The Best State for Business — CNBC ranked Virginia as the best state for business in the country. The Old Dominion’s success comes from the military as well the demographic of the best workforce in the country, according to CNBC’s Scott Cohn. [CNBC]
A Roundup of New State Laws — The county offers a round-up of several new laws that went into effect on July 1, including new rules on handheld cellphone use in work zones, the legal age for tobacco use, and rear-facing car seats. [Fairfax County Government]
Striking the Target — “Reston Hospital Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association‘s Get With The Guidelines® Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.” [Reston Hospital Center]
Free Yoga for All — Enjoy free yoga with Beloved Yoga at Reston Station Plaza today from 6:30-7:30 p.m. [Reston Station]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors largely expressed support for equipping police officers in the county with body-worn cameras, despite mixed results from a recent pilot program.
At a July 9 public safety meeting, most supervisors said body-worn cameras would improve police accountability and community-police relations — particularly among minorities. The meeting was held to review results of the county’s pilot program last year.
If approved by the county’s board, the program would disseminate 1,210 body-worn cameras throughout the county over five years. Police at the Reston District Station would be the first to receive the devices.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova said that failing to implement the program would put the county at a disadvantage, especially when residents can record encounters with police. Without body-worn cameras, Bulova said the police department lacks a critical record of interactions that could be questioned or doctored.
Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay, who also supports the program, said that while public confidence in the police department may be high currently, public sentiment could change within the next five years.
However, a 119-page report from American University researchers, found that while residents and police officers generally supported the program, its perceived benefits were largely minimal.
Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity said he was unconvinced the program was worth the cost. Early estimates indicate the program could cost $30 million over five years, including funding for storage capacity and legal staff required to review and log footage.
“To me, it’s a question of priorities,” Herrity said. He would rather see the county reinvest money into retention, training and community policing efforts.
Others, however, said the American University report does not fully capture the views of minorities, especially Hispanics and African Americans who may have different encounters and different concerns with law enforcement.
Addressing the concerns of people of color is especially critical, said Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins.
Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said that some of the data points in the report were too general and did not capture specific demographic segments.
“It is misleading to speak in generalities,” Foust said.
Photo via Fairfax County Police Department
It’s been 50 years since Herndon-Reston FISH began helping Herndon and Reston residents in short-term financial crisis.
The organization, which has an acronym stands for friendly, instant sympathetic help, will celebrate its past successes and preview plans for the future at a public meeting on Monday, July 15.
The meeting takes from at Dominion Energy Offices, which are located at 3072 Centreville Road), from noon to 2 p.m.
Attendees will get the change to meet the organization’s new executive director, Mary Saunders. Local high school students will offer entertainment and light refreshments will also be provided.
HRFISH was founded in 1969 to provide emergency financial assistance to residents, including rent, critical dental care and medical prescriptions.
Short-term assistance “averts evictions that could lead to homelessness, prevents health problems from escalating, keeps the electricity on and the water running, and helps to ensure our neighbors’ well-being and stability are preserved,” according to the organization.
Photo via Herndon-Reston FISH/Facebook
The Town of Herndon plans to close on selling nearly 4.7 acres of its land to Comstock in order to begin the redevelopment of downtown Herndon later this year.
Comstock, the developer of Reston Station, was selected by the town three years ago to redevelop the property into a mixed-use project.
The $85 million redevelopment project includes 273 apartments, 17,000 square feet of retail, a new arts center, public space and a new parking garage for public and private use.
Construction on the project is expected to begin in late 2019.
The town and Comstock have several hurdles to clear before groundbreaking. An application for building permits is pending and an additional agreement to “protect town financial interests” must be determined, according to the town’s website.
The project was approved by the Heritage Preservation Review Board in mid-May.
The town will provide $3.6 million for the project, which is described as a public-private partnership.
Photo via handout/Town of Herndon
It’s not to early to get into fall mode. Registration is now open for the annual Flavors of Fall, a free annual festival that includes live entertainment, dancing, and family activities.
This year’s festival, which is organized by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, is set for Sunday, October 13.
The Reston Pumpkin 5K begins at 8:15 a.m. at Reston Town Center and the kids’ pumpkin dash starts at 9:15 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults and $20 for children age 14 and under. Prices rise after September 9.
Restaurants will also serve samples from their favorite fall menus. Two dozen tickets cost $20. Each sample typically requires between three and five tickets. Beer and wine requires six to seven tickets.
At the end of the race, awards will be given.
Registration is open online.
Boston Market in North Point Village Center has officially closed.
A company spokesperson told Reston Now that the restaurant, which is known for its takeout rotisserie chicken, had its last day of business on Sunday, July 7.
The closure comes as nearly 10 percent of Boston Market locations across the country shutter, including the Sterling location in Cascades Marketplace.
“We must take steps to ensure our operational structure will support long-term sustainability,” wrote CEO Frances Allen in a letter. “Part of that effort involves continuously analyzing our geographic footprint and real estate portfolio to assess the ongoing viability of locations.”
The next closest Boston Market is in Fairfax at 13059 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway.
Photo by Laura Crielly
Burglar Breaks into Business with Cinder Block — Local police believe Wilson Escobar, 27, of Herndon broke into a business on the 1100 block of Elden Street on Sunday, July 7 at around 4 a.m. Police said the suspect broke into the business using a cinderblock, took cash and cigarettes from the business, and fled from the scene. [Herndon Police Department]
Big Money for PROOF.VC — The strategic capital firm, which is based in Reston, has raised more than $50 million in its second fund. Its second fund topped the first. [Washington Business Journal]
Two Northern Virginia Credit Unions Merge — Northwest Federal, which is based in Herndon, merged with Constellation Federal, which has operations in Reston and Herndon. The new company will be called Northwest Federal. [Washington Business Journal]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston will reinstall a rainbow flag that was taken nearly a month ago.
The new flag, which will be installed tomorrow, replaces one that was removed by vandals in the same location outside the church atop a hill on Wiehle Avenue.
Local police have not provided any details about the suspected vandalism.
Rev. Debra Haffner said the church is committed to replacing every stolen flag “even if it means putting up a new flag each month.”
“We are a welcoming faith community and we want everyone who drives by our church in Reston to know that all people – gay, straight, pansexual, bisexual, transgender – are welcome here. Our faith celebrates that sexual and gender diversity is a blessing, and our flag is a symbol of that commitment,” she said.
The church has the only freestanding rainbow flag in Reston that is up year-round.
The 11-foot flag was removed on June 11, one week after the church co-sponsored the Reston Pride Festival. Roughly 5,000 people came out to celebrate the second annual event at Lake Anne Plaza.
In the last several months, the flag was taken three times. It was installed in 2017 without incident until this spring.
A 19-year-old Reston resident was arrested on July 6 at around 8:30 p.m. for assaulting police.
Local police found Mario Rodriguez unconscious near a bus stop. When medical staff tried to help him, Rodriguez assaulted an officer during the arrest.
He was charged with two counts of assault on law enforcement, possession of marijuana and drunk in public.
Rodriguez is being held without bond.
FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
2100 block of Astoria Circle cash from residence
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from location
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, package from residence
1800 block of Fountain Drive, backpack from business
2000 block of Durand Drive, laptop computer from vehicle
12900 block of Highland Crossing Drive, tip jar from business
1400 block of Lake Fairfax Drive, cash and property from business
11900 block of Market Street, wallet from location
1400 block of West Ox Road, cell phone from location
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None
In other news, three golf carts were taken from Hidden Creek Country Club on July 1 just a few minutes after midnight. The carts were found on a nearby street a short while later.
In a separate incident, police also charged Brian Baker, 47, for assault and disorderly conduct on July 2. Police believe Baker threatened staff at Reston Hospital Center.
On July 6, a burglary was reported at Frying Pan Farm Park. Police responded to an alarm and found that the building had been broken into. Nothing was taken.
Photo via FCPD
Floodwaters at the Reston North Park and Ride have receded, leaving little damage at the site where water pooled up to the windshields’ of cars yesterday (July 8).
A spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation told Reston Now that there appears to be no damage to the pavement or drains, which were simply overwhelmed with the “massive amount of water.”
“We’re focusing on other areas,” Ellen Kamilakis said. “There are other heavily devastated areas in the county.”
Crews are currently on-site throughout the county to assess damages.
In early September 2011, floodwaters caused major damage at the Reston Park and Ride. Several vehicles were damaged during that storm.
The lot is located at the corner of Sunset Hills Road and Wiehle Avenue.
Photo via AlphaPupObie/Twitter
Bestselling author Jennifer Ryan will visit Scrawl Books this weekend at 11911 Freedom Drive.
Ryan will discuss and sign her latest book, “The Spies of Shilling Lane.” The story revolves around female spies in World War II.
The book has been called a “delightful mystery’ by the New York Times.
This is her second novel following the release of “The Childbury Ladies Choir” in 2017.
The event begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 14.
Photo via Crown Publishing
The results of an analysis on the county’s pilot body-worn camera program are officially in. Researchers at American University found that the six-month pilot project could have limited results in enhancing policy-community relations increasing police legitimacy and accountability.
In a 119-page report that uses survey data from residents and police officers, researchers found that people had “modest expectations” about the necessity and benefit of body-worn cameras.
Less than half of survey respondents and interviewees noted that the devices would reduce complaints against officers, improve legitimacy or increase police accountability. Police officers also noted that it was unlikely that the devices would change their behavior or how community members responded to the police department.
“If the decision is not to deploy them, the high regard for the department will lead nearly everyone to conclude that it was the right decision for all,” the report states.
Researchers did not find any statistically significant changes in officer behavior and performance once the devices were deployed. They also found that respondents were unconvinced that the cameras would lessen the use of force by police.
The pilot program went into effect in March last year after Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler and a police commission suggested the idea. Last year, 191 cameras were deployed at the Mason, Mount Vernon and Reston District Station, yielding more than 12,000 hours of video.
The police department found that judges, clerks of the courts and staff from the office of the public defendant generally supported the program.
If the program is implemented, the county would deploy 1,210 body-worn cameras to all operational police officers over five years. The Reston, Mason and Mt. Vernon district stations would be the first to get the cameras.
The program could cost nearly $30 million over a five-year contract period. The county would have to hire staff to manage the technical aspects of the equipment, improve station infrastructure and ensure public records laws were being followed.
Additionally, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would need nearly $3.1 million for 23 positions to help review the footage, roughly $773,000 to help the court system use the videos generated by the cameras in the court-rooms, and $150,000 to boost storage capacity to capture video evidence.
The county still has to mull several issues:
- The impact of the devices on prosecutors, public defenders and the court system is entirely unclear
- The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office cannot accommodate planned growth
- Whether or not cameras should be given to School Resources Officers
- Training requirements for the defense bar
- The possibility that future contract costs could increase
The report will be presented to the county’s Public Safety Committee today (July 9).
Photo via FCPD
Groovy Nate at Reston Regional Library — Wolf Trap teaching artist Groovy Nate will visit Reston Regional Library for music and puppet fund. The event takes place from 2:30-3:15 p.m. and is geared towards preschoolers. [Reston Regional Library]
Farmers & Makers Market is Today — Reston Town Center welcomes the market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. It features a mix of produce, meats, handmade goods, and one-of-a-kind items. The market is presented in partnership with URBNmarket. [Reston Town Center]
Greater Reston Arts Center Seeks Volunteers, Interns — The organization welcomes high school and college level students to apply for week-long internships at our Summer Art Camps. Interns will spend their days making art and having a blast with campers at Reston Association’s Lake House. [East City Art]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A new dessert shop is serving up sweets at Lake Anne Plaza.
Teapot & Cake held a soft opening late last month at its new location on 11404A Washington Plaza-W.
The shop, which describes itself as a “custom cake boutique,” sells layer cakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, dough, pastries, pies and bagel breakfast sandwiches.
It also has several gluten free, sugar free and vegan options.
A menu is available online.
Photo via Teapot & Cake/Facebook
Registration is now open for the first-ever Lake Anne Stand-up Triathlon.
The event, which replaces the traditional triathlon event, aims to introduce different sports to the community by replacing swimming with a stand-up paddle board experience. It will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15.
The triathlon will consist of a seven-mile ride on a New Trail Cycling stationary bike, a 5k run around Lake Anne on Reston pathways, and a one-mile paddle board. Paddle boards will be provided.
A celebration party at the plaza will follow the event. All proceeds will benefit CORE Foundation. Fundraising for the event is optional, but highly encouraged.
Athletes can take part in a solo or a three-person relay. The cost is $110 for solo athletes and includes a T-shirt, use of a New Trail Cycling bike for the event, use of a paddle board, craft beer after the race, and other prizes.
Partnering organizations include Surf Reston, New Trail and Lake Anne Brew House.
Registration will be closed once 150 people register for the event.
Photo via CORE Foundation
