It Takes a Village — Modern Reston takes us behind the scenes of the Gingerbread Village at the Hyatt Regency Reston, which this year took on a Frozen theme. [Modern Reston]
Reston Chorale Auditions — The esteemed musical group is holding auditions by appointment at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Join the Chorale in singing music of French composers Duruflé, Faure, Franck, Vierne and Widor (March 22), as well as the annual Pops Concert (May 9) featuring songs that celebrate America and honor those that keep it free. [Reston Chorale]
Change to Virginia’s Redistricting? — The government integrity panel created by Gov. Terry McAuliffe has adopted recommendations for an overhaul of Virginia’s redistricting process. The panel wants to amend the Virginia Constitution to create an independent commission to redraw lawmakers’ districts, and pass a law prohibiting that commission from considering election results when setting district boundaries. [Washington Post]
Action in Geer Case — A judge has ordered Fairfax County Police to provide vast portions of their investigation into the police shooting death of an unarmed man in 2013 to the attorneys for the man’s family, including the officer’s name, which had been previously undisclosed. [Washington Post]
South Lakes Moves Up — South Lakes High School, boosted by a win over Herndon even without their best player, moves to No. 13 in the Washington Post rankings. They were No. 15 last week. [Washington Post]
Millions in Unclaimed Money Waiting — Nearly $380 million in unclaimed money is waiting for Fairfax County residents. Are you one of them? [Fairfax Times]
Twelve SLHS Swimmers Earn Regional Times — A dozen South Lakes high school swimmers had regional qualifying times as the boys and girls teams both defeated Stone Bridge on Friday. The boys won 193-93 and the girls, 180-106. Both SLHS teams are 3-1 heading into the holiday break.
Last Minute Reston Gifts — Restonian has a tongue-in-cheek gift guide. [Restonian]
Reston Glory Days Hiring — Glory Days Grill, set to open soon at North Point Village Center, has set up a hiring headquarters at 1422 North Point Village Center (in the old AT&T store). Interested in a position in the kitchen, bar or on the wait staff? Stop by to fill out an application. The new Glory Days will open in January at 1400 North Point Village Center.
New Life on Silver Line Route — Bisnow takes a look at the commercial real estate plans from Tysons Corner to Herndon [Bisnow]
Photo: South Lakes Swim Coach Scott Brown gets into the Christmas spirit at meet against Stone Bridge/Credit: Lyn Fiscus
Christkindlmarket Helps Cornerstones — The German Armed Forces Command, which has a headquarters in Reston, presented Cornerstones with the proceeds from its annual Christkindlmarket. The outdoor holiday shopping and food festival raised more than $12,000 for the nonprofit.
Herndon’s Stone Gets Top Field Hockey Honor — Herndon High senior Taylor Stone was selected as the Washington Post’s All-Met Field Hockey Player of the Year. Stone had 20 goals and 23 assists for the Hornets. [Washington Post]
Don’t Speed Through Toll Gates — Speeding through some area EZPass toll lanes could get you a ticket. Find out where. [WTOP]
Artsy Last-Minute Gift — Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) has published a 40th anniversary book. The book features a history of GRACE, images, testimonials and artist statements from the recent exhibition, 40 for 40: Celebrating Four Decades of GRACE. [GRACE]
Photo: German Armed Forces present Cornerstones rep with donation at Reston Town Center/Courtesy of Cornerstones.
Now Hiring: Red’s Table — The new restaurant at South Lakes Village Center is now hiring for all positions. If you are interested, email [email protected] to be sent an application. Red’s Table is still on track to open in February.
Herndon Player Tops In Field Hockey — Meet Taylor Stone, Region 6A’s Field Hockey player of the year. She will play for Louisville next year. [Reston Connection]
There’s No Place Like Home — Herndon basketball coach Gary Hall and his wife have opened their home to student athletes for a unique weekly dinner and study hall [Reston Connection]
Saturday Holiday Fun at Reston Town Center — Dec. 20, the final Saturday before Christmas, has a full schedule of activities at Reston Town Center. The day begins with Breakfast with Santa at McCormick & Schmick’s and continues with entertainment and horse drawn carriage rides. [Reston Town Center]
Be Prepared — Making your holiday gift list? In honor of Winter Preparedness Week, Fairfax County has some useful ideas to keep everyone safe. [Fairfax County]
SACC Prices To Rise? — Fairfax County is considering changing the fees for School Age Child Care in its schools. A new sliding scale would increase fees for some and decrease for others, depending on income. [Fairfax Times]
Shopping Local (And Pretty) — Where to get some locally made Christmas decorations. [Modern Reston]
Give The Gift of Blood — Blood donors are needed this time of year, when donations typically dip due to people being busy with holiday plans. The Inova Bloodmobile will be at Reston Town Center on Tuesday, Dec. 23 from noon to 7 p.m. The bloodmobile will be located beside the Pavilion near Williams-Sonoma. On site registration. Schedule appointment time by calling 1-866-256-6372 or online at www.inova.org/donateblood.
Cornerstones Home Wins New Roof — DryHome Roofing and Siding, a Sterling-based roofing company, has selected Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith) as the recipient of a new roof through its annual Free Roof for the Holidays program. The new roof will replace one on a Cornerstones’ property in Herndon, ensuring the house is ready to become a home for a single mother and her 8 year old child.
Potterville or Reston? — Rescue Reston is trying to gather opposition to the Reston National Golf Course’s rezoning application by comparing the situation to It’s a Wonderful Life. [Restonian]
Herndon Town Council’s Wolf Appointed to Park Authority — Dranesville Supervisor John Foust has appointed a replacement for Park Authority Board Member Richard “Rip” Sullivan, who resigned last week. The new board member is Grace Han Wolf, who assumed the post as of Dec. 12. Sullivan resigned because he was elected to the Virginia General Assembly (48th District). Wolf is in her third term on the council and is active in other Fairfax County civic groups. [Fairfax County]
Virginia To Get New Voting Machines — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Monday that he is including $28 million in his budget to provide new voting machines to precincts across Virginia so all polling places will have uniform, state-of-the-art equipment for the 2015 November elections. McAuliffe will also include in his budget $30,000 per fiscal year to update the Department of Elections’ website to ensure reliable reporting for future elections.
Help Children This Christmas — Fairfax County Public Schools say nearly 1,500 children who are homeless are enrolled in FCPS. The Homeless Liaison Office will create gift bags for the students using the assortment of gift cards provided by donors. Purchase as many gift cards as you like, in any amount. (Be sure to mark the value on the back of the card.) All cards should be sent to Homeless Liaison Office, Gatehouse Administration Center, Room 4738, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042. Gift cards from grocery stores, Target, Walmart and Kmart, or other large department stores are suggested.
Doing the Chicken (Wings) Dance — Jimmy Cirrito, owner of Herndon’s Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, said he would do a public chicken dance if readers of Northern Virginia Magazine named his wings the best again this year. He was at it Saturday at Reston Town Center. [YouTube]
Bar Crawling With Santa — The 11th annual Santa Claus Bar Crawl at Reston Town Center was Saturday. Did you take part? Find the photo album here. [Shutterfly]
Test Run For I-95 Express Lanes — Headed south for the holidays (or just commuting that way)? The new I-95 Express Lanes are partially open now (and free until Dec. 29), but you should know the details before you go. [Washington Post]
Shoveling Season — As we’re halfway through December, Fairfax County has some ideas on rallying (and dividing responsibilities) to keep your neighborhood moving when it snows. [Fairfax County]
Save the Date: Howell/Plum Town Hall — State Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Ken Plum will hold their annual pre-legislative town hall on Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. It’s your chance to tell them the issues on your mind as they head to Richmond for the 2015 Virginia General Assembly session.
State Honor For SLHS’ Vigen — South Lakes High School senior Sara Vigen was one of four students awarded the Student-Athlete of the Year award by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Vigen, a soccer player with a 4.3 grade point average, has committed to play at William & Mary. She is the Liberty Conference Soccer Player of the Year and was named to the Washington Post’s first team all-region and first team all-Met in soccer. [FCPS]
Big Upset For SLHS Boys Basketball — Senior Brandon Kamga led all scorers with 29 points and teammate Zach Pearl added 20 points as the Seahawks upset No. 13 Woodson 75-70. [Washington Post]
Take The Tour De Lights — Reston Association’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee is organizing a bike tour of Reston’s holiday lights. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Dec. 20 4:30-6 p.m. Meet at Lake Anne Plaza parking lot. All ages are welcome, but riders must have experience and ability to keep up with a group averaging 10 mph over a one-hour ride, including hills. [Reston Association]
Girls Code — Checking in on unique club at Langston Hughes Middle School, where girls learn it is cool to write computer code. [Washington Post]
Ugly Sweater Animal Adoption Party — The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is hosting an Ugly Sweater Party Adoption Event Friday and Saturday (Dec. 12 and 13). There will be 40 available cats and kittens and 25 dogs and puppies, many wearing their best holiday sweaters. Dog adoption fees will be reduced to $100 and cat adoption fees will be $50. [Fairfax County]
Rivalry For a Cause — Herndon and South Lakes High Schools are engaging in a competition to see who can collect the most toiletry donations for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter. Toiletry donations (toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.) will be collected at both schools the week of Dec. 15-19. Each item a school collects, regardless of size, will count as one “point” towards the school’s total. The winner will be the high school with the most “points” by tip off of the SLHS-Herndon Boys Basketball game at SLHS on Dec. 19. The principal of the losing school must wear the opposing school’s spirit wear to school on Jan. 5.
Toys For Tots Event Tuesday — Reston Town Center has been participating in the U.S. Marines’ annual Toys for Tots Drive since Dec. 1. The collection will culminate Tuesday, Dec. 16, when U.S. Marines will be on site collecting unwrapped toys and cash donations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. [Reston Town Center]
Let’s Talk Snow Removal — How does your neighborhood handle snow shoveling and could neighbors be helping each other? That is the topic of a meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods . The meeting is sponsored by Reston For a Lifetime. [Reston Now]
Reston Group To Commemorate Sandy Hook Victims — Members of the Reston-Herndon Alliance to End Gun Violence will commemorate the second anniversary of the mass shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary at Newtown, Conn. Sunday at 2 p.m. with a march at National Rifle Association Headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Rd. in Fairfax. The group has been picketing the NRA monthly on the 14th since 2012, but is hoping for an extra large turnout this time.
New Private School In Reston — Rockville’s School for Tomorrow says it will open a Reston location next year. [Reston Patch]
FACETS Has New Leader — Meet Margi Preston, the new executive director of FACETS, the Fairfax-based group to aid those in the county suffering the effects of poverty and homelessness. [Reston Connection]
Caution From Dulles Toll Road — Construction on the Dulles Toll Road near Hunter Mill Road Eastbound began last night and will run through approximately Dec. 23. The far right lane will be closed for construction. Use caution when turning onto the Hunter Mill ramp.
Handel’s Messiah In Reston — The Reston Chorale (and the audience) will sing this holiday favorite tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 9) at 7:30 p.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd. Buy Tickets Online or at the door 30 minutes prior to the event.
Shop and Eat At Athleta Thursday — Athleta at Reston Town Center invites all “significant others” to come to the store Thursday night to pick out a gift for their favorite female exercise enthusiast. Not only will the staff help you, they will give you California Tortilla for dinner as well.
Mattress Sale To Benefit SLHS Basketball — South Lakes High School boys and girls basketball will be holding its annual mattress sale fundraiser Dec. 14 at the school. There will be 20 different mattress models (including Pillow Tops and Memory Foam) from major manufacturers on display. Sets start at: Twin $199; Full $279; Queen $299; Kings $499 (about 50 percent off store prices).
Millenials Live Large Here — Washington-area residents between the ages of 18 and 34 are better paid, more likely to have a four-year college education, and more diverse than their peers around the rest of the United States, according to a Census Bureau report. [Washingtonian]
Hallowed Ground? — There may be a former slave cemetery located on the grounds of the Fairfax Hunt Club, which may be rezoned for residential development under Phase II of the Reston Master Plan. [Fairfax Times]
Nationals’ Werth Sentenced in Fairfax — Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth has been found guilty of reckless driving. He was caught going 50 mph over the speed limit on the Beltway near Georgetown Pike over the summer. Werth was sentenced Friday to serve 10 days in Fairfax County Jail, with another 170 days suspended. [NBC4 Washington]
Sounds of Season Thursday at SLHS — Sounds of the Season” will by presented by the South Lakes High School Choral Department at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11in the SLHS Little Theatre. Admission is free.Holiday musical selections will be sung by the Women’s Chorale, Men’s Camerata as well as by a Cappella groups Noteworthy and DoReMigas.
Photo: Santa arrives by boat at Jingle on Lake Anne Saturday/Credit: Ken Knueven via Facebook
At Harlem’s Height Tonight — Check out the New York Festival of Song’s program At Harlem’s Height tonight at 8 p.m. at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage.At Harlem’s Height celebrates the music of Eubie Blake, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Billy Strayhorn, W. C. Handy and many other composers who led the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 30s. Tickets are $20 for residents. [Reston Community Center]
New System For Blighted Properties — Fairfax County Supervisors have approved a new system to deal with blighted properties. The new rules allow the county to repair blighted homes at an owner’s expense. Previous rules only allowed the county to demolish blight homes, not repair them. [Fairfax County]
Virginia Sirius XM Customers Could Collect –Virginia customers of Sirius XM Radio Inc. may be eligible for restitution under a settlement to resolve claims that the satellite radio company engaged in misleading advertising, billing, and cancellation practices. [Commonwealth of Virginia]
Reston Association mascots Myrtle the Turtle, Walker the Woodpecker and Earl the Squirrel/Credit: RA
