Author: Mary Stachyra Lopez

Mary Stachyra Lopez is a staff reporter covering business, public safety, education, and other community issues. She covered Northern Virginia news for years at several media outlets, and spent half a decade as an editor on The Atlantic's audience team before joining Local News Now. 

Countywide

FCPS adopts two new school year calendars, increasing number of five-day weeks

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Panel of officials seated at a long curved desk on a stage during a formal meeting, projector screen overhead, audience in foreground.
The Fairfax County School Board discusses new school year calendars on July 9, 2026 (screenshot via FCPS)

The Fairfax County School Board recently voted to confirm calendars for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years that emphasize full five-day instructional weeks, while preserving a full week of spring break and two full weeks of winter break.

Superintendent Michelle Reid proposed calendars last Thursday (July 9) that maintain the 180 instructional days required by Virginia law and follow extensive parameters passed by the board earlier this summer. The school board adopted the proposal on a 10-1 vote.

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Around Town

Great Falls couple to reopen 17-year-old restaurant as a wine bistro

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Arched brick window opening into a wine bar; the glass panel shows the scripted sign 'The Cellar on Seneca'.
The Cellar on Seneca in Great Falls (courtesy The Cellar on Seneca)

A few years ago, Julie and Kaveh Safa purchased their dream home in Great Falls, right on the same street where Kaveh grew up. Not long afterward, the couple’s dream unexpectedly expanded with the purchase of a longstanding restaurant in their new community.

Now, that restaurant has been fully rebranded and re-envisioned as The Cellar on Seneca after operating for nearly two decades at 1025 Seneca Road, Suite I, as Brx American Bistro.

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News

Soccer coach accused of scamming families with promise of summer camp in Italy

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Mugshot of a man with short dark hair and a full beard against a gray background.
Ahmed Mohamed (courtesy Fairfax County Police Department)

A Fairfax soccer coach has been accused of bilking over a dozen victims out of tens of thousands of dollars through promises of a travel soccer summer camp in Italy.

Ahmed Mohamed, 31, of Fairfax, was arrested on June 30 and charged with 13 counts of embezzlement and another 13 of computer fraud, police announced.

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Around Town

Water circus to visit Fair Oaks Mall this week

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
A performance on Cirque Italia's water stage (courtesy Joe Howard/Cirque Italia)

A circus will bring its cast of aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, and dancers — and a custom-designed stage filled with 35,000 gallons of water — to Fair Oaks Mall for the first time later this week.

Cirque Italia’s tour “Water Circus Atlantis” will begin performing at the mall on Friday (July 17) at 7:30 p.m. and continuing throughout the weekend.

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News

Police: Fair Oaks man charged with murder after wife was found fatally shot

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Leland Jameson, 64, of Fair Oaks (Courtesy FCPD)

The Fairfax County Police Department has charged a Fair Oaks man in connection with his wife’s death after she died from gunshot wounds last night (July 12).

Leland Jameson, 64, has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.

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Around Town

Indoor golf simulator tees up new Fairfax location

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Back Nine Golf is preparing to open in Fairfax (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

A Utah-based indoor golf simulator company plans to open a second location in Fairfax County, its ninth in Virginia.

Back Nine Golf has filed a permit to modify the 3,647-square-foot space at 11215 Route 29, Suite L, in the back area of the Fairfax Centre shopping plaza, near the Walmart just outside Fairfax City.

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News

County exploring idea of combining Chantilly library with affordable housing

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
The Chantilly Regional Library and Technical Operations Center (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Fairfax County is inviting local residents to learn about a possible plan to combine a renovation of the Chantilly Regional Library and technical operations facility with affordable housing and community space.

The community meeting will be held July 16, from 6-7:30 p.m., at the Chantilly High School cafeteria (4201 Stringfellow Road) across from the library.

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Around Town

Wonder food hall to open Chantilly location

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
A sign for the food hall Wonder at its Hybla Valley location (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

The New York City-based Wonder food hall will continue its expansion across Northern Virginia with a new location opening in Chantilly.

The new location at 13958 Route 50 is expected to open in spring 2027, a spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow. An exact opening date was not yet available.

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Countywide

FCPS extends use of digital social studies materials after budget cuts slow print transition

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

Fairfax County’s school board recently passed a resolution supporting limitations on screen time and access to devices by grade level, as well as opt-out options for families.

On the same night, members voted to approve a one-year extension of a contract for a hybrid fourth-grade social studies curriculum, covering an electronic book text, the ability to replace print textbooks as needed, and supplemental materials that can be printed.

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Around Town

New mobile bookstore serving Northern Virginia to launch at Merrifield event

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Stacie Malinowski stands outside of her mobile bookstore, Owl & Ink. (Courtesy Stacie Malinowski/Owl & Ink LLC)

A new bookstore-on-wheels will be rolling into communities across Northern Virginia starting later this month.

Owl & Ink, a mobile bookstore focusing on events in Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties, will wheel into its first event — an evening of reading and sipping during Silent Book Club at The Casual Pint (2676 Avenir Place) — near the Dunn Loring Metro station in Merrifield on July 20.

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