Fire Damages Home, Injures Firefighters
<bt>Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to a house fire at approximately 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the Reston area of Fairfax County. The two-story single-family home is located at 2719 Soapstone Drive.
Fire Department spokesman Raul Castillo said two of the home's occupants were working outside when they smelled smoke.
First arriving units reported heavy smoke visible through the roof. An additional alarm was dispatched bringing more than 50 emergency personnel to the scene. Firefighters brought the fire under control in approximately 80 minutes.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries, one required transportation to Reston Hospital. Two adults have been displaced. The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents. Damage is estimated at $500,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
<sh>Covenants at Wiehle Metro Site
<bt>The first phase of the Dulles Rail project is slated to be completed in 2009, extending Metrorail to Wiehle Avenue in Reston. And planners see the area around the site, currently home to roughly 300 commercial properties, as the future home of high-density, high-end condominiums, restaurants, shops, offices and more. But first, Reston Association-enforced covenants prohibiting residential development in the area must be lifted. Last Thursday night, RA's Board of Directors said they would help a group of property owners seek the removal of the covenants, opening the way for redevelopment. "We'll see if we can't get this thing cleared up," said RA Board Member Doug BushŽe (North Point).
<sh>Global Natural Beautification Award
<bt>Reston has won an international competition for its environmental beautification efforts, beating out other comparably sized communities from around the globe. The Communities in Bloom program is an international movement encouraging the involvement of citizens to celebrate community achievements and civic pride. Reston was honored for its achievement in the following categories: tidiness, urban forestry, landscaped areas, environmental awareness, heritage preservation and community involvement. Reston Association's Environmental Resource Manager Claudia Thompson-Deahl accepted the award on behalf of RA at a ceremony at Prince Edward Island, Canada, on Sept. 18. "This international recognition for Reston symbolizes our strong sense of community stewardship," said RA Spokeswoman Karen Monaghan in a statement.
<sh>Reston DQ to Offer SLHS Flavor
<bt>The Dairy Queen at Hunters Woods Village Center will offer the "Seahawk Blizzard," a new ice cream flavor to honor South Lakes High School's band. Members of the school's band will perform outside the store on Saturday, Oct. 9, and DQ will donate proceeds from the flavor to the school. Seahawk Blizzards contain vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, heath bar crunch and malt flavoring.
<sh>Calendar
<bt>Reston Association Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting. Monday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at RA's Main Office at 1930 Isaac Newton Sq.
Reston Association Board Administration Committee Meeting. Monday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at RA's Main Office at 1930 Isaac Newton Sq.