<b>New Principal at Hunters Woods</b>
Olivia Toatley, an assistant principal at McNair Elementary School in Herndon, was named the new principal at Hunters Woods Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences. Toatley, who has been with the county school system since 1971, was a former teacher and assistant principal at Hunters Woods. She was also a teacher at Forest Edge Elementary for 19 years.
“I’m just thrilled to be back to Hunters Woods,” said Toatley. “It’s a wonderful school where students love to learn and where teachers are always looking for the best way to provide instruction to their students.”
The county has been looking to fill the position since the summer when Principal Stephen Hockett transferred to McNair Elementary. For the past month and a half, Mary Ann Chung, who came out of retirement, has served as interim principal at Hunters Woods until a permanent principal was found. Toatley’s first day as principal will be Monday, Oct. 3.
<b>Handy Leaving RA</b>
Reston Association’s watershed manager, Diana Handy, is leaving RA at the end of this month to join AMEC Earth and Environmental, a consulting firm that is involved with Fairfax County’s watershed management plans. She will be helping to develop the Sugarland Run and Horsepen Run watershed plans.
“I’d just like to say for the public what an asset she was,” said Larry Butler, RA director of parks and recreation. “I’m sure she will be missed very much.”
In her five years with RA, Handy has led the effort producing RA’s Watershed White Paper, Watershed Management Plan, grant monies and shoreline stabilization efforts. RA is searching to fill the position.
<b>SLHS Band Places Second</b>
The South Lakes High School marching band placed second among Class AA in the Showcase of Bands competition at Herndon High School last weekend. In the percussion/drumline category, the Seahawks percussion placed first, and in the "creative effect" category, the band placed first. Accepting these awards were Drum Majors Stephanie Winklejon and Becky Dister and Percussion Captains Kyle Brightwell and Matt Jensen.
<b>Reston Arbor Day Oct. 1</b>
Reston is designated a Tree City, USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. As part of the designation, Reston Association hosts an Arbor Day celebration each year that involves tree and shrub planting as well as educational activities and information for members. This year’s event is Oct. 1 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at RA’s Central Services Facility on Sunset Hills Road, where volunteers will be able to help plant a buffer along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. The event is free. To register call 703-435-6530.
<b>Skateboarding Event Postponed</b>
The temporary skateboarding park for area youth coming to Reston has been postponed from Oct. 1 to Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will be the second skate park on wheels event hosted by Fairfax County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) since May. The event, which will also be raising money for victims of Katrina, hopes to raise awareness of and interest in skateboarding in Reston. Participants are asked to bring a $1 donation and their own protective gear.
<b>Play Cards for the Nature House </b>To raise money for the Nature House, the Friends of Reston will host a Texas Hold 'Em night at McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant at the Reston Town Center Oct. 18. The event, from 5 to 10 p.m., will offer tickets to games ranging from $50 to $1,000. Participants will be able to enjoy a seafood buffet and be eligible for a door prizes, including a trip to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Call 703-435-6510.
To date, the Friends of Reston have raised $825,000 for the Nature House, which will be a year-round educational building located at the Walker Nature Education Center.
<b>Light the Night Coming</b>
Light the Night is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual fundraising walk to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer. Participants carry illuminated balloons — white for survivors and red for supporters. This year’s event in Reston will take place Oct. 1 at the Reston Town Center from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. According to the society, the average walker in the Washington, D.C. area raises $200, and the average team raises $2,000. Funds raised will be used to support leading researchers investigate causes, treatments and cures, government advocacy efforts to ensure attention to cancer-related issues and assistance programs for patients and their families. Call 703-960-1100.
<b>Out of Darkness</b>
The Out of Darkness Community Walk is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Reston Town Center. The walk benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, raising money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss. Call 212-363-3600.
<b>RCC Autumn Retreat</b>
The Reston Community Center will hold an Autumn at
Lake Anne Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The retreat features therapeutic activities designed to energize and inspire, including musical chi gong, yoga for energy, breathing exercises, body awareness, eating awareness, nutritional snack, deep relaxation and a lake walk. The fee for this class is $25 for people who live or work in Reston and $35 for all others. This class is targeted to adults age 18 and older. Call 703-476-4500.
<b>Historic Trust Needs Volunteers</b>
Volunteers are needed to help host homes that will be open to the public for the Reston Historic Trust’s fourth annual Reston House Tour on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Volunteers will each receive a free Reston House Tour ticket to enjoy the entire tour. Orientation provided. Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to volunteer. Volunteer registration forms are available by e-mail. Contact Kathleen McKee, kmckee22@comcast.net. For more information visit www.restonmuseum.org or call the Reston Museum, 703-709-7700.
<b>Citizen Preparation Classes</b>
The Reston Community Center and Reston Interfaith are working together to help Reston residents achieve citizenship. On Thursday nights from 7-9 p.m., Sept. 29 to Dec. 1, a citizenship preparation class will be held at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Reston. The class covers American history and civics, and helps participants prepare for the oral interview and written exam given by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service. The instructors will help students complete the application for U.S. naturalization and provide a comprehensive review of the 100 questions on the USCIS exam.
To attend this class, participants must be able to read, write and speak English. The course is targeted at persons age 16 and older. The course fee for people who live or work in Reston is $15, and $23 for all others. You may register either in person or by faxing a completed RCC Registration
form to 703-476-8617.
<b>Calendar</b>
Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Reston Association Special Board Meeting at Isaac Newton Square. The results of the RELAC referendum will be announced.