More than 100 turned out for a planned rally at the Reston National Golf Course Sunday against the development of the 166 acres which has long been kept as natural open space.
The group, which calls itself “Rescue Reston,” says the acreage is “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Golf,” and that its designation as open space dates back to Reston founder Bob Simon’s vision for the community.
“We’re going to send a message to the majority owner of the golf course — Northwestern Mutual — and potential bidders that Reston will not stop defending the 166 acres across Sunrise Valley Drive from the Northwestern Mutual offices,” said Connie Hartke, president of Rescue Reston. “Restonians have the power when the zoning is already on our side.”
“[Our] message to speculators regarding the sale of Reston National Golf Course is: buy a golf course if you wish, but know that recreational open space is all you will have,” Hartke continued.
News of this latest potential sale and development of Reston National Golf Course emerged earlier this year when ARA Newmark began distributing information that implies the acreage is “coming soon” for interested parties. The memorandum indicates it was prepared “solely for the use of prospective buyers of the real property commonly known as Reston National Golf Course.”
Rescue Reston members have been consulting with attorneys in preparation of fighting any potential rezoning, sale or development of the property, the organization’s website states.
https://twitter.com/JeremyMcLellan/status/861096829865271296
A video purporting to show a woman making anti-Muslim comments while in line at the Reston Trader Joe’s store has received local, national and global attention since it was first posted early Sunday.
Comedian Jeremy McLellan posted the clip on social media after, he says, a friend of his — a Muslim woman who took the video and bore the brunt of the woman’s rant — sent it to him.
“I wish they didn’t let you in the country,” the woman said to the video-taker, who replies that she was born in the U.S.
Here’s how it started, according to McLellan: Read More
This weekend is looking like it’s going to be rather wet and overcast, but there’s still plenty going on around Reston this weekend.
Here is just a sample of the events going on around the area this weekend.
- The Reston Players take the stage this weekend with their new production, Noel Coward’s “Private Lives.” This play is often called “the quintessential comedy of manners.” Performances at 8 p.m. on May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m., and a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, May 14. Tickets are $21, or $18 for students with ID and senior citizens. Shows are held at CenterStage at the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road). Visit RestonPlayers.org for more information.
- Friday night, Encore Chorales from Lansdowne Woods and the Potomac Arts Academy at George Mason University presents a free choral concert at Reston’s United Christian Parish (11508 N. Shore Dr.). The singers will perform a variety of pieces including “Les Miserables,” “Va Pensiero,” “Porgy and Bess” and “Do Lord Remember Me.”
- On Saturday from 4-6 p.m., support reading by local children by joining Girl Scouts at Reston Town Center’s Scrawl Books (11862 Market St.) for a Book Drive and Author Panel. Bring gently used books to donate to elementary schools, or purchase books at Scrawls and donate them on the spot. Enjoy refreshments, and hear talks about book writing and publishing by local authors such as K.L. Kranes (“The Travelers”) and Angela Glascock (“Locksmith at the End of the World”), who will also sign copies of their books. A door prize will be given away at the end of the event. This event is free.
- On Saturday, join the folks from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue for Pet Fiesta at Reston Town Center. At LDAR’s booth, located by the fountain (11900 Market St.), there will be roughly 50 dogs and puppies up for adoption. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Don’t forget about Walker Nature Center’s annual Spring Festival this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. (11450 Glade Dr.). It will feature entertainment, live animals, craft-making for kids, displays and information from local environmental groups, canoeing and kayaking on Lake Audubon, fishing, a native plant sale by Nature by Design, and much more.
- Let loose your child’s inner Top Chef with a Kid’s Cooking Class at Reston Town Center’s Il Fornaio restaurant (11900 Market St.) this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This weekend they’ll learn how to make pizza from scratch, and enjoy soft drinks and gelato.
- Back by popular demand this Saturday from 2-6 p.m. is TEDx Herndon at Herndon Middle School (901 Locust St.). This year’s theme is “Difficult Conversations.”
- Take in some art and education at this Saturday’s Curator Talk at 4 p.m. at the Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St. #103). Curator Holly McCullough will discuss “The Great Dismal Swamp” by Radcliffe Bailey, which is on display at GRACE through August.
- This weekend, an all-female cast will perform Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet“ multiple times Saturday and Sunday in the Lake Anne Recreation Area (11301 North Shore Drive). One show will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and there will be shows at both 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday. The performances are free, but donations are welcome. The show is being put on by the D.C.-based performance troupe, AnyStage Theatre Company.
- Support the March of Dimes by joining other locals for the March For Babies this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Reston Town Center Pavilion (11900 Market Street). Activities will include a picnic, music and lots of fun things for the kids.
- Put on your best pirate garb and take the family out to Pirate Fest this Saturday and Sunday at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy the raingutter regatta, a treasure hunt for pirate booty, the “Pirate Skills Challenge” with jousting and cannons, fun science and craft projects and more. For $4 per person, you can also take a boat tour with a real pirate captain at the wheel. Register through Fairfax County Parks and Recreation for $10.
- Meet artist Norman Krasnegor at an Artist’s Reception Sunday from 3-7 p.m. at the Hunters Woods Village community center (2310 Colts Neck Road), to celebrate the opening of his exhibit, which will be on display through May.
You’ve undoubtedly noticed, it’s a wet and rainy morning around Reston. Will the rain let up today?
According to the National Weather Service, there’s a chance, but not a big one.
Rain and the chance of thunderstorms is likely until at least 2 p.m. Friday, with the added likelihood of “gusty winds.” Temperatures will mostly remain in the 60s, with a possible high of 73 degrees.
Around mid-afternoon, there is a chance the rain will finally stop between 2 to 4 p.m. Then, the chance of showers tonight goes down to around a 30-percent likelihood. Temperatures tonight will hover in the 50s.
For the weekend, sporadic rain is highly likely. The chance of rain is 70 percent between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, with a mostly clear mid-day leading to a 30-percent chance of rain returning around 8 p.m. Temperatures will linger in the 50s with a high near 64.
Thankfully, it looks like Restonians may be able to enjoy a dry Sunday. There is only a 20-percent chance of showers around 8 a.m. However dry, though, it will likely be an overcast and windy day, with temperatures in the 50s and wind gusts of up to 24 miles per hour.
Invasive Plant Removal this Weekend — Join Habitat Heroes this Saturday, May 6 to help remove invasive plants from around the Glade Recreation Area (11550 Glade Dr.). Members say, “Reston’s native trees, ferns and wildflowers are under attack by invasive plants like English ivy, Japanese honeysuckle and bamboo. These fast-growing, aggressive plants escape from people’s yards and threaten local ecosystems, taking away vital food and habitat from already stressed wildlife populations.” No expertise is needed, members will teach you anything you need to know to help. Reston Association will provide some tools, gloves, snacks and water, but you can bring your own gardening gloves if you have some. [Habitat Heroes/SignUp Genius]
Lyft Offering Local Sober Rides Friday Night for Cinco de Mayo — Lyft is partnering with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) to offer free rides of up to $15 Friday night for adults enjoying cocktails in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The first 1,500 D.C.-area customers to enter the promo code “CINCODC” will get $15 free toward a ride. Good for both new and existing customers. Must be 21 and older. Promotion offered between 7 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Saturday. [WRAP/Sober Ride]
Herndon Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Teen For Four Years — Eric W. Judy, a 54-year-old Herndon man, has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a teen boy over a period of four years. The boy, now 17 years old, recently told authorities that the man had been abusing him since May of 2013, when he was 13 years old. According to police, the man was a “family friend” who regularly spent time with the boy and took him on trips. Fairfax County police arrested Judy on Wednesday night. He is being held without bond in Loudoun County. [WJLA]
On Fridays, we take a moment to thank our advertisers and sponsors:
Reston Station, Summerbration will offer something to watch, listen to, taste and enjoy all summer long.
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the business community for the vibrant region.
BLVD, Comstock’s apartments at Reston Station.
AKG Design Studio, boutique design firm specializing in kitchen, bathroom designs and cabinetry sales.
Berry & Berry, PLLC, Reston law firm specializing in federal employment, retirement, labor union, and security clearance matters.
Reston Real Estate, Eve Thompson of Long & Foster Real Estate specializes in Reston homes.
Reston Carpet Cleaning, local cleaning service.
Becky’s Pet Care, offering friendly pet services in Northern Virginia.
Reston Community Center, serving Reston’s recreational and cultural needs.
MakeOffices, shared work spaces with five area locations, including Reston.
Boofie O’Gorman, Top Producer Realtor at Long & Foster Reston.
Goldfish Swim School, specializing in children’s swim lessons year-round.
Small Change Consignment, serving Reston’s kids for more than 30 years.
A Cleaning Service, professional residential and commercial cleaning.
Reston Montessori, private co-educational school for children ages 3 months to sixth grade.
Kalypso’s Sports Tavern, providing great food and drink at Lake Anne Plaza.
Bright Horizons at Commerce Metro Center, new child care facility in Reston.
Fusion Academy, accredited private middle and high school for grades 6-12.
Reston Children’s Center, providing care, preschool and private education and summer camp enrichment.
Ryan Homes — Westmoore, Loudoun County’s hottest new Metro community in the heart of Ashburn.
Knutson Brambleton, Loudoun County urban townhomes with yards in the sky.
Knutson Crescent Place, urban townhomes in Leesburg — Loudoun’s authentic town center since 1758.
DC Bike Ride, Washington’s closed-road and car-free 20-mile scenic bike ride, coming May 14.
Lofts at Village Walk, urban townhome condominium designs at The Village at Leesburg.
Towns of Lansdowne Square, a collection of 23 luxury urban townhomes in downtown Lansdowne.
Tall Oaks Assisted Living, assisted living, memory care and more senior care services.
On Monday, construction is set to begin on 210 new senior living units in Reston.
The units, to be called Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, will be located in place of the former United Christian Parish Church at 2222 Colts Neck Road.
Of the 210 units, 90 will be designated as independent living, 81 for assisted living, 15 for special needs, and 24 assigned to memory care.
The project will offer 20 percent of the independent living units as affordable units, and 4 percent of the assisted living beds will be available for residents who are eligible for the Virginia Department of Ageing and Rehabilitative Services Auxiliary Grant Program.
The project will offer 20 percent of the independent living units as affordable units, and 4 percent of the assisted living beds will be available for residents who are eligible for the Virginia Department of Ageing and Rehabilitative Services Auxiliary Grant Program. Read More
As part of a national effort to help prevent drowning and water-related injuries and illnesses, Reston Community Center will offer free beginning swim lessons for children ages 6 to 12 this summer.
May is recognized nationwide as National Water Safety Month. The initiative is a joint effort of the American Red Cross, The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the World Waterpark Association.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), accidental drowning is the leading cause of death among young children ages 1 to 2, and the second leading cause of death for ages 3 to 6. Most of those deaths occur when a child either falls into a pool or is left alone in a bathtub.
The NSC recommends that all children be taught the following basic life-saving swimming techniques: Read More
Locally based Gin Dance Company will perform at the 26th annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, celebrating a public art installment at Reston Town Center.
The dancers will perform “Hello! Goodbye!” at 11 a.m. both days of the festival, May 20 and 21, at Mary Ann Mears’ “Reston Rondo” sculpture in Hyatt Park. The performance was created by the company’s artistic director, Shu-Chen Cuff.
From a press release:
“Just as the Mears sculpture shows a clean organic form which brings a feeling of lyricism and whimsy. Shu-Chen Cuff explores through her choreography of ‘Hello! Goodbye!’ to bring a high energy of joy, grace and humor. Shu-Chen will bring in her Gin Dance Company Dancers that will transform the Hyatt Park into a living theatrical experience not to be missed.”
The free festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 20; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 21. All interior streets of the Town Center will be reserved for pedestrians only, leaving an 11-block art walk. Boston Properties’ parking fees will be waived during the event, including during a kickoff party Friday.
Photo courtesy Gin Dance Company
For the second time this week, a significant portion of Reston is without power.
Just after 9 a.m., between 700 to 1,000 customers lost power in South Reston.
The outage area mostly stretched along the eastern side of Reston Parkway, from just north of Hunters Woods Elementary to just north of the Dulles Toll Road around Sunset Hills Road.
Dominion Power’s website indicates a crew has been dispatched, and the cause of the outage is still under investigation.
It was estimated power would be restored to these customers between 11 a.m. and noon today.
See a map of the outage area on Dominion’s website.
On Tuesday, more than 1,700 lost power in the same area along Reston Parkway.
Reston-based security firm accused of smuggling, human trafficking in Iraq — A scathing Associated Press story that came out Wednesday accuses a Reston-based contractor of allowing some risky operations to take place while being paid hundreds of millions of dollars to provide security to an F-16 air base in Iraq, and then firing independent investigators that uncovered it. The investigators told the AP that U.S. security personnel “turned a blind eye” though they were fully aware of prostitutes and alcohol being smuggled into Baghdad and onto the base, as well as not interfering when they witnessed power generators being stolen off the base by local militia and driven away on huge flatbed trucks. [MSN.com/Associated Press]
Reston Chamber Seeks Nominations for Annual Business Awards – The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual ACE awards (Awards for Chamber Excellence). The awards recognize outstanding member businesses that demonstrate “excellence, innovation and community involvement” while supporting the Chamber’s mission. Categories include Small/Medium/Large Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and more. Nominations can be submitted online through May 12. Winners will be announced at the ACE Awards in June. [Greater Reston Chamber]
County to review policies after some rack up more than $100,000 in overtime pay — County supervisors are reviewing departmental staffing and pay policies after a review of the books revealed that more than 1,700 county employees earned more than $100,000 last year, in large part due to overtime pay. Several employees are said to have made more than $100,000 just in overtime pay alone, and some even doubled or tripled their salary. Supervisor Pat Herrity said especially with first responders, so much overtime presents safety concerns. A review is now being conducted to determine if hiring additional staff will reduce the need for so much overtime. [WTOP]
Teen arrested for shooting BB gun at occupied car in Herndon — A 19-year-old man was arrested after firing multiple shots from a BB gun at an occupied car in Herndon. The teen is being held in Fairfax County jail without bond. [Herndon Patch]
Pirate Fest is returning to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Dr.) this Saturday, May 6, offering the area’s youngest pirates the chance to ride in pirate ships, sing pirate ditties, and hear tales of excitement on the high seas.
Kids — and parents — are encouraged to dress up in their favorite pirate costumes and practice their best “arrrrgh, matey” and head to Lake Fairfax Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $10 through Fairfax County Parks and Recreation. For an additional $4 per person, you can book a pirate boat tour with a real pirate captain at the wheel. 
Other planned activities include the raingutter regatta, a treasure hunt for real pirate booty, the “Pirate Skills Challenge” with jousting and cannons, fun science and craft projects and more.
There were also be a marketplace full of “exotic treasures” to shop for.
Advance registration for the event is recommended, and required for the pirate boat tour. Visit the Pirate Fest page on the Parks and Recreation website to register and see more details about the event.
Images of Pirate Fest by Fairfax County Parks & Recreation
Fairfax County has made sample ballots available for June 13’s Virginia primary election, at which Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates will be selected.
Republican candidates for governor are Ed Gillespie, Corey Stewart and Frank Wagner. Democratic candidates are Ralph Northam and Tom Perriello.
For lieutenant governor, Republican candidates are Glenn Davis, Bryce Reeves and Jill Vogel. Democratic candidates are Justin Fairfax, Susan Platt and Gene Rossi.
To find your polling place, visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.
Editor’s Note, May 4 at 12:55 p.m.: The date of this event has been corrected to Sunday, May 7 at 11 a.m.
This article was submitted to RestonNow by a member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Christian Church. Similar submissions can be sent to [email protected].
All are welcome at Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church’s (11400 N. Shore Dr.) celebration service this Sunday, May 7 at 11 a.m.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church began in February, 1982 by a band of Christians who wanted to have a worship center like the worship homes they had come from as they settled in Reston.
The first service was held in the Southgate Community Room in South Reston. The name of the church was chosen because of the turbulent times its founders had lived through during the Civil Rights movement and the lasting results brought about by Dr. King. Read More
As Reston Association board members prepare to draw up the budget for FY2018-19, they are seeking input from community members.
Budget has been a hot topic around Reston lately, particularly after last year’s controversial overrun of the budget for projects like the Lake House, and after pool schedules for this year came out and had cuts in them that upset many residents, considering that RA annual assessment dues went up $35 for 2017.
RA CEO Cate Fulkerson spoke last month at the association’s annual member meeting, expressing a commitment to more transparency and efficiency.
Fulkerson also announced a series of “listening meetings” in each of Reston’s districts to hear feedback on RA operations directly from residents, specifically timed to occur before FY2018’s and FY2019’s capital and operating budgets are finalized.
Those meetings are expected to take place over May and June. The budget is expected to be adopted in the fall.
In addition to the listening meetings, the RA has recently been distributing feedback forms that residents can print out and submit, or email to staff.
The forms ask for residents’ ideas and suggestions for new projects or services that would be beneficial to members, services or facilities that need improving upon, and the like.
“Perhaps you have a suggestion or an idea about improving association services or adding new services,” the request for feedback reads. “You are welcome to submit any and all ideas about Reston Association’s services, facilities, operations and programs.”
For those who have ideas on new projects or services, or existing ones that might need more funding, the RA asks them to describe their idea in as much detail as possible, including as many specifics like location, cost or potential savings as they can.
The RA promises to “prioritize” constructive suggestions during budget talks.
“The Board of Directors will carefully consider all suggestions received, in light of available financial resources, and will prioritize these suggestions for possible inclusion in the upcoming budget.”
Click here to download the feedback submission form from RA’s website.
It can then be mailed or dropped off at RA headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.), or can be sent by email to [email protected].
Submissions must be received no later than June 30.
