The Fairfax County School Board has elected Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Lee District) as chairman and Ted Velkoff (at-large) as vice chair for a one-year term, the school system announced.

Denerak Koufax replaces Ilryong Moon, who has served as chair the last two years.  The chair and vice chair were elected by School Board members and assumed office at the July 10 School Board meeting.

Derenak Kaufax has served on the School Board since January 2012; she served as vice chair in 2013-14 and has served as chair of the School Board’s Public Engagement Committee as well as chair of the Ad Hoc Streamline and Focus Committee in 2013.

Velkoff, who has served on the School Board since January 2012, was chair of the School Board Budget Committee for the FY 2015 budget and vice chair for the FY 2014 budget.  He is a former Chantilly High School PTSA president and treasurer; he also served as PTA treasurer at Rocky Run Middle School and Poplar Tree Elementary School.

Other school board members (who will serve through 2015): Sandy Evans (Mason District), Pat Hynes (Hunter Mill District), Ryan McElveen (at-large), Megan McLaughlin (Braddock District), Ilryong Moon (at-large), Patty Reed (Providence District), Elizabeth Schultz (Springfield District), Kathy Smith (Sully District), Dan Storck (Mount Vernon District), and Janie Strauss (Dranesville District).

Wiehle Avenue Office Building Sells For Big Bucks — Bethesda-based First Potomac Realty Trust has acquired 1775 Wiehle Ave., an office building two blocks from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, for $41 million from Normandy Real Estate Partners. Law firm Odin Feldman & Pittleman is the 130,000-square-foot building’s largest tenant. [Washington Business Journal]

Extension of No Child Left Behind For Virginia — Virginia public schools earned another year of exemption from some requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law. The law focuses on reforming education by increasing accountability for schools and teachers and measuring student progress based on standardized tests. States are awarded waivers in exchange for executing alternative reform plans. Virginia earned a two-year waiver in June 2012. It has now been extended another two years. [Fairfax Times]

Save The Date: Lou Lou Day — All lou lou Boutiques, including the one at Reston Town Center, will hold its annual lou lou day Aug. 2. For every $40 spent, customers will receive a $10 gift certificate. Also, 15 percent of the day’s proceeds will benefit Dress for Success.

GRACE’s Artist Member Exhibit Opens This Week — Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) is debuting a new exhibit beginning Thursday. The exhibition will feature 28 artists working with a variety of themes. The exhibit is free and open to the public though Aug. 23. [GRACE]

Photo: Shopping at Saturday’s Ukulele Festival at Lake Anne Plaza

Advocacy group Reston 2020 says Reston village centers should be be planned in a compact manner to prevent creeping urbanism where it does not need to be.

Fairfax County planners have begun Phase 2 of the process to revise the Reston Master Plan for the areas around Reston’s Village Centers. Phase 1, which looked at the areas surrounding the future transit stations, was completed earlier this year.

In a paper titled “Ideas for Development of the Phase 2 Reston Master Plan,” Reston 2020 co chair Terry Maynard writes that “the village centers are important community gathering spaces that include a mix of locally serving retail, a residential component, and employment opportunities.”

“Redevelopment to augment and enhance the village centers will be pedestrian-oriented, should include a plaza as a central element and provide adequate transition to surrounding neighborhoods. Convenient  public transportation options should link the village centers and the transit stations,” the paper states.

The group says that only the core of the village center areas — the Central Mixed Use Areas (CMUA) — should be allowed to add low-rise dwelling units, above ground-level retail and other business. The new development should also taper withareas of trees and shrubbery, as well as ave no surface parking.

Reston 2020 also suggests that the convenience centers (smaller retail strips) be planned and zoned, “as built,” as should residential neighborhoods.

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 this summer, Reston is evolving as a community.

Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins said neighborhoods will largely remain untouched. The general plan is to preserve existing development but institute some guidelines in case of future development opportunities.

The county is currently accepting feedback from citizens about Phase 2. A series of community meetings will be held this fall. The county hopes to have a plan framework early next year.

Photo: Hunters Woods Village Center/file photo

There are three special events in Reston this weekend that are mark-your-calendar worthy.

Saturday

Ukulele Festival: The fifth annual Lake Anne Ukulele Festival takes place at Lake Anne Plaza. The fun begins at noon, with live performances and workshops that will run until 6 p.m.

To see a full schedule of performances, see this previous Reston Now story.

Sunday

Police Sports Extravaganza: With the 2015 World Police and Fire Games opening in Fairfax County in exactly a year, organizers want to give residents a sneak peak of some of the competition that will take place here.

There will be a Police & Fire Sports Extravaganza from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Reston Town Center.

There will be a full day of sports, music and fun so visitors can get a sneak peek at the 2015 World Police & Fire Games events, which organizers say is the largest multi-sport competition ever staged in the Washington metropolitan area.

Among the activities: live demonstrations of Honor Guard, Muster Carts, K9, Police Motors, Lawfit, Tug of War, Darts, Martial Arts and Sub Grappling; a Kids Zone;  and a touch-a-truck area where youngsters can explore a police cruiser and fire engine.

Reston Town Center will be a hub of activity for the 12,000 athletes and nearly as many spectators here next summer. Town Center will serve as the athletes village for nightly special events. There will also be several competitions in Reston, including the Open Water Swim in Lake Audubon.

Summer Film Festival: Lake Anne Plaza continues its outdoor summer film festival with a showing of “The Breakfast Club” on the plaza a dusk (about 8 p.m.).

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and your own popcorn — though plaza restaurants will be open and ready to serve.

Photo: 2o13 Ukulele Festival at Lake Anne/file photo

(Updated, 9:40 a.m. Friday)

A man was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly had inappropriate contact with a minor at the Glade Pool, Fairfax County Police said.

Fairfax County Police Public Information Officer Ludy Caldwell said police responded to a complaint of a sex offense involving an adult male and a minor at the pool located at 11550 Glade Dr. in Reston at around 3:30 p.m.

Following an investigation, a suspect was arrested. Dharam Jindal, 60, of Shadbush Court in Reston, was charged with carnal knowledge with a minor, said Caldwell. The suspect being held without bond at the the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Reston Association says it is cooperating with police in the investigation. The mens’ locker room was investigated as a crime scene on Thursday, but is now reopened, RA officials said.

Baron Cameron Park may one day be home to a large indoor recreation center or other new amenity.

Or it may stay very much like it is, with garden plots, athletic fields and Reston’s only off-leash dog area.

Two weeks ago, the Fairfax County Park Authority approved a Baron Cameron master plan revision that includes the option for a large indoor recreation space.

Bill Bouie, Chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, says the approved master plan merely reserves the option to build there.

That doesn’t mean anything necessarily will be built at the 60-acre park.

“A rec center might not happen at all,” he said. “But before this, these was no approved plan in place. What this does is say ‘in Nirvana, when and if we get the money, this what it should look like.’ ”

The park authority board discussed the future plans for Baron Cameron Park for more than a year before voting on the plan. The goal was to update the master plan, which had not been done since 1990. The park has at various times been property of the Fairfax County Public Schools (which at one time was going to build a high school there), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and finally, the Park Authority.

But with Reston population expected to grow with the opening of the Silver Line Metro this summer, the timing was appropriate to look at how Baron Cameron can serve more people in the region. Baron Cameron is designated as a district park, meaning it should have a variety of uses in order to serve a wide variety of needs, said Bouie.

Over the last 18 months, the Reston Community Center has held a series of community meetings and conducted a feasibility study on teaming with the parks authority to build the a 50-meter indoor pool and rec center at Baron Cameron. RCC would build the center on land donated by the park authority.

In 2013, RCC hired consultants Brailsford & Dunlavy for a feasibility study that estimated the rec center with pool would cost about $35 million. Read More

It’s 7-Eleven Day! — July 11 (7/11) is the day participating 7-Eleven stores give away free small Slurpees. There are 7-Elevens in Reston at 2303 Soapstone Dr, 11714 Sunset Hills Rd., and 11846 Sunrise Valley Dr. [Facebook]

Map It With Silver Line — The Silver Line web site now has an interactive feature that can show you shops, restaurants and other businesses close to the five new Silver Line Metro stations. [Silver Line]

D.C-area Home Sales Down — The real estate market here is still sluggish, falling 4.5 percent last month when compared with June 2013. [Washington Post]

New Leadership for NVTC — The Northern Virginia Technology Council announces new officers and board members for 2014-15. [NVTC]

Photo: Trees removed from Terraset ES construction site

Northern Virginia residents who are sweating through a typical D.C.-area summer are about to get a visit from an old friend.

The Capital Weather Gang reports that the Polar Vortex, last winter’s frigid weather pattern that gripped much of the country with record cold temperatures, may be returning.

Says the Capital Weather Gang, who calls the pattern “A poor man’s Polar Vortex:“

Call it the ghost of the polar vortex, the polar vortex sequel, or the polar vortex’s revenge. Meteorological purists may tell you it’s not a polar vortex at all. However you choose to refer to the looming weather pattern, unseasonably chilly air is headed for parts of the northern and northeastern U.S at the height of summer early next week.

Bearing a haunting resemblance to January’s brutally cold weather pattern, a deep pool of cool air from the Gulf of Alaska will plunge into the Great Lakes early next week and then ooze towards the East Coast.

Of course, this is July, not January, so temperatures forecast to be roughly 10 to as much as 30 degrees below average won’t have quite the same effect.

While the Midwest, particularly the upper Midwest, will see some fall-like weather, here in Reston it may just actually be really pleasant. The Capital Weather Gang says temperatures here are likely to be about 10 degrees below normal.  Highs may struggle to reach 80 in D.C. on Tuesday and Wednesday, with widespread lows in the 50s (even 40s in the mountains).

Meteorologists have been commenting on the rarity of a weather pattern that looks so similar hitting a region in both summer and winter: Low pressure over the Aleutians near Alaska, a large hit ridge over the Western U.S., and a huge cold low or vortex over the Great Lakes.

In any case, 80 in July sounds much more pleasant than 99. Or 5 below.

Coming soon to Reston’s Lake Fairfax Park: A new and improved Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a public groundbreaking ceremony Saturday at 1 p.m. to kick off the $5 million renovation.

The project will substantially increase the size of the Lake Fairfax facility. The expansion will include:

• 3,000-square-foot tot spray pad with spray features
• 5,300-square-foot-active spraypad with spray features
• Slide tower with three flume water slides
• Interactive play structure.

Also in the works: A 1,000-square-foot restroom and mechanical building; improvements to the pool deck; relocation of shade structures;  new shade structures and related utility and site work.

The park authority says more than one million people have visited the Water Mine since it opened in 1997.  The festivities will include refreshments as well as special activities for Water Mine attendees.

Those attending Saturday’s festivities may enter through the side entrance, park authority officials said. There will also be special activities Saturday.

The project is scheduled to be completed in late summer of 2015.   

Photo of The Water Mine/Credit: Fairfax County

Metro and the Fairfax Connector will run special shuttle buses on July 26 to ensure first-day Silver Line riders get where they need to go.

After an opening ceremony at Wiehle-Reston East, the first Silver Line train will leave that station at noon. From the county:

WIEHLE — WEST FALLS CHURCH: Shuttle buses will operate non-stop between the West Falls Church and Wiehle stations.  The first shuttle buses will depart Wiehle for West Falls Church at 7:20 and 7:40 a.m. to meet the first Route 505 and Route 950 bus arrivals at Wiehle.  The first shuttle bus will depart West Falls Church for Wiehle at 7:45 a.m. to transport passengers from the Orange Line to Reston and Herndon buses.  Wiehle – West Falls Church shuttle buses will operate every 30 minutes from the start of service until approximately 10:45 a.m. and then operate every 10 to 20 minutes until 12:30 p.m.

TYSONS AREA — WEST FALLS CHURCH: Shuttle buses will operate between West Falls Church and the McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, and Spring Hill stations, stopping at each location.  The first shuttle bus will depart Spring Hill Station for West Falls Church at 6:35 a.m. to meet the first Route 574 bus arrival at Spring Hill.  The first shuttle bus will depart West Falls Church to McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, and Spring Hill stations at 7 a.m. to transport passengers from the Orange Line to the Tysons area.  Buses will operate approximately every 20 minutes until 12:30 p.m.

The special shuttle buses will operate on Saturday, July 26 only.

More Silver Line opening news:

Silver Line, Connector Buses Will Link Air and Space Museums

Metro Has Silver Line Opening Day Plans

Bus Lines Are Changing For Silver Line Service

Fairfax County planners want to know what you know — or at least think — about Reston.

As the process for Phase 2 of the changes to the Reston Master Plan gets underway, think about these things: Where is the most beautiful building here? The place you take out-of-towners? The place where you are most likely to hit a pedestrian? The place most deserving of a bulldozer?

Those questions were posed as part of a community open house at United Christian Parish last month. All of the display boards, including neighborhood and village center profiles, design principles and Phase 2 goals, are now available online.

After more than four years of work, the Reston Master Plan Special Study earlier this year finished Phase 1, in which it formulated a vision for future development around Reston’s three future transit stations.

Phase 2 will look at the areas around Reston’s Village Centers. As Reston embarks on its second 50 years, there needs to be a plan in place for redevelopment, whether that happens next year or in 30 years, says Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins. 

Phase 2 will also be done under Fairfax County’s new “Fairfax Forward” method of comprehensive plan review, which will rely on greater community engagement.

Community feedback on changing Fairfax County Public Schools start times has now been organized by FCPS and posted on its website.

The school board will get a final presentation on the four start times option at a meeting later this month.

After a 2012 decision committing to changing high school start times, FCPS paid experts at Children’s National Medical Center more than $100,000 to study the impact on lack of sleep among teens and formulate scenarios for bell changes.

What the experts found: The students were chronically sleep deprived with a 7:20 a.m. start time. Pushing high school start times past 8 a.m. would have an impact on everything from behavior to grades to driving records and sports injuries, the experts say.

“Delaying school start times is one of most important ways to help ensure adolescents are getting enough sleep,”  study leader Judith Owens said at a May 27 meeting at South Lakes High School. She also said students who start school after 8 a.m. are less likely to be depressed, get better grades, score as much as 200 points higher on the SATs and may have higher future earnings.

The CNMC team formulated four scenarios for high school bells. The changes would not go into effect until fall of 2015. The proposals range from start times between 8 and 9:15 a.m., with various changes for elementary and middle school students in order to accommodate the high schoolers.

See details on all four proposals on FCPS’ website.

The proposals will cost between $2.7 million and $7.6 million to implement, mostly to purchase new buses, school board members said. Meanwhile, the FY2015 schools budget was passed this spring with less money than expected from the county board of supervisors, so FCPS had to make $97 million in cuts and will offer employees delayed step raises.

The feedback posted online is from small group discussions from meetings at eight FCPS high schools, including Reston’s South Lakes High School, in May and June. The comments concentrate on the pros and cons of each proposal.

All four options have pros and cons, the community feedback shows.

Some of the pros in community feedback: More sleep for high schoolers, obviously; Options 2 and 3 help families by having siblings home to watch younger kids in the afternoon; teachers will get more sleep; Option 4 is good because high schoolers get more sleep and elementary students will not be impacted.

Some of the general parent concerns about all options: cost of implementation; middle schoolers may get less sleep too; elementary students will be going to school in the dark; and that FCPS has not given the option of “no change” to bell schedule.

Visit FCPS’ website to see complete feedback.

Where do you stand on the proposed high school bell changes?

Photo: Group discussions at a May FCPS community meeting a South Lakes High School on high school start times.

More Silver Line Questions and Answers — Officials from Fairfax Connector and Metro were online Wednesday answering citizen questions about Silver Line connector service. [Fairfax County]

Camp Cattawannagohome! — The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is holding a special “Camp Cattawannaghome!” adoption event through Saturday, July 19. Adoption fees are waived. [Fairfax County]

New Green Standards For County Buildings — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has adopted new standards to encourage the use of “green” building practices in construction projects. The new policies build on standards the county first adopted in 2007 and only apply to developers that are going through the land use process for a rezoning or other application that will add to the density or intensity of the site. [Fairfax Times]

Trail Work Next Week — The Virginia Department of Transportation has schedule sealing work scheduled on the Fairfax County Parkway trail from Wiehle Avenue to New Dominion Parkway today and tomorrow. [VDOT]

Photo: Food trucks on Business Center Drive in Reston

Fairfax County Police say these property crimes occurred in the Reston District in the last week:

2100 block of Centreville Road, clothing from business

12000 block of Town Square, bicycle from residence

11600 block of Plaza America Drive, wallet from business

1700 block of Ascot Way, property from vehicle

13000 block of Elm Tree Drive, bicycle from location

2100 block of Maleady Drive, property from residence

2300 block of Hunters Square Court, bicycle from residence

1800 block of Explorer Street, liquor from business

12700 block of Garberry Court, GPS and stereo system from vehicle

2200 block of Stone Wheel Drive, money from business

Classic Reston is a biweekly feature sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce that highlights businesses, places and people with deep roots in Reston.

Every summer weekday morning, when dozens of children are dropped off for Reston Association Day Camp at Brown’s Chapel Park, they play among the mature trees close to the chapel.

The trees are original to the plot of land that is now the park. The chapel, however, is not.

Browns Chapel was originally built in 1879, when Augustus and Sarah Brown deeded a half-acre of land on what is now Leesburg Pike to the “Methodist Episcopal Church.”

It remained in use as a chapel until 1967, when the congregation was dissolved. The Northern Virginia Methodist Board of Missions offered the structure to the Fairfax Historical Landmarks Preservation Commission for relocation. That organization in turn contacted Gulf-Reston, Inc., who were by then the developers of Reston.

In May 1968, Gulf-Reston opted to move the 70-ton chapel a few miles down the road to Baron Cameron near Lake Anne. The park, now part of Reston Association, grew around it. Today, it includes baseball fields, a basketball court, picnic facilities, a playground and other recreation amenities. On rainy days at RA Camps, the chapel is a refuge for indoor games.

Meanwhile, a cemetery owned by the church is still located at Baron Cameron and Route 7. More than 200 graves, some of them unmarked, remain. Some of the members were buried there as late as the 1980s — long after the chapel itself was gone.

Photo: Moving Brown’s Chapel in 1968/Credit: Fairfax County