Mary Stachyra Lopez | FFXnow

Great horned owlets rescued after falling from nest in Huntley Meadows Park

Published June 3, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated June 3, 2026 at 8:58PM

Great horned owlets rescued at Huntley Meadows Park are placed in a basket (courtesy Ralph Fielder)

A pair of great horned owlets were recently re-nested and reunited with their parents after falling out of their nests in Hybla Valley’s Huntley Meadows Park.

The owlets’ troubles began after one of the pair — who were likely only a few weeks old — fell out of the nest earlier this spring. After park visitors reported the issue, the bird was quickly taken to a rehabber in Boyce, Virginia.

News

Warning issued after rabid kitten captured near Centreville park

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published June 3, 2026 at 8:30AM

The entrance to Poplar Ford Park in Centreville (Staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

The Fairfax County Health Department has issued a rabies alert for the area near Poplar Ford Park in Centreville after a rabid kitten was found near the park entrance on Bull Run Post Office Road.

Anyone who was touched, bitten, or scratched by a domestic shorthair orange tabby male, which was about 5 weeks old, between May 12 to May 15 is asked to call the Fairfax County Health Department Rabies Program at 703-246-2433, TTY 711.

Around Town

Mahjong social club, The Bamboo Room, coming to Vienna

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published June 2, 2026 at 3:45PM

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.

Countywide

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published June 2, 2026 at 9:15AM

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.”

Around Town

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published June 1, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated June 1, 2026 at 3:42PM

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.

News

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 29, 2026 at 9:15AM

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.

News

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 28, 2026 at 1:45PM

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.

News

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 27, 2026 at 1:45PM

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.”

Around Town

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

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 27, 2026 at 9:15AM

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.”

Around Town

Where to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in Fairfax

By Mary Stachyra Lopez

Published May 26, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated June 12, 2026 at 2:07PM

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.