The transformation of the Coleman house included two decks from which to enjoy the view RestonReston and watch the goldfish doing their thing in the pond. The theme of the 2016 Reston Home Tour was “Embracing Change.” The Colemans have certainly done that. Page 6 Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, ❖ Entertainment, Page 8 ❖ Opinion, Page 4 Restonians ‘Embrace Change’ News, Page 3 Yes’ or ‘No’ to the Meals Tax Opinion, Page 4 ‘Voices of Muslim Identity’ Take CenterStage Theater, Page 8 Photo by Andrea Worker/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comOctober 19-25, 2016 online at www.connectionnewspapers.comReston Connection ❖ October 19-25, 2016 ❖ 1 For a free digi- tal subscription to one or all of the 15 Connection Newspapers, go to www.connect ionnewspapers. com/subscribe Be the first to know – get your paper before it hits the press. Complete digital replica of the print edition, including photos and ads, deliv- ered weekly to your e-mail box. Questions? E-mail: goinggreen@ connection newspapers.com 30 Acres of Animal Adventure for All Ages (703) 757-6222 1228 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna, VA www.roerszoofari.com Free Parking An easy drive on either the 267 Dulles Tollway (Hunter Mill Exit) or SR 7 Leesburg Pike (left at the Baron Cameron light) 2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ October 19-25, 2016 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Reston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Carol Kristen didn’t mind the volunteer duty, since she is also good friends with the homeowners Steve Kisner and John Lojpersberger of The still-in-progress, renovated-from-top-to-bottom Coleman house on this well-appointed condo in the Oak Park complex, and could cheerfully Putter Lane. The theme of the 2016 Reston Home Tour was “Embracing speak about the kitchen renovations and what the owners have done to Change.” The Colemans have certainly done that. maximize the space and put their many treasures on display. Restonians ‘Embrace Change’ cant transformation is the home of Kendall Annual Reston Home Tour features six diverse private homes, and Tiffany Coleman on Putter Lane. It’s a good thing that the project manager, Rich and a roam through BLVD, Reston’s newest luxury apartments. Coyle of Coyle Construction was on hand during the tour, and that there was a loop- By Andrea Worker townhouse along Lake Audubon. “I don’t Change.” In the message that introduced the ing slide show that detailed the befores and The Connection even want to imagine hundreds of soggy tour’s program, Chair Bonnie Haukness afters of the complete renovation of this visitors marching through this gorgeous wrote, “Vibrant communities like Reston are property, built in 1968. It might have been mild, sunny autumn day made house.” constantly changing. Some of the new is met difficult otherwise to believe just how many wandering from one end of Thankfully, the weather cooperated bril- with apprehension, some enthusiastically changes were made to update this property, AReston to the other a decided liantly and everyone was able to enjoy the welcomed. This year’s owners have all em- give it more open space, more storage and pleasure, both for the ticket hold- self-guided tours of six diverse private braced change in their lives and in their lots more natural light and some fabulous ers for the annual Reston Home Tour, and homes, and a roam through BLVD, Reston’s homes…we are very happy to share their decks from which to enjoy the signature for the homeowners who generously put newest luxury apartments, towering over new spaces and stories with you.” Reston greenery and the owners’ fish pond. their digs on display. “Really,” said one the Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. Haukness wasn’t kidding about the Malcolm and Kim Gilbreath’s home on gentleman volunteer at the stop at the five- change that some of these properties have Night Star Court shows you what can be story Beacon Heights Derrick/Lashlee THIS YEAR’S THEME was “Embracing undergone, some over the years and some done when you put your own heart and soul as recently as “still in progress.” Probably the dwelling that has seen the most signifi- See Home Tour, Page 12 Photos by Andrea Worker/The Connection The steps didn’t keep Liz Bleich and Marilyn Jarvill, both from Reston, from checking out the top floor master suite in the five-story townhouse on Beacon Heights. Luckily for the owners, there is an elevator that Now there’s a view – and that’s only from one direction from the 21st services all five floors, but visitors on the tour understandably were floor of the BLVD apartments. Walk around the outdoor space and the directed to the stairs. Bleich has lived in Reston for over thirty years and giant pool or hang indoors in one of the common areas or in the fitness has attended the tour a few times, while “newbie” Jarvill with “only” center and you can watch planes coming and going at Dulles, see the fourteen years residency, was making her first appearance at the well mountains in the distance, or take in the changing landscape of Tysons attended event. Corner. Should be a great spot to watch the New Year’s fireworks. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Reston Connection ❖ October 19-25, 2016 ❖ 3 Opinion Reston No to the Meals Tax Yes to the Meals Tax www.ConnectionNewspapers.com @RestonConnect An independent, locally owned weekly A food tax is not a silver bullet. Reduces dependence on property tax. newspaper delivered to homes and businesses. By Pat Herrity pay. Despite my efforts to address By Phillip A. Niedzielski- With 65 percent of county rev- Published by Springfield District Supervisor this and other spending problems, Eichner enue now being generated by resi- Local Media Connection LLC there is no plan in place to address dential property tax, homeowners 1606 King Street have been opposed to the these unsustainable costs and ben- s a businessman here in are carrying a substantial and grow- Alexandria, Virginia 22314 meals tax from the start, but efits. The meals tax is a bad way Fairfax and a former mem- ing share of the cost of services. A Free digital edition delivered to what has concerned me to kick the can of addressing our ber of the Fairfax County Without a more diverse revenue I your email box. Go to most over the last several spending problems down the road. School Board, I write on behalf of a base, we risk school system excel- connectionnewspapers.com/subscribe months has been the tactics used The meals tax is also bad way coalition of thousands of lence and we risk the caliber of to try to convince our residents to to address a spending problem homeowners, parents, teachers, county services that underpin our vote for it and the county’s failure because it is a regressive tax that firefighters, police, friends and users quality of life. In an article earlier NEWS DEPARTMENT: to deal with its spending problems. targets a single industry and dis- of our libraries and our parks and this year, the Washington Post char- [email protected] I would like to offer some clarity proportionately hits those who can recreation facilities, and those who acterized this reality as Fairfax Kemal Kurspahic on these points and why I am least afford it — the elderly, single belong to churches and non-profit or- “fraying around the edges.” Editor ❖ 703-778-9414 against the meals tax. working parents, young students, ganizations working to ensure that This is the setting for the meals tax [email protected] The proponents of the meals tax and people without other options. Fairfax County also protects those in referendum before us on Nov. 8. insist the tax is for teachers’ sala- It is not a white tablecloth restau- need [www.yesmealstax.org]. Five great things will happen by Ken Moore ries and tax relief. In fact, the bal- rant tax; it is a food tax. The meals Here since 1988, I have always approving the meals tax: Community Reporter 240-393-2448 lot language referencing schools tax would be on top of the current valued Fairfax’s pragmatic approach 1. $100 million will be generated. [email protected] and tax relief was selected because sales tax resulting in a 10 percent to local government services; i.e., Almost a third of this revenue — it was the language that passed in total tax on any prepared food, we will pay for the cost of an excel- $28 million — will be paid by tour- other counties in Virginia and ac- including the rotisserie chicken lent education system and high- ists and visitors to Fairfax. ADVERTISING: cording to one supervisor “we from the grocery store, the foun- quality services as long as the cost 2. Seventy percent of the rev- For advertising information [email protected] need to use the language that will tain drink from the convenience is reasonable and affordable. enues will be directed to the school 703-778-9431 get it passed.” In reality, the Board store, your morning coffee, and Hit with the double whammy of system to help stem the loss of our of Supervisors will decide in April your food truck purchases. It is the great recession and the federal best teachers and reduce class size. Debbie Funk during the budget process how also a tax on a single industry — budget sequestration fiasco, the 3. Our quality of life will be Display Advertising/National Sales much funding goes to schools and one that only has a 3 percent profit Board of Supervisors and School strengthened by addressing unmet 703-778-9444 [email protected] then the School Board will decide margin on average.