A fire broke out at a townhouse on the 2400 block of Pyrenees Court in Reston earlier this afternoon.

According to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, crews extinguished the fire by around 2 p.m. today (Tuesday). No injuries were reported.

No other information was immediately available. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

Units on scene of townhouse fire in 2400 block of Pyrenees Ct in Reston area. Crews working to extinguish fire. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/0asd2TlHxU

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) September 29, 2020

The Town of Herndon’s Planning Commission unanimously approved a request by a DC-based real estate firm to splinter the ownership of an office park located at Springpark Place.

Penzance is seeking the town’s permission to subdivide the property from four parcels with eight buildings to eight lots, each  one building of its own.

No changes to the density and the overall revitalization plan, which is under review by the town, are proposed.

At a meeting last night (Monday), commission members unanimously approved the plan after town staff and the developer ironed out details surrounding maintenance, infrastructure, and proffer conditions.

Commissioner Sean Regan expressed some concerns about options for recourse if issues arise due to the presence of multiple owners.

“Who does the town go too for resource?” Regan said.

Town staff said the presence of a new property owners’ association would help mitigate any concerns. Additionally, the rezoning application requires the formulation of proffer conditions and more legal documents that provide the tow with more tools to address any issues.

“We would go after as many as we can,” said David Stromberg, the town’s zoning administrator.

Currently, all parcels and buildings are owned by Penzance, which hopes to sell off some of its buildings.

Photo via Town of Herndon

Fairfax County firefighter Andrew Cruikshank has been charged with one count of misdemeanor assault after he slapped a patient who spat on him in the back of an ambulance.

Body camera footage from Sept. 14 shows that Cruikshank was span on while he was treating a man who was strapped down in an ambulance. The incident happened in Reston.

The man was in the custody of the Fairfax County Police Department. The police department authorized the release of the video, which was captured by a police officer’s device.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Fire Chief John Butler said the action “goes against the values” of. The department.

“We respect our role in the community and strive to build and maintain public trust. We remain dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of our community and will continue to ensure that our members are held to the highest standards of the profession.”

Cruikshank has been placed on administrative leave as the department’s internal investigation continues. He has been with the department for two years.

Video footage is embedded below. View discretion is advised.

Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

Local Career Fair Coming Soon — The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is hosting a virtual and respelling career fair on Oct. 8 from 1-4 p.m. The fair is open to all industries and levels of experience. [FCEDA]

A Thank You from Reston Association — Nathan Wheeler, RA’s aquatics facility supervisor, thanked RA members in a recent video for their patience with this year’s abridged and varied pool season. [Reston Today]

Early Voting Continues in Fairfax County — So far, Fairfax County residents have cast 7,760 in-person votes during the first week of early voting at the Fairfax County Government Center. Voting is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. [Fairfax County Government]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

An MS-13 gang member was sentenced to 28 months in prison for serving as a getaway driver in an armed robbery on the 1100 block of Elden Street.

William Pena, 27, who arrived in the United States illegally, drove several gang members from Maryland to Herndon to rob a store in the Town of Herndon of roughly $19,500, according to court documents. The incident happened on Aug. 18, 2017.

The men entered a neighboring restaurant and kept patrons and staff on the floor for several minutes before escaping from a. Rear exit.

Court documents state that Pene drove three of the armed robbers away from the scene and back to Maryland.

Here’s more on the multi-jurisdictional effort that led to the conclusion of the case:

The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation Blue Heat. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said the case was a “prime example of our need for strong borders.”

“After previously being deported, this admitted MS-13 gang member again illegally crossed our southern border to get back into the United States. Then, as we’ve seen so often, once back here in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area he continued his criminal activity and participation in MS-13.”

Homewood Suites by Hilton is opening in Reston next month.

The new hotel, which owned locally by Thomson Hospitality, will be located at 1735 Business Center Drive.

The business is accepting reservations for arrivals on Nov. 15 and onwards. While an exact opening date has not yet been determining, the hotel may accept reservations before Nov. 15 as it moves closet to completion.

A hotel representative told Reston Now that Homewood Suites is offering a 20 percent discount on room rates.

The facility includes studio and one-bedroom suites, each with a full kitchen and a fitness center with Peloton.

Photo via Homewood Suites

Penzance, a DC-based real estate firm, is setting itself up to sell off parts of Spring Park, an office park located at Springpark Place.

The developer is seeking the Town of Herndon’s permission to subdivide the property, which currently has eight buildings on four parcels, into eight lots with each lot containing a building and some site improvements.

Currently, all the parcels and buildings are owned by Penzance. The company hopes to sell “some of the buildings” while “some” will remain under control by Penzance, according to a Sept. 14 application by the firm.

“It is unclear at this time how many that is,” according to the application.

The Town of Herndon’s Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the issue today (Monday) at 7 p.m.

At a previous meeting this month, staff said the possibility of multiple owners raised concerns about future maintenance of shared infrastructure as well as the lack of existing and shared parking.

The town is also currently reviewing a plan by Penzance for minor site improvements to the office park.

The office park is located within a mile of the firm’s planned major mixed-use neighborhood near the future Herndon Metro Station.

Photo via handout/Town of Herndon

New Issues Identified with Silver Line — “New issues identified with the automated train control system on Phase 2 of the Silver Line extension could pose a “potentially significant safety concern” for riders, Metro said in a letter to officials managing the project. The problems… involve the track circuit design of the automatic train control system (ATC).” [The Washington Post]

A Kind Gesture for the Herndon Police Department — Several kids thanked a local police officer for his service. The moment was captured on video and has been occurring for the past few years every time the officer drives by the park. [HPD]

Metro Monday to Discuss Future of Retail — Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel, local business owners, and a Washington Business Journal report will discuss the future of retail along the Silver Line at an online event today at 4 p.m. [Dulles Chamber of Commerce]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Reston Association is urging members to avoid contact with Lake Newport after a possibly harmful algae bloom developed at the lake this week.

The association will continue to monitor the algae, but there are not immediate plans to treat the lake.

Forecasted rain and cooler temperatures should take care of the issue, RA wrote in a statement.

Residents should “regard the algae as potentially harmful” and avoid contact with the water. Pet owners should ensure their pets avoid ingesting or coming into contact with the water as well.

Anyone with additional questions should contact William Peterson at [email protected].

Photo via RA

Pupatella is targeting a late fall opening in Reston, according to a company in Reston.

The estimated opening date is “pending any unforeseen issues with buildout and inspections,” the company representative told Reston Now.

Construction began in early 2020 after The Pizza Hut, which first opened in 1977, closed its doors.

Pupatella, a Neapolitan pizza restaurant, announced had originally planned to open earlier this year.

The 2,700-square-foot restaurant will be located at 1921 Wiehle Avenue. A patio for outdoor planing is also planned.

Enzo and Anastasiya Algarme started Pupatella as a food truck in 2007. The business has been named a top pizzeria, with recognition from The Today Show, The Washington Post, USA Today and the Washingtonian.

Photos via Chris Gieckel

Candidate Forum for Town of Herndon Election This Weekend — Candidates for the mayoral and council elections will take part in a panel moderated by Brian Tumulty, who covers finances and taxes for The Bond Buyer. The event is hosted by the Dulles Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. [Dulles Chamber of Commerce]

County Grant Programs Expands Eligibility Criteria — “Expanded business sectors are now eligible to apply, including small hotels and bed and breakfast lodging facilities, along with film industry companies supporting production in the commonwealth.” [Fairfax County Government]

Virtual Career Fair Set for Oct. 8 — “The Hiring + Reskilling Virtual Career Fair will welcome job seekers of all backgrounds, especially those unemployed due to COVID-19. The open positions will span a variety of industries, and not all require a college degree. Open positions include store clerks, construction laborers, security guards, program managers, information security analysts, and more.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Fire Department to Host Virtual Open Houses — During Fire Prevention Week, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will host several interactive activities and virtual events beginning Monday, Oct. 5. The event replaces open house events typically held at local fire and rescue stations. [FCFRD]

Robbery Investigation Underway in Herndon — A man stole a wallet from a victim while he was sitting in his car shortly after midnight on Sept. 19 in the 1200 block of Elden Street. The case is under investigation. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Forest Salamander Survey Underway at Riverbend Park — “During the ‘Salamanders Undercover’ program, learn about the secret lives of these important amphibians through hands-on discoveries. The program runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and is designed for children age 7 to 12. The cost is $10 per child.” [Fairfax County Government]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Maggie DeBoard, the Town of Herndon’s police chief, has been named the president of a statewide police foundation.

DeBoard was named the president of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation, a nonprofit professional membership association and educational foundation.

Dana Schrad, executive director of VACP, said that DeBoard is the first female president for the organization.

“Although she would be the first to downplay the significance of this, Chief DeBoard is a stellar example of a dedicated police professional and a true leader among police executives,” Schrad wrote in a statement.

VACP was founded in 1926 and has more than 600 members made up of active and retired state, federal, local, and private law enforcement and criminal justice agency executives, administrators, and managers.

Photo via Herndon Police Department

The South Lakes High School PTSA is once again organizing the “Do It Your Way 0.5K,” an annual fundraiser that supports the school’s food pantry.

This year, the event will go virtual. Participants can pick up race packets at the Lake Anne Brew House in order to complete “650 steps anywhere,” according to organizers.

The packet includes a portable Donut station and a pantry-branded mask. Other goodies include a race bib and a thank you from event sponsors. The first 250 registrants will receive special gifts, according to organizers.

Packets will be available for pickup on Friday, Oct. 16 from 4-6 p.m and on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Aspen Jewelry Design is also offering a raffle for a “VOTE” necklace. Tickets are available for $5 each or 5 tickets for $20.

Participants can register online as a student $10), adult ($25), and a family up to five ($60).

Last year’s event brought nearly 200 participants to Lake Anne Plaza for a rainy event. More than $18,000 was raised at the fundraiser.

Organizers hope to top that number this year, especially as needs grow every week to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pantry provides food to an average of 150 SLHS pyramid families per week.

Photo by Holly Vanderhoof