GoFundMe campaigns support families of plane crash victims
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help the extended Zhou family cope with the loss of competitive figure skater Edward Zhou, age 16, and his parents Kaiyan Mao and Yu “Joe” Zhou of Annandale. The three family members were returning from an ice-skating program in Wichita, Kan., on American Airlines flight 5342 when it … Continued
Virginia Senate passes casino bill
The Virginia Senate on Feb. 4 passed legislation to permit Fairfax County to hold a referendum on a casino in Tysons. Senate Bill 982, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (Mount Vernon) cleared the Senate on a 24-16 vote. It now goes to the House of Delegates. Several Northern Virginia lawmakers voted against the … Continued
Candlelight vigil planned for air crash victims
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) invites the community to a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the 67 lives lost in the tragic American Airlines crash at National Airport last week. The gathering will take place Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m., at Rivergate City Park, 2 Montgomery St., on the Alexandria waterfront. “As our community remains deeply … Continued
Meeting on Little River name change postponed to Feb. 19
The next community meeting on the proposal to give Little River Turnpike an honorary name, originally scheduled for Feb. 5, has been postponed to Feb. 19, 6 p.m. The meeting is being delayed “to ensure more time for outreach and engagement,” states an email from Olivia Logan, a staff member in Supervisor Andres Jimenez’ office. … Continued
VDOT plans Route 50/Manchester intersection improvements
The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning intersection improvements on Arlington Boulevard at Manchester Street in the Seven Corners area. The improvements include: VDOT invites the community to a virtual meeting on this project on Feb. 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Register for the meeting here. To listen to the meeting without registering, call 631-992-3221. The access … Continued
Bonchon opens in Annandale
Bonchon, the chain specializing in crunchy Korean fried chicken, is now open for business in Annandale. The fast-casual restaurant, at 7133-B Columbia Pike, is in the former 92 Chicken spot. It’s smaller than the old Bonchon on Columbia Pike, which was destroyed by a fire in March 2023. Manager Daniel Nam hopes to have … Continued
Property owners can now register security cameras with the police
The Fairfax County Police Department is launching Connect Fairfax, a new program aimed at improving public safety by allowing participants to register their security cameras. Connect Fairfax allows residents and commercial property owners to register their security cameras with the FCPD’s Real Time Crime Center via an online portal. Law enforcement can quickly use this information to … Continued
Weekly crime report
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area are reported by the Fairfax County Police Department on CityProtect: Jan. 30 Jan. 29 Jan. 28 Jan. 27 Jan. 26 Jan. 25 Jan. 24 Jan. 23
Annandale residents express their views on renaming Little River Turnpike
About 70 people came to a community meeting at the Mason Government Center on Jan. 30 to learn about and express their opinions on a proposal to rename a portion of Little River Turnpike to honor the contributions of Korean Americans. Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez stressed that the name change would be totally honorary. “No … Continued
Demolition plan submitted for Annandale apartment project
The developer of a future mixed-use project at the Eastgate Shopping Center on John Marr Drive in Annandale submitted a demolition plan to Fairfax County on Jan. 28. The project would replace half of the shopping center with a six-story multifamily building with 270 units, retail space, and an urban park. The Board of Supervisors … Continued
FCPS students killed in airline crash
“We are devastated by the tragic news as we learn members of our FCPS community have lost their lives in the accident last night at Reagan National Airport,” Superintendent Michelle Reid announced Jan. 30. Many on the flight were returning from a figure skating event in Wichita, Kan. “Three of our FCPS students and six … Continued
Police seek info on burglary suspect
Detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division are seeking the community’s help in identifying a suspect responsible for multiple burglaries and larcenies, including two in Mason District. Shortly before 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, officers responded to the 6300 block of Leesburg Pike in Seven Corners for a commercial burglary. A witness … Continued
Blazin Halal coming to Annandale
Blazin Halal, a fast-casual restaurant offering food “from the streets of NYC,” is moving into the space formerly occupied by Munch & Co. and Yomie’s Rice X Yogurt in the Eastgate shopping center in Annandale. The shop could open as early as mid-February, says a company spokesperson. It’s located at 4367 John Mar Drive next … Continued
Jimenez podcast features Virginialicious
The second episode of Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez’ podcast series features Mina Kim, who as the founder of Virginialicious, leads tours of Annandale’s Korean restaurants. The podcast, “Reimagine Mason,” is the place “where we highlight the people places and projects shaping Mason District into a vibrant and inclusive community,” Jimenez says. The first episode … Continued
FCPS proposed budget seeks 7 percent salary increases
The proposed FY 2026 budget for Fairfax County Public Schools calls for a 7 percent salary increase for all staff and additional investments in students who need extra support. “The budget is fiscally responsible and invests in excellence – not just for FCPS, but for all of us in Fairfax County who want a strong community with successful young … Continued