Falls Church HS in dire need of renovation, parents tell school board
A light fixture ready to fall A Fairfax County school board hearing on the school system’s capital improvement program (CIP) Monday night was dominated by parents and students who spoke about the urgent need to renovate Falls Church High School. A parent advocacy group, UPROAR (United Parents to Renovate our Academic Resource), was formed to … Continued
Annandale ‘Village Center’ kiosk needs updating
As of Jan. 7, 2012, the kiosk at Toll House Park on Little River Turnpike in the heart of Annandale was displaying a flyer for the Annandale Fall Festival and Parade, which took place last October. Not many people walk around central Annandale, but still . . . What does this say about our community? … Continued
Proprietor of Braddock yard sales considering shutting down
Michael Tyrone Suggs told the Annandale blog he is “disappointed” in his neighbors for complaining about the frequent yard sales in front of the house he leases at 4500 Braddock Road, Lincolnia. Neighbors have complained that the yard sales are unsightly and that the traffic is a nuisance and unsafe. There is nowhere to park … Continued
Public hearing to seek input on Annandale bike routes
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting in February to hear recommendations on the “Annandale subarea” for a proposed bicycle master plan. The countywide bicycle plan is aimed at designating a system of roads and trails throughout the county. The date and place for the meeting haven’t been determined yet. The … Continued
Falls Church HS not scheduled for renovation until 2024
A sink in a chemistry lab Falls Church High School hasn’t had a major renovation since it was built in 1967 and isn’t scheduled be upgraded until 2024. More than 100 parents came to a meeting at the school on a bitter cold night Thursday to express their frustration with school officials for failing to put … Continued
Kory’s Report from Richmond: Major environmental issues on the agenda
By Del. Kaye Kory Next week the 2012 legislative assembly convenes in Richmond, and the governor will deliver his State of the Commonwealth Address. His themes will include the laudable economic performance of the commonwealth as compared to other states, as well as the responsible fiscal policy and pragmatic management accomplishments of his administration. Beauty … Continued
Booster clubs oppose FCPS ‘money grab’
The Annandale High School Marching Atoms Parents active in high school booster clubs are up in arms about a Fairfax County Public Schools rule change that would require funds raised by booster clubs to be incorporated into school activity funds. Some booster officials are calling this rule change a “money grab” and are concerned that … Continued
Cesar Del Aquila elected chair of FXCO Democrats
Cesar Del Aguila of the Dranesville District was elected chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee last night at the annual FCDC reorganization meeting at Falls Church High School. He defeated Barbara Caputo, FCDC regional vice chair-north, by a vote of 208 to 204. Del Aguilar has served as vice chairman of the Dranesville Democratic … Continued
Child causes accidental townhouse fire
A child playing with a lighter caused a fire at a townhouse at 4809 Backlick Road, Annandale, Jan. 2 that caused an estimated $155,000 in damages, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. There were no injuries. Four adults and three children were displaced. When firefighters arrived at the house at approximately 6:40 p.m., they … Continued
Attempted burglary sparks major police response at Annandale condos
Residents of the Lafayette Forest condominium development in Annandale were awakened in the early morning of Jan. 3 by a huge commotion involving the police. “I was woken by a yelling police officer and a barking K-9 in pursuit of a fleeing suspect at about 4 a.m.,” one resident reports. “They got him to lie … Continued
Scene around A-town: An angel graces Evergreen Lane
Drivers along Evergreen Lane in Annandale are watched over by an angel – or at least a statue of one. Mi Suk Kim recently put up this statue of the archangel St. Michael on the side of her house at 4303 Evergreen Lane. Kim purchased the statue last fall from St. Michael Church, where it … Continued
Restaurant 2941 closed for remodeling
If you’ve got something big to celebrate and were hoping to dine at 2941, the upscale restaurant between Annandale and Falls Church (2941 Fairview Park Drive), you’ll have to wait a few weeks. 2941 Restaurant closed at the end of 2011 for major retooling. It is tentatively scheduled to reopen later this month—no earlier than … Continued
Reader appreciates service at Annandale business: Hats off to Bracken Opticians!
The first day of the new year is a great time to publish a good-news story about a local business. A blog reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, submitted the following report on Dec. 31: While she and her husband were visiting family in Ohio during the Christmas holiday, the frame of her eyeglasses broke. … Continued
The Annandale blog top 10 for 2011
Here are the most popular stories we did in 2011: Annandale losing popular KORUS festival (May) Police shoot dog in Parklawn (September) Unidentified creature spotted in Holmes Run Park (April) Falls Church HS principal and parents oppose charter school at Graham Road (November) Ravenwood Park steps up fight against townhouses (February) Penny Gross launches re-election … Continued
Blog sign stolen
Someone stole the Annandale Blog sign from the grassy area at the intersection of Gallows Road and Columbia Pike sometime between 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 29 and 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 30. I don’t think it was the wind, as signs advertising massages and other things are still up in the Columbia Pike median.