Closings Today for Inauguration Day — The 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, is being inaugurated today in Washington. As the nation watches, government offices and a number of other facilities are closed today. Schedules for other services may also be affected. [Patch]

Young Students Get Chance to See History Up Close — Today is another big day in American history. Earlier this week, elementary school students in Reston were “visited” by past historical figures including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, as they learned about the early days of the nation. [Reston Connection]

Seahawks Basketball, Swim/Dive Teams Have Busy Week — The following are results from recent days for South Lakes High School basketball and swim/dive teams: [South Lakes Athletics]

Boys basketball: beat James Madison, 56-51; beat Washington-Lee, 56-51; lost to Hayfield, 82-80

JV boys basketball: lost to James Madison, 58-49; beat Washington-Lee, 64-47; beat Hayfield, 68-49

Girls basketball: lost to James Madison, 44-34; beat Washington-Lee, 46-44

JV girls basketball: lost to James Madison, 40-31; beat Washington-Lee, 34-23

Freshman girls basketball: beat Hayfield, 31-27

Co-ed swim and dive: beat Langley girls, 163-149; lost to Langley boys, 173-136; beat Washington-Lee girls, 196-118; beat Washington-Lee boys, 183-132

You may have heard the nation’s 45th President, Donald Trump, will be inaugurated Friday on the National Mall.

In celebration of the historic event, Reston Station Plaza is hosting a series of festivities including entertainment and games.

Beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the plaza (1904 Reston Metro Plaza, at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station), patriotic displays will include live music and presidential trivia. The fun is scheduled to wrap up at 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, events are scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. and Inauguration Day coverage will be displayed on a big-screen television throughout the morning. A Donald Trump impersonator is also expected to be part of the show.

For updates, watch the event’s Facebook page.

Those who are planning to use the Metro to travel to D.C. for the inaugural events are being encouraged to plan ahead and use caution on what is expected to be an extremely crowded day. Metro is once again selling commemorative SmarTrip cards for the event, and Wiehle-Reston is one of a number of stations at which special card sleeves will be distributed.

The morning of Nov. 9, Margot Lebow was beside herself.

“The day after the election [of President-elect Donald Trump], most of us were in the dark in fetal positions,” the longtime Reston resident said.

Lebow and friends Donna Shaffer and Susann Gerstein simply could not believe the direction the nation had turned in. So they made plans to gather at Cafe Montmartre in Lake Anne Plaza for a “hug.”

But Shaffer thought more people might be in need of a place to gather and talk. So she posted the invite on Facebook.

“We had about 45 people who showed up, and many of them we’d never seen before,” Shaffer said.

At that meeting — and a subsequent one that had an even greater turnout — teachers, children, immigrants and more were given a platform to speak and share their concerns about what the future may bring.

“That kicked off a very powerful discussion,” Gerstein said.

So was born a community activism group the women say is designed to show support for those who feel threatened — and to make sure the principles laid out by Reston founder Robert E. Simon are remembered and followed.

“The wonderful thing about this, honestly, is that it isn’t just old-time Restonians putting our arms around each other,” Gerstein said. “It’s the second and third generation in this community who really do understand what the value system was that created this community.”

Simon, who in 1961 purchased 6,750 acres that would become Reston, founded the community on seven principles — among them, that the importance and dignity of each individual be a focal point of community development.

The women who gather at Cafe Montmartre considered themselves longtime friends of Simon. They said they fear a new zeitgeist that normalizes bullying, mistreatment of others and political incorrectness will result in the “importance and dignity of each individual” being forgotten.

“In a personal sense of what’s right and what’s wrong, the morality of this coming administration is truly frightening,” Lebow said. “Everything is contrary to what we believe as a community, to what we believe as individuals.”

The women say their group isn’t rooted in politics, but rather in ensuring a proper sense of community is maintained in Reston. A separate group, Herndon-Reston Indivisible, has been founded to tackle purely political issues.

Lebow said the idea that Restonians look out for their fellow community members — no matter what race, religion or background — cannot be lost.

“That value system must persevere,” Lebow said. “That concept that is Reston needs to be expanded globally, or at least nationally.”

The women say they continue to plan the future of their group and hope to have more information about upcoming meetings soon. Their goals include continuing to support local charitable organizations including Cornerstones in their efforts.

“It’s really just about respecting people who are different than you,” Gerstein said. “In Reston, you really can put your arms around your neighbors and believe that somehow it will be all right.”

Jesse Bonfeld, Lebow’s husband, said the group understands how important it is to make sure everyone’s voices — not just the loudest — are heard.

“What really drove this was the realization that there are now people in power who have given the bully pulpit to a minority in this country whose values are diametrically opposed to what Bob Simon’s values were,” he said. “That is really the bottom line.”

Pictured: From left, Donna Shaffer, Margot Lebow, Susann Gerstein and Jesse Bonfeld meet at Cafe Montmartre in Lake Anne Plaza on Wednesday evening.

Olivia Beckner is fast, and she has her name all over the record books to prove it.

The South Lakes High School junior set her second school record of the month recently, eclipsing by nearly four seconds an SLHS top time for the mile that had stood for 29 years.

The record-setting performance came at the Virginia Showcase Invitational indoor track and field meet last weekend at Liberty University in Lynchburg. Her time of 4 minutes, 55.58 seconds beat out the previous mark of 4 minutes, 59.44 seconds set by Anne Evans during the 1987-88 season.

Earlier this month at a meet in New York, Beckner ran the 1,000 meters in 2 minutes, 54.06 seconds. That surpassed the record of 2 minutes, 58.47 seconds she had set last year as a sophomore.

Beckner leads the five-time defending Liberty Conference champion Seahawks into the conference championship, beginning today and concluding Jan. 28 in Landover, Maryland.

The SLHS boys are no slouches either. They enter the championship with eight consecutive titles under their belts.

Photos courtesy South Lakes High School/Mary Ann Magnant

When tens of thousands descend upon the National Mall on Saturday for the Women’s March on Washington, many will be adorned with pink knitted hats. A large number of those hats, products of the worldwide Pussyhat Project, will have filtered through a home on Lake Newport Road in Reston.

The house, which looks quiet from the outside, is filled with bustling action as women of all ages work hard to prepare hats that are arriving every day. Boxes upon boxes of the hats, knitted by concerned people from around the world, are stacked in the home’s basement in various stages of the organizational process.

College student Molly McKnight and her mother, Carrie, volunteered to make their Reston home the hub for the hats. Family friends, including Jeanne Robertson and Diane Brown, are among the dozens of volunteers who have assisted with the project.

“We’re the grunt work,” said Robertson, who was processing hats in the basement Wednesday along with Brown. “There are a lot of friends who are here to help.”

Stefanie Kamerman, the project’s D.C. organizer, is coordinating the effort. She said the final days have been hectic, as many hundreds of hats — some days as many as 2,000 — have been showing up through the mail every day.

“We are hoping to distribute them at the march successfully,” Kamerman said. “We are trying to get the hats from Point A to Point B, to get them to the women who are marching on the 21st.”

Between 200,000 and 500,000 women are expected to participate in the event Saturday, Kamerman said. About 60,000 hand-crafted hats have been donated to the project so far, she said. The collection site on Lake Newport Road has been operating since early December.

Politically, Kamerman said she considers herself a Libertarian. She said concerns about women’s issues that arose during the election of soon-to-be President Donald Trump led her to fight for the female voice.

“It’s not necessarily that we’re anti-Trump; we’re just trying to take back those infamous words he said on the ‘Access Hollywood’ video,” Kamerman said, referring to audio from 2005 that emerged prior to the election in which Trump used vulgar terms to describe his treatment of women.

According to the project’s website, its name is in part a reference to one of those terms used by Trump — and its goal is to “reclaim the term as a means of empowerment.”

Each hat that is donated is accompanied by a note from its knitter, which includes not just a name and a hometown, but a list of women’s rights issues most important to him or her.

“Being involved [in this project] has opened my eyes to a lot of women that are hurting, and who don’t feel like their voices are being heard,” Kamerman said.

More than 50 volunteers are working for the project across the United States, Kamerman said, with about half of them having worked from the Reston site at some point during the past month.

“It’s helping other women get something that is special,” she said. “We’re all working together for something amazing.”

Kamerman said she and many of the other volunteers will be attending the march Saturday, both to support the cause and to see the fruits of their labor.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what we’ve been working so hard for coming together,” she said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”

Kamerman said she is hopeful her 8-year-old daughter, who has been helping with the project as well, will lead the next generation of activism.

“I wanted to raise her in a world where she will continue the good fight for women and men across the nation, regardless of who they love or what they believe or who they are,” she said.

For more information about the Pussyhat Project, visit its website, Facebook page or Twitter account.

Reston Orthopedic Practice Honored for Community Work — Ortho Virginia was recently recognized by Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna for its continued support of the nonprofit, volunteer-based organization. [Reston Connection]

Yoga Studio Organizes Buses for Women’s March on D.C. — Maryam Ovissi, the owner of Beloved Yoga (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive), has booked transportation for 57 people to the event Saturday on the National Mall. [Patch]

Silver Line Progress ‘Steady,’ Project Officials Say — In recent weeks, the project’s design-­build contractor has reported “significant progress” on the aerial guideways that will carry the tracks through Washington Dulles International Airport. Engineers also say at-­grade track work on Phase 2 of the project, which recently began, is “a very important milestone.” [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]

Local painters and poets have collaborated to help each other’s work come to life in an exhibit set to open this weekend at Reston Art Gallery & Studios.

“Springtime in Winter: An Ekphrastic Study in Art, Poetry and Music” will be on display starting Friday at the gallery (11400 Washington Plaza W., on Lake Anne). Pat Macintyre, the gallery’s director and an active painter, said artists and poets worked in close partnerships to create the linked pieces.

“As the poems were being written, we communicated mainly by email, but some people got together in person,” she said.

The Poetry Society of Virginia worked together with the artists at Reston Art Gallery to create the pieces. Mike Maggio, the group’s Northern Regional vice president, developed the concept.

“This is the first collaboration between PSV and RAGS,” he said in a news release. “We also have Herndon Middle School, Herndon High School and a music professor from George Mason involved, so this collaboration has grown quite a bit.”

Macintyre said music students from the schools will be performing during the exhibit’s opening reception, scheduled for 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Live readings by participating poets are also planned for the event.

Macintyre and poet Steve Bucher partnered for their work.

“The poets applied to join us, and they came in en masse,” Macintyre said. “I was honored [Bucher] picked me. His words are so powerful.”

After the exhibit closes at Reston Art Gallery on Feb. 18, it will move on to ArtSpace Herndon (Feb. 20-26) and Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling (March 25).

Poets featured in the exhibit are Don Carlson, Stanley Galloway, Claudia Gary, Cathy Hailey, Bennie Herron, Susana Notar and Jack Underhill, as well as Bucher. Artists are Gail Axtell-Erwin, Dorothy Donahey, Ronni Jolles, Joan Kelly, Maggie Stewart, Roberta Thole and Wayne Schiffelbein, along with Macintyre.

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, or by appointment.

For more information, visit the gallery’s website or Facebook page, or call 703-481-8156.

Fairfax County police reports from the past week include an attempted home break-in in Herndon.

The incident took place at about 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. A resident in the 2600 block of New Concorde Court made the call.

From FCPD:

A resident reported that, while he was home, he heard someone trying to gain entry through the sliding glass door. He saw a man attempting to open the door and the suspect ran off. He was described as white, approximately 5 feet 7 to 8 inches tall, thin build and a dark beard.

Local officers also responded to an attempted home break-in on Lake Shore Crest Drive in Reston, which we reported last week. An arrest was made in that case.

Other reported crimes from the Reston District Station this past week include the following:

LARCENIES:

1500 block of Pennycress Lane, wallet from vehicle

2400 block of Thomas Jefferson Drive, phone from office

2100 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business

2300 block of Freetown Court, cash from vehicle

1200 block of Shaker Drive, gun and TV from vehicle

1800 block of Fountain Drive, merchandise from business

1700 block of Business Center Drive, cash from business

2300 block of Corporate Park Drive, wallet from business

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

Police from the Reston District Station also were dispatched to a pair of major crimes in recent days: a double stabbing on the soccer fields near South Lakes High School and a chaotic hostage situation in Herndon.

Police shot and killed the suspect in the latter incident, who had earlier shot and wounded his two brothers, after he allegedly lunged at officers while wielding a knife. The man was later identified as 32-year-old Mohammed Azim Doudzai.

The suspect in the stabbing remains at large.

The 32-year-old Herndon man killed Monday by police after a chaotic barricade situation had shot his brothers after a fight with his girlfriend.

Fairfax County Police say 32-year-old Mohammad Azim Doudzai of 13316 Covered Wagon Lane was arguing with his 28-year-old girlfriend when she called his brothers to come talk to him. The fight escalated, and he pulled a gun and shot his brothers, ages 37 and 23. The injured men fled the home along with the girlfriend, driving to the hospital and calling police.

Officers who responded to the home, where Doudzai had barricaded himself inside. During the incident, police say, Doudzai set fires inside the home and there were reports of what sounded like gunfire.

From FCPD:

As officers attempted negotiations with the suspect, they discovered there was a 29-year-old man trapped inside the home. He was a roommate and not related to the family. When the incident escalated, he hid in a room upstairs and called 911 to report he could not escape. Following the response of the Special Operations Division (SOD), officers made the decision to approach the home out of concern for the hostage, neighbors and suspect. Smoke had filled the home and was billowing out the windows. When a team of officers approached the door, the suspect came out with at least one knife in hand and was shot. Members of SOD quickly entered the home and rescued the hostage.

The officer who shot and killed Doudzai, a 16-year veteran of the department assigned to the Special Operations Division, has been placed on routine administrative leave while the investigation is conducted.

Detectives recovered a gun and a knife from the home, police say.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131, use Crime Solvers, or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

Reston’s voice in the House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), has announced that he has joined the growing list of Democratic members of Congress who will not be attending the Inauguration of President Donald Trump on Friday.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Connolly said Trump has left the country with “open, bleeding wounds.”

“After long reflection I have decided that I cannot attend the inauguration of Donald J Trump on Friday. His behavior and harmful words during and after the campaign have left the country I love with open, bleeding wounds. Instead of binding those wounds, he has poured salt on them. Instead of unifying us, he has reveled in driving wedges between us. His disparagement of an entire religion; his racist rants about minorities; his resurrection of white supremacy; his ridicule of the disabled; his blatant misogyny and boasting of unwanted sexual advances; his intimidation of the press; his repugnant attack on civil rights hero John Lewis; and his disturbing defense of and advocacy for Vladimir Putin — a KGB thug — threaten our democratic institutions. How can I celebrate that? The sordid aspects of his behavior must not become the new normal for America or her presidents.”

Connolly joins more than 50 of his peers who have publicly announced they will not attend the ceremony.

SLHS Grad Featured in UPenn Video — Princess Aghayere, a 2015 graduate of South Lakes High School, is a basketball player at the University of Pennsylvania. In a new video from the university, she talks about moving to the United States as a child and about her future plans in the field of medicine. The Reston native is the daughter of Anthonia and Roland Aghayere. [University of Pennsylvania]

Dog License Renew Deadline Approaching — Fairfax County dog owners are reminded that their $10 renewal fee is coming up at the end of the month. [Fairfax County]

Local College Students Named to Top Academic Lists — The following students from Reston are among those named to Dean’s Lists at their respective schools in the Fall 2016 semester.

• BELMONT UNIVERSITY: Wesley Edens, Collin Hanley
• HARDING UNIVERSITY: Mitchell Thomas
• JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY: Emily Barbaro, Lauren Canal, Kylie Chichester, Olivia Gentilcore, Susan Patrick
• UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT: Haley Brazier

In addition, five students from Reston were named to the President’s List at JMU: Jacqueline Angel, Elizabeth Barnes, Valerie Beacham, Daniel Gurley and Claire Swinko.

For some, this was just a three-day weekend.

But for 100 Reston volunteers of all ages, Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend provided an opportunity to give back to their community. Reston Association and Reston Community Center partnered with Southgate Community Center, Cornerstones and The Closet on several community service projects Saturday.

Among the projects completed by volunteers were an outdoor cleanup; the sorting of donated toys and preparation of bagged lunches for the residents of the Embry Rucker Community Shelter; and the organization of the Southgate Community Center library and kitchen.

“Volunteers demonstrated that we each have the power to make our community a stronger and more vibrant place to live, work, play and get involved,” said Ha Brock, Reston Association’s volunteer supervisor. “Many thanks to everyone that participated in the National Day of Service.”

Brock says it’s not too late to volunteer.

“If you would like to continue to get involved, Reston Association offers a variety of opportunities in our community,” she said.

More information about Reston Association’s volunteer program is available at their website.

The Fairfax County Police Department has released more information about the suspect in a Sunday afternoon stabbing near South Lakes High School.

Police say the suspect is a Hispanic male in his 20s. He is around 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 170 pounds. He was wearing a black shirt, black pants and a blue jacket. He may drive a blue Subaru STI.

According to police, the man stabbed two people when a fight broke out during a pickup soccer game at about 2:20 p.m. Sunday.

From FCPD:

An argument broke out during the game and punches were thrown. At some point, one man took out what was believed to be a box-cutter and allegedly cut two players on the opposing team. Responding officers rendered first aid until rescue arrived. Both were taken to a local hospital; one with life-threatening injuries. Both victims are now expected to survive.

Today’s FCPD press release lists the suspect as white; however, a spokesperson at the police department confirmed the suspect to be Hispanic, as was originally reported.

The two victims are 22 and 23. The 23-year-old was cut in the upper body and suffered a serious injury. The 22-year-old was cut in the leg.

Photo courtesy Van Applegate/FOX 5 DC

The next community meeting for the Reston Transportation Funding Plan is scheduled to be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Drive).

The Reston Network Analysis Advisory Group consists of locals who seek feedback from people who are the most affected by local development and changes to the transportation system. Through the Reston Network Analysis, the county seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of pedestrian-friendly streets and paths around the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station, as well as the future Reston Town Center and Herndon stops.

The committee’s most recent meeting on planned projects, estimated to cost more than $2 billion over the next 40 years, was held Dec. 19. Projects being discussed include:

The transit areas are expected to see the greatest level of development — and will need the most street grid, lane additions and traffic signals, among other improvements — as Reston grows over the coming decades.

The cost of the improvements is expected to be a public/private split, roughly 50/50. In this framework, Reston roadway projects would be paid for with public revenue, while intersections and the grid would be covered by private funding. A significant portion of the private funding “is expected to be paid for through in-kind contributions to the grid from developers as redevelopment occurs,” the committee says.

The advisory group works with the county and the Virginia Department of Transportation to come up with ways to secure funding for Reston’s network and maintaining local roadways. Last fall, RNAG expressed strong opposition to creating a special tax district, in which residents who live near the Metro stations would be taxed to help with road improvements.