Reston’s 34th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration has full schedules for the three-day event.
The weekend celebration, presented by the Reston Community Center, honors the late American Baptist minister and civil rights activist.
An art exhibit by Reston elementary school students already kicked off last Friday (Jan. 11). The exhibit at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road) will run through Jan. 31.
Here’s a breakdown of what is on the schedule:
Saturday (Jan. 19)
Community service projects
9 a.m. at Southgate Community Center (12125 Pinecrest Road)
1 p.m. at North County Government Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive)
Community service projects at Southgate Community Center start at 9 a.m. Indoor projects include making bag lunches for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter, sorting and organizing items from The Closet and several other service projects. There will also be outdoor projects such as cleaning up the natural areas, pathways and hardscape surrounding the area — weather permitting.
Volunteers get a free lunch around noon. An additional project at the North County Government Center begins at 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed until 3 p.m. to sort and organize the donated items for the Hunter Mill Winter Coat Closet.
All ages are welcome for both events, and participants must register around of time through the Reston Association by contacting RA Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator Ha Brock at 703-435-7986 or [email protected].
Reston Community Orchestra
4 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods
The Reston Community Orchestra will perform a free concert. The tribute will combine traditions of African-American culture and Western classical music. Featured performers will include students from Al Fatih Academy and Beverly Cosham, a Reston song stylist.
Sunday (Jan. 20)
Performance by Crys Matthews
2 p.m. at the CenterStage at RCC Hunters Woods
Matthews, a singer-songwriter from Herndon, is scheduled to perform her songs at CenterStage. Tickets cost $15 for Reston residents.
Voices of Inspiration Program
4 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (1441 Wiehle Avenue)
The free event is sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Christian Church and includes many Reston faith communities.
Monday (Jan. 21)
Keynote address by DeRay Mckesson
Noon at RCC Hunters Woods
Mckesson, an organizer, activist and author, will deliver the keynote address. Afterward, attendees can enjoy a family-style community lunch in RCC’s Community Room. Following the lunch, Mckesson will sign copies of his new book, “On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope,” which will be available for purchase.
Tickets for the lunch and keynote address cost $5 for Reston residents and employees.
Especially for Youth Program
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods
Children ages six to 12 can participate in free activities based on the history of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Children will rotate through a series of activities including a performance, an age-appropriate video and arts and crafts.
Parents are encouraged to register their children in advance, although there will be limited onsite registration on the day of the event.
Photo via Center for National and Community Service
With an inch of snow anticipated tonight and tomorrow, activities at Fairfax County public schools or on school grounds are canceled for this afternoon and evening.
FCPS wrote in a tweet today (Jan. 17) that the “expected wintry weather in our area tonight” prompted the decision.
The School Age Child Care Program will remain open until 6:15 p.m. tonight.
Due to the expected wintry weather in our area later today, all activities scheduled in Fairfax County public schools or on school grounds for this afternoon and evening, Jan. 17, are canceled (Cond 6) https://t.co/zNBBMkehnZ
SACC centers will remain open until 6:15 p.m.— Fairfax Schools 🌟 (@fcpsnews) January 17, 2019
File photo
Get ready for more snow.
The National Weather Service recently posted a winter weather advisory for the D.C.-area, including Fairfax County, from 6 p.m. tonight (Jan. 17) to 4 a.m. on Friday.
NWS expects around 1 inch of snow accumulation.
The advisory says the following:
Plan on slippery road conditions and
sidewalks. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening
commute after sunset as temperatures fall below freezing.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.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking drivers to closely monitor forecasts for potential snow and ice impacting rush hours tonight and tomorrow, according to a “snow update” email this morning.
VDOT wrote that crews are staging along roads throughout the day to be ready for rush hour and have touched up pretreatment on areas prone to freezing, such as bridges, ramps and overpasses. They will also continue to work overnight to treat for icy conditions.
RT @NWS_BaltWash: Accumulating snow is expected late today and overnight. Winter Weather Advisories have been expanded over the DC and Baltimore metro areas. Be prepared for hazardous driving conditions. pic.twitter.com/U64T7TE46f
— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) January 17, 2019
MT @VaDOTNOVA: Crews will be staged ahead of rush hour for snow during today’s PM commute. Pls leave work early (yay!) if you can. Storms during rush hour have a huge impact on the roads. Also watch for overnight freeze for tomorrow’s AM rush. 🥶❄️ pic.twitter.com/h9QIHoXLXb
— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) January 17, 2019
Photo via Robbie Nolan/Twitter
Abby Wendle, the producer of NPR’s “Invisibilia,” will spill her thoughts on art as a part of Greater Reston Art Center’s “Creative Response” events.
One Thursday of each month, GRACE invites an expert in their field to respond to the work on view in the gallery with an open discussion. Presenters may range from poets to dancers, from writers to musicians.
Wendle was a farm reporter for Harvest Public Media in rural Illinois and helped launch This Land Radio in Tulsa, Okla. Her work has appeared on NPR News, the BBC, CBC and ABC in Australia.
In her spare time, she enjoys creating experimental sound art, according to GRACE. In fact, she has an ongoing collaborative sonic experience called “~1652Hz (the howling dome)” in which people are invited to make noises they associate with a pain or grievance in their life.
Maryam Ovissi, the chief executive officer and founder of Beloved Yoga in Reston, will provide a “sonic introduction.”
The free monthly event is sponsored by Reston Community Center. The event starts at 7 p.m. tonight (Jan. 17) at 12001 Market Street, Suite 103.
Photo via Greater Reston Arts Center
Reston Association’s Design Review Board was skeptical about a proposal made during the meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 15) asking for deck boat design standards.
Watershed Specialist William Peterson presented two requests that resulted from the Lakes, Boats and Docks Working Group: addition of floating deck specifications in the DRB guidelines for docks and creation of DRB guidelines for deck boat construction.
Peterson asked the board to make a Reston Association standard for deck boats, which could information about appropriate float materials.
He noted that contractors make many of the deck boats on lakes around Reston, and without a standard, people can build a deck boat any way they want to. Use of inadequate materials can result in them falling apart.
Currently, the resolutions have deck boat guidelines for size, lights and motor size for deck boats, and the “Boat Guide” also has stipulations. “The ‘Boat Guide’ is not a standard. It is not required,” Peterson said.
“We’re talking about staff overload as it is and now we’re talking about a whole new design and review of deck boats?” W. Neal Roseberry, the board’s vice chair and architect member, said. “It doesn’t feel like it belongs in the design guidelines.”
Anna Donato, director of covenants administration, said that it may be possible for DRB to create standards without having to review any noncomplying deck boats. “I don’t think it’s something that would be thrown in the hands of the DRB in terms of governing moving forward.”
Donato and Roseberry both questioned whether or not noncompliance would fall under the Legal Committee instead.
“It feels difficult to have it go both ways — to use the authority of the DRB to set a standard and then to say we’re not going to regulate the standard,” Roseberry said. “I don’t think we should be setting the standard in the first place.”
If deck boats can only get regulated by DRB, Roseberry said he would be open to supporting the idea.
While the board was skeptical about creating a deck boat standard, the members signaled a willingness to update the dock guidelines.
Peterson also showed an example of the DRB dock guidelines, which included a picture of a nonfloating dock, and photos of different ways to permanently attach floating docks. The Lakes, Boats and Docks Working Group has disagreed about what “permanently attached” means.
“Some people think a bungee cord or a rope constitutes permanently attached,” he said. “Others think it needs to be more permanent like a hinged structure.”
Peterson also asked for the removal of a sentence in the guidelines that directs readers to RA’s Park and Recreation Department guidelines, which do not exist.
Clarification of “permanently attached” could include language saying that pilings or a hinge system are sufficient for attachment. Peterson said that he plans to come back to the DRB at a later date with a draft with updated language.
“Improving the guidelines for stationary docks with all of the different ones you showed makes sense,” Richard Newlon, the board’s chairman, said to Peterson. “I don’t think that the DRB wants to get into things that move.”
Images via Reston Association/YouTube
SAIC acquires Engility Holdings, Inc. — The merger completed on Jan. 14. The combined company will keep the SAIC name and the headquarters in Reston. [Business Wire]
Free bus rides for furloughed workers — Starting today, the Fairfax Connector will let furloughed workers ride for free with their federal photo ID. [Fairfax County]
How-to for buying a new TV — Head to the Reston Regional Library today for help figuring out which TV is best for you. The presentation by the Fairfax County Department of Cable and Consumer Services will run from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. [Fairfax County]
Flu season is upon us — If you end up getting sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a handy guide for comparing your symptoms to the flu and what to do if the illness worsens. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Photo via Ray Copson
Updated at 11:05 a.m. — Corrects location of the exhibit
Art is imitating life — especially in an increasingly digital world.
Monica Stroik’s “Cyber series” opens tomorrow (Jan. 17) at the Greater Reston Arts Center at Signature (11850 Freedom Drive).
The series titled “IRL” — shorthand for “in real life” — explores “being present and disconnected simultaneously and how the natural world is entangled in our digital lives” by investigating he intersections between the organic, man-made and virtual worlds, according to the arts center.
Stroik, a Virginia-based painter and video artist, uses a combination of video and paintings for her ongoing series. Her website shows some of the colorful oil on canvas paintings, which depict buildings and nature juxtaposed with blocks and geometric designs.
Stroik’s artist statement says that her paintings depict the natural organic world in relation to the human architectonic influence.
“By standing in the ideal position, the paintings as a group serve to alter the viewer’s perception of space by providing the illusion of a continuous horizon line, which expands despite the confines of the physical architectural environment,” she wrote.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The exhibit runs until April 23.
Photo via Greater Reston Arts Center
This story has been updated
A Herndon house concert series that features independent artists is set to challenge a zoning violation at the Board of Zoning Appeals next week.
Chris Devine, the host of The Crib, received a violation notice taped to his front door from the Town of Herndon for a concert on Nov. 17 in his home, the Herndon Connection reported last week.
Dated Dec. 13, the citation says that 44 people were observed entering the home between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for a Gina Venier and Lexie Hayden concert.
“[This] activity constitutes an Indoor Entertainment use and is not a permitted use on the subject property pursuant to the Town of Herndon Zoning Ordination,” the citation said. It gave Devine 15 days to resolve the violation to avoid incurring fines.
Instead, Devine decided to appeal the violation.
“We firmly believe The Crib house concert does not meet that definition, and further believe the citation arose from a lack of understanding of the house concert concept,” The Crib’s blog says.
At the public comment period during the Town Council public session last night (Jan. 15), Devine said that he met with town staff after receiving the citation.
“In that meeting, I learned that the town had very little understanding of that activity, which is house concerts, and as a result were very vague on how my activity tripped the wire as a commercial use,” he said.
Devine slammed Town of Herndon’s leadership, saying that he was denied access to basic information about the situation after he tried to ask follow-up questions after the meeting.
A Herndon town attorney told Mayor Lisa Merkel that the appeal never goes to the Town Council. Instead, it goes to the Board of Zoning Appeals and then to the circuit court.
“There is a role in the Town Council in looking at our code if there were a change to be made in the future,” Merkel said.
As Devine tackles the appeals process, a GoFundMe page created on Dec. 20 is helping to cover the fines.
The campaign says the following:
It will take a while to work through the appeals process — possibly as long as three months — and we don’t know at this point what the outcome will be.
During this time we have five fantastic artists already scheduled to perform and we will incur fines for each event we choose to hold, but we want to continue with the events in order to keep our commitments to both the artists and our guests who have made advance donations.
During normal times, each house show we hold costs The Crib between $100-$200; we do this because we have a passion for connecting incredible artists with deserving and appreciative guests.
But we can’t absorb the fines on top of the costs we already incur as part of our mission to the arts and the community.
Our fundraising goal will allow us to pay the fines over the next several months ($200 for the first event and $500 per subsequent event). We are also seeking a small amount to cover any legal fees we may incur during the appeals process.
Any residual funds will be used to create an even better experience for artists and audiences and/or donated to our non-profit partner, The Warrior Music Foundation.
The campaign has already hit its fundraising goal of $3,200. In 26 days, 32 people donated $3,335.
Since launching in 2015, The Crib has hosted nearly 50 house shows with 28 different artists, according to its website.
Each show lets the artist perform two 45-minute sets of original music. Seating is on a first-come basis with a capacity of roughly 40 people. Attendees are encouraged to make a donation in advance — all of the donations go to the artist.
A public hearing notice indicates that the Board of Zoning Appeals will take up the matter next Thursday (Jan. 24) at 7:30 p.m. at 765 Lynn Street.
https://twitter.com/SocialInDC/status/1085409846319632385
https://twitter.com/SocialInDC/status/1080638791658934272
Photo via The Crib/Facebook
New townhomes are popping up in Herndon’s Metro Square development at 23 Silver Driveway next to the planned Herndon Metro Station.
Construction is currently underway on Stanley Martin’s two-over-two townhouse development. The project includes four buildings with 64 total condo units, according to the Town of Herndon.
Metro Square offers two different floor plans: a 2,550-square-foot, upper-level condo with three bedrooms or a 1,524-square-foot, lower-level condo with two bedrooms. Both types feature two levels of living space, private garages, kitchens, suites with large walk-in closets, bedroom-level stacked laundry and attached decks.
The Preston at 625 Herndon Pkwy is “move-in-ready,” according to Stanley Martin’s website. Its 2,550-square-foot condos cost $619,990.
Metro Square is across the street from Haley M. Smith Park.
Reston Association’s Design Review Board approved minor changes to the size and number of windows for previously approved architectural designs for the Tall Oaks Village Center redevelopment on Tuesday night.
The redevelopment plans to transform the village center (12022 North Shore Drive) into a mostly residential neighborhood by adding 156 residential units, which include 42 two-over-two multi-family units, 44 single units and 70 multi-family units in two residential buildings. Nearly 8,500 square feet of retail and 5,800 square feet of office space are also slated for the site.
On Dec. 19. Stanley Martin Homes officially purchased the residential portion of the property from Jefferson Apartment Group. Currently, Stanley Martin is completing the site plan and brought “small changes” to abide by the county’s zoning to the Design Review Board.
Richard Newlon, the board’s chairman, said he was concerned about replacing some of the larger windows with smaller ones. “It’s not going to have the same architectural drama we thought we were getting before,” he said. “We’re always looking for good design and stuff that is a little bit different and a little bit progressive.”
Ultimately, the board approved the changes.
During the nearly three-hour-long meeting on Jan. 15, the Design Review Board also approved stream restoration with a year-long timeline for the Colvin Run Stream.
Tree clearing is set to begin for the stream restoration on Feb. 4, with an estimated completion of the work sometime in the summer. Planting will then follow in the fall.
The board also OK’d playground equipment and signs at the Primrose School of Reston (1309 N. Village Road).
An affected party — who did not show up to the meeting — had previously raised a concern about the size and color of a red plastic fire truck in the school’s playground.
“Reston is pretty much known for the lack of vibrant color in all of its playgrounds. It’s always supposed to be natural looks — greens and browns,” Newlon said. “I personally have never seen a green or brown fire engine.”
W. Neal Roseberry, the board’s vice chair and architect member, was the only member to vote against approving the playground equipment’s appearance.
Images via Reston Association/YouTube
Basic knitting — People ages 16 and up can learn the only two stitches you need to knit anything. Head to the Reston Regional Library for the event, which runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. [Reston Regional Library]
“The Marvelous Moon” — Families, couples and individuals can take an exploratory hike and have some outdoor fun with Walker Nature Center’s naturalists tonight from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets costs between $6 to $8. [WebTrac]
Creative printmaking — Learn how to carve and create your own prints from handmade plates to carved blocks. The class at ArtSpace Herndon (750 Center Street) runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight. [ArtSpace Herndon]
Former Reston Hospital Board chair died — Alix Daniel Laurent died at home on Nov. 27. He opened a urology practice at Reston Hospital in 1987 and was a member of the medical staff who chaired the Reston Hospital Board of Trustees for eight years. [Herndon Patch]
Photo via Ray Copson
(Updated at 8:30 a.m.) Fairfax County public schools are set to open two hours late tomorrow (Wednesday).
FCPS tweeted that tomorrow’s scheduled delay is due to “unexpected refreeze of roads and sidewalks overnight.”
School offices and central offices will open on time tomorrow.
Morning preschool classes will be canceled while afternoon preschool classes are set to start on their regular schedule. Full-day preschool and Family and Early Childhood Education Program-Head Start classes will start two hours later than the regular schedule.
Adult and community education classes are set to start on time.
Due to the expected refreeze of roads and sidewalks overnight, all Fairfax County public schools will open 2 hours late Wed., 1/16/19. School offices and central offices will open on time. (Condition 3B) More at: https://t.co/GqzuZiNx8f.
— Fairfax Schools 🌟 (@fcpsnews) January 15, 2019
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
City of Fairfax police arrested a Reston man after he assaulted two police officers.
On Thursday, Jan. 3, police officers found a male subject knocking on doors and checking doorknobs around 1:21 a.m. in the 9400 block of Fairfax Blvd. A police investigation determined that a possible larceny had occurred and that the subject was intoxicated, according to the report.
Elias Bouazer, a 20-year-old from Reston, allegedly assaulted two officers as they were in the process of arresting him, the report says.
Bouazer was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, larceny and being drunk in public. He was held without bond.
Last Friday (Jan. 11), police in the City of Fairfax arrested another Restonian — this time for drunk driving.
At around 1:44 a.m. police stopped a vehicle that was driving erratically in the area of Revel Run and Fairfax Blvd and arrested and charged Mohiyadin Abukar Abdi of Reston for driving under the influence, according to the report. Abdi was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, laptop computer from residence
10200 block of Colvin Run Road, wallet from residence
Emeral Heights Court/Green Range Drive, cell phone from location
11600 block of Plaza America Drive, bag from location
8700 block of Potomac Hills Street, purse from vehicle
1600 block of Reston Parkway, merchandise from business
2200 block of Southgate Square, shovel from residence
2200 block of Stone Wheel Drive, clothing from location
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, merchandise from business
11400 block of Waterview Cluster, wallet from location
1800 block of Wiehle Ave, merchandise from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
City of Falls Church police arrested a Herndon man last week.
Last Tuesday (Jan. 8) around 10:45 a.m., police responded to a complaint about suspicious activity at the 7-Eleven at 201 S. Washington Street. They arrested and charged 26-year-old Jason Wesley of Herndon with possession of a controlled substance, obstruction of justice and public intoxication, according to the report.
File photo
Two friends teamed up to create Herndon’s new coworking space called Rowan Tree, which debuted today (Jan. 15) in Sunset Business Park.
The coworking space, which describes itself as “geared for women but welcome to all,” offers an open workspace, meeting rooms, onsite yoga and professional and personal growth workshops at 280 Sunset Park Drive.
As a part of the grand opening, Rowan Tree’s co-founders Amy Dagliano and Kate Viggiano Janich announced a scholarship for local entrepreneurial women who may face financial barriers with the membership. (Memberships cost either $2,400 for the year or $275 per month, which totals $3,300 per year.)
Janich said the scholarship is meant to support a diverse and inclusive environment. For every five members, Rowan Tree will fund one full scholarship.
Reston Now caught up with Dagliano to find out the details behind Rowan Tree’s name and why they picked Herndon.
Reston Now: How did you come up with the name “Rowan Tree”?
Amy Dagliano: We are best friends — and we also happen to share the same birthday: April 9. We found that just like with birthstones, there are actually trees associated with birthdays.
The Rowan Tree is the tree of April 9. The tree represents vision, power, connection, transformation, and balance. All things we knew we wanted in the community. The tree is known as the portal tree, taking you from one place to another, and it seeks the highest of altitudes to grow and thrive.
Rowan is also a family name of Kate’s cousin — the same cousin who helped Amy heal from Lyme Disease.
RN: Why Herndon?
AD: We found most women-focused coworking places are in cities, but we are working moms who live in NoVA. We like having our parking lots and yards — but we are still really interested in growing our careers, connecting with others and being part of a movement.
There is nothing like Rowan Tree in Herndon or the surrounding area. Before we opened, we interviewed a lot of women in the NoVA area. We found that those who lived in Herndon and nearby were very enthusiastic about the concept. Many of them were launching something new for themselves, but they didn’t have a place to land. Then, as we started pop-up events, we received incredible community support. We love this small town with a big heart and its strong sense of community.
Finally, it’s HERndon. What better place to open our flagship coworking and cogrowth space focused on women than a town with “HER” in the name?
RN: How did you choose the Herndon location?
AD: Our original intention was to open 10,000 square feet with private offices. Soon into research, however, we realized something smaller and more community-focused would better fit our vision of a close, collaborative network of women. When we held pop-up coworking at ArtSpace Herndon, our ArtSpace friends suggested we check out this place for rent.
We took one look and knew it would be perfect for Rowan Tree. The owner understands and supports our vision, and by adding our furniture, touches of color, twinkle lights and artwork, we were able to create a warm and inviting space. It’s the perfect “treehouse.”
RN: How many people can occupy the space?
AD: If everyone is sitting at tables and utilizing the conference rooms, we can fit about 40 to 50 people at once. But the great thing about the space is that it’s flexible. We can roll the tables out of the main space and have more than 50 people in chairs watching a presentation or more than 75 people for a cocktail event or fundraiser.
We also have an open studio space that can we can bring tables and chairs into to add seating or to hold wellness or artistic activities.
RN: What are you most excited about?
AD: We are blown out of the water by the caliber of the women joining our community. Our members are forming relationships. They are sharing ideas and leaning on each other. They are connecting each other to their networks. They are growing. They are making Rowan Tree their own.
We are truly looking forward to the impact we will have on our local community and economy — and hopefully, far beyond.
Photos via Rowan Tree
The Lake Anne community lost power for more than seven hours on Saturday night.
The power outage started around 7 p.m. on Jan. 12 after a vehicle ran into a pad-mounted transformer, Charles Penn, Sr., a spokesman for Dominion Energy, told Reston Now.
The accident happened right around when roads throughout Reston became snow-covered during the weekend’s winter storm.
Power was restored at 2:15 a.m. on Sunday (Jan. 13). The outage affected 76 customers, he said.
Readers first alerted Reston Now to the power outage earlier this week.
Photo via Google Maps
