Changes to the plaza at South Lakes Village Center are set to begin in the next two weeks.

The upgrades — which include an amphitheater, bike rack and repair station, and fire pit — are part of Chevy Chase Land Company’s plans to revitalize the aging village center.

Over the summer, crews completed structural concrete work to make way for more noticeable changes.

“There should be noticeable work out there in the next week or two,” said Thomas Regnell.

The project is expected to cost around $400,000.

Structural concrete work has been completed which needed to be done before the plaza transformation could start. There should be noticeable work out there in the next week or two.

A new 50-foot steel sculpture by artist Sue Wrbican is on track for installation in the fall.

For more than a year, the Greater Reston Arts Center has been working on the project, which is inspired by American surrealist Kay Sage. Construction began a little over a year ago. The sculpture is intended to encourage viewers to think about the themes of urbanism and landscape, environmentalism and natural resources, feminism, and community, said Lily Siegel, GRACE’s executive director and curator.

“Through her project, Wrbican is not just bringing attention to Sage’s life and work, she is making it relevant to our contemporary lives by introducing forms inspired by Sage into our present urban landscape,” Siegel said, adding that Sage’s work was overlooked during her time and that she lived in the shadow of her celebrated artist-husband and associates.

Siegel hopes the sculpture will be a gathering point and topic of conversation.

GRACE turned to crowdfunding to help finance the construction of the project, as well as ongoing programming scheduled for the sculpture. While the organization did not release the cost of the project, Seigel said the project has received “incredible support.”

A talk about the project, which will be installed in Town Square Park, is set for August 22 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at GRACE. The event is free and open to the public.

Community partners include Reston Town Center Association, Reston Community Center, ARTSFAIRFAX, Public Art Reston, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, MacMullan & Associates, Architecture Incorporated, Commercial Concrete, ECS Mid-Atlantic, PaintTech, and a number of individuals.

Photo by Sue Wrbican

A man was robbed by several suspects as he walked home along Monaghan Drive on Wednesday, August 7.

Police reported that the suspects covered the victim’s face and stole cash, a visa, passport and cell phone. 

The incident happened on the 2100 block of Monaghan Drive at around 9:30 p.m. No injuries were reported.

In a separate incident, someone stole jewelry and a safe from a home on the 2300 block of Duke of Bedford Court in Thursday, August 8.

The Fairfax County Police Department is investigating both incidents.

FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following minor incidents in recent days:

LARCENIES:

2500 block of Centreville Road, beer from business

2300 block of Colts Brook Drive, jewelry from residence

2100 block of Centreville Road, shoes and backpacks from business

9900 block of Colvin Run Road, credit cards from vehicle

2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, beer from business

1900 block of Isaac Newton Square, wallet from location

9000 block of Jeffery Road, mail from residence

11500 block of Leesburg Pike, wallet from location

13100 block of Parcher Avenue, cash from business

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, electronic devices from business

 STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

In another case, a woman is suspected of trespassing in a home on the 13400 block of Parcher Drive.

Police said the woman, who came inside the garage, was looking for a woman who she believed lived at the house.

She was described as a white female with blonde hair and was wearing a white shirt and blue pants. Police said she was last seen running westbound on Parcher Avenue.

The incident happened on Thursday, August 8 at 10:52 a.m.

Photo via FCPD

The second annual Reston Youth Superhero Splash and Dash is set for August 18 at Lake Audubon Pool.

The event gives participants between ages 6 and 15 the chance to get their feet wet in a triathlon. Swimming takes place at the pool and the run course takes place on a nearby section of pathways.

CORE Foundation organizes the event each year in partnership with Reston Association and other community sponsors.

Registration is $30, plus an additional $10 for an annual membership fee for the USA Triathlon. Races are grouped based on age.

More information about the event is available online. It begins at 8:30 a.m.

Photo via CORE Foundation

The trio behind Reston Farmers Market was awarded for more than 20 years of community work. The managers received the Elly Doyle Park Service Award from the Fairfax County Park Authority.

From a program that gives dollars for low-income families to an initiative to reduce plastic waste, the managers have put on the market on Saturday mornings from April through December.

John Lovaas has managed the market for 22 years. His wife Fran Lovaas joined him after her retirement 16 years ago and Keith Strange joined the initiative a decade later.

Northern Virginia magazine featured their efforts in a recent article:

“Community service is probably the number one thing that sets them apart for this award,” says Mary Olien, site operations manager of the Fairfax County Park Authority. “They know the farmers and vendors very well, so they can promote the products in an honest way. They are highly respected, which makes for a very fun and organized market.” 

The market managers have worked with local nonprofit Cornerstones since 2012 to enable low-income families to use their SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the Reston Farmers Market. Plus, after all the shoppers have cleared out, vendors gather all of the untouched produce together and bring it to local shelters, decreasing food waste.

The managers partnered with Clean Fairfax to decrease plastic use by encouraging the use of reusable mesh bags. So far, five vendors have joined the sustainability initiative thus far.

FCPA established the Elly Doyle Park Service Award in 1988 to recognize the service of former ParkAuthority Board Chairman and member Ellamae Doyle. The award publicly recognizes a volunteer or group of volunteers for outstanding contributions to county parks.

Photo by John Lovaas

Town of Herndon officials are seeking state funds to complete sidewalk improvements between Center Street and School Street.

The $1.8 million Elden Street project would improve a critical pedestrian area to improve accessibility and walkability, especially as Comstock kicks off the redevelopment of downtown Herndon later this year.

Planned improvements include wider sidewalks, landscaping, new curb ramps, new crosswalks and new accessible pedestrian signals at the intersection with Grace Street.

The town is seeking federal funds administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Projects are approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The town’s Planning Commission is set to consider a resolution for the project today (Monday). A public hearing will begin at 7 p.m.

Currently, this particular area along Elden Street has limited pedestrian connections. Pedestrians must walk along a narrow sidewalk. here are little to no crosswalks.

“It is an uncomfortable and unsafe environment for any pedestrian, and is unusable for someone with a stroller or someone in a wheelchair,” according to a staff report.

Here’s more from the report:

The improvements will include reconstruction of the existing sidewalk to a continuous 5′ wide sidewalk with brick pavers, construction of a grass strip between the sidewalk and curb, and the addition of ADA-compliant curb ramps., High visibility crosswalks and accessible pedestrian signalization will be provided at all intersection approaches at Grace Street . The grass strip is expected to add a minimum 3′ wide separation between the sidewalk and the curb and travel lane. This buffer may be increased to 4′ or 5′ and include trees, dependent on final engineering and design.

The end result is expected to offer a safer, more comfortable facility for pedestrians that is separated from vehicle traffic and accessible for all users. This project is not expected to require right-of-way acquisition since the curb will be moved north into the existing eastbound travel lane. To accommodate this, the existing roadway, which consists of a travel lane in each direction, separated by a stamped concrete median and dedicated turn lane, would be reduced in overall width. The travel lanes would be 11.5′ wide and the median/turn lane would be 12′ wide. With those lane widths, there is no expectation of impacts to vehicle mobility.

The segment of Elden street is within walking distance of shops, restaurants and civic facilities. It also connects directly to downtown Herndon and is a short block from Herndon Middle School and St. Joseph’s Catholic School.

In order to receive funding from VDOT’s set-aside program, the town must request funding by passing a resolution.

Photos via Town of Herndon/handout

Danielle Stinson will debut her new novel, “Before I Disappear” at Scrawl Books tomorrow (Tuesday).

The young adults novel follows a young woman as she tries to find her little brother after her town disappears into thin air.

The author will take part in a discussion about writing science fiction for young adults and publishing her first novel.

MacMillan Publishers wrote the following about Stinson’s book:

Rose Montgomery parks her family’s trailer in Fort Glory, Oregon with one goal: to carve out a new life for herself and her little brother, Charlie. They need a fresh start for their family, and she thinks she’s finally found it in a town where nobody knows them.

But Rose’s plans come crashing down when, in an instant, Fort Glory disappears and every person in town vanishes into thin air–including Charlie.

Rose and four other teens become trapped in the Fold, a patch of woods caught halfway between the real world and the lost town. In the Fold, a mysterious force suspends the laws of physics, and everyone’s inner darkness has the power to kill.

To survive the Fold, Rose must unravel the clues Charlie sends her from the missing town. And Rose has to find Charlie soon–or he’ll be gone forever.

The event is set for 7 p.m. at the bookstore, which is located at 11911 Freedom Drive.

Several Reston Association pools were closed over the weekend due to vandalism.

Vandals hit pools including Newbridge, Dogwood, Ridge Heights, Shadowood and Lake Thoreau, said RA spokesman Mike Leone. No major physical damage was reported.

The most significant vandalism happened at Glade Pool. RA staff worked to remove feces found in the pool over the weekend, Leone said.

The pool was closed an additional day to ensure the water was free of contaminants, per the county’s health guidelines.

The closure of the pool today comes as RA switches to season four of its pool schedule. It is expected to reopen tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11 a.m.

Leone described the vandalism at other pools as “minor.” Staff quickly worked to remove items that were thrown into the pools, which resumed regular operations on Sunday.

File photo

Reston Association’s Board of Directors and its fiscal committee will meet later this month to discuss the first draft of the 2020-2021 budget.

The meeting, which is open to the public, is set for August 21 at RA headquarters (12000 Sunrise Valley Drive) at 6:30 p.m.

The budget process kicked off on May 23 when the board adopted the budget development calendar.

Later this month, RA’s staff will incorporate changes made to the budget from the meeting to form the second draft of the budget.

A public hearing on the second draft is set for September 26. The budget will be formally approved on November 21.

Photo via Reston Association/YouTube

Author Jeffrey Stewart will discuss his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke” at Reston Community Center next month.

Stewart will sit down with Jane Censer, professor emeritus of history at George Mason University, to discuss the life of Locke, who is considered the father of the Harlem Renaissance.

The event, which is being held in partnership for the Fall for the Book Festival, is set for Sunday, September 15 at 7 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods.

Based in George Mason University, the Fall for the Book Festival is a non-profit literary arts organization that aims to promote reading. Its flagship Fall for the Book Festival is held annually in October.

Stewart is a Fulbright Professor of American Studies at the University of Rome, a W.E.B. Du Bois, a Charles Warren Fellow at Harvard University. He is also a professor at George Mason University and has written other books like “1001 Things Everyone Should Know About African American History” and “Paul Robeson: Artist and Citizen.”

Tickets are $15 for Reston residents and $20 for all others.

Photo via Oxford University Press

Summer Restaurant Week Kicks Off Today — “Several Reston restaurants will be among 250 in DC, Maryland, and Virginia participating in the summer 2019 Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week. The event will be held Aug. 12 to 18.” [Reston Patch]

Local Schools Compete at Hidden Creek Country Club — “The 10th Annual George Pavlis Memorial Golf Tournament hosted by McLean HS at Hidden Creek golf course will have 17 teams from VA high schools competing. Good viewing areas are any of the RA paths and sidewalks along North Shore Drive between Golf View Court and Links Drive.  Teams will be placed at each of 18 holes for the start, so activity from all vantage points. ” [Rescue Reston]

Mental Health First Aid Training — The county is offering a two-day certification course to help communities better understand mental illness and respond to psychiatric emergencies. While county employees can attend free of charge, materials cost $25. [Fairfax County Government]

Photo via Dario Piparo/Flickr

More than 60 teams will converge at Lake Anne Plaza to take part in the third annual Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta tomorrow (Saturday).

Boats will begin arriving at the plaza between 10:30 a.m. and noon. The first race begins at 1 p.m. Races continue between two teams at a time throughout the afternoon.

An awards ceremony will be held in the afternoon.

More information about the race is available online.

Tomorrow (Saturday)

• ACEing Autism One Day Clinic (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — The clinic will take place at Lake Newport’s tennis courts (11452 Baron Cameron Avenue). A convenience fee of $2.95 will be waived at checkout.
• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Enjoy a performance by a latin and salsa band at Reston Station Plaza. This week’s performance includes dance instruction. Parking is free on weekends in the Metro Parking garage.

Sunday (August 10)

• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m) — Enjoy a performance by Dixieland Band at Reston Station Plaza. The event is free and open for all.
• Sunday Afternoon Dance (2:30-4:30 p.m.) — Dancers of all skill levels convene at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods for an afternoon of dance. The cost if $5 for Restonians and $10 for all others.
• Sunday Art in the Park (7-8 p.m.) — Professor of Flute Jonathan Snowden performs with his Wife at Reston Town Square Park. The event is free and open for all.

Photo via Nova Labs/Facebook

The Herndon Town Council is looking to move forward on its first bicycle master plan this month.

Bryce Perry, the town’s Deputy Director of Community Development, discussed the plan at the council’s meeting in August.

Perry said the town’s plan is modeled after the county’s initiative and is intended to offer policy guidance on bicycle network planning and design.  It was drafted in coordination with the town’s pedestrian and bicycle advisory committee and the town’s planning commission.

Staff indicated the plan would “serve as an important guiding document for the town,” giving that the town is one of the few jurisdictions in the area that does not have an adopted plan for its bicycle network and facilities.

The plan is also part of the town’s efforts to seek a Bicycle Friendly Community Award, which is a nationally-recognized program that awards localities to localities that excel at providing bicycle programs, services and infrastructure to their communities. The award is administered by the League of American Bicyclists.

The town plans to incorporate the plan — which will also remain as a standalone document — into the town’s 2039 comprehensive plan.

Discussions on the plan are expected to continue this month.

Photo via Town of Herndon