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

Fairfax City lines up artisans and businesses for new retail incubator store

By Angela Woolsey
The retail incubator store Wander In will showcase over 30 artisans and small businesses in Old Town Fairfax (courtesy OTFBA)

The winter gift-giving season has come to a close, but a new retail incubator store in Fairfax City will encourage the community to shop local year-round.

Set for a grand opening at 10 a.m. this Saturday (Dec. 30), Wander In will host more than two dozen painters, candle-makers and other artisans in a shared retail space at 3950 University Drive, Suite 211 in Old Town Plaza.

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Countywide

FCPD arrests 10 men in crackdown on online sexual solicitations of minors

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County police arrested 10 men in a sting operation focused on online solicitations of sex from children (courtesy FCPD)

Almost a dozen men, whose jobs reportedly range from technology worker to yoga instructor, have been charged with attempting to solicit sex from children after a three-day sting operation by the Fairfax County Police Department.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis announced this morning that 10 men were arrested as a result of “Operation ADC Express 2,” which began on Dec. 18 and involved undercover detectives with the department’s Child Exploitation Unit posing online as 13 or 14-year-old teens.

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Around Town

Mimi’s Handmade ice cream shop arrives at the Mosaic District

By Angela Woolsey
Mimi's Handmade is now open at the Mosaic District in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Mimi’s Handmade is now chilling at the Mosaic District in Merrifield.

The ice cream maker quietly opened its newest shop at 2985 District Avenue, Suite 160, about a month ago, owner Rollin Amore told FFXnow yesterday (Wednesday).

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News

FCPD: Teen arrested after trying to sexually assault Chantilly woman

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County police vehicle (file photo)

A teen was arrested this weekend for forcing his way into a Chantilly woman’s home and allegedly attempting to sexually assault her.

Officers were initially called to the 14600 block of Northwest Place in the Meadows of Chantilly neighborhood at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 23) after getting a 911 hang-up call, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

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News

Improved accessibility, amenities coming to Wolf Trap National Park in new year

By Angela Woolsey
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is getting a new Meadow Commons concessions building (courtesy of Wolf Trap)

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts won’t unveil the artists booked for its upcoming summer season for a few more weeks, likely in late January or early February. But regardless of who’s on stage, Filene Center visitors can expect at least one improvement in 2024: an updated concessions area.

Construction on the new Meadow Commons building began in September after the demolition of the existing concessions stand, which had served patrons since the Filene Center opened in 1971.

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News

When and where residents can dispose of Christmas trees in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey
Christmas trees for sale at the Pan Am Shopping Center in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Christmas Day has come and gone, but the trees festooned with lights and tinsel for the occasion need to stay up for another week if you’re counting on a curbside pickup.

For the roughly 10% of residents served by Fairfax County, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will collect live trees for recycling from Jan. 1-13 as part of its regular waste services.

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Around Town

Family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant Guapo’s now open in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey
The Tex-Mex restaurant Guapo's recently opened a location at Gatehouse Plaza in Merrifield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:05 p.m. on 1/2/2024) The Rincon family business has officially staked a claim in Merrifield.

The Tex-Mex chain Guapo’s, which the Rincons have owned since 1990, welcomed diners to its new location in Gatehouse Plaza for the first time last Thursday (Dec. 21). The building at 3052 Gate House Plaza was last occupied by Chevys Fresh Mex, which closed over four years ago now, per Annandale Today.

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Around Town

What’s open and closed in Fairfax County for Christmas 2023

By Angela Woolsey
Visitors pose by the Christmas tree in Strawberry Park at the Mosaic District (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Local government offices are closing early today (Friday) to give staff a head start on Christmas weekend.

With Christmas Eve falling on Sunday (Dec. 24) this year, Fairfax County, Fairfax City and the towns of Vienna and Herndon are all instead observing the occasion with a half-day today. All local government offices will shut down at noon, though schedules vary for some other public facilities and services.

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News

NOW: Child hit by driver while walking near Chantilly High School

By Angela Woolsey
Stringfellow Road and Poplar Tree Road in Chantilly (via Google Maps)

A child has been hospitalized after they were hit by a driver just down the road from Chantilly High School.

Fairfax County police officers responded to the intersection of Stringfellow Road and Poplar Tree Road around 5:09 p.m. for the crash, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.

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Around Town

Illuminate Fairfax art installations light up Old Town for the winter

By Angela Woolsey
One of four Illuminate Fairfax artworks, artist Robin Vuchnich's "Swell No. 1" is projected onto the Ratcliff-Allison-Pozer House (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

A new art initiative is bringing light to Old Town Fairfax, just as winter and the darkest days of the year arrive.

Illuminate Fairfax officially launched last Friday (Dec. 15), but the last and biggest artwork was installed just yesterday (Wednesday), according to Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED).

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