Sorak Garden, longtime Annandale landmark, offers standard Korean fare
By James Moon Sorak Garden (4308 Backlick Road) has been a landmark for the Korean American community for a long time, practically as long as I’ve known Annandale existed. The restaurant is named for Korea’s famous Mount Sorak (commonly known as Seoraksan). The national park nearby is an autumnal mecca for leaf peepers in … Continued
Annandale neighborhoods plan National Night Out events
Revised: Several Annandale/Mason District community associations have scheduled gatherings Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, in conjunction with National Night Out. The National Night Out campaign, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, encourages communities and neighborhood associations to schedule block parties or other social events, flashlight walking tours, and visits with police and public safety officials … Continued
School board rejects amendment to keep Wakefield kids at Annandale HS
The Fairfax County School Board voted 10-2 last night to adjust the boundaries of schools throughout the Annandale area. A closely watched amendment to keep the Wakefield Forest kids at Annandale High School failed to pass on a 6-6 vote. There wew dozens of students and parents in red AHS T-shirts at the school board … Continued
VDOT plans I-395 HOT lanes off-ramp between Edsall and 236 exits
Stevenson Avenue with I-395 on the left and Landmark Mews on the right Residents of Landmark Mews have some serious concerns about plans to build a HOT lane off-ramp parallel to Stevenson Avenue, which is between I-395 and their community. Landmark Mews is in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County’s Mason District. At a community meeting last … Continued
Fire damages house at Alyssum Way, Annandale
An accidental fire at a single family house at 9203 Alyssum Way in Annandale early this morning caused about $75,000 in damages, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. According to fire investigators, the fire was caused by an overheating dehumidifier placed too close to combustibles. No one had been living in the home. Firefighters … Continued
Fairfax County Democrats endorse McElveen for school board
McElveen The Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) picked youth over experience in voting to endorse Ryan McElveen for an at-large seat on the school board last night. The margin was razor thin: McElveen got 99 votes, while the other candidate, Jeannie Armstrong, got 97. In a brief speech before the vote, McElveen, who graduated from … Continued
Mixed-use projects offer model for redevelopment in Beauregard Corridor
Cameron Station Residents of the Beauregard Corridor in Alexandria’s West End took a bus tour last Saturday to explore mixed-use projects in Old Town and Arlington that incorporate some of the elements proposed for their community. The projects featured on the tour, hosted by the Beauregard Developer Stakeholders group, could also be considered models for the revitalization … Continued
School board to consider amendments to Annandale boundary plan
When the Fairfax County School Board meets July 28 to vote on the Annandale Regional Planning Study, it will consider the following amendments: Mason District board member Sandy Evans will propose an amendment to delay action on the boundary issue until the board’s Sept. 22 meeting. If that amendment passes, the others won’t be considered. … Continued
Former cop paints mural for Mason District station
Law enforcement and art don’t often come together. But thanks to artist and ex-cop John Kiernan, a large mural will be installed in the Mason District Police Station that commemorates the community and the contributions of law enforcement. Before retiring in 2001, Kiernan served 15 years on the Fairfax County police force, including four years … Continued
Korus Festival moves to Fairfax Corners
The 2010 Korus Festival After months of trying to pin down a location for the 2011 Korus Festival, the Annandale-based Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area has found a new venue: Fairfax Corners shopping center near the intersection of I-66 and Route 50 in Fairfax. The three-day festival, co-hosted by the Korus House … Continued
New sidewalks to be installed along Columbia Pike in Annandale
Columbia Pike New, wider brick sidewalks will be installed along a few blocks of Columbia Pike in Annandale from the Bank of America to just beyond the fire station. Construction is expected to start in early 2012, says Robert Ayers, an engineer in the Fairfax County Department of Transportation who is overseeing the project. The … Continued
Fairfax County Republicans endorse three at-large school board candidates
Members of the Fairfax County Republican Committee last night voted to endorse Sheree Brown-Kaplan, Lin-Dai Kendall, and Lolita Mancheno-Smoak for the three at-large seats on the Fairfax County School Board. Lin-Dai Kendall, originally from Honduras, runs a home design and remodeling studio from her home in Fairfax Station. Mancheno-Smoak, of Fairfax Station, teaches business courses … Continued
GOP VA Senate candidates Flanary and Hunt face off in debate
So far, there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference between the two candidates running in the Republican primary for the chance to oppose incumbent state Sen. Dave Marsden in the 37th District. The primary is Aug. 23 In a debate at Braddock Hall July 18, both Jason Flanary and Steve Hunt vowed to put … Continued
Former principal urges school board to keep Wakefield kids at Annandale HS
Students express support for AHS at school board hearing. John Ponton, the former principal of Annandale High School, has come out squarely in favor of keeping the Wakefield Chapel community at Annandale High School. The proposed recommendation in the Annandale Regional Study, which the Fairfax County School Board is scheduled to vote on July 28, … Continued
FXCO school board weighs overcrowding vs. diversity
The issue of whether the need to maintain balanced diversity should outweigh the need to reduce overcrowding at Annandale High School dominated a school board work session on proposed boundary changes July 18. Board members engaged in a thoughtful, in-depth conversation about the larger issues raised by shifting the boundaries of more than 20 schools in … Continued