Last Day of School — Today is the final day of the 2016-17 Fairfax County Public Schools year. Congratulations to all the students and enjoy your time off!
Fourth of July Schedule in Herndon — It’s only a couple weeks away. Get ready for the July 4 celebration in Herndon, which will take place at the Herndon Community Center and will culminate with fireworks choreographed to music. [Town of Herndon]
SLHS Students Get Arduino Kits — STEM Engineering students at the school recently received Arduino kits. An Arduino consists of a physical programmable circuit board and a piece of software that is used to write and upload computer code. The kits were funded by a $4,000 grant from AIS Inc. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
‘Field Guide’ to Ticks — Fairfax County has provided a list of need-to-know information about ticks, which have been out with great force this season. [Fairfax County]
Metro Work in Evening Hours — After 10 p.m. tonight, Saturday and Sunday, the Silver Line will only run from Wiehle-Reston East to Ballston. This is due to work on the Orange and Silver lines. [WTOP]
Folk Music Tonight at Lake Anne — The “Take A Break” concert series at Lake Anne Plaza will continue tonight with a performance by contemporary folk artists Sweater Set. [Lake Anne Plaza]
Car Hits Pole in Reston — A Wednesday evening crash on Lawyers Road at Soapstone Drive took out power and closed the road. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Fireworks Safety Urged —Â Fireworks can turn a holiday into a tragedy within seconds when illegal and dangerous fireworks are being used. Fire officials have released a video to promote fireworks safety this July Fourth. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/YouTube]
Shared-Use Path Planned — A meeting June 29 will discuss a proposed path from the future Innovation Station Metro station kiss-and-ride on the north side of the Dulles Toll Road. [Fairfax County Department of Transportation]
Photo via @butler_law on Twitter
Happy July 4! Reston Now is off today, and hopefully, you are too.
In case you missed it, here are some local celebrations for the fourth:
Reston
Lake Fairfax Park will have its annul evening of fun, capped by fireworks.
There will be live music from 4 to 8 p.m., as well as food vendors, and other activities.
Get there early to enjoy the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole water park.
There is a $5 per car admission fee on July 4 (walkers and cyclists will be let in free).
Fireworks begin at dark, about 9:30 p.m.
Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston. For more information call 703-471-5414.
Note: Many smaller fireworks celebrations usually take place at Reston’s lakes, where boaters set displays off from the water. Head over to a lake and you are sure to see some sparkle.
Herndon
Join the Town of Herndon on July 4 for a family-fun event featuring games, patriotic arts & craft activities, live music, family games, bingo, food, balloon artists and more. Events take place in Bready Park at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave.
Schedule of Events:
6:30 p.m. – Games, bingo and children’s arts & crafts begin – all for free. Festival foods will be available for sale.
7:15 p.m. – Whiskey Rebellion takes the stage to play its mix of bluegrass, jazz and rock and roll.
9:30 pm – Fireworks show is choreographed to music and begins at dark.
Please note traffic will be rerouted. Motorists should expect detours and alteration of traffic routes throughout town at the conclusion of the fireworks display at Bready Park for up to 60 minutes, or until traffic clears. Those parked at Herndon Community Center may not exit until the officials give the all clear, Â which can be as much as 60 minutes following the fireworks show.
Ferndale Avenue will close to through traffic from Vine Street to Barton Oaks Place once the event parking lots are full, and will remain closed until the conclusion of the fireworks. (Herndon Centennial golf course access is available until the course closes at dusk)
Vienna
Vienna’s celebration at Yeonas Park features fun for the whole family beginning at 4 p.m. Th day includes the 2nd Annual Vienna Inn Chili Dog Eating Contest (4 p.m.); Old Bay Circus Company (one-ring circus act) featuring Michael Rosman (5:30 and 6:30 p.m.); Fat Chance with live music (7 p.m.); Fireworks begin at dark (approximately 9:30 p.m.)
Kids’ games and moon bounces will be on the upper fields, and the Little League concession stand will be open.
Fireworks are at Southside Park at about 9:30 p.m. (viewing available at Yeonas Park; some seating will be available near the playground at Southside Park.
Vienna’s fireworks rain date is July 5. For more information and directions to parks, visit Vienna’s website.
Photo: American Flag/DKrebs Via Flickr Creative Commons
Start July 4 off with a run for the troops.
The 7th annual Firecracker 5K takes place at 8 a.m. Monday at Reston Town Center. The race, sponsored by Reston-based Leidos, is a great way to support the armed services.
When you register to run, let organizers know which branch of the military you support for the “Battle of the Branches.” Potomac River Running will make a donation to the USO on behalf of the branch with the most registered runners.
Online registration ($35) closes tonight. In-person registration ($40) available at packet pickup or at the race. Registration discounts for active military members and runners under age 14 are available.
The course is a mostly flat loop around Reston Town Center.
Bring the kids: there will be a free tot dash down Market Street at 8:50 a.m. following the 5K finish. Sign up will be morning of at the finish line area.
Photo: Firecracker 5K 2015/Credit: Potomac River Running
This Fourth of July weekend is expected to be the busiest travel weekend on record, says AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA reps say 43 Million Americans are traveling, and 1 million of them are from the Washington, D.C., area. That’s about 5 million than Memorial Day and a 1.9 percent increase for DC-area residents over last July 4.
Nearly 9 out of 10 area residents (about 917,000 people) travel by car. Another 77,000 will fly to their destination.
“More Americans, Washingtonians included, are traveling this summer, and they are also driving more than ever before this summer, easily beating the mileage record set last summer, when Americans put 836.1 billion miles on their odometers,” John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs, said in a statement.
“The Washington metro area boasts a populace of 6,097,684 persons, and nearly a fifth of its residents will travel 50 miles or more from home during the long July Fourth holiday weekend. Historically, whenever July Fourth happens to fall on a Friday or a Monday, as it does this year, it essentially becomes a four-day holiday weekend for most travelers. The other big catalyst is the cheaper cost of gas.”   Read More
Fourth of July is this Monday. Do you have plans? Here is what is going on around here to celebrate the holiday.
Reston
Lake Fairfax Park will have its annul evening of fun, capped by fireworks.
There will be live music from 4 to 8 p.m., as well as food vendors, and other activities.
Get there early to enjoy the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole water park.
There is a $5 per car admission fee on July 4 (walkers and cyclists will be let in free).
Fireworks begin at dark, about 9:30 p.m.
Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston. For more information call 703-471-5414.
Note: Many smaller fireworks celebrations usually take place at Reston’s lakes, where boaters set displays off from the water. Head over to a lake and you are sure to see some sparkle.
Herndon
Join the Town of Herndon on July 4 for a family-fun event featuring games, patriotic arts & craft activities, live music, family games, bingo, food, balloon artists and more. Events take place in Bready Park at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave.
Schedule of Events:
6:30 p.m. – Games, bingo and children’s arts & crafts begin – all for free. Festival foods will be available for sale.
7:15 p.m. – Whiskey Rebellion takes the stage to play its mix of bluegrass, jazz and rock and roll.
9:30 pm – Fireworks show is choreographed to music and begins at dark.
Please note traffic will be rerouted. Motorists should expect detours and alteration of traffic routes throughout town at the conclusion of the fireworks display at Bready Park for up to 60 minutes, or until traffic clears. Those parked at Herndon Community Center may not exit until the officials give the all clear, Â which can be as much as 60 minutes following the fireworks show.
Ferndale Avenue will close to through traffic from Vine Street to Barton Oaks Place once the event parking lots are full, and will remain closed until the conclusion of the fireworks. (Herndon Centennial golf course access is available until the course closes at dusk)
Vienna
Vienna’s celebration at Yeonas Park features fun for the whole family beginning at 4 p.m. Th day includes the 2nd Annual Vienna Inn Chili Dog Eating Contest (4 p.m.); Old Bay Circus Company (one-ring circus act) featuring Michael Rosman (5:30 and 6:30 p.m.); Fat Chance with live music (7 p.m.); Fireworks begin at dark (approximately 9:30 p.m.)
Kids’ games and moon bounces will be on the upper fields, and the Little League concession stand will be open.
Fireworks are at Southside Park at about 9:30 p.m. (viewing available at Yeonas Park; some seating will be available near the playground at Southside Park.
Vienna’s fireworks rain date is July 5. For more information and directions to parks, visit Vienna’s website.
Reston Now is off for the long weekend. Hopefully you are too.
Read this list of places to catch fireworks and other July 4 fun nearby.
The World Police & Fire Games are still taking place through Sunday. Read Reston Now’s previous story about what to catch here in Reston. Champions Square at Reston Town Center is still open to the public for a little carnival-like fun.
The Games took a somber note Thursday when a Brazilian cyclist died from injuries suffered in a crash on the race course in Prince William County.
You can take part in an athletic feat of your own at Saturday’s Firecracker 5K race.
Not sure what is open and closed because both Friday and Saturday are holidays? Here is a list of major local services affected.
Have a safe and fun weekend!
Spots are still available for July 4’s Firecracker 5K in Reston.
The sixth annual Firecracker 5K is sponsored by Reston-based Leidos and will benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washington.
There will be live music, American flags and the “Battle of the Branches” competition. Whichever military branch has the most registered runners will have donation to the USO made on its behalf.
Here is what you need to know:
Race is Saturday, July 4, 8 a.m. at Reston Town Center
Registration is $35 and through through Thursday night online. The price jumps to $40 after July 2.Discounts for Under 14 or Active Military.
The course goes on streets through Reston Town Center, as well as on Cameron Glen Drive, Sunset Hills Road, Reston Parkway and Town Center Parkway. Roads will not be blocked to traffic, but lanes could be blocked. The course is relatively flat.
Independence Day falls on a Saturday this year. That means the federal holiday for workers is July 3, so there may be some confusion as to what is open or closed.
If you are heading to a store, restaurant or camp program, it may be wise to ask them ahead of time.
Here is a look at Fairfax County and other local services:
Reston Association offices – Closed Friday, July 3. Most pools will be open. Lake Audubon Pool will be closed for the World Police & Fire Games Triathlon on Friday, July 3. All pools will close at 6 p.m. on July 4.
Fairfax County Government – Closed Friday, July 3.
Animal Shelter — Friday, July 3 (open noon to 7 p.m.); Saturday, July 4 (open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Courts – Closed Friday, July 3.
Public Schools and School Offices – Closed Friday, July 3.
Library – Closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.
Fairfax Connector – Fairfax Connector will operate holiday weekday service on Friday, July 3, and regular Saturday service on Saturday, July 4.
Fastran – Not in service Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.
Park Authority – Holiday schedule.
Teen and Senior Centers – Closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.
Reston Community Center Hunters Woods – Friday, July 3 (open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.); Saturday, July 4 (open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
Reston Community Center Lake Anne – Friday, July 3 (closed); Saturday, July 4 (open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
County Trash and Recycling Collection – County residents should contact their trash and recycling collector directly for service schedule changes due to the holiday.
Fairfax County Collection Customers – Trash and recyclables will be collected as scheduled on Friday, July 3. Please have your materials to the curb no later than 6 a.m. to ensure collection.
Recycling and Disposal Facilities:
I-66 Transfer Station – Closed on Saturday, July 4.
I-95 Landfill Complex – Closed on Saturday, July 4.
More than one million Washington, DC-area residents are getting ready to hit the road for the long July 4 holiday weekend, says AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA estimated one-fifth of area residents will travel 50 miles or more from home (and countless residents from other areas will travel to DC for the holiday).
That comprises a 0.4 percent increase in the number of Washington metro area residents who traveled at this time last year, says AAA.
Nearly 90 percent of Washington-area travelers will be driving, which will make for the highest travel volume for the Fourth of July holiday since at least 2001, AAAÂ said.
Since July 4 is a Saturday, most workers have Friday off as an official holiday. That means getaway traffic could start as early as Wednesday night.
Nationwide, AAA says 42 million people will be on the road or on an airplane, up one percent from last year. Nationwide, about 84.7 percent of travelers will drive, which is the highest level for the Independence Day holiday travel period since at least 2001.
“Remarkably, 2 in 10 persons living in the Washington metro area (or 17.2 percent of the area’s population of 5,860,342 people) will venture from home for the July Fourth holiday travel period,” Â John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs, said in a statement.
“This marks the second time since at least 2001 that over one million Washington metro area residents will take a vacation during the Independence Day holiday period.”
Part of the increase in the number of travelers is due to gas prices, which remain well below levels from July of 2014 and the lowest in five years, AAA said.
In Virginia, the average price for regular unleaded gasoline has dropped slightly to $2.59 per gallon. Today’s price is eight cents higher than one month ago and remains significantly discounted from this time last year with drivers saving an average of 90 cents per gallon year-over-year.
Beltway traffic/file photo
If you are making holiday weekend plans, here is some information on area fireworks celebrations.
Lake Fairfax Park in Reston will have its annual Independence Day celebration on July 4. There will be food vendors, live music and other activities from 4 to 8 p.m. Fireworks will start at sundown (about 9:30 p.m.). The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole will be open all day.
Admission to Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Dr.) is free but there is a suggested donation of $5 a car to the Fairfax County Park Foundation helps defray the costs of the fireworks, park staff and site improvements. (Contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.)
The Town of Herndon will have a July 4 celebration from 7 to 10 p.m. on July 4.
Herndon’s free party at the Herndon Community Center and Bready Park (814 Ferndale Ave.) will feature arts & crafts activities, bingo, and family games. There will be live music from the band E3. There will be food for sale. Fireworks choreographed to music begin at 9:30 p.m.
The Town of Vienna will have its Independence Day fireworks on Friday, July 3. Live music will be provided by Fat Chance at 7 p.m. at Yeonas Park, 1319 Ross Dr SW. Following the concert, the fireworks will take place at Southside Park at 9:15 p.m. Seating will be available at Yeonas Park and the Little League Concession Stand will be open. Some seating will be available near the playground at Southside Park.
On July 4, Vienna will hold its Red, White & Blue on the Green.
That is a daytime (noon to 5 p.m.) event sponsored by Vienna’s Parks and Recreation Department. There will be live music performances by Difficult Run and the Vienna Community Band. There will also be an antique car show and kids activities.
The Town of Vienna is also teaming with the Vienna Inn for the first “Vienna Inn Chili Dog Eating Contest.” A $250 grand prize package will be awarded by local judges to whomever can consume the most chili dogs in 15 minutes. Contestants (18 and over) may register at the Vienna Community Center or the Vienna Inn ($20).
Fireworks/file photo
Start your July 4 off by running the Firecracker 5K, which will raise money to help our troops.
The sixth annual Firecracker 5K is sponsored by Reston-based Leidos and will benefit the USO of Metropolitan Washington.
There will be live music, American flags and the “Battle of the Branches” competition. Whichever military branch has the most registered runners will have donation to the USO made on its behalf.
Here is what you need to know:
Race is Saturday, July 4, 8 a.m. at Reston Town Center
Registration is $35 and is open online through July 2. Price jumps of $40 July 2-4. Discounts for Under 14 or Active Military.
The course goes on streets through Reston Town Center, as well as on Cameron Glen Drive, Sunset Hills Road, Reston Parkway and Town Center Parkway. Roads will not be blocked to traffic, but lanes could be blocked. The course is relatively flat.
Photo: Firecracker 5K/Credit: Potomac River Running
Most Fairfax County and federal services will be closed on Friday for July 4. Here is the status of some of the major agencies:
County Government – Closed.
Courts – Closed.
Public Schools and School Offices – Closed .
Library – Closed.
Fairfax Connector – July 4 is a Saturday schedule: Routes with Saturday service operate according to the Saturday schedule. Routes without Saturday service will not operate.
Fastran – Not in service.
Park Authority – For July 4: RECenters open on regular schedule and close at 6 p.m., except George Washington RECenter, which will be closed. Nature centers open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; historic sites open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Frying Pan Farm Park open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visitor center open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Riverbend Park visitor center open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Green Spring Gardens open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; historic house closed.
Teen and Senior Centers – Closed.
Community Centers – Closed.
County Trash and Recycling Collection – Regular collection.
Recycling and Disposal Facilities at I-66 Transfer Station and I-95 Landfill Complex – Closed.
Metro – Metrorail will be open from 7 a.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday. The trains will run on a Saturday schedule until about 2 p.m., so the service will be less frequent than on a normal Friday. After 2 p.m., as the number of people heading for the Mall increases, service will gradually increase to near rush-hour levels.
Post Offices and mail delivery – Closed.
Supermarkets – most are open but may have shorter hours.
A record number of Virginians will hit the road this July 4 weekend, says AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA estimates a record 1.16 million in the state will travel — the majority by vehicle — for the long weekend, which they begin counting on Wednesday, July 2.
Not only is that a record-breaking number, but it also represents the first increase for July 4 since 2011, says AAA. Meanwhile, gas prices are the highest in six years, the agency said.
“Overall holiday travel has been steadily, yet slowly, inching up since 2008, however, this July 4 the numbers are not only a post-recession high, but are the highest since AAA began forecasting with its current model 13 years ago,” Martha Mitchell Meade, Manager, Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said in a release. “This record high number of travelers, despite the likelihood of the highest July 4 gas prices in six years, tells us that travelers are looking forward to better economic times.”
Meade said AAA expects the majority of drivers in Virginia will pay the highest gas prices for Independence Day since 2008.
Virginia’s average price of gas today is $3.49, is 16 cents per gallon more expensive than the average on July 4, 2013, when it was $3.33 per gallon. In recent years, gas prices have declined leading up to Independence Day, but this has not occurred in 2014 due to the high cost of crude oil resulting from violence in Iraq, says AAA.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is lifting lane closures for the holiday weekend effective noon Thursday, July 3 through noon on Monday, July 7 for easier travel. Additionally, VDOT has been extending the popular Reach the Beach campaign through the Richmond District to include dual travel times for drivers along the I-95, I-295 and I-64 corridors. The new messages will display approximate travel times to reach the Williamsburg area and Virginia Beach.
The Fourth of July holiday weekend is also considered one of the deadliest holidays during the year because of crashes involving intoxicated drivers. To ensure safety on the road, motorists can expect to see increased patrols and enforcement by the Virginia State Police as part of the annual, nationwide Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E.). The traffic-safety campaign requires 75 percent of all state troopers to be on patrol throughout the extended Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Last July 4 weekend, seven people in Virginia died traffic crashes. Virginia State Police also made 104 DUI arrests and cited 11,350 speeders. Troopers cited 1,053 safety belt violations and another 335 child safety belt violations.
To see traffic trouble spots in the state, visit Virginia 511.
To see the cheapest gas near you, visit Gas Buddy.
Photo: Beltway traffic/file photo
July 4 is Friday. Do you know where you are celebrating? Here are some ideas in and around Reston.
8 a.m., Reston Town Center
There will be live music, face painting, waving flags and free massages, as well as a race. Come out and root for your favorite military branch in the “Battle of the Branches” competition. Potomac River Running will make a donation to the USO on behalf of the branch with the most runners in the race.
More details and registration on Potomac River Running’s race site.
Great Falls July 4th FestivalÂ
Georgetown Pike and Walker Road.
8 a.m. – 5K Walk/Run — Great Falls Freedom Memorial (Library Grounds). Register the morning of race.
8 a.m. – 1:30pm – INOVA Blood Drive — Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department. Everyone who completes the donor screening procedure will receive a $10 Gas Card. Photo ID required.
9 a.m. –Â Little Patriot Parade, Village Centre Green (at the Gazebo) — Babies and Toddlers up to age 5 are welcome to parade their finest patriotic display around the Green. Awards for “Young George Washington,” Little Miss Betsy Ross,” and “The Star Spangled Family.”
10 a.m. – Main Parade, Great Falls Village Centre — See the floats, horses, antique cars and pets in the main parade.
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Festivities, Food & Fun, Village Centre Green. After the parade, enjoy burgers, dogs and sno cones along with music, field games and festivities on the Village Centre Green with your Great Falls neighbors.
Herndon Community Center/Bready Park, 814 Ferndale Ave.
6:30 p.m. –Â Face painting, balloon animals, bingo and crafts. Festival foods will be available for sale.
7 p.m. – Live music with The Plaids Band.
9:30 p.m. – Fireworks set to music. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. No pets.
Lake Fairfax Park Fireworks Spectacular
1400 Lake Fairfax Dr., Reston
Park open all day, including carousel and Water Mine.
Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. Â Free admission. Arrive early to get a good seat.
Town of Vienna 4th of July Celebration
120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna (Yeonas Park – Southside Park)
Festival at the Community Center, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Entertainment at Yeonas Park, 7 p.m. Fireworks at Southside Park, 9:15 p.m.
The day’s activities include a flea market of arts and crafts, food and drink, music, family games, children’s entertainment, antique and classic car display and of course, fireworks at Southside Park.
For more ideas, including events in Washington, D.C., check this list from the Fairfax Convention and Visitors Center.
Photo: Fireworks/Credit: ARLnow.com file photo
