Herndon Festival Kicks Off Today — The first day of the four-day festival begins today from 6-10 p.m. at Northwest Federal Credit Union (200 Spring Street). China Grove will perform at the Herndon Family Medicine Stage and transit Vocal Band will perform at the Parkway Stage from 7:30-9 p.m. [Herndon Festival]
Police Seek Help to Connect Annandale Man to County Burglaries — Local police believe Stephen Anderson, 55, of Annandale, could be responsible for other burglaries throughout the county. He faces burglary charges and is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Creative Response Led by Co-owner of Bad Saint Set for Today — Genieve Villamora, co-owner of the buzzy Filipino restaurant in the District, will respond to the work of Stephanie William. The presentation will be followed by open conversation. The event starts at 7 p.m. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
A Recap of Reston Live — “The first Reston Live was held at Lake Anne Plaza on Sunday afternoon. This inaugural music festival featured a Children’s Area, a talent competition, a raffle, vendor booths, and special guest performances by Reston band, Catchin’ Toads, and Reston’s own singer/songwriter, Lindsey Hershfeld.” [The Connection]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Herndon High School’s marching band heads to Normandy, France on Tuesday (June 4) to take part in a parade marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The parade, which organizers say celebrates the “liberation of Europe,” is set for June 13
The Town of Herndon gets its name from U.S. Navy Commander William Lewis Herndon, who died in 1857. Two U.S. Navy ships were named the USS Herndon after the commander as well.
The first ship with that name was given to Great Britain before the U.S. took part in World War II and the second ship, nicknamed the Lucky Herndon, led major assaults on D-Day.
Planning for the trip has been underway for months. The band has raised around $600,000 for the trip through a combination of community events, sponsorships and donations.
As they perform, band members wearing original USS Herndon dress blues will carry a
marching banner that pays tribute the Lucky Herndon. In addition, students will carry photographs of each of the 301 men who served on board on D-Day.
File photo
The Fairfax County Water Authority will begin an engineering study to determine how to boost the water supply for the Town of Herndon after the Herndon Town Council approved the $107,000 study last night (May 28).
Tammy Chastain, deputy director of the town’s public works department, said additional capacity is needed to meet future demands. Discussions on how to boost water supply with a new point of supply and install a new pumping station have been underway since at least 2016.
“We knew we were going to have to find it from somewhere,” Chastain told council members last night.
Initially, town officials thought the project would cost around $6.1 million, but now, costs could be as low as $3 million for design and construction.
The pumping station, if approved, would be located at the Herndon Police Department. Because the station would be near a transmission main and meter vaults along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, the cost of the project is expected to be much lower than anticipated.
Funding for the study was planned for in the town’s five-year capital budget. The town’s 2016 Water Utility Master Plan calls for the design and construction of a new water main before 2025.
Photo via Town of Herndon
Mark your calendars for four days of fun-filled activities at the annual Herndon Festival, which has a new location at Northwest Federal Credit Union on 200 Spring Street this year.
The annual festival, which features a carnival, food vendors, an arts and crafts show, and live entertainment, begins tomorrow and runs through June 2.
The location changed in anticipation of construction beginning in downtown Herndon. Although the process was delayed by an unsuccessful appeal by neighboring property owners, the decision to change the location was made one year ago.
Town officials say its unlikely the festival will return to its previous location because the redevelopment of the area will take up more open space.
The entertainment lineup, which kicks off with a performance by China Grove tomorrow (May 30), is available online.
The carnival will be open from 6-10 p.m. tomorrow (May 30), 5-11 p.m. on Friday (May 31), 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday (June 1), and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday (June 2). Single tickets are $1.25 and a batch of 30 are for $30.
Kids can also immerse themselves in a hands-on art program, which will be held under the overhang at the rear entrance to Building 200. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (June 1) and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday (June 2).
Races that take runners through historic downtown Herndon are also planned for Sunday (June 2) at the Herndon Community Center. Online registration closes tomorrow (May 30) at noon. Participants unable to finish the 10K race in 90 minutes and the 5K race in 45 minutes will be transported back to the Herndon Community Center.
A festival map is also available online.
The title sponsor for the event is Northwest Federal Credit Union and platinum sponsors are the Virginia Paving Company and Herndon Family Medicine.
Photo via Town of Herndon
Hunters Woods at Trail Edge, a senior living community development across the street from the Hunters Woods Village Center, will officially open its doors on Friday (May 31).
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the community is set for 4:30 p.m. during the open house for the public. The open house runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. the same day.
The $72 million project by Atlantic Realty Companies includes 210 units, with 91 for independent living, 80 for assisted living, and the remaining units for memory and continuing care. The community also includes several dining venues, a grill room with an open-brick oven, activity rooms, fitness centers and indoor parking.
David Ross, partner and president of Atlantic Realty Companies, said the project was “the first of its kind in Reston.”
The development also includes a man cave, a theater, a barber shop and salon, and an arts and crafts store. A new bus shelter has been built on the property to allow residents to access public transit and the facility’s shuttle service.
Reston’s Turquoise Trail pathway will also be lit as it passes under Colts Neck Road to the village center, giving residents access to Reston Community’s events and programming. Five outdoor terraces are also part of the community.
Monthly rent for independent living units start at $4,011 while assisted living units start from $5,626. Twenty percent of independent living apartments are set aside as workforce dwelling units for qualified residents.
The companies expects to add 48 full-time positions to the area. Medical service professionals will offer assistance on-site on an as needed bases.
The project is a joint venture between Atlantic Realty Companies, AEW Capital Management and IntegraCare.
Photo via Hunters Woods at Trail Edge
Several pools suddenly closed over the holiday weekend when Reston Association announced that it did not have enough lifeguards to staff several of the 15 pools the organization manages.
Now, RA is moving aggressively to hire more lifeguards ahead of the weekend in what is becoming an annual and familiar staffing challenge. The problem was exacerbated by several lifeguards who called in sick over the weekend, according to RA.
In the past, RA has changed the staffing structure so that lifeguards are standalone positions. Duties previous performed by lifeguards are separated into other positions like desk attendant and pool operator. Staff are also exploring increasing the pay for lifeguards and changing the pool schedule for peak hours.
“There are many competing opportunities for summer employment in this area to include summer internships, family schedules and vacations, restaurants, other services and with growth in the area other summer jobs are available at a higher salary. Ten years ago, this was not the case, a lifeguarding job was sought out with our roster filled and substitutes waiting for an opportunity for a full time role,” Mike Leone, RA’s director of communications, marketing and member services wrote in s statement to Reston Now.
RA is hiring for 200 full-time lifeguards positions and unlimited substitute positions. So far, 156 people have applied.
Leone also attributed the shortage to an overall reduction in the number of teens between age 16 and 19 who are actively participating in the workforce.
But staffing was not the only reason that pools closed over the weekend.
All pool are currently open, but Lake Thoreau’s pool remains closed after staff found broken glass bottles on the deck and in the pool over the weekend. RA believes vandalism happened sometime between the overnight hours of Friday to Saturday.
The pool will reopen once a scuba diver inspects the facility and clears it for reopening. Divers are expected to begin work early this week, but it’s unclear when the pool will reopen.
Uplands lap pool also closed temporarily after some equipment failed over the weekend. The issue has now been resolved and all areas of the pool are now open.
In a statement, RA’s CEO Hank Lynch apologized for the closures.
“Like many community and recreational associations in our area, RA is trying to meet the challenge of hiring staff for various summertime positions,” he said.
So far, no changes to the weekend pool schedule are proposed. RA plans to update members about the weekend schedule as the week progresses.
A job fair to recruit more lifeguards is set for Thursday (May 30) at 6 p.m. at Newbridge Pool and June 13 at 4 p.m. at Lake Newport Pool.
RA’s recruitment strategy also includes emailing local sports groups, working with local universities, turning to social media, and providing information during community events.
File photo
Reston Landscaper Wins $200,000 in Lottery Scratcher — Brett Calhoun scratched the winning Jewel 7 ticket in his car, but had to send a picture of the ticket to his wife to make sure he was reading it right. Calhoun, a landscaper, bought the winning ticket the 7-Eleven at 29900 Centreville Road in Herndon. [Inside NOVA]
Taste of Reston Needs Volunteers — The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help put on the annual event on June 14 and 15. Volunteers will receive a volunteer T-shirt and a dozen taste tickets. [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]
Reston Nonprofit Marks 140 Years of Supporting Military Families — “Before he got a job assisting military members and their families, Michael Meese was in the military himself. Meese served in the U.S. Army for 32 years, a period that included deployments to Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan and concluded with a stint as professor and head of the Department of Social Sciences at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After retiring as a brigadier general, Meese became the chief operating officer for the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association, and he has worked at the Reston-based nonprofit since 2013, now holding the title of executive vice president.” [Fairfax County Times]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
A working group tasked by Reston Association’s Board of Directors to review policies concerning lakes, boats and docks is calling for stricter enforcement of rules and precise language to manage the use of Reston’s lakes.
RA’s lack of consistent enforcement of rules and residents’ lack of knowledge about the association’s governing policies have led to some confusion about the permissibility of uses over the last two years. Reston residents raised several issues about enforcement, outdated policies and environmental impacts two years ago.
After months of discussions and two focus group meetings, the workgroup presented its recommendations to the board on Thursday (May 24). Staff will now analyze the group’s recommendations and return to the board with its assessment of the recommendations in June.
An attempt to increase the maximum percentage of cluster waterfront that can be taken up by moored boats did not gain traction with the workgroup. The contentious issue — which some residents said unreasonably applies rules that RA has not strictly enforced in the past — was left largely undecided. No vote was taken on whether or not to lower or eliminate the boat storage limit, which is currently 50 percent.
The Harbor Point Unit Owner’s Association challenged the 50 percent rule on the grounds that it was unnecessary and contradicts, “Reston’s core values of live, work and play.”
“It is unfair for Reston Association to have adopted the 50 percent rule quite some time ago, not enforce it, and now all of a sudden begin to enforce it,” the association wrote in a statement.
Others said RA needs to step up its efforts to educate Restonians about policies related to boats, docks and lakes. One Harbor Point resident said she did not see any mention of the 50 percent rule in home resale documents when she purchased her condominium unit.
RA may need to turn to volunteer “Lake keepers” to help address monitoring and enforcement issues like permit inspections, boat maintenance and the safe operation of boats. The group suggested RA work with volunteers to patrol lakes, monitor conditions and work with residents to report violations and address problems.
Much of the discussion centered around updating outdated definitions.
The report encourages RA to adopt U.S. Coast Guard definitions for the maximum size of deck boats, as well as restrictions on boat motors that have a forward thrust of 130 pounds or a maximum rating greater than five horse power.
The group also directed RA to clarify the definitions of docks and boats. Residents can take advantage of current definitions, which can be used interchangeably, the group noted.
In the report, the group also asked RA to differentiate between hand-carried boats and permanently moored boats. RA currently does not distinguish between the two categories. The board also recommended a maximum of two boats per lakefront property for mooring seasonally.
In an effort to step up enforcement of violations, the group also recommended that staff board boats if permits are not clearly visible. However, the group removed language that stated RA staff could request proof of residency.
Commercial uses of the last must be approved by RA’s board, including boats rented by RA members to non-members, the group recommended.
The complete report is available online.
In May 2018, the body of Alexander Alfaro Castillo, a Herndon resident, was found with a note on his chest alongside photos of a young girl. It read, “He raped me when I was drunk so I killed him.”
Castillo also had underwear stuffed in his mouth and the letters “MS” carved into his face, according to a recent news report.
Now, Herndon police are saying that the case is not the revenge killing it appeared to be.
Authorities say they will not disclose a motive because the case is still pending in court, but they believe the note was intended to distract the police from tracking the actual suspects.
The Washington Post dove into search warrants that confirm one suspect in the killing — Denis Castillo Hernandez, 21, who is allegedly an MS-13 member.
Here’s more from the report:
A white powder was sprinkled over Castillo’s head and body when it was discovered, prompting officers to call a hazmat team to clean up the substance before detectives could investigate more fully, according to the search warrants. The powder was later determined to be a salt that was not dangerous.
Maria Ines Alfaro, the victim’s sister, said her family did not know Hernandez and they had not been told by police what prompted the killing.
“He was very sweet and supportive in many ways,” Ines Alfaro said of her brother. “He used to bring a bottle of wine to have with my mom and me. We used to do that every day.”
Local police have been mum about the case, releasing only a few public details since it occurred.
Search warrants obtained by the Post indicate Castillo was found dead in his mother’s home on the 400 block of Patrick Lane on May 26. He was lying on his back on the floor in underwear and a black shirt. Residents in the home said they heard loud banging and screaming prior to the arrival of police.
The state’s medical examiner noted that Castillo died of multiple injuries.
A detective later learned that Castillo was texting with a contact named “Denis El Salvatruco” earlier that day, according to the post. The number was later traced to Hernandez’s father.
Hernandez was taken into custody on May 31 in connection with a separate stabbing that happened that day. Police found a picture of Castillo in Hernandez’s wallet, according to the Post.
Hernandez will stand trial on July 8 in connection with Castillo’s killing.
Photo via Herndon Police Department
Readers of Virginia Living magazine named the Reston Farmers Market the best farmers market in Northern Virginia.
The selection was made from the magazine’s annual readers’ survey in January and also covered categories like best in arts, culture and entertainment; living and recreation; shopping; services; and food and drink.
The market, which is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays through Dec. 7 at Lake Anne Village Center. It is one of 10 producer-only farmers markets run by FCPA.
The magazine wrote the following about the market:
“Market managers John and Fran Lovaas and Keith Strange manage the volunteers who keep the Fairfax County farmers’ market going. All products are strictly producer-only; vendors may only sell what they raise or make from scratch. These truly local vendors travel an average of just 50 miles to the market.”
Photo by John Lovaas
Reston Association’s Board of Directors appointed Doug Britt to fill a seat vacated by former director Sridhar Ganesan last month.
Britt, an environmentalist who led the team by the organization’s first RA’s State of the Environment Report (RASER), was appointed as an at-large director late last week during the board’s meeting.
The term will run through April 2020 because Britt was appointed by the board. The final year of the seat will be up for election next year.
He says engaging with focus groups can help stave off perceptions that decisions are pushed arbitrarily by a select group of people.
“You have to do the work upfront,” Britt told the board on Thursday.
Edward Abbott, a Reston resident of 39 years and chairman of RA’s elections committee, also applied to be considered for the position.
Britt, a Reston resident of 44 years, has a background in life sciences and resource management.
In addition to leading the RASER project, Britt has served as a volunteer stream monitor, worked at Walker Nature Center events, and helped draft Reston’s application to become a biophilic city.
He currently serves on RA’s Environmental Advisory Committee.
Photo courtesy Reston Association
Lifeguard Shortage Prompts Pool Schedule Change — RA changed the schedule of its pools over the weekend due to an unexpected shortage of lifeguards. The organization is actively hiring lifeguards for this year’s season. A job fair is set for Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at a local pool. [Reston Association]
The Washington Post Releases Endorsements for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors — The paper endorsed Walter Alcorn for the seat of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, calling him a “formidable land-use expert.” [The Washington Post]
INOVA Blood Drive is Today — Stop by the bloodmobile truck next to the pavilion at Reston Town Center to date blood between 1 and 6 p.m. today. Registration is available online and on site. [Reston Town Center]
Explore Reston Association’s Home Inspection Process — Dive into the exterior inspection process that is required by RA before selling your home. [Reston Today]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Before we head off into Memorial Day weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now this week.
- Reston Town Center’s Vapiano is Temporarily Closed Again
- Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival and More This Weekend in Reston
- Town Center Parkway Underpass Targets Completion in 2032
- After Ownership Change, Future of Reston National Golf Course in Question
- Report: Facelift Planned for RTC’s Common Areas
If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.
A Reston man suffering from hallucinations fired several gunshots against imaginary kidnappers that he said were holding a child hostage in his town home.
The incident happened on May 7, according to court documents filed by the Fairfax County Police Department in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
A police officer arrived on the 1500 block of Poplar Grove Drive after the man told police kidnappers were holding a young child inside his townhome.
When an officer got to the scene, the man ran out of the home with a fully loaded gun, according to police. The officer handcuffed him and searched the townhome.
Police found no one in the home, but did spot two shell casings and evidence that two rounds were fired at a wall. No injuries or damages resulted.
The suspect was released on recognizance, after the man was held involuntarily “for his safety and the safety of the public” under a temporary detention order, according to the documents.
Police executed a search warrant to seize additional weapons from his home.
The suspect was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor count of the reckless handling of a firearm on Tuesday (May 21). He will be arraigned on May 28.
Reston Now does not publish the identity of suspects involved in cases with mental health implications.
File photo
Comstock Companies, the developer of Reston Station, has barred political campaigning at Reston Station Plaza — a policy that clashes with the county’s official position on the issue.
Conflicting stances on the permissibility of political campaigning at the plaza has piqued some concerns about the privatization of public spaces in Reston.
A spokesperson for Fairfax County told Reston Now that state election law “doesn’t prohibit campaign activities including voter registration on private property.”
Comstock leases Reston Station Plaza from Fairfax County under a 99-year ground lease. This public-private partnership does not prevent political campaign activities, the county says.
The company, however, has adopted a longstanding policy that political campaigning is not allowed at the plaza, according to Maggie Parker, Comstock’s vice president of communications.
“It would be like me setting up shop on Walter [Alcorn’s] front lawn,” Parker, who is also a candidate in the race for Hunter Mill District Supervisor, said.
Alcorn, who is also running for the seat vacated by longtime Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, said volunteers from his campaign were recently barred from campaigning outside of the Starbucks on the plaza.
He says a security officer told campaigners that political activity was not allowed at the site.
“It’s unfortunate that what should be publicly usable space is being operated as private space,” Alcorn said. “This is one of the challenging and frustrating things about where we are as a community. We’ve really privatized our public spaces.”
Parker, who has campaign signs plastered along a fence near the entrance to the garage at Wiehle-Reston East, said she is seeking Comstock’s approval for all candidates to campaign at the plaza before the primary election on June 11.
“Given the interest in the campaign, I would like an opportunity to challenge our management and have one day — maybe the Thursday before the primary — for all candidates to come out. I would love to work on that,” Parker said.
Jubal Thompson, general counsel for Comstock Companies, noted that Reston Station Plaza’s unique public-private partnership sets it apart from other Metro stations, which may allow political campaigning.
“Comstock has a 99-year leasehold interest for the exclusive use to the land and the improvements it makes to the property. So effectively Reston Station Plaza is private property with public access rights,” Thompson wrote in an email to Reston Now.
Alcorn also took issue with Parker’s campaign signs on Comstock’s property, which he says muddies the line between private and public interests.
Parker noted that her signs are on private property.
“My company is very enthusiastic and support of the campaign and the signs are all on private property,” she said. “I wouldn’t go stick my signs in someone’s yard without them agreeing.”
Comstock’s marketing team is open to selling sign space to any candidate, she added.
Photos by Fatimah Waseem
