Volunteers encouraged to serve on advisory council for Bailey’s Crossroads shelter
Only a handful of local residents came to an informational session April 12 about starting a new advisory council for the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter, so the people who did show up agreed to hold off on selecting officers until more community outreach is undertaken. The shelter, at 3525 Moncure Avenue, has a new director. … Continued
Community theater relocates to Mason District
The cast rehearses “Taking Sides,” [Port City Playhouse] Port City Playhouse, a community theater group that had been based in Alexandria since it was founded in 1977, has relocated to Mason District. The theater group moved into its new home at Sleepy Hollow Methodist Church, at 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, in November. Since … Continued
Jewish community center and church attacked with racist, Anti-Semitic graffiti
Defaced signs in front of Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale. [Josh Byrd] Two religious institutions in the Annandale area were hit with racist and antisemitic graffiti during the night. The Fairfax County Police Department received a call at 7:13 a.m. about “racially biased graffiti, slurs, and possibly symbols,” at the … Continued
Townhouses proposed for Gallows Road
One of 11 houses on a property proposed for higher density. Fairfax County is considering an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to consolidate a group of properties along Gallows Road and allow increased density – which would pave the way for a townhouse development. The property is in Mason District between Gallows Road, Libeau Lane, … Continued
Annandale Road farm for sale
The farm on Annandale Road. The “farm” on Annandale Road is on the market for $3 million. The owners, Bobbi Ngo and her husband, have been growing vegetables and herbs on their 2.1-acre yard since they moved there more than 30 years ago. The house is a modest, brick two-story rambler built in 1951 with … Continued
School news: Science stars
Third-graders at Belvedere Elementary School organized a seed sale as part of a unit on economics. 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. Science Olympiad – Luther Jackson Middle School came in third overall, beating … Continued
VDOT to repave roads in Annandale and Barcroft area this summer
A paving vehicle used by VDOT in Annandale last summer. The Virginia Department of Transportation’s Northern Virginia summer repaving plan includes several streets in the Annandale area: Hummer Road Gallows Road/Annandale Road between the beltway and Annawood Court. Several streets in the Lake Barcroft and Barcroft Hills area, including Lakeview Drive, Whispering Lane, Oakwood Drive, … Continued
Lincolnia store robbed
Advance America [Google Maps] The Advance America payday and title lending outlet in the Plaza at Landmark shopping center in Lincolnia was hit with an armed robbery on April 6, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Two men entered the business at 6244-J Little River Turnpike at about 6 p.m. One held a gun … Continued
Fewer people are homeless
A dorm room at the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. Fairfax County is making significant progress in reducing homelessness. According to the “Point in Time Count” carried out on Jan. 25, there were 964 people who were homeless in Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church. That’s a 47 percent decrease since a point in … Continued
Annandale area hit hard by severe storm
A tree fell on the Heritage Woods condo in Annandale. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department] A severe storm April 6 with strong wind and heavy rain uprooted trees across the Annandale/Mason District area, damaging buildings and closing roads. There were also reports of flooding, downed power lines, and power outages throughout the area. A … Continued
School board increases elementary class sizes
By Jeffrey Longo The Fairfax County School Board has approved a measure increasing minimum elementary school class sizes from 17 to 18 students, school board chair Sandy Evans (Mason) told the audience at a School Budget Town Hall on April 3. Increasing the elementary class size formula floor by one student would save $4.7 million. … Continued
Youths are creating a vision of community through art
Some of the students involved in the GMU art project with Officer Kathleen O’Leary (center). Local residents are invited to a community dialogue and pop-up art exhibit on the theme “Youth Re-imagining Community” May 3 at the DarAl-Hijrah Islamic Center in Seven Corners. The event, hosted by the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community … Continued
Seven Corners residents raise traffic concerns at meeting on proposed townhouse project
Federal Hill, as seen from Arlington Boulevard. Residents of the Federal Hill townhouse community in Seven Corners raised concerns about traffic congestion at a community meeting April 3 on a proposal for 40 new townhouses next door at 6060 Arlington Blvd. The property, currently occupied by a medical building, is only accessible via a narrow … Continued
Fitness center moving into larger space in Annandale
Pablo Amaya and Rachel Martin in front of the new PR Performance Fitness location. PR Performance Fitness is moving to a new larger space at 4111 John Marr Drive in Annandale, It is expected to open within the next few weeks. The fitness studio was launched by Rachel Martin and Pablo Amaya, who formerly worked at … Continued
Developer secures vacant houses overrun by squatters
The vacant house at 3408 Washington Drive has been boarded up. The vacant houses on Washington Drive and Charles Street in Bailey’s Crossroads that had been taken over by homeless squatters were boarded up on March 31. Neighbors had been complaining for weeks about the properties, but Spectrum Development finally responded after WUSA Channel 9 … Continued