Gross encourages property owners to remove unwanted donation boxes
A donation in a corner of the Choong Hwa Woon restaurant on John Marr Drive in Annandale. Concerned about the proliferation of donation drop-off boxes sprouting up all over privately owned parking lots, Mason District SupervisorPenny Gross has written to commercial property owners advising that they have the right to remove boxes that have been … Continued
New friends group forming to support Audrey Moore RECenter
The pool at the Audrey Moore RECenter. A new Friends of Audrey Moore RECenter group is being formed to obtain community input to identify, encourage, and advocate for improvements to the recreation center at Wakefield Park in Annandale. The public is invited to a meeting, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., at Braddock Hall in the King’s … Continued
Police station commanders talk crime and safety with neighborhood leaders
From the left: Capt. David Smith (Mason), Capt. Kathleen Sefchick (West Springfield), and Capt. Jeff Powell (Franconia). The commanders of the three police districts that cover parts of Mason District – Mason, West Springfield, and Franconia – spoke about crime and safety issues Jan. 24 at the first session of Supervisor Penny Gross’ 2015 leadershipseminar … Continued
Redevelopment under consideration for Route 50 shopping center
Graham Park Plaza Federal Realty Investment Trust, the owner of Graham Park Plaza, the shopping center on Route 50 formerly known as Loehmann’s Plaza, is considering redevelopment options, including a mixed-use building with multifamily housing on the upper floors and retail on the ground floor. The company has asked Mason Supervisor Penny Gross’s office to … Continued
Stuff the Bus donation program will be in Annandale Feb. 14
Remember to pick up some extra food for Stuff the Bus when grocery shopping. [Fairfax County government] Stuff the Bus: Helping Fairfax Families, the annual campaign to collect food donations for the needy, will be in Annandale Feb. 14. A Fasttran bus will be in the Annandale Giant, 7137 Columbia Pike, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Residents … Continued
FBI offers reward for info on ‘forever loyal’ bank robber
June 27 robbery. [FBI] The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the “forever loyal bandit,” a man sought for three bank robberies in the Falls Church area of Mason District last summer. On June 27, a man wearing a white … Continued
Planning Commission defers decision on Spectrum rezoning application
The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Jan. 22 approved commissioner Julie Strandlie’s (Mason) request to defer until Feb. 11 a decision on Spectrum Development’s rezoning applications for a shopping center on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads. The delay will give Spectrum more time to make changes in its application. At a Planning Commission hearing on … Continued
Bailey’s Elementary School employee arrested for sexual battery
Belyea [PWCPD] An employee at Bailey’s Elementary School, Dennis Corwin Belyea, was arrested by Prince William County Police Jan. 13 for sexually assaulting a teenage boy in Manassas several times over a six-year period beginning in 2004. Belyea had been technology support specialist at Bailey’s Elementary School in Bailey’s Crossroads since 2011. Following the arrest, … Continued
Plastic bag tax fails in Virginia General Assembly
Plastic bags clog a stream feeding into the Chesapeake Bay. By Elizabeth Kirchner Despite widespread grassroots support and the possibility of about $20 million in annual revenue dedicated to Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, a bill establishing a 5-cent “plastic bag tax” failed to get out of committee Jan 21. The bill, introduced in the Virginia … Continued
Gym planned for Bailey’s Upper Elementary School
The design of the gym for Bailey’s Upper Elementary School. Representatives of Fairfax County Public Schools presented the plans for a gymnasium and outdoor play area for Bailey’s Upper Elementary School to the Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation Jan. 20. The plan calls for a 6,000-square foot gymnasium to be added on the west side … Continued
Robbery in Parklawn area
Two men wearing ski masks assaulted and robbed an individual walking in the 4100 block of Century Court near Parklawn Elementary School at about 10 p.m. on Jan. 16, Fairfax County Police reports. The suspects threatened the victim, took property, and fled. The victim incurred non-life threatening injuries. The suspects were described as black and … Continued
Seven Corners Working Group agrees on broad concept for Sears site
A rough sketch of the Sears site. Leesburg Pike is on top. Red = multifamily housing, blue = office, orange = entertainment, and yellow = senior housing. [OCR] The Special Working Group on the Sears site in Seven Corners made some progress toward coming up with a plan amendment to guide future development – although … Continued
New county building brings health services to Merrifield area
The interior of the building has a nature theme. Staff from various mental health, substance abuse, and other programs operated by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board have begun moving into the agency’s new building at 8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive in Merrifield. Staff from youth services programs began moving in first in mid-January. When … Continued
Ryan McElveen to headline AHS Just World Festival
McElveen’s Happy New Year tweet. Popular Fairfax County school board member Ryan McElveen (at large) will be the keynote speaker at the 10th Annual Just World Festival Feb. 27 at Annandale High School. The free Friday afternoon event features workshops, exhibits, and entertainment aimed at promoting social activism among youths from the perspective: “It’s not … Continued
Planning Commission defers decision on Bailey’s Crossroads retail center
A view of the Shops at Bailey’s Crossroads on Leesburg Pike. [Spectrum Development] The Fairfax County Planning Commission agreed unanimously to defer until Jan. 22 a recommendation on a proposal to allow a retail center on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hear the issue on Jan. 27. Spectrum … Continued