Herndon Track and Field Kudos — Herndon High’s Jessica Keys won the VHSL State Championship in Pole Vault and teammate LeClare Beres placed second.

Beware Phishing Scam — Attorney General Mark R. Herring said Virginia residents should be on the lookout for a major, ongoing “phishing” scam involving emails, phone calls, and social media messages purporting to be from the Attorney General and his office. The emails claim to be a “Final Legal Notification” from Attorney General Herring or his staff regarding debt owed to “Cash Advance, Inc.” [Virginia Attorney General’s office]

Garza Listens To Parents Again — Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza heard from parents about class size, the upcoming budget and other concerns at the last stop on her listening tour. [Fairfax Times]

FCPD Still Investigating In-Custody Death — Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler says the investigation into the death of Natasha McKenna, who died in custody after being tasered by county sheriffs, is ongoing. [FCPD]

A man was shoveling snow off his car in Reston when he was held up at gunpoint early on Friday, Fairfax County Police said.

The victim was shoveling out his car in the 11600 block of North Shore Road near the intersection of Clubhouse Road about 2:15 a.m. when he was approached by two men, he told police.

The first suspect grabbed the victim and demanded property, but the victim resisted and a struggle occurred. During the struggle, the second suspect displayed a handgun, which allowed the first suspect to take property and cash, police said.

The suspects fled the scene in a two-door Toyota sedan. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The first suspect was described as black, 18-to-26 years of age, black jeans, about 5-feet-5 to 5-feet-6 inches tall, thin build and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. The second suspect was described as a light to medium skin black male, 18-to-26 years of age, dark colored jeans, about 5-feet-4 or 5-feet-5 inches tall, medium build and wearing a leather jacket and white mask with eye holes.

Want to start running or improve your running this spring?

Registration for Reston Runners 2015 Women’s Training Program is now open.

The Women’s Training Program is designed to help women jumpstart their spring fitness routine. Many women sign up year after year, moving from the beginning walking group to the run/walk group to an advanced running group. Each group has several coaches to guide and support runners.

The WTP is an eight week program that meets meeting Monday nights  at 6:30 p.m. beginning April 27.

The program offers guest speakers on topics such as fitness, stretching and shoes, followed by workouts at 7 p.m. on the nearby paths and the SLHS outdoor track.

This program costs $40 and includes a program technical shirt plus an end-of-season celebration on Monday, June 22.

Participants are encouraged to enter the Spring Into Summer Women’s Distance Festival 5K in Reston on June 20.

To register, visit the Women’s Training Program website.

File photo by Brian Kent

The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a public hearing next month that will be the first step towards a land deal that could result in a large, new indoor recreation center in Reston.

The public hearing is at 7:30 p.m. April 8 at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12055 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax, in Rooms 106 and 107.

The five-acre property is located on Fountain Drive, down the block from the new North County Government Center in the area known as the Reston Town Center North District. The parcel is bordered by Bowman Towne Drive, Town Center Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue.

Park Authority Board Chair Bill Bouie said last month the park authority has committed to a deal, pending a public hearing and park authority board vote, that plans for a 90,000-square-foot recreation facility to be built there.

“The future rec center will be owned and operated by the park authority and will be available to all members of the Fairfax County community,” Bouie says.

That plan takes off the table the idea of a recreation center and indoor pool at Baron Cameron Park, a joint Reston Community Center/Fairfax County Park Authority deal that had been discussed for more than two years. While the RCC plan never reached the community referendum stage, there was mixed reaction from residents, many of whom felt that Small Tax District 5 (Reston) residents would be financially burdened.

Bouie said RCC will not be involved in the Town Center North plan “unless the RCC Board decides to partner with the park authority on programs that are needed to supplement offerings, especially swimming.”

The county says conveyance of the property, called Reston Towne Green by the park authority, is being considered in response to the Reston Comprehensive Plan Amendment. When the plan amendment was approved in February of 2014, it encouraged a land use pattern “that incorporates significant new residential development and new non-residential uses to complement the existing and planned public uses and the concentration of employment in the Reston Town Center and a significant new open space to serve as a defining element in the organization of a new, more urban pattern of blocks.”

The Park Authority is seeking public comment on the deal, which will include:

• Conveyance of the Reston Towne Green property to the Board of Supervisors in consideration for a potential 2.6-acre urban Central Green.
• Commitment to provide approximately 90,000 square feet of density for the indoor facility within one of the new urban blocks
• Other items for consideration that may be advantageous to the Park Authority mission.

If you wish to speak at the hearing you may sign up in advance by calling the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or via email at [email protected]. You may also sign up at the hearing. Organizations may have one official speaker for five minutes; individuals may testify for three minutes.

Written and e-mail comments will be taken until April 7. Written comments may be sent to David R. Bowden, Director of Planning & Development Division, Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 406, Fairfax, Virginia 22035. Email comments should be sent to: [email protected].

The park authority board will vote on the matter at their regular board meeting scheduled later in the evening on April 8.

A Prize Prom Date — South Lakes High School junior Jenna Boyer wants Tom Wilson of the Washington Caps to escort her to the prom. [Washington Post]

County Budget Town Halls — There are a series of upcoming budgets to discuss the 2016 Advertised Budget. [Fairfax County]

New Nearby –– Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Finnegan’s at Woodland Crossing in Herndon has a new owner and new name. P.J. Mulligans Public House opened its doors over the weekend. [P.J. Mulligans]

Snow Days, Woe Days — Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza offered some insight into how FCPS decides to close for snow, and said the system is considering using a system that closes schools by area, rather than the school system as a whole. [Washington Post]

Photo: Lake Anne in evening/Credit: Ken Knueven

What’s a little snow when you need a new home? Check out these open houses in Reston this weekend.

11406 Windleaf Court
2 BR, 2 BA Condo
$379,990
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

11187 Longwood Grove Drive
4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH
$898,000
Open Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.

11340 Links Drive
3 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$419,800
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

11553 Underoak Court
3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH
$359,900
Open Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.

12058 Edgemere Circle
3 BR, 3.5 BA TH
$585,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

1515 North Point Drive
2 BR, 2 BA Condo
$329,000
Open Sunday, 12 to 3 p.m.

11216 Lagoon Lane
4 BR, 3.5 BA TH
$729,750
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

1143 Meadowlook Court
4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH
$925,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

For more open houses, visit Reston Now’s Real Estate section.

Updated, 10 a.m. Friday: Because Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Friday, tonight’s Sing Strong events have been moved to a new location. Tonight’s events have been moved from South Lakes High School to Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon.

All times for tonight remain as originally scheduled. Events for Saturday and Sunday are still scheduled for SLHS, but that could change pending weather. Check SingStrong’s website for updates.

Original story, Thursday: 

Musical groups from high school to professional return to South Lakes High School this weekend for the seventh annual SingStrong International Charity a Cappella Festival.

The schedule is packed with five concerts at SLHS, an auction, and more than a dozen classes and coachings, all featuring nothing but the human voice. Event proceeds support the Alzheimer’s Association and local music programs. Fans can attend single concerts or purchase weekend discount passes, which offer savings of up to 50-percent off.   This year’s performers include:

• Gospel-pop sounds of Resound (featured on ABC)
•  Traces from this season of NBC’s The Sing-Off
• Vocaldente, the international award-winning German swing-pop group.
• Anna-Maria Hefele, YouTube sensation and Austrian overtone singer.
• Broadway Trio Apollo Link (aka The Spideyboys)
• Ensamble Fenix, Venezuela’s top latin jazz vocal group
• Blue Jupiter, the pop and twisted Broadway quartet featured by Oreo, Nokia, and Nickelodeon
• Ball in the House, Boston’s R&B sensations featured on America’s Got Talent
• The Alexandria Harmonizers, barbershop multi-medalists
• Feedback, NYC’s  studio singers turned jazzy R&B group

Groups will use only their voices to perform leads, harmonies and to vocally imitate a virtual orchestra of sounds  — including jazz trumpet, classical strings, distorted electric guitar and a full drum set. Some of the other highlights: Friday, 7 p.m. Concert features  “ACA-Idol,”  an a cappella competition for professional and collegiate groups in the style of American Idol. Celebrity judges will give live feedback. The show is hosted by Jonathan Minkoff (of Blue Jupiter, acappella101.com, RARB.org). First place is $1,000, and audience members get to vote using their cell phones to help determine the winner. Competitors include: The BluesTones from JMU, The Seabelles, The Rhythm and Roos from University of Akron, Uncommon, The Lobby, CATCH-22, Pitches Be Crazy and more. Saturday, 7 p.m. Main Event Concert features multiple professional a cappella groups including  Traces, Blue Jupiter, Anna-Maria Hefele, and Apollo Link (aka Spideyboys). Saturday, 9:30 p.m. Main Event Concert features more pro a cappella groups, including  Resound, Ball in the House, Vocaldente, Ensamble Fenix, Feedback and more.

Saturday, 2 p.m. Concert features the Finals of SingStrong’s High School Competition, with awards for performance, arranging and composition, as judged by respected a cappella educators from around the country.

Sunday, 2 p.m. Concert features Resound, Traces, Ensamble Fenix, The Alexandria Harmonizers, Feedback, and Apollo Link (aka Spideyboys).

Amateur singers will be involved in classes and coaching on such topics as recording techniques, stage presence, forming and directing an a cappella group, beatboxing, copyright law, and musical arranging. 

For singers who attend without a group to perform with, SingStrong offers an open a cappella group, The Single Singers. Attendees sign up, get their music online, briefly rehearse together at the festival, and then perform on the mainstage.  
 
Tickets range from $15 to $35. Discounted passes available for Seniors, Students and groups of 10 or more. Free Parking. Tickets and complete info at www.SingStrong.org.

This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza.

Traveling with your furry feline, whether for vacation or due to a move, can be stressful for everyone involved. But with a few helpful tips, traveling with your cat can be a more enjoyable experience for you and hopefully create less anxiety for your cat.

Car trips: Car travel can actually be easier for you and your feline friend for long trips. While generally speaking a lot of cats don’t like being in the car, you are able to control their comfort and environment more than you are with air travel. Here are a few tips for making the trip more pleasant:

For your and its safety, keep your cat in its carrier at all times. A panicky cat loose in the car can potentially cause an accident. Wiping the inside of the carrier with artificial pheromones such as Feliway might help make being confined easier on your kitty. If it’s a longer car trip — think more than 6 hours — you can try using a small dog crate or pet pop up tent in your back seat to allow room for a litter box and more comfortable bedding.

Put the carrier in the back seat of the car. If an airbag goes off while the carrier is in the front seat, it could injure your feline friend.

Secure the carrier properly by wrapping a seat beat around the front to minimize shifting or falling.

Do not let your cat stick its heads out the window. Such behavior is extremely risky, as your kitty can jump out when the car is stopped, can be injured by debris, or can get sick when hot or cold air is forced into its lungs.

Let your feline friend out for walks/rest stops, but only if it accepts being put on a leash. Do not let it roam free in unfamiliar places.

Never leave your cat alone in the car. A car can heat up very quickly in the summer and drop below freezing in the winter, and both can cause irreversible damage to your cat. And you might also be issuing an unspoken invitation to pet thieves!

Plane trips: Though traveling by car is always preferable to flying, there are times when a plane trip is unavoidable. If you find yourself in such a situation, here are some tips to make air travel safer for your cat:

If you are allowed, ALWAYS opt to bring your cat in the cabin with you. Flying in the cargo hold can dangerous due to stress, as well as the abnormal temperatures and air pressures. In addition, many felines get lost or injured during the loading and unloading process. Putting your cat down below also limits your travel options, as certain times of year are too hot or too cold to allow animals to be put in cargo. Fortunately, most airlines will allow you to travel with your cat on board for an additional fee.

Be sure to call the airline well in advance to reserve a spot. Only a limited number of animals are generally allowed in the cabin on each flight. Read More

Silver Line Status — Greater, Greater Washington has a breakdown of Silver Line usage and points out that Wiehle-Reston East is not only a busy departure point but also is the largest single commuting destination on the Silver Line. [Greater Greater Washington]

Cybersecurity Suit — Reston-based FS-ISAC (Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center) has joined Microsoft in a civil lawsuit targeting the criminal group behind the “Ramnit botnet,” a global web of interconnected computers used to steal cash and personal information. [Washington Business Journal]

Kaine in Herndon Saturday — Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine will speak at Saturday’s 2015 K-12 STEM Symposium in Herndon, where more than 2,000 students, parents, and leaders in business and government will celebrate the importance of a strong Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Plow Rollover — A snow plow skidded off Sunset Hills Road and flipped over during Thursday’s snowstorm. [NBC4]

Photo: Wiehle Avenue pedestrian bridge in snow/Credit: Chris Hannas via Twitter

It’s Frozen Friday.

If you are venturing out to shovel — or go to work — here is what you need to know:

It’s 10 degrees at 7:30 a.m. in Reston — but the high today is 27. Good news: It will be in the 50s next week.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking residents to delay trips today. Said VDOT: “Many icy patches out there, even on interstates. Crews are treating but extremely low road temps and rapid refreeze.

Fairfax County Public Schools are closed.

Wiehle-Reston East is operating on a normal schedule after being closed last night due to a small fire and flooding.

Fairfax County Government offices will open at 10 a.m. today. Employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.

he Fairfax County Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will open on time.

Parks, Community and Recreation and Community Centers — If you have questions about Park Authority facilities, contact the site directly, call the Parks inclement weather line at 703-324-8661<, TTY 711, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.

The Reston Community Center may be affected by the inclement weather. Call RCC at 703-476-4500, TTY 711, www.restoncommunitycenter.com.

Fairfax Connector bus service is operating on a normal schedule, however, check the Connector Web page at www.fairfaxconnector.com for the current operating status and updates.

Fairfax County Public Libraries are closed today.

Reston Association offices will open at 10 a.m.

Area airports are open, but there are cancelations, so check with your airlines.

File photo of frozen Lake Audubon

Fire coming from under an empty Metrorail car temporarily closed the Wiehle-Reston East Station on Thursday night.

Metro staff noticed flame under the out-of-service inbound railcar at the station about 8:30 p.m. and alerted fire officials.

During Fairfax County Fire Rescue’s fire response, a fire stand pipe burst and water flooded the station platform.

Authorities shut down power at the station. Firefighters found residual smoke coming from an electrical compartment under the car, officials said.

The station was closed for about an hour.

Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Metro is investigating the cause of the fire.

“I would like take this opportunity to express our thanks to Fairfax Fire and Rescue for their response, ” said Stessel. “And also Fairfax Connector, which was prepared to send buses should they have been necessary.”

Metrorail car at Wiehle-Reston East/file photo

Updated, 6:35 p.m. Thursday: Fairfax County Public Schools have announced there will be no school Friday.

After nearly 12 hours of snow in Northern Virginia, roads remain “treacherous” Thursday night, says the Virginia Department of Transportation.

VDOT says there are multiple road closures throughout the county as snow began falling at 7 a.m. and was still falling at 5 p.m. The National Weather Service said Reston had received 7.5 inches of snow through 5 p.m.

Fairfax County 911 said it received calls from drivers asking about abandoning their vehicles. The county says vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense.

From Fairfax County Emergency Services:

If you can safely move your vehicle out of travel lanes you can call a tow truck to get the vehicle home; any vehicle left for more than 12 hours or deemed a road hazard by the police will be towed.

Abandoned vehicles may also contribute to accidents and the owner will be ticketed in this event. Exiting your vehicle puts you and other drivers in danger. If your vehicle is stuck and you are in danger, call 9-1-1, but otherwise you should have it towed.

Please remain off the roads if possible. Visibility is limited, temperatures are dropping and conditions are further deteriorating.

More than 3,800 trucks continue to plow roads in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties according to VDOT. Staying off the roads allows crews to work safely. Crews are spreading salt and abrasives, as appropriate, concentrating their response efforts on the most heavily traveled routes. VDOT’s goal is to have all state-maintained roads passable within 48 hours after a storm ends.

This storm; however, may deliver a second punch as temperatures drop to record levels and icy conditions remain likely into Friday.

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 9 p.m. Thursday.

Reston Now will update this story with any school and government closings for Friday.

Photo: Plow on Reston Parkway during Thursday’s snow/Credit: Eddie via Twitter

How should Reston Association’s money be spent and what should be the association’s priorities through 2020?

Reston Association is in the midst of drafting its strategic plan for the next five years, as well as the 2016-17 budget and would like to hear from its members on these topics.

RA is planning four district meetings in March where it will give the details to participants, who can also discuss what they would like to see as priorities for the budget cycle and the strategic plan.

Topics include: current budget overview and Q-and-A session with RA staff; a strategic plan update; a member input activity; information on RA services; an an opportunity to cast your vote in the 2015 RA Board of Directors Election.

RA CEO Cate Fulkerson said the member input activity will be to see where the members’ want their money to go. There will be buckets with various categories, and members will put fake money in the buckets to “cast a vote” for where the RA’s real money should be spent.

The meeting schedule:

Thursday, March 12 — North Point District, Buzz Aldrin Elementary School, 11375 Center Harbor Rd., 7 to 9 p.m.

Monday, March 16 — Tall Oaks.Lake Anne District, Reston Community Center, Lake Anne Plaza, 7 to 9 p.m.

Monday, March 23 — South Lakes District, Reston Association HQ, 12011 Sunrise Valley Dr., 7 to 9 p.m. (Child care provided. RSVP to [email protected] with number of children).

Wednesday, March 25 — Hunters Woods/Dogwood District, Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Rd., 7 to 9 p.m.

Honors For Hunters Woods Teacher — Ji Ahn, a resource teacher at Hunters Woods Elementary, was named one of two second place finishers in the Sally Ride-Deloitte 2014-15 Award for Teaching Innovation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) competition. Ahn developed a program to introduce female students to the engineering design process via hands-on design challenges. Ahn earned a $2,500 cash prize and a Sally Ride STEM license for her school that will provide professional development for teachers, eBooks, teacher guides, and technical support.

Supervisors Give Themselves A Raise — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to raise their salaries. Board members now will earn $95,000 annually. The county is facing a $90 million revenue gap. [Washington Post]

County Tax Rate To Remain Steady — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors took the possibility of a real estate tax rate hike off the table Tuesday. The board voted to advertise a tax rate of $1.09 per $100 of assessed value, which is the current rate, in advance of next month’s public hearings on the proposed county budget. This means that the board can reduce the tax rate but cannot increase it. [Fairfax Times]