This is an op-ed by Frank Sullivan of Chantilly. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

In the Nov. 8 General Election, a meals tax ballot question will ask Fairfax Country voters to allow the Board of Supervisors to impose an additional tax on prepared foods. Below are six reasons why voters should vote (Vote No) against the imposition of this meals tax:

1. The tax on prepared foods in the county will increase to 10 percent, a 4-percent meals tax plus the current 6-percent state sales tax. This tax will not only apply to what one purchases in restaurants, but to all prepared foods and beverages regardless of where purchased (grocery stores, restaurants, lunchrooms, cafeterias taverns, coffee shops, cafes, delis, food trucks, etc.).

2. The ballot question leads one to believe the meals tax will reduce the dependency on real estate taxes. The facts are the Board recently approved a property tax increase of $1.13 per $100 which represents an increase of 6 percent to the average homeowner. This now represents an increase of 26 percent over 5 years. The average annual Real Estate tax bill will increase $304, this on top of the $185 increase from last year. Over the last two years, the Board also has voted to increase stormwater taxes, sewer service charges, and youth athletic fees all the while voting to raise their own pay by 27 percent. If anyone believes the meals tax will provide property tax relief, recall that the Board promised to eliminate the Car Tax (i.e., personal property tax) — we are still paying the Car Tax. Enough is enough on more taxes.

3. While there are exceptions to the meals tax, the exceptions will only apply to very few living in the country. This is a regressive tax that will impact the hard working middle class and those that can least afford it, including minorities and senior citizens.

4. The Board would have voters believe that a portion of the meals tax revenue will be used for capital improvements and property tax relief and that the majority of the revenue would lead to higher teacher pay and funding for school classrooms. The truth is this revenue can go to various fund, including what the county budget generically calls ‘county services’. The Board also has shown it cannot be trusted to apply any of this revenue to property tax relief (again remember the Car Tax relief).

5. The Board would have voters believe the country budget still suffers the impacts of sequestration. Supervisor Pat Herrity (Springfield) has identified areas of the budget that could be cut such as developer proffers and the $1 million earmarked for the Supervisors’ offices ($100,000 each) but has been ignored by the Board. If this were a responsible Board they would be willing to set priorities and address its fiscal issues, including conducting a review of the County’s spending and a review of the budget for waste before raising taxes once again

6. Once this tax is passed, there is no guarantee that this tax will not increase.

Please join the Fairfax Families Against the Food Tax by voting NO to the meals tax question on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Frank W. Sullivan

Something on your mind? Send opinion letters to [email protected]. Reston Now reserves the right to edit letters for clarity.

This is an op-ed by Reston resident Terry Maynard. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

On Monday, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Reston Network Analysis Group (RNAG) once again offered several proposals that would create a transportation tax service district (TSD) for the Reston Metro transit station areas (TSAs) along the Dulles Corridor that would add to the tax bills of Restonians living there.

At the meeting, FCDOT detailed three TSD tax rate options: $0.017/$100 assessed valuation, $0.20/$100 assessed valuation, and $0.27/$100 assessed valuation to be paid for 40 years largely based on mindless comparisons with Tysons.

Ostensibly, these funds would close a $350 million “gap” in funding new and improved streets and intersections throughout the TSAs to accommodate the traffic added there by new high-density development.

Read More

This is an op-ed by Reston resident Ed Abbott. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

In the next week or so, a Reston Association committee will select a consultant to review and evaluate the purchase and overrun expenses related to the Tetra office property, now known as the Lake House. The consultant will review, analyze and make recommendations to the Board on processes to prevent the recurrence of such a fiasco.

One of the steps in the consultant’s review will be to wade through the public record. The record is extensive and includes documents on the RA and Fairfax County websites as well articles in Reston Now and the Connection.

As the record shows, RA made numerous mistakes over the course of about two years. It is useful to enumerate those mistakes to remind everyone what a dismal job RA did in purchasing and managing the Tetra renovation. It might also provide some guidance to RA’s independent review consultant.

Let’s start with the $2.6 million price paid for the property. In reality, paid for two properties; one real and the other hypothetical. The real was the building as an office. That cost $1.3 million. The hypothetical, a restaurant, would cost an additional $1.35 million. The prices were based on a January 2015 appraisal for the property. RA requested that the appraiser include the restaurant. Read More

Police ID Deputy Who Shot, Killed Man Last Month — The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office has identified the deputy who shot and killed a man at a bus stop during an altercation near Inova Fairfax Hospital last month. Authorities yesterday identified the deputy as MDS Patrick McPartlin, an 18-year veteran of the office. He remains on administrative leave. [Fairfax County]

Northern Virginia Metro Ridership Declines — A smaller number of people are taking trains and buses across Northern Virginia. Metrorail ridership in the area was down nearly 6.7 percent in June, according to recent reports. Despite the decline in people taking public transit, three Silver Line stations — Greensboro, Tysons Corner and McLean — saw an increase in riders. But not every Silver Line station fared well: Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East stations both experienced ridership declines of nearly 6 percent. [WTOP]

Locals Sign Petition Opposing St. John’s Apartments — Nearly 200 residents have signed the petition to oppose the St. John’s Wood redevelopment plan slated to come before the Fairfax County Planning Commission next month. [Reston Connection]

McAuliffe Praises Reston Business — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Reston-based company Thompson Hospitality is a “great company” in a business spotlight video released yesterday. [Youtube]

Hunters to Begin Culling Local Deer Population Next Week — Fairfax County’s annual archery program to control deer population in county parks is slated to return Sept. 10. The program will run until Feb. 25 of next year. [Fairfax County Police Department]

‘Foamhenge’ Coming to Fairfax County — Ready for a road trip? The owners of a life-sized foam replica of Stonehenge have plans to move the attraction to Cox Farms in Centreville. [DCist; Washingtonian]

Dozens of Hepatitis Cases Linked to Tropical Smoothie — Medical officials have linked at least 40 cases of Hepatitis A to frozen strawberries used at Tropical Smoothie locations in Virginia. More than half of those infected reportedly were hospitalized after the outbreak. [Associated Press]

Outdoor Apps for Summer — We’ve likely got a beautiful holiday weekend coming up, which means plenty of time for messing around on apps made for the outdoors. Here are some of the apps you can play with around Reston that aren’t Pokemon Go. [Modern Reston]

Get a Jury Questionnaire? Here’s Why — Did you receive a jury questionnaire in the mail recently? You might be one of 54,000 Fairfax County residents on the government’s list. Here’s why you may have received it and what to expect if you did. [Fairfax County]

Reston Now sent questionnaires to area elementary school principals so readers could get to know them and hear what is in store for the 2016-17 school year. We will be running them occasionally as they are sent back over the next weeks.

Reston Now: Tell us about yourself and how you came to be at your school?

Shane Wolfe: I’m embarking on my eleventh year as an administrator in Fairfax County Public Schools; I am very excited to begin this school year as the Aldrin Elementary School Principal. I LOVE working with the parents, teachers and especially the students in the Reston and Herndon neighborhoods.

Having previously been the principal at Armstrong Elementary School, I am keenly aware of the enormous focus our teachers, parents and school administrators place on student academic and emotional wellness.It was my honor to return to the Herndon High School Pyramid five years ago, and I look forward to many more years to come.

RN: What’s in store for your school this year? Any big changes? If you are a school under renovation, give us an update.

SW: Expansion of BOB (Band of Brothers), is a mentoring program for fifth-grade boys, will be expanded and include a group for fifth-grade girls.

Focus on Project Based Learning (PBL) — Aldrin, along with many schools, will begin to focus on PBL, an approach to teaching where students explore real-world problems and challenges. PBL’s active and engaged learning encourages students to reach a deeper knowledge of the subjects they’re studying.

“Aldrin READS” — A program where teachers and volunteers deliver many books to the neighborhoods to give students a chance to have a library at home — will continue.

Student-run Middleburg Bank — The Aldrin branch re-opens in September.

Outdoor Learning Environment – -We’re looking at options for an outdoor learning environment. A committee will be formed to help us create an outdoor learning space to go along with our garden. Read More

Thanks for being a reader of Reston Now. As we head toward our three-year anniversary in Reston, we just want to make sure you know all the ways to get the most up-to-date news here.

There are a few ways this site can be even better for you. Reston Now is a great place to stay updated on your area, publicize an event and talk to your neighbors.

Here are five things to know to make Reston Now work for you.

1. The Newsletter Comes Out Every Afternoon — Want the news of the day to come directly to you? Sign up for our daily newsletter. It will arrive in your inbox every weekday at about 3 p.m. with the news that has been posted so far that day.

Sign up and get the news deleivered to you. We won’t spam you with anything else.

2. Want News as It Happens? — Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to read our stories all day long. You can leave comments and messages, and speak with editor Karen Goff directly.

3. Something on Your Mind? Let Us Know! — We have lots of ways for you to speak your mind. You can send a letter to the editor to [email protected]. You can comment on every story to engage in discussion with your neighbors. You can answer one of our poll questions. And you can send us an anonymous tip. Coming very soon: Reston Now Forums where you can discuss any topic.

4. Want to Share Your Photos of Reston? — We would love to see them and maybe use them on the site. Visit our Reston Now Flickr Page to upload your pictures, or email a few to [email protected]. You can also tag us on Twitter or Facebook and we will see it right away.

5. Mark Our Calendar — Reston Now has a free events calendar, and we will gladly publish information on your fundraiser, performance or any other event around town. Just click on our events page to submit your event.

Summer Bucket List — Modern Reston complied a big summer bucket list back in May. How many things around Reston were you able to cross off? And summer still technically has a few more weeks if you need ideas. [Modern Reston]

Virginia Man Suing Tropical Smoothie — A man who says he was sickened after drinking smoothies from a Tropical Smoothie in Purcellville this month is suing the chain for $100,000. The company says strawberries purchased from Egypt (and no longer being used at the stores) may be linked to 28 confirmed Northern Virginia Hepatitis A cases. Tropical Smoothie has a location in Reston. [WTOP]

South Lakes High School to Host Block Party — South Lakes High School will host its 7th annual block party this Friday, Sept. 2, from 4-7 p.m. The party will take place on the stadium side of the parking lot and is set to include several food trucks and vendors, school spirit clothing sales and a “Hand on a Bus” competition, according to organizers.

Reston Now sent questionnaires to area elementary school principals so readers could get to know them and hear what is in store for the 2016-17 school year. We will be running them occasionally as they are sent back over the next weeks.

Today’s chat is with Lake Anne Elementary’s Jill Stewart, who recently took over leadership of the school.

Reston Now: Tell us about yourself and how you came to be at your school?

Jill Stewart: My name is Jill Stewart, and I am the proud principal at Lake Anne. I am excited to begin my first full year of school with the Lake Anne family.

I became principal at Lake Anne last December after serving in FCPS as an ESY Principal, an assistant principal, a Reading Specialist, and an Education Program Specialist for the U.S. Department of Education.  I began my teaching career in Fairfax County as a multiage teacher at Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences in 1996.

RN: What’s in store for your school this year? Any big changes?

JS: Lake Anne will be celebrating 50 years of educational excellence this year!  I am honored to work alongside our talented, dedicated, and caring staff to continue the vision of Mrs. Beatrice Ward, the first principal of Lake Anne Elementary.

Mrs. Ward believed that all children should receive a quality education and hoped, “the community would continue to grow to have a wide range of backgrounds and abilities in it.” Fifty years later, the Lake Anne Elementary community is still dedicated to fulfilling those goals.  Read More

Berthold Academy for the Gifted and Talented
www.bertholdacademy.com
[email protected]
703.336.2563
11480 Sunset Hills Road, Reston

Garrett Wilhelm and Rodney Berthold want to “disrupt education.”

They mean that in the most forward-thinking way as they get ready to open Berthold Academy for the Gifted and Talented, a new school in Reston, in September.

Wilhelm and Berthold have decades of Montessori teaching and administration experience between them. The two most recently worked at nearby The Boyd School, and then decided to create a visionary school that would serve a population that needed it.

The Berthold Academy will serve grades 1 to 8, with plans to add a high school in coming years, said Wilhelm. The school has a renovated facility at 11480 Sunset Hills Road.

Montessori education is an approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori that emphasizes independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and social development.

“There are 57 Montessori schools in Northern Virginia,” Wilhelm said. “Four or five have elementary programs. Two have middle schools, and there are no high schools. This will be the only first-through-eighth grade program in Northern Virginia.”

What sets Berthold Academy apart is the attention to educating the whole child, says Berthold. Read More

Goff Gone This Week — Reston Now editor Karen Goff is taking a vacation this week. Tim Regan from our sister site Borderstan will be running the site. You can contact him at [email protected].

Time To Immunize — Does your Fairfax County Public Schools student need immunizations before the first day of school on Sept. 6? The Fairfax County Health Department is holding special extended walk-in hours today at all locations from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Herndon-Reston District location is at 1850 Cameron Glen Dr. [Fairfax County]

Library Contest Deadline — Are you a FCPS student who participated in the “Book Your Summer” reading program. The Fairfax County Public Library-sponsored program for grades 1 through 12 ends Sept. 7. Find out how you can turn in your activity card by the deadline to earn prizes — maybe even a new laptop. [FCPS]