Reston | FFXnow - Part 293

Published April 4, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated April 5, 2024 at 1:23PM

English ivy seen at McLean Central Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In the latest round of action on bills, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 100 bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly, including one to protect Virginians from unlawful discrimination, hate crimes and antisemitism. The governor vetoed four others, including one to create civil penalties for shop owners who fail to advertise they are selling invasive plants that could harm other species.

Among the 100 bills signed is a measure that will codify a recommendation by the Commission to Combat Antisemitism that Virginia revise its laws to better protect Jewish citizens from hate crimes, along with Muslims, Sikhs and other ethnic-religious groups.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

Published April 4, 2024 at 8:15AM

Capital One's headquarters and and the Silverline Center lit at night in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

County Cuts Herndon Police From Training Academy — “In a March 18 letter…Deputy County Executive Thomas Arnold, who oversees public safety, said he had decided ‘to terminate the Town of Herndon Police Department’s affiliation with the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy effective June 1.'” The move came after Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard objected to the academy’s director signing graduation certificates in Chinese. [Washington Post]

Five Men Arrested in Online Child Solicitation Sting — “Five men have been arrested after a multi-day operation to bring down online predators, the Fairfax County Police Department announced on Wednesday…Those people then came to Fairfax County with the intention of committing a sex act with the minor, but instead found detectives waiting for them.” [WUSA9]

News

Reston air-conditioning service to restart, thanks to community donations

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 3, 2024 at 1:30PM

Homes by Lake Anne in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston’s central air-conditioning service is officially returning to keep hundreds of residents and businesses cool this summer.

RELAC Water Cooling announced on Sunday (March 31) that it has received enough community donations to be able to provide chilled water for air-conditioning to roughly 635 residential and commercial properties in the Lake Anne area.

News

Residential development approved to replace Worldgate Drive offices in Herndon

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 3, 2024 at 10:15AM

Office buildings at 13100 and 13150 Worldgate Drive are slated to be replaced by a multi-family residential building and townhouses (via KTGY/Town of Herndon)

A total of 461 residential units will take the place of two vacant office buildings on Worldgate Drive in Herndon.

The Herndon Town Council unanimously approved the redevelopment proposal from Boston Properties on March 26, allowing a five-story apartment building on the western half of the property along with a two-floor parking garage, four-story townhouses and two-over-two stacked residential units.

Around Town

Fairfax County’s poet laureate reveals free poetry events coming to local parks

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 3, 2024 at 9:30AM

Two "Poetry Beneath the Stars" writing workshops are planned at Turner Farm Park for 2024 after a strong turnout for last year's inaugural event (courtesy of ArtsFairfax)

National Poetry Month has arrived, bringing a new slate of free poetry readings and other events at Fairfax County parks.

For the final year of her tenure, Fairfax County Poet Laureate Danielle Badra has organized a second “Poetry in the Parks” initiative, inviting community members to experience linguistic and natural beauty at the same time.

Countywide

Morning Notes

By FFXnow.com

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.