Reduced Shakespeare Company, a troupe that has been performing shows for more than three decades, will bring their interactive skits to Reston Community Center’s CenterStage on Saturday.
The group will perform “The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)” on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. in an effort to “rekindle the joy, inner-child and familial dysfunction inside us all,” according to the troupe’s description of the show.
Audience members can bring a Christmas gift of $5 value or less and participate in an audience gift exchange. RSC’s shows are known for their unique tongue-in-cheek interpretations of the world and interaction with the audience during live shows.
During the show, the artists will describe how Santa saved Christmas, delve into the history of famous Christmas traditions, explore the origin of the term nutcracker and more.
Tickets are $25 for Reston residents and $35 for all others. For more information, visit RCC’s website or call Paul Douglas Michnewicz, the arts and events director at 703-390-6167.
The Washington Nationals will bring out their Racing Presidents today at Reston Town Center.
During the fourth inning of every Nationals home game, Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Herbert Hoover race in what has become a fixture of games since 2006.
The presidents are introduced individually when they enter the park and they run along the track and turn for a final sprint along the first base foul line. This year, the race featured the original “Rushmore Four,” restoring a traditional lineup that competed in earlier races.
At Reston Town Center, the presidents will entertain guests at Fountain Square around the skating rink. The event will run from 5 – 7 p.m. and will include entertainment and giveaways.
Local police responded to two incidents involving stolen cars in the past week.
On Saturday, the Herndon Police Department responded to a report that a suspect drove off in a car after its owner briefly entered a business on Elden Street. The suspect was later arrested in Loudoun County.
In a separate incident the same day, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office arrested Abdullah Anwar, a 23-year-old Herndon resident after police stopped the vehicle as it travelled over the posted speed limit on Route 7. The car, which police believe was stolen from Herndon, was stopped in Waterview Plaza. Anwar was charged with felony speed to elude, auto theft, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a breath test, reckless driving by speed and driving on a suspended driver’s license.
The sheriff office’s also arrested Ali Samir, a 31-year-old Reston resident, on Friday on the 44600 block of Wellfleet Drive in Ashburn. Deputies responded to a report that a male subject was engaged in disorderly conduct and was involved in a fight, police said. Samir was charged with possessional of a controlled substance.
As we reported earlier in the week, a man pointed a gun at a victim at the 2200 block of Hunters Woods Plaza on Thursday around 2:30 p.m. and demanded money. The victim fled by foot. No injuries were reported, police said.
Meanwhile, the Fairfax County Police Department the following crimes in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1300 block of Butter Churn Drive, cash from residence
11900 block of Killingsworth Avenue, wallet from business
1500 block of Northgate Square, bag from business
11100 block of Saffold Way, package from residence
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, liquor from business
13400 block of Coppermine Road, merchandise from business
11700 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business
11900 block of Grey Squirrel Lane, package from residence
11900 block of Market Street, copper from business
2300 block of Rosedown Drive, package from residence
2100 block of Westglade Court, laptop computer from residence
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
In addition, FCPD is investigating a burglary that took place on Thursday between 11:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Police said someone entered a home on the 12220 block of Turkey Wing Court and stole property.
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).
The annual Reston Holiday Parade came in sixth nationwide, thanks to people who voted for the country’s top 10 holiday processions in a USA Today contest, according to results released this week.
Reston’s sixth-place slot put it ahead of the Alexandra Holiday Boat Parade of Lights in Alexandria, Va. Last year, the parade in Reston ranked fourth overall.
Top honors went to Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, one of the longest running traditions in the country. The parade, which roots back to the 1800s as a celebration of the New Year, includes a colorful procession along Broad Street that features performances by comics, string bands and fancy brigades, according to USA Today.
The complete rankings are as follows:
- Mummers Parade – Philadelphia
- America’s Thanksgiving Parade – Detroit
- Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade – Boston
- Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade – Annapolis, Md.
- Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade – Charlotte
- Reston Holiday Parade – Reston, Va.
- Christmas Ship Parade – Portland, Ore.
- Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights – Alexandria, Va.
- Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – Fort Lauderdale
- McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade – Chicago
USA Today said a panel of experts whittled down a long list of nationwide events to come up with the initial top 20, which were put up to readers’ votes to determine the top 10 holiday parades in the country.
File photo.
A Herndon man was arrested Friday night after fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Abdullah Anwar, 23, was stopped in the parking lot of Waterview Plaza after he was observed driving over the posted speed limit along Route 7 in Sterling, police said. During the investigation, police found the car was stolen from Herndon.
Anwar was charged with felony speed to elude, auto theft, driving under the influence, refusal to submit to a breath test, reckless driving by speed and driving on a suspended driver’s license. He was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a secured bond.
Before we head off into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the biggest stories on Reston Now in recent days. The following articles were the five most-clicked links.
- Local Food Truck Opens New Restaurant in Reston
- Proposed Luxury Condominiums in Reston Raise Concerns About Affordable Housing
- Op-Ed: The Road from Nowhere
- New Residential Mid-rise Building Proposed for Reston Corner
- Proposed Assisted Living Facility on Sunrise Valley Drive Draws Opposition
Feel free to discuss these topics, your weekend plans or anything else that’s happening locally. As always, send story ideas and pitches to us at [email protected] or via Twitter. Have a great weekend!
The Fairfax County Police Department is investigating an attempted armed robbery on the 2200 block of Hunters Woods Plaza Thursday afternoon.
At around 2:30 p.m., an individual pointed a gun at a man when he refused to provide money. The victim ran away and was not injured, police said.
Police believe the suspect left the area in a car. He was described as a black man in his 30s. Detectives are investigating the incident.
Board of Supervisors to Meet General Assembly Delegation on Dec. 12 — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will host the county’s delegation to the General Assembly for a roundtable work session and discussion of the upcoming 2018 General Assembly session. A reception at 3 p.m. will be followed by a work session from 3:30 – 5 p.m. in the Fairfax County Government Center in conference rooms nine and ten. [Fairfax County Government]
Free Friday at the Greater Reston Arts Center — The center will open its doors on Friday at 5 p.m. for an evening of family art making, storytelling and gallery exploration. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required online. [Greater Reston Arts Center]
Where Do Annual Assessment Fees for Reston Association Go? — RA has published a guide to help members who own residential property to understand how money is allocated from next year’s assessment fee of $682. [Reston Association]
Reston Association Committee Releases First Annual State of the Environment Report — After more than a year of work, RA’s environmental advisory committee has released its first review of environmental issues in Reston. A member of the committee describes the scope of the committee’s work in a Reston Today video. [Reston Today via YouTube]
Fairfax County Planning Commission to Decide On Proposal for Assisted Living Facility — The body will review a proposal by Kensington Senior Development LLC to bring a 70-unit assisted living facility to 11501 Sunrise Valley Drive. The proposal drew opposition from nearby residents at a public hearing last week. The commission will vote on the project at its 8:15 p.m. meeting today in the Fairfax County Government Center board auditorium. An online stream is on the county’s website. [Fairfax County Planning Commission]
FCPD: Keep Your Faith-based Organization Safe — The Fairfax County Police Department is hosting two worship watch seminars in the coming weeks. During seminars, officers share crime prevention tips and training specific to protecting congregants’ place of worship. The first seminar is on Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield. The second is on Jan. 3 at the county’s new Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax from 6 to 9 p.m. Registration is required. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Hook Road Working Groups Meet This Week — The group will meet tomorrow from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. to discuss the Hook Road Recreation Area project at Reston Association headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). [Reston Association]
This is an op/ed submitted by Dennis Hays, president of the Reston Citizens Association. It does not reflect the opinions of Reston Now.
Good governance requires a bond of trust between citizens and their elected and appointed officials. This trust can best – in fact only – be achieved and maintained when citizens are confident officials have the community’s best interests at heart and all proposals and plans affecting the community are fully presented and discussed.
County officials are currently proposing to amend zoning ordinances to allow significantly more population density in Reston. They make their case by stating such amendments are required to fulfill the vision of the Reston Master Plan. More specifically, the Plan is the only justification given for proposals to add tens of thousands of new housing units without providing the basic infrastructure needed to support such growth.
So, is the Plan by itself enough to satisfy the need for transparency and to engender trust?
County officials will tell you the Plan was developed by the “community” through an exhaustive series of meetings held over six years. Sounds good, but the reality is something very different. First, membership in the working group was heavily weighted toward developers and their attorneys. Second, and equally troubling, the Plan has been amended after it was theoretically finalized, without community input. The following is one example why this should be of concern to everyone who lives, works or plays in Reston.
In mid-2015, after community involvement had concluded, an unmarked line representing a new road mysteriously appeared on revised maps associated with the Master Plan (Staff Report, Appendix B page 60). This new road would connect Isaac Newton Square and American Dream Way. The stated purpose is to “construct or improve {a} local or collector street.” What it actually does is cut through the full length of the fourth fairway and across the approach to the third green of the Hidden Creek Golf Course, thus destroying the integrity of Hidden Creek. As several observers have pointed out – there is no such thing as a 16 hole golf course.
The placement of this road directly violates the letter and spirit of sections of the Comprehensive Plan rarely mentioned by County officials – the sections which call for this area to perpetually be “open space, designated as a golf course.” And open space and recreational areas – along with roads, bridges, schools and public safety – are among the issues ignored or shortchanged in the density proposals.
So, where did this road come from? No one knows–or will admit to knowing. The Reston Association wrote to the County last January opposing this road and asking for an explanation of how it appeared. Eleven months later they continue to wait for a response.
Perhaps this was a mistake, quickly corrected? No, the road remains in the current edition of the Comprehensive Plan – no longer in an appendix, but now promoted to the main body of the report (page 137).
Does the addition of this road have anything to do with the recent sale of Hidden Creek to a development company? One can only speculate.
The County/citizen relationship is important enough to give the benefit of doubt as to how we got to this point. But this can’t be ignored any longer. County officials need to explain why this road appeared out of nowhere and why the County has refused to provide information on it, despite repeated requests. Although it is late, it isn’t too late for the County to respond. But there are only two possible explanations and courses of action:
First, the County acknowledges this was a mistake, perhaps just an overeager subordinate acting without proper review or authorization. If so, the road needs to be immediately removed from the Plan. Second, this was not a mistake and the County does want this road built and open space bulldozed. In that case, the County needs to take ownership of the proposal and try to justify the multiple violations of its own rules and planning guidelines.
It’s a matter of trust.
As the year winds to a close, we wish you a happy December 1. Here are our most read stories this week:
- Fairfax Police Investigate Stabbing of Juvenile in Hunters Woods Plaza
- Tuesday Morning Notes
- Bozzuto’s New Aperture Apartments at Reston Station Fill ‘Decades-Old Gap’
- Afghan Restaurant Coming to Plaza America in Reston
- Plan to Bring Assisted Living Facility to Sunrise Valley Drive Moves Forward
Feel free to discuss anything of local interest below or send story ideas to [email protected].
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Have a great weekend!
Lake Anne Plaza is gearing up for the annual “Jingle on Lake Anne” this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The program includes a variety of festivities, including strolling carolers, a petting zoo, music, wine tastings and cookie decorating. The event is hosted by Lake Anne Merchants.
The schedule is as follows:
- 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Craft Market
- 10 a.m. – noon – Cookie & Kid Crafts
- 11 a.m. -1 p.m. – Elementary School Choruses
- Noon-2 p.m. – Santa arrives with Paddleboards
- 2 p.m.– Close: “Pop-up” Bar
- 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Live Music on Plaza
For more information, visit the festival’s website.
Waiting for a Cyber Monday order? The Fairfax County Police Department has issued several tips to protect delivered orders from “package pirates.”
“Those packages from Cyber Monday sales are starting to show up on doorsteps and we want to ensure the Grinch doesn’t steal your gifts. Unfortunately, this type of crime does happen in our community and we are offering these tips to ensure package safety this holiday season,” according to the police department.
The department suggested the following tips:
- Sign up for delivery alerts to know when the items are delivered.
- Don’t leave delivered packages unattended. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out for the packages and offer the same in return.
- Require a signature delivery for packages you ship to friends and family.
- Set up alternative delivery options. Check your delivery service’s website for details.
- Many retailers allow you to purchase items online and pick up in store or at a locker, where they’ll be safe until you can pick them up.
- See if it’s possible to have packages delivered to your workplace for the holiday season.
- Going out of town? Hold your mail and packages.
- Keep an eye out for suspicious people and vehicles in your neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to call the non-emergency number!
- Package theft is not just an issue around the holidays, it occurs throughout the year. Consider investing in an exterior security system.
FCPD encourages individuals to call the police department on its non-emergency number at 703-691-2131 to provide any information about suspicious people or vehicles.
Former NFL Pro Bowler Charles Mann has joined Verity Commercial, a Reston-based commercial real estate services firm, the Washington Business Journal reports.
Since retiring from football in the 1994, Mann, 56, helped broker major deals, including the lease for Southland Industries at the Brick Yard Business Park in Prince George’s County, Maryland and the $7.9 million sale of Franklin Farm Medical Office, according to the report.
Before turning commercial real estate, Mann was a former Washington Redskins defensive end and played 12 years in the National Football League. After graduating from Strayer University he shifted to business development by working for companies like Mechanical Design Group, according to the report. He launched a government contracting firm called Charles Mann Enterprises three years ago.
He will handle sales and business development at Verity Commercial.
For the complete report, visit WBJ’s website.
Editor’s Note (Nov. 30): This story has been updated to include Mann’s history with the Washington Redskins.
The design behind Aperture Apartments, one of the first residential projects to open next to the new Metro station, was intended to fill a void in Reston’s architectural vernacular, according to the architecture firm behind the 421-unit luxury rental building.
“Our goal was to create a facade that would fill a decades-old gap in the city’s architectural vernacular,” said Rohit Anand, principal of KTGY Architecture + Planning, the architecture firm behind the design.
The project on 11410 Reston Station Blvd. is developed by Bozzuto Group and Veatch Commercial Real Estate in an effort to create an art-infused community that blurs the line between city and suburban living in a lower-density setting.
Anand said his team sought to create an entry plaza that would showcase a state-making art installation that would set the tone for the community. An underground parking garage with 589 parking spaces was also intended to enhance the experience on the street, he said.
The team also sought to create a community that would specifically attract artists and entrepreneurs. A double elliptical staircase in the lobby was intended to create a residential feel and lead up to gathering areas like an e-lounge and conference room, a library nook and a shared office area.
On the second floor, three interior courtyard will take up roughly 23,000 square feet of the space with a pool, grilling stations and seating. The courtyard connects to other rooms like a club lounge and an outdoor yoga center that is part of the building’s fitness center. A second courtyard contains a television, fire pit and seating. The third deck is intended to house a community dog run, according to the firm.
Aperture was previously the home of a retail strip center and a mini-storage facility. The project is part of the ongoing $5.3 billion Dulles Corridor Metrorail project and Silver Line expansion.
