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.

Countywide

Democrats line up to run in Virginia congressional districts, even before voters approve them

By Associated Press and Angela Woolsey
Voters walk outside the Fairfax County Government Center during early voting for the Virginia redistricting referendum, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Even before Virginia voters decide on a new congressional map, Democrats are piling in to run for districts proposed under a redistricting plan that is designed to give their party a near sweep of the state’s U.S. House seats.

The latest entrant is Olivia Troye, who was an aide to former Republican Vice President Mike Pence and has become a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. She announced today (Tuesday) that she’ll run in Virginia’s newly created 7th Congressional District — one of five that would include Fairfax County — joining an already crowded field.

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Around Town

Ruthie’s All-Day to start opening at Fairfax Corner tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey
Ruthie's All-Day at Fairfax Corner (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

It will be one day more before Fairfax Corner visitors can start digging into the buttermilk biscuits and barbecued meats that have made Ruthie’s All-Day a hit in Arlington.

The Southern comfort food establishment will open its second restaurant at 11951 Grand Commons Avenue tomorrow (Wednesday), with dinner service starting at 5 p.m.

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News

Herndon office campus for Reston contractor acquired by Comstock

By Angela Woolsey
Rendering of new office building planned for Peraton at 2200 Woodland Pointe Avenue in Herndon (via Gensler/Fairfax County)

Comstock Companies is adding another office campus to its extensive collection of properties in the Silver Line corridor.

The developer, which both built and is based in Reston Station, announced last Friday (April 10) that it has acquired Woodland Pointe, a 6.77-acre office complex in the McNair area of Herndon just south of the Dulles Toll Road.

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Countywide

Fairfax could cut wellness program for people getting mental health services

By Angela Woolsey
BeWell provides one-on-one health coaching for individuals with mental illnesses and substance use challenges (courtesy HopeLink)

An Oakton-based nonprofit has been sounding an alarm about Fairfax County’s plans to eliminate funding for a key mental health program.

The fiscal year 2027 budget presented by County Executive Bryan Hill in February would terminate a $618,952 contract for BeWell, a program run by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) and the nonprofit HopeLink Behavioral Health that coaches people living with serious mental illnesses on their overall health and wellness.

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News

New arts center with all-day cafe takes shape in downtown McLean

By Angela Woolsey
The MPA Berlage Arts and Education Center is located in the Signet condominiums in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Construction is progressing at a promising clip on the McLean Project for the Arts’ (MPA) new Berlage Arts & Education Center.

The walls were still bare and some internal building systems, including lights and HVAC units, remained exposed when FFXnow took a preview tour on April 2, but it didn’t require a huge leap of imagination to picture the community destination anticipated by the nonprofit’s leaders.

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Around Town

Vienna plans 60th birthday party for first N. Va. community center

By Angela Woolsey
The current Vienna Community Center with Missy and Seth Vandable's "Taking Flight" statue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna will throw back to the 1960s next week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its community center.

The decade remembered nationally for the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and NASA’s Apollo space program, among other historical events, will be the theme of an open house hosted by the Vienna Parks and Recreation Department on April 17 to mark the milestone.

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Countywide

Fairfax delegate’s bill ending use of Confederate license plates signed into law

By Angela Woolsey
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles sign outside its Tysons customer service center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Starting this July, Virginia drivers will no longer have the option to purchase special license plates commemorating the Confederacy.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger approved House Bill 1344 from Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) on Monday (April 6) ending the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ authorization to issue or renew license plates honoring Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

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Around Town

ChalkFest returning to Reston Town Center with new poetry contest

By Angela Woolsey
ChalkFest at eARTh Day participants at work (courtesy Public Art Reston)

Public Art Reston will take over Reston Town Square Park later this month with the return of its annual ChalkFest.

The centerpiece of Reston Town Center’s eARTh Day Celebration on Saturday, April 25, the event will celebrate the literary arts for the first time as well as visual arts with the addition of a public art poetry contest.

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Countywide

BREAKING: Gov. Spanberger vetoes Fairfax County casino bill

By Angela Woolsey
A 'No Fairfax Casino' sign (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has rejected legislation that would’ve opened the door for a casino in Fairfax County.

The governor vetoed SB 756 from Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell today (Thursday) ahead of an April 13 deadline for her to take action on all of the bills passed by the General Assembly during its 2026 session.

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News

Design options unveiled for art on future Richmond Highway BRT stations

By Angela Woolsey
The planned route and stations for Fairfax County's Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit system (via FCDOT)

Fairfax County is starting to narrow down its options for the artwork that will grace its future Richmond Highway bus rapid transit (BRT) stations.

Earlier this week, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) launched a survey that asks community members to rank three different windscreen designs proposed for each of the bus service’s nine planned stations.

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