A woman has been hospitalized with critical injuries after a car crash in Reston’s Summer Ridge neighborhood near the North Point Village Center.
Fairfax County police officers and medics were dispatched to the 1500 block of Summerchase Court around 6:19 p.m. for a two-vehicle crash “with entrapment,” according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responders reported that an older woman was found unconscious and “pinned between her vehicle and another that’s parked,” per the scanner.
“One adult female was taken to the hospital with injuries considered life threatening,” the Fairfax County Police Department said in a tweet at 7:27 p.m.
Summerchase Court is currently closed as the FCPD’s Crash Reconstruction Unit investigates.
“Please use an alternate route,” police said.
Officers are on scene in the 1500 blk of Summerchase Ct in Reston for a 2 car crash. One adult female was taken to the hospital with injuries considered life threatening. Summerchase Ct closed. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/Bd0m2F6cld
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 14, 2024
Virginia has implemented new guidelines to establish a unified rating and improvement system to assess the commonwealth’s publicly funded early childhood care providers.
Approximately 75% of child care programs that received public funding previously did not participate in the state’s voluntary quality measures, according to Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, who co-patroned 2020 legislation that led to all publicly funded providers being required to participate.
In the following year, a pilot system known as the Unified Virginia Quality Birth to Five system, or VQB5, was created to improve children’s school readiness and expand access to parents and support providers. Advocates say the new system is a critical tool for the state, providers and families to gauge the effectiveness of Virginia’s early childhood education programs.
“It is always important to have the data to show where young children are so that we can make the right investments moving forward,” said Alison Gilbreath, senior director for policy and programs for Voices for Virginia’s Children. “We want all children in Virginia to be ready for kindergarten when they reach that age and we also need to know what communities are struggling the most and sometimes the data can really help us understand what is working well and what isn’t.”
Kathy Glazer, president of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, said in a statement that the organization has been supportive of the system’s developments and implementation throughout the commonwealth.
“By focusing on providing feedback to teachers regarding effective interactions with children and use of curricula that is aligned with Virginia’s early learning standards, VQB5 drives increased quality improvement across settings and classrooms,” Glazer said.
The new rating system
Last month, the Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the system’s guidelines, which will apply to over 3,200 birth-to-five programs including child care centers, and Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
The move is in conjunction with ongoing state efforts to prepare children for school and secure affordable child care, with the well of federal funds drying up. Read More
Reston golfers can now hone their swing in a temperature-controlled, indoor environment.
CitySwing opened an indoor golf studio in Reston Town Center on Wednesday (May 8), filling a space at 11897 Market Street that Williams-Sonoma vacated more than five years ago. During its soft launch, the studio is operating from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Patrons can now reserve times online for lessons and simulator rentals, though walk-ins are also welcome. Food and drinks are expected to become available “in the next few weeks,” CitySwing told FFXnow.
An online menu suggests the facility will serve chicken wings, sandwiches, sliders, salads and various appetizers, including chicken nachos, flatbreads and rosemary fries. The drink list includes wine, beer, cocktails and seltzers.
The Reston location represents CitySwing’s first expansion since it launched a D.C. studio in 2018. Founder Tari Cash previously told FFXnow that she started the company to create a more inclusive space for golf after hearing about an incident where someone called the police on four Black women for “playing too slow.”
She said CitySwing was excited to expand its audience and “be in the center of the vibrant RTC community” with its new location, which has a direct entrance from the town center’s pavilion.
To celebrate its opening, CitySwing is offering a 20% discount on memberships for its Reston studio and all-access memberships, which give patrons access to both locations. The promotion will be in place until June 15, according to the company’s website.
Memberships start at $120 per month and come with lessons and simulator time. Simulator rentals start at $45 for a 30-minute session, while a 30-minute lesson with one of the studio’s instructors costs $75.
A 30-year-old man from Herndon was arrested on Sunday (May 12) for allegedly exposing himself to a woman on the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail in Sterling.
The woman reported that she was walking on the trail near the 21.5-mile marker that day when an adult man exposed himself, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
“The victim fled and called law enforcement. Responding deputies searched the area and arrested the suspect on the trail,” the sheriff’s office said.
The LCSO says the man has been charged with obscene sexual display, which is defined by state law as an actual or simulated act of masturbation in a public place. Virginia classifies the offense as a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying potential punishments of up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.
The man was released on a personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County General District Court for an arraignment on July 24, according to court records.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have witnessed the exposure incident or been approached by the man to contact its deputies at 703-777-1021.
Image via Google Maps
Facing lower-than-expected revenue from the county and state, Fairfax County Public Schools is considering a proposal to reduce staff pay raises.
Under Superintendent Michelle Reid’s new proposal, presented at last week’s school board meeting, all school employees would receive a 3% pay increase instead of the initially planned 6%, which would’ve made starting teacher salaries in Fairfax County the highest among surrounding jurisdictions.
“The focus of our budget proposal had been to catapult beginning teacher salaries and again the beginning masters teacher salaries to number one in our region,” Reid told the school board during its meeting last Thursday (May 9). “However, as a result of the significantly lower-than-requested funding levels, our improvement in beginning salaries will be a bit more measured, moving from seventh place out of eight to sixth place out of eight.”
The revised proposal came after the Board of Supervisors adopted a fiscal year 2025 budget on May 7 that increased the county’s real estate tax rate by 3 cents to support pay raises for county and school employees.
Back in February, Reid requested an additional $254 million for FCPS from the county, primarily to fund staff pay raises. But the county’s newly adopted budget, which will take effect on July 1, allocates $165 million after the Board of Supervisors raised concerns about further raising property taxes to compensate for state underfunding of schools.
According to Reid’s presentation, FCPS will get about $102 million less from the county and state than what the superintendent had sought in her proposed budget.
Gov. Youngkin signed a new two-year budget yesterday (Monday) that will be effective from July 1 and last until June 30, 2026. Approved with near-unanimous bipartisan support, the budget includes more than $2 billion for K-12 public education and provides 3% pay raises for teachers and state employees.
Although it was not immediately clear if FCPS will receive additional funding from this deal, Reid told the school board she will amend her proposal if more funds become available.
“If that money or monies should become available, I’ll likely be recommending the restoration of as much of the originally planned salary increase as possible,” she said.
Citing a recent study by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission of Virginia (JLARC), Reid emphasized that the state’s underfunding of FCPS by $568.6 million annually is a major reason for the school system’s continuous requests for more county funding.
“[The $568.6 million] would enable us to do a lot of amazing work and make sure that our educators benefited from a salary that would enable them to continue to live or afford the cost of living here in Fairfax County,” Reid said. “Unfortunately, the General Assembly has essentially delayed action on these recommendations by continuing to request further study.”
At the meeting, Hunter Mill District School Board Representative Melanie Meren attributed the worsening shortfall in K-12 school funding to Youngkin’s tax reduction policies and criticized the county for not advocating more vigorously on behalf of the school board.
“It’s now a pattern, and the governor continues to hold school boards like ours accountable for providing some services and yet does not allow us the time to actually plan as best as we can,” she said. “…I’d like to know what our county partners are doing to actually help us resolve this.”
The school board will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget today (Tuesday) that could be extended to tomorrow (Wednesday), followed by a work session on Tuesday, May 21. Adoption of a final budget is scheduled for May 23.
Feedback Sought on National Airport Noise — “Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince George’s County have hired Vianair Consulting to spearhead a collaborative effort with members of the community and staff from various airport agencies to recommend changes to DCA airspace and flight procedures. Vianair is currently running a survey of residents south of DCA.” [ALXnow]
Gov. Youngkin Signs New State Budget — “Weeks of Virginia state budget drama ended Monday with pledges of bipartisan goodwill as the General Assembly passed a compromise two-year spending plan that boosts funding for education and other priorities without increasing taxes.” [Washington Post]
Foo Fighters Singer Shouts Out Fairfax County Roots — “@foofighters Dave Grohl shops at Tysons too! Superstar and DC-area local Dave Grohl was honored [on May 8 at] the @TheNationalMall’s Ball for the Mall. He gave shoutouts to @TysonsGalleria and to his mom who worked as a Fairfax County Public Schools teacher for 35 years.” [Washingtonian/Twitter]
Truck Traffic Ban Proposed for Lorton Roads — “The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is accepting public comments through June 10 regarding a proposed restriction of through truck traffic on Gunston Cove Road and Lorton Market Street from Richmond Highway to Lorton Road.” The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors requested a study by VDOT after residents “testified that trucks were speeding through the neighborhood.” [On the MoVe]
Hair Salon Coming to Annandale — “A salon and barbershop is coming to the old Tony Moly space next to the 7-Eleven on Hummer Road…A sign on the vacant storefront says Adela’s Salon and Barberia is coming soon. Tony Moly, a shop specializing in Korean cosmetics, opened in 2014 and closed last summer.” [Annandale Today]
Tennis Court Renovation Planned at Mason District Park — “Contractors will mobilize on site in early June, with work expected to begin on Wednesday, June 12. The project will include the replacement of old asphalt surfacing, fencing, gates, net posts and footers. New sealcoat, color coat and playing lines will also be applied to the courts.” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
County Attorney Honored for Affordable Housing Efforts — “Deputy County Attorney Cynthia Bailey was recently awarded the A. Robert Cherin Award by The Local Government Attorneys of Virginia…As the Deputy County Attorney, Ms. Bailey has steadfastly guided the Office’s legal efforts on affordable housing matters including public-private partnerships.” [FCRHA]
It’s Tuesday — Expect showers and potential thunderstorms after 5pm, accompanied by cloudy skies and a high of 72°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation. Tuesday night brings more showers, possibly a thunderstorm, with a low of 62°F and a 90% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Reston Concerts on the Town will kick off this Saturday (May 18) in conjunction with the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art’s annual arts festival.
The Reston Town Center Association (RTCA) and property owner Boston Properties unveiled a performance lineup last week for the free summer concert series, which is now entering its 31st season.
Old Skool, a Cleveland-based group that covers ’80s and ’90s hip hop, R&B and pop hits, will open the season on Saturday at 8 p.m., taking the stage at the Reston Town Center Pavilion (1825 Discovery Street) to close out the first day of the 33rd annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival.
Subsequent concerts will all take place at the pavilion from 7:30-10 p.m. every Saturday through Aug. 24. Free garage parking will be available at the town center for all shows, and patrons will have a designated “Sip and Stroll” area where they can imbibe alcohol from five participating restaurants: Ted’s Bulletin, North Italia, Sixty Vines, Capital Burger and True Food Kitchen.
Assembled by a new entertainment director, Party DC, this year’s concert lineup features a variety of acts and genres, from choral music, courtesy of the local Reston Chorale, and a Beatles tribute band to salsa, funk and ’80s hair metal.
“This is the most ambitious lineup we have ever offered, and that’s saying a lot,” RTCA Executive Director Robert Goudie said in a press release. “Given the quality of what we are delivering, all free, there is no greater value in the region, and there is something for everyone of all ages and interests.”
The full Reston Concerts on the Town schedule is below.
- May 18: Old Skool (R&B/hip hop/pop)
- May 25: Reston Chorale for a “Star Spangled Salute”
- June 1: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
- June 8: Hard Day’s Night (Beatles tribute)
- June 15: Herr Metal (’80s hair metal)
- June 22: Lee Rocker from the Stray Cats (rockabilly)
- June 29: Lao Tizer Band, featuring saxophonist Eric Marienthal and “American Idol” season five contestant Elliot Yamin (soul/jazz/R&B)
- July 6: La Mafia Del Guaguanco (D.C. area salsa band)
- July 13: Big Sam’s Funky Nation (New Orleans funk)
- July 20: Deanna Bogart Band (boogie-woogie/jazzy blues)
- July 27: The Reflex (’80s tribute band)
- Aug. 3: Sam Grow Band with current “American Idol” contestant Sela Campbell opening (country)
- Aug. 10: Three Sheets to the Wind (yacht rock)
- Aug. 17: Right On Band (disco)
- Aug. 24: Magic! (reggae fusion)
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- Early Summer Leagues start June 15
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- One day per week — practice is conveniently scheduled prior to the game.
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The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The Town of Herndon will look into lowering how much restaurants and other businesses pay for using public space to host temporary outdoor seating.
Zoning Administrator David Stromberg gave an update on current zoning regulations, which have been on the books for two years, during a Herndon Town Council work session last Tuesday (May 7).
Outdoor dining gained popularity during the pandemic, when restaurants faced indoor capacity restrictions. After phasing out temporary licenses in 2021, the town council amended the town code in April 2022 to permanently let private businesses provide outdoor dining on public property, such as sidewalks and on-street or shared parking spaces.
A town ordinance charged businesses $10 per square foot — a rate chosen based on how much other localities charge.
“At the time this ordinance was adopted, only a few other localities had established an outdoor seating program, and the three that were reviewed (Arlington, Alexandria, and the District of Columbia), charged rates higher than $10.00 per square foot for use of public property,” town staff said in a memo for last week’s work session.
According to staff, the town has gotten two applications from establishments seeking to create seasonal outdoor dining spaces since the ordinance was adopted, but no permits have received final approval.
During a work session in April, the council requested that staff look into lowering the fee to $7.50 per square foot per term. However, when they met last week, council members agreed to conduct a pilot program allowing up to four parking spaces for outdoor dining at $1 per square foot for the first two spaces and $5 per square foot for the next two spaces.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila supported dropping the fee to $1 per square foot, highlighting potential economic impacts.
“People like outdoor dining. We want to give people a reason to come to Herndon,” he said. “We need the revenue.”
Del Aguila also cited the permanent loss of the Herndon Festival, announced in December, as another reason to make the change.
“We need to start branding ourselves for other cool things to experience in Herndon. This is just one of them,” Del Aguila said.
Councilmember Donielle Scherff recommended creating an ad hoc committee of businesses to discuss the best ways to implement outdoor dining.
“I think that there should be everyone together or several opportunities for several folks to be together because collaboration is key,” she said.
The town council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed $7.50-per-square-foot rate for outdoor dining in public spaces during its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday). But no vote is expected, since the council opted to move forward with the pilot program instead.
The pilot will be conducted through Sept. 30. Scherff said the goal is to have a recommendation by next year.
Pre-Dawn Northern Lights Glimpsed in D.C. Area — “Because of pesky clouds, the D.C. area initially missed out on a rare and magical opportunity to the see the northern lights Friday night. But during the pre-dawn hours Saturday, between about 4 and 6 a.m., the skies opened up just enough for an exceptionally rare view.” [Washington Post]
Local Judge to Decide If Embryos Can Be Property — “A trial is underway in Virginia that will determine whether state law allows frozen embryos to be considered property that can be divided up and assigned a monetary value. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Dontae Bugg heard arguments Thursday from a divorced couple who disagree over the ex-wife’s desire to use two embryos that they created when they were married.” [NBC4]
Man Convicted of Fairfax City Murder — “A man was convicted of second-degree murder on Thursday in the killing of a Fairfax City man who authorities said was left in a trash receptacle hours after he had asked the defendant to have sex.” Aaron James Anthony Robertson, 31, could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison after being found “guilty in the June 10, 2023, killing of 50-year-old Luis Barahona Reyes.” [Washington Post]
School Board Approves Cell Phone Storage Pilot — “The Fairfax County School Board approved a proposal to launch a pilot program for storing student cellphones during the school day.” The pilot allows high school students to get their phones back at the end of each class, but middle school students have to wait until the end of the school day. [NBC4]
Father of Crash Victim Proposes Renaming Lee Chapel Road — “A year-and-a-half after his daughter died in a crash on a treacherous stretch of Lee Chapel Road in Fairfax County, Virginia, a grieving father is petitioning to change the road’s name to reflect his daughter’s role in upcoming safety changes.” [WTOP]
Biden Campaign Opens Office in Annandale — “Pumped to welcome @DouglasEmhoff to Annandale for the opening of the first Biden-Harris campaign office in Virginia! Virginia is ready to keep our Commonwealth blue this November and send @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris back to the White House!” [Tim Kaine/Twitter]
Three Arrested in Tysons With Allegedly Stolen Underwear — “Three men were arrested in connection with several thefts in multiple jurisdictions, which included over $24,000 worth of product from Victoria’s Secret that was mostly underwear, the Fairfax County Police Department said.” [WJLA]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 76, as a light south wind blows 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tonight, there will be a slight chance of showers after 2am, under partly cloudy conditions and a low around 59. The south wind will continue at around 8 mph, and the probability of precipitation is 20%. [NWS]
Photo by Ed Schudel/Twitter
Reston Association is ready to dive into a new swimming season — one that will open all 15 pools to members for the first time in half a decade.
The 2024 pool season will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) with the heated pools at North Shore and Ridge Heights opening at 11 a.m. Eight other facilities, including the newly renovated Lake Thoreau Pool, will follow suit on May 25 for Memorial Day weekend.
All 15 pools will then be open from June 15 to Aug. 11 before the season starts tapering off as Labor Day approaches.
RA will hold a grand opening ceremony on May 24 for the Lake Thoreau Pool, which last opened to patrons for the 2019 pool season. The facility at 2040 Upper Lake Drive was demolished in 2022, and construction on a new pool finished in December.
The $3.5 million renovation project added six lap lanes, a redesigned deck, a bigger parking lot with 25 spaces, an overlook with a pollinator garden and expanded bathhouses, which were shifted away from the spa. It also brought the facility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a promotional video released earlier this week by RA.
“We have a ramp, a beach entry, a family restroom, and the bathrooms are all ADA-compliant,” Reston Aquatics Facility Manager Nate Wheeler said.
This season will also reintroduce Shadowood Pool (2201 Springwood Drive), which could have a new name by the time it opens on June 15. Closed since 2020, when pool access was generally limited due to the pandemic, the Shadowood facility underwent a renovation that added lap lanes, heaters, interior bathhouse enhancements and a splash pad in place of the wading pool.
The splash pad will be accessible even when the main pool isn’t open, according to Wheeler.
In addition to unveiling the completed renovations, the upcoming pool season will feature longer operating hours, with some sites opening as early as 9 a.m. and closing as late as 9 p.m., depending on the day. RA extended the hours after conducting a community survey last year that identified “limited hours” as one of the top barriers to pool usage.
“This year, we really took the feedback we got from last year’s community survey to heart,” RA communications director Cara O’Donnell said by email. “Our members told us they wanted all 15 pools open — and they wanted pools open extended hours and things like dedicated fitness hours, which we’ve tried to accommodate at a number of facilities.”
The survey also identified the cost of pool passes as a barrier. In response, the RA board adopted a budget last fall that eliminated the fee for recreation passes, which are now available to all members as part of their annual assessment.
Though there’s no longer an extra charge, members still need to register or renew their pass for this season, which can be done online or in person at RA’s headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive), Wheeler noted.
With all 15 pools opening, RA faced a challenge this year when it came to hiring the workers needed to support those facilities. According to O’Donnell, the organization has about 200 people on the aquatics staff, but there are still positions available.
“Hiring enough lifeguards and other staff to handle the volume at all 15 pools is always challenging,” O’Donnell said. “We are fortunate to have a wonderful team of returning seasonal staff and have already hired dozens of new seasonal workers for this year, but we are definitely still hiring! Anyone interested in a summer job can visit our careers page at reston.org.”
