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

During Ramadan, Shotted Coffee in Tysons becomes a nightly hotspot for the local Muslim community

By Angela Woolsey
The coffee shop Shotted has become a popular spot during Ramadan due to its late hours (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Shotted may be the only coffee shop in Fairfax County with a midnight rush.

Where most coffeehouses see business peak in the morning or late afternoon as patrons drop in before and after work, the Tysons Corner Center kiosk comes to life at night — particularly during Ramadan, which began this year on March 22 and will end with the holiday Eid al-Fitr on Thursday (April 20).

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News

UPDATED: Major fire breaks out in Annandale residential neighborhood

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County firefighters extinguish a brush fire in the 6900 block of Alpine Drive (via FCFRD/Twitter)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Fairfax County firefighters have descended on a forested residential neighborhood in Annandale in an effort to extinguish a two-alarm brush fire.

About a dozen units were dispatched to the 6900 block of Alpine Drive at 2:47 p.m. for a house fire, according to scanner traffic on OpenMHz.

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Around Town

Taste of upcoming Capital One Center eateries planned at spring ‘Perchfest’

By Angela Woolsey
Visitors hang out by the Perch Putt food trucks at Capital One Center (courtesy Capital One Center)

The new Sisters Thai in Tysons remains a work in progress, but community members will get a taste of what’s to come next month at Perchfest.

Set for May 19-21, the spring edition of Capital One Center’s biannual festival at The Perch (1803 Capital One Drive) will feature food tents for three of the development’s upcoming restaurants, along with live music, lawn games and other activities offered in the past.

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Around Town

Lidl will offer sneak peek of Chantilly grocery store before grand opening next month

By Angela Woolsey
Lidl will open its new store in Chantilly on May 3 (courtesy Lidl)

Lidl is almost ready to introduce itself to the Chantilly community.

The German grocer announced today (Thursday) that its store at the Chantilly Crossing shopping center (14445 Chantilly Crossing Lane) will officially open to customers on Wednesday, May 3.

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News

NEW: Pimmit Hills residents brace for court battle over gas pipeline planned through neighborhood

By Angela Woolsey
Pimmit Hills community members rally against Washington Gas' proposed natural gas pipeline in 2020 (courtesy Devin Buries)

Cheers went up after the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) ruled last year that a natural gas pipeline planned through the residential neighborhood of Pimmit Hills will need to be reviewed and approved by the county.

However, even when proposing that decision on Feb. 2, 2022 after a multi-day public hearing, BZA Vice Chairman James Hart acknowedged that the case over the sixth phase of Washington Gas’ Strip 1 Tysons project was likely headed to court.

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News

JUST IN: Rumors of student bringing gun to Glasgow MS lead to boost in police presence

By Angela Woolsey
Glasgow Middle School (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 10:55 p.m.) The presence of Fairfax County police and school security has been enhanced at Glasgow Middle School in Lincolnia today (Thursday) in response to rumors that a student might bring a gun.

Fairfax County Public Schools is working with the Fairfax County Police Department to investigate “third and fourth hand anonymous rumors” that a student had threatened to bring a gun to the school today, Glasgow principal Victor Powell said in a message sent to families last night (Wednesday).

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News

Dominion Square affordable housing project hopes to start construction by end of year

By Angela Woolsey
A rendering of the proposed Dominion Square affordable housing development in Tysons (courtesy KGD Architecture)

If everything goes according to plan, the all-affordable housing complex planned near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons could break ground this December.

The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will issue up to $99 million in tax-exempt bonds to support construction of half of the Dominion Square project, which will deliver over 500 apartments for households earning 60% or less of the area median income (AMI).

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News

Funds needed to replace ‘unsafe’ Lake Accotink Park playground

By Angela Woolsey
Lake Accotink Park sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lake Accotink Park’s playground has seen better days, not unlike the lake itself.

The Fairfax County Park Authority closed the playground at the popular Springfield park in November after an inspector determined the rusting equipment was “unsafe for use,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said at a Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

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Around Town

Jewelry store Kendra Scott to open at Tysons Corner Center with weekend of giveaways

By Angela Woolsey
The jewelry store Kendra Scott will open at Tysons Corner Center on April 21, 2023 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Jewelry worn by stars like actor Kristen Bell and singer Kelly Clarkson will soon be for sale at Tysons Corner Center.

Texas-based designer Kendra Scott is planning a three-day grand opening to celebrate the arrival of her new, 2,653-square-foot store at the mall, where it’ll be located next to Lululemon.

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Countywide

Risk of wildfires elevated today in D.C. area, National Weather Service warns

By Angela Woolsey
Above-average temperatures for April are forecast for the D.C. today (via NWS/Twitter)

Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area should be on alert for potential outdoor fire hazards today (Wednesday), the National Weather Service says.

A combination of wind gusts and dry weather has created an “elevated threat” of wildfires throughout the region until the early evening, according to a special weather statement issued just after 9 a.m.

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