The local baker behind Dano’s Granola can now, once again, call Reston her personal and professional home.
Relocating from Chantilly, the snack business will officially unveil its new retail shop and production space at 11495 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 105, with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Sept. 6, owner and founder Dania Abimourched says.
Watch for Returning Students — “As students across Fairfax County head back to school on Monday, August 18, the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) encourages families and community members to participate in Walk, Bike & Ride to School Safely Day. Whether students walk, bike, ride the bus, or are dropped off, their safety starts with all of us.” [FCPD]
Va. National Guard to Deploy — “About 60 Virginia National Guard members will be deployed around the state as early as September to support immigration enforcement agents … Immigrant advocacy groups, including Ayuda — which provides legal, social and language access services to low-income immigrants in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — have condemned Youngkin’s plan.” [VPM News]
Teen Reported Missing Found Dead — An 18-year-old who was last seen driving in the 9500 block of Old Creek Drive around 6 a.m. on Saturday (Aug. 16) “was found deceased in another jurisdiction,” police said yesterday (Sunday). “Our thoughts are with his friends and family. No foul play is suspected.” [FCPD/X]
NOVA Parks Chooses New Leader — “Former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson has been selected as the next executive director of NOVA Parks, the regional park authority announced Friday.” He will officially assume the role “beginning Oct. 6, succeeding Paul Gilbert, who announced his retirement in April after 20 years leading the organization.” [ALXnow]
Mars to Introduce ‘Natural’ Dyes for Candy — “McLean-based food and pet care company Mars Inc., Greater Washington’s largest private company, will … release natural-dye options for its M&M’s, Skittles, Starburst and Extra Gum Spearmint products” starting in 2026. The company made the announcement on July 24, shortly after leaders met with Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, but it hasn’t committed to a timeline for phasing out artificial dyes yet. [Washington Business Journal]
Menswear Store to Open in Falls Church — “Withered Fig, an online menswear retailer, is coming to Falls Church in 2026 … This will be Withered Fig’s first brick-and-mortar location. The new storefront will be located in West Falls at the base of The Oak at West Falls.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Rec Center Pools Temporarily Close — “Projects at Fairfax County Park Authority Rec Centers will result in temporary closures for pools and spas.” In addition to the Franconia facility’s previously reported closure, the pools at the Oakmont, Audrey Moore, Cub Run, George Washington and Spring Hill rec centers will shut down for varying periods to allow repairs and system maintenance. [FCPA]
McLean Native Develops Resale App — “When McLean, Virginia native Sophia Kianni and her roommate Phoebe Gates (yes, that Gates) asked their classmates at Stanford University if they shopped secondhand, they were shocked to see only two people raise their hands … Kianni and Gates came up with an idea for an app that compares prices on items across many retailers and secondhand shopping sites.” [NBC4]
It’s Monday — Showers are most likely between 2pm and 5pm, with cloudy skies and a high temperature near 79°F. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. For Monday night, expect another chance of showers mainly after 8pm, mostly cloudy conditions, and a low temperature around 68°F. [NWS]
Fairfax County Public Schools is joining its counterparts across Northern Virginia in rejecting the Trump administration’s demands that it rescind policies supporting transgender and gender-nonconforming students.
In a message to FCPS staff and families, Superintendent Michelle Reid says she has sent a response to the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) defending the school system’s policies as consistent with existing state and federal law, requesting that the federal government pause any further action until the issue is “clarified” by the courts.
With schools around Fairfax County starting up next week, this is your reminder to pay extra-special attention on the roads and look out for kids.
Fairfax County Public Schools are back in session starting Monday, Aug. 18, meaning roads around the region will once again feature over 1,600 school buses loading and unloading students.
Fairfax County voters will have a second chance on Monday (Aug. 18) to hear from the two men vying to succeed the late Gerry Connolly as Virginia’s 11th Congressional District representative.
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, the Democratic nominee, and former FBI agent Stewart Whitson, the Republican nominee, will both participate in a candidate forum at 8 p.m. organized by the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, a nonpartisan group that advocates for voting rights and civic participation.
An Ashburn man who taught at a private school in the Herndon area has been arrested for child solicitation, among other charges, after allegedly interacting online with detectives he believed were minors.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, David Mark Sabin, 38, contacted an undercover detective who was posing as a 14-year-old online in July.
From game rooms and arcades to bowling lanes, Fairfax is home to a variety of fun spaces to host a kid’s birthday party — no matter their special interest.
Here are the nominees for “Best Kid’s Birthday Party Venue in Fairfax” as part of our FFXnow Readers’ Choice Awards. See your favorite place below? If not, write them in!
Voting will close in two weeks. Be sure to cast your vote before 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29.
Voting for the Best Seafood Restaurant in Fairfax is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on the Best Thai Restaurant in Fairfax. The results are now official:
Two years after it started exploring the idea, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is starting to make progress on establishing a regional youth mental health facility.
The new treatment center for teens could become operational in Chantilly early next year, the CSB says.
Reston Row Bakery Now Open — “Tous Les Jours, a French-Asian bakery café chain, has officially opened its doors in The Row at Reston Station … Opening [Thursday] at 1800 Reston Row with a soft launch at 10:00 AM, the bakery is now serving customers daily as the team prepares for a grand opening celebration in September featuring special promotions and giveaways.” [Comstock]
Mold Reported at Hayfield School — Parents and students who recently returned to Hayfield Secondary School for band practice and other activities saw they encountered mold and visible water damage. One parent says they were told that the school’s drains got backed up during heavy rain over the summer, but she feels efforts to dry out the building with fans and air purifiers were inadequate. [NBC4]
Top Issues in Va. Governor’s Race — “Recent polling shows Virginia voters are heading into the 2025 governor’s race with three issues top of mind: The cost of living, reproductive rights and immigration … Some voter priorities have already majorly shifted from a VCU Wilder School poll earlier this year, which suggests that Virginians are reacting to real-time pressures.” [Axios Richmond]
Police Investigate Indecent Exposure — “Detectives from our Criminal Investigations Division are asking for the community’s help to identify a suspect believed to be responsible for an indecent exposure. “On August 7, shortly after 9:00 a.m., officers responded to Sprague Avenue and Hammersmith Lane in Oakton” after someone reported seeing a man “masturbating” nearby. [FCPD]
Udvar-Hazy Adds Fighter Jet to Collection — “A McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle arrived at the National Air & Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly [on Aug. 13], where it will become part of the museum’s permanent exhibit.” The first fighter plane of its kind to be acquired by the Smithsonian, the F-15C Eagle was introduced “in the early 1970s, when the Air Force was looking to improve its air-to-air combat capabilities,” a curator said. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Falls Church Settles on Possible Trash Fees — “After nearly two hours of trash talk, Falls Church City Council leaders have settled on two potential options for funding future garbage collection and recycling services.” Council members decided to advertise two possible fee structures: charge households $292 per year for a 35-gallon bin and $327 for a 65-gallon bin, or $236 and $336, respectively. [ARLnow]
Firefighters Hand Out School Supplies — Yesterday, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department “hosted its annual Backpack and School Supply Distribution at FS11, Penn Daw. Firefighters, retirees, and volunteers worked together to distribute 1,600 backpacks filled with school supplies to families, schools, and nonprofits throughout the county. A huge thank you to all who helped make the event a success!” [FCFRD/Facebook]
Park Volunteer Award Winners Revealed — “The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards, recognizing exceptional service and contributions to the county’s parks, natural and cultural resources and recreational opportunities. The awardees will be honored during a recognition ceremony on Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.” [FCPA]
It’s Friday — There’s a 30% chance of rain, with possible showers between noon and 2pm, followed by potential showers after 2pm. Expect mostly sunny skies with a high of 88. Friday night holds a 20% chance of showers before 11pm. The night will be partly cloudy with a low of 72. [NWS]
The dog days of summer have arrived, and they’re about to get more literal in Reston.
As is tradition, Reston Association (RA) is bringing back its annual Dog Paddle series to close out the 2025 aquatics season, which began on May 10 and will conclude on Sept. 21.
