<b>Reston Resident, 21, Dies in Motorcycle Crash</b>
A 21-year-old motorcyclist died in a crash Sunday, Aug. 21, after crashing into a turning car at the intersection of Lawyers Road and Pinoak Lane. According to police, at around 6:30 p.m., Andrew Olimpiew was driving his motorcycle westbound on Lawyers Road when a motorist driving a Saturn attempted to turn eastbound onto Lawyers Road from Pinoak Lane as Olimpiew was approaching. The police said Olimpiew lost control of the Yamaha 600, and the motorcycle fell over and slid along the pavement until crashing into the car. “[Olimpiew] laid down quite a bit of skid marks and so it would appear that he was trying to stop,” said Officer Richard Henry, a police spokesman. “He went down and crashed into the car and he actually spun the car around a little from the impact into the vehicle.” Olimpiew of Leatherwood Drive died after being transported to Fairfax Hospital. Speed was a factor in the crash, according to the police report. This was the 37th traffic fatality in Fairfax County this year.
<b>Reston Man Robbed and Beaten</b>
Last Monday evening around 9 p.m., a Reston man, 29, was robbed at gunpoint by three men on South Gate Square, according to a police report. The man was walking down a pathway when three men approached him and demanded his money, the police report said. After handing over his belongings, the suspects hit the man over the head with a weapon. When the victim fell to the ground, the three suspects began kicking him in the upper body, according to the report.
The victim was taken to INOVA Reston Hospital, where his injuries were deemed not life-threatening. The suspects left by foot. One suspect was described as black, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 150 pounds and 20-years-old.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS or Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
<b>Save Tall Oaks Pool (STOP) Plans Protest</b>
Several patrons of Tall Oaks pool will announce Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the pool on North Shore Drive, that they formed a grassroots organization, called Save Tall Oaks Pool (STOP). The group is holding the news conference and a children’s protest to launch its effort to save the pool. Consultants to Reston Association have recommended closing the pool to cut operating costs. STOP will also announce its new Web site, www.savetalloakspool.com, and the start of a three-week grassroots petition drive as the first steps in their campaign to keep the pool open and operating. Speakers at the rally will include, Deborah Shprentz, founder of STOP, Tara Coonin, president of Bentana Woods Cluster, Howard Singer, president of Bentana Park Condominium Association, and neighborhood children.
<b>Tutors Needed</b>
Vecinos Unidos/Neighbors United of Herndon is in need of volunteer tutors for the upcoming school year to assist elementary- and middle-school-age students with homework. Tutors are needed — youth age 16 and up are welcome — at its two Herndon sites Monday through Thursday, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. or 4-6 p.m. Call 703-376-8475 or e-mail herndonsafehaven@cox.net.
<b>Best-Selling Author Offers Seminars</b>
Jan Cullinane, best-selling author of “The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life,” will be offering seminars at the Live South Real Estate Show, at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Sept. 9-11. Topics of her presentation include secrets for a successful retirement, trying a place for fit, what to consider if you’re single and niche retirement lifestyles.
The book explains a holistic approach to retirement, addressing the psychological, biological, geographical and financial aspects of this transition. Through her company, Cullinane has presented seminars for a number of audiences, including Ford, American Express, United Way, Realty Presentations, Inc., and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. She has appeared nationally and locally on more than 20 television and radio shows, and has consulted on as well as written a number of newspaper and magazine articles.
<b>Community Awareness About Islam</b>
1-877-WhyIslam, a project of Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) is organizing a community awareness program about Islam and Muslims. The program is comprised of an informative lecture on Islam followed by a question-and- answer session. Free copies of Quran and informative literature on various Islamic topics will also be available. The program will be held Monday, Oct. 3, from 7-9 p.m., at Reston Regional Library in the meeting room. Islamic Circle of North America, www.icna.org, is a nonprofit organization promoting awareness about Islam. Visit www.whyislam.org.
<b>Works Sunday a Success</b>
Works Sunday, an annual cooperative event involving members of Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faith communities in Reston and Herndon, took place Aug. 21.
“We just had stuff going on all weekend long, and a lot got done thanks to a lot of people that worked very hard,” said Marilyn Silvey, the event’s steering committed chair. “People in the community were incredibly generous.”
The effort included more than a dozen “action projects,” plus five “donation projects.” Action projects included holding three worship services at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center; providing maintenance at three Gabriel Homes, group homes for employed adults with mental retardation; collecting food for Reston Interfaith’s food pantry; making bag lunches for the Embry Rucker Shelter; cleaning up trash along the W&OD Trail; holding worship services and preparing luncheons for residents at the Hunters Woods and Lake Anne Fellowship Houses; stuffing backpacks with school supplies for low-income children; and giving concerts at the Sunrise/Reston and Cameron Glen residences.
Donation projects included bringing specified items to the Fairfax County Abused Women’s Shelter, the Embry Rucker Shelter, the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, the Laurel Learning Center and the Zaccheus Community Kitchen in Washington, D.C.
<b>Golf Tournament to Aid Rwanda Orphans</b>
On Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Reston National Golf Course, the United Christian Parish of Reston will sponsor a golf tournament to aid orphans in Rwanda. The cost to play, $125 per player, includes a round of golf and cart, beverages on the course and an awards dinner. Registration is from 11-11:45 a.m. with a tee time of noon. All golfers are invited to participate. The event hopes to raise at least $10,000 for the United Methodist Church of Rwanda. The United Christian Parish (UCP) has been working for nine years with a United Methodist Church project in Rwanda, which provides food, shelter and medical care for children orphaned by war and AIDS. Funds raised by the golf tournament will help build an orphanage, school and clinic to help 300 children in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali. UCP youth also raise $3,000 each year to support a young Rwandan studying medicine at the university in Kigali. The United Christian Parish is an ecumenical church combining four denominations: United Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ. Visit www.unitedchristianparish.org.
<b>Calendar</b>
August 29, 7 p.m., Reston Association Special Board Meeting to hear comments about RELAC and approve the RELAC referendum question at Isaac Newton Square.