Reston Association News and Notes

One neighborhood created a small community park. Another hosted an event aimed at supporting its neighborhood watch program.

Volunteers who took on leadership roles in still other neighborhoods were honored for their years of service and commitments to community improvements.

All were recognized at the 2012 Spring Fling, sponsored by  last week. The event is held as a gathering for the board leaders of the 134 neighborhood and 35 condo associations within The Reston Association, which is a large community association. This year, award categories included an event of the year, a service award, two volunteer categories and a neighborhood of the year.

The Hunters Square Cluster received the award for Neighborhood Event of the Year.  It hosted the Second Annual National Night Out by hosting a community block party.  The purpose of the event was to celebrate community spirit and support the local neighborhood watch program.   The Fairfax County Police-Reston Station along with Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins joined the festivities that included music, food and children’s activities.  As a result of the event, Hunters Square was able to have one participant from each household sign a pledge of commitment to assist the community with its neighborhood watch program.

The Neighborhood Association of the Year Award went to Lakeport Cluster for its efforts to create a community-gathering place.  With the help of donations from the community and a $3,000 grant from the Fairfax County Neighborhood Enhancement program, another $2,000 from Safeway, Inc. and more than 312 volunteer hours, the residents of Lakeport Cluster created Triangle Park. It is a triangular strip of land within their neighborhood.  Residents and others who pass now use the area by using the Reston Association Red Trail or Lakeport Way.

Two awards for individual volunteers recognized service to neighborhood associations or committees.

The Volunteer of the Year Award for a Board Member went to Otto Tubito of the Sunderbriar Cluster for his 21 years of service as treasurer for the association.  When Tubito took over as treasurer, he created the Road Fund, which covers periodic repairs to the neighborhood’s streets, without calling upon residents to pay special assessments.  Tubito also helped the association with the recent update of its governing documents.

Two people were recognized for the Volunteer of the Year award for Non-Board Members. Nancy and Roger Brown are a team. She has been the co-chairperson of the Waterview Cluster landscape committee for many years. She has faithfully chaired meetings, facilitated pruning workshops and organized at least two cluster workdays a year. Roger is also a very supportive member of the landscape committee, who volunteered his expertise to keeping a close watch on the cluster finances.  Both Nancy and Roger are regular participants in all cluster meetings and workshops.

The final awards recognized years of service by individuals to their neighborhood associations.

Five years of service awards went to Brian McConville and Eric Johnson of Devonshire Cluster; Karen Danenberger of Sunderbriar Cluster and Jeanette McDonald of Tanners Cluster.

Otto Tubito received an award in the 15-plus years of service for his 21 years with Sunderbriar Cluster.

Reston Association also held Newcomer's Night last week. More than two-dozen new and “nearly new” residents came to learn about their new community.

Two longtime Reston residents spoke to the gathering about their work that advocates for Reston in both the Virginia General Assembly and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.  Del. Ken Plum ezplained the work of the General Assembly and how it impacts Reston. Supervisor Hudgins said with the coming of the Metro Silver Line to Reston, the county is working to update the Reston Master Plan.

Reston founder Robert E. Simon encouraged the new residents to get involved.