Author: Angela Woolsey

Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.

Around Town

Citibank unveils new design at grand opening of Vienna branch

By Angela Woolsey
Citibank in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Citibank has officially joined the assortment of financial institutions dotting the Town of Vienna.

After starting operations on Jan. 27, the New York-based bank celebrated the grand opening of its newest D.C.-area branch at 201 Maple Avenue East yesterday (Tuesday) morning. The event included a ribbon-cutting, remarks from local elected officials and snacks courtesy of neighbors Call Your Mother and Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee.

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Around Town

Women’s Storytelling Festival returns to Fairfax City this week for a sixth year

By Angela Woolsey
Andrea Kamens from Boston performs at the 2024 Women's Storytelling Festival (courtesy Better Said Than Done)

More than a dozen female spoken-word artists, authors and performers from around the country will convene in Fairfax City this week for the 2025 Women’s Storytelling Festival.

Now in its sixth year, the festival organized by local nonprofit Better Said Than Done serves as a showcase for the art of storytelling, which is defined as any performance of a story — a personal narrative or folk tale, for example — in front of a live audience.

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Around Town

Chinese restaurant chain from New Jersey plans expansion to Vienna

By Angela Woolsey
Chef Tan will open in the former Zenola space at Danor Plaza in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A chain of Chinese restaurants specializing in Hunan cuisine could soon make the leap from the Garden State to Northern Virginia.

Chef Tan, which originated in New Jersey over a decade ago, has landed on Danor Plaza in Vienna for its first location in the D.C. area. The restaurant will take over the former Zenola space next to Norm’s Beer and Wine at 132 Branch Road SE.

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Around Town

Lakeside Asia Cafe announces reopening date in Reston after extended closure

By Angela Woolsey
Lakeside Asia Cafe at South Lakes Village Center in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — Lakeside Asia Cafe didn’t reopen on March 18 as previously advertised. In an updated announcement on its website, the restaurant now says it will open its doors again on April 1.

Earlier: By this time tomorrow (Tuesday), Lakeside Asia Cafe should be back up and running.

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News

Vienna proposes flat property tax rate, sets aside funds for aquatics facility in budget

By Angela Woolsey
Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna plans to stick with its current real estate tax rate, breaking from the hikes floated by many of its neighbors in Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, the Town of Herndon and Fairfax City.

However, rising property values will still result in higher bills for most residents, while enabling the town to fund employee pay raises, an initial allocation toward a potential swimming pool and fitness center, and other priorities, according to the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget released on March 5 by Vienna Town Manager Mercury Payton.

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News

Great Falls man who ran laser tag businesses sentenced for tax and investment fraud

By Angela Woolsey
Stock and crypto market trends (via Maxim Hopman on Unsplash)

A Great Falls businessman has been ordered to serve prison time and pay restitution for stealing nearly $4.5 million from the IRS and his customers.

A federal judge sentenced Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, on Friday (March 14) to six years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and intentionally failing to report and pay taxes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced.

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Countywide

N. Va. colleges offer free job training, arts tickets to recently laid-off federal workers

By Angela Woolsey
Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Local colleges have joined the rush to support workers affected by the Trump administration’s broad purge of the federal government’s ranks.

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), the biggest public higher education institution in Virginia, launched a NOVA New Employment, Exploration and Transition program (NOVAnext) on Wednesday (March 12) that will give laid-off federal workers and contractors free access to select classes and employment workshops.

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News

NEW: Herndon appoints new police chief, ousting leader who clashed with Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey
New Herndon Police Chief Steven Pihonak (courtesy Town of Herndon)

Maggie DeBoard is officially out as head of the Herndon Police Department.

The Town of Herndon announced yesterday (Thursday) that Captain Steven T. Pihonak has been appointed as its new police chief, just over a month after DeBoard was placed on administrative leave for reasons the town declined to disclose. Pihonak was serving in the role on an acting basis since Feb. 12.

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News

FCPD: Man tried to sexually assault woman he offered a ride

By Angela Woolsey
A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

An Alexandria man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault a woman in Hybla Valley.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the woman was walking in the area in the early morning of Sunday, March 9 “when an unknown man approached her in a vehicle.”

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News

Reston Community Center revives annual prom dress giveway

By Angela Woolsey
Promotional display for Reston Community Center's 23rd annual Diva Central Formal and Prom Dress Giveaway (courtesy RCC)

For students looking to freshen up their look for an upcoming school dance, Reston Community Center (RCC) has you covered.

The community center will bring back its annual Diva Central Formal and Prom Dress Giveaway for a 23rd year on Saturday, March 22. The one-day-only event at RCC Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza North) offers students an opportunity to pick out formal clothes and accessories for free.

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