Kory’s Report from Richmond: This session will be a long one
By Kaye Kory The Virginia General Assembly convened the 2012 legislative session on Jan. 11. This year’s 60-day session is scheduled to conclude on March 10. I have three committee assignments, up from two in my first term. I will continue serving on the Science and Technology Committee and this year I have also been … Continued
Annandale home prices on the rise
4836 Kingston Drive, Annandale, is listed at $525,000 The average sales price for homes sold in Annandale (zip code 22003) in December 2011 was $394,325, a 14.7 increase percent from December 2010, reports real estate contributor Vivienne Couts of Coldwell Banker. The average price of attached homes sold in December 2011 was up nearly 13 … Continued
Annandale resident Connie Lawn honored for service to New Zealand
New Zealand is presenting Annandale resident Connie Lawn with an honorary Order of Merit for her longtime service to the country. Lawn worked for Radio New Zealand for 20 years, then for private New Zealand radio stations in NZ and now blogs for scoop.co.nz. During her career as a journalist, she says, “I always asked … Continued
Mason land use committee defers action on infill developments
The Campbell and Ferrera nursery, which is slated for a housing development More than a hundred people packed a meeting of the Mason District Land Use Committee (MDLUC) Jan. 24 to opposes infill development projects on Peace Valley Lane and the Campbell and Ferrara property in Annandale. The issues involved are so complicated, the committee … Continued
Michelle Obama, Rachael Ray will have lunch at Parklawn Elementary School
Michelle Obama [WH photo] First lady Michelle Obama will be at Parklawn Elementary School, in the Annandale area, tomorrow at 11:15 a.m., along with celebrity chef Rachael Ray and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, to unveil new federal nutrition standards for school meals. “Improving America’s school lunches is one of the five key pillars of Mrs. Obama’s … Continued
Sen. Dave Marsden’s Richmond Diary
Here’s the second installment of Sen. Dave Marsden’s Richmond Diary, covering week 2 in the Virginia General Assembly. Marsden (D-Burke) represents most of Annandale in the Virginia Senate. Monday, Jan. 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day is always one of the busiest times in the General Assembly session. Constituent groups from across the political spectrum … Continued
Grammy-nominated musician to perform at Annandale HS Wednesday
Grammy-nominated violinst Jenny Oaks Baker, a resident of Annandale, will perform Jan. 25, 7 p.m., at Annandale High School. The concert, sponsored by the Poe Middle School Orchestra Boosters is free for strings students in the Annandale pyramid and their families. Admission for the general public is just $5. Baker, one of America’s most accomplished … Continued
Oliver farmhouse on Gallows Road for sale for $1.65 million
The old Oliver farmhouse, on 4011 Gallows Rd., is on the market for $1.65 million, which raises the possibility the house could be torn down and replaced with infill development. The sales listing on the online site Home Finder says the property offers an “opportunity for up to four million dollar-plus homes.” The 1.54-acre property … Continued
Seven Corners primed for redevelopment
The view from the pedestrian bridge over Route 50 – there’s usually way more traffic than this Recent changes affecting commercial properties in Seven Corners could create opportunities for redevelopment, says Frank Sellers, president of the Bailey’s Crossroads Revitalization Corporation (BCRC). Yet without a comprehensive, multi-year plan to encourage positive, mixed-use projects, new development could … Continued
Weyanoke students have green thumbs
Weyanoke students show off their sweet potatoes Students at Weyanoke Elementary School learned about the wonders of gardening when they grew 55 sweet potatoes from a single neglected potato that kindergarten teacher Ellen Crutchley found in her pantry last year. The old potato had grown eyes and tiny leaves, so she put in water and … Continued
Residents choose ‘Mason Crest’ as name for new Annandale Elementary School
Residents of the communities surrounding the elementary school under construction in Annandale who came to a meeting last night to discuss possible names for the school chose — drum roll, please — Mason Crest. Their second choice is Masonville. Those two names will be submitted to Superintendent Jack Dale, and he will recommend one or … Continued
Civic associations join forces to oppose infill housing
Neighborhood leaders pack a meeting room at Peace Lutheran Church in Lincolnia to learn strategies for fighting infill development Bring crowds of supporters to hearings; do extensive research; analyze the impact on storm water controls; try to get media coverage: These are some of the tactics civic association leaders advised one another as they battle infill housing … Continued
Sen. Dave Marsden’s Richmond Diary
With this column, we’re introducing a new feature: a daily journal of the activities of Sen. Dave Marsden, who represents the 37th District, which includes portions of Annandale. We hope it will give a readers a better sense of how the state Senate operates, as well as provide an update on the issues Marsden is … Continued
Chamber updates Annandale kiosk
It’s been fixed. On Jan. 7, we complained that the “Annandale Village Center” kiosk on the corner of Little River Turnpike and Columbia Pike was way out of date—with flyers promoting the Annandale parade and festival that occurred in October. Someone paid attention because that flyer is gone and the kiosk is now displaying information … Continued
Man charged with vehicular death of 8-year-old boy
An 8-year-old boy, Brian Hernandez-Chavez, died after being struck by a car while he was standing on the side of Duke Street in Lincolnia Jan. 15, and the driver, Victor M. Aldana, 22, was charged by Alexandria Police with DUI manslaulghter, DUI maiming, reckless Driving, and not having an operator’s license, WJLA reported Jan. 16. … Continued