Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Fairfax County community centers reopen Oct. 13

The James Lee Community Center [Fairfax County Government] The nine community centers operated by the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services will reopen on a limited basis on Tuesday, Oct. 13. That includes the Bailey’s Community Center on Summers Lane in Bailey’s Crossroads, the James Lee Community Center on Annandale Road in Falls … Continued

No trick-or-treating, no screaming advised for Halloween: COVID is scary enough

Even without traditional trick-or-treating this year, Halloween can still be fun. The Fairfax County Health Department urges people to avoid door-to-door trick-or-treating and other activities that would pose a risk of contracting COVID-19, but offers several alternatives. The recommendations are based on guidance from the CDC, which also offers recommendations for safely celebrating Día de … Continued

St. James sports center hosts learning pods for K-12 students

The St. James offers lots of sports options for all ages. [The St. James] The St. James sports complex in Springfield is launching a virtual learning program for K-12 students. The program will provide adult supervision for students participating in distance learning while schools remain closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students will … Continued

New daycare center in Annandale offers safe playtime for young children, learning pods for older ones

  A classroom at My Baby Steps Academy.  A new daycare/education program, opening in Annandale Sept. 14, offers a place for children to play and learn in safety as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.  My Baby Steps Academy, at 4602 Ravensworth Road, is based at Hope Lutheran Church. It’s operated by Wilson and Mina Marroquin, who … Continued

Fairfax County offers limited, in-person option for children this fall at six Annandale/Mason area schools

Mason Crest Elementary School in Annandale, one of 37 schools offering an in-person option this fall for a limited number of children.  Fairfax County launched a new program, called Supporting Return to School (SRS), to provide full-day, on-site childcare to children in kindergarten through the sixth grade in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the … Continued

Fairfax County summer camps canceled

Park trails, like this one at Luria Park in Annandale, are open, but just about all other Fairfax County park facilities remain closed.  The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) have cancelled all summer camp programs, due to the COVID-19 crisis.  That includes all summer camps sponsored by the … 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

Restaurants, theaters won’t reopen until May 8

Northam speaks at a coronavirus briefing April 15.  Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is extending Executive Order 53 for two more weeks. That directive requires the closure of restaurants, gyms, theaters, barber shops, hair salons, schools, and all entertainment and recreational businesses. That order now will expire May 8, instead of April 23, Northam announced at … Continued