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

Requests to seal criminal records soar in Fairfax County courts, as reforms take effect

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County Courthouse (file photo)

An expansion of the criminal charges eligible for record-sealing in Virginia has led to a surge in petitions for expungement to Fairfax County’s courts.

Faced with that increased caseload, the courts have moved to streamline the process by no longer requiring those petitioning for an expungement to attend a hearing, the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney announced last week.

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Around Town

Mezeh Mediterranean Grill to open tomorrow at Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey
Mezeh will open tomorrow at Tysons Corner Center (courtesy mezeh marketing team)

Mezeh is ready to open its doors at Tysons Corner Center.

A grand opening for the fast-casual Mediterranean chain’s new location at the mall will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). The restaurant is in the former Le Pain Quotidien next to Bloomingdale’s.

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News

DEVELOPING: One person pulled from overturned car in Herndon crash

By Angela Woolsey
A car overturned in a crash at Monroe Street and Woodland View Drive in Herndon (photo by Thresher Capital/Twitter)

A two-vehicle crash on Monroe Street near the Dulles Toll Road in Herndon drew a big emergency response earlier tonight (Monday).

One of the vehicles involved in the crash flipped over, trapping its occupant inside, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson William Delaney said.

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News

At vigil, Timothy Johnson’s family calls on FCPD to release unedited video of fatal shooting in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey
Melissa Johnson speaks at a vigil for her son, Timothy McCree Johnson, who was shot and killed by Fairfax County police officers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

As a steady drizzle of rain provided an appropriately somber atmosphere, the parents of Timothy McCree Johnson and their supporters gathered in front of the Fairfax County Government Center on Friday (March 3) to call for justice after his recent death in a police shooting outside Tysons Corner Center.

With support from the Fairfax County NAACP, top among the family’s demands are the continued call for an independent investigation of the shooting and the prompt release of body-worn camera footage captured by the two police officers who fired their guns.

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News

No roller rink at Mosaic District this year, but ice skating may be planned

By Angela Woolsey
Some roller skaters use the Mosaic District's temporary rink during summer 2022 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Mosaic District roller skating rink won’t come back this year, but the development is still holding out hope for ice skating in the future.

Rink Management Services Corporation, which operates Mosaic Skateland, has decided it won’t “be doing any roller skating during this warm weather season,” Fairfax County’s planning staff told the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) at a Feb. 1 meeting.

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Around Town

Play about Underground Railroad will take ‘flight’ in McLean tomorrow

By Angela Woolsey
The McLean Community Center's Alden theater will host a performance of the one-act play "Freedom Flight" (courtesy MCC)

The spirit of Black History Month will extend into March at The Alden in McLean.

For tomorrow (Saturday) only, the McLean Community Center’s theater will host a one-act play by the Ohio-based company Mad River Theater Works “that brings the history of the Underground Railroad to life,” according a news release.

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Countywide

Local Army veteran awarded Medal of Honor at White House for saving lives in Vietnam War

By Angela Woolsey
Paris Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in a Vietnam War battle that unfolded 58 years ago (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Vietnam War veteran who now lives in Fairfax County was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House today (Friday) — a recognition that supporters believe is nearly six decades overdue.

Retired Army Col. Paris Davis learned last month that he would receive the U.S. military’s highest honor for his actions in a battle against North Vietnamese forces on June 17-18, 1965, when he led an assault and saved multiple fellow soldiers despite being wounded.

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Countywide

Shootings by Fairfax County police will be reviewed by research group

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

The Fairfax County Police Department has agreed to undergo an independent review of its policies and practices after seeing an increase in shootings by officers over the past year.

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a D.C.-based nonprofit that has looked at the department before, will conduct a “broad examination” of officer shootings since 2021 to “identify any performance patterns, deficiencies, or trends,” the FCPD said today (Friday).

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Around Town

South Block’s McLean juice bar will open Monday, topping off owner’s homecoming

By Angela Woolsey
South Block's McLean juice bar will open on Monday, March 6 (courtesy Sue-Jean Kang)

(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Opening day is on the horizon for South Block’s new McLean cafe.

The local juice and smoothie chain will open its latest location at 8 a.m. on Monday in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center (6246 Old Dominion Drive), according to a spokesperson and the website.

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News

Vienna rain garden project expected to help slow traffic gets more county funding

By Angela Woolsey
A rain garden, also known as a bioretention area, at an elementary school (via Fairfax County)

A stormwater retention project in Vienna that officials say will help contain runoff and slow down traffic is set to get another infusion of Fairfax County funds.

The county’s Board of Supervisors authorized staff last week to provide an additional $54,000 for the Town of Vienna’s Tapawingo and Kingsley road urban bioretention project. The vote took place without discussion at the board’s Feb. 21 meeting.

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