Northern Virginia Girls Softball Association still going strong after 30 years
Girls are invited to hone their athletic skills, get fit, and have fun by joining the Northern Virginia Girls Softball Association. The NVGSA is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The league encourages families to sign up and “experience the dynamic, empowering environment that has shaped thousands of young athletes.” Registration is currently underway for … Continued
Help a young cancer patient meet her idol
It’s been an incredibly tough year for Cassidy Rajala, an Annandale sixth-grader who’s spent months in the hospital since being diagnosed with leukemia in December 2023. One of the bright spots has been her discovery of pop singer Benson Boone. During her stay at Inova Fairfax Children’s Hospital, the music therapist on staff taught her … Continued
DOJ charges landlords with rent collusion
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint Jan. 7 against six of the nation’s largest landlords accusing them of colluding in algorithmic pricing schemes that result in overcharging renters. That complaint is part of the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit filed in August against RealPage, a property management software company. According to the DOJ, RealPage … Continued
TJ alum, Michael Mukai, named principal
Michael Mukai, the current principal of West Springfield High School, has been named principal of the highly selective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Mukai was in the very first class at TJHSST when it was converted to a magnet STEM school in 1985. “As we continue the tradition of excellence at Thomas … Continued
Waitlist opens this week for affordable housing for seniors
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority is opening the waitlist for affordable housing at nine properties for older adults on Jan. 13 at 8 a.m. The application window closes at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 19. Applications must be submitted through Rent Café. Instructions for creating an account on Rent Café are available here. To … Continued
Fast-casual eatery coming to Barcroft Plaza
Honeygrow, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in stir-fry bowls and salads, is coming to Barcroft Plaza. It will be located at 6464-A Lincolnia Road in the space formerly occupied by Chico’s Natural Pet Market. It’s expected to open in July, says Issa Abuelhawa, manager of the Honeygrow in Tysons. Customers can order several kinds of stir-fries … Continued
Weekly crime report
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area are reported by the Fairfax County Police Department on CityProtect: Jan. 8 Jan. 7 Jan. 6 Jan. 5 Jan. 4 Jan. 3 Jan. 2
Dog grooming school opens in Annandale
The Pawtiques dog grooming salon is now accepting students interested in a career as a dog groomer. The salon, at 4207 Tom Davis Drive in Annandale, has been certified as a dog grooming academy by the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia. The 460-hour, 16-week course includes hands-on and theoretical training covering grooming techniques, … Continued
Ummah Market opens in Culmore
Ummah Market, an international grocery store specializing in products from the Middle East, had a soft opening in Culmore on Jan. 4. The store is located at 6053 Leesburg Pike in a renovated building that formerly housed a Walgreens. Owner Jawad Yousufi is tentatively planning a grand opening on Feb. 1, once additional fine-tuning is … Continued
Leasing underway at Alta Nova apartments
Construction of the Alta Nova apartments in Bailey’s Crossroads is nearly complete, and the first two tenants moved in on Jan. 6, says Moustafa Khan, community manager with Greystar, the company managing the building. Alta Nova, at 5851 Columbia Pike, has 361 apartments. Thirty-five have been leased, Khan says. The project also includes three townhomes … Continued
Schools closed tomorrow, for the fourth day
Fairfax County public schools will close tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 9, for the fourth day in a row. Whenever schools are closed, all activities at schools and school grounds are canceled. “As we navigate through another day of cold weather and icy roads, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your patience as we work … Continued
Annandale is getting a new restaurant
A new restaurant, called Oiso Korean Street Food, is expected to have a soft opening in March in the retail strip anchored by Giant in central Annandale, says owner and chef William Kim. Oiso will be located at 7133-C Columbia Pike between Wellbeing More and a vacant storefront being renovated for a future Bonchon … Continued
A proposed casino in Tysons – economic benefits vs. social ills
Supporters of a casino in Tysons spoke about the economic benefits from the tax revenue at a forum on Jan. 7 hosted by the Fairfax County NAACP. The lone panelist against a casino argued it would promote crime and other social ills and would not lead to economic growth. Earlier that day, Virginia Majority Leader … Continued
Japanese restaurant opens in Lincolnia
Kajiken, a Japanese restaurant specializing in abura soba, opened in Pinecrest Plaza in Lincolnia, at the end of 2024. Abura soba is “soupless ramen” made with thick, chewy noodles, a blend of sauce and spices, and a choice of additional ingredients. Also on the menu: donburi, ramen, pork dumplings, black sesame mousse cake, and much … Continued
No school, trash pickups tomorrow
Fairfax County public schools are closed on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and all school activities are canceled. Fairfax County courts will also be closed on Tuesday. More snow is predicted tonight, with accumulations of 1 to 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service, along with a low temperature of 18 degrees and winds up to … Continued