Reston | FFXnow - Part 277

Morning Notes

Published April 3, 2024 at 8:15AM

A dog walk by Walney Pond at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Republicans Propose Renaming Dulles Airport After Trump — “Several Republican members of Congress introduced a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport for former President Trump. HR 7845, which is apparently a real thing, would make Dulles the second DC-area airport named for a President who was broadly unpopular in the region.” [Washingtonian]

Aspiring Casino Developer Denies Arena Interference — “Comstock CEO Chris Clemente told AP the idea of pairing the casino with the arena had been bandied about by lawmakers of both parties. He rejected the notion that there was any kind of coordinated attempt to hold off the initial arena deal in favor of an arena-casino pairing.” [Associated Press]

Around Town

Inaugural Earth Day celebration coming to Reston Town Center

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 2, 2024 at 1:30PM

Reston Town Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An arts-inspired Earth Day celebration is coming to Reston Town Center.

Organized by the Reston Town Center Association and Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, the inaugural event on April 20 will feature a variety of activities, including a special art installation at the Mercury Fountain Plaza by Arkansas-based artist Danielle Hatch.

Countywide

Fairfax County proposes crosswalks, bike lanes with annual road restriping program

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 2, 2024 at 11:45AM

Striping for a bicycle lane on Twin Branches Road in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Paving and re-striping season has descended upon Fairfax County once again, ushering in a series of public meetings later this month on proposed projects that include bicycle lanes and improved crosswalks.

Hundreds of miles of roadway will be repaved and re-striped by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as part of the program throughout the state.

News

Murder case against Reston au pair tied to fatal shooting moves closer to trial

By James Jarvis

Published April 2, 2024 at 11:15AM | Updated April 3, 2024 at 11:29AM

Fairfax County Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)

(Updated at 4/3/24) A Fairfax County judge has ruled there’s enough evidence to proceed with charges against a Reston au pair linked to a fatal shooting over a year ago.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Lindner found probable cause yesterday (Monday) to charge Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, in the Feb. 24, 2023, deadly shooting of Joseph Ryan, 39, at her employer’s Herndon-area home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way.

Countywide

Fairfax County’s farmers market season to get underway later this month

By Acacia James

Published April 2, 2024 at 10:15AM

A display of peppers at a local farmers market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is gearing up for the return of its 10 farmers’ markets this spring, with some locations set to return later this month and others in May.

The 2024 season starts on April 17 with the McCutcheon/Mount Vernon Farmers Market outside the Sherwood Regional Library (2501 Sherwood Hall Lane), the Fairfax County Park Authority announced last week.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 2, 2024 at 8:15AM | Updated April 2, 2024 at 12:36PM

Turtles in a small pond off Hunter Green Court in Reston (photo by Peter Flanagan)

Vehicle Crashes into Centreville Apartment — “#FCFRD are on the scene of a vehicle into a building in the 13000 Blk of Orchard Dr. Firefighters arrived with one vehicle into a garden-style apartment building. FCFRD TROT is working to stabilize the building. The building investigator is on scene. No reported injuries.” [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]

Art Studio Eyes Reston Location — “An unusual new paint-and-sip style art studio is working on its first location in the state and it will be right here in Northern Virginia. It’s called Hawaii Fluid Art and they have announced the signing of a franchisee to bring a location to Reston. The actual location hasn’t been revealed” and may not have been identified yet. [The Burn]

News

Reston Association to court feedback on renaming of Shadowood Recreation Area

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 1, 2024 at 3:30PM

The Shadowood Recreation Area in Reston (file photo)

Reston residents will soon get a chance to share their thoughts on a proposed name change for the Shadowood Recreation Area.

Reston Association plans to host a town hall meeting in early May after its Board of Directors voted last week to defer the initial date of April 15.

Countywide

Fairfax County questions Dominion over cost of connecting renewable energy to grid

By James Jarvis

Published April 1, 2024 at 1:30PM | Updated July 16, 2024 at 7:58PM

Workers install solar panels on Reston Fire Station 25 (courtesy Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination)

Fearing that new interconnection rules from Dominion Energy could derail its carbon reduction targets, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has asked Virginia’s utility regulator to step in.

In a near-unanimous vote, supervisors authorized Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw on March 19 to send a letter asking the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to evaluate whether the new regulations create unnecessary hurdles for small renewable energy projects attempting to join the power grid.

News

Water, sewer rates to increase in Herndon’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 1, 2024 at 11:00AM

Herndon Municipal Center (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Water and sewer rates are set to increase as part of the Town of Herndon’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2025.

Released on Friday (March 29) by Town Manager Bill Ashton II, the proposed budget leaves the real estate tax rate unchanged at $0.26 per $100 of assessed value, though bills are still expected to go up due to rising property assessments.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 1, 2024 at 8:15AM

The Falls Church Episcopal with cherry tree (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fatal Shooting Reported in Mosby Woods — Mohammad Zekria, 37, of Fairfax was found dead in a vehicle on Friday (March 29) after a woman told police that her husband had shot someone and was threatening her and her family. Waisuddin Quraishi, 50, was taken into custody early Saturday morning and has been charged with second-degree murder. [FCPD]

Teens Driving Stolen Vehicle in Reston Arrested — “Three teenagers are in custody for evading police in a stolen car in Fairfax County. On March 19, just after 9 p.m., officers from the Reston Patrol Unit allegedly located a stolen car near the intersection of Centreville Road and Parcher Avenue. When they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, two teens hopped out of the car and began running away.” [WUSA9]