Duckpin Bowling Went the Way of the Dodo Bird
Once a popular sport, bowling has taken a hit around here.
Blast from the Past: Duckpin Bowling
Snow and Schools in Fairfax County
The communication and snow removal system continues to evolve to keep all the boxes checked.
Snow and school
LA Musician Got Her Start in Mount Vernon
Fort Hunt alumni Julie Gigante started playing the violin at age 5 and now is featured on an 11,000-square-foot mural in Los Angeles.
LA Musician from Mount Vernon
Teen Film Makes It to the Alexandria Film Festival
A story about friendship, schoolwork and assumptions was shot in Old Town.
Teen Film in Festival
Offer to Buy River Farm Inches Up, But Declined by Seller
NOVA Parks is still part of the future at River Farm.
On Sunday evening, Sept. 26, the American Horticultural Society voted against an offer from NOVA Parks to purchase River Farm during a board meeting of the American Horticultural Society, but they are leaving it open for more offers.
Documentary Explores a Place Formerly Known as ‘The Pits.’
Documentarian is also a reporter for the Mount Vernon Gazette.
The Pits
Potomac Riverkeeper Has Hands Full of Plastics
Plus storm drains are portals for pet waste and excess fertilizer.
Potomac Riverkeeper
Paving and Warm Weather are in Tandem This Year in Northern Virginia
There is a map and system to where the paving goes.
August is hot, and the drivers trying to get back to a normal routine have probably hit a pothole or two out on the roads, but VDOT is out there with the paving crews, putting down pavement on 1,145 lane miles throughout the paving season, which goes until November.
Inova Awards $240K in Community Health Funds to Local Nonprofits
Annual grant doubled in amount this year due to the pandemic impacts.
Inova fund
‘Strategic Underground’ Throughout Fairfax County
Dominion Power is undergrounding wires.
During the frequent thunderstorms that are forecasted throughout the summer, flashlights and candles may have been the short-term answer in the past, but Dominion Energy has another option with a program they are offering called ”Strategic Underground,” so the lines won’t be exposed when lightning strikes and other mishaps.
Hot Summer Climate Flows into the Real Estate Market
With the pandemic shrinking, bidding wars are part of the house buying process.
Hot real estate market
Rock the ‘70’s Metal Scene with Black Sabbitch
The all-female Black Sabbath: Four women rocking the metal band’s sound and energy.
Black Sabbitch
Beloved Martha, Mary Wiseman, Looks Back with Joy
Mount Vernon’s Martha Washington is hanging up the bonnet and dress after 20 years.
Martha Washington Retires
Colonial Era House on Telegraph Road Is Going Up for Sale
It dates back to 1766, and has seen a slice of American history.
Historic house for sale.
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Fatalities Rise in the Fairfax County Area
Road design, speeds, lighting and negligence are factors.
This spring has seen several fatal pedestrian accidents, possibly signaling a warning to drivers, pedestrians and transportation engineers that more could be done to lessen these fatalities in Fairfax County.
Influencer Marketing is the Next Thing for Products and Businesses
The outfits, dinner recipes, jewelry and selfies on Instagram are part of the process.
Influencer marketing is a hit
Novelties and Gifts Share Space with Fun
At Highs and Lows in Hybla Valley, behind the door with five knobs, local artists and Pac Man scream nostalgia.
Highs and Lows
NPS Shares Road Diet Plan for GW Parkway
Virtual meeting on May 10 gives road users a voice; more than 700 people have commented.
GW Parkway
Biking and Trail Use Continues to Grow in Northern Virginia
Pit Stop gathering is out, but Bike to Work Day is still on for May 21.
It’s been 20 years since Bike to Work Day began, and it grows each year, showing that there is another side to commuting that uses no gas, has health benefits and is fun, even if it’s only one day a year for many.
Mount Vernon Bike Trail Resurfacing Work Temporarily Closes Trail
Missing segments of this trail will be part of a bigger project.
Mount Vernon Bike Trail
Gum Springs Historical Marker Replaced
Third sign in a location not likely to be wiped out by a car.
Gum Springs sign
Conversion Work is Kicking Off at the Former Mount Vernon Tennis Club
A workforce development and training center is needed in this part of Mount Vernon.
A workforce development and training center is needed in this part of Mount Vernon.
Stones Tribute Band Won’t Leave the Piggy Bank “Shattered, Shattered”
Tribute bands have the look and the sound but not the price.
Stones tribute band
Donated Football Practice Gear Gets Players Jumping at Hayfield
Parent turns a donation into a lesson on positivity for others.
football equipment
Murder Victim in Southern Fairfax County Never Identified
Body found in Giles Run creek remains a mystery since 1972 as does the exact location of his burial plot in a Mount Vernon graveyard.
Murder mystery
Alexandria Power Plant Redevelopment Includes Bike Improvements
The north end Small Area Plan does not leave bike trail users high and dry.
Bicyclists won’t be left out of the plans when the GenOn Energy plant is redeveloped as a major part of the Old Town North Small Area Plan, originally adopted by the city in 2017.
At Dog Parks, the Clean-Up Bag is a Must
Walks are important for the family dog, but so is scooping the poop.
Scooping the Poop
Queen Bee’s Priebe Victim of Car Theft in Alexandria
Police investigate incident during gas stop in Old Town
It was Super Bowl Sunday and Allison Priebe had her hands full with things to do.
Delivery Vehicles Are Everywhere
The quick-stop lifestyle could be here to stay.
Delivery trucks are not a new thing to area neighborhoods, but with the pandemic and the stay-at-home lifestyle many have adopted over the last 10 years, everyone delivers these days.
Unusual and Quirky Items Sell at Area Gift Stores
Consignment shops and estate sale hubs in the Mount Vernon corridor.
Gift Shops
Artifacts Tell the Nation’s Story at the New Army Museum
Museum showcases display cases, first hand accounts, newsreel footage and more.
Inside the Army museum
Artifacts Tell the Nation’s Story at the New Army Museum
The display cases, first-hand accounts and newsreel footage showcased in the museum.
In 1861, when the Civil War was just starting, Capt. Josiah Sawell was attacked by a pro-secession mob while passing through Baltimore with the 6th Massachusetts Volunteer infantry.
Alexandrian Documents the History of U Street
Filmmaker Jane Pittman returns to Alexandria Film Festival.
Alexandria Film Festival
Local Filmmaker Uses a Pie Recipe to Highlight Family Change
The family and sweet potato pie is one of many highlights in the upcoming Alexandria Film Festival.
Local Filmmaker
Mount Vernon Serenity Cut Short By Noisy Tailpipes
Modified mufflers put out sounds that carry through quiet neighborhoods.
Noisy tailpipes
Owners of The River Farm Are Looking to Sell
The American Horticultural Society needs the funds; the surrounding community needs the farm.
River Farm For Sale
Former Lee District Supervisor Joe Alexander, 90, Dies
His efforts in Lee District show signs that will be forever remembered.
Death of Joe Alexander
Back-to-School Doesn’t Have the Same Ring To It This Year
West Potomac gets ready with laptops and virtual lessons.
West Potomac
Baking For Social Issues Sprouts in Alexandria
Sales from teen’s baked goods raise funds to fight racial injustices.
Racial Justice Bake Shop
Trailer Park Residents Speak Out About Being Priced Out
Hybla Valley residents oppose mixed use plans.
Hybla Valley
Mount Vernon Get-a-Way
Huntley Meadows Park offers solitude from the pandemic and rhetoric.
Mount Vernon Get-a-Way
Ponds are Popular in Backyards Around the Area
Sometimes a water garden provides the natural setting for fish, frogs, butterflies and birds.
Backyard Ponds
Combat Reporting Lands Local Resident Marine Corps Award
Jefferson Manor resident was embedded with Marines in Afghanistan.
Local resident gets USMC award
Plans for Old Mount Vernon High School
Virtual meeting puts educational uses on the forefront for the 1939 building.
Old Mount Vernon High School plans.
Hundreds Come Out to Fight Racism and Police Brutality
Mount Vernon was ground zero for the latest incident involving Fairfax County Police.
Protest march
Park Goers Take Advantage of Openings on Memorial Day Weekend
At parks along the Parkway, many enjoyed the sunshine as relief from the quarantine days.
Parks open in Mount Vernon
Stay-at-Home Order Allows More Time for Road Construction in Virginia
When traffic is down, the crews extend time with lane closures, resulting in project progress.
The quarantine that seems to have no end is having some positive impacts. With most businesses closed and most people staying home most of the time, rush hours have been minimal, gas use is down, local streets are becoming the roads less traveled. For road crews, this is time to pick up the pace.
