Annandale Blog celebrates fifth anniversary with Blogapalooza party
Swell performs at Blogapalooza Thanks to everyone who came out for Blogapalooza last night. It was an awesome way to celebrate the Annandale Blog’s fifth anniversary—with more than 100 blog readers, community leaders, neighbors, and friends. The bands, the food, the volunteers, the setting—even the weather all turned out great. The bands—Space Junk Jammers, Swell, … Continued
Help us celebrate five years of local news coverage
All Annandale Blog readers and friends are invited to the Broyhill Crest Recreation Club tonight for Blogapalooza, a celebration of the blog’s fifth anniversary. We’ll have live music, food from local restaurants, a Zumba dance-off, and the presentation of the first-ever Annie Awards to the top local spots selected by readers. Bands include Space Junk … Continued
FCPS eliminates half-day Mondays
Parents who’ve juggling childcare and work schedules to pick up their elementary-age children on early Mondays will have it a bit easier next year. The Fairfax County School Board voted June 26 to end the practice of Monday early dismissal. Keeping students in class all day on Mondays would allow for more instructional time plus … Continued
Scene around A-Town: The gargoyle is keeping watch
A gargoyle perches on a tree stump on Murray Lane in the Sleepy Hollow Woods neighborhood in Annandale.
Lake Barcroft residents charge county mishandled sewage spills
Work under way June 25 at the pumping station on Sleepy Hollow Road. Residents of Lake Barcroft brought a long list of complaints to a meeting June 25 convened by Mason Supervisor Penny Gross on the recent sewage spills. Emotions ran high as people demanded answers to their concerns about health hazards, poor engineering decisions, … Continued
Land use committee defers action on Route 7 shopping center
An illustration of the proposed shopping center on Leesburg Pike. The Mason District Land Use Committee deferred a decision on the shopping center proposed by Spectrum Development for Leesburg Pike between Washington Drive and Charles Street. “The Spectrum case is mildly controversial, not so much for the project itself, but because of issues related to … Continued
Faith-based groups urge more action to combat human trafficking
More than 100,000 underage girls are currently being trafficked for sex in the United States; it’s happening all over, including right here in the Annandale area. The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy hosted a presentation June 22 at Annandale United Methodist Church (AUMC) to raise awareness of the problem. Robin Gahan, director of programs … Continued
Teen charged with threatening to kill Belvedere students
Fairfax County Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy from Centreville for making disturbing threats to students at Belvedere Elementary School, the Washington Post reported June 24. According to the news report, the teen was charged with allegedly creating a Twitter account in the name of Adam Lanza, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter, and using … Continued
Seven Corners residents concerned about high-density redevelopment
A large apartment complex is proposed for the Sears site on Leesburg Pike. Don’t redevelop Seven Corners until the proposed transportation infrastructure improvements are funded and in place. Reduce the density in the housing project proposed for the Sears site on Route 7. Provide more time for the community to review and comment on the … Continued
New ‘executive principals’ named
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza has announced the new executive principals assigned to the five new regions under the new administrative organization structure put into place earlier this month. Garza has named Jay Pearson the executive principal for Region 2, which covers the Annandale, Stuart, Falls Church, McLean, and Marshall high school pyramids … Continued
New school needed to accommodate Seven Corners redevelopment
The redevelopment of Seven Corners, as proposed by the SevenCorners Land Use and Transportation Task Force, would require the construction of a new elementary school, confirms Jeffrey Platenberg, Fairfax County Public Schools assistant superintendent for facilities and Transportation Services, in a June 23 memo. The task force plan calls for 6,000 new residential units throughout … Continued
The cultural heritage of Taiwan showcased at Ossian Hall Park
The CYC Lion Dance Team mixes with the audience during Taiwanese Cultural Heritage Night at Ossian Hall Park. The music and dance of China filled the summer night at Ossian Hall Park in Annandale June 21 as eight performance groups presented a show featuring the culture of Taiwan. The flower basket dance. Members of the … Continued
$100 million transportation bond focuses on pedestrian projects
Columbia Pike in Annandale. The $100 million transportation bond referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot, which was authorized by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week, includes funding for a few projects in the Mason District area. The only road improvement in Mason would be at the North Chambliss Street and Beauregard Street intersection … Continued
Free concert Saturday, Mason park
The public is invited to a special free musical and art exhibit Saturday, June 21, 7-9 p.m., at the amphitheatre at Mason District Park. Annandale music teacher Robert Brockway and his students will perform classical, jazz, and vocal pieces in a variety of styles. Brockway teaches piano, trumpet, and voice. His students range from elementary … Continued
New school under discussion for Bailey’s Crossroads
The long-delayed redevelopment plan for a property in Bailey’s Crossroads at Columbia Pike and Moncure Avenue seems to be back on track—and the project might include a badly needed new elementary school. Mason Supervisor Penny Gross sent the following announcement to constituents on her email list June 19: “Fairfax County is continuing to progress with … Continued