Updated at 9:35 on Jan. 10 — Includes McCormick & Schmick’s. 

Four restaurants in Reston are among the 250 places in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. on the roster for Winter Restaurant Week in January.

Winter Restaurant Week will run from Monday, Jan. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 20, with prix fixe menus — $35 dinner and $22 lunch.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced yesterday (Dec. 20) that Founding Farmers, The Melting Pot and PassionFish will offer both lunch and dinner during the event. McCormick & Schmick’s is also on the roster as of Jan. 10, 2019.

Two of the restaurants have certain restrictions.

Located at 1904 Reston Metro Plaza, Founding Farmers will have its regularly priced buffet brunch instead of the prix fixe lunch available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekend of Jan. 19.

The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant located at 11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 100, will not allow diners to share or split entrees or ask for substitutions.

Seafood-focused eatery PassionFish at 11960 Democracy Drive and McCormick & Schmick’s at 11920 Democracy Drive do not have any dining restrictions posted on Winter Restaurant Week’s website.

Photos via Passionfood Hospitality, PassionFish, Founding Farmers Reston and Google Maps

This story has been updated

It’s the first day of winter — The odds are slim for a snowy Christmas but rain later next week and then a major blizzard may be on the horizon. [Reston Patch]

Drumroll for USA Today’s “Best Holiday Parade” rankings — At noon USA Today will unveil where Reston’s holiday parade fell on this year’s rankings, which are decided by voters. For memories, check out the video below from the Reston Association. [USA Today]

Assistant children’s librarian closes one chapter in her life — Marcia Wine, 71, retired in mid-November from her job at the Reston Regional Public Library. [Reston Connection]

People read these books the most in 2018 — Fairfax County has released the top books checked out of the county’s public libraries. John Green’s “Turtles All the Way Down” and Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” made the list. [Fairfax County]

The South Lakes High School Clothing Closet is asking for new and gently used clothing to help stock up today (Dec. 20) during its grand opening.

The store aims to have clothing available for its students “free of charge and of judgment,” according to the South Lakes High School Parent Teacher Student Association.

School leadership and the Distributive Education Clubs of America created the store to build off of the success of the food pantry at the school, according to the SLHS PTSA. Reston Now previously reported that since April 2017, the pantry has filled more than 2,500 orders and weekly order averages are also increasing.

Locals can drop off new or gently used clothing from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow (Dec. 21).

The following clothing items are needed:

• jackets
• shirts
• pants
• “interview attire”
• school spirit clothing
• warm weather clothing

Drop-offs will be accepted in the main office at South Lakes High School (11400 South Lakes Drive).

File photo

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flood Watch today (Dec. 20) starting from 7 p.m. Thursday to Friday afternoon for Fairfax and much of the D.C. region.

NWS anticipates widespread rain tonight and showers tomorrow.

NWS expects 1 to 2 inches of rain, but up to 4 inches of rain could fall in local areas.

NWS encourages locals to monitor later forecasts and to stay alert for possible Flood Warnings. Residents should prepare to take action if they live in areas prone to flooding.

More from the National Weather Service:

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST THIS EVENING
THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…

The Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of Maryland, The District of Columbia, Virginia, and
West Virginia, including the following areas, in Maryland,
Anne Arundel, Calvert, Carroll, Central and Southeast Howard,
Central and Southeast Montgomery, Charles, Frederick MD,
Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Northwest Howard,
Northwest Montgomery, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford,
Southern Baltimore, St. Marys, and Washington. The District of
Columbia. In Virginia, Albemarle, Arlington/Falls
Church/Alexandria, Augusta, Central Virginia Blue Ridge,
Clarke, Culpeper, Eastern Loudoun, Fairfax, Frederick VA,
Greene, King George, Madison, Nelson, Northern Fauquier,
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, Orange, Page, Prince
William/Manassas/Manassas Park, Rappahannock, Rockingham,
Shenandoah, Southern Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren,
and Western Loudoun. In West Virginia, Berkeley, Hampshire,
Hardy, Jefferson, and Morgan.

* From 7 PM EST this evening through Friday afternoon

* Widespread rain is expected tonight and showers are expected
Friday. Rainfall amounts around 1 to 2 inches are most likely,
but locally higher amounts around 3 to 4 inches are possible.
Soils remain saturated due to recent rainfall, so excess
runoff from the rain will cause the potential for flooding of
small streams, creeks, and urban areas.

MT @ffxfirerescue: Be aware and prepared! PLEASE remember to NOT drive through a flooded roadway. That includes NOT driving around barriers closing the road! Several folks last week learned the hard way that this is a poor decision. #TurnAroundDontDrown https://t.co/ZhGHwoYiNB

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) December 20, 2018

Photo via Bahmad Farzad/Flickr

Timothy Chapman, the managing member of Reston-based Chapman Development LLC, entered the race to become the next chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

On Dec. 6, Chairman Sharon Bulova revealed her plans to retire after her term ends Dec. 31, 2019. That same day, Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, a Democrat, announced his intention to succeed her, the Fairfax County Times reported.

Now, Chapman has joined the race to become the county’s next chair with a Facebook post on Tuesday (Dec. 18) indicating that he plans to run as a Democrat.

Chapman wrote in the post that he wants to offer an “alternative path” to bring changes to one of the country’s wealthiest counties.

“[The county] has settled for effectively ignoring a crisis in affordable housing, sending its children to school in trailers, for not paying our teachers and firefighters and police officers what they deserve, and for the horrific traffic that imprisons us in our cars and steals away precious moments with our children and families,” he wrote.

The post also says the following:

As far as my political views, through the years I have voted for and donated to Democrats, Independents and Republicans. Now, I am so disgusted by today’s out of the mainstream Trum-publicans that I realize the only successful path forward is the compassion of a strongly progressive Democratic platform. It’s essential that we fight for the little guy against often rigged politics which seem to benefit the wealthy and well connected, while leaving those hard working families who are the backbone of Fairfax County to struggle to make the everyday choices that many of us take for granted.

My own life experiences have taught me to have an overwhelming, unwavering compassion for the less fortunate. I know what it feels like to be judged rather than understood, to experience the pain, fear and anxiety of being homeless. But I have also enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, an inherent privilege which afforded me the opportunity for a second chance and another second chance. Without question, I have worked hard for every step forward I have accomplished, and I own every step backwards I have caused myself, but to ignore or deny this privilege would be like denying climate change. I am living proof that with grit and determination, one, if provided the opportunity, can overcome obstacles and succeed beyond their wildest dreams. I now live in Vienna with my wife and our 5 children. I’ve built a successful affordable housing development company. I chaired the Virginia Housing Development Authority at the request of Governor McAuliffe.

Records from the Virginia Public Access Project show that Chapman has indeed donated to politicians from both sides of the aisle. He gave $50,000 last year to Democrat Tom Perriello and $15,000 in 2013 to Republican Kenneth Cuccinelli for both men’s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaigns.

Other donations include $15,000 to Ralph Northam’s gubernatorial campaign and then $25,000 to Northam’s 2018 inaugural committee.

Back in 2005, he gave $4,000 to Republican Sean Connaughton’s unsuccessful bid to become the state’s lieutenant governor.

His Chapman Development bio says he has “an extensive background in multi-family development and tax-credit communities” and that he served in the 3rd U.S. Infantry’s Presidential Honor Guard.

Previously, Chapman chaired the Virginia Housing and Development Authority, according to a Bloomberg profile.

The upcoming election for the county’s Board of Supervisors will take place on Nov. 5, 2019.

Photos via Fairfax County/Facebook and Tim Chapman/LinkedIn

Shoppers at Herndon Centre might have noticed a few recent changes to its food offerings.

Several locations in the shopping center have welcomed new grocery stores and restaurants this year — some of which relocated there — along with closures.

Mayuri Indian Restaurant moved to Herndon Centre in July to 390 Elden Street after it closed its Hunters Woods Village Center location in 2016. The restaurant closed its original spot of 10 years after the lease ended, according to the restaurant’s website.

Mayuri’s Herndon Centre spot used to belong to Baker’s Inn Indian Bistro & Cafe, which opened in 2016, according to its Facebook page. While its closing date is unknown, the restaurant was still open in late June, according to Yelp reviews.

Tipicos Gloria relocated about 150 feet from its spot at 482 Elden Street to 470 Elden Street about five months ago, an employee told Reston Now. The Central American eatery’s vacated spot is slated to open early next year as Ramen and Rice, Reston Now previously reported.

As for grocery options, ethnic grocer Lotte Plaza Market opened Dec. 7 at 490 Elden Street.

Sprouts Farmers Market grocery store is expected to take over part of the former Kmart space at 494 Elden Street. Demolition is still underway for that site.

Florida-based real estate investment firm Sterling Organization is dividing the former Kmart spot, Reston Now previously reported. Renderings of the project submitted to the Town of Herndon show the site will be the future home of LA Fitness, MOD Pizza and IHOP.

Curry Leaf Fresh Market closed at 378 Elden Street earlier this year. A sign on the door, as of Dec. 17, indicates that the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority “is considering establishing a retail store at this location.”

380 Elden Street, which used to be a Sprint store, has signs indicating the space is available for retailers.

Girl Power! book club meets tonight — Younger readers between the ages of 10 to 13 can head to Scrawl Books in Reston Town Center to discuss the graphic novel “Be Prepared.” The book club starts at 7 p.m. tonight and will include trivia and games. [Scrawl Books]

The Rotary Club of Reston joins Reston Chamber of Commerce — The club held a luncheon earlier this week with an update from Mark Ingrao, the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. The club recently joined as a not-for-profit member. [Rotary Club of Reston Facebook]

Making sure everyone counts — On Tuesday, 40 people gathered in Richmond to figure out some ways to encourage Virginians to answer their U.S. Census Bureau questionnaires in 2020. The responses help determine the distribution of federal funding, which, historically, has been lower than the actual population. [The Virginian-Pilot]

Do you need a holiday tree?

The Christmas Tree Market at the Reston Farm Market (10800 Baron Cameron Ave) will sell trees until 5 p.m. on Dec. 24.

Locals can also purchase ornaments, holiday gift baskets and treats.

Last week, Reston Farm Market announced it would donate 20 trees to the Next Steps Family Program, an 18-unit emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness, managed by FACETS.

The trees were delivered last Thursday (Dec. 13) to the three community centers that FACETS operates.

The Reston Farm Market provides fresh, locally-sourced produce, dairy and other farm-fresh goods. It will close for the season from Dec. 25 to March 15, but customers can still order firewood products online for delivery.

Photo via Reston Farm Market 

The special election on Jan. 8 will determine who will replace the State Senate seat of Congresswoman-elect Jennifer Wexton.

Democrat Del. Jennifer Boysko, who currently represents the 86th District, will face former state Del. Joe May, a Republican who is the chairman of the board and chief technology officer for Leesburg-based tech firm EIT.

The deadline to register to vote is 5 p.m. in person and 11:59 p.m. online on Jan. 2. For locals who want to absentee vote via mail, the registration deadline is 5 p.m. on Jan. 2. Absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. on Jan. 8.

Absentee voting in person will take place on Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Herndon Fortnightly Library (786 Center Street) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If Fairfax County Government Offices close due to inclement weather, absentee voting will get canceled.

Herndon residents can vote on election day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Voters located in Herndon’s first precinct, which stretches from Park Ave and Elden Street to Grant Street, will vote at Herndon Elementary School (630 Dranesville Road).

Voters in the second precinct, which is west of Elden Street and between Monaghan Drive and Park Ave, vote at the Herndon Community Center (814 Ferndale Ave).

Herndon Middle School (901 Locust Street) is the polling place for voters in the third precinct, which is southeast of Elden Street and above the Dulles Access Road.

File photo

(Editor’s note: This story was updated at 9:22 a.m. to clarify information about the location of the Reston headquarters.)

Global firm IDEMIA, a company that specializes in augmented identity, plans to move its headquarters to Reston and create 90 new jobs.

The company will move its North American Identity & Security headquarters from Billerica, Mass. to Reston Town Center, Gov. Ralph Northam announced today (Dec. 19).

IDEMIA develops, manufactures and markets security technology products and services for the telecommunications, payments and identity markets. The company describes its “Augmented Identity” as “an identity that ensures privacy and trust and guarantees secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions.”

The company provides 80 percent of the U.S. driver’s licenses and ID-issuance solutions to 37 states, according to the press release.

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) helped Virginia beat out Washington, D.C and Maryland for the company’s move, according to the press release. IDEMIA, which has offices in Chantilly and Alexandria, will move into an 18,000-square-foot space in One Freedom Square (11951 Freedom Drive), according to Alan Fogg, the vice president of communications and research for FCEDA.

IDEMIA’s website lists the headquarters at 11911 Freedom Drive.

“Moving to Northern Virginia will enable both close proximity to our U.S. government customers and the ability to attract world-class talent,” Ed Casey, the chief executive officer of IDEMIA’s Identity & Security in North America, said in the press release. “The new workspace will feature a technology center to demonstrate our leading digital security and identification technologies.”

Gerald Gordon, president and CEO of FCEDA, said IDEMIA will fit into the county’s innovative companies.

“The county’s ever-growing technology ecosystem has the kind of assets these companies need to succeed in terms of workforce talent, potential customers, suppliers and partners, and a strong communication and transportation infrastructure,” Gordon said.

The FCEDA will support IDEMIA’s job creation through the state-funded Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs or undergoing technological changes for employee-training activities.

Photos via Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and IDEMIA/Facebook

This story has been updated

Kabobi by the Helmand, a restaurant serving Afghan cuisine, plans to open early next year in Herndon.

Owner Khaleeq Ahmad told Reston Now that he is aiming for an opening in February. Right now the restaurant is in the construction phase and waiting for the build out, he said.

Located at 2321 Dulles Station Blvd, Suite A, the restaurant will be near the Silver Line Innovation Center Metro station, which is scheduled to open in 2020.

Ahmad said that Kabobi by the Helmand will offer Zeke’s Coffee in the morning for commuters and locals and then serve lunch and dinner offering unique and affordable Afghan cuisine.

Ahmad said he has spent the last 16 years going back and forth to Afghanistan, with the goal of adding traditions currently lacking in Afghan cuisine in the United States.

While he doesn’t want to give away surprises on the menu, Ahmad said customers can expect kabobs, stews and “a lot of really good vegetarian options.” For libations, he plans to serve craft beer from Baltimore and wine.

The menu in Herndon will resemble the one from the restaurant’s partner, Kabobi from The Helmand, in Baltimore. The chain of Kabobi restaurants started in 1982 in San Francisco and expanded to Boston, Baltimore and Chicago, with the Chicago location now closed after 30 years, he said.

Bank redesign in the works — In the final stages of acquiring Reston-based Access National Bank, Union Bank & Trust is planning to refresh its brand to avoid confusion with McLean-based United Bank. [Washington Business Journal]

Herndon police officer honored for DUI prevention — On Friday, Officer Jonathan Heavner was recognized by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program for a 2018 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence for Impaired Driving Prevention. [Herndon Police Department on Facebook]

Upcoming data security program for the U.S. Air Force — Herndon-based Peraton has secured a potential five-year, $65 million order from the U.S. Air Force to provide programmatic, engineering and technical support for a cross-domain information platform designed to ensure the security of data sharing and collaboration across agencies. It is slated to launch in 2019. [ExecutiveBiz]

Award-winning architecture — Ellucian’s Reston headquarters received the top honor in 2018 James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards for its open space in the LEED Gold building. [Ellucian]

Loudoun County police arrested a Herndon resident after he drove into a concrete barrier on Sunday morning in Sterling.

A sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle that had crashed into a concrete barrier at the 21000 block of N. Sterling Road at 3:23 a.m. on Dec. 16, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.

The 26-year-old driver, Jose M. Herrera was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license. A 22-year-old passenger, Alejandro Brizo-Calix of Falls Church, was arrested and charged with public intoxication, the report said.

Both men have been released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on unsecured bonds.

In a separate incident, Loudoun County police arrested and charged a 45-year-old Reston woman for being drunk in public last Thursday (Dec. 13) in Sterling.

Deputies responded to a call for a female screaming and attempting to open car doors at 2 a.m. Deputies found Katharine M. Lilly lying on the sidewalk in the 100 block of Drury Circle and arrested her, according to the report.

She was released on a personal recognizance bond, according to police.

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

LARCENIES:

2300 block of Generation Drive, property from residence

1800 block of Michael Faraday Court, wallet and purse from vehicle

1400 block of North Point Village Center, merchandise from business

11100 block of Saffold Way, jewelry from residence

12000 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, bicycle from location

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business

1800 block of Wiehle Avenue, merchandise from business

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

Fairfax County police are searching for a man who robbed the Sunoco in Herndon last Wednesday (Dec. 12), previously reported by Reston Now.

File photo

Korean grocery chain H Mart will hold its grand opening this Saturday in the Elden Street Marketplace.

Located at 1228 Elden Street, H Mart is taking the spot vacated by Giant Food in November after it relocated to Centreville Road. 

H Mart, which is operated by the Hanahreum Group in New Jersey, describes itself a “one-stop shop for everything Asian and more.” The grocery chain has more than 60 stores across 12 states, including California, Illinois, Georgia and New York. 

The Herndon opening will mark H Mart’s seventh store in Virginia, with stores already in Falls Church, Annadale and Fairfax, according to the website.

The grand opening starts at 9 a.m. on Dec. 22 and will include free gifts for its Smart Card members and giveaways.

Photo via Google Maps

Parker Messick is running on a platform to “stop big development” to unseat Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins.

Messick, a Democrat, announced his campaign on Sunday (Dec. 16).

Messick told Reston Now that he wants to stop big development in Reston and Vienna, which “is on track to make Reston look more like Tysons or Arlington.”

“Reston was always meant to be a planned mixed-use community per the vision of Robert E. Simon, Reston’s founder,” Messick wrote in an email. “Despite this vision, developers have desired to build endless new high rises, with even more on the way, if they are allowed to continue.”

He added that while Reston was meant to have some big development, it “was always meant to be relegated to the Reston Town Center.”

Controversial paid parking is another top priority for him. Messick said he would negotiate with Boston Properties, the owners of Reston Town Center, to end the paid parking there.

“I agree with Boston Properties that people should not be able to use their parking for free simply as a way to avoid metro parking, but the approach that has been taken has caused many people to avoid RTC altogether and has harshly hurt the businesses located there,” he said.

Other major issues he wants to address include:

• alleviating traffic congestion
• increasing affordable housing
• allocating available funds to improve the county’s public school system
• preventing pollution and protecting the environment

He is a recent graduate of Roanoke College, where he studied political science. His website says he has a “background in the facilitation of political campaigns” and “experience engaging with the local community through volunteering and being receptive to the community’s voices.”

Hudgins, who is nearing the end of her fifth term, was first elected to the board in 1999.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will include a few new faces in 2020, with the recent announcement of Chairman Sharon Bulova’s upcoming retirement adding to the list of the supervisors leaving.

The election for the county’s Board of Supervisors will take place on Nov. 5, 2019.

Photo via Parker Messick for Supervisor