Reston FindingFindingFinding RecreationRecreationRecreation InInIn RestonRestonReston News, Page 4 Classifieds, Page 22 Classifieds, ❖ Sports, Page 20 ❖ Entertainment, Page 15 ❖ Opinion, Page 10 What Makes Reston Special? Insiders’ Perspective, Page 6 Renzo Sanio, 9, plays a game of tennis at the Reston children’s tennis courts. How to Register, Vote and Vote Early News, Page 16 Photo by Connection Alex McVeigh/The online at www.connectionnewspapers.com www.ConnectionNewspapers.comAugust 22-28, 2012 Reston Connection ❖ August 22-28, 2012 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ August 22-28, 2012 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Newcomers & Community Guide 2012~13 Photos Contributed Photos sociation Madeleine Steppel, 9, meets White House Assistant Chef Sam Kass Monday, Aug. 20, after winning an online competition. Photo Courtesy of Reston As Courtesy Photo Teen volunteers after a cleanup at the Southgate Community Center. The Five-Year Madeleine Steppel Finds Strategic Plan for Reston examines ways for the Reston Association to keep facilities maintained and better keep track of what needs cleaning and repair. Recipe for Success Strategic Plan Looks to Further Reston resident dines with president and first lady. Simon’s Ideals Reston Association plans for new properties, service By Alex McVeigh Georgetown for the night, as By Alex McVeigh The Connection well as a tour of the White The Connection needs to 2016. House and attendance at the ne night a few weeks luncheon. hen Robert Simon used the proceeds Oago, while she was at “[This contest] has inspired from the sale of Carnegie Hall to buy RA will continue to provide services to members, and Camp Louise in kids across this country to learn Walmost 7,000 acres of Virginia farm- how they will continue to monitor amenities, pro- Maryland, Madeleine Steppel, about healthy eating and to get land in March 1961, he founded a grams and services. 9, of Reston headed to the ad- in the kitchen [to] start cook- community with a plan. A place where residents Results from the RA’s community-wide survey will ministration building to wait for ing,” said Michelle Obama dur- could live, work and play in a variety of housing types be put together during the third quarter of 2012, a call. Once she got to the build- ing her address. “You are going with a variety of recreational opportunities. For the and within four months staff, with input from the ing, known around camp as to inspire some students to get community’s first 50 years, those principals guided community, will have a list of recommended changes. “the White House,” the call into the kitchen. This is exactly the community’s development and governance. According to the report, by the fourth quarter of came in: she had won a trip to the kind of leadership we need Reston’s next 50 years will see the addition of 2012, the RA will create “evaluations tools for exist- the real White House for lunch to give our kids the healthy fu- Metro, the re-envisioning of its village centers and ing and new programs.” The third quarter of each with first lady Michelle Obama. ture they deserve.” an increase in population and the infrastructure that subsequent year, up to at least 2016, will see staff Steppel was one of 54 win- will be necessary. With this in mind, the Reston As- and key stakeholders engage in brainstorming ses- ners in the epicurious.com JUST AFTER SCHOOL let out sociation has updated its strategic plan this year, sions in regards to possible new programs. Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, for the summer, Madeleine’s which will look ahead to 2016. The plan also calls for increases in RA’s use of tech- which earned her a trip to the mother, Debra Steppel, was “In the plan we focused heavily on the plans Bob nology, with a method of scan technology to be used Kids’ State Dinner Monday, looking for a gazpacho recipe Simon laid out,” said Ken Knueven, Reston Associa- for members to access services and facilities by the Aug. 20. Her recipe was for fish for the family to make for her tion board president. “We put in considerable effort end of 2013, the ability for members to check indi- chowder and fruity salad. to get it done with things that can have a measur- vidual property records on the RA website by first “The president made a sur- See Dining, Page 5 able impact by the end of this board year, and will quarter 2014 and the ability to expand the prise visit, and it allow us to measure the outcome of the board’s community’s ability to check the availability and re- was amazing to goals.” serve RA facilities. see them both to- gether. I got to THE GOALS primarily consist of ways the RA can MORE IMMEDIATELY, the RA Board of Directors shake hands with incorporate additional dwelling units as they are will be branching out into the community come the him and get a pic- constructed, as well as increase the way the organi- fall. ture with Mrs. zation engages its members and key stakeholders. “Our board members will be holding town hall Obama,” she said. “The RA is a primary community organization, and meetings in their individual districts starting in Sep- “She’s really tall. our role going forward is to continue to be a major tember,” Knueven said. “As we start moving toward We got to see her voice and continue our positive relationship with the future, we want to make sure everybody in this inauguration county staff and Supervisor [Cathy] Hudgins [(D- community feels like they’re being heard.” gown, which was Hunter Mill)],” said Milton Matthews, CEO of the The district meetings will kick off Sept. 5 for the very tall, and she RA. “And as properties continue to be added in Hunters Woods/Dogwood District. was even taller in Reston, we want to make sure we can add them to “It’s important that the Reston Association remain heels. I had to Fish chowder, whole grain bread the RA, to be able to offer them the services our relevant as Reston heads to its 50th anniversary,” look way up.” and fruity salad, the winning entry members receive, and not have them separated from Matthews said. “And to make sure we stay relevant Steppel’s trip from Madeleine Steppel, 9, in the the surrounding communities.” for the next 50 years, we need to make sure the ser- included a stay in Healthy Lunchtime Contest. The plan also lays out the specifics by which the vices we offer are what the community wants.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Reston Connection ❖ August 22-28, 2012 ❖ 3 Newcomers & Community Guide 2012~13 Insiders Perspective What is the greatest thing about living in Reston? —Allison Corser AJ Duston, 19, Student “I love to eat and hang out at Reston Town Center, especially in the winter when the ice skat- ing rink is open. Reston has a lot of good biking and walking /The Connection trails, and I take advantage of that when I want to go on a run. The other thing I love about Reston is how close it is to the metro and Washington D.C. Alex McVeigh They’re currently building a new metro station in Reston, which makes it even better. Overall, the area as a whole is Photos by Photos affluent, clean and there is a Jeanette and Bernard Hopkins of Reston walk along the path at the south side of Lake good deal of diverse, nice Newport in Reston. people. I’ve lived here most of my life and I can’t ever say I’ve Finding Recreation in Reston had something to complain about.” There are 15 RA pools in Reston, and Butler says Brian Riegel, 28 Trails, tennis, pools offer that each pool has something to offer besides just “The greatest thing about liv- variety of opportunities. swimming. ing in Reston is the people. No “There’s a variety of things available at our pools, matter where you go, you’ll al- particularly at the ones that have been renovated,” ways find people to associate By Alex McVeigh he said. “Glade has the large slide, Uplands has a with. If you’re near Reston Town The Connection splash fountain, Hunters Woods has volleyball and Center or Lake Anne, there is al- basketball courts and Dogwood, when the renova- ways a good crowd to hang with. s an avid outdoorsman, Larry Butler says tion is finished, will have a spray and play fountain.” It’s the people who have given he spends his vacations getting as far away The Dogwood Pool renovation is expected to be me the great memories I have in Afrom civilization as possible. As the direc- completed at the end of the season. Reston.” tor of Parks and Recreation for the Reston Reston’s more natural water features, even though Association, he knows places in Reston offer some- they don’t allow swimming, allow for plenty of other thing similar. aquatic activities. Julia Forkhort, 22 “Along the Glade Stream is one of my favorite “Reston’s lakes are a beautiful example of seam- “In Reston, I like how there is places in the area, the closest you can get to relative less integration of water features into a natural, sub- always something to do and isolation in this area, when the leaves are all up you urban environment,” said Leon Oreja of Reston, who there is always a way to stay can‘t see many houses,” he said. “When you think of as a native of Minneapolis, Minn., says he knows busy.