Hanging Out With Dad
Dads, grandpas, uncles and male role models all came to school with their sons and daughters Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Lake Anne Elementary School.
Now What?
Results of the election are not known to me as I write this column, but polling suggests that there will be a shift towards the middle of the political spectrum in the Old Dominion this year.
Lake Anne—Light at the End of the Tunnel?
Besides being a charming place to live, Lake Anne Village is Reston’s historic heart, the place where it all began in 1964.
Voters ‘Slow and Steady’ at Reston Polls
At Dogwood Elementary: baked goods, coffee, and left over Halloween candy was on offer to reward the good citizenship.
"No big rush. Just a strong, steady stream." That’s how Craig Dubois described the scene at Armstrong Elementary on Lake Newport Road in Reston as he offered sample ballots – with a Democratic twist - to arriving voters.
Reston Rink Ready for Skaters, Fundraiser for Character Counts Coalition
Mother Nature did not cooperate with the planned Reston Town Center Skating Rink season opener this weekend.
Author Explores ‘Undead Chaos’
Joshua Roots released debut urban fantasy novel.
For the past 10 years, Joshua Roots has wanted to write a book. While an active duty Marine, he says he played around with the idea.
Bicycle Access Coming to Wiehle Station
Bicycle racks, lockers, equipment part of alternative access options.
While the Wiehle Avenue Metrorail Station is the only Silver Line Phase One station to have a parking garage directly adjacent to it, room has been made for other modes of transportation.
Simon’s Likeness to Benefit Cornerstones
Bronze bust of Robert Simon to be auctioned off to assist with affordable housing.
As Reston approaches its 50th year, and its founder approaches his 100th year, Robert Simon’s vision for his community is still very much intact. Part of his vision included people of all income levels living side by side.
Democrats Lead in Polls as Voters Head to the Polls for Election Day
Hotly contested race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Democrats have the wind at their backs heading into Election Day next week, as Republican gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli struggles to overcome a deficit in the polls.
Week in Reston
Ice Skating Season Begins
The Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion officially opens for the 2013-2014 season with its annual fundraiser for the local non-profit organization, Reston Character Counts Coalition. On opening weekend, Nov. 2 and 3, the charity will receive 50 percent of skating rink proceeds. (Rain date: Nov. 9 and 10.) This benefit will help fund development programs offered by Reston Character Counts! Coalition, including the annual Essay and Poster Contest and sponsorship of Ethics Day at South Lakes High School. Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion weekend hours are Saturday, 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Adult admission is $10, and for children under 12 and adults over 55, admission is $8. Skate rental is $5. The Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion is located at 1800 Discovery Street, Reston, and will be open every day, including all holidays, until March. Schedules, fees, and more information are available on the skating hotline, 703-709-6300, and online at www.restontowncenter.com/skating.
Reston Ice Skater Wins Regional Championships
Local figure skater Christina Cleveland topped the competition in the recent 2014 Regional Figure Skating Championships. A junior lady, Christie won both the short and the long programs in the championships, held in Louisville, Ky. The top four skaters in each division progress to the Sectional Championships, which will be held in East Lansing, Mich. in November. From there, the top four earn a spot in the 2014 US National Championships in Boston, Mass. This year, the national competition will also be the United States Olympic Trials for the Sochi Olympics in mid-winter. Christie is a junior at Herndon High School and skates under Rashid Kadyrkaev at the Ashburn Ice House. Her team of coaches helps her to succeed. She does stretching, cardio, ballet, strength training and trampoline, as well as her on-ice regimen, as her daily fitness activities.
Time to Pay Attention to the Master Plan
The 4-year planning process for a new Reston is reaching its conclusion and the news is not good for those who value Reston traditions and values. Now is the time to pay attention to this slow-moving effort. Although there are positive elements in the new plan, particularly its stress on mixed residential and commercial redevelopment, it promises to bring in 40,000 new residents and 60,000 new office employees to the already congested areas around the new Metro stations. Reston Association and the Reston Community Association have each made pleas to Fairfax County that the plan provide for sensible re-development. Unfortunately, some of their points made have been dismissed and most ignored by a county apparently bent on getting more tax money from the property owners.
The Issues Are Power and Politics
To the Editor: In response to my friend John Lovaas’ opinion piece "Draft Plan Jeopardizes Urban Reston" [Reston Connection, Oct. 23-29, 2013], the real issues are power and politics. The community groups have no real approval power and the Fairfax County Board can completely ignore any and all concerns. This lack of power is directly related to politics because that is the only way to exert any power over the master plans and the serious concerns John expresses, and I agree with (except for his use of the word "urban" since I did not move to Reston 42 years ago to be in an urban setting.) So, unless and until we are all ready to make these issues our only concern when voting for all of local elected officials- Hudgins, Plum, and Howell—we will have no power. We should disregard social, budget and other issues and become single-issue voters. Otherwise we are talking into the wind. Bruce Kirschenbaum Reston
Attorney General Needs to Uphold Justice
To The Editor: As Delegate Ken Plum knows, The chief law enforcement officer of Virginia is the governor. The attorney general serves as the action officer to carry out the governor's duties ["Science Goes on Trial in Virginia,” Reston Connection, Oct. 16-22]. The attorney general is obligated to enforce the laws of the commonwealth. However, all commonwealth attorneys do have discretionary powers on which possible violations of the law to prosecute; e.g., whether or not to prosecute a Class Four felony. Attorney generals also have a duty to bring justice and prove innocence when there is evidence of a miscarriage of justice. Del. Plum cites the case of a University of Virginia professor who appears to have violated a Commonwealth Law. The situation demanded an investigation into the possible use of proven, faulty research on climate change of which there are substantial reams of examples. Judges, not necessarily expert in science, decided that state taxpayer funds could be expended on research without oversight. Climate change has been politicized; rational discussion has been forced to take a back seat. Extreme, radical solutions have been proposed by the EPA; e.g., the War on Coal without consideration for the moral, economic and cultural values.
Going Green, All Year Long
As part of the second annual Green Apple Day of Service, Dianne Rose and her Hunters Woods Preschool students created the class's first recycling bin to be used for the entire school year.