Mother and child hurt in hit-and-run accident
A mirror from the Mercedes. [FCPD] A mother and her 12-year-old daughter from Falls Church were struck and injured by a hit-and-run driver as they crossed Columbia Pike near Tyler Street around 10 p.m. Feb. 24, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. Detectives with the Mason Police District are searching for the driver and car, … Continued
Cheers! New law allows alcohol consumption at community pools
A party at an Annandale pool. [Ella M. Photography] You’ll be able to bring a beer for happy hour and enjoy a margarita legally at your community pool this summer. You probably didn’t even know pools need a banquet license from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority every time a pool allowed alcohol on the … Continued
Local entrepreneur finds success with algae-based nutritional supplement
Elliott Roth in the Spira lab. Annandale-based entrepreneur Elliott Roth, a 2011 graduate of Stuart High School, scored a spot at TechBuzz, which means he’ll have a chance to present his biotech company, Spira, to potential investors. Spira is just one of 18 startups selected for TechBuzz, Feb. 28 in Washington, D.C. The event gives new … Continued
Teen arrested for DWI after beltway chase
Miranda [FCPD] Maria Miranda, 18, of Annandale, was arrested and charged with DWI and felony speed to elude by Fairfax County Police just before 3 a.m. on Feb. 23. Miranda was driving on I-495 near the Route 236 exit when she was spotted by an officer who had been asked to look out for the … Continued
Vigil honors victims of Florida school shooting
Students, teachers, parents, and community members gathered at a vigil Thursday evening to remember the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., Feb. 14. Participants held candles while members of the faith community offered prayers and speakers called for commonsense solutions to improve school security. The event was held … Continued
Seven Corners chef is getting national attention
Padaek owner and chef Seng Luangrath. Padaek, a small Laotian restaurant in a Seven Corners strip mall, is getting widespread acclaim. Executive Chef and owner Seng Luangrath was nominated for a 2018 James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic Region. “I was really surprised. I didn’t expect this. It blew my mind,” … Continued
Students stage walkouts to protest gun violence
The student walkout at Edison High School [Maggie via Twitter] Students across the D.C. metro area walked out of school today to protest gun violence and to honor the victims of the school shooting in Florida Feb. 14, which resulted in the deaths of 17 students and teachers. A parent of a student at Frost … Continued
County budget would raise the tax rate
County Executive Bryan Hill (right) presents the 2019 advertised budget to the Board of Supervisors. On the left is FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand. The proposed fiscal year 2019 budget presented by Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill to the Board of Supervisors Feb. 20 would increase the real estate tax rate by 2.5 cents. That would … Continued
Average real estate assessments rise 2.17 percent
Homes for sale in Annandale. [Zillow] Real estate assessments for 2018 are up an average of 2.17 percent over last year, the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration reported Feb. 20. The average assessment for all homes is $547,219, up from $535,597 in 2017. The mean assessed value of homes in Annandale is $464,220 in … Continued
Report predicts demographic changes in Fairfax
The latest statistics released by the Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget predict steady growth over the next few years. According to the county’s Demographic Reports 2017, released earlier this month, there were 1,142,888 people living in Fairfax County in 2017. That’s an 0.8 percent increase from 2016. By 2045, the population is expected … Continued
Weekend crimes include auto theft, drugs, assault
Recasas [FCPD] A man from Fort Washington, Md., was arrested in the 4200 block of Hummer Road in Annandale for auto theft and drug possession at 10:15 p.m. on Feb. 17, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. An officer doing a check in a parking lot ran a license plate that came back as stolen. … Continued
Local pool goes from ‘death spiral’ to waiting list
The Parklawn Pool Like many community pools in this area, Parklawn Pool had seen its membership decline, leading to a shrinking budget and deferred maintenance. We were in a “death spiral,” says Dave Galway, the current president and membership chair of the Parklawn Recreation Association. “When people start to see the pool deteriorate, when membership … Continued
‘Light Years’ at Signature: the story of a father and son told through music
Robbie Schaefer in “Light Years.” [Christopher Mueller] By David Siegel How does someone pay honor to a deceased parent whom they loved dearly? How does a son give thanks to his father? And when does a son really come to learn what a father went through, in those many years before the son was even … Continued
The Coach CJ Celebration is March 3
Previous scholarship winners. You’re all invited: The fourth annual Coach CJ Celebration is Saturday, March 3, in the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department’s social hall, 7128 Columbia Pike. This family-friendly fundraiser, 7-10 p.m., features food, dancing with a DJ, and a silent auction. The event raises money for college scholarships for students at Falls Church High … Continued
Police will start wearing body cameras this week
A body camera pilot program involving three Fairfax County police stations – Mason, Mount Vernon, and Reston – will be phased in starting this Monday, with full implementation expected by March 13. A total of 230 cameras will be distributed to patrol officers in the three stations. Those stations were selected, the FCPD states, “due … Continued