A production of “Matilda” is coming to NextStop Theatre in November.

“Matilda” will debut on Thursday (Nov. 14) beginning around 7 p.m. at 269 Sunset Park Drive. Performances will run through Dec. 22.

“Based on the beloved Roald Dahl novel, ‘Matilda’ is the story of an extraordinary little girl who decides to fight back against tyrannical adults,” a press release said.

Tickets typically range from $40 to $55 dollars. Event organizers suggest that people get their tickets in advance because they are expected to sell out.

Image via NextStop

Reston environmentalists received an award from Fairfax County last week.

The Reston Annual State of the Environment (RASER), a report compiled by nine people, won an Environmental Excellence Award from Fairfax County.

The report covers air, water, forests, meadows, wetlands, landscaping, urban agriculture, wildlife, hazardous materials, light and noise pollution and education in the Reston region, the Fairfax County website said. RASER was founded in 2017 and consists of professionals and citizen scientists who volunteer their time to synthesize the 325 data sources, the website said.

From the 2018 report, the group said Reston should focus on improving urban forests and community access to nature, which they say improves wellbeing for people in the area. The group sent in an application for the Biophilic Cities Network Program and drafted a pledge that residents can take to become more nature-friendly.

Based on other findings, they followed through on a biological diversity study in the area, called a BioBlitz, which cataloged more than 600 species of plants, animals and organisms.

“Through these and other actions, the RASER Working Group has established a strong foundation for the assessment and enhancement of Reston’s ecological resources and helped to create well-connected urban landscapes where nature and community members can thrive,” the Fairfax County website said.

In total, the report took volunteers more than 2,000 hours to complete, according to the website.

The nine members primarily responsible for compiling the report were invited to a ceremony on Tuesday (Oct. 22).

Photo via Fairfax County

A new volunteer tradition aims to keep the Hunters Woods neighborhood clean.

The first annual Hunters Woods Clean-Up Day will take place on Sunday (Nov. 3) beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Hunters Woods Fellowship House (2231 Colts Neck Road). Volunteers will improve the appearance of the neighborhood, according to the event’s Facebook page.

The event is sponsored by the Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition, which will provide the supplies for volunteers including gloves and trash bags.

During the event, volunteers will clean neighboring areas ranging from Hunters Woods at Trails Edge to Hunters Woods Village Condominiums.

All community members are welcome to swing by help the cause.

After the event, snacks and hot drinks will be provided for volunteers, according to the event page.

Image via Google Maps

With the holiday season approaching, organizations are setting up campaigns to help those in need.

The Reston Community Center teamed up with the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones to collect food and basic necessities, while Food For Neighbors is sponsoring an online fundraiser to provide meals for those struggling with food insecurity.

On the Food For Neighbors’ website, anyone can donate money to help feed families. They are asking for amounts in $50 increments, which will provide a meal for one family.

Under the RCC, there are more than a dozen locations where people can drop off non-perishable items, including food, paper towels, plastic bins and hygiene items.

They are looking for food items that are unopened, unused and unexpired, including coffee, tea, canned products, oatmeal, dry beans and rice, peanut butter, jellies, flour, sugar, condiments and cooking oil.

Volunteers can sign up online to sort the items.

Below, is a list of locations where people can drop off new items.

• RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road)
• RCC Lake Anne (1609-A N. Washington Plaza)
• Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce (1886 Metro Center Drive, Suite 230)
• Atlantic Union Bank (1800 Robert Fulton Drive, Suite 105)
• Hunter Mill District Office (1801 Cameron Glen Drive)
• Guide Post Montessori Herndon (13251 Woodland Park Road)
• Long and Foster Realtors (2100 Reston Pkwy, Suite 102)
• Reston Association — HQ (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive)
• Reston Associaton — Central Services Facility (12250 Sunset Hills Road)
• Reston Association — Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive)
• State Farm Insurance (11868 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 200)
• Tall Oaks Assisted Living (12052 North Shore Drive)
• The Harrison at Reston Town Center (1800 Jonathan Way)
• Washington Hilton Dulles (13869 Park Center Road)
• YMCA Fairfax County Reston (12196 Sunset Hills Road)

Photo via Facebook

The Reston Town Center ice rink is set to return next week.

Next Friday (Nov. 8), the public will be able to enjoy the seasonal rink once again. The rink is located near the Reston Town Center Pavillion and will be open until March 15, 2020, according to the rink’s website.

The hours of operation are Monday-Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Admission prices range depending on age.

• Adult admission: $10
• Youth (under 12)/senior (55+)/military admission: $9
• 10-person admission pack: $85

Skate rentals are available on-site and cost $6 on top of the admission price.

For those who don’t know how to skate, the center offers lessons throughout the season on Saturdays and Sundays for $125.

Photo via Facebook

A new chicken restaurant coming to the VY at Reston Heights will serve up food with a Peruvian flair.

Chicken Rico plans to open a new location at 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive, according to Fairfax County records.

It is unclear when the location will open for business since a company spokesperson declined to share any details, but those curious about the chain can check out the other location in Herndon (1254 Elden Street).

The chain offers customers fast food options including baked chicken, fried plantains, rice, various grilled meats and more, according to its Facebook page.

Chicken Rico is one of several eateries coming to the apartment building, including My Home Thai, Reston Kabob and California-based chain BurgerIM.

After five years in its current space, a cat-specific care center in Reston plans on expanding.

Just Cats Clinic (1601 N. Washington Plaza) outgrew its original office and decided to take over an empty space next door at Lake Anne Plaza, Elizabeth Chapman, the owner and head veterinarian, said.

Chapman said the expansion will include three more exam rooms — allowing the center to double its cat boarding capacity. In addition, the center plans to offer cat ultrasounds.

With more than 4,500 clients, Chapman said the center is currently at capacity.

“We are busting at the seams really,” she said, adding that the clinic will also look into hiring another veterinarian eventually.

Once the expansion is complete, the vet clinic will be roughly 5,000 square feet, Chapman said.

The center is waiting for permit approval from Fairfax County before kicking off construction. Chapman hopes the expansion will be finished by spring 2020.

Photo via Just Cats Clinic

An upcoming fundraiser in Reston will help save the Amazon Rainforest.

There will be family fun activities including a yard sale, a ranger station, live music and crafts for kids at the Pony Barn Picnic Area (Steeplechase Drive and Triplecrown Road) on Sunday (Oct. 27) from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., according to a press release.

Admission is free but all of the donation funds from the event will go towards the Amazon Conservation Team, an organization that preserves indigenous communities and natural ecosystems, the press release said.

“The Amazon Rainforest supplies 20 percent of the oxygen we need to live on Earth; however, the size of three football fields are being deforested every minute at the Amazon, according to latest government data,” the press release said.

The event is sponsored by several local businesses around the Reston community.

All are welcome to attend. Anyone wanting to sponsor a yardsale table can email the event organizer.

Photo via Reston Association

The Reston Community Center is expanding its online presence as part of its 40th-anniversary celebration.

The RCC created a series of six YouTube videos that cover local history and growth since the community center’s founding in 1979, according to a press release.

The first episode was posted last Thursday, Oct. 17, and featured the Reston Community Players, a community theatre group.

“The short videos were produced and directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker and Reston resident Rebekah Wingert, principal of Storycatcher Productions,” the press release said.

As an introduction to the mini-series, the center highlighted last spring’s production, Annie. The video takes viewers behind the curtain and shows them how to production was created.

Future episodes will highlight other aspects of outreach programs and various programs sponsored by the center.

New episodes are expected to make their debut every other week.

“By using our YouTube platform, we will share how RCC connects to our partners and patrons in these compelling videos,” RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon said.

Fairfax County Police are hosting an open house where people can drop off unwanted or expired prescription medication.

Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout is an initiative that aims to keep unneeded medication out of the wrong hands and the environment, which can lead to abuse or accidental poisoning, according to the Fairfax County website. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 26), community members may drop off their extra medications at safe and confidential disposal at any Fairfax County Police district station.

This service is free and event organizers will accept any medication that is in the form of pills or liquid, no needles or canisters.

There are eight stations in the area participating in the event, including the Reston District Station (1801 Cameron Glen Drive.)

“Drug take-back programs are important because they are a safe method for disposing of prescription drugs and are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies,” the Fairfax County website said.

More than 42,000 people died in 2016 around the United States from drug overdoses and this drive will help eliminate the risk of drug abuse, the website said.

Anyone struggling with drug abuse can contact the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board for help and support or call Fairfax Detoxification Center at 703-322-9080.

Photo via Fairfax County

A charity film festival is coming to Reston next week.

The Washington West Film Festival will take place from Thursday to next Tuesday (Oct. 24-28) at various venues around Reston, offering patrons a chance to watch the works of upcoming filmmakers on the big screen and contribute to a charitable cause.

The festival will kick off with a “Star Wars Red Carpet” event at Bow Tie Cinemas (11940 Market Street) at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24. Tickets are free and admission is open to the public.

Since this event celebrates Anthony Daniels, attendees are encouraged to dress in costume as C-3PO — the humanoid robot Daniels’ played. There will be a prize for the attendee dressed in the most gold.

The charity festival was founded in 2011 by Brad Russell, according to the festival website. The festival gives all of its profits to charities, which differ from year to year. This year’s charity recipients are not listed on the website yet.

This year’s festival will feature around 30 films, ranging in genre and length. A schedule of showings and tickets can be found online.

Photo via Washington West Film Festival

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will celebrate the completion of the Georgetown Pike Trail next week.

The new 4.2-mile-long pedestrian trail will allow passers-by to travel from River Bend Road westward to Seneca Road in Great Falls.

Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust and other Fairfax County officials will be on-site at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Falls Bridge Lane at 11 a.m. to announce the completion of the project, according to a press release.

All community members are welcome to attend the free event.

The project began in 2001 and was completed in four parts, according to Fairfax County.

Image via Fairfax County

Fairfax County is seeking more feedback from commuters who use the Fairfax Connector.

A new round of meetings will give community members another chance to provide critiques for plans for the future of the Fairfax Connector and the Silver Line Metrorail expansion around Reston and Herndon, according to a press release.

People who want to give feedback can attend any of the three upcoming meetings, which are all accessible from the Fairfax Connector.

• Herndon Middle School Cafeteria (901 Locust Street) on Thursday (Oct. 28) from 7-9 p.m.
• Ox Hill Baptist Church (4101 Elmwood Street) on Friday (Oct. 29) from 7-9 p.m.
• Reston Community Center at Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza) on Saturday (Nov. 2) from 10 a.m.-noon

Anyone unable to attend the meetings in person may give feedback online. The form will be open from Oct. 23 until Nov. 30.

Comments can also be mailed to Fairfax County Department of Transportation, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax, VA 22033.

Feedback from the meetings will be synthesized and converted into another design to “provide better access to destinations, improved travel times, increased schedule reliability and more dependable service,” the press release said.

This final plan will be available in early 2020 for a final round of critiques.

Halloween is only two weeks away and there are a variety of events happening around Reston to help people get into the holiday spirit.

Jack’s Pumpkin Glow will guide guests through a trail lined with thousands of intricately carved pumpkins lit up with tiny lights, according to the website. People will also be able to enjoy beverages and food while picking out a pumpkin of their own.

Tickets are $17, and the event will take place on (Friday) Oct. 18 from 6-9 p.m. at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive).

Halloween Fun Fest invites kids from ages five to 12 to Life Time Athletic (1757 Business Center Drive) for an afternoon of fun costumes and activities on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 6 p.m. Admission is complimentary with a membership.

At the upcoming Trunk or Treet event, all ages are welcome to gather at YMCA Fairfax County Reston (12196 Sunset Hills Road) from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 24) for an evening of trick-or-treating, cornhole and a trunk decoration competition.

Tickets are $3 or $25, depending on whether people want to set up a trick or treating stop and participate in the competition. Participants for trunk competition are asked to register through email.

Halloween Family Fun Day is for families with children under eight years old and will feature live performances and carnival games from noon until 2 p.m. at the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road) on Saturday (Oct. 26).

Halloween Owls at the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) will allow attendees to get a close look at live owls in a safe and secure environment while learning about the creatures before touring the Halloween House. Tickets are $15 and can be found online. Times are spaced out throughout the day on Friday (Oct. 25.)

Image via Facebook

The author of “Hidden History of Herndon” will speak in Reston next month.

Barbara Glakas will be at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery (1609-A Washington Plaza N.) to discuss her book and answer questions from the audience on Nov. 13 from 7-9 p.m.

The event will be hosted by the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, which aims to foster community engagement and knowledge of local history.

This event is free and will cover a range of Herndon and Reston history from her book that features “firsthand accounts to tell little-known stories of the people, places and events that shaped the history of the Town of Herndon,” according to a press release.

Photo courtesy Reston Historic Trust and Museum