Metro Restores More Service — After the Oct. 12 derailment of a 7000-series train in Virginia, Metro is increasing service on the red and yellow lines. Blue, Orange, and Silver lines will continue to run every 30 minutes while the Green line runs every 20 minutes. [Reston Patch]
Tennis Courts Closed for Repairs — The tennis courts at Lake Newport will be closed today. The closure impacts courts three to six and not courts one and two. [Reston Association]
Herndon Company Raises $145 Million — HawkEye 360 raised $145 million in series d round funding. The last round was led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners and Seraphim Space Investment Trust. [PR Newswire]
Cloudpermit Chooses Reston — The Finnish software company has made Reston its North American headquarters. The business employs 10 people and already has a small office in Reston. It hopes to double that headcount by the end of the year. [Washington Business Journal]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Reston-based Company Makes Acquisition — CACI International, a Reston-based company, has acquired a California-based company for $275 million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year for SA Photonics Inc. [Virginia Business]
Reston Next Moves Forward — Boston Properties has officially delivered the first 285,000 square feet of its Reston Next development, which is anchored by Fannie Mae. The project is 85 percent leased overall. [Washington Business Journal]
Town of Herndon Budget Earns Honors — Government Finance Officers Association recognized the Town of Herndon with its budget presentation award. The honor recognizes budgets that work well as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device. [Town of Herndon]
This Sunday: Change Your Clock — When you move your clock back one hour early on Sunday morning, don’t forget to also check your smoke alarms to make sure they’re working. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department issues a reminder to residents. [FCRD]
Photo by David Taube
A new spa salon concept will replace space vacated by Red Door, a spa that closed permanently due to the pandemic last year.
Privai, a luxury skin and body care company, will open at 11838 Spectrum Center in the DC area in early 2022, a company spokesperson tells Reston Now. The company will debut one of several locations that describes itself as one that focuses on “personalized wellness for the whole being.”
The business, known as Mynd Spa & Salon Inc. filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy in March just days after announcing a temporary closure of all locations on social media.
The first locations in the area will open at Westpoint and Bethesda. Locations in Tysons Corner, Gaithersburg and Fairfax Corner are expected to open early next year.
Here’s more from the company on their brand:
Founded upon the belief that everyone deserves “spa in a bottle” skincare products that provide accessible luxury and rejuvenation, Christina Stratton and Ilana Alberico developed the Privai line following the success of their spa and wellness management company, Innovative Spa Management (ISM SPA). This next evolution of the Privai brand brings their passion about self-care and personalized wellness to life in order to better serve individuals’ body, mind, and sense of self.
“We want to offer a place that truly realizes individual needs: from spa and body treatments to salon and beauty services. We understand that no two guests are alike, and it is this belief that inspires us to curate unique experiences, one’s antidote for respite and recharging,” Stratton said.
The spa will be managed by ISM SPA, a boutique spa management and wellness design firm.
Privay assumed the leases of Red Door locations across the DC area. The Reston location is roughly 4,000 square feet and will include spa services in addition to salon services like manicures, pedicures and hair treatments.
Image via Google Maps
Snow Days to Stay — The Fairfax County Public Schools System is resuming snow days this year after the pandemic changed the school system’s inclement weather policy. The first five snowy days will be traditional inclement weather days. But after that, the school system plans to have unscheduled virtual learning days “wherever possible.” [FCPS]
Metro Hires Consultants to Analyze Safety — The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Board of Directors plans to hire an external consultant to offer advice on safety. The move comes a week after the derailment of a Metrorail train on the Blue Line. [Reston Patch]
Reston Company Raises $4.5 Million in Seed Round — ForecastEra, Reston-based company, formally announced a new seed round investment of $4.5 million. The company offers a account planning, sales, revenue and demand forecast suite that is native to Salesforce. [InsideNOVA]
Consulting Company to Expand in Reston — IT consulting firm Intact Technology will expand its headquarters in Reston by adding 40 new jobs and investing at least $700,000. The state competed with Maryland — the previous HQ — for the project. [Gov. Ralph Northam]
Shake It Up for International ShakeOut Day — Today at exactly 10:21 a.m., the largest earthquake drill ever is expected to take place. Registered participants will receive information on how to prepare for earthquakes and what steps to take during and after shaking. [Fairfax County Government]
Lake Anne Condo Board Election Need Intervention — That’s what a group of Lake Anne residents is telling Fairfax County officials. The property owners are asking the county to claim its proxy from Cheryl Terio-Simon, the landlord of property occupied by Reston Community Center. Elections are happening at the end of the month. [Reston Patch]
Photo by Jay Westcott
Zoomph, a Reston-based tech company that started in 2016 is continuing to build national partnerships.
Its digital platform provides social media post metrics for sports clients along with detailed demographic information about fans.
Zoomph clients have ranged from the Washington Football Team to the Chicago White Sox and the Golden State Warriors as well as others, including leagues like NASCAR.
The company started as a team within Reston-based MetroStar Systems as a social media monitoring project with the State Department, Zoomph President Amir Zonozi told the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.
‘We were looking at the reaction in areas of the Arab Spring when people like Secretary Hillary Clinton would make a speech,’ Zonozi explained. ‘But that capability wasn’t really possible in social media. So we had to build things to make that happen. They loved what we built and then they wanted more of it.’
Zoomph eventually pivoted to focusing on partnerships, business intelligence and research around digital marketing at sports, e-sports teams, leagues, brands and agencies. To gather this business intelligence, Zoomph utilizes innovative processes, such as artificial intelligence (AI).
‘We have AI that tracks all of the media content, whether it’s an image, a video, a GIF,’ Zonozi said. ‘We can also capture the assets. So we’re training AI to look at physical objects and understand the value of that physical object digitally.’
The company has around 25 employees.
Zoomph also provided a video interview with the FCEDA in an effort to help highlight the region’s potential for business and jobs.
The company didn’t respond to a media inquiry yesterday by the time this article published.
Wiehle-Reston East Outage Set for Next Week — A planned shutdown at the Wiehe-Reston East Metro station is on track, a spokesperson for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority tells Reston Now. The closure is intended to allow crews to connect the first and second phase of the Silver Line. [WMATA]
Reston Association Has Another Key Departure — Human resources director Melissa Kelley is leaving on Oct. 20 for another opportunity. “She will be greatly missed,” president of the board of directors, Caren Anton, said Wednesday. Other recent departures have included the association’s CEO and technology director. [Reston Association]
Reston-based Company Offers Flexible Workweek Policy — IT services firm Science Applications International Corp. is allowing its workers to take part in a flexible, four-day workweek. Employees can work a few extra hours each day to get an extra day off per week. [Technical.ly]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Reston Association to Host Budget Hearing — RA is holding a public hearing on its budget today at 7 p.m. The meeting is virtual. So far, the organization’s board is considering an increase in next year’s assessment. Tentatively, the draft budget also includes roughly $1.8 million for the renovation of Lake Thoreau pool. [RA]
Night of Lights Comes to Roer’s Zoofari — The LuminoCity festival brings an array of lights to the zoo from Friday through Jan. 2. This is the organization’s first annual event but this is the first time the show ic coming to a location outside of the New York area. [LuminoCity]
Reston Company Partners with Sports Teams and Leagues — Zoomph, a Reston-based company, is partnering with sports leagues and teams to analyze social media initiatives. The company has clients like NASCAR and the Team Liquid e0sports league. [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
A dentist is seeking to fill a hole in the area with a specialty practice slated to open Nov. 8.
Wonhee (Alan) Lee is launching the endodontics practice, a form of dentistry dealing with root canal issues, at at 11800 Sunrise Valley Drive.
“We have noted limited access to an endodontic specialist in [the] Reston-Herndon area, and our goal is to become a trusted partner to the local dental community and support them [by providing] comprehensive and emergency dental care to the people of Reston,” Lee wrote in a message.
The firm is providing the full range of endontonic services, such as laser-assisted root canal treatment and retreatment, endodontic microsurgery, regenerative endodontics and laser photobiomodulation therapy.
A permit for the business identifies it as Endodontic Excellence. The permit, which the county issued Sept. 29, was for a sprinkler system given the new commercial layout.
Lee has served as a dentist at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Root Canal Specialists. The firm said in an email that he’s no longer with the practice.
Nearby at 11864 Sunrise Valley Drive, a dental practice converted space earlier this year at the former Pica Deli.
While the pandemic has led to a surge in small business, Endodontic Excellence formed in July 2019, according to the State Corporation Commission.
Lee’s business has already hired four full-time employees and plans to expand.
“Our primary focus is to provide an optimal patience experience with the highest quality of treatment and care through seamless teamwork and leading-edge technology,” he wrote.
Photo via Google Maps
Maryland Company Acquires Reston-based Company — MasterPeace Solutions, a Columbia-based cyber company has acquired Full Suite Solutions, a company that provides software to intelligence agencies. [Technical.ly]
Getting to Know the New Fairfax County Park Authority Chief — Jai Cole, who came the Fairfax County Park Authority’s new executive director last month, wants to make the park system more accessible for all. She started her career working at the pool at Reston Community Center, a position she says was one of the best jobs she ever had. [Inside NOVA]
Cyber Tip Leads to Child Porn Arrest — Brendan Lynch, 21, of Alexandria, was arrested and charged with four counts of solicitation of a minor and 26 counts of possession of child porn. He worked as an aquatics center at several recreation centers managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority. [FCPD]
County Stops Using Blotter Due to Data Concerns — The Fairfax County Police Department has stopped using an arrest blotter following concerns that the data could be used to deport immigrants. [The Washington Post]
More on Yesterday’s Loud Boom — An enormous loud boom that reverberated throughout Northern Virginia was most certainly caused by lightning, according to a radar snapshot of thundershowers. [The Washington Post]
Reston Company Lands Big Contract — Noblis, a Reston-based company, has secured a five-year, $263 million contract from the Department of Defense’s defense threat reduction agency. [Virginia Business Monthly]
Pfizer Booster Shots Now Available — Beginning today, the Fairfax County Health Department will begin providing booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine. Four groups of people are eligible for the dose. [Fairfax County Government]
Reston-based Company Makes List of Top Employers – Maximus, a government service provider, was included in Forbes’ annual list of America’s best employers for diversity. JLL, a business services and supplies company, topped the list. [Forbes]
Local Tennis Courts Closed — The tennis courts at Lake Anne will be closed today and tomorrow due to court painting, according to Reston Association. [RA]
Public Hearings on RA Budget Set — The Board of Directors will hold public hearings on its proposed budget on Oct. 13 and Nov. 10. The budget is currently under development. [RA]
Reston Company Helps Dump Data — A Reston-based data privacy and governance software provider company called ActiveNav wants to help companies dump extra data. The company created a new tool that helps others analyze what data is toxic or vulnerable. [Technical.ly]
Proposed Plea Deal in Alleged Child Rapist Case Rejected — A Fairfax County judge rejected a proposed plea deal between prosecutors and a man accused of repeatedly raping a girl — a rare step that cast some doubt on evidence presented by the Herndon Police Department’s investigators. The three-year sentence was perceived as too lenient. [The Washington Post]
County Health Department Waits for Guidance on Booster Shots — The county’s health department is waiting on federal and state partners to determine when to begin offering booster shots to residents who have already received the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. [Fairfax County Government]
A local mental health practice is on the move.
Dr. Goldberg & Associates plans to open move into a larger location by Nov. 1, a business representative tells Reston Now.
The mental health and psychological services business has five locations, including one in Reston, McLean and Vienna.
It’s currently housed in a smaller office at 1800 Faraday Drive, Suite 206. The practice’s office manager says the new location — 11495 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 202 — is much larger than the current Reston location.
The practice will have seven treatment rooms. The current location only has one location. The clinic is still waiting for building permits from the county to continue with the renovation project.
More information about the practice is available online.
Photo via Dr. Goldberg & Associates/Facebook
Another tenant plans to shutter its doors by the end of the year at  The Spectrum, a master-planned retail complex at Reston Town Center.
Office Depot, which is located at 11816 Spectrum Center, will close on Nov. 13, a company representative told Reston Now.
The company has been closing stores throughout the country after first quarter sales in 2019 fell by two percent. The losses came from the company’s IT and consulting services arm, known as CompuCom. The retail division is composed of Office Depot and OfficeMax stores.
Earlier this year, Starbucks also announced plans to leave the retail center. In 2020, Best Buy also left a major vacancy in the area.
Lerner Enterprises, a Maryland-based company, plans to redevelop the plaza into a mixed-use project. But a timeline for the proposal has not yet been determined.
