Village Green Day School, a private preschool in Great Falls, is expanding its infant care programs in celebration of its 40th anniversary this year.
The school will offer a new infant program this summer in response to growing parental demand for expanded programs, according to Jason Lody, the Executive Head of School.
“As we reflected on our current community’s needs, we also identified a growing need for infant care in Great Falls and its surrounding communities. Because of this we will start a dedicated infant care program with an environment inspired by the Montessori philosophy and use of the Creative Curriculum to support the child’s development during their time here,” Lody told Reston Now.
Although county approval is pending — the school must modify its special exemption with the county — the expanded program is expected to open its doors on August 26.
No changes to occupancy or the number of on-site employees are proposed. But the school is seeking to restrict the enrollment age from two months to three months. The school does not enroll children who are older than one year.
Lody offered the following description about the program:
Village Green’s Infant Program is designed to provide a stimulating environment where each child is provided an individual routine that supports physical, literacy, language, health, and social/emotional learning. Guided by standards from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) our infant program allows for each child to experience relationship with caring adults who are specially trained teachers with experience in infant care.
The school’s application is set for a hearing before the Fairfax County Planning Commission on July 17, followed by a vote by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 30.
Photo via Jason Lody
Reston Association Volunteer Service Awards Next Week — “Two individuals were named as Volunteers of the Year. Doug Britt, who has been instrumental in collecting environmental data, and Cindy Metcalf, who coordinates and leads class instruction on how to start a garden, both won the top honor.” [Reston Association]
Penzance’s Plans for 555 Herndon Parkway — The District-based developer is out with new renderings for its planned development just one tenth of a mile away from the entrance of Herndon Metro Station. [Town of Herndon Government]
Community Emergency Response Guide — The new guide offers tips on how community partners and neighbors should collaborate during an emergency. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Joe Heflin
A new shelter designed to support environmental education programs will open in Riverbend Park in Great Falls this spring. Residents can also reserve the shelter for community gatherings and events.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Saturday, April 27. The $864,000 project — financed through voter-approved park bonds — also includes 18 new parking spaces and enhanced stormwater management.
Judy Pederson, a spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Park Authority, told Reston Now the new outdoor education shelter “serves a vital role in outdoor education for local school children,” allowing residents to host up to six classes simultaneously. Previously, the park’s facilities only allowed three classes to be held at once — two indoors and one outdoors.
FCPA hopes the new shelter will meet growing demand for additional educational facilities. Buses can also park near boat trailer parking spaces in the lower waterfront parking, Pederson said.
Photo via Fairfax County Park Authority
Registration for the ninth annual Reston Kids Triathlon will open today (April 10). Young athletes between ages 6 and 14 will swim, bike and run in the three-event race.
This year’s event is set for Sunday, August 4 at Ridge Heights Pool (11400 Ridge Heights Road). The registration portal will open at 7 p.m. on the event’s website.
The event is sponsored by Reston Association and the YMCA-Fairfax County. Participants are divided into three age groups and swim distances between 50 and 150 meters, bike between 1.1 and 4 miles and run between 0.6 to 1.4 miles.
Information about this year’s course is available online. Like last year, the finish line is on the west end of Langston Hughes Middle School. Event organizers are working with officials at Terraset Elementary School, which is under construction, to provide a safe route from the underpass to wooded trails.
Although the sign up form for volunteering has not opened yet, interested volunteers can contact Dan Merenick at [email protected].
Photo by Sean Bahrami via Reston Association
A Herndon woman has been arrested in connection with a homicide on Clearwater Court in Herndon earlier this month.
The Herndon Police Department arrested Stephanie Fyfe, 29, on Tuesday (April 9). The victim, David Puryear, 45, of Clinton, Md., was found unresponsive on April 5 at around 1 a.m. at the 600 block of Clearwater Court.
According to a crime report, Puryear had a stab wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at Reston Hospital. Police said the victim and the suspect know each other.
Anyone with information should contact the police department at 703-435-6843.
In other news, the Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
2100 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
9900 block of Georgetown Pike, beer from business
11900 block of Market Street, merchandise from business
2400 block of Masons Ferry Drive, cash from location
11800 block of Spectrum Center, cash from business
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, merchandise from business
12000 block of Town Square Street, merchandise from business
11400 block of Washington Plaza, wallet from residence
STOLEN VEHICLES
None reported
File photo
Luke Frazier, a pianist and founder of the American Pops Orchestra, is set to take part in a program featuring the music of Irving Berlin tomorrow (April 11) at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road).
The program, which is part of CenterStage’s “Meet the Artists” series, will also feature other musicians. The event is made possible through a partnership between Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University and Reston Community Center.
Berlin was an American composer and lyricist who produced ballads, dance numbers, novelty tunes and love songs. His work forms a major part of the Great American Songbook.
The event, which will take place from 2:15-3:30 p.m., is free and open to all ages.
Photo via Reston Community Center
Film on Reston Takes CenterStage Tonight — Dive into the story of how Reston founder Robert Simon envisioned Reston and fought to keep his original principles strong during the film screening of “Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston VA” tonight at 7 p.m. at CenterStage. The event is free and open for all ages. [Reston Community Center]
High Honors for Herndon High School Freshman — The student, Claire, was recognized by the Town of Herndon as the Distinguished Teen Volunteer for 2019. She contributed more than 400 hours of service since 2017. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Reston Students Win Big at Virginia Odyssey of the Mind — Students from six Fairfax County schools, including several competitors from Reston, earned top honors at the state competition over the weekend. The contest encourages students to solve complex problems. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
A Recap of Founder’s Day — Reston Historic Trust & Museum organized the 2019 Founder’s Day Celebration over the weekend with a day-long event to mark the 55th anniversary of Reston’s founding. [The Connection]
File photo
A Reston man was killed as he crossed a road in Fairfax around 6 a.m. today (April 9), police said.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, Ralph Johnson, 63, was crossing Lee Jackson Memorial Highway near Alder Woods Drive when the driver of a 2017 Toyota Highlander hit Johnson as he was walking in the road.
Police said Johnson was not walking in a crosswalk and that “alcohol may have been a factor” for Johnson. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The driver, who was traveling westbound on Lee Jackson Memorial Highway at the time, remained on the scene. Police believe the driver was not speeding and alcohol was not a factor. The incident tied up traffic earlier this morning.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the police department’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543.
File photo
Bombay Velvet, an Indian restaurant, will open at RTC West (12100 Sunset Hills Road) on Monday (April 15). The 2,500-square-foot restaurant, which the owner describes as “upscale,” can seat 100 guests between 22 indoor tables, three outdoor tables and one bar.
Rajiv Chopra, the chef and owner, is also behind other food ventures in the area like Punjabi By Nature and dessert shop Evergreen Sweets.
“We knew there was an opportunity to fulfill a missing need for a fine dining Indian establishment in the DMV,” Chopra said in a written statement. “Our new world approach to traditional cooking paired with our elegant food presentation gives us hope that locals and visitors who come into Bombay Velvet will expand their palates and try new regional Indian dishes that they have never experienced before.”
The menu includes dishes like “Calangute Beach Surf ‘N’ Turf” — a spicy chicken chorizo with Goan balchao shrimps — and “Khosla Ka Ghosla” — a dessert with vermicelli and dates. The restaurant takes its interior design inspiration from 1970s Bombay and 1930s American households.
Bombay Velvet is open from Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to midnight.
Photos via Bombay Velvet
Renewed discussions are underway on how to regulate Airbnb-style rentals in the Town of Herndon following an unsuccessful legal challenge by residents to Fairfax County’s recently established regulations.
The Herndon Planning Commission took up the issue at a work session on Monday (April 8). If approved, the new zoning ordinance would require residential property owners seeking to rent out their homes to limit guests to six adults for terms of no longer than 90 days. A $200 zoning permit, valid for two years, and an associated inspection will be required before property owners can operate a short-term rental.
Town officials first considered ways to regulate short-term rentals late last year. The commission directed zoning staff to research best practices regarding regulations and monitor the legal challenge to Fairfax County’s zoning ordinance, which is similar to the town’s proposal.
In the latest draft, zoning staff removed a condition requiring residential property owners to maintain a guest log. The new proposal also defines who constitutes a permanent resident, according to David Stromberg, the town’s zoning administrator. The draft also stipulates the following:
- Operators must provide proof of permanent residency.
- Events like weddings, concerts, parties and banquets associated with a short-term rental are prohibited.
- Operators must provide two off-street parking spaces. The county’s ordinance requires one off-street parking space.
- Recreational vehicles are not allowed.
- One rental contract is allowed per night.
- There is no limit on the number of nights where a portion of the unit can be rented if the primary resident is present.
- Operators must provide safety equipment like smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.
Late last year, 36 Fairfax County residents sued the county for overreaching its authority on regulating short-term lodging rentals. The county’s motion to dismiss was granted, although the plaintiffs can come back to the court with an amended petition, according to town officials.
Efforts to regulate the burgeoning industry were set into motion two years ago when the state’s General Assembly approved legislation allowing localities to regulate short-term rentals. Permit fees and the maximum number of nights allowed per unit vary across jurisdictions. Arlington County sets a limit of 180 nights and has a $63 permit for one year whereas Loudoun County allows unlimited nights and requires no permits.
Photo via Airbnb
Don’t let above-freezing temperatures deceive you — Local police advise commuters to exercise caution as they head out today. Road conditions remain icy and local police have already responded to a number of crashes today. [Fairfax County Police Department]
When Wiehle-Reston East commuters were left in the dark — A few weeks ago, Metro commuters were left in the dark when several Silver Line trains weren’t running from Largo Town Center to Benning Road. Metro’s main spokesman won’t say why. [The Washington Post]
Last days to drop-off donations — Cornerstones’ Thanksgiving Food Drive is nearing to an end. The last day to drop off requested donations at a number of local donations is this Monday. [Reston Community Center]
In case you missed it — A car crash sent four people to the hospital yesterday morning. The driver of one car was trapped and was removed from the car. [Reston Now]
Photo by Twitter user @MrErrett
All Fairfax County Public Schools will open two hours late tomorrow (Friday), ushering in a second day of weather-related impacts on schools.
School offices and central offices will remain open. All county public schools were closed today due to snowy conditions.
Photo via Twitter user @MrErrett
A car crash involving several cars on Route 7 sent four people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries earlier this morning.
Units from Station 39 in North Point responded to the incident, which happened as icy and snowy conditions swept down on much of the area today.
The driver of one car was trapped and was removed from the vehicle.
No other information about the incident was immediately available.
Photos via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Local police and law enforcement officials are advising commuters to exercise caution as they head out today. A winter weather advisory, which was initially in effect until 1 p.m. today, has been extended to 4 p.m.
Two roads in Reston, Fox Mill Road at Folkstone Drive and Wiehle Avenue at Inlet Court, which were closed earlier this morning, are now open, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. FCPD is maintaining a list of all closures in the county online.
Here’s more from social media:
Broken down bus on Reston Station Blvd. Clearing out now. @wtop pic.twitter.com/QJxOrpZtHL
— GrantG (@OnTopOfIndy) November 15, 2018
@capitalweather Alexandria-Reston commute was genuinely harrowing. I would not recommend going out if people can avoid it. pic.twitter.com/CMiinu0xTA
— Robyn (@Luxnoctis) November 15, 2018
This story has been updated.
Schools closed, Fairfax Connector continues normal service — Although Fairfax County Public Schools are closed today due to a wintry mix slowly descending onto the region, the Fairfax County connector will continue normal service today. [Fairfax Connector]
Vote on Reston Association budget expected tonight — The Board of Directors will vote on the final budget for the next year, as well as a planned $11 assessment increase. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Other items on the budget include an update on the state of the environment in Reston and an executive session to discuss personnel and contractual matters. [Reston Association]
Another vote of note tonight — The Fairfax County Planning Commission is expected to vote on a plan by Woodfield Investments to replace a vacant office building at 1941 Roland Clarke Place with an apartment building. [Fairfax County Government]
A chance for gift giving — The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is seeking donations for its annual Toys for Tots campaign beginning Nov. 19. All county fire stations will accept donations through Dec. 12. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
