Tag: safety
Meet your neighbors at a National Night Out event Aug. 6
The 2012 National Night Out event at the Annandale Shopping Center. The public is invited to a free, communitywide National Night Out event at the Annandale Shopping Center Tuesday evening Aug. 6, 6 p.m. on Columbia Pike by Gallows Road, featuring an outdoor family-friendly movie. That’s just one of many National Night Out events happening … Continued
Pedestrian and bicyclist accidents rising in Fairfax County
A bicyclist on Columbia Pike in Annandale. Accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles in Fairfax County are rising, according to statistics from the Police Department. The number of cyclists involved in crashes increased from 85 in 2011 to 106 in 2012. There have been 45 so far this year. There were 201 accidents involving pedestrians in … Continued
Pedestrian struck and killed in Bailey’s Crossroads
A man was struck and killed by a car as he attempted to cross Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads at 10:50 p.m. on April 4. The victim hasn’t been identified yet, pending notification to next of kin, says Lucy Caldwell, spokesperson for the Fairfax County Police Department. The accident happened at 5857 block of Leesburg … Continued
Mason’s new police commander to focus on ‘woodchucks,’ pedestrian safety
Capt. Wilhite Capt. Carol Wilhite, the new commander of the Mason Police District, told the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) April 2 she plans to initiate two campaigns—to promote pedestrian safety and to crack down on fraudulent solicitors known as “woodchucks.” Wilhite, the former assistant captain of the Fair Oaks Police District, succeeded Gun Lee in … Continued
Wakefield Chapel residents want NOVA to address student parking problems
Residents complain about NOVA students on Wakefield Chapel Road. People who live close to the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Annandale campus have been complaining about students parking on Wakefield Chapel Road and side streets for years. The familiar litany of grievances was aired again Feb. 25 at the most recent quarterly meeting on NOVA/neighborhood … Continued
Momentum growing for federal action on gun control
A contingent from Northern Virginia at a march for gun control in Washington, D.C., Jan. 26. [Photo by Sue Langley.] With the Virginia legislature unlikely to pass more restrictive gun bills this session, gun control advocates are urging their constituents to focus on Congress. The speakers at a panel discussion on gun violence at Temple … Continued
Kory’s Report from Richmond: We need gun safey laws, not armed teachers
Gov. McDonnell’s outrageous and irresponsible comments in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy cannot go unanswered. As the head of our commonwealth’s government, he should be setting an example of thoughtful reflection upon this event which has become the recent focus of our entire nation. He should be proposing serious measuresthat our state … Continued
VA politicians: Restricting guns vs. arming school officials
Since the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14, Virginia politicians have been talking about guns, but their solutions for preventing more violence has taken different directions Gov. Bob McDonnell suggested we have discussions about allowing school officials to carry firearms on campus. Speaking on WTOP radio Dec. 18, McDonnell said, “If people were … Continued
Cop school: Shooting and driving
Lt. Hall demonstrates the correct shooting position. At the final session of the Fairfax County Citizens’ Police Academy, participants had a chance to shoot police guns on the firing range and drive police cruisers on a training course at the Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly. [This report covers a make-up class on Nov. 17 because … Continued
Flashing beacon to improve pedestrian safety on Gallows Road
The Virginia Department of Transportation has installed a flashing beacon at the crosswalk on Gallows Road at Aston Street in Annandale. Pedestrians attempting to cross the busy four-lane road can push a button to trigger a flashing warning light visible to drivers in both directions. Gallows Road carries about 31,000 vehicles a day. The rapid-flashing … Continued
DeerDeter system prevents deer-vehicle collisions
Dead deer on the side of Gallows Road, Annandale, inside the beltway. With deer-vehicle collisions a growing problem in Fairfax County, a non-profit group called 21st Century Deer Management is teaming up with a private company to urge the county to adopt a humane, high-tech system to keep deer off the roads. So far, in … Continued
This is the week to safely dispose of unneeded medications
If you’ve got unused, expired medications clogging up your medicine cabinet, you can dispose of them safely by dropping them off at Fairfax County police stations Sept. 24-29. Operation Medicine Cabinet promotes proper disposal of unwanted medications to prevent accidental poisoning, prevent them from being abused by the wrong people, and protect the environment. This … Continued
Annandale youths charged in explosives incident
Fire investigators with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department charged five juveniles Aug. 18 with using improvised explosive, plastic bottle devices in connection with an incident in Annandale. The incident occurred July 25 on the 3300 block of Woodburn Road at the Condominiums of Woodburn. The juveniles, ranging in age from 13 to 17, … Continued
Fairfax police target aggressive drivers
Aggressive driving incidents in Fairfax County were way up in 2011 over 2010, so Fairfax County Police are turning up the heat this summer to crack down on unsafe moving violations. Operation Summer HEAT (Help Eliminate Aggressive Traffic), running June 15- Sept. 3—will focus on moving violations, such as reckless driving, speeding, improper passing, disregarding … Continued
Dog perishes in house fire on Prosperity Drive
An electrical strip containing Christmas lights near a Christmas tree caused a fire at 3708 Prosperity Ave., Annandale, Dec. 10, that caused an estimated $100,000 in damages, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported. The occupants of the single-family home were out when the fire started but returned home shortly afterwards. Firefighters arrived at … Continued