Honda Fits and Civics targeted by car wheel thieves
The wheels were stolen from this Fit parked on Stuart Street in Annandale a few weeks ago. The Honda Fit is a great little car with terrific gas mileage—but there’s a downside to owning one, as people in the Annandale/Mason area are finding out. They are being targeted by thieves who are stealing the wheels … Continued
Proposed bond includes funds for new elementary school
A $250 million school bond on the ballot in November includes $20.877 million for a new elementary school in the eastern part of Fairfax County. A new school is desperately needed. Bailey’s and Glen Forest elementary schools are severely overcrowded, and most of the other schools in that area are over capacity or projected to … Continued
Central plaza proposed as a ‘quick fix’ to encourage Annandale redevelopment
Annandale banners designed by students at Westwood College. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest in a major redevelopment project in Annandale, at least for the time being, so Jeffrey Levine, an architect/urban planner with Levine Design Studio, came up with an idea for creating a town center plaza in the heart of … Continued
After sale of Hillwood Square, residents struggling to find affordable housing
The interior of the Hillwood Square community is accessible by paths, not roads. The sale of the Hillwood Square community in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County means some longtime residents are struggling to find an affordable place to live. The new owner of the nearly 20-acre property, AvalonBay Communities Inc., plans to build … Continued
Indonesian dancers charm the crowd at Ossian Hall Park
The Santi Budaya dance group brought graceful moves and lavish costumes to Ossian Hall Park in Annandale July 6 for Indonesian Cultural Night. Members of the audience were invited to the stage to join in with bamboo musical instruments. The shows at Ossian Hall Park continue every Saturday evening through Aug. 31. Next … Continued
Skyline precinct to be split into two
The Skyline Center. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve proposal July 9 to divide the overly large Skyline precinct into two smaller ones. Having a new precinct would alleviate some of the problems in the last election that resulted in some voters standing in line for up to four hours. The … Continued
New shop on Columbia Pike sells incense, candles, religious items
A new and different kind of business has opened in Annandale in the spot that used to house Anna ’N Dale’s Newsstand and assorted subtenants. The good news: It’s not another thrift shop, title lender, or Korean restaurant. It’s an awesome shop called Botanica Pombagira that sells incense, herbs, religious statues, charms, candles, perfumes, oils, … Continued
Happy 4th of July!
Lake Barcroft residents celebrate the 4th of July with an annual parade.
Holmes Run Crossing project will expand trail access
An easier way to cross Holmes Run. When the Holmes Run Crossing project is completed later this summer, people will have an easier way to walk or bicycle along a trail between the Heywood Glen/Lincolnia Hills community in Fairfax County and Dowden Terrace and Dora Kelly Nature Park on the other side of Holmes Run … Continued
Gross agrees to strengthen community input on land use issues
In advance of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ hearing on Fairfax Forward next week, representatives of the Mason District Council of Community Associations (MDC) met with Mason Supervisor Penny Gross to express their concerns with potential changes to how land use decisions are made. Fairfax Forward revises the procedures for updating the county’s Comprehensive … Continued
The Taters perform at Mason District Park
Annandale Arts videographer Bob Kovacs recorded a couple of songs performed by the Taters Sunday night at the amphitheater in Mason District Park. Kovacs calls the first song, “Spend a Little Time,” a pleasant mid-tempo rocker that sounds like an Elvis song from around 1962. The second number, “Thingamajig,” was written by prolific country/swing songwriter … Continued
Three men arrested for sexual assault and robbery at a hotel
Three men have been arrested for sexually assaulting and robbing a prostitute at a hotel in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County on June 20. According to a report from the Franconia Police District, “a 25-year-old California woman was staying at a local hotel in the 5700 block of Van Dorn Street for the purposes … Continued
Sign removal program starts this week
Leesburg Pike in Seven Corners. Beginning July 2, Fairfax County will remove illegal signs from the public rights of way along certain major roads. The county and the Virginia Department of Transportation entered into an agreement in February giving the county the authority to take down signs on land owned by VDOT. The county has … Continued
Seven Corners Task Force puts together outline for redevelopment
Seven Corners Task Force members during the charrette. Seven Corners could be vastly improved with a town center on the site of the Willston shopping centers and Willston Multicultural Center along Route 50. That’s one of the key outcomes from a marathon “charrette” session held by the Seven Corners Land Use and Transportation Task Force. … Continued
Former Oliver farmhouse on Gallows Road on the market again
The old Oliver farmhouse, at 4011 Gallows Road, Annandale, is back on the market. The asking price is $1.249 million. When it was last put up for sale, in the winter of 2012, it was priced at $1.65 million. The wood frame house has had several additions since it was built in 1932. It has … Continued