Three elementary schools in Herndon are part of a group of schools that have “adopted” a Houston-area school district recovering from Hurricane Harvey.

Fairfax County Public Schools’ Region 5 — which includes Coates, Floris and McNair elementary schools in Herndon — is raising money to support Fort Bend Independent School District in Sugar Land, Texas. According to information provided by Coates Elementary:

As you are well aware, our nation has recently been impacted by devastating hurricanes in Texas and Florida. We have seen, and been deeply moved by, the images and footage showing this devastation and the impact it is having on families and children. Many FCPS parents, students, and staff have been asking themselves and each other, “How can I help? What can WE do to ease the suffering?” So we decided to start a fundraiser focused on helping schools and students!

Region 5, part of Fairfax County Public Schools, in Northern Virginia will “adopt” the Fort Bend Independent School District in Houston, Texas. Fort Bend ISD serves approximately 74,500 students from very diverse backgrounds which makes them a great match for us.

We are asking all Region 5 schools, made up of nearly 34,000 students, to team up and raise money to help children, families, and schools in Texas. We are a community of learners, and we are committed to supporting learning and families in our nation’s community.

A GoFundMe page set up for the effort shows a little over $7,000 has been collected as of Monday. The fundraiser has a $100,000 goal, according to the page.

Fort Bend ISD’s website reports that numerous schools in the district suffered flood damage during Harvey, and free meals and other services are being provided for students who are homeless or displaced as a result of the storm.

FCPS public information officer John Torre said while he isn’t aware of any similar projects taking place from other FCPS regions, there are other individual schools that have initiated their own hurricane relief efforts.

(This article was updated at 1 p.m. with information from Deputy Fire Chief Dan Shaw.)

Upward of two dozen emergency vehicles, including over a dozen fire trucks, responded to Hearthstone Court for a fire at a townhome Monday morning.

According to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, smoke was showing from a townhome in the 11500 block of Hearthstone Court, off Soapstone Drive, at about 11 a.m. Monday.

Units on scene 11500 block of Hearthstone Court, Reston, with smoke showing from townhouse. All occupants out and accounted for. pic.twitter.com/fAoYY3SyNi

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) October 2, 2017

The fire was quickly reported contained, and Fairfax Fire and Rescue reported it out at about 11:45 a.m.

In a video posted on social media at about 12:45 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Dan Shaw said the two adult residents were out of the townhome when crews arrived; however, two pets were still inside.

Deputy Chief Shaw with an update on townhouse fire in the 11500 block of Hearthstone Court in Reston https://t.co/XNQSH1dn3X

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) October 2, 2017

“We were able to effectively put the fire out and keep it contained to the basement,” Shaw said. “[We were also] able to remove the two cats and get them back to the owners.”

Fire marshals are on the scene investigating the blaze, Shaw said.

A former Burger King in the North Point Village Center has been demolished this morning, as its replacement is hoping to get building soon.

According to a post on the Facebook page for Chick-fil-A North Point Village, the demolition project at 1494 North Point Village Center began at about 7 a.m. Monday. “Pending a fair winter,” according to the post, the Chick-fil-A will be built on the site and ready for the public by March 15.

The new Chick-fil-A will be more than 1 1/2 times the size of the building that had been on the site, franchisees Larry and Andrea Everett explained in an earlier post on the Facebook page.

Chick-fil-A has a very specific design just for North Point Village. This is NOT your standard restaurant footprint. The space needed to match the image for the community exceeded the footprint of the old BK. So Chick-fil-A absorbed the cost and designed a beautiful store that mirrors the expectations for the community.

The Everetts say renderings of the future restaurant “do not [do] it justice.”

The Chick-fil-A was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in March 2016. It will be the second Chick-fil-A in Reston, along with the existing location at 12160 Sunset Hills Road, about 2 1/2 miles away.

For more information, like the Chick-fil-A North Point Village Facebook page.

Crime reports provided by Fairfax County Police Department in the month of September, plotted in the interactive map above, show a wide variety of incidents through the Reston District Station. Use the icon in the top left corner of the map to toggle the types of crimes displayed.

In total, FCPD’s September reports included the following breakdown of criminal incidents in the area:

• 65 larcenies
• 7 burglaries
• 3 robberies
• 1 stolen vehicle
• 1 case of shots fired (gunfire exchanged near the Southgate Community Center)

The 65 larcenies marks a continued trend, as the number increases from 64 in August and 61 in July. In both May and June, the number was below 50.

The seven burglary reports include multiple incidents of people being awakened by strangers in their home. Another burglar took a man’s wallet, car keys and laptops before stealing in his car.

The three robberies include the armed robbery of a pizza delivery driver in Deepwood, a teen jumped in the area of Glade Drive and Pinecrest Road, and a theft from a Herndon gas station.

Residents also continue to report the sounds of late-night gunshots, though police have found nothing of interest in many investigations.

We interviewed Capt. Ron Manzo, commander of the Reston District Station, in September. He maintained that it is important to keep perspective, as the number of crimes that take place within the Reston District Station is relatively small.

“Reston is a safe community, [and] Fairfax County is a safe county,” Manzo told us.

Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

The Reston District Station of FCPD covers Reston, Great Falls and portions of Herndon and Vienna.

Fairfax County’s police reports are not comprehensive lists of every police event in the stated time frame. Addresses shown indicate blocks and not specific locations, unless otherwise noted. This data was compiled using the reports released by police between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, meaning some of the incidents occurred in late August.

Herndon Woman 10 Years Into Breast Cancer Fight — On her 50th birthday, Anita Hyman got the call that she had breast cancer. After a mastectomy, she is now celebrating her 60th birthday with her family. [WUSA]

SLHS Band Honored — The South Lakes High School marching band won first place in its class for best music, overall effect, percussion and visual at the USBands NOVA Regional recently. [South Lakes Band/Twitter]

Bulova Among ‘Most Powerful Women’ in DC Area — Washingtonian says Bulova’s “role in getting the Silver Line’s first phase completed, despite Metro’s budget problems” has cemented support for her. [Washingtonian]

No Change in County Unemployment Rate — The unemployment rate in Fairfax County in August was 3.1 percent, unchanged from July. That’s ahead of the 3.8 percent rate in Virginia and the 4.5 percent rate nationwide. [Inside NoVa]

Reston Company Provides Tablets to Inmates — Reston-based Global Tel Link is working with jails, including in Indiana’s Allen County, to provide secure tablets to inmates. The inmates are using them for communication, music, games and other activities. [Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette]

After hearing a report on the latest plans for a capital project at the Pony Barn Pavilion, the Reston Association Board of Directors still had a lot of questions.

At their meeting Thursday (video), directors heard from Chris Schumaker, RA’s capital operations manager, who presented the most recent information gathered on the project. Schumaker presented the project budget overview, proposed scope options, DRB recommendations for Pony Barn, and a structural analysis of the site.

The Pony Barn pavilion replacement was first approved by RA in 2013, at a cost of $30,000. RA later approved, as part of the 2016-17 capital projects budget, $350,000 for a full-scale renovation project. That money has been locked up since last July, however, when RA put major capital projects on hold in the wake of the controversy over the Lake House purchase.

As the Pony Barn Working Group seeks those funds to be released so the project can get underway, the Board is being presented with four options for the project, with playgrounds and handicap-accessibility being the main variables.

Read More

A pair of reoccurring themes emerged as members of the Reston Association Board of Directors shared their opinions about Fairfax County’s proposed zoning ordinance amendment on Reston’s Planned Residential Community density.

The Board must be bold in the fight against the County, and infrastructure plans need to be in place before any density increases can be considered.

At Thursday’s meeting, eight members of the Board each shared their personal thoughts about the proposal to increase the overall limit on people per acre in Reston’s Planned Residential Community (PRC) District — which does not include most of the community’s Transit Station Areas — from 13 to 16. The plan would also give the County Board of Supervisors the ability to approve individual developments in excess of 50 dwelling units per acre in TSAs within the PRC and when in accordance with Comprehensive Plan recommendations.

Those areas that would be marked for major residential development include all of Reston’s village centers, and citizen activists warn that the combined effect of these changes could result in the population of Reston tripling by 2050.

Cathy Hudgins, Fairfax County supervisor from the Hunter Mill District, had scheduled an informational meeting on the proposal earlier this week, at the suggestion of the Reston Association Board. However, that meeting was postponed because the size of the turnout from the community caused concerns about the fire code at Lake Anne Elementary School’s cafeteria.

(According to Hudgins’ Sept. 28 newsletter: “At this time, a new, larger location for the next public meeting on the Reston PRC has not yet been scheduled. An announcement will be made as soon as details are confirmed.”)

Excerpts of each of the directors’ statements are shared below. To hear their comments in full, check out the video from Thursday night’s meeting.

Read More

Thousands of books are available for purchase this weekend during the semi-annual sale by Friends of the Reston Regional Library.

More than 750 boxes of books, CDs, DVDs and more were donated to the cause for this event at the library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive), which focuses on books geared toward adults. Science fiction, religion, romance, cooking, sports, history and many other genres of titles are available. Small paperback books are available for as little as 50 cents, with hardcovers books priced as low as $1.50.

According to information provided by the Friends, the nonprofit organization has raised more than $700,000 for the library through its book sales over the past 15 years. In addition, it has been able to donate $200,000 to direct library support programs — including $100,000 in eBooks, $25,000 in children’s series books, a Braille printing station for the Access Services branch, librarian scholarships and more.

The sale began continue through Sunday. It will be open tonight until 8 p.m.; from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and from noon to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Friends’ next sale will be the puzzles and games sale, scheduled for Oct. 26-29, followed by its Holiday Sale in early December. A book sale for children, teens and educators is scheduled for March, followed by the Spring Book Sale in April.

Friends of the Reston Regional Library is made up of nearly 100 active volunteers who donate over 10,000 hours a year to process donations, run sales and reach out to the community.

For more information about Friends of the Reston Regional Library and its book sales, visit its website or its Facebook page, find it on Twitter, call 703-829-5467, or email [email protected].

#ThrowBackThursday – This week, we look back at Fire and Rescue Station 25, Reston #TBT pic.twitter.com/7T9Mmvnxec

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) September 28, 2017

Check out these “Throwback Thursday” photos of the early days of Station 25, Reston, posted on Twitter today by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

Soon, the station as it has been known by longtime Reston residents will change forever.

The station, at 1820 Wiehle Ave., was built in 1972 and last renovated in 1986. It was one of five fire stations approved for replacement and/or renovation under the county’s 2015 Public Safety Bond Referendum. The new fire station on Wiehle Avenue, according to the county’s Capital Improvement Plan, will cost about $13 million. It is needed due to “outdated infrastructure and critical operational space deficiencies.”

The work on the new station is estimated to take place from spring 2019 through late 2020.

While the permanent station is being replaced, a temporary fire station will stand at 1800 Cameron Glen Drive. The Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously gave its OK to the plan for the temporary fire station earlier this month, and the County Board of Supervisors did the same at their meeting this week.

You can see more historical photos of the Wiehle Avenue station at the FairfaxFirefighters.org website.

Reston Community Center’s 2017-18 Professional Touring Artist Series kicks off Sunday with a performance by Grammy Award-winning Chicano rock band Quetzal.

According to a description provided on the band’s website:

Quetzal is the collaborative project of Quetzal Flores (guitar), Martha González (lead vocals, percussion), Tylana Enomoto (violin), Juan Pérez (bass), Peter Jacobson (cello), and Alberto Lopez (percussion). The musical ensemble is influenced by an East L.A. rock soundscape composed of Mexican ranchera, cumbia, salsa, rock, R&B, folk and fusions of international musics, and also one whose political vision is based in social activism, feminism and the belief that there is radical potential in expressive culture. During the past two decades, the musical force of Quetzal has created a unique cultural platform that has sounded against conditions of oppression and marginalization. On the 20th anniversary of their first flight, Quetzal introduces us to another sphere of being, one that challenges us to reimagine human life in relation to the other forms of life that we are so often connected to and through.

Tickets for the show, scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, are $20 for Reston residents and $30 for non-residents. The show will take place at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road).

The show is also in celebration of Hispanic American Heritage Month, according to information provided by RCC.

The full 2017-18 Professional Touring Artist Series runs through June 2.

“This series brings you musicians from Guinea and Ukraine, bands from Los Angeles and Chicago, the political climate of American’s National Parks and the climate change of Jurassic Park, not to mention a secret octopus,” said Paul Douglas Michnewicz, RCC’s director of arts and events. “The arts are a signature element of what makes Reston such a great place to be. We invite you to share these indelible experiences and see why art and community intertwine so beautifully in Reston.”

Reston Association Board Meets Tonight — Directors are scheduled to give their thoughts about Fairfax County’s proposed zoning ordinance amendment on Reston density, appoint a new member to the Board and make decisions on budget items, among other actions and discussions. [Reston Now]

Search Warrant Gives Details of Nabra Hassanen Killing — The newly unsealed document reports that the man accused of killing the Reston teenager in July led police to her body after officers found him in his blood-stained vehicle. [Washington Post]

Fall Book Sale Starts Today — The Friends of Reston Regional Library will be hosting their semi-annual fundraiser sale from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 3:30 p.m. Sunday. [Friends of Reston Regional Library]

Sound Artist at GRACE Gallery Tonight — Alex Braden will perform a new piece composed in direct response to “Sue Wrbican: Well Past the Echo,” now on display at the gallery (12001 Market St.). The event is scheduled for 6-7 p.m. [Greater Reston Arts Center]

At their monthly meeting, the Reston Association Board of Directors will share their opinions on Fairfax County’s proposed zoning ordinance amendment on Reston’s Planned Residential Community density.

According to Mike Leone, RA’s communications director, it is expected that each member of the Board will share his/her thoughts during the meeting, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at RA headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive).

Upward of 400 Restonians showed up at Lake Anne Elementary School’s cafeteria Monday night for a county-hosted public meeting on the subject, which was postponed because of concerns about the fire code.

In a statement to Reston Now, Board President Sherri Hebert said the following:

I want to thank the community for showing such a strong commitment to protecting Reston. We will stand with the community to protect Reston’s interest. RA requested the fourth meeting with the County and we will follow up with the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s office to ensure that meeting is rescheduled. At Thursday’s RA Board meeting, Board members will share their individual opinions on the topic but the Board will not be ready to take action until after the fourth meeting takes place.

As referenced by Hebert in her statement, Monday’s meeting was scheduled after the RA Board adopted a resolution at its May meeting calling for it, following three county forums on the topic earlier that month. Restonians who attended the May meetings on the subject expressed their concern that the county was trying to rush the amendment through the approval process. They were especially upset when the third meeting was held in an open-house format rather than as a question-and-answer session.

The proposal from the county’s Department of Planning and Zoning would bump the overall limit on people per acre in Reston’s Planned Residential Community (PRC) District from 13 to 16. (The density is currently about 11.9 people per acre.) The PRC District does not include any of the Transit Station Area property surrounding the Wiehle-Reston East and Herndon Metro stations, nor does it include most of the property in the Reston Town Center Metro station TSA south of the Dulles Toll Road.

The ordinance amendment would also allow for the Board of Supervisors to be able to approve individual developments in excess of 50 dwelling units per acre in TSAs within the PRC and when in accordance with Comprehensive Plan recommendations. Those areas that would be marked for major residential development include all of Reston’s village centers.

Citizen activists warn that the combined effect of these changes could see the population of Reston tripled by 2050.

The agenda for Thursday night’s meeting of the RA Board of Directors also includes:

• interviews of candidates to fill a vacant seat on the Board, followed by appointment of the new director
• consideration of decision points on the 2018 operating budget
• a decision on whether to release capital funds for the Pony Barn Pavilion capital project
• a status report from CEO Cate Fulkerson on implementation the recommendations from StoneTurn Group’s report on the Tetra purchase
• a report from Capt. Ronald T. Manzo of the Fairfax County Police Department

For those unable to attend, the meeting will be livestreamed on Reston Association’s YouTube channel.

Longtime Reston Town Center tenant The Bike Lane will soon be leaving.

In an email distributed Wednesday morning, commercial real-estate firm CBRE announced wine-and-paint studio Muse Paintbar is coming soon to the Town Center. An updated Reston Town Center promotional packet linked within the email shows the studio going into the 4,148-square foot space at 11943 Democracy Drive currently occupied by The Bike Lane.

In January, when RTC owner Boston Properties initiated its ParkRTC paid-parking system, The Bike Lane announced it would actively seek a new home. A representative at The Bike Lane said Wednesday morning that “it is no secret” the store will be exiting Reston Town Center soon, but he could provide no further information.

“We are relocating, but we are not ready to publicly announce where we will be relocating,” said Anne Mader, co-owner of the shop along with her husband, Todd, in an email to Reston Now. “We should be ready in the next week or so.”

Muse Paintbar has more than two dozen locations along the East Coast from Portland, Maine to Virginia Beach. In the DC Metro, it has locations at the National Harbor, in Gaithersburg and at Merrifield’s Mosaic District. It has another location listed as coming soon to Centreville.

We have reached out to representatives of CBRE and Reston Town Center for comment. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Alzheimer’s Walk Raises More Than $267K — The event Sunday at Reston Town Center saw family members, caregivers, friends and colleagues of Alzheimer’s victims rallying to support finding a cure for the devastating disease. [Connection Newspapers]

Reston Boy Gets New Sight — Felix Regis, 10, has had severely impaired vision his entire life. This summer, he received a pair of augmented-reality glasses that have “open[ed] up his world.” [NBC Washington]

Reston Man Gets 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement — Michael Patrick Ziegler, 49, was convicted in April of seven offenses, including forgery, passing forged documents and obtaining money by false pretenses. He stole nearly $150,000 from Garrett Development Co. in Stafford County while working there as the vice president. [Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star]

Police: 45-Year-Old Shined Laser at Helicopter — A Centreville man hit the Fairfax One chopper with a laser three times Saturday night, police say. The helicopter’s crew was able to use its infrared camera to direct officers to the suspect. He faces a misdemeanor charge, and the Federal Aviation Administration will also investigate. [Fairfax County Police]