Fairfax County Police recently arrested two men in Reston after they were suspected of stealing cable batteries.
An officer from the McLean District Station stopped the men on a traffic violation in a car on Ring Road in Reston about 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5.
The officer noticed several large cable box batteries, a bit larger than a typical car battery, in the vehicle he stopped, said police.
Police had been notified by Cox Communications on Jan. 27 about a resurgence in battery thefts and they had requested that police be on the lookout. There had been roughly 185 batteries stolen from all across the County, predominantly in the Western portions of Fair Oaks, Reston and Sully since late December 2014.
These batteries serve as a back-up when power goes out so that customers won’t lose cable service. Thieves typically steal them, along with other utility tools, for their scrap metal value, said police. They weigh around 80 pounds each and likely would require some electrical, or wiring, expertise to remove from their power supply cabinets.
Police arrested Edwin Price, 44, of Bethlehem and Jason Drobnoek, 29 , of Altoona, Pennsylvania and charged them with grand larceny, stolen property with intent to sell, as well as false identification charges.
Photos: Jason Drobnoek, left, and Edwin Price/Credit: FCPD
Many roads and sidewalks remain icy after Sunday’s freezing rain, and the weather has caused delays and openings.
Fairfax County Public Schools are closed on Monday. School age child care centers (SACC) is open.
Fairfax County Government offices are open, however employees have been granted unscheduled leave. Emergency service personnel should report as scheduled.
The federal government is opening two hours late.
The National Weather Service has issued a Dense Fog Alert for Northern Virginia through 9 a.m. Visibility is one-quarter mile or less.
Reston Now will keep you updated with any other delays, closings or road issues.
Photo: Ice-covered tree in Reston/Credit: Robbie Nolan via Twitter
(Update, Sunday, noon) The National Weather Service has upgraded the forecast from a Winter Weather Advisory to a Winter Storm Warning.
The Winter Storm Warning for all of the Washington area, including Reston, is in effect until 3 a.m. Monday.
Forecasters say to expect snow, sleet and freezing rain. There may be a coating to an inch of snow that will change to sleet and freezing rain this afternoon.
There could be a one-quarter inch accumulation of ice, the NWS says.
Original story, Saturday 7 p.m.:
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Reston and the Washington, D.C. area from early Sunday through early Monday. Expect a mix of conditions and precipitation to usher in March.
From the NWS:
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 3 AM EST MONDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW… SLEET… AND FREEZING RAIN… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SUNDAY TO 3 AM EST MONDAY.
LOCATIONS… WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND.
HAZARD TYPES… SNOW… SLEET… AND FREEZING RAIN.
ACCUMULATIONS… A COATING TO 1 INCH OF SNOW AND SLEET ACROSS WASHINGTON DC AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND. 1 TO 3 INCHES IN THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS OF WASHINGTON DC. ICE ACCUMULATION AROUND ONE TENTH OF AN INCH.
TIMING… SNOW WILL BEGIN BETWEEN 7 AM AND 10 AM SUNDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN BETWEEN NOON AND 3 PM SUNDAY AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION WILL END AS FREEZING RAIN SUNDAY NIGHT.
IMPACTS… ROADS WILL BE SNOW AND ICE COVERED SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. TRAVELLING WILL BE DANGEROUS DURING THIS TIME. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED BELOW ONE-MILE AT TIMES IN SNOW SUNDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
WINDS… SOUTH AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH.
TEMPERATURES… RISING THROUGH THE 20S MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE LOWER AND MIDDLE 30S SUNDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY NIGHT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW… SLEET… OR FREEZING RAIN WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES… AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
Fairfax County Crime Solvers is offering a reward to anyone who helps them solve a case where suspects are impersonating police.
Crime Solvers said the run of impersonations began in October 2014. In each of the three incidents in Fairfax County, a person driving on a public highway encountered a vehicle behind them that activated emergency lights, similar to what you would see on an unmarked police car.
Police did not say where in the county the incidents occurred.
In each of the three incidents, the drivers did not believe the vehicle was an actual police car and therefore, did not pull over. The suspect vehicle drove away without further contact.
The suspect vehicle in each of these three incidents has been described as a black Volkswagen sedan such as a Jetta or Passat, bearing Virginia license plates.
Officers said they believe there may be additional incidents involving this vehicle and driver and would like to hear from anyone else who believes they may have encountered this vehicle utilizing emergency lights on the public roads.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers. Tipsters may submit a tip 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).
A $100 to $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information that leads to an arrest and indictment, Crime Solvers said. Callers never have to give their names or appear in court.
Candidates in Reston Association’s 2015 Board of Directors election will take part in a forum at 7 p.m. on Monday at Reston Association headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.
Some of the questions will be asked by a moderator, but there will also be an opportunity for audience members to submit questions. Want to know how they stand on rising assessments, Reston growth, new facilities or anything else important to you? Now is your chance.
There are seven candidates running for four board seats.
Incumbent South Lakes Director Richard Chew is running for re-election against former RA vice-president Andy Sigle and Rescue Reston advocate Julie Bitzer.
In North Point, Dannielle LaRosa is seeking to remain in the spot for another year. LaRosa was appointed by the RA Board to the North Point Director seat last fall after Tim Cohn stepped down for personal reasons. LaRosa will run against Charles Dorfeuille, who has served on the RA Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Community Engagement Advisory Committee, among others.
The two At-Large candidates are running uncontested. At-large candidates include incumbent Michael Sanio and Ray Wedell, a Realtor and a leader with Rescue Reston.
Reston Now will run Q-and-A posts with each candidate beginning next week.
Voting begins Monday at 5 p.m. and will run through the end of the month. Results will be announced at the Annual Members’ Meeting on April 14.
Reston Association staff envisions a remodeled building on the shores of Lake Newport that can host anything from yoga classes to camp aftercare to a lovely wedding reception.
More importantly, it will be the missing link in nearly 100 acres of RA open and common space in North Reston.
That’s the picture that emerged Thursday as RA’s Board of Directors held the first of two public hearings on its intended purchase of the former visitors center.
RA is seeking to buy the 3.48-acre property that features a 3,128-square-foot building currently used as offices for Tetra commercial real estate. The purchase price will be $2.65 million, based on a recent appraisal, said RA CEO Cate Fulkerson.
See more details on the Letter of Intent to purchase, which was approved by the board on Thursday.
Fulkerson said there are no plans to repurpose the land as an indoor tennis center, which had been under consideration (and ultimately tabled due to cost and mixed community reaction) at adjacent land twice since 2009.
Adding the parcel, which is surrounded by other RA properties such as Lake Newport Tennis and Brown’s Chapel Park, would give the association 98 contiguous acres of open and community space, said Fulkerson.
RA President Ken Knueven said acquiring the Tetra property is a unique opportunity, both to ward off outside development and offer options for members.
“Our master plan effort for Phase 2 is to re-designate the area [which is currently zoned convenience center],” he said. “However, as it is zoned and according to the development plan in place today, an owner can come in and build 50 feet into lake and double its size. … even if we get a zoning change.”
“This is an opportunity to get total control in ownership over a piece of property that will give us one contiguous piece of land for use by the members,” said Knueven. “That is the intangible we have to continue to tell ourselves.
RA plans to put the issue to community referendum in April. There will be an additional public hearing on the subject March 26. Only 10 percent of households voting (or 1,751 in a pool of 17,506 eligible households) are needed for the referendum to pass, according to RA’s fact sheet on the topic.
The referendum question will look like this:
Should the Reston Association, acting through the Board of Directors, be authorized to:
1) Purchase the 3.47 acre Tetra property, inclusive of land and improvements, located at 11450 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, VA 20190 in the North Point District as an addition to Common Area pursuant to Article IV, Section IV.10 of the Reston Deed;
2) Borrow up to $2,650,000 on behalf of the Association to make the purchase; and,
3) Renovate and repurpose the existing building and land for future community and recreation uses?
Still, many of the directors, as well as the five members who spoke during the public hearing portion, had questions that remain to be answered.
Most of the concerns are financial. RA’s appraisal came in more than $1 million more than the county assessment. RA land use attorney John McBride explained that an appraiser is looking at one property while an assessor is looking at a county full of properties — in this case, small offices, which will not be the “highest and best use” for the property. Read More
Give Us More Library Info — Library advocate Kathy Kaplan wants more transparency when it comes to the plans for the new Reston Regional Library. [Reston Connection]
On To The Basketball Regionals — The South Lakes High School girls basketball team moves onto regional action tonight at Battlefield High (Haymarket) at 5:45 p.m. The boys team will start regional play at Osbourn Park (Manassas) at 7 p.m. Herndon’s boys basketball hosts Lake Braddock tonight at 7 p.m. in regional action.
Reston Summer Swim League Signups Next Week — It may feel like winter, but if you have a swimmer, think summer. Reston Swim Team Association (RSTA) registration for returning families opens March 3. New families can sign up May 5 or after. [RSTA]
Metro: No Fare Hike — Metro says it is committed to keeping fares from rising. [WMATA]
Photo: Snowy Lake Thoreau at dawn/Credit: Leslie Sogandares
Fairfax County Police are investigating a burglary that took place in the 12000 block of Waterside View Drive in Reston on Feb. 19. Police said a resident at the Waterside View Apartments in North Reston said someone entered the residence and took property.
In other crime news from the Reston District Station this week:
STOLEN VEHICLE
11400 block of Ridge Heights Road, 2012 Toyota Tacoma.
LARCENIES
2400 block of Centreville Road, purse from business.
11600 block of Hunters Green Court, license plate from vehicle.
2100 block of San Moritz Circle, jewelry from residence.
2400 block of Centreville Road, wallet from business.
11900 block of Freedom Drive, wallet from vehicle.
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, phone and wallet from business.
With another snow day upon us, we asked for some great dogs-in-the-snow pictures for a photo contest.
Here are some of the best entries.
Reston Now picks Syd at Lake Newport as the winner. Congratulations to owner, Anna Atkinson, who wins a Reston Now water bottle.
But let’s pick a fan favorite too. Scroll through the pictures and tell us your favorite in the comments. We’ll count the comments by 9 a.m. Friday and give a second lucky dog owner some swag too.
Thanks for playing!
Spring running season is nearly here. If you have been training all winter, challenge yourself to the Reston 10-Miler Sunday at 8 a.m.
Here is what you need to know:
The race starts and ends at South Lakes High School
Runners must complete the course in 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Online registration closes Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. Cost: $45
Late registration is also available at packet pickup at Potomac River Running at Reston Town Center Friday and Saturday ($50)
The course takes runners thorough South Reston. Streets involved include South Lakes Drive, Sunrise Valley Drive, Soapstone Drive, Colt’s Neck Road, Twin Branches Road, Ridge Heights Road and Glade Drive. Roads won’t be closed, but lanes may be blocked off, so plan accordingly if you are driving somewhere early Sunday. See the course map on the race’s website.
All 10-Miler finishers will receive an original design finishers medal.
Proceeds will benefit South Lakes High School’s Track and Field program.
Photo: Finisher at 2014 Reston 10-Miler/Credit: Potomac River Running
The Reston Historic Trust and United Christian Parish are celebrating Black History Month with a community forum at 7 p.m. tonight at United Christian Parish, 11408 North Shore Drive.
The topic: Reston’s African American Legacy: Valuing the Past, Planning for the Future
There will be a panel, presentation and discussion moderated by Rev. Laverne Gill, creator and producer of the Comcast television show Reston’s African American Legacy and Laura Thomas, retired educator and longtime Reston resident.
The panel includes Bob Secundy, a Reston resident since 1967 who was active in the Reston Black Focus and Fairfax County government; Martin Taylor, resident since 1972 who is now an aide to Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins working on housing, human services and budget issues.; and two South Lakes High School students.
Admission is free.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission voted on Wednesday to recommend JBG’s RTC West project for approval. RTC West will bring 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space to what is currently an office park off of Sunset Hills Road close to the future Reston Town Center Metro station.
The planning commission held a public hearing on the project three weeks ago, but deferred decision. There was no significant opposition, but the developer had to agree to many conditions, mostly to add traffic and pedestrian access.
There may be more development at the site years down the road, however.
“This is what I call an ‘interim development’ of this site,” said Frank de la Fe, the planning commission’s Hunter Mill representative. “In the future, I am sure we will be seeing [the location] with new redevelopment under the new [Reston] Master Plan.”
“This makes sure what is being done in the interim meets current needs in marketplace without negatively affecting what we envision in master plan for this site,” said de le Fe.
A January county staff report recommended approval for RTC West, provided transportation conditions were met.
The 13-acre site currently houses three office buildings. Much of the development will convert the first two floors of the office buildings.
JBG’s says it plans to convert 15,100 square feet of office space to retail/restaurant space and add 25,000 square feet of new retail/restaurant space (on the southwest corner of the site). The planning commission approved outdoor restaurant seating for the complex.
The area is bordered by the W & OD Trail on the side of Reston Town Center, Town Center Parkway, Sunset Hills Road and the complex that currently houses Chipotle, Potbelly, Chick-fil-A, Carrabba’s and Extended Stay America.
“The development vision includes the upgrade of the first one or two floors within the office buildings to be more suitable to retail uses, and extensions of the retail program in specific areas of the site,” says JBG materials included in the staff report.
Some of the transportation conditions:
Connecting an existing walkway to the adjacent trails along the public roadways and adding two new crosswalks across Town Center Parkway.
Connecting the development to the W & OD trail, which runs on the northern part of the property. One development condition for JBG is working with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and Dominion Virginia Power to establish an easement for a pedestrian connection between the site and the W&OD trail.
Closing the existing exit-only driveway on Town Center Parkway and to construct new signalized access point about 440 feet north of the intersection at Sunset Hills Road. Constructing an entrance in this location will require the relocation or closure of an existing entrance for the property across Town Center Parkway to avoid an unsafe intersection, JBG says. JBG will have to work out an agreement with Boston Properties, which owns that parcel, as a condition of development.
Two new crosswalks across Town Center Parkway at a new access point.
A new turning lane on Reston Parkway.
The project now moves on to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for final approval.
See the entire staff report on the Fairfax County Planning website.
Photo: Rendering of RTC West/Credit: JBG
Buy A Brick — It’s the annual call for commemorative bricks at Lake Anne Plaza. If you buy one by Feb. 28, it will be ready for installation by Founders Day on April 11. A three-line brick is $100. [Reston Museum]
Auction for SLHS Band — South Lakes High School’s marching band boosters are auctioning off an emerald and diamond necklace donated by Aspen Jewelry Designs and valued at more than $1,400. To see the necklace and purchase $5 (5 for $20) raffle tickets, visit the boosters’ website. The drawing is March 5. [South Lakes Band Boosters]
Honors For Reston Financial Planners — Eric Wightman and Gregory S. Smith, CFP of The Wise Investor Group in Reston have been named to Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors list for 2015. This is the seventh consecutive year that The Wise Investor Group has appeared on the list.
Kudos to Herndon’s Meilus — Herndon High sophomore swimmer Emily Meilus won last weekend’s state championship in the 100 backstroke for the second straight year. Meilus set a new school record and earned an All-American time; she also placed seventh in the 200 freestyle.
New At The Top — Rolls-Royce America, headquartered at Reston Town Center, has hired Marion Blakey as its new CEO. [Washington Business Journal]
Photo: Lake Anne kindergarteners mark the 100th day of school/Credit: Sue Garrison
Fairfax County Public Schools will be closed Thursday. This is a change from an announcement the school system made at 5 a.m. saying the schools would have a delayed opening.
From FCPS:
Based on current conditions and the forecast, FCPS is changing its operating status today, Feb. 26, to the following:
All Fairfax County public schools will be closed today. School offices and central offices will open four hours late, to be opened by 12 noon (Condition 5) with an unscheduled leave policy in effect for 12-month employees.
The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled:
- extracurricular activities
- interscholastic contests
- team practices
- field trips
- middle school after-school programs
- professional learning and training courses
- adult and community education classes
- recreation programs and community use by outside groups not affiliated with FCPS
- School age child care (SACC) centers are closed.
Fairfax County employees can take unscheduled leave. The courts will be open, the county said.
The area remains under a Winter Weather Advisory until noon Thursday.
Del. Thomas Davis Rust, who represents Herndon, announced Wednesday that he will not run for another term to Virginia’s House of Delegates.
Rust (R-Herndon), who was mayor of Herndon for almost 20 years, has served 13 years in the House. All seats are up for re-election in 2015.
“I’ve been fortunate in my life to receive some recognition and awards from various groups in both my public life and my professional life. I treasure those, I truly do, but nothing is quite like being a member of this historic body. It’s truly an honor to have served with you,” he said in Richmond on Wednesday.
Rust, 73, received a standing ovation from his colleagues, The Washington Post reports.
Rust narrowly defeated Jennifer Boysko, a Democrat, by 32 votes in 2013. Boysko plans to run for the office again.
“It is always difficult to run against someone you personally respect. I challenged him because I have been troubled by the Republicans in Richmond who have made it more difficult to govern in a moderate, common-sense manner, as Tom Rust so capably did as our mayor,” Boysko said in a statement.
Rust is a Herndon native who has been praised in Richmond for his bipartisan work, particularly on education and transportation issues.
Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston) says Rust will be missed.
“On the [House] floor today, I called him a true statesman,” he said. “Tom worked across the aisle and kept his eye on the goals we were trying to achieve. He had a significant role on transportation committee and was a great friend of education. Often we would be voting and it would be all Democrats and one Republican — Tom. I am sorry to see him go.”
