As Northern Virginia localities prepare for the second reopening phase on Friday, here’s what people can expect.

Northern Virginia and the City of Richmond delayed entering phase two when the rest of Virginia started the phase last Friday (June 5). Gov. Ralph Northam said that trends of COVID-19 data indicate that Northern Virginia is ready for the next phase.

Here’s a snapshot of the phase two guidelines:

• “safer at home” guidance, telework encouraged
• face coverings required in indoor public places
• social gathering maximum raised from 10 to 50
• restaurants can have indoor dining at 50% occupancy
• fitness centers can open indoor spaces at 30% occupancy
• indoor and outdoor swimming pools can open
• still closed: overnight summer camps, indoor entertainment venues, amusement parks, fairs and carnivals

Museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and outdoor concerts, sports and performing arts venues may open with some restrictions as long as they don’t have shared equipment.

“All businesses should still adhere to physical distancing guidelines, frequently clean and sanitize high contact surfaces, and continue enhanced workplace safety measures,” the plan says.

Meanwhile, phase two continues current guidelines for religious services, non-essential retail and personal grooming services, according to the plan.

School Schedule

Northam also unveiled yesterday his phased plan to reopen K-12 schools.

“I know that parents are very interested in our plans for how to safely return children to our classrooms,” Northam said.

Previously, Northam closed schools on March 23 for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. “I believe these closures have helped mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” he said.

Northam said that the plan will let schools “slowly” offer in-person classes for the summer and 2020-2021 school year.

“We’ll start with small groups, and we will allow each school division the flexibility that it needs to respond to the needs of its own locality,” Northam said, adding that the plan provides schools with options instead of serving as a mandate.

In every phase, the schools must follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including daily health screenings of students and staff, remote learning and working options for high-risk students and staff, required face coverings for staff — and encourage used for students — when social distancing isn’t an option.

More about the plan from Northam’s website:

The K-12 phased reopening plan was developed by the Office of the Secretary of Education, Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Education and is informed by guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All PreK-12 schools in Virginia will be required to deliver new instruction to students for the 2020-2021 academic year, regardless of the operational status of school buildings. The PreK-12 guidance is aligned with the phases outlined in the Forward Virginia blueprint and provides opportunities for school divisions to begin offering in-person instruction to specific student groups…

Local school divisions will have discretion on how to operationalize within each phase and may choose to offer more limited in-person options than the phase permits, if local public health conditions necessitate. Entry into each phase is dependent on public health gating criteria, corresponding with the Forward Virginia plan. School divisions will have flexibility to implement plans based on the needs of their localities, within the parameters of the Commonwealth’s guidance.

The opportunities for in-person instruction in each phase are as follows:

• Phase One: special education programs and child care for working families
• Phase Two: Phase One plus preschool through third-grade students, English learners, and summer camps in school buildings
• Phase Three: all students may receive in-person instruction as can be accommodated with strict social distancing measures in place, which may require alternative schedules that blend in-person and remote learning for students
• Beyond Phase Three: divisions will resume “new-normal” operations under future guidance

Beginning with Phase Two, local divisions and private schools must submit plans to the Virginia Department of Education that include policies and procedures for implementing Virginia Department of Health and CDC mitigation strategies.

State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA has issued an Order of Public Health Emergency that requires all Virginia PreK-12 public and private schools to develop plans that demonstrate adherence to public health guidance. Public schools must also outline plans to offer new instruction to all students regardless of operational status.

Graph via Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam

Police have made an arrest nearly one year after a body was found near the Hunters Woods Village Center.

A teenager has been charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of a Reston man.

Detectives believe the 17-year-old suspect was involved in the 2019 murder of Jose Lorenzo Guillen Mejia.

His body was found by police officers on June 23 at around 1:45 a.m. Police responded to the scene after a reporting of gunshots along a walking trail between Hunters Woods Plaza and Breton Court.

An autopsy found that Mejia died from several gunshot wounds.

The arrest was made after police obtained a felony petition for first degree murder yesterday (Tuesday).

The suspect was already incarcerated at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center for an unrelated offense when he was served the petition.

Fairfax County’s Hispanic community is bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although Hispanic individuals comprise just under 17 percent of the total population, they account for nearly 66 percent of all confirmed cases in the county.

The rise has raised alarms about equity issues between different racial groups in the county. County health officials say that higher infection rates may be caused by the need to go to work, lack of sick leave, the inability to socially distance while on the job, and lack of unemployment insurance.

Cases have grown over the last three months in the Hispanic community, while efforts to flatten the curve in the black and white communities have been more successful, county data show.

“This risk reflects a group’s niche in society rather than a particular racial effect,” said Benjamin Schwartz, a medical epidemiologist with the Fairfax County Health Department.

Many local Hispanic residents work in jobs where the risk of transmission is especially high.

Roughly 25 percent of Hispanic men in the county work in natural resources, construction or maintenance, according to the 2018 American Community Survey. That’s compared to just five percent of blacks in the same industry.

Similarly, 45 percent of Hispanic women work in the service industry, more than double the percent of black women in the same industry, according to the survey.

Additionally, roughly 12 percent of Hispanic households are defined as overcrowded based on county metric, compared to four percent of the black community and less than one percent of the white community.

But the same racial disparity is not prevalent in other parts of the county. In Richmond, for example, blacks are being hit hard by the pandemic while poor whites are disproportionately impacted in southwestern Virginia.

On a national level, blacks account for a higher share of confirmed cases and deaths compared to the rest of the population, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Roughly 20 percent of cases do not contain race and ethnicity information.

Exacerbating the Divide

At Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization based in Reston, the pandemic has exacerbated the daily struggle with housing, poverty, quality education, and living wage jobs.

Already, 33 percent of families in Cornerstones’ affordable rental housing have lost all or some of their income due to mass layoffs. Some have limited access to daycare and the internet, complicating long-distance learning, even if the school system provides a laptop for students.

Parking lots may offer free wifi access, but a car and time are needed to park there. Others turn to families and friends to watch their children, increasing the risk of exposure for all.

Public health officials are also seeking ways to improve community communication and increase testing in local hotspots, including the Town of Herndon.

In April, 385 new households came to Cornerstones’ pantry in need of food. That’s more than six times the number of new households in fiscal year 2019.

“For low-income members of the immigrant community in the time of COVID, it’s never one thing. The pandemic only exacerbates their daily struggling with housing, poverty, quality education, and living-wage jobs,” said Sara Newman, division director of community change partnerships at Cornerstones.

For these residents, the financial burden of COVID-19 is “inescapable,” Newman said.

“Unpaid rents are continuing to accumulate. People keep working or look for employment regardless of the viral spread so they can keep a roof over their family and food on the table.”

Photo by Morgan Von Gunten/Unplash

A teenager from Leesburg has been arrested in connection with an assault early this month.

Town of Herndon police arrested and charged Ta’Nyjha Davis, 18, with malicious wounding,

Police said the incident happened during an argument on the 400 block of Virginia Avenue on July 1 at around 11:20 a.m.

The victim, who was wounded in the upper torso area, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Photo via HPD

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors plans to defer a decision on a cellphone communications facility at Herndon High School to later this year.

At a meeting this afternoon, the board is expected to defer the vote to September 15, according to county documents. The proposal has been deferred five times since the public hearing crossing the board’s desk on Feb. 25.

The county’s planning commission voted to defer a decision to yesterday (Monday) following concerns from the public. Commission members encouraged Fairfax County Public Schools to address issues flagged by residents.

Milestrone Communications is seeking to install a 124-foot monopole and associated equipment in a compound on the north side of the school’s football field. The tower is expected to help improve service for Spring customers.

The 3,185-square-foot compound, which will be enclosed by a chain-link fence, will be roughly 35 feet by 91 feet in size, according to the proposal.

Reston Company Bought by McLean Contractor — “McLean-based defense contractor E3/Sentinel LLC announced Monday it has acquired Reston-based Lucid Perspectives, a software and systems engineering company. This is E3/Sentinel’s fifth acquisition in the past two years. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.” [Virginia Business]

Temporary Moratorium on Evictions in Va.— “The state’s Supreme Court issued the ban Monday following a request from Gov. Ralph Northam. It extends previous orders that had put a hold on evictions, but expired last month. Under the new rule, even renters who have been threatened with eviction but have not been served a formal notice cannot be legally removed from their homes until June 28 at the earliest.” [DCist]

Herndon Town Council to Meet Tonight — The council will meet virtually at 7 p.m. today (Tuesday) to discuss the proposed capital improvement program through fiscal year 2026. [Town of Herndon]

County Launches New 911 Service — “Fairfax County’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) — the county’s 9-1-1 Center and the largest public safety answering point (PSAP) in Virginia — is leading the way regionally by becoming the first jurisdiction in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland to transition to Next Generation 9-1-1.” [Fairfax County Government]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

More than 1,000 names of black people shot and killed by police in the last five years now don the sidewalks of Lake Anne Plaza.

Local residents spent much of Saturday morning chalking the names of 1,265 people with sidewalk chalk. Organizer Kaila Drayton, a said she wanted to take the time to honor individuals who lost their lives due to police brutality.

“I wanted to create a space where people from the local community could join in, help write names and have a conversation,” Drayton said. “The recent news of George Floyd’s death is both devastating and familiar to those of us in the black community.”

Drayton and two friends began around 8 a.m. on Sunday. The project took about four hours. A little over two dozen people gathered to help write the names and fill in some letters, including Black Lives Matter.

They also included a note about the project and a large message: “Reston, say their names.”

Lake Anne Village Center was the first village of Reston, a planned community. Founder Bob Simon sought to create an integrated community in the state before the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In 2004, a bronze statue of Simon — dubbed “bronze bob” — was installed on a bench in Lake Anne Plaza.

It now includes a cardboard sign that reads “Black Lives Matter” around his neck. 

Photos via Kaila Drayton

Hundreds of protestors lined Reston Parkway on Sunday evening to take a stand for George Floyd and racial justice.

Cars honked as protestors of all ages stood with signs in the peaceful demonstration, which was organized by a local community group, Reston Strong. Some chanted while others stood with masks. Groups gathered in Reston’s heart — Reston Town Center — in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Organizer Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza, who started Reston Strong, said the number of Reston neighbors who joined the effort gives her hope in the “transformative” nature of the movement. She estimates more than 5,000 people took part.

“We must continue the drumbeat for justice and loudly demand meaningful change. Tonight we came together to say our community believes Black Lives Matter. We have put out specific demands tonight and we will not stop till these are achieved,” she said.

Participants signed a #signthesign petition, which will be delivered to the Fairfax County Police Department and Commonwealth’s Attorney  Steve Descano.

The petition calls on FCPD to create a public, official database on use of force incidents among police officers. They are also demanding justice for Bijan Ghaisar, a 25-year-old resident of Fairfax, who was killed by U.S. Park Police after a stop-and-go chase in 2017.

The Dulles Toll Road was closed between Wiehle Avenue and the Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride to accommodate the protest.

Peaceful protest at Reston Town Center! #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/iDOJNIFxZ8

— Karen Haldeman-Clark (@kahclark1) June 8, 2020

RESTON, VA. pic.twitter.com/ZMdGXgJkK1

— ”👑 Jota Bo” 🍊 ❤️ (@KingBo_22) June 8, 2020

Photos by Nick Papetti

Local Police Officer Charged with Assault After Use of Force Incident — “A white police officer in Fairfax County was charged with assault after he used a stun gun on a black man and pinned him to the ground, even though the man did not appear combative. Footage from a body-worn camera shows the officer, Tyler Timberlake, placing his knee on the man’s back Friday. Timberlake, who has been with the department eight years, was arrested Saturday and charged with three misdemeanor counts of assault and battery. He faces up to 36 months in prison if convicted. [DCist]

Beware of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Scams — County officials are warning residents about contact tracing and government employee impersonation scams in the county. Local health department contact tracers will never ask for your social security number, financial information, or any other personal information unrelated to COVD-19. [Fairfax County Government]

Protestors in Herndon Rally for Racial Justice — Local residents organized a car parade early Thursday evening to raise awareness about racial injustice and police brutality. The idea was created by Herndon resident Nikki Pugh. [Herndon Patch]

Missing Keys in Herndon — Someone left keys in the town’s green on Saturday. To claim them, the individual should call 703-435-6846. [Herndon Police Department]

Since 2013, Reston Now has been reporting news about the Reston and Herndon areas. Recently, we started providing additional coverage of Great Falls.

Keep up with our coverage by signing up for our email subscriptions.

The afternoon email — sent at 4 p.m. — rounds up the most recently published stories and sponsored content on our site. Our morning email is currently on a hiatus.

You can also opt in to receive emails we send on behalf of local businesses and nonprofits. If you opt-out, you’ll still receive an occasional event or offer-related email as part of your subscription.

Note: we will never share your email address with a third-party.

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for our email subscriptions already!

If you would like to continue reading Reston Now and you’re able to give us a few bucks a month, we would greatly appreciate you contributing to our coverage via PayPal or joining our Patreon.

Not receiving emails or want to change your subscriptions? You can re-enter your email in the subscription sign-up, which will then pop up a message saying that email is already subscribed. The message will prompt you to update your profile, which will then send you an email that will let you manage your subscriptions.

Reston Association canceled its camp program for the summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now residents can bring a piece of the camp experience into their homes with RA’s “Reston Camps in a Box” program.

Residents within RA boundaries can request that a box be delivered to their residence at no charge. Residents outside RA’s boundaries must pay the cost of shipping.

Boxes have different themes and include a nature activity, arts and crafts, a science experiment, a rainy day project, fitness ideas, and more. The kit also includes a link to connect with a camp staff member virtually.

The kits will be available on a staggered basis based on the following schedule.

• Aloha to Summer (June 15)
• Party in the USA (June 29)
• Anything Goes (July 13)
• Exploration (July 27)
• Camp Finale (August 10)

Local organizations are finding new ways to transform the summer camp experience. Earlier this month, the Greater Reston Arts Center announced its first digital summer art camp.

Photo via Mariah Hewines/Unsplash

Car Rally in Herndon Yesterday Evening — Local residents gathered in the Town of Herndon for a car rally in support of the black community and justice. The event was titled, “Justice for Black Lives” and was organized by local community organizers. Close t0 200 cars took part. [Ibrahim Samirah]

What’s Next in the COVID-19 Response — The county’s epidemiology and population health director says residents needs to continue practicing “protective behaviors which includes social distancing, wearing face coverings and good hand hygiene.” [Fairfax County Government]

Herndon Girl Scouts Bake Friendship Bread — “While many Fairfax County students have been stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic trying to keep themselves from being bored, a troop of Herndon Girl Scouts have been busy doing something positive for the community. The eight girls of Cadette Troop 1105 are participating in what they call the “Cinnamon Bread Project,” baking loaves of cinnamon bread for LINK, which provides emergency food and financial assistance for people in need.” [Reston Patch]

Reston Community Center Issues Statement on Racism — “During these troubled and troubling times, Reston Community Center recommits our leadership, staff and resources to work that is antiracist, equity-driven, accessible and meaningful in the pursuit of our mission and vision. We pledge ourselves to learning from and listening to the voices of black people and all minorities experiencing racism.” [Reston Community Center]

Photo via Deborah Smith Reilly/Facebook

Reston Association has begun reopening some of its tennis and pickle ball courts as Northern Virginia continues in week one of Gov. Ralph Northam’s reopening plan.

So far, RA had adopted a phased approach that is expected to change in response to different guidelines offered by the state and Fairfax County.

Beginning tomorrow, the courts at Colts Neck, Barton Hill, Newbridge, Uplands and Upper lakes will be open at half capacity.  Most of RA’s courts opened on May 30, with restrictions in place such as no lighted play after 9 p.m.

Here’s more from RA on decision-making approaches to determine openings:

Reston Association will use a phased approach to open tennis and pickleball courts as our region moves between phases outlined by state and local governments. Multiple factors have been considered in planning the reopening to include: information and requirements from state and local government officials, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) United States Tennis Association (USTA) and USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), area agency plans and the professional opinion of RA staff to operate in this environment.

The following is a breakdown of what’s open: 

If social distancing guidelines are not followed, RA will close facilities.

Photo via RA