Free income tax help available in Annandale
AARP volunteers are providing free walk-in tax preparation assistance at the Mason Government Center from Feb. 1 through April 15. This service will take place on Mondays and Thursdays 1-8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. All returns will be filed electronically. Bring last year’s tax return, a photo … Continued
Police explain vehicle-related violations at Mason District meeting
An illegal car sale in Mason District. If your neighborhood is cluttered with junk vehicles or commercial trucks, Fairfax County police officers explained what they can do about it at a Jan. 26 meeting convened by Mason Supervisor Penny Gross for the heads of civic and homeowner associations. It could take a long time before … Continued
FXCO police make arrest in ATM card skimming case
Cicio Fairfax County Police detectives arrested Ioan Cicio, 39, of 2230 George C. Marshall Drive, Falls Church, on Jan. 28 in connection with the skimming of ATM cards at bank machines at local hospitals, including Inova Fairfax Hospital. Cicio was charged with three counts of possession of credit card forgery devices (skimmers), three counts of … Continued
XSport Fitness responds to negative comments on Pro Maxx Fitness
Editor’s note: Representatives from both XSport Fitness and Pro Maxx Fitness have asked us to remove negative comments in reference to articles about the recent opening of Pro Maxx in Annandale. We’re not doing that but have agreed to publish a statement from Kelly Cartwright, director of customer service for XSport Fitness, a company with … Continued
Momentum growing for federal action on gun control
A contingent from Northern Virginia at a march for gun control in Washington, D.C., Jan. 26. [Photo by Sue Langley.] With the Virginia legislature unlikely to pass more restrictive gun bills this session, gun control advocates are urging their constituents to focus on Congress. The speakers at a panel discussion on gun violence at Temple … Continued
Chinese Festival celebrates new year
The Year of the Snake was ushered in Saturday at the sixth annual Chinese New Year Festival at Luther Jackson Middle School with a dragon parade, lion dance, musical performances, food, children’s crafts, vendors, and greetings from politicians. The event was organized by the Asian Community Service Center, based in Vienna. People born in the … Continued
FCPS School Board approves scaled-back plan on AAP centers
Rather than totally restructure the Advanced Academic Program (AAP), the Fairfax County School Board voted Jan. 24 to adopt a scaled-back plan for just four new centers—none of them in Annandale or the Mason District. A FCPS staff report had recommended putting an AAP center in every middle school and adding centers to more elementary … Continued
Pro Maxx Fitness celebrates grand opening
Pro Maxx Fitness Manager Susan Hilaski is holding the big scissors, while Mason Supervisor Penny Gross cuts the ribbon with a regular pair of scissors. Pro Maxx Fitness had a grand opening celebration Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Mason Supervisor Penny Gross, Mason Police District Commander Gun Lee, and Gary Moore, deputy chief of … Continued
Citizen activists frustrated by lack of action to clean up Seven Corners
Piles of trash in a parking lot behind the Willston Center on Route 50. Kay Cooper and Nancy Vorona, residents of Lake Barcroft, would like to see the Seven Corners area cleaned up. They’ve been urging Fairfax County leaders, VDOT, and law enforcement officials to take some action to get rid of the litter and … Continued
George Mason Library to get collection of Muslim resource materials
A 15th century map of the coast of Spain. [from the National Endowment for the Humanities website] Four public libraries in Fairfax County, including George Mason Regional Library in Annandale, will be given the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of books, films, and other resources aimed at introducing the American public to the complex history … Continued
Two killed in Falls Church fire
Update: One of the victims has been identified as Laura Jeanne Snyder-Gardner, 48, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue announced Jan. 24. According to a Jan. 28 report in the Washington Post, she was a popular math teacher at Galludet University in Washington, D.C., and the other victim was her daughter, Mary Ann Gardner, 16, a … Continued
Adult day care center proposed for Lincolnia Road
This house would be replaced with a day care facility for seniors. Representatives of the Agape Adult Day Healthcare Center presented plans to the Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC) Jan. 22 for a new facility on Lincolnia Road at the site of a former children’s daycare center. There are three buildings on that property. … Continued
Major redevelopment projects proposed for Annandale
Apartment building planned for this site. After years of inaction, something big is proposed for central Annandale: A large apartment building is in the works for the site of the AMF Annandale Lanes on Markham Street, and a smaller apartment building is planned for Rectory Lane, behind the Heritage shopping center on Heritage Drive. Both … Continued
Man injured in Annandale fire
A man was injured in a fire in a workshop behind a house at 3739 Morningside Drive, Annandale, on Jan. 20, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported. The man was transported to the Washington Hospital Burn Center with non-life threatening injuries. A firefighter received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Inova Fairfax … Continued
Children work on crafts to benefit the needy on MLK Day
Volunteers fill the JCC gym for the MLK National Day of Service. More than 500 people took part in “Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day” at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Fairfax Jan. 21 to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. That event, also held in Herndon and Lorton, was organized by Volunteer Fairfax. Children, … Continued