Newcomers & Community Guide Inside Classifieds, Page 14 Classifieds, v Reston Holiday Parade: One of the many community events Entertainment, Page 12 v going on in Reston year-round. Reston Built Opinion, Page 4 To Live, Work and Play Newcomers & Community Guide, Page 3 What Do You Love Most About Reston? Newcomers & Community Guide, Page 3 8-29-19 home in Requested Time sensitive material. material. sensitive Time Attention Postmaster: Postmaster: Attention ECR WSS ECR The Year of Customer Postal permit #322 permit Easton, MD Easton, PAID Panther Power Postage U.S. Back to School, Page 9 STD PRSRT Photo by Mercia Hobson/The Connection by Mercia Hobson/The Photo August 28 - September 3, 2019 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com 2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Newcomers Viewpoints What Do You Love Photos by Mercia Hobson/The Connection Most About Reston? —Mercia Hobson Connor Witt, 18, of Reston: “I live on Lake Anne, and I really enjoy being on the water. I’m happy Reston has so many activities, trails, lakes and tennis courts. There’s some- thing for everyone.” My Last Welcome Letter Marie Dauenheimer of Reston: “The Farmers Market, trails and Metro accessibility. We can have guests For Connection Newcomers take the train to D.C.” By Sharon Bulova, Chairman ❖ Created Diversion First, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors a program for people with mental illness or develop- hen I was first elected to mental disabilities, experienc- the Board of Supervisors ing an encounter with law en- Win 1987 the Braddock forcement to receive treat- District was called ment instead of incarcera- Annandale. Fairfax County’s population tion; (now 1.15 million) was approximately ❖ Updated the County’s Environmental 746,600. There was no VRE (Virginia Rail- Vision to include a new focus on Energy Ef- way Express Commuter Rail System) nor ficiency and Climate; was there a Springfield Franconia Metro ❖ Strengthened collaboration between Station or a Fairfax County Parkway. When the Board of Supervisors and the School Garrett Johnston, a new resident I took office as a freshman Supervisor in Board in the areas of budget development, of Reston: January 1988, Fairfax County was, for the land use planning and joint environmental “What I really love about Reston is most part, a rapidly growing suburban bed- initiatives; the trees. They remind me of where I room community. Tysons was still just a ❖ Reduced homelessness by nearly 50% grew up, in old Virginia. You don’t see shopping mall. employing a Housing First strategy to put a that in many suburbs of D.C.” I will be retiring at the end of December, roof over homeless individuals’ heads and after serving 31 years on the Fairfax County connecting them to resources needed to Board of Supervisors — 11 years as Chair- help them get back on their feet; man and 20 years before that as the ❖ Lastly, and most importantly, our Board, Braddock District Supervisor. What I have in partnership with the School Board, es- come to understand over these many years tablished One Fairfax, a social and racial is that the one thing you can be certain of equity compact, to ensure that ALL residents is that things will change. Indeed, a lot has of Fairfax County have access to equitable changed over that span of time. opportunities for success. During the past decade while I have had I have been deeply honored to serve the the honor to serve you as Chairman, Fairfax residents of Fairfax County for these many County has: years. I will really miss this job! Jurisdic- Chelsea Graves, of Reston: ❖ Navigated the financial crises caused tions throughout the country look to Fairfax “I moved out of Reston when I was by the Great Recession with the County’s County as a leader and innovator, and I am six, and I’ve returned as a Reston coveted triple A bond rating by all three proud, working with my colleagues on the Farmers Market vendor. I think the way rating agencies still intact; Board and our excellent County staff, to they organized and planned Reston is ❖ Welcomed Metro’s Silver Line to Tysons have led our county to where it is today. one of the best, aesthetically pleasing and Reston, with a station at Dulles Airport Fairfax County is an awesome place, with a communities. I feel that the intentional to open next year; culture of engagement, acceptance of dif- design cultivates a real beautiful sense ❖ Ushered in new land use plans for ferent cultures and backgrounds and a will- of community I can feel here.” Tysons and other aging commercial and ingness to work together to resolve conflicts. industrial areas of the County in need of Fairfax County is poised for many exciting revitalization; opportunities ahead. I am confident the next ❖ Reengineered our police policies to in- Board of Supervisors, in partnership with clude more transparency and de-escalation members of the community, will continue the See Viewpoints, Page 11 tactics with a focus on the sanctity of life; positive momentum we are known for. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Reston Connection ❖ August 28 - September 3, 2019 ❖ 3 Opinion Reston New Direction for Reston Association www.ConnectionNewspapers.com @RestonConnect By John Lovaas Independent Progressive An independent, locally owned weekly Reston Impact Producer/Host “You have to spend money to make money,” newspaper delivered said President Baum, more than once. What to homes and businesses. ast Thursday, curiosity business and member customer potential new money-making activities are Published by drove me to the Reston service. under consideration? Here are some intended Local Media Connection LLC LAssociation to hear an Profit-making will be essential to bring in money from visitors, not just resi- 1606 King Street initial discussion of next to help fund the budget growth dents: tour boats to take visitors around Reston Alexandria, Virginia 22314 year’s RA budget, the first to be needed to achieve the stated goals lakes, more boat rentals on lakes, concession prepared and managed by Hank because, as he rightly pointed out, stands by lakes and other facilities; tour bikes Free digital edition delivered to Lynch who took the reins as RA’s it is unlikely that assessment in- or electric scooter rentals; airport shuttles; your email box. Go to connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe CEO in January 2019. Lynch was creases at the funding levels he wellness center with spa and massage, medi- to introduce his vision for RA’s fu- wants will be feasible. He sees the tation classes, state-of-the-art fitness center; ture and the resources needed to take us there. budget reaching stable levels in 3-4 years, af- adventure park w/climbing ropes, upscale NEWS DEPARTMENT: Before the Board of Directors and Fiscal Ad- ter which increases will be needed only to cover water park, outdoor theatre like Shakespeare [email protected] visory Committee members could get to the inflation, i.e., 2 to 3 percent per annum. David in the woods; “Celebrate Reston” events Kemal Kurspahic agenda, however, about 25 residents de- Kerr, Chairman of the Fiscal Committee, chal- around lakes with food trucks, music, booths. Editor ❖ 703-778-9414 manded to speak about the “rumor” that RA lenged Lynch’s underlying budgetary con- These are preliminary ideas only, reminded [email protected] was going to close Lake Thoreau swimming straint premise. Kerr pointed out that for the Lynch. pool. It seems the RA South Lakes Director, in last five years, RA had in fact ended every bud- By evening’s end, I had a lot of new mate- Mercia Hobson a monumental gaffe, let it slip the Board was get year with uncommitted balances between rial to process, including some promising Community Reporter [email protected] considering doing so. For over an hour, the $300,000 and $800,000. Lynch said he could ideas from Lynch. I, too, think we might want group demanded the pool be saved, tearing be counted on to spend every bit of approved to consider new recreational infrastructure, Andrea Worker into RA’s evil plan and various past sins as well budgets. facilities. And, it may be time for Pickleball Contributing Writer — despite being assured by the Board Presi- He said the Lake House was an excellent courts. [email protected] dent that no such decision had been made. acquisition, an example of an asset that could However, I was troubled by some of his pre- Jean Card Most were unconvinced. pull in corporate bucks, after some redesign mises. I agree with Kerr and Iyer that he has Production Editor Welcome to Reston, Mr. Lynch. Please begin and improvements. He suggested staff morale not demonstrated there is a structural short- [email protected] your presentation. is a problem, perhaps pay related. When a Fis- fall in the budget. While I applaud his customer Lynch smoothly used the community upset cal Committee member countered that he service satisfaction goal, I was disappointed to segway into his plans to repair the “obvi- thought staff was well paid (e.g., generous that there was no mention of the totally de- ADVERTISING: For advertising information ously damaged” RA brand. He reported that health plan and six folks making over $120K?), pleted support to Reston’s 150 or so cluster [email protected] Brand Consultancy is already surveying our Lynch said he has a compensation study in and condo associations, and for welcoming/ 703-778-9431 region to develop a basis for repairing the process “which says the opposite.” Besides in- introducing the many thousands of newcom- brand. This six-figure contract is an initial step creases in pay and benefits, growth is planned ers in our future.