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 delegate leads Democratic campaign for ‘historic’ majority in Virginia House

By Angela Woolsey
Delegate Dan Helmer speaks at a luncheon for the grassroots Democratic organizing group Network NOVA (courtesy Dan Helmer for Virginia)

As early voting in Virginia’s November elections came to a close on Saturday (Nov. 1), Fairfax Del. Dan Helmer (D-10) was on the road in a final push to secure a victory not just for himself, but for Democratic candidates across the state.

As the campaigns chair for the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, a role he landed based on his defeat of Fairfax County’s last Republican delegate, Tim Hugo, in 2019, Helmer has been tasked with overseeing races in all 100 House districts — every single one of which will have a Democrat on the ballot.

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News

National security contractor opens sizable expansion of Tysons HQ

By Angela Woolsey
Xcelerate Solutions leaders celebrate the company's expansion of its Tysons headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 28, 2025 (courtesy Fairfax County Economic Development Authority)

A contractor that provides defense and national security support to the federal government more than doubled the size of its Tysons headquarters this week.

Based in the Highline at Greensboro District complex, leaders of Xcelerate Solutions celebrated the expansion of their office at 8405 Greensboro Drive from 7,759 square feet to 23,073 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Tuesday (Oct. 28).

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News

FCPD: Driver killed in crash near Reston National Golf Course

By Angela Woolsey
Police outside Golf Course Square in Reston for a fatal crash investigation on Oct. 30, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash that occurred near Reston National Golf Course Thursday afternoon (Oct. 30).

Local police officers and responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to Soapstone Drive at Golf Course Square in Reston around 2:41 p.m. for a crash with entrapment, according to scanner traffic.

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Around Town

JUST IN: IKEA confirms plan for Chantilly store, replacing Dulles Expo Center

By Angela Woolsey
Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After months of speculation, IKEA has officially confirmed that it’s coming to Chantilly, taking over a building currently occupied by the Dulles Expo Center.

The Swedish furniture chain announced today (Thursday) that it will open a store — its third in Virginia — at 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Drive in the Chantilly Shopping Center sometime in spring 2026.

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News

UPDATED: New I-495 toll lanes on track to open before Thanksgiving

By Angela Woolsey
Construction continues on the new toll lanes on I-495 approaching the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchange (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — The new I-495 Express Lanes are on track to open ahead of schedule on Saturday, Nov. 22, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Nov. 10.

In addition to two toll lanes in each direction, the opening will include dedicated ramps from the Dulles Toll Road to the northbound express lanes and between the express lanes and the GW Parkway.

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News

Construction timeline pushed back for new Vienna library

By Angela Woolsey
Potholes have emerged in the driveway for the Patrick Henry Library, which closed on May 9, 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna residents will have to wait a little longer than expected to welcome a new, permanent library.

Demolition of the existing Patrick Henry Library is now scheduled to begin in early 2026, pushing its replacement’s anticipated opening back from 2027 to early 2028, Fairfax County Public Library announced yesterday (Wednesday).

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News

Reston trail reopens after FBI investigation

By Angela Woolsey
The woods along Snakeden Branch Trail in Reston where FBI agents were investigating (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Snakeden Branch Trail has reopened in Reston after an extended closure due to an FBI investigation.

Residents reported that a white van was parked near a bridge along the trail for much of today (Wednesday), and FBI agents wearing white jumpsuits were spotted working in the woods.

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News

Vienna Town Council urges FCPS to keep town’s students at Madison High School

By Angela Woolsey
James Madison High School in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna leaders are taking a stand against the latest proposal to come out of Fairfax County Public Schools’ systemwide boundary review.

The Vienna Town Council unanimously approved a resolution on Monday (Oct. 27) opposing a boundary adjustment that would assign an estimated 91 students within the town’s limits to Marshall High School in Idylwood instead of the local James Madison High School.

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Around Town

River-Sea Chocolates unveils new retail shop at Reston location

By Angela Woolsey
Customers visit River-Sea Chocolate Shop in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston residents no longer have to travel to Chantilly to indulge in a bar or box of River-Sea Chocolates.

The chocolate maker recently began welcoming customers to a retail shop at 11495 Sunset Hills Road, Unit 100, months after expanding there with a new, larger production facility.

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Around Town

McLean shopping center to unveil Sweetgreen, finished renovations next month

By Angela Woolsey
Sweetgreen salads and bowls (courtesy Sweetgreen)

November will be a busy month for McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center, bringing a new restaurant and the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation project.

Sweetgreen announced today (Tuesday) that it will officially open its doors to customers on Nov. 11 at 6220 Old Dominion Drive in Chesterbrook Shopping Center.

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