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

Morning Poll: Should FCPS restrict students’ use of cellphones?

By Angela Woolsey
A closeup of an iPhone screen (via Adrien/Unsplash)

After roughly a decade of relative freedom, Fairfax County Public Schools is sending cellphones back into students’ backpacks.

The Fairfax County School Board is considering restricting the use of personal phones during class for all students as part of several proposed revisions to its Students Rights & Responsibilities handbook, which sets standards for student behavior and discipline.

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Countywide

Fairfax County now averaging over 300 Covid cases a day

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax Health District COVID-19 cases for the past 13 weeks, as of May 2, 2022 (via VDH)

The calendar may have turned a page, but COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County keep going up.

The Fairfax Health District, which also includes Fairfax and Falls Church cities, has added 812 cases over the past three days, according to the Virginia Department of Health, which didn’t report new cases on Saturday or Sunday (April 30-May 1).

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News

McLean Community Center staff ‘under severe duress’ amid vacancies

By Angela Woolsey
The McLean Community Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

About half of the McLean Community Center’s staff positions are currently vacant, leaving its existing workers reportedly struggling to keep up with an increased workload.

As of last Thursday (April 28), the center had filled 58 of its 125 positions, 25 of which are considered full-time, MCC Marketing and Communications Director Sabrina Anwah told FFXnow in a statement. Only one of the vacancies is a full-time position.

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News

Scotts Run wins county approval to turn vacant block into park of some kind

By Angela Woolsey
A conceptual rendering for The Block at Scotts Run, which will occupy a currently vacant lot in Tysons (via Fairfax County/VIKA Virginia)

Will it be a hub for food trucks? How about an indoor spa, or a trampoline park with pop-up retail stalls? Why not all of the above?

Cityline Partners, the developer behind the Scotts Run neighborhood in Tysons, can let its imagination run wild — to a point — after the Fairfax County Planning Commission approved its proposal on Wednesday (April 27) to “activate” the 1600 block of Anderson Road.

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Countywide

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: April 25-29

By Angela Woolsey
Tennis courts at Lewinsville Park in McLean (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The weekend is almost here. Before you saddle up for Frying Pan Farm Park’s inaugural horse expo or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past week of news in Fairfax County.

Here are the 10 most-read stories on FFXnow this week:

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Around Town

Broadway to celebrate comedy icon Carol Burnett at Capital One Hall

By Angela Woolsey
Actor, writer, and comedian Carol Burnett will be honored at the Sondheim Awards Gala at Capital One Hall on May 16 (courtesy Mabel Cat, Inc./Signature Theatre)

Something good is coming to Tysons, especially if you’re comedy legend and six-time Emmy winner Carol Burnett.

The multi-hyphenate star will receive the Sondheim Award from Signature Theatre at a glitzy gala that the Arlington theatrical company will hold at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) on May 16.

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Countywide

FCPS employees now barred from disclosing information to ICE

By Angela Woolsey
A member of the immigrant advocacy organization CASA urges the Fairfax County School Board to adopt its proposed Trust Policy (via FCPS/YouTube)

Fairfax County Public Schools now has a new layer of protection for undocumented students and their families.

The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously last night (Thursday) to prohibit employees from requesting, accessing, or disclosing information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status unless required by law or court order, or they get permission from the individual or a guardian.

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Around Town

Toby’s Ice Cream is open in Vienna, but only on weekends for now

By Angela Woolsey
Toby's Ice Cream found viral success in summer 2021 with limited-time cicada sundaes (courtesy Toby's Ice Cream/Facebook)

(Updated on 5/4/2022) Hold your cicada sundaes, Vienna. Despite the rumors that have been flying around town, Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream has not opened its new shop yet — at least not officially.

As reported yesterday (Thursday) by Patch, the Arlington-based ice cream eatery hopes to officially open its location in the Cedar Park Shopping Center (280 Cedar Lane SE) this May, with no exact date determined yet.

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Countywide

Child abuse reports increase with return of in-person school, Fairfax County says

By Angela Woolsey
The Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reports of child abuse and neglect in Fairfax County have fluctuated wildly during the COVID-19 pandemic — based primarily on whether students are attending school in person or remotely.

Prior to the pandemic, Fairfax County Child Protective Services conducted 2,216 family assessments and investigations in fiscal year 2019, which ran from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, according to the county’s Department of Family Services.

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News

Vienna poised to vote on new rules for outdoor dining

By Angela Woolsey
The Cedar Park Shopping Center's patio is set up for outdoor dining (file photo)

An end is in sight for Vienna’s months-long debate over the future of outdoor dining in the town.

The Vienna Town Council intends to vote on May 11 on a new draft zoning ordinance that will permanently ease the permitting process for restaurants seeking to provide outdoor dining — with some limits in place to ward off conflicts over noise, parking, and other potential issues.

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