Updated, 3:30 p.m. Monday) The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 10 p.m. for Reston, Northern Virginia and the entire Washington, D.C. area.
An isolated tornado or two could develop through this evening, but damaging winds and hail are more likely hazards, the NWS says.
From the NWS:
PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE... A COUPLE TORNADOES POSSIBLE SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH POSSIBLE SUMMARY...THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER NORTHERN VA AND WESTERN MD THIS AFTERNOON...TRACKING ACROSS THE WATCH AREA. DAMAGING WINDS AND HAIL ARE THE MAIN THREATS. HOWEVER...BACKED LOW LEVEL WINDS NEAR A WARM FRONT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO ENHANCE THE RISK OF ISOLATED TORNADOES OVER NORTHERN PARTS OF THE WATCH. THE TORNADO WATCH AREA IS APPROXIMATELY ALONG AND 90 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF A LINE FROM 30 MILES EAST SOUTHEAST OF CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA TO 25 MILES NORTH OF HARRISBURG PENNSYLVANIA. FOR A COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE THE ASSOCIATED WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.
Original story: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Weather Outlook for Northern Virginia Monday afternoon and evening.
The NWS says there could be severe storms that feature hail and there may be isolated tornadoes.
As of Monday at noon, the forecast said there was an enhances storm risk. A 2 percent chance of a tornado within 25 miles, and a 30 percent chance of hail and damaging winds more than 55 miles per hour.
The risk could increase later on Monday, says the Capital Weather Gang.
The storm risk will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. Monday.
file photo
There was much attention last week on the Meitiv family of Silver Spring, Md., whose children, ages 6 and 10, were picked up by police for walking home from a park unattended.
The Meitivs had a similar brush with authorities last December. They call themselves “Free-Range Parents,” part of a national movement to give children more freedom to explore their world.
The subject has been one of much debate. The most recent Washington Post stories on the Meitivs have hundreds of comments, ranging from “Ok…seriously…since when does any government agency have the right to do this to our children?” to “The parents in question are being irresponsible. … Prove a point in other ways, but not at the risk of your children. We have ‘free range’ pedophiles as well.”
Meanwhile, Reston is connected by 55 miles of paths, many of which connect schools to village centers, and it is not so unusual to see children walking here without adults. Higher-density housing such as townhomes mean there are dozens of neighborhood and Reston Association playgrounds too.
At what age do you think it is right for children to roam Reston safely? Do you let your kids play at the corner park or head to the village center for ice cream without you? Do you agree with the Silver Spring family or do you think a concerned citizen who called police did the right thing?
Take our poll and answer in the comments.
file photo
(Corrected 11 a.m. Monday to reflect the Romanos bought the space rather than leased it)
Lake Anne Plaza will soon be getting a new tenant. Restonians Melissa and Jason Romano have purchased retail space at 11424 Washington Plaza, where they will open Lake Anne Brew House, a nanobrewery.
Brewing has been a passion of Jason Romano’s for years, says Melissa Romano, an architect whose current full time job is raising three young sons.
Jason, a government contractor by day, has been a home brewer for years, and earned certification from the American Homebrewers Association to judge brewing contests.
“We’ve always had a desire to own a piece of Lake Anne,” says Melissa Romano. “We’re going to follow Bob Simon’s dream of ‘live-work-play.’ We already live and play here. Now we will work.”
The space was formerly occupied by Singh Thai restaurant, which recently moved across the plaza to 1633 Washington Plaza, the former Jasmine Cafe space. Romano said renovations will begin right away, but the brewery will not open until at least late summer.
A nanobrewery — a growing segment of the craft beer market — is a small microbrewery operation, typically producing fewer than three barrels at a time. A barrel is typically 31 gallons or two kegs.
The beer will be made on site in the former kitchen space. There will be bar and inside seating, as well as seating on the deck overlooking Lake Anne.
Under Virginia law, breweries can sell pints of beer on site without the need for food service. Food service is required at bars. There won’t be a kitchen at Lake Anne Brew House, but Romano said they will sell simple snacks (similar to food operations at a winery) to go with the beer.
There are several nanobreweries in Loudoun County, but this is believed to be the first one in Fairfax County. Romano said they had to work with the county to get non-manufacturing status.
“Most nanobreweries pop up in industrial parks,” she said. “That’s not what we wanted. We don’t want a big brewery. We wanted a community space, and to make our business community focused and community supported. We’re not hoping to get bottles on the shelf at Harris Teeter. We’re going to make beer for our neighbors, make what people want and get a good rotation on tap.”
FCPD Officer Resigns After Porn Charges — Fairfax County Police Public Information Officer Bud Walker, who was charged last week with possession of child pornography, resigned from his position Friday. [Fairfax County Police]
Hate Vandalism in Great Falls — Verizon removed swastikas that were spray painted on on a power box on Seneca Road last week. [Great Falls Connection]
Virginia Senators Step Up For Dulles — U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D) and Mark Warner (D) say they are “prepared to be jerks” to protect Dulles International Airport and slow the growth of Reagan National. Kaine said he may hold up the Federal Aviation Administration’s reauthorization if Congress pushes for more domestic flights at Reagan. [Washington Business Journal]
The National Weather Service is predicting more than an inch of rain in Northern Virginia beginning Sunday evening. A flood watch has been issued for low-lying areas of the Metropolitan Washington area beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday.
From the National Weather Service:
MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION THIS EVENING THROUGH TONIGHT… RAINFALL TOTALS AROUND ONE AND A HALF INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE GREATER BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON METRO AREA. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE… ESPECIALLY ALONG AND IMMEDIATELY EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE/CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN.
EXPECT SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO RISE… POSSIBLY OVERFLOWING THEIR BANKS. IN ADDITION… FLOODING MAY OCCUR IN LOW LYING AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.
PLEASE MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.
The South Lakes High School Band Boosters are holding a major fundraiser next weekend. The Band on the Run 5K is a community race and fun run with a little something extra.
The race, which starts and ends at South Lakes High School, will have musical entertainment all along the course.
Here is what else you need to know:
Race begins at 8:30 a.m.
Registration for students is $20 online through race day; $35 day of race. Adults, $35 online; $40 on race day.
There is a 1K Fun Run for Kids. Each participant, 12 and younger receives a medal. Registration is $15.
Proceeds go to the band boosters, which helps buy new uniforms and instruments for the marching band.
Fairfax County Police have released a composite sketch of the suspect in the April 2 attempted abduction that took place on Lawyers Road.
Police were called to Lawyers Road and Glenbrooke Woods Drive near the Fox Mill neighborhood about 3:50 p.m. on April 2 after a 20-year-old woman said she was waiting for a bus when a man drove up and stopped his pickup truck nearby.
The man exited the truck, engaged the victim in conversation then grabbed her by the arm, the victim told police. The suspect attempted to force the victim back to his vehicle but the victim resisted and managed to free herself. The suspect returned to the truck and fled. The victim did not require medical treatment, police said.
The suspect was described by the victim as an Hispanic male, 40 to 50 years of age, with straight black hair. He was wearing a green sweatshirt with a white T-shirt underneath and tan-colored pants. The pickup truck was described as an older-model pickup truck with a ladder rack and tan-colored interior.
Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187″ plus your message to CRIMES/274637.
Sketch courtesy of FCPD
It looks as though Reston’s two Yogiberry locations are closed for good.
Both the Reston Town Center store and the South Lakes Village Center store closed “temporarily” last fall, leaving signs on the door that said they were taking the winter off and would be back in March.
We are heading toward late April and there is no sign of life at either store.
The Reston locations have also been taken off Yogiberry’s website, which mentions locations in Rockville and Gaithersburg, Md., and Cleveland Park in D.C.
Voice mailboxes for both locations were full and not accepting messages.
Riding the frozen yogurt wave of a few years ago, Yogiberry opened both Reston locations in 2012.
The chain has 11 area locations by 2013, but then closed in College Park, Pentagon City, Olney and Friendship Heights soon after, according to Yelp listings.
Need a frozen yogurt fix? Iceberry at Reston Town Center, Cold Spoon at Hunters Woods Village Center and Sweetfrog at North Point are all open.
New home on your shopping list? Check out the some of these open houses this weekend. For more open houses and complete real estate information, visit Reston Now’s Real Estate section.
1804 South Shore Court
4 BR, 3.5 BA TH
$475,000
Open Sunday 1 to 3 p.m.
12116 Purple Sage Court
2 BR, 2 BA TH
$309,900
Open Saturday 1 to 4 p.m.
1203 Bishopsgate Way
7 BR, 6.5 BA SFH
$1,450,000
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
12705 Hitchcock Court
4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH
$720,000
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
1520 Moorings Drive
2 BR, 1.5 BA Condo
$242,900
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
1855 Stratford Park Place
2 BR, 2 BA Condo
$435,000
Open Sunday 1 to 3 p.m.
11517 Hearthstone Court
3 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$457,000
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
1629 Bentana Way
3 BR, 3.5 BA TH
$410,900
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
10871 Hunter Gate Way
4 BR, 4.5 BA SFH
$950,000
Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
Washingtonian magazine’s Neighborhood Guide takes readers to Reston and Herndon in the May issue, released this week.
It divides a visitors time into three segments: 1. Shop Till You Drop; 2. Day of Family Fun; and 3. Plunge Into the Arts.
Shop Till You Drop guides readers to Lake Anne Plaza (Reston Museum, Cafe Montmartre, Reston’s Used Book Shop, Chesapeake Chocolates), a side trip to sushi spot Ariake at Hunters Woods, and then takes a spin through Reston Town Center with advice to stop in at The Tasting Room, Clyde’s, PassionFish and others 
before visiting Herndon.
Family Fun recommends Reston Association’s Walker Nature Education Center and Fairfax County Park Authority’s Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, as well as back to town center for meals at Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food and Ted’s Bulletin and dessert at Red Velvet. Small Change Consignment and Baby Blossom at Lake Anne get a nod, as do local farmers markets.
Plunge Into the Arts recommends the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, which returns to town May 15-17, as well as ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon’s Friday Night Live , Reston Community Center’s CenterStage and Herndon’s NextStop Theatre Company.
What do the residents say? If you live here, the guide likely featured nothing new, but may have left off your favorite places, off the beaten path or otherwise unknown to Washingtonian’s editors.
If any of your local favorites were not mentioned, tell us in the comments to offer some real insider information.
Top, Nature House at Walker Nature Education Center. Bottom, PassionFish/file photos
Brides Against Breast Cancer in Reston — The nonprofit Brides Against Breast Cancer will hold a wedding dress sale at the Sheraton Reston May 22-23. The group collects donated wedding dresses and resells them to benefit services for women battling breast cancer. [Brides Against Breast Cancer]
Memorial For Fire Marshal — Services for former Fairfax County Fire Marshal Glenn Gaines, who died suddenly at his Vienna home last weekend, will be today at 11 a.m. at McLean Bible Church in McLean. [Firehouse.com]
School Support System — Fairfax County Public Schools has instituted a new program to help support students in schools that failed to meet state accreditation this year. The school system says more than 30 schools (triple the amount of a few years ago) fell short after Standards of Learning tests were changed in 2013-14. [Fairfax Times]
Apartment owners representative Ellen Graves was elected president by Reston Association’s Board of Directors on Wednesday.
Graves has served on the RA board since 2013, when she was selected by the board to fill a vacant Hunters Woods/Dogwood seat. She was elected to a three-year term as the apartment owners’ rep in 2014.
Graves has been a resident of Reston for more than 30 years.
Professionally, Graves worked at IBM for many years and was the Executive Director of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, Inc. and was formerly Chief of Staff for Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins.
Graves has also served Reston in several volunteer capacities. She is on the board of the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, sits on the Southgate Community Advisory Board and formerly was the Chair of RA’s Election committee.
Other officers elected were At-large Director Michael Sanio (vice president); Lake Anne/Tall Oaks Director Eve Thompson (secretary) and North Point Director Dannielle LaRosa (treasurer).
Photo: Ellen Graves/Courtesy of RA
Four teens — including one with a knife — tried to rob a woman of her purse at Hunters Woods Village Center on Wednesday, Fairfax County Police said.
Police said the woman was walking in near 2310 Hunters Woods Plaza about 3:30 p.m. when the suspects attempted to rob her. A nearby citizen saw the fracas and attempted to help the woman.
One of the teens displayed a small knife and threatened the bystander before fleeing the area on foot. They did not obtain the victim’s purse, police said.
The suspects were described as black and in their teens, police said. Some of them had backpacks and one wore a black T-shirt and blue jeans. The victims did not require medical attention.
On Saturday, teenage suspects also tried to rob a cyclist on Soapstone Drive a few blocks from Hunters Woods.
A sunny spring day brought golfers out to play a round at Reston National Golf Course on Thursday. The rolling greens and the manicured shrubs belie the tension that the future of the 166-acre public course has caused over the past three years.
Will the open and community space give way to residential development close to two Silver Line Metro stations? Will it remain, as it was designated in the original plans for Reston, as the “South course” as well as a spot for joggers, wildlife and homeowners who want a bucolic view?
Or will it become a court case that all other development plans refer to when defending land-use rights?
Time will tell.
On Wednesday, the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals gave a partial ruling on the golf course owner’s 2012 appeal to see if the property was designated residential. The BZA said it overruled the zoning administrator to the extent she says a comprehensive plan amendment is a precondition to development.
That may have lowered the bar for re-development in Reston and the case may set a precedent in arguments for land use rights in the future, one real estate source said.
If owner RN Golf Management wants to re-develop, it does not need a master plan change. It will, however, still have to submit any redevelopment plans through the Fairfax County Planning Commission, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and Reston Association’s Design Review Board and Board of Directors.
Attorneys for RN Golf say they have not seen any plans.
“There is no plan along the route, ” RN Golf attorney Frank McDermott said Wednesday. “This was a determination of our property rights.”
Meanwhile, most of the golfers at Reston Nationals’ driving range Thursday were unaware of the drama surrounding the course. Until there is an approved plan, the course is open for business.
Jesse Martin, 40, grew up in Reston. He lives in McLean now, but stops by Reston National to hit balls a couple times a week. He says he thinks the right thing for Reston — preserving open space — will prevail. Read More
Fairfax County Police have made an arrest in the stabbing death of a man who was found last month in a wooded area off Hiddenbrook Drive in unincorporated Herndon.
Moises Dominguez, 18, has been charged with second degree murder in the death of William Adolfo Rivas Leiva, police said.
Dominguez, of Sterling was arrested on Wednesday. Detectives said they are looking into the possibility that the homicide was gang-related.
Rivas Leiva, 22, was found in the woods at Folly Lick Stream on March 15. He had upper body trauma and police investigated the death as a homicide.
Photo of Moises Dominguez/FCPD
