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 legislator to resurrect bill enabling local gas-powered leaf blower bans

By Angela Woolsey
Person using a gas-powered leaf blower on stairs (via Callum Hill on Unsplash)

An expanded Democratic majority in the Virginia House of Delegates could bode well for a revived bid to let local governments ban gas-powered leaf blowers.

When the General Assembly convenes this month, Del. Rip Sullivan (D-6) recently confirmed to FFXnow that he intends to reintroduce legislation authorizing localities to prohibit or regulate the machines after previous attempts faltered along party lines.

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News

Longstanding Seven Corners grocery store, Italian restaurant eyed for redevelopment

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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News

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

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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News

Photos: Vienna library demolished after 54 years of operations

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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News

Reston Parkway lane temporarily closes for ongoing bridge repairs

By Angela Woolsey
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).

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News

Man dies after crashing into tree near Fairfax County Government Center

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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Around Town

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

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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Opinion

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

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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Around Town

These were FFXnow’s most-read stories of 2025

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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Countywide

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

By Angela Woolsey
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.

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