More sandwich options just arrived in Reston.

Sprout Cafe recently opened at One Reston Overlook (12011 Sunset Hills Road).

Retail brokerage firm Rappaport tweeted a picture outside of the cafe that shows writing on a window advertising its salads, sandwiches and “savory soups.”

This is the Rockville, Md.-based cafe’s second location, according to the tweet.

Image via Rappaport/Twitter

As teens start picking out their dresses as prom season approaches, they’ll need to start thinking about accessories too.

Instead of asking for dress donations, the Reston Community Center wants people to drop off accessories for the “Diva Central Accessory Drive.”

The annual drive has amassed so many dresses in recent years that RCC says it doesn’t need to collect them for this upcoming Diva Central event.

Starting Friday (Feb. 1), locals can make tax-deductible donations by dropping off items at RCC Hunters Woods or RCC Lake Anne from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays or from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Shoes, jewelry, handbags, shawls, scarves and other accessories are all desired for RCC’s prom and middle school formal dress giveaway.

The drive runs until Feb. 28.

Photo via Reston Community Center

The Reston Association announced yesterday (Jan. 29) the five candidates certified by the Elections Committee to run for the open seats on RA’s Board of Directors.

The five seats up for election this year are uncontested. At least 10 percent of eligible voters are needed to make the results official.

Three candidates are incumbents. They are:

• Catherine Baum for a one-year term as the Apartment Owners Representative
• Caren Anton for a one-year term as the Hunters Woods/Dogwood Representative
• John Mooney for a three-year term as the North Point Representative

Tom Mulkerin, a residential real estate agent, is running for a three-year-term At-Large seat. Mulkerin has served on the board of the Lakewinds II Cluster Association, according to his election statement of candidacy.

Aaron Webb, who has served on the board of the Lakeside Cluster, is running for a three-year term for the Lake Anne/Tall Oaks Representative, which is currently filled by Sherri Herbert.

Herbert said at the Board of Directors meeting last Thursday (Jan. 24 ) that she will not seek re-election.

Association members will receive ballots before the voting period begins. Voting starts March 4 and ends April 1.

The election results will be announced at the Annual Members’ Meeting in April.

Images via Reston Association/YouTube

Herndon police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at an Elden Street business.

Around 5:55 p.m. on Jan. 20, the suspect entered the business in the 1000 block of Elden Street, displayed a weapon and demanded cash, according to the Herndon Police Department.

After a confrontation with the victim, the suspect then fled the store without cash or merchandise, police say.

The report gave the following description for the suspect:

The suspect is described as a heavy-set, Hispanic male, wearing a dark gray and orange color jacket with the hood on, orange or red beanie hat under the hood, light color pants with a square pattern, dark color gloves, and a white bandana with black spots covering the bottom half of his face. He was wearing black Nike shoes with white swoosh and soles.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:

LARCENIES:

2200 block of Cocquina Drive, license plate from vehicle

1700 block of Jonathan Way, package from residence

1700 Lake Shore Crest Drive, theft of services

11000 block of Sunset Hills Road, purse from vehicle

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

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Updated at 4:55 p.m. — NWS canceled the Wind Advisory that was set to last until 6 p.m.

Earlier: After last night’s heavy congestion during rush hour, commuters are finding little to no traffic on major Reston roads this morning (Jan. 30).

Traffic on the Dulles Toll Road is flowing freely, according to Google Maps. However, drivers should still give themselves extra travel time for possibly icy local roads.

“Your commute will take longer today,” Fairfax County tweeted this morning, adding that crews worked overnight to treat roads and will continue treatment today if needed. Drivers are encouraged to reduce their speeds, use headlights and not brake quickly.

Be aware of black ice this morning! Please drive with caution. Your #FCFRD firefighters and paramedics don’t want to meet you by (preventable) “accident” today! 🚙🚗#snow #fairfaxcounty #traffic #vatraffic pic.twitter.com/t6g6nrA64K

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 30, 2019

Anybody stepping outside today should also bundle up. The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory until 6 p.m. tonight and a Wind Chill Advisory between 9 p.m. tonight and 10 a.m. tomorrow (Jan. 31).

More from the National Weather Service:

WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST THURSDAY…

* WHAT…Very cold wind chills of 5 to 10 degrees below zero.

* WHERE…Portions of central Maryland and northern Virginia including Washington DC and Baltimore MD.

* WHEN…From 9 PM this evening to 10 AM EST Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will combine to create low wind chills. Frostbite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Dress in layers, and wear a hat and gloves.

Fairfax County Government offices are open today, however, employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Fairfax County public schools are closed today. Reston Association offices will open three hours late.

A meeting seeking public input on the Fairfax Connector has been canceled for tonight and will be rescheduled.

Locals have been busy snapping photos of the snow around Reston, including the following.

https://twitter.com/mellowdrifter/status/1090598252515393537

Images via Google Maps, Marjorie Copson and  Virginia Department of Transportation

Updated at 9 a.m. — All lanes are now open.

Earlier: Herndon Parkway is closed near Summerfield Drive due to an accident.

Herndon Police tweeted about the closure at 8:21 a.m. today (Jan. 30).

Drivers and pedestrians should follow police direction, according to the tweet.

FINAL: All lanes open. #herndonpd https://t.co/DWBoalSWUG

— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) January 30, 2019

Image via Google Maps

This story has been updated

Update at 8:25 p.m. — Fairfax County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday.

Falling temperatures are expected to create hazardous travel conditions overnight and tomorrow, especially on secondary roads in various parts of the county. As a result, all Fairfax County public schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 (Cond. 1).

— Fairfax Schools 🌟 (@fcpsnews) January 30, 2019

Snow accumulation is expected to lessen overnight and the temperature is going to drop. Ice will form on the roadways making driving conditions dangerous. Avoid driving if possible. If you do drive, reduce speeds and stay alert! Ice is difficult to spot. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/PZV6cOTkA8

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 30, 2019

Earlier: Traffic is already starting to back up as commuters head home early to beat expected icy roads from today’s rain and snow.

Traffic is heavy heading westbound on the Dulles Toll Road, according to Google Maps, and drivers should also expect scattered heavy traffic on the Reston Parkway and other primary roads around the area.

A Winter Weather Advisory is currently in effect. Forecasters are warning commuters to be aware of potential travel disruptions and allow for extra time getting back in the evening. Additional problems on the roads are possible Wednesday morning.

From the National Weather Service:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT…

* WHAT…Snow, mixed with rain before 5 PM, will turn to all snow by 5 PM this afternoon, and continue through the evening rush before ending between 7 and 9 PM this evening. Total snowfall accumulation around one inch is expected.

* WHERE…Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, the District of Columbia and its southern and eastern suburbs.

* WHEN…Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until midnight EST tonight.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions. Temperatures will fall below freezing during the evening rush, causing the potential for wet or slushy surfaces to freeze.

Classes and activities at the Reston Community Center are canceled after 3 p.m. today, and RCC facilities are set to close by 5 p.m. The Reston Association offices also closed at 3 p.m.

Fairfax County public schools closed two hours early today.

Flakes started in the Reston area earlier this afternoon. As of 4 p.m., some local roads were becoming snow-covered.

Looking beautiful in Reston @fox5dc @fox5weather @Reston! ❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/ENzGSjangc

— Matt Bianco (@BiancoMSB) January 29, 2019

While drivers may not be enjoying the weather right now, at least one furry local is.

https://twitter.com/BranRob79/status/1090322798436847616

Images via Google Maps and Virginia Department of Transportation

The Herndon Planning Commission is still seeking funds for South Elden Street improvements that are meant to increase visibility and pedestrian safety.

The improvements would add an 8-foot, shared-use path on the western side of Elden Street running from Sterling Road to Herndon Parkway and improve the existing five-lane section to be a four-lane section with 11-foot-wide travel lanes, a raised median and protected turning lanes.

It would also add enhanced crosswalks at the intersections of Elden Street and Alabama Drive, the intersection at Dulles Park Shopping Center and the intersection of Elden Street and Sterling Road.

The Town of Herndon has until Oct. 1 to adopt a policy for the work under a previously approved $65,000 grant or repay the grant to the state after that date.

In August, the Town of Herndon also submitted a SMART Scale application to the Virginia of Department of Transportation for a statewide funding program. VDOT will let them know if they get are awarded the funding this spring. If it is, the project could get completed in 2029 with a 10-year timeframe.

While the street project is already in the town’s comprehensive plan, an amendment is needed to reflect the work as part of the proposed Major Street Network, which includes a timeframe to 2030.

The commission unanimously approved the comprehensive plan amendment at last night’s meeting.

Images via Google Maps and Planning Commission

Infinity Spa and Nails is heading to RTC West.

Signs in the storefront at 12120 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 105 say that the nail spa is “coming soon.”

It will neighbor Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, which opened in July at 12130 Sunset Hills Road. 

The salon plans to offer manicures, pedicures, massage, facials and skin treatments, according to its website. A one-hour massage or facial starts at $297. The four-hour package — complete with massage, wrap, facial and pedicure — costs $500.

The Herndon Planning Commission held its first public hearing on the Metro area last night (Jan. 28), continuing discussion on concerns surrounding an unprecedented mixed-use project.

Penzance Properties’ redevelopment project, which would add three buildings in three phases at 555 Herndon Parkway, has hit several design snags and a zoning issue.

The Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board previously provided dozens of suggestions and areas that needed improvement for the project, which is the first of its kind for Herndon.

At the meeting last night, a Planning Commission staffer said that more information and materials are needed to evaluate the development plan. Some of the concerns include:

• lack of open space
• unclear about how it will “reinforce an identity unique to Herndon”
• air flow issues
• concerns with the Herndon Parkway curb cut and entrance designs

The staffer noted that integrating artwork and redesigning the facades will help soften the stark image in the plans. The Planning Commission continued its request for more refined designs, a revised color palette that creates warmth and texture and a new architectural scale that makes the ground floors more visually interesting.

Kenneth Wire, the land use attorney for the project, told the commission that more color will get added to the site to address concerns about the project appearing stark.

Wire noted that some of the project’s struggles have resulted from its novelty as a new urban portion moving into a suburban community.

“One of the questions that we had with the Town is, ‘When you say unique to Herndon, Herndon doesn’t have any 200-foot-tall buildings,'” Wire said. “So how do we take the rich fabric of the DNA and the materials and pedestrian scopes and bicycle network and fold it into this project?”

Wire said about 40 people attended the community meeting on Jan. 23, asking questions about the scope and the scale of the project.

Richard Downer, a Herndon resident, praised the commission for taking time with the project to address concerns. “You all don’t have that much experience — I believe — with these mega projects, and I think it’s very good that there appears to be a lot of cooperation all the way around.”

Downer said that he has concerns about transportation and accessibility to downtown Herndon as the Herndon Parkway project and Comstock development bring more people into the town.

The Planning Commission decided to continue discussion on the development plan at its public hearing set for Feb. 25.

The Architectural Review Board will take up the application on Feb. 6.

Image via Planning Commission

Wooboi Chicken is set to hold a soft opening tomorrow ahead of its grand opening next week.

The grand opening at 139 Spring Street, Suite 1 — the former spot of Metro Cafe — is set for Feb. 5, Wooboi Chicken told Reston Now.

The chicken eatery posted on its Facebook page today that it plans to have a soft opening with a limited menu tomorrow (Jan. 30) from noon to 4 p.m. Government workers and law enforcement officers can receive 10 percent off of their entire order.

Wooboi Chicken had pop-up locations in Maryland and Virginia last summer.

The “Nashville hot chicken” is free-range, does not contain antibiotics and is fried in peanut oil, according to its website. For customers with peanut allergies, Wooboi Chicken has a separate fryer that uses canola oil instead.

Depending on how hot customers like their chicken, Chef Minwoo will offer six different levels of heat, along with five options for sides.

Image via Google Maps

Jigsaw puzzle — For $15, locals ages 55 and older can enjoy Reston Association’s “Puzzle Day” with 500- and 750-piece puzzles to choose from at RA headquarters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can work individually or as a member of a team as the timer ticks away. Coffee and lunch will be provided. [WebTrac]

Avoid the roads during rush hour — With rain and snow expected later today, the Virginia Department of Transportation wants commuters to stay off of the roads during rush hour. Freezing conditions will likely make the roads slick with ice. [VDOT]

Pajama party — The Herndon Fortnightly Library plans to host a pajama party storytime from 7-7:45 p.m. People of all ages can come in their PJs, listen to bedtime stories and make simple crafts. [Fairfax County]

Great Falls parcel remains untouched — Nearly 470 acres of mostly undeveloped land in the middle of northwest Great Falls will remain classified as an agricultural-and-forestal district. “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 22 unanimously granted a 10-year extension of that status to the site at 219 Seneca Road, which has been under that designation since 1981.” [Inside NoVa]

Vaping PSA — Fairfax County Public Schools now has a student-focused webpage that provides information about vaping risks, resources and videos featuring FCPS students. [FCPS]

The county’s public schools and offices are set to close two hours early on Tuesday (Jan. 29) as incoming wintery weather may create hazardous road conditions.

Fairfax County Public Schools tweeted shortly after 5 p.m. today (Jan. 28) that the decision is “due to the anticipated snow and freezing rain in the forecast tomorrow afternoon and evening, and the possibility of deteriorating travel conditions.”

The National Weather Service said an abrupt transition from rain to about 1 to 3 inches of snow could likely create poor driving conditions.

Commuters are encouraged to be aware of potential travel disruptions and allow for extra time getting back in the evening.

Due to the anticipated snow and freezing rain in the forecast tomorrow afternoon and evening, and the possibility of deteriorating travel conditions, all Fairfax County public schools and offices will close two hours early Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 (Cond 4). https://t.co/zNBBMjWGwr

— Fairfax Schools 🌟 (@fcpsnews) January 28, 2019

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Need help with your taxes?

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program is offering free help with tax preparation and electronic filing services to taxpayers.

In the Hunter Mill District, locals can find the drop-in services at the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road) starting on Friday (Feb. 1).

Trained counselors will be on hand to help with federal and Virginia tax returns.

Locals don’t need an appointment, but they will need to bring a photo ID, Social Security cards for themselves and their dependents, a copy of last year’s tax returns and all tax documents received.

The Reston Community Center tax prep will be available on the following days:

• Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursdays: 4:30-8:30 p.m.
• Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The free tax preparation will also be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays at the SunTrust Bank of Vienna (515 Maple Avenue East) and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Providence Community Center in Fairfax (3001 Vaden Drive).

The program is open to people of all ages and runs until Feb. 15.

File photo

Rain and snow are slated to hit Fairfax County tomorrow, possibly making roads slick from sudden weather changes.

The National Weather Service recently posted a Winter Weather Advisory at 2:58 p.m. today for Fairfax County and nearby areas beginning tomorrow.

NWS expects rain and snow late in the afternoon and early evening on Tuesday (Jan. 29). NWS anticipates about 1 to 3 inches of snow, with the abrupt transition from rain to snow creating poor driving conditions.

Commuters are encouraged to be aware of potential travel disruptions and allow for extra time getting back in the evening.

The advisory says the following:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM EST
TUESDAY…

* WHAT…Any rain will change to snow during the afternoon hours.
Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches expected.

* WHERE…Portions of central and northern Maryland and northern
Virginia.

* WHEN…From noon to 10 PM EST Tuesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The
hazardous conditions will impact the evening commute.
Temperatures will fall well below freezing during the evening,
causing any moisture or slush to freeze on untreated surfaces.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will
cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads
and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1

From @NWS_BaltWash: If you plan on commuting Tuesday evening, be aware of the potential for travel disruptions. Plan ahead by allowing for extra travel time, and consider using public transportation and telework options. More details: https://t.co/zZL89SPjAy pic.twitter.com/3EfguqmsRi

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) January 28, 2019

Be prepared for an impacted Tues PM commute. Snow is forecast to hit around that time. Be aware that temps will drop (freezing) and the winds will pick up. Pls plan to leave work or be home a little early. Clear the roads so we can clear the roads. #teamwork pic.twitter.com/TuDjXbw29S

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) January 28, 2019

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