The future may be unpredictable, but it can be planned
By Dan McKinnon, chair, Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee Last month the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment for downtown Annandale, or what is called the Annandale “Community Business Center” (CBC). As a result of concerns about the lack of downtown renewal by the Annandale Central Business District Planning … Continued
Kids ‘in crisis’ from entire region come to the Phillips School in Annandale
As students head back to school this week, about 180 children with special needs from all over the region will be heading to the Phillips School in Annandale. Phillips, at the intersection of Backlick and Braddock roads, serves children ages 6-22 with a range of conditions, including autism, Asperger’s syndrome, developmental disabilities, cognitive disabilities, attention … Continued
Fairfax County high school students face new fees
Annandale High School As students head back to Fairfax County schools tomorrow, many parents of high school students are facing new fees: a $100 athletic administrative fee (AAF) charged per student, per sport for participation in Virginia High School League sports and a $75 fee for each Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test. … Continued
Karaoke at Kilroy’s
Looking for something fun to do on a Wednesday night in Annandale, Va.? It’s karaoke night at Kilroys. Okay, so Kilroy’s is actually listed in Springfield, but it’s just across the street from Wakefield Park. Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. every Wednesday. Can’t wait ’til Wednesday? Annandale has lots of karaoke places, including Cafe Muse.
Annandale’s new Dollar Store to open on Labor Day
Planning to hang around Annandale, Va., and go shopping on Labor Day? The new Dollar Tree store in the Little River Shopping Center (next to Blockbuster) will open 9 a.m. on Monday. Renovation is underway on the new Petco a few stores down, in the same shopping center on Little River Turnpike.
Registered sex offender lives on McWhorter Place, Annandale, Va.
The Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry put out a community notification Sept. 2 about Mondell Wheaton Crew, a registered sex offender living at 7600 McWhorter Place, T2A, in Annandale, Va. Crew, age 47, was convicted of aggravated sexual battery in 1998 and is considered violent. He is described as a … Continued
Performers announced for Annandale’s Mason District Park Festival
The Fairfax County Park Authority has announced the musical line-up for the Mason District Park Festival in Annandale, Va. The festival takes places Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mallonee This year’s live entertainment includes: 11 a.m.- Kristina Furey. Described as “chick rock with tomboy attitude,” Furey has been compared with Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, and … Continued
New facility at NOVA will offer one-stop registration
The new building under construction on the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College will provide one-stop registration, says Robert Vaughn, director of workforce development and continuing education. The facility, expected to open in January, will house student registration, a testing center, book store, campus police, counselors, business center, nine new classrooms, and a Starbucks. … Continued
Annandale’s reps in Richmond oppose privatizing liquor stores
Annandale’s representatives in the state legislature oppose Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal to privatize state-run liquor stores. McDonnell, a Republican, has been pushing the privatization concept in town meetings across the state and is expected to announce a detailed proposal next week. McDonnell contends that privatizating the stores now run by the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage … Continued
Annandale children say ‘adios,’ as monarchs begin long journey to Mexico
About half a dozen monarch butterflies got a fond farewell as they headed off to Mexico from Annandale’s Hidden Oaks Nature Center Sunday afternoon. Before they flew away, Assistant Manager Suzanne Holland attached tiny stickers to their wings to help biologists track their journey. Monarch butterflies eat milkweed leaves, and Hidden Oaks’ butterfly garden is … Continued
Fairfax Arts Council will focus on advocacy
Dusenberry The Arts Council of Fairfax County brought together local artists and public leaders for a thank-you party Aug. 27 at the Mason District Government Center for John Dusenberry, who is leaving his position as director of the council’s Art in the Workplace program. Faced with limited resources, the Arts Council will focus on advocacy efforts … Continued
DMV computer troubles top constituent concerns at Rep. Kaye Kory’s ‘office hours’
If you’re trying to get a driver’s license renewed, good luck. Due to computer troubles at Virginia’s data center, the state’s DMV offices have been unable to process driver’s licenses and ID cards. When the service is resumed, you can expect big crowds, as the DMV reports the last week of the month is usually … Continued
Wakefield pedestrian bridge closed without warning
Annandale bicyclists were surprised to learn that VDOT closed the Wakefield pedestrian bridge over the beltway suddenly without warning. Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB) reported on the group’s Facebook page that the bridge will be closed for up to eight weeks. According to FABB, there are no good, safe alternatives, and a detour would take … Continued
Demolition of Lacey Center delayed
Demolition of the Lacey Center, originally scheduled for August, has been delayed until October, reports school board member Sandy Evans. “Between now and then, there will be other activity at the site, such as surveying and fencing. The contractor is in the process of getting required permits and other site preparation work,” Evans says. The new … Continued
Connolly lauds Obama’s accomplishments
“I’m proud to have stood by President Barack Obama’s agenda, and I’m not running away from it,” Rep. Gerry Connolly told a roomful of supporters Wednesday evening. Connolly, a Democrat, represents Virginia’s 11th district (which includes Annandale, along with most of Fairfax and Prince Williams counties). He was swept into office in 2008, as a … Continued