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

Fairfax County lands $8.9M in federal funding for affordable housing

By Angela Woolsey
Wesley Housing's The Arden apartments, currently under construction near the Huntington Metro station, is a recent recipient of Fairfax County's annual federal funding from HUD (via Fairfax County Housing and Community Development)

Fairfax County has gotten a little help from the federal government for its efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing.

The county was awarded a total of $8.9 million in grants and other funds by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced on Friday (May 13).

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Countywide

McLean’s Spring Hill and Lewinsville intersection gets potential new look

By Angela Woolsey
The Lewinsville and Spring Hill roads intersection in McLean has safety and congestion issues (via FCDOT)

(Updated at 2:45 p.m. on 5/17/2022) Plans to modify a centrally located yet awkward intersection in McLean have been put on hold indefinitely.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation shared earlier this month that, after roughly four years of study, it has settled on a final, preferred conceptual design to revamp the intersection of Spring Hill and Lewinsville roads.

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Countywide

Most-read Fairfax County stories of the week: May 9-13

By Angela Woolsey
Herndon High School students stand on raised concrete by flagpoles holding signs (staff photo by David Taube)

The weekend is almost here. Before you hop on a bicycle and hit the nearest trail, 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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Countywide

County renames Merrifield Center after former leader who reformed approach to mental health

By Angela Woolsey
Fairfax County officials celebrate the Merrifield Center's renaming after former Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, pictured on the left (courtesy Taylor Holland/Office of Jeffrey C. McKay)

Fairfax County’s Merrifield Center has a new, slightly more descriptive name.

The Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health was officially christened at a dedication ceremony yesterday (Thursday), taking its name from the former Board of Supervisors chairman who helped develop the Diversion First initiative aimed at shifting people with mental health and substance use challenges to treatment instead of incarceration.

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Countywide

FCPS proposes funding for salaries, environmental initiatives with new budget

By Angela Woolsey
An electric school bus on display at Flint Hill Elementary School in Vienna (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Fairfax County Public Schools didn’t get all the money it wanted, but its next budget still has room to address some key priorities, including staff compensation and efforts to reduce the system’s carbon footprint.

Adopted by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (May 10), the county’s new budget for fiscal year 2023, which starts on July 1, trimmed $10 million from the $112.6 million increase in transfer funds sought by FCPS, officials reported to the school board earlier this week.

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News

Residential building with self-storage facility approved for Tysons’ The Mile

By Angela Woolsey
The Charlton at The Mile will bring 400 residential units, retail, and a self-storage facility to Tysons (via Fairfax County)

As work on one building in The Mile wraps up, another building planned for the Tysons development has gotten Fairfax County’s approval to proceed.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission gave its unanimous support on Wednesday (May 11) to the final development plan for The Charlton, a 400-unit, midrise residential building that will have retail on the ground floor and a self-storage facility at its core.

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News

Fairfax Connector to offer express bus service to Wolf Trap, now from McLean Metro

By Angela Woolsey
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts' Filene Center will start its summer 2022 season on May 28 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax Connector will continue providing express bus service to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts for at least the next five years, but the point of origin will be different from years past.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized Director of Transportation Tom Biesiadny on Tuesday (May 10) to extend the county’s license agreement for the Wolf Trap Express shuttle with the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the nonprofit that organizes the park’s programming.

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News

Reported armed robbery in Tysons leads to I-495 police pursuit

By Angela Woolsey
I-495 South (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Fairfax County police were pulled into a chase on I-495 during rush hour after a reported armed robbery in Tysons yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

Two men and a woman allegedly stole several pairs of shoes from a person who had agreed to meet them to sell property in the 1900 block of Old Gallows Road around 5:30 p.m.

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Countywide

Fairfax County board chair rejects Youngkin’s advice for Supreme Court justice protests

By Angela Woolsey
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Fox News discusses protests at Supreme Court justices' homes (via Gov. Glenn Youngkin/Twitter)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has some thoughts on how Fairfax County should handle abortion-related protests outside Supreme Court justices’ homes.

In a letter sent to the Board of Supervisors and County Executive Bryan Hill yesterday (Wednesday), the governor suggested that the Fairfax County Police Department “establish an expanded security perimeter” and limit “unauthorized vehicle and pedestrian access” around the homes of Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Amy Coney Barrett, who all live in the county.

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News

Private school in Vienna seeks to add more students, new facilities

By Angela Woolsey
Green Hedges School (via Town of Vienna)

A private elementary school in Vienna has big plans for the future, but it needs the town’s permission to realize them.

Green Hedges School is looking to add a new gymnasium, playgrounds, and an athletic field on its 4.3-acre campus at 415 Windover Avenue NW. The proposed expansion will also involve renovations to the main school building and the demolition of “several smaller buildings,” according to the Town of Vienna’s summary.

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