Former Annandale fire chief dies
Joseph Paul Gura Sr., former chief and life member of the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD), died May 9, at the age of 70 at ManorCare Health Services-Alexandria. Known as “Metro Joe,” Gura was born in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Annandale High School in 1966. He worked for Metro for 40 years, first as … Continued
New ped bridge installed in Broyhill Crest
A new pedestrian bridge was installed over a creek in the Broyhill Crest neighborhood on May 14 – just 52 days after the old decaying bridge was removed and Mason Supervisor told the community there was no money for a replacement bridge, and just 24 days after Gross reported the Park Authority found the money. … Continued
Crime report: assault by mob
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area were reported in the Fairfax County Police Department’s daily blotter: Assault by mob: A 21-year-old man was walking home on the 6000 block of Bellview Drive in the Culmore area at about 2:50 a.m. on May 12 when he was assaulted by five males wearing black … Continued
Federal grant supports public art project in Seven Corners
A public art project is planned for the area between Arlington Boulevard and Sleepy Hollow Road in Seven Corners The Arts Council of Fairfax County’s “Image Art Here” initiative, calling for the creation of temporary public art in Seven Corners and Springfield, has been approved for a $40,000 grant from the National Endowment for the … Continued
Brewery coming to Mosaic District
The tasting room at the Caboose Brewery in Vienna. [Caboose] Caboose Brewing Company is opening a new brewery in the Mosaic District in Merrifield. To celebrate the announcement – and the first anniversary of its brewery and restaurant in Vienna – Caboose is hosting a beer fest Sunday, May 15, noon-4 p.m., in Mosaic’s Strawberry … Continued
Another tenant leaving Pinecrest Plaza
Balancé Ballet is closing in late June, citing the increasing rents in Pinecrest Plaza where it’s been teaching children to dance for the past 10 years. The ballet school joins a handful of other businesses in that shopping center that have closed in recent months, including Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Let’s Dish!, a tennis shop, dry … Continued
Hotel to open in Seven Corners June 7
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the new Hampton Inn. The new Hampton Inn & Suites on Route 50 in Seven Corners is set to open on June 7. The nine-story hotel, at 6430 Arlington Boulevard, has an indoor heated swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, a meeting room with space for 70 people, free … Continued
Stop the ‘one-size-fits-all’ zoning proposal
Tysons, where high-density development makes sense. This opinion piece by Terry Maynard, co-chair of the Reston 20/20 Committee, was published May 11 in the Reston Connection. We are republishing it here because the zoning ordinance amendment under consideration will have a huge impact on Fairfax County’s redevelopment areas, including Annandale, Bailey’s Crossroads, and Seven Corners. … Continued
LongHorn Steakhouse in Bailey’s Crossroads opens Monday
The new LongHorn in Bailey’s Crossroads. [Dan Rosenstein] The new LongHorn Steakhouse in Bailey’s Crossroads officially opens for dinner Monday, May 16, at 4 p.m. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. that day. The restaurant is at 3562 S. Jefferson Street, across Leesburg Pike from the Skyline Center. “At LongHorn, we pride … Continued
Community engagement process under way on renaming Stuart HS
At student rally urging a name change for Stuart High School. The Fairfax County School Board has begun the process to consider whether the community wants to change the name of JEB Stuart High School. Over the past year or so, current and past Stuart students and local residents have been urging the school to … Continued
Say hello to your neighbor
This weekend has been designated “Neighbor 2 Neighbor Knock” (N2N) to encourage residents to meet people on your street that you may have waved to in passing but never actually talked to. While the spring N2N event is scheduled for May 14-15, 1-4 p.m., one can be neighborly whenever it’s convenient. The N2N campaign, sponsored … Continued
Six things to do at the farmers market
The Fairfax County farmers markets opened for the season last week – offering in-season fresh produce and all kinds of other homemade goodies. The Wakefield Market, in the parking lot at Wakefield Park in Annandale happens on Wednesday afternoons 2-6 p.m. The Annandale Market, at Mason District Park on Columbia Pike is open Thursday mornings, … Continued
Gang members convicted of murders in Holmes Run Park
Lopez-Torres [U.S. Attorney’s Office] Six members of the street gang La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) were convicted by a federal jury May 9 for their roles in three murders and one attempted murder in Northern Virginia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern Virginia reports. The gang members’ crimes dealt with the brutal murder and decapitation of … Continued
Temporary fire station planned for Annandale Road at South Street
The future site of the temporary fire station. Construction should start in about a year on a temporary fire station on the wooded lot at the corner of Annandale Road and South Street in Falls Church. That facility will house Fire Station 18, also known as the Jefferson Fire Station, while it will be torn … Continued
County plants trees on future development site in Bailey’s Crossroads
New trees on the Southeast Quadrant. Fairfax County officials knew the property on the corner of Columbia Pike and Moncure Avenue was going to be torn up when AvalonBay starts construction on an apartment building on that site, but went ahead and planted 16 trees there anyway. This site is slated for redevelopment. That … Continued