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.

Around Town

Where to find Fourth of July 2025 celebrations in Fairfax County

By Angela Woolsey
Fireworks at Yeonas Park from Vienna's 2024 Independence Day Celebration (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Though Fairfax County set off some Fourth of July fireworks prematurely, with displays in Lorton, McLean and at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston last weekend, residents who are sticking around for the holiday will still have plenty of options for celebrating.

Coming up first, the Town of Vienna will host its annual celebration with fireworks at Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW) from 6-10 p.m. tonight (Wednesday).

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Countywide

Local artists need more space and ways to build community, ArtsFairfax survey finds

By Angela Woolsey
ArtsFairfax released its regional artist survey results at a community engagement event on June 25, 2025 at Reston Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is home to plenty of artists, but many of them struggle to find space for practicing and displaying their craft, a survey recently released by ArtsFairfax found.

According to the Fairfax Regional Artist Survey, limited opportunities for networking and a scarcity of appropriate, affordable venues are the biggest obstacles to artists presenting their work in Fairfax County, pushing many of them to other localities.

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News

‘Potentially harmful’ bits of algae seen in Reston’s Lake Audubon

By Angela Woolsey
Algae seen in Lake Audubon (via Reston Association/Facebook)

Hints of the blue-green algae that often emerge in Reston’s lakes during the summer have been spotted at Lake Audubon.

“We have learned that a small amount of blue-green algae has been observed at Lake Audubon,” Reston Association said in an alert and social media posts sent out this morning. “RA Watershed staff are monitoring the potentially harmful algae.”

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News

NOW: Tractor-trailer crash shuts down I-495 North in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey
I-495 North lanes closed for tractor-trailer crash south of Route 123 (via VDOT traffic cameras)

A multi-vehicle crash completely shut down northbound I-495 in Tysons this morning (Tuesday), causing extensive backups during rush-hour.

Police and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units were dispatched to a section of the Capital Beltway north of Route 7 and south of Route 123 around 9:20 a.m. for a crash that reportedly involved a tractor-trailer, another truck and two sedans.

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News

West Falls Church Metro road improvements could begin this summer

By Angela Woolsey
West Falls Church Metro station parking lot (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Some significant changes could be coming to the transportation network around the West Falls Church Metro station in Idylwood later this year.

The developers enlisted by Metro to transform the transit station’s parking lots into a mixed-use community anticipate starting construction on promised infrastructure improvements this summer, according to EYA Executive Vice President of Acquisition and Development Evan Goldman.

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News

Centreville man charged with exposing himself near Greenbriar trail

By Angela Woolsey
Maple Run Lane and Middle Ridge Drive in Greenbriar (via Google Maps)

Local police arrested a Centreville man last week after finding that he had allegedly exposed himself multiple times in the Greenbriar area near Fair Lakes.

Most recently, a victim told officers on April 24 that they saw “a man expose himself” before running away. Officers responded at 4:10 p.m. to the intersection of Maple Run Lane and Middle Ridge Drive for the report, the Fairfax County Police Department said in a press release today (Monday).

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Around Town

New scavenger hunt encourages Restonians to explore public art

By Angela Woolsey
The latest iteration of the "Wooden Horse" at Lake Anne Plaza, first created by Gonzalo Fonseca and recreated by Marco Rando (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With summer in full swing, Public Art Reston has a new activity for families looking to take in both the outdoors and some culture.

The nonprofit launched its first Public Art Scavenger Hunt last week, offering prizes to anyone who visits and shares photos with the many artworks installed throughout the community.

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News

IT contractor plans $1M expansion of Tysons headquarters

By Angela Woolsey
EastBoro I office building at 8251 Greensboro Drive in Tysons (via Google Maps)

An information technology company that received competing offers from Texas, Florida and West Virginia has decided to stay put in Tysons.

Described by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority as “one of the fastest growing” IT service companies in the U.S., 22nd Century Technologies is committing $1 million to an expansion of its headquarters in the EastBoro I office building at 8251 Greensboro Drive.

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News

BREAKING: James Walkinshaw wins Democratic nod in Congressional special election

By Jared Serre and Angela Woolsey
James Walkinshaw speaks with voters (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw is now one election away from succeeding his political mentor in Congress.

Walkinshaw bested nine other candidates in a firehouse primary to secure the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, local party officials announced today (Saturday) shortly before midnight.

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Countywide

How the Metrobus overhaul, launching Sunday, will affect Fairfax service

By Vernon Miles and Angela Woolsey
A sign posted to a light pole in Fairfax City notifies Metrobus riders of the upcoming Better Bus Network launch (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Metro’s first major overhaul of its bus network in decades is set to take effect this coming Sunday (June 29).

Approved by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors last November, the Better Bus Network redesign will introduce revised routes and new signage, while also eliminating a number of stops.

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