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If you missed Tuesday’s deadline to register for Lake Anne’s first Cardboard Boat Regatta, scheduled for later this month, never fear. The deadline to get a craft registered for the event has been extended to Sunday, Reston Museum announced Wednesday on social media.

The museum has been sharing numerous examples of possible boat designs on its Instagram account in recent days, including a shark, a tractor, a pirate ship and more.

Participants in the event will be asked to construct and decorate their own boats, which will take to the water in timed heats. Some extraneous material can be used in building the vessel, but there are many rules and limitations to what can be utilized.

Adult and family teams can register for $100; student teams can register for $40. All the proceeds from the event will go toward the Reston Historic Trust & Museum. Awards will be given to the fastest boats in each category, as well as the “Titanic” award for the ship that sinks “most spectacularly.”

“We can’t wait to see the creativity that everyone is putting into their cardboard boats,” said Elizabeth Didiano, executive director of the Reston Historic Trust & Museum. “Some teams are designing colorful, flashy boats while others are focusing on what will help their boat float the best.”

The event is scheduled for 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. A pre-event “launch party” is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11.

For more information or to register a boat, visit the event’s webpage or contact the Reston Historic Trust at 703-709-7700 or [email protected].

‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’ — With heavy rains expected today and Saturday, the possibility of flash flooding exists. County officials are reminding residents that cars should not be driven through flooded roadways. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

Police Seek Suspect in Vienna Stabbing — Fairfax County Police have been searching since Thursday morning for the suspect in a stabbing that took place near the Vienna Metro station. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect is a male of unknown race, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a medium build, and a light- to medium-brown complexion. He was wearing a black, hooded shirt pulled over his head. [Fairfax County Police Department]

Deadline for Cardboard Boat Registration Nears — The first Lake Anne Cardboard Boat Regatta is coming up Aug. 12, and the last day to get a boat registered for the event is Tuesday. [Reston Museum]

New Name Coming for J.E.B. Stuart High — By 2019, the Falls Church school named after a Confederate general will have its name changed. The Fairfax County School Board voted last night to make it happen. [NBC Washington]

Connolly: Trump’s Boy Scout Speech Shameful — In a letter to the national president of the Boy Scouts of America, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) says the BSA should denounce the speech President Trump gave recently at the National Scout Jamboree. Connolly says Trump’s politicized rhetoric “directly contradicted the spirit of Scouting and the tenets of Boy Scout Law.” [The Hill]

Synthetic Soccer Field Coming to Great Falls — The $1.3 million project at Great Falls Nike Park (1089 Utterback Store Road) includes the conversion of an existing grass field to a synthetic turf field, a trail, storm drainage facilities, landscaping, field lighting and related improvements. [Fairfax County Park Authority]

A state grant will foot half of the $14,590 bill for a recent hazard analysis of Lake Anne Dam.

A $7,295 grant from the Virginia Resources Authority will be put toward the evaluation, which was completed by consulting engineers GKY & Associates. Reston Association helped bring this grant to fruition.

RA says that prior to seeking the grant money, it had three potential construction solutions to bring the dam into compliance with state regulations, which would have cost between $2 million and $4 million. But according to RA:

Additional and more recent guidance provided by the state allows for evaluating certain aspects of the dam, including the spillway capacity and downstream impacts. RA opted to pursue an evaluation under this new guidance, which could result in a solution without excessive costs associated with extensive renovations to the dam.

The grant is part of a decision by Gov. Terry McAuliffe to provide $1.15 million for dam safety and floor management statewide. In a press release, McAuliffe cited the importance of the grant money and how “dam failures can be tragic for families and economically devastating for communities.”

“For almost the entirety of [Lake Anne] dam’s existence, it’s been considered a significant hazard dam,” said Larry Butler, RA’s senior director for Parks, Recreation and Community.

Butler explained that over the past few years, as the state changed dam safety regulations, Lake Anne’s dam was re-classified as a high hazard dam.

“More than half of the dams receiving funding are classified as high hazard, meaning they pose the greatest risk to life and property upon failure and are a priority for the Commonwealth,” said Clyde E. Cristman, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, in the state press release.

Lake Anne was one of the dams to receive their grant as part of a 50/50 matching program. The other half of the evaluation’s cost will come from RA’s capital budget.

Visitors to Lake Anne in recent weeks likely have noticed the absence of its trademark fountain.

The fountain, owned by Reston Association, has been out of commission since early June. It was taken to the nearest factory-authorized service center — in Jessup, Maryland — a week ago.

“Currently, RA is waiting to hear back from the service center with the cause of the problem and how long it will take to repair it,” said Mike Leone, RA’s director of communications. “Unfortunately, at this time we have no further information.”

Susan Cassell, of Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association, was told last week that the fountain was pulled from the lake due to “repeated electrical malfunctions.”

In a 2015 interview with Washingtonian magazine, Reston founder Bob Simon said the fountain was inspired by the Jet d’Eau in Switzerland’s Lake Geneva.

File photo

If you have the thirst to tap into your inventive side, this summer you’ll have the chance to quench it.

In August, homemade cardboard boats will compete in a first-of-its-kind regatta at Lake Anne. All the proceeds will go toward the Reston Historic Trust & Museum.

Participating teams of all ages will construct and decorate their own life-size cardboard boats, which will then take to the water in timed heats. Each team will row on a course that leads to a designated buoy before returning to the docks at Lake Anne Plaza.

There will be awards for the fastest cardboard boat in each category as well as an award for the most “Titanic-like” boat, i.e. the fastest one to sink.

The event’s rules include:

• no pre-treated or coated “waterproof” cardboard
• no staples, clamps, nails or screws
• water-based paint or sealer is OK, but not tar, wax, silicone, fiberglass resins, epoxy glues or Styrofoam
• no motors and no kicking — oars and paddles only

“There is no limit to the number of rowers or participants assisting with the construction of the cardboard boat,” according to a press release. “So throw a boat-building party and get creative.”

The event is scheduled for 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Volunteers are also needed.

For more information or to register a boat, visit the event’s webpage. Team sponsorships for adults start at $100, while children between 10-18 years of age pay $40.

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff of summer, and what better way to enjoy it than with a picnic?

The Lake Anne Plaza Memorial Day Picnic is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Bring your picnic blanket and patriot pride and enjoy live music on the plaza. There will be food available for purchase from local vendors and plaza restaurants, as well as boat rentals and family games.

“We are positioning this event similar to a ‘National Day Out’ setup where folks come bring a picnic, or a bite, listen to music, do some plaza games like cornhole, etc.,” said Maurisa Potts, Lake Anne Plaza spokesperson. “[We’re] just building a sense of community and a platform to get to know their neighbors.”

There are dozens of other activities going on around the Reston area this holiday weekend, from music to celebrations. Here are some of the highlights.

• All of Reston’s pools open for the season Saturday, as does The Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive).
• Live music at Reston Town Center this weekend will include a performance from 6-10 p.m. tonight at Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) and both tonight and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St.).
• The premiere of the weekly Mr. Knick Knack! concerts happens this Monday at Reston Town Center. Starting at 11:15 a.m., the children’s music concert is free to the public.
• Tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. the Ravel Dance Company will put on a ballet version of “Cinderella” on the CenterStage in the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road). Tickets are $20 at the door.
• The Reston Farmers Market will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lake Anne Village Center.
• Lake Anne is also hosting Sunday Yoga on the Plaza each week, at 9:30 a.m.
• Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) will screen award-winning film “Can You Dig This?” tonight at 7 p.m.; Sunday, from 1:30-3 p.m., the nature center is hosting a salamander search.
• Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern (697 Spring St., Herndon) will host its 20th Annual Birthday Bash and Bike Run on both Sunday and Monday. Starting Sunday, live music will be performed indoors and outdoors throughout the day from various local bands. Monday morning, motorcyclists from around the area are invited to join a communal ride through George Washington Parkway, Crystal City and Alexandria.
• The Reston Choir will honor veterans with a Star-Spangled Salute at Reston Town Center tonight from 7-11 p.m. The performance will include family activities and an opportunity to honor the troops. The event is free with a recommended donation that will go toward providing care packages to troops overseas.
• Exercise with Athleta this Sunday at 11 a.m. in the Reston Town Center pavilion. The POUND class, hosted by Kathy from StudioPinkFit, is free to the public.
• Oakton Library (10304 Lynnhaven Place, Oakton) will host a Chinese Dance exhibition on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. that features tradition Chinese and Taiwanese dances. The event is free and hosted by the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe.
• “Radcliffe Bailey: The Great Dismal Swamp” remains on display at Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St.) through August.
• Hosted by the Reston Masters Swim team, this Sunday will be the 30th Annual Jim McDonnell Lake Swim. Swimmers will have the option of a one- or two-mile swim around Lake Audubon.
• Kalypso’s (1617 Washington Plaza N.) will have live music tonight, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., from Throwing Plates. DJ Kram will play Top 40 hits Saturday night.
• Vinafera Wine Bar and Bistro (11750 Sunrise Valley Drive) has live music from 7-10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night.

When “Romeo and Juliet” was first performed in the 1600s, all-male casts were used — women were not permitted on stage.

Next month in Reston, the script will be flipped.

DC troupe AnyStage Theater Company, which first brought Shakespeare to Reston with “Hamlet” in 2015, will return May 6-7 to stage an all-female version of the classic love story. Three stagings of the outdoor production are slated for Lake Anne Recreation Area (11301 North Shore Drive). A cast of seven women will portray 12 roles in the minimal-scenery show, which will also feature 21st-century costumes and music.

The show (trailer available on YouTube) is directed by Aria Velz and John-Nicholas Walsh.

“One of the best parts of having an all-female cast is talking about masculinity and femininity in the play,” Velz said in a news release. “Having a room full of women talk about not only womanhood but our perspective of manhood makes for insightful and hilarious moments while staging, particularly in the scenes with only male characters.”

Diane Samuelson plays Romeo.

“One of my favorite aspects is the energy and enthusiasm from everyone in the cast getting to tackle roles we wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to play,” she said of the show.

Kirsten Koch portrays Juliet in the show.

“Juliet is often seen as sort of a half-person, defined by being in a pair with Romeo rather than as an actual character,” Koch said. “This production really highlights that Juliet is much more complex than she gets credit for. We can see the strength of her character in her refusal to follow along quietly.”

Velz says she hopes the show reaches the audience in a specific way.

“We’re hoping audiences really see how the masculinity and braggadocio that boys and men display can be ridiculous,” she said.

The performances will be Saturday, May 6 at 2 p.m.; and at both 2 and 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 7. Performances are free but donations are welcome.

Image courtesy AnyStage Theater Company

Reston residents can don costumes and get “ice, ice, crazy” during an annual charity event next month.

This year’s Virginia Polar Dip is slated to take place at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne on Feb. 11. The benefit helps raise money to send children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to Camp Sunshine in Maine.

This year’s goal is to raise $100,000, which would be enough to send about 40 area families to the camp, organizers said. The Reston event is held in conjunction with other Polar Dip plunges across the U.S.

In previous years, participants have worn wetsuits, superhero getups and pirate costumes as they leapt in the lake. But they don’t need to fully submerge themselves: attendees can also participate by just dunking their toes in the water during the so-called “Chicken Dip.” Participants who raise $100 or more for the cause will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

Registration on the day of the event is scheduled to begin at noon. The event itself will begin about two hours later.

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Santa Claus himself will visit Reston this weekend, but he won’t be riding with his usual reindeer or sleigh. Instead, the all-knowing, all-seeing Christmas wizard will arrive on a barge.

St. Nick’s visit is part of Jingle on Lake Anne, an annual family-friendly holiday festival. The big day is set to include carolers, drinks, shopping and cookie decorating this year.

Jingle on Lake Anne is free and will take place rain or shine.

Here is the schedule of events for Saturday, Dec. 3:

• 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. — Farmers and craft Market
• 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Gifts from the Heart shopping event and reception
• 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. — Cookie decorating/beer garden/mulled wine/activities
• Noon — Santa arrives by barge
•  Noon to 2:00 p.m. — Pictures with Santa
• 6:30 p.m. — Tree Lighting and caroling

Photo: Santa on a barge/Courtesy Jingle on Lake Anne

(Updated on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.) Someone drove their car off of Wiehle Avenue and ended up in Lake Anne late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The driver. a 45-year-old man, and one passenger, a 7-year-old girl, were able to escape the car with no injuries, thanks to the help of Good Samaritans walking by, but the car was completely submerged in the lake, police said.

Due to how early darkness falls in November, police decided to wait until the next morning to remove the car from the lake.

Fairfax County Police divers began working to remove the car from the lake sometime before 9:50 a.m. Thursday morning.

Officers posted photos and videos to Facebook of the dive team’s efforts to pull the car from the lake Thursday afternoon. Members of the Reston Association staff also posted photos to Facebook:

Photo via Reston Association

After several years of on-again, off-again plans for redevelopment, Lake Anne Fellowship House has a signed agreement to build a new affordable senior housing complex.

The Fellowship Square Foundation (FSF), which operates the Lake Anne buildings, the facility at Hunters Woods Village Center, and several others in the Washington, DC area, says it has a signed deal with the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) for a new building to replace the aging structures at 11480-11450 North Shore Drive in Reston.

The new construction project will replace all 240 apartment units, built in the early 1970s,with “a new, state of the art facility,” according to a release.

CPDC is a non-profit developer of affordable housing.

“We look forward to pursuing this project with CPDC to make this vision a reality for the Lake Anne community,” said Renee Jakobs, president of Fellowship Square Foundation.

Similar plans for Lake Anne Fellowship House have been made — and fallen apart — in the last few years.

In 2013, the foundation had an agreement with Cafritz Interests and Novus Development for new housing on the site. John Thillman, a developer and former Fairfax County Planning Commissioner who was at the time on the Fellowship Square Board of Directors, said then that 114 of the units are subsidized. The rest are market rate, but the buildings have a 20-percent vacancy rate and lose about $10,000 month, he said.

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The people who brought paddleboarding to Reston are hoping to bring a gondola pilot project here next month.

Steve Gurney, owner of Surf Reston Stand Up Paddleboarding, has asked Reston Association for permission to offer gondola rides on Lake Anne in late July.

Gurney plans to bring a gondola (and gondolier) to Reston to see if it would be a good longterm investment here.

“A gondola at Lake Anne has the potential to be a very unique regional attraction comparable to a Reston Town Center Carriage Ride,” Gurney said in his request to RA, which must approve the idea since Lake Anne is RA property.

“There are less than 25 other gondola operations in the nation, and many report that they are consistently voted the ‘most romantic evening’ and the ‘best place to propose’ in their regions.”

The cost of the Reston rides has not yet been determined, said Gurney. Most vendors around the country charge $100-$125 for an hour-long ride for four, he said.

Gurney said he sees collaboration with the restaurants at Lake Anne (and the immediate region) to create dinner/gondola packages will provide a unique offering to drive traffic and commerce to Lake Anne. Read More