Reston Hospital Trauma Center Receives Recognition — “Reston Hospital has received verification as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) for a period of three years through the year 2022. This achievement recognizes the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.” [The Connection]
Comstock Acquires Hartford Building in Arlington — The Reston-based company and the developer of Reston Station has acquired The Hartford Building, a nine-story office building located at 3101 Wilson Boulevard. [Global Newswire]
Penzance Acquires 169-unit Development in Herndon –“Penzance, an owner, operator and developer in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region for more than two decades, has closed on the purchase of The Mark, a 169-unit, luxury mixed-use apartment community located steps from the future Innovation Center Metro Station in Herndon.” [Citybizlist]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Light snow is expected between noon to 7 p.m. today (Tuesday) in the area. Fairfax County Public Schools will close two hours early today.
Due to the anticipated snow and possible hazardous driving conditions later today, all Fairfax County public schools and offices will close two hours early today, January 7, 2020. (Condition 4).
— Fairfax Schools 🌟 (@fcpsnews) January 7, 2020
In a winter weather advisory, the National Weather Service says to expect between one to three inches of snow in the area.
The alert covers northeastern and central Maryland, as well as the Baltimore Metropolitan area. The heaviest snow could complicate the evening commute from 3-6 p.m.
Here’s more from the NWS:
* IMPACTS…Snow covered and slippery roads are expected especially northwest of Interstate 95 into the evening commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Snow rates could exceed one inch per hour with visibility around one-half mile at times.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Slow down and use caution while traveling. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
On Jan. 14, 1879, the Town of Herndon was officially incorporated, marking 141 years since its incorporation this month.
To honor its birthday, the Herndon Town Council plans to proclaim that day as the “Herndon Town Incorporation Day”:
“Further, the Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Herndon, Virginia, hereby express appreciation to mayors, councils, members of the Herndon Historical Society, town staff, and volunteers, who ~ both in the past and in the present ~ continually strive to preserve and document the history of the Town of Herndon, and encourage the public’s interest in our distinct heritage.”
The motion is up for a vote at the council’s meeting tomorrow. Every 10 years, the council presents this proclamation to Herndon’s Historical Society. The next presentation is set for 2029 for the town’s 150th anniversary.
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Greater Reston Arts Center is welcoming a new exhibit featuring the work of artist Moira Dryer this month.
Dryer’s work, which features large abstract paintings on wood panel, will be on display from Jan. 18 through April 18. The exhibit, which was curated by GRACE’s executive director and curator Lily Siegel is titled “Yours for the Taking.”
Here’s more from GRACE on the exhibit:
This exhibition will provide an intimate look at the artist’s practice through works given as gifts to friends and family, many never previously shown publicly. Her work has been exhibited extensively across the United States in institutions such as Boston’s Institute for Contemporary Art; Whitney Museum of Modern Art; and The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Dryer’s work is included in the permanent collections of The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and Museum of Modern Art, New York
Dryer was educated at the School of Visual Arts. Her first solo exhibition debuted in 1986 at John Good Gallery in New York. She was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1957 and died in New York City in 1992.
The exhibit is supported by ARTFAIRFAX and Robert and Theresa Goudie, as well as the Exhibition Circle.
A curator’s talk and opening reception is set for Jan. 19 from 4-6 p.m.
Photo via Moira Dryer/GRACE
With bus loop construction nearly complete, Fairfax Connector service to and from the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride will return to normal today (Monday).
The bus loop is expected to close in the spring again to complete concrete work. Details about the upcoming closure have not been publicly released yet.
Here’s more from Fairfax County government:
Fairfax Connector and Metrobus passengers who make travel connections at Herndon-Monroe will board buses at the bus loop once again starting Jan. 6, instead of the temporary stops along Sunrise Valley Drive used during construction. Fairfax Connector Routes operating to and from the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride are: 551, 924, 926, 927, 929, 937, 950, 951, 952, 980, 981, 983.
Routes were changed in late September.
File photo
More than 350 individuals are out of power near Glade Drive, according to Dominion Energy.
The company reports that 368 customers are out of power. Crews expect to restore power between 2-5 p.m. today (Monday).
Over the weekend, a power outage was also reported in Reston Town Center. Employees at Mon Ami Gabi, a French restaurant in the town center, took credit card information from customers to complete transactions.
Photo via Dominion Energy
Reston Telemedicine Has Big Plans — “Hammad Shah has two key goals for 2020: Serve more patients and reach more health systems. To do that, the CEO of Reston telemedicine provider SOC Telemed is shepherding the company further into post-acute care, to connect skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities with its team of doctors to remotely care for patients after they’re discharged from the hospital — and, consequently, prevent readmissions.” [Washington Business Journal]
Reston Association Replaces Reston Magazine with Activities Guide — Reston Association is expected to mail out a new activities guide this week, replacing the Reston magazine. The print version will be published four times a year. A digital version will be uploaded each quarter. [Reston Association]
Nearby: Loudoun County Seeks to Build Affordable Housing — “As the demographics of people moving to the suburbs shifts, Loudoun County is attempting to create more housing options to address would-be residents’ unmet needs. While Loudoun has grown at a fast pace over the past few years, like many jurisdictions in the region it has an affordable housing crunch, and many young adults can’t afford to live in the area.” [Greater Greater Washington]
Photo by Elizabeth Copson
Fairfax County fire investigators say that the auto-ignition of cooking oil caused a house fire in the Town of Herndon on Jan. 1.
The fire broke out around 2:44 a.m. in the 1400 block of Cuttermill Court. The incident caused roughly $93,750 in damages, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. The fire was caused by cooking oil that spread to nearby combustibles in the kitchen.
Three people were at home when the fire broke out. No injuries were reported.
Fire and rescue officials urge residents to ensure smoke detectors are working inside homes. In this incident, residents were awakened by the sound of a smoke alarm.
“The firefighters and paramedics of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue would like to remind all residents that half of all fire deaths happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. Working smoke alarms save lives.”
File photo
Deadline to Order Commemorative Bricks Nears — The Reston Historic Trust & Museum is taking orders for commemorative bricks through Jan. 6. Bricks will be installed in 2021. [Reston Historic Trust & Museum]
Stuff the Bus Events Returns to Fairfax County — Stuff the Bus visits local grocery stores to collect donations food and household items beginning Jan. 18. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
True Food Kitchen, a restaurant chain, plans to open in Reston Town Center over the summer.
The restaurant, which fills space formerly occupied by M & S Grill (11901 Democracy Drive), is targeting an August 3 opening date, a company spokesperson told Reston Now.
The date could shift pending inspections and the county permitting processes. Located across the country, True Food Kitchen focuses on offering food based on Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet.
The chain currently has a location in Fairfax and plans to open in Arlington.
Photo via Google Maps
Comments Sought for Plum’s Pre-Session Survey — Del. Ken Plum is seeking residents’ feedback on priorities and issues facing the Virginia General Assembly this year. The 2020 session begins next week. [Ken Plum]
Group of Men Assault Victim in Herndon — Police believe a victim was assaulted by a group of up to seven males on Dec. 28 on the 12000 block of Alabama Drive. One of the men hit the victim in the head with a bottle. The case is under investigation. [Herndon Police Department]
Fairfax County General Assembly Public Hearing Set for Saturday — The local delegation’s hearing is set for Saturday (Jan. 4) at the Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Parkway). Only county residents may register to speak. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A portion of Lawyers Road in Reston is closed to a crash, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The southbound lane of Lawyers Road at Soapstone Drive is closed. Commuters should avoid the area and find an alternate route.
Photo via Google Maps
The opening of Reston Community Center’s renovated Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center has been delayed again.
The 40-year-old facility, which has been undergoing a one-year renovation project, is expected to open on Jan. 27 due to issues uncovered in recent inspections and the permitting process, according to a statement by RCC issued Monday. Two new pools were expected to open on Jan. 6.
However, inspections uncovered issues with the facility’s fire alarm system, according got the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
“During testing of new fire alarm system components in the project area last week, it was discovered that our existing system and the pool system were on two separate relay paths,” said Gordon. “The strobe lights used in the pool are different from those in the rest of the building. Fire regulations require all building systems to be identical and on the same relay processes. We will have to replace existing strobe units inside the pool environment and connect those new ones to the building system. This will add time needed to order the parts and install them.”
Gordon said the facility’s electrical power service — which was part of the old venue — cannot power new lighting and emergency lighting. This unanticipated challenge will require RCC to replace and install additional components.
Here’s more from RCC on the issue:
In the interim, punch list and further equipment systems testing, including HVAC and pump issues, will be ongoing to ensure there will be no further complications with those areas.
“We are going to use the time delay to assure that we run the pool systems sufficiently long enough to expose anything that needs to be tweaked before we reopen,” Gordon explained. “We are reaching out to our registered patrons, swim team users and to the public to help them plan accordingly.”
RCC is offering swim team users complimentary team practice when the pool reopens. A $1 access price for drop-in use will be offered in February. All patrons enrolled in affected classes will receive full refunds.
We know this has been an enormous burden to our regular swimmers and those wanting to enroll their family members in learn-to-swim programs. The two new pools are beautiful, and we are confident that swimmers will find them exciting to use. We are as eager to get the space open as the public is, and we hope this is the final delay in getting to that happy state.”
Photo via Reston Community Center
With Christmas Day behind us, residents can recycle their Christmas trees. According to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, it’s best to dispose of trees when they get dry due to the risk of fires.
Fairfax County collects trees for recycling in the first two weeks of January — so long as they are less than eight feet tall. Residents with private collection services should consult with the collecting companies.
The National Christmas Tree Association encourages residents to recycle Christmas trees — which are biodegradable:
Soil erosion barriers: Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially for lake and river shoreline stabilization and river delta sedimentation management.
Fish feeders: Sunk into private fish ponds, trees make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.
Bird feeders: Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. (Make sure all decorations, hooks, garland and tinsel strands are removed). Eventually (within a year) the branches will become brittle and you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in a chipper.
Mulch: A Christmas tree is biodegradable; its branches may be removed, chipped, and used as mulch in the garden.
Paths for hiking trails: Some counties use shredded trees as a free, renewable and natural path material that fits both the environment and the needs of hikers.
Living, rooted trees: Get a rooted (ball and burlap or containerized) tree and plant it in your yard. (It’s a good idea to dig the hole in the late fall while the soil is still soft, then plant the tree into that hole immediately after Christmas.) Living trees have a better survival rate in mild climates.
Residents can also recycle trees at the I-66 Transfer Station, which requires a $7 fee per tree. All ornaments, decorations, and stands must be removed prior to disposal. Artificial trees can be brought to a donation station.
File photo
Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days.
- Police Arrest Reston Man After Suspicious Package Incident at Spectrum
- Thai Eatery in Reston to Expand to Great Falls
- Updated: Vietnamese Cuisine, F45 Gym Coming to Faraday Park in Reston
- New CIP Addresses New High School, Silver Line Elementary School
- Reston House Fire Causes $180K Worth of Damage
If you have ideas on stories we should cover, email us at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip.
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally in the comments below.
Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
