“Explore the Universe” — A program at Turner Farm Park in Great Falls will offer people ages 9 to 18 an opportunity to learn about stars and galaxies; dark matter and dark energy; and the physics that helped shape the universe from 7:30 to 8:25 p.m. The cost is $8 per person. [Fairfax County]
Students heading to All-Virginia Honor Groups Concert — Four students from South Lakes High School and six from Herndon High School have been named along with more than 200 students from Fairfax County public schools to the 2019 All-Virginia Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. The groups will perform on Saturday, April 6, at the Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond. [FCPS]
Absentee voting map — The Virginia Public Access Project has a data visualization showing where Virginians cast the most absentee ballots. [VPAP]
License plate database — “A Fairfax County judge on Monday ordered the Fairfax police to stop maintaining a database of photos of vehicle license plates, with the time and location where they were snapped, ruling that ‘passive use’ of data from automated license plate readers on the back of patrol cars violates Virginia privacy law.” [The Washington Post]
Photo courtesy Tim Boone
Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a case of a stolen check that someone tried to cash at a Herndon bank, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
A man in Ashburn reported to police that an envelope containing a check was stolen from his mailbox, according to the police report.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, backpack from residence
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, tools from vehicle
1800 block of Campus Commons Drive, cable from business
2400 block of Centreville Road, electronic devices from business
2400 block of Centreville Road, cell phone from location
2500 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from location
2300 block of Emerald Heights Court, bicycles from residence
800 block of Grace Meadow Court, jewelry from residence
2300 block of Harley Ford Court, tools from vehicle
11900 block of Market Street, merchandise from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
File photo
The owners behind the major Halley Rise want the county to approve a reshuffling of the square footage on what they say is a crowded block in the project.
Right now, work is underway on the portion of the 4 million-square-foot mixed-use development that will bring Reston its first Wegmans in June 2020. Halley Rise will be adjacent to the Reston Town Center Metro Station, occupying the northwest corner of the intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive.
One Reston Co. LLC and Two Reston Co. LLC want to redistribute some of the square footage from three denser blocks to two different blocks, “which still have [the] capacity for additional development,” according to the application.
The proposed changes would shift the hotel from block G to block E. Block E also would have a significant chunk of its retail space shifted elsewhere, along with moving all of its residential units to a different block. Meanwhile, block H would shave off about 150,000 square feet of office space.
The largest change would make block D the densest in the development with 100,000 square feet of office space, in addition to 391 residential units and four times more retail square footage.
The proposed changes were spurred by the realization that retrofitting the existing parking structure on block E with more than 400,000 square feet of development “would be more challenging than [the applicant] initially anticipated,” the application says.
“As a result, the applicant’s plan began with redistributing some of the square footage that had been concentrated on block E in order to relieve pressure from its planned over-development.”
The application, which stresses that the proposed changes do not adjust the project’s mix of uses or density, calls the proposal “modest improvements” that will allow for a new pedestrian promenade.
In early March, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins’ requested the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors speed up the review process for proposed plans that would adjust the grid of streets and accelerate construction of the streets to coincide with the opening of the grocer.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is set to take up the proposal with a public hearing on May 22.
Photos via Fairfax County and Halley Rise/website
A husband and wife singer-songwriter team is set to perform at the Deepwood Sessions, a series of house concerts hosted in Reston, this Friday (April 5).
Chris and Jenna Badeker, who met and began singing together in college, formed Wild Harbors in 2017, according to their website. The duo describes their sound as alternative pop with “gutsy, lyric-driven songs laced with intricate vocal harmonies.”
They recently released their first full-length album, “Monument,” on March 15.
The 7 p.m. show asks attendees each for $10. Each concert for the Deepwood Sessions has a suggested minimum donation, which goes to directly to the artist.
According to the website, the series hosts acoustic and unplugged concerts featuring independent artists with a variety of styles and musical genres.
RSVP-ing in advance is strongly recommended.
Reston Town Center’s new nail salon has pushed its opening from April to mid-May.
The Glossary Nail Spa plans to open by the second or third week of May, Hollee Ho, an employee at the nail spa, told Reston Now.
The newcomer will occupy 1771 Library Street — the former spot of Obi Sushi, which closed in December.
The new business is one of several retailers and food establishments slated to open in Reston Town Center later this year.
Image via Google Maps
A new brunch and breakfast spot is set to open in RTC West in less than two weeks.
Famous Toastery announced on Facebook yesterday that the sit-down restaurant will open on Monday, April 15.
The restaurant is currently hiring. Its next job fairs at 12100 Sunset Hills Road, R6 are scheduled for:
- Today (April 2): 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Thursday (April 4): 4-8 p.m.
- Saturday (April 6): noon-4 p.m.
The restaurant will join RTC West’s growing food scene, which includes Honeygrow, Mezeh Mediterranean Grill and BGR The Burger Joint. Fine-dining, Indian restaurant Bombay Velvet is also set to open soon at RTC West.
The Reston Community Center is now in its fourth month of a nine-month renovation of the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center.
Demolition of the existing pool and surrounding deck, which started in late January, finished in March, according to an update from RCC. The demolition resulted in more than eight tons of steel from the ductwork and ceiling that will get recycled. Several tons of concrete, rebar, stainless steel drains and other materials were salvaged.
“In addition, the excavation revealed that the years-long water infiltration problems RCC experienced probably resulted from a combination of poor drainage and water leaking from the pool shell,” the April 1 update said, adding that the project will include corrective measures for the drainage issues and ensure the new pools have water impermeable shells.
The 40-year-old aquatics center is getting a makeover that will add two pools — a 25-yard lap pool with zero-depth entry and a warm-water therapeutic pool — along with a new roof. The facility is slated to reopen in October.
Photos via Reston Community Center
Tai chi — Local instructor Susan Shen will lead a class from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Reston Regional Library. [Fairfax County]
RA seeking lighting standard for pool facilities — Reston Association is requesting the establishment of a lighting standard for RA-owned pool and parking lot facilities. This application will be heard at the Design Review Board meeting on April 8 at 7 p.m. [Application]
Reston Hospital Center planning Tysons ER — “The hospital is proposing a freestanding emergency department at an existing building on Route 7 in Tysons, after initiating plans in late 2017 to build a new ER on a vacant parcel about a mile away, the hospital confirmed Monday after filing a zoning application with Fairfax County.” [Washington Business Journal]
Stream restoration at Wiehle South — Reston Association has a video giving an update on the stream restoration project. [YouTube]
Photo courtesy Logan Kleinwaks
An annual exhibit showcasing student art returns next week to ArtSpace Herndon.
The Herndon Pyramid Schools Exhibit will feature art created by students from the following schools:
- Aldrin Elementary School
- Armstrong Elementary School
- Clearview Elementary School
- Dranesville Elementary School
- Herndon Elementary School
- Hutchison Elementary School
- Herndon Middle School
- Herndon High School
The exhibit runs from Tuesday, April 9, to Monday, May 20, at ArtSpace Herndon (750 Center Street).
An opening reception will be held on Wednesday, April 10, from 6-8 p.m.
Some of the art will be available for purchase.
Image via Google Maps
Drivers will have their Herndon-Monroe parking relocated to the new garage starting next week as work continues in preparation for the new Herndon Metro station.
The existing parking garage will close next Monday (April 8) for a few months as it undergoes changes. Parking will get relocated to the first, second and third levels of the new garage, which is almost done with construction, according to Fairfax County.
Ridesharing pickup and drop-off will also get moved to the first level of the new garage.
Access to eastbound Dulles Toll Road from the parking facility is scheduled to resume in late April after toll booth renovation is done.
Until then, drivers will need to take a detour onto Sunrise Valley Drive via the Fairfax County Parkway.
Photos via Fairfax County
Just a few days after Founder’s Day, CenterStage at Reston Community Center will have a free screening of a Reston filmmaker’s documentary on Bob Simon’s vision.
Director Rebekah Wingert’s 2015 documentary “Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA” chronicles Simon’s journey to creating his version of a suburban utopia.
Wingert grew up in Reston and returned to live there in the early 2000s.
The screening is set to start at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday (April 10).
“Another Way of Living” departs from Wingert’s other documentaries, which have focused on Palestinians.
Wingert’s latest production, “Naila and the Uprising,” tells the story of women fighting for freedom in Palestine. The documentary is part of the “Women, War and Peace II” series and is currently streaming on PBS.
Photo courtesy Reston Community Center
The Town of Herndon revealed its proposed budget today (April 1) along with publicizing two public hearing dates to receive feedback.
Totaling a little more than $53 million, Herndon Town Manager Bill Ashton’s proposed fiscal year 2020 budget is a 10.9 percent decrease from the adopted FY 2019 budget, according to a press release from the Town of Herndon.
“In a ‘status quo’ economic environment, the proposed FY 2020 Budget funds Town Council priorities, such as the redevelopment of Herndon’s downtown as well as continued planning for the coming of Metrorail,” Ashton said in the press release. “It also recommends continuation of the services and programs our citizens expect and enjoy.”
The town’s FY 2020 begins on July 1 and runs through June 2020.
Here is a quick overview of the proposed budget:
- real estate tax, personal property tax rate and cigarette tax remain the same
- town’s meal plan increases from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent
- motor vehicle license fee remains at $25 for private passenger and other vehicles weighing less than 4,000 pounds and $32 for ones weighing more than 4,000 pounds
- sewer service rate increases from $5.78 to $6.19
- sewer and water availability fees for new, single-family homes and sewer lateral repair and replacement program remain the same
- water service rate increases from $3.06 to $3.16
- recycling fee increases from $16 per year to $32 per year
The public hearings are set for April 9 and April 23 — both Tuesdays — and will start at 7 p.m. in the Ingram Council Chambers (765 Lynn Street). In addition to the hearings, locals can submit feedback online.
Residents and businesses in Herndon can expect to receive a guide to the budget mailed to them.
Photo via Town of Herndon
The Reston Historic Trust and Museum is hosting the 55th annual anniversary of Reston’s founding with a celebration on Saturday, April 6.
Festivities for Founder’s Day will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Lake Anne Plaza.
The event will include a moon bounce, children’s activities, face painting, a public art tour and exhibits at the Reston Historic Trust and Museum and RCC Lake Anne’s Jo Ann Rose Gallery.
Some highlights from the schedule include:
- 12:05 p.m: Lake Anne Elementary School Chorus & Orchestra
- 12:50 p.m: Foley Irish Dance
- 1:20 p.m: Hughes MS Panther Jazz Band
- 1:20 p.m: guided public art walking tour
- 1:30 p.m: meet the authors of “Memoir Your Way”
- 1:45 p.m: Hunters Woods Elementary School String Ensemble
- 2:00 p.m: Lopez Studios, American Musical Theater
- 2:15 p.m: Reston Chorale
- 2:40 p.m: Reston Community Players performing scenes from “Annie”
- 2:40 p.m: artist talk with Marco Rando
- 3:05 p.m: Rick Landers, Folk musician
- 3:30 p.m: ensemble from Reston Community Orchestra
Attendees can also share their Reston stories with recorded oral histories from 1-3 p.m. at RCC Lake Anne.
Exhibit enthusiasts can find several around the area including “Fine Lines” at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery, which features artists’ interpretations of lines.
Over at the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, locals can see Charlotte Geary’s photography in “The Women of Lake Anne” exhibit and also enjoy “Untold Stories and The History of the Sculpture by Zachary Oxman Dedicated to Reston’s Founder.”
Purcellville-based bakery Teapot and Cake is coming to Lake Anne Plaza.
Building permits indicate that the bakery will move into 11404A W. Washington Plaza — the former spot of Havana Boutique, a high-end consignment shop.
The menu for the Purcellville spot includes a range of sweets, including cakes, pastries, cookies, cupcakes and tea.
A Facebook post from Lake Anne and Washington Plaza says that the opening date is “TBD” — “to be determined.”
Photo via Facebook
Car crash update — On Friday (March 20), “units responded to a car crash on Lawyers Road and Pegasus Lane in Reston area. Crews arrived to find two people trapped. Units were able to quickly work to free them. Both transported to area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Yoga among the books — From 5:30-6:30 p.m., adults can do yoga at the Herndon Fortnightly Library. [Fairfax County]
Parks and Rec meeting — The Reston Association’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet from 6:30-8:30 at RA headquarters. [WebTrac]
