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
Annandale volunteers take part in National Day of Service
Volunteers work on landscaping at the ACCA Child Development Center in Annandale. When President Obama asked the nation to take part in the National Day of Service Jan. 19 to honor the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., many Annandale residents answered the call. Twenty-two people signed up for a gardening project organized by … Continued
FCPS seeks more funds to accommodate enrollment growth
Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Jack Dale’s proposed budget for FY 2014 calls for a 2.6 percent funding increase over the current year budget, mostly to accommodate enrollment growth of 2,857 students. FCPS Budget Director Kristen Michael gave a presentation on the $2.5 billion budget at a meeting of the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations Jan. … Continued
Landmark Mall redevelopment under discussion
Plans for the redevelopment of Landmark Mall, moribund for years, are back on the table. The City of Alexandria is “exploring a lot of different options” for revitalizing the shopping mall with the owner, Howard Hughes Corp., says Gwen Wright, chief of the development division in the City of Alexandria’s Department of Planning and Zoning. … Continued
Annandale youth soccer club signs affiliate agreement with D.C. United
The Annandale Boys and Girls Club (ABGC) has signed an affiliate agreement with D.C. United. Under the agreement announced Jan. 8, ABGC will be one of the Major League Soccer team’s primary sources in identifying and developing the top youth talent in Virginia. D.C. United will share its coaching resources and will work with ABGC … Continued
Video captures excerpts from Mason Town Hall
This video on the Mason District Town Hall Jan. 15 was produced by Bob Kovacs. Watch more videos on local events on Kovacs’ Annandale Arts channel on You Tube.
Mason residents present concerns to officials at packed Town Hall
It was standing room only at the Mason District Town Hall. More than 250 people came out on a rainy night for the Mason District Town Hall to engage in a dialogue with Fairfax County officials about the problems they see as leading to a deteriorating quality of life in the Annandale/Mason area. Among the … Continued
Old Annandale farmhouse is for sale, but owners won’t sell to a developer
There are many 100-year-old boxwoods around the house. If you’d like to live in the country but don’t want to give up the convenience of being close to the city, Boxhill Farm is the place for you. It’s a restored farmhouse on seven acres of land in Annandale just outside the beltway, and it’s for … Continued
Maintaining Annandale streetscape requires continual vigilance
John Marr Drive is part of the Annandale revitalization area. Ever notice how some of the redevelopment features in central Annandale get a little run down over time? Sometimes the sidewalk pavers come loose, a tree dies, or a car hits one of the “acorn” streetlamps.Things would be a lot worse if it weren’t for … Continued
Registration under way for Mason District Little League
The 2012 MDLL 11-12-year-old all stars. Registration is underway for the Mason District Little League (MDLL) spring season. MDLL offers five levels of play for boys and girls ages 4 to 12, staring with tee ball. There are three ways to sign up: online; by mail (download the form from the website; or in person … Continued
More drivers using beltway toll lanes
The view from the Gallows Road overpass. Traffic on the beltway express lanes has been steadily increasing since the toll system opened Nov. 17, reports Transurban, the company that built the beltway project in return for retaining the toll revenue. During the first week the tolls took effect, with dynamic pricing tied to traffic conditions, … Continued