Reston Man Wanted in D.C. Arrested At Dulles — A Reston man wanted for assault by D.C’s Metropolitan Police Department was arrested at Dulles International Airport last week after he disembarked from a flight from Spain. [US Customs and Border Patrol]
Pay County Taxes Online — Fairfax County Real Estate taxes are due July 28 (for those who do not pay them monthly as part of a mortgage payment). Fairfax County has instructions for paying online. [Fairfax County]
Longtime Reston-Based Firm Abruptly Closes — Truland Systems, a large Reston-based electrical contractor, has abruptly closed down, leaving hundreds of employees without jobs. Truland’s headquarters is located on Oracle Way. [WJLA]
FCPS May Expand Elementary Foreign Language Program — A proposal before FCPS officials could expand foreign language programs in elementary schools by increasing immersion programs and adding Language Through Content programs. [Fairfax Times]
Business Boom For NVR — Reston-based home builder NVR announced it had second-quarter net income of $68.2 million, or $15.17 per share. Earnings were up 34 percent from a year earlier and revenue rose 9 percent to $1.1 billion, even as new home contracts have fallen nationwide. [Washington Business Journal]
New Rules for Bar Crawls — Bar crawls in Arlington County may be changing after the Arlington County Board approved new event regulations at its meeting on Saturday. The new regulations will include fees charged to the organizers to recoup the cost of extra police and community resources required to deal with the nearly 5,000 people estimated to attend some of the crawls. The change comes, in part, after a Reston woman stripped naked at the police station after a St. Patrick’s Day crawl this year. [ARLnow.com]
Dr. Gridlock Rides Simulated Metro Service — Monday was the first day of the Silver Line’s simulated service. The Washington Post’s “Dr. Gridlock” rode the existing trains to see the impact of the Silver Line on crowds and wait time. [Washington Post]
Ask Silver Line Bus Questions — Fairfax County will hold a second online chat to answer questions about Silver Line bus service changes. The chat is Friday, July 25 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. [Fairfax County]
No Parking — As the Silver Line prepares to open, many private property owners, such as office buildings in Tysons Corner and Reston, are warning drivers not to park there. [Fairfax Times]
More Tolls, Less Tolerance? — Virginia Department of Transportation officials last week proposed widening I-66 and adding toll lanes outside the Beltway. This story takes a look at how that project would fit in to national transportation strategy and whether drivers would have tolerance for any more tolls. [WAMU]
Birds’ Eye View — Check out this video that takes a look at the Silver Line from way up high. [Washington Post]
Keep Training Centers Open — Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va 11) joined other House members from Virginia in appealing to Gov. Terry McAuliffe to keep the Commonwealth’s residential training center’s for disabled adults open. All but one of centers are slated to be closed over the next several years. [Lynchburg News Advance]
Photo: Check out some ice cream and the facilities at Wiehle-Reston East Open House on July 19.
Toll Lanes For I-66? — State transportation officials are looking into toll lanes in addition to free lanes on I-66 outside the Beltway as a way to manage traffic. The plan would include lanes from Vienna to Haymarket. It would not go into effect until 2017. [WJLA]
A Little Jazz At The Airport — Reagan National and Dulles International Airports will be holding live jazz afternoon concerts through August. [MWAA]
Helping Dogwood’s Garden Grow – Employees at BB&T recently helped Reston’s Dogwood Elementary School build a teaching garden. [FCPS]
Rain Runoff Or $2.9 Billion Fountain? — During the recent heavy rainstorms, water has been spilling over the sides of the elevated Silver Line tracks at Tysons Corner. [The Tysons Corner]
Photo of finishing touches at Silver Line station/Credit: Metro
Itemizing the Silver Line Overage — What caused Metro’s Silver Line to be $150 million over budget? Bills like $44.5 million to move utilities; $20 million for design changes; and $28 for new electrical substations. [Washington Post]
Go Pro On The Path — Here is an unusual video look at the quick bike ride from the W&OD Trail near Wiehle Avenue to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. [Washington Post]
New Roof Amenities for Metropolitan — The Metropolitan, a luxury apartment building at Reston Town Center, held a grand opening ceremony last week for its renovated roof level. The new look features a sports club and a movie screening room with surround sound. [Reston Connection]
Reston Hospital Earns Honors — Reston Hospital Center’s Ann B. Rodriquez Cancer Centerhas earned STAR Program Certification from Oncology Rehab Partners, experts in the field of survivorship care. Certification means Reston Hospital is now uniquely qualified to offer premium cancer rehabilitation and survivorship services to people who suffer from the debilitating side effects caused by cancer treatments. [Reston Connection]
Silver Line: A Fabric Changer for NOVA — Metro’s Silver Line, which will open July 26 with five stops from McLean to Reston, will ‘change the entire fabric of life’ in Northern Virginia. [Inside Nova]
Register To Vote This Summer — Fairfax County is encouraging unregistered voters to register online this summer. [Fairfax County]
Ranking Fairfax Business Developments — The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority wants to know what you think of Fairfax’s biggest business developments of the past 50 years. They have a quick online survey for you to take. [FCEDA]
Charges For Ex-Deputy Accused of Shoplifting — A 20-year Fairfax County Sheriff’s Deputy has been charged with two counts of petty larceny in a shoplifting incident at a Leesburg Target. He will go on trial in August. [Washington Post]
Photo: Campers at Reston Association’s Skate Camp at Lake Newport Soccer Field
Former Great Falls Restaurant Sues Google — The owners of the Serbian Crown Restaurant, which closed in 2013, are suing Google, saying that Google Maps incorrectly listed the weekend hours, which caused a 75-percent drop in business. The Serbian Crown, open for decades, was listed as closed Saturday through Monday. [In The Capital]
Obama To Speak Up For Highway Trust Fund — The federal Highway Trust Fund is nearly out of money, putting the $1.9 billion in loans for Metro’s Silver Line Phase 2 — as well as dozens of other transportation projects nationwide — in jeopardy. President Obama, in public appearances this week, is expected to put pressure on Congress to find a solution. [CBS News]
Police Stepping Up Safety Education Near Metro — Fairfax County Police will be working on a pedestrian safety campaign at the Vienna Metro this week. The goal of the campaign is to prevent injuries and deaths due to pedestrian crashes. There were 24 crashes involving pedestrians or bicycles near the Vienna Metro in 2013-14. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Last Call For North Point Director — Tuesday at 5 p.m. is the deadline for Reston Association members interested in the North Point Director spot to declare their intent. The board will pick from among candidates for the post, which will run through April 2015. The post is open because director Tim Cohn recently resigned. [Reston Association]
Photo: Kids try out firefighter activities at Fairfax 2015 World Police & Fire Games Sports Extravaganza at Reston Town Center Sunday/Credit: Reston Town Center
Wiehle Avenue Office Building Sells For Big Bucks — Bethesda-based First Potomac Realty Trust has acquired 1775 Wiehle Ave., an office building two blocks from the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, for $41 million from Normandy Real Estate Partners. Law firm Odin Feldman & Pittleman is the 130,000-square-foot building’s largest tenant. [Washington Business Journal]
Extension of No Child Left Behind For Virginia — Virginia public schools earned another year of exemption from some requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law. The law focuses on reforming education by increasing accountability for schools and teachers and measuring student progress based on standardized tests. States are awarded waivers in exchange for executing alternative reform plans. Virginia earned a two-year waiver in June 2012. It has now been extended another two years. [Fairfax Times]
Save The Date: Lou Lou Day — All lou lou Boutiques, including the one at Reston Town Center, will hold its annual lou lou day Aug. 2. For every $40 spent, customers will receive a $10 gift certificate. Also, 15 percent of the day’s proceeds will benefit Dress for Success.
GRACE’s Artist Member Exhibit Opens This Week — Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) is debuting a new exhibit beginning Thursday. The exhibition will feature 28 artists working with a variety of themes. The exhibit is free and open to the public though Aug. 23. [GRACE]
Photo: Shopping at Saturday’s Ukulele Festival at Lake Anne Plaza
It’s 7-Eleven Day! — July 11 (7/11) is the day participating 7-Eleven stores give away free small Slurpees. There are 7-Elevens in Reston at 2303 Soapstone Dr, 11714 Sunset Hills Rd., and 11846 Sunrise Valley Dr. [Facebook]
Map It With Silver Line — The Silver Line web site now has an interactive feature that can show you shops, restaurants and other businesses close to the five new Silver Line Metro stations. [Silver Line]
D.C-area Home Sales Down — The real estate market here is still sluggish, falling 4.5 percent last month when compared with June 2013. [Washington Post]
New Leadership for NVTC — The Northern Virginia Technology Council announces new officers and board members for 2014-15. [NVTC]
Photo: Trees removed from Terraset ES construction site
More Silver Line Questions and Answers — Officials from Fairfax Connector and Metro were online Wednesday answering citizen questions about Silver Line connector service. [Fairfax County]
Camp Cattawannagohome! — The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is holding a special “Camp Cattawannaghome!” adoption event through Saturday, July 19. Adoption fees are waived. [Fairfax County]
New Green Standards For County Buildings — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has adopted new standards to encourage the use of “green” building practices in construction projects. The new policies build on standards the county first adopted in 2007 and only apply to developers that are going through the land use process for a rezoning or other application that will add to the density or intensity of the site. [Fairfax Times]
Trail Work Next Week — The Virginia Department of Transportation has schedule sealing work scheduled on the Fairfax County Parkway trail from Wiehle Avenue to New Dominion Parkway today and tomorrow. [VDOT]
Photo: Food trucks on Business Center Drive in Reston
Eight Killed On Virginia Roads July 4 Weekend — The Virginia State Police say eight people died on Virginia roads over the holiday weekend. That is up from last year’s total of seven. Four victims died in motorcycle crashes. [WTOP]
Celebrating Sizanani in Reston — Global Camps Africa, the Reston-based organization that brings the camp experience to South African children affected by HIV and AIDS, held a 10th anniversary celebration in here. [You Tube]
Reston’s View From Above — Check out this aerial video from the July 4 Firecracker Run for the Troops at Reston Town Center. [Vimeo]
Still Silence On Fairfax County Police Shooting — County authorities still have nothing to say 10 months after Springfield’s John Geer was shot and killed at his home by a Fairfax County Police officer. [Washington Post]
Photo: Vendors at Smart Market Reston (Wednesday afternoons at 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.)
Greater Reston Chamber Among Tops In Region — The Washington Business Journal recently named the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce as the fifth-largest in the region. GRCC ranks behind the Greater Washington Board of Trade, The D.C. Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery (Md.) and Fairfax County Chambers. [Washington Business Journal]
Kudos For Fairfax County Park Authority — The Fairfax County Park Authority has been selected by the National Recreation and Park Association to receive the 2014 Kudos Marketing Award, which is presented annually to a park and recreation agency that increases the public’s awareness through marketing and communications. The Park Authority is being recognized for a campaign developed for the 2013 Partners in Preservation program, in which the agency competed against 24 other historic sites to win grant funding for historic renovations. [Fairfax County]
Text For Help — Fairfax County has launched a suicide text help hotline. [Fairfax County]
Ukulele Festival Returns to Lake Anne — Time for something a little different on the plaza. The fifth annual Ukulele Festival begins at noon Saturday. [Reston Now]
Civil Rights Archive Dedication Today — Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA 11) will mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by dedicating an oral history collection at George Mason University on Monday. More than 50 hours of recorded video interviews have been collected, as well as written testimonials and pictures that will be made available to the public through digital archives at the Library of Congress, George Mason University, the Fairfax County and Prince William County Library Systems, and Connolly’s official website. [Gerry Connolly]
New Schedule, New Issues — Eliminating Fairfax County Public Schools’ early release Mondays will have an impact on some businesses and schedules. [Washington Post]
Taking A Tough Look at SOLs — The Virginia “SOL Innovation Committee,” which has representatives from Northern Virginia school districts, is getting started in its mission to overhaul the state Standards of Learning exams. [Washington Post]
Photo: Kids at Reston Association’s “Bruno’s Barnyard Bash” at North Hills Picnic Pavilion/Credit: Colena Turner via RA
Fairfax Unemployment Below 4 Percent — The unemployment rate in Fairfax County fell from 4.1 percent in March to 3.6 percent in April, says Fairfax County. [Fairfax County Economic Indicators]
First Teen Police Academy Class Graduates — Twenty-two students from 14 different area high schools went through Fairfax County Police’s first Teen Police Academy last week. The teens learned about exploring careers in law enforcement, as well as crime scenes, K9 units, SWAT teams and other emergency operations. [Fairfax County]
High Above Reston — A Washington Business Journal reporter got a good look at Reston from high above Reston Station. He took a climb to the crane atop Comstock’s 21-story BLVD apartments. [Washington Business Journal]
MWAA Steps Towards Building Rail Yard — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Wednesday issued a Notice of Recommended Award to Hensel Phelps Construction of Chantilly, to design and build the rail yard and maintenance facility for Phase 2 of the Silver Line. Hensel Phelps’ bid was $252,989,000, the lowest of the four received by the Airports Authority.
Photo: Campers and kids at Reston Association’s Nature Tots Camp. Credit: RA
Silver Line Is Look Into Future — A lot is riding on Metro’s Silver Line, which will bring rail to Tysons Corner and Reston later this month. Including the “future of the American suburb as we know it.” [City Lab]
Cornerstones And T.M. Wealth Team Up — Reston nonprofit Cornerstones is partnering with Reston- based T.M. Wealth Management to offer a financial mentorship program to the clients of Cornerstones. The Financial Mentor Program will provide participants with the tools, education and confidence to move from financial dependence to financial stability.
FCPS’ “Collect For Kids” Starts Monday — Fairfax County Public Schools will start its annual drive to gather backpacks, calculators and other supplies for kids in need. [FCPS]
County Launches Daily E-Cycling — Residents no longer have to wait for Fairfax County’s occasional “Electric Sunday” recycling events for electronics. E-cycling is now available daily at two locations. [Fairfax County]
