Public comment sought on revised plan for Braddock Road improvements

Fairfax County has revised its plans for the Braddock Road multimodal transportation improvement project and cut the cost from $74 million to $48 million for phase 1. 

The county applied for funding for the project twice and was rejected twice, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw said at a virtual community meeting Aug. 3. “There is no point in continuing to apply.” The Fairfax County Department of Transportation revised and simplified the project and divided it into two phases to make it more competitive. 

Local group provides rent relief to Annandale and Bailey's Crossroads residents

Dozens of Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads families were able to stay in their homes and feed their families over the past few months, thanks to the emergency assistance program run by the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA). 

ACCA received $3.1 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. About half of that money has been distributed to local landlords for emergency rent payments for people facing economic hardships due to COVID-19, says ACCA volunteer Nancy Hall. 

Suspect in Annandale homicide arrested in New Mexico

Police investigate a homicide at Fairmont Gardens. 

Abel Alexander Castro Juarez, the suspect wanted by Fairfax County Police for a homicide at the Fairmont Gardens apartments in Annandale July 24, was arrested in New Mexico Friday night, the Associated Press reports. 

Castro Juarez, age 20, is a suspect in the shooting death of Jose Alexander Villa Lobo Guevara, 20, of Annandale. 

Fairfax County seeks input on new pedestrian signal for Little River Turnpike in Annandale

A HAWK signal is planned for this crosswalk on Little River Turnpike at Conwell Drive.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation seeks feedback from the community on a HAWK signal planned for Little River Turnpike at the Conwell Drive intersection in Annandale. 

The HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) is aimed at improving pedestrian safety, especially as people need to cross Little River Turnpike to get to a bus stop. Pedestrians would be able to press a button to stop traffic.  

New Virginia grant program to help small businesses struggling during the pandemic

Restaurants that had to ban indoor dining due to the pandemic might want to consider applying for a new state grant program.

A new state program, Rebuild VA, offers $70 million to help small businesses stay in operation as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. 

The application period opens Aug. 10. 

Two restaurants and school burglarized

The Fairfax County Police Department reports three burglaries this week in the Annandale/Mason District area. 

A juvenile was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. on July 29 after officers responded to an alarm and found an open door at Annandale High School. A juvenile was found nearby in possession of items stolen from the school. He was released to his parents. Charges are pending. 

The Bep Viet restaurant, at 3000 Annandale Road, was burglarized during the night of July 28. Police found someone had broken the front glass door, entered the business and stole merchandise. There was a similar break in during the night of July 28 at the nearby Miu Kee restaurant at 6653 Arlington Blvd. 

Rep. Connolly calls for investigation of Annandale Healthcare Center following major COVID outbreak

The Annandale Blog article posted earlier this month on the unhealthy conditions at the Annandale Healthcare Center has gotten the attention of Rep. Gerry Connolly. 

That facility, at 6700 Columbia Pike, Annandale, has had the biggest outbreak of COVID-19 among nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Virginia.