Week in Reston
RCC Darkroom Photographers Celebration
In what is becoming an annual photolab tradition, the
Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods is hosting an exhibition through the month of September that spotlights the creativity of the people who use RCC's photo lab. For more than two decades, the Reston Community Center's darkroom has been a center for creativity and fun. RCC has one of the few photography labs in the area that is open to the general public and offers both black and white and color film developing.
The exhibition features the works of RCC's darkroom photographers, some as young as 12 years old and some in their retirement years. Their level of photographic experience ranges from beginner to professional, and their choice of subjects and techniques runs the gamut from hyper realist views of everyday objects, to surrealist visions to abstracts and from black-and-white photography, color photography and alternative photographic processes that include hand-coloring and toning.
The RCC Photo Lab is open to the public but reservations are required to use the lab and the fee is $7 for people who live and work in Reston and $9 for all others. Call 703-476-4500.
RA Board Thanks Hudgins for Funding Request
The Reston Association (RA) Board, in a letter dated Aug. 12, from RA Board President Jennifer Blackwell and Vice President Doug Bushee, thanked Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) for the request she made Aug. 1 to the Board of Supervisors asking for funding for a transportation study near the proposed Wiehle Avenue Transit Station.
In the Board Matter, Supervisor Hudgins asked the Board of Supervisors for a $500,000 carryover from the fiscal year 2005 for a study of the necessary bus, road and pedestrian improvements for the surrounding and supporting transportation network of Wiehle Avenue Station.
Illustrating the increase in use and demand of public transit, Supervisor Hudgins noted that the average weekday bus ridership broke the 17,000 mark for the second month this year, at 17,091 average riders. This compares to 6,000 a day in 1999.
“RA stands ready to help in anyway we can to ensure that this study is funded,” said Bushee.
"We are very excited about the Supervisor's proposal and leadership on this issue. Rail will have a tremendous impact on Reston, and this study is one step of many in ensuring Reston's future despite the tremendous growth and development metro will bring,” added Blackwell.
Plum Receives High Scores from Conservation Group
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) has released its 2005 Legislative Conservation Scorecard announcing the conservation voting records of state legislators.
Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston) had one of the six highest scores in the 140-member General Assembly. The average score in the House of Delegates was 40 percent and in the Senate 42 percent. Plum scored 90 percent.
“The Virginia League of Conservation Voters is committed to providing an accountability tool for environmentally concerned voters in the form of an annual Legislative Conservation Scorecard,” said Lisa Guthrie, executive director of the Virginia League.
“I consider protection of our natural environment one of the most important things I do as a legislator,” Plum said. Plum has been recognized by most statewide conservation organizations for his leadership on conservation issues.
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the nonpartisan political action arm of the state’s conservation community. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life of all Virginians by making conservation a top priority with Virginia’s elected officials, political candidates, and voters. The full scorecard is available online at www.valcv.org.
Totally Trucks This Friday
The Reston Association is holding its annual Totally Trucks event Friday, Aug. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon, at the Central Services Facility, 12250 Sunset Hills Road. The event will feature all the vehicles RA uses, including a dump truck, trash truck, back hoe, bobcat, and mowing tractor. Other organizations will also have trucks on hand. Children will receive a truck coloring book and the first 300 children from each time slot will receive a “Totally Trucks” construction helmet. The event is free and all ages are welcome to attend. Call Reston Association at 703-435-6577 for information.
Senior Academy Offers Free Film and Breakfast
Seniors can enjoy a classic movie and a continental breakfast at Reston Community Center’s Monday Movies. Light refreshments, coffee and juice will be served at 9:15 a.m. The movies, which are presented by RCC's Senior Academy, are shown in the RCC Hunters Woods' CenterStage from 10 a.m. to noon. This program is intended for people age 55 and older. Both refreshments and movie admissions are free. This season's films are:
Sept. 19 — "North by Northwest" (1959), a Hitchcock thriller set during the Cold War.
Oct. 24 — "Shane" (1953), a western about a gunfighter caught in a war between homesteaders and ranchers in the Old West.
Nov. 21 — "Roman Holiday" (1953), about a princess who escapes her handlers to learn about real life with the assistance of a reporter.
Works Sunday Coming Aug. 21
Works Sunday, an annual cooperative event involving members of Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim faith communities in Reston and Herndon, will take place Aug. 21. The effort will include more than a dozen “action projects,” plus five “donation projects.” Anyone interested is invited to participate. Action projects will include: holding three worship services at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center; providing maintenance at three Gabriel Homes, group homes for employed adults with mental retardation; collecting food for Reston Interfaith’s food pantry; making bag lunches for the Embry Rucker Shelter; cleaning up trash along the W&OD Trail; holding worship services and preparing luncheons for residents at the Hunters Woods and Lake Anne Fellowship Houses; stuffing backpacks with school supplies for low-income children; and giving concerts at the Sunrise/Reston and Cameron Glen residences.
Donation projects include bringing specified items to the Fairfax County Abused Women’s Shelter, the Embry Rucker Shelter, the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, the Laurel Learning Center, and the Zaccheus Community Kitchen in Washington, D.C. Items will be collected Aug. 21, between 2 and 4 p.m., at the United Christian Parish, 2222 Colts Neck Road, Reston. To volunteer call 703-860-5141.
Helping Back-to-School Kids
Reston Interfaith and Kids R First announced that they would partner to help serve needy Reston and Herndon children prepare for school this fall by providing backpacks and supplies. The organizations hope to serve 5,000 students in need this fall with backpacks that Reston Interfaith will collect from the community. Backpacks will be collected through Aug. 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Aug. 15 to 19, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210 in Reston.
FISH Needs Help
For more than 35 years, Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help) has been helping local families in crisis meet emergencies and short term needs.
Built on the "neighbor helping neighbor" concept, FISH has tried to help the community. But, recently FISH has more requests for help than the current fund-raising efforts can provide for.
Under the direction of newly appointed president Marcia Di Trapani, along with new officers on the executive board, FISH members plan to solicit more donations to help with its cause.
FISH is an all-volunteer, nonsectarian, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, which not only operates a hotline, assisting over 21,500 callers per year, but also provides round-trip rides for the elderly and other needy persons to their medical appointments. It also operates The Bargain Loft, 336 Victory Drive in Herndon, a thrift store that accepts and sells many items including used furniture, household items, books and toys. The Bargain Loft is completely run by volunteers.
For more information about FISH, to volunteer or make a donation, call 703-437-0600.
Golf Tournament to Aid Rwanda Orphans
On Thursday, Sept. 1, at the Reston National Golf Course, the United Christian Parish of Reston will sponsor a golf tournament to aid orphans in Rwanda. The cost to play, $125 per player, includes a round of golf and cart, beverages on the course and an awards dinner. Registration is from 11-11:45 a.m. with a tee time of noon. All golfers are invited to participate. The event hopes to raise at least $10,000 for the United Methodist Church of Rwanda. The United Christian Parish (UCP) has been working for nine years with a United Methodist Church project in Rwanda, which provides food, shelter and medical care for children orphaned by war and AIDS. Funds raised by the golf tournament will help build an orphanage, school and clinic to help 300 children in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali. UCP youth also raise $3,000 each year to support a young Rwandan studying medicine at the university in Kigali. The United Christian Parish is an ecumenical church combining four denominations: United Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ. Visit www.unitedchristianparish.org.
Calendar
August 22, 7 p.m., Reston Association’s Governing Documents Referendum Campaign with Cluster Association Board and officers at Isaac Newton Square.
August 24, 7 p.m., Reston Association’s Governing Documents Referendum Campaign with Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners (ARCH) at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne.
August 29, 7 p.m., Reston Association Special Board Meeting to hear comments about RELAC and approve the RELAC referendum question at Isaac Newton Square.