Taking Stock of FCPS’ Needs — Fairfax County Public Schools recently released an updated Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2015-19. The top priorities for Reston-area schools remain the same — Terraset and Sunrise Valley Elementary Schools remain at No. 2 and 3 on the priority list and large renovations and expansions for those schools are already underway.
South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes Middle School also have renovation plans in the $866 million, five-year plan. Herndon High, meanwhile, is projected to be at 121 percent capacity in the next five years, moving it to the priority list for renovation, expansion or for a new school to be built nearby. [FCPS website]
Kudos to Virginia Law Enforcement — Virginia has been named the worst sport for burglars. That’s good news for residents, as it also has the lowest burglary rates. [Herndon Patch]
Holiday Cheer for Fairfax Family — Sweet story about how City of Fairfax police officers helped one family find food and shelter . [Washington Post]
Meet Sheriff Kincaid — Stacey Kinkaid, Fairfax County’s first woman sheriff, says she wants to create opportunities for women and minorities in the department. She is also starting a program to aid released prisoners with mental health issues. [Washington Post]
Going Mobile — Think crowded classrooms are just for students? Teachers at some Fairfax County Public Schools are short on space too. The school system has grown by about 20,000 students since 2006, so some speciality teachers have no classrooms of their own, just a cart. [Washington Post]
Meet the Robot Squad — Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says $33 million received from a Medicaid fraud settlement will go towards helping Virginia sheriffs, police chiefs, the state police, and other law enforcement departments statewide to receive new equipment, including new robots for its bomb squad. [Fairfax Times]
Where is Santa? — Check out the sleigh’s progress Tuesday night with this on the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Santa Tracker website. [NORAD]
“Lockup” in Fairfax County — Do you like crime shows? The TV show “Lockup” recently wrapped four months of filming at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and will air six episodes on MSNBC. [The Washington Post]
Two More for McAuliffe Cabinet — Incoming Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe added a couple of more staff members: the Republican Secretary of Agriculture will stay in his post, and a former Hampton mayor will be Secretary of Natural Resources. McAuliffe will be inaugurated on Jan. 11. [WAMU]
Photo of NORAD Santa Tracker courtesy of NORAD
Catch The “Real Santa” — Longtime Northern Virginia residents call Tysons Corner Center’s Santa “the real Santa.” Can it be? [Washington Post]
Stage lights — Reston’s Lopez Studios are sending sending 11 talented students to Georgia for for the 2014 National Junior Theater Festival. They will be performing “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” [Reston Connection]
Watch Your Car — Fairfax County Police say car thieves often strike when drivers start the car and then walk away while it “warms up.” Last December, 47 vehicles were stolen in Fairfax County. [FCPD]
Welcome to Vinifera — Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro at the Westin Reston Heights has a new executive chef. Now on board: Vienna native John-Michael Hamlet. Hamlet, 38, formerly worked at the late Vienna restaurant Le Canard, with food service management company Compass Group USA and at Stone Manor Inn in Maryland. He also appeared on an episode of Food Network’s “Chopped” in 2010 and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996. He replaces the previous chef, Bo Palker, who now works at Arlington’s Pinzimini. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Did McDonnell Divert Gift-Scandal Charges? — Sources say Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife Maureen fended off a federal grand jury indictment by pleading their case to authorities last week. The McDonnells have been dealing with an investigation whether their received improper gifts from supporter Jonnie Williams. They still could face an indictment after governor-elect Terry McAuliffe takes office Jan. 11. [Washington Post]
Paul VI High School to Move to Loudoun? — Paul VI Catholic High School says it is considering a move from Fairfax to South Riding, which would allow a major expansion for the school. The move would not happen for several years. [Fairfax City Patch]
Attention Target Shoppers — If you have shopped at a Target store in the last few weeks, you could be one of 40 million credit and debit accounts that may have been breached. The chain said customers who made purchases by swiping their cards at terminals in its U.S. stores between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15 may have had their accounts exposed and shoppers should check their bank statements. [WTOP]
Photo by Mike Heffer/Vita Images
Silver Line is Just the Start — What will the Metro system of the future look like? Planners look at the possibilities of 10 new DC-area stations, including four “Super Stations” and a Potomac tunnel to ease congestion. [Washington Post]
Secret Santa — A man who wants to be referred to only as “the big guy with a beard” paid it forward this Christmas. He paid off all the items on layaway at Sterling’s Toys R Us location, making the holidays a little brighter for many families. [NBC4]
Birth Control for Deer? — Fairfax City is trying to control the expanding deer population by tranquilzing the females and taking them for surgical sterlization. Would that work for Fairfax County too? [Washington Post]
New Test for FCPS — Fairfax County high school students are going to take the PISA test in the future. Just what is this international assessment? [Vienna Patch]
What Are We Looking For? — What do Paul Walker, Chef Geoffs, and Sequestration Have in Common? Google says those are among the top searched by Washington-area residents in 2013. [Washingtonian]
Who Should Get In-State Tuition? — That’s the question in a lawsuit filed by children of six immigrants in Northern Virginia illegally They claim they should get in-state tuition at Virginia universities. [Washington Post]
Rec Center Exchange — Reston 2020, the development-watching arm of Reston Citizens Association, has some questions for Reston Community Center Executive Director Leila Gordon about where RCC’s proposed indoor pool and recreation center is heading. Terry Maynard of 2020 and Gordon have exchanged some highly detailed emails examining and re-examining the details. [Reston 2020]
What’s on McElveen’s List? — Hurricane days, out. Snow days, in. At-large FCPS school board member Ryan McElveen has a funny “Unofficial 2014 FCPS In and Out List.” [Ryan McElveen’s blog]
Remembering Newtown Victims Locally — A large group protested in front of National Rifle Association headquarters on Saturday. The date, Dec. 14, marked the one-year anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., in which 26 were killed (including 20 children).
Taking part in the protest was the Reston Herndon Committee Against Gun Violence, a local group that has marched at the NRA on the 14th of every month since the 2012 shooting. [Washington Post]
Fairfax County is No. 4 — Fairfax County came in No. 4 in the most recent rankings of the nation’s wealthiest counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Fairfax, with a median household income of $106,000 was No. 2 a year ago. Loudoun County held on to its top spot. [Washington Post]
Ready to Recount — The Virginia Attorney General race begins its recount Monday in Fairfax County, as well as a few other jurisdictions, then continues statewide later in the week. Fairfax, as well as the cities of Alexandria and Chesapeake, are getting a head start because of the extensive hand counting of ballots in their recount or simply the sheer number of ballots and machines to be checked. Democrat Mark Herring should know by the end of the week if his 165-vote edge holds or if Republican Mark Obenshain will be the new AG. [Virginian Pilot]
Photo courtesy of Reston Herndon Committee Against Gun Violence
Carols For Humanity — A holiday concert Friday at Reston’s St. John Neumann Church will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. The Voce Chamber Singers and the King Street Brass will feature traditional carols and sing-alongs for the audience. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. [Voce.org]
Drink up, Virginia — Virginia’s Alcohol Control Board saw record sales this year — $769 million or more than 10 million gallons of spirits and mixers. [WTOP]
Fairfax County Domestic Violence on the Rise — A new report released by the county shows a nearly 60 percent rise in domestic violence calls between 2006-10. [Fairfax Times]
School Board member’s Tweet Earns Him Rock Star Status — Youthful FCPS School Board member Ryan McElveeen (at-large) knows how to reach his audience. His tweet on Monday night that school was closed due to snow on Tuesday was way earlier than the official FCPS announcement. That earned him lots of respect from students (972 rewteets and a bunch of memes!) [McLean High Highlander News]
Congressman John Foust? — Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust said this week he will seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, setting the stage for a primary to determine who will take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R). Wolf represents nearby Herndon. [Herndon Patch]
FCPS Has New Website for Parent Advocacy — The site, started by the Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC), will offer tools for parents to learn about various topics and improve communication for a better school experience. [FCPS]
Residents March for Newtown Victims — The Reston-Herndon Committee Against Gun Violence has been marching monthly at Fairfax’s National Rifle Association headquarters since the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. last December. The group will hold a vigil again Saturday at 10 a.m. to mark one year since the tragic shooting that killed 26 people, many of them children at Sandy Hook Elementary. Meet at 11250 Waples Mill Rd. in Fairfax (where Waples Mill Road crosses I-66). Signs provided.
Still No Silver Line Date — The Dulles Corridor Rail Association honored six Virginia governors for their commitment to getting Metro’s Silver Line built. But officials still have no opening date. [Reston Patch]
Time Winding Down for Movie Contest — The deadline for submission’s to Reston Association’s “My Community” video contest is Dec. 31. Community members can send in a short video (3 minutes or less) showing why they love to Live, Work, Play or Get Involved in Reston for a chance to earn cash prizes and a spot in the Reston’s 50th Anniversary celebration in April [Reston Association]
12 Days of Adoptable Pets — The Fairfax County Animal Shelter and the Washington Humane Society are teaming up on a special program to bring attention to shelter dogs available for adoption this holiday season. Fees will be waived from Dec. 12 through 24. [Fairfax County]
Kudos, Herndon High Band — The Pride of Herndon marching band returned from marching Saturday’s Pearl Harbor Day parade in Hawaii with a big honor: Grand Champion. [Herndon Patch]
Silver Line Delay Draws More Criticism — The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has had lots of time and money. Should they be held more accountable for the repeated delays in the Silver Line’s completion? [Washington Post]
Gillespie to Run for Senate? — Will former Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie run against Mark Warner in the 2014 Senate race? He is thinking about it. [Washington Post]
Kamga to Lead Seahawks — South Lakes Boys Basketball is hoping junior Brandon Kamga can steady the team this season. The 6-foot-4 center/forward is receiving interest from NCAA Division I programs [Fairfax Times]
FCPS Teachers Won’t Flee, Survey Says — Fairfax County Public Schools are facing a $140 million budget shortfall that is putting teacher’s raises in jeopardy, but a recent survey from the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers says most educators would stay put anyway. [Fairfax Times]
Art for Shelter — Reston’s Embry Rucker Community Shelter recently unveiled a 20-foot mosaic mural created by artist Anita Damron with help from a grant from the Herndon Council for the Arts. [Reston Connection]
Photo of Brandon Kamga courtesy of South Lakes Sentinel
Reston’s a Top Spot — Real Estate blog Movoto has Reston tied for seventh (with Chantilly) as a Top Ten city in Virginia. Criteria includes amenities, home values, crime and education, among others. [Movoto]
No Casinos for Virginia — The Commonwealth is now one of only a handful of states without gambling. But there is an economic impact to being casino-less. [Washington Post]
Let the Recounts Begin — The recounts for the Virginia Attorney General’s race and the 86th District house seat (Tom Rust (R) vs. Jennifer Boysko (D) ) will begin Dec. 16. Here’s a look at the process. [Herndon Patch]
Navy Yard Victim’s Family Files Suit — The family of Mary DeLorenzo Knight is seeking more than $37 million in damages, according to a suit filed in Tampa on Wednesday. Knight, a Reston resident, was killed in the mass shooting at Washington Navy Yard in September. [WTOP]
Run With Santa This Weekend — PR Race Series is hosting the Run With Santa 5K Saturday at Reston Town Center. Now is your chance to pair your elf costume, Rudolph nose and other Christmas costumes with your running shoes at this run for all ages. [PR Races]
Not Just for Students — Several Virginia college towns made Travel & Leisure magazine’s “Best College Towns” list. Where does your alma mater rank? [WTOP]
What Are They Teaching the Kids? — Interested in just what is being discussed in Family Life Education (FLE) at Fairfax County Public Schools? FCPS is making the materials on this highly sensitive subject available for review as special instructional materials have been recommended to address the abuse topic of teen sex trafficking for grades 6-10 and grade 12 in the emotional and social health and human growth and development units. [FCPS]
Photo of University of Mary Washington courtesy of UMW.
