Reston residents will have a chance to get outside and shake off that turkey coma this weekend.
Reston Association’s Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) is scheduled to host a “Turkey Trail” scavenger hunt this Saturday, Nov. 26, at 11 a.m.
During the event, attendees can breathe in the crisp fall air, marvel at the trees’ changing colors and search for clues along the trails near the nature center.
Organizers say a “wild turkey” has gone on the loose and left behind clues that families will need to decode in order to follow the “turkey trail.” As they do so, families will learn some fascinating facts about the beautiful Thanksgiving birds.
Registration by tomorrow is encouraged. The cost is $5 for RA members or $7 for non-members.
Photo: An American turkey, credit to “Lupin” on Creative Commons.
Mom Helps Save Father and Daughter After Car Goes Into Lake Anne — Meet Beth Hoyos, whose quick thinking helped save the father and his 7-year-old daughter after their car ran off Wiehle Avenue and into the cold waters of Lake Anne. [WJLA]
South Lakes Seahaws Win Regional Quarterfinals, Advance to Semifinals — Congratulations to the varsity football team from South Lakes, who beat Centreville High 22-20 Friday night to win the Virginia 6A North regional quarterfinals. It was a close game, with South Lakes down 14-0 at one point, but they made a “wild” comeback in the second half. Next, the Seahawks face Lake Braddock in the semifinals on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Lake Braddock. [South Lakes Athletics]
Think Ahead: Holiday Camp Planned Week Before Christmas — Fairfax County Public Schools are slated to let out on Dec. 16 this year, which means for working parents, it can be a scramble figuring out child care for that last week of work before the holidays. Reston Association has a number of Holiday Break Camps for children ages 5-11 years old, and registration is now open through WebTrac. [Reston Association/WebTrac]
Photo by John Menick
Locals will have to pay $35 more on their annual fees to the Reston Association.
The RA Board last night voted 5-3 in favor of a 2017 assessment of $692. The fees for 2016 were $657.
Months of board meetings and public hearings led up to Thursday’s vote. Several assessment options were considered, ranging from $630 to $792. Most recently, the board appeared to lean toward fees of $698.
As part of the 2017 assessment vote, the board approved the hiring of a new capital improvements director, at an annual salary of $84,000 plus benefits, coming to a total expense of $138,000. In addition, two current RA employees will new jobs in the recently created capital projects department.
In order to increase member assessment fees as little as possible, while also allowing for the new capital improvement director’s salary, board members agreed to make cuts in a few places.
One place that received some cuts was aquatic services. The board decided to cut the hours of operations for some of the associations least-used pools. Details of which pools, and what the new hours will be, have not yet been announced. The savings from these cuts will run about $120,000 for the year, according to the board.
Other cuts approved in October included $174,000 from road maintenance and $20,000 from board governance training.
Assessment statements will go out to Reston households in mid-December.
Photo via Reston Association
Metro Pulls 4000-Series Rail Cars — Metro yesterday took its 4000-series rail cars out of service due to concerns with the safety of their automatic train control systems. [WTOP]
Leading Saudi Family Helps Buy Reston Office Building — A leading family of Saudi Arabia is supporting a joint venture that has paid $60 million for the eight-story Reston Eastpointe office building at 11091 Sunset Hills Road. [Washington Business Journal]
Meetings Begin on Fairfax County Parkway Traffic Woes — Fairfax County officials this week started holding meetings on how to address traffic woes along Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286), including the stretch that flows through Reston and Herndon. Local leaders are looking to hear residents’ feedback on proposed fixes intended to ease congestion, as well as account for future population growth. [Reston Patch]
Reston Library to Host Crime Thriller Author — Award-winning author Aaron Roy Even will visit the Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Dr.) tomorrow from 2-3:30 p.m. to discuss his crime thriller, “He Comes in Fire,” which takes place in a fictitious town in central Virginia. Even’s work has appeared on several TV networks, including the National Geographic, Discovery and Smithsonian channels. [Reston Now Events]
Photo courtesy of Paul Hartke
The annual Reston Holiday Parade is in the running for one of the nation’s best holiday processions — and locals can cast their votes with USA Today to help the community clinch the top spot.
The Reston Holiday Parade will bring larger-than-life inflatable floats, musicians, local dignitaries and Santa Claus himself to Reston Town Center at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25.
Although the parade is the main attraction, Reston Town Center will turn the entire day into a holiday celebration, with ice skating in the pavilion, a tree lighting ceremony, mini train rides, a ballet performance and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids who arrive early get commemorative jingle bells to ring during the festivities.
Twenty parades across the country are in the running as the nation’s best holiday processions. As of this afternoon, Reston is at No. 6, behind parades in Annapolis, New York City, Albuquerque, Houston and Calistoga Springs, Calif.
USA Today is accepting votes online until Monday, Dec. 5, at noon.
Fairfax County officials later this month are slated to officially break ground for a $44.5 million parking garage for the future Herndon Metro station.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova and other local officials are slated to join in the groundbreaking ceremony at Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride Lot (12530 Sunrise Valley Drive) Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. Construction is expected to end by spring 2019.
“The 2,007-space parking facility is designed to assist in reducing congestion on Northern Virginia roadways by creating additional opportunities for ridesharing and the use of public transit,” county officials said in an announcement Tuesday.
The future Herndon Metro Silver Line Station will serve riders at ground level in the median on the Dulles Toll Road and will serve the existing Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride, with access from both sides of the road. Phase 1 of construction on the Metro station is already underway, and Phase 2 is expected to wind up at some point in the next five years, according to Metro officials.
Key features of the project will include a pedestrian bridge leading from the new garage to the future Metro station, as well as connections for both cars and pedestrians to the existing Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride lot, which contains 1,745 parking spaces.
The new garage also will have secure bicycle storage facilities, a spot for bus pick-offs and drop-offs and a “kiss-and-ride” area.
Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel said the town is excited to see progress on the future Metro station and parking facilities. Merkel, just re-elected for a third term as mayor this month, said the town has worked hard with state and county officials to prepare for the Silver Line to come to Herndon.
“Herndon will benefit greatly from Metro’s arrival and [the town] is working on infrastructure improvements necessary within the town limits for the Herndon Station,” Merkel said on Thursday. “And we are proud of the work we’ve done to secure funding from the state and other sources so that the burden doesn’t fall solely on our taxpayers.”
Images courtesy of Fairfax County and Google Maps/Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project
South Lakes Student-Athletes Sign With Division I Schools — Two South Lakes High School seniors have signed letters of intent to play Division I sports in college, beginning in the fall. Taylor Newman-Farr will attend St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania, playing lacrosse. Stokes will go to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, playing softball. [Herndon Patch]
Hunter Mill Road Project Meeting Set for Tonight — The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is scheduled to hold a public meeting in the cafeteria at Lake Anne Elementary (11510 North Shore Dr.) at 7 p.m. to discuss further alternatives to accommodate growing traffic congestion on Hunter Mill Road from Sunrise Valley Drive to the Colvin Run Bridge. The county will present its preferred option for road changes and welcome questions and feedback from residents. [Fairfax County]
Fairfax County Begins Search for New Schools Superintendent — Fairfax County Public Schools has hired recruiting firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates to find candidates to replace superintendent Karen Garza, who will leave her position by Dec. 16. A new page on the school district’s website also has gone up for news about the search for Garza’s replacement. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
(Updated on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.) Someone drove their car off of Wiehle Avenue and ended up in Lake Anne late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The driver. a 45-year-old man, and one passenger, a 7-year-old girl, were able to escape the car with no injuries, thanks to the help of Good Samaritans walking by, but the car was completely submerged in the lake, police said.
Due to how early darkness falls in November, police decided to wait until the next morning to remove the car from the lake.
Fairfax County Police divers began working to remove the car from the lake sometime before 9:50 a.m. Thursday morning.
Officers posted photos and videos to Facebook of the dive team’s efforts to pull the car from the lake Thursday afternoon. Members of the Reston Association staff also posted photos to Facebook:
Photo via Reston Association
A Philadelphia-based developer has bought up 180,000 square feet of office space in Reston with plans to renovate it and add high-end amenities, in hopes of attracting tech companies.
Rubenstein Partners announced last week it purchased the five-story building at 11493 Sunset Hills Road for $18.6 million. Unisys Corp. recently vacated the building after more than 10 years.
Built around 1988, the property is close to the Reston Station neighborhood, which is just a short walk from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. It also is near the Dulles Toll Road, Reston Town Center and Plaza America.
“11493 Sunset Hills Road is exactly the kind of value-add opportunity Rubenstein Partners seeks out,” Mike Daugard, a Rubenstein Partners vice president, said in a statement. “The outstanding location speaks for itself.”
Rubenstein Partners soon will begin work on updating the building with new high-end amenities to create a more modern feel, Dugard said.
“The vision for the property is to convert it from a traditional office building to a high-tech magnet by refashioning the interiors to offer higher ceilings and a more open ‘industrial loft’ feel,” he said.
In addition to all-new HVAC systems and a modern building management system, the building will get a fitness center, conference center and food service areas, according to plans from Rubenstein Partners.
All renovations and additions are expected to be complete by the end of 2017. At that time, Rubenstein Partners will hand over operations to real estate firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, which will lease the space.
Photo courtesy of Rubenstein Partners
A nearby stretch of road is getting a much-needed covered bus stop, thanks to volunteers from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and donations by local organizations.
Capt. Gery Morrison and his colleagues from Fire Station 42 (Wolf Trap) said the spot directly across from the firehouse, at Beulah Road and Route 7, has needed a covered bus stop for some time to help shelter people from inclement weather as they wait.
“The current stop is just a posted sign that sits in a ditch along the heavily traveled corridor of Route 7,” Capt. Rocco Alvaro said in a blog post yesterday. “Area residents line up in the morning without adequate shelter and are forced to take their chances waiting on the edge of Route 7 for the next scheduled bus.”
Morrison and several of his crew members decided they would build a community bus stop, but only if they could get donations.
Reston’s Home Depot and The Barns at Wolf Trap then agreed to donate materials, which Fire Station 42 members used to build a covered stop.
Although the initial structure is complete, some finishing touches are still in the works.
“When finished, the project will bring some of the finer touches of the Wolftrap Firehouse into the soon-to-be-completed bus stop,” Alvaro said.
The captain said he hopes more collaborative projects are in the community’s future.
“What an innovative way to develop community partnerships while at the same time enhancing the safety and well-being of our community members,” he said.
Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
Ways to Give Back Locally This Holiday Season — Thousands of families across Fairfax County live in poverty. If you’re looking for ways to give back this holiday season, Reston Connection has a list of local agencies looking for everything from volunteers, to monetary gifts, to food and clothing donations. [Reston Connection]
Help Habitat Heroes Rid Reston of Invasive Plants — Join the local Habitat Heroes group in keeping Reston’s nature healthy. This Saturday, the group will work to remove an aggressive shrub known as the doublefile viburnum in order to prevent it from spreading through local woods and threatening healthy plants. Work will begin along Snakeden Branch Stream near the 7-Eleven on Soapstone Drive. RSVP in advance. [Habitat Heroes/SignupGenius]
Crafting Handmade Holiday Ornaments — Learn a little bit of origami and craft some holiday ornaments with the staff at the Greater Reston Arts Center this Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. All ages are welcome. Registration is $10 and includes all supplies. [Reston Arts]
Two men abducted a woman in Sterling and drove her to Reston Sunday evening, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
A man assaulted his estranged wife and forced her into a vehicle in Sterling just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday night, a witness told deputies. A male accomplice then drove the kidnapper and the victim to Reston.
Authorities arrested 39-year-old Alex Munguia and his accomplice, 45-year-old Marlen Almendarez-Juarez, in connection with the abduction. The two men are being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond. Read More
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors earlier this month endorsed a developer’s application for 44 new residential homes known as the Lofts At Reston Station, near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
Supervisors are touting the Lofts as “a new urban neighborhood,” and the first development of its kind in the area northeast of the Metro stop, according to an announcement from the county.
Pulte Homes will bring the Lofts to 1.58 acres at 1825 Michael Faraday Dr., south of Sunset Hill Drive, which is just a third of a mile from the Metro station’s north entrance. The space is currently occupied by a one-story office building and a parking lot.
The 44 new homes will consist of 12 townhomes and 32 apartment units.
The development, according to the county, will “begin to establish the local street grid for this area of Reston,” which is a highly-sought-after area for developers as construction continues on the Silver Line.
Pulte will extend Michael Faraday Drive and Reston Station Boulevard along their property.
“Reston Station Boulevard is planned as the new ‘main street’ for the area surrounding Wiehle,” according to the county. “This road is intended to connect properties on the east to the station, and the plan envisions this road stretching west of the station to Plaza America.”
Supervisors also said Pulte will contribute $44,000 toward construction of a future traffic light at Reston Station Boulevard and Michael Faraday Drive.
Network with Local Businesses — The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce presents its “Meet The Board” networking night, sponsored by BF Saul Co. Grow your business network, meet the Chamber’s Board of Directors and win prizes tonight from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Washington-Dulles. [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]
Way to Go, Olivia Beckner! — Congratulations to South Lakes High School junior Olivia Beckner, who placed fourth in the Virginia High School League Cross-Country 6A Championships race and set a new personal record this past weekend. Olivia will receive All-State recognition. [South Lakes High Athletics]
South Lakes Varsity Football Advances in Playoffs — With its 55-14 win over Oakton High this past weekend, the South Lakes High School Seahawks advanced to the second round of the Division 6A North Region playoffs. The Seahawks will host the fifth-seeded Centreville High Wildcats next on Friday at 7 p.m. [South Lakes High Athletics]
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is looking for locals to share their thoughts about proposed Reston bicycle lanes tonight.
County officials are scheduled to hold a community meeting to gauge the public’s thoughts about bike lanes in four locations around the community before several local roadways are repaved. Locals can share other ideas about ways to improve safety for traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians, too, according to the county.
The streets that are under review for potential new bike lanes are:
- Glade Drive, from Glade Bank Way to Twin Branches Road.
- Twin Branches Road, from Lawyers Road to South Lakes Drive.
- Colts Neck Road, from Reston Parkway to Sunrise Valley Drive.
- North Shore Drive, from Ring Road to Oak Spring Way.
Many Reston residents already have spoken out with their thoughts on the proposal, on Reston Now.
Several said adding bike lanes to Glade Drive would be a bad idea, as the road is already too narrow with on-street parking on both sides of the road.
Similar feelings were expressed about North Shore Drive, where many residents said plentiful parking was more crucial than bike lanes. The commenters said they feel the street is too narrow to accommodate both.
The meeting is set to take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m in the cafeteria at Terreset Elementary (11411 Ridge Heights Road).
Read more about the proposed paving and bike lanes on the Fairfax County website.
Image via Fairfax County
