Hours for Parking Fees Extended at Wiehle-Reston East Beginning Today – Beginning Feb. 5, charges for parking on weekdays will begin at 7:30 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m. On Fridays, fees will continue through 2 a.m. instead of 1 a.m. Other stations will also have fees on Saturdays, but county officials barred an attempt to charge for parking at the Reston station last month. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]

Reston’s Latest Additions Harken Back to Its Modern-Day Design – In a “design perspective” piece, Deborah Dietsch writes that Reston’s last development blocks are being completed with a “welcome return to modern design.” [Washington Business Journal]

Rollicking Roundup Playtime Tomorrow at Frying Pan Farm Park – Children under the age of five can enjoy two hours of free play at the park’s visitor center auditorium from 10 a.m. through noon. Attendees should bring toys to show and share. [Fairfax County Government]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.

Two crime stories ranked high this week as the ongoing community debate about the Tetra purchase continues. We expect to hear more about new strategies to increase revenue from The Lake House on February 22.

1. Updated: Reston Assistant Principal Placed on Leave After Arrest for Shoplifting
2. Updated: 10-Hour Barricade Ends Peacefully
3. Reston Residents Expand Nordic Knot, Deepen Community Ties
4. Critique of Tetra Purchase Flags Conflicts of Interest, Transparency Concerns
5. Boston Properties Secures Full-Building Tenant for 17-Story Tower in Reston Town Center

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Get your costume and a warm towel ready for the 11th annual “Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip” on Saturday at Lake Anne Plaza. The event in Reston will kick off at noon. The dip will begin at 2 p.m.
• Children between the ages of three and five can play with light and shadow during the Walker Nature Center’s Shadow Puppet Production on Saturday from 10-11 a.m. Registration is $6 for RA members and $8 for all others.
• Let your inner sleuth free and dive into the selection of books available at the Reston Friends Mystery and Adventure Book Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Reston Regional Library. The sale will continue on Sunday from 1-3:30 p.m.
• In the mood for a movie and not a book? Experience the film “The Color Purple” on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library. The screening is part of the library’s “book to movie” series.
• Enjoy a free wine tasting at Chesapeake Chocolates at Lake Anne Plaza from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday. Ten percent of all sales will be donated to the polar dip.
• In good deed opportunities this month, donate formal wear and accessories for the 16th annual Dive Central Dress Drive. Reston Community Center is accepting donations through Feb. 28 at its Hunters Woods and Lake Anne locations.
• Join the South Lakes Chorus Department for the 13th year of Broadway Night. This year’s production, “Curtains Up Cabaret,” features more than 80 South Lakes High School students. Performances are scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre at SLHS. Tickets are $15 at the door.
• Check out the recurring art exhibit “Paulina Peavy: A message to Paulina” this weekend at the Greater Reston Arts Center. Peavy was a trained artist who believed an alien controlled her brush after she attended a seance in 1932. Peavy’s mediums include paper, paintings, films, texts and numerous masks.

File photo.

Fairfax County police are warning residents in Reston and Herndon about a string of robberies that happened between September and January.

Police said all 20 break-ins “appear to be similar in nature.” In each instance, robberies occurred at homes, town homes and apartments near a walking path or woods. Personal items were also taken.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

A police spokesperson said the department is not releasing any further information, including how the incidents may be connected and if suspects have been identified.

File photo.

Reston Association Seeks Members for Design Review Board – Land planners, landscape architects and architects are eligible for three volunteer positions on the board. Members are appointed by RA’s Board of Directors. The application deadline is Feb. 28. [Reston Today]

South Lakes High School’s Addition Officials Opens — The school’s  40,000-square-foot addition opened for classes on Tuesday. Crews will remain on-site for several weeks to work on punch-list items and finish exterior work. [SLHS]

Red Kimono Opens in downtown Herndon — The restaurant, which offers authentic Japanese & Korean food, opened on Jan. 27. It is the only business of its kind in the town and has one of the best head sushi chefs in the area, according to a recent article. [The Connection]

Reston Camp Expo Draws Nearly 500 People – The Jan. 27 expo hosted by Reston Community Center featured “hundreds of out-of-school activities and summer camp programs.” [The Connection]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

An affiliate of Angelo, Gordon & Co. hopes to transform nearly four acres of the Reston Corner office center into a mixed-used project with up to 145 residential units and a parking garage.

The company is seeking to create a “new urban neighborhood” at the heels of the future Reston Town Center Metro Station in an area slated for transit-oriented, mixed-use development. The residential building will create an “attractive” and “appropriate” transition from more intense development in the transit station area and low-rise residential development south of the property, according to a Jan. 4 proposal.

The project is located on the southwestern quadrant of the intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive.

The developer lays out a vision for a seven-story residential building with up to 1,500 square feet of secondary uses to serve residents. The 85-foot building would tower over office buildings near the site, which range from 55 to 69 feet.

The development implements the county’s vision to “achieve a better balance of residential and non-residential uses,” wrote Ben Wales of Cooley LLP in the statement.

A garage will replace surface parking used for three office buildings in Reston Corner. Residents would use the existing access onto Sunrise Valley Drive to limit the number of cars passing through Reston Corner.

The plan was set in motion when the company partnered with Atlantic Realty to purchase a portfolio of buildings in Reston in a $82 million deal. More development is envisioned as part of the partnership against the backdrop of commercial activity spurred by the Silver Line.

Other features of the plan include the following:

• A four-level garage with a maximum height of 40 feet.
• The garage will be screened from view from Reston Parkway by existing office buildings and the residential project.
• 12 percent of the residential building will be set aside as workforce housing.
• The developer seeks special exception to increase density across the existing office uses.
• Outside seating on the western edge of the residential building for “gathering and relaxation.”

The complete plan is available below.

File photo of Reston Corner II courtesy Atlantic Realty

As prom season approaches, Reston Community Center is participating in its 16th annual Diva Central Dress Drive.

Beginning today through Feb. 28, the center will collect gently-used formal wear, including dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, scarves, shawls and accessories, at its Hunters Woods and Lake Anne locations.

RCC is accepting donations between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. All donations are tax-deductible.

Donations should ideally be no older than five years old and dry cleaned before donation. If items cannot be dry cleaned, RCC staff should be notified during drop-off.

At a giveaway on March 24, dresses will be given to Reston-area middle and high school students. This year’s event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. at RCC Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza).

Diva Central aims to promote self-confidence by providing dresses to students, including middle schoolers who participate in school dances.

Eileen Boone, RCC’s leisure and learning director, said the drive will help alleviate the financial burden often experienced by local teens as they prepare for school dances.

“We hope to lessen that financial burden by giving local teens the opportunity to create their entire prom or dance look for free,” she said.

For more information or to volunteer, contact LaTanja Jones, RCC’s Collaboration and Outreach Director at 703-390-6158 or  LaTanja.Jones@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Photo via Reston Community Center

VY, a 385-unit apartment community by JBG Smith, is officially open. Six tenants are expected to take up ground floor retail slots by the summer.

Tenants include Super Chicken, Allure Nails, Signature Thai, and Reston Kabob. WillPower Functional Fitness, a 35,000 square foot gym, was the first retail tenant confirmed in 2016.

The building on 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive is part of JBG’s Reston Heights project, which includes Westin Reston Heights, the Sheraton Reston, the Mercer Condos and office buildings along Sunrise Valley Drive.

VY, which stands for “very,”  contains a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments with two-story lofts.Monthly rents range between $1,800 and $3,320. Amenities include an two open-air lounges, a pool, fitness center, courtyard with fire pits, a lawn, on-site dog park, a pet spa and a bike maintenance center.

Greg Trimmer, the company’s executive vice president, said VY will be a “new community landmark.”

“The property sets the bar for luxury living in Reston with a high level of amenities, retail, and access to the outdoors and activities for the consumer who values both a quiet evening in a comfortable home overlooking nature, and entertainment or activity right outside of their front door,” he said.

Photos via JBG Smith

Suspect Involved in 10-Hour Weekend Barricade Receives Psychiatric Treatment – Anthony Moaf, 21, was released from the hospital after a suspected opioid overdose earlier this week. Police said he barricaded himself inside his home after threatening to kill family members and shoot at police officers. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Greater Reston Arts Center Issues Call for Submissions – Submit a proposal for new artwork in response to the prompt, “If you could do anything, what would it be?” Judges will select five artists to participate in the invitational. Entries are due by February 16. [Greater Reston Arts Center]

Man Robbed After Leaving Bus on Monday – Two suspects took personal belongings from a man after he got off a bus on Glade Drive near Millrace Lane between 7:45 and 8 p.m. The suspects then ran from the area, police said. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Board Governance Committee Meets Tonight – The committee, which is charged with planning, committee structure and board knowledge, will meet today from 6-8 p.m. at Reston Association Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). [Reston Association]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

New flashing beacons could be installed at the crosswalk of the intersection of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and Hunter Mill Road soon.

The Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority is seeking a grant to install new actuated beacons at one of the most congested segments of the trail. The current beacons do not provide consistent yielding from motorists.

County officials have indicated the intersection is particularly dangerous due to traffic congestion, limited gaps in traffic and poor sight distance. The beacons would be wirelessly interconnected and solar powered.

At a meeting last week, Reston Association’s Board of Directors expressed support for the grant, which is powered by the Doppelt Family Trail Development Fund.

File photo.

Thirteen Restonians are vying for four seats on Reston Association’s Board of Directors in this year’s election.

The nine-member board is up for a major shake-up this year. Eleven candidates are running for three at-large board seats and two candidates are running for the South lakes District seat for a three-year term.

All races are contested. A breakdown of the candidates, who were certified earlier this week, is below. Seven candidates are running for two at-large seats with three-year terms:

• Aaron Webb
• Colin Meade
• Derrick Watkins
• John Pinkman
• Sridhar Ganesan (appointed as treasurer due to board vacancy)
• Travis G. Johnson
• Ven Iyer

Four candidates are running for another at-large seat for a one-year term:

• Andy Sigle
• David Ballard
• John Bowman (current at-large director)
• Ray Wedell

Tammi Petrine is challenging Julie Bitzer for the South Lakes District seat.

Voting opens on March 5. Results will be announced on April 10.

The nine-member board consists of eight directors, who are elected for three-year, staggered terms by members, and one director elected by apartment owners. Four of the eight directors are district-level representatives while others are elected by the membership at-large.

Reston Now will publish candidate profiles in the coming weeks. Submitted candidate statements are available on RA’s website. Candidates are listed in alphabetized form.

For more information, email the elections committee at [email protected] or call 703-435-6530. Information is also available on RA’s website, including an elections calendar.

Leidos Holdings has signed a new full-building lease for a 17-story office building Boston Properties plans to complete in Reston Town Center by early 2020.

The information technology contractor, which already has offices in Reston, will shift its headquarters to the building on 1750 President Street, according to a release by the company.

“Our new space will give us the opportunity to build on our culture and brand as a combined company, as well as be able to better tailor our working environment to meet employee needs,” wrote Leidos chairman and chief executive officer Roger Krone.

The company began an 18-month search across the region after acquiring a division of Lockheed Martin in 2016. Nearly five years ago, the company separated from SAIC and moved from McLean to RTC’s One and Two Freedom Square.

Construction on the 17Fifty building, which is the last office space to be built in the 86-acre urban core of RTC, is expected to begin in the spring.

Boston Properties’ trophy tower is designed by Shalom Baranes Associates, and will include 8,000 square feet of retail space and a four-floor below-grade parking garage.

Katie Yanushonis, vice president of Boston Properties said she is confident that new building will fit the company’s effort to retain and motivate it’s “world class employee base.”

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Rendering via Boston Properties

Nordine Salon & Day Spa to Celebrate Grand Opening – On Thursday, the salon will host a ribbon cutting ceremony from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The spa moved from Reston Town Center to 11389 Reston Station Blvd. [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]

Reston Recognized as Bicycle Friendly Community – The League of American Bicyclists gave Reston the recognition once again this year. The program allows states, localities, businesses and others to make bicycling a transportation option for all. [Reston Association via Twitter]

Herndon Man Arrested After Police Pursuit – On Saturday, Herndon police arrested Corey Rogers for fleeing from an officer on Herndon Parkway during a stop for a traffic violation. After a short pursuit, the driver lost control and the vehicle struck a light pole. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, eluding officers and reckless driving, among other charges. [Herndon Police Department]

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

Eric Lundberg, an engineer by training, began dabbling with pretzel recipes in his Reston home. The hobby, which he hoped would build bonding time with his daughter as she went through high school, transformed into something bigger: a locally-owned bakery called Nordic Knot.

His production quickly overwhelmed the countertops of his home, which he had certified for the business. After a temporary stint operating through Lake Anne Brew House, Lundberg has found a permanent production site for his bakery just two doors down from the business that drove his success, the brewhouse.

“This was a complete departure from what I’ve done before,” Lundberg said. “I’ve taken something I enjoy and turned it into a good product.”

The store on 11412 Reston Plaza West operates as a production center since late last year. Lundberg and Melissa Romano, the brewhouse’s co-owner, hope to establish a store in the spring. For now, they’re taking online orders, distributing wholesale and delivering locally.

Their business partnership grew from the moment Lundberg came to Romano with a brown paper bag full of pretzels and a business pitch before the brewhouse opened. Retail sales ran through the brewhouse since it opened in 2016.

“The pretzels were so amazing it was not a hard decision to forward and team up with Eric,” Romano said.

They’re now working on plans to capitalize on the emerging breweries market. Many local breweries lack fully operations kitchens, often leaving a good beer without good food to match, they said. They currently deliver to Black Walnut Brewery in Leesburg, Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, and local businesses.

“We’re both community-minded individuals and Lake Anne really provides a good canvas for community-oriented businesses,” Romano said.

Nordic Knot also sends out an electric scooter to deliver locally on bike trails in Reston — an effort to embrace the “progressive” and “forward-thinking” feel of the community, Lundberg said.

They hope to open a storefront where customers can walk-in to place orders and take a bite sometime in the spring.

Photos by Studio-M Photos &  Jennifer Heffner Photography