Oil spill affects Holmes Run

Ranck

Updated, 5:35 p.m.: An oil spill on the Inova property on the 3200 block of Gallows Road on March 21 has contaminated Holmes Run.

The Fairfax County Fire Department found approximately 3,700 gallons of diesel fuel had spilled out of some tanks, Battalion Chief Marty Ranck, with the department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team, reported in a video on Twitter. A warning notice was also sent to Raymondale residents.

Community offers input on Halifax proposal

The Halifax office buildings. 

Lincolnia residents who came to a community meeting March 20 about a project to transform the aging Halifax office buildings into apartments came away with a clearer understanding of what the project is all about – and the lengthy process ahead before it can be approved.

Like all suburban office buildings in Fairfax County that aren’t near transit, those buildings, at 5250 and 5252 Cherokee Ave., are experiencing rising vacancy rates.

Annandale man charged with scamming the elderly

Johnson {FCPD]

Fairfax County Police arrested Michael Johnson, 49, of Annandale in a home improvement scam that targeted the elderly.

An investigation by detectives from the Criminal Intelligence Division found Johnson offered to perform driveway paving services and other household repairs for mentally incapacitated persons. He then took payments that far exceeded the scope of the work performed.

Johnson was charged with one count of financial exploitation of an elderly woman. He is being held on a secured bond at the Adult Detention Center. 

County may need to use eminent domain for Annandale sidewalk project

The dotted lines show where the sidewalks will be constructed. The affected properties are outlined in blue.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on March 19 agreed to hold a public hearing April 9 on the acquisition of land rights necessary for the construction of a sidewalk along Little River Turnpike between Columbia Road and Mayhunt Court in Annandale.

The project consists of installing approximately 2,580 linear feet of sidewalk to fill in missing links, including crosswalks and curb ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Man tries to lure child into his car

There is increased police presence in the Pinecrest neighborhood after a stranger tried to get a boy into his car on March 19 at Pinecrest Vista Drive and Sand Wedge Court.

The Columbia Elementary School student was walking home from his bus stop at about 4:20 p.m. on March 19 when he noticed a red four-door sedan with dark tinted windows slowly driving behind him, states an email from Principal Michael Cunningham.

Baby squirrels who fall from their nests can be saved

Melissa the squirrel baby.

When a Fairfax resident had a tree cut down, and a baby squirrel was found in a nest that had fallen to the ground, she contacted the Wildlife Rescue League to find out how to keep it alive.

As the area was experiencing freezing temperatures at the time, she kept it warm, waited to see if the mother would turn up, and when she didn’t, brought it to Helen Stidham, a squirrel and opossum rescue intern in Manassas.

Gross, Aiken clash on redevelopment issues at candidate forum

From the left: Del. Kaye Kory, Sen. Dick Saslaw, Gary Aiken, Jessica Swanson, Supervisor Penny Gross, Andres Jimenez, and Ricardy Anderson.

Mason Supervisor Penny Gross and her Republican challenger, Gary Aiken, clashed over how to revitalize aging commercial centers, the East County Office Building, and Bailey’s Upper Elementary School at a candidate forum March 18 hosted by Bailey’s Crossroads/Seven Corners Revitalization Corporation.

The forum also featured the two candidates running for the Mason District seat on the school board – Jessica Swanson and Ricardy Anderson – Del. Kaye Kory and her challenger in the Democratic primary, Andres Jimenez; and state Sen. Dick Saslaw.