Updated, 4:30 p.m. Friday with more information from police
A 47-year-old man was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital Friday morning after he was struck by the driver of a Chevrolet Impala while he was crossing Sunset Hills Road.
Fairfax County Police said the accident occurred about 10:50 a.m. in the 14900 block of Sunset Hills between Isaac Newton Square and Plaza America Drive. There is neither a light nor a crosswalk at that location.
The pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries, police spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said. The driver of the car, who lives in Reston and was heading eastbound on Sunset Hills, was not injured. He was also not charged, police said.
Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your day, no matter what you are doing.
Reston Now will not be publishing Thursday or Friday. We’re very thankful for all the readers — nearly 1 million unique visitors have checked out more than 3.6 million pages on the site since we launched in fall of 2013!
In case you missed any pre-holiday articles this week:
Here are Reston restaurants open today. Starbucks is also open, but is closing in late afternoon.
Here’s the skinny on Friday’s holiday parade at Reston Town Center.
Here are some ideas of things to do with your family the next few days.
Here’s a list of active things, such as the Reston Thanksgiving Bike Ride and the Turkey Day 5K.
Here is some info on Small Business Saturday, which is this weekend. Reston is full of locally owned businesses — not just retail. Loads of restaurants, nail salons, dry cleaners, dog walkers and florists work hard to make our community great.
Reston Now has been mentioning pre-Thanksgiving feast organized activity ideas all week. Here’s a reminder in case you missed a few:
Turkey Day 5K at South Lakes High School
Thanksgiving Day Trail Walk/Run at Lake Fairfax
And to kick off the holiday events Friday at Reston Town Center:
Gingerbread Man Mile (for kids under age 14)
Walk-up registration is most likely available for the races, but double-check onlineto make sure it is not sold out.
Photo: Turkey Day 5K 2014/Credit: PR Racing
Forget something for your Thanksgiving feast? Maybe you should have an extra bottle of wine?
We’ve got you covered.
Most Reston groceries stores are open, but with limited hours, on Thanksgiving Day.
Here is what you need to know:
Trader Joe’s – Closed
Whole Foods – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Giant Foods – 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Safeway – 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Harris Teeter – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo: Thanksgiving turkey/Credit: John C. Abell via Flickr
The Reston Museum and Historic Trust is embarking on a new fundraising campaign, one that asks Restonians to donate a buck for every year they have lived here.
Really, that’s no more than $50 or so since Reston is a fairly young community just heading towards its 52nd birthday.
The RHT is organizing the online fundraiser “to help support our mission and honor Robert E. Simon, Jr.’s legacy. The campaign is designed to help RHT collect $100,000 toward the retiring the mortgage, securing our space on Lake Anne Plaza for generations,” RHT officers said in a statement.
Founder Simon died in September at age 101.
The RHT has a goal of raising $100,000.The nonprofit would then be able to expand its outreach and educational programs; employ a full-time director; and retire the debt on the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Plaza.
To donate now, visit RHT’s Go Fund Me page.
Reston newest restaurant, Not Your Average Joe’s, says it will open Dec. 21 in the former Macaroni Grill building at 1845 Fountain Dr.
Meanwhile, the casual American restaurant is now hiring for all positions. Available positions will include servers, bartenders, line cooks and hosts.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply either at the restaurant Monday through Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or by visiting www.notyouraveragejoes.com/jobs.
Massachusetts-based Not Your Average Joe’s has 24 locations nationwide, including in Woodbridge, Leesburg and Bethesda.
Shopping at Lake Anne — Here is where to find some locally owned gems if you are starting your holiday shopping soon. [Reston Connection]
Early Release For FCPS Today — Schools let out two hours early to start the Thanksgiving holiday. [FCPS]
Traffic Jams — New study shows three of the nation’s worst traffic bottlenecks are in Northern Virginia, including one in Fairfax County. [WTOP]
Virginia State Police On Patrol –Virginia State Police said its is beefing up patrols beginning Wednesday in order to cut down on holiday weekend accidents. [WTOP]
Reston Now Holiday Break — Reston Now will not publish Thursday or Friday. Enjoy your Thanksgiving.
Photo: Washington Capitals Mascot Slapshot visits Terraset Elementary School for anti-bullying assembly/Credit: Terraset ES
Reston’s Giving Circle of HOPE will give nearly $60,000 to nine area nonprofits, the group announced.
The Giving Circle, a philanthropic club founded by Reston women in 2004, has given out $900,000 in grants over 12 years. Members put in money, then decide where the collective donations will have the most impact.
The Giving Circle says $58,200 will go to “nine Nonprofit Partners in Northern Virginia whose programs encourage job creation, help build strong families, and assist community members in need.”
This is the 12th grant cycle for the Giving Circle of HOPE, an organization of more than 110 members that was founded in 2004 to promote volunteerism and effective philanthropy. Members seek to make a difference by contributing their time, talents and money and collectively deciding how to use those resources to positively impact the local community.
The 2015 grant recipients include: All Ages Read Together; Bethany House; Centreville Immigration Forum; Grace Ministries of the United Methodist Church; Literacy Council of Northern Virginia; Lorton Community Action Center; Our Daily Bread; Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington; and Offender Aid and Restoration of Fairfax.
A celebration to honor these nonprofit partners will be held in the spring, the Giving Circle said.
United Christian Parish in Reston is inviting people of all faiths to come to the church Wednesday night for a celebration of community and giving thanks.
The church’s annual Thanksgiving Eve gathering “allows the local community to come together in celebration of the diversity of our community,” says UCP’s website. “We share the unity of our humanity in the simple, yet universal message of ‘giving thanks to God’ for the gift of each other and lift up the call anew to care for our neighbors and neighborhood.”
The service is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the UCP Sanctuary, 11508 North Shore Dr.
Participants will include:
• All-Dulles Area Muslim Society
• Shoreshim Community
• St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church
• Unitarian Universalist Church, Reston
• Cornerstones
• Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins
• Del. Ken Plum
A social time for connecting and re-connecting follows the service.
You say you are not a Black Friday shopper? There are still plenty of things to do on Friday, Nov. 27, particularly if you have a houseful of relatives to entertain. Here are a few ideas:
Attend the Reston Holiday Parade — The theme for the 25th annual parade at Reston Town Center is “Home Sweet Home.” Parade time is 11 a.m., but head to Market Street a bit earlier for a good viewing spot. There will be marching bands, Macy’s style balloons, and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus. Later in the day, there will be the official tree lighting and sing-a-long.
Take a Hike — Put on warm clothes and head to nearby Great Falls National Park, where level trails make for easy hiking for the whole family.
Head To Space — The Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, that is. Located in nearby Chantilly, there are exhibits and aircraft of all types, as well as simulators and demonstrations. There is also a full slate of shows at the IMAX Theater. Bonus: wide-open spaces for little ones to get out afternoon energy.
Catch a Movie — Family friendly flicks include The Peanuts Movie (G), The Good Dinosaur (PG — Opens Nov. 25), Goosebumps (PG), and Pan (PG)
Explore the Reston Paths — Reston is connected by 55 miles of trails. Gather the family and walk, jog or bike a few of them.
Have any ideas of your own? Share them with your neighbors in the comments.
Photo: Reston Holiday Parade/Credit: Mike Heffner
Reston’s newest retail destination — Urban Pop at Reston Station — opened on Monday. The pop-up market is Comstock’s unique initiative where crafters and other businesses can try out a small retail space of their own without a big commitment.
And when Comstock says small, they mean small. Micro, even — about 100 square feet. But that is room enough for knitter Janice Everett, who was displaying her handmade scarves, gloves and hats in her space, called WitKnits, on Monday.
Everett, who lives in Reston and is a graphic designer by day, has been selling at farmers market and the online site Etsy. She said when she heard about Urban Pop, she thought it might be a great introduction to retail business.
About eight of the 9-by-10 glass booths are now open on the Reston Station plaza, hoping to attract Wiehle-Reston East commuters, visitors to the Wednesday afternoon farmers market and holiday shoppers looking for unique gifts.
Starting next year, Reston Station residents will also live just upstairs at Comstock’s BLVD apartments.
The Urban Pop leases are short-term, so vendors may change quickly, but for the holiday launch check out:
WitKnits (Also featuring jewelry from UrbanJule)
Urban Pop will be open Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. and select vendors will offer additional weekend hours.
In Spring 2016, Phase Two (Urban Pop Active), is slated to open. Comstock saud Phase Two will feature outdoor piazza entertainment — live entertainments, food and drink — integrated with Metro pedestrian access and the ‘jewel box’ retail, says Comstock spokeswoman Maggie Parker.
“Reston Station is delighted to deliver this exciting shopping opportunity to our neighborhood,” Parker said. We are thrilled to partner with our vendors to provide a unique shopping experience at the Wiehle-Reston Metro. “I can’t think of a better time to launch Urban Pop than at the start of the holiday season.”
Urban Pop is actively signing up vendors for January occupancy. For more information and leasing opportunities at Urban Pop, please visit www.urbanpopreston.com.
Thank-You Concert Tonight At SLHS — The South Lakes High School Band is performing its annual Tag Day concert on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. in the SLHS Little Theater. The concert is the band’s way of saying thank you to for all of the support that comes from the Reston community. The performance is free and open to the public.
Thanksgiving Tail Run/Walk — Reston Runners is sponsoring a Thanksgiving Day Trail Run/Walk at Lake Fairfax Park. This event is non competitive and involves no registration. Just show up at the picnic pavilion at 9 a.m. [Reston Runners]
Chanukah Fun At Home Depot — As soon as Thanksgiving ends, it is nearly time for Jews to celebrate Chanukah (which begins Dec. 6). Chabad Reston-Herndon is sponsoring a Chanukah Fun event at Reston’s Home Depot at 1651 Reston Parkway. The free event is from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and will feature a menorah building workshop, as well as latkes, donuts and chocolate gelt. [Facebook]
Photo: Sunset over Reston, Nov. 22, 2015/Credit: Chase Suddith
It was just a week ago that the 200-plus space surface parking lot at New Dominion and Fountain Drive was fenced off for construction on what will be known as Signature Site, a mostly residential Boston Properties project.
In a matter of days, crews have jackhammered the concrete, moved dirt, pulled up trees and are doing all the things necessary for construction prep.
In case you missed it, here is what is coming to the site, the last undeveloped parcel at Reston Town Center.
The Signature Site, formerly called Block 4, is Boston Properties’ project that will turn the parking lot — also formerly home to rides at Taste of Reston and the Athletes’ Village at last summer’s World Police and Fire Games — into two high-rise residential buildings with up to 549 units and nine levels of underground parking for residents.
The project will have about 1.85 acres (40 percent) of open space, its own pool and vegetated roof.
Boston Properties purchased the space in 2013 for a reported $27 million. At that time, the lot was zoned for offices. Boston Properties got a zoning change for residential development, though, and will move the office zoning to Block 5, where the current FedEx/Kinkos and Ann Taylor are now located.
Plans call for turning that three-story retail/office building 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.
Kick off the holiday season with a kids’ race at Reston Town Center.
The 15th annual Gingerbread Man Mile for kids starts at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27. It’s the start of a full day of holiday fun, including the annual holiday parade (11 a.m.) and the lighting of the tree.
Here is what you need to know about the race, which is for children 14 and under:
Registration is $8 and in available online through Tuesday, Nov. 24.
All Registrants will receive:
- Commemorative race t-shirt
- Commemorative runners bib
- Custom Finisher’s Ribbon
- Gingerbread Man Cookie
- Other post race snacks
The course is an untimed one-mile loop around Reston Town Center. Four- and five-year olds will go a half mile. Children under 4 will take part in a “Tot Trot” of two blocks.
Winners in their age categories will receive a special honor of riding in the parade.
Potomac River Running is also partnering with One Warm Coat this season. They will be accepting clean, gently used children’s coats at this year’s Gingerbread Man Mile and distributing them to people in need.
Can’t make it Friday? There is also the Turkey Day 5K at South Lakes High School.
Fairfax County Police arrested three juveniles after another teen was robbed and assaulted on the Reston Association bike path near Hunters Woods Village Center.
Police said a 15-year-old boy was walking in the tunnel near Colts Neck Road on Friday about 2 p.m. when three people came up from behind and surrounded him.
They boy said the suspects pushed him to the ground and took his cell phone. A suspect description was broadcast and three juvenile suspects were stopped at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station.
The suspects were positively identified and subsequently arrested. The victim was not injured, police said.
In other weekend incidents reported by the Fairfax County Police’s Reston District Station:
LARCENIES
- 11900 block of Bowman Towne Drive, wallet from business
- 1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, phone from business
- 2200 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, TV from business
- 1500 block of Inlet Court, camera from vehicle
- 1600 block of ParkCrest Circle, GPS from vehicle
- 2200 block of Stone Wheel Drive, wallet from residence
