Chesapeake Chocolates to Take Over Lake Anne Florist Shop
Longtime Lake Anne business owner Linda Fuller retired both herself and her shop, Lake Anne Florist, last week. The shop will reopen Saturday, Feb. 7 as an expanded Chesapeake Chocolates.
Polar Dip at Lake Anne on Feb. 7
Hundreds of men, women, and children dress up in crazy costumes and converge at Lake Anne every February for the Annual Freezin’ for a Reason Virginia Polar Dip. The event, in its eighth year, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7 in the heart of Reston in the bone-chilling waters at Lake Anne Plaza. This mid-winter tradition event will kick off at noon with family friendly activities and warm-up - with the Dip scheduled to take place starting at 2 p.m. Each year the event draws record crowds of both spectators and jumpers raising over $85,000.
‘Little Gems,’ ‘Colors of Nature’ on Exhibit at Lake Anne Plaza
Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS) presents “Little Gems” on exhibit from Feb. 2 until March 5, and all are welcome to the artists’ reception on Sunday, Feb. 8 from 2 until 4 p.m., at 11400 Washington Plaza West, Reston, at Lake Anne Plaza. The “Little Gems” exhibit features works no larger than 12” x 12”, created by the RAGS artists.
Lopez Studios Students Shine at the Junior Theater Festival
Students from Lopez Studios, Inc. Performing Arts School in Reston earned high praise at the 2015 Junior Theater Festival, held Jan. 16, 17 and 18 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Ga. The 17 students, ages 8-16, presented selections from “Once On This Island JR.” for Karen Sharp, education director at Seattle Children’s Theatre; and director, composer, music director, and performer Rob Rokicki (:Hairspray;” “Love, NY”).
Local Prep Football Coaches React to End of Super Bowl XLIX
Majority say they would have called a run play from 1-yard line.
Lake Braddock football coach Jim Poythress sticks up for Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Be Part of the Pet Connection
The Pet Connection, a bi-annual themed edition, will publish Feb. 25, 2015.
Editorial: Outlook
Many bright spots will be overshadowed in the coming budget season.
Long awaited, the opening of the Silver Line promises to bring transformation to Tysons and around the current station in Reston, with another Reston station and Herndon to come.
Fairfax County Supervisors Defer Decision on Salary Adjustment
How should a county supervisor be compensated for his or her service? That question continues to be up for discussion, as the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to defer voting on a compensation adjustment that would take effect Jan. 1, 2016.
Reston’s Beaver Gate
Reston Association seeks to address Reston’s busy beavers.
The Glade Stream Valley in Reston has been home to beavers for over 25 years. Reston Association’s environmental resource manager, Claudia Thompson-Deahl said beavers originally entered the stream system from the Twin Branches end, probably traveling up from the Potomac River via Difficult Run.
Herndon, Reston Galleries Attract Art Lovers
Exhibits at ArtSpace Herndon and Reston GRACE on display through February.
In January, both the ArtSpace Herndon and Reston GRACE community art galleries opened new art exhibits at their locations. ArtSpace Herndon located at 750 Center Street in downtown Herndon opened the soloist exhibit “In Warm Observations: People and Places” by artist Jill Banks.
Area’s Silver Lining
Reston, Herndon area residents mindful of transportation changes.
On July 26, 2014, Phase 1 of the Silver Line opened. Metro General Manager Richard Sarles introduced a list of speakers at the dedication ceremony in a tent at the new Wiehle-Reston East station in Reston.
Herndon Girls Win Conference Championship
Herndon swim and dive had senior night against Centreville on Jan. 23, with the Hornets’ boys’ and girls’ teams winning. All Herndon seniors will advance to the Conference meet Jan. 30-31.
A Challenge for Garza: Excessive Homework
To the Editor: Your article “How Does She Do It” - Karen Garza’s vision: the irresistible force moving immovable object of Fairfax County Public Schools (The Connection,December 24-10, 2014) showed FCPS Superintendent Dr. Garza as a force for change. In the Fairfax County school system, students demonstrate excellence by collaborating and achieving good grades with the assistance of teachers.
Letter: Sex Offender Serving in the House
To the Editor
To the Editor: Tracking the last eight months or so of Del. Ken Plums' Opinion columns in the Connection Newspapers, the bad topics are the Tea Party (Defender of a balanced budget, right to own a gun, and worshiping our Creator), and certain (but not all) ethics of political figures. According to Plum only some political positions are bad.
Reinvigorating Virginia’s Economy
Virginia is well on its way to economic recovery for many families, but working families across the state are telling me and other legislators that they feel like the recession never ended. Even in Northern Virginia, home to some of the wealthiest localities in the country, too many families struggle to earn enough to pay for basic necessities despite having full-time jobs.
Supporting Cornerstones
On Sunday, Jan. 18, the Women's Club of Greater Reston celebrated its 45th anniversary. WCGR president Susan Ragland presented a check in the amount of $450 to Gail Greenberg of Cornerstones.
Column: Traffic Caught
If I were writing this column in Massachusetts – where I was born and mostly educated (K-12), and had a thick Boston accent, that’s how court would likely be pronounced; changing a noun into a verb.
Schools to Expand by $856 Million
Capital Improvement Plan approved, rising enrollment causes concerns about classroom space.
Five more school buildings and renovations for several existing ones may be approved by 2020. The Fairfax County School Board approved the $856 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at the Jan. 22 meeting to set priority on the projects the school system wants done in the next five years.
Referendum for Reston Land Purchase
Former Visitor Center property could be bought back.
A referendum for a parcel of land north of the Dulles Toll Road is being put forth by Reston Association. The parcel, owned by Tetra Properties, will be sold to Reston Association after a voting process that ends in May.
Reston National Golf Stays the Course - for Now
Appeal decision to be announced April 15.
Julie Bitzer moved to a home near the Reston National Golf Course so she can indulge in her favorite past time as often as she likes. “I’m a golfer,” she said. “I was ecstatic I could live at and see the golf course and the open space.” With a home that faces the expansive greens of the 18-hole course, she felt her lifestyle and home were at risk when RN Golf - owned by Northwestern Mutual - appealed the Fairfax County Planning and Zoning staff’s decision that the course could not be converted to a residential area. She was not the only one to be concerned by the appeal.