As students spend more time in front of screens for virtual learning, staff from the Fairfax County Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit will offer internet safety tips for children.
The virtual event, which is set for Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., is organized by the Reston Community Advisory Committee. The presentation will help parents learn more about how their kids are using the internet, according to the event description.
Here’s more from event organizers:
Things have changed, school is online, work is online, life is online. But do you know what your kids are doing and seeing on the internet? This virtual presentation will discuss how some of the more popular apps work, how to start the conversation about internet safety with your child and how you can prepare yourself for the world wide web according to your pre-teen or teen. This presentation is geared towards parents and family members.
Participants must register online to take part in the virtual conversation.
Photo via Annie Spratt/Unsplash
Feedback Sought for Reston Association Website — As the association prepares to launch a new website in 2021, a survey aims to gauge how users interact with the current website. Possibilities for consideration also include new features like text messaging, a mobile app, and other online functions. [RA]
Dense Fog Advisory In Effect Until 10 a.m. — The National Weather Service has issued yet another advisory until 10 a.m. today. Drivers should ensure there is adequate distance between vehicles. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
First Budget Hearing Set for November — Reston Association’s Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on the 2021 budget on November 4 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. [RA]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Reston Community Center has passed a major milestone for parks and recreation programs.
The center received its accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and the National Recreation and Park Association.
The accreditation is specifically designed for park and recreation agencies and indicates the agency’s service quality and management.
RCC demonstrated compliance with 151 standards and documented policies and procedures to receive the accreditation.
“RCC has long pursued excellence in our programs and services,” said RCC Board Chair Beverly Cosham. “CAPRA accreditation validates our efforts and provides the people of Reston with confidence that their tax dollars are being wisely spent, they are part of our engagement processes, and that our work is conducted at the highest standards of accountability with the best practices established by the field.”
Here’s more RCC on the honor:
The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years
“We look forward to maintaining our accreditation status and continuing to meet these standards in the years ahead,” notes RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon. “Achieving this milestone is important and maintaining accreditation is equally vital to our success. We were able to succeed in large measure as a function of Fairfax County Government excellence and with the support of our colleagues in the Fairfax County Park Authority.”
The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network and the Council of State Executive Directors.
Photo via RCC/Facebook
Dense Fog Advisory In Effect — The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory until 10 a.m. today. Drivers should slow use, use car headlights, and leave plenty of distance between vehicles. [NWS]
Solutions Proposed to Reduce Early Voting Wait Times — With less than two weeks until Election Day, Fairfax’s NAACP President Sean Perryman says that the county should improve wait times for early voting. He sent a letter to county officials calling on measures like extending voting hours. [WJLA]
Reston Contractor Wins $135M Task Order — “Reston-based AceInfo Solutions LLC announced Tuesday it had been awarded a potential five-year, $135 million task order from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).” [Virginia Business]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The redevelopment of downtown Herndon into a mixed-use project by real estate developer Comstock and the Town of Herndon is set to transform a portion of the downtown area.
But as some buildings long vacated by property owners sit in suburban malaise, the Town of Herndon is considering more ways to further revitalize the area.
At a meeting Tuesday night, the Herndon Town Council discussed a plan to create tax incentives for specific areas in downtown Herndon by creating a new zoning term — art-focused redevelopment — that would entitle some developers and property owners to economic incentives like tax rebates for up to a decade and reduced water availability fees.
In order to qualify as an arts-focused redevelopment project, the project must be located in the town’s Planned Development Traditional Downtown zoning district, which is depicted in the map below.
In response to questions about the financial implications of the policy, town manager Bill Ashton clarified that the incentive program creates an additional tool for the town’s toolbox to encourage economic development.
“We will end up no worse than where we are,” Ashton told the council last night.
He says that new property owners in the area have expressed interest in redevelopment but need additional incentives to proceed with new projects.
“It is difficult to activate them because the incentives aren’t there for redevelopment,” Ashton said.
In some cases, properties in the area have long sat vacant. The Ice House Cafe and Bar in downtown Herndon has been closed since late 2018, for example.
Councilmember Cesar del Aguila pressed staff for more clarity on how the policy would secure the town’s financial position.
Town Attorney Lisa Yeatts noted that the policy would result in “long-term gain” for the town.
Ashton added that it is difficult to determine the extent of the payoff because the answer depends on interest in the program as well as the type of projects suggested.
The Herndon Town Council is expected to vote on the proposal at a meeting next week.
Image via handout/Town of Herndon
Three incumbents have been reelected to Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors.
The three board members — William Keefe, William Penniman, and Vicky Wingert — were selected based on the 2020 RCC Preference Poll. The appointments are then made by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at the request of the Hunter Mill District Supervisor.
Wingert had the most votes (1,623) of the five candidates seeking the position. Keefe received 1,536 votes while Penniman secured 1,190 votes. Lorri Zell trailed behind Penniman with 1,092 votes while Neils Pemberton secured only 376 votes.
Here’s more from RCC on the newly elected board members:
William Keefe, an RCC Board member from 2007-10 and again since 2014, has been active in the community as a member of Reston Association’s Board of Directors, the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee, Reston Youth Baseball and Reston Youth Basketball. He was named a Best of Reston awardee in 2017.
William Penniman has served on the RCC Board since 2006. He previously served as the Board’s secretary and treasurer and is active in the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee, Reston Comprehensive Plan Task Force, former Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force and the Sierra Club.
Vicky Wingert has been a resident of Reston since 1973 and has served on RCC’s Board since 2011. She has served as president of the Reston Historic Trust, founder of Friends of Reston and on the Reston Association Board of Directors. She was named a Best of Reston awardee in 2000 and a Simon Fellow in 2017.
Photo via Charlotte Geary
The research phase of local stream restoration projects at Snakeden and Glade has begun following the completion of the first phase of the projects.
According to a news release by Reston Association, crews from Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. will mark boundaries of the wetlands with pink flags as the locations are reviewed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
RA anticipates the work will begin in late October and continue through the end of the year.
Here’s more from RA on the project:
The research being undertaken is a partnership between Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., Northern Virginia Stream Restoration, LC, Resource Protection Group, Inc., and state and federal agencies to further the science of stream restoration and ecology.
This research program has already provided grants to the U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Commonwealth University, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to begin additional monitoring and research in these streams, with more grants to follow. As these groups begin to plan their work, RA members will see their staff and vehicles periodically in these watersheds as they prepare for monitoring this spring. USGS will develop a website to disseminate the resulting information.
The $1 million restoration of the Snakeden Branch Stream, which flows into Lake Audubon, began in October 2019. The project, which spans 750 feet, aimed to improve water quality, protect the ecosystem, improve wildlife habitat and remove invasive species around the area.
Photo by Northern Virginia Stream Restoration Bank
Dense Fog Advisory In Effect — “The National Weather Service has issued a Dense Fog Advisory for Fairfax County this morning until approximately 10 a.m. FCFRD encourages drivers to be extra vigilant this morning as our firefighters and paramedics do not want to meet you by (preventable) “accident”!” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Herndon Police Investigate Abduction — A victim said that she was assaulted and prevented from leaving the 700 block of Lynn Street. Police are investigating the incident — which happened in the overnight hours of Oct 11 into the following day — as a kidnapping and abduction case. [Herndon Police Department]
Reston Association Launches At-Home Eggtober Hunt — Park and recreation staff will deliver two dozen toy-filed plastic eggs to residents’ homes. Members can sign up for the egg-tower hunt online. [RA]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
The Fairfax County Health Department and Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) have joined forces to offer a series of free flu vaccination clinics at senior centers across the county.
The clinics were originally intended to exclusively serve people 50 and older, because older people tend to be more at risk for flu-related complications. However, the county has decided to expand the criteria to allow all adults 18 and older to utilize the service.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force and flu season starting, it is more important than ever that older adults get vaccinated for influenza,” NCS communications director Amanda Rogers said. “…While the initial scope of the partnership was to provide older adults a safe environment to get their annual flu vaccine, we have expanded the criteria to include all adults 18 and older for the remaining events.”
After launching on Oct. 6 at the Herndon Senior Center, four additional clinics are scheduled to take place from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., three days per week, for the next four weeks:
- Oct. 19, 21 and 22: Lincolnia Senior Center (4710 N. Chambliss Street, Alexandria)
- Oct. 26, 28 and 29: Original Mount Vernon High School (8333 Richmond Highway, Alexandria)
- Nov. 2, 4 and 5: Little River Glen Senior Center (4001 Barker Court, Fairfax)
- Nov. 9, 10 and 12: Lewinsville Senior Center (1613 Great Falls Street, McLean)
Fairfax County is also holding flu vaccine clinics for adults and children 6 months or older at the Herndon Reston District Health Office on Oct. 24 and the Mount Vernon District Health Office on Nov. 7.
While health officials recommend that everyone 6 months or older get vaccinated for influenza annually, the need for people to get flu shots is especially urgent this year, as flu season arrives while the U.S. continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flu season typically starts in late fall and lasts throughout the winter in the U.S., hospitalizing more than 200,000 people and killing about 36,000 people every year, according to the Fairfax County Health Department.
Caused by viruses that infect the respiratory system, influenza produces symptoms similar to the ones now associated with the novel coronavirus, including fever, coughing, a sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and headaches.
“It’s very important that we take advantage of the flu vaccine to protect ourselves against the flu so we don’t overburden the healthcare system with individuals who have serious complications of the flu, because they’re already taxed right now responding to COVID-19,” Fairfax County Health Department director of health services Shauna Severo said in a video about the senior center flu vaccine clinics.
In accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for reducing the potential transmission of COVID-19, Fairfax County is requiring all clinic visitors to wear face masks, undergo temperature checks, and adhere to social distancing protocols.
Visits are by appointment only, and all individuals are screened for COVID-19 symptoms both before their appointment and on the day they arrive.
All healthcare providers and other workers staffing the clinics are also wearing masks and other personal protective equipment.
“We are taking every precaution at our clinics to create a safe environment for individuals to come get their vaccine,” Severo said.
Community members can schedule an appointment at one of Fairfax County’s flu vaccine clinics by calling 703-246-6010.
Photo via Unsplash
The county is seeking volunteers for several watershed cleanup days in Fairfax County.
Volunteers will gather at a park or recreation center to help “clear Earth’s arteries by removing tires, bottles, cans and other debris dumped in local waterways,” according to the county.
The service opportunity is open to residents age 12 and up.
The first local cleanup is set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Lake Fairfax Park followed by a clean-up at Riverbend Park on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Volunteers can register online. In order to limit the spread of COVID-19, volunteers must ream six-feet apart, wear cloth face coverings in public settings, and limit group sizes.
Photo via Fairfax County Government
The Herndon Town Council is considering a move to create new incentives for art-focused redevelopment projects.
The language of the proposal applies to projects in downtown Herndon, but a town spokesperson did not indicate how the plan applies to the stalled redevelopment of downtown Herndon, which is a joint effort between the town and Reston-based company Comstock.
Economic incentives include:
- A 50-percent reduction in fees for water, sewer and building permits in the initial establishment of the project
- An annual rebate of up to 100 percent of real property taxes linked to the total. Redevelopment project for taxes due to the town for up to a decade.
- Exceptions that allow a reduced number of parking spaces required for multi-family residential use
- Deferral of developer contribution for recreational amenities
“These amendments create additional opportunities to expand the type, quantity and quality of. Art offerings to town residents and increase the town’s presence as a destination for art activities,” according to an Oct. 20 staff report.
It’s unclear how the incentives will be applied to the redevelopment project in downtown Herndon. A town spokesperson did not provide comment by the publication deadline.
The $85 million redevelopment project, which includes a new arts center, would transform nearly 4.7 acres of land in downtown Herndon into a vibrant mixed-use district.
A meeting on the matter is set to take place today (Tuesday) at 7 p.m.
Image via handout/Comstock
Reston Association’s Board of Directors plans to defer $1.3 million in capital work for the upcoming 2021 capital budget.
Although budget deliberations continue, RA staff have identified six projects that will likely be deferred to future years. Plans for deferrals come as nearly $600,000 in capital work has been adjusted or added, including the renovation of Lake Thoreau Pool and general increases in costs for construction and materials.
Plans for Lake Anne Dam, which currently does not meet state safety codes for overtopping Wiehle Avenue during a design flood, could be deferred. Currently, a state committee has been forced to evaluate dam regulations for all structures in Virginia, according to draft meeting materials. The outcome of those discussions could take up to two years to formalize.
“We will maintain our provisional approved status with the state with no penalties enforced,” according to RA meeting materials.
A more comprehensive renovation of the Glade Tennis Court may also require the deferral of that project. Staff found that more work beyond planned that grading and lighting retrofitting is necessary.
Other deferred project include:
- The addition of seven vehicles and mowers
- Lake Newport pool siding
- Glade Pool floor coating, cabinets and counters
- Newbridge cabinets and counters
So far, the $3.45 million draft budget includes the renovation of Lake Thoreau Pool, with project costs being split between 2021 and 2022.
The meeting is set for Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
A Rare Butterfly Species Species Spotted — “Reston resident and photographer Ed Hass has documented a new spread-winged skipper butterfly species found in Reston. According to iNaturalist, one has never been reported here. They are normally found in South America and the southern U.S.” [Reston Association]
Deadline for Mail-in Ballot Approaches — Friday is the last day to apply for a vote by mail in the Nov. 3 election. The most secure and quickest way to apply is through the state’s online portal. [Fairfax County Government]
New CFO for HCA Northern Virginia — “ HCA Northern Virginia has named Dustin Fosness the new chief financial officer (CFO), effective Oct. 19, 2020. In this role, Fosness will oversee financial operations for Reston Hospital Center, StoneSprings Hospital Center, and Dominion Hospital.” [Reston Hospital]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Seven residents have been displaced following a house fire on the 1400 block of Bayshire Lane in the Town of Herndon on Oct. 18.
Fire investigators ruled that the fire in the single-family home was caused by an unattended candle. Information about the incident was released today (Monday). The c candle was left burning in the master bathroom, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
Fire and rescue crews from the FCFRD, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Department and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire and Rescue Department responded to the scene a few minutes before 1:30 a.m. that day.
The incident caused roughly $93,750 in damages. Seven people were at home when the fire began. No injuries were reported.
FCFRD is reminding residents of the following safety tips:
- Never leave burning candles unattended
- Keep all combustible materials away from open flames
- Do not burn candles near windows or doorways
- Place candles in glass or ceramic containers
- Place candles on a flat, sturdy non-combustible surface
- Never leave candles burning when children or pets are present
Foodies waiting for the opening of True Food Kitchen in Reston Town Center will have to wait longer for opening day.
The restaurant, which aims to offer healthy dishes, has delayed its opening to the spring of 2021, according to the company’s website. The company originally planned to open at 11901 Democracy Drive — space formerly occupied by M&S Grill — in early August.
Company representatives did not return requests for comment from Reston Now.
The chain currently has locations in Arlington and Fairfax, along with others around the country.
Andrew Weil, a doctor. Who supports healthy eating, founded the business in an effort to fight chronic inflammation. Many dishes are gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan.
Image via Google Maps
