Local temple honors the Goddess of Heaven

The Goddess of Heaven.

The small Goddess of Heaven Temple on Magnolia Lane in Bailey’s Crossroads, approved by the Fairfax Board of Zoning Appeals last month, has a very long history.

Unlike many Buddhist places of worship, this temple has no statues of Buddha. Instead, it’s dedicated to Matsu, the Chinese patron goddess who is said to protect fishermen and sailors.

Interim park to open in Bailey's Crossroads in June

The site design for a temporary park in Bailey's Crossroads next to Radley Acura. Columbia Pike is at the top of the image. [OCR]

Construction of phase 1 of Crossroads Interim Park in Bailey’s Crossroads is expected to start in late March or early April, and the park would open to the public in June.

The park will be developed on the site of the former Landmark office building on Columbia Pike in between Radley Acura and the vacant lot where the Safari Restaurant used to be. That land is owned by Fairfax County, and the park would be in place only until the county decides what to do with the property.

Man shot in back during robbery

Charles Thomson Lane in the Vistas of Annandale.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s weekend crime report offers more information on the shooting incident Feb. 17 in the 7900 block of Charles Thomson Lane in Annandale.

The victim was getting out of his car at 6:12 a.m. when he was approached by two black men wearing all black clothing. 

County executive presents 2020 budget to supervisors

County Executive Bryan Hill addresses the Board of Supervisors Feb. 19. [Supervisor John Cook]

You can expect another increase in real estate taxes.

The fiscal year 2020 advertised budget presented by Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill to the Board of Supervisors Feb. 19 would retain the current real estate tax rate of $1.15 per $100 of assessed value.

Volunteers clean up Americana Drive

Most of these girls are students at Poe Middle School.

If Americana Drive in Annandale looks lot nicer today, it’s because about 80 volunteers took part in a cleanup event on Presidents’ Day.

They collected 352 bags of trash – beer bottles, coffee cups, diapers, fast food wrappers, and much more – and many large items, such as couches, construction debris, discarded Christmas trees, and car parts along the wooded area between Americana Drive and the beltway sound wall. 

Local entrepreneur busts a move with the Wizards

Members of the Wizdom dance team perform on WJLA. Theresa Cizmar is third from the left.

Theresa Cizmar, the owner of the Auntie Te’s consignment shop, has found a new calling at the age of 64.

She’s a dancer with Wizdom, the Washington Wizards’ hip-hop senior dance team that debuted in September. They perform at halftime shows and other events around the D.C. region.

Man shot in Annandale; two pedestrians struck

The scene of a shooting at Charles Thomson Lane in Annandale. [FCPD]

Fairfax County Police are investigating a shooting in the 7900 block of Charles Thomson Lane at the Vistas of Annandale in the early morning of Feb. 17. The man who was shot was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, later reported as non-life-threatening.