Fairfax County police have suspended the search for a missing Reston man.
Michael Delaney, a 75-year old man, went missing Sunday night (May 10), according to Fairfax County police, who announced this afternoon that they are haunting the active search but will continue to follow up on leads.
A 6′ 3″ male with blue eyes and grey hair, weighing about 170 pounds, he was last seen wearing a yellow hospital gown, jeans and a black jacket, according to authorities.
Delaney’s stepdaughter posted in a community board and noted that he walked out of Reston Hospital after he was admitted for a fall, adding that he is at-risk due to Alzheimer’s disease.
“Micheal is so kind and has been a loving stepfather for 44 years,” she wrote.
Anyone with information is asked to call 703-691-2131.
Search and Rescue teams have suspended their active missions to find #missing Mr. Delaney. Detectives will continue to investigate leads and updates will be provided if additional information becomes available. Anyone with information is asked to call 703-691-2131. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/h6hShtH2Sh
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 14, 2020
FFX1 and our Search and Rescue team members, are joined by the Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group from @VDEM and Search and Rescue team members from the @PWCPolice to continue to look for #missing Michael Delaney in the Reston area. Please call 703-691-2131 if you see him. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/dLCSfQbTpb
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 13, 2020
Photo via Fairfax County Police/Twitter
One of the most popular food festivals in Northern Virginia is getting delayed by a few months to reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus.
Instead of its original date in June, Taste of Reston will be held on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 25-26) at Reston Town Center, according to a press release.
“Planning for this year’s event includes the qualities that Taste of Reston is renowned for — plenty of food and beverage tastings, activities for all ages, and live music — while being thoughtful of physical distancing,” the press release said.
Still, guests can expect the same level of entertainment and quality from years past, the press release said.
“The 30th annual Taste of Reston will offer two days of numerous food vendors, local wineries, three beer zones with craft and seasonal brews, a sponsor showcase, and live entertainment on four stages.”
Admission and parking will be free, according to the press release, which added that guests can purchase food and drink tickets for $1 each or 24 for $20.
Photo via Chip McCrea on Taste of Reston/Facebook
Passers-by might notice a new mosaic art installation outside the Lincoln at Wiehle Station.
After facing delays due to COVID-19, artist Valerie Theberge expects the piece of vibrantly colored glass tiles to be completed by the end of today (May 13).
The project was commissioned in coordination with the Lincoln’s developers and ultimately approved by Public Art Reston. It consists of two pieces — a bench and a 75-foot long wall, according to Theberge.
When designing the geometric art, Theberge said she wanted it to “harmonize” with the surrounding area.
“There are highlights of red on the building so we added red highlights to play with the building,” she said, adding that the geometric shapes also “talk with the architecture.”
For the community, Theberge hopes that people will enjoy the art as they pass by the building on an afternoon stroll or on their commute into work. “I wanted something you could look at over and over,” Theberge said.
Especially since people can’t visit museums during the pandemic, Theberge said that public works of art are more important than ever for people’s mental health and overall enjoyment.
Valerie Theberge talks about her new mosaic installation at Lincoln at Wiehle Station. valerie_theberge #PublicArtReston #mosaic #publicart #Publicartindevelopment pic.twitter.com/mRk1ECF3JN
— Public Art Reston (@PublicArtReston) May 12, 2020
Photo courtesy Valerie Theberge
During the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity has become increasingly common. Community members will have the chance to ease the burden by donating non-perishable goods to an upcoming campaign.
Stuff the Bus, a typically biannual effort, organized collections dates on Saturday (May 16) and Tuesday (May 19) from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. to help fill the requests of local food banks, according to the event page.
“Unlike past years, the buses will not be parked in grocery store parking lots. Instead, buses will be parked in less-frequented lots,” the page said.
Around Reston, people can find a donation area at Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office (1801 Cameron Glen Drive), which will benefit Cornerstones, according to the event page.
In Great Falls, people can stop by the Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike).
“Because of the extraordinary events taking place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for food has surged in Fairfax County, so Stuff the Bus is again stepping up to feed hungry people,” the event page said.
Photo by Austin Kehmeier/Unsplash
The Reston Community Center is seeking talent for the 21st Annual Reston Multicultural Festival this fall.
Event organizers want both individuals and groups in the performing arts to submit applications online for their chance to be featured in the celebration, which is scheduled to take place on Sept. 26 at Lake Anne Plaza, a press release said.
The deadline for applications is June 19, according to a press release, which added that people should be prepared to submit audio and video examples.
“To accommodate as many applicants as possible, selection will be made on the basis of the materials submitted rather than requiring auditions,” the press release said.
Judging criteria will include artistic merit, production values, evidence of authentic traditions and forms of specific cultures, according to the press release. Performances may be religious in nature but should not “overly” promote one father above another, according to RCC.
“The Reston Multicultural Festival is a family-oriented event and material performed shall be suitable for all ages and free of any content that would be inappropriate for a diverse, multicultural and multigenerational audience,” the press release said.
Event organizers are also looking for art vendors, community organizations and food vendors. These vendors may apply online as well.
Photo courtesy Reston Community Center
To celebrate Armed Forces Day, residents at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge in Reston will be treated to a parade of antique cars this Saturday (May 16).Â
The Northern Virginia Regional Group 96 Early Ford Club of America will drive roughly a dozen antique cars by the senior living facility around 10:45 a.m., according to a press release. The Cub Scouts Pack 159 of Fox Mill Elementary School will also participate by standing 10 feet apart and holding flags to represent each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.Â
“Our LifeStages Director Paul Adam put together this creative event to honor the Armed Forces while safely treating our residents to a parade of wonderful antique cars,” Cissy Nickel, the executive director of the facility, said in the press release, adding that this event is special because many of the residents are veterans.Â
Residents and staff will remain inside their rooms and observe from their windows in order to maintain social distancing measures, the press release said.
Antique cars featured in the parade will range in age. Many of them were built between 1932 to 1953, according to the press release.Â
Photo via Hosea Georgeson/Unsplash
Fairfax County recently created a map pinpointing local groups looking for donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The map allows users to find nonprofits and organizations within a specific region of Fairfax County so they can help people within their own communities.
Users can search for charities by the proximity to an address or by clicking on one from the general geographic overview.
The charities listed on the website are accepting items including personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, baby products and paper items, the page said. Throughout the county, 22,620 households are at or below the poverty level, according to the website.
Charities collecting monetary donations can be found on the webpage as well.
People can learn more about a charity by reading an overview from Volunteer Fairfax.
County-wide:
- The Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church
- American Red Cross in the National Capital Region
- Blood Donor Services, Inova Health System
- Britepaths
Reston:
Herndon:
Image via Fairfax County
Fairfax County put out an all-call for independent authors who want to submit their work to the Virginia Author Project Contest.
The statewide fiction contest allows people to compete for several prizes, according to Fairfax County.
To qualify, each submission must be independently published, either in the adult fiction or young adult fiction genre, written by a Virginia resident and available in certain file formats, the website said.
Prizes include:
- $500 each in adult and young adult categories
- Honors at the 2021 spring IAP Reception
- Opportunities to promote your book(s) at Virginia public libraries
- Inclusion in a full-page print spread in Library Journal
- Opportunities to earn royalties through the IAP Select collection
Anyone interested can submit their work online before May 31.
Photo via Green Chameleon/Unsplash
As many families around Reston prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday (May 10), local businesses are offering packages to help people treat their moms at home.
People who choose to social distance this year can still video call their mothers through services such as Zoom or recently released Google Meet, which are both free to use.
Packages and Gifts
Scrawl Books in Reston picked out a gift for Mother’s Day this year, according to its website: “You’re Mom: A Little Book for Mothers,” by Liz Climo is a book featuring comics about motherhood.
Weird Brothers Coffee in Herndon and Old Soul Flower Company in Great Falls were offering a joint flower, chocolate and coffee packages but are already sold out, according to the item page. Still, people can get their moms brews because Weird Brother Coffee is offering take out, curbside pickup and local delivery, the website said.
Flowers
Though Old Soul Flower Company’s said it is sold out of flowers for Mother’s Day weekend, the local business is running a special where it will deliver fresh flowers each week from June 1 until Sept. 30 for $400, which could be a long-term gift.
Mayflowers, a Reston-based florist, is open for business and offers dozens of floral arrangements specialized for Mother’s Day, ranging in price from $60 to $550, according to the website. The florist requires 24 hours to process orders, and people can order online.
Food
Amphora Bakery in Herndon offers a variety of floral and brightly colored cakes that are available for roughly $27. People can choose different sizes, frosting types and over a dozen flavors, according to the website. Though the deadline has passed for some specialized cakes by Mother’s Day, people may still be able to enjoy another cake. People can email the bakery to inquire further.
Cooper’s Hawk is offering an at-home prearranged menu to celebrate this year. For $150 a group of four can get starter of bread and a salad, a choice of five different entrees, sides and a dessert. Orders must be placed by 8 p.m. tonight (May 8) over the phone at 708-215-5674, the website said.
Ted’s Bulletin is offering brunch and dinner packages for Mother’s Day and pre-order is now available. The Reston location is offering a full array of plates, treats and cocktails for pickup or delivery.
Founding Farmers Reston is offering brunch, dinner and add-on cocktail options as well. People can choose from traditional comfort foods like fried chicken to sweeter dessert main entries for brunch or dinner, according to the website. Anyone interested can order online.
People can check out the menus for their favorite restaurants to see if they have specials for Mother’s Day.
Photo by Zoe Schaeffer/Unsplash
In response to Fairfax County’s revised budget, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn stressed that flexibility is key as the county weathers the economic impact of COVID-19.
The upcoming fiscal year 2021 budget, which is expected to be adopted on May 12 and begin on July 1, underwent revisions earlier this spring to address uncertainties stemming from the pandemic.
Though he expressed disappointment that COVID-19 altered the budget, he said he hopes for economic recovery.
“I strongly believe that we will recover and it should be noted that the Board of Supervisors will have the opportunity to make adjustments at our quarterly reviews,” he said. “This budget is by no means a done deal.”
In the future, Alcorn said he expects the budget to be a living document.
“It is also clear that we still don’t know what the final impacts of the virus will be, so we must continue to be flexible and strategic,” he said.
Earlier in April, he expressed displeasure with the revised budget draft. Now, Alcorn’s latest statement includes many of his previous concerns over a lack of support for local business owners.
“Going forward, I anticipate additional funds being used to help small businesses and others offset the impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable in our county,” Alcorn said in his statement.
In the statement, Alcorn also reflected on the FY 2020 third-quarter review, saying there is now $200 million in additional funding for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The act benefits both families and small businesses, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.
One of Alcorn’s main concerns was how Latino populations are being hit harder by the virus than other demographics around the county.
“Latinos represent 55% of all COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County even though they represent only 16% of the population,” he said, adding that “in Fairfax County stopping COVID starts with the Latino community.”
To address this, Alcorn suggested the application of the county’s One Fairfax policy, which aims to promote social and racial equity, but did not expand on how One Fairfax would directly be applied.
Photo courtesy Hunter Mill DistrictÂ
People have the chance to check out a new online exhibition until May 23 from the Greater Reston Arts Center.
“The Velocity of a Page” shows off the impact that publishing has on communication and society, according to the website.
The multi-platform exhibition features photos and videos of booklets, objects that resemble books and publishing practices.
Those who want to learn more about the exhibit can attend a virtual artist talk tomorrow (May 7) at 6 p.m. People can RSVP beforehand to receive a Zoom link and password.
Christopher Kardambikis is the curator for the project and will be leading the talk tomorrow, the website said, adding that he is currently a faculty member at George Mason University.
“This multifaceted world reveals a nuanced and complicated view of what it means to publish and what it means to distribute ideas and art via objects that are held, open, and explored by hand,” the website said.
People who want a comprehensive view of the gallery can view a digital checklist.
Photo via Greater Reston Arts Center/Facebook
As the Reston Farmers Market prepares to open for the season on Saturday (May 9), vendors are making adjustments for ease and coronavirus prevention.
People will now be able to preorder food and goods, which will then be available for express pickup at the market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon, according to Fairfax County’s website.
To order, people can select from vendors on Fairfax County’s website, preview products offered by each vendor and proceed to make a reservation online on the individual vendor’s website.
When picking up items at the market, people should follow the one-way path to the vendor and give their name, according to the website.
Depending on the vendor, people can either prepay or pay when they collect the items in person.
Vendors will sell items including baked goods, fresh meat and produce, dairy products, ready-made food, pickled items and snacks, according to their websites.
Here’s a complete list of the vendors:
- 78 Acres
- Amore Congelato
- Arnest Seafood
- Baguette Republic
- Bee’s Wing Farm
- Blue Ridge Dairy Co.
- Colonial Kettle Corn
- Colvin Run Mill
- Foggy Mountain Pasta
- Fresh Crunch
- Glascock’s Produce
- Grace’s PastriesÂ
- GreenFare Organic Cafe
- Honey Brook Farms
- J & W Valley View Farm
- King Mushroom LLC
- Kiwi Kuisine
- Mt Olympus Berry Farm
- Number 1 Sons
- Ozfeka Catering
- Penn Farm
- Potomac Vegetable Farms
- Reid’s Orchard and Winery
- Roots to Rise
- San Geovanni’s Farm
- Smith Family Farm
- Spring Valley Farm and Orchard
- Stallard Road Farm Botanicals
- Valentine’s Bakery and Meats
- Virginia Vista’s Greenhouse
- Zayna’s Delight
Photo via Reston Farmers Market/FacebookÂ
The Reston Community Center officially canceled its traditional summer programming this year, but there might still be hope for kids looking forward to the yearly activities.
Instead of the originally scheduled summer camps, the center might offer amended programs that take into consideration community health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a press release said.
The camps will potentially take place in July if the Reston Community Center is given clearance.
“The new camp schedule will operate under the enhanced social distancing and public health guidelines issued by Fairfax County and the Commonwealth of Virginia for these kinds of experiences,” the press release said. “Because of social distancing guidelines, there will be a maximum of nine campers in each camp.”
The potential schedule will be released sometime in June, and registration will be available online.
All of the new camps will take place at the RCC Hunters Woods and RCC Lake Anne, since other facilities will be closed, the release said.
Families who registered their kids for the original set of summer camps will be given a full refund, according to the release.
Photo via Reston Community Center/Facebook
The Explore More interactive exhibit is going digital this spring as the Greater Reston Arts Center so people can use it at home.
“Explore More, typically offered in the gallery located in Reston Town Center, provides the opportunity for families to learn about artists and artworks featured in the organization’s exhibition programming,” a press release said.
But due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Greater Reston Arts Center decided to move its artist learning series online.
People who take part in the activity will learn about the artist Moira Dryer and her current exhibition “Yours for the Asking” through various crafts and guided art experiments, according to the website.
The activities require supplies people likely already have on hand, according to the press release. For example, one activity lets people create an “off the wall sunburst” with cardboard, glue and things such as cotton swabs, flowers or pipe cleaners.
The Greater Reston Arts Center said that it will announce new activities monthly to keep patrons engaged with new artwork and concepts.
Image via Greater Reston Arts Center
Fairfax County Public Schools isn’t the only regional education system unexpectedly working to transition into a digital learning environment.
Ideaventions Academy in Reston is a private school that caters to students in grades four through 12 with an affinity for science and math, according to it’s Twitter page. But unlike Fairfax County, the academy had practice using a remote learning system that made the transition much easier for both the students and teachers, Juliana Heitz the school’s vice principal said.
In February, the school actually had a flu outbreak that forced students and teachers to set up a remote learning system through Google Meet for several days. Though inconvenient at the time, Heitz said it might have been a blessing in disguise since roughly 70% of the teachers were already equipped to host class digitally.
“We had three days of practice,” she said.” When we actually had to close, for coronavirus, it was more incremental. It was really about getting those last few teachers to go virtual.”
When COVID19 first broke out, the administration made the decision close Thursday (March 12) and the students began classes again on Monday (March 16), Heitz said, adding that this likely would not have been possible without the “test run” in February.
In addition to the practice, the teachers already had, Heitz mentioned that teaching virtually is also easier for Ideaventions Academy because they have smaller class sizes as well. “The class sizes are limited to 10 students,” she said, which makes online discussion easier.
To supplement the student’s education, even though they cannot be with their peers, they are required to go on daily walks and keep track of them in a log. When it comes to extracurricular, through the school had to cancel the school play, the kids are still staying active with hands-on activities such as science and art projects at home, according to Heitz.
For tests and such, Heitz said that the school is working with parents to proctor tests so students are still being held at a high academic standard.
Teachers also take daily attendance. “If they have a doctor’s appointment or something like that, the parent will still email us,” she said.
To avoid security issues that Fairfax County dealt with, the academy’s teachers were taught to invite students to the virtual classroom using an internalized email that students are given upon their enrollment, according to Heitz.
Image via Ideaventions Academy/Facebook
