Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Apartments in Tysons, Merrifield used as illegal brothels, federal prosecutors allege

Published November 9, 2023 at 9:30AM

The Avalon Mosaic apartments in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Three men have been arrested for coercing women into sex work at “high-end” brothels in Massachusetts and Virginia, the Department of Justice announced yesterday (Wednesday).

Locations used for the brothels include units in Hanover Tysons and Avalon Mosaic, apartment buildings in Tysons and Merrifield, according to a court affidavit by a Department of Homeland Security special agent.

News

LGBTQ resource center opens library and headquarters in Oakton

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 3:30PM

The nonprofit NoVA Prism Center opened its headquarters in Oakton on Nov. 1 (courtesy NoVA Prism Center)

A nonprofit dedicated to providing resources for Northern Virginia’s LGBTQ community has officially chosen Oakton for its headquarters.

After operating as a pop-up for 18 months, NoVA Prism Center opened its first physical offices at 10467 White Granite Drive, Suite 322, on Nov. 1. Open by appointment from noon to 7 p.m. daily, the headquarters hosts a publicly accessible library, a clothing closet and events, along with the organization’s administrative base.

News

NEW: Vienna Town Council election results hinge on write-in votes

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 2:30PM

Vienna Transportation Safety Commission chair Beth Eachus ran for Vienna Town Council as a write-in candidate (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna residents will have to wait a few more days for the results of the town’s first-ever November election.

While Mayor Linda Colbert was easily reelected in an uncontested race, the makeup of next year’s town council remains less clear, thanks to a slew of write-in votes that could determine one of the six open seats.

News

Reston IT consultant ranked as fastest-growing company in D.C. area

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 1:15PM

Women looking at laptop (via Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash)

An information technology consulting firm based in Reston is growing faster than any other company in the D.C. area, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Goldschmitt and Associates topped the newspaper’s 2023 ranking of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the region, as determined by the average percentage of revenue growth it saw from 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022.

Around Town

First Watch expands with new cafes coming to Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 11:00AM

The daytime cafe First Watch will open in Franconia and Fair Lakes in 2024 (courtesy First Watch)

First Watch is bringing its avocado toast and million dollar bacon to more spots around Fairfax County.

The fast-casual cafe, which serves made-to-order food and drinks for breakfast, brunch and lunch, will open at least two more locations in the county next year — with a third potentially also in the works.

News

Remaking of Hunters Woods ballfield as neighborhood park completed in Reston

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated September 13, 2024 at 11:14AM

Trees and native plants grow in the new rain garden at the former Hunters Woods ballfield (courtesy RA)

Reston’s Hunters Woods ballfield has finished its transformation from an underutilized baseball diamond into a park with walking paths, new trees and other features is now complete.

Construction on the redevelopment started on Aug. 11 and wrapped up last week, coming in not only four months ahead of schedule, but also about 10% under approximately $400,000 budget, according to Reston Association, which owns the park.

News

FCPD: Recent ATM thefts, armed robbery in Lincolnia may be related

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 8, 2023 at 9:30AM

Police say these ATMs were damaged in a reported theft attempt and an armed robbery in Lincolnia on Nov. 7 (courtesy FCPD)

Fairfax County police are investigating potential connections between some recent ATM break-ins and armed robberies in the Lincolnia area.

Officers responded to the TD Bank in Pinecrest Plaza at 6566 Little River Turnpike around 3:08 a.m. yesterday (Tuesday) after getting a call that three people were attempting to “forcibly access” the ATM, according to a news release from the Fairfax County Police Department.

Countywide

BREAKING: Herrity is lone GOP victor as Democrats dominate Fairfax County elections

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 7, 2023 at 10:30PM | Updated November 8, 2023 at 12:39AM

Fairfax County voters went to the polls today for the 2023 general election (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 12:35 a.m. on 11/8/2023) The Democratic Party’s hold in Fairfax County remains strong, despite Republican efforts to make headway by centering issues from high taxes and “parental rights” in public education to highway tolls.

Preliminary general election results show that candidates supported by the Democrats, either officially or through endorsements, are in line to win every seat on this year’s lengthy ballot — except for Springfield District supervisor.

News

UPDATED: Firefighters face explosion while responding to ‘utility emergency’ at Bailey’s Crossroads

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 7, 2023 at 6:10PM | Updated November 7, 2023 at 8:48PM

The Fairfax County Fire and Department responds to a utility emergency at Build America Plaza in Bailey's Crossroads (via FCFRD/Twitter)

(Updated at 8:45 p.m.) An explosion occurred while Fairfax County firefighters were addressing “a utility emergency” at Build America Plaza in Bailey’s Crossroads earlier this evening (Monday).

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department personnel, including an investigator, were dispatched to the shopping center at 3819 South George Mason Drive around 4:30 p.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

Around Town

McLean Project for the Arts to celebrate art and jazz at potential second location

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 7, 2023 at 3:30PM

MPA Inspires will take place in the McLean Project for the Arts' planned new space in The Signet (via Google Maps)

The McLean Project for the Arts is going downtown, at least for a weekend, though it hopes to stay longer.

The nonprofit will launch an inaugural “MPA Inspires” celebration of art and jazz on Nov. 18-19 that will also serve as its introduction to a new space at The Signet (6910 Fleetwood Road), a seven-story condominium building with some ground-floor retail space.