As the Virginia summer looms, residents of Reston’s tent encampment are preparing for challenges beyond sweltering temperatures.
Many are anxious about the impending installation of no-trespassing signs, which will mark the beginning of a two-week countdown before they must leave the Inova-owned property in the forest between Inova’s emergency room, the North County Government Center and Sunrise Assisted Living.
Fairfax County officials have assured the 40-plus unhoused individuals residing at the encampment — the largest in the county — that they will get access to a temporary shelter at the North County Human Services Center across the street, once the no-trespassing signs go up.
However, encampment residents, like Andy “Pops” Whiddon and Xavier Turner, say they’re reluctant to move because of health risks, such as diseases and parasites, that come with crowded shelters.
“I’m not gonna sleep six inches from somebody else,” Whiddon told FFXnow. “It’s a health hazard.”
Temporary shelter plans in limbo
Whiddon, who has been at the encampment for about eight months, says he and his neighbors were left in the dark for weeks about when the site will be cleared.
Their concerns were somewhat eased when Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn said during a town hall-style meeting at the government center in April that it may be another few months before the no-trespassing signs are put up.
“He said, ‘You won’t know until they put up the no trespassing signs,'” Whiddon recalled. “Once they put up the signs, then we have two weeks we gotta go. And we got no choice.”
Alcorn told FFXnow by email on Friday (May 3) that the county is still in the process of creating a temporary shelter, and he was told by the Office to End and Prevent Homelessness it would be a “matter of weeks rather than months” until it was ready.
“I had shared this information with residents in and around Reston Town Center North — including unhoused individuals,” Alcorn said. “I have asked county staff to keep me updated on progress towards getting this critical service in place, and as soon as plans for this temporary overflow shelter are available, I will make sure they are shared with all interested parties in our community.”
Thomas Barnett, deputy director of the Fairfax County Office to End and Prevent Homelessness, said he would announce more details about the temporary shelter “shortly” but declined to provide an official timeline or specific details about the project.
“Fairfax County aims to compassionately wind down the encampment of people experiencing homelessness in Reston and connect these individuals to housing and other services,” Barnett said. “We continue to formalize plans to enable the temporary overflow shelter and our plan is to begin transitioning people once it is open.”
So many of the families we talk with during the admissions process are wondering if private school tuition could ever be affordable for them.
They recognize the value of the small school and classroom, the opportunity for extraordinary educational experiences, and the potential to finally find a school that fits their kid. They also have to live in reality, where the tuition costs are substantial, and they wonder if they could be affordable.
About half of our families receive financial aid of some sort
When we describe our tuition aid program to families, they usually express some combination of shock and disbelief. Their assumption was that “the price was the price,” and that an independent school education was out of reach for their child, no matter how great a fit the school might be. The truth is, most independent private schools have a significant financial aid program.
The Howard Gardner School actively seeks to have a diversity of socio-economic backgrounds in our community. To achieve that, our community and board supports the process, and we are able to help all kinds of different families afford their child’s tuition. HGS isn’t unique in this. In fact, most of the private independent schools in the region work specifically to help families from a variety of financial circumstances find a way to afford the educational setting that best fits their kids.
“Well, I don’t think we’d qualify.”
“We make too much for aid, but not enough to afford tuition.”
These are two common misconceptions we hear from families. In fact, at The Howard Gardner School we provide as many 25% aid awards as we do 50% and 75% aid awards. In other words, our financial aid program is specifically designed to help a family regardless of financial circumstance. HGS, like most schools, also provides a small number of full scholarships (99% aid awards), but our financial aid program is set up to help provide a broad diversity of access.
Monthly payments, lump sum discounts, 529 plans
Another way to “take the edge off,” for families seeking the best fit for their student, is to help provide monthly payment planning without the burden of finance costs. In fact, at The Howard Gardner School, we provide a discount to families who choose to pay in a lump sum. By spreading the costs of a private school education over the full school year, families can budget and plan in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Additionally, using money from a 529 plan is now permitted to pay tuition at private schools in Virginia. Many schools in this region have a variety of options when it comes to planning for or spreading out payments, and their admissions staff can help you understand those.
The key is to reach out
The staff at independent schools want to help — whether that means helping with aid applications to organizations like ISM FAST or NAIS SSS (both financial aid recommenders), sharing the ways that each school helps their families budget, plan, and ultimately afford tuition, or just offering their expertise and experience with this process. Financial aid is an important way for places like The Howard Gardner School to build a strong, healthy community of families from a variety of backgrounds and financial situations.
The Howard Gardner School is an intentionally small, hands-on, experiential, university prep school serving students in grades 6-12. It is our mission to help bright, creative, non-traditional students use their unique strengths to thrive academically, intellectually, and emotionally.
Please check out our website at www.TheHowardGardnerSchool.org, and call or email to learn more about how the school that is great for your child can be affordable for your family.
The Howard Gardner School
Serving bright, creative, non-traditional learners in grades 6-12
Alexandria, VA & Sterling, VA
703-822-9300
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
The winners of the 2024 ArtsFairfax Awards are in.
ArtsFairfax, a nonprofit that serves as Fairfax County’s arts agency, announced this week that it will honor Reston dancer Shu-Chen Cuff, philanthropist Anne R. Kline and two local charities at its annual awards ceremony, which will be held for a fourth straight year at Capital One Hall (7750 Capital One Tower Road) in Tysons.
Scheduled for Oct. 25, the awards recognize “extraordinary contributions” by individuals and groups to the local arts community, while serving as a fundraiser for ArtsFairfax, which provides grants and other resources to artists and arts and culture-related nonprofits.
“The arts in Fairfax are so varied and vibrant that there is truly something for everyone,” said Stuart Holt, who took over as ArtsFairfax’s president and CEO in March. “This year’s ArtsFairfax Awards honorees…all come from different places in the world, reminding us that when we invest in the arts we bring our whole selves to the task. I’m inspired by how each and every one of us can improve the Fairfax community through local arts and culture.”
Jinx Hazel Award
The Jinx Hazel Award will go to the Peterson Family Foundation, the charitable arm of Fairfax-based developer Peterson Companies. Started by company founder Milt Peterson and his wife, Carolyn, in 1997, the foundation has made significant donations to Inova Health System’s Life with Cancer initiative, whose support services include art therapy classes, and George Mason University’s arts and public health colleges.
According to ArtsFairfax, the foundation’s contributions to GMU have included investments in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ opera, performing arts and music programs as well as the Mason Community Arts Academy, which provides classes, workshops and summer classes to area residents and students.
The foundation also supports the university’s Great Performances at Mason series, which brings classical music, dance, theater and opera shows to its Fairfax campus.
The Jinx Hazel Award is considered ArtsFairfax’s top award, recognizing a person or group “whose vision and commitment has helped shape the cultural life of Fairfax County.” Last year’s recipient was the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.
Philanthropy Award
Kline will receive this year’s Philanthropy Award, which recognizes donors for their longtime monetary support for the arts. A former banker who now heads the Pohanka Automotive Group’s Pohanka Family Office in Rockville, Maryland, she has served on the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts board since 2015.
Her philanthropic contributions to Wolf Trap include an endowment fund to support staff, artists and programming for Wolf Trap Opera (WTO). She has also funded a career development program and young artist training company for the WTO, and she led a digital fundraiser event for the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because of Ms. Kline’s leadership, WTO was poised and ready to offer the first performance in the 50th anniversary season at the Filene Center,” ArtsFairfax said in a press release. “Ms. Kline’s exemplary support, service, and leadership on behalf of the Wolf Trap Foundation was recently recognized with a 2024 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award.”
Achievement Award
Intended for an individual artist who’s made “a lasting contribution” to their discipline or community, the 2024 ArtsFairfax Achievement Award will honor Shu-Chen Cuff, a native Taiwanese dancer who trained in ballet, modern dance and Chinese folk dance and opera.
A University of Florida graduate, Cuff danced with the Miami Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theater, and the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company before founding the Gin Dance Company (GDC) in 2011. Based in Reston Town Center (1818 Library Street, Suite 500), the company focuses on contemporary dance performances that blend Asian and western influences.
Cuff retired as a professional dancer after 27 years with a final performance at Capital One Hall last November, but she still works as GDC’s artistic director and choreographer. She’s also a faculty member at GMU, the BalletNova Center for Dance in Bailey’s Crossroads, the Washington Ballet School in D.C., the Metropolitan School of the Arts in Kingstowne and Skye Ballet Center in Herndon.
“Congratulations to Shu-Chen, for her incredible contributions and commitment as a performer, choreographer, teacher, and mentor!” GDC said in a newsletter announcing the award for its founder. “We are beyond grateful to ArtsFairfax for this very special recognition and their unwavering dedication to the arts!”
Innovation Award
This year’s recipient of the ArtsFairfax Innovation Award, which honors individuals and groups for “nontraditional or inventive approaches” to engaging in the arts, is We Rock Cancer.
Based in McLean (1390 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 900), the nonprofit was founded by Air Force veteran Tim Reed after he was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2018. It provides free cancer screenings at live music events, a service that has expanded to other settings like health fairs and cultural festivals with the acquisition of a portable stage in 2020.
According to ArtsFairfax, We Rock Cancer hopes to expand its outreach over the next three years to kids, young adults and workers in construction, landscaping and other professions that come with regular sun exposure.
“By sharing their innovative offering with the community, We Rock Cancer addresses healthcare access and equity to attain annual skin checks, conduct self-examinations, and obtain skin cancer prevention resources while celebrating live, local music,” ArtsFairfax said.
Fairfax County Board Adopts New Budget — “Fairfax County lawmakers Tuesday approved a budget that raises the residential tax rate by 3 cents, a reflection of the lingering economic impacts of the pandemic and uncertainty over the Virginia state budget…The Board of Supervisors approved the budget on a 9-1 vote without comment, with Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) opposing.” [Washington Post]
Gunfire Reported in Fair Lakes Neighborhood — “According to Fairfax County police, the shooting was reported during a gathering at one of the townhouses in the Fair Lakes community. Upon arrival, officers encountered a large group of people leaving the home. Video footage captured people desperately seeking refuge and calling for help amidst the chaos.” [FOX5]
N. Va. Schools Concerned by Water Gun Game — “School officials in Northern Virginia are urging students to stop playing a game that is reportedly scaring residents and leading to police reports of teens carrying weapons…The assassins game is a social media trend that has become very popular among high schoolers in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. It consists of teens using water guns to spray other students, kicking them out of the game.” [WTOP]
Developers Seek to Connect Tysons Projects — “Ten years after the Silver Line accelerated Tysons’ growth by bringing four new Metro stations to the area, efforts are still underway to link together sections of the 4.3-square-mile Northern Virginia submarket. There has been some progress, but Tysons still needs many more crosswalks, bridges and public pathways before it realizes its vision of a connected urban place, developers said Thursday at Bisnow’s Future of Tysons event.” [Bisnow]
Lorton Police Station Gets New Commander — “Maj. Alan Hanson has been named the new station commander at Lorton District Police Station, effective May 4, according to the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD).” Hanson replaced “acting station commander, Anthony Stancampiano, who had been serving in that capacity since Capt. Richard Morvillo retired in January.” [On the MoVe]
Vienna Public Works Open House Coming Up — “All aboard for fun with Town of Vienna Public Works Day, Thursday, May 16, from 2-6 p.m., at the Northside Property Yard, 600 Mill St., NE, Vienna! This year’s Vienna Public Works Department open house features big trucks, public safety displays, giveaways, snacks and more.” [Town of Vienna]
It’s Wednesday — Showers and thunderstorms are possible before 8am and after 2pm, with mostly cloudy skies gradually becoming sunny and a high near 87. The chance of precipitation is 30%. At night, there’s a 50% chance of precipitation. Expect increasing clouds and a low around 65. [NWS]
Reston-area residents will no longer have to trek to the Fairfax County Courthouse to access some basic court services.
The Fairfax Circuit Court, which serves both the county and Fairfax City, announced today that it will open a satellite location next Tuesday, May 14 in the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate (12125 Pinecrest Road) in Reston.
Going forward, the remote site will open on the second Tuesday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon. Services available at the site will include marriage license application processing, access to certified copies of court records and free notary services.
“We are very excited to be offering this inaugural location for satellite services,” Fairfax Clerk of Court Chris Falcon said in a press release. “This expansion is a testament to our commitment to better serve the community and make Circuit Court resources more accessible. The opening of the new satellite office marks a significant milestone for Fairfax Circuit Court, and we are excited about the opportunities it will bring.”
Elected in November to succeed longtime circuit court clerk John Frey, who retired at the end of 2023 after 32 years, Falcon made expanding access to court services and public records a central focus of his campaign.
According to the press release, Falcon’s office is behind the effort to provide satellite court services in conjunction with Fairfax County. The Reston site will serve as a pilot that could be expanded in the future.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors directed county staff in March to review the possibility of establishing remote kiosks that could provide legal information in different languages with an artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant.
Camila Alfonzo Meza, a public information officer for the circuit court, says the proposed kiosks are a separate initiative from the satellite location in Reston, which will be staffed by two or three circuit court clerks when open.
“Although we hope to be able to expand the services we can offer, I don’t know what that will look like at this time,” Alfonzo Meza told FFXnow. “It is the first time we are offering satellite services and we hope to use this as an opportunity to shape future initiatives.”
Located in the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, the Fairfax Circuit Court is Virginia’s largest trial court with 15 full-time trial judges. It tries felony criminal cases, civil cases and misdemeanor and traffic cases appealed from the county’s general district and juvenile courts.
Earn top dollar with full benefits!
When you join the Electrical Alliance, you get to contribute to the biggest projects in the area, all while earning top dollar and employer paid benefits.
As an Electrical Alliance worker, you get:
- Salary Range $11.50-$54.00/Hour
- Paid Apprenticeship
- Continuing education to advance within the industry
- Safer working conditions and top-tier safety training
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- Paid time off
- Employer Paid Retirement Benefits: Pensions and Annuity
This opportunity is open to electricians with 3 to 11 years of experience.
The preceding sponsored post was also published on FFXnow.com
An adult man was taken to the hospital yesterday (Monday) afternoon after he was hit by a vehicle on Frying Pan Road in the Herndon area.
Police were dispatched at 2:57 p.m. for the crash at the Fieldcreek Drive intersection outside the Somerset townhomes, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
“The pedestrian does appear to be conscious,” a dispatcher said.
The Fairfax County Police Department reported that the pedestrian had been transported to the hospital but didn’t describe his condition. Comments on the scanner suggest his injuries were at least initially considered life-threatening.
The driver of the vehicle in the crash remained at the scene, police said.
Eastbound Frying Pan Road was shut down at Fieldcreek Drive while the FCPD’s Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives investigated the crash. The road reopened shortly before 6 p.m.
“The pedestrian remains hospitalized and detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate,” the FCPD’s public affairs bureau told FFXnow this morning (Tuesday), noting that any further updates will be posted on its blog and Twitter.
Fieldcreek Drive and Frying Pan Road are now open. Detectives continue to investigate. Follow our blog for further updates. https://t.co/YUigMm3yDx
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 6, 2024
Image via Google Maps
Firefighters Participate in Rescue Challenge — “Who’s that suspended from ropes under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge? It’s your friendly neighborhood technical rescue operations team. From 5/6-5/9 #FCFRD is participating in the 28th Annual Rescue Challenge. This training involves scenarios including a rescue under the bridge.” [FCFRD/Twitter]
Oyster Bar Coming to Old Town Fairfax — “Local chef and restauranteur Bill Hamrock will be opening Kelly’s Oyster House and Bar at 4069 Chain Bridge Road in Old Town Fairfax. The building is the former home of the Capital Ale House. Hamrock already owns and operates Hamrock’s Restaurant, which is located just down the street at 3950 Chain Bridge Road.” [Patch]
Improvements Proposed for Annandale Greenway — “A handful of urban planning students at Virginia Tech developed a plan for enhancing and promoting the Annandale Greenway. The greenway is a 4.5-mile pathway connecting park trails and sidewalks between Annandale Community Park and Green Spring Gardens.” [Annandale Today]
Food Bank Seeks Donations for Lorton Warehouse — Capital Area Food Bank is working to expand its warehouse in Lorton in response to “a growing need for food in the D.C. area.” The nonprofit still needs to fund about $1 million of the $35 million project. “‘We’re hoping that the public will be able to help us address that gap,’ Muthiah said.” [WTOP]
McLean Cybersecurity Startup Lands $2.5M in Funding — Bricklayer AI has raised $2.5 million “to continue building out an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to fill” what founder Adam Vincent says is “a chronic shortage of qualified cybersecurity experts.” The funds will enable the 14-month-old startup to “triple its workforce over the next year to 15 full-time employees” and look for office space, potentially in McLean or Arlington. [DC Inno]
McLean Students Win Performing Arts Scholarships — “Twelve young local artists were awarded 2024 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarships by the McLean Community Center. The annual scholarship competition began with preliminary auditions in February and culminated with a final competition on stage at the Alden Theatre on April 17.” [Gazette Leader]
Community Tours Mount Vernon Native Gardens — “At the first-ever Native Garden Tour and Open House at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, around 75 to 100 visitors had the opportunity to tour the native perennial gardens, native tree plantings and stormwater rain gardens that were installed around the building over the past several years.” [On the MoVe]
It’s Tuesday — Showers and possible thunderstorms after 11am, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 78. Light winds turn southeast at 6 mph in the afternoon, and a 50% chance of rain. Night will be cloudy with a low near 65 and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms. [NWS]
The Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering (DAS) will likely assume the duties of the Animal Protection Police, starting this summer.
At a mark-up session last Tuesday (April 30), the Board of Supervisors indicated that it will implement the consolidation by transferring a position from the Fairfax County Police Department and creating a new chief animal control officer (ACO) as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget, which is scheduled to be formally adopted tomorrow (Tuesday).
However, Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity argued that eliminating animal protection police officers (APPOs) is not in the best interest of residents, echoing concerns raised by the county’s police union that the new arrangement might reduce officers’ benefits and impact both public safety and animal welfare.
“We still haven’t addressed what’s gonna happen with wildlife services,” Herrity said. “‘I will figure it out later’ is not good enough when you’re looking at a major restructuring like this. We heard overwhelming opposition from a very diverse group of our residents…from employee groups to HOAs, to wildlife rehabilitators to environmentalists. There’s been no cost impact analysis done.”
The county sees the creation of the ACO position as the first step in the planned consolidation, which will take 18 to 24 months to fully implement, according to the DAS budget. If it’s approved, most funding and positions will be included in next year’s proposed budget.
Herrity proposed amending the FY 2025 budget, which will take effect on July 1, to remove the position transfer, but the motion died without a vote after no one seconded it.
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman argued that civilian animal control officers could handle the services provided by APPOs, freeing up police officers to focus on higher-priority calls.
“Most emergency calls from Animal Services in Fairfax County are not law enforcement matters,” Bierman said. “The majority of calls or requests for assistance…involve minor code violations.”
Staff have been instructed to provide additional information about the roles of DAS staff and police officers under this new structure and any changes in their approach to wildlife and other services.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said the board will focus on best practices regarding the new configuration moving forward.
“This is not an easy decision, but from what I have seen, the potential impact and improvements on our current offerings are excellent in many ways,” she said. But I think we could really use—as we’ve all agreed—some improvements in the way it’s communicated and structured, meeting our needs, wanting to continue to be the best, and looking at best practices.”
Reducing police involvement in animal control
County staff proposed in January that animal control officers, supervised by the DAS, take over the responsibilities of the animal protection police, including animal care and law enforcement.
They argued that since few animal service emergencies require police action, many tasks can be handled by trained civilians, reducing the need for police involvement in every situation.
“Most emergency calls for animal services in Fairfax County are not law enforcement matters,” DAS Director Reasa Currier told FFXnow in an email. “Most calls are requests for assistance with injured, ill, orphaned, or stray animals, or involve minor code violations.”
In 2016, Fairfax County divided animal care and control functions between the DAS and the police department, but the new system has been “ineffective” and led to “gaps in service,” Currier says.
Under the proposed changes, animal control officers would assume a role similar to that of the APPs, managing all service calls, including investigations of animal cruelty, execution of search warrants, and administering rabies vaccinations.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, ACOs must complete at least 120 hours (three weeks) of basic training, covering areas such as animal sciences, animal-related law and basic law enforcement.
Unlike animal protection officers, ACOs won’t train at the police academy, but the FCPD would still provide support for criminal investigations involving animals when needed, per the DAS website.
Difference in training and loss of benefits
During a budget public hearing last month, the Southern States Police Benevolent Association’s (SSPBA) Fairfax County chapter, the recognized union for FCPD officers, urged supervisors against consolidating the two services, citing concerns regarding employee equity and public safety.
Several members said their training at the police academy prepares them to handle a broader range of dangerous situations that ACOs may not be equipped to handle without similar training.
“I would never ask anyone to do this job without sending them to the police academy,” SSPBA member and APPO Kathleen Prucnal said at an April 16 meeting. “…I’m doing on that training every time I walked up to a door alone with a difficult job that had to be done. Every time I initiated contact with a known gang member. Every time I was alone on a dark highway putting a suffering animal out of its misery. The job takes a toll.”
Prucnal and others also raised concerns about a potential loss of benefits for any animal protection police officers who become ACOs instead of staying with the FCPD.
Although pay and retirement would remain unchanged, several members noted that police can get federal benefits typically available to first responders, including workers’ compensation, disability retirement, and state and federal health insurance.
“This proposal claims that no change in pay or retirement would happen, but what has not been discussed is the change of benefits for the traumatic scenes exposure to hazardous materials or protection and benefits my family should I be killed in the line of duty,” SSPBA member and APPO Taylor Naumoff said. “If I were to choose to become an ACO, I forgo the benefits provided to law enforcement officers and potentially leave my children without their mother and any assistance should the worst occur.”
SSPBA Fairfax County Vice President Siobhan Chase says the objections to the consolidation aren’t meant to diminish the work of ACOs in other jurisdictions, but the union believes animal control is more effective when handled by fully sworn law enforcement officers.
“The current proposal is built upon providing the new ACOs with the state minimum training (3 weeks) as a cost-saving measure,” Chase told FFXnow by email. “The link between domestic violence, animal cruelty, child abuse, and other interpersonal violence speaks to how this training is necessary for ACOs.”
The Washington Capitals will soon unveil a new sports facility in Northern Virginia — one likely to be much less controversial than the team owner’s failed push for an arena in Alexandria.
Installation of the inline skate rink donated by the D.C.-based professional hockey team to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) in Reston is expected to finish this week, according to the Fairfax County Park Authority.
The park authority and Capitals will celebrate the project’s completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free ball hockey clinic at the rink this Saturday (May 11) from 10 a.m. to noon.
Located next to Lake Fairfax Park’s campground, athletic fields and skate park, the 85-foot-by-185-foot rink is the first facility of its kind at a county park, FCPA spokesperson Benjamin Boxer says. It features player and penalty boxes, hockey goals, bleachers and “ample” lighting to support daytime and evening use.
Under construction since last June, the rink was built with sport floor tiles on an asphalt pad, making it “ideal for roller hockey and skating” and allowing for “easy maintenance and modular tile replacement,” according to the park authority.
“There is literally something for everyone in the Fairfax County park system,” Boxer told FFXnow by email. “This new inline skate rink is a first for the Park Authority and it opens up another recreational opportunity for residents to enjoy and continues our commitment to provide wide diversity in program and facility offerings to serve the interests and needs of a diverse community.”
The inline skate rink is the product of an ongoing partnership between Fairfax County and the Capitals that began in 2021, when Fairfax County Public Schools joined the NHL team’s Hockey School Program, according to Capitals Director of Youth Hockey Development Peter Robinson.
Offered in 1,601 local schools that collectively reach over 1 million students, the program provides floor hockey equipment, teacher training and a custom curriculum to physical education teachers in all FCPS elementary and middle schools.
“The Washington Capitals are dedicated to growing the game of hockey by providing access to the sport in all its forms,” Robinson said. “A portion of that growth strategy is investing in the off-ice game by building facilities and creating programming within the community.”
Robinson says the team “jumped” at the opportunity to expand its partnership with the county by collaborating on the ball/inline skate rink at Lake Fairfax Park.
Though the facility was donated by the Capitals, the park authority was responsible for preparing the site and supporting infrastructure. The project cost the county an estimated $1.9 million, which came from park bonds approved by voters in 2020.
“Over the past ten years the Washington Capitals, along with the NHL/NHLPA, have invested over $3.5 million in growing the game off the ice,” Robinson said by email. “This rink project is a part of that overall investment strategy, and we are excited to begin offering programming at the new rink starting this summer.”
The Capitals’ programming at the rink will begin this Saturday with the free hockey clinic, which is part of the team’s Try Hockey for Free program. Starting at 11 a.m., the clinic will give attendees a chance to practice their stickhandling, passing, shooting and small games.
Though the clinic is free, advance registration is required, since spots are limited. Community members don’t need to bring equipment or prior hockey experience to participate.
Details about future programs, including classes and summer clinics, will be posted on the Capitals’ youth hockey development website.
The Lake Fairfax inline skate rink will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The rink can be reserved for $75 per hour, but when not reserved, it’s open to the general public for free on a first-come, first-served basis, Boxer says.
Reston Association will kick off a summer of family-friendly outdoor movies later this month.
The first entry in the RA at the Movies series will be “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” at Browns Chapel Park on Saturday, May 18.
The theme is “Family Superhero Night” — moviegoers are encouraged to dress as the masked, pizza-loving mutant ninja turtles or another favorite superhero.
Theme nights are one way the association is building on the movie night experience, said RA communications director Cara O’Donnell. For example, a June 8 showing of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” at Lake Newport’s soccer field is billed as a “Date Night.”
The summer series will shift from land to water in July with Dive-In Movies. First, swimmers can catch “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” on July 11 at Lake Newport Pool. Then, RA at the Movies will wrap for the year on Aug. 7 with a showing of “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Lake Audubon Pool.
Started more than 20 years ago, the swimming pool-based Dive-In Movies screenings have become a staple in Reston. RA introduced Movies in the Park during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was so popular the association decided to make it a part of the summer series, according to O’Donnell.
“Movies usually have anywhere from 100 to 500 people,” she said. “We try to provide selections so that a wide range of audiences can come and enjoy throughout the summer.”
Admission is $6 for RA members, $10 for nonmembers and free for children under 3. Guests can bring their own food, but there will also be items for sale. Shows could be canceled due to inclement weather.
Tickets can be purchased through RA’s registration website and by contacting [email protected] or 703-435-6571.
The full RA at the Movies schedule is below:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Saturday, May 18
Doors open: 7:45 p.m., show starts at 8:30 p.m.
Browns Chapel Park (1575 Browns Chapel Road)
Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superheroMy Big Fat Greek Wedding 3
Saturday, June 8
Doors open: 8 p.m., show starts 8:45 p.m.
Lake Newport Soccer Field (1550 Reston Parkway)Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Thursday, July 11
Doors open: 8 p.m., show starts at 8:45 p.m.
Lake Newport Pool (11601 Lake Newport Road)Kung Fu Panda 4
Wednesday, Aug. 7
Doors open: 8 p.m., show starts at 8:45 p.m.
Lake Audubon Pool (2070 Twin Branches Road)
