Metro Ridership Increases — “Metrorail’s ridership growth trend can now be expressed in years, with the system posting a four-percent increase in passenger trips for the 2019 calendar year, ending a downward trend that lasted most of the prior decade. Total rail ridership was 182 million trips, compared to 175 million in 2018, a net increase of seven million trips, reflecting increasing customer confidence in Metro’s reliability and on-time performance.” [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]

Reston Association Pool and Tennis Passes For Sale — Passes for unlimited access to pools and tennis courts during the 2020 season are available for purchase online. [Reston Association]

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

A Reston telecommunications company has announced plans to shut down, according to the company.

NII Holdings, which sold wireless services in Latin America, filed a certificate of dissolution in Delaware, according to a press release. Stocks stopped trading on Jan. 9. Its headquarters were located at 12110 Sunset Hills Road.

The company first formed when mobile phones first hit the market. Here’s more from a recent report by the Washington Business Journal:

Founded in 1995, NII Holdings came of age during the early years of mobile phones, capitalizing on Nextel’s push-to-talk service. At one point, Nextel owned a stake in the company, which had millions of subscribers throughout Latin America and quarterly earnings of more than $1 billion. It was listed on the Forbes 2000. 

But the shifting winds of the wireless business took their toll. Nextel was acquired by Sprint, which disabled the push-to-talk Network in 2013. NII rolled out an iPhone version of the app in 2014, though it never became widely used. 

The company cut more than 1,400 in 2013 after filing for bankruptcy that year.

Image via Google Maps

Lily Siegel, the Greater Reston Arts Center‘s executive director and curator, has resigned effective mid-February as the institution explores rebranding and repositioning itself in the community.

Siegel will become the next executive director for Hamiltonian Artists in the District as its fellowship program and exhibit transitions into a nonprofit organization.

In a Jan. 13 letter, GRACE’s Board of Directors credited Siegel for leaving the center in “a much stronger position than we were in when Lily arrived three years ago.”

As difficult as it is to lose someone of Lily’s great capability and vision, that challenge presents opportunity. We look forward to announcing in the near future the hire of a new Executive Director and Curator who we are confident, given our achievements and repositioning, will also be someone of world-class caliber capable of taking us to the next level of accomplishment and distinction.

In the meantime, we will not miss a beat. As so many of you know, we have a very experienced and highly capable team of whom we are proud (Erica Harrison, Elizabeth Denholm, Sofia Blom, and Sarah Berenz), each of whom is already stepping up to ensure we stay right on track.

The leadership that Lily has provided this institution is something for which we are all grateful and celebrate, and every one of us wishes Lily all the best for what we know will be continued success in her career.

Siegel — who looks forward to changing jobs to a location where she lives — told Reston Now she’s proud of all her accomplishments over the last three years.

“I’m so proud of everything that I’ve done here and all that our team has accomplished,” she said, adding that she looks forward to continuing to support and work with artists in the community in her new role.

As executive director, Siegel helped bring on more main gallery exhibitions with established, nationally, and internationally recognized artists.

In addition to strengthening partnerships with area organizations, also helped establish GRACE’s satellite gallery at Signature in Reston Town Center, support Sue Wrbican’s new sculpture in Town Square Park in RTC, run the summer art camp with Reston Association, and add Festival Friday to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival.

GRACE is accepting applications for Siegel’s position online.

Photo via GRACE

Metro Releases Operating Budget for Silver Line Extension — “Metro will need $24 million from the District, Maryland and Virginia to begin hiring employees and preparing for service on the Silver Line extension, according to an operating budget proposal for the project released Monday. The transit authority plans to devote $60 million — including the local contribution — in this fiscal year to staff the long-awaited nearly-11-mile rail extension, which will connect Dulles International Airport to Loudoun County.” [The Washington Post]

Washingtonian Features Reston Company —  “Today Parabon has become the hottest thing in cold cases, with law-enforcement agencies lining up for help in solving old crimes. Using an innovative method that can analyze DNA from incredibly small samples, Parabon’s Snapshot creates a genetic-genealogy report that’s used to find possible familial links via public DNA databases. Parabon contributed to breaks in several hundred crimes over the last year alone.” [Washingtonian]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Reston Community Center is contemplating its future as the center celebrates its 40th anniversary.

A special community event, “RCC’s Past and Future,” is set for Monday, Feb. 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road).

RCC is set to present the results of its community survey, as well as lead a discussion on its planning pillars of facilities, community, building, programs and communications.

Here’s more from RCC on the event:

RCC convenes the Community Relations and Program/Policy committees jointly each February to hear from its stakeholders and partners. This year will be a special gathering not just for the anniversary celebration, but so RCC’s Board of Governors and staff members can gather feedback as the agency looks toward 2021, when the next five-year strategic plan will be written and adopted. 

“We conclude our present five-year strategic plan in 2021,” said Beverly Cosham, RCC Board of Governors Chair. “Our approach typically overlaps the final year of one strategic plan with the engagement process to find out what is on our community’s minds that will shape the next one. This year, we look back to acknowledge the tremendous impact of Reston creating its community center in the image of the community and what that meant for the past 40 years.”

RCC will be seeking input on the key topic areas of community interest. “We know that people want to discuss a possible performing arts venue; development of an online community calendar; partner challenges and other specific issues,” said Leila Gordon, RCC Executive Director. “This event is an opportunity to share views on those topics.”

Childcare for children ages 6 to 12 will be offered at the event. Translation support for Chinese, Arabic, Spanish and Russian will also be available.

Registration is requested before the event online.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn kicked off his first Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ meeting today (Tuesday) by calling for a review of Reston’s Comprehensive Plan.

The proposal, which was approved by the board,  initiatives a 12 to 18 month period of public engagement to update the plan, which was last updated five years ago.

In a statement, Alcorn noted that more than 30 rezoning applications have been approved in Reston’s transit station areas since the last plan was last reviewed. He hopes to set up a community task force and start a series of public meetings.

Alcorn hopes to tackle the following topic areas, which were presented to the board today (Tuesday): 

• Projected population thresholds for Reston, and how to ensure that population, infrastructure and the environment are all in balance
• Land use in the village centers (Hunters Woods, South Lakes and North Point) – including clarification of what type of future redevelopment proposals might require an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
• The adequacy of existing plan language to generate additional affordable housing, and improvements to plan language to encourage preservation and enhancement of existing communities that now provide affordable housing
• The adequacy of existing and planned pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure for accessing Silver Line stations
• The adequacy of existing Comprehensive Plan guidance to facilitate urban-scale mobility and development design in the TSAs while protecting the stability of nearby neighborhoods
• Existing Comprehensive Plan transportation improvements to ensure that they are aligned with planned development
• How the Comprehensive Plan could better facilitate enhancement of Reston’s natural environment, encourage energy efficiency and support sustainable green neighborhoods
• How the Comprehensive Plan could address concerns about monopolization of ownership in Reston, and ways to encourage diverse ownership and/or management over the long term
• Whether the historic practice of promoting privately-owned and managed open space sufficiently addresses public needs during the next 50 years of Reston

In a previous interview with Reston Now, Alcorn said he hopes updates to the plan will help better manage growth and infrastructure in the rapidly changing community.

Herndon Middle School‘s administration is considering installing security cameras on school grounds.

The school’s administration stated that the cameras will “increase the ability to maintain the safety of all students, staff members and visitors within the building.”

Before installation begins, the school’s administration is accepting feedback from members of the school community. An informational meeting for parents is set for Thursday (Jan. 16) at the school at 5:30 p.m.

Lucy Caldwell, the director of news and information for Fairfax County Public Schools, told Reston Now that the move was not prompted by any specific events. Caldwell noted that all high school and middle schools are slated to install security devices in the near future. 

“Cameras, by their mere presence, offer a deterrent to criminal and/or inappropriate behavior. Photographic evidence also serves to help identify individuals who are trespassing onto school property, thus greatly enhancing school safety.

Additionally, camera evidence can help exonerate individuals accused of acts they did not commit,” Caldwell wrote.

Photo via Google Maps

A new business has opened up shop in Woodland Park Crossing in Herndon.

US Taekwondo College is offering classes and programming at 12950 Highland Crossing Drive, Suite 8. A grand opening celebration took place last month.

Here’s more from Myers Public Relations, which represents Rosenthal Properties:

 The USTC instructors are champion Taekwondo practitioners with years of experience, offering classes and programs for adults, children, and families. USTC also has Spring and Summer Camps and an After School Program that offers pick-up at 15 elementary schools in Reston and Herndon. Children can enjoy martial arts classes and have time to read, play games, and/or do arts and crafts, all under the watchful eyes of highly qualified staff. 

The business is located above Visionworks in the mixed-use center, which is anchored by Harris Teeter.

In recent months, the retail mix in the center has been in flux. In 2018, four businesss left Woodland Park Crossing in Herndon.

Photo courtesy

US Taekwondo College

New Express Route to Pentagon, Changes Come to Fairfax Connector — A new express route to the Pentagon will be available later this month after the Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s approved changes to the bus system. Minor time adjustments will also go into effect on Route 950 –from Herndon-Reston. [Fairfax County Government]

Former comScore CEO and Board Member Steps Down — “ComScore has had a number of CEOs and board members come and go. Its latest executive to depart points to “clear skies and smooth waters” ahead for the embattled Reston company.”  [Washington Business Journal]

Reston Woman Dropped off by Redskins’ Player Died of Accidental Overdose — “A woman who was dropped off “unconscious and unresponsive” at a Loudoun County medical center by Washington Redskins safety Montae Nicholson and a friend in November died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, authorities said a Virginia medical examiner has ruled. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that the investigation into the death of Julia Crabbe, 21, of Reston, remains ongoing and that detectives are still trying to determine the source of the drug that killed her. No charges have been filed.” [The Washington Post]

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce relocated to new offices earlier this month.

Chamber officials celebrated the move from Suite 150 to Suite 230 at 1886 Metro Center Drive at a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, Jan. 10. The organization is responsible for managing business growth and development in the Dulles Corridor.

Late last year, the chamber named Charles Kapur, a banking professional, as president and Chief Executive Officer.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Ribbon Cutting today! Very excited to be in the new offices. Big accomplishment for a great team! Open House until 1pm today – stop by and say hello. pic.twitter.com/Fz9GNrByCH

— RestonChamber (@RestonChamber) January 10, 2020

A local bookshop plans to “purge” textbooks published by Pearson from its education section following a New York Times’ report that found the publisher’s American history textbooks offer different histories on highly partisan topics.

The investigation found that the publisher and others presented information on the Second Amendment, civil rights, capital, immigration and other topics differently in California and Texas.

For example, a California textbook explains how rulings on the Second Amendment leave space for some gun regulations. The Texas edition of the book contains a blank white space instead of the explanation in the California textbook.

Here’s more from the Jan. 12 story:

In a country that cannot come to a consensus on fundamental questions — how restricted capitalism should be, whether immigrants are a burden or a boon, to what extent the legacy of slavery continues to shape American life — textbook publishers are caught in the middle. On these questions and others, classroom materials are not only shaded by politics, but are also helping to shape a generation of future voters.

Conservatives have fought for schools to promote patriotism, highlight the influence of Christianity and celebrate the founding fathers. In a September speech, President Trump warned against a “radical left” that wants to “erase American history, crush religious liberty, indoctrinate our students with left-wing ideology.”

The left has pushed for students to encounter history more from the ground up than from the top down, with a focus on the experiences of marginalized groups such as enslaved people, women and Native Americans.

The books The Times analyzed were published in 2016 or later and have been widely adopted for eighth and 11th graders, though publishers declined to share sales figures. Each text has editions for Texas and California, among other states, customized to satisfy policymakers with different priorities.

The story prompted Reston’s Used Book Shop to reconsider how it categorizes certain American history textbooks. 

“This is outrageous. We often buy used books published by Pearson – no longer. And I will be purging them from our ‘education section.'”  The business wrote on Facebook

Fairfax County Public Schools’ Superintendent Pitches Budget — The $3.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2021 was presented to the county’s school board earlier this month. It represents a 5.8 percent increase over the previous budget. [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Reston-based Company Names Chief Product Officer — “Reston-based higher education software company Ellucian has named Stephen Laster as its chief product officer… Ellucian provides products for higher education such as student information systems, data analytics tools and graduation-tracking platforms for more than 2,700 customers.” [Virginia Business]

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

A new “memory depot” is available at Reston Regional Library and five other libraries in the county.

The do-it-yourself station allows library patrons to digitize materials.

The following formats are accepted:

• Photographic prints, negatives and slides
• Scrapbooks and other documents
• VHS and VHS-C video cassettes
• Audio cassettes
• 3.5″ Floppy disks

The service, which started at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, is also available at  the Centreville Regional Library, George Mason Regional Library, Pohick Regional Library, and Sherwood Regional Library.

Only Centreville Regional Library allows users to digitize vinyl albums. Patrons must bring the materials and an external hard drive or USB.

Before signing up for a session, residents should consider taking a 30-minute orientation. Reston’s branch does not require registration for the orientation, which is held on Wednesdays. More information is available online.

Photo via Unplash/Fredy Jacob

It’s been more than seven months since Modell’s Sporting Goods at Plaza America closed its doors.

The departure of the store leaves a major vacancy at the retail center. It’s unclear if the space will follow in the footsteps of Champps’ former location at the plaza.

What would you like to see in the space? Tell us in the comments below.

File photo