New Fairfax County Police Chief Sworn In — Kevin Davis was formally sworn in as Fairfax County’s new police chief yesterday morning (Monday). The former Baltimore police commissioner begins his tenure amid intense scrutiny of his past conduct and the county’s hiring process. [FCPD]

Republican Attorney General Candidate Calls for Recount — Former Virginia Beach Republican Party Chairman Chuck Smith is requesting a recount after he lost the party’s nomination for attorney general to Del. Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach) by a 52-48 margin on Sunday (May 9). The state’s Republican Party held a convention on Saturday to determine its nominees in statewide races for governor and lieutenant governor as well. [WTOP]

Reston Station Architect Killed in Car Crash — Architect Helmut Jahn, 81, died on Saturday (May 8) after he was struck by two separate cars while bicycling in the Chicago suburb of Campton Hills. Jahn’s work includes the plaza at Reston Station and the development’s first office building, where Google is planning to expand. [Patch]

Frying Pan Farm Park Ranks Second in Region — Frying Pan Farm Park was named the second-best park in Northern Virginia by Virginia Living readers in the magazine’s “Best of Virginia 2021” competition, coming behind only Burke Lake Park. The Herndon park features a carousel, equestrian facilities, and Kidwell Farm, a living interpretation of a 1930s-era working farm. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

Herndon Summer Camps and Classes Announced — The Herndon Parks and Recreation Department has released a brochure of summer camps and June classes, which will be tweaked due to COVID-19. Camps will run from mid-June to mid-August, and offerings could expand depending on community health conditions. Registration begins at 10 a.m. on Wednesday (May 12) for town residents and and at 10 a.m. on May 18 for non-town residents. [Herndon Recreation]

For the 4oth year, the people around town can enjoy themselves at the upcoming Herndon Festival.

The celebration will take place from May 28- 31 at Northwest Federal Credit Union (200 Spring Street). Events will take place throughout the weekend and many of them will be free according to the event’s website.

For the second year, the festival will be at a new location due to the planned redevelopment in downtown Hernon. Developer Comstock Companies, which is working with town on the project has not broken ground on the project, which was expected to begin in late 2019.

This festival is organized by the Town of Herndon’s Parks and Recreation Department along with local businesses and vendors, the website said.

Activities this year will include entertainment on three stages, a carnival, children’s hands-on art area, arts & crafts show, business expo, 10K and 5K races, a fitness expo and a variety of food vendors, a press release said.

A map of activities and festival layout can already be found online.

Event planners are beginning to release the concert lineups. For example, the alternative-rock band “Broke Royals” will be performing on the Parkway Stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28.

For those who bike to the festival, organizers are offering a free bike valet until 10 p.m., according to the event page.

Image via Herndon Festival Facebook

The Town of Herndon may slightly increase the fees for facility uses and rentals while eliminating its use of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s fee structure.

Herndon’s Parks and Recreation Department provides for community-use facilities at the Herndon Community Center, which includes a pool, gym, tennis courts, fitness rooms and drop-in child care.

For about 12 years, the Parks and Recreation facilities fee schedule has included a pricing structure for community center admission fees and passes tied to the Fairfax County Park Authority rates.

A department review of current services and operational costs prompted the Town Council to rethink its use of FCPA rates.

“Staff is proposing that structure be revised to eliminate the connection to FCPA due to the significant increase in their proposed non-resident rates, which would be detrimental to a large percentage of Herndon Community Center users,” the Parks and Recreation staff report says.

The Town Council now has a proposed resolution that would base the fees on a daily resident/non-resident fee. The change is expected to recover 75 percent of the department’s operating costs through fees and charges for services, according to the Town of Herndon.

The new fee would add $0.50 more to the daily rate for both residents and non-residents.

If approved, the amended fee schedule would go into effect on Sept. 1.

Images via Google Maps and Town of Herndon

Sterling Woman Killed in Route 7 Crash — Shirley Lee Corum, 75, was eastbound on Route 7 near the Dulles Toll Road on Monday morning when she crossed over the median into the westbound lanes and hit a guardrail. Police say Corum suffered a “medical emergency” that led to the accident. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Local Students Up for National Merit Scholarship Program — Rohan Chandra and Eshaan Sarup, of South Lakes High School, and Michael J. Barth, of Herndon High School, are among 16,000 students nationwide who are continuing in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth a total of more than $32 million. [Reston Patch/Herndon Patch]

Dogs Die in Vienna House Fire — Crews responded to the 2000 block of Gunnell Farms Drive early Sunday morning to battle a blaze in a two-story home. The homeowners were not home, but two dogs who were inside lost their lives. The fire caused an estimated $273,750 in damages. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

New Turf Field at Herndon Park — A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place earlier this month for the new turf soccer pitch at Herndon Community Center’s Bready Park. The Town of Herndon paid $566,000 from its general fund for the project, while Fairfax County provided a $125,000 grant and Herndon Youth Soccer will pay $400,000. [Connection Newspapers]

Library Book Sale This Weekend — The Friends of the Reston Regional Library back-to-school book sale began Thursday and will last through Sunday. All books were donated, and all proceeds benefit the library and library programs. [Friends of the Reston Regional Library]

Registration Underway for Herndon Parks Programs — Town of Herndon residents can now sign up for fall classes from the town’s Parks and Recreation Department. Others can start signing up Aug. 22. [Herndon Parks & Rec]

Reston Brothers Develop Anti-Stress Powder — Christian, Mark and Paul D’Andrea have developed StressKiller, a powdered drink mix featuring stress-relief supplements. GNC has signed on to sell the product, as has a major drugstore chain. [Washington Business Journal]

Solar Eclipse is Monday — The Fairfax County Park Authority says if you want to enjoy the eclipse as much as possible, you should arrive at viewing locations early and be ready with your eyewear. [Fairfax County Park Authority]