Tag: Annandale
Eden Center struggling during pandemic
Happier times at the Eden Center. The Eden Center, a shopping center full of small Vietnamese businesses at the edge of Seven Corners in Falls Church, is struggling during the economic collapse brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, state a report on WAMU 88.5 April 29. “The pandemic that is shuttering restaurants across the country … Continued
Expect detours this weekend as Duke Street bridge over I-395 closes
Traffic heading westbound on Duke Street will detour north on I-395. [VDOT] The westbound Duke Street bridge over Interstate 395 will be closed this weekend, from 10 p.m., Friday, May 1, until as late as 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced. Traffic on westbound Duke Street, as well as … Continued
Bridge project means delays on Route 7 at I-395
This overpass is being renovated. Construction is under way on a project to rehabilitate the bridge on Route 7 over Interstate 395 in Alexandria’s West End. There will be lane closures on King Street on this schedule: Monday through Thursday: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Friday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 10 p.m.-9 a.m. … Continued
When it comes to distance learning, this Annandale private school gets it right
A Pinecrest student participates in a Zoom session. By Nick Wakeman The headlines about distance learning have not been encouraging with Fairfax County Public Schools online classes shut down for a variety of reasons – problems logging in to security lapses to inappropriate student behavior. But there are bright spots in the county, including right … Continued
Health experts call for aggressive actions to halt COVID
Hundreds of scientists and health experts are urging Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to take more aggressive action to stamp out coronavirus. An open letter to Northam calls for the following “low-cost, high-impact actions to zero out COVID-19 in Virginia”: Empower local governments Maximize social distancing Require mask usage Deploy approaches that have worked elsewhere to … Continued
Community gardens reopen
The Bo White Gardens at Pine Ridge Park in Annandale. The Fairfax County community gardens have reopened, as of Wednesday, April 29. The garden plots will be available seven days a week, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., weather permitting. “Since only the garden plots will be open and not the other park amenities, such as fields, shelters, … Continued
COVID takes a big bite out of county budget
Fairfax County Chief Financial Officer Joe Mondoro and Mason Supervisor Penny Gross speak at a virtual Mason District Budget Town Hall. A virtual budget town hall hosted by Mason Supervisor Penny Gross revealed how much Fairfax County’s economic picture has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. At the last Mason District budget town hall, on … Continued
A school board member answers questions about the Blackboard failure
Kindergarten teachers have a message for their students. [FCPS] The failure of Blackboard Learn 24-7 as a key piece of Fairfax County Public Schools’ distance learning program has raised many questions about how it happened and what the school system is doing to move forward. School board member Rachna Sizemore Heizer (at large), who has … Continued
Annandale townhouse fire starts in kitchen
Firefighters respond to Fountain Head Drive in Annandale. {FCFRD] A townhouse fire in Annandale on April 26 was caused by a malfunction in a gas range, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports. Fire units were dispatched to the 7400 block of Fountain Head Drive at 7:43 p.m. Smoke was visible in the two-story … Continued
Northam: Virginia could begin easing COVID restrictions May 8 at the earliest
Paige Bordwine (right), southwest regional epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of Health, talks about COVID-19 testing at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke. [Virginia Tech] Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam says the restrictions in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 won’t be lifted until certain data thresholds are met. If the positive trends continue, … Continued
Personal hygiene donations needed
The Fairfax County Communities of Trust Committee has launched the Help from the Heart Community Drive to collect personal hygiene and cleaning products for families and individuals facing hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Items can be dropped at collection boxes at all eight Fairfax County police stations, including the Mason Police Station at 6507 Columbia … Continued
Northam extends ban on elective surgery
A technician at the Fairfax County Health Department Laboratory has a message for the public. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on April 23 extended the ban on elective surgeries until May 1. That ban had been set to expire tomorrow. Northam also extended the closure of Department of Motor Vehicle public-facing offices by two weeks until … Continued
Metro to close nine stations, including East Falls Church, all summer
A Metro platform before reconstruction. [Photos: WMATA] Metro is closing all stations on the Silver and Orange lines west of Ballston, beginning May 23. That includes the East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna stations on the Orange Line and the McLean, Tysons, Greensboro, Spring Hill, and Wiehle-Reston East station on the … Continued
FCPS IT chief steps down
Luftglass Maribeth Luftglass has stepped down from her job as head of IT at Fairfax County Public Schools, following the school system’s disastrous experience with distance learning, several news outlets report. Luftglass had been assistant superintendent of information and technology since 1999. Chief Operating Officer Marty Smith will take over the IT department on an … Continued
More details emerge on Skyline revitalization project
The project calls for less concrete and more green space. Developer Robert Seldin, the CEO of Highland Square Holdings, plans to repurpose three office buildings at Skyline Center in Bailey’s Crossroads as residential/work space units, while transforming the concrete setting into an engaging urban park. Seldin and land use attorney Mike Van Atta described their … Continued