The Express Food Mart in Annandale (via Google Maps)
One recent customer of the Express Food Mart in Annandale is now a millionaire — at least before taxes kick in.
A lottery ticket sold by the convenience store at 4713 Backlick Road resulted in a $1 million prize for the not-yet-identified buyer, Virginia Lottery announced on Sunday (Dec. 14).
Traffic entering and leaving Maryland on the American Legion Bridge on Nov. 8, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Like many local and state officials in Virginia, the Trump administration appears to be growing impatient with a perceived lack of progress by Maryland to replace the American Legion Memorial Bridge.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced last week (Dec. 9) that the Federal Highway Administration will seek feedback and proposals on ways to accelerate the delivery of a new bridge in the hopes of relieving congestion on the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-270).
Address:706 Blueberry Hill Rd Neighborhood: MERRYWOOD ON THE POTOMAC Type: 4 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA townhouse – 4407 sq. ft. Listed: $1,625,000
Noteworthy: LUSH LOT WITH SPARKLING POOL! AMAZING LOCATION! SWOON WORTHY UPGRADES!
Breathtaking on Blueberry Hill ! Extraordinary End townhome boasting exceptional natural light, is sited beautifully on a cul-de-sac in majestic Merrywood on the Potomac. This idyllic enclave is known for its remarkable sylvan setting and strategic location just moments to the Chain Bridge, GW Parkway and Tyson’s Corner. Live the luxury lifestyle with lawn care/mowing, snow removal and trash pick up all included in your fee. PLUS, community tennis courts add to the amenity rich community. Enjoy designer inspired finishes, and swoon worthy updates, including two marble baths in the upper level Primary Suite, oversized upper level laundry room and updated chef’s kitchen with center island and a view of nothing but nature AND the Potomac River! The expansive fenced corner lot, with captivating heated pool, is your personal club with more than enough room for soccer and socializing. And, for an elevated view of this wonderland, relax in the solarium just off the formal dining room. The lower level recreation room, with wet bar, is an entertainer’s delight and house guest’s dream with large bedroom, full bath and, for everyone, access to the pool. Add to all of this a one car main level entry garage opening to the kitchen and the prestige that comes with living among history. 3 Upper Level Bedrooms with Huge Closets Hardwood Floors under carpet in Upper Level Secondary Bedrooms An easy stroll to the Community Tennis Courts around the corner.
Runners pass the Herndon Community Center during one of the town's Herndon Festival races (courtesy Herndon Parks and Recreation Department)
In 1976, Jimmy Carter won the presidential election over the Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, Queen Elizabeth traveled to Virginia for the nation’s bicentennial, and “Happy Days” was appointment TV for millions of Americans.
That same year, the Town of Herndon created its Parks and Recreation Department with just one full-time staffer and one Fairfax County-owned park.
Some snow remains on a trail leading into East Blake Lane Park in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Federal Agency Investigating Fatal Taxi Crash — “The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Tuesday that it would be launching an investigation into a fatal crash in Fairfax County that happened one day earlier. One person was killed and three people were injured in a crash involving a Metrobus, a taxi cab and a minivan.” [DC News Now]
ICYMI: Bulova Wins Democratic Primary — Democratic voters in Virginia’s 11th House District nominated Gretchen Bulova in a quick firehouse primary yesterday (Tuesday) “to succeed her husband, David Bulova, after the delegate resigned last Friday (Dec. 12) to accept an appointment in Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.” [FFXnow]
D.C. Region Joins Uber Lawsuit — “Nineteen states, including Virginia, Maryland and D.C., filed a joint lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission against Uber on Monday. The complaint says Uber didn’t follow through on advertised savings, charged consumers during their free trial periods, and signed up users for Uber One without their consent.” [WTOP]
Virginia Honors Civil Rights Activist With Statue — A statue of Barbara Rose Johns was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol yesterday (Tuesday), replacing one of Confederate General Robert E. Lee as a representation of Virginia in the visitor center’s Emancipation Hall. At 16, Johns organized a walkout at her high school in Farmville to protest conditions at the segregated facility, setting the stage for the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. [NPR]
Metro Funding Question Goes to General Assembly — “As the Virginia legislature prepares to return to Richmond, the ball is in lawmakers’ court to respond to what Metro and regional officials say is a crucial moment for transit in Northern Virginia and the D.C. region. They will also have to weigh Metro’s needs with a panoply of other budget pressures facing the commonwealth.” [WAMU]
Local Soldier Reunites With Family — “Volunteers were hard at work inside the American Red Cross office in Fairfax Monday night. They were packing stockings and writing cards for patients at military hospitals at Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed. Little did the Konczal family know, as they arrived, that their son, US Army PFC Patrick Konczal, was there too.” [WUSA9]
Tysons Event Planning Company Buys Startup — “Cvent, a portfolio company of private equity giant Blackstone, announced Monday it has acquired Goldcast, a fast-growing Boston startup that uses artificial intelligence to produce video content for events and webinars. A deal price was not disclosed, but Axios reported Cvent paid just under $300 million in cash.” [Washington Business Journal]
Pickleball Tournament Raises Funds for Youth — “A pickleball tournament on Saturday at the Down the Line Sports Center in Annandale raised funds for Asian American LEAD, an organization that supports after-school leadership development programs for Asian American youths. The event featured a pickleball clinic, recreational games, and a tournament for competitive players.” [Annandale Today]
It’s Wednesday — Expect mostly sunny conditions today, as the temperature reaches a high near 49 degrees. The southwest wind of about 7 mph will shift west in the afternoon. For Wednesday night, the sky will be partly cloudy, with the temperature dropping to around 30 degrees, accompanied by a light and variable wind. [NWS]
Voters enter the Jim Scott Community Center for the 11th House District Democratic primary on Dec. 16, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Virginia’s 11th House District will likely be represented by another Bulova, starting next year.
Democratic voters in the district nominated Gretchen M. Bulova in a quick firehouse primary today (Tuesday) to succeed her husband, David Bulova, after the delegate resigned last Friday (Dec. 12) to accept an appointment in Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.
Expect increasing clouds and a high of around 48 degrees, with southwest winds at around 7 mph, shifting to the west in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low of approximately 29 degrees, as the northwest wind at 5 mph becomes calm in the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
Nikita Joy of the Foundation for Aviation Safety, left, and Nadia Milleron of Sheffield, Mass., whose daughter Samya Stumo was killed in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, listen as FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford speaks during a hearing of the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday he won’t forget the 67 people who died when an airliner collided with an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January, insisting he won’t allow operations in the airspace over the nation’s capital to revert back to the way they were before the crash.
Mandy Nicksolat speaks to county supervisors (screenshot via Fairfax County)
They had signed up to make public comments at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ final meeting of 2025, and about five hours behind schedule, they finally got the opportunity.
The public comment period provided at select board meetings typically is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., but because it is the last item on the agenda, it can start late.