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Police seek skirt-wearing man for bank robbery

March 2, 2018, 9:19 am
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The suspect [FCPD]
Fairfax County Police are seeking information about a man who attempted to rob a bank in Bailey’s Crossroads May 1 wearing a skirt.

The suspect passed a note to a teller at the Capital One Bank at 3499 S. Jefferson St. announcing a robbery and implied he had a weapon. The man became anxious and left the building before obtaining any money.

Police officers arrived within minutes and searched the area along with a K9 crew and the Fairfax 1 helicopter.

The suspect is described as a black man, in his 20s, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a black head covering, a green jacket, gloves – and a black-and-orange floral pattern skirt.

Anyone with information should contact Detective J. Hoffman, 703-246-7800, or Crime Solvers.

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Toppled tree traps man in bed

March 2, 2018, 10:02 am
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Tree destroys bedroom in Lake Barcroft house. [Photos: FCFRD]

Heavy winds knocked a tree onto a house in the 3500 block of Highview Place in Lake Barcroft, trapping an occupant in his bed, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reports.

The incident happened at about 3:40 a.m. on March 2, as winds throughout the D.C. region measured at 71 miles per hour in some places toppled trees, damaging houses and causing power outages. 


It took fire and rescue crews about half an hour to stabilize the tree and remove the section that had pinned the occupant in his bed. Once rescued, the man was transported to the hospital for observation and treatment of minor injuries. Damages to the home were estimated at $80,000.
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Windstorm causes widespread damage

March 3, 2018, 5:00 am
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The windstorm uprooted a tree on Cindy Lane, Annandale. [Raffie Shahrigian]
The windstorm on March 2 caused significant damage to homes and cars throughout Northern Virginia. Trees were down all over, and Dominion Energy reported more than 100,000 people in Fairfax County lost power at some point.

In the Annandale area, as of 9 p.m. last night, the police department reported a tree and wires blocking the road at 3005 Cedarwood Lane and a tree in the roadway on the corner of Annandale Road and Statecrest Drive.


According to VDOT, fallen trees blocked Trammel Road, Masonville Drive, and Duncan Drive in Annandale and Shadeland Drive in Seven Corners. 

If you have storm damage, here are some tips from Fairfax County’s emergency information blog: 

  • Only call 911 if there’s a safety concern. Otherwise call the non-emergency police number, 703-691-2131.
  • If your power is out contact Dominion Energy, 866-366-4357, www.dom.com/outage-center.
  • If you’re trying to file a claim for storm damage and don’t know how to reach your insurance company or agent, contact the Bureau of Insurance, 804-71-9741, 800-552-7945, or bureauofinsurance@scc.virginia.gov. 
  • Take pictures of your damaged property before cleaning it up to submit with your claim. Save your repair receipts. 
  • More information on dealing with disasters is available from the Virginia State Corporation Commission. 
  • When hiring a contractor to fix damaged property, ask to see a copy of the contractor’s license from the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). 
  • Visit the DPOR website to look up contractor licenses or call 804-367-8511. Contractors knocking on doors must have a solicitor license issued by the Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services. 
  • Call the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, Permits Branch, at 703-324-1555, to determine whether a permit is necessary. Ask for information on each contractor’s licensing and disciplinary status.
  • Obtain bids from three contractors, ask for three references from each, and find out if the contractor provided a monetary discount or payment in exchange for using a consumer as a reference.
  • If you have complaints about contractor fraud or shoddy reports by an unlicensed contractor, call the Consumer Services Division, 703-222-8435, and ask to speak to a consumer specialist. The office is open weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 
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Public invited to Tree Forum

March 4, 2018, 6:00 am
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While we can’t do much about the trees that were destroyed by the recent windstorm, too many trees around here are needlessly chopped down because homeowners think they might fall on a house or cause too much shade. And that’s a problem that can hurt everything from wildlife, to drainage, to property values.

The public is invited to the Braddock District Tree Forum to learn how to protect and preserve trees in your yard and neighborhood.

It’s Wednesday, March 7, at the Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Speakers will address the benefits of trees, tree pests and diseases, and suggestions for planting native trees. Representatives from the Fairfax County Tree Commission, Virginia Department of Forestry, Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division, and the Virginia Native Plant Society will be on hand to answer questions.

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School news: Student peacemakers

March 5, 2018, 6:00 am
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Members of the Glasgow Middle School VEX Robotics Team.
An occasional series highlighting programs and activities at schools in the Annandale/Mason District area and other school news. The information and photos here are from Fairfax County Public Schools and individual schools.

Peace awards– More than 30 students from 23 public schools have been named recipients of the 2018 Student Peace Awards, designed to recognize young people who work as peacemakers. Recipients will be recognized at a reception on March 11 at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax.

Among the award recipients are Annandale High School students Nahom Dagnachew, Dongun Kim, Victor Nguyen, and Kaa-lok Yap, who were recognized for their advocacy in defense of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Yousof Omeish, the founder of the Muslim Student Association at Woodson High School, was honored for fostering increased tolerance and understanding while presenting facts on Islam and dispelling misinformation.

VEX Robotics– Glasgow Middle School’s first team in the VEX Robotics Competition, under the direction of teacher Angela DeHart, made it to the state-level event. The students’ team, MS4Robotics, had some technical setbacks, so they won’t go on to the world competition, but did end up winning the Energy award – and the students learned a lot about robotics and teamwork.

Just World Festival– The Just World Interact Club of Annandale High School is holding its 11th annual festival at the school March 16, 4-7 p.m. The Just World Festival, sponsored by Rotary International, aims to teach youths they are not only a part of their local community, but a global one. The event addresses such issues as fair trade, human rights, the environment, and social action.

The Just World Festival, open to the public, includes exhibits, vendors, food, international music and dance, speakers, and workshops.

STEM conference– Glasgow Middle School is partnering with Project BEST, a nonprofit organization that promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to promote the Science Innovation and Inspiration Youth Conference (ScI2YC) March 17 at Lanier Middle School in Fairfax.

ScI2YC is a free event that offers students the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities, develop critical thinking skills, listen to guest speakers, and make connections with their peers.

Mulch sale– The JEB Stuart High School PTSA is selling mulch to raise funds for the All-Night Grad Party for the Class of 2018, as well as other student activities. Mulch can be ordered online by March 29. The price is $5.50 a bag for brown or red mulch. Brown mulch comes in three-cubic foot bags, and red mulch is in two-cubic foot bags. The mulch will be delivered April 7. Orders of 30 or more bags will be delivered free. Delivery is $25 for smaller amounts.

A rock with a message.
Woodson rocks– The Woodson Minds Matter and Wellness Committee at Woodson High School teamed up for an initiative called #MoveMe. Rocks with inspirational messages were distributed in classrooms. As students and staff found the rocks, they reflected on the message, posted a picture of the rock on social media with the tag #moveme, then moved it to a new location to be rediscovered.

Spelling champs–Will Hemmens was named “Champion” at the Glasgow Middle School annual spelling bee. Charles Duong was runner-up, and Nadira Ga’al was the third-place winner. Hemmens will compete in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee March 18 at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The winner of the county Bee will represent FCPS at the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 26-June 1.

CyberPatriots– Teams from Frost Middle School earned first and third-place awards in the middle school division of the CyberPatriot program, the Air Force Association’s National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. Frost has two CyberPatriot teams; the Millennium Falcons placed first in the state, while the Frost Bytes placed third. The competition calls for schools to find and resolve cybersecurity vulnerabilities in simulated environments.

Summer learning– Registration is open for FCPS enrichment institutes and camps. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Camp, Tech Adventure Camp, Institute for the Arts, and the Elementary Institute for the Arts will be held at Lake Braddock Secondary School between June 25 and July 27.  Bus transportation is provided from select high schools and middle schools outside of the Lake Braddock pyramid.

Star teachers– Alissa Oginsky, a sixth-grade history teacher at Holmes Middle School is the Region 2 finalist for Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Anthony Bombay, a special education teacher at Falls Church High School, has been named the FCPS Cares winner for Region 2 for the month of January. FCPS Cares provides an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care.
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Seven Corners Pub to have new owner

March 5, 2018, 7:00 am
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The Seven Corners Pub, one of the few gathering places in Mason District with live music, is in the process of being purchased by a company called Ezzat Trading, says Rouni Chiha, who will become the new manager if the deal is finalized. 

The downstairs area of the pub, at 6315 Leesburg Pike, will become a hookah bar, Chiha says. The upstairs area will be a bar and restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern food. It will have karaoke, a DJ, and an especially long happy hour, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. He hasn’t decided yet whether to have live music.

Chiha expects the new place to open, with a new name, around May 15. The new name hasn’t been determined. 

According to Chiha, Ezzat Trading is a Middle Eastern-based company involved with rental cars, wholesale tobacco, title loans, heavy equipment, and shopping centers. Chiha is the former food and beverage manager of a Sheraton Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

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Battle of the Bands at Annandale HS

March 6, 2018, 6:00 am
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The public is invited to vote for their favorite band at Annandale High School’s Battle of the Bands. The event is Friday, March 9, 7 p.m., in the Watson Auditorium.

The bands battling it out include Gabe’s Fault, Change and Untch, Saxtastrophe, Martyn Negley, and more. Principal Tim Thomas will emcee, and the house band, Say Something, will perform, too. Tickets are $10, which includes one first-round voting ticket and one final-round voting ticket. Additional first-round tickets are $1 for two and $5 for 12.

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Inductees announced for Annandale High School Athletic Hall of Fame

March 6, 2018, 7:00 am
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Cromwell [UCLA]
The Annandale High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has announced its first group of 12 inductees. It includes an Olympian, professional athletes, All-Americans, state championship teams, coaches, and administrators.

The AHS Athletic Boosters Club is sponsoring the induction ceremony, to take place Sept. 8 at the Moose Club of Arlington.

Those selected for the Hall of Fame include:

• Amanda Cromwell (Class of 1988) played soccer and basketball at AHS. Her soccer team won a state championship and four district titles.

As captain of the University of Virginia Cavaliers, Cromwell led the team to the Final Four in 1992. She was a member of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, which earned third place in the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She is currently the head coach of the UCLA women’s soccer team.

• Robin Jennings (Class of 1990) played baseball for the Atoms then went on to a career in the Major Leagues, playing outfield for the Chicago Cubs 1996-2001.  He was signed on to other teams for short periods and retired in 2007.

• Sonny Utz (Class of 1960) played on the Atoms football team. As a fullback on the Virginia Tech team, Utz scored 10 touchdowns in 1963 and was named to the all-conference team that year. He played professionally for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. He died in 1991.

• Katherine Buck, a basketball and softball coach and teacher, was at Annandale High School for more than 40 years, beginning when the school opened in 1954. She died in June 2017.

• Bob Hardage was AHS athletic director and was head coach of the Atoms football team for 24 years. His teams won at least three state championships, and when he retired in 1989, he was the seventh-winningest coach in Virginia history.

• Rachel Peters, a field hockey coach and athletic director, joined the Annandale staff in 1954, the year the school opened.

• Jim Finch was a history teacher and coach and served as principal from 1966 to 1986.

• Katherine Russell, a 1957 graduate, was a star play on the Atoms basketball and softball teams.

• Edward Henry Jr. coached high school football for 25 years and led the Annandale Atoms to the state championship in 1965. He was a college football coach for 12 years, author of the book Developing a Successful High School Pro Set Football Offense, was inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in 1997, and was depicted in the film “Remember the Titans” (2000). He died in 2015.

• The 1959 football team, the first AHS undefeated team.

• The 1965 football team, the first AHS team to win a state championship.

• The 1986 girls soccer team, the first AHS girls team to win a state championship.
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Deer-tolerant, native seedlings on sale

March 7, 2018, 5:30 am
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Redbud
This year’s seedling sale hosted by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District is focusing on native trees and shrubs that are deer tolerant.

You can order a package of six bare-root tree seedlings for $11.95 or a package of 10 bare-root tree and shrub seedlings for $16.95.

Seedlings can be ordered online. Orders must be paid by April 12. Seedlings can be picked up on April 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., or April 21, 9 a.m.-noon, at the Packard Center, 4022 Hummer Road, Annandale.

The tree package includes two seedlings for each of these trees:
  • Redbud – A small tree that grows to 20 feet high and spreads to 12 feet. It has small pink flower clusters of pealike blooms in early spring and large heart-shaped leaves that turn yellow in fall. It likes part or full shade with dry to moist soil.
  • Pawpaw – This tree grows to 12 to 20 feet high, has long broad leaves, and produces the largest fruit native to North America. It likes moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
  • Shortleaf Pine – A slender evergreen that can reach 100 feet in height and is excellent for screening. It has flexible three to five-inch needles and oval cones. It does well in full sun to part shade in dry to moist soils. 
The shrub and small tree package includes two each of the following: 
  • Witchhazel – A small tree that grows to a height of 30 feet and spreads to 15 feet. It has fragrant bright yellow ribbonlike flowers in fall and winter. Fall foliage is bright yellow. It thrives in part sun to shade and soil that is dry to moist.
  • False Indigobush – A fast-growing deciduous shrub that reaches 12 to 18 feet. It has unusual purplish-blue spike flowers in June and provides excellent food and cover for quail, songbirds, and other wildlife. It prefers full sun to part shade and moist to dry soils.
  • Serviceberry – A small deciduous tree, 20 to 35 feet high. It has billowy masses of white flowers in early spring that complement its attractive silver gray bark. It likes part sun to shade and moist to wet soils.
  • Silky Dogwood – A shade-tolerant small tree that grows to six to 10 feet. The foliage is silky underneath. There are small clusters of yellowish-white flowers in late May and blue or grayish berries in the fall. It grows well in moist to wet soils and full to part sun.
  • Spicebush – A six to 12-foot bush with small yellowish-white flowers that bloom in early spring and yellow foliage in fall. Tiny scarlet berries attract songbirds through the winter. It likes part to full shade and moist to wet soils.
The Soil and Water Conservation District encourages the public to plant native trees and shrubs because they help clean the water and air, prevent soil erosion, provide valuable habitat, and add resilience to a landscape. The shrubs and trees offered this year are not only beautiful but can handle some deer browse. 

For more information, contact ConservationDistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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Roads identified for repaving

March 7, 2018, 7:00 am
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A typical repaving vehicle used by VDOT contractors.
The public is invited to a community meeting March 13 in the Mason Government Center on the Virginia Department of Transportation’s plans for road paving and restriping projects this year in Mason District.

Road engineers and transportation planners from VDOT and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation will on hand to answer questions during an open house beginning at 7 p,m. The formal presentation will start at 7:15.

The road work will start in April and conclude in November, Dozens of roads, mostly in the Lincolnia, Parklawn, and Lake Barcroft areas, will be affected. [A full list appears at the end of this post.] Community members are invited to give feedback on general traffic safety concerns but VDOT will not add other roads to the list.

Exact work dates will be available about 10 days before the work starts, as contractors set schedules based on personnel and equipment availability. In subdivisions, “no parking” signs with precise information will be posted at least three business days before the work starts. Residents might be required to temporarily relocate cars, basketball hoops, and garbage cans.

Crews typically work on neighborhood streets on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work on busier roads might occur overnight.

The draft repaving plan includes these roads in Mason District:

Annandale– Braddock Road between Backlick Road and Little River Turnpike, Columbia Road, Four Year Run, Gallows Road (between Annandale Road and Columbia Pike), Glennbrook Road/Court, Little River Turnpike, and Medford Drive.

Bailey’s Crossroads– Columbia Pike (between Carlin Spring Road and Lincolnia Road).

Lake Barcroft/Falls Church– Barger Drive, Beachway Drive, Blair Road, Boat Dock Drive, Brooks Place/Glavis Road, Cavalier Corridor, Copa Court, Crosswoods Drive, Dearborn Drive, Duff Drive/Beachway Drive, Edgewater Drive, Fiddler’s Green, Georges Lane, Grass Hill Terrace, Greentree Drive, Half Moon Circle, Highview Place, Hillsborough Drive, Kerns Court, Kristina Ursula Court, Lily Dhu Lane/Kerns Road, Lyric Lane, Malbrook Drive, Mansfield Road, Old Farm Road/Farm Hill Drive, Pinetree Terrace, Potterton Drive, Prince Charles Court, Queen Anne Terrace, Randall Place, Ridgeway Terrace, Rustic Way Lane, Rutland Place, Sleepy Lane, Stonybrae Drive, Walters Woods Drive, Waterway Drive, Waterway Place, Wentworth Drive, Willow Tree Lane, and Woodville Drive.

Lincolnia/Parklawn– Albro Lane, Ampthill Drive, Annandale Street, Applegarth Court, Arcadia Road, Autumn Cove Court, Beauregard Street (between Chambliss Street and Little River Turnpike), Berlee Drive, Brookside Drive, Bryce Road, Burnt Pine Court, Bushie Court, Chaco Road, Cherokee Avenue, Dakota Court, Chippewa Place, Chowan Avenue, Clinton Road, Conrad Road, Crater Place, Crestwood Drive, Dahill Place, Edgemoor Lane, Edwards Street, Eighth Street, Evangeline Lane, Everglades Drive/Yellowstone Drive, Fairfax Parkway, Fairland Street, Fairway Downs Court, Fifth Street, First Street, Fourth Street, Ginger Drive, Grafton Street, Green Spring Road, Guest Lane, Hawaii Court, Jewel Street, Joanne Drive, Kling Drive, Landess Street, Larstan Drive, Lassen Court, Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnia Road, Martin Street, Melvern Place, Merritt Road, Mesa Way/Ginger Drive, Montrolse Street, Morgan Street, Muir Place, N, Chambliss Street, Navaho Drive, Oak Ridge Drive, Oasis Drive, Olympic Way, Park Road, Parkhill Drive, Parramore Drive, Pima Street, Pine Lane, Redwing Drive, Ridgewood Road, River Downs Road, Rynex Drive, Second Street, Seminole Avenue, Sequoia Court, Seventh Street, Shawnee Road, Sixth Street, Spring Valley Drive, Stanby Court, Summpt Place, Tahoe Court, Teton Place, Third Street, Tonto Court, Twin Knolls Court, Vale Court, Vale Street, Vengo Court, Verde Court, Vicki Court, Virginia Street, Waverley Street, Yosemite Drive, Yuma Court, and Zion Court.

Springfield– Anders Terrace, Blacksburg Road, Bostwick Drive, Canard Street, Cather Street, Charlottesville Road, Clifton Street, Colebrook Place, Commercial Drive, Dalton Road, Danville Street, Dublin Avenue, Edsall Road, Electronic Drive, Forman Court, Front Royal Road, Gainesville Road, Galax Court, Gilpin Drive, Hopewell Avenue, Independence Avenue, Industrial Drive/Road, Iron Place, Mitchell Street, Monroe Drive, Montgomery Street, New Hope Drive, and Tiros Drive.

The Braddock District already had a community meeting on road repaving, Braddock District roads in the Annandale area scheduled for repaving this year include Little River Turnpike between Elizabeth Lane and Woodburn Road.

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Shots fired at Goodwin House

March 7, 2018, 11:21 am
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The Goodwin House
Apartments at Goodwin House, a retirement community in Bailey’s Crossroads, have been struck by gunfire in the past few weeks. No injuries have been reported. Police do not have a suspect and are working to determine whether the incidents are related.

Police received calls from people hearing gunshots at about 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 and again at around 6:25 p.m. on Feb. 23 near the Goodwin House, which is at 3440 S. Jefferson St.

“It is possible that two apartments were hit in one of the incidents,” the Fairfax County Police Department reports. “There does not appear to be any consistency in the areas where the building was hit, and detectives do not have reason to believe that any residents are being targeted.”

While investigating the Feb. 23 incident, officers heard gunshots that sounded like they were coming from the direction of a nearby shopping center.

No injuries were reported and no damage was initially noted, but a resident of Goodwin House called the next afternoon to report a bullet hole in a window. A bullet fragment was recovered from the residence, which was unoccupied at the time.

On Feb. 27, a patrol supervisor heard gunshots coming from the same neighborhood. Officers responded to the area, but no damage or injuries were reported.

The FCPS urges anyone who hears gunshots or sees anything suspicious at Goodwin House to call 911. Anyone with information about the incidents should call 703-691-2131 or submit a tip anonymously to Crime Solvers.
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New teams forming for girls' softball

March 8, 2018, 5:30 am
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This is for the girls: The Mason District Little League is forming two softball teams just for you.

There will be two mixed-age teams with girls age 9-12, but younger kids who want to join won’t be turned away, says coach Tom Dickson of the MDLL. The first season will be mostly instructional, with a couple of games possibly set up late in the season against other leagues.

So far, 14 girls are signed up and another 10 have expressed interest, Dickson says. Registration will be off at the end of March or when there are 24 players.  

Most of the girls have never played softball but have some experience with baseball or interest based on watching the Nationals. It’s been tough recruiting players, Dickson says, because most girls interested in sports have already gotten involved with soccer, or lacrosse, or other sport by age 9.

The new teams will probably use the Annandale High School field but that hasn’t been finalized yet.

Annandale and Jeb Stuart high schools are both getting new softball fields in the near future based on Title IX compliance. They currently have no direct feeder league, so the hope is that the kids signing up now will form the high school teams in the next few years. 

If you’re interested, sign up online. For more information or if you would consider sponsoring a team, contact tomdicksonmdll@gmail.com.

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Crime is generally down in Mason District

March 8, 2018, 12:44 pm
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MPO Mike Meszaras (center) was honored as the Mason Police District 2017 Officer of the Year. 
Crime in the Mason Police District has generally decreased over the past year, the station commander, Capt. Thomas Rogers, announced at the March 6 meeting of the station’s citizen advisory committee.

An incidence report shows all major crimes are significantly down in Mason from 2016 to 2017 – except for two. Arrests for drugs and prostitution were up last year from the previous year. Many of the drug arrests were for marijuana, but the police are seeing all types of drugs.


Prostitutes aren’t soliciting on the streets, Rogers says. They’re in hotels, often along the Route 50 corridor, advertising on websites like Backpage. They’re brought in from out of state, installed in a hotel for a couple of weeks, then leave. The police have been staking out hotels, leading to more arrests, he says.

Gangs violence

Gang activity has been up and down, but seems to have been steady in the past couple of years. The county’s gang unit has had an increased presence in the community and spent three nights in Mason District last summer.

Gangs are concentrated in Culmore, Annandale, and Seven Corners. Crimes tend to involve rival gang members, Rogers said. “They are a very small threat to the average person.”

Robberies were down 14 percent last year. The first bank robbery since last May occurred March 1, when a man wearing a skirt attempted to rob a Capital One bank in Bailey’s Crossroads.

Despite the downward trend, the last couple of weeks were busy ones for the Mason police station, Rogers said. 

There were three stabbings in the last 10 days. No one was injured seriously; the attacks involved teenagers who knew one another.

The driver of a car that struck a mother and daughter on Columbia Pike on Feb. 24 is still at large, Rogers said. Another mystery detectives are working on is trying to find out who has been firing shots at the Goodwin House.

There was only one fatal pedestrian accident in 2017 in the Mason Police District, compared to four in 2016. There were two non-pedestrian fatal crashes last year and none in 2016.

Of the 24 school threats in Fairfax County following the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., he says, only one of them was in Mason District. Someone had overhead a student at Stuart High School talking about the Florida shooting and mistakenly called it in as a threat. 

Gang activity has been up and down, but seems to have been steady in the past couple of years. The county’s gang unit has had an increased presence in the community and spent three nights in Mason District last summer.

Gangs are concentrated in Culmore, Annandale, and Seven Corners. Crimes tend to involve rival gang members, Rogers said. “They are a very small threat to the average person.”

Recent crimes

Among recent crimes reported by FCPD in the Annandale/Mason area, a pizza delivery man was robbed while trying to make a delivery in the 4800 block of Manitoba Drive in Lincolnia at around 9:30 p.m. on March 6. Two men asked for money and attempted to take the pizza. After a brief struggle, the attackers ran away.

On March 2, a man was robbed in the 4300 block of Americana Drive, Annandale, during a prearranged sales transaction. The victim was trying to sell shoes via a phone app. The man who responded brandished a gun, took the shoes, and fled. The suspect is described as Hispanic, approximately six feet tall, and of average build. He was wearing a navy blue hat with a red stripe.

On March 1, Michael Proctor, 54 of Annandale, was arrested for brandishing a firearm and reckless handling of a firearm in the 4900 block of Americana Drive at about 6 p.m. He had gotten into an argument with someone in the parking lot, got a shotgun, and fired one round into the air. No one was hurt.

Steve Maldonado of Bailey’s Crossroads, a 38-year-old AT&T employee, is facing charges for impersonating a police officer. He allegedly created a prepaid phone number and account and used it to send text messages to a company he was tired of being solicited by. He also created a voicemail greeting in which he identifies himself as a police officer.

[The Mason Police District is not contiguous with the supervisory jurisdiction of Mason District. Parts of Mason District are in the Franconia and West Springfield police districts.]

Officer of the Year

Also at the CAC meeting, Master Police Officer Mike Meszaras was named Mason District Officer of the Year. He had the most traffic stops of any officer, 420, in 2017, but that’s not the main thing: Meszaras was honored for his “upbeat positive attitude,” and as a 28-year veteran of the Fairfax County police force, for being a role model for the younger officers.

Rogers presented a plaque to Meszaras, and the Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club presented him with a trophy and $100 gift card.

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Healthy trees can withstand a windstorm

March 9, 2018, 6:30 am
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Tree damage from windstorm. 
Much of the damage caused by trees crashing onto houses and power lines during last week’s windstorm could have been prevented, says Jim McGlone, an urban forest conservationist with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Many of the trees that were uprooted were already dead or dying, McGlone told the audience at the Braddock District Tree Forum March 7. He advises homeowners to hire a qualified arborist to make sure their trees are in good shape. “Trees need healthcare, like your kids and pets,” he said.
The urban forest, as seen from the top floor of Lakeside Plaza on Columbia Pike, with the Mark Center in the background.
When hiring an arborist, ask if they will top off your trees, he said. “If they say yes, walk away. A good arborist won’t do that.” To find a certified arborist that meets industry standards, look at GoodTreeCare.com.

All of the trees around here are part of the “urban forest” and we all need to take care of it, said Jeanne Kadet, the Braddock representative on the Fairfax County Tree Commission.

The Tree Commission is working on updating its Tree Action Plan, which will address the need to preserve the urban forest.

The entire Fairfax County is contained in an urban forest, McGlone said. He defined a forest as an ecosystem consisting of living things (plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi) and nonliving things (minerals, water, air, and light) that combine to produce soil. “An urban forest is a forest dominated people and the stuff they build,” he said.

Forests have many benefits, he said. They improve air quality, manage stormwater, store carbon, provide a habitat for animals, and recycle oxygen.

These trees are in Mason District.
An urban forest provides additional benefits for people who live in them. They reduce energy costs through shading and ambient cooling. They lead to higher property values, lower vacancy rates, better employee retention, and even lower crime rates.

When people are looking out a window at trees, they send a message to would-be criminals that “people are paying attention,” he said. And when employees have a view of trees, they tend to be happier at work.

Studies have shown that when people have opportunities to interact with nature McGlone said, there is reduced stress, better overall health, reduced ADHD, improved immune system functioning, reduced anxiety and depression, and improved fetal health.

To maintain a healthy urban forest, he urged homeowners to practice integrated pest management, which limits the use of pesticides. Start with cultural solutions, then try biological controls, and if needed, use only pesticides that affect the specific pest that is causing problems.

Representatives from the Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division said the best things homeowners can do for their trees is spread mulch widely and thinly around the base of trees and get rid of English ivy. One of the worst things is smothering a tree trunk in a big pile of mulch, which they called “volcano mulching.” 

That office works with developers to minimize tree loss and cracks down on tree-trimming scams that exploit the elderly. When solicitors knock on doors promising to do tree work, residents should ask to see their solicitor’s license.
Fun fact: The most abundant trees in the Braddock district are American beech, tulip tree, and black gum, also known as tupelo. 
Joan Allen and Rachel Griesmer-Zakhar, also with the Urban Forest Management Division, described some of the invasive pests that are attack trees.

The emerald ash borer, introduced from China in 2003 through nursery stock was eradicated, but re-entered the area in 2008. This pest has done a huge amount of damage to ash trees, to the point that they are becoming extinct in this area.

The larvae of the emerald ash borer burrows under the bark, and the caterpillars eat the tree from the inside out. Infested trees have a lot of bare branches and sprouts near the ground.

If the tree isn’t totally destroyed, it’s possible to save it by injecting chemicals directly into the tree or soil. There’s also a biological remedy using a certain kind of tiny wasp that lay eggs inside the emerald ash borer when it’s in the aphid phase.

Another tree pest, the spotted lanternfly, arrived from Eastern Asia in 2014. It was first spotted in Pennsylvania and has since spread to other states and showed up in the Winchester, Va., area about two months ago. This pest is particularly harmful to fruit trees, grape vines, and black walnut trees.

Roundtree Park
The Asian Longhorned Beetle attacks a wide range of trees, although it prefers maples, but hasn’t yet shown up in Virginia. The female lays eggs on a tree and the larvae eat through the inside of the trunk. Once it gets into a tree, the damage is so devastating, an infected tree can’t be saved.

To ensure a healthy urban forest, it’s important to replace dead and dying trees and shrubs with natives – and not invasive species. Smaller trees, the “understory,” in a forest, are important to provide a varied habitat for wildlife, and most songbirds actually prefer smaller trees, said Alan Ford, president of the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society.

If you have room for one large canopy tree, Ford recommends the white oak. For understory trees, he suggests the flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, and American witch hazel.

The common ninebark is good for erosion control and has beautiful clusters of white flowers in the spring and provides dense cover for nesting birds, he said. The blackhaw viburnum attracts native bees and produces berries favored by the cedar waxwing, he said.

The sweetbay magnolia attracts various birds, as well as the tiger swallowtail, and the American persimmon is a host plant for the luna moth.

All of the native trees and plants mentioned by Ford are available from Earth Sangha. 
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Adult daycare facility/banquet hall approved by Planning Commission

March 9, 2018, 9:06 am
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The Kids Choice Center.

The Planning Commission on March 7 endorsed a project to convert the Kids Choice center on Ravensworth Road to a combination adult daycare center during weekdays and a banquet hall on weekends and evenings.

The applicants, Helen and Young Bae, the owners of the Han Gang restaurant next door, and their attorney Ilryong Moon agreed to make some changes in the project in response to concerns raised at a public hearing in January.

The maximum number of seniors served in the day care center was reduced from 275 to 200, Commissioner Julie Strandlie (Mason) announced. They would all arrive by shuttle buses, and not be dropped off by car. When exiting the facility, vehicles won’t be allowed to turn left onto Ravensworth Road.

The capacity of the banquet hall would be limited to 150. There would be a two-hour window between the closing of the adult day center and the opening of the banquet hall.

The entire building will be replaced except for the foundation. The new structure will be limestone and brick, not brick veneer. 

The next step for the project is a hearing before the Board of Supervisors.

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Zoning proposal on short-term rentals could create hardship for HOAs

March 10, 2018, 7:00 am
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Homeowner associations for local communities, like Lafayette Village in Annandale, could be negatively affected by a  proposed zoning amendment to allow short-term rentals. 
By Donna Jacobson

As most of you are aware, Fairfax County is in the process of developing an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would reverse the current ban on transient occupancy (less than 30 days) in residential neighborhoods. The amendment would allow short-term rentals (SRTs), also referred to as short-term lodgings, such as those found on Airbnb.

Communities with HOAs have generally been immune to zoning changes by the county due to the contracts HOAs have with their residents. However, since many of these HOA covenants were drafted before the rise of STRs, most of them do not address this issue.

Most of these HOA documents as a whole focus on enabling the community to govern itself in order to provide a stable, residential environment. If STRs existed when most Fairfax County HOA covenants were written, they would probably not be allowed. 

However, now that the county is developing a zoning amendment to allow STRs, most HOAs find themselves in a situation where they are being forced to deal with a form of home occupation they otherwise never would have allowed.

Fairfax County has held a number of community meetings on STRs, but the focus of these meetings has been on the actual STR regulations and did not address the situation in which most HOAs currently find themselves.

At meetings I have attended, county staff said that if HOAs want to protect themselves from STRs they need to amend their covenants. However, from a practical perspective, it is difficult and costly for an HOA to amend its covenants. The governing documents for my HOA require two thirds of residents to approve an amendment, and residents I’ve talked to from other HOAs say they have similar requirements.

I’ve also been told that if HOAs do not want STRs in their community they can protect themselves by taking STR operators to court for violating the “no commercial use” section of their covenants.

That is not a realistic alternative for a couple of reasons: It is expensive for HOAs to go to court, and it’s currently not clear from relevant court rulings whether or not STRs are legally classified as a commercial use of residential property. This unanswered legal question places HOAs in an uncertain position when trying to prevent STRs in their neighborhoods.

Also, I’ve discovered that most HOA representatives, as well as residents not in HOAs, think that the current proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance would have a number of detrimental effects on their communities and feel that as of yet, Fairfax County has not offered them a reasonable way to protect their neighborhoods.

They think that the Fairfax County Department of Code Compliance would not be able to adequately enforce STR regulations and that this task would end up falling on HOAs. Moreover, some HOA representatives have voiced concerns that HOA dues may need to be increased in order to deal with the additional issues that are associated with STRs, such as changes in the character of the community, impact on common property, parking, trash, noise, and public nuisance issues.

These concerns being brought forth by HOA representatives make me think that Fairfax County needs to do more analysis of this issue before approving any amendment concerning STRs. The county should have ongoing discussions with HOAs and other citizens’ groups in order to enumerate the likely community risks associated with STRs, along with the means and costs envisioned for mitigating these risks.

HOAs have done a tremendous job over the years building strong neighborhoods that have attracted long-term, stable residents. I’m concerned that an amendment to allow STRs in residential areas could be detrimental to established HOAs and other stable neighborhoods, possibly damaging the very foundation that has helped to make Fairfax County a desirable place to live.

Jacobson is a resident Lafayette Village in Annandale but is not a current member of the HOA board. This piece reflects her personal views and not the HOA’s. She represents the community on the Mason District Council of Community Associations. 

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Just World Festival showcases student projects that make a difference

March 11, 2018, 9:00 am
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During the 2017 Just World Festival, students made an art project as part of the Youth Uplift Challenge to raise funds for Save the Children in support of youth empowerment programs in Nicaragua and Indonesia. 
Annandale High School students invite the public to participate in the 11th annual Just World Festival at the school on Friday, March 16, 4-7 p.m.

The festival is organized by the AHS Just World Interact Club and is sponsored by Rotary International. The purpose is to teach youths that they are not only a part of their local community, but a global one. This year’s theme is Unity in Diversity. The keynote speaker is school board member Ryan McElveen (at large).

There are three ways to participate:

(1) Come to the Just World Festival and check out the exhibits and workshops presented by students and nonprofit organizations (on global issues, environmental issues, fair trade, human rights, and, most important, social action), enjoy the cultural entertainment, and try international food from the Annandale Bistro.

(2) Register to host a booth in the exhibition hall, lead a 40-minute workshop, or sell items in the fair trade marketplace.

(3) Donate to the festival raffle or general fund as a host of the event. For more information, contact  justworldinteract@gmail.com.

Annandale High School is one of the largest and most diverse schools in Fairfax County, with students representing 150 nations and speaking 90 different languages.

The Just World Festival capitalizes on these strengths, creating a fun and educational
environment in which to explore international mindedness and make a positive difference in the community.

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Goodwin House shooters arrested

March 12, 2018, 10:38 am
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Rodriguez Perez
Two men have been arrested for firing guns at the Goodwin House, a residence for seniors in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.

Nehemias Perez Escobar, 35, and Irvin Rodriguez Perez, 23, both from the Falls Church area of Fairfax County, were each charged with discharging firearms or missiles within or at a building or dwelling house and willfully discharging firearms in public areas. They are being held at the Adult Detention Center without bond.

Investigators determined that the Goodwin House, at 3440 S. Jefferson St., was not the intended target, but rather the victim of reckless behavior.

Throughout February, Fairfax County police officers responded to a number of calls within the Bailey’s Crossroads area for sounds of gunshots and damage to apartments consistent with gunfire. Windows of three apartments within the retirement complex were hit by bullets. No one was injured in any of the cases.

Perez Escobar
The FCPD appreciates the extensive cooperation of Goodwin House management, security staff, and residents. People who live and work in the area were also instrumental in providing statements and video surveillance to help with the investigation.

Goodwin House issued the following statement: “Goodwin House Incorporated expresses our deepest appreciation to the Fairfax County Police Department for its diligent efforts and success in solving the case involving gunshots fired in the neighborhood surrounding Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads. We are very pleased that the FCPD confirmed that Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads and our residents and staff were not targets and that the guns were fired randomly and upwards without motive to hit someone.”

“Goodwin House has a long history of diligent safety, security, and risk management practices, as well as a record of effective partnership with Fairfax County’s crime prevention and law enforcement departments,” the statement continues. “Ensuring the safety of residents, employees, and visitors is always our number-one priority. Goodwin House commends the officers and detectives for their remarkable dedication to solving this investigation. We also extend our gratitude to Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross for her steadfast attentiveness to the safety of our residents.”

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Local theaters nominated for Helen Hayes Awards

March 9, 2018, 11:00 am
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"Crazy for You at Signature" was nominated for outstanding musical production, choreography, ensemble in a musical, and lead actor in a musical (Danny Gardner).  
Several theatrical productions covered in the Annandale Blog have been nominated for 2018 Helen Hayes Awards.


One of the country’s most prestigious cultural honors, the Helen Hayes Awards recognize and celebrate excellence in professional theater throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. More than 70 theater companies in the region are eligible for Helen Hayes Awards in 47 categories.

Local theaters often cited in the Annandale Blog that received nominations include 1st Stage in Tysons, Creative Cauldron in Falls Church, The Hub Theatre in Fairfax, and Signature Theatre in Arlington.

1st Stage received 10 nominations, including six for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” and two each for “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” and “Trevor.”

Creative Cauldron received five nominations for “Blues in the Night,” and The Hub received two for “The Late Wedding.”

Among the 20 nominations for shows at the Signature Theatre, “A Little Night Music” received nine and “Crazy for You” and “Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing” each received four nominations.

Helen Hayes Award winners will be announced at a gala May 14.

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Annandale Burger King to reopen this week

March 13, 2018, 5:00 am
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The newly renovated Burger King on Columbia Pike in Annandale will open for business this Thursday, March 15, at 5 a.m., says District Manager Tawfig Mohamed. A grand opening celebration is being planned for a later date.

The whole restaurant has been completely redone, inside and outside. There is new seating, new restrooms, new signage, a new ceiling, and new kitchen area. The drive-through and parking lot have been redone, as well.


The first 200 customers on Thursday will get a free cookie. Burger King is currently running a two-for-six special, with two items, like a Whopper or chicken sandwich, for $6.


The restaurant will be open 5 a.m.-midnight six days a week, and 7 a.m.-midnight on Sundays.

The Burger King at 5701 Backlick Road, Springfield, will be closing soon for remodeling. 
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