Baron Cameron Update Discussed
Reston 2020, residents debate county plans for local park.
The Reston Citizens Association met with concerned residents to address possible changes to Baron Cameron Park last week. The changes, which are a scheduled update of the park, were discussed and debated at the April 7 meeting at Buzz Aldrin Elementary School. “What we want you to do is think about what’s missing, what’s not there,” said Reston 2020 co-chairman Terry Maynard. He explained some of the changes - adding a picnic pavilion, restrooms, a larger trail network and additional parking - among other additions. Fairfax County also included alternative plans that included an indoor recreational center.
Reston’s Best Honored
23rd annual Best of Reston celebrates birthdays and service.
Reston is a place where - as they say - people can live, play, work and serve. The Best of Reston honored those committed to community service and celebrated founder Robert Simon’s 100th birthday on Thursday with a black-tie affair at the Hyatt Regency in Reston Town Center. The 23rd annual event, hosted by Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones, reeled in nearly 900 attendees. “This community takes pride in the people who serve,” said GRCC President Mark S. Ingrao. “We’ve been thinking so much about that in the last few weeks with all the celebrations going on here. I don’t know if it’s the water in Lake Anne or the secret ingredient in Bob’s lunchtime beverage, but there’s something about the community that says, ‘You are welcome here.’”
The Honey Bunch
Sweet Virginia partners with GMU to educate students about bees.
Educational outreach is sweet nectar for Sweet Virginia. Executive Director Dan Price is using college students to promote honeybee sustainability to college students in the changing world. “I thought someone needed to get the population of bees in Washington, D.C. back to what it used to be,” said Price. “I made that my mission.” Price has put bees in the forefront of minds in D.C. by installing two hives on top of the National Geographic Museum.
World of Beer offers IT platform for business lunches
If you are looking for a unique location to hold a sales meeting that’s not far from your Arlington, Alexandria, or Ballston office, think World of Beer. The tavern that’s best known for after-work socializing and live music on weekends, is now offering meeting space and teleconference so companies can conduct online training or other web-based events for its employees. "We are a great place for off-site meetings," said Evan Matz, owner of World of Beer at 901 North Glebe Road in Ballston. "With little notice, CEOs and managers can reserve a separate room equipped with our IP-based video and wall monitor systems. It’s a perfect place to hold working lunches."
Michael DiBacco, 46, of Reston, Dies
Michael DiBacco, 46, of Reston, died at home on March 27. He was surrounded by family and friends after enduring a seven month battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Oct. 19, 1967 in Asheville, N.C., his family moved to Herndon in 1980. After graduation from Herndon High School in 1986, Michael attended Embry Riddle University, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Wesleyan University, and Old Dominion University.
Neil Simon's Touching, Sweet "Chapter Two" Arrives at Reston's CenterStage
Neil Simon has a "trademark witty, snappy dialogue, and relatable characters that audiences enjoy ", said Joshua Redford, artistic director, Reston Community Players (RCP) . Shortly the RCP will bring Simon's "wide appeal to local audiences" with his "Chapter Two." "Chapter Two" follows the life of George Schneider, a recent widower trying to make his way in a new and rather bumpy world of dating after a long marriage. George is "still coming to terms with his wife's death, who stumbles into a new relationship. He's caught between wanting to move ahead but being unable to let go...with his trademark charm and dry, acerbic wit." said Jeff Breslow who plays George.
Independent Progressive
Let’s hear it for the new leadership in Richmond—especially Governor Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring. Imagine Virginia leaders fighting for health care for 400,000 people and going to court fighting for cleaner water and air, and human equality under the law?! Just a few months ago, Virginia’s governor and Attorney General were little more than late night comedy fare, up to their ears in corruption scandal and opposing health care for the non-wealthy, cleaner air and water, and equality. But these two Democrats are trying to roll large boulders up a steep incline with broad support among a large majority of Virginians but precious little support from too many elected. Governor McAuliffe has succeeded in energizing a slim Senate majority of Democrats and a handful of moderate Republicans to back market-driven insurance reform which will take available federal tax dollars and extend basic health insurance to up to 400,000 Virginians now without any health care.
Network Alliance, Inc. Wins Stevie Award
Network Alliance, Inc. (Network Alliance), Reston-based leading IT management solutions provider, has been recognized by the international Stevie Awards program for Sales and Customer Service, known as the worlds’ top sales and customer service honor, for the second consecutive year. Founded over 16 years ago on the mission to “Make IT Simple” for their clients, Network Alliance’s expert team has carved out a niche in a crowded marketplace through its accessible structure, cost-effective, scalable solutions, and dependable, expert client services team that has achieved a 98 percent client retention rate. Recognizing the achievements of sales, business development, customer service, and call/contact center professionals worldwide, this year’s Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service included over 1,500 nominations in more than 100 categories, which were judged by hundreds of executives around the world.
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.
Celebrating Diversity
Reston founder Robert Simon visits Langston Hughes Middle.
Langston Hughes Middle School celebrated Diversity Day in a timely way this year.Themed “The Diversity of Reston: Then and Now,” the school invited Reston founder Robert Simon and local elementary principals to talk about how diversity impacted the growth of their community on Friday.“This is community,” said Simon. “Community is the most important word I want to leave with you. It always struck me that the best way to be happy is to be surrounded by good friends and relatives.”He told the students that he built the community based on the best parts of other communities he had seen during his travels. The most important part of Reston - and indeed the first part - was to create a plaza that would serve as the community center.
Journey of Discovery Continues
Third Women’s Collaborative to be held on April 17-20 in Middleburg.
Mary Jo Smrekar of Reston and Sue Ries Lamb of Alexandria are preparing to facilitate their third Women’s Collaborative at the Meadowkirk Retreat in Middleburg. What the two describe as a “journey of discovery” for up to twelve women takes place in three four-day sessions. The first gathering will be held from April 17 through April 20. The second retreat will be held on Oct. 9 – 12, and the third Nov. 13 – 16. Smrekar and Lamb met in 1972, and with a shared interest in exploring their own spirituality and their place in the world as women, they remained friends, and occasionally colleagues, throughout the years since. From 2006 to 2009 they participated in the first Hope Springs Leadership Collaborative and in 2010 they were part of the 35th and last Women’s Way Program, garnering experiences that led them to create their own local version of the collaborative in 2011.
Network Alliance, Inc. Wins Stevie Award
Network Alliance, Inc. (Network Alliance), Reston-based leading IT management solutions provider, has been recognized by the international Stevie Awards program for Sales and Customer Service, known as the worlds’ top sales and customer service honor, for the second consecutive year. Founded over 16 years ago on the mission to “Make IT Simple” for their clients, Network Alliance’s expert team has carved out a niche in a crowded marketplace through its accessible structure, cost-effective, scalable solutions, and dependable, expert client services team that has achieved a 98 percent client retention rate.
‘Another Way of Living’ Celebrates Reston
Documentary screened at community center on Founder’s Day.
When Rebekah Wingert-Jabi began to piece together a film about Reston’s history to date, she realized each member of the community created the web that shaped it.Her film, “Another Way of Living - The Story of Reston, VA,” was screened at the Reston Community Center on Saturday night as a part of the Reston Founder’s Day celebrations.“It wasn’t until I left Reston that I realized what a special place it was,” she said.The film, which took two years to create, weaves back and forth through Reston’s history and founder Robert Simon Jr.’s life. It showed how a place that once headlined as “An unlikely success story” is now the community for 75,000 people and counting.
Floris United to Host Empty Bowls Fundraiser
Local potters give their time and talent to support Empty Bowls and help fight hunger in our area. The Reston and Herndon pottery classes at their respective Community Centers have been busy making hundreds and hundreds of ceramic bowls for an Empty Bowls fundraiser to benefit Food for Others, the largest distributor of free food in Northern Virginia and hosted by The Giving Circle of HOPE. Open to the public, the event will be held on Friday, April 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Rd, Herndon. Pre-event tickets are $25 and will be $30 at the door. Guests will receive a simple supper of soup, bread, a beverage, dessert and a handmade bowl, which they may keep to remind them that there are those in our community that are empty. For more information go to www.givingcircleofhope.org.
Fairfax Arts Programs Receive Federal Grants
Seven local organizations involved in the arts and literature are receiving a total of $230,000 in federal grants from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) said.