Forest Edge Elementary School will host a parent-outreach session Thursday to teach adults how to help children through grief.

Fairfax County Public Schools is offering the session, which will be led by Fairfax County Public Schools social worker Rodana Aboulhosn, MSW. Aboulhosn’s session will begin at noon Thursday to discuss the topic with parents, guardians, and other adult caregivers.

The session is free and available to all parents in the Reston community.

Sediment levels in Lake Audubon and Lake Thoreau will be checked later this month.

The lakes will be surveyed by Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc. to measure their sediment levels. Reston Association says the surveys will help the budget the funds needed to dredge the lakes over the next two years.

Nicki Bellezza, RA’s watershed manager, is responsible for monitoring, managing and maintaining the association’s lakes, ponds, streams and watersheds. Anyone with questions about the surveying process is encouraged to email her.

Before we jump into the long holiday weekend, let’s take a moment to look back on the most-read news stories on Reston Now in recent days.

Since last Friday, these stories received the most clicks on the site:

1. This is the Last Week for Il Fornaio at Reston Town Center
2. Panera Bread at Woodland Park Crossing Closes Suddenly
3. Sunrise Valley Drive Office Building Demolition Now Underway
4. RA Board Decides to Appoint Sridhar Ganesan to Fill Open Seat
5. Activist: Psychological Impact of Teen’s Killing Will Have Lasting Effect

Feel free to discuss these topics and anything else that happened locally this week. Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend!

This is a sponsored post by Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio and an award-winning, certified kitchen and bathroom designer. AKG Design Studio is a boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales. Contact Anna at 571-989-2541 or [email protected], and follow her work on Houzz; Pinterest; Facebook and Twitter.

School is finally over! And the kids are home for the summer, which means there are craft papers and art supplies flying all around the house! Yes, you did that trip to the art supply store to get all the googly eyes and glitter paper to keep the kids away from the TV for just few hours. So, what do you with all this now?

This week we are catching up with guest blogger Kim Creigh, owner of Creigh~ations, an Etsy shop that customizes in educational craft kits, birthday party decorations and cute gifts. She is the crafty hostess of the Creigh~ative Connection, a free Facebook group that helps moms connect with their children through creativity. She’s here this week to give us her expert tips on how to organize a craft room.

Can you thrive in a messy space?

Have you ever heard that a messy desk actually means you’re more creative?! No? Well, don’t burst my bubble because I’ve read articles that support this and I just chalk my scrap-paper-covered desk up to my creativity! What IS the best way to organize that space into something more orderly? After pinning lots of craft room organization, reading about it and then applying it to my own craft space, I’m going to share my top tips to organizing that craft room! (Some of the links provided are affiliate links in this article. I only recommend what I use and what works!)

What is the biggest problem in craft storage?

If you’re a serious crafter, you are also probably a paper hoarder. This is the biggest issue in a craft room, in my opinion. There are so many possibilities, but if you are a *true* paper hoarder, you need to invest in some paper storage options. These 12×12 shelves are key. Yes, it may look like a craft store, but these paper holders are the way to go! There’s nothing worse than grabbing a piece of pretty cardstock and seeing a bent corner because of how it was stored!

And now what?

Once you organize your paper, you are on the way to an organized craft room! I would also recommend having a bin for scraps. If you are super organized, you could even color code these bins, but I personally simply have a large bin that I throw all of my scraps into, and this seems to work.

What is your last tip?

I would highly recommend keeping anything you use on a daily basis within arm’s reach on your desk. For me, this includes my computer, my Cricut Cricut mats + tools, scissors, adhesive and whatever paper I need for my current project.

Decide what you use the most, position it close to you and then figure out a paper storage system that works for you. Organize your other craft tools based on importance and also how much physical space you have. You are on your way to an organized, happy craft space!

Do YOU have any craft room organization tips? Leave a comment below!

Today is the final day to get your business nominated for the 2017 Best Reston Business Awards.

The Best Reston Business Awards are a chance for residents to vote on their favorite Reston establishments. But before the voting takes place, we need business owners or managers to throw their hat in the ring.

Do you have a store, restaurant, hair salon, legal practice or any other Reston-based business in the categories below? Nominate yourself for this honor using the embedded form or by clicking here.

Finalists will be compiled next week and voting will be conducted later in July.

We’re asking businesses to nominate themselves so that we know exactly who to contact in the event that they make the finals or win in a category. If you want to be able to vote for your favorite business, reach out — via email, social media or in person — and encourage them to submit a nomination.

Note that “new business” refers to any business that has opened since Jan. 1, 2016.

A Reston man was among 11 people arrested during a recent partnership between the Fairfax County and Loudoun County police departments to catch suspected Internet predators.

Hatim Khalid Abdelrahman, a 22-year-old from Reston, was charged by FCPD earlier this month. He is being accused of arranging to meet a young girl with the apparent intent of having sex. According to a press release sent out Friday by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Abdelrahman’s charges are “for communication with a minor under the age of 15 for the purpose of sexual contact and attempted indecent liberties.”

Other men similarly charged in the recent sting include:

• Arthur L. Berrier, 62, of Ashburn
• Ian M. Florance, 34, of Falls Church
• Jack D. Guard Jr., 54, of Ashburn
• Jeremy M. Hawkins, 26, of Point of Rocks, Maryland
• Rajender Mahavadi, 36, of Sterling
• Bhanu C. Muddam, 28, of McLean
• Anishkumar Patel, 44, of Fairfax
• Nathaniel C. Sams, 33, of Sterling
• Avinash S. Thakoorie, 24, of Chantilly
• James A. Zientek, 46, of Centreville

According to LCSO, “as part of ongoing online investigations on suspects identified through proactive operations, the suspects arrested during the investigation resided [in], or planned on traveling to, Loudoun County. The suspects were seeking to engage in criminal sexual activity with a person whom they believed to be a juvenile.”

In addition with the Fairfax and Loudoun police departments, “Operation Safe Summer” involved the FBI Washington Field Office Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force (ICAC) and its affiliated member agencies.

This letter was submitted by Reston resident Bruce Ramo, of Reclaim Reston. It does not reflect the opinions of Reston Now. We publish article and opinion contributions of specific interest to the Reston community. Contributions may be edited for length or content.

Last week, Reclaim Reston, a grassroots citizens group of concerned Reston residents, asked the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to issue a moratorium on proposed zoning amendments that increase density limits and the approval of new development applications not currently in process.

Our group, Reclaim Reston, and the many friends and neighbors with whom we have discussed the proposed zoning amendments to increase density in Reston, recognize the County’s priority is economic development. We welcome compatible re-development in Reston and the new and diverse neighbors that it will bring.

However, we think that the County’s push for greater density will overwhelm the current plans and funding for the schools, parks, roads and other infrastructure needed to support new and current residents. Fairfax County Superintendent Cathy Hudgins has been emphatic in asserting that Restonians should simply accept the fact that infrastructure will lag population. We should not allow that to happen to Reston.

The re-development process for Reston and the other portions of Fairfax County is a labyrinth frequently navigated by large developers in lockstep with their high-end legal counsel and County staff. One needs no more than a random peek at one of the news bulletins posted by the County to understand the symbiotic relationship of developers and the County.

For example, last fall the County announced approval by the Board of Supervisors of a relatively modest project called “Lofts at Reston Station” that will consist of 12 town homes and a 32-unit apartment building on a 1.58 acre-site near the Wiehle Metro stop. Here is a portion of the County’s statement (emphasis added):

As the second largest office market in the county, Reston features many low-density, suburban office parks are ripe for redevelopment. We reworked its land use plan two years ago to encourage more mixed use development and housing near the rail stations.

The Lofts join other approved and proposed development around Wiehle.

Under construction now, Reston Station will erect 1.3 million square feet in homes, offices and shops with direct access to the station.

The self-congratulatory tone of the announcement is a “tell” for Fairfax County’s insatiable appetite for greater density in Reston and corresponding higher tax revenue for the County. Reading through the Staff Recommendations and approvals for this and other projects you will see numerous zoning exceptions and modifications as well as developer-friendly calculations. For example, the County frequently approves modifications of open space requirements, reductions in required parking spaces and setbacks, or deviations from the tree preservation targets.

And as for those developer-friendly calculations, how realistic are the estimates of the number of students to be added by each development? According to those calculations a 500 unit multi-family high-rise will yield only 57 students, elementary school through high school. Such calculations are the basis of the developers’ proffers to “offset the impact of new student growth” at approximately $12,000 per student. Lower calculations of the number of new students reduce the developers’ costs and increase the likelihood that the citizens of Reston will be stuck with over-crowded schools and the tab for school expansions.

Similar developer-friendly calculations by the County also understate the impact to existing infrastructure, such as roads and parks, as is well documented in the recent report by the Reston 20/20 Committee (The Proposed Reston PRC Zoning Amendment: The County’s Rush to Ruin Reston). Also, keep in mind that the developers do not pay their promised “proffers” until the issuance of the first “Residential Use Permit” when their projects are suitable for occupancy. Thus, the funds to help fund infrastructure are not available to the public until new residents are moving in, essentially guaranteeing that the supporting public infrastructure will lag far behind the impact of the higher density.

The sharp increase to the Reston density cap being pushed by the County planning and zoning staff would empower the County to keep approving developer-friendly re-development applications without reasonable attention to the infrastructure needed to support the new residents. Restonians can push back by signing the Reclaim Reston petition to insist that the County keep development and infrastructure more closely aligned.

The 51st season of the Reston Community Players will feature four performances of well-known and critically acclaimed shows.

It will begin in October with a staging of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida.” A story of an enslaved Nubian princess that finds her heart entangled with an Egyptian soldier who is betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter, the musical will be staged by RCP from Oct. 20-Nov. 11.

Next, “Peter and the Starcatcher” is the story of an apprentice starcatcher and a young orphan boy who find themselves on a life-changing adventure when they are charged with protecting magical starstuff from fearsome pirates. It will be performed Jan. 19-Feb. 3, 2018.

Tennessee Williams’ play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is an American classic brimming with intensity and wit. RCP will bring it to the local stage March 9-24, 2018.

RCP will close the season with “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” a spirited musical romp that takes the audience back to the height of the Jazz Age in New York City. It will be performed April 20-May 12.

Reston Community Players perform at CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road) at Reston Community Center. Season tickets are now available for purchase online, and single-ticket sales will begin Saturday, Sept. 23.

For additional information, visit www.restonplayers.org or call 703-476-4500.

This week’s news cycle was dominated by the shocking and horrific killing of Nabra Hassanen. The community showed its support Wednesday evening with a massive and beautiful vigil at Lake Anne Plaza.

All of our coverage of the Nabra Hassanen story is available here.

In case you missed them, these were the other most-read news stories on Reston Now since last Friday:

1. Garage Parking is Free for Jackson’s Customers… But How Does It Work?
2. Cooper’s Hawk Plans to Hire 200 People in Next Two Months
3. South Lakes Seniors Return to Elementary School Roots to Celebrate Graduation
4. Reclaim Reston to County: Pump the Brakes on Density, Development
5. Closed: Mama Wok at Tall Oaks Village Center

Feel free to discuss these topics and anything else that happened locally this week. Have a great weekend!

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce honored the best of the best Thursday during its annual meeting for Awards and Chamber Excellence.

Winners of this year’s ACE honors are:

• Large Business of the Year: Leidos
• Medium Business of the Year: Not Your Average Joe’s
• Small Business of the Year: Pinot’s Palette
• Member of the Year: Kevin Taylor, Communicate by Design
• New Member of the Year: Jennifer Rhodes, Tagence
• Volunteer of the Year: Dave and JoAnne Adams, Dave & JoAnne Adams Group — Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
• President’s Award: Michael Delpierre, Conversion Pipeline
• Pinnacle Award: Angela Inzerillo, Impact Business Solutions
• Committee of the Year: Ambassadors Committee

Thank you @RestonChamber! We're honored to be the 2017 #RestonACE Large Business of the Year! 😁🏆🎉 #TeamLeidos pic.twitter.com/9MeUvWaYvx

— Leidos (@LeidosInc) June 22, 2017

The GRCC Board for the coming year will include:

• Matt Brennan, Brennan & Waite PLC
• Mike Coogan, Leidos
• Michael Delpierre, Conversion Pipeline
• Kevin Krestch, Hyatt Regency Reston
• John Dierdorff, Reston Hospital Center
• Mike Franz, SOSi
• Bruce Gemmill, John Marshall Bank
• Leila Gordon, Reston Community Center
• Kelly McSweeney, Google
• Maggie Parker, Comstock
• Laura Siko, Northern Virginia Community College
• Mark Watts, CST Group CPAs PC

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce provides programming, education, connections and advocacy for its 670 members and organizations in the Dulles Corridor.

Casimer Carros bought a pair of Cash 5 tickets for the Virginia Lottery’s evening drawing June 8 — one for himself and one for his daughter.

The five numbers on the tickets he purchased at Harris Teeter in The Spectrum shopping plaza were the same: 2, 5, 7, 10 and 31. The numbers correlate with the birthdays of Carros’ daughter and granddaughter.

And when the drawing happened that night, the numbers matched again.

Carros and his daughter, Debra, each won the game’s $100,000 top prize.

“I checked the numbers thinking I’m not a winner,” Carros told the Virginia Lottery. “But this time I was!”

According to the Virginia Lottery’s press release archives, other recent big wins by Reston players have included:

• a $50,000 Powerball ticket winner in January 2016
• a $100,000 Cash 5 winner in August 2015
• a $10,000 Powerball winner in February 2015

Photo courtesy Virginia Lottery

There is still a week and a half left to get yourself nominated for the 2017 Best Reston Business Awards.

The Best Reston Business Awards are a chance for residents to vote on their favorite Reston establishments. But before the voting takes place, we need business owners or managers to throw their hat in the ring.

Do you have a store, restaurant, hair salon, legal practice or any other Reston-based business in the categories below? Nominate yourself for this honor using the embedded form or by clicking here.

The nomination period will run through June 30.

We’re asking businesses to nominate themselves so that we know exactly who to contact in the event that they make the finals or win in a category. If you want to be able to vote for your favorite business, reach out — via email, social media or in person — and encourage them to submit a nomination.

Note that “new business” refers to any business that has opened since Jan. 1, 2016.

Starting next week, be prepared to spend a little more for a ride on the Fairfax Connector.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved fare increases for the service that will go into effect Sunday. The fares are going up in connection with increases to Metro fares, which also go into effect Sunday.

Riders of the Fairfax Connector will need to know these numbers:

• Regular base fare will increase from $1.75 to $2.
• Senior and disabled base fare will increase from 85 cents to $1.
• Bus-to-bus transfer fare will increase from $1.75 to $2 for those paying cash.
• Metrorail-to-bus transfer fare will increase from $1.25 to $1.50 for those paying by SmarTrip card, and from $1.75 to $2 for those paying cash.
• Senior and disabled Metrorail-to-bus transfer fare will increase from 35 cents to 50 cents for those paying by SmarTrip card, and to $1 for those paying cash.

Fares for express routes are going up as well.

For more information on fares, visit the Fairfax Connector website.