Need help with your taxes?
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program is offering free help with tax preparation and electronic filing services to taxpayers.
In the Hunter Mill District, locals can find the drop-in services at the Reston Community Center (2310 Colts Neck Road) starting on Friday (Feb. 1).
Trained counselors will be on hand to help with federal and Virginia tax returns.
Locals don’t need an appointment, but they will need to bring a photo ID, Social Security cards for themselves and their dependents, a copy of last year’s tax returns and all tax documents received.
The Reston Community Center tax prep will be available on the following days:
- Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Thursdays: 4:30-8:30 p.m.
- Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The free tax preparation will also be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays at the SunTrust Bank of Vienna (515 Maple Avenue East) and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Providence Community Center in Fairfax (3001 Vaden Drive).
The program is open to people of all ages and runs until Feb. 15.
File photo
Updated at 11:20 a.m. — FCPD said that officers have completed their investigation after nothing suspicious was found and normal operations will resume shortly.
Earlier: Police are on the scene of a potential bomb threat at Kaiser Permanente (1890 Metro Center Drive).
Police evacuated the building as a precaution after “a note was found indicating a bomb threat,” according to a tweet from the Fairfax County Police Department today (Jan. 24) at 9:29 a.m.
“At this time, no evidence to substantiate it,” the tweet said. “Please stay clear of the area.”
Police say they are investigating the threat.
Officers have completed their investigation. Nothing suspicious was found. Normal operations will resume shortly. Thank you for avoiding the area.https://t.co/sX5ihXySGk
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 24, 2019
Image via Google Maps
This story has been updated
Fairfax County detectives are investigating three weather-apparent deaths — two of which happened outside senior facilities near Reston.
The first Reston-area death occurred last Monday (Jan. 14).
Police arrived within six minutes of the initial call at 5:59 p.m. to a CPR in progress at the Brightview Nursing Home (10200 Colvin Run Road), according to the report. The staff at the nursing home told police that 88-year-old resident Joan Ackley had been missing for approximately two-and-a-half hours before she was located outside of the facility.
A week later on Jan. 21, police responded around 3:30 p.m. to a Critical Missing Person call at the Sunrise at Reston Town Center, an assisted living facility at 1778 Fountain Drive.
Staff said that 86-year-old Ida Wolk of Reston had a scheduled wellness check, but hadn’t been seen for almost three hours, according to the report.
During a search of the building and surrounding areas, one the officers “looked out a window in the rear of the building and saw the woman laying outside in the snow,” according to the report.
Police wrapped her in warm blankets and took her inside the facility until the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department arrived and transported her to a local hospital where she later died.
Both cases are active death investigations and are awaiting results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Police are urging locals to check on vulnerable family and friends and to call the police non-emergency number if they spot anyone who appears confused or inappropriately dressed outside during the cold weather.
More from the Fairfax County Police Department:
Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau are investigating after what appears to be three weather-related deaths. In the past nine days, officers have been called to three separate incidents involving exposure to the cold weather and we are asking for your help in preventing any further weather-related tragedies.
On Monday afternoon, around 3:30, our officers were sent to a Critical Missing Person call at the Sunrise at Reston Town Center assisted living facility, located at 1778 Fountain Drive. The staff at Sunrise had a scheduled wellness check for an 86-year-old resident, Ida Wolk, of Reston who hadn’t been seen for almost three hours and could not be located after an extensive search. Numerous officers started a methodical search of the building and surrounding areas. As one of our officers was clearing the third floor, he looked out a window in the rear of the building and saw the woman laying outside in the snow. Officers rendered immediate aid; wrapping her in warm blankets and taking her inside the facility until the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department arrived. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. The case remains as an active death investigation, pending the results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
On Monday morning, around 11:30, our officers were sent to the 9800 block of Clifford Drive for a trespassing call. A resident had found a homeless person sleeping on top of the washing machines in the laundry room of the apartment complex. Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department arrived on the scene and pronounced the 47-year-old-man, Kenneth Perez, no fixed address dead. The case remains as an active death investigation, pending the results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
On Monday, January 14, at 5:59 p.m., our officers were sent to a CPR in progress at the Brightview Nursing Home, located at 10200 Colvin Run Road, in Reston. Our officers arrived within six minutes of the initial call. According to the staff at the nursing home, 88-year-old resident Joan Ackley had been missing for approximately two and a half hours. She was located outside of the facility. The case remains as an active death investigation, pending the results from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Please check on vulnerable family, friends and neighbors during the cold weather. If you see someone who appears confused and/or not properly clothed for the weather sleeping outside or in a place without heat when temperatures are below freezing, they may be at risk of hypothermia – please call the police non-emergency number, 703-691-2131. For more information please visit Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Prevention Program.
For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.
Map via Google Maps
A drunk Reston man was arrested for allegedly trespassing at a restaurant in Ashburn on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
A sheriff’s deputy responded around 12:14 a.m. to the 20000 block of Easthampton Plaza for reports of a man refusing to leave the restaurant.
The man, a 24-year-old Reston resident, was arrested and charged with public intoxication, according to the report. He was released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on an unsecured bond.
In a separate incident, a sheriff’s deputy responded to Potomac View Road and Benedict Drive in Sterling on Thursday (Jan. 17) at 8:38 p.m. to assist Loudoun EMS with a disorderly subject inside an ambulance.
While the deputy was speaking with the EMS crew, Edwin A. Rivera-Ardon, 27, of Herndon struck the deputy, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Rivera-Ardon was arrested and charged with public intoxication and assault on law enforcement. He is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
11900 block of Bowman Town Center Drive, backpack and tablet from location
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, cell phone from residence
2100 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
2400 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
1400 block of Lake Fairfax Drive, purse from vehicle
1800 block of Michael Faraday Drive, laptop computers from business
10300 block of Mountington Court, purses from residence
12900 block of Park Crescent Circle, watch from business
1600 block of Reston Parkway, tools from business
2400 block of Ridgehampton Court, license plates from vehicle
11200 block of Roger Bacon Drive, wallet from location
12000 block of Sunset Hills Road, wallet from vehicle
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, property from location
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
At 12:43 a.m. on Saturday (Jan. 19), a Fairfax County police officer stopped a 2018 Toyota Rav4 after it was seen driving off the shoulder on westbound Leesburg Pike by Trotting House Lane.
When the officer got out of his car, the driver sped away, according to the report. The officer chased the car until the driver suddenly stopped near the 9500 block of Brian Jac Lane and took off into the woods.
Police did not find the driver after an extended search and are following up on leads to identify the driver.
Several residential burglaries happened recently in Reston.
A Reston homeowner awoke around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 16) to the sound of footsteps in the basement of a house in the 1500 block of Regatta Lane and found a door ajar, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“It was later determined that bags were removed from a closet and rummaged through,” according to the report.
On Friday (Jan. 18), someone broke in and ransacked a house in the 9700 block of Middleton Ridge Road between 8;30 a.m. and 11:20 p.m. Cash and other items were reported missing, according to the report.
Then, on Sunday (Jan. 20), someone broke in and ransacked a house in the 1500 block of Victoria Farms Lane at 4:30 p.m., but nothing was taken.
File photo
A malfunction with an extension cord caused a fire at a Reston home during the afternoon on Sunday (Jan. 20).
Firefighters saw smoke showing from the front of a two-story, single family home after they arrived around 1:24 p.m. to the 2000 block of Beacon Place, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
The firefighters “quickly extinguished a fire in the garage area,” according to the post. Fire investigators determined the fire started by accident when a malfunctioning extension cord “ignited ordinary combustibles in close proximity.”
One person inside the home discovered the fire in the attached garage after smelling smoke inside the home, followed by the smoke alarms going off.
The two people inside the home at the time of the fire were able to self-evacuate unharmed before the fire department arrived.
Damages from the fire cost approximately $25,000.
Map via Google Maps. Images via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
Loudoun County police charged a Reston man with attempted capital murder in connection with a shootout last Thursday (Jan. 17) with deputies in Paeonian Springs.
Deputies responded to the 39000 block of Peacock Circle around 3:30 p.m. for a trespassing complaint after a witness said that a male forced entry into a trailer on the property, which contained firearms, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Before the deputies arrived, the suspect, now identified as Hyeong J. Suh, 29, of Reston, was heard firing a weapon on the property, the report said.
An investigation by the Sheriff’s Office indicates that Suh “fired a weapon several times, including firing rounds at two responding deputies.” The deputies exchanged gunfire and wounded Suh, who then “subsequently barricaded himself in the trailer, but exited a short time later and surrendered without further incident,” the report says.
Suh was immediately transported to a local hospital for a non-life threatening injury.
Suh was arrested and charged with one count of attempted capital murder and breaking and entering, according to the report. Currently, Suh is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Two deputies have been placed on routine, paid administrative leave until the end of the investigation, per Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office policy.
Photo via LCSO
Posters appeared yesterday in Herndon for Patriot Front, identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist hate group.
Patriot Front tweeted that its “activists” put up the posters around Herndon. Last week the group said that it also put up posters in Reston.
The posters include slogans like “reclaim America” and “better dead than red.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Patriot Front broke off from the alt-right group Vanguard America in the aftermath of the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va.
A spokeswoman for the Town of Herndon told Reston Now yesterday that the town does not have any information related to the posters.
Via Twitter, a person in Herndon said he saw “some guy” posting the fliers “on the electrical box outside of an office park.” He encouraged people to “take them down and report it.”
Updated at 11:05 a.m. — Corrects location of the exhibit
Art is imitating life — especially in an increasingly digital world.
Monica Stroik’s “Cyber series” opens tomorrow (Jan. 17) at the Greater Reston Arts Center at Signature (11850 Freedom Drive).
The series titled “IRL” — shorthand for “in real life” — explores “being present and disconnected simultaneously and how the natural world is entangled in our digital lives” by investigating he intersections between the organic, man-made and virtual worlds, according to the arts center.
Stroik, a Virginia-based painter and video artist, uses a combination of video and paintings for her ongoing series. Her website shows some of the colorful oil on canvas paintings, which depict buildings and nature juxtaposed with blocks and geometric designs.
Stroik’s artist statement says that her paintings depict the natural organic world in relation to the human architectonic influence.
“By standing in the ideal position, the paintings as a group serve to alter the viewer’s perception of space by providing the illusion of a continuous horizon line, which expands despite the confines of the physical architectural environment,” she wrote.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The exhibit runs until April 23.
Photo via Greater Reston Arts Center
This story has been updated
City of Fairfax police arrested a Reston man after he assaulted two police officers.
On Thursday, Jan. 3, police officers found a male subject knocking on doors and checking doorknobs around 1:21 a.m. in the 9400 block of Fairfax Blvd. A police investigation determined that a possible larceny had occurred and that the subject was intoxicated, according to the report.
Elias Bouazer, a 20-year-old from Reston, allegedly assaulted two officers as they were in the process of arresting him, the report says.
Bouazer was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, larceny and being drunk in public. He was held without bond.
Last Friday (Jan. 11), police in the City of Fairfax arrested another Restonian — this time for drunk driving.
At around 1:44 a.m. police stopped a vehicle that was driving erratically in the area of Revel Run and Fairfax Blvd and arrested and charged Mohiyadin Abukar Abdi of Reston for driving under the influence, according to the report. Abdi was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
1800 block of Cameron Glen Drive, laptop computer from residence
10200 block of Colvin Run Road, wallet from residence
Emeral Heights Court/Green Range Drive, cell phone from location
11600 block of Plaza America Drive, bag from location
8700 block of Potomac Hills Street, purse from vehicle
1600 block of Reston Parkway, merchandise from business
2200 block of Southgate Square, shovel from residence
2200 block of Stone Wheel Drive, clothing from location
11800 block of Sunrise Valley Drive, merchandise from business
11400 block of Waterview Cluster, wallet from location
1800 block of Wiehle Ave, merchandise from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
None reported
City of Falls Church police arrested a Herndon man last week.
Last Tuesday (Jan. 8) around 10:45 a.m., police responded to a complaint about suspicious activity at the 7-Eleven at 201 S. Washington Street. They arrested and charged 26-year-old Jason Wesley of Herndon with possession of a controlled substance, obstruction of justice and public intoxication, according to the report.
File photo
Fine arts photography collection closes — The “La Lumiere DuBois VII” exhibit by Michael DuBois, who highlights his love of nature, closes today at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. [Reston Community Center]
Swearing-in ceremony — The Herndon’s mayor and Town Council will be sworn in tonight at 7 p.m. at the Herndon Municipal Center Lobby. [Herndon Connection]
Former county attorney and RA Board of Directors member died — David Bobzien, who was the Fairfax County attorney for 23 years and a member of the Reston Association Board of Directors, died on Dec. 30 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital after battling leukemia. A memorial mass will be held on Feb. 8. starting at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Community. [Adams-Green Funeral Homes and Crematory]
Reston loses conference due to government shutdown — The Institute of Navigation has decided to postpone the Cognizant Autonomous Systems for Safety Critical Applications Conference originally scheduled to take place Jan. 28-29 in Reston because of the partial federal government shutdown, which impacted some of the speakers and attendees. The conference has been rescheduled for Sept. 16-17 in Miami. [GPS World]
Photo via Matt Paulson/Instagram
Reston residents ages 55 and older now have an online resource created just for them.
The Reston Association launched a new page on its website yesterday (Jan. 7) that provides information on housing, transportation, recreation, home services and wellness.
The “Resources for Better Aging” webpage also lists more than 75 local organizations that offer different services around Reston that older residents might want to check out, including AARP Reston, Herndon Senior Center, Seniors-On-The-Go and Reston Runners.
The webpage can be found under the “Around Reston” section on the RA’s website.
RA’s 55+ Advisory Committee and the Reston for a Lifetime, a citizens’ group, initiated the webpage project. The committee, which advises the Board of Directors on how to enhance the welfare of RA members ages 55 and older, collaborates with the citizens’ group to encourage aging-in-place.
Photo via Reston Association
(Updated at 5:12 p.m.) While kids were off from school during winter break, Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) kicked off 2019 with renovations as a part of its planned expansion.
The first move of the school’s renovation took place during winter break, Principal Aimée Monticchio wrote in an email to the school community today (Jan. 4).
“We look forward to a new, modern and larger building after the renovation,” she wrote.
Originally constructed in 1979, the expanded school is set to be 189,000 square feet and serve 1,250 students, according to Hughes Group Architects.
The $39 million improvement program will be done in phases with the occupied construction project spanning five phases across three years.
The project includes a central court called the “Hall of Nations” — a collaborative and flexible space meant to serve as an auditorium, a classroom or a breakout space.
The project also includes renovating the cafeteria and adding a new dining courtyard.
With work already underway, seventh grade core classes, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Spanish classes are now housed in “Panther Town” — modular trailers on the field adjacent to Ridge Heights, Monticchio wrote.
Construction is estimated to be completed in 2021.
Images via Hughes Group Architects and Fairfax County Government
Do you know an avid volunteer? Nominations opened today (Jan. 4) for the Reston Association Volunteer Reston Service Awards.
Each year the awards recognize people, groups and community businesses who helped serve the community through various volunteer projects.
Nominees are not required to live in Reston, but must have volunteered for at least one year in Reston and contributed either 30 volunteer hours as an individual or 50 hours as a group during 2018, according to the guidelines.
Categories include the following:
- Youth Volunteer
- 55+ Volunteer
- Youth Group Volunteer
- Family Volunteer
- Group Volunteer Service
- Community Partner of the Year
- Committee and/or Work Group Volunteer of the Year
Locals have until 5 p.m. on Feb. 8 to submit nominations with a completed form, a narrative up to 400 words, a reference and supplemental materials. Submissions can be sent via email to [email protected] or by mail to 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive.
The 2018 award winners will be unveiled at a ceremony from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 18 at The Lake House (11450 Baron Cameron Avenue).
Photo via Reston Association
Singer-songwriter Kevin Daniel will perform in January as part of the Deepwood Sessions, a series of house concerts hosted in Reston.
Based out of Brooklyn, Daniel’s music mixes Americana, country and blues. He released his second EP, “Myself Through You,” in early 2018.
The 7 p.m. show on Friday, Jan. 18, has a $10 suggested donation. Each concert for the Deepwood Sessions has a suggested minimum donation, which goes to directly to the artist.
The sessions help cultivate the Deepwood neighborhood community and provide a platform for independent artists to showcase their music.
According to the website, the series hosts its acoustic and unplugged concerts with a variety of styles and musical genres.
RSVP-ing in advance is strongly recommended since space fills on a first come first serve basis and also provides the location of each concert. The events are family-friendly and attendees may bring wine and beer.
Photo via Kevin Daniel/Facebook
Four teenage boys robbed a man in Herndon walking home from a local restaurant on Friday night (Dec. 28).
The teens approached the man around 3 a.m. at the 2500 block of John Eppes Road and asked him for a cigarette. Then, one of the boys kicked the man in the leg, which caused him to fall to the ground, and the teens got away with his wallet, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
The man was taken a local hospital. One of the boys, a 17-year-old, was found, and a petition was obtained for robbery.
In a separate incident, a man struck several trees in Reston after driving off of the road at the 11000 block of Glade Drive around 5:20 a.m. on Saturday (Dec. 29).
The trapped 35-year-old driver, Luke Gullekson of Herndon, was eventually removed by the fire department and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police gave Gullekson a summons for driving while intoxicated, according to the report.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s Reston District Station reported the following incidents in recent days:
LARCENIES:
11300 block of Baron Cameron Avenue, merchandise from vehicle
2100 block of Centreville Road, merchandise from business
13400 block of Coppermine Road, jewelry from residence
1800 block of Cranberry Lane, property from vehicle
800 block of Crews Road, decorations from residence
2000 block of Hunter Mill Road, appliances from residence
2300 block of Hunters Woods Plaza, groceries from business
11900 block of Market Street, merchandise from business
2500 block of Oakhampton Plaza, packages and mail from residence
10700 block of Oldfield Drive, wallet from vehicle
1700 block of Port Place, merchandise from residence
1900 block of Sagewood Lane, wallet from residence
11100 block of South Lakes Drive, liquor from business
12100 block of Sunset Hills Road, merchandise from business
1800 block of Wiehle Avenue, merchandise from business
STOLEN VEHICLES:
2100 block of Astoria Circle, 2003 Toyota Camry
12000 block of Greywing Square, 2003 Toyota 4Runner
10800 block of Winter Corn Lane, 2010 Ford Goldline F150XLT
Last Friday, a woman assaulted a police officer shortly before 3 a.m. at Reston Hospital after she became irate while police investigated whether or not she was under the influence of alcohol at the time of a car crash. Fairfax County police arrested and charged Elizabeth Wendt, 27, of Ashburn with assault on a law enforcement officer and driving while intoxicated, according to FCPD.
On Sunday (Dec. 30), police responded at 9:40 p.m. to residents’ reports of hearing multiple gunshots at the 2200 block of Castle Rock Square. Police searched the area and found shell casings on the ground. They are still investigating, according to the report.
Meanwhile, three commercial burglaries hit Herndon last week.
Employees at a business in the 1100 block of Elden Street noticed shortly after 6 a.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 26) that an undisclosed amount of cash was taken and that an entry appeared to have been forced through the back door. Herndon police are investigating that burglary along with one that occurred on Nov. 30.
After a different burglary, employees noticed an undisclosed amount of cash missing from the office safe around 9 a.m. last Friday in the 13000 block of Worldgate Drive. There was no sign of forced entry, according to police.
In a separate incident, employees noticed after 6 a.m. on Saturday (Dec. 29) that there was a forced entry into the business in the 1100 block of Elden Street. Police said that nothing was taken.
File photo
