A plan to expand Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) heads to the Fairfax County Planning Commission today at 7 p.m.
The commission will vote on a proposal by the Fairfax County School Board to add three new buildings to the current site. The school is operating at 115 percent of its capacity, according to current capacity utilization rates,
Plans, reviewed by the county’s Dept. of Planning and Zoning in late December, call for a 3,500-square-foot art studio with a canopy at the front of the school.
A two-story building would be attached to the back of the building, with classrooms and administrative offices on the main level and library and science labs on the second level. A courtyard will rest between the school and the two-story building. Another one-story building will include about 1,350 square feet with an expanded cafeteria.
The number of parking spots will increase from 115 to 153, including new parking that will replace existing multi-purpose courts and 38 spots along Seahawks Drive.
The project is expected to cost roughly $41.7 million in construction-related expenses.
At the meeting, the commission will also hear public testimony on a plan to reduce the age requirement for McNair Senior Apartments (13430 Coppermine Road), which houses 139 independent living units on roughly three acres.
The applicant wants to reduce the minimum age of residents from 62 to 55 and change the project’s official classification from “housing for the elderly” to “independent living facilities.”
The meeting (agenda here) will begin at 7:30 p.m in the board auditorium of Fairfax County Government Center (12000 Government Center Pkwy). A livestream will be available online.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at its meeting next week will vote on moving a $315 million Fairfax County Public Schools bond referendum closer to a public vote.
In Virginia, a referendum can be put on the ballot for consideration by the voters only if it is ordered by the Circuit Court. At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors is being recommended to give its stamp of approval to the referendum. At that point, the county attorney would be directed to petition the court to order the referendum to be on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The bond sales would be maintained in the annual amount of $155 million. Future debt service payments are referenced in the FY 2018-FY 2022 Adopted Capital Improvement Program.
One of the most expensive items on the list of projects to be funded is construction at Langston Hughes Middle School. More than $41 million is budgeted for the work.
Click here for the full list of projects included.
It’s another busy weekend in Reston, with plenty of fun activities on the agenda.
The weather hasn’t been pretty for several days now, though, and it looks like rain will be prevalent again Saturday. We recommend you check the status of any scheduled outdoor activity before heading out.
Here is just a sampling of things to do in the area this weekend:
- Reston Association’s Community Yard Sale, originally scheduled for Saturday, has been rescheduled for Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at 1900 Campus Commons Drive. Eighty-five families will be selling a variety of items. In case of rain, call 703-435-6577 that morning to check the event’s status.
- It’s pool season in Reston. The North Shore and Ridge Heights pools are scheduled to open for the season this weekend, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
- The Reston Community Players will continue their staging of “Private Lives” this weekend. Performances will be tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m., along with a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday. Tickets are $21, or $18 for students with ID and senior citizens. Shows take place at CenterStage at the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road).
- The Reston Farmers Market is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lake Anne Village Center.
- The South Lakes High School “Spirit of Reston” Marching Band will hold a rummage sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school (11400 South Lakes Drive). The event is slated to be held on the east side of the school, along Seahawks Drive; however, it will be moved inside if the weather does not cooperate.
- The seventh annual “Be Amyazing!” Reston Youth Triathlon is scheduled for Sunday morning. It consists of a swim at Ridge Heights pool, a bike ride on roads near South Lakes High School and a run on Reston Association paths. Lengths are different for each age group.
- Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) is presenting “Willy Wonka Jr.” this weekend. The show will be performed tonight at 7 p.m., and at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday.
- The NOVA Tour de Cure fundraising event of the American Diabetes Association is scheduled for Saturday, rain or shine, beginning at Reston Town Center.
- Reston Chorale will present its “A Season to Remember” show, celebrating 50 years of the group, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School (11400 South Lakes Drive). Tickets at the door will be $30. Those 62 and over will be admitted for $25; youth 17 and under will be admitted free, as will active military.
- Events at Reston Town Center this weekend include live music tonight from 6-10 p.m. at Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) and from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. tonight and Saturday at Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St., formerly World of Beer); wine tasting at Il Fornaio (11990 Market St.) Saturday from 3-5 p.m.; a Mother’s Day brunch at Mon Ami Gabi (11950 Democracy Drive) Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and more.
- Lake Anne Brew House (11424 Washington Plaza W.) will host a special Mother’s Day “She’s Crafty” women’s beer event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday.
- Frying Pan Farm Park (2739 West Ox Road, Herndon) has a free Spring Farm Day planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event will included hand-churned ice cream samples, a dairy exhibit, children’s activities and crafts, blacksmithing, and antique equipment demos.
- “Radcliffe Bailey: The Great Dismal Swamp” remains on display at Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St.) through August.
- Lake Anne is hosting Sunday Yoga on the Plaza each week, at 9:30 a.m.
- Saturday from 2-3:30 p.m. at Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive), local historian Jim Lewis will share the story of Japan’s secret plans to attack the U.S. mainland during World War II.
- Kalypso’s (1617 Washington Plaza N.) will have live music tonight, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., from Bushmaster with Gary Brown. 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. This week they have Hilary Veltri tonight and Jason Masi tomorrow night.
Reston’s Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) is getting ready to take the stage for opening night of its production of the musical “Willy Wonka Jr.” on Thursday.
“Magic and mystery abound as Charlie Bucket experiences a delicious adventure on his golden-ticket tour of Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory,” organizers say.
A whopping 87 students make up the cast and crew of the production, based on the classic Roald Dahl novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Performances are $10 and will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 11-13. A matinee will also be offered at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Tickets can be purchased at the school during lunch hour or at the door.
The long list of students, parents and staff involved with the show include:
DIRECTOR: Cheryl Dewenter
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Sarah Milhoan
CHOREOGRAPHER: Grace Yakobisin
Cast: Mikhail Goldenberg, Griffin van Hilst, Noah Rice, Avi Holzman, Matthew Guerber, Violet Sather, Chase Thompson, Hannah Carter, Keaton Lazar, Ireland DiBacco, Sophia Feldman, Lindsay Kaine, Audrey Webb, Luke Miller, Mia Milosevic, Leah Blum, Crystal Uehara, Eddie Schoenborn, Michael Constant, Sami Burgess, Manmeet Singh, Karina Yakubisin, Sophia Young, Rebecca Yakobson, Xela Jones, Gretel Brown, Megan Luczko, Rita Ajit, Isabella Piazza, Maya Berry, Katie Falcone, Claire Callaway, Anissa Benjalloun, Laura Echeverri, Olivia Purvis, Evie Errett, Nora Thomas, Mikayla Kirr, Ana Ortiz, Claire Wilson-Black, Amy McGowan, Katia Vivanco, Caroline Dana, Iris Hughes, Adam Johnson, Robert Long, Erin Sanchez, Parker Tremaine, Alexis Jefferyes, Zea Nims, Jaelyn Gilmore
Crew: Thalia Tran, Audrey Moore, Katherine Simpson, Virag Murphy, Alaina Cordts, Angel Brito, Lily Mutzig, Moriah Smith, Hannah McLachlin, Mina Tunley, Gabriella Dettra, Jillian Schmid, Anna Sepulveda, Shannon Gallagher, Raquel Davis, Tyler Cachine, Alexander Parish, Michael Panatier, Elizabeth Beausoleil, Nicole Cheban, Christine Morris, Kendra Griessel, Harley Newman, Gwyneth Wagner, Mishal Khattak, Alexandra Perez, Tammy Guidry, Rhea Braganza, Emily Marik, Astrid Pena, Maxine Prudhomme, Erica Strauss, Jenna Klein, Jasmine Reed, Marina Jansen, Chloe Baker, Ethan Boswell
Reminder: Community Meeting on Street Designs Tonight —Â Bike lanes, crosswalks and center turning lanes will be among the topics of conversation at a Fairfax County Department of Transportation community meeting tonight at Dogwood Elementary School. Colts Neck Road, North Shore Drive and Twin Branches Road are being considered for the changes. [Reston Now]
Local Students Named to Honors Choir — A total of 77 Fairfax County middle-school students have been named to the 2017 All-Virginia Middle School Honors Choir, which will perform April 27-29 in Blacksburg. Among the honorees are Chelsea Camacho, Hannah Carter, Violet Sather and Thalia Tran from Langston Hughes Middle School; and Johnny Park, Hannah Townsend and Mackenzie Trimble from Herndon Middle School. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Fellowship Square Foundation Names New Director — Christy Zeitz (pictured), formerly the executive director of HomeAid Northern Virginia, is the new executive director of the Fellowship Square Foundation. Zeitz was also the former director of development for the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance of Reston. The Reston-based Fellowship Square Foundation provides affordable housing and supportive services to low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. It operates four properties, including Lake Anne Fellowship House and Hunters Woods Fellowship House in Reston. [Fellowship Square Foundation]
Home Listings Down in County, Sales Up — The number of active home listings in Fairfax County in January was 1,977. That number is down 17.4 percent from a year ago. Meanwhile, 794 homes were sold in the month, up 6.9 percent from January 2016. The average sale price was $545,772, up 8.1 percent. [Fairfax County]
Photo of 1900 Reston Metro Plaza courtesy James Schaeffer Jr. on Facebook; photo of Christy Zeitz courtesy Fellowship Square Foundation
Engineers, artists, scientists and more will bring their latest creations to Reston later this month.
The fourth annual Maker Faire NoVa event will take place Sunday, March 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes Middle School.
Featured “makers” at this year’s event will include HackRVA with their giant spirograph, miniature racing quadcopters and more; and DorkPod with their experimental personal-mobility device, among others. More than 100 makers in total are expected to share their knowledge through hands-on projects, demonstrations, workshops and more. Robotics, drones and 3D printers are just some of the many types of technology expected to be on display.
From a press release:
“Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, the Maker Faire provides an opportunity for ‘makers’ to show hobbies, experiments and projects. Tagged ‘The Greatest Show (& Tell) on Earth,’ this glimpse of the future and inspiration is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness.”
The event was known as the Mini Maker Faire in previous years. The “mini” has been dropped from the name this year as the event’s scale and scope have expanded, according to the press release.
In 2016, nearly 200 Maker Faire events were held worldwide.
Advance tickets are $2 for children ages 2-18 and $13 for adults ($10 for seniors) and can be purchased online. Ticket prices increase by $2 at the door. A family ticket package is also available.
Photo from 2015 Mini Maker Faire event by Jennifer van der Kleut
The whole family is welcome to run the Langston Hughes Middle School’s Panther Pride 5K will run near the school on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.
The race will mostly be held on trails surrounding the school and should not affect area roads.
Here is what you need to know:
Fees: Students, $15; Adults, $25. Registration available online.
Packet Pick Up: Will be held at the =PR= Reston (11911 Democracy Dr, Reston 20190) on Friday, Feb. 26 from 4-7 p.m. Day-of-race pickup is at Hughes MS (11401 Ridge Heights Rd.) starting at 8:00 a.m.
Swag: The first 150 registrants will receive a commemorative race shirt. Register early to ensure you receive a shirt.
Awards: Awards will be giving out to the Top overall Male and Female finisher and the top male and female finishers from the following age groups; 6 & U, 7-13, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60 & over.
Update, 11 a.m. Thursday – Langston Hughes principal Aimee Monitcchio said the threat proved to be not credible and the school day will proceed as usual.
Original Story: Students at Reston’s Langston Hughes Middle School will have extra security at the school on Thursday after an online threat was made Wednesday night.
Here is the message principal Aimee Monticchio sent to Hughes families:
Dear Parents,
This evening we were made aware of an anonymous threat directed at our school on social media. At this time, police do not believe the threat is credible but, out of an abundance of caution, extra security will be at the school tomorrow. We plan to operate on our normal schedule tomorrow.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. In addition, we believe that, as partners in your child’s education, we have a responsibility to inform you of these kinds of circumstances, even when there is no reason for alarm.
With the assistance of the Fairfax County Police Department and the FCPS Office of Safety and Security, we will continue to be diligent to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Thank you for your support and understanding. If you have any additional questions or concerns, feel free to contact the school office.
Sincerely,
Aimee Monticchio, Principal