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

D.C. area will be under Heat Advisory on Thursday

By Angela Woolsey
Forecasts suggest Thursday, July 27 could feel like 107 degrees in the D.C. area (via NWS/Twitter)

(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) A Heat Advisory will take effect tomorrow (Thursday) for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, with temperatures expected to near 100 degrees.

Released by the National Weather Service this morning, the alert is slated to be in place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.

Go to D.C. area will be under Heat Advisory on Thursday Read more
News

Upcoming task force will study how to preserve ‘Tysons Last Forest’

By Angela Woolsey
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn tours Tysons Forest with community members (courtesy Hunter Mill District Office)

With development starting to pick up in the Spring Hill area, the need to protect some of the last remaining natural green space in Tysons has taken on a new level of urgency.

Acknowledging the potential threat, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn — who represents Tysons west of Route 7 and north of Route 123 — will create a community task force to determine the best way to preserve Old Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley, also known as Tysons Forest.

Go to Upcoming task force will study how to preserve ‘Tysons Last Forest’ Read more
News

County board redirects funds to remove hills from Fairfax Station road where teens died in crash

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County plans to remove hills that limit driver visibility on Lee Chapel Road (via Google Maps)

In the wake of a fatal crash earlier this year, Fairfax County intends to get rid of the hills that make Lee Chapel Road near Fairfax Station so harrowing to navigate.

Eliminating the two hills has emerged as “the most prudent” mid-term option for improving safety on the 1-mile stretch between Ox Road (Route 123) and Fairfax County Parkway, where two teens were killed and another seriously injured in a crash on Jan. 10, according to Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity.

Go to County board redirects funds to remove hills from Fairfax Station road where teens died in crash Read more
News

McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center will get solar panels, energy upgrades

By Angela Woolsey
A man on a bench outside the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s efforts to become more energy efficient will get a power boost this week, as work begins on improvements at McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center.

Set to break ground at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday), the project will add the recreation center at 1239 Spring Hill Road to a growing list of county facilities supported by solar panels. Other planned changes include pool dehumidification unit replacements, LED lighting upgrades, improved building automation systems and a new geothermal HVAC system.

Go to McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center will get solar panels, energy upgrades Read more
Countywide

County’s 911 center ramps up staffing to fill vacancies after pandemic

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County's 911 operations floor in the McConnell Public Safety & Transportation Operations Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Handling 911 calls has never been a regular 9-to-5 job, but a national staffing shortage has increased the hours and pressure felt by call takers and dispatchers across the country.

Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications wasn’t spared from the workforce challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from close to 180 staffers before 2020 to about 160 people right now.

Go to County’s 911 center ramps up staffing to fill vacancies after pandemic Read more
Around Town

Falafel restaurant Taim is opening in Pimmit Hills this week

By Angela Woolsey
Taim Mediterranean Kitchen serves falafels, pita and more (courtesy Untamed Brands/Taim)

Some of New York City’s finest falafels will be available in Pimmit Hills starting this week.

The fast-casual eatery Taim Mediterranean Kitchen will give the community a preview of its first Virginia location at 7502 Leesburg Pike in the Tysons Station shopping center tomorrow (Wednesday), followed by an official grand opening on Thursday (July 27).

Go to Falafel restaurant Taim is opening in Pimmit Hills this week Read more
News

FCPD steps up presence on Burke Centre Parkway after fatal crash

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County police are stepping up their presence on Burke Centre Parkway this week (via FCPD/Twitter)

Drivers on Burke Centre Parkway can expect to see more police than usual this week, as the community still reels from a crash that killed one teen and put three others in the hospital.

The Fairfax County Police Department launched a High Visibility Enforcement (HIVE) initiative today (Monday) that will increase the presence of motor and patrol officers along the roadway between Fairfax County Parkway and Burke Lake Road.

Go to FCPD steps up presence on Burke Centre Parkway after fatal crash Read more
News

Court rejects petition from police officer fired after fatal Tysons shooting

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County Courthouse (file photo)

(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on 8/3/2023) The former Fairfax County police officer who reportedly shot and killed D.C. resident Timothy Johnson on Feb. 22 in Tysons lost a court petition seeking reinstatment earlier this month.

Wesley Shifflett’s petition alleging that the county violated his due process rights and its own policies during a grievance review was rejected by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Shannon, who affirmed County Executive Bryan Hill’s conclusion that the Fairfax County Police Department had followed proper county procedures.

Go to Court rejects petition from police officer fired after fatal Tysons shooting Read more
Around Town

Family-owned Lebanese restaurant closes for good in Vienna

By Angela Woolsey
Zenola founder and executive chef Samer Zeitoun prepares a dish (via Zenola)

Zenola has permanently closed its kitchen in Vienna.

The Lebanese restaurant announced on Friday (July 21) that its owners, the Zeitoun family, had “made the difficult decision to close” after more than three years in Danor Plaza at 132 Branch Road SE.

Go to Family-owned Lebanese restaurant closes for good in Vienna Read more
News

FCPD: Woman sexually assaulted at Marriott hotel in Merrifield

By Angela Woolsey
Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A woman staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield was sexually assaulted yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax County police say.

Officers were called to the hotel at 2722 Gallows Road at 1:30 p.m. for the assault, which had just occurred, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Go to FCPD: Woman sexually assaulted at Marriott hotel in Merrifield Read more
View More Stories