
Fire at Commercial Building in Merrifield — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to a building fire in the 2800 block of Dorr Avenue in Merrifield around 6 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday) that reached two alarms. The fire was extinguished after about an hour, and no injuries were reported. [FCFRD/Twitter]
Ribbon Cut on Penn Daw Development — “I was thrilled to speak at the South Alex ribbon cutting ceremony. In 2020 this entire building complex fell victim to a devastating fire, and now just three years later, we are here celebrating the completion of the renovations!” The grocery store Aldi is set to open at the development next week. [Jeff McKay/Twitter]
McLean Students Encourage Donations for Earthquake Relief — “Students at a number of FCPS schools are using their ethical and global citizen Portrait of a Graduate skills to aid those who were affected by a recent devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria…Copper Middle School students, including one who lived in Turkey and another who has family in the region, talked to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid about how they and others can help those in need, and why they should.” [FCPS]
Poetry Events Coming to Local Parks — “Poet Laureate Danielle Badra will launch a new series of public programming called ‘Poetry in the Parks’ this spring. In close partnership with ArtsFairfax and Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), Badra begins her new initiative with three distinct events that invite area poets and parkgoers to consider the relationship between nature and poetry.” [ArtsFairfax]
Gynocology Office Now Open in Annandale — “There’s a new healthcare option for women in Annandale. The Elite Gynecology Center will open on Feb. 21 at 3301 Woodburn Road, Suite 309. The founder, Dr. Nadine Hammoud, provides preventive care, annual exams, screenings, and minimally invasive surgery.” [Annandale Today]
What’s Happening With Transportation in Mount Vernon Area — Virginia Department of Transportation officials and local elected leaders recently provided updates on the Richmond Highway and southern George Washington Memorial Parkway projects. The Route 1 widening is now expected to begin in 2027, preceded by construction on Fairfax County’s bus rapid transit system. [On the MoVe]
Metro Launches Art Contest — “Young artists in D.C., Maryland and Virginia have an opportunity to get their artwork on a Metro bus for Earth Day. Metro’s Art in Transit program invites students in kindergarten through sixth grade from the DMV to submit artworks celebrating the role played by public transit in protecting our environment, combatting climate change, and supporting sustainable livable communities.” [WUSA9]
It’s Thursday — Partly cloudy throughout the day. High of 76 and low of 55. Sunrise at 6:51 am and sunset at 5:56 pm. [Weather.gov]
Recent Stories

Synetic Theater Camps are a wildly fun, highly accessible choice for young people who love moving, playing games, and making memories. Registration is open now for Summer Camps (sessions June 20-August 25) and there are even a few spots left for Spring Break camp, April 3-7.
Located in National Landing, these performance-based camps are designed for students of all ages – no theater or performance experience required.
Led by professional teaching artists, campers learn acting, movement, and technical theater skills through the lens of Physical Theater. Physical Theater incorporates acting, movement, dance, mime, and acrobatics. If you’ve seen a Cirque du Soleil performance, you’ll find many similarities.

Press Release:
EDBS Dental Billing Solutions is pleased to announce that it has achieved compliance with the federally mandated standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) through the use of Compliancy Group’s proprietary HIPAA methodology, The Guard® compliance tracking software, and HIPAA Seal of Compliance®.
The HIPAA Seal of Compliance is issued to organizations that have implemented an effective HIPAA compliance program through the use of The Guard, Compliancy Group’s proprietary compliance tracking solution.
Clients and patients are becoming more aware of the requirements of HIPAA compliance and how the regulation protects their personal information. Forward-thinking providers like EDBS Dental Billing Solutions choose the HIPAA Seal of Compliance to differentiate their services.
McLean Volunteer Fire Department-Inova Blood Drive
MVFD has teamed up with Inova Blood Donor Services for a blood drive on Friday, March 31, in our lower parking lot at 1455 Laughlin Avenue. The blood drive will run from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 pm. Please consider making
Van Metre 5K Run
Calling all serious runners, occasional joggers, and weekend walkers of all levels! Participate in the 31st Annual Van Metre 5K Run supporting Children’s National Hospital–the event that goes a long way!
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023
Time: 8:30AM
Location: Broadlands