New At GRACE — Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) opens a new exhibition this week. Dalya Luttwak: Germination of Gold will run from Sept. 11 to Nov. 1, with an opening reception on Friday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. Luttwak is an Israeli-born artist who is now based in Washington, D.C. Luttwak is well-known for her large-scale, site-specific sculptures inspired by plant roots. [GRACE]
Fairfax Earns High Marks — The real estate site Movato recently ranked Fairfax County No. 3 on its list of the “10 Best Counties in America.” Fairfax comes in behind Virginia neighbor Loudoun County and Douglad County, Colo., in the rankings based on the second-highest household income behind Loudoun), with residents making an average of over $103,010, annually. Fairfax also has the third-highest median rent, 12th-fewest number of families below the poverty line, and an unemployment rate under 6 percent. [Movato]
A “Love Letter” To Reston — A long piece on Medium.com, an open writing site, covers a “short, deliberate history” of Reston and asks the question “Can a suburb really be a place?” [Medium]
Photo: Cannabis Sativa by Dalya Luttwak/Credit: GRACE
Tense Talk About Mini Mondays — Fairfax County Public Schools approved the elimination of “mini Mondays” earlier this year, but conversations turned tense at meetings this week as they discussed how to pay for the longer elementary school days. [Washington Post]
California Tortilla To Help Kids — California Tortilla restaurants are teaming up with Share Our Strength to support Dine Out for No Kid Hungry! From Sunday, Sept. 7 to Saturday, Sept. 13, California Tortilla will donate $1 for every “Fresh Deal” they sell. California Tortilla has worked with No Kid Hungry for several years in a row, donating over $100,000 since their partnership began. The Reston location is located at North Point.
Taxicabs Rates to Rise? — The Consumer Protection Commission will hold a public hearing on Sept. 16 in the matter of revising the county code that sets taxi rates. Suggested changes: an increase in the initial charge from $3.25 to $3.50; an increase in the mileage rate from $2.10 per mile to $2.16 per mile,; a change in the billing increment from one-seventh of a mile to one-sixth of a mile, among others, that will increase the average taxicab trip of seven miles by approximately 3.5 percent. [Fairfax County]
Dredging at Bright Pond — Dredging operations will begin at Bright Pond in North Reston Saturday. The dredging equipment will be delivered to the site, including a 15-foot boat, and eventually, there will be two 75-foot dewatering bags on the pathway along the dam. There is a natural surface trail that goes around the southern side of the pond, which will remain open. The dredging will take three to five weeks, and the dewatering process will be 8 to 12 weeks.
Photo credit: Surf Reston via Facebook
First Day Thoughts — The first day shows lots of promise, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza says of the 2014-15 school year. [FCPS Video]
Kudos For Bechtel — Bechtel, which has a large headquarters in Reston, has been named one of the world’s top contractors by Engineering News-Record (ENR), a leading publication for the engineering and construction industry. The company ranked third on the magazine’s Top 250 International Contractors list, the same as last year, and ninth on the Top 250 Global Contractors list, one spot up from last year. On both lists, Bechtel was the highest-ranked company headquartered in the United States. [Bechtel]
Virginia Indian Festival This Weekend — Celebrate Virginia’s Native American roots at the annual Virginia Indian Festival Saturday at Riverbend Park in Great Falls. There will be storytelling, demonstrations, archery and help to build a dugout canoe, among other activities that recognize life here 600 years ago. [Fairfax County]
Pink Heals At Reston Town Center — Fairfax County firefighters and police officers will take part in the “Pink Heals” tour Saturday at Reston Town Center. The event, sponsored by the Guardians of the Ribbon, supports women with breast cancer. Pink rescue vehicles will on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. [Guardians of the Ribbon]
Photo: South Lakes High School Band at first football game of 2014 season/Credit: Melissa Gifford
What’s In A Name: Buzz Aldrin — How did the famous astronaut get a Reston elementary school named for him? This video from Fairfax County Public School explains. [YouTube]
Want To Be A Citizen Firefighter? — Fairfax County Fire & Rescue is forming fall classes for its Citizen Fire & Rescue Academy. Classes meet Thursdays for nine weeks. [Fairfax County]
The Band Will Be By — Saturday is the South Lakes Marching Band’s annual Tag Day. This is the band’s major fundraiser, so if they stop by your home, think about offering a donation. Donations go to help purchase uniforms and equipment.
Justice for John Geer — Maura Harrington, longtime domestic partner of John Geer, a Fairfax County man who was shot and killed by police on Aug. 29, 2013, has sued the Fairfax County police department, the chief and officers John Doe 1, 2 and 3 for gross negligence. She seeks $12 million, but also they wants to get answers. [Washington Post]
Photo: Terraset ES kindergartners ready on first day of school/Credit: Terraset PTA
Free Parking Near Wiehle-Reston East A Hot Commodity — There are more than 300 free parking spots in the former Reston North Park and Ride across from the Wiehle-Reston East Silver Line station. But every weekday morning is a battle at dawn. [WTOP]
Seahawks Open With A Loss — South Lakes High School football lost 33-22 to Madison at home on Friday in its first game under new coach Trey Taylor. Herndon opens its season Friday at Mount Vernon. [South Lakes Athletics]
New Art Exhibit At Lake Anne — New works by Ronni Jolles will be featured in a September show, “Painting with Paper”, at Reston Art Gallery & Studios (RAGS), 11400 Washington Plaza, (Lake Anne). All are welcome to attend the opening reception on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be a “Meet the Artist” event on on Sunday, Sept. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. The exhibit will run from Sept. 4 to Oct. 2. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Photo: “Before I Die” mural at Lake Anne Jazz & Blues Festival/Credit: Eve Thompson
Cops Say Slow Down — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Police Department and dozens of homeowner association and Neighborhood Watch residents kicked off a new community-wide speed initiative at the FCPD driver training track in Chantilly on Thursday. New signs will be added to remind drivers to “Slow Down, We Live Here; You Live Here.” [Fairfax County Police]
SOL Scores Stay Flat — Fairfax County Public Schools’ Standards of Learning scores showed minimal improvement this year, state data shows. While county schools fared better than peers across the state on the 2013-14 Standards of Learning exams, they struggled to bounce back from the large scoring drops of the previous year, when new tests were introduced. [Fairfax Times]
Kudos to LHMS’ Threlkeld — Timothy Threlkeld, who has taught technology and engineering education at Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston for eight years, was named Virginia Technology and Engineering Education Association Middle School Teacher of the Year. Threlkeld is known for teaching technological skills to his students while helping them understand the challenges of their use. His students learn problem solving skills; participate in project design, testing, and evaluation; build prototypes; and learn workplace readiness, the school system says. [FCPS]
Photo: RA Community Garden Lake Anne
Lots of Soccer — Join the Reston Soccer Association for their Fall Kick-off Festival on Sunday, Aug. 31 at South Lakes High School. The free event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be soccer activities and scrimmages on the new turf fields of the main stadium and practice fields nearby. The concession stand will be open. There will be Reston Soccer spirit wear for sale, as well as a gear donation and swap table. Also on hand: author Radovan Pletka, who will sign and sell his book Soccer Is a Thinking Game: A Simple Approach to Coaching Youth Soccer (Ages 5-12).
Peek At What It Is Like To Be A Cop — Fairfax County Police are inviting local teens to check out their Explorer Program, where they can get an up-close look at law enforcement. An info session will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. [Fairfax County Police]
Guidelines For Free Or Reduced Lunch — Fairfax County Public Schools has this year’s guidelines for qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Look for an application in your mailbox this week. [FCPS]
Photo: Since the school is under construction, Terraset ES teachers (and mascot) took to the streets this week to meet incoming students. Credit: Ginger Hornung
Food Truck Wednesday Today — Food Truck Wednesday is back at Reston Town Center this week. Here’s who will be at Town Square Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Willie’s Po’ Boy, DC Empanadas, Doug the Food Dude, PassionFish on their patio and Captain Cookie and the Milk Man.
Washington Area Among the Worst. … for Drivers — Allstate has a new annual ranking of US cities by the quality of their motorists. Washington again ranks among the lowest. Out of the country’s 200 largest cities, DC was ranked 198th for the second consecutive year. [Washingtonian]
Be Prepared — Fairfax County’s Office of Emergency Management is holding meetings all over the county to discuss how citizens can be prepared for emergencies. Mark your calendars for Sept. 18 at the Fairfax County Police’s Reston District Station. Participants will also have a chance to win an emergency car kit from State Farm. [Fairfax County]
FCPD Gets In On The “Ice Bucket Challenge” — Police officers do their part to raise money for ALS research. [YouTube]
Photo: Workers prep South Lakes High School’s “Senior Wall” for the Class of 2015
Crooked Lines On 66 — Virginia Department of Transportation officials worked overnight to make corrections to crooked striping on I-66 from Centreville to Gainesville. Monday morning commuters ended up following the crooked lines, which could be fully seen from a helicopter photo. VDOT has apologized to motorists who may have driven through the “very unsafe and messed up lanes right around Centreville on 66.” [WTOP]
New Face For Hornets — Herndon High football is getting ready for the 2014 season, its first under new coach Jeremiah Davis, a former Penn State lineman and former head coach at West Potomac. [Fairfax Times]
Silver Line Has Effect On Bus Line — Ridership numbers for the Fairfax Connector bus system during the second and third weeks of Silver Line service are down when compared to the same weeks last year. [Washington Post]
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Finding Food With Reston Company Tkout — The founders of this Reston startup want to help you with your to-go order. [Fairfax Times]
Statewide Effort to Stop On Campus Assaults — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring announced a comprehensive effort to address sexual assault and violence on college campuses. A series of immediate and long-term actions will examine the ways Virginia colleges and universities work to prevent and respond to sexual violence. McAuliffe, Herring, the presidents of every public four-year college or university, and the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System have signed a joint declaration pledging to aggressively combat campus sexual violence. [Virginia Attorney General Office]
Online Source For Fall Fun — The Fall edition of Reston Magazine, the program guide from Reston Association, is now available online. Check it out to find aquatic, tennis, senior and other programming for Reston Association members. [Reston Association]
Farewell, Summer — Reston Association will help kids say “so long, summer” with a community campfire on Aug. 29. Fee is $6 for members; $8, non members. Registration required. [Reston Association]
New Start For Former GRACE Executive Director — Damian Sinclair, former executive director of Greater Reston Arts Center and former arts and events director at Reston Community Center, has founded his own arts fundraising, marketing and business services firm [AccelART]
Let’s Talk Election — Fairfax County will host an online chat on Election 2014: Learn about New Voting Machines and Photo ID Requirements on Aug. 28 from 2 to 3 p.m. Fairfax County General Registrar Cameron Quinn will take questions on the county’s new voting machines, which will be used in the upcoming November election, and the state’s new photo ID requirements, as well as any more general election questions voters may have. You may submit questions in advance. [Fairfax County]
Same-Sex Marriages Put On Hold — Hold off on those wedding plans. Same-sex marriage in Virginia is not happening just yet. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday stopped Virginia officials from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, putting on hold a lower court ruling that said the unions could start on Thursday. [Washington Post]
Metro Boosts Tysons — Metro says 5,000 to 7,000 people are using the Tysons Corner station on weekdays, a rate that is comparable to stations like White Flint, Virginia Square, Stadium-Armory and Van Dorn Street. Some retailers at Tysons Corner Center also say that they have seen double-digit sales increases since the Silver Line opened. [NBC4]
Metro Pays Out $4.2 Million To Settle Case — Metro has paid $4.2 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit in a which a former employee alleged that the transit authority violated federal regulations by awarding a $14 million contract to a Virginia computer-systems company without seeking competitive bids. [Washington Post]
Back To School For Emergencies — The start of a new school year is a good time to re-evaluate your family emergency procedures. Fairfax County has some tips for being prepared. [Fairfax County
Real Time Silver Line Info — Visitors to Tysons Corner Center now can keep up with Silver Line info while shopping. Silver Line bus and rail info will now be a part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s traveler information screens located throughout the mall. The screens have been in operation since 2009. [VDOT]
Save The Date: Plum Family Picnic — Del. Ken Plum and his wife Jane will host the annual Plum Family Picnic and Pre-Election Rally from 4 to 6 p.m.on Sept. 6 at the North Hills Picnic Pavilion. Special guests will include Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va. 11) and county supervisor John Foust, who is the Democratic candidate for the Virginia 10th District Congressional seat.
Ready For Same-Sex Marriage — If the U.S. Supreme Court dos not get involved by Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit’s ruling that Virginia’s laws banning legal recognition of marriages between two persons of the same sex are unconstitutional becomes final. The advocacy group People of Faith for Equality in Virginia has released a list of 66 clergy (or many faiths) in the commonwealth who are ready to perform ceremonies. There is an entire Northern Virginia section, with many entries for the Reston area. [POFEV]
Photo: Reston Association Community Garden plot
More For ComScore — Reston’s ComScore, which measures Internet traffic, has purchased MdotLabs of Wisconsin. A look at what the deal means for Web Bots. [Capital Business]
Volunteer Help Wanted — Fairfax County’s Meals on Wheels needs Korean speaking volunteer drivers in Reston and Centreville. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 pm. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 703-324-5406. [Fairfax County]
Save the Date: Reston Home & Garden Expo — Reston Association headquarters will be the site of the Reston Home & Garden Expo on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. The expo will feature products and services available to Reston homeowners. The event is free for residents. [Reston Association]
Award for Fairfax County’s Water Treatment — Fairfax County’s wastewater treatment plant received a Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for meeting federal pollution control standards 100 percent of the time 16 years in a row. Federal rules strictly control more than 100 substances that are present in wastewater. The plant’s achievement helps protect the water quality of the county’s streams and watersheds, as well as the Chesapeake Bay. [Fairfax County]
Help Wanted For RA Parks And Rec Committee — Reston Association is seeking members who are interested in serving on the newly formed Parks and Recreation committee. The committee will, among other things, advise the Board of Directors on the management and development of RA facilities and amenities. [Reston Association]
Meet The Newest Face at Fire Rescue — Ivan, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, recently began work as Fairfax County Fire Rescue’s newest rescue dog. [Fairfax Times]
Lower VA Test Scores — The Virginia Department of Education says nearly one-third of schools in the commonwealth will not earn full accreditation this fall after reading and science scores dropped on state standardized tests. Officials estimate that 600 or more of the state’s approximately 1,800 schools could be “accredited with warning” next month. The standards were recently tightened, which led to the lower test pass percentage. [Washington Post]
Tonight: Pony Barn Meeting — The first meeting of RA’s Pony Barn Working Group will meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Reston Association headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr. RA is kicking off the community engagement process for the future of the Pony Barn Area, which may be turned into a memorial garden or another community amenity.
Photo: Members of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Reston make lunches for clients at Embry Rucker Community Shelter as part of the annual Works Sunday day of service. The church worked on the project with Herndon Friends and members of St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church.
