Pet ConnectionInside

Fran Lovaas with Angus the happy dog on a winter day at Lake Anne.

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Understanding Replacing Battleground?News, Page 3

Aldrin Team to Compete with the ‘Best of Best’News, Page 3

Winter Day at Lake AnnePet Connection, Page 2

2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Pet Connection

Sharon Bulova, chairman of the FairfaxCounty Board of Supervisors, sent the fol-lowing to the Pet Connection issue:

“Our office fantasy is to adopt an office pet.In our imagination, we bring back a cat, ordog, maybe a bonded pair of guinea pigs. Atour last visit to the Animal Shelter we fell inlove with a comical looking lion-headed rab-bit. Apparently it is a distinct breed. And thenthere was a very cute little white mouse thatsomeone had rescued from becoming asnake’s meal at a local pet store. Maybe wecould bring them all back.

“The ‘we’ is my wonderful chairman’s team.We are all big time animal lovers. In the end,however, we admit that the dream of popu-lating our suite in the Government Centerwith critters is not really practical, much lesspermitted. Although we can’t bring back allof the animals, it sure is fun to visit the Ani-mal Shelter and spend some quality timethere with such caring staff, dedicated vol-unteers, and well-tended animals.

“Pets add so much dimension to our lives.While I have not adopted an office pet, I dohave two wonderful rescue cats at home thatmake me very happy.

“To volunteer at the Shelter, please visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter formore information.”

Bulova: Fantasy — To Adopt Office Pet

Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova ina visit to Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

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Winter Day at Lake AnneFran Lovaas with Angus the happy dog on a winterday at Lake Anne.

Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Reston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or reston@connectionnewspapers.comNews

Team BuzzBotsA, fifth and sixth grade studentsfrom Aldrin Elementary in Reston – David Nelson,Connor Uehara, and Anthony Starkov – won theVEX IQ Virginia State Championship in “STEMResearch” category in Richmond on Feb. 17.

Their project, “aRCHie,” advanced Robotic Com-panion Horse – a blood pressure measuring ro-bot, is based on the “Three Laws and Ethics ofRobotics.”

❖ A robot may not injure a human being or,through inaction, allow a human being to cometo harm.

❖ A robot must obey orders given it by human

beings except where such orders would conflict withthe First Law.

❖ A robot must protect its own existence as longas such protection does not conflict with the First orSecond Law.

With this win, the team qualified for the VEXWorlds Competition in Louisville, Ky. beginning onApril 29. VEX IQ Worlds is Robotics Olympic Gamesfor school-age children.

Only the best of the best from each country and50 states qualify to compete there.

BuzzBotsA are the best team in Virginia in STEMResearch.

Aldrin team at the award ceremony: Connor Uehara,Anthony Starkov, Zina Raye (team coordinator), andDavid Nelson.

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Aldrin Team to Compete with the ‘Best of Best’

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Over the past few months,battle lines had been drawnin Reston as challengers andproponents of the proposed

Planned Residential Community (PRC) Zon-ing Ordinance faced off and the clock tickeddown toward a Board of Supervisor Meet-ing.

Under discussion is a proposed amend-ment by the Fairfax County Department ofPlanning and Zoning (DPZ) to raise theoverall allowable density in the Reston PRCfrom 13 persons per acre to 16 persons peracre.

Density increases would largely occur inReston Town Center (RTC) north of theMetro station, Town Center North, andRidge Heights in the southeast quadrant ofRTC. There would also be some density in-creases in the village centers.

The plan also proposes to eliminate theexisting “high density” cap in areas of theReston PRC. The restriction is currently setat 50 dwelling units (DUs) per acre. DPZ isrecommending raising it to a range of 70-75. DPZ described the ordinance amend-ment as a regulatory change.

According to the “Proposed Zoning Ordi-nance Amendment Residential Density inthe Reston PRC District Fairfax County De-partment of Planning and Zoning” datedMay 11, 2017, there are 74,192 people inReston’s PRC zoned land equating to 11.88people per acre. Given the 13 person peracre average maximum, the populationcould grow to 81,195. Given a 16 personper acre cap, the population of the PRC zonecould expand to 99,932.

The document states: “The existing Zon-ing Ordinance limitations have supported

implementation of the Reston Master Planfrom its inception in 1962 with minorchanges through 2015. However, the 13persons per acre limitation cannot supportthe amended Master Plan.”

AN ESTIMATED 900 people attended acommunity meeting on Oct. 23, 2017, atSouth Lakes High School about the pro-posed controversial Planned ResidentialCommunity (PRC) Zoning Ordinance. Thismeeting had been rescheduled from a fewweeks earlier because the previous locationcould not accommodate the crowd whocame to speak concerning the amendment.

At the October meeting, many in thecrowd booed when county officials weredefending the proposed zoning amend-ment. County officials met with similar frus-tration at three earlier community meetings.Opponents to the plan believe it to be de-veloper driven.

MEANWHILE, Hunter Mill District Super-visor Cathy Hudgins (D) met with membersof the Coalition for a Planned Reston (CPR)at their request on Jan. 24, 2018.

The purpose of the meeting was to com-

mence discussions of CPR’s proposed pos-sible areas of amendment to the RestonMaster Plan, instead of moving forwardwith the proposed Planned ResidentialCommunity (PRC) Zoning Ordinance.

On Feb. 5, CPR sent a letter to Hudginsregarding the amendment. In it, CPR statedtheir appreciation to Hudgins for her will-ingness to meet with CPR and Reston Asso-ciation on Jan. 24. Continuing, they sharedwith Hudgins that they consulted “widelyin the community and with legal expertsand planning and zoning.”

CPR stated in their letter: “We have iden-tified a number of areas where the RestonMaster Plan can be amended to better serveour community. These amendments obvi-ate the need to increase the density ofReston’s Planned Residential Communityarea.”

The letter goes on to state, “These areasare Affordable Housing, Land Use and Resi-dential Land Use Categories, Guidelines forVillage Center Redevelopment; Implemen-tation — Monitoring, Regulation, Partner-ships, and Phasing; Phasing Transportationand Public Facilities Development; Parks,Recreation, and Cultural Facilities; Reston

Neighborhoods; and Mapped Road AcrossHidden Creek Country Club.” CPR attachedtheir findings to the letter and askedHudgins to instruct the appropriate Countyofficials to meet with them for review.

CPR also asked Hudgins in the letter to“...defer any further action on the PRC un-til this review is completed and cancel theplanned vote on March 6th.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2017, Hudgins,County representatives, and members ofFairfax County Planning and Zoning metagain with CPR.

They agreed to push back the authoriza-tion on the Board of Supervisors calendarto hear the density amendment previouslyproposed to be presented March 6 to March20 instead, pausing the initial step in thelegislative clock.

Bruce Ramo, a member of ReclaimReston, a local group opposed to the zon-ing ordinance change, said, “We told Su-pervisor Hudgins, once it is on the calen-dar it will gather momentum and bepassed.”

THREE STEPS ARE NEEDED for mov-ing forward for approval of the PlannedResidential Community (PRC) Zoning Or-dinance: Step One – calendar authorizationat the Board of Supervisors Meeting; StepTwo – review by Planning and Zoning; andStep Three – Final Vote.

Ramo said one of the group’s concerns isthat before growth, infrastructure needs tobe in place.

“We recognize there will be growth,”Ramo said.

“We are very anxious for there to be abetter means of ensuring the infrastructureis in place with the growth. We have madea variety of recommendations to amend theReston Master Plan; among those things,we’d put a population cap that is approxi-mately double the current population of allof Reston.”

Reached for comment, Hudgins said, “Ilook forward in the Hunter Mill Office tocontinue the dialog on the proposedPlanned Residential Community ZoningOrdinance Amendment and I am hopefulwe can work together to find a path for-ward that respects the adopted plan forReston and the current concerns of the com-munity.”

Are Lines of Understanding Replacing Battle Lines?Clock momentarilypauses for theproposed RestonPlanned ResidentialCommunity (PRC)Zoning Ordinance.

The map by the Department of Planning and Zoning shows RestonBoundary, Reston Transit Station Area, and the PRC Zoned Land.

4 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Opinion

$400 million. That’s how much the Virginia Sen-ate had to cut from its budget becauseit refused to include Medicaid expan-

sion in the budget.The House of Delegates version of the bud-

get has $400 million more to work with.$400 million is a lot of money.The change in the House of Delegates, a

small miracle, comes with the change voterscreated last November. Republicans had a 66-

34 in the House but lost 15seats after the election.

The economic boost thatcomes with expanding Medic-

aid includes as many as 30,000 new jobs. It’sludicrous that Virginia has bypassed thismoney, this economic boost, this life-savingmeasure for poor Virginians. The Common-wealth has forfeited than $10 billion becauseof ideological, partisan irrationality.

Hope for Expanding Health CareJust say yes to $400 million, thousandsof jobs and health care for 300,000.

Editorial

State Sen. Janet Howell may have capturedthe cause and effect the best in the floor de-bate: “We’ve cut education, both higher andpublic education. We’ve cut student aid, pub-lic safety, mental-health programs, programsfor the disabled, programs to have a reliableelection system. Why have we made these cuts?We’ve made them to deprive low-incomepeople of healthcare.”

More than 10 percent of residents of Arling-ton, Alexandria and Fairfax County have nohealth insurance.

A Harvard Medical School study determinedthat the decision by 25 states to reject the ex-pansion of Medicaid coverage under the Af-fordable Care Act would result in between7,115 and 17,104 more deaths than had allstates opted in.

In Virginia, the number of deaths due to fail-ure to expand Medicaid estimated between 266and 987.

These are wrongful deaths, caused by thewillful action of particular Virginia legislators.

Refusing to accept federal funds to providehealthcare to uninsured Virginians makes nomore sense than declining federal funds fortransportation or education. Imagine the cel-ebration of the economic stimulus of adding$400 million and tens of thousands of new jobsby any other means.

In Virginia, 102,000 uninsured people witha mental illness or substance use disorder couldqualify for coverage if Medicaid were expandedunder the Affordable Care Act.

As Virginia wrestles with heroin and opioidaddiction, expanding Medicaid would allow forexpanding treatment programs. One of the bigobstacles to helping people who are fightingaddiction is the availability of treatment whenit is most needed. More people die of opioidoverdoses in Virginia than in vehicle crashes.

It’s time for a change, and there is hope forchange. Look towards the budget conferencescoming up shortly.

— Mary Kimm

mkimm@connectionnewspapers.com

www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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Reston

See Lovaas, Page 6

See Plum, Page 7

By John Lovaas

Reston Impact

Producer/Host

The latest mas-sacre of schoolkids and

teachers by a man withan AR-15 assault rifle struck atthe Marjory Stoneman DouglasHigh School in Parkland, Fla.Like most of the non-stop,unique to the United States,shooting sprees, the Parklandhorror featured the victims –students and courageous teach-ers – and an angry gunman withan AR-15 and tons of ammo.

Make no mistake about it, theengine that drives these eventsis guns, especially, but not only,the AR-15 which is the civilianversion of the U.S. military’sprincipal weapon of war, the M-16. No other advanced nationpermits its citizens to have suchweapons. Our elected officials– including nearly all Virginiaand national Republicans andsome Democrats (e.g., the Se-nior Senator from Virginia,Mark Warner) are complicit inthe killings by facilitating accessto the weaponry. The NationalRifle Association and the gunmanufacturers orchestrate and

fund the dysfunctionaland self-interestedU.S. public policy mak-ers.

While a clear majority ofAmericans favor tighter restric-tions on access to guns, they arelargely ignored by the cowardlypoliticians. After every massa-cre, there is a period of publicoutrage, but the politicians donothing. This time, there is anew phenomenon at play. Thestudents in schools fromParkland, around Florida andelsewhere around the country,including Reston, are rising up,marching and confronting theself-interested politicians.

Last week students inReston’s public schools, begin-ning with South Lakes,Langston Hughes, and LakeAnne, and in neighboring coun-ties as well stood up, marchedoutside for 17 minutes (tohonor the 17 dead in Parkland)spoke out for action by lawmak-ers, and returned in an orderlyfashion back to their classes.

By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

State Delegate (D-36)

Last week Democrats in theHouse of Delegates wereable largely to sit on the

sidelines as Republicans debatedamong themselves whether Vir-ginia should expand access tomedical care through the federalMedicaid program. Argumentsthat had been used by Democratsto support Medicaid in the pastwere now being used by Republi-cans to support their newly foundsupport for expansion. The newsis good since Medicaid expansioncould only come about with bipar-tisan support.

When the final vote was takenon the issue, only 31 Republicansvoted “nay” and all Democratsvoting “aye” with 20 Republicansmaking the total for passage 69votes. There was a sense of reliefas a goal for which we had beenworking for more than a halfdozen years moved closer to real-ization.

The news was not so good onthe other side of the Capitol. TheSenate passed a budget that didnot include further Medicaid ex-pansion. While there was an effortto amend the Senate bill to includethe expansion of access to healthcare, it failed along a straight partyline vote. Final passage of a bud-get for the next two years requiresthat the bills passed in each housebe identical. A conference commit-

tee made up ofHouse and Senatemembers must re-solve the largestimbalance in the

budget that I have ever seen be-fore its final adoption.

If I had predicted before the ses-sion where we would be at thispoint I would have said that theSenate would have passed a ver-sion of Medicaid expansion but theRepublicans in the House weremaintaining their opposition. Atleast that’s what the public pro-nouncements and the rumor millsuggested. How could we havebeen so wrong?

I believe that the predictions onthe outcome of the session left outone very important consideration:the results of the 2016 elections.The House’s 66 to 34 Republicancontrol was diminished to a closemargin of 51 to 49. For weeks itappeared that Democrats mighttake control. Among the losseswere senior members and commit-tee chairs who were opponents ofMedicaid expansion and were ex-pected to win re-election easily.The Speaker who opposed expan-sion retired.

The voters in 2016 sent a clearmessage that they supported Med-icaid expansion. For most it sim

Budget ImbalanceReston Students StandUp to Stop the Killing Commentary

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Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

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News

By Mercia Hobson

The Connection

Fairfax County Police De-partment (FCPD) reportthey are investigatingnine commercial robber-

ies often involving gas stations andconvenience stores that have oc-curred in their patrol districts inthe past five weeks. Fairfax PoliceDepartment believes the nine rob-beries are the latest in a string of19 area commercial robberies thatare connected, including two inthe Town of Herndon and eight inLoudoun County. The Town ofHerndon has its own police depart-ment.

Fairfax County’s Major CrimesBureau is working with detectivesfrom three agencies, Herndon Po-lice Department, Loudoun CountySheriff’s Office, and the FBI Vio-lent Crimes Task Force to identifysuspects in these robberies, all ofwhich have occurred since mid-January and recently reflected anuptick in frequency.

According to Fairfax County Po-lice, the first robbery in the sus-pected series occurred on Friday,Jan. 19, 2018, at the Exxon gas

station located at 2957 ChainBridge Road (Oakton). Then onThursday, Feb. 8, 2018, a maleentered the 7-Eleven at 2501Centreville Road (Herndon,Fairfax County) and went to thecounter to make a purchase. Whenthe clerk was reaching for theitem, the suspect displayed a gunand demanded cash. He was lastseen wearing a black jacket, bluejeans, and sneakers.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, FairfaxCounty Police responded to a rob-bery at the Exxon gas station at2990 Centreville Road in Herndon.A man armed with a rifle robbedthe store of an undisclosed amountof cash.

According to Herndon PoliceDepartment (HPD on Sunday, Feb.11, 2018, in the 1100 block ofCrestview Drive, at 11:28 p.m. “asuspect entered the business, ap-proached the clerk behind thecounter, produced a handgun, anddemanded money from the regis-ters. After being given an undis-closed amount of money, the sus-pect left the store on foot and ap-peared to walk towards CrestviewDrive in the direction of WexfordCourt. The suspect is described as

a light-skinned black or Hispanicmale, 5’5” to 5’7”, wearing allblack clothing and shoes, and ablack ski mask.”

On Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018,shortly after 10 p.m, Herndon Po-lice Department reports, “…a sus-pect entered a business, ap-proached the clerk behind thecounter, produced a handgun, anddemanded money from the regis-ters. After being given an undis-closed amount of money and sev-eral packs of cigarettes, the sus-

pect left the store on foot andwalked towards Jackson Street.The suspect is described as a whitemale of average height and build,wearing all black clothing, and ablack ski mask.”

The investigation is ongoing.HPD is working with detectivesfrom Loudoun County Sheriff ’sOffice and Fairfax County PoliceDepartment on possibly relatedcases.

During the same approximateperiod, Feb. 11-21, Fairfax County

Police responded to six more rob-beries including two on Monday,Feb. 19. At 10:20 p.m., a robberyoccurred at the Shell gas station12219 Leesburg Pike (Herndon,Fairfax County). At 11:06 p.m. thesame evening, the Sunoco gas sta-tion at 1496 North Point VillageCenter (Reston) was robbed.

Fairfax County Police Detectivesreleased surveillance photos andare asking for anyone with infor-mation to contact them, stating,“The suspects appear to be malesbetween 5’4” and 6’ tall... If yourecognize the suspects, or if youhave any information about thesecrimes, please contact our MajorCrimes Bureau at 703-246-7800.Tips can be submitted anony-mously through Crime Solvers byv i s i t i n gwww.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org orcalling 1-866-411-TIPS. They canalso be sent in via text by texting“TIP187” plus the message toCRIMES (274637). Text STOP to274637 to cancel or HELP to274637 for help. Message anddata rates may apply. Anonymoustipsters are eligible for cash re-wards of $100 to $1,000 if theirinformation leads to an arrest.”

String of Commercial Robberies Hit the AreaAccording toFairfax CountyPolice Depart-ment, “In onecase, a gasstation rob-bery onCentrevilleRoad (inHerndon) onFeb. 10, asuspect wasarmed with arifle.”

Photo Fairfax

County Police

Department

6 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

Hats off to the student leaders and the principalssuch as Kim Retzer at South Lakes who oversaw thisimpressive exercise of first amendment rights. Ma-jor demonstrations are in the works for March bystudents around the country, to confront the loci ofinaction – legislatures, Congress and the WhiteHouse.

It is crucial that parents and the rest of us backthe kids in this life or death matter. It is time to getin the face of all our legislators, including those whoclaim support but are not actively showing it, by pub-

From Page 5

The Board of Directorsof Reston Associationand CEO CateFulkerson announced

on the Reston Association websiteTuesday morning, Feb, 27, 2018that Fulkerson is moving to a spe-cial advisor role effective March 1,2018, and will not be continuingwith Reston Association past hercurrent employment agreementwhich ends, Oct. 31, 2018.

In a statement, Fulkerson wrote,“Although I am sad to leave theassociation after serving these past26 years, I am proud of what hasbeen accomplished, especially dur-ing the last five years. I expect tocontinue to reside in Reston andsupport the association in all of itsendeavors, and I am thankful tohave had this opportunity to servemy community.”

On the RA website, RA Board President SherriHebert wrote: “Cate has been an integral part ofthe growth and success of the Reston Association.She has served in numerous positions for over twodecades, culminating in her leadership of the asso-

ciation as its CEO since December 2013. The board isindebted to Cate for her professionalism, and we wishher great success as she pursues other opportunities.”

On Feb. 9, 2018, the Board of Directors for RestonAssociation held a special meeting.RA reported: “The purpose of thisSpecial Meeting is for the Board ofDirectors to 1) consider a draft pro-posal for a Code of Ethics and re-lated amendments to theorganization’s Conflict of InterestPolicy; 2) convene in executive ses-sion to discuss the CEO’s Perfor-mance Evaluation; and, 3) estab-lish the CEO’s performance goals.”

Fulkerson has served as CEO ofReston Association and led the or-ganization since the Board hiredher after a nationwide search in2013. At that time, the then Presi-dent of the RA Board of Directorssaid in a statement, “[Fulkerson]brings with her the combinationof institutional history and com-mitment as well as the innovativethinking and creative energy weneed to ensure the future successof Reston. She epitomizes the mis-sion of RA, which is to preserve

and enhance the Reston community through out-standing leadership, service, and stewardship of ourresources. We couldn’t ask for a better representa-tive to lead RA.”

— Mercia Hobson

Will act in a specialadvisory role effectiveMarch 1, 2018.

Fulkerson to Leave CEOPosition at Reston Association

Courtesy of Reston Association

After serving a little overfour years as Reston Asso-ciation CEO, Cate Fulkersonis stepping down and willassume an advisory roleuntil her current agree-ment ends Oct. 31, 2018.

Lovaas licly getting after their colleague Republican NRAstooges and fellow Democrats.

Time for us all not to simply let these drags on thesystem wait us out. Do not leave them in peace. Callthem or write in the press and social media daily. Letthem know you are not going to simply forget thistime. “Hello, please tell Senator Warner, or Congress-woman Comstock, etc. Enough is enough and we arenot going away until you stand up and fight for ourkids who are target practice for the AR-15 toting kill-ers you allow to prey on them. I’ll be calling againtomorrow and tomorrow until you do your job andthis work is done.”

Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

Four score and several years ago, in thecourse of human marital events, historywhich had been made/experiencedbetween and husband and a wife was notrecalled quite the same, which likely led toa disagreement. Without there being avideo tape then – or now, or a WarnerWolf, insults and recriminations may haveflown, and not just the coop. Practicallyspeaking, how does one – or two, actually,solve this most unsolvable of problems?

This is not a declaration of independ-ence or the announcement of a change ofaddress from Burtonsville to Gettysburg, butit is a bit of a query as to how one managestimes from one’s relatively distant past.After a substantial while, and I would say 40years qualifies, it’s particularly challengingto remember the facts and the feelings thatcorroborate a memory: Who was there?What was said? How did it sound? Whywas it even happening?

And after all these years, the recollec-tions are not exactly black and white – foreither party. One – or both – are eitherviewing them through the looking glass, aprism, a filter, a haze, or in my case as acancer patient, through a now clinically-confirmed side effect of chemotherapy:“chemo brain.” A consequence of treat-ment which erases/alters memories in somedisputable way. A way in which what wasonce front and center is now back and tothe rear, or not at all. And not only arethese memories irretrievable, when spokenand heard, they are sometimes not believ-able either.

I know what I remember. I’m clear in mythinking. Time and place and context are allfamiliar but the assessment and interpreta-tion of the facts and feelings are different. Irealize that simply remembering where Iwas and what I was doing/saying (or not, tobe fair), doesn’t guarantee accuracy oragreement, but neither should it be dis-counted. I mean, being present andaccounted for counts for something. Thequestion is/remains: What am I missing?

I will admit though, knowing part of theunderlying cause of some of these“recollection-disputes” does minimize thestress of it. Nevertheless, most of the recol-lections to which I’m referring (in theabstract) are not gone (in my opinion), it’smore that they’re rearranged, maybe even“misremembered,” to invoke baseball great,Roger Clemens, in his sworn testimonybefore the House Committee on Oversightand Government Reform, given back inFebruary 2008. The “Rocket’s” situa-tion/status wasn’t resolved then any morethan my situation has been resolved now.It’s a work in progress – for all of us.

But I’m happy and fortunate to say: I canlive with it. As a nearly nine-year stage IV,non-small cell lung cancer survivor; in fact, Iam now my oncologist’s longest living lungcancer patient, I can deal with most thingscancer-affected and/or life-related. Becausein having so obliterated the “13 month totwo year” prognosis I was given back in lateFebruary 2009, I wouldn’t say I’m living onborrowed time exactly, but I would say thatI’m living on unexpected time.

So what’s a few missing memories or afew historical references out of context? Notmuch when you consider the alternative.Besides, life’s too short (don’t I know it) tolong for what I can’t remember or worryabout what I may have forgot.

I Can’t ForgetWhat I Don’tRemember

Submit entertainment announcements atwww.connectionnewspapers.com/Calendar/. Thedeadline is noon on Friday. Photos/artworkencouraged.

THURSDAY/MARCH 1Opening Reception. 6-8 p.m. at Signature at

Reston Town Center, 11850 Freedom Drive,Reston. The first exhibit features artwork byCraig Moran, a DC-based painter known for hisboldly patterned canvases. Free and open to thepublic. Call 703-471-9242, ext. 114 or visitwww.restonarts.org.

THURSDAY/MARCH 1Jazz Night. 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Lake Anne Coffee

House/Wine Bar, 1612 Washington Plaza N.,Reston. Patrons may enjoy Mykle Lyons andcompany as they wine and dine in the cozysecond floor wine bar. Admission is free. Call703-501-6289 or emailmaurisapotts@gmail.com.

Millennials Book Club. 7 p.m. at RestonRegional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive,Reston. Title is “Stiff” by Mary Roach. Check outa library copy or buy one to keep. Adults fromearly 20s to early 30s. Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

FRIDAY/MARCH 2Live Music. 6:30-10 p.m. at Lake Anne Coffee

House & Wine Bar, 1612 Washington Plaza N.,Reston. Live music in the 2nd Floor Wine Bar.Admission is free. Visitlakeannecoffeehouse.com.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY/MARCH 2-3Grand Opening: Rise. Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7:30

p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Rise Well-BeingCenter, 11130 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 150,Reston. $5 contribution provides full day accessVisit www.risewellbeing.center.

SATURDAY/MARCH 3GRACE Art Family Day. noon-3 p.m. at Greater

Reston Arts Center (GRACE), 12001 Market St#103, Reston. March is Youth Art Month. Enjoyseveral free art activities for families. Visitrestonarts.org/exhibition/emerging-visions-2/.

Fantastic Films: “Fried Green Tomatoes.” 2p.m. at Reston Regional Library, 11925 BowmanTowne Drive, Reston. The book is always better— or is it? Enjoy these films that started out asnovels. Adults, teens. Call 703-689-2700 or visitlibrarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Delaney’s Book Drive. 4-5 p.m. at 1713 AscotWay, Reston. Help volunteers collect 2,000 usedor new books for children in need. Visitwww.barberafoundation.org/events/delaneys-book-drive-1.

Out of the Shadows. 4-5:45 p.m. at RestonCommunity Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 ColtsNeck Road, Reston. Highlighting music byfemale composers, featuring special guest YsayeBarnwell, formerly of Sweet Honey in the Rock.A reception will follow the concert. $20-25; freefor 17 and younger, active duty military. Call703-834-0079 or visit www.restonchorale.org.

Calendar

ply did not make sense to leave more than10 billion federal dollars on the table whenthere were so many people without accessto health care. Many more people went tothe polls than usual to send the message tolegislators. Whether it was public opinionpolling or common sense that showed theRepublican majority they were in troubleand needed to change the stance on issues,the public speaking through the ballot boxbrought about this very important changefor Virginia.

How to explain the Senate vote? Sena-tors with four-year terms have not beenbefore the voters since 2014. They have nothad a recent message from the electorateand could be in for a big surprise if they donot re-evaluate their positions. The realheroes in all this are the Indivisibles andother groups that mobilized voters in 2016to elect responsive candidates. These newmembers are bringing balance to publicpolicy as well as to the budget.

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8 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 28 - March 6, 2018 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Vienna1.50%

$721,135

Fairfax2.46%

Great Falls1.35%

1,052,668

entreville

Chantilly2.68%

$479 051

Annandale2.77%

$464,220

McLean1.78%

$924,703

Reston1.18%

$432,136

9499 Springfie3.41%

$450,30

L2.15%

$407,393

n%

$692,08

Falls Churchh2.72%

62

Herndon2.11%

$488,507

Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D)2017 —2018 — $722,600

7 14%

201201

20172018

4.28%

2018 — $611,0601.99%

0.00 %

2017 — $677,9502018 — $691,950

2.07%

201 0,590201

%

2017 — $478,4902018 — $535,750

11.97%

Dranesville Supervisor John Foust (D)2017 —2018 $2,805,330

0 61%

2018 Countywide average for all homes – $547,219, up 2.17%Single family-detached homes – $656,071, up 2.11 percentTownhouse/duplex properties – $409,792, up 2.85 percentCondominiums – $264,974, up 1.68 percent

4%0% Percent Change

Fairfax CountyREAL ESTATE

ZIP CODE AREA 2017 MEAN 2018 MEAN PERCENT CHANGEAlexandria/Mount Vernon 434,746 445,859 2.56Annandale 451,699 464,220 2.77Burke 452,874 467,449 3.22Centreville 391,787 401,327 2.43Chantilly 466,566 479,051 2.68Clifton 668,564 674,195 0.84Fairfax 491,198 503,285 2.46Fairfax Station 649,794 660,767 1.69Falls Church 461,006 473,562 2.72Great Falls 1,038,630 1,052,668 1.35Herndon 478,405 488,507 2.11Lorton 398,803 407,393 2.15McLean 908,497 924,703 1.78Oakton 685,639 692,088 0.94Reston 427,099 432,136 1.18Springfield 435,442 450,304 3.41Vienna 710,459 721,135 1.50

for single family, townhouses and condominiums

2018 Assessments by AreaAlso home values for members of

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

SOURCE: Fairfax County

The average assessed value of asingle family home in Fairfax Countyfor 2018 is $656,071, up 2.11 percent