Lake Fairfax Park is ready for tots to enjoy some Halloween fun at the Preschool Pumpkins in the Park Festival on Oct. 15.
There will be outdoor activities and food to enjoy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No pumpkin festival would be complete without a pumpkin to take home. Get a pumpkin with your $7 admission. Don’t want a pumpkin? The cost is $4 per person.
Register in advance on the Lake Fairfax Park website.
Josh Anton was a South Lakes High School graduate and a University of Virginia student a little over two years ago when he found inspiration at UVAs annual beer-and-booze soaked Block Party.
“A girl I had a huge crush on drunk-dialed me,” said Anton, a Herndon resident who graduated from SLHS in 2009.
That led to Anton to develop an app, Drunk Mode, in 2014. Drunk Mode accesses your contacts upon request to prevent you from using your phone to send regretful calls and texts.
Today, Drunk Mode — the app that” let’s you get crazy and stay safe” — has 1.3 million downloads, a staff of 14 and a recent investor infusion of more than $1 million.
Anton says about 10,000 people downloaded Drunk Mode in its first year. Drunk Mode was a paid product then ($1 per download), so he was able to put money back into the company to add more features.
Those features now include:
- The ability to group contacts on a “should not call list” (i.e, your boss, your ex-girlfriend, your mom). The app then requires you to answer a set of math problems before making a call.
- A “Find My Drunk” feature that allows you to see where your friends are in real time their social media accounts.
- It quickly syncs with Uber and Lyft to get you a ride.
- It has a trail of “virtual breadcrumbs” to show you where you were the night before.
- If someone is reported missing, their info can be pushed to everyone in a five mile radius.
Anton says he had an offer from a major tech company to sell the app, but instead decided to focus on it as his career. His capstone project from UVA (he graduated in 2014) was on entrepreneurship and how to get the product to the next level. Read More
Paid parking at Reston Town Center has been postponed until January, but citizen concerns about using the new Park RTC app remain.
Many would-be users say they are wary of downloading the app, developed by Passport Parking, because of privacy concerns about the app having access to credit card information and the phone’s camera. Additionally, the “find my car” kiosk feature has been called a “stalker’s dream” by some Reston Now commenters.
A Reston Town Center spokesman said users can find parking more quickly, pay for parking from the comfort of their own vehicles, extend parking sessions remotely, get receipts online, avoid credit card and transaction fees and much more by using the app.
The app also features LiveSafe, a feature where patrons can report security concerns to town center management and security, as well as contact Fairfax County Police with the touch of a button. LiveSafe is now live on the app, which can be downloaded from iTunes or Google Play.
But RTC has still been hit with many security questions. That’s why they have released some answers.
Here are some of the most common ones directed at RTC, with answers from its owner, Boston Properties:
Is my credit card data safe and privacy protected?
Yes. Both Passport Inc. and Reston Town Center take the important responsibility to protect credit card information very seriously.
Passport conducts regular audits of its information security systems to ensure there are no vulnerabilities — data security is core to their business.
Passport employs a two factor authentication (2FA) process that requires first-time users to verify their identity by entering a text authorization sent to verify device ownership in addition to a pin number. Read More
‘Hidden’ Homeless in Fairfax County — The Washington Post takes a look at people in wealthy Fairfax County who end up living in their cars. [Washington Post]
It’s International Walk And Bike To School Day — Watch for kids crossing streets this morning in Reston.
Car Taxes Due — It’s that time. Wednesday is the deadline for Fairfax County Car Taxes. [Fairfax County]
More On The Meals Tax — Here’s what happened at a forum on the proposed Fairfax County Meals Tax last week (hint: things got heated). [Fairfax Times]
There is still time to get off the couch and run in your Halloween costume this weekend.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s Reston Pumpkin 5K & Kids’ Pumpkin Dash is part of Oktoberfest Reston on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Race time is 8:15 a.m. Participants are encouraged to debut their Halloween costumes or dress in their Oktoberfest Lederhosen and join in the fun with the whole family.
Here is what you need to know:
The race is at Reston Town Center.
Race Day Schedule:
- Race Day Packet Pickup/Registration: 6:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- 5K Start Time: 8:15 a.m. (course open for 60 min)
- Kids’ Pumpkin Dash Start Time: 9:30 a.m.
Awards Ceremony: 10 a.m.
Registration Fees:
5K Adult (ages 15 and over):
$30 per person through Oct. 7
$35 per person – Oct. 8 – Oct. 9 (at packet pick up)
5K (ages 14 and under):
$20 per person through Oct. 7
$25 per person – Oct. 8 – Oct. 9 (at packet pick up)
Kids’ Pumpkin Dash (recommended for kids ages 8 and under, all finishers will receive a finishers keepsake)
$10 per person through Oct. 7
$15 per person – Oct. 8 – Oct. 9 (at packet pick up)
Streets affected include Market Street inside the town center, as well as Baron Cameron Avenue, Town Center Parkway, Fountain Drive and Reston Parkway. Only Market Street will be fully blocked; the rest will have a lane closed off, so be aware if you are driving that route Sunday morning. See the course map on the PR Races site.
The rest of the Oktoberfest Reston festivities — food, beer, wine, live entertainment and more — take place on Saturday. See this previous Reston Now post for more details.
Photo: Pumpkin 5K 2015/Credit: Chip McCrea
Bozzuto’s plan to more than double the size of St. Johns Wood apartments will not go before the Fairfax County Planning Commission later this month.
The plan — which has received heavy criticism from nearby North Reston residents — will turn the 250 units in nine garden-style buildings into 467 units and 46 townhouses. They will be rental units.
That’s scaled down from the starting point for 625 units in 2014 and then 511 units and 51 townhouses in an amended plan earlier this year.
The public hearing, scheduled for Oct. 26, has been moved at Bozzuto’s request to a date TBD, according to the planning committee agenda. This will give Bozzuto more time to tweak the plan and respond to citizen concerns.
Some of the complaints from residents: poor design; too much development too far from the future Reston Town Center Metro station; traffic on Center Harbor and North Village Drive; and parking on side streets.
St. Johns Wood is in a wooded, residential area across from North Point Village Center.
Bozzuto reps have said the complex at Reston Parkway, North Village Road and Center Harbor Road was identified for high density as far back as when Reston was first planned in 1964.
Meanwhile, Reston Association’s Board of Directors has sent a letter to Bozzuto detailing its concerns about the redevelopment plans. RA president Ellen Graves says the St. Johns Wood application “does not conform to the site-specific, detailed and unambiguous recommendations of the Reston Master Plan.”
RA does not have approval capabilities of the application. It can take a stance, but the decision ultimately comes from the Fairfax County Planning Commission and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
See the entire RA document below.
FINAL 092816 RA Letter Regarding St Johns Wood Application (1) by Karen Goldberg Goff on Scribd
After a 56-18 route of Washington-Lee last week, South Lakes High School’s football team moved up in the Washington Post’s Top 20 Poll.
The 5-0 Seahawks — who were without starting quarterback Devin Miles after he went out with an injury halfway through Friday’s game — are now now No. 19. Last week, the team entered the poll at No. 20.
There are no additional details on Miles’ injury or whether he will be back this week. Coach Trey Taylor says the team does not comment on player injuries for privacy reasons as they are minors.
South Lakes is averaging more than 48 points per game behind the rushing duo of Spencer Alston and Albert Mensah. Read more about them in this Washington Post story.
Next up for South Lakes: Crosstown rival Herndon (1-4) in the annual “Baron Cameron Bowl.” The game is at Herndon Friday at 7 p.m.
The Reston advisory group looking at ways to raise $2.6 billion to fund Reston road improvements over the next 40 years says it is strongly opposed to a special tax district for new development in Reston’s transit station areas.
The Reston Network Analysis Advisory Group (RNAG) last month approved a document containing high level feedback on the funding plan. It will provide an update to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation Committee on Tuesday.
RNAG says:
Public revenues should be responsible for the roadway improvements and private revenues would be responsible for intersection and grid improvements.
Tax Districts should be removed from further discussion — there is unanimity from the group that a tax district is unrealistic and should be taken off the table.
The transit areas are expected to see the greatest level of development — and will need the most street grid, lane additions and traffic signals, among other improvements — as Reston grows over the next three decades.
FCDOT’s Janet Nguyen has said $1.34 billion in transportation projects will likely come from shared public and private contributions. That money would go for road widening, intersection improvements, the Soapstone overpass, and an Dulles Toll Road underpass near Reston Town Center, among other projects.
The $1.28 billion grid network in the transit station areas — which the RNAG is currently studying — would mostly be funded by developers (and a possible service district, not a special tax district. A service district is imposed by the Board of Supervisors on a geographic area.). An urban grid is important to improve walkability and slow traffic, transportation officials say.
The county and RNAG have been looking at a variety of scenarios to fund the projects. Among the suggestions has been creating a tax district similar to the Metro special tax district or a service district, similar to Tysons (rate is .05 cents per $100 of tax assessment).
A service district is established by the Board of Supervisors and does not need to be approved by residents.
The Board of Supervisors hopes to approve a funding plan by late 2016 or early 2017.
See the Tuesday presentation prepared by FCDOT on the Fairfax County website.
See a list of expected big-ticket Reston road projects below.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was in Herndon on Monday at an event organized by the Retired American Warriors political action committee.
Some of the highlights:
Trump says cybersecurity has to be a major priority. [CBS]
Trump: Military suicides happen to service members who ‘can’t handle it.’ [CNN]
Trump angers with suggestion that vets with PTSD are weak. [Washington Post]
See the full video above.
Reston Recycling Center Closing — The Fairfax County recycling center at the Reston Park & Ride at 2531 Reston Parkway will close on Nov. 1. The county says it is shutting that center, as well as one in Annandale, because it is a target for illegal dumping of old furniture, appliances, and other discarded items. [Fairfax County]
FCPS’ Graduation Rate — Graduation rates released by the Virginia Department of Education show that 92.3 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students from the class of 2016 graduated on time, a rate that exceeds the state average of 91.3 percent. A total of 8,722 FCPS students, or 61.9 percent, obtained an advanced studies diploma in 2016, compared to the state average of 51.7 percent. [FCPS]
Food Truck Thursday This Week — Food Truck Thursday returns for its monthly gathering at Reston Town Square Park at Reston Town Center on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A variety of food trucks will be on site. Cash and credit cards accepted.
Reston Association has started work on a stream restoration project that will ease erosion and fix exposed sewage pipes in the area behind Cedar Cove cluster.
In the summer of 2015, one of the exposed pipes leaked sewage into Lake Audubon. A quick fix stopped the spill, but RA has since advocated for Fairfax County money since part of the problem is being caused by runoff from South Lakes High School, which sits uphill and across South Lakes Drive from Cedar Cove.
RA says Fairfax County will provide the money for the project, which will cost about $1 million.
Years of runoff have caused eight sewer lines to be exposed, which some residents called an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Spray paint and flagging tape are now in place marking various points within the stream.
This week, the county’s Watershed Projects Implementation Branch will begin drilling. A drill rig will be brought in between 2242 and 2244 Cedar Cove Court and drive along the tree line (avoiding backyards) to each of the locations to be tested.
A different method of testing is also expected to occur at some points on the Wakerobin Lane side of the creek, officials said.
Want more information? There will be a project kick-off meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at South Lakes High School, room 150.
Project engineers, along with other officials and Reston Association representatives, will be in attendance.
Photos: Erosion has left pipes exposed near Lake Audubon/Credit: Reston Association.
Fairfax County Police say threats directed at certain Fairfax County Public Schools — as well as other school districts in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere — are a hoax.
The Fairfax County Police Department has determined that online threats of a school shooting that appear to be directed at several FCPS schools are a hoax and not credible.
The parents at those FCPS schools listed in the online messages have been notified.
These same messages have also been directed at other school districts in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere.
The “Virginia Clowns” social media account last night (@virginiaclowns and @dmv_clowns) posted threats, echoing a nationwide trend, warning of shootings at a number of DC- area schools.
None of the schools threatened by the accounts are in Reston. The “clowns” mentioned Hayfield High School, Gunston Middle, Holmes Middle and Thomas Jefferson High.
From FCPS:
The Fairfax County Police Department has determined that online threats that appear to be directed at several FCPS schools are a hoax and not credible. The parents at those FCPS schools listed in the online messages have been notified. These same messages have also been directed at other school districts in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. In addition, we believe that, as partners in your child’s education, we have a responsibility to inform you of these kinds of circumstances, even when there is no reason for alarm.
Although all threats are taken seriously, this incident was clearly intended only to disrupt school operations and we do not believe any of our students are at risk. With the assistance of our law enforcement partners, we will continue to be diligent to ensure the safety of students and staff. Thank you for your support and understanding.
When Fairfax County voters go to the polls this fall, they will vote for, among other things, the U.S President and a county Meals Tax.
Also on the ballot is a county park bonds question. If that referendum passes, it will provide $94.7 million for the Fairfax County Park Authority.
Here’s the question posed to voters:
Shall the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money and issue bonds, in addition to bonds previously authorized for parks and park facilities, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $107,000,000:
(i) $94,700,000 principal amount to finance the Fairfax County
Park Authority’s cost to acquire, construct, develop and equip additional parks and park facilities, to preserve open-space land, and to develop and improve existing parks and park
facilities;and (ii) $12,300,000 principal amount for Fairfax County’s contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to
acquire, construct, develop and equip parks and park facilities?
Bonds are one of the main funding mechanisms for the park authority. Park fees cover about 60 percent of all park operating costs. The remaining operating funds are derived from taxpayer contributions, including developer proffers.
But user fees do not pay for developing new facilities — such as a $90 million recreation center planned for the Reston Town Center North area — or major renovations.
The sale of bonds helps Fairfax County spread the cost over the years that the facilities are used. Fairfax County has a AAA Bond rating, which ensures low interest on the loans.
The Park Authority is currently operating under a plan of $15M bond sale for FY 2017, and increasing that amount to $18.5M in FY 2018.
If passed, this will be the third bond program of the last 10 years for the park authority. The last bond referendum was in 2012; the park authority says it is still in the process of allocating that $63 million. Of that $63M, the park authority has sold $14.8M, leaving a current balance of $48.2M in bonds authorized, but unissued.
With a bond sale coming up in January, the park authority anticipates that an additional $15M will be sold, reducing the available balance to $33.2M.
The park authority says the 2016 bond would be allocated this way: 56 percent for park renovations and upgrades; 28 percent for new park development; 8 percent for natural and cultural resources stewardship; and 7 percent for land acquisition and open space preservation.
See more about the bonds and some of the improvements planned by the park authority on the Fairfax County Park Authority website.
Graphic courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority
Tickets are now available for the 15th annual Reston Home Tour, a chance to see inside a variety of fine Reston homes to benefit the Reston Museum and Historic Trust.
The self-guided tour is Oct. 15. The theme is Embracing Change, celebrating lives that have changed and homes that reflect their owners.
There are six home on the tour, ranging from a condo on Taliesin Court filled with art from around the world to a sprawling modern house on Putter Lane to Nantucket-inspired home on Old Brookville Court.
Tickets are $25 in person through Oct. 7 at the Reston Museum, Chesapeake Chocolates, Appalachian Spring, the Wine Cabinet, and GRACE. They are $30 online.
See a more preview photos of the homes on the Reston Museum’s website.
Fairfax County Police are still looking for a suspect in the fatal hit-and-run on North Shore Drive on Aug. 28.
Police previously released a picture of what is believed to be a yellow Ford Escape with possible front end damage on the driver’s side that is believed to be the car that hit Hung Soon Seo, 76.
Seo was crossing North Shore Drive at North Village Road about 5 p.m. on Aug. 28 when she was hit by a vehicle that did not stop, according to authorities.
Said one commenter, who said he witnessed the crash, on a previous Reston Now post about this incident:
We arrived on the scene immediately after the incident and my ‘significant other’ (a nurse) attempted to assist the victim.
Absolutely no excuse for the driver leaving the scene. Unless intoxicated there is no way the driver did not known (s)he hit someone.
That being said, easy to see how the accident occurred. Because of the angle and brightness of the sun we didn’t realize there was a person lying in the street and a couple of other people standing by her until we were partially through the intersection. Only a measure of luck prevented another accident.
Police released the following flyer about the upcoming search (below). Contact them and the information provided if you have any information about the incident.
