ANNANDALE
The Crossroads of Northern Virginia TMRead Annandale's News Magazine,
ENDEAVOR
Annandale News & Latest Articles
Annandale News: New Hope Housing & Bailey's Shelter
Annandale News: Meet the Artisan Gail Robin
Annandale News: Meet the Artisan Bob Simoniz
Annandale News: Land MisUse in Annandale
Annandale Real Estate: Escape to the Country
Annandale History: Symbol of Resistance
History: What a Difference a Century Makes 1921
History: The Contents of a Lady's Handbag
History: The Curious Tale of a Jacket with No Tails
VIEW ON NATURE: Different Feathers Flock Together
ANNANDALE News, Events & Networking
Why COVID-19 Vaccines Are Good News for Local Businesses
We all dream about an eventual pre-pandemic “return to normal” — especially local businesses who look forward to seeing their customers in-person once again. And, for some businesses, working alongside their employees again after many months of working remotely. Our new normal will likely still require mask use and social distancing for some time, but the Governor has indicated that by April 18, COVID-19 vaccines will be open to all persons 16 years and older.
With the addition to the return of shoppers, restaurant patrons, concert goers and others simply enjoying what they have missed over the past year, widespread vaccine coverage has the potential to boost local businesses in many ways.
Vaccines Keep People Working
Vaccines are proven to prevent severe cases of COVID-19 that can lead to hospitalization or death. A healthy worker is an active and engaged worker – employers will have to worry much less about being short-staffed or having a team member’s positive coronavirus test negatively affect their operating capabilities. And a paycheck can go back into the local economy, boosting success for all. During this pandemic, thousands of people in the Fairfax Health District experienced loss of wages due to the need to quarantine or isolate. Widespread vaccine acceptance prevents disease spread and keeps people working.
Vaccines Can Make Consumers Less Frazzled
This pandemic has taken its toll on mental health. In addition to protection against COVID-19, vaccines provide hope and reassurance. Pandemic stress is alleviated as people return to socialization and cherished routines – including patronage of local businesses.
Vaccines Are Good for the Bottom Line
As more of your staff choose vaccination, it may cause some inconvenience for business owners as they will need to accommodate the appointments of their staff. But, doing so will pay off. So many businesses pivoted to survive in the ever-changing world of the pandemic. Now it’s time to recover and grow, with a greater number of vaccinated staff.
What You Can Do Today
- Learn about vaccine registration: Find out if your industry is eligible for vaccine. Our website has all the details about eligibility and vaccine registration in the Fairfax Health District.
- Learn more about vaccines: We can help! In addition to our website, the CDC and Virginia Department of Health have excellent vaccine information sources.
- See our business website for ideas on how you can connect your staff with vaccine information.
Fairfax County Expands Registration Eligibility
Vaccination Registration Now Available to These Six Groups in Phase 1c
- Energy
- Water, Wastewater, Waste Removal
- Housing and Construction
- Food Service
- Transportation and Logistics
- Institutions of Higher Education Faculty/Staff
Later this week further expansion into the remaining1c groups and then transition into Phase 2 by April 18 is expected in accordance with federal and state goals for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Vaccine Registration Now Open for Some Frontline Essential Workers in Phase 1c
Read the Latest
ENDEAVOR News Magazine
The ENDEAVOR News Magazine is the Chamber's quarterly online publication and the must read magazine in Annandale. Acquaint yourself with local businesses, community history, revitalization efforts, and issues that concern Annandale: The Crossroads of Northern Virginia TM.
Let the Good Times Roll
Summer Treats are Coming Your Way
Remember the long lost days of your youth listening for the musical chimes of the Ice Cream Truck rolling down your neighborhood street? Today, that truck has been replaced by a Kona Ice Truck filled with the most delicious assortment of flavored toppings on icy refreshing snow cones.
Just a bit more than a year ago, chamber member Trung Dinh bought his first Kona Ice Truck, worked closely with the Fairfax County Health Dept. to insure all safe practices were employed during this strange and challenging Covid year, and began to bring Kona Ice treats to the neighborhoods and businesses of Annandale.
Trung Dinh is a small business owner living in Burke with his family. For twenty-two years he worked in the Information Technology industry, lived abroad in Australia, and traveled all over the world. In 2018 he decided to leave IT and the constant travel to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur while putting down firm roots with his family. He also wanted to find a business where he could give back to the community while making customers happy.
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Tuition-free Community College Program
$145 million for Governor’s signature ‘Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back’ initiative for Low and Middle Income Students
$145 million for Governor’s signature ‘Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back’ initiative for Low and Middle Income Students
Office of Governor Ralph Northam
Governor Ralph Northam announced his proposed budget will include $145 million over the biennium to make tuition-free community college available to low- and middle-income students who pursue jobs in high-demand fields. The Governor’s “Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back” initiative, or “G3” program, will provide financial support to cover tuition, fees, and books for eligible students at the Commonwealth’s two-year public institutions.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to get a good education and a good job, no matter who you are or how much money you have,” said Governor Northam. “This is an investment in equity and our economy—by helping Virginians get the skills they need, we’re building a world-class workforce while ensuring all Virginians can support themselves, their families, and their communities.”
The G3 program is one of the first in the nation to provide wraparound financial assistance to help students at the lowest income levels with expenses such as food, transportation, and childcare. Students who qualify for full Federal Pell Grants and enroll full-time will receive a Student Support Incentive Grant on a semester basis. These grants will be in an amount up to $1,000 per semester and up to $500 per summer term. Each participating institution will receive a Performance Payment per eligible student receiving a Student Support Incentive Grant that successfully completes 30 credit hours and an additional Performance Payment when such a student earns an associate degree.
READ MORE
Put your Detective Skills to Work
at Historic Huntley
Become a “House Detective” at Historic Huntley and see if you can solve some of the mysteries surrounding this historic home.
What clues reveal the story of a house? What can architectural details and styles tell us? On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, you will have the chance to examine photographs, artifacts and the buildings of Historic Huntley to see if you can resolve some of the enduring mysteries of this Federal period villa built for Thomas Francis Mason in 1825. Mason served as mayor of Alexandria from 1827 to 1830, and he was the grandson of George Mason IV, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
This 19th century architectural gem is located near the main entrance to Huntley Meadows Park. Historic Huntley is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Virginia Landmarks Register and the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Over the years, Historic Huntley was used as a summer retreat, a grain farm, encampment for Civil War troops of the 3rd Michigan Infantry, and eventually was converted to a dairy farm.
This “House Detective” program for adults runs from 10 to 11 a.m. The cost is $8 per person.
Historic Huntley is located at 6918 Harrison Lane, Alexandria, Virginia, near the entrance to Huntley Meadows Park. For more information, call the park at 703-768-2525; or visit Historic Huntley. Registration will be accepted until April 4th.
GREEN SPRING GARDENS
Programs April - June 2021
Adult Programs April - June
Saturday, March 20
Basic Pruning Techniques for Shrubs
10am-12pm. (Adults) Learn to prune like a pro with this walk and talk led by pruning instructor Peter Deahl. Discover which shrubs and evergreens need pruning in late winter and learn techniques for keeping your plants healthy and beautiful. Bring gloves and disinfected pruners. $23 per person.
Saturday, March 27
Spring Tasks for a Great Garden
10:30am-12:00pm. (Adults) Horticulturalist Brenda Skarphol shows you things you can do to prepare your garden for a beautiful spring. Learn what plants you can and should divide now, the most effective pruning techniques, and more to set up your garden for fresh spring growth. $18 per person. This program is also available virtually.
Historic House Tea Programs
Sunday, March 28
Wabi-Sabi: Embracing Imperfection
2-3pm. (Adult) Discover your sense of wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of finding beauty in the naturally imperfect world. Explore this philosophy of “making do” that resonates in austere times, and its origins in the world of tea. Japanese tea sample and traditional sweets included in the optional tea box. Lecture only: $12/ Optional tea box: $24.
Sunday, April 11
Salute to the Seventies
2-3pm (Adult) Enjoy 1970s nostalgia as we explore social highlights—and lowlights—of the decade in which Green Spring Gardens was born. Discover why the 70s were dubbed the “Me Decade” and re-live the glory days of pre-Internet amusements: rotary phones, bell-bottoms, disco and chia pets! Lecture only: $12/ Optional tea box: $24.
Sunday, April 25
Six Degrees
2-3pm. (Adult) How many “handshakes” away from fame are we all? Explore the theory that everyone is six or fewer social contacts apart. Discover surprising human connections—present and historical—and learn how to find links to famous ancestors in your family tree. Lecture only: $12/ Optional tea box: $24.
Saturday, April 17
Create an Egg-cellent Spring Art Project
at Sully Historic Site
Spring has sprung and the birds are singing! Spruce up your house décor with an egg-cellent art idea.
Register your family for the “Spring Nesting” program and learn how to create colorful birds’ eggs using the wet felting technique. Place them in a natural nest to bring a little springtime into your home.
This program is for a family or pod of up to four people, ages 5 to adult. The 45-minute programs at Sully Historic Site run at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, April 16, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2021. The cost is $20 per family.
Sully Historic Site is located at 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, call 703-437-1794; or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully-historic-site/
Sully was completed in 1799 by Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia's first Representative to Congress.
It is on the National Register for Historic Places and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
Plant Sales Underway
at Green Spring Gardens
Phone-order plant sales with curbside pickup is now available at Green Spring Gardens. There are three planned phases to the plant sales -- plant plug-tray sales, individual plant sales with curbside pickup, and in-person shopping.
Plant plug-tray sales are ongoing through April 2. Orders can be placed by calling Green Spring Gardens at 703-642-5173. A plug-tray plant list is on the Green Spring website.
Each tray contains 30 plugs of small, well-rooted perennials ready for direct planting and consists of a curated mix of 10 different species of plants chosen to work together in similar growing situations in the garden. There are trays for a dry sun pollinator garden, a moist sun pollinator garden, a moist shade garden and a dry shade garden. The price is $120 per tray. Supplies are limited. Pickup will be available on April 13 and 15.
Phone order sales with curbside pickup for individual plants begin on April 12 and will continue into early fall. An order form and a list of available shrubs, perennials, annuals and tropicals will be on Green Spring’s website, and the plant list will be updated weekly. Gardening tools will also be available through phone orders.
In-person shopping at the plant shop is expected to begin around mid-May, depending on COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time.
The Garden Gate Plant Shop at Green Spring Gardens specializes in plants that do well in local growing conditions. It offers many of the plants that are featured in Green Spring’s demonstration gardens.
Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Road in Alexandria, Virginia. The gardens are open to the public and free to enter year-round. For more information, call 703-642-5173; or visit ww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring
The American Rescue Plan
Message from Sen. Mark Warner
The American Rescue Plan – a bold piece of legislation that will create 7 million jobs and ensure that our nation is able to get vaccines into arms, kids into schools, Americans to work, and lifelines to our hard-hit communities. Earlier today, I was glad to see the House of Representatives put its final stamp of approval on this bill, which now heads to the White House, where President Joe Biden is expected to sign it into law.
Among other priorities, I was especially proud to work with President Biden to secure $17 billion in funding for broadband in this bill, because as too many folks across the Commonwealth know, broadband is a necessity in the 21st century – not a luxury. But in Virginia, there are still 700,000 people who lack access to high-speed internet during the pandemic. This funding will expand broadband access and affordability, and is the largest-ever federal investment of its kind.
In addition to broadband, the American Rescue Plan extends emergency unemployment insurance programs through September 6, 2021. This will help ensure that Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own are able to make ends meet while the economy rebuilds.
The American Rescue Plan also funds a number of critical priorities that will help Virginians get through the health and economic crisis:
- Relief checks: The bill includes an additional round of $1,400 economic impact payments for individuals making less than $75,000 and joint filers making less than $150,000 – plus an additional $1,400 per dependent
- Vaccine procurement & testing: The legislation includes $160 billion for national vaccination and other health efforts, including testing, tracing, genomic sequencing, public health staffing, and supplies to slow the spread of COVID-19
- Keeping small businesses open: The American Rescue Plan has billions to help small businesses keep their doors open, including:
$7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
$15 billion for the Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance Program
$28.6 billion for a new Restaurant Revitalization Fund to provide grants to help small local restaurants, bars, and craft breweries stay in business and keep their workers employed
$1.25 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) Program to support live entertainment venues, and a critical fix to ensure venue operators can access both PPP and SVOGs
$10 billion in new funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative to help small businesses grow and create jobs
- Reopening schools: The bill includes $170 billion for K-12 schools and higher learning institutions so they have the resources they need to reopen safely
- Keeping Americans in their homes: The legislation includes more than $21 billion in emergency rental assistance to help renters and small landlords make ends meet as well as $9.9 billion to aid homeowners struggling to afford their mortgage payments, utility bills, and other housing costs
- Help for the hungry: The legislation extends a 15 percent increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through September 30, 2021, which will help the nearly 50 million Americans who have struggled with hunger during the pandemic
- Maintaining government services & preventing layoffs: The bill provides $350 billion in aid for state, local, and tribal governments so they can continue to provide critical community services, limit long-term harm caused by the pandemic, and address longstanding inequities exacerbated by COVID-19
- Child care & help for families: The bill cuts taxes for working families by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. An estimated 1.5 million children across Virginia will benefit from this expanded tax credit, and it will lift 249,000 children in the Commonwealth out of poverty and deep poverty. Researchers have said the move will cut the child poverty rate in half nationwide this year. The bill also includes $39 billion in dedicated relief for child care, to make sure that child care providers can continue supporting working families
As we work to rebuild and recover from COVID-19, please know that I will continue to work with the Biden administration and leaders in Virginia to ensure that funding is distributed appropriately, programs are implemented quickly, and Virginians get the help they deserve.
Get Hooked
The Park Authority Has a New Fishing Website
The Fairfax County Park Authority wants to reel you in with its new website dedicated to fishing in and around the county.
Anglers can consult the site for weekly fishing reports, and new articles related to fishing will be posted every two weeks. The website contains tips to help you get the most from your day of fishing and a bragging board to let you share photos of your catch of the day.
The fishing website provides information on the best places to fish in and around Fairfax County and a calendar with fishing-related events. In addition, there are photos and information to help you identify local fish.
Many interesting articles can also be found on this website talking about cold winter fishing, maintaining your fishing equipment, Striped Bass fishing to name just a few. A topical article by Chase Brown offers what you need to know about fall and winter fishing for catfish.
New Hope Housing & Bailey’s Shelter
Supportive Housing Needed Now More than Ever
Everything changed at Bailey’s when the coronavirus pandemic began this year. When the outbreak began, there were two important questions to answer for homeless people and the services we provide: 1) How do you stay safe-at-home when you don’t have a home? And 2) How do you socially distance in a full homeless shelter?
In Fairfax County, county and nonprofit leaders convened to create action plans. Using CARES Act funding and shared resources, Fairfax County began master-leasing several vacant hotels to be used as additional shelter sites with nonprofit partners responsible for staffing and managing these programs. Once these opened, half of the guests in each shelter in the county moved to these hotels. Priority was given to older homeless guests and guests with certain medical conditions so that they could safely isolate in hotel rooms. Shelter staff have continued to provide case management services such as housing and employment services to guests at the hotel sites to enable them to move to safe and affordable housing. These sites are also serving as isolation and quarantine shelter for non-homeless people who have been exposed to COVID and cannot safely quarantine otherwise. These sites are expected to remain open at least through June 30, 2021. More than 900 people have used these sites since opening in mid-April.
READ MORE
Umbrella Insurance
A Valuable Safeguard
The purpose of insurance is easy to comprehend. Quite simply it exists to safeguard our assets, the welfare of our families, and the financial security of our businesses. Car insurance is a necessity as is homeowner insurance. Actually, you won’t be allowed to register a car in most states or take out a mortgage without those policies. You are not required to have umbrella insurance in most instances yet you will sleep better if you do. Umbrella insurance is a form of liability insurance protecting you against lawsuits and the coverage limitations of your other policies. Umbrella coverage takes over once your other policies hit their coverage limits. With medical and legal costs as high as they are those limits could be reached quite soon. Suppose you are judged responsible in a multi-car crash. Everyone can make a mistake, but if you do, your car insurance may only carry a $300 to $500k limit on medical coverage for others. What if there were five people injured and multiple cars totaled? You could easily be on the hook for a million dollars with only $300k paid from your car insurance policy. If you had a $1 million umbrella policy, your life saving & retirement, and your kid’s college funds will not be at risk along with all your future dreams. READ MORE
What a Difference a Century Makes: 1921 
Counting & confirming the presidential Electoral votes in a calm & dignified manner...the way statesmen and national leaders are supposed to behave...showing appropriate decorum and respect for the Constitution.
The first day of winter was December 21, 2020. Known as the Winter Solstice, it’s when our upper half of earth is tilted furthest away from the sun. This cyclic occurrence rarely goes unnoticed in Nature as the longest night and shortest day. Primitive cultures have celebrated this solstice for millennia as the rebirth of the sun. As a Naturalist, I’ve never liked the expression “the dead of winter”. Nature slows down and tucks in a bit with animals hibernating, less photosynthesis, and the like, but entire complex ecosystems keep thriving. This is also the time of year when all birds are done with their chores of breeding, nest building, rearing young and migration. Instead, during the winter they only have one priority –survive until spring by finding enough food and avoiding hungry predators. One of my favorite pastimes in the winter woods is finding myself suddenly surrounded by a slow-moving gang of forest birds, a hunting party of several different small species foraging for food together. Most birds eat alone or amongst their own kind, so why change during the winter? A mixed-species foraging flock typically has "nuclear" species central to its formation and movement. Species that trail them, or "attendants" tend to join the foraging flock when it enters their territory. Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice are usually the ringleaders of the bunch that may include brown creepers, kinglets, wrens, juncos, warblers, vireos, and downy and hairy woodpeckers in unison scouring the deciduous tree tops, trunks, understory, and forest floor for insects, seeds and nuts.
Annandale Real Estate: Escape to the Country
To parody a BBC popular program where a Realtor shows a couple three properties somewhere in the bucolic English countryside, we are seeing a similar trend in our own Metro area. Just last month my clients closed on a lovely expanded and upgraded Rambler (great floorplan) on over one acre in Prince William County. The hunt had included seeing eight properties and writing offers on four of them before we were successful. Why? Because too many other potential buyers wanted the same properties, even ones needing over $50K in renovations! Finally, we landed the best property by pulling out all the stops in our offer—no home inspection, pay the first $500 of any septic or well repairs, etc. etc. This property was well worth the wait! The major criteria was to have a large lot with privacy. They escaped from a small one level home in a very large subdivision wanting both extensive outdoor space for the family and significantly more interior space. In this new Covid-19 world, people are not only looking to move out to the country, but also to find a home with space for one or even two home offices as commuting distance is not the major criterion.
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To parody a BBC popular program where a Realtor shows a couple three properties somewhere in the bucolic English countryside, we are seeing a similar trend in our own Metro area. Just last month my clients closed on a lovely expanded and upgraded Rambler (great floorplan) on over one acre in Prince William County. The hunt had included seeing eight properties and writing offers on four of them before we were successful. Why? Because too many other potential buyers wanted the same properties, even ones needing over $50K in renovations! Finally, we landed the best property by pulling out all the stops in our offer—no home inspection, pay the first $500 of any septic or well repairs, etc. etc. This property was well worth the wait! The major criteria was to have a large lot with privacy. They escaped from a small one level home in a very large subdivision wanting both extensive outdoor space for the family and significantly more interior space. In this new Covid-19 world, people are not only looking to move out to the country, but also to find a home with space for one or even two home offices as commuting distance is not the major criterion. READ MORE
Fiber Artist working with various yarns & felted wool methodologies
Gail Robin has had a lifelong engagement with many aspects and types of fiber related crafting. Her earliest memory was sewing on a treadle sewing machine. Gail made her first knitted afghan when she was a preteen and continued to create her own clothing throughout high school. Gail’s mother was a major influence working with crochet thread which allowed for fine detail. Her mother also taught Gail how to sew, knit and crochet from the time she was quite young. Gail became an active member of the 4-H qualifying for state garment sewing while still in middle school. Over the years, Gail has mastered many varied crafts. Recently, she works with various yarns and felted wool methodologies Having made a career in the military, Gail spent her work-a-day life in the dress of the day. It did not allow for a personal nor colorful expression in fashion. Consequently, her fiber art provided her the freedom to utilize an explosion of hues.
Gail Robin has had a lifelong engagement with many aspects and types of fiber related crafting. Her earliest memory was sewing on a treadle sewing machine. Gail made her first knitted afghan when she was a preteen and continued to create her own clothing throughout high school. Gail’s mother was a major influence working with crochet thread which allowed for fine detail. Her mother also taught Gail how to sew, knit and crochet from the time she was quite young. Gail became an active member of the 4-H qualifying for state garment sewing while still in middle school. Over the years, Gail has mastered many varied crafts. Recently, she works with various yarns and felted wool methodologies Having made a career in the military, Gail spent her work-a-day life in the dress of the day. It did not allow for a personal nor colorful expression in fashion. Consequently, her fiber art provided her the freedom to utilize an explosion of hues. ON THE ENERGY FRONT
Take Steps to Save Energy this Winter with Help from Virginia Energy Sense
Each year, Virginia Energy Sense conducts survey research to be better informed of where Virginians stand when it comes to saving energy at home. In the latest research findings, highlighted in our infographic available on our website, the likelihood of Virginians becoming more energy efficient slightly declined from 30% in 2019 to 25% in 2020, but that is due in part to an increasing proportion of Virginians taking steps to become energy efficient. For example, 38% of respondents said they’re adjusting the heat when not at home, up from 31% in 2019. That shift in behavior is also reflected in Virginians’ energy saving habits in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to our latest survey, 92% of Virginians have already taken steps to reduce their energy consumption prior to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has made many Virginians spend more time indoors, whether for work or remote learning, and that can cause energy usage to spike. In fact, 47% of respondents in our survey noted they are using more energy at home compared to just 6% who are using less energy than before the pandemic. In addition to potential energy spikes with increased time indoors, the seasons have changed and temperatures are declining. Winter is here and if your home is not properly prepared for inclement weather, there’s a chance that your energy bill could increase. To help minimize your energy consumption at home during the colder months, Virginia Energy Sense has prepared a list of easy, do-it-yourself tips below. Winter Energy Saving Tips Reduce the heat – A great way to save on your energy bill is to lower the temperature of your hot water tank. Adjusting the temperature on your hot water tank by 10 degrees can save up to $9/month. Reverse your fans – Since hot air rises, run your ceiling fans in reverse (clockwise) to circulate it back to floor level. Utilize the sun – Open curtains and blinds on your west and south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Close those curtains at night to retain heat. Maintain your HVAC system – Replace dirty air filters in your furnace to keep your HVAC system running efficiently. A clogged filter will cause your system to work harder and expend more energy.
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Take Steps to Save Energy this Winter with Help from Virginia Energy Sense
Each year, Virginia Energy Sense conducts survey research to be better informed of where Virginians stand when it comes to saving energy at home. In the latest research findings, highlighted in our infographic available on our website, the likelihood of Virginians becoming more energy efficient slightly declined from 30% in 2019 to 25% in 2020, but that is due in part to an increasing proportion of Virginians taking steps to become energy efficient. For example, 38% of respondents said they’re adjusting the heat when not at home, up from 31% in 2019. That shift in behavior is also reflected in Virginians’ energy saving habits in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to our latest survey, 92% of Virginians have already taken steps to reduce their energy consumption prior to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has made many Virginians spend more time indoors, whether for work or remote learning, and that can cause energy usage to spike. In fact, 47% of respondents in our survey noted they are using more energy at home compared to just 6% who are using less energy than before the pandemic. In addition to potential energy spikes with increased time indoors, the seasons have changed and temperatures are declining. Winter is here and if your home is not properly prepared for inclement weather, there’s a chance that your energy bill could increase. To help minimize your energy consumption at home during the colder months, Virginia Energy Sense has prepared a list of easy, do-it-yourself tips below. Winter Energy Saving Tips Reduce the heat – A great way to save on your energy bill is to lower the temperature of your hot water tank. Adjusting the temperature on your hot water tank by 10 degrees can save up to $9/month. Reverse your fans – Since hot air rises, run your ceiling fans in reverse (clockwise) to circulate it back to floor level. Utilize the sun – Open curtains and blinds on your west and south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Close those curtains at night to retain heat. Maintain your HVAC system – Replace dirty air filters in your furnace to keep your HVAC system running efficiently. A clogged filter will cause your system to work harder and expend more energy. READ MORE
Shop Locally and Support AnnandaleMerchants
AnnSandra Gifts
AnnSandra GiftsAnnSandra has been the preeminent giftware destination in the Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland area, for over 39 years. AnnSandra provides a unique experience, now serving second and third generation customers, offering an extensive collection of fine china, crystal, silver, distinctive gift items for any occasion, including a vast variety of holiday gifts. This retailer prides itself with a well earned reputation for exceptional customer service and expertise, whether you’re shopping in the store or over the phone, our highly trained professionals are committed to delivering unparalleled service with unbeatable prices. 
Looking for that perfect holiday gift, AnnSandra has a superb and varied selection to suit your gift-giving needs. Store pick-up and private appointments are still available along with online and phone orders. Shipping and gift wrapping service on site.
MORE ABOUT ANNSANDRA Sunday & Monday – CLOSED
Tuesday - Friday - 12PM -5:00PM
Saturday - 10AM - 5:30PM. 4417 John Marr Drive
Annandale, VA. 22003
703-354-2110 - 800-357-2110
info@annsandra.com . www.annsandra.com
Artisans United Gallery of Gifts
When you shop at the gallery, you will find a wide variety of reasonably priced hand-crafted items by local artisans. Socially distanced shopping at the Gallery is easy. Or, if you can’t visit in person, call to arrange for a virtual tour and shopping. Staff can take payments over the phone and provide curbside pickup. Mailing or delivery to your home may be available.
Visit us at the Packard Center (Annandale Community Park), 4022 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003. We are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
READ MORE ABOUT ARTISANS UNITED Call us at 703-941-0202 to check on current hours. You may also arrange a Sunday, Monday, or evening visit.
(703)941-0202 . augallery1@gmail.com . www.augallery.org
Golf Gifts and Gift Cards
Pinecrest Golf Course
Corner of Braddock and Little River
6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 941-1061 . www.fairfaxcounty.gov/golf/pinecrest Coffee Gifts
Beanetics Coffee Roasters
Annandale Shopping Center
7028 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 941-4506 . www.beanetics.com
Tea Gifts and Nature - Garden Gifts
Green Spring Gardens
Off Braddock Rd. behind Pinecrest Shopping Center-Braddock and Little River
6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 642-5173 . www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring
Looking for that perfect holiday gift, AnnSandra has a superb and varied selection to suit your gift-giving needs. Store pick-up and private appointments are still available along with online and phone orders. Shipping and gift wrapping service on site. MORE ABOUT ANNSANDRA Sunday & Monday – CLOSED
Tuesday - Friday - 12PM -5:00PM
Saturday - 10AM - 5:30PM. 4417 John Marr Drive
Annandale, VA. 22003
703-354-2110 - 800-357-2110
info@annsandra.com . www.annsandra.com
Artisans United Gallery of Gifts
When you shop at the gallery, you will find a wide variety of reasonably priced hand-crafted items by local artisans. Socially distanced shopping at the Gallery is easy. Or, if you can’t visit in person, call to arrange for a virtual tour and shopping. Staff can take payments over the phone and provide curbside pickup. Mailing or delivery to your home may be available.
Visit us at the Packard Center (Annandale Community Park), 4022 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003. We are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
READ MORE ABOUT ARTISANS UNITED Call us at 703-941-0202 to check on current hours. You may also arrange a Sunday, Monday, or evening visit.
(703)941-0202 . augallery1@gmail.com . www.augallery.org
Golf Gifts and Gift Cards
Pinecrest Golf Course
Corner of Braddock and Little River
6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 941-1061 . www.fairfaxcounty.gov/golf/pinecrest Coffee Gifts
Beanetics Coffee Roasters
Annandale Shopping Center
7028 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
(703) 941-4506 . www.beanetics.com
Tea Gifts and Nature - Garden Gifts
Green Spring Gardens
Off Braddock Rd. behind Pinecrest Shopping Center-Braddock and Little River
6600 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 642-5173 . www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/green-spring
Lake Barcroft Dental Group Celebrates Anniversary
Special Offering in Celebration
This month, Lake Barcroft Dental Group celebrates its one-year anniversary as part of the local community. As part of this celebration Dr. Aseel Mukbel and the team are offering 50% off in-office whitening and $200 off CEREC – in-office -- crowns through January 2021.
Lake Barcroft Dental Group is a one-stop spot for all of your dental needs – it’s located in Barcroft Plaza at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Linconia Road. The practice offers Invisalign and same-day crowns. The practice has an in-house oral surgeon to take care of any extraction needs including wisdom teeth; and endodontist to handle dreaded root canals with a gentle touch; and a periodontist to care for any gum issues.
In addition to Lake Barcroft Dental Group’s robust services, the practice also offers a slew of financing and payment options to ensure the dentistry fits comfortable in your budget, especially during these unprecedented times.
While patient’s budgets are a huge concern during this pandemic, safety is an even bigger concern. At Lake Barcroft Dental Group, that is the team’s top priority. A study by the American Dental Association revealed dentists have less than a 1% COVID-19 positive rate and at Lake Barcroft Dental Group we are taking extra precautions. Patients are taken to their room with no waiting time in the lobby, the clinical team wears multiple masks and face shields during procedures, along with a bevy of other precautions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
BARCROFT PLAZA . 6464 A1, Lincolnia Rd
703-876-6700 lakebarcroftdentalgroup.com + smilegeneration.com
UnCovered
The Curious Tales of a Jacket with No Tail—1820’s
This ladies’ spencer was found in a closet at the home of a Lee family descendant and, according to the donor, the family had used it as a dress-up and costume piece for decades. It was donated to the Fairfax County Park Authority in 1994.
The garment was conserved and stabilized in 2012 due to its fragility. It was analyzed at that time and was dated to around 1820. The outer fabric is mauve silk with a woven pattern of vines and leaves. The neckline, which is U-shaped in the front and V-shaped in the back, is trimmed with a wide, pleated and ruched band. The inner lining of the spencer is a mixture of beige linen for the bodice and wool for the sleeves. It is fully handstitched.
The spencer, a waist-length jacket with no tails, is a unique clothing item from the Regency Era. Its creation is credited to George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834), though there are many versions of the origin story.
The Contents of a Lady’s Handbag
The Year Was 1854
In the early 19th century, women began to use small ornamental handbags in which personal items were carried. A purse was something quite different. A purse was simply a satchel in which only coins were carried since they were heavy and would soon wear holes in any pocket. Consequently, coins were often contained within their own case made of metal, leather or reinforced fabric.
Fashion of the 1850s for both men and women were colorful, sumptuous in style with luxurious fabrics. Sewing machines were increasingly available and the cage crinoline underpinned the dress silhouette.
Women’s dresses were made of lush fabrics often obtained from overseas markets. Silk and velvet were favorites along with beautiful polished cottons loomed largely in England for wear in warmer weather. Dress shapes consisted of fitted bodices to the waist and full bell skirts that were accessorized with ruffles, multiple trims, flowers, and layered flounces. Tight boned corsets narrowed the appearance of the waist but often reduced the natural breathing ability of the women laced within. Fainting,, especially in hot weather, was not unusual. Smelling salts were kept close at hand.
Pupusas Express -- NOW OPEN
In the Annandale Shopping Center on Columbia Pike at Gallows
Now Open in the Annandale Shopping Center is a much awaited new dining experience known as Pupusas Express. (7042 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003) Delicious, spotlessly clean and friendly, this eatery will delight the young and the young at heart. The menu reflects the traditional Salvadoran dishes offered at affordable prices certain to please every budget.
Known for their warm hospitality and exceptionally quick and courteous service, they have now expanded to four locations. If you are unfamiliar with Salvadoran cuisine, the staff will be happy to discuss ingredients and walk you through the menu offerings.
The traditional Salvadoran foods are a mix of Native American cuisines from indigenous groups and influences from European (Spanish) cuisine. Many of the dishes are made with maize (corn) in one form or another. There is also a heavy use of pork, chicken, and seafood.
El Salvador's most notable dish is the pupusa, a thick handmade corn flour or rice flour flatbread stuffed with cheese, cooked ground pork, chicken, refried beans, or vegetables.
Since most are only $2.40 each, you can afford to try a few combinations. Condiments accompanying the pupusas are pickled-cabbage (a cole slaw known as curitido) and tomato sauce.
A favorite Salvadoran specialty is pupusa stuffed with cheese and the loroco flower. Fernaldia pandurate is a vine with edible flowers known as loroco flowers grown throughout Mexico and Central America and is an important source of food in El Salvador and Guatemala. The plant's buds and flowers are used for cooking in a variety of ways, including in pupusas. At Pupusas Express a special pupusa is stuffed with cheese and the loroco 
flower.
Other well-known Salvadoran dishes include carne guisada (a saucy beef stew with potatoes and carrots), carne asada (grilled steak), Camarones a la Crema (Sauteed shrimp mixed with onions, green peppers and cream), Ceviche de Camaron (lime cooked shrimp), various Tacos, Quesadillas, and Fajitas.
SOUP-SOUP, YOU MUST TRY THE SOUP
Don’t overlook their four soup offerings as they are of special note.
In the Annandale Shopping Center
on Columbia Pike at Gallows Road
7042 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
571-378-0018
www.pupusasexpress.com
Open Monday thru Saturday 11 am
to 10 pm, closed on Sunday
Free delivery within 4 miles and a minimum $12.00 order.
Dr. Mudd's House & Museum
Explore Local History
Dr. Mudd’s 19th century farmhouse in Waldorf, MD became an historic site when president Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. At Dr. Mudd’s, Booth received medical treatment for a broken fibula received when Booth jumped from the President’s theatre box to the stage at Ford’s Theatre in Washington. Booth had just shot the President..
This farmhouse is cozy and bright, and very typical of farmhouse architecture of the mid 19th century. The house features wide plank floors, small bedrooms with multiple beds, fireplaces in each room, well lit from multiple windows and white painted walls. Empire furnishings of fine craftsmanship and an impressive array of tableware and accoutrements adorn a gracious dining room table and sideboards. In the parlor, many Mudd family antiques remain including the sofa where Booth’s broken leg was examined.
Only a fifty minute drive brings you to this historic site and a rather fascinating tour. Docents, in period dress, provide a thorough and friendly tour of both floors and a captivating 1860’s kitchen filled with period pots, jars, utensils, cooking stoves and fires. This kitchen equipment was characteristic of the time and had been in use for centuries but only remained operational for another 50 years. After electricity reached the rural communities kitchens changed forever.
READ MORE
MEET THE ARTISAN: Bob Simoniz
Ye Old Toymaker and Wood Carver
Bob Simoniz first started in crafts after graduating from Virginia Tech and marring his wife Maureen in 1968. He began with leathercraft and placed items in a consignment store in Crystal City near where he worked for the Naval Sea Systems Command. One day the owner asked if he could make wooden toys since she was having problems with her current artisan. That set Bob on the path to creating numerous toys over a period of several years.
During this period he made furniture for his family and eventually for friends. When he bought their current home in 1976, he finished off the lower level adding a family room and two bedrooms managing the construction and wiring himself. Later he added a garage and built a 14x16 addition. With the exception of pouring the foundation, Bob and his wife designed and provided all the labor. When Bob was in college, he worked summers as a helper for an Electrical Construction Company in Lynchburg, VA where he learned the electrical trade.
Over the years of building furniture, Bob always wanted to try wood carving. In 1989, he finally bought a kit and carved a very rough Santa which he still has. Until about 15 years ago, his main carvings were Santa's and snowmen for personal Christmas gifts (usually between 11-15 gifts a year). After taking a class on chip carving with Barry McKenzie, Bob began carving icicles as Christmas gifts. His next door neighbor was ordering 35 for gifts each Christmas.
Then he added Welsh Lovespoons. Lovespoons have been made and given for about 350 years. The earliest example dates to 1667 and can be seen in the Welch Museum in Cardiff although the majority on exhibit date to the 18th and 19th century. They are ornately carved spoons made from a single piece of wood and given by a young suitor as a love token to show his intentions. Tradition has it that the spoon was equivalent to a proposal of marriage. Numerous symbols can be carved into a single spoon expressing the entwining of lives forever, the intention to support her, the number of children envisioned, fidelity, and eternal happiness are but a few. Bob says that he has carved some complex love spoons just for the challenge. Now they are a labor of love.
READ MORE
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Farmers Markets in Annandale
Organized by the Fairfax County Park Authority, these Farmers' Markets offer a wide variety of freshly picked fruits, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers. There are also fresh eggs, baked goods, fresh pasta, honey, jam, teas and cider to purchase. Milk and cheese products, and homemade ice cream, along with a wide array of meat products, round out the edible delights offered. If gardening is an interest, many vendors have small plants at the beginning of the season, while other vendors have larger landscape plants for those ambitious projects. Master Gardener Plant Clinic on site, at both Mason District and Wakefield Park, to answer questions about plants in your landscape.
Vendors must grow, raise, or produce their own products within a 125 mile radius. The mission of these markets is to support local agriculture within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed area. See the website of each market in advance as some Covid restrictions may apply.
Annandale Market
opens Thursday, May 6, 2021
Mason District Park
6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
Thursdays May 6 - November 4, 2021
8:00 AM to NOON
Master Gardener Plant Clinic on site to answer questions about
plants in your landscape.
Directions: Beltway (Route 495) exit 52B (Little River Turnpike, Route 236) east 2 miles to left at John Marr Drive and right on Columbia Pike to park entrance on right just before Sleepy Hollow Road. 703-941-1730.
Chamber Membership is an Effective Business Strategy
According to a recent study conducted by the Shapiro Group:
“When consumers know a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 49% more likely to think favorably of that business, and 80% more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.” For more information on benefits when joining the Annandale Chamber of Commerce please see......
Membership Information.
Trust Properties
Trust Properties was founded in 1994 and is committed to providing a broad range of Commercial Real Estate Services throughout the Greater Washington Metropolitan area. Staffed by knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated career professionals, Trust Properties takes pride in delivering impeccable levels of service and exceptional results to their clients and customers.
Greg McGillicuddy is a Vice President and Principal Broker at Trust Properties. Greg grew up in Arlington and returned here after completing his studies at Harvard and Hopkins. Greg is one of the most knowledgeable brokers in local real estate, with more than 27 years of experience in the sales and leasing of office, retail and industrial properties and has managed more than two million square feet of properties in the Greater Metro area, including numerous properties here in Annandale. READ MORE
LAMBROS GOLDSMITH AND FINE JEWELRY
Sparkling, even inspiring are the jewelry designs exhibited in abundance at this charming retailer. Lambros and Jayne Magiafas, goldsmith and geologist, are a team made in Jewelers Heaven. Lambros began his goldsmith apprenticeship at the age of 12 in his native Greece while Jayne started her career in the US at the age of 16.
Lambros Goldsmiths is a family owned and operated, full service Fine Jewelry retailer. Founded in 1987, Lambros Goldsmiths has been serving the Fine Jewelry needs of people from around the country. Nestled in our friendly town of Annandale, Lambros Goldsmiths offers uniquely handcrafted Fine Jewelry at competitive prices. READ MORE
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Help Fill the Needs of Your Neighbors this Spring
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, the need for food donations is greater than ever before. Your support will go a long way in helping to bring relief to our most vulnerable neighbors. For more information or, to donate now, click HERE.
ACCA collects food donations on weekdays with the exception of County Holidays and other scheduled closings from 1 – 5 pm at the food pantry across from Giant Food on Columbia Pike (trailer separate from the day care center) in Annandale.See their website for Saturday donation schedule.
Annandale Christian Community for Action
7200 Columbia Pike Annandale, VA 22003
703-256-0100 info@accacares.org
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Read the Latest
ENDEAVOR News Magazine
The ENDEAVOR News Magazine is the Chamber's quarterly online publication and the must read magazine in Annandale. Acquaint yourself with local businesses, community history, revitalization efforts, and issues that concern Annandale: The Crossroads of Northern Virginia TM.
The Annandale American Legion
Post 1976 is recruiting new members. Veterans and family members welcome to join. Party hall rental is free for 
all members. Call 703-408-9123 and ask for Diane Ramsey.
4206 Daniels Ave, Annandale, VA 22003
(behind the Bank of America building
on Columbia Pike)
Mondays and Thursdays
The Annandale Volunteer Fire Dept. BINGO
Temporarily Halted due to Covid
Doors opening at 4:30pm – Early Birds start at 6:45pm – Regular Sessions starts 7:45pm
- 42” LCD TV monitors display next ball to be called.
- Must be 14 yrs of age to play bingo at AVFD.
- ATM machine available.
- Bingo Hotline is 703-941-1328
- Non-smoking inside format
7128 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003
Ample parking on site. www.avfd.org
Wednesdays at 6 PM
Annandale Boys & Girls Club BINGO
Annandale Boys & Girls Club BINGO
This weekely event is held at Annandale's
American Legion Bicentennial Post 1976
4206 Daniels Ave. . Annandale, VA 22003
located directly behind the Bank of America on Columbia Pike.
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Youth Sports & Summer Camps
in Annandale are best represented by:
Annandale Boys & Girls Club
Lee's Hapmudo Martial Arts Studio
Kenwood School Summer Day Camp
Homeless & Hypothermia Shelters
in Northern Virginia through Fredericksburg (Fairfax, Loudoun, Culpepper, Arlington, Alexandria, and Prince William Counties, plus Manassas & Manassas Park, can be found at: www.novaregion.org/DocumentCenter/View/11750
Office to Prevent and End Homelessness: 703-324-9492 https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/
Families with children who need shelter must contact Coordinated Services Planning at (703) 222-0880 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm to gain access. After business hours, families with children in need of shelter should go directly to the nearest family shelter.
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Local Web Links:
Annandale Acres
Annandale Boys & Girls Club Blog
Annandale: Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Annandale Revitalization Committee
Annandale Shopping Center
Braddock District Supervisor
Broyhill Park
Danbury Forrest
Elan Mews/Royal Court
ENDEAVOR News Magazine
Fairfax County Community Associations
Fairfax County Government
Fairfax County Schools
Falls Church News Press
Holmes Run Acres
Lafayette Village
Lake Barcroft
Leewoods
Long Branch
Mason District Supervisor
Mosaic District (Merrifield)
Oak Hill
Ravensworth-Bristow
Raymondale
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow Woods
Tysons Corner
Washington Post
Woodburn Homes
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