A cab ride from Fair Oaks Mall to Herndon ended in an armed robbery, Fairfax County Police said.
A cab driver told police he picked up three men at Fair Oaks Mall about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday and drove them to Astoria Circle at the Dulles Greene Apartments in unincorporated Herndon, said police.
At that location, one of the men produced a knife, threatened the victim and demanded money, said police. The victim handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and was not injured. A second suspect took the victim’s cell phone. All three suspects fled on foot.
All three were described as being in their 20’s; two white males, one black male. One white male was wearing a green camouflage, hooded sweatshirt. The second white male had dark hair and was wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt. The black male was wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants, police said.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) was in Fairfax County on Wednesday to announce a proposed $1 billion investment in education, both at the K-12 and college levels.
The governor, speaking at Mark Twain Middle School in Alexandria, says his two-year budget proposal aims to prepare all students to succeed in the “new Virginia economy” by providing them with needed resources.
“I have heard from parents, students and teachers all over the commonwealth that we have been asking our schools to do more and more with less and less,” McAuliffe said. “But with thoughtful, bold ideas like the ones I am proposing, we will get back on the right track and ensure that we are laying the foundations for the New Virginia Economy.”
“This historic proposal represents the largest new investment in public education in over a decade, and the largest total investment in the history of the Commonwealth. I believe that if we want to have a world-class economy, we need a world-class education system, and this is where it starts.”
Some of the public education priorities funded in the biennial budget include:
- New Teachers: Providing roughly 2,500 additional instructional positions – $139.1 million
- Rebenchmarking: Fully funds the cost of rebenchmarking the Standards of Quality and additional updates – $429.8 million
- At Risk Add-On: Provides flexible funding to divisions based on free lunch population to be used for drop-out prevention, parent engagement, English Language Learners, etc. – $50 million
- Cost to Compete: Supports a cost of competing adjustment for school support positions in areas with a high cost of living – $41 million
- Salary Increases: Provides a 2 pecernt salary increase for teachers, non-teacher instructional positions, and support positions consistent with state employee raises – $83.2 million
- Teacher Retirement: Increase general fund contribution to teacher retirement – $30 million
McAuliffe will present his full two-year budget to the Commonwealth Budget Committee on Thursday.
It is not yet known exactly how the commonwealth’s additional funds will directly impact Fairfax County Public Schools. However, FCPS has said it is facing about a $65 million budget gap for Fiscal Year 2017.
FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza will announce a proposed budget in January, which will be voted on by the board by May. A community Budget Task Force has looked at various changes, including larger class sizes and eliminating language immersion programs, as a means of narrowing the gap.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which gives about half its annual budget to FCPS, said part of the deficit starts at the state level. Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova said last week the state’s contributions have not kept pace with rising enrollment and other mounting budget needs in public schools.
“The state has reduced its share [of funding all Virginia schools] by $1 billion,”Bulova said at the Supervisors’ Dec. 8 meeting. “Counties have tried to make up the difference. In Fairfax, we have increased about $200 million for schools.”
Grassroots group #IamFCPS said it was encouraged by McAuliffe’s pledge.
“Solving the Fairfax Country Public Schools budget crisis will require collaboration, tough decision-making, and long-term financial planning by state and local elected officials,” Suzanne Zurn of Reston, founder of #IamFCPS, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the Fairfax County delegation, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and the governor to ensure Fairfax County Public Schools receive the necessary funding to continue the legacy of excellence that has benefited the entire region.”
Photo: Terry McAuliffe/File photo
Metro To Get $150 Million Restored — The $1.6 trillion year-end omnibus spending bill will restore $150 million in funding to Metro. Metro GM Paul Wiedefeld said the money “provides the critical funding necessary to ensure our safety projects continue without interruption.” [Loudoun Times-Mirror]
Melinda Doolittle at CenterStage — Former American Idol (season six) contestant Melinda Doolittle will perform jazz, soul and Broadway standards at Reston Community Center Saturday. [Reston Connection]
Tour De Lights Saturday — Reston Association’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee will lead bikers on the fourth annual “Tour de Lights” ride past Christmas lights on Saturday evening. Free and all ages welcome on the 10-mile ride [Reston Association]
A private reward of $25,000 is being offered for help in identifying a suspect who stabbed a man at Reston Town Center’s Clyde’s early on Nov. 1.
The reward is in addition to the $100 to $1,000 also being offered by Fairfax County Crime Solvers.
In the Nov. 1 incident, a 24-year-old man was stabbed by an unknown assailant, who fled the scene.
The man and his girlfriend had been celebrating Halloween at the bar at Clyde’s when the suspect began to flirt with the woman about 1:20 a.m., police said.
A verbal argument between the two men erupted and escalated into a physical fight. The unknown man produced a knife and reportedly stabbed the victim.
The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Detectives investigating this malicious wounding case said are hopeful someone else in the crowded bar may have witnessed the incident may be able to help identify the suspect. He was described as Hispanic, wearing a black jacket, a white shirt and blue jeans.
Anyone with information about this malicious wounding or the suspect responsible is asked to contact Fairfax County Crime Solvers. Tipsters may submit a tip electronically by visiting www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES(274637)** or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).
The private cash reward offer expires on May 1, 2016, Crime Solvers said.
Sketch of stabbing suspect/Credit: FCPD
Update, 2:45 p.m. Wednesday: The pedestrian hit on the Dulles Toll Road Wednesday morning was pronounced dead at the hospital, where he was taken, an MWAA spokesman said.
Investigators are still determining why the pedestrian was walking on the toll road.
Original story, 8 a.m. Wednesday: A pedestrian was struck in Reston on the Dulles Toll Road eastbound early this morning, and traffic remains backed up to the Loudoun County line as authorities investigate the incident.
The incident occurred shortly after 6:30 a.m. near the exit ramp at Wiehle Avenue, Metropolitan Washinton Airport Authority Police said.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, officials said. The exit ramp was still blocked as of 8 a.m. as investigators are on the scene.
The accident investigation is also affecting Fairfax Connector buses:
Wiehle Metro South: Rts 585, 924, 926, 929, 980, 985 — Buses will board and drop-off passengers on the north side of station near Reston Station Blvd.
Demolition finally began on Tuesday the Reston International Center’s retail buildings.
The businesses there closed over the last 18 months to make way for JBG’s large, mixed-use extension of Reston Heights.
Wells Fargo Bank shut down in the summer of 2014, followed by Chili’s in December 2014. By August, the strip that housed Reston Kebob, a 7-Eleven and a dry cleaners closed too.
After months of pre-construction work and asbestos removal, the wrecking ball made quick work of the Reston Kabob strip, demolishing it in one day. Chili’s is still a work in progress.
The stand-alone Popeyes will remain throughout the redevelopment.
JBG’s Reston Heights Phase 2 will include a six-story residential building; a 15-story residential building; a five-story building that incorporates a parking garage with residences and retail space; and a 10-story building that mixes office space, parking and retail space.
One major tenant, 24-Hour Fitness, has been signed for Phase 2.
A blown transformer caused a power outage Reston Town Center overnight Wednesday.
The block of Market Street that contains Midtown Condos, Subway, Il Fornaio, Iceberry and other shops is dark. Il Forniao says it will be closed for lunch.
A Midtown employee said the entire high rise was without power or water as of 11:30 a.m.. Dominion Virginia Power was on site but did not have an estimate was to when the problem could be fixed.
Midtown Condos/file photo
The under-construction residential property by Reston developer Chuck Veatch and Bozzuto has a name: The Aperture.
The Aperture is the project at Sunset Hills Road and Metro Center Drive, across the street from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro and Comstock’s Reston Station.
The Aperture will feature 421 apartments in a seven-story building, and has been approved for 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. The five-acre site was previously home to a mini-storage facility and retail strip center.
The site was also previously zoned industrial. Now that it is residential, residents will be Reston Association members.
Planned amenities include a pool, pet play area, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, outdoor yoga space, and amphitheater, according to the Bozzuto website. The building will have 15,000 square feet of amenities, including an expansive resident clubroom.
Among the other amenities: a 24-hour concierge, a movie screening area, library/work space, three adjacent fitness spaces, underground parking and a Wi-fi lounge with computer games.
Photos: Top, rendering of finished product/Courtesy Bozzuto; Bottom, building under construction last week.
What Lurks in Lake Anne? — The dredging project is over, but none of the “buried treasure” is on display. [Restonian]
Metro’s New GM Gets Rider Info — New Metro GM Paul Wiedenfeld is on a listening tour to hear what’s on riders’ minds. He will be in Reston Thursday. [Washington Post]
STEM Expo Needs Sponsors, Exhibitors — Fairfax County Public Schools needs businesses in science, tech and engineering to make presentations at April’s STEM-H Expo. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Nearby: Herndon Man Killed in Crash — A 28-year-old man was thrown from his SUV in Loudoun County. [Washington Post]
Photo: Young students at LANK’s third annual Global Village event/Courtesy Astri Wee
Late last week, Lake Anne Development Partners (LADP) announced it was backing out of a massive redevelopment project at Crescent Apartments and the area surrounding Lake Anne Plaza.
LADP’s plans called for more than 1,000 homes, as well as retail stores, office space and a parking garage. The redevelopment, which would have taken more than a decade, was going to move Village Road; widen the entrance to the historic part of Lake Anne Plaza with an enhanced retail boulevard; and add an outdoor amphitheater and parking garage, and boost needed density to improve the retail outlook.
The developer also promised to add more affordable housing in addition to the 181 replacement units at Crescent.
None of that is happening now, though there is a reasonable chance the county, which owns Crescent and selected LADP in a Request for Proposals in 2013, will put the call out to other developers interested in the project. That will take time, which leaves the future of the plan wide open.
What do you think will happen?
Crescent Apartments/file photo
Fairfax County Police report two burglaries, many property crimes and a stolen car over the weekend in the Reston District.
The first burglary occurred in the 12000 block of Lake Newport Road on Friday. Residents called police at 5:56 p.m. to report that someone entered their garage and removed items from their car.
The second reported burglary was Saturday at 5:53 a.m., when someone entered the Sonabank at 11527 Sunrise Valley Dr. An employee reported that nothing appeared to have been taken. That bank was the site of an armed robbery in October.
LARCENIES
1700 block of Business Center Drive, cash from residence
- 2400 block of Centreville Road, bicycle from business
- 5600 block of Heming Avenue, purse from vehicle
- 1100 block of Hobnail Court, jewelry from residence
- 10500 block of Hunter Station Road, wallet from vehicle
- 5800 block of Kingstowne Boulevard, merchandise from business
- 1400 block of Kingstream Drive, property from residence
- 11700 block of North Shore Drive, debit cards from vehicle
STOLEN VEHICLES
1800 block of Ivy Oak Square, 2003 Honda Civic
Reston Association representatives said they must meet with Fairfax County before it will know whether RA gets back its acre of land at Lake Anne Plaza.
As part of the deal to redevelop Crescent Apartments and the area surrounding Lake Anne Plaza, RA’s board approved a land swap in late 2013.
On Friday, Lake Anne Development Partners said it was withdrawing from the large-scale redevelopment plan that would have brought more than 1,000 residences; a high-rise tower to complement Heron House; and more than 100,000 square feet of office and retail space. LADP reps said the plan was not economically feasible.
Lake Anne Development Partners was picked by the county to redevelop Crescent’s 16 acres and the surrounding area in 2013. The developer said it needed the one-acre plot to build a 120-space parking garage. The land is located near the current parking lot and “The J” retail part of Lake Anne Plaza.
In return, RA would get a similar sized piece of land off of Baron Cameron Avenue.
At the time, the swap was controversial. Opponents were concerned about the loss of mature trees and that the Baron Cameron land was less valuable and full of litter.
Lake Anne Development Partners offered RA about $500,000 in general facility improvements as part of developer contributions. It also offered $100,000 in tree care as part of the land swap agreement, which RA passed 6-2 (with one director abstaining).
RA said in a statement Monday it must now pursue discussions with county representatives to determine the status of the Final Development and Disposition Agreement between the county and LADP and whether the county will soon seek a replacement redevelopment partner.
“The status of the Real Property Exchange Agreement between RA and LADP cannot be determined until these discussions are held with the county,” said RA.
In general, though, Ra supports Lake Anne redevelopment.
RA Board President Ellen Graves said in the statement the association is “both surprised and disappointed” about LADP working to withdraw from the contract.
“RA supports the revitalization of Lake Anne Village Center, as contemplated in the zoning and development entitlements, which were approved earlier this year by the county and the association’s Design Review Board,” said Graves.
Big Turnout For Refugee Coat Drive — Fairfax County residents helped contribute to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) 2015 blanket/coat drive to assist Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Turkey. The donations were triple that of last year. About 60 tons of donations will be shipped to the refugees.
Hunter Mill Needs Budget Reps — Are you interested in weighing in on the Fairfax County FY 2017 Budget? Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins is
once again soliciting Hunter Mill District residents, from broad backgrounds, who may be interested in the opportunity to join the Hunter Mill District Budget Committee as the process moves forward in early 2016. If you are interested in joining the committee, please forward your resume to [email protected], or call 703-478-0283.
Basketball In The Family — Meet South Lakes High sophomore Emmanuel Aghayere, who is leading the boys basketball team in a manner similar to his sister, Princess, a SLHS girls basketball star who graduated last spring. [Reston Connection]
Fairfax County Police arrested a 30-year-old woman with assault on a law enforcement officer after they say she struck an officer in a Herndon-area parking lot over the weekend.
Police from the Reston District Station were called to the 2400 block of Centreville Road for a report of a disorderly crowd outside of Breakers Billiards Saturday at about 1:50 a..m.
When they arrived, they found a crowd of about 25 people dispersing. One person remained, though, and approached and struck an officer, police said.
Denetra Antwanette Bryant of Reston was arrested and charged with being drunk in public and assaulting a law enforcement officer.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission is hosting a forum in Reston on Thursday to hear from the public the concerns and solutions “about WMATA and help identify solutions to get Metro back on track. “
Metro’s Silver Line opened in Reston in summer 2014. It will be the terminus of Phase 1 of the rail line until 2020, when Phase 2 stations, including one at Reston Town Center, open.
But Metro has been plagued by problems lately. This year began with a woman dying in a smoke-filled Metro car near L’Enfant Plaza. There are offloads and delays daily. And Wiehle-Reston East has been criticized for poor garage and kiss-and-ride design.
Thursday’s meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. at Reston Station’s building on the plaza. 11389 Reston Station Blvd.
It will be a workshop-style format, and the forums will begin with a presentation by the Virginia members of the WMATA Board of Directors and senior WMATA staff, including new Metro General Manager/CEO Paul Wiedefeld, will share results from recent efforts to engage customers and provide updates on improvements and investments as well as continuing challenges.
Participants will break into roundtables, where they will prioritize issues and identify solutions aimed at helping WMATA earn rider loyalty.
To RSVP, email [email protected].
