Member listening sessions begin tomorrow — Reston Association’s Board of Directors invites RA members to take part in a few listening sessions that begin tomorrow. Other meetings are set for Oct. 3, Oct. 10, and Oct. 17. [Reston Today]
Missing Sterling teen found — Bryan Ortega-Henriquez, 15, went missing last week and was found yesterday, according to local law enforcement. He was believed to be in the Herndon area. [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]
Decision on RTC West expected today — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will vote on a major project to expand RTC West from an office park with some retail into a mixed-use project with up to 576 multifamily units. [Fairfax County Government]
Give blood today — INOVA’s bloodmobile will be in Reston Town Center today from 1-6 p.m. [Reston Town Center]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Update: The missing teen was found on Monday night.
Earlier:
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to help find a Sterling teen who left his school bus stop on Sept. 20.
Bryan Ortega-Henriquez, 15, was last seen around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. According to sheriff’s deputies, he did not go to school. He is described as a white male, 5’11” tall with a weight of 189 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.
Sheriff’s deputies believe he is likely in the Herndon area with his friends and recently moved to Sterling from Herndon. He was in contact with his family on Sept. 21 but has not returned home.
Anyone with any information should call Detective P. Roque at 703-777-1021.
Photo via LCSO
Building worlds — A group exhibition of artists who explore the role of science fiction and fantasy in informing our fears and ideals is set to run from August 1 through September 15 at Greater Reston Arts Center. [Reston Town Center]
Herndon teen found — A 12-year-old from Herndon who went missing Tuesday night was found yesterday. She returned home and is safe and sound. [Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office]
Showing their teeth — “In the first meet of the Northern Virginia Swimming League season, the Hunter Mill Sharks took a bite out of the Lee Graham Dolphins, with a final score of 269-151.” [Fairfax County Times]
Squeeze Bayou concert —Â This week’s “Take a Break” concert series features music folk music tied to the Cajuns. The event at Lake Anne Plaza is free and open to all ages. [Reston Community Center]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
UPDATE: Thank you to our community for the assistance. Jessiah McCollum has returned home. #herndonpd pic.twitter.com/mh8azIaZWo
— Herndon Police (@HerndonPolice) September 26, 2017
The Herndon Police Department is asking for the public’s help to find a runaway juvenile from the community.
According to a flyer released by HPD on Twitter, 13-year-old Jessiah Maurice McCollum has been gone from his home at 565 Florida Ave. for more than two weeks. He was last seen at about 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8.
McCollum is black, 5 feet 11 inches tall and about 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Information on the flyer states that he is “believed to be in the Reston, VA area.”
Anyone with information about McCollum’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Mike Croson at 571-237-4987 or [email protected], or call the police department at 703-435-6846.
If you traveled or just tuned out from local news during the holiday season, here’s what you may have missed:
Lake House Review: Work has still not begun on a review of how funds were handled to purchase and renovate what is now the Lake House at Lake Anne. It was decided an independent review was necessary after renovations ended up to be roughly three times what was budgeted, and money had to be borrowed from the Reston Association’s operating budget to cover the deficit. The RA Board previously went through months of negotiations with the firm MediaWorld, who had offered to do the review for just $1 if volunteers agreed to help with some of the busy work, but after more than two months of back and forth, it appears negotiations have been stalled or possibly terminated.
Development on the Horizon: Per the usual here in Reston, there are several major developments in the works around town. In particular, just before the holidays, more news broke about Vornado’s planned development near Wiehle-Reston East Metro, Comstock’s hopes for a development near Reston Station, and an approval for planned lofts by Pulte Homes near Reston Station.
Very Little Crime to Ruin the Holidays: Thankfully, very few crimes made headlines in the Reston area over the holidays. There were minor break-ins at the Carlton House condos at Reston Town Center and the Hidden Creek Country Club, and a tragic accident in D.C. involving a Herndon man. In a bit of good news, the community pulled together to help find a teen boy who went missing in North Reston within 24 hours.
Fourth Spot Opens Up on RA Board: Just before the Christmas and Chanukah holidays, North Point District Director Danielle LaRosa of the Reston Association Board of Directors tendered her resignation. LaRosa also serves as the board’s current treasurer. LaRosa’s seat joins three others that are opening up on the board when three-year terms come to an end in April, for a total of four out of the board’s nine seats up for election when voting begins March 3. The candidate elected to fill LaRosa’s seat will serve the remaining two years of her three-year term. A Candidate Information Session will take place tonight for those who want to learn more about running for the board.
As we kick off 2017, what are you most interested in or concerned about around Reston? Tell us what you most want Reston Now to cover in this new year.
Where to Celebrate New Year’s in Reston — Where do you plan to ring in 2017? If you’d rather get out of the house than stay home and watch the ball drop on TV, there are a few places offering special celebrations and dinners. [Reston Patch]
Missing Teen Found Safe — Fairfax County police say that 17-year-old Elliot Byrum, who went missing from North Point Village Center in Reston Wednesday afternoon, was found safe Thursday afternoon, after being missing for more than 24 hours. [Reston Now]
Plan Ahead for Childcare on Snow Days — Fairfax County’s Office for Children (OFC) maintains a database of regulated child care programs in the area on its website, including many that offer the option of occasional or back-up care. OFC invites all local parents of school-aged children to browse the database and line up emergency care now for the inevitable snow days ahead. [Fairfax County OFC]
Virginia State Parks Present Free ‘First Day Hikes’ on Jan. 1 — The Commonwealth invites all to celebrate the first day of 2017 by visiting any of Virginia’s 37 state parks, with free admission. Officials are also reprising their annual photography contest — take a photo while hiking or visiting one of the state parks and post it online, and three winners will be selected. Prizes include gift certificates toward overnight stays and a year of free state park admission. [Virginia State Parks]
Update at 5:30 p.m. — The teen has been found safe, according to Fairfax County police. “Officers located Elliott Byrum a short time ago,” the police department said Thursday afternoon. “He is in good health and will be reunited with his family shortly. Thanks to all concerned.”
Fairfax County police are asking for the public’s help in locating a “critical” missing teen last seen in Reston.
Police said 17-year-old Elliot Byrum was last seen in front of the Giant grocery store in the North Point Village Center (1452 Reston Parkway) around 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. Byrum reportedly works at the grocery store, but never went inside and checked in for his shift.
Police said they are concerned for Elliot’s well-being due to mental health issues.
“We have reason to believe he may be in danger due to mental disabilities and his family is concerned for his well-being,” police said in a statement early Thursday morning.
Elliot is described as 5-foot-9, around 110 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He may be wearing his Giant grocery work t-shirt. Photos distributed by police also show him wearing glasses.
Anyone who thinks they may have information about Elliot Byrum or his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Bill Woolf at 703-246-4059 or the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2131. Anonymous tips can also be called into Crime Solvers at 1-865-411-TIPS.
Updated story, 2:45 p.m. Tuesday: Noah Clemente was located safe and sound about 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
Original story, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday: A Langley High School junior may be missing after he was last seen in Reston Monday night.
The family of Noah Clemente, said he was last seen on the W&OD Trail in Reston about 5 p.m. yesterday.
AÂ family member said they are concerned about the Great Falls teen’s safety, but there are some clues he may be a at a friend’s house.
Nonetheless, they have put out the word to help find Noah, a two-sport athlete at Langley. Nick Clemente said in a Facebook post:
“My brother Noah Clemente is missing. He was last seen at 5PM in Reston on the W&OD trail. Please call me at 703-638-4749 if you see him. Please share this post, to get the word out as well.”
Police in the District are investigating if a dead body found in an Adams Morgan alley Thursday is related to a missing teen from Reston.
Paul McGuinness, 19, was last seen about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at Madam’s Organ, a bar at 2461 18th St. in Adams Morgan.
Reston and Herndon residents have been on a social media campaign this afternoon to see if anyone has seen the Herndon High School Class of 2015 grad and Virginia Commonwealth University freshman.
According to our sister publication Borderstan, the body was found in the 2400 block of 18th St. NW around 11:51 a.m.  on Thursday. Metropolitan Police confirmed it is a “death investigation” rather than a homicide investigation.
The body was located in an alley close to Madam’s Organ, which said in a Tweet it will be closed tonight.
Photo by Tim Regan. Borderstan editors Andrew Ramonas and Tim Regan contributed to this story.
