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Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinio
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May 31 - June 6, 2017 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com
RestonRestonHannah Waller wins 100Meters race at the 6A NorthRegion championship.
Reston Is ExperiencingGrowing PainsNews, Page 3
Remembering onMemorial Day 2017Editorial, Page 4
Reston Is ExperiencingGrowing PainsNews, Page 3
Remembering onMemorial Day 2017Editorial, Page 4
South Lakes FreshmanTies 100 Meters Record
News, Page 2
South Lakes FreshmanTies 100 Meters Record
News, Page 2
2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Public Hearing NoticeFairfax County
Secondary Six Year Plan
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and The
Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, in accordance
with Section 33.2-331 of the Code of Virginia, will conduct
a joint public hearing in the Board Auditorium, Fairfax
County Government Center, 12000 Government Center
Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035 at 3 p.m. on June 20, 2017.
The purpose of this public hearing is to receive public
comment on the Secondary Six Year Improvement Plan for
Fiscal Years 2018 through 2023. Copies of the proposed
plan may be reviewed at the VDOT’s Northern Virginia
VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment
in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI
more information or special assistance for persons with
Persons wishing to speak at this public hearing should
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You can read any of this week’s 15 papers digital editions here:www.ConnectionNewspapers.com/PDFs
Network Alliance, Inc. Celebrates20th Anniversary
Network Alliance, Inc. (Network Alliance), a leading IT man-agement solutions provider, is celebrating its 20th year in busi-ness. Central to Network Alliance’s ongoing, expansive growthover the past two decades are its technical expertise and commit-ment to top-notch customer service.
From its early beginnings when cloud-hosted solutions were intheir infancy and a large amount of doubt and uncertainty sur-rounded this new technology, Network Alliance, as a pioneer thatbecame an expert, led the charge. At the core of this success wasbuilding lasting relationships and trust with clients and prospectsfrom the get-go and beyond, as illustrated by Network Alliance’s98 percent client retention rate. This customer focus has neverwavered and is a key element of the company’s culture and ap-proach. This commitment earned Network Alliance additionalrecognition in multiple categories at the national Stevie Awardsprogram for Sales and Customer Services, for the fifth year in arow in 2017.
“We are extremely proud of this company milestone,” NetworkAlliance’s Founder and CEO Don Britton said. “Although we haveexperienced innovation, change, and evolution over the past 20years, we have consistently held true to what matters most to us— customer service, top-level expertise and service offerings, andnever forgetting to share our success by giving back to our com-munity. I look forward to Network Alliance’s ongoing success andspirit of innovation to forge ahead as we continue to delight ourcustomers and exceed their expectations for their IT infrastruc-tures and solutions.”
For more information on Network Alliance and its services, visitwww.networkalliance.com.
Hannah Waller, afreshman at SouthLakes High School,tied a 12-year-oldrecord when she wonthe 100 meters at the6A North Region Trackand Field Champion-ship Friday, May 26 atJames Robinson Sec-ondary School inFairfax.
Waller ran a 11.99to tie the region markset by MurielleAhoure, a 2012 and2016 Olympian.Ahoure ran forHayfield SecondarySchool when she setthe mark in 2005.
Waller also won the200 meters (24.74)and has qualifyingtimes in both events aswell as the 400 meters going intothe state championships.
At the region championship, theSeahawks also got a winning per-formance from junior JamieRichards, who won the girls dis-cus with a throw of 119-07.00.
Other SLHS highlights from theregion meet include:
❖ Senior Devyn Jones finishingthird in the 300 meter hurdles(45.89) and fifth in the 100 meterhurdles (15.07).
❖ Senior Timiebi Ogobri’s thirdplace finish in the 100 meters(11.27).
❖ Juniors Olivia Beckner andSean Casey’s top five finishes in
News
South Lakes Freshman Ties 100 Meters Record
the 1,600 meters with Beckner fin-ishing second in the girls division(4:56.01) and Casey winning hisheat and finishing fifth overall(4:26.35).
❖ Both 4x800 meter relay teamsfinished fourth. Beckner teamedwith juniors Emily McGrath, AlyRayle and Reagan Tobias for a
Photos contributed
Hannah Waller in 200 Meters race at the 6A North Region champi-onship.
9:26.45. The boys team of Casey,junior Alex Loukili and seniorsPeter Sepulveda and Jack Watkinsran a 8:02.28.
South Lakes will send 27 ath-letes to the VHSL 6A State Cham-pionships June 2-3 at Todd Sta-dium in Newport News.
Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsReston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic
703-778-9414 or [email protected]
See Community, Page 8
By Fallon Forbush
The Connection
The Fairfax County Departmentof Planning and Zoning wantsto amend the zoning ordinancefor Reston, but it was met with
a lot of grief during three community meet-ings this month on May 3 and May 15 atthe North County Governmental Center andMay 24 at Lake Anne Elementary School.
The changes being proposed would alterthe zoning regulations for most of Reston,according to Cathy Belgin, deputy zoningadministrator of the Fairfax County Depart-ment of Planning and Zoning.
The amendment would change the den-sity cap for Reston for areas that are zonedPlanned Residential Community (PRC) Dis-trict. The current cap for these areas is setto an average of 13 people per acre. Belgin’sdepartment is recommending raising it toan average of 16 people per acre.
“The Board of Supervisors, who ulti-mately makes the decision, will have theflexibility to decide,” she said.
The other change would increase themaximum number of dwelling units peracre for PRC zoned land. Currently, themaximum number is 50 dwelling units peracre.
“But the comprehensive plan created awhole [new] category that allows you todo that, particularly focused around thetransit station areas,” she said. “So, we’relooking to update the zoning rules to facili-tate the implementation of the plan as it’sadopted,” she said.
Any rezoning or changes to PRC Districtsare only permitted in accordance with thearea’s correlating comprehensive plan.
As Belgin stated, this has already beendone.
The Reston Master Plan Special Studybegan in 2009 and concluded when theFairfax County Board of Supervisorsadopted it on June 2, 2015. The documentupdated Fairfax County’s ComprehensivePlan to integrate changes to Reston, includ-ing residential neighborhoods, Village Cen-ters, commercial areas and the Reston Tran-sit Station Areas (TSAs).
Belgin and her colleagues at the planningand zoning department are pushing for theamendment, saying it is required to imple-ment the plan.
However, the outrage she and other gov-ernment officials and employees receivedintroducing the amendment was not thefirst growing pain Reston has experiencedsince its comprehensive plan was amended.
$2.2 Billion InfrastructurePlan Already in the PipelineFor Reston TSAs
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
approved the $2.2 billion Reston Transpor-tation Funding Plan on Feb. 28, a reverbera-tion from the Reston Master Plan SpecialStudy adopted two years prior.
This was despite vocal opposition at pub-lic meetings throughout the two months theFairfax County of Transportation pitched itto the community.
In the comprehensive plan, the countydesignated the Reston Transit Service Areaas land near the Washington MetropolitanArea Transit Authority metrorail stationsthat will serve Reston on the Silver Line:the Reston Town Center, Wiehle-Reston Eastand Herndon stations.
The new transportation funding plan willconstruct infrastructure projects the com-prehensive plan identifies. These includeroadway improvements, intersection im-provements and new roadways to add tothe TSA’s road network to improve connec-tivity to, from and around the transit sta-tions.
The funding plan will use $1.2 billion inpublic funding over 40 years. The countyexpects in-kind contributions from devel-opers to pay for $716 million, but privatefunding will make up the $350 million bal-
ance.The Board of Supervisors approved a new
road fund for commercial developers and aservice district tax for residential and com-mercial property owners within the TSAs.These property owners will begin paying thefees in 2018.
This new tax is where the communitypushed back to no avail.
Congestion ConcernsDespite these plans to build out infrastruc-
ture, there were complaints from the audi-ence at the community meetings about thecurrent state of congestion in Reston.
Robert Whitfield of the Fairfax CountyTaxpayers Alliance stood up on May 3 toclaim that Reston would not be able to ac-commodate the increased density the newzoning amendment would allow.
“I don’t think that we do ourselves wellby looking at growth as always putting uponus,” Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, who repre-sents Reston and the Hunter Mill Districton the Board of Supervisors, said in re-sponse.
She then apologized to the crowd becausethey weren’t going to like what she was
about to say or her tone.“I really see Reston as a community that
welcomes people,” she said. “If transporta-tion is bad, yes, it hurts … Virginia doesn’tpay ahead for transportation. I’m sorry, youcan go to Maryland if you want that, butthat is not what this commonwealth does… We always struggled through to get to apoint that transportation catches up withthe development. No one is going to builda road before the development comes. Wewould love it if they did, but they do not.”
Whitfield then tried to interrupt her.“Mister Whitfield, now I have the mic,”
she fired back. “Mister Whitfield, you arewith the taxpayers alliance. If you think thatit is that much of an onerous to have taxesin the commonwealth, you don’t get theright then to say ‘Why not have the roadsbuilt,’ you really don’t.”
Hudgins then asked the crowd a question:“What happens if you say no?”
“Traffic only is here because there is some-thing happening here,” she said. “How dowe keep it happening and contributing toeverybody? I’m not making a speech for this
Zoning amendmentcontroversial.
Reston Is Experiencing Growing Pains
Connie Hartke, president of Rescue Reston, agrassroots organization that opposes the redevelop-ment of Reston National Golf Course, asserted on May3 the need to warn bidders who wish to purchase theland, which is for sale, that they must maintain theland as a golf course.
Mark Looney of the Greater Reston Chamber of Com-merce took to the mic on May 3 to offer a minorityopinion in the room and endorsed the amendment onbehalf of developers. “There was a lot of debate anddiscussion that went into the comprehensive planthat was implemented. There are a lot of people whobelieve in that plan and are continuing to implementthat plan.”
Regina Coyle from the Fairfax County Department ofPlanning and Zoning is bombarded with questionsduring the meeting on May 24.
Bruce Ramo criticized county officials for placing toomuch emphasis on promoting growth, without havingfirm commitments to pay for the infrastructure —transportation, first responders and schools — thatwould support increased density.
Photos by Fallon Forbush/The Connection
4 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
On Memorial Day, we rememberall of those who have died inmilitary service, more than400,000 in World War II, more
than 30,000 in Korea, more than 50,000 inVietnam.
As many as 620,000 soldiers died in the CivilWar, stunningly about 2 percent of the popu-lation at that time. To compare, while morethan 2.5 million soldiers have served in Iraqand Afghanistan, that number is still less thanone percent of the U.S. population.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 6,880 U.S.military service men and women have died insupport of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On Memorial Day, there are many ways toremember the fallen, includinga visit to Arlington NationalCemetery, or many other localcommemorations. But at a
minimum, wherever you are, you can observea moment of silence at 12:01 p.m. along withIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America(IAVA), or you can set your own moment atsome point during the day.
More than 52,000 U.S. military service mem-bers have been wounded in action, althoughthat number is likely to be revised upward. In2013, the military confirmed traumatic braininjury in more than 220,000 of the more than2.5 million troops who have served in Iraq andAfghanistan. The long-term consequences ofmany of these injuries, including mental healthconsequences, are unknown, but they will re-quire a national commitment to excellence inhealth care and services for both active dutymilitary personnel and veterans. Virginia’s U.S.Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine continueto advocate for better service from the Veter-ans Administration.
Cuts proposed to health care, food assistanceand other aspects of the social safety net inthe proposed budget would disproportionatelyharm veterans.
EVERY YEAR around Memorial Day, thisnewspaper names the local men and womenwho have died in military service since Sept.11, 2001.
Marcus D. Prince, 22, of Norfolk, Virginia died April26, 2016 in Juffir, Bahrain. Prince was a U.S. Navycivilian who was supporting Operation Inherent Re-solve.
Blane D. Bussell, 60, of Virginia, died Jan. 26, 2016in Manama, Bahrain; Bussell was a U.S. Navy civilianwho was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
Sgt. Charles C. Strong, 28, of Suffolk, died Sept. 15,2014 in Herat Province, Afghanistan while conductingcombat operations. Sgt. David H. Stewart, 34, ofStafford, was one of three Marines who died June 20,2014 while conducting combat operations in Helmandprovince, Afghanistan.
Seaman Philip Frazier Manes, 21, of Fairfax, diedSept. 27, in Manama, Bahrain. He was supportingOperation Inherent Resolve.
Army Sgt. Lyle D. Turnbull, 31, of Norfolk, died Oct.18, 2013 in Kuwait, from a medical emergency. Capt.Brandon L. Cyr, 28, of Woodbridge, was one of fourairmen who died April 27, 2013, near Kandahar Air-field, Afghanistan, in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft.
1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, 26, of the Kings Park Westneighborhood of Fairfax, was killed by enemy fire onApril 23, 2013, Afghanistan. Hess was known as “RJ”and graduated from Robinson Secondary School in2005, where he played football, lacrosse and was thecaptain of the swim team. He was a U.S. ArmyBlackhawk helicopter pilot who deployed to Afghani-
stan on April 11, 2013. His family remembers his senseof humor and his natural leadership ability.
Master Sgt. George A. Banner Jr., 37, of Orange,died Aug. 20, 2013, of injuries sustained when enemyforces attacked his unit with small arms fire in WardakProvince, Afghanistan.
Spc. Caryn E. Nouv, 29, of Newport News, was oneof two soldiers who died July 27, 2013 in Ghazni Prov-ince, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemyforces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explo-sive device and small arms fire.
Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, 23, of Arlington, diedJune 23, 2012, while conducting combat operations inHelmand province, Afghanistan. Coti-Sears lovedmusic, played the guitar, composed songs and enter-tained family and friends at holiday gatherings. Niallwas very close to his grandfather, William Coti, whowas a Marine. “He was always my protege,” WilliamCoti told the Arlington Connection. “He always wantedto be a Marine and he followed my example. It weighsheavily on me that this had to happen.”
Chief Warrant Officer Five John C. Pratt, 51, ofSpringfield, died May 28, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan,when his helicopter crashed.
Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Wing, 42, of Alexandria, diedAug. 27, 2012 in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
In February 2012, Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner, 49,of Fairfax, was the highest ranking military officer todie in the war. Hildner died Feb. 3, 2012 in Kabul prov-ince, Afghanistan.
Sgt. Aaron X. Wittman, 28, of Chester, Virginia, diedJan. 10, 2013 from small arms fire. Sgt. David J. Cham-bers, 25, of Hampton, Virginia, died Jan. 16, 2013 froma roadside bomb. Sgt. Robert J. Billings, 30, ofClarksville, Virginia, died Oct. 13, 2012 when enemyforces attacked with an improvised explosive device.Staff Sgt. Jonathan P. Schmidt, 28, of Petersburg, Va.,died Sept. 1, 2012 from enemy small arms fire. 1st Lt.Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24, of Lexington, Virginia, diedJune 27, 2012, from a roadside bomb.
Aaron Carson Vaughn, 30, was one of 30 Americanservice members and 22 Navy SEALs killed Aug. 6,2011 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down inAfghanistan. Vaughn’s family has ties to McLean andBurke. He was survived by his wife, Kimberly, and theirtwo children.
Spc. Douglas Jay Green, 23 of Sterling, died Aug. 28,2011. when insurgents attacked his unit using a road-side bomb in Afghanistan. Green enlisted in 2007, afterattending Potomac Falls High School.
Pfc. Benjamin J. Park, 25, of Fairfax Station, diedJune 18, 2010 at Zhari district, Kandahar, Afghanistan,of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unitwith an improvised explosive device.
May 12, 2010, Donald J. Lamar II, 23 ofFredericksburg, was killed in Afghanistan. ChristopherD. Worrell, 35 of Virginia Beach, was killed in Iraq onApril 22, 2010. Steven J. Bishop, 29 of Christianburg,was killed March 13, 2010 in Iraq. Kielin T. Dunn, 19of Chesapeake, was killed Feb. 18, 2010 in Afghani-stan. Brandon T. Islip, 23 of Richmond, was killed Nov.29, 2009, in Afghanistan. Stephan L. Mace, 21 ofLovettsville, died Oct. 3, 2009 in Afghanistan.
Bill Cahir, 40 of Alexandria, died Aug. 13, 2009 ofa gunshot wound while conducting combat operationsin the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. After Sept.11, 2001, Cahir decided to leave his career as a jour-nalist and join the Marine Corps. His application tobecome a Marine was denied because of his age, buthe successfully lobbied members of Congress to get aspecial exemption.
Lance Cpl. Daniel Ryan Bennett, 23 of Clifton diedJan. 11, 2009, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 2ndLt. Sean P. O’Connor of Burke died Oct. 19, 2008 whilestationed at Hunter Army Air Field, Savannah, Geor-gia. O’Connor was an athlete in soccer, baseball andfootball who attended Fairfax County Public Schoolsand was a 1999 graduate of Bishop Denis J. O’ConnellHigh School in Arlington.
Pfc. David Sharrett II, 27 of Oakton, died Jan, 16,2008 in Iraq. On Oct. 24, 2008, his father, David H.Sharrett, was on hand as the Oakton Post Office onWhite Granite Drive was renamed to honor his son. Butthe senior Sharrett has battled to learn the truth abouthis son’s death, that he was killed by his lieutenant ina “friendly fire” incident. In April, 2012, Sharrett Sr.obtained documents confirming some of the details ofhis son’s death and a subsequent cover-up.
Army 1st Lt. Thomas J. Brown, 26, a George MasonUniversity graduate and Burke resident, died on Sept.
23, 2008, while serving in Iraq, from small arms fire.Sgt. Scott Kirkpatrick, 26, died on Aug. 11, 2007, in
Arab Jabour, Iraq. Kirkpatrick, who graduated fromPark View High School in Sterling, and also consideredHerndon and Reston as his hometowns, was a cham-pion slam poet.
Ami Neiberger-Miller lost her brother, U.S. ArmySpc. Christopher Neiberger, in August 2007 when hewas killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He was 22.
Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, of Herndon, diedwhen an improvised bomb exploded near his vehiclein Afghanistan on Aug. 12, 2007. Jonathan D.Winterbottom, 21, of Falls Church, died in Iraq on May23, 2007, when an IED exploded near his vehicle.
Nicholas Rapavi, 22, of Springfield, died Nov. 24,2006, during combat in Anbar province in Iraq. ArmyCpl. Andy D. Anderson, 24, was killed by enemy firein Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Tuesday, June 6, 2006.
Spc. Robert Drawl Jr., 21, a 2003 graduate of T.C.Williams High School, was killed by a bomb in Kunar,Afghanistan, on Aug. 19, 2006.
U.S. Army Specialist Felipe J. Garcia Villareal, 26 ofBurke, was injured in Iraq and flown to WashingtonHospital Center, where he died Feb. 12, 2006. He wasa graduate of Herndon High School.
Capt. Shane R. M. Mahaffee, 36, a 1987 graduateof Mount Vernon High School, died May 15, 2006. Hewas a lawyer, married, with two children.
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kirven, 21, waskilled in Afghanistan in 2005 during a firefight in acave with insurgents. He enlisted while still in highschool after Sept. 11, 2001.
Fairfax Station resident Pfc. Dillon Jutras, 20, waskilled in combat operations in Al Anbar Province ofIraq on Oct. 29, 2005.
Maj. William F. Hecker III, a 1987 graduate ofMcLean High School, was killed in action in Iraq, Jan.5, 2005. Staff Sgt. Ayman Taha, 31, of Vienna, waskilled Dec. 30, 2005, when an enemy munitions cachehe was prepping for demolition exploded. Army Capt.Chris Petty of Vienna was killed Jan. 5, 2006.
Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander Jr., the 2,000th sol-dier to be killed in Iraq, was literally born into theArmy here in Northern Virginia, at DeWitt Army Hos-pital at Fort Belvoir. Alexander died at Brooke ArmyMedical Center in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 22, 2005,of injuries sustained in Iraq five days earlier.
Lt. Col. Thomas A. Wren, 44, of Lorton, died inTallil, Iraq on Nov. 5, 2005. Marine Capt. MichaelMartino, 32 of the City of Fairfax, died Nov. 2, 2005,when his helicopter was brought down in Iraq.
1st Lt. Laura M. Walker of Oakton was killed on Aug.18, 2005, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. CW4 Matthew S.Lourey of Lorton died from injuries sustained on May26, 2005 in Buhriz, Iraq. Operations Officer Helge Boesof Fairfax was killed on Feb. 5, 2003, while participat-ing in counterterrorism efforts in eastern Afghanistan.
Among other local lives lost: Lance Cpl. Tavon LeeHubbard, 24, of Reston; 1st Lt. Alexander Wetherbee,27, of McLean; 1st Lt. Jeff Kaylor, 25, of Clifton; CoastGuard Petty Officer Nathan B. Bruckenthal, 24, ofHerndon; Army Chief Warrant Officer Sharon T.Swartworth, 43, of Mount Vernon; Command Sgt. Maj.James D. Blankenbecler, 40, of Mount Vernon; Capt.James F. Adamouski, 29, of Springfield; Sgt. DeForestL. Talbert, 22, of Alexandria; Marine Cpl. Binh N. Le,20, of Alexandria; Staff Sgt. Russell Verdugo, 34, ofAlexandria; Army Capt. Mark N. Stubenhofer, 30, fromSpringfield; Marine Gunnery Sgt. Javier Obleas-PradoPena, 36, from Falls Church; Marine Sgt. KrisnaNachampassak, 27, from Burke; Army Staff Sgt.Nathaniel J. Nyren, 31, from Reston; Marine LanceCpl. Tenzin Dengkhim, 19, from Falls Church, NavyChief Joel Egan Baldwin, 37, from Arlington; Maj.Joseph McCloud, of Alexandria, and Major Gloria D.Davis, 47 of Lorton.
Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat, 28 of Prince George, Virginia,died on May 20, 2012 in Afghanistan from a roadsidebomb. Constructionman Trevor J. Stanley, 22, of Vir-ginia Beach, died April 7, 2012 while deployed toCamp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, 30,of Hopewell, Va., died Jan. 10, 2012 in Afghanistan.Maj. Samuel M. Griffith, 36, of Virginia Beach, diedDec. 14, 2011 in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. James RonaldLeep Jr., 44 of Richmond, died Oct. 17, 2011 at For-ward Operating Base Kalsu in Iraq. Spc. Levi EfrainNuncio, 24 of Harrisonburg, died June 22, 2011 in Af-ghanistan. Capt. Michael Wray Newton, 30 of Newport
Remembering on Memorial Day 2017
Editorial
See Memorial Day, Page 7
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Reston
Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Entertainment
Send entertainment announcements towww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. Thedeadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artwork encour-aged.
ONGOINGLake Anne Exhibit. Deadline is June 2 to enter
photographs for the Lake Anne show. Theexhibit runs from June 5-July 2 and is free andopen to the public 9 a.m.–8 p.m. throughout theweek at the JoAnne Rose Gallery, RestonCommunity Center at Lake Anne, 1609Washington Plaza, Reston. Visitwww.leagueofrestonartists.org for more.
Women’s Training Program. through June 12,6:30-8 p.m. at South Lakes High School,Seahawks Drive, Reston. Reston RunnersWomen’s Training Program. Runners, walkers,run/walk intervals and Fresh Start, for womenwho need a more gentle start to working out.Designed by women for women. $45. [email protected] for more.
Art Exhibition. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through June 29 atU. S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise ValleyDrive. Exhibit “H. K. Anne Presents TheAmerican Landscape,” will be on exhibit at theUSGS National Center is a public building,parking is available in the visitor’s lot outsidethe visitor’s entrance. Photo ID is required toenter. Visit www.HKAnneFineArt.com for more.
All-comers’ Group Fun Run at PotomacRiver Running. Tuesdays and Thursdays.Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street,Reston. For beginners or competitive runners,come out for a fun, low-key run that is safe andsocial. Call 703-689-0999potomacriverrunning.com.
“A Bird in the Hand” through spring 2017Reston Town Square Park, 11990 Market Street,Reston Town Center. See and explore PatrickDougherty’s monumental public art sculpturemade from tree saplings. Presented by GRACE incollaboration with IPAR. 703-471-9242restonarts.org
Teen and Adult Art Classes ArtSpaceHerndon Every Monday from 5:30-8:30 p.m.750 Center Street, Herndon. Drawing and MixedMedia with Melanie Stanley - During Fall andWinter of 2016. Cost: $45/class. The class willuse a variety of techniques for drawing,painting, mark making, and collage using finearts tools and materials. Students will be takendown a creative path to learn to use drawingtools and brushes more effectively. Register byemailing Melanie, and she will send you thesupply list and payment options/information:[email protected]. 703-956-9560.www.artspaceherndon.com.
THURSDAY-SUNDAY/JUNE 1-437th Annual Herndon Festival. 10 a.m.-11
p.m. in Downtown Herndon, 777 Lynn St. Theevent features a carnival all four days, threestages of entertainment, a 10K/5K Race &Fitness Expo, children’s hands on art area,children’s alley, business expo, two nights offireworks, arts and crafts vendors, and anassortment of food vendors. Visitwww.herndonfestival.net for more.
DEADLINE JUNE 2Lake Anne Exhibit. The Reston Photographic
Society, a special interest group of the League ofReston Artists, invites photographers to enterphotographs for the Lake Anne show. Theexhibit runs from June 5-July 2 and is free andopen to the public 9 a.m.-8 p.m. throughout theweek at the JoAnne Rose Gallery, RestonCommunity Center at Lake Anne, 1609Washington Plaza, Reston. Visitwww.leagueofrestonartists.org for more.
FRIDAY/JUNE 2Morning Storytime. 10:30 a.m. every Friday at
Scrawl Books, 11862 Market St. Reading storiesfor children. Visit www.scrawlbooks.com.
Casino Night. 6:30–10 p.m. at Volkswagen Groupof America Headquarters, 2200 FerdinandPorsche Drive, Herndon. Staffed gaming tables,hors d’ oeuvres, cocktails, raffles, a live andsilent auction, as well as a celebrity emcee withmusic and dancing. Call 202-540-2328 for more.
JUNE 3-AUG. 26Free Concerts. 7:30-10 p.m. every Saturday night
in the pavilion at Reston Town Center, 11900Market St. Call 703-912-4062 or visit
www.restontowncenter.com/concerts for more.
SATURDAY/JUNE 3Gardens of Notes Tour. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at
Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St. A tour offive residential gardens in three Restonneighborhoods, followed by a celebration atHidden Land Landscaping. $20. Visitwww.restonchorale.org.
Bruno’s Barnyard Bash. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. atNorth Hills Pavilion, 1325 North Village Road,Reston. See farm animals, make farm themedcrafts, play games, milk a pretend cow and evenlearn how to make ice cream. Event is cancelledin the event of rain. $12/Reston AssociationMember child $16/Non member child. [email protected] for more.
Meet the Author. 2-3 p.m. at Reston RegionalLibrary, 11925 Bowman Towne Road. Authorand scholar Dr. Harry Butowsky will discuss hisbiography “I Survived: My Name is Yitzkhak.”Call 703-689-2700 for more.
Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr Concert. 7:30-10p.m. at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St.Kicks off the concert series. Call 703-912-4062or visit www.restontowncenter.com/concerts.
MONDAY/JUNE 5Muscle Up Mondays. 6:30 p.m. every Monday,
11900 Market St. Free fitness classes in thePavilion presented by CRUNCH Fitness-Restongroup instructors. Visit www.crunchreston.comor call 571-267-5000 for more.
JUNE 5–JULY 2Lake Anne Exhibit. at the Reston Community
Center at Lake Anne, 1609 Washington Plaza N.Exhibit features work by members of the RestonPhotographic Society. Visitwww.leagueofrestonartists.org/rps or call 703-476-4500.
DEADLINE JUNE 6Photo Competition. Professional and amateur
photographers are invited to submit entries tothe Herndon Town Calendar Photo Competition.Call 703-956-9560 or visitwww.artspaceherndon.com/calls-for-art/.
TUESDAY/JUNE 6Book and Art Sidewalk Sale. 5-8 p.m. at 845
Station St., Herndon. The Closet sponsors salefor decorating or sprucing up the home and yardwith an inventory of books on gardening, art,interior design, cooking and home improvement,as well as a selection of prints and paintings for
sale. Proceeds benefit The Closet collegescholarship fund for local students. [email protected] for more.
THURSDAY/JUNE 8Book and Art Sidewalk Sale. 5-8 p.m. at 845
Station St., Herndon. The Closet sponsors salefor decorating or sprucing up the home and yardwith an inventory of books on gardening, art,interior design, cooking and home improvement,as well as a selection of prints and paintings forsale. Proceeds benefit The Closet collegescholarship fund for local students. [email protected] for more.
FRIDAY/JUNE 9Morning Storytime. 10:30 a.m. every Friday at
Scrawl Books, 11862 Market St. Reading storiesfor children. Visit www.scrawlbooks.com formore.
SATURDAY/JUNE 10Book and Art Sidewalk Sale. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
at 845 Station St., Herndon. The Closet sponsorssale for decorating or sprucing up the home andyard with an inventory of books on gardening,art, interior design, cooking and homeimprovement, as well as a selection of prints andpaintings for sale. Proceeds benefit The Closetcollege scholarship fund for local students.Email [email protected] for more.
SUNDAY/JUNE 11Love Your Body Yoga Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
at 11900 Market St., Reston. Yoga studios andwellness centers of Northern Virginia will beoffering classes, services, and information onways to care for your body, along with liveentertainment and activities for children.Donations to participate in classes benefitCornerstones. Visitloveyourbodyyogafestival.com for more.
MONDAY/JUNE 12Muscle Up Mondays. 6:30 p.m. every Monday,
11900 Market St. Free fitness classes in thePavilion presented by CRUNCH Fitness-Restongroup instructors. Visit www.crunchreston.comor call 571-267-5000 for more.
Yoga OutsideOn Sunday, June 11 it’s the Love Your Body Yoga Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.at 11900 Market St., Reston. Yoga studios and wellness centers of North-ern Virginia will be offering classes, services, and information on waysto care for your body, along with live entertainment and activities forchildren. Donations to participate in classes benefit Cornerstones. Visitloveyourbodyyogafestival.com for more.
6 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Commentary
By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
State Delegate (D-36)
My credentials as aprogressive Demo-crat (capital D) arewell established;
sometimes missed in the politicalback and forth of an election yearmight be my earnest effort to be ademocratic (small d) advocate.The outcomes of elections can beno more reflective of the publicmood and aspirations than sub-stantial participation by voters inthe electoral process. That obser-vation has been made over andover yet elections occur with onlya small fraction of eligible voterstaking part.
Voting does take some time andeffort. To vote one must register,but registration is active as long asyou have not moved. Even thoughelections take place on a weekdaywhen many people work, it shouldbe possible to find some time be-tween 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. in orderto vote. If not, absentee voting isan alternative. There has beenmuch legislation over the yearsdesigned to suppress the vote, butI and others have spent a lifetimeworking to get it defeated in thecourts or in the legislature.
Although candidates spend hugeamounts of money and time sell-ing themselves to voters, there aremany voters who consider them-selves too ill-informed to vote.Bringing a realistic vision of a can-didate to a voter is not an easytask. Candidates need to keep try-ing, and voters need to step up theeffort to find out information oncandidates for themselves. Therecent growth of interest groupsregistering voters and informingpeople on the issues is a very hope-ful sign. I believe it will helpchange the outcome of some elec-tions, and for sure it is likely toincrease participation.
Virginia has an election everyyear. While most states skip the
odd -num-bered yearsfor elec-tions, Vir-ginia alongwith NewJersey willelect a gov-ernor, lieu-tenant gov-ernor, attor-ney general
and all members of the House ofDelegates this year. That electionwill be on Nov. 7. But even beforewe get to those campaigns thereare many more primary electionsin both parties this year than I canever remember.
June 13 is a most important datewhen primary elections will takeplace. Voters do not register bypolitical party in Virginia. To votein the Democratic or Republicanprimary on June 13 you need todeclare your political party at thattime. You cannot vote in more thanone primary.
Of course I am voting in theDemocratic primary and will bevoting for current Lieutenant Gov-ernor Ralph Northam for theDemocratic nomination for gover-nor and Justin Fairfax as theDemocratic nominee for lieuten-ant governor. Attorney GeneralMark Herring will be the Demo-cratic nominee for re-election ashe is not being challenged in theprimary.
If you are voting in the Republi-can primary on June 13, you havea choice of three candidates for thenomination for governor, andthree for lieutenant governor. I amnot being challenged in the pri-mary but several delegate districtshave primaries in Northern Vir-ginia. To look at a sample ballotfor each party, go towww.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/upcoming.htm,
However you choose to vote, doget out and vote and encourageyour neighbors to do the same.
Get Out and Vote
Send school notes to [email protected] by noonon Friday.
Kayleen Bell and MatthewNotarangelo, both of Herndon,graduated from York College ofPennsylvania.
Kayleen Bell, of Herndon, a se-nior Hospitality Management majorat York College of Pennsylvania, hasbeen named to the dean’s list for thespring 2017 semester.
Kathryn Laura Rice , of
Herndon, earned a Master of Musicfrom the Office of Graduate Studiesfrom the University of Nebraska-Lin-coln.
Donald Brown, of Herndon,was named to the Champlain College(Burlington, Vt.) president’s list forthe spring 2017 semester.
Jason Silve, of Herndon, gradu-ated from Becker College(Worcester, Mass.) in May 2017.Silve earned a Bachelor of Arts in lib-eral arts.
School Notes
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To have community events listed in theConnection, send toconnectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/ bynoon on Friday.
SATURDAY/JUNE 3Sexual Trafficking Walk. 8 a.m. at
the Fairfax County GovernmentCenter, 12000 Government CenterParkway, Fairfax. Help raiseawareness and prevent teen sextrafficking by participating in the JustAsk Walk/Run for Freedom.Sponsored by Just Ask TraffickingPrevention. Visitjustaskprevention.com for more.
ONGOINGSunrise at Reston Town Center
offers a monthly Caregiver SupportGroup on the fourth Wednesday ofthe month, 6:30-8 p.m. Monthlysupport group offers a safe place forfamily caregivers, to meet anddevelop a mutual support system andto exchange practical informationand possible solutions. Learn aboutresources available in the communityand how to manage caregiver relatedstress. Call 703-956- 8930 or emailReston.ED@ sunriseseniorliving.comto RSVP.
Exercise for Parkinson’s. EveryMonday, 1:15-2:15 p.m. RestonSport&Health, 11445 Isaac NewtonSquare, Reston. This program bringstogether people impacted byParkinson’s Disease to participate invarious physical exercises aimed atimproving posture, balance andcirculation and increasing strength,muscle control and mobility. Free.parkinsonfoundation.org.ContactNatalie McCall at [email protected] or 703-904-7600for more.
Master Gardener Training. TheFairfax County Master GardenerAssociation offers plant clinics, hometurf training or speakers forhomeowner’s meetings. Fees vary.Visit fairfaxgardening.org or call MGHelp Desk at 703-324-8556 for more.
Over-40 Softball League. A Fairfax-based league is looking for enoughplayers to form another team. Playersmust be at last 40 years of age to beeligible. All games are doubleheaders- played on Sundays at Bready Parkin Herndon between 11 a.m. and 6p.m. Email [email protected] formore.
Passages DivorceCare. For thoseexperiencing the pain of separationor divorce, the caring community atVienna Presbyterian Church offersPassages DivorceCare. This 15-weekprogram offers a path towardhealing. Vienna Presbyterian Churchis located on the corner of MapleAvenue (Rt. 123) and Park Street inVienna. Cost to cover materials is$20, scholarships available. Call 703-938-9050, go towww.viennapres.org, or send anemail to [email protected].
The Herndon Adult Day HealthCare Center needs volunteers toassist with fitness activities, arts andcrafts, mealtime, entertainment andmuch more. Call 703-324-5406, TTY711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on VolunteerSolutions.
Toy Drive in Collaboration withNonprofit FISH Through Dec. 16Stop by 11890 Sunrise Valley Driveany weekday from 9-4 and drop anew, unwrapped toy in the donationbox in the lobby. All toys will bedistributed to needy children withinLoudoun County and to Herndon/Reston children via the non-profitHerndon-Reston FISH, Inc. Toysshould be for the ages of Newborn to
See Bulletin, Page 7
Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIENot that I need a pound bag of M&Ms to
weigh 16 actual ounces (it’s now down to 10.70oz.) or a half gallon of ice cream to weigh 64ounces (rather than the 48 oz. it currently is) orthe “family” size bag of Utz potato chips tomeasure more than its current/meager/non-typical-family size of 9.5 ounces (down from 14ounces that I remember), nevertheless; I doneed to feel the love, and right now I don’t. Isort of understand price points and the businessmodels ingrained to retain customer loyalty(price matters more than size, generally), but Iam hard-pressed to ignore the fact that eventhough I’m spending the same amount of moneyas I always have, I’m not getting anywhere nearthe same amount of product as I always have.
Not that the few items I’ve listed here are sta-ples (well, maybe not to you they aren’t), or thenecessary building blocks of a healthy diet, theyare pieces to a puzzle which characterizes someof my eating habits — and probably some ofyours, too. After all, we are all victims of adver-tising messages which bombard us 24-7, on tele-vision, on radio, in print and on devices. In away, we’re all sitting ducks targeted to quackaccordingly because some entity/marketingstrategist knows who we are, what we’re doingand when we’re doing it. It’s not exactly “BigBrother,” but it’s a bit more than “Little Sister.”
My brother, Richard and I grew up in the50s. We ate cookies, candy and snack cakesuntil the cows came home, and we didn’t evenlive on a farm. Quite the opposite, we lived insuburbia, seven miles from Boston, according tothe sign on Rte. 9. We ate dessert after breakfast,lunch and dinner and a few times in between:after school and before bedtime. Why? Becausemy mother had been non-stop advertised-toabout the importance of calcium and the bestway for children to get calcium was to drinkeight glasses of milk per day to “build strongbones and healthy bodies.” And the only way toget us boys to drink that much milk was to feedus something for which milk was a kind of elixir:cookies, cakes, snack cakes, etc. So we ate anddrink to our hearts content, but more impor-tantly, we ate and drank to the development ofour bones and bodies. And so it continues to thisday, sort of, mostly. As my sister-in-law, Vanessasays and then laughs after listening to Richardand I talk about our dessert issues: “Boy, yourmother did some job on you two.”
I’m exaggerating, a bit, with respect to ourcurrent daily consumption. I mean, who couldkeep up that pace? Moreover, given certainage/weight/cancer realities (particularly concern-ing yours truly), it would be totally, extraordinar-ily irresponsible to continue to snack-cake andcookie our way through the day. Still, the urge tosplurge seems hard-wired into our brains andwhen the moment is right, it might not be Cialisthat we always think of. (Do you remember theSeinfeld episode when George was determinedto combine sex and eating and brought a sand-wich to bed? For the record, the thought hasnever crossed my mind.)
I imagine as you’ve read this column you’vedeveloped a sense that given the Lourie’s long-standing — and sitting commitment to suchhedonistic pursuits, pennies, nickels, dimes orquarters on the dollar are unlikely to dissuadeeither one of us from our Santa-like appointedrounds.
Still, we’re not idiots. We’re aware of theeffects on our bodies if we devolve into thesnack cake eating machines of our youth/ado-lescence. We’re not getting any younger nor arewe likely getting any thinner or healthier. I’d liketo think we’ve gotten smarter and more respect-ful of what foods go in and by association whatmoney goes out.
But as difficult as it is to turn an ocean lineraround after it’s headed out to sea, so too is itdifficult for yours truly to care less about whatI’ve spent my entire life caring more about: des-sert/sweets. However, I do anticipate a reactionto this most recent size reduction. As my mother,Celia, used to say: “It’s enough already.”
Price Points —In the WrongDirection
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From Page 4
News, died June 11, 2011 in Afghanistan. Capt.Charles A. Ransom, 31, of Midlothian was one ofeight airmen who died April 27, 2011, at the KabulInternational Airport, Afghanistan, from gunfire.Sgt. Sean T. Callahan, 23, of Warrenton died April23, 2011 in combat in Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st ClassAnthony Venetz Jr., 30, of Prince William died Jan.28, 2011 in Afghanistan, after being been seriouslywounded months before. Spc. Sean R. Cutsforth,22, of Radford, died Dec. 15, 2010 in Afghanistan.Spc. William K. Middleton, 26, of Norfolk died Nov.22, 2010 in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Christopher F.Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach died July 5, 2010,in Afghanistan.
If you know of someone who should beincluded in this list, or if you would like toshare how you are honoring the memory ofa family member or friend lost, or aboutthe progress of someone injured, please letus know.
— Mary Kimm
Memorial Day 2017
Opinion
16. The last day for donations is December 16. Call703-860-4600 for more information.
The Northern Virginia Long Term CareOmbudsman Program needs volunteeradvocates for residents in nursing homes andassisted living facilities. Contact Lisa Callahan at703-324-5861, TTY 711 or [email protected] . Also visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/ltcombudsman/.
Submit a Nomination for Volunteerism &Community Service Awards
The Virginia Governor’s Volunteerism andCommunity Service Awards is looking torecognize individuals and groups whosevolunteer activities contribute to the life andwelfare of Virginia citizens. There are a varietyof categories for both individuals as well asgroups so if you have a special volunteer in yourorganization or know of a group that should benominated, please visit the website to getstarted: http://virginiaservice.virginia.gov/volunteering/governors-volunteerism-awards/
Fairfax County needs volunteers to drive olderadults to medical appointments and wellnessprograms. For these and other volunteeropportunities, call 703-324-5406, TTY 711 orvisit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults andclick on Volunteer Solutions.
Respite Care volunteers give family caregivers ofa frail older adult a well-deserved break so theycan go shopping, attend a doctor’s appointmentor just have coffee with a friend. Volunteers visitand oversee the safety of the older adult for afew hours each month. Support and training areprovided. Contact 703-324-7577, TTY 711, [email protected].
Fairfax County’s Meals on Wheels urgentlyneeds drivers in the Annandale, Franconia/Kingstowne, Reston, Mount Vernon and McLeanareas. 703-324-5406, TTY 711 orwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults.
Habitat Heroes Project. The fourth Saturday ofeach month from 10 a.m. - noon. Join theHabitat Heroes in protecting Reston’s forestsfrom aggressive plants and restoring them totheir natural state. Wear long sleeves, longpants, and if possible, gardening gloves toprotect from insects and dangerous plants. R.A.will provide tools, gloves, snacks, and water. Tovolunteer and find more information, [email protected] or 703-435-7986.
ARTSPACE HERNDON – ArtSpace Herndonneeds volunteer docents to greet guests, answerthe phone and complete sales during normalgallery hours. Volunteers are also needed a fewhours each month to assist with exhibitinstallation and special performing arts events.Training is provided. Flexible shifts areavailable. For additional information see ourwebsite www.artspaceherndon.com. Or contactus at 703-956-9560,[email protected]. ArtSpaceHerndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon.
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From Page 6
8 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ May 31 - June 6, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
From Page 3
News
plan, I’m just making a speech for the at-titude that I continue to hear.”
She told the crowd that if we want Restonto be better, the community needs to bandtogether.
Screams from the crowd were then hurledat her: “We are together!”
Together … AgainstThe Amendment
Most of the Restonians at the meetingswere together in opposing the amendment.
When community members asked offi-cials on May 3 why this zoning elementcouldn’t have been accomplished simulta-neously with the amendment to the com-prehensive plan, they received an answerthat made them audibly groan.
“Quite frankly, it was complicated,” FredSelden, director of Fairfax County Depart-ment of Planning and Zoning, said in re-sponse. “We just didn’t think we had thecapacity to do both of them at the sametime.”
During the six years of the planning pro-cess, the Fairfax County Board of Supervi-sors established a 40-member Reston Mas-ter Plan Special Study Task Force to workwith county planning staff to make recom-mendations for changes to the FairfaxCounty Planning Commission and Board.
The members represented many organi-zations throughout Reston, including devel-opers, citizen associations, civic organiza-tions, homeowners’ associations and mer-chants.
“Over half of them were developers orland-use attorneys,” Terry Maynard, co-chair of the Reston 20/20 Committee, saidat the May 3 meeting. At the time, he wason the Reston Master Plan Special StudyTask Force as a representative of the RestonCitizens Association.
“The Reston Master Plan does not repre-sent the will of the people,” he added toapplause from the crowd.
Dennis Hays, a member of the Reston Citi-zens Association, also took the microphoneon May 3 to talk to the county officials inthe room.
“I’m here in Reston as a choice,” Hayssaid. “I came to Reston because it is a uniqueplace and it needs to be protected as aunique place.”
He summed up the general feeling in theroom by stating that the community thinksthe plan is “not good for Reston.”
He recommended that the county tablethe amendment and bring it up the nexttime the comprehensive plan is reviewed.
Mark Looney of the Greater Reston Cham-ber of Commerce then took to the mic tooffer a minority opinion. He was a memberof the Reston Master Plan Special StudyTask Force.
“There was a lot of debate and discus-sion that went into the comprehensive planthat was implemented,” Looney said. “Thereare a lot of people who believe in that planand are continuing to implement that plan.”
He spoke up for developers and their in-
tent for endorsing the amendment.“As someone who represents developers,
the choices that property owners will makeare to try and stay true to Reston’s historyand remain zoned PRC and then keep thecommunity as a single whole unit, or theywill be forced to look for other tools toachieve the objectives that the comprehen-sive plan put in place,” he said. “And so,the changes that are before here are an ef-fort to try to keep Reston as one commu-nity by keeping the same zoning in placeand not have Balkanized zoning to whereone parcel is zoned one category, anotherparcel is zoned another category.”
The crowd was silent in response.The crowd also had concern about add-
ing density without adding more open spaceto the community.
Golf Course HullabalooOpen space has been an important ele-
ment that the community has been willingto fight for.
The Reston National Golf Course waslisted for sale by investment advisory firmARA Newmark on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
ARA listed the property as “168 acres ofby-right residential development.” This ismisleading because any owner of the golfcourse would not have the right to developthe land into residential property by right.
Reston’s comprehensive plan also in-cludes a provision that says, “The RestonNational and Hidden Creek Country Clubgolf courses are planned for private recre-ation use, more specifically to remain as golfcourses.”
Connie Hartke, president of RescueReston, and other supporters were at theMay 3 meeting wearing bright yellow T-shirts. The grass-roots organization opposesthe redevelopment of Reston National Golf
Course and has won legal battles in courtwith developers to preserve the course.
“Everyone knows the golf course is forsale,” Hartke said at the meeting. “There isnot an ethical broker or real estate agent inthis area who should be promising anyoneanything about that being permanent at thispoint,” she said. “Any property owner hasthe right to try and change the land usedesignation.”
Though Hartke said that Belgin was an“ally in our fight for open space,” the grouporganized and rallied to make it clear theywere still watching and making sure thecounty would make no changes in its sup-port of their mission.
More than 100 members of the groupdemonstrated in front of the NorthwesternMutual office in Reston on Sunday, May 7.The company is the majority owner of RNGolf Management, which owns the RestonNational Golf Course.
“The purpose of Sunday’s rally was tosend a message to those bidding on theReston National Golf Course property thatwe stand ready to defend the open spaceland use designation of this property,”Hartke said. “A golf course is what it is, anda golf course is all they are buying. We willdefend the vision of Bob Simon and theplanned community of Reston.
Calls For Referendum“How about putting it to a vote for Reston
residents?” someone in the crowd stood upand yelled during the meeting. “That wouldmake it democratic.”
The audience cheered and started clap-ping.
Roars of “Referendum, Referendum” thenbegan echoing in the cramped room.
This, however, is unlikely as the processfor the amendment is less egalitarian.
“This is not the last conversation to have,”Hudgins said at the meeting.
If the Fairfax County Board of Supervi-sors authorizes the amendment to moveforward in the deliberation process in July2017, the Fairfax County Planning Commis-sion will host a public hearing in Septem-ber. After the commission provides its rec-ommendation, the Board of Supervisors willhost a public hearing and vote in October.
But several members of the crowd werepessimistic about the process, telling theofficials about their frustration, accusingthem of ignoring the will of the peoplethroughout the process of developing theirhometown.
“It makes no difference how many hear-ings you have and how often we get to say,‘We hate what you’re doing,’ if you neverlisten and Supervisor Hudgins and the othersupervisors go ahead and approve the thingsthat we hate,” Tammi Petrine, co-chair ofthe Reston 20/20 Committee, said duringthe May 3 meeting. “What is the point?”
Hudgins responded to the angst that wasbrewing in the room.
“Some of what we have talked about to-night is really the plan that has to exist ifthere is to be a tomorrow here,” she said.“If there is a view that you can have noth-ing else built after today, and you think theplace will still thrive, I think you’ll be mis-taken.”
Reston Association Weighs InThe Reston Association Board of Direc-
tors adopted a resolution on Thursday, May24, calling for an additional communitymeeting to further debate the proposedamendments and specifically petitions theHunter Mill District Supervisor, CathyHudgins, to make it happen.
The resolution states that the associationis not currently supportive of the proposedamendments and is seeking more informa-tion from the county.
During the May 24 meeting, officials didnot want to allow the public to ask ques-tions. However, yelling and shouting of de-mands forced officials to comply.
The RA resolution condemned countyofficials for attempting to conduct a meet-ing without two-way dialogue by saying theboard “does not condone Fairfax Countystaff withholding any information and notfully answering questions from the Restoncommunity.”
Community Experiences Growing Pains
Photo by Fallon Forbush/The Connection
Fairfax County Department ofPlanning and Zoning Deputy Zon-ing Administrator Cathy Belgintakes to the podium for the thirdtime to to promote the amendmentto the public, which has beenoverwhelmingly opposed.
Photo courtesy of the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning
Map 2: After much concern from the community, the Fairfax CountyDepartment of Planning and Zoning updated the map to show where theplanned high density areas of the PRC District areas are, shown in redwithin the yellow-green on this map.
