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

With special election coming, Mark Keam reflects on representing 35th District

By Angela Woolsey
Mark Keam has resigned as delegate for Virginia's 35th House District after 12 years (courtesy Mark Keam)

Mark Keam’s 13-year tenure in the Virginia General Assembly has come to a close.

After accepting a position in the Office of National Travel and Tourism in the Biden administration, Keam announced on Tuesday (Sept. 6) that he has submitted his resignation as delegate for the 35th House District, which includes Tysons, Vienna, Dunn Loring, Oakton and Fair Oaks.

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News

High-rise housing with public, urban park proposed for Tysons’ Arbor Row

By Angela Woolsey
Developer Cityline Partners has proposed turning "Block C2" in Arbor Row into a residential high-rise (via Fairfax County)

With the region’s office market still in flux, the developer behind Arbor Row in central Tysons will bet on housing instead.

Cityline Partners recently submitted a proposal to Fairfax County asking to swap an office building that had previously been approved for the neighborhood’s Block C2 for a residential high-rise with ground-floor retail.

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Countywide

County library invites community to knit hats for charity, starting Monday

By Angela Woolsey
Colorful balls of yarn (via Margarida Afonso/Unsplash)

There’s no gift like one made by hand.

That sentiment inspired Fairfax County Public Library’s new “Knitting for Charity” initiative, a pilot project launching next week that encourages community members to craft winter hats for those who will need warm clothes as temperatures drop.

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News

Vienna volunteer’s life honored with new music festival, coming Saturday

By Angela Woolsey
The inaugural JeanFest22 in Vienna will celebrate the life of Jean Buttecali, a resident, business owner and volunteer who died in 2020 (photo by Pete Buttecali)

This weekend, Vienna will celebrate a longtime resident the way she would’ve wanted: with a party for a good cause.

The Rotary Club of Vienna will stage its inaugural JeanFest22 Charity Benefit Concert at the Town Green and Jammin’ Java on Saturday (Sept. 10) in honor of Jean Buttecali, a local business owner and frequent volunteer who died suddenly from an unknown heart issue in summer 2020.

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News

Renovation, new stores on the way for McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center

By Angela Woolsey
Construction has begun on a renovation of Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean (courtesy Federal Realty)

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Construction has begun on a substantial renovation of Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean.

Barricades, signage and other equipment started emerging at the Safeway-anchored retail strip in mid-August, reader Mike Whatley told FFXnow.

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Countywide

New COVID-19 booster vaccines expected to be available in Fairfax County this week

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax Health District COVID-19 cases over the past 26 weeks, as of Sept. 6, 2022 (via VDH)

Most booster shots against COVID-19 were put on hold over Labor Day weekend, as Fairfax County prepares for newly authorized vaccines designed to target omicron variants of the coronavirus.

Appointments for the updated boosters are expected to be available through the county’s Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) by tomorrow (Wednesday), the Fairfax County Health Department confirmed to FFXnow.

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News

BREAKING: Del. Mark Keam resigns from General Assembly, triggering special election

By Angela Woolsey
Mark Keam has resigned as delegate for Virginia's 35th House District after 12 years (courtesy Mark Keam)

(Updated at 1:30 p.m. on 9/7/2022) Del. Mark Keam (D-35) has stepped down from his seat in the Virginia General Assembly after representing Tysons, Vienna, and Oakton for over a decade.

In an email message to supporters, Keam announced this morning (Tuesday) that he has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert in order to work in President Joe Biden’s administration.

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News

UPDATED: Two people and dog die from house fire in West Falls Church area

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue engine (file photo)

Updated at 8:35 a.m. on 9/7/2022 — The second occupant in yesterday’s house fire — identified as Patricia Stodrl, 67, of Falls Church — died last night, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department announced.

Earlier: A kid died at the hospital this morning (Tuesday) after a house fire in the West Falls Church area, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department reported.

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News

Vienna Town Council punts on roof fixes for former Faith Baptist Church

By Angela Woolsey
The cross on the former Faith Baptist Church in Vienna will be removed (file photo)

The cross atop the former Faith Baptist Church in Vienna will come down, but otherwise, the town has opted for a “wait and see” approach to the 3-acre property it purchased in 2020.

The Vienna Town Council unanimously voted on Aug. 29 to indefinitely postpone repairs to the roof of the aging building at 301 Center Street South.

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News

Husband charged with murder after woman killed in Mount Vernon home shooting

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County police car (file photo)

A 59-year-old woman died Sunday (Sept. 4) after she and her husband were found shot at a townhouse in the Mount Vernon area that morning.

The Fairfax County Police Department believes Daphne Saunders-Johnson was shot by her husband, James Johnson, who then shot himself in a “domestic-related incident.”

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