Students from Sunrise Valley Elementary School are getting ready for the final round of an international educational competition that encourages students to solve complex problems.
The local team advanced to finals after winning first place in the northern Virginia regional tournament of Odyssey of the Mind by a 48-point margin in early April.
Odyssey of the Mind provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members solve problem from building mechanical classics to presenting their interpretation of literary classics. World finals will be held May 22 through May 24 in Michigan.
“Each of the seven girls on the team have put in hundreds of hours since September to earn a spot at Worlds,” said Valentina Golac, who is working with the team. “Their school and community is very proud of them.”
The team has launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance their trip to Michigan for the world finals. So far, they’ve raised $1,411 of their $10,000 goal.
Participating countries include China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland and Uzbekistan.
Photos via Valentina Golac
Reston Community Center is seeking performing arts groups of all ages and cultures for the 19th annual Reston Multicultural Festival. The event takes place on Saturday, September 28 at the historic Lake Anne Plaza.
Applications are due by June 14. Interested groups or individuals should submit RCC’s entertainment application form, which is available online.
All application packets should include audio and video sampling the group’s work. Instead of requiring auditions, RCC will use submission materials to select artists. Samples should be recent and represent work that the individual or group will perform.
The festival’s entertainment committee will review submissions using criteria like artistic merit, production value, evidence of authentic traditions and forms of specific cultures, and overall merit of the performance to the festival. Performances geared toward a specific religion are allowed, but the act should not “proselytize or overtly promote any faith over another,” according to event organizers.
Material should also be suitable for all ages and free of content would be “inappropriate for a diverse, multicultural and multigenerational audience,” according to RCC. Special consideration will be given to Reston-based organizations.
Artists selected for the festival will be notified by July 12. Art vendors, community organizations and food vendors must also submit applications by June 14.
Photo by Reston Community Center
It’s that time of year again: the Walker Nature Center will host Reston Association’s annual Spring Festival on Saturday from 1-5 p.m.
The festival is free and features entertainment, craft-making, display from local environmental groups and other activities. It will take place at the center (11450 Glade Drive)
Attendees can also rent canoes and kayaks on Lake Audubon for $5 for thirty minutes. A native plant sale and fishing activities are also planned.
This year’s entertainment schedule, which is sponsored by Reston Community Center, is packed with an animal show from 1:30-2:15 p.m., a mad science interactive show from 2:45-3:15 p.m., and Bob Brown Puppets from 4:15-4:45 p.m.
Song Garden, the Stewart Sisters and Lindsey Hirshfield will play acoustic music throughout the event. Parking is available along Glade and Soapstone Drives and near the Glade Pool.
Photo by Volunteer Reston
Reston Developer Focuses on Affordable Housing in Campaign for Board Chair — Timothy Chapman, one of four Democrats running to succeed Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sharon Bulova, says expanding affordable housing is a key component of his campaign platform. Chapman grappled with homelessness growing up and is the co-founder of BrunoClay Management, a construction contractor based in Vienna. [Fairfax County Times]
Herndon Police Department Says Goodbye to K9 Leon — Leon was medically retired in February after losing a battle to cancer on Thursday. [Herndon Police Department]
Review: Another Reason to See ‘Annie’ by Reston Community Players — “There’s an old adage in performance that you should never work with children or animals since they tend to steal the show. Reston Community Players do not shy away from this challenge with their excellent production of the musical ‘Annie,’ now playing at the Reston Community Center through May 18.” [Reston Community Players]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now this week.
- Señor Ramon Taqueria to Open New Location in Reston
- Cleanup Underway After Tornado Touches Down in Reston
- Pupatella Pizzeria is Coming to Reston Next Year
- Town of Herndon ‘Crescent’ Eyes Remaking by 2035
- National Weather Service: Five-Minute Tornado Classified As ‘Weak’
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.
Photo via Fairfax County Government/handout
Dogs and their owners are invited to a Pup Social tomorrow at Hyatt Park in Reston Town Center (1800 Presidents Street). In this on-leash dog event, dogs and their owners can socialize with their neighbors from 2-4 p.m.
Attendees will also get the chance to get a professional portrait of owners and their dog. Attendees can also enter a raffle for a $100 RTC gift card. Refreshments will be provided by EagleBank. The event is hosted by Public Art Reston.
Tomorrow (April 27)
- Woofie’s Grand Opening (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) — The business, which offers pet sitting, dog walking and a mobile pet spa, will host a grand opening event at Jimmys Old Town Tavern (697 Spring Street).
- Community Yard Sale (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) — Eighty families will sell a variety of items in this event hosted by Reston Association at 1900 Campus Commons Drive.
- Spring Carnival (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) — The spring carnival by Reston Children’s Center includes food, carnival games, fire truck visits, a treasure hunt and more. Entrance is free but game tickets cost 50 cents per ticket. The carnival will take place at Reston Children’s Center (11825 Old Crafts Drive).
- Opening Reception of Things That Don’t Have Names (5-7 p.m.) — Join the Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market Street) for the opening reception of this exhibit by DC-based artist Stephanie Williams. The exhibit of objects apparently doesn’t have names.
- Annie (8 p.m.) — Reston Community Players kicks of a performance about the comic strip heroine, Little Orphan Annie. Additional performances are planned through May 18.
Sunday (April 28)
- Bird Walk (7:30-10:30 a.m.) — Beginners and experts will search for birds across a variety of sites starting from Glade Stream Valley Trail. The event is for adults only and registration is not required.
- Healthy Kids Day (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) — Kids can awaken their imagination by exploring new activities and healthy habits with activities like swimming in a pool and a petting zoo. The event takes place at the YMCA in Reston (12196 Sunset Hills Road).
- Bike Drive for Kids and Bike Maintenance Check (12-4 p.m.) — Athletes competing in the Reston Sprint Triathlon and the BeAMYazing Reston Youth Triathlon can get free bike safety checks at The Bike Lane (1150 Sunset Hills Road). Event organizers will also accept like-new or gently-used bikes for low-income kids.
A severe thunderstorm tornado warning is in effect for Fairfax County until 3:15 p.m. today (Friday). The National Weather Service issued the alert this afternoon.
Residents are encouraged to take shelter immediately.
The alert comes one week after a small tornado touched down in Reston. NWS classified the tornado as weak, but it left downed trees and destroyed one Reston home.
Reston Association staff worked to clear downed trees on its properties this week. Property owners should contact insurance companies or tree removal companies to remove downed trees from their yards.
Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals overcome tough economic times, is hosting a forum on affordable housing next month for candidates running for the Hunter Mill District Supervisor seat
The event, which takes place on Monday, May 13 from 7-9 p.m. at Heritage Fellowship Church (2501 Fox Mill Road), was organized in response to the “housing affordability crisis” in Fairfax County, according to Cornerstones. More than 44 percent of renters and 22 percent of homeowners spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, according to the county’s strategic plan.
Candidates for the Hunter Mill District Supervisor seat will answer questions about affordable housing and economic development in Fairfax County from a panel of businesses and community leaders. A meet and greet reception will follow the question-and-answer period at 8:30 p.m.
Rev. Debra Haffner of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston will moderate the event. The forum is free and open to all, but attendees should register online. Hunter Mill District residents can submit questions about affordable housing to [email protected]. Questions will be selected prior to the event.
The Hunter Mill District Supervisor election is set for June 11.
Photo by Reston Association
The Herndon Town Council adopted a $53.9 million budget this week for fiscal year 2020, representing a 10.4 percent decrease over last year’s budget.
Although real estate taxes were unchanged this year, the town’s meals tax increased from 2.5 to 3.75 percent — a move that town officials said was necessary to fund capital improvements, the Herndon Police Department’s operations, an assistant town attorney position, and restoration of parks and recreation programs.
Fiscal year 2020’s recurring expenditures increased by 2.2 percent over last year from $35.2 million to $36.3 million. Overall, expenditures increased nearly 3 percent over last year.
Other taxes like the cigarette tax and business professional and occupational license tax remained unchanged. The water service rate increased from $5.87 in FY 2019 to $6.19 per 1,000 gallons of water consumption in FY 2020.
Recycling fees doubled from $16 to $32 per year. Personnel costs also increased by $805,359 over last year, totaling nearly $28.1 million of the overall budget.
Town officials said that this year’s budget continues to prioritize Metro planning, downtown redevelopment, the efficiency of town operations and capital improvements.
“We appreciate everyone who called, emailed, and provided in-person comments throughout the budget deliberation process,” said Mayor Lisa Merkel. “The newly-adopted budget funds the programs and service our citizens have told us are important to them.”
The next fiscal year runs from July 1 of this year to June 30, 2020.
Photo via Town of Herndon
When Hank Lynch — a trained horticulturist and arborist — came to Reston to fill the long vacant position of Reston Association CEO a little over three months ago, he knew the community “needs protecting.”
The Norfolk resident is a newcomer to Reston — standing in stark contrast to his predecessor, Cate Fulkerson, who left after serving the organization for 26 years in different roles. In the coming months, Lynch hopes to bring a fresh set of eyes to the quasi-governmental association to reimagine RA and its members, all while preserving what makes Reston unique.
Lynch’s executive experience is largely restricted to the environmental sector – a characteristic that he says is relevant to Reston. He was the CEO for Farm Sanctuary, an animal protection organization that advocates for farmed animals. He also held leadership positions at the National Maritime Center in Norfolk and Stan Hywet Hall & Garden in northeast Ohio. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in horticulture, including design, public administration and museum management, from the University of Maryland and the University of Delaware.
“It’s got a very strong tie to make sure the environment of this community is maintained in a very healthy way,” he said.
Lynch said RA should consider modernizing its operations and services instead of maintaining the status quo. He is working with RA’s communications team to find an outside contractor who would help RA determine how its membership pool has changed, what the community’s needs are today, and exactly what RA’s members want and need from the organization.
For Lynch, backing decisions based on data instead of personal opinion is the most healthy way for an organization to operate.
“The last time RA can look back from when it did something like this, it was almost 10 years ago,” Lynch said. “And the community has changed dramatically.”
Right now, his office is gearing up for the next operational budget and a new strategic plan for the association.
Lynch also hopes to find more ways to generate revenue without relying on assessment increases. In response to questions about revenue generation from the Lake House, Lynch said it was too early to speculator on how to generate revenue. He expects to work with RA’s Board of Directors to explore different ideas.
“There’s never just one thing that solves a problem or a challenge like this. It’s always a lot of little things and how you maybe weak some programs,” he said.
Lynch said one of his top priorities is to maintain low assessments. Solidifying Reston’s identity, however, will require give and take. RA will have to determine its niche as a community organization without duplicating services and programs offered by others in the community.
As the seeds planted by Reston’s Comprehensive Plan bring more mixed-used development to the area, the horticulturist is hopeful Reston’s roots will remain strong. Lynch says that the community has welcomed him in the “most professional and gracious way in any job that I have taken.”
So far, Lynch — who follows a plant-based diet — is embracing Reston’s beauty and uniqueness, he said. As he bikes in the area, Lynch said he hopes Reston’s unique identity remains preserved.
“We can set it as an example of how other communities should function.”
Photo via Reston Association
Fatal Pedestrian Crashes Exceed Murder Rate in Fairfax County — Local officials are asking the public to avoid distracted driving in order to help prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being killed on the road. [WTOP]
‘Before the Flood’ Screening Tonight — The film follows actor Leonardo DiCaprio as he interviews scientists, activists and world leaders about climate change. The screening, which is part of an annual environmental film series, takes place at the Walker Nature Center from 7-9 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. A donation of $5 is suggested. [Reston Association]
County Proposal to Pay Legal Fees for Residents Facing Immigration Enforcement –– “As the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approaches the May 7 deadline for budget adoption, one of the more intriguing, and potentially polarizing, items under consideration is a pilot program that would fund legal representation for county residents subject to federal immigration enforcement actions.” [Fairfax County Times]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering a proposal to widen a three-mile stretch on Route 7 from four to six lanes.
The project, which runs from Reston Avenue to Colvin Run Road, would require the removal of just under one acre of wetlands and 2,196 linear feet of streams — the equivalent of a little over seven football fields. Shirley Contracting Company, the applicant, is attempting to minimize the environmental impacts of the project by shifting the proposed realignment by several feet. This shift would save nearly three acres of wetlands and preserve 109 linear feet of streams, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Still, Shirley Contracting Company will have to provide roughly 1.9 acres of wetland credits and 2,101 feet of stream credits to offset the impact of the project on the environment. Credits are a way to create compensatory mitigation to ensure ecological losses to streams and wetlands do not result in a net loss of natural resources.
Intersection improvements, the replacement of the bridge over Difficult Run, shared-use paths, utility relocations and stormwater management are also planned. Roughly 1,600 linear feet of Colvin Run, which runs parallel to Route 7, will also be relocated.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will issue a permit for the project if it determines the project is in the public interest. “The decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources,” according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project must also get a green light from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The public comment period ends on May 24. Written comments can be sent to [email protected] or by mail to Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers (ATTN: CENAO-WR-R), 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1011).
Map via U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Reston Town Center will host a home and garden marketplace for all plant lovers next month.
The “HGRTC” marketplace brings live music, presentations, plants and vendors to RTC (11900 Market Street) on May 5 from noon to 5 p.m.
WTOP’s Mike McGrath will teach attendees how to
grow tomatoes in gardens and give a lecture called, “Grow a Crazy Mixed Up Garden.” McGrath will offer two lectures at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. McGrath has been a garden editor for WTOP since 1999. He also hosts the nationally syndicated public radio show “You Bet Your Garden.”
At 12:30 p.m., Mina Fies, a remodeling expert with Synergy Design and Construction, will offer a workshop on how to transform your home into a zen zone.
Vendors include Mayflowers, L’Occitane, Fairfax Master Gardeners, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Virginia Master Naturalists, Synergy Design & Construction, Pick-A-Pot Pop-Up and more.
The event concludes with a 5:30 p.m. showing of “Hometown Habitat” at Bow Tie Chinemas. Free tickets will be distributed from 12-5 p.m.
Photos via Myers Public Relations
Over the last year, teachers and students in Reston Community Center’s arts and crafts programs have created artwork.
Their pieces will be on display for the 20th annual teacher and student exhibition Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3.
The exhibit includes a mix of mediums and techniques at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery (1609-A Washington Plaza). Attendees will get a taste of oil, watercolor, oil pastels, Chinese brush painting, ceramics, sculpture, mosaics, woodworking and stained glass.
“All of these works reveal the two-way process of students and teachers exchanging ideas, expanding creativity and having fun,” according to RCC.
A reception is set for Sunday, May 4 from 2-4 p.m.
Photo by Susan Tilton
Update (11:22 p.m.): Delays have cleared, according to the Herndon Police Department. No information about the crash was released.
Earlier:
If you’re headed down the southbound lanes of Elden Street, be on the alert.
The Herndon Police Department said to expect significant delays on the 1200 block of the street due to an accident.
No other information was immediately available.
TRAFFIC AERT: Expect delays in the 1200-block of SB Elden Street due to an accident. Follow police direction. Updates as available. #herndonpd pic.twitter.com/w9awMHFR1Z
— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) April 25, 2019
This story has been updated.
