Rallies to Support, Protest President — The Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Coalition is sponsoring a rally to thank President Obama for the gun control measures he took through Executive Action earlier this week. The rally will be held prior to Obama’s CNN Town Hall at George Mason University tonight starting at 5 p.m. College Republicans will hold a counter protest on campus beginning at 7 p.m. [SignUp Genius, TownHall.com]
Pre-Richmond Public Hearing Tonight — Sen. Janet Howell and Del. Ken Plum have their pre-legislative public hearing at RCC-Lake Anne tonight at 7:30 p.m. [Reston Now]
Reston Hospital Center Mark of Excellence — Reston Hospital Center was recently named an Accredited Chest Pain Center. [Reston Connection]
Kudos, HHS Students — The Herndon High Business Management Virtual Enterprise (BMVE) class won first place in a statewide virtual enterprise business plan competition, similar to the television show Shark Tank, held in Virginia Beach in December. The class will represent Virginia in the international competition in New York City on April 18-21. The BMVE students created a company, ScholarME, to identify and tackle one of the biggest concerns of high school and college students and their parents: a company that matches students with scholarships.
Photo by Ryan Goff
Healthy Eats — New Herndon vegan/vegetarian restaurant Green Fare now has a pop-up shop at Reston Station. They are offering about eight healthy to-go meals. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Drink Up — Reston company LifeFuels is officially launching its product — a Smart Nutrition Bottle — at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. [PR Newswire]
Slow Going On Metro This Weekend — Track work will affect all six lines. [WTOP]
Christmas Tree Recycling — If you are taking down your tree and are on Fairfax County trash service, the county will pick up the discarded tree for recycling through next week. You can also take it to the I-66 Transfer Station for $1 per tree. [Fairfax County]
Photo by Ryan Goff
Who Wants to Run For RA Board? — Reston Association is holding an information session Wednesday at 7 p.m. at RA offices (12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.) for those interested in running for a Board of Directors seat in 2016. Seats are open in Lake Anne/Tall Oaks, North Point and an At-Large Seat. All are three-year terms. Applicants must file by late January. [Reston Association]
Thanks, Law Enforcement: Wings On Us — Buffalo Wing Factory (Hunters Woods) is hosting Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Saturday, Jan. 9 with free wings for all active or retired law enforcement officers. Must show ID. [Instagram]
Feel The Bern — The Bernie Sanders for President campaign is holding an organizing meeting Sunday, Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Anyone interested in meeting Virginia leaders of the campaign or signing up to volunteer is invited. [Bernie Sanders for President]
New Year, New Baby At Frying Pan Park — An Alpine Doe was born at Kidwell Farm on Saturday, Jan. 2. [Herndon Patch]
Coats For Cornerstones — Cleaning out your closets to kick off 2016? Reston Town Center offices and stores will be collecting winter coats for Cornerstones clients Jan. 11 though 22. Bring new or gently used winter coats (in good condition and cleaned), and new hats, gloves and scarves to help those in need get through winter.
Battle Of The Bands Auditions — Registration is still open for the 2016 Battle of the Bands to benefit South Lakes High School’s Marching Band. Selected bands (high school age and younger) will compete at Ned Devine’s in Herndon Feb. 21. [Battle of the Bands]
Safety Training at Herndon Metro Site — Crews will be doing safety training at the future site of the Herndon Silver Line station Monday through Wednesday this week. The training includes big crane rescue operations, but be aware it is just a drill. [Herndon Patch]
Book Signing With Kwame Alexander — Reston author Kwame Alexander, recent Newbery Award winner for The Crossover will sign books at Scrawl Books at Reston Station Saturday at 2 p.m. [Facebook]
New Year’s Closings — Here are some reminders of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day hours for county services and locations. [Reston Now]
Happy New Year — Reston Now won’t be publishing New Year’s Day. Have a safe and fun holiday.
Metro Is Free For a Few Hours New Year’s Eve — Metro is waiving fares Thursday night into Friday to get New Year’s Eve revelers safely home. Free rides are from midnight to 3 a.m. [Reston Now]
Fairfax County’s Next Recreational Amenity — Is a high ropes course heading for a county park? [Washington Business Journal]
Hearts of Hope — Langston Hughes Middle School bus driver raises bullying awareness with unique craft project. [Fairfax Times]
Best Baker — Check out Great Falls’ Matthew Merril, a sixth grader who will be a contestant on a Food Network baking show starting Monday, Jan. 4. [Fairfax Times]
Trump Vs. Virginia — Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) is peeved at the Commonwealth because of its party pledge requirements in March 1’s presidential primary. [WTOP]
Kids’ Stuff — Reston Association is presenting a puppet show for little ones Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Walker Nature Education Center. The show is geared for children ages 5 to 12. Reservations and fee required. [Reston Association]
Senior Singers Needed — Reston’s Encore Chorale for singers ages 55 and over is gearing up for its winter season. Under the direction of Reston Chorale conductor David Lang, singers will learn proper breathing and vocal technique at weekly rehearsals (Tuesday afternoons) and will perform with other area Encore Chorales. No audition required. [Reston Community Center]
Trend: Used Book Stores — Reston’s Used Book Shop at Lake Anne gets special mention in this story on the popularity of the genre in the age of Amazon. [Washington Post]
Reston Waiter Gets Giant “Tip Bomb” — A server at North Point Village Center’s Glory Days Grill got a very generous early Christmas gift from some patrons last week. [Fox 5]
Speaking Up On Metro — New WMATA general manager Paul Wiedefeld heard from Metrorail riders on everything from farecards to fares to safety at a forum in Reston. [Reston Connection]
Photo: Christmas weekend 2015 paddleboarding on Lake Aududon/Credit: Paul Hartke
Local Company Gives Back — Reston-based SOSi gathered thousands of coffee K-Cups to send to overseas troops this holiday season. [Reston Connection]
Inmates Graduate — The Fairfax County Jail recently honored 11 inmates — two who earned their high school diplomas and nine who earned a GED diploma while behind bars. [Fairfax County]
What To Do With All The Offices? — There is millions of square feet of vacant office space in Fairfax County. The county will be forming a committee to look at the issue and figure out ways to make up the millions in lost tax revenue. [Washington Business Journal]
Kudos for Herndon High Athlete — Hornet field hockey player Sammy Stone was selected as a first-team All Met selection. The junior had 14 goals and 8 assists in 2015. [Washington Post]
Lots of Star Wars at ArtInsights — Modern Reston takes a trip to Reston Town Center’s ArtInsights Gallery, which has a large collection of Star Wars art on display and for sale to coincide with the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. [Modern Reston]
Pet Valu Gives Back — Pet Valu, a retailer of pet food, treats, toys and accessories, raised $138,000 in product and monetary donations for local animal shelters and rescues during its annual Thanks for Giving collection drive in November. In Reston, Pet Valu has a location at South Lakes Village Center and will soon open an additional one at North Point Village Center.
New Nearby: Green Fare — A new locally owned vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurant recently opened on Elden Street in Herndon. [Reston Connection]
FCPS Board Votes To Change Naming Policy — The Fairfax County Public Schools Board voted last week to be able to change names of schools if a need exists. The vote came about as some in the community think Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart, in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, should no longer have his name on the school. [Falls Church News Press]
Services For Paul McGuinness Jr. — Visitation for Paul McGuinness Jr., the Reston teen who was found dead in Adams Morgan last week, will be Monday at 5 to 8 p.m. at Adams Green Funeral Home in Herndon. Funeral services are Tuesday 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd. Memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics of Virginia. [Washington Post]
2015: A Good Year — Fairfax County says economic indicators show home sales were up 8.5 percent, among other good news. [Fairfax County]
Metro’s Holiday Schedule — Need to get somewhere by Metro on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the rest of the week until Jan. 1? Metro has some amended hours . [Metro]
Kudos, Dogwood — Dogwood Elementary School was honored by Reston Association last week for its large participation in National Walk to School Day in October. There were 495 students (about 64 percent of the school population) who walked to school.
White Christmas? — WTOP looks at the odds. [WTOP]
Holiday Giving — There will be an Inova holiday blood drive at Reston Town Center on Tuesday, Dec. 22, noon to 7 p.m. [Facebook]
Prudent Purchase? — Should the Virginia Department of Transportation purchase the Dulles Greenway in the hopes of lowering tolls? VDOT’s CFO says it is a bad idea. [WTOP]
Small change At Small change — Small Change Consignment is celebrating the start of its 35th year with a 35 percent off virtually everything sale now through noon on Christmas Eve. That includes all clothes, shoes, books, baby gear, and toys.
Metro To Get $150 Million Restored — The $1.6 trillion year-end omnibus spending bill will restore $150 million in funding to Metro. Metro GM Paul Wiedefeld said the money “provides the critical funding necessary to ensure our safety projects continue without interruption.” [Loudoun Times-Mirror]
Melinda Doolittle at CenterStage — Former American Idol (season six) contestant Melinda Doolittle will perform jazz, soul and Broadway standards at Reston Community Center Saturday. [Reston Connection]
Tour De Lights Saturday — Reston Association’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee will lead bikers on the fourth annual “Tour de Lights” ride past Christmas lights on Saturday evening. Free and all ages welcome on the 10-mile ride [Reston Association]
What Lurks in Lake Anne? — The dredging project is over, but none of the “buried treasure” is on display. [Restonian]
Metro’s New GM Gets Rider Info — New Metro GM Paul Wiedenfeld is on a listening tour to hear what’s on riders’ minds. He will be in Reston Thursday. [Washington Post]
STEM Expo Needs Sponsors, Exhibitors — Fairfax County Public Schools needs businesses in science, tech and engineering to make presentations at April’s STEM-H Expo. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Nearby: Herndon Man Killed in Crash — A 28-year-old man was thrown from his SUV in Loudoun County. [Washington Post]
Photo: Young students at LANK’s third annual Global Village event/Courtesy Astri Wee
Big Turnout For Refugee Coat Drive — Fairfax County residents helped contribute to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) 2015 blanket/coat drive to assist Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Turkey. The donations were triple that of last year. About 60 tons of donations will be shipped to the refugees.
Hunter Mill Needs Budget Reps — Are you interested in weighing in on the Fairfax County FY 2017 Budget? Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins is
once again soliciting Hunter Mill District residents, from broad backgrounds, who may be interested in the opportunity to join the Hunter Mill District Budget Committee as the process moves forward in early 2016. If you are interested in joining the committee, please forward your resume to [email protected], or call 703-478-0283.
Basketball In The Family — Meet South Lakes High sophomore Emmanuel Aghayere, who is leading the boys basketball team in a manner similar to his sister, Princess, a SLHS girls basketball star who graduated last spring. [Reston Connection]
