Author: Mary Stachyra Lopez

Mary Stachyra Lopez is a staff reporter covering business, public safety, education, and other community issues for Local News Now. She has previously worked at Patch.com, the Arlington Catholic Herald, and The Atlantic.

Around Town

Mahjong social club, The Bamboo Room, coming to Vienna

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
The Bamboo Room, a mahjong venue, is coming to the space above Sushi Yoshi at 101 Church Street NW in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A Vienna resident is planning to open a new venue in the town this summer where beginner and experienced mahjong players alike can learn how to play, form leagues, and socialize.

Jennifer Groves, who’s been teaching mahjong locally for the past year, expects to open The Bamboo Room above the Japanese restaurant Sushi Yoshi at 101 Church Street NW, Unit D, in August. An exact date has not been set yet.

Go to Mahjong social club, The Bamboo Room, coming to Vienna Read more
Countywide

At Chantilly ICE office, protestors keep a spotlight on the agency’s treatment of immigrants

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
A group of people gathers outside the ICE facility in Chantilly on May 31, 2026 (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

About 30 people gathered at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Chantilly on Sunday (May 31) to protest the expansion of immigration detentions in the U.S. and to show support for those detained inside the building.

Holding American flags and homemade signs, the group outside ICE’s Washington Field Office at 14797 Murdock Street read aloud a list of people who had died in ICE custody, then sang “No están solos” (Spanish for “they are not alone”), followed by refrains of “none of us are free until all of us are free,” and “together we will abolish ICE.”

Go to At Chantilly ICE office, protestors keep a spotlight on the agency’s treatment of immigrants Read more
Around Town

After 40 years in Centreville, Tippy’s Taco House will close this month

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Tippy's Taco House in Centreville (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

When a customer walks into Tippy’s Taco House, Lilibeth “Lily” Panlaqui often doesn’t even need to wait for them to order: She simply turns around and tells her husband, Rizal, who’s cooking in the kitchen, to get their regular order started. After nearly 30 years of working at the Centreville restaurant, Paniaqui not only knows her returning customers, she knows their grown-up children.

However, the couple will soon be in need of a new place of employment. After 40 years of serving budget meals in Centrewood Plaza, the local franchise will close its doors at 14119 St. Germain Drive permanently on June 14.

Go to After 40 years in Centreville, Tippy’s Taco House will close this month Read more
News

Fairfax City may tweak planned pathway impacted by cancellation of George Snyder Trail

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Existing Wilcoxon Trail head at Fairfax Blvd in Fairfax City (via Google Maps)

Fairfax City is eyeing a potential solution to fix a trail project that was approved and fully funded while minimizing financial penalties as a result of the city council canceling a different planned extension earlier this year.

During a council work session on Tuesday (May 26), staff proposed that the project — previously called the George Snyder Trail Extension — be renamed the Wilcoxon Trail Extension, and add on-street paths along Draper Drive, instead of connecting to existing trails by cutting through parkland.

Go to Fairfax City may tweak planned pathway impacted by cancellation of George Snyder Trail Read more
News

Historic Reston distillery added to statewide ‘Most Endangered Places List’

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
The historic Bowman distillery building, also known as Wiehle Town Hall, in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey

A historic Reston building that was created as the center of a utopian community, and later used as a distillery, has been added to a statewide preservation group’s “Most Endangered Places” list, lending momentum to local efforts to try to save it.

Preservation Virginia added the Wiehle Town Hall, also known as the A. Smith Bowman Distillery, to its list of endangered historic places earlier this month, citing “significant development pressures in this region of Virginia” as well as the fact that last year, the land was listed for sale.

Go to Historic Reston distillery added to statewide ‘Most Endangered Places List’ Read more
News

Graduating Mount Vernon student heads to West Point, inspired by father’s military service

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Audrey Ortiz-Peterson, a Mount Vernon High School senior, will head to West Point this fall (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

When Audrey Ortiz-Peterson was in middle school, she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps by joining the military someday. His suggestion to start running for fun, though, was a lot less appealing.

“I was not a fan,” Ortiz-Peterson, a senior at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, recalled. “It was not very fun to me.”

Go to Graduating Mount Vernon student heads to West Point, inspired by father’s military service Read more
Around Town

Original Pancake House, a longtime West Falls Church brunch spot, closes

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
The Original Pancake House in West Falls Church (Staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Original Pancake House, long known for its cinnamon-glazed apple pancakes, oven-baked ‘Dutch Baby’ pancake coated with powdered sugar, as well as charitable endeavors in the Falls Church area, has closed its doors for good.

“After 15 amazing years, our restaurant will be closing,” a notice on the front door reads. “We are incredibly thankful for the loyalty, support, and friendships our customers have given us throughout the years. Serving this community has been a true privilege. From the bottom of our hearts — thank you for being part of this journey.”

Go to Original Pancake House, a longtime West Falls Church brunch spot, closes Read more
Around Town

Where to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in Fairfax

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Sign for Fairfax County and Virginia's commemoration of America's 250th anniversary at ViVa Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The spotlight will be on the nation’s capital this summer as the D.C. region hosts numerous events to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. But you don’t have to commute into the city to celebrate — or wait until July 4th.

There are plenty of events taking place in Fairfax County, the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax, as well as the Towns of Vienna, Herndon, and Clifton.

Go to Where to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in Fairfax Read more
News

New vision for Centreville calls for town center, more walkable, mixed-use spaces

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
The Centreville Task Force provided input on Fairfax County's comprehensive plan amendment for Centreville (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Centreville could get a defined town center with more walkable, mixed-use spaces over the next few decades if Fairfax County adopts a proposed amendment to its comprehensive plan.

The amendment lays the groundwork for connecting parts of Centreville that are split by I-66 with pedestrian pathways and potentially an extension of New Braddock Road; expanding the availability of affordable and mixed-use housing; and enhancing public transportation, including a potential location for a hypothetical expansion of Metro’s Orange Line.

Go to New vision for Centreville calls for town center, more walkable, mixed-use spaces Read more
News

Two FCPS students to compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Fairfax County Spelling Bee 2026 winner Laasya Mohan, wearing a pink shirt, stands in a school office with an armchair, a table with a book on display, and a bookshelf with a globe on top to her left. In one hand, she holds a trophy with a winged figure on top identifying her as the Fairfax County Spelling Bee 2026 champion, while in her other hand, she holds a larger trophy from her first place win in the 2025 Junior Spelling Bee national finals in Dallas, Texas. To her right stands Aadhya Vijayakumar, who is wearing a spelling bee medal on top of a white short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans. She's also holding two trophies: one for her runner-up finish in the Fairfax County Spelling Bee and another from 2024.
Fairfax County Spelling Bee 2026 winner Laasya Mohan, a fourth grader at Floris Elementary School, and runner-up Aadhya Vijayakumar, an eighth grade student at Rocky Run Middle School, with their trophies (photo by Karen Bolt/FCPS)

Laasya Mohan has a study routine: first, the fourth grader at Floris Elementary School sorts spelling words by topic. Then, she further divides them into two lists — the ones she feels sure that she knows how to spell, and ones she feels unsure of. She examines the roots of words and considers language patterns. Finally, her mom quizzes her.

The intense process often lasts five hours a day — but it has paid off.

Go to Two FCPS students to compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee Read more
View More Stories