Parked On The Promenade — Check out the high, high, high-end cars (Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley) now on display at Reston Town Center. The cars are parked in the promenade in front of Mon Ami Gabi as marketing for dealership Bentley Tysons. Representatives are also there at lunch time and late afternoon, for the serious shoppers.
Big Cost Of Silver Line Delay — There won’t be penalties if the Metro takes more than 90 days to conduct Silver Line testing and training, but there will be financial impact. [Washington Post]
Roadblock For Dulles Access Road — Loudoun County won’t give its input on a new traffic and cargo road project until 2015, stalling VDOT’s plans. [Washington Business Journal]
Teacher Time Crunch — Nearly half of Fairfax County Public Schools teachers say they do not have enough time in the classroom to meet the needs of the students, according to a new FCPS survey. [Fairfax Times]
Fairfax County Public Schools officials are considering eliminating the early release Mondays for elementary school students in order to better accommodate snow days.
The school board will discuss the plan, proposed by a committee of principals, at a work session on Thursday. The plan will change how FCPS counts yearly instructional time.
FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza says the change is necessary because it will eliminate the snow days problem and allow for more self-directed planning time for teachers.
Under the new plan, the required 180-day school year will meet the mark with a 990-hour school year. Both are options under Virginia rules. Loudoun County uses the 990-hour system and does not have to scramble when winter wreaks havoc on the schedule.
Fairfax has three days built in for weather cancellations, and FCPS says the system uses an average of four a year. By moving to an hourly system, the schools would be able to absorb 13 snow days in a school year because students would already be in school for the required number of hours.
In 2013-14, a particularly snowy winter, FCPS used 11 snow days, which has pushed the school year to June 25 in order to have the required makeup days.
For decades, FCPS elementary school students have attended two-thirds of a day on Monday in order for teachers to have meeting and planning time. It is often the bane of parents, who have to scramble for Monday child care or alter their work schedules.
“I would be happier about more instructional time,” said Debra Steppel, a Reston parent of elementary students. “And I would be happy about having a consistent Monday through Friday schedule. Most workplaces have their busiest day on Mondays, and the schedule has caused chaos for a lot of people for many years.” Read More
The expanded CVS store at South Lakes Village Center will feature a MinuteClinic, CVS’ walk-in health care clinic.
CVS has begun expansion into the former Footsteps running store space. That storefront has been empty since Footsteps closed at the end of March 2013.
CVS’ MinuteClinic has served more than 20 million patients since it opened the first location in 2000, a CVS spokesman said. There are more than 800 locations in 28 states. This will be the first location in Reston.
MinuteClinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can diagnose and treat common illnesses and conditions such as ear infections, strep throat and ankle sprains. They also offer vaccinations, sports/school physicals and wellness programs.
Patients do not need an appointment for MinuteClinic, which is open seven days a week, including weekday evening hours. MinuteClinics accept most health insurance plans.
Emmy-award winning actor Ed Asner joined organizers of the Washington West Film Festival in Northern Virginia last week at a festival fundraiser.
Asner, whose short film Good Men was screened last year during the Festival, said he was impressed with the Festival and its mission and volunteered to help raise money for the October festival that takes place in Reston and other Northern Virginia locations.
Held at the Tower Club, the private fundraiser with a variety of local business leaders featured a Q & A session with Asner.
The fourth annual Washington West Film Festival,taking place Oct. 22-26, 2014 in locations throughout Northern Virginia including the Reston Bow Tie Theater.
The festival’s motto is “Story Can Change the World,” and the festival will feature more than 40 films along that theme.
In keeping with the festival’s vision, all box office net proceeds will be donated to a charity that then becomes the subject of a short film debuting at the festival. Last year, proceeds benefitted Shelter House, a local nonprofit working to alleviate homelessness.
The lineup of films for the 2014 festival will be announced at a later date.
Photo: Yorktel’s Mark Maxey, a Washington West Film Festival board member, interviews Ed Asner at festival fundraiser/Credit: Washington West Film Festival
World of Beer opened its doors at 1888 Explorer St. at Reston Town Center on Monday.
This is the second Virginia location for the Florida-based franchise, which also has a store in Arlington.
The 4,500-square-foot space in the ground floor of The Avant apartments features a rotating selection of hundreds of beers from around the world. There are also other spirits, a food menu and flat screen TVs broadcasting sports.
The Reston World of Beer also features patio seating and live music Thursday-Saturday.
Former Airports Authority Board Member Reiley Dies — Mame Reiley, Democratic operative who helped Mark Warner get elected governor in 2002 and who until 2012 served on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, died of cancer on Monday at age 61. [Washington Post]
New Blog For Crime Solvers — Fairfax County Crime Solvers has announced the release of its new blog. Crime Solvers offers the public an anonymous means for reporting criminal activity in Fairfax County. When tips provided through Crime Solvers lead to an arrest and indictment, tipsters are then eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 paid out through the Crime Solvers program. [Crime Solvers Blog]
Check Your Home, Win New HVAC — Reston residents have a chance to win new ENERGY STAR-rated heating and cooling system valued at $8,000 when they enter the Re-energize Reston Heating + Cooling Giveaway. Sponsored by Rheem, M.E. Flow, Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and Reston Association, the Re-energize Reston Heating + Cooling Giveaway is open through August 1, 2014. To enter the contest, Reston residents need to complete a $45 Home Energy Check-up* performed by LEAP by Aug. 1. [Re-Energize Reston]
Milestone For Rotary — The Herndon Rotary Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a party on June 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dranesville Tavern, 11919 Leesburg Pike, Herndon. Tickets are $60 per person. [Herndon Rotary]
Two animal incidents were reported in Reston on Friday.
A man walking down the sidewalk at Wiehle Avenue and North Shore Drive at 8 a.m. Friday was bitten on the arm by a Labrador Retriever, Fairfax County Police said.
The victim received a minor injury. The dog was routinely quarantined.
Later that day, the residents of St. John’s Wood Apartments off of North Village Road were alerted by email from apartment management that a black bear was seen in the neighborhood about 4:45 p.m.
Police could not confirm the sighting, however, there have been black bears seen in the area recently. Black bears typically hibernate from November to April.
In late April, a black bear was hit by a car on the Dulles Toll Road near Wolf Trap. Earlier that day, a black bear had been seen in the 1600 block of Fremont Lane in Vienna.
Black bears are believed to live in 92 of 98 Virginia counties. Animal control officers typically don’t remove them unless they are sick, injured or a threat to public safety.
Map: Location where black bear was spotted/Credit: Google Maps
The law enforcement drill at Metro’s Wiehle-Reston East station went off as planned Sunday, with more than 100 public safety officers taking part in the exercise, a Metro spokesman said.
The next drill, a larger one that will include fire and rescue personnel will take place later this month, said Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.
In Metro’s weekly conference call with the media on Monday, the organization said that progress has been satisfactory in all areas as the rail line moves toward a potential summer opening date.
“Nothing has come up that has put off the goal of opening this summer,” said Lynn Bowersox, Metro Assistant General Manager of Customer Service, Communications and Marketing. ”
She added that reviews from the Federal Transit Administration began as soon as Metro received the project from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) last week.
MWAA and its contractors built the $2.9 billion extension, which will have five stops from McLean to Reston’s Wiehle Avenue.
While officials never set a specific opening date, it was hoped first riders would board in late 2013 or early 2014. Metro began a 90-day training and review period, which puts the line on track to open by late August.
Reston Association North Point Director Tim Cohn has resigned from the board for personal reasons, RA announced.
The association’s CEO, Cate Fulkerson, said the process to fill Cohn’s seat will be discussed at the special board meeting on June 12. Cohn’s term expires in April 2016.
Cohn was elected to the board in April 2013, running unopposed for the spot that was vacant after North Point Director Mike Collins did not run for re-election.
During his tenure, Cohn served on the CEO Selection Committee and as board liaison to the Pedestrian & Bicycling, Transportation and Tennis advisory committees.
“Tim’s commitment to RA was evident in his time on the RA board. His passion for the essential elements of Reston guided his thoughtful decision making process and illustrated his dedication to maintaining the unique characteristics which define Reston,” Fulkerson said in a statement.
RA President Ken Knueven said the board will miss “Tim’s insight and perspective on the board, but know the Reston community will still benefit from his active involvement and steadfast loyalty to the successful future of Reston.”
Photo of Tim Cohn courtesy of Reston Association.
Developer Boston Properties’ plans for the surface lot at Reston Town Center include two high-rise residential buildings as well as a park with a yoga area, public art and picnic areas.
The plans will be presented to the Fairfax County Planning Commission in a public hearing on June 11, marking another step forward in the transformation of Reston’s urban core.
The 6.35-acre site, called Block 4, is currently a 251-space surface parking lot, the only remaining surface lot at Reston Town Center. The lot is currently zoned for up for 250,000 square feet of office space.
According to the county planning staff report, the 250,000 square feet of office density represents the last remaining non-residential density available under the proffered maximum 3.465 million square feet of non-residential development approved within Reston’s urban core.
Boston Properties is seeking to move the office development to Block 5, where the current FedEx/Kinkos and Ann Taylor are now located, with additional office space above.
The plan calls for turning the three-story retail/office building, part of One Freedom Square, into a 17-story building with 276,788 square feet of office space and 7,800 square feet of ground-floor retail. The building would also have four levels of underground parking.
The residences will feature one tower standing 19 stories tall and the other 21 stories tall. There will also be a nine-level parking structure (with three levels below ground).
There will be up to 25,100 square feet of ground level retail space and an additional 20,000 square feet of retail that would be partially located underground.
At the base of the 21-story tower will be two-level townhouse units, stacked three high. Each ground-level unit will have a terrace along New Dominion Parkway. Five levels of residences will also wrap around the parking structure. The complex will have its own pool.
Along President’s Street, the developers plan open space with outdoor dining areas and a pedestrian connection from the buildings to a proposed park along Reston Parkway. The park will feature a yoga deck, lawn and public art space.
As one of the proffered conditions for construction, the developers will have to meet Fairfax County requirements for tree preservation. They will also have to build road improvements such as left turn lanes from Reston Parkway, New Dominion Parkway and Fountain Drive. Sixteen percent of the housing units will be set aside as workforce housing.
Block 4 and 5 development will flow into other approved high-density development nearby.
The Spectrum, a low-rise strip mall located just across New Dominion Parkway, has been approved for redevelopment into 774,879 square feet of non-residential use and 1,422 multifamily residential units in seven new residential buildings. The new area will feature a hotel, and Harris Teeter is the only retailer expected to remain under the current plan.
Additionally, part of the Spectrum will wrap around the planned 23-story office tower at Bowman Towne Drive and Reston Parkway. That building, which will contain retail and 18 stories of offices, was approved by the supervisors in 2012.
Avoiding The Toll Road — After five straight years of rising tolls on the Dulles Toll Road, more and more people are taking the backroads to avoid paying. A look at their reasons and what it means for the other Northern Virginia roads. [Washington Post]
World of Beer Opens Today — Reston’s newest bar/restaurant, World of Beer, opens Monday at 1888 Explorer St. in Reston Town Center. It will have more than 500 beers from 40 countries, plus food. Enjoy!
Register To Speak At Reston Association Meetings — Have something you want to say to the RA Board of Directors? You can now sign up in advance to make sure your voice is heard. [RA]
Shop and Save Starting Tuesday — Small Change Consignments, voted Best Children’s Store in Reston Now’s Best Reston’s Business Awards, begins its half-price summer sale on Tuesday. The sale will go on all summer, but shop sooner rather than later to get the best selection of items.
A man living in Herndon has been arrested after signs memorializing victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings were found in his possession.
The signs had recently been reported stolen from a playground in Mantoloking, N.J., and from Mystic, Conn.
The signs were each dedicated to victims of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School: 7-year-old Chase Kowalski and 7-year-old Grace McDonnell.
Andrew David Truelove, 28, was charged with possession of stolen property, Herndon Police said. Additional charges are pending in the other two states, they added. Truelove is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
The memorial signs were recovered at a home in the 400 block of Fillmore Street in Herndon where Truelove rented a room, police said. The Herndon investigation began after a tip from the Stonington (Conn.) Police Department.
Twenty children and six adults were killed in the December 2012 shooting in Newtown, Conn.
NBC Connecticut reported earlier this month that, after a 50-pound vinyl peace sign was stolen from a Mystic playground honoring the memory of McDonnell, a man called her mother to tell her that he believed the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax and that her “daughter never existed.”
Photo: Sign memorializing Grace McDonnell/Credit: WTNH.com
Old Town Herndon will be transformed with carnival fun for all ages when the 34th annual Herndon Festival is in full swing Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The free event features activities music, carnival rides, food vendors, an arts and crafts show and Saturday night fireworks.
Here is what you need to know:
Festival hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The festival is at 777 Lynn St., but parking is offsite. Free shuttle bus service will run from two spots:
- Herndon High School, 700 Bennett St. The Herndon High School stop is to the left of the big rock at the High School entrance.
- Worldgate Shopping Center, 13037 Worldgate Dr. The Worldgate stop is east of the lower level parking garage entrance off Worldgate Drive.
You can also bike to the festival. The Herndon Festival features a free bike valet provided by volunteers.
There will be three stages with musical performers. Full schedules can be found on the Herndon Festival website.
There will also be a Kids Alley childrens’ area with kid-friendly entertainment.
New this year: the NoVA E-Sports Cup League of Legends video game tournament. League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena video game. Following an online round-robin qualifier among 20 teams, the competition will culminate with the top five in the final rounds by the Depot Stage.
There will be 5K and 10K runs and Fitness Expo Sunday morning. The races are open to all ages.
Carnival rides require tickets. Prices:
- Single Ticket: $1.25
- Book of 30 Tickets: $30
- Book of 50 Tickets: $45
- All-you-can-ride wristband offered for Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: $16.
Photo courtesy of Herndon Festival.
The eighth annual Reston Sprint Triathlon will go through North Reston on Sunday, and area residents may want to plan accordingly if they have to be somewhere.
Roads will not be closed outright, but some lanes will be blocked to accommodate the bikers on the course.
Registration for the race, which will benefit Cornerstones, is full.
The race begins at 7 a.m. with a quarter-mile swim at Lake Newport Pool. There will be a 12-mile bike portion featuring three loops from Lake Newport Road to Reston Parkway to Wiehle Avenue to Baron Cameron Avenue then again on Reston Parkway back to the pool (see map).
Race officials have given this advice to riders: “Beware of the turn at Reston Parkway and Wiehle Ave. It is downhill and more than 90 degrees. Also, watch for cars encroaching into the bike lanes at Baron Cameron and Reston Parkway. Drivers may not understand how to make a right turn, when we have closed the turn lane.”
The 5K run course will take place on Reston Association paths in the North Village Road/Center Harbor/Wiehle Avenue vicinity.
Race officials are also advising participants and spectators not to park on residential streets. Parking is available in the soccer field lot across Reston Parkway from Lake Newport Pool or at North Point Shopping Center.
Graphic of Reston Sprint Triathlon bike course. Credit/Reston Sprint Triathlon
FACETS Leader Leaving — Amanda Andere, executive director of FACETS, the nonprofit aiding people in Fairfax County suffering from the effects of poverty, is stepping down in late June. Andere, a Reston resident and former Reston Association board member, will lead Wider Opportunities for Women, a national, DC-based nonprofit focused on bringing wealth equality to women, their children and elders.
Teen Stress Presentation Now Online — Fairfax County Public Schools has made available online materials from last week’s Community Conversation on Teen Stress: Fostering Wellness and Resiliency. [FCPS]
Chalk Workshop Saturday — Lake Anne Plaza is offering a chalk art workshop with Baltimore muralist Michael Kirby Saturday at 10 a.m. The free workshop will give participants a start for the Chalk on the Water Festival June 7-8 at Lake Anne Plaza. [Chalk on the Water]
Tennis’ Top Players — Seven South Lakes High School boys tennis players earned All Liberty Conference honors. [South Lakes Athletics]
Photo: Bird finds a feeder at Walker Nature Education Center/Credit: Reston Association via Facebook
