Reston People

Reston Advisor Wins Women’s Choice Award

As the leading advocate for female consumers, WomenCertified, Inc. has announced that Judy L. Redpath, CFP AIF, Founder of VISTA Wealth Strategies LLC has received the Women’s Choice Award for Financial Advisors based on rigorous research, 17 objective criteria including a client survey to obtain feedback regarding service and practices.

Column: Lake Anne—Farewell and Change

Last Friday, Lake Anne residents and hundreds of other Restonians came to Washington Plaza to bid a fond farewell to Larry Cohn, our community pharmacist and proprietor of the Lakeside Pharmacy for the last 46 years. Larry recently sold his Pharmacy to an “investor” who may, or may not, continue the pharmacy, snack bar and post office arrangement that many residents hoped would never change. Alfredo Melendez, owner/operator of La Villa, Lake Anne Coffee House, and the Lakeside Café, prepared a scrumptious finger food buffet for all, and Larry’s pharmacist sidekick Beverly Gilbert presented heartfelt memory gifts to the teary-eyed Mr. Cohn before a cheering crowd of well-wishers. Everyone it seems has special memories of this self-effacing man who touched so many lives. A painful change. Hoped for change?

Column: A Moral Imperative

Recently the New York Times editorial board wrote about the “health care showdown in Virginia.” Their comments were not favorable. “In Virginia, there are 400,000 low-income people who can’t afford health care coverage but don’t qualify for federal subsidies,” they wrote. “If they lived across the state line in Maryland, West Virginia or Kentucky, which have expanded their Medicaid programs, they could get the coverage they need.” The reason they cannot; “a group of recalcitrant Republicans in the House of Delegates” have blocked Medicaid expansion at every opportunity. Highly regarded retired editorial writer for the Virginia Pilot, Margaret Edds, wrote about the current impasse in Virginia two weeks ago.

‘You Are Not Your Mistakes’

“She was one of the most disagreeable people I had ever met,” says paws4people Chairman and COO, Terry Henry, remembering his reaction to meeting Rebecca at Lakin Correctional Center, more than three years ago. Seeing her now with her earnest smile and a well-behaved puppy happily nestled in her lap, it’s hard to imagine the Rebecca he describes.

Reston Community Orchestra Holds Season Finale

Concert features two young pianists.

The afternoon of Sunday, May 18, at Reston Community Center CenterStage, the Reston Community Orchestra (RCO) preformed their final concert of the 2013-2014 with a performance featuring two young pianists. Pianists Mark Dang and Matthew Geier performed Haydn’s “Piano Concerto in D Major.” The program also included Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite #2” and selections from “Forest Gump.” Conducting the orchestra was Dingwall Fleary, a maestro who has directed Reston Community Orchestra for 16 years.

Giving Circle of Hope Honors 2013 Nonprofit Partners

Connections for Hope Partnership of Herndon receives first ever Impact Grant Award of $25,000.

Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston was the venue on May 14 for the Giving Circle of Hope’s annual gathering to showcase the nonprofit partners to whom the organization’s members have chosen to award grants for the coming year. Each fall, eligible members of the Circle – persons who have contributed at least $1 per day for the year to the Grant Fund – review applications and vote to award grants for specific projects that help people in need in Northern Virginia.

Column: Post-Game Analysis

While I enjoy watching college athletic competitions, I do not watch many professional sports on television. For sure I do not watch any of the post-game shows. Panels for these shows seem carefully selected to ensure controversy and banter to fill the time slot.

Rebranding Their Passion

10th annual Technology and the Arts Awards presented.

Think S.T.E.A.M, not S.T.E.M. That was the message Leidos Director of Advertising, Branding and Creative Chris Green told a group of student artists at the 10th Annual Technology and the Arts Competition Awards at the ASCE World Headquarters in Reston on May 14.

Art Taking Over Town Center

Popular fine arts festival this weekend, May 16-18.

One of the largest outdoor festivals on the East Coast will come alive in Reston Town Center this weekend. The 23rd annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will fill the streets with more than 200 artists and street performers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-18, to raise money for Greater Reston Arts Center.

Riding for the Fallen

More than 100 officers cycle through Virginia, for cause.

Police officers from all over the country vowed to "ride for those who died" this week. Police Unity Tour Chapter IV - also known as the Virginia chapter - challenged officers on a three day bicycle tour from Richmond to D.C. in memory for fallen officers. Before the last stop at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the group of 122 officers and loved ones of fallen police stopped for lunch at McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center Monday in Fairfax as a tribute to the county most the officers served.

Northern Virginia Family Service Holds 16th Annual Gala

Local donors and supporters recognized at event.

The evening of Friday May 9 at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, the nonprofit Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) held their 16th Annual Road to Independence Gala. The festive event gave community and business leaders an opportunity to celebrate the impact of NVFS on families and children in need. It also recognized donors and supporters dedicated to giving back to the community in which they live making NVFS services possible.

Meals Tax Possible for Fairfax County

Tax could generate $88 million in revenue.

At a public hearing on the 2015 budget, Fairfax County resident Kimberly Adams joined numerous other individuals who urged the Board of Supervisors to consider a meals tax. “To have the quality of life that we’ve come to depend on in Fairfax County, we must move the needle closer to the regional average when it comes to taxes. We must not be afraid to look for new streams of revenue, such as a meals tax for instance,” Adams told the Board of Supervisors at the budget hearings. “Never have I actually thought, well, there’s a meals tax in Alexandria, so I’ll drive 10 more minutes into Fairfax and order my pizza. I go to the place that’s convenient and where I want to eat.”

Fairfax County Honors ‘Superheroes’

22nd Annual Fairfax County Service Awards presented.

Maybe they don’t wear capes and flashy uniforms, but local volunteers are superheroes. That was the theme for the 22nd Annual Fairfax County Service Awards, where more than 100 volunteers were recognized for their work with breakfast Friday, April 25, at The Waterford in Springfield. More specifically, this year’s theme was "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact," which was reflected in the comic book-inspired table decor and introductions by master of ceremonies Jeff Goldberg, Virginia Bureau Chief for ABC7 and News Channel 8.

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 Connection