Saturday, May 19, 2012
One in three homeless in Fairfax County area are children.
There are 1,534 homeless people in the Fairfax area, according to a survey conducted early this year by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership. The survey found that 697 single people and 837 people in families were homeless on Jan. 25, when the survey was conducted. While the total number of people who are homeless declined by 15 people from January 2011, the survey showed that persons in families that are homeless increased by 46 people from the previous year. The survey found that 33 percent of the homeless were children under 18 years old. The partnership puts out the survey each year to help identify need and track successes and challenges from year to year. Read the full report online. To find out more about homelessness in …
Food critic revisits Reston restaurant - and not thrilled with what he sees.
Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema's 2012 Spring Dining Guide is out. In it, he revisits several Washington-area restaurants to see how they are holding up a few years later. In 2008, Sietsema liked what he saw at Reston Town Center's Passionfish. In 2012, not so much. Sietsema calls Passionfish's cioppino "wan" and its sushi "gloppy." He gives Passionfish one star. Read the entire review by clicking here. And let us know in the comments: Do you agree? Reston Patch tried to get a table there Friday night, and the wait was over an hour, so many diners probably enjoy the food more than the Post critic.
21st Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival kicks off with an opening night party in the pavilion.
The 21st Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival began Friday night with an opening night party in the Reston Town Center Pavilion. VIP guests such as Rep. Gerry Connolly, State Sen. Janet Howell and Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins mingled with local art patrons, enjoyed food and drinks and listened to live musical performances. Event tickets and the proceeds from the silent auction will benefit programs at the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). The event was co-chaired by John Alciati, former president and CEO of GRACE, and Damian Sinclair, current GRACE Executive Director. The festival opened to the public last night with a "sneak peek" from 5 to 8 p.m. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m…
You may think twice about telling your kid to stop doodling.
If you've ever wondered what Sharon Bulova, Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is scribbling under the microphone during those incredibly long public hearings, it turns out that she's a lifelong doodler. In addition to her duties as a public official for 25 years, Bulova has run more than a few pens dry by making cartoon likenesses of her colleagues. The drawings tell a sort of truth — from a certain point of view. Once you see them, you'll never mistake the mustache of U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly (D-11) for another, or the familiar dome of Mount Vernon Supervisor Gerry Hyland. "Since becoming Chairman, I don't draw and doodle as much as I used to," Bulova told Patch from her office in the Fairfax County Government Center. "I …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Seahawks shut out 2-0.
South Lakes High School was unable to covert its offensive chances into goals Thursday as Langley defeated the Seahawks 2-0 in the semifinals of the Liberty District boys soccer tournament. South Lakes will still advance to the Northern Region tournament, which begins Tuesday. The bracket has not yet been announced. Junior midfielder Thomas Salomone and senior defender Rhys Howard scored for the Saxons. Both goals came as a result of throw-ins followed by shots. The Seahawks held Justin Gailani (9 goals), one of the region's top scorers, shotless and scoreless.
USTA grant helps Reston Association build courts sized for the smallest players.
Reston Association will formally open its six new kid-sized tennis courts on Saturday at 1 p.m. On hand for the ribbon cutting will be Reston founder Robert E. Simon (a longtime tennis fan), representatives from the United States Tennis Association and Slice,the mascot of the Washington Kastles tennis team. The courts replaces two regulation-sized tennis courts at North Shore Tennis. A $17,000 grant from the USTA helped to build the Quickstart courts, sized for children 10 and under. The North Shore 10 and Under Courts will feature bleachers for families and storage lockers. Currently, instructors carry all their equipment –including child-sized racquets, balls and a net to courts each time.
Tim McManus promoted to new job in Richmond.
Tim McManus, Chief Executive Officer and President of Reston Hospital Center and HCA Northern Virginia, will be leaving his job on June 15, the hospital announced Friday. McManus has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of CJW Medical Center, a two-campus medical center with 758-beds in Richmond. Jane Raymond, Reston Hospital Center’s Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, will serve as Interim CEO while a national search is conducted for a replacement. “Tim McManus has fostered the expansion efforts of Reston Hospital Center and HCA Northern Virginia with the progression of the medical office building and operating services expansion projects,” Joseph Ritchey, Chairman of Reston’s Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “He …
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
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Yesterday
Members of the Reston Garden Club helped preschoolers from Laurel Learning Center make Mother's Day gifts last week. The club showed the kids how to turn a tuna fish can into a vase for fresh flowers. The youngsters wrapped the outside of the cans with colored paper, filled the cans with planting material and filled them with fresh flowers. For more information about the Reston Garden Club at www.therestongardenclub.org.
State Senator wraps up Richmond at McLean appearance.
Virginia State Sen. Janet Howell, D-Reston, spoke to members of the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, recapping this year's tumultuous Virginia legislative session in which she "went viral." “It was a very unfortunate session in so many ways — divisive and rancorous. But I think things are getting better,” she told a breakfast gathering of about 25 business people at J. Gilbert's in downtown McLean. "It was so disappointing for so many reasons. I can imagine the public watching in horror and saying, 'They are turning into Congress,' " she said. The Virginia State Senate had prided itself for not being like gridlocked Congress, she said. Marcus Simon of Ekko Title, said, "It's great that she took time to tell us what happened …
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Yesterday
Seven ducklings took a break in a Reston tree on Thursday. Thanks to reader Beth Burns for sending the photo to Patch. Got any great nature shots from your own backyard? Send them to Patch (kareng@patch.com) or upload them to our community gallery here.
Mike M
9:40 am on Saturday, May 19, 2012
I ate there the first year it opened and didn't see what the fuss was about. While I can't recall specific dishes, I have never been back. I agree the wait staff was attentive and the decor was pleasing but the food was no better than than a chain restaurants $15 offering. In fact, I had a salmon dish at Silver Diner a week ago that was better than the meal I had at PF. Too bad really. I enjoy … more ›