The Herndon Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened at the 400 block of Patrick Lane on Saturday (May 26).

Alexandro Alfaro Castillo, 40, of Herndon, was pronounced dead at the scene when police arrived around 10:15 a.m.

Police said Castillo sustained trauma to the upper body. Autopsy results will determine the exact cause of death, police said.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station also reported the following incidents:

Larcenies:

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, earrings from residence

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, license plate from vehicle

2200 block of Centreville Road, credit card from vehicle

2300 block of Glade Bank Way, keys from residence

9800 block of Georgetown Pike, beer from business

1300 block of Shallow Ford Road, cash from vehicle

1300 block of Shallow Ford Road, wallet from vehicle

2300 block of Southgate Square, license plate from vehicle

12000 block of Town Square Street, merchandise from business

Stolen Vehicles: 

None

As we reported late last week, police arrested and charged Carlos Cherry, 38, for shooting what appeared to be a BB gun at the Reston District Station building. Cherry was previously arrested for punching a police officer earlier this year.

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Eastbound Baron Cameron Avenue is open at the intersection of Browns Chapel Road, according to a 2:24 p.m. alert from Fairfax County Government.

The road was closed at 2 p.m. due to a downed tree. 

This story has been updated.

Map via Google maps

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, here’s some information on the latest closures and openings.

Fairfax County government offices, libraries, schools, and courts will be closed on Monday.

Frying Pan Farm Park’s farm will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the indoor arena will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The visitor center will be closed.

Reston Community Center Hunters Woods will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. RCC Lake Anne will be closed.

Metrorail and Metro bus will operate on a Sunday schedule. Off-peak fares will be in effect all day and parking will be free at all Metrorail parking facilities. Silver line trains will run every 21 minutes from Wiehle-Reston East to Largo Town Center.

Single tracking will be in effect between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory to “allow for rail, fastener, cover board and grout pad renewal,” according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority.

The I-66 transfer station and the 1-95 landfill complex will be open. Residents should contact their trash and recycling collector directly for schedule changes due to the holiday.

Reston Association headquarters and the Central Services Facility will also be closed on Memorial Day.

RA pools and tennis courts will open all weekend, so long as the weather permits. Members and non-members must purchase or renew pool and tennis passes in order to access facilities. RA member services will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon for members and non-members to purchase or renew pool and tennis passes. Members with existing pool passes can renew them online.

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The Reston Masters Swim Team will host the 31st annual Jim McDonnell Lake Swim on Sunday at Lake Audubon.

The swim has been held every Memorial Day weekend since 1988, according to the team’s website. In 1999, it was named in honor of McDonnell, a founding member of the team who was on the committee that first organized the swim. McDonnell died from lymphoma in 2016.

“Reston Masters is excited to host the 2018 U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) Middle Distance Open Water National Championship,” said Reston Masters President Brian Evans. “Our 2-mile swim is the kickoff race of the USMS championship series and we are ready to deliver a top-notch, well-organized experience for JMLS competitors.”

Up to 200 swimmers will vie for national champion status. Swimmers take part in a two-mile open water loop around Lake Audubon. This year, two visually impaired swimmers are competing, along with a young woman trying to qualify for the U.S. Special Olympics

A practice swim will take place on Saturday.

Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to Lymphoma charities. In the past, recipients have included Herndon-Reston Fish, Inc. and the Lymphoma Research Foundation.

More information about the event is available online.

Here’s more about the event from the organizers:

Swimmers of all abilities compete every year. This year’s field includes elite swimmers like 66-year old Shirley Loftus-Charley, a USMS All-American and All-Stars champion and record holder, who is competing in her 31^st consecutive JMLS.

Swimmers in the 30-34 year age group will be watching out for distance swimmer and triathlete Shannon Greene. Shannon has placed first in the 1-mile race three times, and has taken first in the 2-mile twice.

“You can expect to see some fast swim times,” said Evans.

One swimmer is hoping to score a qualifying time to compete with Special Olympics USA, and two visually impaired swimmers are also taking on the challenge.

Competitors will swim counter-clockwise around buoys over a 1-mile course. Those swimming the 2-mile race will make the trip twice.

Photo by Ryan Dawson

Attention, food lovers: Taste of Reston, the area’s largest outdoor food festival, is coming to Reston Town Center on June 15 and 16.

The event features samplings from the region’s eateries, live music, beer and wine gardens and a family fun zone. Admission is free, but tickets for tastings can be purchased online or on the day of the event.

Garage parking will remain free throughout the event, which runs from Friday, June 15 from 3-11 p.m. and on Saturday, June 16 from noon to 11 p.m.

The event is produced by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and was voted as the best food festival of Northern Virginia by Virginia Living last year.

Participating restaurants include Agora Restaurant, Choolah Indian BBQ, Founding Farmers Reston, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant and Trader Joe’s.

Live entertainment will take place in several areas: the main pavilion, which will include regional bands; Library Street stage, which offers interactive entertainment for kids; and the Explorer Street Local & Live Lounge, which will feature acoustic artists.

Volunteers can sign-up online.

Photo by Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce

Reston Town Center was turned into an extensive gallery, performing arts stage, and crafts area as the 27th annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival came to town on Friday through Sunday.

More than 200 juried artists from across the country had booths at the festival, which is one of RTC’s biggest events of the year.

Photos by Charlotte Geary

Robot night at Reston Hospital Center tonight — Meet and mingle with surgeons trained in using various surgical robots. Attendees can check out the latest technology in person and learn more about how they’re used. [Reston Hospital Center]

Reston Community Center to resume full service — After the internet and phone lines went down yesterday, RCC Hunters Woods is expected to resume full-service today. [Reston Community Center]

Stateside: Putting off the budget — “Virginia senators are putting off debate on the state budget and whether to expand Medicaid. The Senate did not take up budget discussions Tuesday, but instead scheduled a meeting next week for the Senate Finance Committee to take up a newly proposed budget plan.” [WTOP]

Photo by Melinda Purnhagen

The College Board is expanding its offices in Reston Town Center and adding 120 new jobs with the help of a $750,000 state grant.

The nonprofit organization, which administers the SAT and other college exams, has more than 600 employees at its Reston headquarters (11955 Democracy Drive). The company has one other main office is in New York City, along with several regional offices.

“Fairfax County has been a great home for The College Board,” wrote Jeremy Singer, the chief operating officer at The College Board, in a statement. “Our team in Reston will continue to play a critical role in our efforts to a clear a path for students in Virginia and across the country to own their futures.”

The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to secure the project. Grant funding came from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund.

The company has added 74,000 square feet to its current offices in Reston.

Photo via Google Maps

Several major crime incidents surfaced over the last week. As we reported over the weekend, a Reston doctor was arrested on May 19 for assaulting an adult male patient during two separate visits. Police believe there may be other victims, but no new information has been provided.

Yesterday, a 71-year-old woman was struck and killed by a car as she crossed at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bluemont Way. The crash remains under investigation.

One week ago, a former Langston Hughes Middle School teacher was charged with indecent acts with a child. Although the teacher was arrested last year,  police only recently released details of the incident after a report by the Washington Post.

The Fairfax County Police Department also reported the following incidents:

Larcenies:

1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, laptop computer from vehicle

1700 block of Clubhouse Road, cell phone from vehicle

2200 block of Colts Neck Road, cash and property from business

11400 block of Isaac Newton Square, purse from vehicle

12000 block of Kinsley Place, wallet from business

1800 block of Michael Faraday Drive, plumbing material from construction site

11100 block of South Lakes Drive, merchandise from business

11100 block of South Lakes Drive, merchandise from business

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, purse from business

11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, beer from business

Stolen Vehicles:

None reported

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Reston Concerts on the Town, a weekly free summer concerts series at Reston Center, is back for its 28th year. The event, which includes concerts from June 2 through August 25 on Saturdays from 7:30-10 p.m., features local and national acts.

Parking is free and the event is made possible by a grant from Reston Town Center Association and support from Boston Properties, RTC’s owner.

The 2018 lineup is available online.

A number of new performers include the Blues Beatles, a blues band based in Brazil; Good Shot Judy, a band that performs swing and jazz; the T Sisters, a trio of sisters from California who have formed an acoustic band; and the U.S. Navy Sea Chanters, the U.S. Navy’s official chorus.

Returning favorites, as described by organizers, include:

• Leonard, Coleman & Blunt—The former lead singers of The Temptations, The Platters & The Drifters and their big band will take you on a musical journey of your favorite Motown and doo-wop hits. They’ll kick off the series on June 2.
  

• Scythian – These raucous roots-rockers blend Celtic and klezmer for a high-energy, dynamic show. Come see these world-class fiddlers rock Reston on July 14.
  

• Local jazz favorite Chuck Redd returns on June 23 with very special guests: jazz harmonica virtuoso Hendrik Muerkens, renowned trumpeter/vocalist Byron Stripling (played Satchmo on national tour) and bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott
  

• Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band—This Louisiana-based Grammy-winning zydeco band will shake things up on August 4. 
• Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.–This 2011 winner of America’s Got Talent, went from car washer to jazz superstar. Back by popular demand, Landau and his big band close out the series on August 25.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and picnics to the concerts. The event takes place in RTC’s pavilion (11900 Market Street).

Photos via Reston Concerts on the Town

Reston’s Planning and Zoning Committee will vote on three major projects at its 7 p.m. meeting tonight in the North County Government Center.

Votes are scheduled for Reston Crescent, a 26-acre property where nearly 4.2 million square feet of development is planned Reston Gateway, a mixed-use project north of the future Reston Town Center Metro Station, and the replacement of the fire station at 1820 Wiehle Avenue.

The agenda of tonight’s meeting is linked here. The committee’s next meeting will take place on June 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the North County Government Center.

Photo via Boston Properties

Local police say there is no evidence connected to a threat of violence at South Lakes High School.

On Friday, police investigated the possibility of a threat after receiving a report that a student threatened to “shoot up” the high school on social media.

According to the report, the student posted a picture on Snapchat with guns. If anyone reported the incident, the student threatened to shoot at the school, according to a parent of one of the students who reported the incident.

In a statement to Reston Now, Fairfax County Police Sgt. Brad Woehlren said the threat was investigated and “no threats, charges or arrests” were made.

The parent said he was impressed with how the school and its security officer handled the report.

“I personally am very happy with how South Lakes is protecting our kids and I think it would help empower others to feel safe coming forward if they knew that South Lakes takes these issues seriously and can show that action was taken to prevent anything from happening,” said Ray Boatwright.

The school was under a lockdown in March after police received reports of a student with a gun. No weapon was found.

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Lynchburg police search for Reston man — Police have identified Mark Anthony Goldring Jr., 31, of Reston, as a shooting suspect in a malicious wounding reported late Sunday evening. [WBDJ 7]

Dredging underway at Lake Thoreau — All dozen coves of the lake will be dredged and up to 400 truckloads of material could be removed. [Reston Association]

Five-story hotel approved — A 138-room hotel will replace surface parking in Lake Fairfax Business Park. The county offers an update on the recent approval. [Fairfax County Government]

A fine time — The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival took place in Reston Town Center. A local outlet posted several photos of the art displays and work. [Around Reston]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved $500,000 to cover preliminary engineering for interim improvements at the intersection of Fairfax County Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive.

Planned upgrades include lane reconfiguration, signal optimization and improvements to pedestrian and bike facilities.

Depending on the option selected by individuals, the project is expected to cost between $2.2 million and $4.3 million. The board approved intersection improvements as part of Reston’s transportation funding plan in late February last year.

The timeline of the project was not immediately available.

Photo via Virginia Department of Transportation

A handful of Reston’s private residential gardens will be on display for one day during the Reston Chorale’s second “Gardens of Note” tour on June 2.

Ticket-holders will be able to visit five gardens in Reston neighborhoods from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A garden party will follow from 4 to 6 p.m. All proceeds benefit Reston Chorale.

“Early June is the perfect time of the year to enjoy beautiful gardens, and the tour is also an ideal opportunity to connect with our wonderful community,” says tour chair, Kathleen Driscoll. “We received so much positive feedback about the first Gardens of Note tour last year. Visitors were enthused by the landscapes, the music, and spending time with old and new friends while exploring Reston’s neighborhoods.”

As described by organizers, the tour includes the following gardens:

• The Guilfoyle garden in Uplands – Filled with the owner’s well-chosen plantings, seating, and art, the garden has been a magnet for friends, family, and neighbors over the years.
• The Bitzer garden in South Lakes – Designed by its owner to encircle the home with perennials, shrubs, and trees that enhance the enviable views beyond.
• The Gohn garden in Hunters Woods – Swaths of shrubs and perennials and new plantings of native varieties in an established, treed landscape.
• The Mansfield garden in Hunters Woods – A garden of new hardscapes and plantings installed in 2017, curving around the home and complementing a woodland backdrop.
• The Rhoads garden in North Point – Featuring a professionally installed sloping stream and pond, plus a new hardscape to address run-off, along with a multitude of spreading perennials.

Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 on tour day. They can be purchased online or in-person at Mayflowers in Reston Town Center, Long and Foster (2100 Reston Parkway) or Chesapeake Chocolates, Wines Gifts & More in Lake Anne Village Center.

Tours are self-guided and visitors can decide which tour to start with using a map provided by organizers. The garden party following tours will include ensemble performances by members of The Reston Chorale, guided tours of the property and remarks from landscape designers.

Organizers are seeking volunteers for two-hour shifts as garden greeters. Volunteers receive a free ticket for the tour and garden party. Those interested can email [email protected].

Photo via Reston Chorale