With the first weekend of 2019 coming up, Reston Now has some suggestions for things to do around Reston and Herndon.

Tomorrow is the last chance to check out the National Parks photography exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon (750 Center Street). The gallery features Jim Schlett’s national park photography. Most of the work was photographed during long walks through the parks around dawn or dusk.

Tomorrow (Jan. 5)

Winter bird count (7 a.m.-noon) — Get outside and take part in Reston’s winter bird count. The free event has participants meet at the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive) before the volunteers spread out to observe a variety of habitats around Reston. Volunteers will be provided lunch.

North Hills Pavilion run (8 a.m.) — Join Reston Runners at N. Village Road for either a 3-mile walk or 5-mile run.

Bookworms Club (11 a.m.) — Bring your young avid readers to Scrawl Books (11911 Freedom Drive) for the free “Bookworms Club.” The club explores a new theme each week with picture books, special guests and authors.

The Six Root Causes of Autoimmune Disease (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) — A free workshop will be held at The Carroll Institute (11710 Plaza America Drive) by Dr. Garland Glenn called “Reversing the Cause of Autoimmune Disease.” Glenn will discuss simple steps that can reverse the root causes and provide a strategic action plan.

Chess Club (1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.) — Feeling competitive? People ages five and older can learn how to play chess from experienced instructors at the Herndon Fortnightly Library (768 Center Street).

Bach2Rock Fundraiser Showcase (6 p.m.-8 p.m.) — Multiple bands and solo artists from the B2R catalog are set to perform at the fundraising concert at ArtSpace Herndon. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $20. All of the proceeds will benefit ArtSpace Herndon.

Sunday (Jan. 6)

Reston Runners (8 a.m.)– Meet the running group for either a 3-mile walk, 6-mile walk or a 10-mile run. Starting locations vary.

Breaking the Weight Loss Plateau (4 p.m.-5 p.m.) — Already behind on your New Year’s goal to lose weight? Head to the GreenFare Organic Cafe (408 Elden Street) for a fitness class taught by Pericles Silva. Admission is $5.

Photo via ArtSpace Herndon

Candle making workshop for kids — Bring your kids to the Walker Nature Center to learn where wax comes from and how to dip a pair of candles. Kids can decorate their candles while parents enjoy music and food. The event goes from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.and costs $12 for Reston Association members/$16 for non-members [Reston Association]

Free Reston and Fairfax Encore Chorales concert — The two chorales will perform holiday classics and seasonal favorites at United Christian Parish (11508 North Shore Drive) tonight at 7:30 p.m. [Encore Creativity for Older Adults]

Looking to donate to some local organizations? — This roundup has more than three dozen suggestions for Northern Virginia nonprofits to donate to, including Cornerstones in Reston and Touching Heart in Herndon. [Connection Newspapers]

Nigerian American sues Dulles Internal Airport, Reston Hospital Center — Ikechukwu “Ike” Owunna alleges he was subjected to more than 12 hours of alleged racial profiling, false imprisonment and other violations at the airport and battery and medical neglect en route to Reston Hospital Center. The hospital was dismissed in November, but the hospital employees could remain defendants in the battery allegations. [The Washington Post]

Photo via Marjorie Copson

Columbus Day, a federal holiday that is also a workday for some, is on Monday. Here’s a look at what is open and what is closed for the holiday.

Fairfax County government offices and public schools are closed. Local libraries will also be closed on Monday. No in-person absentee voting will be offered at the Fairfax County Government Center. Reston Association offices, including the Walker Nature Center and Central Services Facility, will also be closed in observance of the holiday.

Reston Community Center Hunters Woods and Lake Anne are open, but check if your individual class or event is scheduled. Fairfax County parks and RECenter are also open.

Meanwhile, Metro will run on a Saturday schedule and Metrobus will operate on a modified Saturday schedule. MetroAccess and paratransit services will operate on a regular schedule.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

We’re bringing the weekend roundup of events in Reston areas back after retiring the twice-weekly rundown of events and deals by Tim’s Reston.

This weekend, Kwame Alexander, a local New York Times bestselling author, will take part in an author talk and book signing on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library.

The talk is part of The Great American Read programming at Reston Regional Library and it’s sponsored by a host of entities like Reston Regional Library, PBS, the American Library Association, WETA-TV 26, and Friends of Reston Regional Library. All attendees ages six and up are encouraged to take part.

The Reston Triathlon also returns to Reston this weekend. Everything you need to know about the event is available online.

If that isn’t your cup of tea, there’s still plenty of other things to do in the area this weekend:

• Bring your dog for a dip in the pool in the Dogwood Recreation area from 4-7 p.m. today. People are not allowed in the water with the dogs and a current dog license is required.
• Families, couples and individuals are invited to take part in a “Nature Scavenger Hunt” from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday at the Walker Nature Center. Registration is $5 for Reston Association members and $7 for all others.
• Miss Emily is back in town for singing storytime with illustration songs from 10:30-11 a.m. at Reston Regional Library on Saturday. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Reston Regional Library.
• Oil and watercolor works by Gwen White are on display from Saturday through October 7 at Reston Community Centers Hunters Woods. The exhibit is titled “It’s Finished When It’s Finished.”
• Author and Spanish teacher Tracey Kyle leads participants through bilingual story time at Scrawl Books from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Her books include Gazpacho for Nacho, Food Fight Fiesta and A Paintbrush for Paco.
• Scout & Molly’s boutique in Reston Town Center is hosting a Joseph Ribkoff Trunk Show featuring its holiday and spring collection at noon until 6 p.m on Saturday.
• The season for cherries and watermelons may be ending, but the Reston Farmer’s Market at Lake Anne Plaza is here to stay until early December. The market is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
• “Contemplate Creativity” with this meditation workshop at Greater Reston Arts Center from 9:30-11 a.m on Saturday.  Registration is free for GRACE members and $5 for all others.
• Also at GRACE tomorrow, explore the intersection of art and engineering by creating your own kinetic art box with artist Tim Harper from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday. The event is open to participants ages six and up.
• The Tour de Cure, a community festival and a fundraising event dedicated to diabetes in Northern Virginia will take place at Reston Town Center from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
• Show of your dancing skills during the “Sunday Afternoon Dance” at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Three mini-lessons and light refreshments will be provided. The cost is $5 for Restonians and $10 for all others. You can also try your hand (or your feet) at western dance from 5:30-8 p.m. the same day, if you’re game.
• If you’re rusty on your computer skills, technology volunteers will be available to guide you through a one-hour session on computers, Internet and ebook help on Sunday. The session is from 2-3 p.m. at Reston Regional Library. Participants should call the library to book an appointment.
• Celebrate the “High Holidays” at Congregation Beth Emeth in Herndon from 6-7 p.m on Sunday. Seats are available for services with family-friendly options.

Photo via Kwame Alexander

Heat advisory in effect today — The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory from noon to 8 p.m. Stay hydrated and limited outdoor exposure. Heat index values are expected to fluctuate between 100 and 105 degrees. [National Weather Service]

Friendly back to school reminders — As day two of school goes into session, the county is reminding residents about rules for buses, speeding in a school zone and crossing guard directions. [Fairfax County Government]

But what’s actually happening in schools — “With a $2.9 billion budget and 198 schools, the Fairfax County school system is the 10th largest in the country. And the student body is still growing. Budget projections call for about 1,100 new students this year.” [WTOP]

Next month’s Reston Community Center guide — RCC’s professional touring artist series opens this season with The Bad Plus, a jazz trio. Check out more of what’s happening at the center next month. [Reston Community Center]

Calling all shrub lovers — The Walker Nature Center is selling native shrubs. All orders are due by Monday, September 24 at 5 p.m. You can also shop online. [Reston Association]

Trivia night at Reston Regional Library — Show off your book knowledge at trivia night. Bring your own team of three to five people or form a team with new friends. Book-related prizes will be offered for top teams.

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

Serving the Walker Nature Center — The center has several open volunteer opportunities in July. Volunteers can sign up online. [Volunteer Reston]

The little mermaid — Tickets for the performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” are on sale ahead of the July performance. [Herndon Drama]

Stateside: New laws begin July 1 — New state laws going into effect on Sunday would create a program for abducted adults, prohibit lunch shaming and more. [NBC4]

Flickr pool photo by vantagehill

The Reston Association is gearing up for its first ever Bio Blitz on June 2, and staff are hoping many residents will sign up to join in on the fun.

But first–what’s a Bio Blitz, anyway?

Well, “blitz” means to do as much as you can in a short amount of time. “Bio” is short for “biological.” Put them together, and you have an event in which a large group of volunteers spreads out across a specific area and tries to identify as many different biological species as they can in that time period.

For this event, the specified area is Reston, and that time period is midnight to 11:59 p.m. on June 2.

“Naturalists and volunteers will work together during a 24-hour period to identify as many plants, animals and other organisms that live in Reston as possible,” say event organizers.

Volunteers of all types are encouraged to join in during the 2018 Reston Bio Blitz. A signup has been created, breaking up the 24-period into shorter, four- or five-hour periods, as well as separating people into groups who will search for different types of animals and plants.

Organizers say they are searching for people who are “subject matter experts” to lead teams that are hunting for specific species.

However, beginners are welcome too, they say, and will be paired up with more experienced people and an expert leader.

Requirements for volunteers are as follows:

• Familiar with Reston’s natural areas and trails

• Familiarity with the app “iNaturalist” (download it and learn how to use it ahead of time)

• A digital camera to capture photos of different species

Those who know someone who is considered a subject matter expert in a certain biological area of study can form their own team, or volunteers can join an existing team listed on the signup. Additional teams may be added as more subject matter experts are recruited.

The “BioBlitz” hub for this event will be the Walker Nature Center in Reston.

If all of this sounds intriguing but you’re not free on June 2, representatives say you can play your own game of Bio Blitz by taking photos of various plant and animal species you find when you’re out in Reston nature on your own, and upload them to the Reston Biodiversity Project.

Photo: Patricia Greenburg, Reston Association Environmental Resource Supervisor / Credit: Reston Association/YouTube

The Walker Nature Center’s Spring Festival is back next week, featuring a recycling clown magic show, crafts for kids, and live entertainment.

The free event will be held May 5 from 1-5 p.m. Song Garden, Hickory Grove, and other artists will perform acoustic music live throughout the festival.

There will be $5, half hour canoe and kayak rentals at Lake Audubon, as well as fishing activities, a native plant sale, and information from local environmental groups.

The entertainment schedule is as follows:

• 1:30-2 p.m. — Blue Sky Puppet Theater: The Three Green Pigs
• 2:45-3:30 p.m. — Teddy the Recycling Clown: Magic Show
• 4-4:45 p.m. — Reptiles Alive: Live Animal Show

Parking will be available at Glade and Soapstone Drives as well as at Glade Pool.

Photo courtesy of Reston Association

Recognition for Frank de la Fe — The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored the Restonian for his service on the county’s planning commission for 16 years. [The Connection]

Mom defends son who faces murder charges — The 17-year-old Lorton teenager who has been charged with the murders of Scott Fricker, 48, and his wife Buckley Kuhn-Fricker, 43, has been called an alt-right killer. But his mother told says her son has struggled with mental health issues for years. [The Washington Post]

A response to school shootings and gun violence — South Lakes High School seniors held a voter registration drive in their U.S. history class. [The Connection]

Walk for the Walker Nature Center — The 15th annual walk to benefit the center, which offers environmental education, is set for April 14. Registration is open online. [Walker Nature Center]

USA Today highlights local Olympian — March is Girls Sports Month, so the news outlet featured Reston’s own Maame Biney, an Olympic short track speed skater. [USA Today]

Photo by Ruth Sievers

“Naturally Yours Valentines” Today at Walker Nature Center — Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making a card, enjoying tasty treats and taking home a special gift made from natural materials. The program, which runs from 10-11 a.m., is for toddlers between 18 and 35 months . Can’t make it today? Don’t worry. There’s another session tomorrow: same time, same place. [Reston Association]

Reston Olympian Advances in Speedskating Round — “Biney advanced to the quarterfinal of the 500m despite late pressure from Kim A-Lang. Biney finished with a time of 43.665 seconds, good for second in her heat.” [NBC 4]

County Eyes Other Uses for Office Buildings — “Reston Association’s Land Use Planner, Kelsey Steffen, explains how Fairfax County is forming a policy amendment that would allow for vacant or underutilized office buildings to be converted for other uses, such as retail and residential.” [Reston Today]

Pushed by ongoing development in the community, Reston Association committed to publishing an annual report about the state of the environment in Reston last year. Now, the results of the first Annual State of the Environment Report (RASER) are in.

The workgroup charged to lead the effort will present its findings at a community meeting on Thursday from 7-8 p.m. at the Walker Nature Center (11450 Glade Drive).

The nine-member group invested more than 1,000 volunteer hours to produce the report, which draws from interviews and documents from researchers, scientists and others.

The study is intended to give readers a better understanding of Reston’s current environmental conditions in order to provide a baseline against which future changes to the environment can be measured.

“As urbanization expands rapidly, not only in Northern Virginia but also worldwide, there is a growing disconnect between people and nature. When people are isolated from nature, they perceive it as less relevant and more threatening, and its physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits are devalued. Consequently, interest in conserving and protecting the natural environment is weakened, and society comes to accept a lowered environmental quality as the new norm, ” according to the report.

In light of the limited use of tools to manage stormwater when Reston was developed, the study calls on Reston Association to track and block any requested waivers of stormwater management during the land development and redevelopment process.

Other recommendations include the following:

• Develop an incentives system to encourage Reston property owners and associations to manage stormwater runoff on their sites.
• Plant more trees and replace removed tress with native species to increase the quality and quantity of tree cover.
• Push residents and businesses to landscape using native plants instead of turf grass.
• Encourage the placement of more electric car charging stations.
• Identify stream reaches most vulnerable to channel modifications due high-energy water flows.
• Support more follow-up studies of restored Reston streams
• Identify sources of phosphorus and sediment loading in watersheds of lakes

The complete 176-page report is available online.

Photo by Fatimah Waseem

Reston Community Leader, Civil Rights Advocate Remembered — “The letters and cards that Rev. Frederick Lowry’s family received after his death kept circling back to the same sentiments: how kind he was, how much he cared, his sense of humor,” writes Angela Woolsey. Lowry died due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease on Dec. 25. He was well-known for his 14-year tenure as director of the Community Ministry of Fairfax. [Fairfax County Times]

Ten Things You Should Know about Olympic Speedskater Maame Biney — The Reston native is headed to the Olympics. The 17-year-old speedskater is the first black woman to land on a spot on the U.S. Olympic speedskating team. [NBC4]

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• Take a splash with the family at The Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center at RCC Hunters Woods tonight from 7-9 p.m.. Cost for a group up to 5 people is $13 for Reston families and $24 for non-Reston families.
• Not up for a swim? Relax and watch an environmental documentary that organizers said, “address[es]local environmental issues, challenge[es] us to think globally and celebrate[s] the natural world around us.” The film is free with $5 suggested donation and will screen from 7-9 p.m. at the Walker Nature Center tonight.
• Start planning your summer at the Reston Camp Expo on Saturday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.. There will be snacks, music, games, prizes and resources on registration dates and camp requirements.
• As Groundhog Day approaches, spend the day at Frying Pan Farm Park and visit a groundhog burrow, learn groundhog facts and do other fun activities. The event runs from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday and tickets cost $8 per person. You can register for the event here.
• Spend your Sunday evening listening to Bluegrass band Mile Twelve at Frying Pan Farm Park. The concert is a part of the Bluegrass Barn series at Frying Pan’s Visitor Center and tickets will cost $18 per person and $20 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.. You can register here.
• All weekend foodies can enjoy discounted meals at four Reston restaurants as a part of this year’s Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week. Restaurants will offer $22 three-course lunch and brunch menus as well as a $35 three-course dinner menu. The following Reston restaurants are participating: McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive), Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street), The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive) and Passion Fish (11960 Democracy Drive).
• Check out the recurring art exhibit “Paulina Peavy: A message to Paulina” this weekend at the Greater Reston Arts Center. Peavy was a trained artist who believed an alien controlled her brush after she attended a seance in 1932. Peavy’s mediums include paper, paintings, films, texts and numerous masks.

Photo via Frying Pan Farm Park

Winter Sky Stargazing on Friday — Join the Walker Nature Center  from 7-8:30 p.m. to learn more about the stars and folklore associated with celestial objects. Individuals, families and couples are welcome. Children must accompanied by a registered adult.  [Reston Association]

Central Services Facility Renovations Continue — In a recent Reston Today video, Garrett Skinner, Reston Association’s director of capital improvement planning and projects, provides an update about renovations to the facility on 12250 Sunset Hills Road. The warehouse facility will be completed by late July. [Reston Today via YouTube]

Reston-based Company Pays $1.7 Million to Settle Overcharged Government Contract — Accenture, which is located in Reston, alerted the government that overcharges were caused by unauthorized purchases of copy toner “surreptitiously” made by a subcontractor on the contract, according to a statement. [U.S. Dept. of Justice]

Flickr pool photo via vantagehill