🌱 Patch AM: How a long-lost kids’ book finally returned to Chantilly

Cheers Chantilly! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a long-lost kids’ book finally returned to Chantilly
• Was your card at risk at this Chantilly Dollar Tree?
• Why was a legally protected resident held at Chantilly’s ICE center?

Also on today's calendar: The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Chantilly, VA (December 2025) and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Sun and areas of high clouds, with a high of 46 and low of 32 degrees.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny and windy, temps: high: 51, low: 23.
• Monday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 42 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Overdue library book returned after 36 years of world travel (upi.com) — A children’s book checked out in 1989 has finally made its way back to Chantilly Regional Library after traveling the world and ending up in Greece. The Fairfax County Library system shared the feel-good return of “Harry the Dirty Dog,” praising the family who kept it in good condition for 36 years before sending it home.
   

• 20 Skimming Devices Found In Widespread Search In Fairfax County: See List (patch.com) — One of the 20 card-skimming devices recently uncovered by Fairfax County Police was found at the Dollar Tree on Lee Jackson Memorial Highway in Chantilly, so local shoppers should be especially cautious. Investigators, aided by the U.S. Secret Service, are still tracking suspects, and police are urging residents to closely inspect payment terminals, favor well-lit locations, and promptly report any suspicious devices they spot.
   

• 4 Stories That Shaped Civil Rights, Access To Justice In 2025 (law360.com) — A national look at 2025 civil rights battles briefly turns local with the story of a man detained overnight at an ICE processing center in Chantilly before officials confirmed his legal status and released him. The piece explores broader shifts in immigration enforcement, federal justice grants, voting rights, and the death penalty that could indirectly affect Northern Virginia residents and their neighbors.
   

📸 Around Chantilly

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Chantilly

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• The International Gem & Jewelry Show - Chantilly, VA (December 2025)
  Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly
  10:00 am
• Dec 20-21 (3 shows)--Alchemy Ballet presents The Andalusian Nutcracker
  Herndon High School, 700 Bennett St, Herndon
  2:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Dec 20-21 in Herndon: THE ANDALUSIAN NUTCRACKER, Alchemy Ballet & guest artists
  Herndon High School, 700 Bennett St, Herndon
  3:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• FREE WEBINAR | “A Renaissance Christmas - Remix”
  Online,
  11:30 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 20

• Fairfax Saxophone Quartet, “A Jazzy Christmas”, @FairfaxHS
  Fairfax High School Auditorium , 3501 Lion Run , Fairfax
  6:15 pm
• City of Fairfax Band, “Christmas in Fairfax”, @FairfaxHS
  Fairfax High School Auditorium , 3501 Lion Run , Fairfax
  7:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Finding Light, Strength, and Emotional Balance in a Challenging Season with Sister Jenna
  Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA
  1:00 pm
• Ghost Doctors' UFO Adventure At The Smithsonian Air and Space Udvar-Hazy Center...Look up!
  14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy , Chantilly
  3:15 pm

Monday December 22

• Pictures with Santa
  24859 Serpentine Pl , Stone Ridge
  3:00 pm

Sunday December 28

• Transforming Challenges with Positive Thinking with Sister Jenna
  Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA
  1:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• *No* Rotary Lunch Mtng 12/30: Centreville & Chantilly Club
  Olive Garden Italian Restaurant , 12980 Fair Lakes Shopping Center , Fairfax
  11:45 am

Wednesday December 31

• WinterFest: NYE Edtion 2025
  Grace Covenant Church - Chantilly , 4600 Brookfield Corporate Dr , Chantilly
  7:30 pm

📣 Chantilly Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Chantilly PatchAM possible:

• Neutral Ground Counseling Group — (703) 988-4236
  Low Cost Mental Healthcare Available
• The Grout Genie — (571) 374-3643
  Licensed Tile & Grout Experts Serving Northern Virginia
• Bruno's Bounce House — (703) 594-1587
  🌞 **Beat the Heat with Bruno's Bounce House Rentals!** 🌊
• beem Light Sauna — (703) 665-1375
  Join us as a Founding Member with 25% off for a Lifetime
• The Fairfax Christian School — (703) 759-5100
  Give Your Child a Competitive Advantage
• Grapevine Vows — (703) 810-7511
  Discover a new way to find your wedding venue in NoVa!
• The Chocolate Chick — (703) 627-2294
  Make Your Holiday Party Unforgettable w/a Chocolate Fountain
• Kathy Sparks - Team Sparks Realty Group, Inc. — (703) 407-2113
  Complimentary Home & Staging Evaluation - Call 703-407-2113

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• A crash has been cleared on northbound VA-28 at I-66 in Fairfax County.
  10:25PM on Dec 18: All northbound travel lanes on VA-28 at I-66 in Fairfax County are closed. (Nextdoor )
• Route 15 in Leesburg was closed in both directions near Myersville Road due to a bus crash, but has since reopened and the scene has been cleared.
  7:11PM on Dec 18: Route 15 in Leesburg is closed in both directions near Myersville Road due to a bus crash. (Nextdoor )

• Lucky Strike Entertainment posted a job opening for Porter in Centreville. Apply here.
• ClubCorp posted a job opening for Outside Services Attendant in Centreville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Chantilly here.

🗞 Nearby News

Centreville

• Public hearing to name FCPS' new western high school set for tonight (ffxnow.com)
• Harrisonburg pair sentenced in overdose death of Northern Virginia teen (rocktownnow.com)

Herndon

• 20 credit card skimmers found across Fairfax County, Herndon: FCPD (fox5dc.com)
• Search for missing 79-year-old Herndon man in third day (wtop.com)
• Things to do in the DC area: Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular … and more! (wtop.com)

Reston

Ok Chantilly! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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