We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2021 this year. Today, we reveal the top five stories of the year.
5. Parents circulated petitions to remove three Fairfax County School Board Members. The move was pushed by parents who spent the last year calling for a five-day return to school.
4. The victims of a triple murder in Herndon’s Parkridge Gardens were all members of the same family.
3. More than 10,000 county residents received the COVID-19 vaccine to start off 2021.
2. A Vietnam veteran from Reston discovered his old helicopter at the Smithsoaian National Air and Space Museum.
1. A story about Gov. Ralph Northam expanding the eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccines had the most views this year.
We look forward to what the coming year has to offer.
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2020 this week. Here’s the rundown for #6-10.
10. Officials estimated that phase two of the Silver Line would not open no earlier than February of next year.Â
9. The county revised its methods for registering people for the COVID-19 vaccine.Â
8. A Reston Now employee was booted from Reston Town Center for taking photos
7. A Herndon teen scored a part in NBC’s drama “Ordinary Joe.”
6. Parents petitioned to recall Fairfax County School Board members in June.Â
Check back tomorrow for our final update.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Morris/NBC
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2020 this week. Here’s the rundown for #11-15.
15. CVS Pharmacy locations in the area began offering the COVID-19 vaccine in February.Â
14. The county’s police department began deploying officers to address a coup in D.C.Â
13. The county began offering doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.Â
12. The county’s health department director answered questions about the vaccine at a local town hall.Â
11. The county expanded eligibility requirements to receive the vaccine.Â
Check back tomorrow for another update.
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2021 this year. Kicking off the list today is #16-20.Â
20. A dive into the history of Great Falls Nike Park — one of three county parks once home to missiles designed to fight Russian projectiles — earned spot 20.Â
19. A suspect in the killing of a man at Branleigh Park Court in mid-February remained at-large, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.Â
18. State transportation officials offered a first look at designs for the future of Town Center Parkway’s extension.Â
17. A story about the events that transpired before Michael Delaney went missing from Reston Hospital Center gained some attention. His remains were recovered several months later.
16. A weekly article about the death toll of COVID-19 in Fairfax County noted that 802 people have been killed by the novel coronavirus. That article was published in February.Â
Tomorrow, we’ll publish stories that ranked #9-15.
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2020 this week. Here’s the final countdown.
9. A 17-year-old boy from Maryland died in an apparent drowning in Lake Audubon over the summer.
8. A dead body was found near Lake Anne Plaza in late May.
7. Trash and recycling changes went into effect in late March.
6. Trader Joe’s in Reston closed after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
5. As the state moved to reopen in mid-May, COVID-19 numbers continued to climb in some areas.
4. A customer left a big tip at Founding Farmers in Reston Station following the phased reopening of restaurants.
3. The county saw a big spike in COVID-19 cases in June.
2. Two COVID-19 cases were linked to the headquarters of U.S. Geological Survey in Reston.
1. The county released more zip code data on COVID-19 cases.
We look forward to bringing you more stories next year.
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2020 this week. Here’s the rundown for #15-10.
15. When the pandemic first hit locally, a parishioner defied self-quarantine rules and golfed in Reston.
14. Best Buy shuttered its doors permanently in The Spectrum at Reston Town Center.
13. After a data entry error, the results of the Herndon mayoral and town council races shifted dramatically.
12. The county began easing some COVID-19 restrictions in May as part of the state’s reopening phase.
11. The county reported a continued COVID-19 rise as the state hit a new high in the beginning of November.
10. A bear was spotted in Reston, prompting some local intrigue and alarm.
Check back tomorrow for the final countdown.
Image via Google Maps
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2020 this week. Kicking off this list today is #16-20.
20. Two men armed with a machete attempted to rob a gas station in April, according to police.
19. A Reston-based telecommunications company announced plans to shut down in the beginning of the year.
18. A woman was shot and killed in the area of Colts Neck Road and Glade drive in mid-September.
17. FCPS officials acknowledged major leadership failures in the botched rollout of distance learning in April.
16. A Reston resident shot and killed a suspected intruder, according to police.
Check back tomorrow for the next roundup.
Photo via FCPS
We continue to count down the top 20 most-read articles of 2019 this week. Here’s the final breakdown for the top four stories of the year.
4. Michael Berger, a Reston resident, talks about his plans to replace The Pizza Hut at 1821 Wiehle Revenue to a Neapolitan pizza restaurant.
3. A tornado touched down in mid-April, leaving tree damage in the area.
2. Multiple roads in Reston flooded in July, including the parking lot at the Wiehe-Reston East Metro Station.
1. Our exclusive on a lawsuit involving Vapiano in Reston Town Center and an international money laundering scheme had the most clicks this year (56,821 and counting). Still no word yet on when (and if) the restaurant will reopen.
We look forward to bringing you more stories next year.
We continue to count down the top 20 most-read articles of 2019 this week. Here’s the breakdown for list #6-10.
10. Two brothers from Reston faced multiple felony charges after police found weapons and drugs in their home in April.
9. McTacoHut will lose its name after The Pizza Hut flips into a new pizzeria next year. The McDonalds on the fast-food block is also undergoing renovations.
8. A sponsored post about Google — which moved into its Reston Station offices — expanding its operations in Northern Virginia as part of a 13 billion round of investment also gained traction.
7. A drama teacher at Herndon High School was arrested in April– which was later followed up with more charges over the summer. The teacher was placed on leave and then dismissed after police uncovered additional evidence of unlawful filming at the high school.
6. Our first dive into why closed signs first popped up at the Vapiano in Reston Town Center raised eyebrows. Company spokespersons gave Reston Now conflicting answers about the reasons for the closure.
Look out for the final #1-5 list on the countdown tomorrow.
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2019 this week and next week. Here’s the breakdown for list #11-15.
15. The abrupt closure of Reston Town Center’s Vapiano — which was caught in the middle of a suit alleging an international money laundering scheme in the business — perplexed readers and restaurant-goers. The location is still temporarily closed.
14. Amazon closed in on the area by acquiring a Herndon property. The 57-acre site has an assessed value of $80.7 million.
13. A South Lakes High School student was killed in a car crash in Oakton. Police said that speed may have been a factor in the incident.
12. Panera Bread also shuttered in Reston Town Center this month, leaving another vacancy in the town center. No word yet on what will replace the business.
11. A drama teacher at Herndon High School was arrested in connection with multiple child pornography and unlawful filming charges. Detectives found thousands of videos on devices owned by the teacher.
Look out for the #6-10 on the countdown next week.
Photo via Fairfax County Police Department
We’re counting down the top 20 most-read articles of 2019 this week and next week. Kicking off the list today is #16-20.
20. A poll about Reston Town Center’s rebranding efforts had nearly 2,000 respondents. Although a representative for Boston Properties indicated some “exciting news” was expected over the summer, the news Gods remained mum for most of the year.
19. A sponsored post from 2014 continues to top the charts — with sporadic spikes in clicks throughout the year. The post, which was submitted by Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza, covers tips on how to determine when a cat is in pain.
18. Paddywax The Candle Bar announced plans to open up a new location in Reston Town Center, part of much retail movement in the town center this year.
17. In what was a familiar theme this year, Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn closed up shop in Reston Town Center, leaving two big vacancies.
16. Nonetheless, the retail scene looked blissful once again when Peet’s Coffee, DC Row, and four other businesses announced plans to open up in the town center.
Look out for the #11-15 on the countdown tomorrow.
Photo by vantagehill/Flickr
We’re counting down the top 15 most-read articles of 2018 this week. Here’s the final list of our top five stories.
5. Back in March, a lockdown at several schools following a report of a student with a gun gained 10,386 pageviews. Police said the report of a student with a gun at South Lakes High School turned out to be false.
4. Another school-related story was popular with 12,198 pageviews. In February South Lakes High School students staged a walkout in the aftermath of the aftermath of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people.
3. A story about a car that crashed into the Trader Joe’s on Killingsworth Avenue in January garnered 13,760 pageviews. The building’s bricks sustained some damage. No injuries were reported.
2. A roundup of the businesses that left Reston Town Center this year brought in 13,942 pageviews. While a handful of places opened in RTC in 2018, nearly twice as many closed, with several small shops pointing to paid parking as a reason driving the closures.
1. The top story of the year — at 16,511 pageviews — was about a 71-year-old woman who died after getting hit by a car at the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bluemont Way. According to passersby, a mangled baby stroller was visible at the location of the incident.
It’s been quite a year, and we look forward to bringing you more stories in 2019.
File photo
(Updated at 1:47 p.m.) We continue to count down the top 15 most-read articles of 2018 this week. Here’s the breakdown for list #6-10.
10. The news that paid parking pushed Obi Sushi Japanese Bistro out of Reston Town Center gained 7,839 pageviews. The restaurant, which had been open in RTC for 14 years, closed on Saturday (Dec. 22). This story jumped from the #15 spot to #10.
9. Plans for the Reston Crescent development — now known as Halley Rise — brought in 8,275 pageviews. The major mixed-use project at the northwestern corner of the intersection of Reston Parkway and Sunrise Valley Drive includes a Wegmans.Â
8. The Dulles Toll Road’s increased rates starting in January was a popular post with 8,574 pageviews. The hike will raise the toll from $2.50 to $3.25 at the main toll plaza and from $1 to $1.50 on the ramps to fund the Silver Line extension project and improvements on the Dulles Toll Road.
7. An article about M & S Grill shutting down in Reston Town Center on New Year’s Day garnered 8,933 pageviews.
6. The deaths of a mother and her two children in Herndon a few months ago brought in 9,490 pageviews. The Fairfax County Police Department said the deaths are being investigated as a double murder and suicide.
Look out for the final #1-5 list on the countdown tomorrow.
File photo
This story has been updated
(Updated at 2:31 p.m.) We’re counting down the top 15 most-read articles of 2018 this week. Kicking off the list today is #11-15.
15. The closure of Obi Sushi in Reston Town Center over the weekend brought in 7,081 pageviews. An employee said that ever since Boston Properties, RTC’s owner, implemented paid parking, the restaurant has seen its number of customers dwindle.
14. Speaking of another business shuttering its doors in RTC, the upcoming closure of Williams-Sonoma in January was a popular post with 7,232 pageviews. A specific date for the closure has not been announced yet.
13. Residents’ concerns that upgrades to the plaza in the South Lakes Village Center will attract teens and noise collected 7,281 pageviews. Residents near the center and merchants said they worry that the new space will become a magnet for youth from Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School and also increase noise.
12. A 37-second video of a former Reston Association employee yelling “Why are you such a b**** Afghanistan?” and other profanities at a driver garnered attention with 7,288 pageviews. The man, who was described as a seasonal RA employee, posted the video on Facebook.
11. The arrest of an assistant principal at Hunters Woods Elementary School for shoplifting at the Target in Reston brought in 7,332 pageviews. Melissa Tochterman, 47, of Herndon, was arrested and charged with grand larceny in January and was then placed on leave from the school.
Look out for the #6-10 on the countdown tomorrow.
File photo
This story has been updated
It was a busy year of construction and development news, restaurant openings and closings, and police-related stories in Reston. Also, did we mention Reston Town Center parking?
Today we’re wrapping up our countdown the 40 most-read articles of 2016 on Reston Now. Below are stories #1-10.
10. Redskins’ Virginia Stadium May Be Near, But Not In, Reston (9,661 views)
9. Reston Town Center’s Pay Parking System Will Also Charge Employees (10,236 views)
8. Paid Parking at Reston Town Center on Hold Until January (10,323 views)
7. Police: Attempted Abduction at Knifepoint at Reston Town Center (10,533 views)
6. Say What? The Mysterious Skywriting Over Reston Monday (11,390 views)
5. Parking at Reston Town Center Will Soon Cost Money — Sometimes (11,403 views)
4. Bank Robbery at Reston Town Center Wednesday (13,801 views)
3. Police Bust Alleged Prostitution Club on Northgate Square (15,441 views)
2. SLHS Teacher, Student Arrested After Alleged Gas Station Theft (18,715 views)
1. Obituary: Adam Levine, Herndon High Graduate (35,907 views)
The 2016 most-read story has become the most-read article of all time on Reston Now. It surpasses the previous most-read story, “SLHS Shocked by Senior’s Sudden Death,” which ran in 2014 and had 24,966 views.