Every weekday in August, Reston Now will be offering suggestions for a Summer Bucket List — things to do, places to check out and activities to try in and around Reston before summer’s end.

Obviously, different ideas will appeal to different residents in different age groups. But we are open for ideas. If you have any “must-dos” of summer (even better: with a photo of you/your family participating in said event), email us at [email protected] and we will consider it.

Reston Summer Bucket List No. 9: Float the Lazy River 

What better way to while away a hot summer day than on a pool float? You don’t even have to do any work — the 2.5-mph current of The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole’s Rattlesnake River will move you.

The river is one of the features of The Water Mine, which recently underwent a $5.5 million expansion that includes a big, new water slide to appeal to older kids and teens.

The Water Mine, located at Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park, recently set a new attendance record after the new features opened Aug. 1. It has announced it will extend the summer 2015 season too. Instead of closing Labor Day, The Water Mine will remain open weekends in September, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To see various ticket prices, visit The Water Mine’s website. Happy floating!

Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority

The Reston trainer accused of  “upskirt” filming a South Lakes Safeway shopper and exposing himself to her will have a day in court Sept. 22.

Michael Wayne Edwards Jr., 33, was arrested last week on charges of indecent exposure, simulated masturbation and filming a nonconsented nude person (taking unlawful images of another without consent), court records show.

The charges are all misdemeanors; Edwards has been released on bond. The Sept. 22 date is an adjudicatory hearing.

Edwards, of Centreville, was employed as a trainer at Fusion360, a personal training gym a few doors down from the Safeway at South Lakes Village Center, at the time of his arrest.

Police said that on Aug. 5, a woman who was at the Safeway buying lunch told them a man was following her in the store.

The victim said as she walked back about 1:15 p.m., the man, identified as Edwards, followed her as she approached Sunrise Valley Drive and Lakespray Way. The man appeared to be videotaping and spoke to her. She recalled him to be the same person from the store, police said.

The woman told police the man then reportedly exposed himself to her then he ran away. Officers worked with store personnel to determine the man had filmed the woman under her clothing in the store without her permission.

Contacted by Reston Now, Edwards denies the charges.

Edwards has previously been in trouble for sexual situations. In 2010, he was charged with several accounts of second-degree assault after he squirted semen from a bottle on women as they exited a Giant and Michael’s craft stores in Gaithersburg, Md.

Edwards pled guilty to one of those charges (the rest were dropped as part of the plea deal). He was fined $500 and given a three-year suspended jail sentence, Montgomery County records show. His probation period ended in June 2014.

Many Fusion 360 clients took to Reston Now’s Facebook page to defend the gym and praise Edwards in spite of the charges.

“Michael can be an absolute gentleman; articulate, polite, and mannerly,” said one commenter. “He’s kept the professional company of some of the most beautiful women in the fitness industry. If there is any credibility to this most recent charge, please factor in that this is not a schizophrenic looney who hides in a raincoat and is incapable of keeping a job.”

Police want to hear from any other potential victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

Reston Relay Triathlon Sunday — Keep an eye out for runners and bikers near Lake Newport Pool. No road closures. [Reston Relay Tri]

Metro Investigation — Remember the Metro car derailment that wreaked havoc on the Silver, Orange and Blue lines a week ago? Here is a report on the cause. [Washington Post]

Life Time Bill Paid — 7 On Your Side says it has helped resolve the $5,449 tip mistake for one local family at Reston’s Life Time Fitness. [WJLA]

Save the Date For Rescue Reston Golf Classic — Open space advocacy group Rescue Reston will be holding a golf fundraiser at Reston National — the very space it is trying to save — on Oct. 5. Proceeds will go to legal fees that might be necessary as the issue heads to court. [Rescue Reston]

Every weekday in August, Reston Now will be offering suggestions for a Summer Bucket List — things to do, places to check out and activities to try in and around Reston before summer’s end.

Obviously, different ideas will appeal to different residents in different age groups. But we are open for ideas. If you have any “must-dos” of summer (even better: with a photo of you/your family participating in said event), email us at [email protected] and we will consider it.

Reston Summer Bucket List Item No. 9: Pick a Patio 

Reston loves to dine outdoors, so Reston has no shortages of patio dining.

From Clyde’s at Reston Town Center to random tables outside the North Point Giant, there is a place to dine al fresco at all cuisines and price points. Here are some of our favorites. Did we miss one? Add your top choice in the comments.

• PassionFish (Reston Town Center)
• Il Fornaio (Reston Town Center)
• Vapiano (Reston Town Center)
• Mon Ami Gabi (Reston Town Center)
• Clyde’s (Reston Town Center)
• Neyla (Reston Town Center)
• World of Beer (Reston Town Center)
• Barcelona (Reston Town Center)
• Bartaco (Reston Town Center)
• Cafesano (South Lakes Village Center)
• Ariake (Hunters Woods Village Center)
• Buffalo Wing Factory (Hunters Woods Village Center)
• Vinifera (Westin Reston Heights)
• Kalypso’s (Lake Anna Plaza)
• Singh Thai (Lake Anne Plaza)
• Cafe Montmartre (Lake Anne Plaza)

Photo: Kalypso’s at Lake Anne Plaza

Ken Plum represents Reston in Virginia’s House of Delegates. His opinion does not reflect Reston Now’s.

Most professions have opportunities or requirements to ensure that members of the profession stay current in their knowledge. Some of these requirements are established by professional associations for their members, and others are required by law as a protection for consumers.

While I consider public service to be a profession, there are no preservice or in-service requirements to serve in office. Getting elected is the only prerequisite to being a member of the legislature other than being a citizen and voter of the required age. Once elected, public officials vote on numerous bills that establish continuing education requirements for other professions.

As an educator for nearly 30 years, I was required to have completed certain courses before becoming a teacher and to take a given number of courses every few years. There were no such requirements for my becoming and remaining a legislator. Upon my first election, I was given a few hours of orientation and that was it.

While I do not propose continuing education requirements for legislators, an argument could be made that it might improve the process as well as the product. I have sought continuing education opportunities on my own that might help me serve my constituents more effectively.

My experience is that the annual summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides the best continuing education I can get as a legislator. In NCSL, states are referred to as “laboratories of democracy” as the states face most of the same challenges but often take different approaches to meet them. As lawmakers come together from throughout the country, there are numerous opportunities to share experiences and to learn from each other.

I attended the NCSL Summit last week and heard presentations on topics as diverse as cloud computing security and liability, effectiveness of tax incentives to attract economic growth, alternative funding mechanisms for higher education, steps to ending economic inequality of women, and common sense measures to end gun violence. While the challenges across the country are essentially the same, the approaches taken by the states are very different based on their traditions and partisan control among other factors.

NCSL’s emphasis is on research and background information on issues unlike its counterpart the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that provides legislators with the actual text of conservative legislation. Many of ALEC’s proposals have become very controversial because they are so extreme and because they have been written to satisfy certain business interests.

At NCSL, there are presentations by stakeholders, but they are balanced with opposing points of view. Researchers are part of the discussions as are subject area experts. I have found most sessions to be thought-provoking, and over the years I have found many ideas to improve my constituent services. Some of what I learned may lead to legislation that I will have drafted and introduce; all the discussions make me better informed to debate the issues when they come before the House of Delegates. Certainly the experience helps me keep up to date.

Fairfax County Police are looking for a suspect in the stabbing of a man Thursday morning in the 11600 block of Charter Oak Court in Reston.

Police were called to the Charter Oak Apartments a little before 11 a.m. They found a man who had been stabbed in the upper body, officers said. Fairfax County’s Fire Rescue helicopter landed on the Hidden Creek Country Club golf course nearby and took the victim to Inova Fairfax Hospital, police said.

There appeared to be no signs of forced entry in the man’s apartment, police said. They said it did not appear to be a random event and that public safety was not in danger.

Police K9 units and the helicopter were called to look for suspects. Police said they had no descriptions or leads as of 11:40 a.m.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Fairfax County Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery that they say took place at a Reston business just after 7 a.m. last Friday.

Police said a man walked into a business in the 11700 block of Sunset Hills Road, displayed a knife and demanded money. When the victim refused to give the suspect any money he ran away.

The victim did not require medical attention, police said.

The suspect was described as a white male, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and a mask.

Police did not name the business, but that location houses a 7-Eleven and two auto repair shops.

There are several upcoming funeral and memorial services for the three former Herndon High School students who were killed in a Texas car crash last Friday.

Holly Novak, 18, Kyle Mathers, 19, and Dale Neibaur, 19, were killed when a wrong-way driver slammed into them near Dallas as they headed to a video game convention last week. The driver, Kenneth Frazier, 78, also died in the crash.

Two other teens in the SUV, Kevin DiCicco and Hannah Galbraith, both students at University of Mary Washington, were injured in the crash. They are continuing to recover in a hospital.

Novak, Mathers, Neibaur and DiCicco were all members of the Pride of Herndon Marching Band. They graduated in 2014.

Kyle Mathers

Mathers’ funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Rd. in Herndon.

In lieu of flowers, donations of remembrance can be made to the Herndon Band Relief Fund, which will help the families with funeral expenses.

Holly Novak

A funeral for Holly Novak, who lived in Reston, will be Saturday in Calumet, Mich.

There will also be a local memorial service on Monday, Aug. 17 at 3 p.m. at Reston Bible Church, 45650 Oakbrook Ct, Sterling. A reception will follow the service for friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either of Holly’s favorite charities:

The Herndon Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society (you can donate in Holly’s name via this link on the Relay for Life site) or to the Herndon Band.

Dale Neibaur

A Memorial Service for Dale Neibaur will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Rd, Herndon. A reception will follow the service in the Fellowship Hall.

Neibaur’s family also requests memorial donations to the Herndon Band Relief Fund.

On Sunday, hundreds of current and former Herndon High School band members, along with friends and family, attended an emotional joint vigil at Trinity Presbyterian.

Community members are also organizing meals and restaurant gift cards for the families for the coming weeks. Follow this Sign Up Genius link if you wish to contribute.

Police Transparency — Fairfax County Police have released information on the last 10 years of police-involved shooting in the county. In an effort to increase transparency in the wake of the ongoing John Geer case (Geer was shot and killed by an FCPD officer in 2013), citizens can see the circumstances and info in all cases. The last police shooting the Reston District was in February 2010. [WTOP]

Reston’s Got Smarts — Reston earned a spot on the website Nerd Wallet’s “100 Most Educated Places.” Reston is No. 48, and one of eight Virginia locations on the list. [Virginia Business]

More For Boston Properties? — Taking a look at what Boston Properties has recently acquired in Reston and what it may develop next. [Globest.com]

Reston Youth Triathlete Has National Goals — Meet Emily Landeryou, a South Lakes High School student who is a national-level triathlete. [Reston Connection]

Fairfax County Executive Ed Long says there will be a $49.1 million carryover from the 2015 county budget.

Carryover is the process by which certain unspent or unencumbered funds for commitments to pay for goods and services at the end of one fiscal year are re-appropriated to the next fiscal year, the county says. FY 2015 ended on June 30.

Long is recommending that $13 million of the funds be given to the Fairfax County Public Schools for infrastructure needs and building turf fields. FCPS superintendent Karen Garza has warned that the school system’s budget gap for 2016-17 may be as large as $100 million.

Long has recommended that the total carryover be allocated this way:

$6.16 million to be held in reserve to address critical county one-time requirements and funding needs.

$40.75 million to be allocated in the carryover package as follows: $19.28 million for critical requirements, including a $13.1 million transfer to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for infrastructure needs (per the Board of Supervisors budget guidance approved on April 21) and $1.5 million transfer for turf field installation at FCPS high schools.

$17.81 million for funding county reserves and infrastructure needs.

$3.66 million for funding other requirements such as addressing critical mental health issues and waiting lists for the School Age Child Care (SACC) program.

To see a full breakdown of budget numbers, expenditures and the carryover, see this document on the Fairfax County website.

There will be upcoming committee meetings and public hearings on the carryover.

Sept. 11  — the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee meeting will discuss recommended allocations, as well as the process and schedule for the lines of business review to be conducted by every county agency in preparation for the FY 2017 Budget.

Sept. 22 — Next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Supervisors will include public hearings on the carryover recommendations and a vote on the FY 2015 Carryover Budget Package.

November – Annual budget forecast (FY 2017) presentation by the county executive and FCPS superintendent to a joint meeting of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board.

The start of the new school year is coming up fast. Come check out all the resources to make it a stress-free year — as well as have some fun — at the Back 2 School Bash.

The event, sponsored by Reston Community Center, is for students (and parents) from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The bash will be at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Dr., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 22.

At the bash, you can:

• Receive important information about your child’s school.
• Meet 50+ exhibitors specializing in community and health services.
• Discover offerings from more than a dozen local recreation programs, clubs and social programs.
• Register onsite for SACC and other afterschool programs.
• Log on and learn about the new Student Information System (SIS).
• Enjoy games, contests and live music by a local DJ.

Volunteers are also needed. To help out, visit this Sign Up Genius page.

Every weekday in August, Reston Now will be offering suggestions for a Summer Bucket List — things to do, places to check out and activities to try in and around Reston before summer’s end.

Obviously, different ideas will appeal to different residents in different age groups. But we are open for ideas. If you have any “must-dos” of summer (even better: with a photo of you/your family participating in said event), email us at [email protected] and we will consider it.

Reston Summer Bucket List Item No. 8: Learn to SUP

Dock boats, canoes, kayaks. They are all longtime occupants of Reston’s lakes.

But there is a new way to navigate Lakes Thoreau, Anne, Audubon and Newport — via paddleboard.

Stand up paddleboarding (SUP for short) has gained popularity the last few years, with many lakefront residents now owning their own boards.

But a local Reston business will let you try out SUP via lessons.

Surf Reston Stand Up Paddleboarding offers many weekly sessions at all four of Reston’s lakes.  Start with an intro class to learn the basic skills and safety. There is also a yoga/fitness paddleboard class  Most classes are $40 a session.

Check out Surf Reston’s website for more information and registration.

Photo courtesy Surf Reston via Facebook

A Centreville man who works as a trainer at a Reston gym was arrested last week after he allegedly followed a woman through the South Lakes Safeway and filmed an “upskirt” video of her.

Michael Wayne Edwards, 33, Centreville, works at Fusion360, a personal training gym a few doors down from the Safeway at South Lakes Village Center.

He has been charged with indecent exposure, simulated masturbation and filming a nonconsented nude person, court records show.

Here is what police said happened:

A woman who was shopping at Safeway reported to police that on Aug. 5, a man was following her in the store on more than one occasion.

The victim said as she walked back to work that day, the man, identified as Edwards, followed her as she walked near Sunrise Valley Drive and Lakespray Way. The man appeared to be videotaping and spoke to her. She recalled him to be the same person from the store.

The woman told police the man then reportedly exposed himself to her then he ran away. Officers identified the suspect and worked with store personnel to investigate.

Subsequently, an investigation determined that the suspect had filmed the woman under her clothing at the grocery store, said FCPD spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell.

Edwards told Reston Now on Tuesday “it wasn’t me. I did not do what she said.”

Edwards’ attorney, Lavonda Golden-Williams, did not immediately return calls.

This is not the first time Edwards has been accused of a sexually related crime. In 2010, he was charged with several accounts of second-degree assault after he squirted semen from a bottle on women as they exited a Giant and Michael’s craft stores in Gaithersburg, Md.

Edwards pled guilty to one of those charges (the rest were dropped as part of the plea deal). He was fined $500 and given a three-year suspended jail sentence, Montgomery County records show. His probation period ended in June 2014.

Residents of Charlestown Lane alerted Reston Association and Fairfax Water of a water main break Wednesday morning.

The residents of the south Reston neighborhood noticed muddy water in the Glade stream, RA says.

Fairfax Water is working on fixing the break. Reston Now will update this story if the break causes any hazards or delays for residents.

In other water news, Fairfax County contractors will begin work to replace a sewer pipe in the West Cove area of Lake Thoreau within the next two weeks, RA says. The project will take 10-12 days and will begin on Aug. 17 or 24, according to a county engineering technician.

Repair costs will be borne by the county, RA said.

In June, four of the seven straps that held the pipe in place were found to be broken during a June 8 inspection of the line, causing the pipe to buckle about 18 inches near one of the manhole covers on the south side of the cove. The county found no evidence of a break or leakage into the lake.

An additional investigation done in July determined that there were two sags in the pipe (not one as initially thought) prompting the county to opt to replace the entire sewer line that goes through the lake.

Fairfax Water says the repairs should take 3 to 5 days.