TWO MEN Arrested for Robberies
Police arrested two men in connection with two robberies in Reston. Both robberies targeted women.
Tyree Foster, 18, of Covent Gardens Court in Reston, was charged with two counts of robbery and one count of sexual battery. Billy Webb, 21, of Emerald Heights Court in Reston, was charged with one count of robbery.
A 46-year-old Reston woman walking along a path near the 11900 block of Winterthur Lane was robbed on Thursday, Aug. 31 at about 5 p.m. According to the police report, a man jumped out in front of the victim and demanded money. The suspect snatched a necklace from the woman's neck and grabbed at her. When the woman struggled, the suspect punched her in the face. He took money and fled. The woman did not require medical attention.
In a second robbery on Saturday, Sept. 9, a 67-year-old Reston woman was robbed while walking on a pathway near the 2300 block of Colts Neck Road. Two men approached her asking for the time. Then, one of the suspects grabbed her bag and both men fled. She was not injured.
Foster and Webb may face additional charges.
RIBBON-CUTTING for Transit Station
The Board of Supervisors will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Reston Town Center Transit Station at 12051 Bluemont Way in Reston on Friday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will begin in the Reston Town Center Pavilion with the ribbon-cutting to follow at the transit station.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins will welcome participants, including Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly; Fairfax County Department of Transportation Director Kathy Ichter; Equity Properties Market Leader Greg Meyer; and Reston Town Center Association Executive Director Barbara Rovin.
“The community gateway to Reston Town Center" is how Hudgins characterizes the new transit station. “It provides a centralized station where residents, employees and visitors may arrive or embark without having to drive or park their cars.”
From the Reston Town Center Transit Station, which has been in operation since April, travelers can ride Fairfax Connector buses to go to the West Falls Church Metro Station; to Fair Lakes, Fair Oaks Mall and Fairfax Corner; to Herndon; to Tysons Corner; and throughout greater Reston. Most bus routes operate seven days a week from early morning to late evening, accommodating nearly any schedule. The fare is $1.
A Connector Store located in the new transit station is open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The new transit station is fully accessible to persons with disabilities.
O'DONOGHUE TO SPEAK at Reston GOP Club
Tom O'Donoghue, the Republican candidate for Congress from Virginia's Eighth District, will be the featured speaker at a meeting of the Republican Club of Greater Reston on Friday, Sept. 29.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Anne Community Center in Reston.
O'Donoghue, 41, is an account executive at LexisNexis. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY and an Army reservist who voluntarily served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
O'Donoghue won the Republican primary in June and will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) on Nov. 7.
Interested members of the public are invited to the Republican Club event. There is no fee for attending.
Visit the club's web site at www.restonrepublicans.org.
HUDGINS NAMES Advisory Panel
Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) named six Reston residents to a technical advisory panel responsible for working with consultants to develop guidelines that will shape Lake Anne revitalization. The appointees include Michael Miller, Guy Rando, David Slater, Robin Smyers, Joe Stowers, John Tilman and Phil Tobey.
Smyers and Tobey are members of the Reston Community Reinvestment Corp., the group that has pushed revitalization at Lake Anne for several years.
“These individuals bring an array of professional expertise, involvement in Lake Anne Village and a history of the Reston community,” said Hudgins in a statement.
The selected consultants — a team from Basile Baumann Prost & Associates, Conklin Costantin Architects, and Architecture, Inc. — will work to provide expertise, planning and advisory services in development of the guidelines.
RCA MOVES on WiFi and License Plate
At the Reston Citizens Association monthly meeting, board members discussed strategy on two major initiatives: bringing free wireless Internet to Reston and creating a Reston license plate.
RCA, the local group pushing for town status, decided to form the RCA WiFi Committee, which will work to bring WiFi to Reston. The technology, which has been adopted in numerous cities, allows remote wireless connections to the Internet.
“We’re going to try to raise money through fund-raisers and grants,” said Gary Lee Thomas, a board member who initiated the effort.
The new 11-member committee is looking to fill three liaison positions — with the Reston Association, the Hunter Mill District and local corporations — as well as positions for a legal advisor and a committee secretary.
In addition, the board made progress on creating a Reston license plate.
Board members, excited about something that could improve the community’s sense of identity, considered setting up a contest for the best license plate design. John Fay, who sits on the RCA board, touted the benefits of license plate at the organization’s monthly meeting Monday night.
To create a Virginia license plate, the Department of Motor Vehicles requires a minimum of 350 purchase commitments. In addition, plates must be approved by Virginia’s General Assembly.
To learn more about a Reston license plate, send an email to vaclav88@hotmail.com with "Go Reston VA License Plate" in the subject line.
NEW MINISTER at MLK Christian Church
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church of Reston installed a new minister, the Rev. Jean Robinson-Casey.
The church held an installation banquet last weekend at the Reston Sheraton Hotel to celebrate the addition.
Robinson-Casey, a Richmond native who received her divinity master’s from Wesley Theological Seminary, served as assistant pastor for Outreach Ministry with University Baptist Church in College Park, Md. She is also pursuing her Ph.D. in Multi-ethnic Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Robinson-Casey is the fourth pastor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church, which has served the Reston community for the past 25 years.
CELEBRATE Trees
Reston Arbor Day, an event organized by the Reston Association, will be held this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 2-4 p.m. at the Polo Fields Recreation Area off Thunderchase Drive. The event, which is free, will feature an opportunity to learn about trees and plant some in one of Reston's natural areas. A tree game and tree crafts will also be offered.
RESTON AT Home Tour
The Reston Historic Trust will present the 5th annual Reston At Home Tour on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. This year’s tour focuses on the arts and features five private homes of art collectors, artists, and musicians. The tour, which costs $20 in advance, is self-conducted.
Tickets are available at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Village Center, 1639 Washington Plaza, or at the Greater Reston Arts Center at Reston Town Center, 12001 Market Street. On the day of the tour, tickets will cost $25. Passes include the tour map, information, and home illustrations by Pat Macintyre. All proceeds from Reston At Home benefit the Reston Museum.
Volunteers are needed to help host the homes during the tour. To register, please visit the Reston Museum at 1639 Washington Plaza at Lake Anne Village Center, or call 703-709-7700 for more information. Volunteer registration forms are also available by e-mail, contact reston.at.home.tour@gmail.com.
JOIN THE Holiday Parade
Organizers of the 16th annual Reston Holiday Parade is looking for parade participants. This year’s parade, with the theme of “Ring in the Season at Reston Town Center,” takes place Friday, Nov. 24, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Interested groups will have the opportunity to join 1.5-mile parade route with an assortment of Macy’s style balloons, musical groups, dancers, antique cars and Santa and Mrs. Claus.
For an entry form, contact Billie Nicolotti at 703-476-9377.
SEEKING NOMINATIONS for Community Service Awards
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Steering Committee invites nominations for the 2007 Community Service Awards, which will be presented Monday, Jan. 15, 2007.
Awards are based on contributions to the community in support of tolerance and equal opportunities, efforts that reduce poverty, and promotion of non-violence and conflict resolution. Nominations for youth, young adults, adults and businesses are due Monday, Oct. 2.
For more information, download the Community Service Award materials at www.restoncommunitycenter.com/restonmlkcelebration or contact Gaea L. Honeycutt at 703-390-6145.