Local App Gets MapQuest Partnership — MapQuest has announced a partnership with Urgent.ly, an app that matches drivers who need roadside assistance with tow trucks and other service providers, Urgent.ly was developed, in part, by Reston’s Rick Robinson and Herndon’s Ric Fleisher. [Fast Company]
Pets That Give Back — Modern Reston recently tagged along with Fairfax Pets on Wheels as they offered some furry friendship to area senior citizens. [Modern Reston]
TJ Troubles For One Reston Student — Washington Post education writer Jay Mathews breaks down the story of one Reston teen as an example of how a studet can have seemingly perfect scores and still not make the cut for the super-selective Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (PS – it can also have a happy ending). [Washington Post]
Join in at The YMCA Gala — Tickets are still available for Saturday’s annual Community Gala at the YMCA Fairfax County Reston. The Black Tie Optional event benefits YMCA programs and scholarships. [YMCA Fairfax County Reston]
UCP Dedicates a Labyrinth — Reston’s United Christian Parish dedicated its new labyrinth on Sunday. The labyrinth was an Eagle Scout project by a local teen. It is open to the public for quiet prayer and reflection [UCP]
Gillespie’s Impact — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Gillespie formally conceded the race to Mark Warner (D) on Friday, but does the surprise near-victory signal a change for Virginia politics? [Washington Post]
Restonians Helping Combat Ebola — Parishioners at Reston’s St. Anne’s Episcopal Church have raised more than $12,000 to help combat the West African Ebola epidemic. Spurred by Rev. Anne Fredericks Cooper, who is originally from Liberia, the congregation will order medical supplies that will be shipped to the Episcopal Diocese of Liberia in a 20-foot container. The Liberian diocese will then distribute the supplies, including gloves, masks, gowns and antiseptic, to different hospitals within Liberia. [Fairfax Times]
Giving Back For The Holidays — The nonprofit Our Daily Bread is seeking volunteers to sponsor needy families and make other donations during the upcoming holiday season. [Our Daily Bread]
Photo: Mustache Mile at Reston Town Center Saturday/Credit: Potomac River Running via Flickr
Save the Date: Israeli Art Festival — Reston’s Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation is hosting its third Israeli Art Festival on Nov. 15 and 16. NVHC will be transformed into an artists’ colony, with the work of 15-20 Israeli artists from Safed and beyond whose livelihoodswere impacted by the Gaza conflict this summer. Works for sale include paintings, Judaica, handmade Jewelry, tallits, handwoven ritual items, photography, stained glass, silks, and woodwork. [NVHC]
Eagle Update — Sadly, the injured American Bald Eagle rescued by a Fairfax County Animal Control officer earlier this week, had to be euthanized after veterinarians at the Wildlife Center of Virginia determined the injuries were too severe. [Fairfax County Police]
Kickstarter For SLHS Grads’ Game Project — South Lakes High School grads Michael Savage-Benoist and Ben Cohn have started a Kickstarter fundraising page to raise $3,000 to develop “Flamberge” a role-playing video game project. Savage-Benoist is the developer and Cohn has composed the music. [Kickstarter]
Photo: Fall leaves in Reston/Credit: Jonathan via Flickr
Fairfax Officer Saves Eagle — This was on the other side of the county, but so good we just had to share. Fairfax County Animal Control officer Kathy Prucnal rescued an injured American Bald Eagle at Huntley Meadows Park when she wrapped it in a blanket and took it to the vet for treatment. [Fairfax County Police]
Help Crimesolvers Solve Shooting — Fairfax County Crimesolvers is asking for the public’s help in solving a shooting in the 9000 block of Oleander Avenue in nearby Oakton on the morning of Tuesday, October 21. No one was hurt, but a bullet was shot through the window. The shots may have come from the Oakton High School football field, where someone was shooting at the scoreboard. [Fairfax County Crimesolvers]
Kudos to McCool — South Lakes High School senior Andrew McCool advanced to the Virginia High School League Cross Country Championships after finishing 21st at the North Regionals with a time of 15:45 on Wednesday. McCool is the first individual SLHS boys cross country runner to qualify for States since 2001. The VHSL state meet is Nov. 14-15 in The Plains, Va.
Thanks, ‘Charlie Brown’— The Reston Community Players’ final two shows of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown are Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8. at CenterStage at Reston Community Center. They troupe is encouraging patrons to bring a canned item to donate at the shows to support the Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Meet The Artisans — Modern Reston introduces us to The Soap Engineers, artisan soap makers who sell their wares at Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne. [Modern Reston]
Run The Mustache Mile — Registration is still $30 through Thursday for Saturday’s Mustache Mile, a race to benefit men’s health causes. The race is at Reston Town Center and has several different race categories from which to choose. [PR Races]
“Rebuilding Reston” — Couldn’t make it to the “Rebuilding Reston” workshop at Reston Association HQ with Mark Fenton last week? You can watch the whole two-hour presentation on YouTube. The workshop with public health and planning consultant Fenton concentrated on how communities can can add amenities become more walkable, bikeable and add other healthy amenities. [YouTube]
Best Of Reston Nominations Close Friday — There is still time to nominate businesses and individuals for the annual awards that honor those who give back to the community. [Reston Now]
Thanksgiving Food Drive Underway — Cornerstones’ annual Thanksgiving Food Drive will go on until Nov 24. Check out this list of drop off sites and the most-needed items to help the less fortunate in the community. [Reston Community Center]
Vote! — Forget which polling place is yours? Enter your address on Fairfax County’s website to guide you to the right spot. [Fairfax County]
Metro Looking At 2016 Budget — Metro officials will begin discussions this week to develop a balanced budget for FY2016. This early discussion will provide guidance to the General Manager/CEO in presenting his budget proposal next month, which will lead to budget adoption in early 2015. [WMATA]
Celebrating Public Art — The Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR) will hold its 2014 Annual Reception on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the lounge of The Avant at Reston Town Center. The reception will honor the recent “Pyramid of Light” project created by South Lakes High School art students. Tickets are $50 ($25 for “Contemporary Friends” ages 20 to 35). [IPAR]
Photo: Dawn in Reston by Busybee via Flickr
Orthodontist’s Annual Candy Buy-Back — Reston orthodontist Stephan Tisseront is hosting his annual Halloween candy buy-back Monday from 12 to 4 p.m. at 11720 Plaza America Dr. Bring your leftover candy, and Dr. Tisseront will give you $1 a pound and also donate $1 a pound to Children’s National Medical Center. Last year’s event gathered more than 1,500 lbs. of candy, which was sent overseas to the troops. [Tisseront Orthodontics]
TJ Open House Coming Soon – Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), the Regional Governor’s School for science and technology in Northern Virginia, will hold its annual Open House on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Due to construction at the high school, the Open House will be held at Holmes Middle School, 6525 Montrose St. in Alexandria, less than half a mile away from TJHSST.
Practicing For Plane Travel — Families with special needs children took part in a special event at Dulles International Airport Saturday, where kids could practice navigating air travel. A similar event, sponsored by Wings for Autism, will be held at Reagan National on Nov. 8. [Washington Post]
Now THAT’s A Toll — A Fairfax County woman who was charged more than $10,000 for 11 unpaid trips on the 495 Express Lanes went to court on Wednesday and won a partial victory over the company that operates the toll lanes. The problem stemmed from the woman’s faulty E-ZPass and administrative fees, but she still owes a lot of money. [WTOP]
Reston’s A Hot Address — The built-in higher density and walkability of Reston Town Center makes Reston an in-demand place for offices while it may take Tysons Corner a while. [Washington Post]
Clarabridge Has Big Plans — Reston’s Clarabridge, a firm that uses social media data to advise big business clients — recently doubled its Reston office force and has plans to expand more in the next year. [Bisnow]
Photo: Fall leaves at Reston Town Center/Credit: Reston Town Center
Chili Winner — Fairfax County Police office Darren Tran was the winner of the Guns n’ Hoses Chili Cookoff at Oktoberfest Reston earlier this month. He shares his secret recipe. [WJLA]
Costumes in the Stands — The South Lakes HS Athletic Boosters are sponsoring a Halloween Contest at this Friday’s football game. There will be two winners chosen by the Boosters and Concession stand volunteers: winner of Best costume will win SLHS apparel, and winner of Scariest costume will win a full box of candy of choice and a 12 pack of soda of choice. Costumes must be appropriate for a school event (e.g. no fake weapons).
Election Day Chips — On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 4, California Tortilla restaurants, including the Reston store at North Point, will be be gviing out free chips and queso — no purchase necessary! To redeem your Election Day freebie, just say the secret password “I VOTED,” or show the cashier your “I Voted” sticker.
Blankets for Refugees — Fairfax County Supervisor Sharon Bulova and other local leaders have kicked off a blanket drive to help Syrian refugees. Blankets will be collected at various locations throughout Northern Virginia and will be shipped to refugees who have recently landed in Turkey. Last year, local municipalities and faith groups collected 18,000 blankets. [Help Syrian Refugees]
Gone Fishing — Trout season began at Lake Fairfax Park on Oct. 11 and will run through Nov. 9. The county stocks the lake with trout annually. A Virginia fishing license is required along with either a one-day or a seasonal trout fishing pass available at Lake Fairfax. [Reston Connection]
Help SLHS Girls Basketball Get New Uniforms — The SLHS Girls Basketball program needs new uniforms and has set up a Go Fund Me page for community monetary donations. The varsity team is the defending district champion and wants to start out the season looking like winners. The program’s goal is $3,000. [GoFundMe]
Chat About Transportation — Fairfax County is holding an 11 a.m. online chat Thursday to answer questions about the $100 million transportation bond on the ballot Nov.4 Of the bond, $16 million would go to road improvements to reduce congestion, $78 million to build missing sidewalks and trails and $6 million for bicycle projects. [Fairfax County]
Snow Summit Nov. 6 — Snow seems a long way off, but localities are determined to be prepared this winter. Reps from Reston Association, Fairfax County, the Virginia Department of Transportation and and Fairfax County Public Schools will all sit down together to discuss better preparation and removal processes for this winter Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at RA Headquarters. [Reston Association]
Kudos, SLHS Debate — South Lakes High School Speech & Debate has been recognized for their outstanding achievement earning the Degree of Premier Distinction. South Lakes is ranked among the top 10 percent of schools nationwide and has earned membership in the Associations prestigious 100 Club. [South Lakes High School]
Do You Know An Outstanding RA Employee? — Each year, Reston Association honors an employee who has invested their time and taken an initiative to make significant contributions to the organization and community over the course of the year, with consideration given to past achievements and contributions. RA members are encouraged to nominate RA personnel deserving of the annual recognition. Send this nomination form to [email protected] by Nov. 21 [Reston Association]
Chamber Needs Ethics Day Volunteers — Each November, The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce teams with South Lakes High School for Ethics Day at the Sheraton Reston. The Chamber needs volunteers adults from the business world to help facilitate problem solving. Can you spare half a day to shape the next generation? [Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce]
Fine Fall Foliage Here — Modern Reston takes a trip around Lake Audubon to see some extra lovely leaves. [Modern Reston]
Vigil For West Africa — In response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church of Reston, along with other faith communities, is hosting a Candlelight Vigil for West Africa on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 6:00 p.m. on Lake Anne Plaza. The vigil will offer a time to pray, to learn and to act. Among the speakers will be Rev. Dr. Anne Cooper, a St. Anne’s parishioner and priest at the Trinity Cathedral in Monrovia, Liberia. Parishioners have raised more than $12,000 to help Liberians in the last few months.
Purchase For Patriots Park — Boston Poperties, which owns most of Reston Town Center and several nearby office builds, says it has lined up a buyer for Patriots Park, a 705,000-square-foot office complex in Reston that houses the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. An affiliate of South Korea’s Hyundai Group has paid about $321 million, or roughly $455 per square foot, for the three-building office park. [Washington Business Journal]
Metro Ridership Down — Despite the shiny, new Silver Line, ridership levels of the areas rail have dropped to 2005 levels. [Washington Post]
Painting class at Reston Town Center Pavilion/Credit: Reston Town Center
Reston Lakes Part Of the Mix in Nashville — The Opryland Gaylord Conference Center Tennessee created its own body of water with H2O from all over the country, including Reston. [Restonian]
Stock Up On Puzzles — The Reston Regional Library is holding its annual jigsaw puzzle sale Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. There will also be gently used games available. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Reston Regional Library. Hours are Thursday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m; Friday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m; Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m; and Sunday, Nov. 2, 1 to 5 p.m. Puzzle donations welcome through Sunday, Oct 26.
SLHS Singing And Helping — South Lakes High School’s Choral Department will open its concert season 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28 with a benefit for pediatric Wegeners Granulomatosis, a extremely rare, but often fatal auto immune disease. “Music’s Healing Powers” will feature a variety of musical genres performed by the South Lakes Choirs: Women’s Chorale, Men’s Camerata, Chamber Singers and Bella Voce. The concert is free, but donations are accepted and will go to the Wegeners Awareness Campaign for Kids and Youth, which raises funds for research and treatment of the disease.
Name That Station — Now that Phase I of Metro’s Silver Line is up and running, it is time to name the Phase II Stations. Phase II is expected to open in 2018. Loudoun officials are now asking for public comment on what to call the stops. [Washington Business Journals]
Photo by Brendan Ross via Flickr
Hunters Woods Students Tackle Book Writing — About 100 fifth graders at Hunters Woods Elementary School will take part in November’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The students are currently in the pre-writing stage and will take on the challenge of a novel beginning Nov.1 [Reston Connection]
RA Needs Costumed Characters — Reston Association needs a few teen and adult volunteers to act as characters at the Halloween House and Trick or TreatTrail Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. FRIDAY: Storm, Vulture, Lorax, Troll, Smurfette, Commander Cody. Mad hatter, Spiderman, Ashoka from Clone Wars. SATURDAY: Thor, Vulture & Ashoka from Clone Wars. To volunteer, contact [email protected] or call 703-435-7986.
Bechtel’s Move Upsets Marylanders — Bechtel is moving about 1,000 employees from the Frederick office to the Reston office, and that is not sitting well with Maryland residents, who say it will have a huge impact on the economy. [WJLA]
Ducks on Lake Thoreau/Credit: Brendan Ross via Flickr
Walking For Cornerstones — On Sunday, a record-breaking crowd of 300 participants walked from the Embry Rucker Community Shelter to St. Anne’s Episcopal Church and back (about two miles) in Cornerstones 11th Annual Help the Homeless Walk. The funds raised will help provide basic and essential items, such as pillows, dishes and food, for those who moved into stable housing through Cornerstones’ Rapid Re-Housing Challenge. [Cornerstones]
Reston On The Rise — Financial website Nerd Wallet says Reston is No. 10 among Cities on the Rise in Virginia. Yeah, yeah, Reston’s not a city, but it does earn kudos from the site for its population growth and high employment rate. [Nerd Wallet]
Truland Truly Was In The Red — Reston-based electrical contractor Truland Group Inc. was nearly $23.7 million in the red when it suddenly shut down nearly three months ago, according to financial data it submitted with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Alexandria late last week. [Washington Business Journal]
Skate Competition at Lake Fairfax — The A-Frame Challenge is coming to Lake Fairfax Park’s skate park Saturday. The event will test the skills of some of the area’s best skaters. Entries are open, or just watch as a spectator. [A-Frame Challenge]
