County officials weigh options after Z-Mod is voided by the state Supreme Court
The Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling last week to throw out Z-Mod is causing a great deal of uncertainty on how Fairfax County will handle zoning decisions approved after the modernization of the Zoning Ordinance was adopted. Planning Commissioners, supervisors, zoning staff, and county attorneys are evaluating the Supreme Court decision and determining the next … Continued
Celebrity Delly gets the ‘Kitchen Commando’ treatment
Chef Andre Rush upgraded the Celebrity Delly, a traditional delicatessen in Graham Park Plaza, and shared the results on his “Kitchen Commando” TV series. The episode on the Falls Church restaurant can be viewed online on the Tubi TV channel. Rush helped owners Julia Rossler-Thompson and her husband William Thompson update the menu and décor, … Continued
Andres Jimenez wins straw poll for Mason District supervisor
Andres Jimenez, one of four candidates running for Mason District supervisor in the Democratic Primary was the big winner in the Fairfax County Democratic Committee’s “Pick Your Pony” Straw Poll on March 26 in Chantilly. According to Blue Virginia, Jimenez got 74.19 percent of the vote, compared to 7.26 percent for Steve Lee, 8.87 percent … Continued
Annandale man wins $1 million in lottery
Man Nguyen of Annandale won $1 million in the Virginia Lottery’s Mega Millions drawing. “My wife’s birthday is coming up, and I’m thinking of buying her a new car,” Nguyen told lottery officials. Nguyen happened to notice the lottery app on his device and decided to buy a few tickets online, the Virginia Lottery reports. … Continued
Board of Supervisors approves affordable housing preservation policy
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week approved an amendment to the county’s Comprehensive Plan aimed at preserving existing affordable, multifamily rental housing. The amendment was passed on a 9-1 vote with only Supervisor Pat Herrity (Springfield) voting against it. The amendment sets a goal of “no net loss of affordable units to the … Continued
School news: farming, Arabic, and more
The following news items about schools in the Annandale/Mason District area are from Fairfax County Public Schools. Hydroponic farming – Engineering students at Luther Jackson Middle School are growing spinach and lettuce in a vertical farm in a shed behind the school. The produce they harvest will be donated to Poe’s food pantry. The shed … Continued
Wendy’s is getting a makeover
The Wendy’s at 7530 Little River Turnpike in Annandale is closed for indoor dining while the restaurant is being renovated. The pick-up window remains open. The seating area is being remodeled. The project is expected to be completed in two or three months.
Drama students learn about themselves as they explore their characters in ‘Pippin’
By Mayuka Valluri and Asha Das Family feuds, fire, and finding fulfillment – a humorously tender story is coming to the stage at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in April and May. Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson’s musical “Pippin” is a lively tale following the titular character as he searches for … Continued
Pedestrian struck and killed on Wilson Blvd.
There was a fatal pedestrian crash on Wilson Boulevard at John Marshall Drive in Seven Corners at 6:18 a.m. on March 24, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. Preliminarily, detectives determined Ana Julia Acosta De Ostorga, 58, of Falls Church, was attempting to cross Wilson Boulevard in an unknown direction, in or near the pedestrian … Continued
VDOT to reduce speed limit on Route 7
In response to concerns about safety issues on congested Leesburg Pike, the Virginia Department of Transportation is reducing the speed limit from 40 to 35 mph. New speed limits will be installed by the end of April, Gustavo Torres, an engineer with the Traffic Engineering Section in VDOT’s Northern Region Operations, stated in a March … Continued
Virginia Supreme Court throws out Z-Mod
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on March 23 that Z-Mod, Fairfax County’s overhaul and modernization of the Zoning Ordinance, is void. According to the opinion by Justice Wesley Russell Jr., the Board of Supervisors “adopted Z-Mod in a manner that violated the open meeting provisions of VFOIA” [the Virginia Freedom of Information Act]. As a … Continued
Weekly crime report
The following recent crimes in the Annandale/Mason District area are from the Fairfax County Police Department as reported on CityProtect: March 22 March 21 March 20 March 19 March 18 March 17 March 16
The Annandale Rotary Club is the new sponsor of Boy Scout Troop 150
The Annandale United Methodist Church (AUMC) has chartered Boy Scout Troop 150 since 1928, but when that relationship had to end earlier this year, the Annandale Rotary Club agreed to sponsor the troop. The change comes as a result of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filing for bankruptcy in February 2022 due to the … Continued
Construction to start soon on Annandale Civic Space on Columbia Pike
Construction will start on the Annandale Civic Space within the next few weeks. The park entrance is located at 7200 Columbia Pike between the ACCA Child Development Center and the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department. The design for the park includes a civic plaza with seating, an educational garden, a “great lawn” with a topography playground, … Continued
Second Story provides much-needed assistance to Bailey’s Crossroads residents
Residents of Culmore and Bailey’s Crossroads have lots of new ways to connect with county and nonprofit resources, thanks to the Opportunity Neighborhoods – Crossroads Area initiative operated by Second Story. On Thursday, March 23, the first day of Ramadan, Second Story is hosting a community gathering, 3:30-4:30 p.m., for Afghan refugees at Skyline Park … Continued