Banner’s Hallmark in North Point Village Center is reopening on Saturday, July 27.

The gift shop, which offers, ornaments, greeting cards, and gifts, closed on July 22 for renovations. The store is located at 1438 North Point Village Center.

The retail chain has multiple locations throughout Northern Virginia, including two in Sterling and one in Ashburn.

Image via Google Maps

The 71st Annual 4-H Fair and Carnival returns to Frying Pan Farm Park next week from Thursday, August 1 through Sunday, August 4. The four-day event will feature carnival games, rides, food and fun for all ages.

On Thursday and Friday, parking is free and discounted tickets are available for unlimited rides. Passes start at $16 per person for unlimited carnival rides between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In the evening, ride tickets cost $1. Friday’s feature event is Big Truck Night from 5-8 p.m.

Carnival rides are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The 4-H Fair will also be on throughout the weekend as exhibitors display winning entries and get farm animals ready to show.

Parking is $10 on Saturday and Sunday.

More information about the event is available online.

File photo 

Local authorities are declining to releasing an autopsy report on  24-year-old man whose body was found near Hunters Woods Plaza in late June.

A spokesperson for the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said local police requested to withhold information about the cause and manner of death. Local police said the investigation was ongoing.

Jose Lorenzo Guillen Mejia of Reston was found around 1:45 a.m. on June 23 on a path between Hunters Woods Plaza and Breton Court. 

A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Police Department said the department did not have any releasable details about the incident, which is being investigated as a “suspicious” death.

Mejia’s body was found after FCPD investigated reports of multiple gunshots.

Photo by FCPD

Following a region-wide heatwave, a Flash Flood Watch has been issued for Reston and surrounding areas today (Monday).

The watch is in effect from the afternoon through late tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

Here’s more from the alert:

MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HEAVY RAINFALL ARE LIKELY. AREAL AVERAGE RAINFALL OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES IS EXPECTED, WITH ISOLATED TOTALS OF 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. MUCH OF THIS RAIN MAY FALL IN SHORT PERIODS OF TIME  IN ANY ONE GIVEN LOCATION, RESULTING IN THE RISK FOR FLASH  FLOODING MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY NIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

The NWS encourages residents to monitor future forecasts in the event of changes.

While the heat lessens slightly Monday, the threat for heavy thunderstorms will increase. A Flash Flood Watch will be in effect from Monday afternoon through late Monday night. pic.twitter.com/YhY9COkdHy

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 21, 2019

Lane and Ramp Closures This Week — A number of lane and ramp closures are planned this week along the Dulles Toll Road, Sunrise Valley Drive, Sunset Hills Road and Herndon Parkway. [Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project]

KBS Reit III Sells Reston Building — The company has sold off 11 assets totaling 3.4 million square feet of office space, including Reston Square in Reston. The transaction reportedly helped the company repay outstanding debt and retain 33 percent ownership interest in the purchaser. [Globe St]

DMV2Go at Reston Town Center Today — The mobile office on wheels brings DMV services to RTC from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. [Reston Town Center]

Photo by John Schnick

Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now this week.

1. State Fined Reston Association for Child Labor Law Violations Last Year
2. Roots Music Festival and More this Weekend in Reston
3. Reston Under Severe Thunderstorm Warning
4. Police Cruiser Hits Pedestrian in Reston
5. Police Make Arrest in Harris Teeter Abduction Case

If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip.

If you would like us to follow-up with you about your tip, please include your contact information. In recent days, we have received tips with incomplete phone numbers and email addresses.

Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.

Photo via FCPD

Kids from the area can check out Reston Association’s fleet of big truck at the organization’s annual “Totally Trucks” event in August.

This year’s fun is set for Friday, August 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Central Services Facility. Kids will receive a “Totally Trucks” construction helmet.

A horn-free hour for some trucks will take place between 8:30-9:30 p.m.

The event costs $2 of children between ages two and 12.

File photo

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church will host a book sale to help immigrants at the border on Sunday (July 21).

All proceeds from the event will go to the Refugees and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.

Only cash will be accepted during the sale, which runs from 1-4 p.m. The church is located at 1700 Wainwright Drive.

Tomorrow (July 20)

• Butterfly Count (9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Help count butterflies in the national areas of Reston and learn tips on identification. Data will be submitted to the North American Butterfly Association for inclusion in their Fourth of July Butterfly Count report.
• Otto the Auto (10:30-11:30 a.m.) — Otto the talking car gives kids lessons on traffic safety. The event is geared toward children between ages three and six.
• Family Fun Entertainment Series (10-10:45 a.m.) — Turley the Magician offers entertainment and itneractive magic at Reston Town Square Park. The event is free for all ages.
• Children’s Friendship Afternoon Tea (1-4 p.m.) — Scrawl Books hosts its very first childrens’ tea at Elden Street Tea Shop. The event also includes an affordable trunk show with American Girl authors reading at each afternoon tea sitting.
• Survivor Girl Launch Party (5-7 p.m.) — Celebrate the lunch of a middle-grade novel, “The Friendship Experiment,” at the Walker Nature Ceter. Writer Erin Teagen will host the party and introduce her new book.
• Books Alive (2:30-3:15 p.m.) — Students will explore age-appropriate stories through creative drama at Reston Regional Library. Registration is required for this event.

Sunday (July 21)

• Summerbration Fun Brunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — Enjoy interactive theater at Reston Station Plaza. The event is free and open for all ages. Parking is free on weekend in the Metro Parking garage.
• Sunday Art in the Park with GRACE (5:30-7:30 p.m.) — Greater Reston Arts Center partners with Reston Community Center to offer creative activities at Reston Town Square Park.
• Sunday Art in the Park (7-8 p.m.) — Robert Larson, a professor of jazz, joins special guests for an evening of jazz trio standards at Reston Town Square Park. The event is presented by Reston Community Center and Reston Town Center Association.
• Family Dive-In Movie (8:30-10:15 p.m.) — RA pass holders can come to the Dogwood Recreation Area for free pool-side movies. Registration is not required and the event will be cancelled in the event of rain or possible rain.

Photo by Ray Copson

Applicants will present their plans for Ellmore Farmhouse, a historic property on West Ox Road, to the county’s resident curator evaluation team later this month.

The curator program opens up the property to long-term lease agreements with individuals or organizations. Curators lease the property in exchange for a financial commitment toward rehabilitation of the county’s underused historic properties. Curators are selected through a competitive application process.

The team will hear proposals for the two-story property during a public meeting on Wednesday, July 31 at 7 p.m. in the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office (1801 Cameron Glen Drive). The evaluation team will ask questions about the project and provide feedback.

The Ellmore Farmhouse was constructed in 1891 for Mary Ellmore and her two children. The property was sold after the Ellmore family lived in the home for more than 50 years and ran a dairy farm through 1945. William Ellmore, who operated the dairy farm and was a prominent local politician, served on several boards, including the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

After his death in 1935, the owners attempted to operate the dairy farm until they sold the farm in 1954. FCPA purchased the property in February 2001 for inclusion in Frying Pan Farm Park.

An additional meeting is set for Thursday, Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. in the Fairfax County Park Authority’s office (12055 Government Center Parkway).

Photo via Fairfax County Government

Excessive Heat Warning in Effect Today — The heat warning is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. this evening. Heat index values will climb near 110 degrees today. An excessive heat watch is in effect tomorrow and Sunday as well. [Fairfax Alerts]

Review Changes to Fairfax County’s Zoning Laws — On Monday, June 22, residents can drop in on an open house in Fairfax to learn about recently proposed changes, including new uses for agritourism and limiting temperatures for LED lights. Attendees can also learn about recently adopted changes to community gardens, short-term rentals, and signs. [Fairfax County Government]

Despite Issues, Silver Line Extension On Track — “Switches in the new Silver Line rail yard do not line up with the tracks they are supposed to connect to, systems to detect train locations in the yard have failed, and there are still problems with the rocks that support the tracks, a new report to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board said.” [WTOP]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

For years, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce has sponsored and hosted the Flavors of Fall Festival.

But this year, the organization will drop the one-day flavors event, which gives attendees the chance to savor the flavor of autumn brews and food from area restaurants.

Low turnout over the last several years, as well as new priorities for the organization, pushed the chamber to drop the event this year.

GRCC’s Board of Directors and staff issued the following statement earlier today (July 18):

The very popular and successful Taste of Reston is not affected by this announcement and will go on as scheduled next June.

A sincere thank you to the chamber membership for the countless volunteers and support of Flavors of Fall. Thank you to Boston Properties for providing the Reston Town Center venue for the past ten years. We would also like to thank all of the sponsors and participants who made this event a part of their autumn schedules. 

The change of plans will not affect the Pumpkin 5K and Kids Dash, which has seen increases in turnout. That event is set for October 13 at Reston Town Center.

Photo by Don Renner

Foodies can enjoy discounted prix fixe meals in mid-August during the Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week.

More than 200 restaurants in the District, Maryland and Virginia are set to participate in the event, which takes place from Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 18. Restaurants will offer brunch and lunch for $22 and dinner for $35.

In Reston, four eateries will provide discounted lunch and dinner:

• Founding Farmers (1904 Reston Metro Plaza)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
• PassionFish (11960 Democracy Drive)

Restaurant menus have not yet been posted on the event’s website. Guests taking part in restaurant week can also sign up for a diner rewards program, which gives guests who opt-in exclusive access to deals on meals and prizes.

The event is organized by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, a regional trade association that represents restaurants and the food-service industry in the DC-area.

Photo via RAMV

A dozen Reston residents voiced criticism for a new two-story addition to a home on Round Pebble Lane Tuesday night (July 16).

Neighbors said the two-story structure, which was approved by Reston Association’s Design Review Board in January, was incompatible with the neighborhood and set precedent for applicants seeking approvals for home additions.

Criticism of the DRB’s decision during the board’s meeting this week comes months after the approval and the appeals period granted by Reston Association.

The project is located at 1148 Round Pebble Lane and includes a two story addition. The application was approved with several conditions, including a requirement that all colors, materials, windows, doors, light fixtures, and other exterior elements match the existing home.

Holly Weatherwax, a local realtor, said that neighbors did not have enough information about the project when they signed off on the proposal.

“It looks like it belongs in Colonial Williamsburg, not in our street,” Weatherwax told the DRB.

Other residents said the structure — which is roughly 2,700 square feet — is incompatible with the community and is not sufficiently screened from Reston Parkway and neighboring properties. Some unsuccessfully pushed members of the DRB to respond to their comments at the meeting. Per the DRB’s rules and procedures, the board reviews members comments and does not respond directly to member comments when there is no application to consider at the meeting.

Weatherwax suggested that the DRB should ask residents to initial all pages of application in order to ensure residents are well-aware of proposed projects. She said the DRB’s approval on Round Pebble Lane should be an exception — not a precedent-setting new normal for future structures with similar design elements.

Residents said they were unaware of the nature of the application and did not know the appeals period had passed.

The project is currently under construction.

Photos by Holly Weatherwax