This is an op-ed from Terry Maynard of the Reston 2020 Committee of the Reston Citizens Association.
Fairfax County’s decade-long war to dismantle our public library system has reached new depths: First, the County is planning a partial closure of its Sherwood Regional Library in Alexandria beginning in January.
Second, the Board of Supervisors is pursuing an audit of the “Friends of the Library,” which has occasionally and diplomatically criticized the Board’s oversight of the County public library system.
The move to close the second floor of the Sherwood Regional Library for all but 20 hours per week because of budget cuts is only the latest insult to the people of the County who have seen their County library budget cut by more than 20 percent as overall County spending has increased by 15 percent in the last 10 years.
Now, the second-richest county in the country spends less per capita on its library system than any other area jurisdiction — a third less per household than Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Prince William counties, and much worse compared to others, including only about 39 pecent of what Washington, DC, spends per capita.
And that is only part of the story. During a decade when the library system should have been conserving its assets as budgets shrunk — especially the books and other materials it has already paid for — it has thrown out more than 2.5 million items in its collection.
It is, in fact, throwing out taxpayer property for petty and contradictory reasons. For starters, books get thrown out because of minor damage from use — and thrown out after two years if they are not used and, therefore, undamaged.
With new purchases limited by the budget cuts as well as administration intent, the library system has had a net inventory loss of more than 440,000 items over the last decade, with small increases in the non-book (DVDs, CDs, etc.) and young adult books offset by the loss of more than 400,000 books for adults and more than 100,000 books for children. That’s a 27percent reduction in library collection items per capita in the last decade. Read More
Fairfax County Police are reminding residents to watch their valuable holiday packages this month.
Police say there has already been an uptick of thefts so far this month. The agency’s online reporting system is experiencing increased reports on a wide variety of doorstep thefts. From electronics to shoes to toys and suitcases, no unattended package should be deemed “safe.”
Police suggest residents make arrangements to have packages delivered to a place where people must sign for them, such as work, a neighbor’s home or the post office if you are unable to be home.
Police are also suggesting neighbors to help watch out for each other; report any suspicious vehicles or behavior to police. More people are ordering gifts online; more packages are being delivered and the risk has risen, police said.
If your packages have been stolen, you can report the theft to police through the county’s Citizen Reporting System (CRS).
In other crime news reported by Fairfax County Police’s Reston District Station this week:
ROBBERY, 2500 block of Centreville Road in unincorporated Herndon, Dec. 2., 3:03 a.m. A man entered a convenience store and displayed a handgun to an employee.
The suspect took cash and fled. There were no injuries. The suspect was described as black, 20s, about 6 feet tall and weighing 190 to 200 pounds.
LARCENIES
- 11000 block of Becontree Lake Drive, package from residence
- 12000 block of Town Square, merchandise from business
- 2400 block of Clover Field Circle, equipment from vehicle.
- 11500 block of North Shore Drive, items from vehicle.
- 13000 block of Park Crescent Circle, steering wheel from vehicle.
- 2300 block of Rolling Fork Circle, bumper from vehicle.
- 13000 block of Rose Petal Circle, items from vehicle.
- 12000 block of Bowman Towne Drive, merchandise from business.
- 12500 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, equipment from vehicle.
- 1800 block of Wainwright Drive, equipment from vehicle.
- 1700 block of Wainwright Drive, equipment from vehicle.
- 11700 block of North Shore Drive, equipment from vehicle.
- 1500 block of Farsta Court, equipment from vehicle.
- 2400 block of Centreville Road, property from business.
- 1500 block of Cameron Crescent Drive, property and cash from residence.
- 1800 block of Fountain Drive, wallet from business.
- 2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, beer from business.
- 2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, merchandise from business.
- 2600 block of Viking Drive, jewelry from residence.
STOLEN VEHICLES
11700 block of Decade Court, 2007 Mazda 6.
Meet Buster, a new resident of The Metropolitan at Reston Town Center and this week’s Reston Pet of the Week.
Here is what his owner Rich has to say about him.
This is Buster. He’ll be four months old on Dec. 13.
I adopted him from A Forever Home in Fairfax. They say someone tried to drown his litter in West Virginia.
Buster is a spaniel mix. Most say he looks like a beagle or a Jack Russell. He’s got the sweetest personality and wants to play with every person and dog we meet.
We live at The Metropolitan at RTC. I wouldn’t suggest raising a puppy in a building with elevators and random sounds a lot, but Buster loves all the people and dogs he meets every day.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
Meet Tony, a Reston feline who has done a bit of traveling. Here is what his owner Jennifer has to say about him:
This is Tony, he also goes by the names Tee, Orange Roughy, and Comrade Antoine.
He was adopted in 2000 at the age of two from the Humane Society of Madison County, Ohio. He has traveled from Ohio to Virginia to South Asia and back to Virginia.
Last year he had twelve teeth pulled by a local Reston vet and feels much better.
Tony’s hobbies include hanging out on laps and the back of the couch, and mentoring younger cats.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
Introducing the inaugural Gift Local contest from RestonNow.com.
The holidays are a time for giving, and we’re giving you a weekly chance to win some great gifts from local businesses this month. Keep them for yourself or gift them to a friend, coworker or family member.
To enter the contest, free of charge, all you need to do is sign up for our daily email newsletter. The newsletter delivers Reston Now headlines to your inbox on weekday (and some weekend) afternoons.
If you’re one of our more than 1,000 existing newsletter subscribers, you’re automatically eligible to win. See our official contest rules for an alternate means of entry and other sweepstakes details.
We’ll conduct a drawing every Friday through the end of December. The prizes include:
- Apple iPad Air 16GB from RestonNow.com
- $50 gift certificate to Kalypso’s Sports Tavern
- $50 gift card to Michael’s from Cindy Beyer Design
- Adult Sonicare toothbrush from Reston Serenity Smiles
- Personal training session from Storm Fitness
- One month of free swim lessons from Goldfish Swim School
- $109 gift card for artisan flower arrangements from Bloompop
- Exercise class from The Harrison Apartments
- Cat exam from Just Cats Clinic
- $150 donation to Cornerstones on your behalf from Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate
Please join us in supporting these and other local businesses when making your holiday shopping plans and New Year’s resolutions.
Good luck and happy holidays from Reston Now!
The 2014 holiday season began with chilly temps, bright tinsel and a running gingerbread man on Market Street at Reston Town Center Friday.
Kids gathered at 8 a.m. to run the Gingerbread Man Mile. The 24th annual Reston Holiday Parade then marched down Market Street at 11 a.m. as the crowd welcomed Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as dozens of other bands, characters and entertainment.
The festivities continue Friday evening with the lighting of the tree at 6 p.m.
On Fridays, we take a moment to thank our sponsors and advertisers.
Reston Serenity Smiles — Hoda Kazemifar, DMD, offers complete dental services for the entire family.
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the business community for the vibrant region.
Reston Station, Comstock’s mixed-use development and parking garage at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro stop.
The Avant, new luxury rentals in the heart of Reston Town Center.
The Harrison, brand-new apartments now leasing at Reston Town Center.
Berry & Berry, PLLC, Reston law firm specializing in federal employment, retirement, labor union, and security clearance matters.
Just Cats Clinic, Reston’s first cats-only vet practice.
Reston Real Estate, Eve Thompson of Long & Foster Real Estate specializes in Reston homes.
Becky’s Pet Care, offering friendly pet services in Northern Virginia.
Reston Community Center, Serving Reston’s recreational and cultural needs.
Cindy L. Beyer Design, Reston-based interior design firm with creative ideas for residential and commercial clients.
Van Metre Homes, handcrafted homes since 1955.
D.R. Horton Builders, America’s largest home builders.
Storm Fitness, offering personalized fitness training.
George Washington University, offering teacher licensure programs to fit your schedule.
Kalypso’s Sports Tavern, where you can find food and fun at Lake Anne Plaza.
Potok’s World Photography — Specializing in wedding and portrait photography and offering a 10 percent discount for weddings from December to through March 2015.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Reston Now is enjoying some family time today, and hopefully you are too. We will be back on Friday.
If you are heading to Reston Town Center on Friday, read this previous story about the parade, tree lighting and other holiday fun.
If you are heading out to start your Christmas and Chanukah shopping, bring your patience and eye for bargains.
Check out Rocket, this week’s Reston Pet of the Week.
Here is what Rocket’s owner, Noelle, has to say about him:
Rocket is a 20-year-old rescue boxer from Reston’s Boxer Rescue. My family adopted him and he has brought many smiles to the children’s faces.
Rocket is enjoys cuddling under covers and going for walks around the park. He likes to play catch and with his favorite yellow ball.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
This is an Op-Ed by Connie Hartke of Reston Citizens Association. Have something to say? Send us a letter at [email protected].
This is the week Americans are expected to especially count our blessings.
It is a time for family. For some, their community is their family. Several of us at RCA have gotten to know residents at Lake Anne Fellowship House (LAFH), the senior, low-income apartments that went through turmoil recently due to proposed redevelopment.
This has taken a recent good turn of events — more news to come on that soon, we expect. The cultural subgroups that live there have united into a vibrant community with the goal of ensuring that no one will lose their home. Those who were “safe” united with those who were threatened, creating community. Empathy was the catalyst.
Empathy. Merriam-Webster defines this as “the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions: the ability to share someone else’s feelings.”
While counting your blessings this Thanksgiving, please take a few moments to imagine you are a senior who has lived at LAFH for 10+ years after living as a contributing Restonian for 30+ years. You are told that your home may not be the permanent place that you had expected. Putting aside other thoughts, can you fathom how you would feel if you were faced with this situation? Empathize.
Now imagine for a moment that you purchased a home on Reston National Golf Course. Picture your view changing from rolling greens surrounded by edge habitat to anything else. I say “anything” because many like to speculate how the land could change to this or that … I ask you to EMPATHIZE. Take five minutes to imagine this is YOU. Personally.
RCA, along with Reston Association and Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, supports our Fairfax County Zoning Administrator’s determination that the privately owned 166 acres of Reston National Golf Course is zoned as permanent open recreational space. Developers coming in to Reston need to hear one message loud and clear — respect our Reston Master Plan.
On Thanksgiving, I will take a few moments to think about the folks at LAFH and hope for continued blessings for them. I will be thankful for our County Planning staff who added wording to the Master Plan to strengthen the place of both of our Reston golf courses. I will be grateful for the army of volunteers who live in this special place called Reston.
Please read Rescue Reston volunteer Ray Wedell’s stirring call to action regarding Reston’s latest recreational open space crisis.
Lake Anne Fellowship House/File Photo
Meet Ian and Lucy, a pair of chihuahuas who are this week’s Reston Pets of the Week. Their owner Paul tells us how they came to be “siblings”:
Ian and Lucy are rescues who found their forever home in the North Point section of Reston.
Ian came into our lives nearly three years ago, and was joined by his “little sister” Lucy in September 2013. Although both are chihuahuas, they hav
They have very different temperaments. Ian is obedient, eager to please, and a bit shy. Lucy will march up to anyone, human or canine, and let her opinions be known, a habit we are trying to curtail without breaking her spirit.
Both are very loving and loyal and have an intense dislike of rain and snow — last winter was a bit too much for little Lucy. She is contemplating spending this winter in Florida with her “grandparents.”
Ian and Lucy enjoy walking through the neighborhoods and the trails, taking Long naps together, and watching TV with their humans. Lucy also enjoys tormenting Molly, our 17-year-old longhair cat.
Together they are truly family who have added immeasurable joy to our lives.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?
Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
The YMCA Fairfax County Reston raised more than $100,000 on Saturday at its 15th annual fundraising gala.
The money goes to support the YMCA’s Fairfax County Reston Caring for Community campaign, which provides much-needed scholarships for area families. Through the scholarships, children have the opportunity to participate in a variety of quality YMCA programs, including preschool, after-school childcare and summer camp, regardless of their ability to pay.
This year’s gala theme was “Unmask the Potential.” The more than 314 guests became quite creative with the theme, wearing masks of all shapes and sizes.
Gala photos courtesy of YMCA Fairfax County Reston
This week’s Pet of the Week is Bash, a tabby who lives in Reston. Here is what his owner, Andrea, says about him:
Bash, our 1-year-old orange tabby, is a shy but energetic cat.
He got his name from being the most bashful of the litter when he was adopted. His foster mom wasn’t sure how well he would tolerate strangers at his first adoption event at 12 weeks old, but he warmed up to my husband pretty quickly.
Bash’s hobbies include looking out the window, napping on his favorite blue blanket, and distracting his mom from her homework. He also likes to get in his exercise by randomly sprinting up and down the stairs and by chasing any toy with feathers.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
House hunting? Start with these open houses in Reston.
2104 South Bay Lane
3 BR, 3.5 BA SFH
$725,000
Open Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m.
11457 Washington Plaza
3 BR, 3 BA TH
$659,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
11523 Ivy Bush Court
3 BR, 1.5 BA TH
$329,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
1273 Wild Hawthorn Way
3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH
$509,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
11964 Sentinel Point Court
3 BR, 2 FB, 2 HB TH
$430,000
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
11627 Vantage Hill Road
1 BR, 1 BA Condo
$174,900
Open Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.
1720 Lake Shore Crest Drive
2 BR, 1.5 BA Condo
$307,900
Open Sunday, 12 to 3 p.m.
1976 Crescent Park Drive
3 BR, 2.5 BA TH
$599,900
Open Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
This week’s Reston Pet of the Week is Gordie (named for Gordie Howe but his hockey-loving owners. Here is what owner Leslie has to say about her mixed breed.
Gordie Howe (yes, just like the legendary Red Wings hockey player) will be four in December and lives in Reston Town Center. He’s a Schnauzer-mutt — we suspect part poodle — who was found and adopted as a pup through Lucky Dog Rescue, a wonderful rescue group out of DC.
Gordie’s favorite things include walks around the neighborhood to say hello to all his canine friends, getting loads of attention from pedestrians and the employees at the Apple store, and the Baron Cameron Dog Park, where he is so happy to run with the other dogs that he refuses to play catch with his humans.
A master of disguise, when Gordie gets haircuts he looks like a totally different dog. He hates wearing clothes, but tolerates his coat because he hates getting wet in the rain or snow even more.
Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.
Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.
