Update, 2:25 p.m.: The road is now open.
Original story, Wednesday 11:30 a.m.: Sunrise Valley Drive will be shut down in both directions for most of Wednesday as crews fix a gas leak.
A gas main was hit by a construction crew shortly before 11 a.m.
Traffic is blocked from Parkridge Boulevard to Hunter Mill Road. Fairfax County Police at the scene said it could be several hours before roads are reopened.
Reston Now will check with Sunrise Valley Elementary School for information should it affect school pickup and buses this afternoon.
Last week, there was a similar incident in Reston. Reston Parkway was shut down for hours, disrupting traffic on many nearby streets, due to a gas main break caused by a construction crew.
A turnaround season for the Herndon High School girls basketball team ended last night in the Virginia 6A semifinals in Richmond.
The Hornets fell 64-33 to Midlothian Cosby at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
After winning just nine games last season, No. 4 seed Herndon finishes the season at 21-8.
The Hornets lost five in a row to end the regular season, but then rebounded with wins over Chantilly, Battlefield and Madison en route the state tourney. Herndon defeated Woodside 53-41 in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday.
In Tuesday’s games, the Hornets were outmatched by the two-time defending state champ Cosby. The No. 3-seed Titans were led by Jocelyn Jones (25 points, 18 rebounds) and Tyra Whitehead (18 points, 17 rebounds).
Cosby will take on Langley, which easily defeated second-seed (and previously undefeated) Oakton 47-38 in the other 6A semifinal. That game is 7:15 p.m. tonight at the Siegel Center.
Herndon was led by junior Indeya Sanders (7 points).
PassionFish Gets A Nod — A server at Reston Town Center’s PassionFish has been nominated for a RAMMY, the annual honors by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. [Washington Business Journal]
Sitdown At Aslin — The beer column on our sister publication, ARLnow.com, has a video interview with Herndon’s Aslin Beer Company. The Weekend Wine and Beer Guide says Aslin may be new is already on the map by “brewing world class New England style IPAs and a bunch of other tasty brews.” [ARLnow.com]
A Load Of Garbage — Taking a long look at what lurks inside Fairfax County sewers, and eventually, streams. [Fairfax County]
Photo: First Reston crocuses of 2016/Credit: Ray van Hilst
We don’t need the Washington Post’s Peeps diorama contest. Reston has its own!
Chesapeake Chocolates at Lake Anne Plaza is once again sponsoring a Reston Peeps Contest. Celebrate Reston by creating your favorite Reston scene using the marshmallow Easter candy and other decoration.
Submit your shoebox-sized diorama to Chesapeake Chocolates (11426 Washington Plaza W), and they will display it until March 28.
One diorama, chosen by a panel of judges, will win a delicious Chesapeake Chocolates prize.
Check out some of last year’s fun entries on Modern Reston.
Photo of 2015 contest by Charlotte Geary/Modern Reston
The first residential building at Reston Station, adjacent to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro, is officially open and welcoming its first residents.
BLVD Luxury Apartments is holding a celebration Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. Stop by the building off the Reston Station Plaza for food, wine and a tour of Comstock’s newest residential project.
BLVD features 450 apartments and is the first building to open at Reston Station. Coming soon will be a 16-story office building (under construction), a hotel, and a Founding Farmers restaurant.
If you can’t make it to the party, BLVD’s leasing center is located on the plaza at Reston Station and is now open seven days a week.
Rents will start at about $1,900 a month for a studio to more than $3,000 for a three-bedroom plus den model. There are a number of floorplans available.
Among the features and amenities:
- Stainless steel, gas appliances, hardwood laminate floors, quartz countertops and other high-end finishes in all units.
- A concierge lounge, business center, and cold-storage space for grocery delivery, as well as an exercise room and yoga/martial arts space.
- 20 percent (88 units) of the apartments are priced for workforce housing.
- A ninth-floor “skypark” with green space.
- Penthouse-level lounge, pool, media lounge, dog walk and demonstration kitchen with 360-degree views.
Residents of the building will be Reston Association members. Comstock has paid RA $650,000 in developer contributions, $300,000 of which is an association initiation fee under a new membership fee structure for buildings along the Dulles Toll Road, which were not previously RA property.
Photo: Rendering of BLVD lobby/Courtesy BLVD
About 2,400 Reston-area Dominion Virginia Power customers were without power at some point early Tuesday afternoon.
The outages mostly affected — or are still affecting — homes and businesses around Lawyers Road and the Fox Mill area.
Reston Community Center reported about 12:40 p.m. that the power is out and it was affecting programming. The power was restored about 1:20 p.m.
Students at Hunters Woods Elementary School went about their school day as usual, despite the outage, a school official said. The power came back on at HWES about 1:30 p.m.
@HuntersWoodsES #nopowernoproblem #alwayslearning #futureisbright pic.twitter.com/z8omeRiRV9
— MissT (@tochVA) March 8, 2016
Dominion said it was looking for the cause of the outage.
By 1:30 p.m., power was restored 10 about 1,000 customers, according to Dominion’s outage map.
Updated, noon Tuesday: Reston Now incorrectly reported there were 17 winners from RCP. There were four winners and 17 nominees. We regret the error. This is a corrected version.
Reston Community Players earned 17 nominations — 14 of them for the production of Shrek the Musical — and took home four awards at Sunday’s 16th annual Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH).
RCP winners: Outstanding Musical – Shrek; Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical – Kathy Dunlap – Shrek; Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical – Chuck Dluhy as “Lord Farquaad” – Shrek; and Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical – Cathy Rieder & Sabrina Begley – Shrek. For a full list of nominees and award winners, visit DCMETROarts.com.
The WATCH honors are given yearly to community theater productions and cast. This year, 110 productions (38 musicals, 72 plays) from 30 community theater companies were entered for consideration.
Here’s who was nominated for their work with Reston Players:
- Outstanding Cameo in a Musical – Jennifer Lambert as “Mama Ogre” – Shrek
- Outstanding Choreography – Ivan Davila – Shrek
- Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical – Kathy Dunlap – Shrek
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical – Sue Pinkman – Shrek
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical – Chuck Dluhy as “Lord Farquaad” – Shrek
- Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical – Sue Pinkman, Chris Dore, Mark Bartyczak -Shrek
- Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical – Suzanne Thomas, Sally Cusenza, Chris Dore- Shrek
- Outstanding Music Direction – Elisa Rosman – Shrek
- Outstanding Musical – Shrek
- Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical – Doug Rolston – Shrek
- Outstanding Set Design in a Musical – Lawrence Gresko – Shrek
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical – Cathy Rieder & Sabrina Begley – Shrek
- Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical – Jon Roberts – Shrek
- Outstanding Special Effects – Jon Roberts – Shrek
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical – Katie McManus as “Norma Desmond” – Sunset Boulevard
- Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical – Skip Larson – Sunset Boulevard
- Outstanding Special Effects – Steven Royal – Sunset Boulevard
Meanwhile, Reston Players will be performing the final weekend of the classic family musical Mary Poppins March 11 and 12. Up next is Thornton Wilder’s Our Town April 22 to May 7. Shows are at CenterStage at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods.
Fairfax County Public Schools are planning to add more than 100,000 square feet of space to Herndon High School, which has not been renovated since 1991 and is currently at 107 percent capacity.
The Herndon addition was approved as part of the FCPS Fiscal Year 2017 – 2021 Capital Improvement Program. The CIP reflects $310 million approved by county voters in a 2015 School Bond Referendum. Countywide, FCPS plans $777 million in renovations and expansions to schools.
FCPS is seeking a proffer amendment and will go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission on March 16.
According to a Planning and Zoning Staff Report, the plans for HHS include 138,558 square feet of additions and modifications that will expand the school to 431,000 square feet with a capacity for 2,500 students (from 2,146).
The additions would be located at the front and rear of the existing building. The additions also include the extension of the second floor along the front and west wing of the existing structure.
Other site plans:
- Revisions to the existing parking front parking lots and bus loop
- Relocation of the tennis courts
- Replacement and/or expansion of some of the existing structures related to the athletic facilities
- The addition of 193 parking spaces.
FCPS is also seeking to modify the transitional screening requirements along all lot lines in favor of the existing vegetation and supplemental landscaping and to waive or modify barrier requirements at all borders on the 40-acre site. Read More
John Oliver On Special Taxes — Reston is part of a special tax district and new buildings may eventually be part of a new special tax district. HBO’s John Oliver took a (funny, of course) look at the practice Sunday. [Reston 2020]
Metro CEO Has Long ‘To-Do’ List — Metro’s New GM Paul Wiedenfeld said yesterday that the transit has a roadmap to restoring public trust. [Metro]
Basketball Kudos — The Reston Seahawks Boys (sixth graders) won the Division 2 Fairfax County Youth Basketball league championship on Sunday. They defeated Gainesville 61-40 to finish off a very successful playoffs and season (they beat Vienna and Ft. Belvior to get the finals). They are led by Coach Herb Landsowne and Chris Kennedy.
Spring Has Sprung? — Yesterday’s mild temps were no fluke: The Capital Weather Gang has officially declared it spring in the DC area. [Capital Weather Gang]
Fairfax County Police Detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing teenager from Reston, Va.
Police said they have been searching for Madison Short, 18, since Saturday.
Police responded to her home in the 11600 block of North Point Court about 8 a.m. Saturday for reports she wanted to harm herself.
Short had left the home prior to the officer’s arrival. Additional officers, K-9s and the police helicopter responded to search the area, but Short was not located.
Neither detectives nor family have been able to locate or contact her and are concerned for her welfare. A detention order has been issued for Short’s immediate apprehension and return.
Anyone who sees or has information on her whereabouts is asked to contact law enforcement immediately. Please use caution and do not approach her.
Short is described as white, 18 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 120 pounds. She has blue-tinted hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a multi-colored Mexican-style poncho. Short often travels by bus and frequents the Reston, Chantilly and Fair Oaks areas.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail atwww.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at703-691-2131.
Photo of Madison Short/FCPD
Herndon is getting its own escape room.
If that concept is new to you, here’s what it involves. Escape rooms are interactive, team-building activities where groups of people are locked in a room with others and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles, find clues, and escape the room within a set time limit.
So now that you know, here is what to know. Richmond-based Ravenchase Adventures is opening its second Virginia location at Herndon’s K-Mart Shopping Center (404-406 Elden Street).
Co-owner Omer Aru says Escape Room Herndon, which hopes to open by late April, will be 4,000 square feet with several different rooms. Ravenchase’s rooms in Richmond, for example have themes such as a science lab, a pirate ship, a tomb, “The Matrix,” and more. Each room holds its own clues and adventures, Aru said.
Players have 60 minutes to escape.
“Most of the time, the idea is to escape but not to be scared,” said Aru. “Think ‘Indiana Jones’ and not ‘The Saw.’ “
Escape Room Herndon rooms are designed for 4 to 12 players at a time. Most games cost $25, corporate packages available, Aru said.
Advocacy group Rescue Reston says the decision by the owners of Reston National Golf Course not to pursue an appeal in the land use rights case concerning the course is a “very positive moment” in the battle to keep the course as open and recreational space.
However, advocates for open space must also remain vigilant, the group said.
Attorneys for RN Golf Management announced on Friday it would not appeal December’s Fairfax County Circuit Court decision that granted the motion for summary judgment filed by Fairfax County. Read More
It’s Restaurant Week — Specials abound at Reston restaurants taking part in Northern Virginia Restaurant Week, which begins today. [Reston Now]
Bomb Scare Followup — The bomb threats made to a half-dozen Northern Virginia schools, including Herndon High, on Friday may be part of a multi-state trend. [Washington Post]
Economic Trends Here — Employment and home sales are up, according to latest Fairfax County economic indicators. [Fairfax County]
Easter Eggstravaganza On The Way — Fairfax County Park Authority will hold a series off egg hunts as Easter approaches. Sign up now for one at Frying Pan Park on March 19 or Lake Fairfax Park on March 20. Free. For ages 2 to 8. [Fairfax County Park Authority]
Spring running season gets going on Sunday with PR Racing’s Reston 10 Miler.
The race begins at 8 a.m. at South Lakes High School. The finish line and post-race fun is also at SLHS.
Here is what you need to know:
Online registration closes Thursday at 8 p.m. Cost: $45.
In-person registration available at packet pickup at Potomac River Running Store at Reston Town Center Friday and Saturday. Cost: $50.
All participants receive an official Commemorative Reston 10 Miler technical race T-shirt, as well as a finisher medal.
Runners must maintain 13:30 minute miles, or complete the race in 2 hours, 15 minutes. There are water stations at mile 3, 6, and 8.5.
The course affects Ridge Heights Road, South Lakes Drive, Twin Branches Road, Sunrise Valley Drive, Soapstone Drive, Colts Neck Road and Glade Drive. Roads will not be closed, but lanes will be blocked off, which may affect traffic patterns. See the course map on PR Racing’s website.
Net proceeds benefit South Lakes High School’s track and field programs.
Photo: 2015 Reston 10 Miler/Credit: PR Races via Flickr
The owners of Reston National Golf Course have decided not to pursue the appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court in regards to the December lower court ruling on the 166-acre course’s land use designation.
This week marked the 90-day deadline for owner RN Golf Management to decide whether to continue with the appeal of the 2015 ruling that said RN Golf would have to file a formal plan with Fairfax County in order to pursue redevelopment of the course.
“While RN Golf may choose to pursue available redevelopment options in the future, and thus thus letter is not intended to waive any and all rights it may have to do so, I am writing to let you know RN Golf has decided not to continue with its appeal in these cases,” Scott Helsel, an attorney representing RN Golf, wrote in a letter Friday to the clerk of the Virginia Supreme Court. “Accordingly, RN Golf will not be filing a petition for appeal.”
RN Golf said in December it would appeal the ruling that it needs a zoning change in order to redevelop the public golf course as anything but open or recreational space. Read More
