Fairfax County Police said three teens attempted to rob a bicycle rider on Soapstone Drive on Saturday.

Police said the victim was riding a bicycle on Soapstone Drive near Stoneview Square about 6:12 p.m. when he was approached by three young men. The suspects threatened the victim and demanded property, police said.

The victim fled and did not require rescue. Police did not say what, if any, items the suspects stole.

The first suspect was described as black, between 18 and 19 years old, wearing all black clothing and carrying a backpack. The two other suspects were described as black and between 13 and 15 years old.

In other crime news this week:

BURGLARY

An employee in the 2600 block of Quincy Adams Drive reported someone entered and took property on April 11.

LARCENIES

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, merchandise from business

11800 block of Fawn Ridge Lane, cash from residence.

11000 block of Becontree Lane, license plate from vehicle.

13294 block of Poener Place, property from residence.

DWI CHECKPOINT

Police held a checkpoint at Fairfax County Parkway near North Walnut Branch Road Friday evening. Five-hundred-seventy-eight vehicles passed through. No drivers were arrested for DWI and seven summonses were issued.

Meet The Chief — Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler will speak at the FCPD Reston District Station’s Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the new Reston District Station, 1801 Cameron Glen Dr. [Reston Now]

On Display — Modern Reston walks us through a new League of Reston Artists exhibit at Lake Anne. [Modern Reston]

Artists’ Talk — Sculptor Patrick Dougherty, currently constructing a large-scale public art work made of saplings at Reston Town Center, will give an artists’ talk tonight at Reston Community Center Lake Anne’s Jo Ann Rose Gallery at 7:30 p.m.

News Nearby — Herndon Police found a dead body in a car in the 700 block of Monroe Streeet last Saturday. The man was identified as Timothy Nicholson, 54, of Frederick, Md. He had been reported missing on Thursday. There were no signs of  foul play, police said. [Herndon Patch]

A Fairfax County Police spokesman was charged with possession of child pornography and relieved from his job on Wednesday, police said.

William “Bud” Walker, who was a police public information officer, was arrested Wednesday after a criminal investigation found child pornography had been uploaded from his home computer, Chief Ed Roessler said.

Last week, detectives in the county’s Major Crimes Division’s Child Exploitation Unit were contacted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and were provided a CyberTip, received through a blogging and social media networking site. The tip alleged that child pornography had been uploaded through its servers.

Walker was hired by the FCPD in December 1999. He worked in patrol at the West Springfield District Station until 2004. He then took a position in the Public Information Office until 2006. Walker returned to patrol at the West Springfield District Station in March 2006 before being assigned to South County High School as a School Resource Officer, where he worked from November 2006 until August 2009.

Walker then returned to the Public Information Office, where he worked until being relieved of duty last Thursday.

Walker remains on administrative leave with pay. Detectives would like to speak with anyone who has information regarding this active investigation by calling 703-246-7896. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may provide information through Crime Solvers at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).

Photo: Officer Bud Walker/Credit: FCPD

Pat Hynes, the Hunter Mill representative to the Fairfax County School Board, will kick off her re-election campaign on Saturday.

Hynes will host at event at the Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Dr., at 3:30 p.m.

All 12 members of the FCPS School Board will be up for re-election this fall. Ten of the 12 members will be running again.

So far, Hynes is running unopposed.

Hynes was elected to her first term in 2011, replacing Stuart Gibson, who did not seek re-election. Gibson had held the spot since the elected school board was created in 1995.

Hynes holds a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia and a law degree from Vanderbilt University. She is a former lawyer and FCPS teacher.

In other school board news, the board on Monday approved a raise for members from $20,000  to $32,000 annually. Virginia law states school boards can vote to increase salaries only every four years, before an election. The board last approved salary increases in 2007, from $12,000 to $20,000.

Pat Hynes/file photo

Prom-goers, mark your calendars: Reston Community Center’s annual Diva Central Prom Dress Giveaway returns on April 25.

The average price of attending a prom is close to $1,000 according to a 2014 survey by Visa.

The Reston event helps local teens potentially save hundreds of dollars. This  one-day event is open to any current high school student who is in need of a prom dress, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. Everything is absolutely free, but there is a limit if one dress per person.

Diva Central takes place at RCC Lake Anne, 1609 Washington Plaza, from noon to 6 p.m. on April 25.

“Prom is an event that many teens look forward to all year, but it is also an event that can burden families with expenses for formal wear, accessories, a meal, transportation and more,” says Kenny Burrowes, RCC Teen and Family Program Director. This is the 13th year RCC has held the event.

“Through Diva Central, RCC helps teens look forward to the prom night of their dreams, complete with the perfect dress and accessories, but without those costs,” he added.

In addition to prom dresses in all colors, sizes and styles, volunteers will help shoppers select shoes, jewelry, handbags, wraps, and other accessories. Staffers from Reston’s Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa will also be on hand to provide hair and makeup services to teens.

All of the dresses were donated by the local community between January and March.

Diva Central shoppers in 2013/file photo

Neither the owners of Reston National Golf Course nor the citizens of Reston came out as clear-cut winners in the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals’ ruling Wednesday on the future of the expanse of land at Sunrise Valley Drive and Soapstone Road.

After a public hearing in January, the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) was slated to rule on a 2012 appeal in which golf course owners RN Golf Management could consider the 166 acres as residential space.

But before it could get to the ruling — or in this case, a partial ruling — the BZA heard more than two hours of rambling testimony from BZA members Paul Hammack and James Hart.

The testimony covered details including 1971 maps; a 1993 letter from Fairfax County Zoning;  a 2012 letter from county zoning administrator Cathy Belgin to attorney Mark Looney, who filed the original inquiry for RN Golf; and what parcels of Reston land are subject to various planned community zoning rules.

In the end, Hammack’s motion that “we overrule the zoning administrator to the extent she says a comprehensive plan amendment is a precondition [to development]” was unanimously approved.

The BZA took only into consideration the 2012 letter from Belgin to Looney and not the many documents and findings on the issue discovered since then.

Belgin’s letter on June 20, 2102 stated: “Redevelopment of the property from a golf course to residential uses would first require an amendment to the Reston Master Plan which is part of the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, as well as subsequently obtaining a DPA approval and a PRC approval from the Board of Supervisors.”

Hart said the 2012 letter  — the basis for the appeal — had an opinion “that was made in a vacuum.”

“The Comprehensive Plan is in no way a procedural bar,” he said. “In that sense, the letter went too far. The golf course can be redeveloped if proper procedures are followed. The appeal is about what the proper procedures are.”

Hammack said it is hard to make a ruling when the board does not know what RN Golf has planned for the golf course.

“Until we know what is proposed, I don’t think we can make a determination saying the zoning administrator is right or wrong,” he said. “At this point, [ruling on] a development plan is hypothetical.”

The BZA motion all but ensures the discussion over the future of the golf course will continue. The golf course owner has 30 days in which to make an appeal.

Representatives for Rescue Reston, the open space advocacy group formed in the wake of the golf course issue, previously said it will appeal. Connie Hartke of Rescue Reston said on Wednesday the group will now take a step back and weigh the options.

“Where it stands at the moment is that RN Golf can go through the normal process for a development plan with a [Planned Residential Community] Amendment,” she said. “They can propose whatever they want to propose. Right now, we would band together and fight it. But in 50 years, who knows what will happen?”

“We are very concerned [by the BZA saying] the comprehensive plan does not matter,” she added. “This is not about zoning. This is about what process do you have to go through to redevelop land.”

Added Rescue Reston board member David Burns:

“We believe the BZA has ignored not only the law and the property rights of the thousands who own property adjacent to the golf course, but also the will of the more than 6,000 supporters of Rescue Reston, and the thousands more members of the Reston Association, who respect the Reston Master Plan and oppose development of the golf course.”

RN Golf, a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual Insurance, purchased the golf course in 2005 for $5 million. It first inquired on the zoning status in 2010. After the 2012 answer, RN Golf deferred taking additional action until last fall.

A January county staff report also upheld the 2012 ruling.

Two new faces and two incumbents were elected to the Reston Association Board of Directors, the association announced at its annual meeting on Tuesday.

Newcomers Ray Wedell and Julie Bitzer will serve three-year terms. Wedell ran unopposed for the at-large seat. Bitzer defeated incumbent South Lakes Director Richard Chew and former at-large Director Andy Sigle to earn her first three-year term on the board.

Returning members: Michael Sanio, who ran unopposed for an at-large seat, and Dannielle LaRosa, the North Point Director who was appointed to the spot last year. LaRosa will finish out the term vacated by Tim Cohn. The term expires in 2016.

The new board members will take part in their first meeting Wednesday night, where they will elect new officers. Current RA President Ken Knueven, who is heading into his sixth and final year on the board, says he will not seek to remain in the president’s role.

“One key element of [our] new governance model is to allow for the progression of fresh ideas and viewpoints,” said Knueven. “To me, it is important to demonstrate this and lead by example. I’ve spent the last three years in the role of president and truly believe now is the right time to let new people, who are ready, to take the reins.”

RA Board elections are done by mail or online, but turnout is generally low, between 15 and 21 percent of all eligible voters. Voting in the 2015 election ended March 30.

Election totals:

• At large: Sanio, 4,841; Wedell, 4,749
• North Point: La Rosa, 1,469; Charles Dorfeuille, 161
• South Lakes: Bitzer, 1,182; Sigle, 531; Chew, 390

In other news, RA gave out its 2015 Association Service Awards at the meeting:

• Employee of the Year — Rob Tucker of Reston Tennis
• Volunteer of the Year — Mark Elder, tennis instructor
• Volunteer Group of the Year — Senior Movie Day group (Laura and John Cole; Pat Coshland; Michelina Johnson; Kurt McJilton; and Otto and Rosmarie Tubito)
• Community Partner of the Year: Clarke

Photos: Top, Julie Bitzer; bottom, Ray Wedell/Courtesy of RA

Help on Healthcare Decisions Day — Thursday, April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day. Reston Hospital Center is holding an event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the hospital to provide education and information about advance planning.

South Lakes Student a 3D Printing Pioneer — South Lakes High School sophomore Pouyan Ahmdi runs the MakerBot 3D design and printing studio — the only purpose built 3-D printing studio in the Northern Virginia area. [Fairfax Times]

Reston Meeting on Police Games — Fairfax County is hosting the World Police and Fire Games June 26 to July 5 and many sporting events and Athletes Village will be located in the Reston. There will be a meeting April 21, 7 p.m. at South Lakes High School to learn more about volunteering and opportunities to be involved.

Photo: Lake Audubon/Credit: Joy Every

Reston Town Center will soon have a new tenant. Bluemercury, an upscale cosmetics store, has filed Fairfax County construction permits to open a store at 11918 Market St.

The space has been empty since Gap/Gapkids closed in January.

Bluemercury, which carries high-end brands such as Bobbi Brown, NARS and Le Mer, is a national chain that was founded in Washington, DC, in 1999.

The company, still operated by founders Barry and Marla Beck, recently sold the chain of 60 stores to Macy’s for $210 million.

Bluemercury also offers spa services, such as facials, massage and waxing. Other Virginia locations include Clarendon, Old Town Alexandria and Fairfax Corner.

The store’s opening at Reston Town Center will be direct competition with Sephora, a similar cosmetics store located at at 11960 Market St.

Photo: Bluemercury in Clarendon/Credit: ARLnow.com

Reston National Golf Course’s potential future may be decided on Wednesday. Will it remain as open space for golfers, joggers and countless neighborhood squirrels? Or will the owners prevail in the quest for a residential zoning designation and eventual development of housing close to the Silver Line Metro?

Three years after the county told golf course owner RN Golf Management the 166 acres in south Reston is zoned open space, the Board of Zoning appeals is slated to rule whether that holds or whether RNG can go forward with new zoning that bypasses the change process.

The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will make a ruling on the issue at a meeting that begins at 9 a.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. The meeting will be broadcast live on Fairfax County Channel 16.

The ruling comes after a January hearing in which the BZA heard more than five hours of testimony on lost land records, wildlife habitats, wooded views, and Reston’s founding principals. Members of Rescue Reston, an advocacy organization formed in response to RN Golf’s zoning inquiry and potential plans, packed the government center auditorium wearing neon yellow shirts in unity.

RN Golf maintains it should not have to go through the rezoning process to be considered residential.

“When [Reston] was zoned, and now, there are only five categories [for land use],” said Frank McDermott, attorney for RN Golf, said at the Jan. 21 hearing. “Residential, neighborhood center, convenience center, town center or village center. It has to be one of those categories. There is no such things as PRC golf course or PRC open space. Our position this was and is PRC residential.”

A county zoning staff report disagrees, as do many residents who have spoken out how they bought their golf course- area homes with the promise that they would always back to open space.

RN Golf, a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual Insurance, purchased the golf course in 2005 for $5 million. It first inquired on the zoning status in 2010. After the 2012 answer, RN Golf deferred taking additional action until last fall.

Leaders for Rescue Reston have said they will appeal if the BZA rules in favor of the golf course owners.

Reston National Golf Course/file photo

All Reston Association members are invited to RA’s annual meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at RA headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.

The annual meeting gives an overview of RA’s year, including events, projects, revenue and spending. RA also honors employees and citizens with special annual awards, and refreshments will be served.

At the end of the meeting, the winners of the 2015 RA Board of Directors are announced. Three candidates (incumbent Richard Chew, Julie Bitzer and former RA vice president Andy Sigle) ran for the South Lakes seat and two (Charles Dorfeuille and incumbent Dannielle LaRosa) for the North Point spot. Two at-large candidates, Ray Wedell and incumbent Michael Sanio, ran unopposed for two at-large spots.

The new board of directors will meet on April 15, where it will elect officers. It will also discuss action on the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals’ decision on Reston National Golf Course, which will be announced Wednesday morning.

The BZA held a hearing in January on the golf course’s owner, RN Golf Management, appeal to bypass a zoning change and consider the 166 acres residential. The county says the land is recreational/open space.

Tuesday, April 14 is national Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s.

Reston’s Ben & Jerry’s, located at 11928 Market St. at Reston Town Center, is participating from 12 to 8 p.m.

Stop by for your free cone and make a donation. All proceeds will benefit charity. The Reston store will give donations to SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center of Fairfax County.

Ben & Jerry’s says Free Cone Day is “our way to celebrate and say thanks for another year of support, and we’ve kept it up every year since, spreading the peace, love & ice cream around the globe!”

Ben & Jerry’s also has some tips on how to pass time in line on Free Cone Day.

Capital Restaurant Concepts says it has hired HapstakDemetriou+, a top Washington, DC, restaurant architecture and design firm, to remodel Paolo’s Ristorante at Reston Town Center into the new Neyla Mediterranean Bistro.

“The creative and talented team of HapstakDemetriou (is) designing a casual, elegant ambience, while chef Erich von Gheren an authentic Eastern Mediterranean menu,” Neyla General Manager Souheil Moussedik, wrote on Paolo’s Facebook page on Monday.

Moussedik said he hopes Neyla will be open at Reston Town Center in early May.

Paolo’s closed last week after 24 years at Reston Town Center. The Georgetown location remains open.

The changes are part of a reworking at Capital Restaurant Concepts, which owns Paolo’s as well as other Washington-area restaurants such as J. Paul’s and Georgia Brown’s. It also owned the former Neyla, which was located in Georgetown before closing in 2014.

Some of HapstackDemetriou’s other clients include Rose’s Luxury, Brasserie Beck, Fiola Mare and Zaytinya in D.C. and Gypsy Soul in the Mosaic District.

Photo: Interior at Fiola Mara designed by HapstakDemetriou+/Courtesy Fiola Mare 

FCPS Student Admitted To All Eight Ivies — Meet Pooja Chandrashekar, a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology senior who was offered admission to all eight Ivy League Schools for the Class of 2019. [Washington Post]

Still Room For Runners — Reston Runners’ Women’s Training Program still has space. Registration closes on April 20 and the program begins April 27. [Reston Now]

New Look For SLHS Site — South Lakes High School has a new look for its website. [South Lakes High School]

South Lakes Runner Has State Qualifying Time — Junior Skander Ballard finished third in the 400 meters with a state-meet qualifying time of 49.35 at the =PR= Northern Virginia Invitational April 10-11 at Robinson Secondary School. Ballard led more than 20 Seahawks in qualifing for postseason meets.

Dougherty, who is well known for his works that use natural materials, will spend three weeks building the structure out of saplings. It will be unveiled to the public on April 25 and will remain in the park for over a year (since his sculptures are made from natural materials, they do not last indefinitely, said officials with the Initiative for Public Art Reston.

The Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) announced in December that it received a $20,000 National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) Art Works grant to support the project.

Willowsford, a Loudoun County housing community, has also given a large grant to the project. Many of the saplings used in the project were also harvested at Willowsford.

Volunteers are helping Dougherty prepare materials and build the art work.