Reston Association Seeks Design Review Board Members — RA is seeking members for two volunteer design professional positions. Applications are due by Jan. 31. [Reston Association]
County Seeks Election Officers — The county is seeking 2,100 election officers for the March 3 Democratic presidential primary election. Officers must be registered to vote in Virginia. The application is available online. [Fairfax County Government]
Registration for World Language Immersion Lottery to Open Later This Month — The Fairfax County Public Schools’ online registration for the county-wide lottery opens on Jan. 27. Parent information meetings kick off on Jan. 13. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
Metro users should plan ahead for a major shutdown at the Orange and Silver Line in Arlington.
The service will not run from Rosslyn to East Falls Church on Saturday (Jan. 11) and Sunday (Jan. 12). There will also be no Silver Line service between Largo Town Center and Rosslyn this weekend.
Trains are scheduled to run every 12 to 15 minutes between East Falls Church and Vienna and between East Falls Church and Wiehle-Reston East.
Free shuttle buses will replace trains between East Falls Church and Rosslyn on the Orange Line. The Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon and Court House stations will be closed.
Metro riders traveling through the work zone will be charged for a single, continuous trip.
More information on weekend service changes is available online.
Photo via Dario Piparo/Flickr
A major county effort to restore heavily degraded stream areas at the Snakeden Branch at Lake Audubon is underway and should be completed by October of this year.
The county is working with Reston Association and neighbors to restore 750 linear feet of stream channel. The stream area is so degraded that it exposed sewer pipes between South Lakes Drive, Wakerobin Lane, Cedar Cove Court and Lake Audubon.
“Exposed utilities, including sanitary sewer, are a potential human and environmental health hazard,” according to the county.
Construction began in October last year and is expected to take one year to complete.
The project disturbs a little over half an acre of forested land, requiring the removal of 111 trees. When the project is complete, 326 will be planted, according to data provided by the county.
Once its complete, the project should improve water quality in the area, protect the local sanitary sewer system, remove invasive vegetation at the site, and reforest the area, resulting in improved wildlife habitat.
Here’s more on the project from RA:
Photos via Fairfax County Government
A new tenant at Reston Station, Comstock’s mixed-use development at the Wiehe-Reston East Metro Station, has delayed its opening plans.
CVS Pharmacy plans to open sometime in March at the project, according to a company representative.
The healthcare giant initially hoped to open by mid-December. A “coming soon” sign remains plastered on a fence near the construction site.
The roughly 8,451-square-foot store will be located at the entrance of Metro’s north pedestrian bridge at the station.
Staff photo by Jay Westcott
The first phase of a massive, mixed-use project with a Wegmans, Pinstripes, and self-driving cars is underway.
Brookfield Properties broke ground on the project, called Halley Rise and formerly called. Reston Crescent, in October.
The first phase, which is set to be completed in 2022, includes 450,000 square feet of new office space, 640 residential units, 200,000 square feet of retail and two new parks, a company spokesperson told Reston Now.
Wegmans, which will anchor the retail space, is expected to be open in 2022. Pinstripes, a restaurant with a bowling alley and bocce court, is also planned.
Future phases will also include a movie theater — under a mile from Bow Tie Cinemas in Reston Town Center — and food and drink options.
When the 36-acre development is built out, it will include 1.5 million square feet of office space, 250,000 square feet of retail and 1,500 residential units, 15 percent of which are affordable.
Staff photos by Jay Westcott
Shepherd’s Center Seeks Volunteer Drivers in Reston and Herndon — The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna, which recently started serving residents in Reston and Herndon, is s eking volunteer drivers to take seniors to appointments. Applications are available online. [Shepherd’s Center]
Nominations Sought for Volunteer Service Awards — Reston Association is seeking volunteers for its annual volunteer service awards. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. [Reston Association]
Fairfax County Launches Cable TV Survey — The county is seeking thoughts on cable television services in the community as part of the feedback process for cable TV franchises. Responses are due by the end of the month. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Brianna Nelson
A Herndon home was shot at over the weekend, according to the Herndon Police Department.
Police believe someone shot into a home on the 11000 block of Lopez Lane on Saturday, Jan. 4.
No injuries were reported and the case is under investigation.
Local police shared information about the incident on Tuesday (Jan. 7).
The police department did not return a request for comment for further information.
Image via Google Maps
A new restaurant is serving up Vietnamese cuisine in Herndon.
Alo Vietnam is now open at 2321C Dulles Station Boulevard. A soft opening was held last month.
The restaurant also expects to open a Reston location at Faraday Park (1831 Michael Faraday Drive).
A representative for the store did not indicate when that location will open.
Photos via Alo Vietnam/Facebook
Expect Tuesday’s snow — which brought about 1.5 inches to Reston — to be up in the air today (Wednesday).
A Wind Advisory is in effect through 5 p.m. today in the area. The National Weather Service expects west winds from 20 to 25 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph.
Here’s more from the alert:
* WHERE…Portions of The District of Columbia, central, north central and northern Maryland and northern and northwest Virginia.
* WHEN…From 11 AM this morning to 5 PM EST this afternoon.
* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around. unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.
Residents should use caution while driving and secure outdoor objects as needed.
A Wind Advisory has been issued for areas along and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the DC metro areas and northward until 5 pm today. Check our website: https://t.co/CJFhYzBvKR for more information. pic.twitter.com/AkvYuLs22Y
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 8, 2020
Photo by Ruth Sievers
If the person next door is always ready to lend a helping hand or make your day better, Town of Herndon officials want to hear from you.
The town is accepting nominations for its Good Neighbor Award. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31.
Only town residents can nominate a family member, friend or neighbor how makes noteworthy contributions toward the quality of life in local neighborhoods, according to the town. Recipients must be residents of the Town of Herndon and cannot have performed acts of good neighborliness for paid employment.
The town mayor and council will recognize Good Neighbor Award recipients at a future public meeting and all recipients will receive a commemorative gift.
Nominations can be submitted online.
The award is part of the town’s Cultivating Community initiative, which aims to encourage beautification and the enrichment of quality of life in the town’s neighborhoods.
Photo via Town of Herndon Government
General Assembly Convenes Today — “Already, Democrats submitted more than 260 bills for consideration in the upcoming session… It’s been 20 years since the Democrats have had this kind of control in Richmond, but more realistically, those with the kind of progressive values of the current majorities have never come close to running the show in Richmond before.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Topgolf Competitor Seeks Site in Northern Virginia — “Spot Golf is currently in discussions with Billy Casper Golf to construct a venue at 1757 Golf Club.” [Washington Business Journal]
Local Startups Get Top Honors — “Reston-based analytics software developer QOMPLX (fka Fractal Industries) was ranked as fifth-highest and Herndon-based satellite operator HawkEye360 as seventh-highest in a list of “11 D.C. Startup Fundings Above $50 Million in 2019,” compiled by DC Inno.” [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Photo by Philip Lilienthal
Today’s snow may bring some welcome news for students wishing for a snow day this week.
Fairfax County Public Schools will closed today (Wednesday). Last night, the schools system planned to open on a two-hour delay.
“The change in FCPS’ operating status for today is due to the hazardous travel conditions that remain in various parts of the county at this hour, especially on secondary roads,” FCPS tweeted earlier this morning.
Photo by Brian Murphy
The first snow of 2020 is blanketing Reston and Herndon with a light cover of snow.
Although no major traffic incidents have been reported, readers should expect a slow afternoon commute today.
Here’s more from social media:
Driving homework assignment 2:
✔️ Slow down and be patient; we're all trying to get somewhere.
✔️ Wipers on? Headlights on.
✔️ Leave room to brake as roads get more slippery. https://t.co/FNvP7NOPAK— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) January 7, 2020
@RestonNow Reston Parkway in the #snow today pic.twitter.com/EL6ir2Yalu
— WFO (@WFOcom) January 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/MrErrett/status/1214643124372418563?s=20
Be aware and be prepared! Traffic not looking too good out there. If you are driving please drive with care and caution. #FCFRD firefighters/paramedics do not want to meet you by "accident" today! #Snow #traffic ❄️ 🚗 pic.twitter.com/9qavicEb4C
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 7, 2020
Photo 1 by Twitter/MrErrett; 2, 3 and 4 by Brian Murphy
In the latest five-year of the Town of Herndon’s comprehensive plan, town officials are considering a handful of changes to update the master planning document that is reviewed every five years.
The Herndon Town Council will discuss the changes, which were recommended by the town’s Planning Commission, at a meeting tonight (Jan. 7). The comprehensive plan guides present and future development of jurisdictions in order to promote the health, safety, and welfare of its residents.
While some suggested amendments tweak references and names, some planned changes emphasize the prioritization of multimodal approaches for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, cooperation with Fairfax County and Loudoun County officials regarding nearby transit-oriented areas, and assessment of recreational facilities.
Other suggested amendments cover the following topic areas:
- Cooperation with nearby jurisdictions for major public services like schools, fire and rescue and libraries
- Ensuring town facilities “meet the needs of all ages and abilities”
- Providing housing choices including mixed-use neighborhoods with transit
- Accessible parks for residents
- A roadmap to address policies related to climate change
- A plan chapter on economic development
- Emphasis on universal design for individuals with varying abilities
The council will meet at 7 p.m. tonight in the Herndon Council Chambers Building (765 Lynn Street).
Photo via Town of Herndon
Bill Phillips, a physicist who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997, dove into physics and other topics with students at Ideaventions Academy for Mathematics and Science, an independent school for the gifted in Reston.
Phillips offered two presentations to students in 4th through 11th grade at the school. He discussed topics like atomic clocks, absolute zero and how physicists make atoms get cold. His presentation, which touched on topics like the National Institute of Standards and Technology and quantum principles, also included demonstrations with liquid nitrogen.
Here’s more from NIST on Phillip’s work:
Phillips began his experiments with laser trapping and cooling shortly after he arrived in 1978 at the National Bureau of Standards (the agency that became NIST), with the intent of creating a more accurate atomic clock. Several of his innovations in the following years became landmarks in the field. These included a device using a laser along with a magnetic field to decelerate and cool an atomic beam (the “Zeeman slower”); demonstrating the first device that trapped electrically neutral atoms (a magnetic trap); and measuring a temperature far below that predicted by the accepted theory of laser cooling at the time (known as sub-Doppler cooling).
The academy’s assistant head of school and director of admissions, Juliana Heitz, said that students enjoyed the presentation.
“One of our 5th graders said that Dr. Phillips’ visit was one of his two favorite days in school ever,” Heitz told Reston Now.
Phillips, a NIST fellow, shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Steven Chu of Stanford University and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji of the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. The team developed methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light.
Photo via Ideaventions Academy
