(Corrected at 3:30 p.m.: This article previously suggested the Reston Community Center and Reston Association are the same entity. They are not. We’ve corrected the error.)
Priority registration began today for winter and spring season activities at the Reston Community Center.
Activities offered include aquatics, business and computer classes, music and theater performances and arts and crafts classes.
The community center is also scheduled to hold a New Year’s Fitness Challenge in January that will include prize drawings.
A new Reston program has picked up an accolade for the assistance it brings to local senior citizens.
Reston Community Center’s “RCC Rides” program recently won the award for Best New Program at the 62nd Annual Conference of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, held earlier this month in Roanoke.
RCC Rides offers door-to-door rides to senior citizens age 55 and older who live within the Reston limits. Local seniors can request rides to everything from doctor’s appointments to shopping or to RCC social events and enrichment activities.
Rides are offered free-of-charge by local volunteers, whom RCC staff praised as they accepted their award earlier this month.
“We are honored to receive this award, but we would not be successful without our volunteer drivers,” Eileen Boone, RCC’s leisure and learning director, said in a statement. “Our volunteers are the heroes of this program and we thank them for their commitment and passion.”
Since the program launched in July of 2015, more than 1,000 rides have been offered to local seniors, according to RCC staff. The program now includes more than 147 regular riders and 43 drivers.
Local seniors can find out more information about RCC Rides online.
Local drivers who would like to volunteer to a driver for RCC Rides can sign up online.
Photo courtesy of Reston Community Center
A holiday-themed art exhibit and shopping event is planned to occur at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne next month.
The shopping event is scheduled to take place at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne (1609-A Washington Plaza) on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Our ‘Gifts from the Heart’ Exhibit brings artists and community members together for a wonderful cause,” said Cheri Danaher, Reston Community Center’s Arts Education Director, in a press release. “Through this event, everyone involved can enjoy fantastic works of art, celebrate the holidays and support those in need in our area.”
According to organizers, ‘Gifts from the Heart’ will showcase a multitude of original art and media, including stained glass, ceramic, sculpture, oil and watercolor paintings.
All of the artwork is available for purchase at varying prices. Participating artists donate their entry fees and 10 percent of their proceeds from sales to Cornerstones, a Reston-based nonprofit providing support and advocacy for those in need.
“Proceeds will help Cornerstones continue the important work of the Embry Rucker Community Shelter, the Laurel Learning Center and their Community Services Outreach, which includes job counseling, emergency food and youth programs,” according to the RCC statement. “Since the annual exhibit was first held in 1999, ‘Gifts from the Heart’ has raised approximately $11,000 for Cornerstones.”
The event will coincide with Jingle on Lake Anne, which will feature children’s crafts, cookie decorating, a farmer’s and craft market, beer garden, strolling carolers, tree lighting and Santa’s arrival by barge at noon.
The Gifts from the Heart Exhibit will remain on display at RCC Lake Anne through Dec. 31, and the 3D exhibit will remain till Feb. 21.
Photo courtesy of the Reston Community Center
This Saturday, one child’s outgrown winter jacket can be another child’s perfect fit in Hunters Woods.
Reston Community Center’s annual Children’s Fall Flea Market is set to come to 2310 Colts Neck Road from 9 a.m. to noon, when parents can browse tables full of gently-used kids’ clothing, toys, books, games, movies and other items.
In addition to shopping, families can also do some selling. A table to sell gently used children’s items is $15 for residents and $23 for non-residents. Edible items and live animals are not permitted for sale.
At the flea market, children are the ones who are encouraged to hawk their items. Organizers welcome “junior merchants” between the ages 6 and 13 to help work their families’ tables.
Vendors who have left-over items that didn’t sell can donate them to charity after the event.
Admission for shoppers is a nonperishable food item for Reston Community Center’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
For more information, including details on signing up for a table to sell items, visit the Reston Community Center website and a Facebook page for the event.
Photo via Reston Community Center
The Reston Community Players open their 50th season this weekend with the classic musical Gypsy.
Gypsy is based on the memoirs of famous burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, and focuses on her mother Rose — the ultimate stage mom.
Theatre critic Clive Barnes once described the character of Rose as “one of the few truly complex characters in the American musical.”
The multi-Tony Award winning musical, first staged in the 1950s, has music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents.
Here is what you need to know:
Performances are at CenterStage at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods.
Shows are Oct. 21 to Nov. 12. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Sunday, Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $25 ($21 for seniors/students). Call 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.org.
Other productions this season include Vanya and Sonia and Masha…and Spike, Rock of Ages and Private Lives. Visit the Reston Community Players website for more information.
RCP could use volunteer ushers for the shows. Here is how to sign up.
Photos courtesy Reston Community Players
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved appointment of three Reston residents to the nine-member Reston Community Center Board of Governors.
All three candidates ran unopposed in the annual RCC Preference Poll. Residents of Small Tax District 5 (Reston) still had to cast votes for the candidates in the September Preference Poll anyway.
The three-year terms for Beverly Cosham (incumbent), Michelle Moyer (incumbent) and Paul Thomas begin on Nov. 7. and will expire in 2019.
RCC says a total of 1,568 valid ballots were cast in this year’s poll. Vote tallies by candidate were as follows:
- Beverly Cosham 1,327
- Michelle A. Moyer 1,342
- Paul D. Thomas 1,378
Read more about the directors after the jump.
This is the last week of voting in the 2016 Preference Poll for the Reston Community Center Board of Governors.
There are three candidates running for three seats. Even though the elections are uncontested, RCC is required to hold the Preference Poll annually regardless of how many candidates run.
Read more about the three candidates, Beverly Cosham, Michelle Moyer and Paul Thomas, on this previous Reston Now post and on RCC’s website.
If you weren’t able to attend the September 17 Candidate Forum to learn about each candidate’s vision for Reston, you may view it online through Reston Community Television. If you haven’t voted yet, please remember to cast your vote no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30.
Write-in voting is not counted. A ballot and instructions for online, mail, or walk-in voting have been mailed to all Small District 5 residential and commercial addresses. Residents of Small District 5 may use the unique USERID and PIN found on their ballot to vote online, in person or by mail:
Online: Visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com and click on the VOTE NOW button in order to enter your unique household credentials and gain access to online voting. Online voting will be available through Friday, September 30 at 5 p.m.
In Person: Bring your ballot to RCC Hunters Woods or RCC Lake Anne and deposit it in a ballot box; do not leave it in RCC lobbies or on countertops. The boxes will be in the lobbies from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the voting period. Ballots will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30.
By Mail: Residents may use the return envelope provided with the ballot to cast a vote by mail. Postage required. Mailed ballots must be received by Thursday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. Please note the earlier deadline for mailed ballots and allow time for delivery by the deadline.
Residents or business representatives who did not receive a ballot may obtain a provisional ballot by visiting Customer Service at RCC Hunters Woods or RCC Lake Anne. Photo ID is required for address confirmation; business representatives will need to show a business card or additional proof of eligibility. Provisional ballots may be cast in person or by mail or may be used to vote online. Only one ballot per household or business will be tabulated.
Lake Anne Plaza is the place to be Saturday, Sept. 24 for the Reston Multicultural Festival.
The Reston Multicultural Festival, organized by Reston Community Center, is a celebration of the diversity and community spirit found in Reston. This annual event brings together the people of Reston to celebrate the rich medley of cultures through music, dance, food and more.
Everyone is encouraged to dress in attire representative of their cultural background.
The fun begins at 11 a.m. with a naturalization ceremony for the area’s newest citizens. Students from South Lakes High School’s chorus will sing the Star-Spangled Banner and SLHS ROTC members will present the colors.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, a traditional Chinese dragon dance will wind through the plaza, marking the opening of the entertainment stages.
Entertainment will be in three areas. Click on each below to see the full lineups, which include everything from Bolivian dance to Japanese drumming to Irish music with Billy McComiskey, National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow.
The day will also include:
- Multicultural Book Fair in partnership with the Fall for the Book Festival at George Mason University this weekend.
- Author book signings
- Kimono fashion show
- Arts & Crafts activities
- Art Mirrors Culture Exhibit
- Global café offering international fare
- Global market showcasing treasures from around the world
Admission is free.
Photo: Dragon dance at Reston Multicultural Festival/Credit: Reston Community Center
Grammy Award-winning singer Kathy Mattea and her longtime collaborator, guitarist Bill Cooley, will bring their “The Acoustic Living Room” show to Reston Community Center’s CenterStage on Sept. 17 (8 p.m.)
Says RCC:
The two have shared one of Nashville’s most musically rich partnerships for over two decades. The duo meets as old friends, welcoming you into The Acoustic Living Room to share songs and stories near and dear to their hearts — including Kathy’s beloved classics such as 18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses, Where’ve You Been? and many other hits.
Mattea, who has released 18 albums, will play a variety of her music, all reinterpreted for the duo format.
Read a Huffington Post interview with Kathy Mattea.
Tickets are now on sale on RCC’s website. Cost: $25 for Reston residents and employees/$35 for non-residents.
Three candidates — including two incumbents — will run for three seats open in the 2016 Reston Community Center Board of Governors Preference Poll.
The board members are voted on by the community, but then appointed to the three-year term by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Seeking new terms are Beverly Cosham and Michelle Moyer. Paul Thomas, a former Reston Association Board of Directors member, is also seeking a spot.
According to county rules, the Preference Poll must be conducted every year regardless of the number of candidates filing to run.
Voting begins on Sept. 9. Each property in Small District 5 (SD5) will receive a ballot in the mail.
Online voting is available via RCC’s website; the “VOTE” button will be on the homepage at the beginning of the Poll. Mail-in ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29. Ballots may be dropped off in ballot boxes at either RCC facility no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 30.
A Candidates Forum will be held on Thursday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the CenterStage at RCC Hunters Woods.
The Board of Governors helps develop policy and provide financial oversight for RCC.
Meanwhile, keep reading to learn a little bit about each candidate from their candidate statement.
Students of all ages are invited to Reston Community Center’s Back to School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 13.
This free event will feature information from all kinds of family resources, including information about community agencies, resources and programs.
There will also be hands-on activities for kids, as well as free vision screening, haircuts, raffles, and Fairfax County Public Library card registration.
Notes: This is a different event than the South Lakes High School Block Party, which takes place on Sept. 2.
RCC can still use volunteers for the bash. Sign up is available online.
The free event is at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
National Night Out, the annual nationwide event where police and the community come together in the spirit of cooperation and friendship, kicked off in Reston mid-day on Tuesday.
The Hunters Woods Neighborhood Coalition and Reston Community Center Hunters Woods hosted Fairfax County Police officers, Fire and Rescue personnel, as well as neighborhood kids and residents of the Hunters Woods Fellowship House for a few hours of games, food and getting to know one another.
Later on Tuesday, police officers will visit Reston neighborhoods, where residents are encouraged to stay outside and get to know their neighbors.
“National Night Out send a message to criminals that crime is not welcome here,” said Reston District Station Crime Prevention Officer Katy Defoe.
Added Capt. Ron Manzo of the Reston District Station:
“National Night Out has special meaning. It gives us an opportunity to meet up, reach out and be engaged with the community. I have always been about community engagement.”
Former United States Poet Laureate (2001-03) Billy Collins will be making an appearance in Reston in September as part of George Mason University’s Fall for the Book event and Reston Community Center’s Professional Touring Artist Series.
Collins will be at RCC’s CenterStage on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Aug. 1 ($15 Reston/$20 Non-Reston).
Collins has been dubbed the most-popular poet in America by The New York Times.
“Billy Collins is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender or profound observation on the everyday, reading and writing, and poetry itself,” says The Poetry Foundation.
He is the author of more than a dozen books and a contributor to several more. Collins has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the New York Foundation for the Arts and has taught at Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence, and Lehman College, City University of New York, where he is a Distinguished Professor.
The Professional Touring Artist Series will also include music, drama, and more. RCC also announced that Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson will be the keynote speaker at RCC’s Martin Luther King Day celebration Jan. 16.
See the full schedule and purchase tickets for the Professional Touring Artist Series on RCC’s website.
Photo: Billy Collins/The Poetry Foundation
Reston Community Center is seeking candidates to run for seats on its Board of Governors.
Three seats will be open in this year’s Preference Poll. The Preference Poll is a community event held annually to guide selection of members to serve on the Board of Governors. The Board establishes the overall policies for RCC and priorities for its programs and budget.
Members also represent RCC at social, recreational, cultural and educational activities in Reston. Voters are members of Small Tax District 5 (Reston), which supports the community center, its programs and activities.
All residents of Small District 5, age 18 or older, are eligible to run for appointment to the board. Candidates must complete a Candidacy Statement in order to have their names placed on the Preference Poll ballot. Candidacy Statements will be available at RCC facilities or online at www.restoncommunitycenter.com beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 1. The deadline for candidacy filing is 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15.
Online and mail-in balloting and walk-in voting will be available from Sept. 9 through Sept. 30. Mail-in ballots must be received by RCC’s Counting Agent no later than Sept. 29.
The RCC Board appointments are made by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors after voters have made their preferences known in the annual poll.
For more information on the 2016 RCC Preference Poll or Board of Governors, please visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com or call 703-476-4500.
Here’s a chance for some free summer fun. Lake Anne Plaza’s Take a Break Concert Series returns to the waterfront tomorrow.
Every Thursday this summer, Lake Anne and Reston Community Center present free entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m.
Here is the schedule:
June 16
Dance Night with Radio King Orchestra
Big Band Swing with dance demonstrations and instruction.
June 23
Texas Chainsaw Horns
Blues
June 30
Swing Sisters (Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer)
Acoustic Swing
July 7
Cheick Hamala Diabate
Traditional West African music mixed with modern grooves.
July 14
Four Star Combo
Vintage Rockabilly Honky Tonk
July 21
Dance Night with Cedar Creek
Country line dancing with dance demonstrations and instruction.
July 28
Fresh Air
Motown and 1960s classics
August 4
Dance Night with Sin Miedo
Salsa with dance demonstrations and instruction.
August 11
Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet
Vocal Jazz
August 18
Dance Night with Ken & Brad Kolodner
Old time square dancing
August 25
IONA
Celtic
September 1
Chris Vadala Quartet
Be Bop Jazz (as part of Lake Anne Jazz Festival Week)
For more information, visit RCC’s website.
