November 8, 2025, FROM 12:00 TO 3:00
Artisans United Holiday Show Open House
Craft demonstrations, Food, and More
Start your holiday shopping with handmade work by local artists. Join us for food, festivities and fun for all ages.
4022 Hummer Road
Annandale, VA
In the Fred M. Packard Center in the Annandale Community Park
Families in Fairfax County are feeling the effects of the federal shutdown—right now.
Thousands are seeing essential benefits like SNAP, housing assistance, and job-linked programs delayed or reduced. Many are waiting weeks—or months—for help they rely on to feed their families and stay housed.
SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, has never faced a disruption like this. More than 800,000 Virginians depend on it to put food on the table.
The Commonwealth has launched the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program to provide temporary relief—but it’s not enough. Benefits are smaller, and new applicants—including furloughed federal workers—can’t apply at all.
When safety nets fail, FACETS becomes the safety net.
Here’s how FACETS is responding—right now—and how your support makes it possible:
✅ Providing emergency food for families who’ve lost SNAP benefits
✅ Expanding case management to help households navigate missing paychecks
✅ Preventing eviction with emergency financial assistance
✅ Keeping our Hot Meals program running daily so no one goes hungry
Your neighbors need help now. Please give today to help families weather the shutdown with strength—and thank you for being a lifeline when our community needs you most.
MAKE A DONATION
Roads & Rage
Proposed Road Diet for Annandale and Gallows Road
The entire Gallows Road upgrade is expected to take 15 to 20 years to complete, although some short and middle-term improvements could be done sooner.
The preferred option for the southern segment of Gallows Road includes these configurations.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) has been proposing for some time to reconfigure Annandale Road during the summer/fall 2025. The proposed road diet will repurpose two of the four lanes of vehicle traffic between Little River Turnpike and Gallows Road by adding a center turn lane and bike lanes. The benefits of road diets include safety improvements, traffic calming, and better mobility access for all users. Each lane will be shrunk from 14 to 11 feet in width.
By removing or repurposing lanes devoted to vehicle traffic, the overall impact is typically fewer cars on that road and reduced travel speeds, often for the relatively low cost of restriping, according to the transportation department. Ideally this configuration would also reduce rear-end collisions since turns will take place from the center lane traffic study showed that a road diet would add slight traffic delays at key intersections.
Road diets have been successful in reducing the number of cars on the road but often that means those cars are diverting to neighborhood side streets. In recent years FCDOT reports traffic actually declined on Annandale Road – from an average of 16,000 cars per day in 2019 to 13,850 in 2022. Of course this was during the height of the pandemic when
road traffic declined on all roads.
Pedestrians crossing are supposed to be safer since pedestrians are able to stop in the center of the street (providing no cars are turning and traveling in the middle lane) rather than having to wait for a gap in traffic. Pedestrian refuge islands and additional crosswalks could be added in the future but are not part of the road diet proposal. Pedestrian refuge islands are MOST unlikely since they would need to be built in the middle turn lane. Pedestrian crossings will continue to be hazardous under this road diet plan without signalized crosswalks.
What is not taken into account is that the many residential neighborhoods whose drivers utilize Annandale Road are too distant to walk or bike to shops and services let alone bring back the shopping. Annandale was built as a commuter community with all commercial property built in the center and residential built in the surround. It was built for vehicular shopping and that will not change despite road diets and bike lanes.
Disadvantages of a Road Diet:
- Emergency vehicles do not have space to pass, leading to longer response times endangering people and homes.
- Added congestion during commute periods.
- Road Rage can be a problem.
- Drivers divert to side streets through side streets making neighborhoods less safe when faced with long lines of traffic waiting to cycle through lights.
- City buses can cause long lines of traffic when picking up or dropping off passengers.
Currently the Dept of Transportation is running an online survey for comments from the public. Be assured, this is simply a PR exercise and will NOT change thee plan. Once VDOT decides their preferred course of action, they will not be moved by public sentiment.
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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.
VIEW ON NATURE: DAMSELS IN DRESS
Once in a while, Nature sparkles. Its always in a moist place —a wetland, pond, creek, or a slow-moving river where I glimpse glints of iridescent and color. That’s where the magic known as damselflies lives.
To me, no other life form harkens summer like these uniquely dainty group of colorful insects. They are related to dragonflies, the subject of my earlier ENDEAVOR article. but differ in distinct ways. Whereas dragonflies have stockier bodies and spread their double wings flat when resting, damselflies are much more slender and dainty, and close their winds upright when at rest.
The current inventory of damselflies by the VA Department of Conservation and Recreation shows Virginia to be host to one of the most diverse damselfly environments of any state or province in North America with 55 documented damselflies species!
Damselflies look primitive because their lineage is. Fossil records show prehistoric species similar to today’s species, but much larger.
Their colors range from dull camouflage and beautiful sky blues and reds, to shiny metallic greens. They also widely range in size from minute 3/4 inch to large 7 1/2 inches.
Damselflies are mostly found near shallow, still or slow moving freshwater marshes, wetlands, ponds, creeks and rivers. I’ve always enjoyed watching these graceful insects unusually slender bodies bobbing in flight with every flap. I’ve marveled at these remarkably thin, graceful, slender insects, especially the sky blue or metallic green ones effortlessly flutter, as if immune to gravity, alight upon my fishing pole.
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Fighting The Flu
The holiday season brings joy and feelings of warmth and fellowship. But sadly, the holiday season also brings on the height of flu season. While the timing of seasonal flu activity is unpredictable and can vary, flu season is generally considered between October and May, with peaks between December and February. This common respiratory virus is easily spread, and can result in missed days at school, work, and leave you feeling lousy in the process.
Knowledge Is Power
Here are some important facts about the flu, and how to keep it from running rampant through your home and workplace.
- What Symptoms Should I Look Out For?
- High Fever Extreme Tiredness
- Dry Cough Muscle Aches
- Sore Throat Runny or Stuffy Nose
- Headache Vomiting
- Diarrhea Shortness of Breath
Usually, these symptoms have a sudden onset. Be mindful of them as soon as they present themselves to prevent spreading the virus.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Spreading or Getting the Flu?
Flu is contracted by inhaling respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. A person can also become infected by touching an object contaminated by the flu virus (possibly from a hand that covered a sneeze), and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. A person is contagious from one day before presenting symptoms, to up to seven days after getting sick.
Follow these suggestions to minimize your risks of getting or spreading the infection.
- Wash your hands often, especially after coughing, sneezing and wiping or blowing your nose.
- Use paper tissues when wiping or blowing your nose, and throw them away after use.
- Cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow instead of your bare hand.
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes; germs enter the body through these openings.
- Stay home if you have flu symptoms until you are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Stay away from crowds, if possible.
- Get a flu shot
Patient First doctors are available to discuss the best ways to fight off and treat the flu.
Contact Victoria Soriano at (571) 340-1594 or Victoria.soriano@patientfirst.com for interviews.
Patient First of Annandale
7042A Little River Turnpike
Annandale 22003 
Patient First is open 8am-8pm every day of the year, including holidays. Patient First provides non-appointment urgent care for routine injuries and illnesses, as well as primary care for patients who do not have a regular physician. Each Patient First center has on-site digital x-ray, on-site laboratory, and on-site prescription drugs.Walk in to see a physician and walk out with a whole new view of health care.
Activities Planned for Eileen Garnett Civic Space 2025
Insurance Insights
4 Types of Additions to Business Owner's Policies
Business Owner Policy or BOP is a type of business insurance. It is a basic policy providing the most common types of coverage most businesses need. Purchasing a BOP plan makes sense for many companies because combining these commonly needed policies can significantly reduce costs. However, Business Owners Policy plans do not always cover all areas of need. Most policies cover property insurance, liability insurance and business interruption insurance.
What to Add to Your BOP Plan
Making changes to your existing business insurance or adding to it is always good practice for companies who may be facing additional risks. The following are four types of commonly added coverage to BOP plans.
#1: Professional Liability Insurance
This is a higher level of liability insurance than a BOP policy offers. With the high cost of litigation, smaller businesses have a growing need for more extensive protection. If you are a medical or dental provider or other professional, you may need this coverage to protect against higher lawsuit risks.
#2: Employee Practice Insurance
Protection from employee claims against your company is also a growing need for smaller companies. Harassment claims or discrimination claims, for example, can be very costly to most businesses today. This policy can minimize those risks.
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Updated Fairfax County Urban Design Guidelines including those for Annandale
Design Guidelines provide detailed urban design and streetscape guidance that enhances the vision laid out in the Comprehensive Plan. They are intended to be used by citizens, developers, property owners, designers, Fairfax County staff, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors when proposing, designing, or reviewing development projects. The contents of the Guidelines are flexible to adapt to site-specific conditions and to encourage innovative solutions. For example, the Comprehensive Plan depicts the general configuration of streets including the location and size of sidewalks, bike lanes, transit facilities, and street trees, while the Guidelines build on the Plan’s recommendations so that streetscapes provide multiple benefits such as placemaking, stormwater, and tree canopy.
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The Police Beat
Message from the Chief Kevin Davis
Crisis Intervention Team training (CIT) is a critical skill set for our police officers, as it provides a better understanding and deeper appreciation for individuals suffering from a mental health crisis. The Fairfax County Police Department recognizes the crucial importance of CIT training, and it is vital to how we serve and safeguard our communities.
Currently, more than 400 police officers assigned to patrol have attended CIT courses, which consist of 40 hours of instruction, simulation, and practical exercises. This figure represents approximately 40% of our patrol officers, who respond to unpredictable and often risky calls for service every day in Fairfax County. To further efforts, all current police officers, as well as current and future police recruit classes attending the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy, receive basic instruction on Crisis Intervention tactics. This standard curriculum is designed to enhance an officer's capabilities and awareness upon encountering an individual in mental health crisis.
On January 1, 2016, CIT-trained officers were selected to collaborate with the Fairfax County-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) at the Merrifield Crisis Response Center (MCRC); a primary location in Fairfax County for mental health needs and services. The primary function of those CIT officers is to provide a high-level continuum of care for individuals brought to the MCRC by others for a mental health evaluation, stabilization plan, or hospitalization. The service provided by the CIT-trained officers at MCRC greatly increases the level of care and compassion for individuals suffering from a mental health crisis or illness in addition to providing a layer of security and safety for everyone.
Police officers may also divert individuals suffering from mental illness who commit low-level, low-risk offenses from entering the criminal justice system, through a program known as Diversion First. For more information on this program, please visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/diversion-first.
The Fairfax County Police Department is committed to providing exceptional service to every member of our community, without exclusion. To that end, we have bolstered our CIT efforts by implementing a Co-Responder Program where a CIT trained police officer is paired with a mental health clinician from the MCRC to respond in real time to persons in crisis. This program ensures we have the best resources available, to provide the right intervention, at the right time, by the right person.
Should you have any questions or require additional information on this program, please feel free to contact us at fcpdchiefsoffice@fairfaxcounty.gov
Sincerely,
Kevin Davis, Chief of Police
12099 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
George Mason Regional Library Programs
We're 85!
It’s hard to imagine that the 1939 Board of Supervisors could envision the success of their new library system when they budgeted a whopping $250 to support the library, but here we are, stronger than ever!
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lumbia Pike); townhouses built around it; and, a saddened Mr. Clark died two years later at age 92.
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Annandale's American Legion
Would you like to be a part of a winning organization who helps the community and has fun doing it? Are you a veteran or someone in your family a veteran? Common myth is that if you are not a veteran, you cannot join. Not true, you can join under family members. American Legion Post 1976 is always looking for new members. If anyone in your family is a veteran, you may qualify. Meeting new people in our club is a great part of the experience. We have a monthly breakfast that is the best in town. Other events include trivia, spaghetti dinners, lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday, steak dinners, karaoke and many more. We participate in the Annandale parade and toys for tots. We have a pool table, 6 televisi
ons and low prices. Lockers are also available. Email me at rpcomm6759@aol.com to see if you qualify. If you prefer, stop by the post at American Legion Post 1976, 4206 Daniels Avenue, Annandale, VA 22003. 703-941-9608 or 703-941-9460.
HALL RENTAL INFORMATION
Business Owner Policy or BOP is a type of 
We're 85!
DOT Extends Route 236/Little River Turnpike STARS Study Comment Period
