Mason Police District to get a new commander
Quinn Capt. Christian Quinn is expected to succeed Capt. David Smith as commander of the Mason Police District this summer after the 2015 World Police and Fire Games (WPFG), which are hosted by Fairfax County June 26-July 5. Quinn is currently in charge of security and operations for the WPFG, which are expected to draw … Continued
Democratic primary for Mason Supervisor next week
With the Democratic primary for Mason Supervisor just a week away, the campaigns of the incumbent, Penny Gross, and challenger Jessica Swanson are shifting into high gear, with marathon door knocking and phone banking taking on a new intensity. At the same time, both campaigns are accusing one another of being bankrolled by special interests. … Continued
Get free milkwood seeds at Hidden Oaks to help save monarch butterflies
A monarch on milkweed. Have you seen a lot of monarch butterflies this spring? Probably not, because the monarch population is in serious decline. Milkweed plants, the only food monarch caterpillars eat, is fast disappearing due to loss of habitat as vacant land is developed. To help save monarchs, the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in … Continued
Home and garden tour offers peek inside historic Holmes Run Acres
The house on 3419 Gallows Road looks like a set from “Mad Men,” with its clean lines, stone fireplace wall, and 1950s style furnishings. The mid-century modern style of the houses in Holmes Run Acres – with lots of wood and glass – sets them apart from the traditional brick split levels and ramblers that … Continued
Support Atoms athletes at pool party
The Annandale High School Booster Club invites the public to “A Night at the Pool,” a fun fundraiser June 6 to support Atoms athletes, sports programs, and the school’s new turf fields. The adults-only event, 6:30-10 p.m. at the Lincolnia Park Recreation Club, features beer and wine tasting, along with live music and light appetizers. … Continued
NVCC offers lots of flexible options for working adults
While most people are familiar with Northern Virginia Community College’s role in providing two-years of affordable higher education to recent high school graduates, they might not appreciate the NVCC’s extensive programs for busy adults. Working professionals can complete a degree or certificate at the Annandale campus by taking classes on weekends or weeknights, supplemented with … Continued
Annandale fire caused by electric candle
4759 Pomponio Place, Annandale. [Google Maps] A fire at 4759 Pomponio Place in the Ravensworth-Bristow neighborhood in Annandale May 28 was caused by an electric candle in the first-floor living, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. When firefighters arrived at 7:45 a.m., they encountered smoke and fire coming from the front of the … Continued
Honey Pig is key supporter of Taste of Annandale
The Honey Pig Korean BBQ Restaurant, on Columbia Pike in Annandale, hosted about 40 journalists, sponsors, and local leaders May 28 for a briefing on the Taste of Annandale, a community festival on June 13. Rev. Clarence Brown, chair of the Taste of Annandale Steering Committee, Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, and Maj. Gun Lee of … Continued
Elmdale walkway nearly completed
[Photo by David Siegel] The $400,000 project to install a sidewalk along Elmdale Road between Old Columbia Pike and Braddock Road is almost finished. Funding for project came from a Fairfax County bond approved in 2007. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross calls that stretch of road along the Pinecrest Golf Course “one of the busiest … Continued
Immigration cases keep Annandale law firm busy
Emanuel Mpras Annandale attorney Emanuel Mpras has deep roots in Annandale, and now that his law practice is firmly established, he wants to get more involved in the community. So when he heard about the Taste of Annandale, he decided to sign up as a sponsor. Mpras Law Offices, at 7361 McWhorter Place in Annandale, … Continued
Democrats endorse school board candidates
At-large school board members (from the left) Ryan McElveen, Ilryong Moon, and Ted Velkoff. [Photo by Kat Velkoff] Members of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) voted May 26 to endorse candidates for the school board. The Democrats endorsed all three at-large incumbents on the board: Ryan McElveen, Ilryong Moon, and Ted Velkoff. Three other … Continued
Eakin Park project raises concerns about threat to frogs
A frog in Eakin Park. [Photos by Gary Rubin] Preparation for a construction project near the pond in Eakin Park in Annandale has raised alarm bells that the frogs who breed in a vernal pool nearby might be danger. Gary Rubin, who lives near Eakin Park, says his children enjoy watching the frogs and tadpoles … Continued
B2B Opportunity Fair geared to small business start-ups
Looking to take your business to the next level? Or take the plunge into entrepreneurship? Get some practical advice and build your networking contacts at the B2B Opportunity Fair this Friday, May 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Ernst Center at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College. This free event, sponsored by the … Continued
Local resident bitten by copperhead
Zoya Melnichenko was watering her flowers when she was bit by a copperhead. [Photo by Steve Barrett] Getting bitten by a copperhead is rare in Fairfax County, but it happened a couple of weeks ago right here in Mason District. And that should serve as a warning to other residents who spend a lot of … Continued
Belvedere Elementary is first FCPS school to offer IB Primary Years Program
Belvedere Elementary School, on Columbia Pike in Mason District. Belvedere Elementary School is the first elementary school in Fairfax County authorized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program (PYP). PYP is a rigorous, internationally recognized educational program that encourages students to become globally minded thinkers and problem solvers. The PYP framework supports inquiry-based teaching … Continued