Man attacks woman on Annandale Road
Fairfax County Police are seeking a suspect who attempted to abduct a woman on Annandale Road Wednesday, Sept. 4. The woman, age 48, was walking on the sidewalk on the 2900 block of Annandale Road, by the Jefferson Village Apartments close to Route 50, at about 8:30 p.m. An unknown man approached, pulled her off … Continued
Landmark Mall redevelopment plans visualized
The City of Alexandria has released conceptual drawings showing what Landmark might look like after the first phase of a redevelopment project is completed. Groundbreaking for the first phase of the project to convert the Landmark mall into a mixed use project is expected to take place in the Spring 2014, said Colleen Willger, an … Continued
Overuse of pesticides is killing off bees essential for pollination
Dead bees under trees sprayed in a mall in Wilsonville, Ore. [Photo by Rich Hatfield of the Xerces Society.] By Deanna Crumbling In Wilsonville, Ore., on June 17, it was discovered that a chemical weapon of mass destruction had left over 25,000 carcasses in the parking lot of a shopping center, and the bodies were … Continued
Fairfax County school board explores office building as school site
The Fairfax County School Board is examining the viability of acquiring a five-story office building at 6245 Leesburg Pike in Seven Corners and converting to a school to provide relief for the severely overcrowded Bailey’s Elementary School. According to a Sept. 5 news release from Fairfax County Public Schools, Bailey’s is at 130 percent capacity … Continued
Support high school band programs on Tag Day, Sept. 7
The Marching Atoms in the Chapel Square Halloween Parade. Saturday, Sept. 7, is Tag Day, when high school band students will be knocking on peoples’ doors asking for donations to help support band and other music programs. In the Annandale/Mason area, band students from Annandale High School, Falls Church High School, and Stuart High School, … Continued
Fairfax County library system threw out thousands of books
Library books in a dumpster. The recent discovery of perfectly good library books tossed in a dumpster has ignited the opposition to efforts to overhaul the Fairfax County Public Libraries. When Providence Supervisor Linda Smyth heard that the library system was actually throwing out books, many of them in excellent condition, she went to see … Continued
County shuts down Han-Sung Oak restaurant
Han-Sung Oak, the Korean restaurant that’s been at Barcroft Plaza on Columbia Pike for many years, has been shut down by Fairfax County because inspectors determined the gas-fired system for cooking at individual tables was not in compliance with county building codes. The restaurant will not reopen because it will be too expensive to bring … Continued
Efficiency units could destabilze neighborhoods, community leaders warn
A tiny studio apartment in San Francisco. [Photo from USA Today.] Civic association leaders are concerned that a Fairfax County proposal to create a new zoning category allowing tiny efficiency apartments could destroy the character of older, residential neighborhoods, especially in places like the Annandale/Mason area where overcrowding is already a problem. The Fairfax County … Continued
Volunteers needed for Accotink Creek cleanups
Volunteers with some of the tires and trash taken out of local streams. (Photo from Friends of Accotink Creek.] Community associations, nonprofits, employee groups, religious institutions, scout groups, students needing community service hours, and anyone who cares about having clean, healthy, litter-free waterways are encouraged to join the 2013 International Coastal Cleanup, beginning next Saturday. … Continued
Virginia governor candidate McAuliffe greets supporters in Annandale
Left to right: Candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe, Fairfax County sheriff candidate Stacey Kincaid, former attorney general candidate in the Democratic primary Justin Fairfax, Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, and House of Delegates candidate Marcus Simon. Terry McAuliffe, Democratic candidate for governor, appeared at a campaign stop in an Annandale backyard Aug. 31 to urge the … Continued
Fire in Columbia Pines was accidental
A house fire at 3803 Ridge Road in the Columbia Pines neighborhood in Annandale Aug. 29 was caused by “an unidentified electrical anomaly leading to an attic fan,” according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. The video below was shot by Columbia Pines resident Bob Kovacs: “The lone occupant escaped unharmed” and declined … Continued
Bob Kovacs not only videotapes local concerts, he performs, too
Annandale videographer Bob Kovacs not only works behind the camera, capturing many performances from Mason District Starlight by Spotlight concerts throughout the summer, he’s a talented musician, too. The video below is from a lunchtime concert of country, pop, and novelty songs Kovacs presented Aug. 22 at the Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield, a nonprofit, interfaith … Continued
Back to School Night schedule
With the return to school around the corner—public schools in Fairfax County open Sept. 3—it’s time for parents to get back in the school routine, too. Here’s the Back to School Night schedule for public schools in the Annandale/Mason area: Annandale HS—Sept. 18, 6 p.m. Annandale Terrace ES—Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m. for grades K-2; Sept. … Continued
Residents debate need for speed humps on Old Columbia Pike
Old Columbia Pike at the Downing Street intersection. People on both sides of the speed hump proposal for Old Columbia Pike (OCP) presented their arguments at a contentious community meeting Aug. 29 at the Mason Government Center. OCP residents in favor of the humps insisted they are necessary for safety reasons: Too many cars are … Continued
VDOT orders Buddhist temple to address right of way violations
Officials from both the Fairfax County code compliance department and the Virginia Department of Transportation are investigating complaints from neighbors about the Buddhist temple at 6822 Columbia Pike in Annandale. Among the complaints: trees cut down in front of the property facing Columbia Pike, potentially illegal changes to the property, and the operation of a … Continued
