How much money Lake Anne Development Partners should proffer to the Fairfax County Park Authority is one of several sticking points as the county planning commission works towards recommending for approval the massive redevelopment project.

After a public hearing on Thursday, the planning commission said it will revisit the issue at the Jan. 22 meeting.

LADP, a division of Republic Land Development, was chosen by the county in the summer of 2013 to redevelop the county’s 16-acre Crescent Apartments site as well as areas adjacent to Lake Anne Plaza’s Historic District.

LADP’s plans for the area include 1,037 residential units, including replacement of the 181 affordable units at Crescent; 60,000 square feet of retail; a 15,800-square-foot grocery store; and 78,000 square feet of office space. The project will also have a 1.1-acre central park, an outdoor amphitheater, a bike share station and 12 public art works, according to the staff report.

The standard county rubric for fair share contributions to the Park Authority is $893 per resident. That means LADP should make a contribution of about $1.4 million, the county’s staff report said.

However, LADP says its fair share should be $100,000, paid in four installments.

“It is the staff’s opinion that what LADP is providing enhances the quality [of the area], but does not provide active amenities such as basketball courts or athletic fields,” a county representative said. “Their proffer is 7 percent of the recommended contribution.”

Lynne Strobel, the attorney representing LADP at Thursday’s hearing, said the developer’s application “is providing significant and costly improvements to Washington Plaza. Those are not unlike parks; they are public areas that serve the community.”

Strobel said the improvements to Washington Plaza total $1.2 million, so an alternative formula for LADP’s contribution should be used. Read More

Fighting For Libraries — Several Reston resident are key in the citizen fight against cutbacks in the Fairfax County Public Library system. [Washington Post]

Garza’s Worst Week — The missteps in not calling off school during last week’s snow, the subsequent apology, and then a canceling school on Thursday earned Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza’s the Washington Post’s “Worst Week Ever.” [Washington Post]

New CoreSite Campus in Reston — Technology company CoreSite opened the second phase of its Reston headquarters. [Business Wire]

Herndon Wins Battle on Ice — Keegan Flood had a hat trick as Herndon High’s hockey team defeated crosstown rival South Lakes High School 6-3 at SkateQuest on Friday.

Updated 8:20 p.m. Sunday

Fairfax County Public Schools will open two hours late on Monday because of the freezing rain forecast for the area.

Original story:

Plan for a slippery commute Monday morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a freezing rain advisory for Reston, Northern Virginia and most of the Washington, DC, region.

The weather advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Sunday through 9 a.m. Monday

From the NWS:

PRECIPITATION TYPE…FREEZING RAIN.

ACCUMULATIONS…LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE.

TIMING…PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST LATE THIS EVENING. FREEZING RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS…EVENTUALLY BECOMING PLAIN RAIN BY MONDAY MORNING.

TEMPERATURES…IN THE LOWER 30S.

A THIN GLAZE OF ICE COULD FORM ON UNTREATED ROADS… SIDEWALKS…AND VEHICLES. DUE TO THE RECENT COLD WAVES…SOME SURFACES MAY BECOME ICY EVEN WITH AN AIR TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING. TYPICALLY SHADED AREAS…AS WELL AS BRIDGES…WILL BE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO ICING. THE MORNING COMMUTE WILL BE IMPACTED. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS. SLOW DOWN AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

Reston Now will update this story with any school delays or road closures.

In the market for a new home? Check out these open houses.

2220 Glencourse Lane
3 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$425,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

11173 Lake Chapel Lane
3 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$745,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

11910 Crosswind Court
2 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$349,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

11811 Great Owl Circle
2 BR, 3.5 BA TH
$489,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

11253 Silentwood Lane
2 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$334,900
Open Sunday, 1:30 to 4 p.m.

12709 Thunder Chase Drive
4 BR, 2.5 BA SFH
$643,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

12185 Abington Hall Place
2 BR, 2 BA Condo
$420,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

2405 Red Maple Lane
4 BR, 2.5 BA SFH
$675,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

2027 Swans Neck Way
4 BR, 3.5 BA TH
$539,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

See our Real Estate section for more homes for sale and open house listings.

The week before Christmas, students at Reston’s Terraset and Dogwood Elementary Schools were given an early holiday present courtesy of Eddie Royal, a wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers.

Royal, in his seventh NFL season, made a donation that was used to purchase gift cards to Walmart so 50 disadvantaged kids could enjoy presents this holiday season.

Royal, 28, grew up in Reston and attended Dogwood Elementary and South Lakes High School before graduating from Westfield High School.

“Students at Terraset came down to the office area, where we had computers set up for some online shopping,” said school technology specialist AnnMarie Mochen. “Ms. Trout, the principal of Terraset, then told the students about Mr. Royal’s generosity and his desire to give back to his local community. The students were overjoyed to buy gifts for themselves and their families. “

Royal’s mother even stopped by to help the students pick out gifts.

Said Terraset Principal Lindsay Trout: “Eddie Royal’s donation allowed 50 children to have a very special holiday this year (25 from Terraset and 25 from Dogwood). Eddie’s generosity epitomizes the spirit of the season. He has remembered fondly where his roots are and he goes out of his way to give back to the community that helped him become the fine man he is.  Terraset and Dogwood are better schools because of his selflessness; he serves as a real life role model for our students.”

Photo: Eddie Royal/Credit: San Diego Chargers

The Dandelion Patch, the speciality stationary and gift store at 1810 Library St. in Reston Town Center, will close at the end of this month.

Heidi Kallett, company CEO, said in an email to customers that in order to streamline operations, the company is consolidating to its locations in Vienna and Georgetown.

The company formerly also briefly had locations in Leesburg and National Harbor, which closed in recent years.

The Dandelion Patch — which sells preppy favorites such as Lilly Pulitzer and Vera Bradley gifts as well as high-end custom stationary and invitations — has had a shop at Reston Town Center for seven years. The store was formerly located on Market Street, moving to the Library Street location in 2012.

“Although we are sad to close our doors at Reston Town Center after seven years, we have loved being a part of the vibrant community of Boston Properties and are grateful for their support,” Kallett said in the email. “We have enjoyed being a part of so many life events for our clients. … We have great plans for The Dandelion Patch and are preparing for a prosperous 2015.”

Photo Courtesy The Dandelion Patch

Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Karen Garza presented a $2.6 billion budget to the school board on Thursday, saying the schools needed an increase of $64 million (2.6 percent) for Fiscal Year 2016.

Garza said the FY 2016 Proposed Budget addresses several significant rising costs such as growing enrollment and changing student demographics, as well as compensation increases for employees.

It also includes resources for full-day Mondays in the elementary schools, which were quickly implemented this school year without being fully funded, and the implementation of later high school start times, which will go into effect in 2015-16.

The budget will also address large elementary class sizes, a growing concern Garza heard on her recent principal’s listening tour stop in Reston.

“This is a realistic and practical budget that once again uses a shared approach of reducing expenditures and requesting additional revenue while protecting the classroom and programs for students,” Garza said in a statement.

“The FY 2016 Proposed Budget is not reflective of all the needs of the district. Recognizing the fiscal challenges we are currently facing now and in the future, we made a concerted effort to stay as close as possible to the budget guidance provided to us by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. We need a long-term strategy for funding our schools that is predictable and sustainable. Balancing each year’s budget on continued reductions is not sustainable and it will erode the quality of our school system.”

The FY 2016 Proposed Budget includes reductions of $55.4 million, which would be achieved through compensation base savings resulting from employee turnover; lower health insurance costs; reductions to centrally managed accounts including fuel, utilities, and employee benefits; and savings produced by last year’s system wide reorganization. Read More

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones announced the 2015 Best of Reston honorees — as well as new co-chairs of this year’s event  — at Comstock’s Reston Station Thursday night.

The honorees represent individuals and businesses who have given back to the community. They will be honored at a gala benefitting Cornerstones on April 30.

The last two Best of Reston galas raised a combined $1,178,000. That money enabled Cornerstones to double its stock of affordable housing in our community, said Jill Norcross, Chairman of Cornerstones’ Board of Directors.

Developers Boston Properties, Comstock, and The JBG Companies will serve as co-chairs, Best of Reston organizers announced.

“As a leading developer in Reston, Comstock takes its responsibility of building a strong community very seriously,” said Maggie Parker, Comstock’s Director of Communications and Public Outreach. “A community is more than its stations, roads and buildings; it is made up of the people who come from all walks of life. It’s an honor to be asked to
raise money for this incredible community resource.”

Parker also announced that the Best of Reston has already raised $325,000 — 65 percent of this year’s goal — from Reston businesses and individuals.

The 2015 honorees:

Larry Butler — Individual Community Leader 

Butler, Reston Association’s Senior Director of Parks and Recreation, has used his passion for the outdoors in volunteer work that includes the Reston Triathlon, the Reston Sprint Triathlon and the Reston Kids Triathlon. The latter event offers scholarships to 50 kids in need to get involved in the sport.

“His can-do attitude, insight and advice, and leadership in making connections across the community create the added value in every event or activity in which Larry is involved,” the Best of Reston committee said. Read More

Don’t Fall For Power Scam — Fairfax County Police are warning residents, in particular concern of this week’s frigid weather, of a scam that has re-surfaced in Fairfax County neighborhoods in recent weeks. Victims report that someone claiming to be a power company employee contacts them and states their power will be cut off if they do not pay their “overdue” bill immediately. [Fairfax County Police]

New Faces At Reston Chamber — The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce has added severalnew staff members: Ashleigh Dorfman, CSEP, Event & Development Director; Latraniecesa (LJ) Wilson, Communications Manager; and Amy Salley, Membership Services Manager.

Park Authority Wants Your Input — The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold its annual public comment meeting on the agency’s proposed fee adjustments on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in Room 106 of the Herrity Building, 12055 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. Proposed fee increase info is available on the Park Authority website. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Mini Maker Faire Returns in March — The NoVa Mini Makers Faire returns to Reston March 15. The deadline for entry is Jan. 23, so plan your inventions and creations now. [Mini Maker Faire]

Fairfax County Public Schools will open two hours late on Friday, Jan. 9. From FCPS:

All Fairfax County public schools and school offices will open two hours late on January 9, 2015 (Condition 3). Central offices will open at 10 a.m.

Morning preschool (special education) classes are canceled.

Afternoon preschool classes start on their regular schedule.

Full-day preschool (special education) and Family and Early Childhood E

ducation Program/Head Start classes start two hours later than the regular schedule.

Morning field trips are canceled.

SACC centers will open at 7 a.m.

Morning transportation for high school academy classes is canceled.

Transportation for afternoon academy classes will be provided.

Adult and community education classes will start on time.

Lake Anne Florist — Virginia Wine & Gourmet will close at the end of this month as owner Linda Fuller is retiring.

Fuller, who has been operating the shop at 11426 Washington Plaza since 1996 — and at other spots in and around Reston for 40 years — has been seeking an owner for her businesses since last summer. Asking price for the business is $24,995.

Chesapeake Chocolates, the homemade chocolatier that rents a small corner of the Lake Anne Florist space, will remain open.

Meanwhile, Lake Anne Florist will hold a big retirement sale from now until Jan. 31. Among the discounts:

• Wine and Beer — 25 percent off
• Virginia Gourmet — 50 percent off
• Wine accessories — 50 percent off
• Flowers — Fresh Holland tulips at $5.99 per bunch

Lake Anne Florist is one of several locally-owned businesses at Lake Anne to close in the last year. In 2014, The CupCake Ladi, New Family Naturals, Lakeside Pharmacy and Jasmine Cafe all shut their doors. Lake Anne Coffee House remains for sale.

The area surrounding the plaza is readying to undergo a massive redevelopment, which will bring higher density to the area and is expected to revitalize the retail area in the historic part of Lake Anne Plaza.

Photo by Lake Anne Florist via Facebook

A Nevada man who authorities say has been prostituting teenagers in Reston and Herndon for nearly a decade, pleaded guilty in federal court in Alexandria Thursday to sex trafficking.

Authorities said Lenny Paul Haskins, aka “2 Much,” 34, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Richmond, Calif., pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a child.

A statement of facts filed with the plea agreement said ” since at least 2005, Haskins has been a pimp and has derived his income primarily from prostituting women and girls.”

The plea agreement file said Haskins has prostituted women and girls in numerous cities and states, including New York, Nevada, Maryland, Louisiana, Tennessee, Colorado, Utah, California, and various places in Virginia (including Herndon, Reston, Vienna, Sterling, Falls Church, Tysons Corner, Dulles, Fairfax County, Arlington, and Alexandria).

The charge Haskins pleaded to took place in Herndon last summer. Authorities said in June 2014,  Haskins encountered two teens at a hotel near Sacramento, Calif..One was 15 years old and the other was 17 years old.  Both were runaways from foster care.  Haskins provided marijuana and eventually recruited them to prostitute for him.  Once he recruited them, Haskins performed sex acts with the victims, officials said.

In August 2014, Haskins instructed the victims to take a bus to Herndon, for the purposes of being prostituted there. Haskins arranged for advertisements to be posted on the Internet site www.Backpage.com, to obtain sex customers for the juveniles.

The juveniles sent prostitution proceeds to Haskins using various money transfer businesses.  The Las Vegas Police Department arrested Haskins in August 2014 but he continued to call the victims and give them directions from jail, authorities said.

Haskins faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Fairfax County Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Frank is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A Herndon man was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday with drug and firearms charges stemming from a 2011 incident in Reston

Saul Pacheco Mejia, 48,  was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and the use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said.

According to the indictment, Pacheco Mejia and two conspirators traveled to Reston in December of 2011 to sell cocaine to Colvin Morris.

After Morris attempted to rob them of the cocaine, Pacheco Mejia and his co-conspirators chased Morris from an apartment in Cameron Crescent, shooting and killing him as he attempted to flee. Pacheco Mejia and his co-conspirators fled the scene and later fled to Honduras.

Pacheco Mejia faces a maximum penalty of death, or up to life imprisonment if convicted.

Fairfax County Public Schools decided early on Thursday to close for the day because many buses would not run in the near-zero morning temperatures, the school system said.

On Wednesday, the system had originally planned a two-hour delay for Thursday as temperatures were expected to be close to zero this morning.

FCPS, which received major criticism from the community and eventually admitted making the “wrong call” in remaining open in Tuesday’s snowfall, says this about today’s decision:

The decision to change from a two-hour delayed opening to an all day closing for schools was made today because, as our bus drivers reported to work, it was evident that many of our buses would not start in this morning’s cold weather.

We did not want students waiting in this cold for buses that may be running late because engines wouldn’t start. In addition, the refreeze of snow and ice on residential streets and sidewalks also made walking and travel treacherous.

We understand the change to an all day closing creates problems for many, particularly our SACC families, but we believe this decision is best for our students. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Did FCPS make the right call today? Tell us in the comments.