Companies and organizations looking to host events in Northern Virginia have another option for a venue following the opening of a new event center in Herndon.
Trajectory Event Center, which is located at 13665 Dulles Technology Drive, Suite 150, includes meeting spaces for up to 300 people.
The center is designed to host corporate events, training sessions, sales meetings, product launches, receptions, and other events, especially for companies within the Dulles Technology Corridor.
Different packages are available to reserve rooms. Room features include live streaming, duplex video conferencing and polycom phone access.
An open house is set for Wednesday, September 25 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Photos via Kristen Quin Cody
In addition to a weekly crime report, Reston Now published monthly maps detailing all major crime incidents reported by the Fairfax County Police Department”s Reston District Station.
A example of a map from July 2017 is below.
We would love to know if you would like us to restart this monthly map. All reports of crime incidents are pulled from daily information provided by FCPD.
Photo via FCPD
Summerbration with Battery Lane is Tonight — Enjoy classic rock during this weekly summer concert from 7-9 p.m. at Reston Station Plaza. The event is free and open to all. [Reston Community Center]
Town of Herndon Celebrates 30 Years of Keeping Green — The town received its first “Tree City Award,” started the Herndon Farmers Market and hired its first community forester. To celebrate, the town of is offering free goodies at the farmer’s market. [Herndon Police Department]
A Refresher on Road Rules Ahead of Back to School — With county schools back in session next week, county officials are reminding drivers to review road rules for school buses, school zones and crossing guards. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Reston Historic Trust & Museum’s18th annual Reston Home Tour returns on Saturday, October 19.
This year’s home tour includes five private properties that have different styles and flair. The tour also includes the VY/Reston Heights, new luxury apartments, and Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, a new retirement community.
Tickets are on sale online and in the store at Reston Museum, The Wine Cabinet, Chesapeake Chocolates and the Greater Reston Arts Center. All proceeds will benefit the Reston Historic Trust and Museum. Attendees can purchase a $12 box lunch at the retirement community and refreshments at VY, courtesy of JBG Smith.
Descriptions of the homes, which were provided by the museum, are below:
- Goldcup Lane – Beth Arborgast: “It was “love at first sight” for Beth the first time she saw Goldcup Lane. Built in the 1970’s and still occupied by the original owner, this Michael Oxman designed home had great architectural appeal, but there was work to do! Renovations were not unfamiliar to Beth; after owning 17 homes in the last 27 years, she was experienced at remodeling and took on the challenge. Visitors will enjoy the finished product, including the remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, and soothing paint colors. Modern and minimalistic furnishings and beautiful artwork collected over the years complement the natural Reston setting of the home.”
- Beacon Place – Matthew Benson and Carol O’Connell: “On a cloudy day in 1999, Carol was the last visitor of the day at the model home on Beacon Place, and the site manager was on her way out the door. Despite the lights being off and the cloudy sky overhead, the home offered wonderful architecture and natural light that led Carol to draw up the contract the next day. In 2017, Carol and Matt decided to go through a major renovation on the main and upper levels to bring the home up-to-date.They moved into an apartment at Reston Town Center for seven months while their home was under construction. Carol and Matt love to cook and entertain, and their kitchen is the heart of their home. Lots of thought was put into the materials selected. It’s a true chef’s kitchen built to last and sure to inspire.”
- Wild Bramble Way – James and Tammy Edgemond: “After seven years in their first home together as a family in Reston, the Edgemonds found their current house of 14 years just by coincidence when they received a letter by mistake. Being a good Samaritan, James delivered the letter to the next street over (which had the same house number as theirs). Noticing it was on the market, they took a peek and put in an offer! Providing more square footage and a larger yard for their growing family without going too far from their friends, the house was perfect for their needs. They sold their home, packed and moved in just four weeks – all just as school was starting. They have done major renovations in all five bathrooms, the kitchen, family room, a fabulous screened porch (their favorite spot), sunroom, office and laundry room.”
- Wedge Drive – Brandon and Shayda Power: “As the first house seen on Brandon’s house tour in 2004 with his realtor, this Wedge Drive home ticked all the boxes. After viewing six to eight more homes, they circled back to Wedge Drive. This was the one! The previous owners were downsizing and relocating to an assisted- living facility and were unsure how they would be able to keep their six-year old beagle, Trouble. Being a dog lover, Brandon quickly offered to keep Trouble. The beagle conveyed! Marrying Shayda in 2013 and getting their dog day care and boarding business off the ground, they were able to start their major house renovation in 2017. With the help of Brandon’s mother, a talented interior designer, and some skilled contractors, they have created a very functional yet exquisite home. Visitors will find amazing entertaining spaces inside and out and incredible use of cabinetry that maximizes storage potential.”
- Wedge Drive – Ray Fernandez and Kathleen Williams: “With only two weeks to find a house and low inventory to choose from, Kathleen settled for Wedge Drive. She honestly didn’t like the house at first but has since crafted an eclectic home that tells the story of all their travels and chapters in their life. Being a social worker for the Navy, Kathleen has many interesting experiences to share. Each collectible, piece of furniture and artwork help bring the years together. The setting on the edge of Hidden Creek Golf Course among the trees and the garden that is in constant development all help tell the story. Visitors should not miss Ray’s garage, which is his sanctuary. The early bird rate for tickets is $25 and is only available at the museum. Early bird pricing ends on October 11.”
Photos courtesy Charlotte Geary Photography
Reston Association has launched an online survey to assess members’ opinions on the organization and its services.
The survey, which was emailed to some members on Wednesday (August 21) poses questions about RA’s services and amenities and will help guide the organization’s decisions about serving members’ current and future needs.
RA has hired The Brand Consultancy, a brand strategy company based in the District, to complete the survey. The firm plans to survey enough people to “make the results statistically valid,” according to RA’s website.
The survey — including data collection and results analysis — is expected to take several months to complete.
Photo via RA
Friends of the Reston Regional Library is hosting a fall book sale in September.
The fall sale is set to take place from Thursday, September 25 through Sunday, September 29.
The used book sale is one of the library’s largest book sales in the year. No children’s books will be offered at the sale. All items are in gently-used and good condition.
Timings are below:
- Thursday, September 26 (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Friday, September 27 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Saturday, September 28 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Sunday, September 29 (Noon to 3:30 p.m.)
A special members night is set for Wednesday, September 25 from 5-8 p.m. The sale takes place at Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive).
More information about the Friends’ other six annual sales is available online.
File photo
This is an opinion column by Del. Ken Plum (D), who represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.
In 1996 I had the great learning experience of chairing the Northern Virginia Electric Vehicle Launch Committee through the sponsorship of the Electric Transportation Coalition (ETC) and the US Departments of Energy and Transportation. The national goal to clean up the air we breathe was the impetus to the study we did in our region as was being done in nine other suburban regions throughout the country. The one-inch thick report we produced–“The Path to an EV Ready Community”–provided a guide that is still relevant and valuable today.
General Motors came out with its EV-1 vehicle which I had the pleasure to drive for a day; prospects were looking good for electric vehicles until suddenly the bottom dropped out of the market. All big manufacturers dropped their testing and production of electric vehicles. Our report was clearly ahead of its time.
Fast forward a couple of decades and electric vehicles have come into their own. All manufacturers I know of are predicting that over the next couple of decades electric vehicles will be the only cars and trucks they produce. They are environmentally clean, outperform traditional cars, need less maintenance, and are safer.
Hybrids that use traditional engines with electric assist have virtually taken over the market. Jane and I felt like pioneers in 2003 when we bought our first Prius. It got great gas mileage, required little maintenance, had less harmful emissions, and ran until we finally traded it in with more than 150,000 miles. Our experiences with the Priuses we bought in 2007 and 2012 were the same.
The path to electric vehicles that my earlier study had considered has made huge strides over the past several years. While Tesla is probably the best known of the electric vehicles, most manufacturers have an all-electric option. Chevrolet has the Bolt and Nissan has the Leaf among the better known models. They will help us reduce our carbon footprint, clean up the air, and more easily adapt to the many new automatic features that are becoming available.
But the shift in the power sources of our vehicles brings new challenges, all of which must be recognized and can be met. At a session “Juicing Up for Electric Vehicles” at the recent National Conference of State Legislatures I attended some of the issues were discussed. How should the sale of electricity be provided and regulated if necessary? Will utilities be able to handle the increased demand? How can equity and access be assured for drivers in the market if prices go up?
Coming with the electric vehicles are many automated features that can make driving safer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that of the over 37,000 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2016, more than 90% had a human error factor. Maybe the new cars will be able to have safety engineered into them.
Continuing my story about electric vehicles that began more than two decades ago, Jane and I purchased a Tesla a week ago. It is environmentally friendly, has many safety features, and will be very comfortable for my numerous trips to Richmond!
File photo
Two men robbed a massage therapy business at gunpoint on Tuesday (August 20).
Police believe the armed men demanded money after displaying a handgun at Reston Wellness, a massage therapist at 11250 Roger Bacon Drive.
The incident happened around 4:55 p.m.
The suspects were described as Hispanic or Middle Eastern men in their early 20s. The employee who reported the incident police said the men took an undisclosed amount of cash and ran away.
Photo via Google Maps
Light Shines on ‘Humble Reston Artist’ — “John Charles Koebert of Reston said that when he came home from college in the 1970s, and announced to his parents that he had decided to change his life direction and become an art major, he recalled that they said, “You are making a hard 90 degree turn to nowhere. …You’ll be living with us for the next fifty years.” After college, Koebert embraced his new career teaching art during the day and honing his artistic skills at night.” [The Connection]
ThreatQuotient Banks Millions in Funding — “Reston threat intelligence and security software company ThreatQuotient Inc. has raised $7.86 million in fresh funding — and it aims to double in size in the next year, according to CEO John Czupak.” [Washington Business Journal]
County Companies Top Fastest-Growing Businesses List — “Fairfax County is home to 116 companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 list, which is 37 percent of the 315 companies on the list from the Washington region and more than double the number from any other Washington-area county or city. Fairfax County’s businesses also account for 40 percent of Virginia’s 288 businesses appearing on this year’s list.“ [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Reston and surrounding areas until 10 p.m. tonight.
The National Weather Service issued the watch earlier this afternoon.
Hot & humid conditions once again today with widely scattered showers & storms this afternoon and early evening. Some storms could be strong to severe, however coverage is expected to be less than Tuesday. Complete forecast: https://t.co/5RyZgoXicj #DCwx #MDwx #VAwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/fm5ZjxZ5d1
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 21, 2019
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Local elected officials gathered at Cafe Rio to celebrate its grand opening at Herndon Centre today (Wednesday).
The restaurant, which takes up space formerly occupied by McDonald’s, is located at 330 Elden Street.
Cafe Rio sells burritos, salads, enchiladas, nachos and other Mexican staples.
Photo via Cindy Wei/Facebook
The Reston Planning & Zoning Committee voted to approve the the redevelopment of Isaac Newtown Square.
In a 12-1 vote, the committee motioned that the Fairfax County Planning Commission and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approve the plan for the urban neighborhood.
Peter Lawrence Companies is seeking to bring 3,200 residential units to the site, as well as up to 260,000 square feet of office, 66,000 square feet of retail, and a full-size athletic field.
The committee directed the applicant and the county to take environmental concerns voiced by the community into account as they develop the proposed athletic field.
“The committee asked that they make the field the best field possible, one that is environmentally sensitive, and a field that is open, useable, reliable and dependable in all seasons,” said chairman Rob Walker.
The committee, which meets on a monthly basis, also recommended that the commission and the board approve plans for block D of the Halley Rise Development.
Decisions on Block 6 of that development and Reston Station Promenade
Photo via Andrew Painter
In late December 2017, Chef on Wheels, a local food truck, expanded to a brick and mortar store.
Nearly two years after expanding the business, Chef Basir Ahadi has decided to officially change the name of his business.
The Reston resident, who graduated from South Lakes High School, says Chef on Wheels in now officially called “Tacos Zocalo,” which means center of community in Spanish.
“The name Chef on Wheels didn’t make sense anymore. We’re off of wheels in a brick and mortar now,” Ahadi told Reston Now.
The business — which also has a beer and wine license — is located at 1810 Michael Faraday Drive.
It has been serving up tacos, burritos, bowls and chimichangas since it opened in 2011.
Photo via Basir Ahadi
A group of mothers from Fairfax County are banding together to push county schools to use electric school buses.
The group, Mothers out Front Fairfax, recently formed a local chapter of the national climate advocacy group Mothers Out Front.
“Our county has a chance to be on the cutting edge of technology and to be a national leader in providing our kids with healthy air and clean energy future,” said Kathy Keller, a nurse at Inova Fairfax hospital, Mothers out Front Fairfax member and a mom with two children in county schools.
The group formally launched its campaign at Patrick Henry Library in Vienna on Tuesday (August 20). Fairfax County Public School’s school board member Pat Hynes spoke at the event.
Here’s more from the group about their initiative:
Electric school buses, with no tailpipe emissions, eliminate children’s exposure to dangerous diesel exhaust during their ride to school. They have lower global warming emissions than diesel, even when the source of electricity is taken into account. They have no engine, muffler, or alternator that requires tune-ups, meaning a lifetime fuel and maintenance savings over diesel buses of up to $170,000. They have a lower center of gravity than diesel buses and are therefore less likely to roll over. They are safer for our kids and cleaner for our environment.
The health and environmental benefits of electric school buses are well documented. Studies show that that exposure levels to harmful chemicals can be between 4 and 10 times higher on school buses than in the surrounding environment.
The county has the second largest public school fleet of buses in the country, behind only New York City.
Mothers Out Front is a national advocacy group. Members are mothers who aim to “ensure a livable climate for all children,” according to the organization’s website.
File photo
A fallen tree from Tuesday’s storms has prompted the closure of several studios at Onelife Fitness in Reston.
The fitness center’s mind body studio, kidz klub, pilates studio, mind body studio and the women’s locker are closed until further notice.
All group classes that are held in the mind body and main group fitness studios are cancelled as well.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and Reston Onelife Fitness members will have access to all other Onelife or Sport & Health clubs until the studios, Kidz Klub, and Women’s Locker Room reopen,” the business wrote on Facebook.
Other damage from the storm was also reported at South Lakes Drive near the U.S. Geological Survey building.
Onelife Fitness is located at 11445 Isaac Newton Square.
Photo via @codesurfer_/Twitter
