Chick-fil-A restaurants, including the one at 12160 Sunset Hills Rd. in Reston, have a treat for you in February.
For the entire month of February, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will give customers free cups of its new specialty-grade THRIVE Farmers hot or iced coffee all day long.
The Atlanta-based restaurant chain partnered with THRIVE Farmers Coffee in August 2014, and the new coffee qualifies as specialty grade per the standards of the Specialty Coffee Association of America and only the top 10 percent of coffee consumed worldwide meets this quality designation, says a Chick-fil-A spokesman.
The sale of each cup of coffee provides direct revenue to THRIVE Farmers network of family farmers in Central America, allowing them to earn up to 10 times more than farmers earn in traditional revenue models.
This offer includes 12 ounce hot or 16 ounce iced sizes and is available while supplies last. The offer is available anytime during regular restaurant hours and is limited to one cup of coffee per customer, per visit. No additional purchase is necessary and no substitutions are available.
RCC Camp Registration Now Underway — Registration for Reston Community Center’s camp programs began on Feb. 1. There are a wide a variety of general and speciality programs for all ages, and some fill up quickly so act soon. [RCC]
Fairfax Residents Demand Change in Wake of Geer Shooting — Citizens voiced their dissatisfaction at police transparency at a weekend town hall. [WTOP]
Reston Limo Trying New Tactics — Kristina Bouweiri, president and CEO of Reston Limousine, explains how companies like hers have had to diversify and add programs such as winery tours as services like Uber and Lyft have grown. [Washington Post]
Become A Reserve Sheriff — Are you interested in the challenges of public safety and the satisfaction of providing a service to the community? The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office invites you to join our team as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. The 10-week training academy begins April 1, 2015, and meets Wednesday evenings and all day on Saturdays. [Fairfax County]
House hunting? Start here this weekend. Note: Many open houses are Saturday this week rather than Sunday so as to not interfere with Super Bowl fun.
1645 York Mills Lane
4BR, FB, 2HB SFH
$665,000
Open Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m.
11173 Lake Chapel Lane
3BR, 3.5 BA TH
$745,000
Open Saturday, noon to 3 p.m.
11990 Market Street
2BR, 2.5 BA Condo
$1,050,000
Open Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.
11253 Silentwood Lane
2BR, 2.5BA TH
$334,900
Open Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.
2255 Cedar Cove Court
3BR, 3.5 BA TH
$595,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
1860 Stratford Park Place
2BR, 2 BA Condo
$465,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m.
11746 Indian Ridge Road
4 BR, 2.5BA
$499,900
Open Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m.
For complete real estate information, visit Reston Now’s Real Estate section.
Glory Days Grill opened its doors at North Point Village Center on Wednesday — just in time to welcome crowds to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The sports-themed restaurant, located at 1400 North Point Village Center, will serve $5.99 burgers all day in Sunday in honor of the big game.
The North Point location is more than 5,500 square feet of bar, dining and patio seating, and has more than 40 televisions and tableside speakers. The company has hired 100 employees for the North Point location, a company spokeswoman says.
This is Glory Days 22nd location. The locally owned chain has restaurants in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Florida.
Other regular specials at Glory Days:
- $5.99 Classic Burgers on Mondays.
- $5.99 Tacos on Tuesdays.
- Pizza Thursdays – Enjoy $5.99 Pizzas All Day..
- Friday Fish Fry. $9.99
- Snack Attack ($3/$4/$5 snack-sized portions) after 9 p.m.
- Lunch Loyalty Special. See location for details.
Glory Days hours: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Monday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight.
See the full menu on Glory Days website.
Photo: Grand Opening at Glory Days/Courtesy of Glory Days
This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.
There were 18 new properties that came on the market this week in Reston. That brings the total inventory to 209 active listings, or about a three-month supply. Anecdotal evidence (agents around the water cooler), says that the market is active.
Look for more homes to come on the market as we move into February, but if you’re waiting for a spring glut before you start your home search you might want to revise your plan. Interest rates are so low that it makes sense to buy now.
Here are a few of the homes that listed this week.
11990 MARKET ST #607. 3BR 2.5 BA Condo. List Price: $845,000
11477 WASHINGTON PLZ W. 4BR 2.5 BA Condo. List Price $649,000
1661 SIERRA WOODS DR. 3BR 2.5 BA TH. List Price: $347,000
1332 MURRAY DOWNS WAY. 5BR 3.5 BA SFH. List Price: $799,900
1964 WINTERPORT CLUSTER. 3BR 2FB, 1 HB TH. List Price: $444,500
Restonians are getting a new place to relax: Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa is opening its location at South Lakes Village Center on Saturday.
The spa, located at 11160 South Lakes Dr. in the space formerly occupied by Lakeside Gallery, is part of a national franchise that offers massages, facials and waxing.
On the menu:
Massages: Deep tissue, sports, hot stone, prenatal and Swedish
Facials: 30-minute express treatments, Signature facials (classic, men and teens), revuvenating and detox facials, as well as microdermabrasion and peels.
Waxing: eyebrows, face, bikini and more.
Introductory prices for massages and facials begin at $49.95. Most clients become members, where they pay a monthly fee that is good for a One Hour Massage or a Signature Facial, as well as additional services at our low member rates.
Hand and Stone will be open seven days a week. Hours are weekdays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Appointments are encouraged by walk-ins are welcome.
Two teenage girls have been charged in connection with a car fire at South Lakes High School on Sunday.
Fairfax County Police said the two girls intentionally set a car on fire. They have each been charged with one count of Virginia Code 18.2-81, burning of personal property valued at $200 or more .
Police said damage is estimated at $2,000. There were no injuries.
Police did not identify the girls as they are juveniles.
Del. Ken Plum’s (D-Reston) bill to require a background check for all gun purchases was defeated in a House subcommittee at the Virginia General Assembly session in Richmond on Thursday.
The bill had the support of Gov. Terry McAuliffe, as well as several groups advocating for new Virginia gun laws.
HB 1604 would have added a definition of “firearms show vendor” or “vendor” and require that a criminal history record information check be performed on the prospective transferee before the vendor may transfer firearms at a gun show.
Under current law, only licensed dealers must obtain such a check. The bill also required that the promoter of a firearms show provide vendors access to licensed dealers who will conduct the criminal history record information check.
“Of course I am disappointed,” Plum said. “But the outcome was pre-ordained. Four of the five members of the subcommittee have perfect or near-perfect ratings on the National Rifle Association scorecard. That same subcommittee defeated all the common sense gun safety bills including one to prohibit domestic abusers from having access to guns.”
On the Senate side, the Republican-led Courts of Justice committee earlier in the week killed off 10 gun bills, the majority of a gun control package introduced by McAuliffe. Among the dead bills, a bid to reinstate Virginia’s one-handgun-purchase a month law, which the General Assembly dismantled in 2012, and one that would take away concealed carry permits from owners behind on child support payments.
The Courts of Justice committee advanced several bills that will ease state codes for gun owners. Among them: one that allows lifetime concealed-carry permits rather than requiring re-registration every five years. Other bills allow the possession of weapons on private religious school campuses and allow people with concealed carry licenses to leave guns in their cars in public school parking lots.
However, many of the bills will still face a veto from McAuliffe if they pass the full General Assembly, the Newport News Daily Press reported.
Photo: Ken Plum/file photo
Major Kudos for Sunrise Valley’s Rossbach — Mary Anne Rossbach, a sixth-grade and lead math teacher at Sunrise Valley Elementary School, has been named the 2015 William C. Lowry Mathematics Educator of the Year for the Elementary School Level by the Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (VCTM). [FCPS]
In Memoriam for ScienceLogic COO — Reston’s ScienceLogic, where Don Pyle served as Chief Operating Officer, is collecting memories and condolences to be put into a post to share with his family. Pyle, his wife Sandy and four of their grandchildren were recently killed in a fire at Pyle’s Annapolis home. [ScienceLogic]
Special RA Meeting Feb. 9 — The Reston Association Board of Directors will hold a special meeting on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. to announce the results of the RELAC Air-conditioning Unit Covenant Referendum; Consider the draft Tetra Property Purchase Referendum Question/Factsheet and related draft Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase the property; and receive an update from RA Land Use Counsel on Reston Master Plan, Phase 2 Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston) wants Virginians who are suffering from debilitating medical conditions to be able to use marijuana to seek relief.
Currently, the commonwealth allows cannabis for treatment of cancer and glaucoma, but not other medical conditions.
Plum introduced a bill (HB 1605) earlier in the 2015 Virginia General Assembly session that “allows a person to possess marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol pursuant to a recommendation of a prescriber acting in the course of his professional practice and allows a medical doctor or pharmacist to distribute such substances in the course of his professional practice without being subject to prosecution and eliminates the requirement that marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinol be recommended and dispensed solely for the treatment of cancer or glaucoma. “
The bill also clarifies that the penalties for forging or altering a recommendation for medical marijuana or for making or uttering a false or forged recommendation are the same as the penalties for committing the same acts with regard to prescriptions.
“This isn’t about smoking pot,” said Plum. “This is about taking or using the oil for a medical condition.”
Plum’s bill is similar to HB 1455 introduced by Del. Dave Albo (R-Springfield), which seeks to add epilepsy to the list of conditions for which patients can possess medical marijuana. Last week, the General Assembly heard testimony from families whose children could benefit from medical marijuana, during which a young girl suffered a seizure in front of legislators.
Haley Smith, who suffers from Dravet Syndrome, had 1,200 seizures last year. Plum, who gave Haley a big, heart-shaped box of candy when she came to his office Thursday, said he inspired by Haley’s story and that of Jennifer Collins, the 15-year-old Fairfax County girl whose family moved to Colorado and back in order to gain legal cannabis relief for her seizures.
“When people are in the amount of pain and stress they are in, there is no reason the government should stand between relief from that pain,” said Plum. “There is far more addictive stuff behind the counter at the pharmacy.”
Plum said that federal restrictions are standing in the way of changing Virginia laws. Medical marijuana has actually been legal in Virginia since 1979 — except that it requires a valid prescription, and doctors cannot legally prescribe marijuana since it is federally restricted.
“We need to take appropriate action in Virginia and get us an exception to federal enforcement related to medical marijuana,” said Plum.
Medical marijuana has been given an exception in 23 states and in DC, where small amounts are legal for pain relief.
Plum’s bill has been referred to the Courts of Justice Committee.
Photo: Haley Smith, who had more than 1,200 seizures last year, was a given a box of candy by Del. Ken Plum in Richmond last week/Credit: WTVR.com.
Thank you to all of the readers who have forwarded us news tips, story ideas and photos since we launched in October 2013.
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Are you still thinking about running for a spot on the Reston Association Board in 2015? The deadline to file for candidacy for one of four open seats is Friday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.
The Reston Association Board has spots that will open in April for two At-Large seats, North Point and South Lakes.
Here is what you need to know:
Each director serves a three-year term.
Voting in the 2015 Election begins at 5 p.m. on March 2 and runs through March 30.
To qualify you must:
- Be a member of the Reston Association, either as a renter or property owner.
- Complete a Statement and a Petition of Candidacy (links below).
- If you run for a district seat, you must live in that district.
Candidate forms for 2015:
Visit Reston Association’s website for more election information.
RELAC Referendum — Restonian has some fun with the RELAC referendum. Votes must be in by 5 p.m. Friday. [Restonian]
Excessive For Policing Poker? — Fairfax County SWAT team members raided a poker game in a private home in Great Falls. [Washington Post]
Tax Help Available at RCC — Need help filing taxes? Reston Community Center and AARP are teaming to offer the Tax Aide program on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays Feb. 3 through April 14 at RCC Hunters Woods. The program is open to adults 40 and over and anyone with low to middle incomes who needs help maximizing deductions. [Reston Now]
Save the Date for Hunter Mill Summit — Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins is hosting the Hunter Mill Community Summit Saturday, Feb. 28, 8:30 a.m. at Frying Pan Park in Herndon. Highlights for this year’s program are discussions on the FY2016 County Budget, the FY2016 School Budget and human services planning for the Hunter Mill District.
Runners have a new Reston race to add to their calendar: The For the Love of It 10K will take place Feb. 14 at 8 a.m.
The race, sponsored by Potomac River Running, will start and end at South Lakes High School.
Here is what else you need to know:
Entry is $35 ($40 day of race). Register online through Feb. 12.
The course starts and ends at SLHS and takes runners on a two-lap course on nearby streets such as South Lakes Drive, Sunrise Valley Drive, Colts Neck Drive, Ridge Heights Road and Soapstone Drive. See the course map on the race’s website. Streets will not be fully closed but traffic may be affected and lanes may be closed.
All pre-registered runners will receive a For the Love of It 10K commemorative technical shirt. The first 400 runners to arrive at packet pickup will receive a For the Love of It 10k pin.
There will be awards for the top three finishers overall and in age groups.
Fairfax County will hold a community meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Reston Community Center Lake Anne to update residents and obtain feedback on the draft of the Reston’s Master Plan Phase 2 update.
The county has been working on Phase 2 since last summer, holding several community meetings to obtain focus on the vision for Reston’s neighborhoods and village centers for its next 50 years.
Fairfax County officials say the the current comprehensive plan, last updated in 1989, requires revision because Reston no longer has a master developer to update the plan for Reston; the plan for Reston has outdated elements; and with population expected to grow with the arrival of Metro, Reston is evolving as a community.
After nearly four years of committee work and revisions, the county Board of Supervisors in early 2014 approved Phase I of the Master Plan, which provides a framework for development in the areas surrounding Reston’s transit stations.
Key points of the latest draft:
Reston’s two golf courses are to remain as golf courses. This is good news for proponents of open space as the owners of Reston National Golf Course, the 166-acre public course in South Reston, are awaiting a Board of Zoning Appeals ruling on whether the course can be considered as residential for redevelopment. The BZA heard nearly six hours of testimony at a public hearing last week. It will rule on the appeal on April 15.
The updated land use map includes areas clearly marked as open space and recreational space.
Residential land use categories have been expanded from their current three broad categories (low, medium, and high density) to five categories to more closely reflect what has been built in the community, with the desired result of maintaining established neighborhoods.
The Reston neighborhoods section provides guidance to maintain the established residential neighborhoods. In the event of residential neighborhood redevelopment requests, more stringent redevelopment criteria have been established that go beyond the County criteria.
The village centers shall remain village centers. However, should a village center want to rezone and rebuild as something else, there is also specific criteria for that. That is good news for the ailing Tall Oaks Village Center, which was recently purchased by an apartment developer.
Environmental stewardship shall remain a key focus in Reston planning.
To see the entire draft, visit the Fairfax County website.
Photo: The future of Tall Oaks Village Center is one of the topics for the Master Plan Phase 2/file photo





