Reston and surrounding areas in Northern Virginia are under a severe thunderstorm watch.

The National Weather Service says that the watch is in effect until 10 p.m.

Forecasters say that strong winds are possible into the evening.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of DC, MD, PA, VA, WV until 10 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/J4Fe0ySwqe

— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) June 4, 2020

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn says that all Fairfax County police district stations should have body-worn cameras as soon as possible.

Although three of the county’s district stations — including the Reston District Station — already have the devices, plans to implement the program countywide were stalled due to budgetary constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I support implementation in the other five police districts ASAP because the program should not be limited to only part of the county,” Alcorn said.

He added that bodywork cameras are “good for government transparency and accountability” and the county’s police officers.

County officials delayed the rollout of the program, which would have equipped officers with more than 1,200 cameras across the county.

Although funding was delayed for other stations, the county’s budget still maintained an increase of $1.77 million to support the full year of the program.

The program was implemented after a 2018 pilot study by American University researchers. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the $4 million program in late 2019.

Alcorn said his office received several queries about the status of the program following the killing of George Floyd and other events across the country.

Photo via Fairfax County Police Department

Editor’s note: This event has been postponed to Sunday due to possible rain.

Local Restonians are planning a “demonstration of solidarity” in Reston tomorrow (Friday) following the killing of George Floyd. Protests have spread to more than 400 localities in the United States as demonstrators seek justice for Floyd and speak out against police brutality.

Floyd, a black man, was killed while he was in police custody on May 25. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was arrested days after a video circulated of him holding his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes before he died.

The demonstration is organized by Reston Strong, a volunteer-run advocacy group based in Reston.

Organizer Sarah Selvaraj-Dsouza — who spoke in her personal capacity and not as a Reston Association board member — said the event is organized in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“This demonstration is an opportunity for the community to come together to stand up to racism and commit to advocating for racial justice. We are also hopeful that efforts like this one will encourage all Reston residents, especially the most privileged among us, to consider how they can use their resources to affect meaningful change,” she said.

Demonstrators plan to meet at Reston Parkway near the Dulles Toll Road overpass at 7 p.m. Masks are required during what organizers say will be a “socially-distanced and peaceful demonstration.” Although no speeches are planned, participants will hold candles, flashlights, or phone lights to illuminate their path.

Residents can also take part by posting a photo with the hashtag #restonstrongforgeorge or by turning off lights at 9:25 p.m. for a one-minute blackout.

Selvaraj-Dsouza said Friday’s demonstration marks the beginning of other community engagement efforts.

“All across our nation, people are coming out to show solidarity and support for the Black Community. Reston, VA is full of citizens who practice compassion, love, empathy for all. And now, we stand up together to say, #BlackLivesMatters. We are telling our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones – they matter, they are important, and they are precious to us.”

In an unrelated car rally by the Fairfax County NAACP yesterday (Thursday) , residents and local elected officials gathered to voice support for the black community and their struggle for justice.

“Justice will not be reached if a community does not stand together,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

Hundreds gathered tonight at the NAACP Car Rally at the Gov’t Center including members of my family, staff, Board of Supervisors and Police Dept. Uplifting to see so many of our community come out to show support. A lot more work to be done. #HunterMill pic.twitter.com/JaBR9YPbr7

— Supervisor Walter Alcorn (@WalterAlcornFFX) June 4, 2020

Photo via Unsplash

Proud to be with the Fairfax County NAACP and County residents tonight to listen and learn about the centuries of struggles African Americans have faced and the anger and sadness you are feeling. Justice will not be reached if a community doesn’t stand together pic.twitter.com/A5pUUWrLIp

— Jeff McKay (@JeffreyCMcKay) June 4, 2020

With traditional graduation ceremonies canceled, South Lakes High School found a new way to celebrate the graduating class of 2020 on Wednesday night.

Cars congregated for a drive-by parade in honor of graduating seniors around 7 p.m. yesterday. The community-wide celebration gave a nod to graduates whose plans for celebrations were drastically changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graduates stood along the sidewalk near the school on marks designated by the school. Some gathered together for embraces as people from cars showered flowers, candy, and messages from inside their vehicles.

Earlier this week, students were able to pick up their caps and gowns. Each graduate was assigned to a designated spot as cars drove by to celebrate the students and their accomplishments.

The school’s administration also compiled a video to honor students who won special awards or recognition this year, including scholarships and decisions to serve in the military. 

Fairfax County Public Schools closed until the end of the school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The school system has not yet determined if closures will continue in the beginning of the next academic year.

Staff photos by Jay Westcott

Local police are searching for a Herndon resident who went missing in late May.

According to the Herndon Police Department, Joshua Bowman, 27, of Herndon, was last seen several days before a missing persons report was filed on May 27.

Bowman is African American, is 5’10”, and weighs around 170 pounds, according to HPD.  He was last seen on the 700 block of Barbaralynn Place.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call 703-435-6486.

Stanley Martin is proposing to redevelop four office buildings on 1145 Herndon Parkway into a mix of townhouses and two-over-twos.

The development would include two buildings — a three-story townhouse community and a four-story two-over-two condominium building. Two open space areas are planned on the east edge of the site along Herndon Parkway along with a centralized park.

So far, the company has submitted a zoning map amendment to the Town of Herndon. But before town’s Planning Commission can review the proposal, the company’s plans for architecture and open space will go before the Architectural Review Board.

The ARB will evaluate the plan after conducting a work session today (Wednesday). The report will be used to guide the commission’s review of the proposed application.

If the commission approves the plan, the Herndon Town Council will take a vote. After this process, a final site plan review is conducted by the ARB.

In May 29 memo, town staff noted that it needs more information to provide a comprehensive review of the application.

Still, staff noted that the architecture of the proposed buildings is “superficial and suburban in nature.” Overall, the townhouses are “typical of a 1980’s and 1990’s suburban residential design and less representative of modern-day urban design solutions.”

Staff also noted that the proposed design utilizes starkly different materials that does not create a “legible rhythm” with the rest of the site.

An ARB work session is planned for today (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. Information on how to view the online meeting is available online.

Photo via handout/Town of Herndon

A local advocacy group is encouraging residents to give bicycling a try during the shutdown of Silver Line and Orange line Metro Stations this summer.

The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling will offer the help of advisers who will guide people on picking routes.

“It’s great to see so many more people out biking lately,” FABB President Sonya Breehey said. “With the closure of the Silver and Orange line stations, bike commuting can be a great option. FABB’s Bike Advisors are here to help new riders get started.”

The summer shutdown started on May 23 and affects nine stations, including Vienna, Wiehle-Reston, Tysons Corner, Greensboro and McLean.

The organization says that special clothes or a specific kind of bike is not necessary for bike commuting.

“A well-chosen bike route that avoids high-volume, high-speed roads will help to avoid conflicts with drivers and make the commute safer and more pleasant. Visibility is important, so riders should have front and rear lights for bicycling after dark,” FABB said in a press release. 

Residents can enlist the help of a bike advisor online.

A medical rescue is underway in Roland Clarke Place, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

Crews are working to rescue a patient from roughly 160 feet at a building on the 1900 block of Roland Clarke Place.

As of around 3:45 p.m. this afternoon, the patient was being lowered to the ground.

Units currently on scene of an elevated rescue in the 1900 block of Roland Clarke Place in Reston area. Person having medical emergency in crane 160 feet up. Technical Rescue Team preparing to lower patient to ground. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/taqloYTib3

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 2, 2020

Local public health officials are preparing for a possible spike in COVID-19 cases as Northern Virginia begins the first full-week of Gov. Ralph Northam’s reopening plan.

As a result, Fairfax County officials are hiring up to 400 staff to support contact tracing efforts and offer increased testing in areas where tests are needed.

The county has the largest number of cases of any Virginia jurisdiction. As of today (Tuesday), the county has 11,426 confirmed cases and a little over 400 deaths, according to state data. Overall, the rate of COVID-19’s spread has slowed as the number of new weekly cases reported decreases.

At a meeting with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), Ben Schwartz, the county’s director of epidemiology and population health, said that the actual number of cases is much higher due to limited testing.

Models produced by the University of Virginia show that roughly six percent of the county’s population could have COVID-19. Some individuals may be asymptomatic.

The county also plans to encourage more people to get tested at several health sites across the county. So far, testing capacity is underutilized, according to health department director Gloria Addo-Ayensu.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn also encouraged the county’s health department to expand testing as much as possible in vulnerable communities.

Others noted that testing sites should be targeted to communities in need instead of publicizing testing events broadly. A testing clinic over the weekend in Bailey’s Crossroads was overwhelmed with requests for tests, resulting in major traffic backups.

Addo-Ayensu said the county will no longer accept state assistance that was used to set up the testing clinic. Instead, the county will focus on smaller testing clinics that reach specific areas only using a mobile clinic. She said she was unaware that Northam would announce the recent testing clinic at a press conference, resulting in a media frenzy.

The county plans to offer more hyperlocal testing in areas where it is most needed.

Overall, the course of the pandemic in the county is unclear.

Whether or not another wave occurs depends on several factors, including adherence to social distancing guidelines, the impact of summer heat and humidity on the virus, and how quickly the state reopens, Schwartz said.

Herndon was also identified as a hotspot for transmission, according to the county’s health department.

Photo via Unplash

Fairfax County’s top official is stressing the importance of equity and justice as nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd continue.

A viral video captured Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

In a newsletter to constituents, Jeff McKay, the chairman of the Board of Supervisors, stressed the county’s focus on equity with the One Fairfax policy, saying that he will soon announce ” a blueprint to double down on our commitments.”

McKay also addressed the recent protests in D.C. after reports on Monday of police using tear gas and rubber bullets to dispel protesters from the area around a church where President Donald Trump then posed for a photo.

“I’m angry and disgusted that today, for the third time in as many days, we saw peaceful protestors tear-gassed and shot with pellet guns as they chanted for peace and change,” McKay said.

McKay’s full statement:

To the Fairfax County Community,

Over the weekend, millions marched the streets across the United States mourning the death of George Floyd and rightfully protesting the injustices and systemic racism experienced by generations of African American men and women in this country.

I’m angry and disgusted that today, for the third time in as many days, we saw peaceful protestors tear gassed and shot with pellet guns as they chanted for peace and change. Simultaneously, COVID-19 continues to showcase and exacerbate the disparities that exist in our most vulnerable communities.

Now more than ever, we know it is the role of our local government to achieve true structural change in our communities. We in Fairfax County must honestly ask ourselves, what actions are we taking?; what voices are we lifting up?; and for me as your Chairman, are our policies affecting systemic change in our community?

We are lucky to live in Fairfax County. Our Government has a team of employees who dedicate themselves to making us better every day. Our residents are diverse and challenge us to do more. Each member of the Board of Supervisors believes that we can always improve.

It is our commitment to our diversity that created our One Fairfax policy, which makes equity a requirement and recognizes that disparity is a fact. The Board of Supervisors and School Board adopted it to ensure that it is intentionally applied to all the work we do – not just reflected on when we are in crisis.  In the coming days, I will announce a blueprint to double down on our commitments.

We have work to be done. In the days, weeks, and months ahead of us, we will continue to listen, encourage healthy dialogues, and have the courage to fight for what’s right.

On Friday, Fairfax County Police Department Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. talked about the police department’s community policing efforts and addressed eroding trust in law enforcement.

“We shall have faith the local and federal justice systems will navigate toward justice for the Floyd family, the communities impacted, and our entire nation,” he said. “However, we must be mindful there is a healing process where righteous anger needs to be constructively exercised through the right to free speech.”

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash

Reston Association has hired a new director of covenants administration.

Cameron Adams was previously the covenants manager for the Kingstowne Residential Owners Corp. in Alexandria, where he managed 43 neighborhoods and more than 3,400 homes.

“Cameron brings valuable and highly relevant experience to Reston,” said RA CEO, Hank Lynch. “We believe he is going to raise the bar in terms of member relations and implementation of design policies in conjunction with our internal protocols.”

Here’s more from RA on the hire:

As covenants manager, Adams planned and implemented property inspections, collaborated with the architectural review committee and board of trustees, and managed day-to-day operations. He also worked to recruit and retain committee members as well as assisted with the processing and review of applications for exterior home improvements.

Adams has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden, VA. He has several certificates in community and association management. Adams also worked as an assistant community manager at a 55+ active adult community in Fredericksburg, VA.

Recently, RA has been working to improve its covenants administration process. 

Photo via Reston Association

Several mopeds were stolen over the weekend in Reston, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

Police are investigating the thefts, which happened between Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30.

The following incidents were reported, according to FCPD’s daily crime update:

11600 block of Charter Oak Court, 2014 Jonway moped

11600 block of Charter Oak Court, 2015 Tao Tao moped

11600 block of North Shore Drive, 2017 Jonway moped

2400 block of Centreville Road, 2013 Dykon moped

All of the cases are active investigations, an FCPD spokesperson told Reston Now.

File photo

Police Now Accept Donated Face Coverings — Fairfax County police stations are now accepting donated face coverings. Each station has a donation bin to place items. [Fairfax County Government]

Nearby: Police Search for Missing Man — Local police are searching for Sheng You Ho, 80, who was last seen on May 31 leaving the 3100 block fo Colchester Brook Lane. Ho was driving a Mercury Cougar and is endangered due to mental or physical health concerns. [Fairfax County Police Department]

County Board to Receive Health Update Today — The Fairfax County Board of Directors will receive an update from Fairfax County Health Department Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu today at 1:30 p.m. [Fairfax County Government]

Job Opportunity; County Hiring Contact Tracers — The county is hiring contact tracers to “each out to all Fairfax County, VA contacts of persons with probable or confirmed COVID-19 infection, counsel them on testing and quarantine, refer them for testing, and connect them to necessary resources throughout their quarantine.” [Fairfax County Government]

Photo by Marjorie Copson