New historic marker commemorates a vanished black community
Descendants of the families who created The Pines. Families in the small African-American community in Annandale called The Pines tended their gardens, fished in a pond, had sleigh rides, went to church, sang together, and enjoyed Sunday dinners of baked chicken, greens, mashed potatoes, ice cream, and four-layer cake. “It was a … Continued
Process for exploring Stuart name change delayed
Stuart High School Opponents of changing the name of JEB Stuart High School are spreading misleading information about the cost of a consultant to facilitate a working group authorized by the Fairfax County School Board to develop recommendations on a name change. The school board passed a resolution July 29 calling for the establishment of … Continued
Man shot with own gun by intruder
Fairfax County Police are investigating a shooting in the 3500 block of S. George Mason Drive in Mason District Oct. 16, in which intruder wrestled a firearm from the victim and shot him. Police responded to a report of a man shouting and knocking on doors in the hallway of an apartment complex at around … Continued
Native plant garden in Annandale is collaborative project
The Packard Center A new native plant garden is springing to life near the Hidden Oaks Nature Center through the combined efforts of the Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), students at Poe and Luther Jackson middle schools, and volunteers. The new garden is located at the site of … Continued
Police work on building trust with the community
Capt. Thomas Rogers, commander of the Mason Police District speaks at a forum on police-community relations. From the left: Officer Brian Hall, Officer Chantel Cochrane, Crime Prevention Officer Kat O’Leary, and Lt. William Giger. The mostly African-American participants at a public forum on police-community relations Oct. 13 raised concerns about racial profiling, the use of … Continued
Mason District Little League gets grant for field upgrades
MDLL teammates The Mason District Little League has been awarded a $10,000 Delta Dream grant from the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. Delta Dream grants, sponsored by the Nationals’ corporate partner, Delta Air Lines, support youth baseball field capital improvements, among other programs. MDLL will use the funds to refurbish, repair, and upgrade the batting cages … Continued
Taste of Annandale participants offer feedback on Annandale
Matthew Ashford and Judy Cotter at the Annandale Blog man the table at the Taste of Annandale. The Annandale Blog booth at the Taste of Annandale asked visitors to fill out a brief one-page survey. The results aren’t scientific, of course, and not many people took the time to take a survey when there was … Continued
Hurricane decimates clinic in Haiti supported by local volunteers
Chantal, Haiti, after Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm, struck the island in late September. The clinic in Chantal, Haiti, supported by medical personnel and volunteers from Northern Virginia has been hard-hit by Hurricane Matthew and is in desperate need of funds to rebuild. The nonprofit group We Care To Share,Chantal is raising funds … Continued
Constitutional amendments, meals tax, bonds on the ballot
With early voting already under way, here’s what you need to know before heading to the polls. In addition to the presidential candidates, the ballot includes candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, a Fairfax County referendum on a meals tax, two constitutional questions, and three bond issues. While Election Day is Nov. 8, absentee … Continued
Dress up and join the fun at Collector’s World
Dress up like your favorite character for Collector’s World’s “Comics, Costumes & Cocktails event Oct. 15, 6-9 p.m. The store is at 7030 Columbia Pike in the Annandale Shopping Center. The first 25 people will get a door prize. All comic books will be 50 percent off. Following the event, the characters are invited … Continued
Rotary Club awards classic Mustang to raffle winner
David Feld (left), president of the Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club, presents the keys to s classic Mustang, a full-size one, to raffle winner John Magano. John Magano of Oak Hill, Va., won a 1966 classic Ford Mustang in the Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club’s annual raffle. The raffle drawing took place Sept. 25, and the club’s … Continued
Public comments sought on bicycling improvements for Little River Turnpike
A possible bicycle pathway at Little River Turnpike and the southwest corner of Old Columbia Pike. [FCDOT] Fairfax County is working on a study aimed at developing a series of short-term and long-term recommendations for improving bicycling along Little River Turnpike. The public is invited to submit comments online. The deadline is Oct. 14. You … Continued
Steven Lockard to serve as FCPS interim superintendent
Lockard The Fairfax County School Board has selected Steven Lockard, deputy superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, to serve as interim superintendent. Superintendent Karen Garza announced her resignation on Sept. 19. Lockard will assume the duties of superintendent when Garza leaves on Dec. 16. Garza, who has led FCPS since June 2013, has accepted a … Continued
Lawmakers, residents call for more regulations on short-term rentals
Panelists discuss the Airbnb law (from the left): Mason Hills Citizens Association President Mike Rioux, code compliance official Elizabeth Perry, zoning administrator Leslie Johnson, Del. Kaye Kory, and Sen. Dick Saslaw, Local residents who attended a meeting on short-term rentals Oct. 5 raised concerns about homeowners filling up their homes with transients, leading to declining … Continued
Recycling centers will be shut down
The recycling center, at the ABC store in Annandale, will be closed. Fairfax County is permanently closing two recycling drop-off centers – the one at 7200 Little River Turnpike in Annandale next to the Virginia ABC store and one in Reston – on Nov. 1. “In recent years, recycling drop-off centers have become targets for … Continued