One Life Fitness Workers Put Out Sauna Fire — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units responded to a “small fire” in the One Life Fitness Reston sauna room yesterday, but maintenance workers put out the blaze before firefighters arrived. An employee told Reston Now that the fire just caused some damage to the wood. It was the first day the sauna had been turned on in more than a year. [Patch]
CVS Allows Walk-in Vaccine Appointments — CVS Health is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to walk-in appointments and same-day scheduling at all stores in Virginia, joining Giant, which started allowing walk-ins at its pharmacies on Monday (May 3). There are five CVS stores in Reston and three in Herndon. [Patch]
D.C. Judge Vacates National Eviction Moratorium — A D.C. judge ruled that the CDC lacks the authority to institute a nationwide moratorium on housing evictions, but even if the ruling ultimately stands, experts say it likely won’t have an immediate impact on D.C. area tenants. Virginia has a patchwork of protections but no statewide ban.” [DCist]
Air and Space Museum Reopens in Chantilly — Yesterday, the Udvar-Hazy Center became the first Smithsonian museum to open since last fall, when the institution largely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. New additions include a display commemorating the late Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins and an X-Wing Starfighter from the most recent “Star Wars” movie. [WTOP]
South Lakes Girls’ Basketball Celebrates Recent Success — “#WCW In the past 2 seasons, your Seahawks went a combined 22-1 in Liberty District competition, & won back to back championships for the 1st time since 1985-1986.” [South Lakes Girls Basketball/Twitter]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A number of amenities are now open for public use at county parks as Northern Virginia enters phase two of the COVID-19 reopening plan today (Friday).
Athletic fields, basketball courts, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and other amenities will be open, but with the following restrictions in place:
Athletic Fields – Athletic fields will open for organized and permitted use based on the governor’s and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines pertaining to use of athletic fields.
Basketball Courts – Outdoor courts will open, but users must stay 10 feet apart.
Volleyball Courts – Outdoor courts will open, but users must stay 10 feet apart.
Dog Parks – Dog parks will open with users urged to maintain social distancing.
Marinas – Marinas will open for rentals at lakefront and riverfront parks.
Mini-golf – Miniature golf courses will open at all locations, except Jefferson District Park (due to construction).
Restrooms – Permanent outdoor restrooms and portable restrooms will open systemwide. We encourage visitors to bring hand sanitizer since these facilities are often without running water.
Picnic Shelters – Shelters within parks will open for permitted use with 50% capacity of regular occupancy limits, not to exceed 50 people.
Playgrounds – Playgrounds will open systemwide including Clemyjontri Park and Chessie’s Big Backyard at Lee District Park. There is no special cleaning; visitors should use at their own risk and must adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Currently, recreation centers and other Fairfax County Park Authority facilities remain closed, including nature centers, pools and historic sites. The county is expected to allow more openings when the state enters phase three.
FCPA staff have begun implementing the changes at several facilities. Implementation of the latest openings could take several weeks.
In the Town of Herndon, dogs and playgrounds opened today, but restrooms and basketball courts remain closed. No special cleaning will be conducted of any playgrounds in the town or the county.
File photo
A new Reston Sports Council, which includes 13 representative organizations, is seeking to becoming a unified voice for the interests of the local sports community.
The council, which grew out of focus group discussions and meetings by Reston Association’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee in 2016 and 2017, held its first meeting in February. Members involved the initiative presented updates to RA’s Board of Directors last week.
At the meeting, Jeremy Lee, the newly appointed chairman of the council and a Reston resident of more than 20 years, said the council is an independent entity and intends to speak as a single voice to RA the Fairfax County Park Authority and the county.
Organizers hope the council will also help sports organization — including those that are not formally organized — coordinate the use of RA facilities, consider bulk purchasing, review industry standards, and collaborate to solve shared challenges, according to Laura Kowalski, RA’s director of recreation and environmental education.
Former RA Board Director Jeff Thomas and current RA Board Director Julie Bitzer, who is also the board’s PRAC liaison, pushed for the formation of the council.
Bitzer, who lauded the initiative, said the council will be a productive way to ensure “all sports have a voice” and prevent one sport from dominating conversations.
Larry Butler, RA’s director of land use and planning, cautioned that only Reston-based organizations are allowed to use RA facilities based on RA’s resolutions and by-laws.
The council is in the process of developing its bylaws, operational procedures and website. It plans to hold monthly meetings that are open to all.
So far, the council serves 6,000 constituents involving in local sports, including Reston, Herndon and Great Falls.
Photo via Reston Association/YouTube
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Reston Historic Trust and Museum will bring together four women from a variety of athletic programs to discuss how Title IX affected their careers and women’s sports overall.
Enacted in 1972, Title IX had a dramatic impact on women’s sports by guaranteeing by law equality in federally assisted athletic programs.
Since its founding, Reston’s recreational facilities have been available to all of its residents, according to the museum.
The free event features the following panelists:
- Vicky Wingert, a documentary producer and former coach for college and high school basketball teams
- Skye Eddy Bruce, a collegiate and youth All-American goalkeeper, state champion track athlete and founder of the Soccer Parenting Association
- Valerie Lister, the South Lakes High School assistant coach for track and field and a former sportswriter
- Jennifer Volgenau Wiley, a former varsity soccer and basketball player at South Lakes High School in the 1980s. She also played Division I soccer at William and Mary.
“Women Playing in Reston: The Effect of Title IX on Women’s Sports” is set to take place on Wednesday (March 13) at 7 p.m. at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery (1609-A Washington Plaza).
A temporary exhibit at the Reston Museum to accompany the panel discussion will be on display throughout March.
Seahawks fans can head to the Chipotle in the South Lakes Village Shopping Center next week to help raise funds for South Lakes High School girls basketball.
The Chipotle at 11160 South Lakes Drive will donate 33 percent of proceeds for customers who display the flyer or mention the Seahawks.
The fundraiser runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday (Jan. 21).
South Lakes High School girls varsity basketball won their eighth consecutive game at Washington-Lee High School on Jan. 8.
https://twitter.com/SLGirlsBBall_/status/1085557242135527425
Reminder: RA Board Special Meeting Tonight — The special meeting of the Reston Association Board of Directors originally scheduled for March 14 will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. at RA Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive). The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the findings in StoneTurn Group’s review of Reston Association’s purchase of the Tetra/Lake House property and the subsequent overruns in the cost of its renovation. [Reston Association]
New Town Center Restaurant Seeks Employees — Hen Penny is the newest restaurant by Pheast Food Group, a subsidiary of Thompson Hospitality. Management says it is planning to open March 30 at 1820 Discovery St., the former home of Pheast’s BRB. The business is looking to hire cashiers, delivery drivers, cooks and more. [Pheast Food Group]
St. Johns Wood Redevelopment Again on Agenda —Â The Reston Planning & Zoning Committee will have an informational meeting March 27 at 7:30 p.m. on Bozzuto’s planned redevelopment of St. Johns Wood. [Reston Planning & Zoning Committee]
SLHS Grad’s Team Falls in NCAA Tournament — Princess Aghayere, South Lakes High School Class of 2015, played 12 minutes for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers in their NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament first-round game Saturday against Texas A&M. Penn led by 21 points early in the fourth quarter; however, Texas A&M staged the biggest comeback in women’s tournament history and came out victorious, 63-61. Aghayere scored 2 points and recorded 2 rebounds. [Penn Athletics]
Students Named to All-State Band, Orchestra —Â The All-Virginia High School Band and Orchestra will both perform April 8 in Manassas. Among the performers will be 77 students from Fairfax County, including several local students. On the All-State Band are Catie George and Mason Moy (South Lakes High School); and Nathan Coughlin, Noah McKee and Emma Rood (Herndon High School). Members of the All-State Orchestra include Herndon High’s James Adams and Ethan Morad. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Photo via @FunInFairfax on Instagram
Bao Bao Passed Through Reston on Journey Home — The famed panda born at the National Zoo left D.C. for good Tuesday, heading off to live her life in China. She was transported by truck from Washington up the Dulles Toll Road to the airport, where she left on a FedEx 777. [Reston Patch]
SLHS Girls’ Basketball Team Falls in Playoffs — The South Lakes Seahawks girls’ hoops team was defeated Tuesday night in the first round of the 6A North Region championship, falling to T.C. Williams by a score of 51-43. [Alexandria News]
Qur’an Spiritual Retreat Slated for March — The Al-Madina Institute is readying to hold its annual conference, bringing leading scholars to examine both the external and internal dimensions of the Qur’an. The event will be held March 3-5 at the Hyatt Regency (1800 Presidents St.) in Reston. [Al-Madina Institute]
Bills Targeting Student Debt Fail in Richmond — A number of bills designed to help students refinance student loans or increase oversight of lenders have died in the General Assembly. One such bill, which would have created a “Borrower’s Bill of Rights,” was sponsored by Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) of Reston. It failed to advance out of a legislative committee. [Virginia Gazette]
Princess Aghayere is making a name for herself during her sophomore season on the University of Pennsylvania women’s basketball team.
The 2015 South Lakes High School graduate was named the Ivy League Player of the Week for her performances last week on the hardcourt. She posted a career-best 21 points during a Friday victory over Columbia, and followed it up the next day with a 12-point performance in a win over Cornell.
Some of her highlights from the weekend’s action can be seen on the Ivy League Sports YouTube channel.
On the season, Aghayere is averaging 5.6 points per game, tops among the team’s non-starters.
During her career at South Lakes High School, Aghayere earned first-team All-Conference recognition three times, and was second-team All-State twice. She also lettered in cross country and volleyball.
Aghayere is enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences at Penn, on a pre-med track. In a video released by the school earlier this year, she discussed her background and her goals for the future.
The defending Ivy League champions, the Quakers are undefeated (7-0) in conference play so far this season.
Photo via Don E. Felice/PennAthletics.com
South Lakes in Basketball Tourneys — The South Lakes varsity basketball teams are playing in regional tournaments this week. The girls team defeated Annandale 67-36 in a tournament in Oakton yesterday, while the boys team fell to Trinity Episcopal 74-56 in a tournament in Henrico.
Reston’s Missed Connections — Craigslist’s Missed Connection section is an interesting (albeit sometimes creepy) study in human interactions. The past three Reston missed connections have all been in chain restaurants: Panera Bread, Five Guys and Boston Market.
Flickr pool photo by Vantagehill
Reston’s top-ranked girls’ basketball team is ramping up for the season after big wins last year.
Players on the varsity team at South Lakes High School are training now, and tryouts will be held on Nov. 10, said Coach Christy Winters Scott.
“We lost eight seniors from last season, so we’re looking to remodel what we had,” Winters Scott said. “We’re looking for heart, hustle, effort, execution and passion for the game.”
The Seahawks won 23 of 26 games last year and beat James Madison High School in Vienna for the Liberty Conference 6 title in February.
To get up to speed before the team’s first scrimmage Nov. 18, players are gutting out rigorous workouts with the school’s track team, said Winters Scott, a Reston resident and native who was the 1986 All-Met Player of the Year on the school’s undefeated team. The athletes are sprinting, doing “explosive” work to develop speed, jumping hurdles and lifting weights during 90-minute workouts several times a week.
Winters Scott — who calls WNBA games for the Washington Mystics and is a color analyst for Comcast SportsNet, ESPN and Fox Sports –said she teaches her players to give it all they’ve got.
“You see the kids pushing the limit and going after what they want in life,” she said. “Twenty points per game will come if those things are in place.”
Team sports help girls test their potential, Winters Scott.
“Girls who have been active in athletics are more successful in business or as a mom, or both,” she said. “You never know what’s inside unless you tap in. Athletics forces you to tap in.”
The South Lakes boys basketball team is hitting its stride at a key moment: The Seahawks won their seventh straight game on Tuesday, topping Robinson 55-49 in a Northern Region 6A playoff game at South Lakes.
South Lakes (19-8) was led by Brandon Kamga with 15 points and Zach Pearl with 14.
The victory earns SLHS a place in the Regional Semifinals against Lake Braddock (22-3), which defeated Oakton on Tuesday. Â The semifinal game is 8 p.m. on Friday at Robinson High School.
Herndon also advanced in the regionals. The Hornets (22-3), paced by Dorian Johnson with 27 points, beat Hayfield 94-83 on Tuesday. In the semis, Herndon will meet  W.T. Woodson Friday at 6 p.m. at Robinson.
The playoff run ended Tuesday for the South Lakes girls team. The Seahawks, ranked in the Top 20 by the Washington Post all season, fell to Centreville 64-61 Tuesday. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Seahawks, which end the season 23-4.
South Lakes boys and girls basketball teams, as well as Herndon’s boys team, all advanced in North Regional 6A play on Monday.
Highlights:
Herndon (22-2), ranked No. 13 by The Washington Post, broke the 100-point barrier with a 106-52 win over Patriot. Patriot (4-20), of Prince William County, had won just one game all season before winning three straight to take its conference title.
South Lakes girls, (23-3), ranked No. 12 by the Post, were led by senior Abigail Rendle with 18 points in a 71-43 victory over Lake Braddock.
South Lakes boys (18-8), which has lost only one game since late January, continued its run with a 64-48 victory over West Potomac. Brandon Kamga scored 28 points for the Seahawks.
Regional action continues Tuesday. South Lakes girls host Centreville at 5:45 p.m., followed by the boys against Robinson at 7:30 p.m. Herndon hosts Hayfield at 7:30 p.m.
The Region semifinals and finals are Thursday and Friday at Robinson High School.
