Oscar Paz-Suaznabar, a 12-year-old pianist, will perform on Thursday (April 12) from 2:15-3:30 p.m. at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road).

Paz-Suaznabar has performed on From the TOP, an NPR radio show that features gifted young musicians.

He also won first place in the Asian American Music Society Competition and the American Protégé Competition at Carnegie Hall. He attends The Langley School and began playing the piano on his sister’s keyboard when he was two years old.

The event is the product of a partnership between Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University and RCC.  All ages are welcome to the free event.

Photo via Reston Community Center

Expanded plans for Comstock’s massive Reston Station development were approved by the Fairfax County Planning Commission Thursday night.

The latest plans add an additional 362,450 square feet to the mixed used development, bringing the total to 1.7 million square feet and adding 155 additional residential units.

Reston Station (1866 Metro Center Drive) includes a mix of residential buildings, retail, restaurants and hotels. The project is located on the south side of Reston Station boulevard, west of Wiehle Avenue.

The commission also approved plans to increase the height of building four from 205 to 225 feet and building seven from 140 to 280 feet. A hotel option was added to building seven.

The amended plans head to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (April 10) for final consideration.

A map of the buildings is below.

Rendering via Comstock

Overall crime in Fairfax County decreased 1.6 percent between 2016 and 2017, according to data released by the Fairfax County Police Department this week.

In a statement, Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. said community engagement was critical to the reduction in crime.

“Community engagement, information sharing, accountability and public trust energize our partnerships that keep Fairfax County the safest jurisdiction of its size in the United States,” he said.

Crimes against persons rose three-point-eight percent in the county, compared to a four-point-six percent increase investigated by the Reston Police District Station. The county operates eight district stations.

Crimes against property, which include extortion, robbery, burglary and larcenies, decreased overall in every police district except McLean and Reston, where crimes against property increased from 2,292 to 2,429 incidents.

Overall in the county, crimes against society, which include offenses related to drugs, gambling, pornography and prostitution, rose by 9.6 percent. Reston saw a 4.2 percent decrease.

Two homicides — the murders of Scott Fricker and Buckley Kuhn-Fricker days before Christmas — occurred in Reston in 2017.

A complete breakdown of data in Reston for 2016 and 2017 is below.

After a windy campout that began at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Chick-fil-A at 1494 North Point Village Center is now open.

The 2,800-square-foot restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.

Customers participating in Chick-fil-A’s promotional “First 100” event camped overnight at the location and received 52 chicken sandwich meals.

They were then ceremoniously welcomed down a red carpet to the sound of “When The Saints Go Marching In” and the banging of pots, pans and cowbells, according to a restaurant representative.

The store is run by Larry Everett, a retired firefighter who worked for the fire departments in Fairfax County and Montgomery County, Md. for more than 30 years.

Here’s more about Everett from the company:

Chick-fil-A is a family business for the Everett family. In addition to his son, Philip, a franchise owner in Rockford, his son, Joshua, will serve as facilities director at the new restaurant where Everett’s daughter-in-law, Stevie, will work as assistant human [resources] director and granddaughter, Evangeline, will be director of playground safety and designated Cow handler at North Point Center. 

During his 30-year firefighting career, Everett was a first responder to the Pentagon during 9/11 and spent most of his career serving the local community in Fairfax County. He and his wife, Andrea, and their family are looking forward to continuing that spirit of service among their friends and family in the Reston community. 

Photos via CP Communications

Residents in Fairfax County will receive an alert on their cell phones and other mobile-enabled devices tomorrow (April 5) morning.

Fairfax County is participating what a national wireless emergency alert system test, which will take place from 10 to 11 a.m..

Phones will buzz loudly and an accompanying text will read, “A test of the Fairfax County Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action required.”

Don’t be surprised when your phone gives off a loud buzz on April 5 between 10-11 a.m.! We (and the whole DC region) will be testing the Wireless Emergency Alerts system. It’s only a test, no cause for alarm. https://t.co/dLJJ4BNoyn #NCRWEA pic.twitter.com/kKd4xrR6KH

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) April 4, 2018

Other participating jurisdictions include Loudoun County, the City of Alexandria, the City of Arlington and the City of Falls Church.

A back-up test date is set for Monday (April 9) between 10 and 11 a.m.

The Fairfax County Police Department is seeking the public’s help to find a Herndon man wanted for two counts of abduction and the use of a firearm.

Police believe Osman Osman, 37, of Herndon, assaulted and temporarily abducted his wife and child on March 24 in Chantilly.

In a release, police said Osman is likely armed and dangerous. He is wanted for two counts of assault on a family member, a protective order violation and transporting a firearm while subject to a protective order.

FCPD said Osman is 5 feet and 11 inches tall, around 200 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.  

Anyone with information should call 703-246-5393. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 if the information received leads to an arrest.

FCPD also reported the following incidents this week:

LARCENIES:

2400 block of Centreville Road, cell phone from business

11000 block of Democracy Drive, property from business

9800 block of Georgetown Pike, cash from business

11600 block of Gilman Lane, mail from residence

11400 block of Great Meadow Drive, credit card from residence

1900 block of Sagewood Lane, property from residence

Library Street/Bluemont Way, cash from vehicle

11900 block of Market Street, property from business

13000 block of Monterey Estates Drive, property from residence

North Shore Drive/Jonathan Way, airbags from vehicles

11700 block of Stratford House Place, airbags from vehicles

11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, merchandise from business

12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business

1800 block of Town Center Parkway, property from residence

STOLEN VEHICLES:

None reported

Just before midnight on Saturday (March 31), Joaquin Ventura, 45, of Reston, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license.

During foot patrol, deputies from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ventura after determining he was driving a suspicious vehicle parked on the 22000 block of Enterprise Street in Sterling.

Ventura was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on an unsecured bond.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes reported by FCPD should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or text “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES(274637).

Dive into the height of the jazz age in New York City with “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Reston Community Players’ next play.

The performance, based on the 1967 award-winning film, will run from April 20 through May 12 at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage.

Throughly Modern Millie follows the story of Millie Dillmount, a girl from Kansas, who comes to New York to work a secretary for a wealthy man and marry him. But things don’t go exactly as she planned.

The owner of the hotel where she is staying kidnaps young girls and she falls in love with a man who is not her wealthy boss.

 “This is what I would describe as a ‘sing me, dance me, entertain me’ type of show,” says Duane Monahan, who serves as both director and choreographer for the production. “We hope to transport audiences to 1920’s New York City and immerse them in the story of Millie Dillmount and her search for love and adventure.”

Performance dates are set for April 20, 21, 27 and 29, as well as May 4, 5, 6, 11 and 12. The curtain time is 8 p.m. for all dates except April 29 and May 6, which are matinees with a 2 p.m. curtain time. 

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 703-476-4500. The price is $27 for adults and $23 for seniors and students.

Photo courtesy Reston Community Players

Herndon’s Town Manager William Ashton III has proposed a $60.2 million budget for fiscal year 2018 — a nearly 18 percent increase over the previous budget.

The majority of the increase is the result of $6.5 million for the water and sewer fund and $1 million for parking linked to the redevelopment of downtown Herndon.

Modest revenue growth is projected over the next year, Ashton said. The budget reflects a nearly three percent increase in assessed property tax values. The town’s real estate tax rate will remain at $0.2650 per $100 of assessed value.

In the proposal, funding is allocated for the Town of Herndon’s ongoing partnership with Comstock for the redevelopment of downtown. It includes $500,000 this year for an interior build-out of an 18,000-square-foot arts center, $2.9 million to relocate overhead utilities underground and $1.4 million for street improvements along Van Buren Street from Herndon Parkway north to Spring Street.

The overall six-year plan for the capital budget includes $3 million for the construction of a new nature center at Runnymede Park, $3.3 million for vehicle and pedestrian access to the Herndon Metrorail Station, and $4.3 million for a second-story addition to the Herndon Community Center.

A summary of the budget is available online.

Recycling 2.0 — Have old CDs and video games that you’d like to get rid of? A Reston neighborhood is hosting a recycling event in time for spring cleaning. [Facebook]

For crime junkies — Crime data for Fairfax County was released yesterday. Chief of Police Edwin Roessler Jr. said the county is the “safest jurisdiction of its size in the United States.” (Still, don’t forget to lock those doors tonight). [Fairfax County Police Department]

A chat with Reston Regional Library’s branch manager — Get the latest information on library reference services, libraries in the age of Google, and more. [Fairfax County Government]

Metro service changes this weekend — “As the cherry blossoms get closer to peak bloom, Metro has limited track work scheduled for Easter weekend. The track work that is scheduled is after 10 p.m. each night, similar to Metro’s new consistent weeknight track work policy.” [WTOP]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

A new technology center has opened up its offices at 1821 Michael Faraday Drive.

Northern Virginia Community College’s Reston Technology Center, which includes a new technology training hub, opened earlier this year. A grand opening celebration is set for April 25 from 12:30  to 2:30 p.m.

The center offers night, weekend and day classes in coursework varying from cybersecurity to business.  It contains 11 classrooms, three computer labs, a library and a multi-purpose room.

Individuals interested in attending the grand opening ceremony should RSVP online.

Image via Reston Center

A walk to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will take place on April 8 at Reston Town Center.

The event, called “Walk MS”, is a fundraiser for the organization, which its website says aims to create a “a world free of multiple sclerosis.”

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord and often leads to the disability of young adults.

Individuals interested in participating can register by calling 855-372-1131 or by emailing [email protected].

Organizers expect a turnout of 800 people. A fundraising goal of $200,000 has been set.  The walk is expected to begin at 10 a.m.

The event’s lead sponsor is Sanofi Genzyme, a biotechnology company based in Massachusetts.

Photo via Walk MS/YouTube

In response to residents’ concerns, Reston Association’s Board of Directors created a working group to review policies that govern how lakes, docks and boats are used.

Over the last several months, several RA members complained that docks were often being used non-RA members and policies were not being adequately followed.

The working group, which will have roughly 15 members, will work through November to present recommendations to the board. Candidates will be interviewed by the Board Operation Committee in May. RA members interested in participating should email [email protected] by April 30.

The group’s objectives are below, via Reston Association:

1. Examine the number and types of boats and docks currently on each of the association’s lakes and ponds.

2. Identify any and all environmental impacts docks and boats have on the association’s lakes and ponds.

3. Hold focus groups and public meetings to obtain input from lakefront property owners as well as other RA members.

4. Review all the current governing documents on lakes, docks and boats.

5. Recommend amendments to the governing documents.

6. Identify the impact of RA rules on lakes, docks, and boats on the lakeside property owners’ use of their properties.

7. Identify enforcement issues, especially from the perspective of lakeside property owners and RA staff.

8. Recommend a plan for possible amendments to the governing documents that best resolve issues in objectives 1-7.

File photo

Obviously, if you’re reading this, you are a Reston Now reader.

Maybe you’ve been reading us since the beginning, when we launched in 2013. Maybe you’re a more recent subscriber. Either way, we don’t ask much — there’s no paywall, no required login, and only a few unobtrusive ads from local businesses.

One thing we do ask, however, is that once a year you take a couple of minutes to tell us how we’re doing and how we can improve. That’s it!

So if you have the time today, we would very much appreciate if you could fill out our 2018 Reston Now reader survey.

Thank you!

A light layer of snow in the morning, which greeted some with disappointment today, will likely become thicker, forecasters say.

A blend of snow, sleet and freezing drizzle is expected to transform into snow later today. A blanket of three to seven inches is possible, with a high near 33 and a low of 27. Snow is expected to taper off before 11 p.m. Tomorrow’s partly sunny conditions may melt some snow away.

Local county entities are taking no chances on the snow despite a slow start this morning. Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County government offices are closed today.

Here’s a roundup of other snow-related closures:

• Reston Community Center – closed
• Reston Association – closed
• Fairfax County Circuit Court – closed
• Fairfax County Circuit Court
• The Walker Nature Center – closed
• Reston Regional Library – pending
• Metro – operating on modified schedule
• Fairfax Connector – operating on Saturday service schedules

6:00 AM: A band of heavy snow is lifting northeast that will quickly make travel hazardous. Temperatures are below freezing in most locations, so exercise caution even if precipitation is light. pic.twitter.com/yWoXFqzqYG

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) March 21, 2018

This post will be updated.