A new installation combining art and science by artist Rebecca Kamen is on display at Greater Reston Arts Center. Continuum, which contains both sculptures and prints, uses art to show “common threads that flow across various scientific fields to capture and re-imagine what scientists see,” according to GRACE materials.
The GRACE exhibition includes two new sculpture and sound installations: Portal, inspired by gravitational wave physics and black holes, and NeuroCantos, exploring the relationship and poetics of inner and outer space.
Kamen is a local artist who serves as a professor emeritus of art at Northern Virginia Community College. Kamen continues to investigate how the arts and creativity can be used to enhance our understanding of science. This project was initiated in 2011 when she was nominated as a Chancellor’s Commonwealth Professor. An outcome of Kamen’s research has included the development of an art component for George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientist Summer Internship Program (ASSIP), encouraging science interns to use the arts as a innovative way of interpreting their research.
There will be an artist’s reception at GRACE, 12011 Market St., Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Continuum will run until Feb. 3.
Learn more about Kamen and her scientific/artistic process in the video below.
Photo: ‘NeuroCantos’ by Rebecca Kamen/Courtesy GRACE
Reston Association says the dredging project at Lake Anne is running ahead of schedule and should be completed in two or three weeks.
Work has been completed in the coves and plaza areas, RA says. Dredging contractor Lake Services said a large section near the fountain is all that remains to be dredged.
Reston Association received a state permit last month to dredge Lake Anne. Areas to be dredged include the plaza area, the canal area, and coves near Inlet Court, Waters Edge, Waterview Cluster, South Shore, and the south boat ramp. See a map on RA’s website.
RA says residents’ boats no longer have to be moved for the remaining work to be finished.
RA is dredging the coves to clear accumulated sediment and leaf debris to improve boat and shoreline access. The project will also provide additional water storage areas and deeper areas for fish. Removing sediment at the coves where the major drainage ways enter the lake helps to prevent the lake from filling in with accumulated sediments, RA says.
Photo: Recent dredging near Lake Anne Plaza/Credit: Chesapeake Chocolates
Warm December — Meteorological winter began Tuesday, but the Capital Weather Gang says December in the DC area could be warm, even snowless. [Capital Weather Gang]
New Bill May Up Penalty For Passing Bus — Fairfax County Del. Kaye Kory will introduce a bill at the upcoming Virginia General Assembly Session that mail citations for passing a school bus, making the law more effective. [WTOP]
NORAD In the Sky — See and hear aircraft above Reston/Northern Virginia/DC late last night? That was several government agencies conducting training exercises. [WTOP]
Herndon High Fall Play This Weekend — Herndon High’s production of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe runs Dec. 3- 6 at the school. You can reserve tickets online [Herndon High School]
Want to feel like you are celebrating the holidays in Bavaria without traveling far?
Then stop by the German Armed Forces annual Christkindlmarket Thursday evening.
Each year, the German Armed Forces, which has an office in Reston (where you can also see a piece of the Berlin Wall on display), turns over the parking lot the office building at 11150 Sunrise Valley Dr. into a traditional German outdoor Christmas fair.
The festival, which runs from 4 to 9 p.m., is fun for the whole family. There are games, crafts to purchase, entertainment and traditional German food and beer.
The event is free, but some of the food, beer and merchandise costs money. Proceeds from the event benefit local charities.
The event is outdoors and happens rain or shine, so dress appropriately.
Reston Christkindlmarket/Credit: German Armed Forces
Reston resident Sidney Johnson has been honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors with the Barbara Varon Award.
The award is annually given to a county resident who shows “dedication to improving the community through volunteer service.” Varon was the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Fairfax County Electoral Board.
Johnson serves as the Voter Service coordinator for the League of Women Voters of the Fairfax area. Her role includes overseeing the publication of Facts for Voters, a directory of Fairfax area public officials and government offices; the Voters’ Guide, published in The Fairfax Times; and a handout which includes all of the candidates and issues on the ballot.
Johnson, in her volunteer position as Voter Service Chair for three years, has organized and participated in many voter registration drives as well as in a variety of voter outreach projects, says the League of Women Voters.
Said the League in a release:
[Johnson] reached out to a variety of diverse groups to increase voter participation and has been especially passionate about getting underrepresented citizens engaged in activities that are civic, including voting,” the league said in a release. “She has coordinated and overseen the publication of various voter guides such as FACTS for VOTERS, the Voters’ Guides, and a handout that lists all issues as well as candidates on the ballots.
This year, Sidney organized 13 Meet and Greet Candidate Forums throughout Fairfax County, with the help of volunteers. These forums aimed to inform the public and give voters an opportunity to meet and interact with the candidates as well as to learn their positions on the important issues.
In an attempt to reach more voters, Sidney helped organize the first televised Meet and Greet forums for the candidates for the Senate, House of Delegates, Sheriff, Clerk of the Court, and Soil and Water Commissioners.
Sidney has demonstrated Barbara Varon’s dedication and contributions of time and energy for many community causes and who “fought for the rights and privileges of all citizens to participate in the electoral process” and richly deserves this Award.
Fairfax County expects a budget shortfall of $85 million for Fiscal Year 2017. Fairfax County Public Schools now predict the school system’s deficit will be $60 million.
That’s a lot of gap to narrow, and that was the focus of a joint budget forecast by county executive Ed Long and FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza last week to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week.
More than half the county’s spending (more than $2 billion) goes to education. But with continually shrinking state contributions and rising school system costs, the gap continues to grow, the supervisors said.
“State K-12 funding in 2016 remains below FY 2009 level,” said Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. “Virginia localities have spent $3.55 billion more per year to match state K-12 funding. The state funding cuts have come at a time when localities are increasingly serving children with special needs, including special education, those learning English as a Second Language and those living in economically disadvantaged households.”
“A state that is in top 10 in income should not be in bottom 10 in state educational funding, but that is where Virginia finds itself.”
State contributions aside, the county says several factors are contributing to its shortfall. Among them:
- Slow local economic growth and net job losses in federal government and professional services
- Decreased federal spending in county
- Slight slowdown in housing market
- Disbursement growth that is scheduled to outpace revenue growth, including an assumed 3 percent transfer to FCPS. The county said it plans an increase of $80 million in its transfer to schools (including debt service and capital funding) for 2017.
- Increased county employee pay (an additional $39.66 million in 2017, plus an additional $7.58 million in benefits)
See a Power Point with more details on the county budget on the Fairfax County website.
Meanwhile, the school system, which has for months been engaging the community and a Budget Task Force in a conversation on how to narrow the deficit, told the county board of supervisors at last week’s joint work session that expenditures are expected to increase by more than $113 million in 2017.
The school system is now facing a projected $60.6 million budget shortfall. The number keeps changing (it was as high as $100 million last spring) because of uncertainties in enrollment and state contributions, says Garza.
Garza said FCPS is using a standard 3 percent transfer increase from the county in forecasting its FY 2017 budget.
According to the superintendent’s presentation, FCPS has made half a billion in cuts since 2008. During that same time frame, the increase in the county transfer totals $239.2 million. The increases in the county transfer have not historically covered the cost of four major budget drivers: enrollment, salary increases, retirement, and health, says Garza.
The Budget Task Force completed its report last month with suggestions for how to save the system money. Suggestions range from charging for athletic participation to eliminating language immersion programs to increasing class size.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will release his proposed budget to the General Assembly on Dec. 17. Garza will release her proposed FCPS budget Jan. 8. The Fairfax County General Assembly delegation will hold a public hearing on Jan. 9. After many more discussions, public hearings and markup sessions, the school board will adopt its final FY 2017 budget in late May.
The supervisors also said last week that ensuring K-12 funding should be a top priority for local General Assembly members at the 2016 session. The board and the state reps will have a work session on Dec. 8.
In true Reston fashion, Santa arrives in Reston via lake barge on Saturday.
St. Nick’s ride is the highlight of Jingle on Lake Anne, Lake Anne Plaza’s annual family friendly holiday festival. The day features strolling carolers, wine tastings, merchant specials, cookie decorating and much more.
Jingle on Lake Anne is free and will take place rain or shine.
Here is the schedule of events for Saturday, Dec. 5:
- 8 a.m. to 2 p.m – Farmers & Craft Market
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Reston Art Gallery Make-Your-Own Ornament Kids Crafts
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Reston Art Gallery Holiday Sparkle Exhibit
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Gifts from the Heart: Shopping Event and Reception at Reston Community Center Lake Anne
- 11 a.m to 2 p.m. – Cookie Decorating, Crafts and Plaza Activities
- Noon – Santa arrives by barge
- 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Pictures with Santa
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Pet Photos with Santa at PetMAC
- 6:30 p.m. – Tree Lighting and Caroling
Photo: Santa on a barge/Courtesy Jingle on Lake Anne
Goodbye, Cyber Monday. Hello, Giving Tuesday.
Giving Tuesday is Dec. 1. This day of donation to good causes was founded four years ago by New York City’s 92nd Street Y. It combines charitable giving and social media — and kicks off the giving season to help others who are less fortunate during this season of excess.
The Giving Tuesday website has links to plenty of national charities where you can make a donation. Here are a couple of ideas if you want to keep your donation local:
Fairfax County has links to local groups, such as the Fairfax County Library Foundation, Collect For Kids and Adopt a Family for the Holidays.
Cornerstones — Reston-based nonprofit that helps families experiencing homelessness or other financial and housing emergencies.
Reston Historic Trust and Museum — is currently on a Go Fund Me campaign hoping to raise $100,000. The RHT is asking Restonians to donate $1 for every year they have lived in Reston.
Friends of the Reston Regional Library — Nonprofit that raises money for local library programs and extra supplies and equipment.
Friends of Reston — Nonprofit that helps raise money for Reston Association programs such as the Walker Nature Education Center, RA Camp Scholarships and special installations and amenities on RA properties.
Greater Reston Arts Center — Reston’s arts center, which also offers educational programs for all ages.
Initiative for Public Art Reston — Nonprofit that brings sculpture, murals and other art to Reston’s public spaces.
Helping Hungry Kids — Reston-based group that provides weekend food packs for needy children.
Kids R First — Local group that helps 25,000 area children in need get outfitted with school supplies.
Herndon-Reston FISH — FISH (Friendly, Instant, Sympathetic Help) offers emergency bill paying and other assistance to people in need.
Of course, there are many more worthy causes in and around Reston. Feel free to suggest your favorite in the comments.
Metro Riders’ Approval Slipping — New survey of Metro users shows big fall in satisfaction so far this year [Washington Post]
Boy Scouts Christmas Tree Sale — Boy Scout Troop 124 is selling Christmas trees at St. John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd. The troop has purchased Fraser Firs in various sizes from Sutherland’s Christmas Tree Farm. Sale continues Dec. 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is also holiday music and free cider and cocoa.
Big Contract For Reston’s Serco — Reston-based Serco has been awarded a $95 million patent classification services contract with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Serco will provide initial patent classification and reclassification services to support USPTO’s core mission of examining, granting, and disseminating patents and trademarks.
Just in time for holiday shopping, Kendra Scott, Reston Town Center’s newest store, will open next week.
Kendra Scott is part of a fast-growing nationwide chain of statement jewelry stores. The Reston store will be located at 11924 Market St.
Kendra Scott was founded in Texas by jewelry designer Kendra Scott 13 years ago. It’s since grown to a $150 million company with nearly 40 locations. Two other nearby stores — at Fairfax’s Mosiac District and in Bethesda — have opened in the last few months.
Shoppers can purchase already made gemstone pieces, or visit the store’s Color Bar, where they can choose stones and metal finishes for their own custom look.
Prices range from about $75 for drop earrings to $250 for a statement necklace.
A store spokesman said the exact opening day is fluid, but watch for it the week of Dec. 7.
Meanwhile, the store will be hosting an opening special event on Saturday, Dec. 12. There will be sips and sweets (cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake and lots of bubbly) all day and a special gift-with-purchase offer.
Shoppers who spend $50 on Dec. 12 will receive a free pair of Danielle earrings in Black Iridescent (while supplies last).
Photo: Kendra Scott store exterior in Dallas/Courtesy KendraScott.com
Education, transportation, support from the state to local municipalities and support for local government.
Those are the four main priorities Fairfax County plans to stress to the Virginia General Assembly as the General Assembly prepares for its 2016 legislative session in January.
The county’s Legislative Committee has held four meetings, and the Board of Supervisors plan to adopt the 2016 legislative program and meet with the Fairfax County General Assembly delegation on Dec. 8.
In a draft of the program, the county urges the commonwealth to step up — or witness a decline in services and economic competitiveness in Fairfax.
“Fairfax County and the Commonwealth have long maintained a strong partnership in promoting economic development,” reads the draft. “The County has created a strong business climate, with a fair and competitive tax structure, excellent schools, an educated workforce, and services and amenities that attract new businesses every
year.”
“Unfortunately, it has been the practice of the Commonwealth to significantly underfund core services, leaving localities to fill funding gaps with local revenues in order to maintain essential services. This poses a particular threat to economic development efforts, as state funding cuts in recent years, coupled with the impact the recession has had on local revenues, threaten to destroy the very attributes that draw and retain businesses.”
Some highlights of the county’s requests:
Fully meet K-12 funding:
At present, the state is failing to provide the funding necessary to
implement its own standards and requirements, while Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia localities more than meet their responsibilities for K-12 education through large contributions to the state General Fund, strong local effort, and the effect of high local composite indices. Conversely, state funding for K-12 has declined
significantly in recent years – in FY 2009, K-12 funding comprised over 35 percent of the state General Fund, but by FY 2014, investments in K-12 education had fallen to less than 30 percent of the General Fund.
Continue and build upon the successful enactment of significant, new
transportation revenues by the 2013 General Assembly:
It is critical that Northern Virginia continue to receive its fair share of statewide revenues, as required by HB 2313, particularly in light of the new HB 2 process for prioritizing projects. If any changes to the HB 2313 revenues are considered, alternative revenues must generate funds at least equal to those previously approved.
(Edited to correct date of incident. Police report has a typo with the wrong date of Best Buy theft)
Fairfax County Police apprehended three suspects they say were involved in a retail theft operation on Black Friday at Reston’s Best Buy.
Officers from the FCPD’S (RATT) Retail Anti-Theft Team on Nov. 27 observed three people acting in a suspicious manner by making multiple trips into and out of the Reston’s Best Buy at Spectrum Center and to a rental vehicle in the parking lot.
The subsequent investigation produced and recovered more than $10,000 in stolen merchandise from Best Buy and Walmart, police said.
The three suspects, all from the Baltimore area, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit larceny, grand larceny, grand larceny with intent to sell, and possession of burglarious tools.
Last week, the FCPD anti-theft group also apprehended four New York residents making large purchases with stolen credit cards at the Tysons Corner Apple store.
In other holiday weekend crime news from the Reston District Station:
BURGLARY
A business burglar alarm sounded in the 11700 block of Bowman Green Dr. about 10:43 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29.
Officers, including K9, responded and set up a perimeter. When the suspect exited the business, officers challenged him. He complied with commands and was taken into custody without incident or injury. He was charged with burglary.
LARCENIES
- 1400 block of Church Hill Place, wallet from vehicle
- 2300 block of Colts Neck Road, phone from residence
- 2300 block of Hunters Square Court, bicycle from residence
- 11900 block of Market Street, phone from business
- 1000 block of Murphy Drive, generator from residence
- 11900 block of Winterhur Lane, bicycle from business
Chanukah begins this Sunday at sundown, and there are a couple of festive events for Reston-area Jews next week.
Chabad of Reston-Herndon is hosting its annual Chanukah at Reston Community Center Lake Anne Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Chabad is building a Menorah of Kindness out of Kosher canned food, which will be donated to Cornerstones.
This event is also a memorial to Reston founder Bob Simon, who died in September, says Chabad. Simon traditionally lit the outdoor menorah the last several years.
Participants are encouraged to bring a few cans of food to add to the menorah. There will also be kids activities; latkes, donuts and chocolate gelt; and other holiday cheer for the whole family.
The Chabad Hebrew School will also perform at this free event.
Since Chanukah lasts for eight days, there will be more opportunities for holiday fun.
Chabad is also hosting Chanukah On Ice from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 at Reston Town Center’s ice skating rink.
There will be ice skating to Chanukah music; a grand menorah lighting to commemorate the end of the holiday; more latkes, donuts and gelt; and a grand raffle.
Kosher boxed dinners (hot dog, snack, juice box) available for purchase at $3.50.
The event is free. Skate rentals are $12.
Also on Dec. 13, the community is invited to a 4:30 p.m. Chanukah concert with the Robyn Helzner Trio at Congregation Beth Emeth, 12523 Lawyers Rd. in Herndon. The event is part of the congregation’s 36th anniversary celebration. Tickets are $18 on Beth Emeth’s website.
What Tops Transportation List? — Northern Virginia residents say reducing trip times and making the local transportation system affordable are their top priorities for the future of transit in the region, says a survey released by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA). [Fairfax Times]
Black Nativity Wednesday in Reston — Theater Alliance will present Black Nativity by Langston Hughes Wednesday, 8 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. This is a concert version retelling of the Christmas story from an Afrocentric perspective, featuring gospel, blues, funk, jazz, and dance from an ensemble cast. Tickets: $25 residents/$35 non residents. [Reston Now]
Handel’s Messiah in Reston — Save the date for The Reston Chorale’s annual Messiah Sing Along on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd. Join the chorus for this holiday classic. Tickets are $15, but if you bring a new or gently used coat (or new hat, gloves, socks or scarf) fir Cornerstones, you can receive $5 off the price of admission. [Event Brite]
