated $37,500 in damages. The fire started in the electric clothes driver on the second floor of a three-story garden apartment building at about 10:30 a.m. on April 8, the Fairfax County Fire and … Continued
Man shoots fox from living room window
An Annandale man was arrested April 9 for using a rifle to shoot a fox in his backyard from his living room window, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. Officers responded to the 7300 block of Byrneley Lane in the Wilburdale neighborhood at about 8:13 p.m. after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. Henry Brown, 80, was … Continued
School news: Something to howl about
An occasional series highlighting programs and activities at schools in the Annandale/Mason District area. The information and photos here are from Fairfax County Public Schools and individual schools. A new logo – A logo has been selected for Justice High School featuring the school’s mascot, the Wolves, which was chosen by students in January. JEB Stuart High … Continued
Public invited to engage with Seven Corners art project
An illustration of the INOUT Cube. [surcreative] The public is invited to participate in a pop-up art installation project to be installed in Seven Corners this month. The Imagine Art Here project, titled INOUT, is being launched by the Arts Council of Fairfax County with the Annandale-based artist team known as surcreative LLC. The project will … Continued
Holmes Run Pool invites the community to ‘join our summer family’
Is your community swimming pool a “hidden gem,” too? With summer only a couple of months away, local pool boards are well into their membership recruiting campaigns. If you would like to write a blog post about what makes your pool special, contact the Annandale Blog editor at [email protected]. The family pool at Holmes Run … Continued
Woodburn Road to get a pedestrian signal and crosswalk
The Virginia Department of Transportation is going to add pedestrian signals and a crosswalk on Woodburn Road at Wellness Boulevard in Annandale. The pedestrian improvements will provide a safer connection between Inova Fairfax Hospital and a relatively new asphalt path next to Pine Ridge Park between Bannerwood Drive and Woodburn Road. VDOT has completed an … Continued
Free summer programs targeted to youths interested in law enforcement
The Teen Police Academy. [FCPD] High school students and young adults interested in a career in law enforcement and looking for something to do this summer should check out three free programs hosted by the Fairfax County Police Department. The Police Leaders of Tomorrow program is aimed at attracting more people from diverse ethnic and … Continued
Planning Commission approves redevelopment project for Graham Park Plaza
Graham Park Plaza. The Fairfax County Planning Commission on April 5 voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approved a proposal for a mixed-use development in Graham Park Plaza. [UPDATE: The BoS approved the proposal April 10.] Federal Realty, the owner of the property, wants to build a four-story multifamily building with 210 apartments … Continued
Construction starts on new homeless shelter
Fairfax County officials and members of Congress break ground for the new Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. A large contingent of federal and county officials gathered at a vacant lot on Seminary Road April 5 for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter and Supportive Housing. The $12 million facility, expected to be … Continued
School budget addresses teacher pay gap
School board member Sandy Evans talks about the FCPS budget. After struggling with limited budgets for years, the Fairfax County Public School is now in a good-enough financial situation that it can begin raising teacher pay to levels comparable with surrounding school systems. The FCPS budget for FY 2019, as recommended by Superintendent Scott Brabrand … Continued
‘The Pavilion’ explores the human spirit
From the left: Matt Bassett, Nora Achrati, and Helen R. Murray in “The Pavilion.” [C. Stanley Photography] By David Siegel Aching and raw, sweet and lamenting, Hub Theatre’s production of “The Pavilion” is a master class of three D.C.-area actors in command of playwright Craig Wright’s lyrical, melodic language about love, loss, regret, and mercy. … Continued
Emergency system test tomorrow
If your cell phone buzzes loudly twice tomorrow between 10 and 11 a.m., don’t be alarmed. Local governments in the D.C. region, including Fairfax County will be testing the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system. Cellphones or mobile-enabled devices located in Fairfax County will receive a test message that reads: “This is a test of the … Continued
Police release photo of robbery suspects
Robbery suspects. [FCPD] Detectives from the West Springfield Police District are asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects in a robbery that happened in Annandale around 11 a.m. on April 3. The victim arranged to meet the suspects near Patriot Drive and Heritage Drive to sell a video game. The two suspects robbed … Continued
Owners of Bawadi Mediterranean Grill charge landlord is unfairly forcing them out
Sara and Khalid Mekki in their restaurant with three of their four children. Khalid and Sara Mekki, the owners of Bawadi Mediterranean Grill & Sweets Café in Bailey’s Crossroads, say they’re being treated unfairly by their landlord, Adrienne Dominguez, and her company, Alta Enterprises 1 LLC, by forcing them out and refusing to renew their … Continued
Crime report shows mixed results
The Fairfax County statistical report on crime for the years 2016 and 2017 shows the Mason Police District has one of the highest crime rates among the county’s eight police districts. Overall, there were 7,773 victims of assault offenses (including aggravated assault, simple assault, and intimidation) in Fairfax County in 2017, up from 7,473 … Continued