The “secure the building” status has been lifted at both schools, according to an alert issued at 4:09 p.m.

Earlier: 

Dismissal has been delayed at Terraset Elementary School and South Lakes High School as both schools enter into “secure the building” status.

“All students and staff are safe and free to move around the building, however we cannot let people in or out at this time,” according to Terraset Elementary School’s Facebook page.

“Secure the building” alerts are issued in the following circumstances, according to the Fairfax County Public Schools’ website.

Used if the danger is outside the building, e.g., a robbery near the school.

• No students allowed outside of buildings and trailers (no P.E., recess, etc.).
• All building and trailer exterior doors are closed and locked.
• People in locked trailers remain in locked trailers.
• Staff members and students are free to move about inside buildings and trailers.
• Staff member posted at building main entrance to control visitor access, issue passes, and direct to reunification area, if necessary.

SLHS is currently in a Secure the Building status. Anyone in the building at this time is to remain here until further notice. We will send more details out as soon as they are available.

— South Lakes High School (@southlakeshs) June 11, 2018

This story has been updated.

Artists, professionals and amateurs alike, descended onto Lake Anne Plaza over the weekend for Public Art Reston‘s annual “Chalk on the Water” event.

During the two-day street art festivals, participants created drawings on the plaza. Proceeds from the event benefit Public Art Reston, a non-profit organization that aims to promote the arts in Reston.

More than 180 people participated in the event, which drew roughly 1,725 attendees.  

“The event went extremely well despite the weather forecast. Artists in all categories created amazing chalk drawings. Most artists came prepared with a sketch or image they planned to realize in chalk,” said Anne Delaney, executive director of Public Art Reston.

The winners for three categories — professional artists, amateur artists and families and kids — are below and pictured above:

Professional Artist

• 1st Place: Penny Hauffe
• 2nd Place: Erica Fallin
• 3rd Place: Brianna Camp

Amateur Artist

• 1st Place: Maxine Prudhomme & Samantha Burgess
• 2nd Place: Jennifer Griffith
• 3rd Place: Tongman Yang

Families & Kids

• 1st Place: Faisal Chaudry
• 2nd Place: John Byron
• 3rd Place: Elia Jarrett

All of the artwork from the weekend’s festival will remain visible on the plaza until it wears off naturally, which could happen today given the forecast of rain.

Photos by Public Art Reston

Why Bechtel matters — The corporate giant already has a Virginia home, so why does the move of its headquarters to Reston matter? [WTOP]

Alerts about pool alerts — On Saturday and Sunday, two Reston Association pools were closed. On Sunday, Autumnwood pool closed early due to a failed mechanical component and on Saturday, Uplands fountain pool closed due to water contamination. [Reston Association]

Making bank –– The Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department can expand medical services after winning a $10,000 grant from a toll road network manager. [Fairfax County Times]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Construction to replace the one-lane Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run is expected to begin in the spring of 2021.

The bridge, which will have two lanes and four-foot-wide shoulders, was built in 1974. Traffic is projected to increase from 7,900 to 11,000 vehicles per day by 2043.

According to preliminary estimates, the project is expected to cost $3 million and should be completed by the summer of 2022.

State officials held a public meeting about the project on April 16. A public hearing about the design of the project is planned for this fall.

Comments on the project will be accepted by the county through June 25 via email ([email protected]).

Photos via Virginia Department of Transportation

Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors will hold an annual public hearing on the center’s programs and budget on June 18 at 6:30 p.m. in RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). 

The hearing will include a presentation about RCC’s highlights and challenges over the past year. Information will also be presented on the center’s budget appropriate for fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

Updates on the renovation of the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center will also be provided.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to [email protected] by June 15 (Friday). Written comments and questions can also be submitted via email.

File photo

An art piece by students at South Lakes High School will be suspended over Lake Thoreau this month. The project, called Connie’s Quilt, is made of rings of white tubing strung together to convey one central theme: community is defined by the connections we have with those around us.

Students from the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) club created the sculpture, with help from the school’s photo, art and design teacher Marco Rando.

Public Art Reston offered the following description of the work:

Connie’s Quilt, is made from rings of white tubing strung together to create an organic and kinetic sculpture suspended over the lake. The artwork, comprised of many parts, is representative of our societal fabric and the importance of connectivity between people. Connie’s Quilt sets out to dispel the myth of the “self-made man” and identify the reality that nobody gets where they are without support from family and friends. Interdependence is crucial to the survival and prosperity of any community, which is represented by the supportive and holistic nature of the rings.

In testimony submitted to Reston Association’s Design Review Board, some residents said that while they appreciated the student’s efforts, the art sculpture was not a welcome addition to the lake.

“The proposed sculpture at first glance looks sinister and immediately brought memories of jails and detention centers to my mind – quite the opposite of a peaceful lakeside collection of communities,” wrote Teri-E Belf, a Reston resident.

Echoing similar concerns, Reston resident Najwa Margaret Saad wrote the sculpture evoked unpleasant images that were not appropriate “at a time when our current American public narrative is about refugees, deportations and such.”

“The design size and aspect are not in harmony with the expansive, peaceful, natural, flowing environment of our Lake Thoreau,” Saad added.

On Thursday (June 14) at 6 p.m., the artwork will be on display before it is installed at the Lake Thoreau Spillway. Students will also offer their thoughts on the project. The reception will be held at SLHS in Room 367. RSVPs are requested at [email protected].

Photos via Public Art Reston

A new home — Global construction firm Bechtel Corp. will move its headquarters from San Francisco to Reston by the end of the year, bidding farewell to its base of operations for the first time in more than 100 years. [The Washington Post]

Fifth annual ‘Chalk on the Water’ festival is this weekend — “Public Art Reston, in collaboration with Friends of Lake Anne, will present Chalk on the Water at Lake Anne, the annual chalk festival at Lake Anne Plaza. Public Art Reston is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding.” [Reston Community Center]

Beauty for all the senses — Reston Chorale showcased five gardens of distinction in four local neighborhoods during the annual Gardens of Note event. [The Connection]

Fired up about fireworks — Lake Fairfax Park will host its annual fireworks show on June 30. As soon as the skies darken, fireworks will light up the sky. [Fairfax County Parks Authority]

PassionFish reopens — After temporarily closing for renovations, the restaurant in Reston Town Center is now open. [PassionFish]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

A 63-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed by a car at the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue and Fountain Drive last night around 9 p.m.

The news comes as local police launched a pedestrian and bicyclist safety campaign in Reston this week in response to an increase in pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.

Police believe the pedestrian was midway through the crossing on Baron Cameron Avenue prior to Fountain Drive when a car in the right lane hit the man.

The driver of the Camry attempted to brake and swerve the car but was unable to avoid hitting the pedestrian police said.

The pedestrian was taken to the hospital and died from his injuries. His identity is being withheld until the family is notified.

Police are investigating whether alcohol was a  factor in the crash. Preliminarily, speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors, police said. The driver remained on the scene and called for help.

In late May, a 71-year-old pedestrian attempting to cross the street at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bluemont Way was hit by a car and killed.

Anyone with information about the most recent incident should call the police department’s crash reconstruction unit at 703-280-0543.

Photo via Google Maps

County officials will conduct small working sessions in the coming weeks with representatives from the Coalition for a Planned Reston, a grassroots umbrella organization, and Reston Association.

The meetings are intended to encourage dialogue between county staff and other organizations as the county mulls a controversial plan to increase Reston’s population density in Reston’s Planned Residential Community district from 13 to 16 people per acre.

The working sessions will cover planned future growth and its impact on transportation, schools and public facilities, parks, recreation and open space and overall planning.

CPR, which includes residents from the Reston Citizens Association, Reclaim Reston and Reston 20/20, hopes talks will allow the organization to “further clarify the modifications to the Reston Master Plan proposed by CPR and [RA]” said Lynne Mulston, a spokesperson for CPR.

Ultimately, CPR hopes changes to the Master Plan will eliminate the need or perceived need to boost the density cap.

In March, many suggestions pitched by both organizations were rebuffed by county staff, who argued that proposed changes to Reston’s PRC simply implemented the Master Plan, which was formed with community and stakeholder input.

Most recently, CPR and RA met with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins and county staff to resume discussions on May 14.

The working sessions’ statement of purpose, proposed by Fred Selden, Fairfax County Director of Planning and Zoning is as follows:

The purpose of these small group meetings is to continue the dialogue between Fairfax County staff and representatives of both Reston Association (RA) and Coalition for a Planned Reston (CPR) regarding the proposed changes to the PRC zoning district. Each small group will consist of representatives from County staff, RA, CPR and other Reston stakeholders. They will discuss future growth and its implications or impact on public facilities and infrastructure that serves Reston. 

The schedule of meetings has not been finalized. CPR and RA are reaching out to subject matter experts to participate in the sessions.

File photo

Following the death of a 71-year-pedestrian who was hit by a car in May, local police have launched a pedestrian and bicyclist public safety campaign in Reston.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District station will display information signs at busy intersections and step up enforcement of violations. The campaign began on Monday (June 4) and will continue through the end of the summer.

Changes in traffic patterns and an increase in pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents motivated the police department to launch the campaign, according to Sgt. Aaron Pfeiff.

“Historically the Reston district has seen an increase in pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents, and with the WOD bike trail running through the district, there are larger numbers of bicyclists,” Pfeiff told Reston Now.

Police will have an increased presence at “problem intersections” and intersections with heavy traffic from vehicles and pedestrians. Pfeiff said the department will also monitor the number of accidents at problem intersections. The police department was not immediately able to identify intersections that will be the top priority.

On May 21, Glanetta Nunn was crossing at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bluemont Way when she was hit by a car and killed. The incident remains under investigation.

Photo via FCPD

The South Lakes High School’s girls track team closed out the 6A State Track and Field Championships with a fifth place finish over the weekend.

Hannah Waller finished second in the 100 meters (12.13) and third in the 200 meters (24.64). Mary Gregory was second in the 400 meters (54.91). Two sophomores teamed up with Nicole Post and Danielle Spears for a third place finish in the 4×100 meter relay (3:57:26).

The boys’ team had an 18th place finish at the state championship. Sean Casey, Alex Loukili, Nicky Gryski and David Ramirez teamed up together to finish third in the 4×800 meter relay (7:55:63). Casey, Loukili and John Eggeman and Alex Wallace finished fifth in the 4×400 meter relay (3:24:11).

Waller and Gregory will compete at the New Balance National on June 15-17 at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C.

Photos by Milestat

How about a taste of the that — Taste of Reston was recently voted the 2018 Best Outdoor Food Festival of Northern Virginia by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. This year’s event is set for June 15 and 16. [Cision]

Rising rates — Tolls on the Dulles Toll Road are set to rise next year. Public hearings are planned for July, but increases may happen anyway. Officials say their financial projections and legal obligations depend on toll increases. [WTOP]

The results are in — The Reston Masters Swim Team recently published the results of the 2018 Jim McDonnell Lake Swim, which was overshadowed by the apparent drowning of one participant. [Reston Masters Swim Team]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Roughly 1,200 people attended Saturday’s inaugural Reston Pride Festival at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston.

The Rev. Debra Haffner, a minister at UUCR, pushed to put together the event after she moved to Reston two years ago and identified what she calls a void in programming for and about the local LGBTQ population.

“I asked where are the gay people in Reston. My congregants told me there were none,” Haffner told Reston Now. “I knew that wasn’t true.”

The event was cosponsored by more than 21 local organizations and included a performance by Reston Community Players and remarks by local elected officials, including state Del. Ken Plum.  Many of the attendees were from South Lakes High School and Herndon High School, organizers said.

Haffner’s son, Greg Tartaglione, a drag performer, was the emcee — a role that Haffner said taught event-goers “about the role a drag queen can play in creating community.”

Plans are in the works to continue the festival next year, likely at a larger venue like Reston Town Center or Lake Anne Plaza. Haffner said the community needs to do more to celebrate the local LGBTQ community.

“For the last year, UCR has had a rainbow flag in front of our church. We’re only the freestanding rainbow flag in Reston. We need as a community to do much more and stand up and support and celebrate the LGBTQ community,” she said.

Photos by Kim-Marie Mullen and Debra Haffner

Departing from its longstanding home in downtown Herndon, next year’s Herndon Festival will take place at the Northwest Federal Credit Union campus (200 Spring Street).

Due to a 2017 agreement with Comstock, the property that housed the festival carnival will be under construction beginning late 2018 or early 2019. As a result of limited space, an alternative site was found. Other areas of downtown Herndon are expected to also undergo construction.

It is unclear if the festival will ever return to the downtown area.

“Once the redevelopment project is complete, town staff will assess what new events or activities will be appropriate and attractive to the community. The Herndon Festival, as we know it today, likely will not return to the downtown area, due to the loss of the open space to host the carnival and considerable number of vendor, sponsor and volunteer booths required,” according to a statement by town officials.

Sans the charm of downtown buildings as a backdrop and grassy spaces for concert seating, county officials expect next year’s festival will feature different programming that will keep the event “fresh and interesting” for the audience.

County officials will not consider removing the carnival from the festival in order to keep the event in downtown Herndon because the carnival generates 45 percent of total revenues from the festival.

“Without a carnival the event would have to be curtailed in enough ways that it would not resemble what we now know as the Herndon Festival,” according to town officials.

Photo by Mikey Tate