The old saying about the U.S. Post office is “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
It’s even inscribed on the general post office in New York City.
Not so much in Northern Virginia, though. One lingering casualty of the weekend blizzard: mail delivery and U.S. Post Office services in Reston.
The parking lot of the Reston branch of the post office, located at 11110 Sunset Hill Rd., remains unplowed as of Tuesday at 11 a.m.
The government building is supposed to be plowed by a private contractor who has not been there since the storm began Friday, a source said.
The post office remains closed until the lot is plowed. There will also be no mail delivery in Reston until that happens as the mail trucks are staged from that area, a post office employee said.
If you need to mail or buy something at a post office, the Herndon branch at 590 Grove St. is operating.
The blizzard stopped more than 48 hours ago, but some Reston residents still can’t get started.
There is increasing frustration Tuesday among residents whose streets have not seen a single plow pass.
@VaDOTNOVA @VaDOT Bennington Hollow Lane in Reston STILL has not had a single pass done, all surrounding roads complete. can we get help?
— Greg Garrison (@vtggarriso) January 26, 2016
@VaDOTNOVA Autumnwood drive, Reston waiting for a plow. They turn around b4 any progress. streets around us plowed pic.twitter.com/E661jU9DDy — Jackie Laurenzi (@jlaurenzi1114) January 26, 2016
@RestonNow The outlet from our street (Pinoak La) to Lawyers Rd. All nearby streets plowed except ours. Send halp! pic.twitter.com/RDmhOlyJZk
— Douglas H. Errett (@MrErrett) January 25, 2016
@VaDOTNOVA Haven’t seen a plow since Friday. Just want to see one make one pass on Buckthorn Lane in Reston. Neighborhood #5. — NHL_Observer (@NHL_Observer) January 26, 2016
No plows, so the cul-de-sacs in Golf Course Square dug themselves out yesterday in a huge group effort. @RestonNow pic.twitter.com/vBYNQUj0iU
— Bill Burton (@burtonwc) January 26, 2016
At least these residents were Tweeting to the responsible party — and in many cases VDOT answered. One frustrated resident was bringing the plight of her unplowed street to Newschannel8, Reston Association and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, among others.
The frustration, and, in some cases, confusion is nothing new after a snowfall like the nearly three feet that fell here over the weekend. While many streets in Reston are plowed by private contractors, some are VDOT streets. VDOT has priority system, with the most-traveled roads getting highest priority. Residential subdivisions, especially cul-de-sacs, are the lower priority.
VDOT says its goal after a storm is to clear all roads within 48 hours. VDOT’s interactive sites VirginiaPlows and 511iVrginia can show you when plows are in your area. Here is how to know who is responsible for your street in Reston:
Reston Association is not responsible. RA’s territory is RA property, such as the parking lots of Walker Nature Education Center and the pools. The association also plows the 55 miles of bike paths in Reston. Fairfax County is also not responsible for plowing.
Most Reston neighborhoods are part of cluster or homeowners’ associations. If this is you, you likely pay quarterly or monthly dues in addition to your annual Reston Association assessment. This is the case with most apartment and condo complexes, townhouse neighborhood and a number of single-family home subdivisions.
Part of your cluster dues go for snow removal with a private contractor. If you are concerned that the street has not been plowed, contact your cluster president. You should receive regular communication from the cluster via e-mail or flyer. Not sure which cluster you belong to or who is on the board? Start with RA’s neighborhood list.
If you are not in a cluster, then your street is likely plowed by VDOT
Visit VDOTPlows.org to see a real-time map of when your street will see a plow.
Photo: Autumnwood Drive in Reston Monday/Credit: Jackie Laurenzi via Twitter
Reston’s coming back to life now, but during the 36-hour blizzard Friday and Saturday, it was an eerie, windy, snowy symphony.
Fox Mill resident David Wujcik set up a camera in a front window of his house to capture the whole thing on time lapse and set it to appropriately dramatic music.
Take a look.
Reston Now has been contacted by several elderly residents asking if we could connect them with someone strong who can help them shovel walk, steps and driveways.
Here is the plight of one senior who wrote to Reston Now:
Not a tip but a plea, if you will. I am a 70+ y/o senior citizen in Reston need help getting some help getting my car dug out. Don’t know any entrepreneurial young people so I called 211 where a pleasant person offered a farfax county senior services phone number that is not in service. She also mentioned I might contact a local church to see if they are organizing any volunteer efforts (I called 2.)
I called Herndon Senior Center also and of course all of these organizations were closed due to the storm. I also went online and contacted half- dozen or so services listed under local snow removal on “Angies List” and I still have not been contacted back.
None of this is surprising to be sure given the snow emergency and I am not at an immediate risk. I am willing to pay.
If you can help (not sure which neighborhood) email [email protected] and we will put you in touch.
Surely there are some people — even some enterprising teens — who will be out with their shovels today.
If you need help or you are offering help, tell us in the comments below. Let us know which category you fall in, what neighborhood you live in and contact info. If you need to be paid or are willing to pay, we will let you work it out offline.
You can put responses here or in the comments on the comments section on Reston Now’s Facebook page.
On Sunday, the snow stopped, the sun came out and the cleanup began.
Monday will also be a work in progress as Reston and the entire Washington, D.C.. area tries to get back to business after the two-day blizzard. Reston received nearly 30 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
Here is some news to know this morning.
Fairfax County Public Schools and Government are closed.
Reston Association is closed.
The Federal Government is closed with most employees teleworking.
Metro is running a very limited schedule with no Silver Line service as above-ground stations are closed. Trains will run every 20 to 25 minutes on these routes:
- Orange Line: Ballston to Eastern Market only
- Red Line: Medical Center to Union Station only
- Green Line: Fort Totten to Anacostia only
Fairfax Connector bus service will be operating with limited service on a Sunday schedule with buses running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be changes to some Reston routes, including:
- 950 – Bypasses Herndon-Monroe Park & Ride, Alabama Dr, Florida St, Center St
- RIBS 1/3 – Bypasses Beacontree Ln, Herndon-Reston Heath Center, Cameron Glen Dr, Hunters Woods Village Center/Fellowship House, Lake Anne Fellowship House, Tall Oaks Village Center
Reagan National and Dulles International Airports expect to reopen Monday on a limited schedule. Many delays and cancelations are still expected. Check with your airline. Read More
There is a big, big snowman out in front of Reston Town Center’s World of Beer.
The snowman was built by a resident of The Avant apartments who is known around RTC as “Big Mike.”
We nominate this snowman to be the official mascot of the Blizzard of 2016. Let’s give snowguy a name.
Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Credit: Reston’s Big Snowman/Credit: Ed Schudel
As of about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, snowplows have worked on most of Reston’s main roads. The side streets and townhouse parking lots could be a work in progress though into Monday, Tuesday and beyond.
Help Reston Now readers know before they go: Tell us what your street looks like or, if you go out, what the Reston Town Center or your neighborhood village center looks like.
Post comments and or/picture below.
Drive safely, Reston.
Photo: Plow on Ridge Heights Road Sunday morning
Happy Sunday! How did you weather the storm?
The serious snow stopped in Reston about 11 p.m. Saturday. That means about 35 hours of heavy snowfall for a total of about 28 inches in the Reston area, according to National Weather Service spotters.
Now comes the big dig-out, which could take awhile.
The Virginia’s Department of Transportation (VDOT) is urging all motorists to stay off the roads Sunday so streets can be adequately plowed.
VDOT says most interstates and primary routes in “minor to moderate condition,” many side roads are still completely covered in snow and ice.
“Even though the snow has stopped and dry weather is on the horizon, snow removal will be very extensive through the week,” VDOT said in a statement Sunday morning.
Want to know where VDOT’s plows are? Check the agency’s Virginia 511 site for real-time maps.
Who plows your street?
Here is how it works in Reston. The main roads — Reston Parkway, Sunrise Valley Drive, Sunset Hills Road and Wiehle Avenue, for instance — are plowed by VDOT.
Some residential streets — generally those not in a cluster or association — are also plowed by VDOT, but are low priority until the main roads are clear.
Most Reston homes are in a cluster or association. Your cluster or association dues cover snowplowing by a private contractor. If you are wondering about a plowing timetable, contact your cluster president or management association.
Reston Association is only responsible for plowing RA’s 55 miles of paths. RA’s path plows will be out in force today.
Neither RA nor VDOT is responsible for sidewalks. Sidewalks in a cluster are residents’ responsibility, so if you are shoveling, take a pass in the area in front of your home to help the neighborhood.
Sidewalks on a main street are a trickier issue — kind of a “no-man’s land” and have historically been a problem in Reston following big storms.
Metro will remain closed on Sunday. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says both Reagan National and Dulles International Airports will likely be closed all day as well. Check with your airline if you have travel plans as many airlines are already canceling Monday flights as well.
Heading out to shovel? Here are some reminders about shoveling safety from WTOP.
Want to go sledding? Modern Reston has some good spots for you.
Reston Now will keep you updated on street conditions, as well as cancelations and closings.
Photo: Snowed-in cars in Reston on Jan. 24, 2016/Credit: Annika Bohn
https://twitter.com/evanluzi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw. @capitalweather time-lapse of #Snowzilla blizzard between 2PM and 2AM yesterday from my balcony in Reston, VA pic.twitter.com/mD64XparJx
— Evan Luzi (@evanluzi) January 23, 2016
So you didn’t stay up last night and watch the storm come in? Here is what it looked like at Parc Reston near Reston Town Center.
Film professional Evan Luzi set up this time-release camera to show what 12 hours of a serious storm looks like.
Video by Evan Luzi via Twitter.
As of noon Saturday, many Restonians were measuring snowfall at about 20 inches. But the storm is far from over.
The National Weather Service says to expect intervals of heavy snow to continue Saturday afternoon. The NWS also says drifting will continue to be a problem and warns residents not to attempt to travel.
Several snow plows were seen stuck in Reston Saturday morning.
The NWS has increased the snowfall amounts expected for the area. The Reston area should see closer three feet rather than two feet as the snow is expected to continue through at least Saturday night.
The Blizzard Warning remains in effect through Sunday at 6 a.m.
Graphic: Expected snow totals in DC area/Credit: NWS
The Blizzard of 2016 is delivering what the forecasters said it would: heavy snow, strong drifts and empty streets at daybreak on Saturday.
Here’s an update:
Snow totals in Reston, measured by three residents, range from 15 to 18 inches as of 8 a.m.
18 inches measured away from bldgs and trees in south Reston at 8AM. @capitalweather @RestonNow pic.twitter.com/zWX7CI0Qae
— Bill Burton (@burtonwc) January 23, 2016
Here’s a deserted Baron Cameron Avenue Saturday morning.
@RestonNow Don’t go out there!!! PLOWS are getting STUCK! pic.twitter.com/WrY9rt7R0Q
— Eddie (@WFOcom) January 23, 2016
What’s still on the way? The Capital Weather Gang says an ADDITIONAL 20 inches is expected to fall across the area 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday.
That would put the storm at over 30 inches, making it one of the biggest snowfalls in Washington-area history.
So far, Dominion Virginia Power is reporting fewer than a dozen customers in Fairfax County without power.
Want to venture out? Here are a couple of restaurants that said they would be open for the duration, but call ahead to make sure that is still the case:
Kalypso’s at Lake Anne Plaza; Barcelona, bartaco and McCormick & Schmicks at Reston Town Center; Red’s Table at South Lakes Village Center; and Tavern 64 at the Hyatt Regency Reston.
Fairfax County public safety officials are urging businesses to close for the day.
“We recognize the blizzard’s adverse impact on livelihoods, but we encourage businesses and other non-essential entities to remain CLOSED,” it tweeted Saturday morning.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is also urging people to stay off roads. Check out VDOT’s http://www.511virginia.org site to see live traffic cameras and the check which roads are passable.
Meanwhile, enjoy some photos from your neighbors. Keep sending us more through Twitter @RestonNow or on Reston Now’s Facebook.
Stay safe and stay warm!
Top photo: Snowfall 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23/Credit: Kurt Rose
Reston Now readers are witty folks. So let’s have some fun and give this giant snowstorm heading here a name.
The Weather Channel is calling it Jonas. The Washington Post, after asking for reader suggestions, is calling Snowzilla.
Past DC big deals have been the Knickerbocker blizzard of 1922, the Presidents’ Day snowstorm of ’79, Snowmageddon. But Jonas? That’s a name for your new baby, not the storm that swept Reston shelves of bread and toilet paper four days in advance.
Here are a few suggestions, so take our poll and/or suggest a name in the comments.
Stay warm, Reston.
Snow in Reston 2013/file photo
The National Weather Service’s Blizzard Warning for Reston and the entire DC area began at 3 p.m. It will stay in effect until early Sunday morning.
The snow started falling here about 1 p.m. and is coming down at a steady — if not blizzardly — clip. Forecasters say the snowfall will pick up through the evening, with one to three inches an hour coming down.
When it’s over, we may see two feet of snow or more.
But it seems Reston is prepared — grocery store shelves picked clean, cars off the roads, many businesses closed.
Top photo: Snow plows are ready/Credit: Mara Gifford via Twitter
An alleged Reston prostitution ring run by a man using the alias “Ron Burgundy,” was broken up by Fairfax County Police this week, police said.
Detectives from the FCPD Street Crimes Unit received information regarding a tip in December 2015 that there was an alleged prostitution ring operating in the Reston area.
After a comprehensive investigation, detectives learned than an unknown person was using the alias of “Ron Burgundy” and operating a “sex club” out of an apartment on Northgate Square in Reston.
Ron Burgundy is the name of actor Will Farrell’s character in the Anchorman movies.
Police said “Ron Burgundy” was advertising online and charging a fee to engage in various sexual acts with a prostitute.
The FCPD Street Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at 1411 Northgate Square on Monday. Police arrested Michael Tillman, 33 (who used the Ron Burgundy name) and charged him with pandering and maintaining a bawdy house.
Another person in the home, Jill Faustin, 26, was also arrested and charged with prostitution and frequenting a bawdy house.
Photo: Michael Tillman/Credit: FCPD
Ready for the big storm?
Here is the latest forecast, along with some other updates.
Timeline: The snow may start in the Reston area a bit earlier than expected, possibly by 1 p.m., according to The Capital Weather Gang.
The CWG adds that there is almost no chance of a last-minute fizzle-out, as many a predicted DC-area storm has done in the past. This is a real deal, and Reston may get more than two feet of snow.
A Blizzard Warning begins at 3 p.m. today as high winds and whiteout conditions are expected. The warning will be in effect until early Sunday morning.
Says the CWG:
Confidence is quite high for a crippling snowstorm. Underscoring one of many impacts in our region: do not assume emergency services will be reliably available this weekend. Make all efforts to complete preparations this morning so roads (which may slow/halt by this afternoon or evening) are not blocked. Be safe. Help those around you. Most of us will likely be immobile through at least Sunday and perhaps into early next week.
Transportation: In a rare move, Metro will suspend all operations beginning at 11 p.m. Friday and remain closed all day Saturday and Sunday. Read More
