Annandale area schools participating in summer meals program
Twenty-eight Fairfax County public schools, including 13 in Annandale/Mason District, are taking part in the U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded summer food service program. This program ensures that students who qualify for a free or reduced-price meal during the school can also have access to a free, nutritious breakfast, lunch, or both during the summer.The Fairfax … Continued
Parklawn tour showcases exemplary homes
Recent Annandale blog posts about problems with multiple occupancy, “extreme yard sales,” and unfinished construction projects might have given the impression that the Parklawn neighborhood is in decline. Actually, there are many well-maintained, charming homes there that people have put great care into renovating, decorating, and landscaping. Three of them were showcased June 16 on … Continued
Race with Grace Snow Cone Lemonade Stand supports childhood cancer research
Grace and Tucker The Annandale community is invited to the Race with Grace Snow Cone Lemonade Stand Saturday, June 23, at the Broyhill Crest pool. The stand will be at 7212 Early St., Annandale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., during the season’s first swim meet. The event is hosted by Grace Sprano, a 4-year-old miracle child who … Continued
Planning Commission approves housing on Campbell and Ferrara site
Willow Run Drive Despite extensive opposition from nearby residents, the Fairfax County Planning Commission approved a rezoning request to allow 29 single-family houses to be built on 8.78 acres on property now occupied by the Campbell and Ferrara nursery on Little River Turnpike. No commissioners voted against the proposal although three members abstained: Kenneth Lawrence … Continued
Fairfax police target aggressive drivers
Aggressive driving incidents in Fairfax County were way up in 2011 over 2010, so Fairfax County Police are turning up the heat this summer to crack down on unsafe moving violations. Operation Summer HEAT (Help Eliminate Aggressive Traffic), running June 15- Sept. 3—will focus on moving violations, such as reckless driving, speeding, improper passing, disregarding … Continued
Assisted living facility in Annandale means more traffic on Gallows Road
The Brightview facility would be accessed from Gallows Road People who live near the proposed assisted living facility slated for Gallows Road told the developer they are concerned about increased traffic on an already congested street The 95-unit facility would be developed by Brightview Senior Living, a division of the Shelter Group, which operates 23 … Continued
Charter school would offer dual enrollment with NOVA
FCHS parents put up these signs outside the meeting Founders of the charter school proposed for Fairfax County presented their vision to a packed room at a public meeting hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools at the FCPS headquarters building in Falls Church June 12. The Fairfax County School Board is scheduled to hold a … Continued
Allen, Perkins, Moran ace primaries
There were no big surprises in the results of the Virginia primary Tuesday. In the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, former Virginia Gov. George Allen easily won the chance to go up against former Democratic governor Tim Kaine in November. They are vying for the open seat left by Sen. Jim Webb (D), who … Continued
Annandale drivers to be affected by road work on Little River Turnpike
Parts of Little River Turnpike will be upgraded this summer, which could mean delays on your nighttime trips. Milling (removing the old road surface) and resurfacing will be carried out from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. (or 9 a.m. on weekends) according to this schedule: May 15-June 30—Both directions between Hummer Road/Heritage Drive and Oasis … Continued
Property maintenance issues plague Mason District
4026 Arcadia Road Neighborhood activists concerned about declining property maintenance are increasingly frustrated about the lack of action by government officials, although the county’s ability to act is limited. “If there is not a law that keeps rogue homeowners from creating dangerous and unsafe habitable conditions in Fairfax County, then there should be one,” says … Continued
FXCO School Board to consider later start times for high school
By Laurie Lindberg As you may have heard, the Fairfax County School Board passed a resolution in April that requires the superintendent to report back to the board about how other school systems have been able to provide high school start times after 8 a.m. The school board directed the superintendent to identify successful approaches … Continued
Ambitious bike plan proposed for Fairfax County
Bikes parked in front of the George Mason library How would you like to see central Annandale circled with bike routes connecting Gallows Road, Village Drive, Chatelaine Road, John Marr Drive, McWhorter Place, Markham Drive, Annandale Road and Maple Street? And how about bike lanes along Gallows, Annandale Road, Hummer Road, and Backlick Road and … Continued
Longtime Annandale shops, AnnSandra and Party Co., are expanding
With so many Annandale businesses closing in recent months (Bloom, Room Store, Sunset Grille, to name a few), it’s nice to see some retail expansion going on. The Party Co., at 4421 John Marr Drive, is planning to relocate to the much larger space that used to house Super Pets in the same strip mall. … Continued
ExxonMobil leaving Fairfax County – along with 2,100 jobs
ExxonMobil’s Merrifield campus ExxonMobil will close its 118-campus in Merrifield, the company announced June 6, and will relocate that operation to Houston, beginning in early 2014. That means a loss of 2,100 jobs for Fairfax County. That complex, which is owned by Exxon Mobil, housed the offices of ExxonMobil’s Refining and Supply Co., ExxonMobil Research … Continued
Parents, community get a first look at Annandale’s newest elementary school
The entrance, with the office on the left. Parents, community residents, and students are getting their first look at Mason Crest Elementary School, as the principal, Brian Butler, and his staff are conducting tours of Annandale’s newest school over the next couple of weeks. [See the school’s website for a tour schedule.] Mason Crest will … Continued