Aldrin Elementary, Giant Announce Partnership
Aldrin Elementary and Giant of North Point announced their business partnership with a school assembly, on March 6. This is the first official school partnership for Giant. Aldrin's fifth and sixth grade chorus performed a special song and kindergartners created a video highlighting their recent field trip to Giant. The video showed how they integrated the school curriculum into their own virtual Giant Market. The audience and speakers included Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Garza, local government officials, Aldrin school administrators, the Reston Rotary Club, Giant and PTA representatives. As part of the partnership, Giant is providing volunteers to work with students, money for the Weekend Food Programs and educational field trips. Aldrin will support Giant by supplying student artwork for store display, communicating the partnership throughout the community and inviting Giant staff members to Aldrin school events.
Week in Reston
“Your driver’s license has been suspended. You will be arrested. You will be deported. We are on our way to your home right now.” These are just a few of the many threats scammers have made against hundreds of Fairfax County residents over the past several weeks. Police warn the public not to fall prey to them and, instead, to call and report them. These telephone scammers are described as demanding, aggressive, threatening and easily angered when callers don’t immediately agree to their demands of “overdue tax balances.” Some have also had heavy accents. Typically, callers demand between $4,000-$6,000 in immediate payment of unpaid tax bills. These scams are sophisticated and involve false names, numbers and phony IRS badge numbers. Suspects often continue to call and harass the recipient. So police urge residents to:
Donate to Diva Central
To the Editor: On Saturday, March 8, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Reston Community Center’s annual Diva Central Event. Since RCC’s creation of this program twelve years ago, Diva Central has provided a chance for young ladies in our surrounding community the opportunity to shop and select a beautiful prom outfit, complete with gown, wrap, purse, shoes, and jewelry, absolutely free, relieving some of the financial burden of what we all know can be a lavish, and therefore, expensive event.
Reston Marathon Held Despite Weather
Hundreds participate in race held at Reston.
Despite a continued rain, the Reston Runners held their annual marathon on Sunday, March 30 at South Lakes High School. Reston Runners is a club of 900+ members who share an interest in running, walking, and fitness. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Reston Runners Community Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to area high school students. “This is our second annual marathon and half marathon event,” said Neil Knolle, a long time member of the Reston Runners. The race began and ended at South Lakes High School track at 11400 South Lakes Drive in Reston. The marathon course follows two gently rolling and scenic half marathon loops around Reston utilizing the roads and Reston's paved path system. Approximately 500 people registered for the full marathon and 250 people registered for the half marathon. The marathon had length of about 26.2 miles and the half marathon a length of 13.1 miles.
Governor Proposes New Budget
Commentary
In Virginia a governor can serve two terms, but the terms cannot be successive. All newly elected governors of Virginia take office at the beginning of a biennial budget cycle where the outgoing governor has proposed a budget for that cycle. Since the General Assembly is considering the budget when the new governor comes into office, the new governor can attempt to influence the legislature’s consideration of the budget.
Celebrating Indian Culture
The Academy of Christian Education, an academically accelerated school in Reston celebrated India Culture Day to help students learn about the Indian culture. Students learned about the customs, history, food, clothing, art and dance of India. Through a very busy hands-on day students enjoyed games, presentations and activities. The Academy of Christian Education accepts students age 3 through 4th grade.
Eidson, Mauldin Engaged
Teri and John Eidson are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Ashley Michelle Eidson to Frank William Mauldin, Jr., son of Diane and Frank Mauldin of Hickory, N.C.
A Reston Retrospective
Stories and thoughts by Reston residents as the community turns 50.
Usually, when you ask a number of people to share their thoughts and opinions on any subject, you get as many different answers as the numbers polled. In asking a rather random selection of residents for their thoughts as Reston celebrates its 50th anniversary, coincidentally with the 100th birthday of founder Robert E. Simon, you do get some interestingly different perspectives, but you get an uncanny commonality in their musings, as well. Regardless of where in Reston our commentators reside, the descriptors of "community," "beauty," "amenities," "something for everyone," "a town for all ages," and "protect our core values" were mentioned by all – and more than once during each Reston retrospective conversation.
Reston Founder Turning 100, Reston Turns 50
Robert Simon drinks a martini daily and still thinks about Reston’s potential.
Reston is still Robert E. Simon’s town. The founder of Virginia’s first planned residential community is turning 100 - and the town named after him is celebrating its 50th anniversary - this month.
Fairfax County Hosts Students from Japan
23 students also visited Japan last summer.
Last summer, 23 students studying Japanese at Lake Braddock, Hayfield and South Lakes High Schools received a full scholarship to visit Japan for ten days as part of the KAKEHASHI Project, a cultural exchange program that aims to connect students from Japan and the U.S.
Goldfish Swim School Now Taking Pre-registration
A swim school that has turned a non-swimmer into a triathlete in 15 months is headed to Reston.
Final Days of Voting in RA Election
Election results will be released on April 8.
Eight candidates filed to run for open seats on the Reston Association Board of Directors this year. The Board of Directors determines the Reston Association’s goals and policies. The candidate for the Apartment Owners Representative position is Ellen A. Graves.
GRACE Opens Emerging Visions Exhibit
Art of local high school students on display.
At the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), a new exhibit has opened displaying the art of 62 students from three area high schools, Herndon, Oakton, and South Lakes. The exhibit, “Emerging Visions: Complexities” is the second exhibit GRACE is showing to celebrate Youth Art Month. The gallery is immersed with artwork including drawings, paintings, mixed media works and photography. “I am hoping to go to Rochester Institute of Technology,” said Ellie Hughes, a senior at Oakton High School who has a sculpture piece on display in the exhibit. Hughes also participated in the 2013 art exhibit held at GRACE for high school students. “I am mostly interested in photography,” said Hughes. “That’s her love,” said her father, Jim Hughes who was impressed with the quality of the art exhibit.
Reston Chorale Celebrates Founder Bob Simon
Reston and Bob Simon are celebrated at March 23 concert.
“It is wonderful to be here,” said composer Donald McCullough. “It was a really exciting experience because what Bob has created here is really quite astounding.” McCullough was at the South Lakes High School stage in Reston. He had been commissioned by the Reston Chorale to create a work that musically expresses what makes Reston a special place. On Sunday, March 23, the audience heard the premiere performance of McCullough’s “The Essential Life.”
Column: A Letter from Sandy Hook
On the fourteenth of each month, the anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy, I join dozens of others at a vigil at the National Rifle Association headquarters to remind everyone of the need for sensible gun safety measures. After the most recent vigil, I got an email from Erin Nikitchyuk which I share with her permission to remind us of how we all need to be concerned about this issue.