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. 

News

Falls Church man pleads guilty to shooting e-bike rider in Fair Oaks area

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Front view of Fairfax County Courthouse: a brick building with three tall arched windows and a glass-centered entrance.
The Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

A Falls Church man could spend decades in prison following his conviction in connection to the non-fatal road rage shooting of an e-bike rider near West Ox Road in the Fair Oaks area earlier this year.

Milad Attai, 26, agreed to plead guilty yesterday (Monday) to malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney announced.

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Around Town

Anime convention moves to Chantilly from Arlington for 2026

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Cosplayers at a previous Anime USA Convention (Courtesy Anime USA)

A three-day-long anime convention is moving to Chantilly’s Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles from its prior Arlington home this fall.

Now in its 27th year, the volunteer-led “Anime USA” will arrive at the conference center (14750 Conference Center Drive) on Nov. 20 and continue through Nov. 22. With the theme “The RPG,” this year’s edition will have a special emphasis on role-playing games, fantasy, and their connections to anime.

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Around Town

Photos: Cow ‘race’ draws families to Frying Pan Farm for fall fun

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Jubilee and her handler race down the track. (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

A crowd cheered on the winner of a race last night (Thursday) at Frying Pan Farm Park, as she approached the finish line. But Jubilee could only be coaxed to wear her crown and sash for a reluctant minute: for a Jersey cow, alfalfa and grains from local breweries were the true prize.

Jubilee was one of seven bovine contenders who took to the “track” — a smooth path around a corral — during the seventh annual NASCOW FundRACER to help support the animals at the farm (2709 West Ox Road) in the Frying Pan area south of Herndon.

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News

Seven-story apartment building in Fairfax City set to open in 2027, developer says

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
A rendering of The Botanist apartment building in Northfax (courtesy Middleburg)

A new seven-story apartment building is on track to meet its anticipated completion date in the third quarter of 2027, bringing hundreds of new apartments to the Northfax area of Fairfax City when it opens, its developers said this week.

The structural frame for The Botanist, a 260-unit building on 2.97 acres at 10350 Eaton Place, is now complete, according to the Vienna-based company Middleburg and Capital City Real Estate (CCRE), which has a D.C. office.

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News

City Centre West mixed-use plan may need tweaks to be viable, developer says

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Construction site barrier with a banner reading 'AN OASIS OF ELEGANCE' showing a rendering of a modern building, trees and blue sky in the background.
A rendering of Ox Hill Companies' City Centre West development on fencing around the planned construction site in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Once on track to break ground this year, the City Centre West mixed-use development now needs numerous changes to be financially viable, a representative for developer Ox Hill Companies recently told the Fairfax City Planning Commission.

Approved by the City Council in 2023, Ox Hill’s application for housing and retail on a 1.7-acre site of three lots from 10501 to 10523 Main Street was eventually closed by the city in September 2025 due to inactivity, despite two buildings having been demolished.

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Around Town

Toys R Us makes comeback with two Fairfax stores as part of national expansion

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Entrance to a toy and game shop in a shopping mall, with shelves of plush toys visible inside and a red sign announcing calendars, games, toys, books.
The Go! Calendars, Games and Toys at Fair Oaks Mall will convert to a Toys R Us soon (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Nostalgic retail brand Toys R Us is expanding its presence in Fairfax County by opening two new standalone stores, one in Fair Oaks Mall and the other in Springfield Town Center.

The Fair Oaks Mall location (11750 Route 50, #J226) will open at an unspecified date soon, while the Springfield store (6677 Springfield Mall, Space 22049) opened Sept. 23.

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Around Town

Customizable furniture store opens first Virginia location in Fairfax Corner

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Joybird storefront sign on a brick-and-white building along a tree-lined sidewalk with pedestrians and parked cars.
Joybird's new store in Fairfax Corner (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

A handcrafted, customizable furniture store has opened its first Virginia storefront and 19th nationwide in Fairfax Corner.

Joybird opened Oct. 9 at 11948 Grand Commons Avenue, Suite E948, in the space vacated by King Arthur Baking Company earlier this summer.

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Around Town

Cows compete for crown in annual NASCOW race to benefit Frying Pan Farm

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Small brown cow wearing a gold crown and white sash, being petted by a person in a red sleeve in a fenced yard. The cow has a purple halter.
2025 NASCOW winner JoJo with her crown and sash (Courtesy Laura B. Poindexter)

Frying Pan Farm Park’s popular bovine competition, billed as “the slowest race you will ever cheer for,” is set to return to the Herndon-area park this week.

Seven cows will take to the “race track” Thursday evening (Oct. 22) for the seventh annual NASCOW FundRACER at the farm (2709 West Ox Road) in the Frying Pan area south of Herndon. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., with cows taking to the track at 6 p.m.

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Countywide

Fairfax school board refines policy limiting kindergarten tech use, orders app reviews

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Sign for Fairfax County Public Schools with logo and the text ‘Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road’.
The sign in front of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Gatehouse Administration Center (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools will examine its use of instructional apps and software, following two recent unanimous votes from the school board.

At its Oct. 8 meeting, the Fairfax County School Board, by an 8-4 vote, approved a carve-out in the division’s digital device restrictions to allow kindergarteners in need of additional reading support to use the literacy program Lexia during this academic year — a move that affects about 30% of kindergarteners.

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News

Catholic church outside Vienna celebrates completion of $12M renovations

By Mary Stachyra Lopez
Church interior during Mass: crucifix above the altar as priests in white and blue vestments lead the congregation.
The congreation gathers for a Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Vienna. (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

On Tuesday night last week (Oct. 13), a Vienna-area parish was nearly full, as local Catholics gathered for the first mass inside the church in six months.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, located just outside of town limits at 8601 Wolftrap Road, recently completed a $12 million renovation that launched in late 2022 and culminated with a temporary relocation of church services to the adjacent chapel and fellowship hall after Easter this year.

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