A cloud-based data protection company has relocated its headquarters from Los Angeles to Reston.
Infrascale announced the move in a release today (Wednesday). Company officials said that the move allows the business to centralize its core leadership team and business operations.
Russel Reeder, the company’s CEO, says the move “represents a significant milestone in our 2020 plan” despite hiccups related to COVID-19.
“Recognized as a top-two technology destination, Northern Virginia and the greater DC Metro area contain an impressive talent pool that will only grow with the continued expansion of technology innovation in the region. We are excited to build out the team here and across the US,” Reeder wrote in a statement.
Here’s more from the company on the relocation:
Infrascale is backed by premier investment firms, Route 66 Ventures (Alexandria, Virginia) and Carrick Capital (San Francisco), which have stewarded the change in leadership and support the company’s strategic growth plans in the rapidly expanding business continuity technology sector.
“Infrascale continues to deliver flexible, secure and easy-to-use cloud data protection and recovery solutions to a growing number of top-tier customers,” said Ryan Katz, Founding Partner at Route 66 Ventures. “Their continued success is reflected in ongoing growth, and the company’s move to Reston – the home region for much of the nation’s tech talent – represents a positive and exciting development in the evolution of Infrascale as they grow into a key player in the enterprise market and continue to innovate.”
Infrascale was founded in 2011 and offers cloud-based data protection. The company is now located in the RTC West development (12110 Sunset Hills Road).
Bus service between the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station and Dulles International Airport has officially resumed.
The Silver Line Express Bus provides transportation between the Dulles Terminal and the metro station. The 15-minute trip costs $5 each way and is free for children under two years of age.
Service is offered every 15 minutes during peak times and every 20 minutes during off-peak times. Free WiFi is also offering on the buses.
The schedule for the service and information on how to purchase tickets is available online.
Other transportation services have resumed or are planning to resume services, including Fairfax Connector, which will resume service next Saturday.
An in-person event in Reston will explore the past and future of Reston Town Center, which is now in its 30th year.
Robert Goudie, the Reston Town Center Association’s executive director, will offer a glimpse at what the town center will look like in the future. RTC is slated to double in size over the next 15 years.
The free event, “Reston Town Center: Its Past and Future,” takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 7-9 p.m. at Reston Community Center Lake Anne’s Jo Ann Rose Gallery. Chairs will be spaced out to facilitate social distancing.
Those interested can register online or in-person at RCC. The event is hosted jointly by Reston Historic Trust & Museum and Reston Community Center.
Tickets will go on sale on Sept. 1. No photography or video recordings will be allowed.
Photo by R. Dawson/Flickr
FCPS to Host Town Hall Tonight — Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand will host a town hall at 6:30 p.m. to answer questions about the return to school plan. [FCPS]
Reston Association to Host Meeting on Lake Thoreau Situation — The association will host a virtual meeting on Aug. 31 to discuss issues related to an algae bloom and the treatment of Hydrilla at the lake. The meeting takes place via Zoom at 6:30 p.m. [RA]
Metrobus to Ramp Up Service This Sunday — “Metrobus will ramp up service Sunday, August 23, giving customers more options with more buses, operating on more routes, more frequently and with more hours of service. The changes will restore approximately 75 percent of Metrobus service.” [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Fairfax Connector will resume full service on all routes beginning Aug. 29, bringing a return to a new normal after months-long disruptions in service.
The bus service — which is the largest local bus system in the state — will also feature new services, including a new commuter route from Stringfellow Road Park and Ride to Southwest DC.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay thanks customers for being patient with past service reductions. Throughout the pandemic, the bus service maintained roughly 70 percent of its service in order to cater to customers who depend on it for essential jobs and vital services.
“As we return to full service, the health and safety of Fairfax Connector passengers and personnel continue to be our top priority. Working together to diligently follow public health and safety guidelines will result in safer travel conditions for all,” McKay wrote in a statement.
A breakdown of new service being offered is below:
Route 699: Enhanced service on this route includes two additional morning and afternoon rush hour trips from the Fairfax County Government Center to Downtown Washington, D.C. (Foggy Bottom); adjustments to the departure times to better align with rider demand; and morning and afternoon rush hour reverse commute trips from Downtown, Washington, D.C., to the Fairfax County Government Center. This route is supported by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Commuter Choice Program and I-66 toll revenues.
Route 334: Enhanced weekday service operating every 30 minutes during rush hour and every hour during non-rush hour to better serve the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) facility in Springfield by way of Springfield Center Drive and Metropolitan Center Drive, with access to the Franconia Springfield Metrorail Station, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Army Museum.
Routes 340/341: Minor route adjustments to maintain efficiency and dependability.
Transdev, the bus system’s operations contractor, will implement improved cleaning protocols, especially on common touchpoints like door handles and handrails.
Customers must continue to enter and exit the bus through the rear doors. A face mask is still required while riding the bus.
Riders are encouraged to practice social distancing by keeping six feet apart, when and if possible.
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand has no plans to furlough bus drivers and food service workers, despite the virtual start to school next month.
In a letter sent to the community last night (Monday), Brabrand said he plans to “keep our FCPS family 100 percent intact” as the school year begins. Bus drivers are set to return to work on August 25. Some will deliver meals to specific locations or along select bus routes.
In other cases, the school system may provide other work assignments like facilities maintenance, student support, and delivering books and supplies to schools.
Brabrand also said the school system is working on an alternative plan to keep all food service workers employed throughout the academic years. Funding for service food service employees, which primarily relies on the sale of food, has taken a major hit due to school closures.
Here’s more from Brabrand’s letter:
I’d like to thank our food service employees for your heroic efforts to provide grab and go meals for our families since our schools shut down in March. More than 2 million meals have been served so far. Food distribution will continue through the rest of summer break and once the school year begins.
A community survey is underway to determine meal demand for the upcoming school year. The results will determine if changes to the food striation schedule are warranted.
Other staff — including security guards and office employees — may also be asked to shuffle their job duties to support virtual learning.
The FCPS School Board is meeting today for a day-long work session to continue formalizing plans for the return to school.
Photo via FCPS
Lab results indicate that a major algae bloom at Lake Thoreau is not toxic. But Reston Association is still encouraging residents to still avoid contact with the water, which has been consumed by the bloom and a dying clumps of the Hydrilla plant.
In a statement, RA said the results “do not at this time detect potentially toxic levels of microcystins in the sample provided.” The algal species does have the ability to produce the toxins if concentrations are high enough. Residents should stay clear of the water until conditions return to normal. Some algae can cause skin rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses.
RA tried to control the growth of the Hydrilla plant through chemical treatment in late July, which may have created conditions for the algae bloom to thrive. The association noted that the treatment, which some criticized was done so too late into the summer season, did not cause the algae bloom. Other contributing factors include rain, runoff, water temperature, and the amount of nitrogen in the lake.
Local residents have launched an online petition calling on RA to clean up the lake and create a long-term plan to support its health. The petition has 86 signatures thus far.
Algae blooms, Hydrilla infestations, and other issues have bogged down the lake for several years. Some members say RA has failed to create a long-term plan to preserve the lake’s health.
The petition urges RA’s Board of Directors to fund the cleanup of the decaying Hydrilla, set up a community meeting to address concerns, establish a working group regarding the lake, and “hold people accountable for the mismanagement of this important community resource.”
RA has no immediate plans to clean up the dying Hydrilla, which it says will sink to the bottom of the lake over the next several weeks. The association also noted that treating the bloom as the Hydrilla plant dies could compromise oxygen levels at the lake and endanger aquatic life at the lake.
Photo by Jeannine Santoro
Herndon Police Department Seeks to Identify Persons of Interest — HPD is seeking the public’s help to identify two men who are “persons of interest in an HPD investigation.” Anyone with information should call 703-435-6846. [Herndon Police Department]
An Update on Reston Association — This week’s Reston Today video takes a look at RA’s efforts to maintain safety and operations due to COVID-19. [Reston Association]
Reston Hospital Center Receives Healthgrades Awards — “Reston Hospital Center has received the Healthgrades 2020 Labor and Delivery Excellence Award and the 2020 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award for the fourth consecutive year.” [Inside NOVA]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Reston Association’s proposal to repurpose the Hunters Woods Ball into a more welcoming community area is moving forward.
The association is working with Kimley-Horn Associates to activate the site. A pathway is proposed around the perimeter of the site, along with a walkway that cuts through the area.
“The purpose is to activate the site and make it more usable and interesting to the surrounding neighborhoods,” RA wrote in its proposal.
Community features like a rain garden, library book share, landscaping, and a mile marker sign are also proposed on the site.
The plan heads to RA’s Design Review Board for a vote on tomorrow (Tuesday). Because the proposal impacts a significant area of the site, a minor site plan is required for approval.
RA worked with neighboring property owners and associations to move forward with the project.
In written testimony submitted to the DRB, the Hunters Woods Village Condominium Association voiced its full support for the project.
“The repurposed ballfield can be a great example of RA listening to its neighborhoods and moving forward smartly,” wrote Julia Doherty.
Doherty added that the proposed design makes good use of the area’s natural beauty and creates a welcome educational space near a stormwater collection area. The proposed walkway also gives residents more options to walk in the area beyond the parking lot of the condominium.
The complete proposal is available online.
Photo via handout/RA
After a months-long closure, Herndon Community Center is opening its doors to the community once again.
The center will reopen on Thursday, August 20 at 7 a.m. Although the pool and fitness area will be open, locker rooms, spa, sauna and racquetball courts will remain closed. Family changing rooms and restrooms will be open.
One-on-one personal training sessions are also available, along with online personal training. Costs vary from $36 to $349 for Town of Herndon residents and $48 to $464 for all others. Costs vary based on the duration and number of sessions requested.
Reservations are required to use the fitness and pool areas. Outdoor sessions will take place at the turf field of Bready park.
The center will be open on weekdays only from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. HCC has no immediate plans to reopen the center on weekends.
The town will reassess its hours after a two-week period following reopening.
Facemasks must be worn in HCC, but can be removed when patrons are ready to exercise or swim.
HCC is instituting a number of safety measures in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Patrons will be asked to complete a health screening when entering the facility. Hand sanitizer will be available at the center’s entrance and in the fitness room.
Image via Google Maps
Reston Hospital Center is joining three other regional healthcare organizations in a public service campaign.
The “Wear a Mask” campaign, which launched late last week, urges residents to wear a mask in public settings.
Recent studies have show that wearing masks can led to a “significant slowdown” in daily COVID-19 growth rates over time.
“We are in this battle against COVID-19 together,” said Thomas Taghon, RHC’s chief medical officer. “It doesn’t matter your political affiliation, what you do for a living, who you work for, where you live, or how much money you have, COVID-19 is an equal opportunist when it comes to infecting people.
Here’s more from RHC on the initiative:
For hospitals and their frontline medical teams treating COVID-19 patients, prevention remains critical in fighting this pandemic. While healthcare workers continue to fight COVID-19 inside hospital walls, they are relying on the public to do their part by wearing masks, using good hand hygiene and social distancing.
“Science has proven that masks are effective in slowing the transmission of the virus,” said Zan Zaidi, MD, clinical physician executive, Novant Health UVA Health System. “We see this in communities wher mask adoption has been embraced — statistics show a reduction in death and infection.”
Clinical leaders at Inova Health System, Novant Health UVA Health System, Reston Hospital Center, and Virginia Hospital Center all agree that wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing is working.
“We cannot let our guard down,” said Jeffrey DiLisi, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, Virginia Hospital Center. “We must keep at it, to protect one another and ourselves from a virus for which there is not yet a vaccine or a cure.”
#MaskUpNOVA Together is better..proud to be part of our community effort with our other colleagues in healthcare😷 pic.twitter.com/gF0FXODibH
— Jennifer W Siciliano (@siciliano_w) August 14, 2020
Photo via Reston Hospital Center/Facebook
A new smoothie and açaí bowl spot is coming to Reston Town Center soon.
Playa Bowls, a restaurant that sells smoothies and healthy bowls, plans to open at 1820 Discovery Street in the winter of 2021, according to a press release by Boston Properties.
The New-Jersey based business, which opened in 2014, has more than 80 locations across the country. Playa Bowls specializes in açaí, pity, coconut, green, chia, and banana bowls. It also offers smoothies, juices and poke bowls.
Other businesses are also opening their doors soon in the town center. Makers Union Pub for the People is aiming for a late summer opening at 1811 Library Street.
F45, a gym that focuses on High-Intensity Interval Training, functional training and circuit training, is slated to open in the fall at 11850 Freedom Drive. JINYA Ramen Bar opened its doors late last week.
Photo via Playa Bowls/Facebook
How Rents Near Reston Metro Compare — “Rent near the East Falls Church and Tysons Corner stations is in the mid-range among DC Metro stops. But while the median price increased near Tysons Corner, it decreased near East Falls Church, according to the analysis.” [Reston Patch]
SAIC CFO Retires — “Reston-based defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced Friday that Chief Financial Officer Charles A. Mathis will retire on Jan. 29, 2021.” [Virginia Business Monthly]
Feedback Sought on Grab and Go Meals — Fairfax County Public Schools are seeking feedback via a survey on its grab-and-go meal program for the next academic year. The survey will help the school system determine the best locations and bus routes for meal services. [FCPS]
Man Stabbed on Parcher Avenue — Police believe a man was stabbed by a group of men in a parking lot on the 13200 block of Parcher Avenue on August 13. The victim was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fall Guide for Reston Community Center is Live — Although the guide will not be mailed this year, the online program includes a detailed breakdown of all offerings. Registration begins September 1 for Restonians and September 8 for all others. [Reston Community Center]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Fairfax County Public Schools will have a virtual start to the year. But a new program launched by Fairfax County will offer full-day, on-site programming for children in elementary and middle school.
The program, “Supporting Return to School,” aims to ensure that “all families have equitable access to the services they need to support children’s virtual learning,” according to the county.
Here’s more from the county on the initiative:
SRS will provide support for children’s active and engaged learning during the FCPS virtual academic day and promote children’s social, emotional and physical development. In addition to participating in distance learning, children will have opportunities to explore, engage, relax and enjoy activities that follow the SRS 2020-21 program curriculum, The Great Outdoors: Road Trips Through the Americas. What a perfect time for a virtual journey and to spend real time outdoors!
Enrollment begins on August 24 and space is limited. Each classroom will have a group of no more than 10 children who stay together every day. The program takes place on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in 37 FCPS schools.
A sliding fee scale is available for income-eligible families. Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack will be provided.
Photo via Unsplash
Reston Association‘s Board of Directors will hold a special meeting next. Week to discuss budgetary matters.
The board will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 19 to discuss the formation of the fiscal year 2021 budget.
RA CEO Hank Lynch is set to offer information about assumptions related to the budget, which will be formed with the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Laura Kowalski, RA’s director of recreation and environmental education, will also present information about her department’s request for parks and recreation.
The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Log-in information is available online. RA’s fiscal committee will also participate in the meeting.
