Angela Woolsey | FFXnow

Longstanding Seven Corners grocery store, Italian restaurant eyed for redevelopment

Published January 6, 2026 at 9:15AM

New Grand Mart in Seven Corners (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Efforts to revitalize Seven Corners could spell the end of two businesses that have anchored one of the corners for decades.

The Falls Church-based developer that has owned the New Grand Mart and Pistone’s Italian Inn since the 1950s is now looking to replace the grocery store and restaurant with a 450-unit residential complex, according to a rezoning application submitted to Fairfax County on Dec. 30.

News

Reston becomes next focus of W&OD Trail tree maintenance work

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 5, 2026 at 2:45PM

Power lines over the W&OD Trail at the Sunset Hills Road crossing in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With the new year underway, Dominion Energy is gearing up for another round of tree maintenance along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, shifting its focus to the Reston area.

The power company has flagged 19 “hazard” trees near its electrical lines for removal in a 2.7-mile stretch of the trail between its Hunter Mill Road substation in Wolf Trap and the Reston substation on Sunset Hills Road, Dominion Electric Transmission Forestry Manager Amanda Keyes told NOVA Parks Executive Director Justin Wilson in a Dec. 16 letter.

News

Photos: Vienna library demolished after 54 years of operations

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 5, 2026 at 10:00AM

An excavator at work on the demolition of Patrick Henry Library in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna’s Patrick Henry Library is officially being torn down to make way for a more up-to-date and arguably more attractive replacement.

Construction crews began demolishing the one-story library building — which opened at 101 Maple Street East 54 years ago — late last month, slightly ahead of the most recent project timeline shared by Fairfax County Public Library.

News

Reston Parkway lane temporarily closes for ongoing bridge repairs

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 5, 2026 at 8:30AM

Traffic on the northbound Reston Parkway bridge over the Dulles Toll Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Parkway will be one lane narrower over the next couple of weeks, as repairs continue on the bridge over the Dulles Toll Road.

Starting at 9 a.m. today (Monday), the parkway’s right northbound lane will be closed along the bridge, shifting the other northbound lanes to the left, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Friday (Jan. 2).

News

Man dies after crashing into tree near Fairfax County Government Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 2, 2026 at 1:30PM

Post Forest Drive at Government Center Parkway (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County police are investigating a single-vehicle crash on New Year’s Eve that turned fatal.

Officers and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded around 8:25 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 31) for a crash on Post Forest Drive at Government Center Parkway in the Fair Oaks area.

Around Town

New year brings more America’s 250th birthday events to Vienna, Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 2, 2026 at 11:45AM

Vienna is hosting a Virginia LOVE sign by its Memorial Fountain for a new year celebration of the U.S.'s 250th anniversary (photo by Amy Woolsey)

With the calendar turning to 2026, local celebrations of America’s 250th birthday will kick into a new gear, leading up to the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing on July 4.

For residents looking to stay closer to home instead of venturing into D.C. for this week’s light show at the Washington Monument, the Town of Vienna will launch its own semiquincentennial festivities this Sunday (Jan. 4) with a “patriotic celebration” near the Town Green.

Opinion

Poll: Will Fairfax County’s new meals tax affect your dining habits?

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

Man in business suit pays for drinks at a cafe (photo via Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash)

Fairfax County officially has a meals tax.

The 4% levy on prepared food and beverages took effect yesterday (Jan. 1), aligning the county with most other Northern Virginia localities that have imposed a 3-5% tax for years.

Around Town

These were FFXnow’s most-read stories of 2025

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 31, 2025 at 11:45AM

Udvar-Hazy Center visitors take in the Space Shuttle Discovery (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Before entering a new year, FFXnow took a look back on some of the stories that defined the past 12 months in Fairfax County.

A review of our most-read stories for 2025 suggests local impacts of federal government actions — specifically, the Trump administration’s mass layoffs and bid to move the Discovery space shuttle out of Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly — were top concerns.

Countywide

Fairfax resident to lead Virginia’s diversity efforts under Gov.-elect Spanberger

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 31, 2025 at 9:15AM | Updated January 4, 2026 at 11:54PM

Dr. Sesha Joi Moon has been appointed as Virginia's chief diversity officer and director of diversity, equity and inclusion (courtesy Spanberger transition team)

A Fairfax resident who has championed diversity in organizations from Congress to the Girl Scouts will soon apply that experience to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Dr. Sesha Joi Moon has been appointed as Virginia’s next chief diversity officer and director of diversity, equity and inclusion, joining a growing list of local figures enlisted by Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger to serve in her cabinet.

Countywide

Metro offers free late-night rides, as Fairfax County offices close for New Year’s

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 31, 2025 at 8:30AM

A Silver Line train to Ashburn stopped at the Tysons Metro station at night (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro will provide free rides and two extra hours of train service tonight (Wednesday) to support safe travel for New Year’s Eve revelers.

Fares will be free for both train and bus riders from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., thanks to a partnership between the transit agency and the brewing company Molson Coors, before service is reduced to a weekend late night schedule and a Sunday schedule, respectively, on New Year’s Day.