FXCO approves blight ordinance for house on Spring Valley Drive
The front door at 6629 Spring Valley Drive The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a “spot blight abatement ordinance” Nov. 20 declaring the house at 6629 Spring Valley Drive, Alexandria, as blighted. The owners, listed as Manote Auandee and Sandra Auandee, were given 30 days to “abate or obviate the nuisance.” If they fail … 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
Happy Thanksgiving, Annandale!
Check out this Thanksgiving song by Annandale resident Bob Kovacs:
Inova to develop major cancer institute
A bird’s eye view of Inova’s planned cancer institute on Route 50. The Inova Health System plans to build the largest cancer facility in the Washington, D.C., region close to the Annandale area. The new $252 million, 300,000-square-foot Comprehensive Cancer and Research Institute will be located on vacant land on Williams Drive by Arlington Boulevard, … Continued
Scene around A-Town: Jumping the gun on Christmas
It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, and some Annandale residents already put up their Christmas decorations. This Santa, on the back deck of a house visible from Gallows Road, was up at least a week ago. How about getting through one holiday at a time? [I still haven’t gotten around to carving my pumpkin.]
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
Cell towers installed at Annandale pools without much opposition
The cell tower in the Holmes Run Pool parking lot. While there has been a great deal of conflict about a proposed cell tower at the Parklawn Recreation Association, similar cell towers have been installed at two other Mason community pools—Broyhill Crest and Holmes Run—without a huge amount of opposition. When the cell tower was … Continued
Convenience store planned for Hess gas station in Annandale
A convenience store is coming to the Hess gas station at 7100 Little River Turnpike at John Marr Drive in central Annandale. The shop will be like a 7-Eleven, offering beer and wine, as well as food items and basic necessities. The gas station will close for three months, starting at the end of the … Continued
Seven Corners Task Force considers existing conditions
The task force at work at the Mason District Government Center. The Seven Corners Land Use and Transportation Task Forcereviewed the existing conditions of the area – where various types of development are located and how the land is zoned, for example – at its Nov. 13 meeting. Task force members were appointed by Mason … Continued
Gov. McDonnell: Beltway Express Lanes will relieve gridlock
The beltway as seen from the Gallows Road overpass in Annandale. The opening of the Express Lanes on the beltway, Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2 a.m., ushers in a new era of transportation in the Annandale area. For the first time, beltway drivers will have to decide whether it’s worth paying a toll to drive … Continued
The Annandale MOMS Club offers fun and friends for kids and moms
The Annandale MOMS Club Halloween party. If you’re a stay-at-home mom with young children and feel isolated, the Annandale MOMS Club is for you. The group has a fun activity—play groups or outings to parks or library story times for kids or get-togethers for moms—just about every day. The Annandale MOMS Club, established in 2007, … Continued
Truck driver kills bicyclist trying to cross Columbia Pike
A driver struck and killed a bicyclist yesterday near the intersection of Columbia Pike and Ashwood Place in the Barcroft area. Elizabeth P. Shattuck, 58, of 3216 Patrick Henry Drive in Falls Church, was pronounced dead at the scene, Mason District Police reported. According to a police bulletin, a 72-year-old man was driving a 1998 … Continued
Menchie’s opens in Annandale Thursday
Menchie’s, the frozen yogurt place at Pinecrest Plaza (6550F Little River Turnpike, Annandale), opens for business this Thursday, Nov. 15. Menchie’s is a self-service operation where you choose a yogurt or sorbet flavor and add toppings, such as fruit, candy pieces, sprinkles, and sauces. Grand opening festivities take place on Saturday, Nov. 24, with a … Continued