Solving Health Club Theft
Fairfax County Crime Solvers is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the man responsible for stealing a safe from a health club. The Fitness First Health Club, located at 674-B Plaza America Drive, closed at 11 p.m. on Monday, July 24. According to police, a man entered the club at 11:05 p.m. as members were leaving for the night. A security camera inside the business caught the man as he walked behind the front desk and looked inside the cabinets. The man then walked out of the club but returned moments later. Again the man walked behind the front desk, where he located a small safe. The suspect picked the safe up and walked out of the fitness club. The safe contained an undisclosed amount of cash, according to police.
The surveillance video was able to capture a photo of the suspect and Crime Solvers is hoping someone will recognize him. The suspect is a white man, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He is approximately 25 to 30 years old with brown hair. He was wearing khaki cargo shorts, a blue T-shirt and brown sandals with ankle socks.
Anyone with information on the suspect or the larceny is asked to call Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477. A $100 to $1,000 cash reward will be paid for information which leads to an arrest. Callers do not have to give their names or appear in court.
DWI Checkpoint Results
Fairfax County Police Officers from the Reston District Station conducted a sobriety checkpoint to deter and apprehend intoxicated drivers on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 11 p.m. until 1:40 a.m. Sunday. All motorists were stopped and drivers were checked to assure that their abilities to drive had not been impaired by alcohol or drugs. The checkpoint occurred near the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Baron Cameron Avenue. Approximately 739 motorists were stopped. Two people were charged with driving on a suspended license, one person was charged with driving on a suspended license DWI related, and three with no driver’s license.
Swans Given New Home
The Reston Association recently transported a pair of swans from Lake Audubon, to the Airlie Conference Center near Warrenton because of problems they were causing to residents and native wildlife.
Late last winter, RA noticed the pair of swans on Lake Audubon. The swans are Mute Swans, which are native to Europe and Asia but were transported to North America in the late 19th century by European immigrants. Some swans eventually escaped or were deliberately released into the wild. This pair of Mute Swans had their wings pinioned, rendering the birds flightless.
By spring of this year, RA was receiving complaints that the swans were becoming a nuisance. Fishermen complained that they were chased away from the banks, boaters complained they were aggressive towards them, and school children were harassed by the birds while trying to study the aquatic habitat of the lake. Additionally, the swans were chasing away the native ducks and herons and competing with them for habitat.
The swans were not injured during the trapping process and are currently being cared for by the Swan Research Program in Warrenton.
Reston Attic Auction
Reston Historic Trust is holding a Reston Attic Auction on Wednesday, Dec. 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Reston Museum, 1639 Washington Plaza at Lake Anne Village Center. Numerous items will be up for bid, including posters, art, books and unusual Reston-related items that could not be archived but have nostalgic value.
A Silent Auction starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Live Auction at 6:30 p.m. Phil Tobey is the auctioneer. Refreshments will be served. Auction items will be on display for preview at noon on Dec. 6. All auction proceeds will benefit Reston Museum.
Reston Museum is still accepting donations of Reston-related items that may be stowed in anyone’s attic, for the auction, or for the archives. For more information, call Reston Museum at 703-709-7700.
The event is part of Reston Museum’s programs, usually held on the fourth Wednesday of each month. For more museum events and information, visit www.restonmuseum.org.
Thanksgiving Story Retold at Park
Avoid those pesky shopping lines and spend the day after Thanksgiving with loved ones. Bring the family and holiday guests to Frying Pan Farm Park for the lively and interactive retelling of the Thanksgiving Story.
Glee Mania’s Sue Counoyer will entertain and inform. By the end of the show she’ll have even the shyest little ones dressed up and imagining themselves exploring a “New World.”
Counoyer’s performance will be held at the Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center on Friday, Nov. 24. The 40-minute program begins at 11 a.m. Tickets are just $3 each, pre-paid registrations recommended. For more information, call 703-437-9101.
Helping a Seahawk Battling Cancer
A sophomore at South Lakes High School named Elmer is fighting brain cancer. As the family struggles to pay for medical insurance and chemotherapy costs, students at the South Lakes have rallied together under the motto, “Fight for a Seahawk.”
Members of the school’s Leadership Team and the Student Government are selling T-shirts as a visual reminder of the fund-raiser. In addition to the $1,600 donated by students during lunch collections, all proceeds from the yearly Homecoming grade level penny collection contest went to this drive. To date, students have raised $6,313, and they continue to plan other events. Anyone wishing to contribute can send a check written to South Lakes High School with Fight for a Seahawk in the memo to South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191 (Attention: Lindsay Trout).
FISH Seeks
Thanksgiving Donations
Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help) is requesting donations of money and nonperishable food items for Thanksgiving boxes for needy local residents. Volunteers will assemble the boxes between Nov. 13-16 at the United Christian Parish located at 2222 Colts Neck Road in Reston. Last year FISH provided Thanksgiving assistance for 749 people.
Non-perishable items such as peanut butter, jelly, pasta or macaroni, rice, tomato sauce, soup, dry cereals, juices and other canned goods can be dropped off at the United Christian Parish across from Hunters Woods Center between Nov. 13-16 or at The Bargain Loft, FISH’s thrift shop, at 336 Victory Drive in Herndon. The Bargain Loft is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers are needed to collect, sort and deliver the food. Contact Robyn Kampf, holiday assistance coordinator, at 703-860-8804 or robkamp@aol.com, for more detailed information.
Checks and donations can be made payable to: Herndon Reston FISH, Inc., 336 Victory Dr., Herndon, VA, 20170.
All donations are tax deductible.
Reston License Plate Contest
Reston Citizens Association (RCA) is holding a Reston License Plate Design Contest, tapping into the creative talents of local residents. The group is asking Reston residents to design a license plate, which will be offered by Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles. The winning design will embody the essence of living in the 40-year-old planned community. Deadline for submission designs is Nov. 30. Full details of the contest rules are available at: www.restoncitizensassociation.org/RestonLicense.htm
The DMV requires a minimum of 350 pre-paid applicants to produce a specialized license plate. Residents interested in pre-ordering can complete the form at: http://www.dmvnow.com/webdoc/pdf/vsa10.pdf. Then send a check for the appropriate fee made out to “Reston Citizens Association”to: Reston Citizens Association, P.O. Box 2851, Reston, VA 20195. According to instructions from the DMV, RCA will hold all applications and checks until the special license creation process is complete and then forward one check to cover all the applications. To get more information, send an email to RCA-InfoLine@comcast.net or contact: Susan Merk at 703-437-4386 or John Fay at 703-481-0944.