Reston Citizen

The Fairfax County Police Department wants to remind residents of some common sense ideas to be safe on Halloween, and for the rest of the year.

• Walk in the crosswalk or corner of a road. Don’t cross between to parked cars, and look both ways.
• Young children need an adult with them, older children should tell parents their route, and bring a cell phone
• Only visit house with lights on.
• It’s best to eat only individually wrapped candies, and homemade candies should only be taken from people you know.
• Wear a costume that is easy to see out of, doesn’t impair walking, and brightly lit.
• Lastly, gas and alcohol don’t mix.

And of course don’t forget to have fun!

The long delayed Silver Line metro extension to Wiehle avenue is on track, according to remarks made my Kaine. The Virginia governor gave no indications of what made him think so, but he did say “We have a standing conference call once a week to kind of monitor progress.”

The main delay in the orange line extension has been meeting the Federal Transit Administration’s cost effectiveness standards. Several hundred million dollars of the project will be funded a grant - and the agency has strict standards on total cost compared to estimated riders. Already $300 million have been shaved off, and the FTA will be announcing weather the revised project meets their cost standards.

“We have reason to think we will hear some sign, either, ‘Hey, you met [the cost-effective standard]’ or, ‘You still have some more work to do,’ sometime soon. But we feel very good about our submission right now,” Kaine says. WTOP reported on the original story.

Also on the Ballot in the November 6th elections is a $110 million plan for transportation upgrades. Jay Guy, a planner for the the transportation department says “$700 million are needed annually for transport improvements, but at least we’re $100 million closer.” Included are capacity improvements for Fairfax County Parkway, and Route 7. The Vienna Metro Station, a popular commuter station, will also receive upgraded capacity by way of new stairs.

The bond also includes sidewalks and added bus stops. Sidewalks would be constructed along portions of Beulah Road , Colts Neck Road, Fox Mill Road , Glade Drive , McLearen Road , North Shore Drive , Reston Avenue , Soapstone Drive, and Sunset Hills Road. About twenty new bus stops are also planned.

I live near the Hunters Woods Plaza and walk their sometimes, and don’t like using the trails. Along Colts Neck I’m forced to use one of those trails beaten in the grass, but at one point the trees grow into the road, making it necessary to walk in it. Needless to say on a road where many people drive at 45 MPH this is a dangerous option, and one that really pisses off the drivers. So in a world dominated by the automobile, it’s nice to know Fairfax County cares about the other people too.

On Thursday undercover and underage Fairfax County police officers approached adults and asked them to buy achohal. The police targeted stores with state ABC licenses to sell off premise alcohol. If an adult bought the drinks, a plain clothes officer would notify a near by unfiformed officer who would then make an arrest. Twenty six adults where aproached, and four arrested for buying acolohal for the minors.

The affected stores include the Hunters Woods Rite-Aid, Southlakes CVS, On The Run near the Resotn International Center, and the 7/11 near Plaza America. These operations are regularly conducted around Fairfax County.

On November 6th they’re will be a bond referendum for 360 million dollars, that includes money to renovate Lake Anne Elementary.

Exact details on the renovation have not been worked out. But Kevin Sneed, director of design and construction services has listed wiring and mechanical systems as needing to be replaced. Other improvement could include an expansion, to bring the two trailer classrooms indoors, and repainting the walls and roof. The floor could also be upgraded.

The bond package also includes money for two new elementary schools to be built in Fairfax County. Bond proponents also note that schools are used as community meeting rooms, adult education facilities, and other community services.

Next Tuesday (10/30) the Washington Redskins, along with the Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at the YMCA. Currently there is a blood shortage in the Washington Region. Besides donating to a charitable cause, a sweepstakes of autographed Redskins merchandise will be held.

Participants must be over 18, be in good health, not have given blood in the past 56 days, and weigh over 110 pounds. Anyone can participate in the sweepstakes. Anyone interested in donating blood must register in advance. The drive will be held at the Reston YMCA on Sunset Hills Drive.

Guys and Dolls, a 1950s Broadway musical comedy about romance in New York City will be presented by the Reston Players.  Opening night is October 26th at CenterStage. Tickets start at $17.

The Reston Player’s website describes the play as:

The perfect musical comedy! Set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City, this oddball romantic tale soars with the spirit of Broadway, as it introduces us to a cast of vivid characters who have become legends: Sarah Brown, the upright, uptight “mission doll;” Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler; and the beautiful Adelaide, engaged to “good ole-reliable” Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé of fourteen years, who is desperate as usual to find a spot for his floating crap game. The hilarious, fast-paced dialogue and a bright, brassy musical score take us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, and even into the sewers of New York. Lady Luck will be your date, and we’ll take a bet that this will be one fun night at the theater! “This is why Broadway was born!”

The Reston Players present four productions a year, and have been doing so for 40 years. The organization exists to promote “Theatrical excellence and professionalism,” and has won several awards.

The Vienna Connection has given Hunter Mill supervisor Catherine Hudgins an endorsement in the current three pronged race which covers Reston, parts of Herndon, and Vienna. They write:

This race shouldn’t require much deliberation, but it does. Incumbent Catherine Hudgins has served the district encompassing Reston, Vienna and parts of Herndon for two-terms with unequalled energy and passion for those most vulnerable in this wealthy county: the homeless, the working poor and people with disabilities. At the Board of Supervisors, Hudgins is the voice for health and human services, whether leading the county’s work on affordable housing or speaking out for improved and better funded mental health services.

But the usually anti-growth newspaper did have some critiques for some of her policies:

But Hudgins has no one to blame but herself for the competitiveness in this three-way race. […] Independent candidates Marie Huhtala and “Spike” Williams are running because Hudgins has come across as aloof or arrogant during some public meetings where constituents felt they weren’t being listened to — or respected. These meetings — whether the south Reston park-and-ride public-private development proposal or the Lake Anne revitalization efforts — attracted concerned constituents, some of whom, afterward, became angry constituents.

The newspaper praises her experience in government, including time spent before she was a Fairfax County Supervisor. There are no polls on who might win, but if numbers make any difference, Hudgins has raised $54,000, Maria Huhtala $13,000, Spike Williams $5000, and Geraldine Butkus, who is not in active campaign mode, has raised $30.

Reston Interfaith, the non profit group that runs the Embry Rucker site has already raised $10,000 in a Saturday event to end homelesnes.

On Thrusday they’ll be holding a mini walk at Fox Mill Elementary, which last year brought in another $10,000. In a town where the median household income is $80,000, many are surprised that such a need exists. But in Fairfax County the homeless population is 2000 people, most of which is caused by a lack of affordable and single room units.

Reston Interfaith runs the Embry Rucker shelter, which can hold 70 people, and formerly ran the controversial Herndon Day Labor site, which helped people who would otherwise be unemployed and possibly homeless, find work.

Story From the Reston Times

The Reston Citizens association has announced a collection of 3600 signatures on a petition for the incorporation of Reston. With two months of collection, many say the signature drive was a success.

The petition asks for a voting referendum that would allow Reston to become a town. But before a referendum can be added, a Virginia law towns from incorporating in “urban counties” must first be changed, or have an exemption granted. Reston Association also is prohibited from selling or gifting it’s land to anyone else, so for “The Town of Reston” to acquire Reston’s many paths, parks, and other areas would be another hurtle.

Many who want Reston to be made into a town, believe that Fairfax County has allowed to much development, that certain services like trash pickup and snow plowing aren’t good enough, and generally believe Reston being a town will promote a great sense of place. Oponets feel it would further increase taxes.