A player from Vienna who played in Reston is among the roster for Team USA’s Olympic hockey team, which will vie for gold in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
Garrett Roe, a 29-year-old former member of the Reston Raiders, a local hockey club, was selected for the roster, which was unveiled on New Year’s Day. He plays as a forward for EV Zug in Switzerland. He played in seven seasons of professional hockey from the American Hockey League.
According to the Washington Post, Roe’s father, Larry, is the founder of the Club. In an interview with the Post, he said his son always had an “extra little sense for the game.”
“Some players have a sense for the game. Some players are talented. Some players have both, and that’s Garrett,” he said.
Last year, the National Hockey League barred its players from playing in the games, which conflict with the league’s season schedule. The change opened up opportunities for players in less professional leagues to participate in the games.
Congratulations to former @RestonRaiders player Garrett Roe on being named to the U.S. Olympics Men’s National Team!! https://t.co/R7PCsPsPDP
— Reston Raiders (@RestonRaiders) January 1, 2018
Registration for 12th Annual Reston Sprint Triathlon Opens Today — Beginning at 7:30 p.m. today, individuals can begin registering for the race, which will take place on June 3. [Reston Sprint Triathlon]
Local Police Crack Down on Drivers — According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the DWI squad made 513 DWI-related arrests last year, concluding the squad’s first full year. The nine-officer unit was created in December 2016 to reduce impairment-related crashes through increase DWI enforcement [Fairfax County Police Department]
Police Radio Conversation Sheds Information on Fatal Shooting — Local news outlets have released police dispatch calls that show the couple’s daughter called 911 to report that her parents were shot inside their Reston home. [NBC4]
M & S Grill, a restaurant on 11901 Democracy Drive, is permanently closed, according to a restaurant representative.
The restaurant closed on New Year’s Day.
A representative from the public relations firm that is handling media inquiries was not immediately available comment, but a restaurant representative said the decision to shutter was made by corporate offices.
Last week, Appalachian Spring announced plans that it also plans to close its doors in Reston Town Center. The handcrafted gifts and handmade jewelry store opened up in the town center in 1990. Ann Taylor also announced the company will not renew its lease, which expired on Dec. 31.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Funeral Services Held for Reston Couple Killed Before Christmas — Close to 800 people attended funeral services over the weekend for the Reston couple killed a few days before Christmas. A 17-year-old with suspected neo-Nazi sympathies has been charged in their murder. [WTOP]
Greater Reston Arts Center Selected for ’50 for 50 Arts Inspiration’Award — The Virginia Commission for the Arts, a state arts agency, selected GRACE to receive the award in the category of bedrock institutions. The “50 for 50 Arts Inspiration Awards” were conceived and designed by the commission as a 50th anniversary tribute to 50 examples of programs, individuals, and organizations critical to the arts in Virginia. [Viva Reston Lifestyle Magazine]
How to Dispose of Fire Place Ashes — After responding to several home fires involving ashes, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is reminding residents to properly dispose of fire place ashes. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
FBI Raids Home in Sterling — FBI agents arrested Sean Andrew Duncan on Friday and charged him with attempting to obstruct a terrorism investigation. According to court documents, law enforcement allege Duncan has links to terrorism and sympathized with ISIS. [WUSA 9]
Flickr pool photo by Vantagehill
Before we head off into 2018, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.
Major crime incidents, which received hyperlocal and national attention, topped the list this week. Many details remain unknown about the murder of Reston couple last week and a car crash that sent seven people to the hospital, including five children, on Wednesday night.
The following articles were the five most-clicked links on Reston Now this past week.
- Lorton Teen Charged with Murder of Reston Couple
- Update: Couple Killed in Shooting Reston Home
- Longtime Business Leaves Reston Town Center
- New Details Surface in Murder of Reston Couple
- Police Pursuit and Crash in Herndon Sends Five Children, Two Adults to Hospital
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans anything else that’s happening locally. Have a great weekend and see you next year!
On Saturday, a memorial service will be held for Scott Fricker, 48, and Buckley Kuhn-Fricker, 43, the Reston couple who were shot and killed in their own home last week.
The service will begin at 10 a.m. at Herndon’s Trinity Presbyterian Church.
The couple was shot in their home on Friday, Dec. 22. Police believe a 17-year-old Lorton boy, whose identity has not been released, shot the couple and turned the gun on himself. He remains in the hospital with life threatening injuries.
One family member believes the teenage boyfriend of the couple’s daughter killed them after they learned of his Nazi views and encouraged their daughter to break up with him. The shooting took place on the 2600 block of Black Fir Court.
Fricker had a Ph.D from the University of Maryland and worked for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Kuhn-Fricker specialized in estate planning and elder law.
Police are investigating the suspect’s alleged Neo-Nazi connections.
New Year’s Eve Glow Skate at Reston Town Center — Glow sticks will be available from 6 – 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at the RTC Ice Skating Pavilion’s ‘Glow Skate.’ [Reston Town Center via Facebook]
‘Color Me Happy’ at Reston Regional Library on Jan. 10 — Relax, unwind and color your cares away at the library’s adult coloring session. Coloring pages and pencils will be provided. The session takes place from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in Reston Meeting Room 2. [Fairfax County Government]
A Look Inside: One Reston Town Center — Akridge, a commerical real estate company, plans to deliver an “iconic landmark” at 1760 Reston Parkway that include a six-story atrium lobby, an outdoor plaza on the seventh floor and a rooftop lounge and terrance. [Washington Business Journal]
Where to Eat, Shop and Explore in Reston and Herndon — The Washingtonian breaks down the best place to have a bite or swing by shopping the local area. Top picks include ArtSpace Herndon, Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon Historic Walking Trail and Scrawl Books. [The Washingtonian]
Lake Anne’s Jo Ann Rose Gallery (1609-A Washington Plaza) will display the work of a local artist from January 9 through February 4.
The exhibit by Rudy Guernica, a Reston-based artist who studied at Maryland Institute College of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, is titled “Lost in the Woods.” It features paintings inspired by hiking local trails and digital art created by passing photos through art filters from graphic programs that transform source photos into artistic media and styles.
Guernica says his work questions the perception of the creative process and the role of the camera and computers in making artwork.
The exhibit is free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sundays form 9 a.m. to 8 pm. A reception to launch the exhibit is set for Jan. 14 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The artist can be reached at [email protected]. His work can be viewed online.
Photo courtesy of Rudy Guernica
We continue to count down the top 20 most-read articles of 2017 this week. Here’s the breakdown for list #6-10.
10. Confirmation by the National Weather Service that a small tornado touched down in Herndon drew 8,688 views. The tornado was classified as the lowest level on the scale with a top wind speed of between 60 and 70 miles per hour.
9. The beginning of paid parking at Reston Town Center remains a hot topic, marking the first time the retail and residential complex, which opened in 1990, will require parking fees. ParkRTC began on January 3. Nearly 9,000 people signed a petition to stop new parking fees at RTC. The post drew 9,107 views.
8. Progress on phase 2 of the construction of Metro’s Silver Line drew 9,441 views. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is overseeing construction of the 11.4-mile phase 2 extention of the Silver Line from Reston through Dulles Airport in Ashburn. As of March, the project is 56 percent complete.
7. An announcement about the opening of Willard’s BBQ at 11790 Baron Cameron Ave. had 10,117 views, continuing a theme of high-ranking stories about business closures and newcomers.
6. A report about an anti-Muslim exchange at Trader Joe’s in Reston received 10,934 views. The video, posted by comedian Jeremy McLellan, appeared to show a woman making anti-Muslim comment while in line at the store and attracted worldwide attention.
Look out for the final #1-5 list on the countdown tomorrow.
When David Brooks opened up Appalachian Spring, a handcrafted gifts and handmade jewelry store in 1990, Reston Town Center was nothing but a slab of concrete.
Now, as residential buildings touch the skies and redevelopment plans aim to revitalize the core of the area, Brooks is closing his Reston store on 1187 Market St. and shifting his focus to the Rockville location.
The business decided to not renew its lease because customer traffic reduced considerably over the last few months. Paid parking, which was instituted earlier this year, accelerated limited customer traffic, said Brooks, president of Appalachian Spring.
“We’ve seen this for a while. The parking probably accelerated it. I can’t be sure that parking is the complete reason, but a lot of customers have told us that they weren’t happy about that,” he said.
Appalachian Spring was one of the first businesses to come to Reston Town Center. It began in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. in 1968 with the goal of bring a collection of handcrafted products to the community, according to its website.
The location in Union Station (50 Massachusetts Ave.) will also close in the coming weeks.
Brooks said he enjoyed keeping his business in Reston. All items are 20 to 50 percent off in both stores beginning today. The business is expected to close by the end of January.
“We’ve enjoyed being in Reston all these years more than anything. It’s been a major part of our company. We’ve sort of grown up with the town center and the community has driven our business as it goes along. We are thankful to all of our wonderful customers for supporting us all these years,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Appalachian Spring
(Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 3 p.m. to include new information).
A man allegedly assaulted a child, carjacked a pick-up truck and led police on a chase that culminated with a car crash that sent eight people to the hospital late Wednesday night. The suspect, a woman and five children remain in the hospital.
Brendan Stefon Vinson, 28, of Adelphi, faces multiple charges, including carjacking, speed to elude, two assaults on police officers and receiving stolen property. Police were called for back-up at the hospital as the suspect attempted to wrestle out of his handcuffs.
The incident began when the Fairfax County Police Department responded to a report about a child being assaulted on the 6100 block of Early Autumn Drive at around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. They learned a man randomly knocked on the door of a home and hit a young child who was at the door, police said. The suspect fled the area in a stolen car that police believe was taken from Hyattsville around 6 p.m.
A flurry of events continued as the suspect crashed into a pick-up truck at Stone Road and Lee Highway and carjacked the driver. Police believe he then stole a trailer and attached it to the pick-up truck. When police began chasing the vehicle, the suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Centreville Road and Frying Pan Road. He then rammed into a mini van in the intersection, sending five children and a woman to the hospital. One child was ejected from the car and flown to the hospital. The child remains in critical condition.
The suspect attempted to escape by foot at the intersection. As police caught the man, he injured two police officers in an attempt to ward off police. Both victims who were assaulted by the suspect also sustained minor injuries.
Police said they are still investigating multiple scenes relating to this incident. Police officers injured in the incident are recovering and expected to return to work, police said.
Photos via FCPD
How Family Tried to Keep Suspected Neo-Nazi from their Daughter — People magazine published an in-depth piece about the Reston double murder on Friday, including details on how the family attempted to keep the suspect, who turned the gun on himself, away from their daughter. [People]
Escape Herndon Donates Tickets for Charity — The business is donating proceeds from all tickets sold for New Year’s Eve to Starlight, an organization that aims to bring joy and comfort to hospitalized children and their families. [Escape Herndon]
Reston Library Holds One-Hour Sessions to Build Computer Skills — Adults seeking to improve their computer skills can register for a one-hour session with a technology volunteer to improve their computer skills and get help with navigating the Internet and e-books. Individuals interested in participating should call the library to make an appointment. The session will take place from 6 – 8 p.m. today. [Fairfax County Government]
Home share, a nationwide housing program, is offered in just 16 states, according to the National Shared Housing Resource Center. The program, which allows individuals to exchange housing for help in the home, is coming to Fairfax County soon.
GraceFul Homeshare, a family-owned organization that offers in-home care for seniors and older adults with disabilities, is in the process of establishing a home share program for Herndon and Reston. The organization is currently seeking homeowners interested in participating, tenants and volunteers.
The system allows homeowners to offer accommodation to a homesharer who agreed to provide money and/or help with household tasks in exchange for housing. Advocates say home sharing is an efficient use of existing housing stock, helps preserve the fabric of the neighborhood and lessen the need for care services and long term institutional care.
Examples of homesharers include senior citizens, people with disabilities, working professional and individuals at risk of homelessness.
Interviews and background checks will take place before introductions are arranged. Each part will pay an application fee. If the application is accepted and a match is made, the homework will pay a fee for the service.
For more information about the program, email Dan Flavin at [email protected] for more information. GraceFul serves Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties in Virginia, Maryland’s Montgomery County and surrounding areas.
The murder of a Reston couple on Friday rocked the local community and sent nationwide reverberations. Other crime reports continued to come in over the holiday weekend.
A 21-year-old was charged with driving under the influence around 1:20 a.m. today. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested Billan Waberi, a Herndon resident, along Route 28 in Sterling after receiving a report of a driver losing control of a car and striking a highway barrier.
FCPD’s Reston District Station also reported the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
12900 block of Centre Park Circle, package from front door
11200 block of Chestnut Grove Square, cell phone from vehicle
11200 block of Chestnut Grove Square, property from vehicle
2200 block of Gunsmith Square, coat from vehicle
12300 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, copper from business
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, purse from vehicle
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, purse from business
11900 block of Market Street, cell phones from business
11900 block of Market Street, cell phones from business
11400 block of Washington Plaza West, cash from business
2300 block of Woodland Crossing Drive, purse from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported.
Herndon’s police department did not report any major incidents in recent days.
Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2017 this week. Here’s the breakdown for list #11-15.
15. The impending closure of Il Fornaio, a California-based Italian restaurant that opened its first East Coast location in Reston, brought in 7,546 views. The store was located in the Retail at Midtown block of Reston Town Center, which has a free parking lot for customers.
14. A story announcing Cava Mezze Grill’s plans to come to 1815 Fountain Drive drew 7,735 page views. The storefront near Best Buy was previously the home of a Lane Bryant clothing store before it closed last year.
13. A sponsored post on how to spot when a cat is in pain was popular among readers. The post by the owner of Just Cats Clinic in Lake Anne Plaza had 8,281 views.
12. The death of a pedestrian in late February who was hit by a car along Reston Parkway and South Lakes Drive had 8,468 page views. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
11. A small tornado touched down in Herndon in April. Although the tornado was classified as the lowest-impact tornado possible, it toppled trees in Reston and the surrounding area. The news attracted 8,688 page views.
Look out for the #6-10 on the countdown tomorrow.
