Author Tracey Kyle will debut new picture books on Tuesday, July 3 at Scrawl Books (11911 Freedom Drive) from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Her latest titles are “Food Fight Fiesta: A Tale about La Tomatina” and “A Paintbrush for Paco.”
During the event, Kyle will lead a game of tomato toss and read “A Paintbrush for Paco,” which explores the power of art, imagination and color. The books serve as an introduction to Spanish.
Kyle is a New Jersey native. She decided to learn Spanish when she saw the boy band Menudo perform on a Latino TV station in middle school. Kyle teaches Spanish to eighth-graders and lives in Virginia with her husband and two cats.
Photo via Scrawl Books
The United Christian Parish (11508 North Shore Drive) will host an interfaith vigil in support of the national “Families Belong Together” campaign tomorrow.
A rally is scheduled for Saturday in the District in order demand the reunification of families and the end of family separation in detention.
In Reston, organizers hope Friday’s event will “shine a light of truth and hope.” The event is open to all and is organized by United Christian Parish Reston, Unitarian Universalist Reston, Washington Plaza Baptist, Shoreshim, Unity Fairfax, ADAMS Center, MCC NOVA, and others.
“The vigil is very important as we join together to light candles of hope and resistant to unjust and inhumane policies that separate families [and] put children, immigrants, and asylum seekers into cages,” said James Dean, co-chair of UCP’s justice and peace ministry team.
“Some of us can’t march, but we can gather together as part of this interfaith vigil,” Dean said.
Organizers of the national campaign issued the following description of the event:
The Trump Administration is a threat to the lives and safety of millions of immigrant children. Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have torn babies from their mothers, run over, punched, and sexually abused children and Health and Human Services have lost track of thousands of children and youth in their custody. They are unfit to be in charge of children.
We demand that Trump’s immigration agencies stop the implementation of any policy that separates children and youth from their families and that the Administration enlist qualified social service agencies to ensure the well-being of children who are still in their custody or have gone missing.
Photo via UCP
Don’t wait until July 4 for fireworks at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive). The annual fireworks show will take place on Saturday (June 30).
The park opens at 7 a.m. and the water mine park opens at 10 a.m. Boats can be rented from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and food vendors will be onsite and near the park’s main office.
Parking is $10 per car. A puppet show will take from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and live music will be offered from 4:15-9:15 p.m. Once the sun sets and the skies darken, the fireworks show will begin.
The campgrounds are available for an overnight stay. Reservations can be made by calling 703-471-5415.
A rain date is set for July 1.
Photo via Fairfax County Government
Reston-based companies ranked high for their workplaces across all categories, according to annual rankings compiled by the Washington Post.
Appian, a Reston-based software company ranked 57th among midsize companies last year, shot up to the number one spot for highly ranked, large companies. Macedon Technologies, a software company, was also ranked the top small company and Acclaim Technical Services, a government contractor, also topped the midsize company list.
Rankings are determined based on feedback from a survey of employees. The complete list of Reston and Herndon companies on the Post’s annual rankings is below:
Large Companies (of 30)
Midsize Companies (of 55)
- Acclaim Technical Services (1)
- NetCentrics (16)
- Aem Corp. (24)
- Knight Point Systems (26)
- MicroPact (27)
- MetroStar Systems (28)
- Iron Bow Technologies (36)
- LGS Innovations (40)
- Octo Consulting Group (43)
- Amyx (46)
Small Companies (of 65)
- Macedon Technologies (1)
- ThunderCat Technology (11)
- Procentrix (12)
- Navitas Business Consulting (18)
- iWorks (35)
- Virginia Spine Institute (38)
- Resonate (43)
- Dev Technology Group (48)
Photo via Washington Post
Time for the crescent — The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to review the Reston Crescent project, a mixed-use development plan that includes a new Wegmans, tonight at 7 p.m. [Fairfax County Government]
And time for the full moon — Experience the moon at Frying Pan Park tonight at 8:45 p.m. Attendees between ages seven and above can view the moon through telescopes, take a walk around the farm and enjoy a theme-related dessert. [Fairfax County Government]
Nearby: Unarmed man dies in police custody — Six local police officers have been placed on administrative leave as an investigation continues on how an unarmed, naked man died after encountering police in Northern Virginia. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
“Take a Break” concert series tonight –– Cheich Hamala Diabata brings the traditional music of Mali, mixed with modern grooves, to Lake Anne Plaza tonight at 7 p.m. [Reston Community Center]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Reston Town Center Association is hosting a lunch event at Reston Town Square Park tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m.
Gin Dance Company will offer a free one-hour performance. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch to the park. Vapiano and Le Pain Quotidien will offer brown bag specials for take-out orders placed between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Vapiano is offering 10 percent off takeout pizzas and Le Pain Quotidien is offering 20 percent off entree orders of a sandwich, salad, tartine or soup, along with a free dessert.
The event is produced by Reston Town Center Association and Reston Community Center.
Photo via Reston Town Center Association
Reston Association’s Board of Directors will consider recommendations to make the process of the Design Review Board more efficient at a meeting tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in RA headquarters.
The board will also elect a board president and welcome Catherine Baum, the new apartment owners’ board representative, to the governing body.
According to RA, the volume of applications received by the DRB and staff cannot be processed with current staff resources unless the process is streamlined. The DRB is an independent unit responsible for reviewing exterior improvements of properties within RA.
Under the recommendations, approvals for more “ordinary” applications, which could include signs, storm windows, utility boxes and roofing, would be reviewed by staff.
Some cluster standards applications would be reviewed by a panel of consultations instead of selected members of the DRB. This change would open up the panel’s agenda by 30 percent, according to RA. The DRB would meet monthly to review standard cluster applications with two members of the DRB.
The changes would also increase the DRB application fee for development and redevelopment of sites from $1,350 to $2,250.
The meeting will be live streamed tomorrow. The complete agenda is available online.
A couple who have called Reston home since 1986 opened a winery called Fleetwood Farm Winery in Leesburg last month. The owners, Skip Edgemond and Jamie McClellan have raised three children in Reston and decided to start a winery near home so it would be easily accessible to friends and family in Reston.
Continuing the tradition of making the winery a Restonian affair, Dave Williams, the general manager, is also a Reston resident since 1999. Williams lives with his wife and three children in the community.
The winery, located at 23075 Evergreen Mills Road, will kick off a “Farm to Fleetwood” series on Friday. Chef Michael Kozich of Bluewater Kitchen of Bluewater Kitchen will prepare dishes for guests to pair with wine. Acoustic Soul will perform live music from 5-9 p.m.Co-owner Edgemond is also the founder of Greenworks, Chantilly-based landscaping company and nursery, which he founded in 1986. He also serves on the board of Access National Bank.
The winery offers six Fleetwood wines and a rotating series of premier wines from around the world, Williams said. It extends off of the manor house on the property and contains two tasting rooms and a balcony that overlooks the landscape and vineyard. The couple hopes to preserve the history of the estate, which was originally owned by Colonel William Ellzey. Ellzey had envisioned to produce wine on the property.
“Fleetwood has always been destined for wine. We are just continuing the story,” said Edgemond. McLellan hopes the winery will remain a family affair “for generations to come.”
Photo via Dave Williams
The driver involved in a fatal pedestrian crash that happened in late May is facing a speeding charge.
According to a Fairfax County Police Department release, Michael Peter Fruitman, 67, of Herndon was charged with speeding 20 mph above the posted speed limit of 40 mph. Fruitman was issued a summons pending a future court date.
On May 21, Glanetta Miller Nunn, 71, of Reston was hit by a car and killed as she tried to cross Reston Parkway at Bluemont Way. Fruitman, the driver of the 2016 Hyundai Elantra that hit her, was traveling northbound on Reston Parkway. He remained on site as police investigated the incident. Nunn was pronounced dead at the scene.
Information about a second fatal pedestrian crash that happened in early June has not yet been released. In that incident, a 63-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed by a car at the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue and Fountain Drive.
Photo by Fairfax County Police Department
Hummingbird rescue — Yes, we’re serious. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue personnel nursed a hummingbird who appeared “weak and lethargic” back to health on the Herndon and Reston boundary line. [Reston Patch]
An ode to Kalypso — Kalypso’s Sports Tavern is celebrating its eight-year anniversary next week. The party will include a crab feast and musical performances. Reservations are recommended. [Kalypso’s Sports Tavern]
Nearby: don’t block intersections — Local police are ticketing drivers who block intersections when stoplights change. Drivers could get a $30 ticket and a $67 bill for court costs. [WJLA]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Need some motivation to kick off your work week with a workout?
Crunch Fitness is offering free group fitness classes every Monday in the Reston Town Center Pavilion through October 29. The series of classes, “Muscle Up Mondays,” will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
The business, which has 25,000 square feet of fitness space, is located at 11951 Freedom Drive in Reston Town Center. Crunch Fitness also offers a personal training plan, classes and training in a ride studio.
For more information, interested participants are encouraged to stop by the club or call 571-328-7689.
Photo via Reston Town Center
No major crime incidents were reported this week. The Fairfax County Police Department issued information about the following incidents:
LARCENIES:
11800 block of Barrel Cooper Court, purse from vehicle
700 block of Bennett Street, wallet from vehicle
1500 block of Cameron Crescent Drive, cash from residence
2500 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
10600 block of Chamberlain Drive, cash from vehicle
1700 block of Saddle Ridge Court, property from vehicle
10700 block of Riverscape Run, sunglasses from vehicle
1800 block of Wiehle Avenue, bicycle from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
11900 block of Freedom Dr, 2015 Ford Mustang
As we reported in recent days, Tavarias Lee, 20, was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
In a separate incident, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office deputies charged a 45-year-old man from Herndon on June 24 with public intoxication. Wilfredo Madrid-Garcia was arrested after a deputy saw that he was unable to maintain his balance on the 21000 block of Towncenter Plaza in Sterling.
Anyone with information about any crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).
South Lakes High School pantry recognized — More than 700 students are on free and reduced lunches at South Lakes High School. A food pantry created by parents and students aims to address growing needs. [ABC7]
Give blood — More than 250 units of blood are needed daily to meet the needs of area patients. INOVA will hold a blood drive from 1:30-6 p.m. at Reston Regional Library today. [Reston Regional Library]
Three days left — Herndon’s Arts Crawl series has three dates left before the initiative, which features local artists and artisans who sell their artwork, ends. The event is free and open to the public. [ArtsSpace Herndon]
Nearby: Goodbye, biological gender — Fairfax County Public Schools’ curricula will no longer refer to “biological gender” as part of its official language. [Fairfax County Times]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Creative professionals will respond to the work of Tim Doud, a D.C. based painter, this Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Greater Reston Arts Center.
Doud’s work explores the issues of constructed identities, branding and commodity culture. His work has been exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and MC Magma in Milan.
He received his MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Skowhegan, Maine. Doud is currently an associate professor at American University.
The Greater Reston Arts Center hosts creative responses one Thursday of each month. The events are designed to allow creative professionals to respond to work on view in the gallery. A presentation is followed by an open conversation.
Photo via GRACE
Apartment owners have selected Catherine Baum to fill the vacant Apartment Owners’ Representative seat on Reston Association’s Board of Directors.
The position was vacated in April when David Bobzien, also board president, resigned after being diagnosed with leukemia.
Baum, who has lived in Reston since 1975, will serve as a director until April 2019. The following description of Baum was issued in an RA press release today:
She has held several senior level positions with the country’s top homebuilders throughout her professional career. She is also a graduate of Leadership Fairfax, Inc., and is a past president of the Reston Chamber of Commerce.
Baum will officially join the board at its meeting on June 28.
