Reston | FFXnow - Part 390

Morning Notes

Published June 15, 2023 at 7:30AM

Greetings from the City of Fairfax mural (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

FCPD Cracks Down on Retail Theft — The Fairfax County Police Department is launching a 2023 Summer Crime Prevention Initiative that will focus on retail theft for June, with increased patrols and public engagement efforts in affected areas. Deputy Chief of Patrol Bob Blakely says 20% of all crime in the county only occurs at 20 addresses, and “most of that crime is larceny.” [ABC7]

Police Called on Local Prosecutor at Manassas Bar — “Police body camera footage shows a Deputy Fairfax County prosecutor refusing to leave a Manassas bar after closing…A second woman, who identified as an assistant Fairfax County prosecutor, and the drunken woman as her superior, was also trying to coax the woman into the car so that she could drive her home.” [Potomac Local News]

Around Town

Students’ work featured in Tephra’s latest exhibit in Reston

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 14, 2023 at 3:00PM

Emerging Visions is on display through July (Photo courtesy Tephra ICA).

The work of local school students will be on display in the latest exhibit at the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) in Reston

Part of a partnership with local schools that’s in its fifth year, the “Emerging Visions” exhibit will feature work created in response to an exhibit put on by artist Dominic Chambers last fall.

Countywide

County seeks to recharge struggling program that funds energy efficient construction

By Matt Blitz

Published June 14, 2023 at 1:30PM

Electric vehicle chargers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County is restarting and opting into a statewide program that helps commercial properties with financing for energy efficiency and resiliency improvements.

Last week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the amending and re-adoption of the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACE) program, which aims to assist commercial building owners with energy and water-saving improvements for little to no upfront costs.

Aging Well: Draw a handful of benefits with mah-jongg

By Sponsor

Published June 14, 2023 at 12:30PM

Mah-jongg is a fun and engaging game that is a great way to expand your social circle while enjoying an amazing workout for your brain.

This biweekly column is sponsored by The Mather in Tysons, Virginia, a forward-thinking Life Plan Community for those 62 and better.

More than a game, mah-jongg offers opportunities to socialize with other players and is an effective workout for your brain.

News

New private elementary school for Muslim youth may be coming to Reston

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 14, 2023 at 11:00AM | Updated June 14, 2023 at 3:00PM

A new private school is expected to open at Association Drive (Image via Google Maps).

(Updated at 3 p.m.) A new Islamic and private elementary school may open this fall in Reston.

County permits suggest Noble Garden Academy plans to move in to 1914 Association Drive. In the permit application, the academy noted that the school is simply “moving into a new place” and “not making any changes.”

Countywide

Morning Notes

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 14, 2023 at 7:30AM | Updated June 14, 2023 at 10:16AM

A bicyclist passes a deer standing by the W&OD Trail (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Reston Barnes and Noble Opening Delayed — The bookstore’s grand opening at The Spectrum has been postponed to tomorrow (Thursday). Barnes and Noble didn’t return multiple requests for comment from FFXnow. [Barnes & Noble Reston/Instagram]

D.C. Area Is Currently in a Drought — “According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the D.C. region is currently in a moderate drought — the least severe of four drought levels. May 2023 was the driest May on record in D.C. since 1999, with 2.4 inches less rain than in an average year.” If the Potomac River drops low enough, “residents could be asked to conserve water.” [DCist]

News

Food distribution event to fight against hunger coming to Reston

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 13, 2023 at 3:00PM

The food distribution event is slated for Thursday, June 22 (Photo courtesy Cornerstones).

In response to rising grocery and transportation costs, local organizations are partnering for a summer hunger relief food distribution in Reston this month.

The food distribution event is slated for Thursday, June 22 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The distribution will take place in the parking lot of St. John Neumann Catholic Community Church (11900 Lawyers Road).

Reno of the Month: Tips for turning your 1980s home into a transitional beauty

By Sponsor

Published June 13, 2023 at 12:30PM

After. Image courtesy of Synergy Design & Construction.

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Many homes in the local area were built in the 1980s, and with that comes some tell-tale design that can really date a home back to the days of big hair, leg warmers and home phones with really long cords. Admittedly, for some of us, it really doesn’t feel that long ago and since I still believe some of the best music came from that decade, there’s no judgment here! However, although fashion and phones have changed, as one year slips into the next, day-to-day life sometimes leaves little time (or energy for that matter) to focus on changing the spaces around us. So, this month, we’re providing some tips and ideas to update your 1980s home with transitional finishes.

News

Project to restore mussels underway at Reston’s Snakeden and Glade streams

By Fatimah Waseem

Published June 13, 2023 at 11:00AM

Restoration efforts are underway at Snakeden and Glade (Photo courtesy Resource Protection Group).

Several groups are working together to embark on a one-of-a-kind urban mussel restoration project for the Snakeden and Glade stream valleys in Reston.

The project is part of a partnership with Virginia Tech, the U.S Geological Survey and other institutions. The team will work to install mussel beds into restored streams and evaluate their ability to remove nutrient and sediment pollution.

Countywide

AG Jason Miyares petitions for merit award investigation report, drawing FCPS objection

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 13, 2023 at 10:15AM

Fairfax County Public Schools (file photo)

The unexpectedly long-running saga of Fairfax County Public Schools’ delayed National Merit Scholarship commendation notices has added a new page.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has petitioned the Fairfax County Circuit Court to require FCPS to turn over the full report it commissioned from an outside law firm in January, killing any hopes school officials had that releasing a summary of the review’s findings would resolve the state investigation.