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

McLean Community Center throws ‘fiesta’ to celebrate Latin American and Caribbean cultures

By Angela Woolsey
Fiesta del Sol will feature live music, food and drinks, and local artisans (courtesy McLean Community Center)

The sun will shine into the night this Saturday (March 25), as the McLean Community Center hosts its first-ever Fiesta del Sol.

The inaugural celebration of Latin American and Caribbean cultures will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:45 p.m. before the doors at 1234 Ingleside Avenue open 15 minutes later.

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Countywide

JUST IN: Fairfax County reverts to old zoning code after Va. Supreme Court nixes 2021 update

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County set height limits for flag poles, among other changes, with its zoning ordinance modernization in 2021 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A day after neighboring Arlington County made waves by ending single-family exclusive zoning, Fairfax County saw its own zoning reforms reversed two years after they were approved.

The Virginia Supreme Court declared the county’s Zoning Ordinance Modification Project (zMOD) void yesterday (Thursday) because the new code was adopted at a mostly virtual meeting — a ruling could have consequences for other actions taken during the first years of the pandemic, as noted by Inside NoVA, which first reported the decision.

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News

Armed robbery of Safeway in Great Falls leads to sprawling police pursuit

By Angela Woolsey
Police line up on Route 7 in Tysons during an armed robbery pursuit (via @notaveryh/Twitter)

Police took two people into custody yesterday (Thursday) after a reported armed robbery in Great Falls turned into a dizzying pursuit from Tysons to Herndon and back again.

Officers were called to the Safeway at 9881 Georgetown Pike at 12:05 p.m. for a report of a man and a woman stealing merchandise, the Fairfax County Police Department says. The suspects allegedly pointed a gun as they left the store.

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News

BREAKING: Several people hospitalized by Route 1 crash involving fire truck

By Angela Woolsey
Richmond Highway is blocked off at Memorial Drive in Groveton after a multi-vehicle crash involving a fire truck (via VDOT)

(Updated at 7:50 p.m.) Several people have been hospitalized after a crash on Richmond Highway (Route 1) in Groveton that involved four different vehicles, including a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department truck.

One person sustained injuries considered life-threatening, the Fairfax County Police Department says.

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News

BREAKING: Fairfax County police officer who shot Timothy McCree Johnson in Tysons fired

By Angela Woolsey
Body camera footage shows first responders providing medical aid to Timothy McCree Johnson after he was shot by police on Feb. 22 outside Tysons Corner Center (via FCPD)

(Updated at 6:15 p.m.) The Fairfax County police officer who allegedly fired the gunshot that killed Timothy McCree Johnson outside Tysons Corner Center last month will be fired, Chief Kevin Davis announced this afternoon (Thursday).

Davis didn’t identify the officer removed from duty, but the Washington Post reports that Sgt. Wesley Shifflett, a seven-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department, is believed to have fired the fatal shots.

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News

Construction nears on condo building that led push to revitalize downtown McLean

By Angela Woolsey
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held yesterday for the residential development by property owner Winthrop Investment Group (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The residential building coming to 6707 Old Dominion Drive will be modest — at least compared to the high-rises going up in Tysons to the south — but it has already altered the future of downtown McLean.

Contractor Trinity Group Construction anticipates beginning work next week on the nine-story, 44-unit project, which will replace the parking lot behind a three-story office building whose current tenants include Chipotle and Fresh Baguette.

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Countywide

Photos: FCPD helicopters land bigger home with new aviation center

By Angela Woolsey
A helicopter is staged at the Fairfax County Police Department's new David M. Rohrer Aviation Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) Fairfax County’s police helicopters have a new base of operations.

The emergency choppers and their crews will now be housed at the Fairfax County Police Department’s new David M. Rohrer Aviation Center, which was welcomed with a grand opening celebration yesterday (Wednesday).

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Countywide

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey
A net goes up at Capital One Park, a new baseball stadium set to open in Tysons on March 31 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Family of Man Killed by Police Sees Footage — Ahead of a public release at 1 p.m. today (Thursday), the “family of Timothy McCree Johnson, an unarmed Black man fatally shot by Fairfax County police outside Tysons Corner Center last month, watched body-camera footage of his killing. Their lawyer asserted afterward that the video showed Johnson had posed no threat to law enforcement.” [The Washington Post]

McLean Woman Convicted of Killing Daughters — A Fairfax County jury convicted 37-year-old Veronica Youngblood yesterday (Wednesday) “of killing her two daughters — Sharon Castro, 15, and Brooklynn Youngblood, 5 — on Aug. 5, 2018. The mother admitted to officials that she fatally shot her children, but she pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.” [The Washington Post]

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News

UPDATED: Two people found dead on Reston trail, possibly shot

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

(Updated at 6:10 p.m.) Fairfax County police are investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found on a trail in Reston’s Stratton Woods area.

Officers are currently at the scene in the 2300 block of Players Pond Lane, where the two people were found dead, the Fairfax County Police Department said around 3:30 p.m.

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News

Botanical makeover for Vienna’s main streets delayed to uproot cost concerns

By Angela Woolsey
A Fairfax Connector bus stop and trees line the sidewalk on Maple Avenue (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Town of Vienna wants to bring more color to Maple Avenue and Church Street with a landscaping refresh, but new greenery won’t be in the ground until August at the earliest.

Department of Parks and Recreation staff approached the Vienna Town Council on Monday (March 20) to request $600,000 for a landscaping contractor that will help design and install new planters along the town’s main commercial streets.

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