Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Annandale stakeholders to develop youth engagement initiative

A group of Annandale stakeholders—including community and business leaders—is being formed to develop an action plan for a youth engagement initiative in Annandale. In a separate but related effort, a series of focus group meetings has been scheduled to elicit the opinions of various ethnic groups on “livability” issues in Annandale. Those efforts build on … Continued

Cop school: Shooting and driving

Lt. Hall demonstrates the correct shooting position. At the final session of the Fairfax County Citizens’ Police Academy, participants had a chance to shoot police guns on the firing range and drive police cruisers on a training course at the Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly. [This report covers a make-up class on Nov. 17 because … Continued

Rotarians and students deliver Thanksgiving meals to needy families

Stuart students Mariyatou Barry and Sufian Abulohom load boxes of food for delivery. Needy families in Bailey’s Crossroads were able to enjoy complete Thanksgiving dinners due to the generosity of the Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club, working in partnership with the JEB Stuart High School Interact Club. Bailey’s Community Center compiled a list of needy families. … Continued

Annandale youth experiences war in Israel

Limor Steinberg (left) studying with a classmate in Jerusalem. When Annandale native Limor Steinberg moved to Israel in August, she knew the country was subject to frequent attacks from its neighbors, but she didn’t expect to be living in a war zone. Steinberg, a 2011 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, … Continued

Cold weather is a great time for Pho Hot

Now that the weather is getting colder, it’s an excellent time for pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup that’s a hearty meal in a bowl. One of the top places for pho [pronounced fuh] in Annandale is Pho Hot, 7224 Little River Turnpike (near Blockbuster in the Little River Plaza Shopping Center).  The spacious restaurant offers … Continued

Annandale’s Dan Burke: artistry in wood

A chest made of ambrosia maple and Brazillian cherry. After retiring from a successful career as a molecular biologist, Annandale resident Dan Burke has made the transition to woodwork artisan. Burke’s woodworking career started when he and his wife Susan, an accomplished needlepoint artist, moved into their Broyhill Crest home about 15 years ago and … Continued

Beltway Express Lanes open

 The view north from Gallows Road. As the top picture shows (taken from the Gallows Road overpass at about 8:30 a.m. Nov. 19), the beltway was flowing smoothly at that particular point in time, and very few cars were on the Express Lanes on the left. This morning was the first rush hour since the … Continued

Another pizza place coming to Annandale

Paisano’s Pizza getting ready to open. A Paisano’s Pizza restaurant is expected to open at 7327 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, in early 2013. Paisano’s is a franchise-operated restaurant chain that offers pasta, subs, wings, calzones, salads and other items, as well as pizza.The Annandale location will sell beer but not wine, says corporate spokesperson Gary … Continued

Peering Into the Darkness

By Robert Schwaninger There comes a time when you accept the fact you have reached middle age. For those who don’t know when middle age starts, it’s when the creak when you get up is your back not the chair and raw vegetables become the enemy. Not too many years ago I had to realize … Continued