School board adopts budget for FY 2015
The Fairfax County School Board adopted a $2.5 billion budget for FY 2015 May 23 that delays a salary step increase for employees until November. The 2015 budget year starts July 1. The budget reduces school clerical and custodial staff, increases class size, and cuts needs-based staffing. It includes one additional position for each high … Continued
Accident on Columbia Pike, Annandale
Bob Kovacs of Annandale Arts captured this video of an accident on Columbia Pike by the Rose Lane intersection in Annandale at about 2:45 p.m. on Friday, May 22.
Cell phone sellers beaten and robbed in Annandale parks
A screen grab from NBC News shows reporter David Culver describing the Craig’s List/iPhone attacks. Fairfax County Police are investigating several incidents of people trying to purchase iPhone 5s cell phones from people they met on Craigslist who’ve been beaten and robbed. In at least two of the incidents, the crimes happened at playgrounds at … Continued
Shepherd’s Center celebrates 10th anniversary
Supervisor Cook presents a certificate of appreciation for the Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield to the center’s board chair, Dick Stewart. [Photos by Mary Ellen Dawley] The Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield celebrated its 10th anniversary May 22 at the group’s Lunch N’ Life event at the United Baptist Church in Annandale. The Shepherd’s Center aims to … Continued
Accident highlights safety concerns on Little River Turnpike
An accident on Little River Turnpike May 22. [Photo by Rob Snowhite] People who live on both sides of Little River Turnpike (Route 236) just east of central Annandale are concerned about safety as too many cars are speeding down the road. Just this week there were two major accidents, including one this morning that … Continued
Bailey’s Crossroads KFC robbed
The KFC at 5711 Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads was robbed Tuesday night, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. A man entered the restaurant at about 8:43 p.m. and handed a note to an employee demanding cash. The suspect took the money and fled. There were no injuries. The suspect is described as black, in … Continued
Fundraising campaign aimed at protecting the Kingstowne turtles
Turtles “playing Frogger” on Kingstown Village Parkway are in danger of getting hit by cars. The situation is also dangerous for drivers who risk causing an accident as they try to avoid hitting the turtles—as well as the people running onto the road to help them. Jessica Bowser, a resident of Kingstowne in the Alexandria … Continued
Concerns about empty library shelves
George Mason Library in Annandale has lots of empty shelf space. Library advocates are concerned about the increasingly empty shelves at Fairfax County libraries—and what an aggressive discard policy could mean for the future of the system. That’s why a June 3 meeting of the Library Board of Trustees’ Communication and Evaluation Committee —7 p.m. … Continued
Hazmat incident at George Mason Library
Firefighters enter George Mason Library. [Photo by Greg Guise/WUSA] George Mason Regional Library in Annandale was evacuated this morning when people noticed a strange odor in the building and eight people complained of shortness of breath. Fairfax County firefighters discovered a refrigerant leak in the library and declared a “hazmat incident,” WUSA Channel 9 reports. … Continued
Md. man arrested for fondling incidents in Seven Corners
Medley Fairfax County Police officers charged Jabar Medley, 21, of Oxon Hill, Md., with eight counts of assault and battery on May 20 in connection with three separate assault incidents that took place May 6 in Seven Corners. In those incidents, the suspect approached and grabbed victims, all female, from behind in what was described … Continued
Stein Mart opens in Loehmann’s Plaza
The new Stein Mart in Loehmann’s Plaza is now open—just in time for the Memorial Day sales. The shop is in the spot vacated by Loehmann’s, which closed in February. Stein Mart offers women’s and men’s clothing, women’s shoes and accessories, and housewares at marked-down prices. Men’s shoes will be added in August, says store … Continued
Annandale real estate market holding steady
This four-bedroom house at 8205 Guinevere Drive in the Camelot neighborhood in Annandale, is on the market for $717,700. [Photo from Zillow] The real estate market in Annandale (zip code 22003) appeared to be sluggish in April 2014, according to data provided by realtor Vivianne Couts of Coldwell Banker. The dollar volume of homes sold … Continued
FBI searching for evidence in local park
The trail leading to the investigation site. Further access is blocked. UPDATE: According to sources near the site, construction workers on the sewer project at Holmes Run Stream Valley Park found a body buried four feet deep. Fingerprints led to a man in custody who told police another body is buried there, too. The crime … Continued
Fire destroys house on Cherokee Avenue
A fire early Monday morning destroyed a house at 5201 Cherokee Ave., in the Alexandria area of Mason District. When firefighters from Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria arrived at approximately 4:45 a.m., May 19, the rambler-style home was “fully involved with fire,” the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. Firefighters conducted an … Continued
Queen of Apostles hosts 5K and international festival May 31
Queen of Apostles Catholic School in Lincolnia is planning two big community events on May 31: a 5K and one-mile fun run and an International Festival. The “Soar Like an Eagle” 5K winds through residential streets on a USA Track and Field-certified course. It starts at 8 a.m. at the school’s parking lot, at 4409 … Continued