Reston Association Communications Director Cara O’Donnell and Aquatics Facility Manager Nate Wheeler at the renovated Lake Thoreau Pool (via Reston Association/YouTube) Reston Association is ready to dive into a new swimming season — one that will open all 15 pools to members for the first time in half a decade. The 2024 pool season will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) with the heated pools at North Shore and Ridge Heights opening at 11 a.m. Eight other facilities, including the newly renovated Lake Thoreau Pool, will follow suit on May 25 for Memorial Day weekend. All 15 pools will then be open ..read more

Live Fairfax is a bi-weekly column exploring Fairfax County. This week’s column is sponsored and written by JaneEllen Saums of McEnearney Associates. Questions? Reach JaneEllen at 703-861-3523. Did you know that living near a park or greenspace increases the value of your home? According to the University of Washington, residents who live near a large park or “greenbelt” with biking and hiking trails will have up to a 32% increase in home values compared to a home that isn’t located near a park. That’s only one reason why the many parks in Fairfax County are such gems, including Ri ..read more

A map of racial covenants in land deeds around Northern Virginia (via Documenting Exclusion and Resilience) New research shows that thousands of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church deeds from the early-to-mid 20th century had language barring people of certain races, nationalities, or religions from buying property. Researchers contend that these practices, known as restrictive covenants, play a major role in the segregation of neighborhoods throughout the county and across Northern Virginia, the effects of which are still evident today. “The demographic makeup of our reg ..read more

A goose and goslings peck away outside Reston Regional Library (photo by Susan Woolsey) Deal Reached on State Budget — “Budget negotiators in the Virginia General Assembly have reached a bipartisan deal, ending a lengthy standoff over the spending plan and avoiding a highly unusual state government shutdown. Lawmakers will be back in Richmond on Monday to vote on the deal during a special legislative session.” [WTOP] Pedestrian Safety Measure Approved — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on May 7…updated the county code to match the state code requiring drivers to stop — not just yield ..read more

Eastbound Dulles Toll Road was closed after a fatal crash near Fairfax County Parkway (via Google Maps) (Updated at 3:40 p.m.) Police are investigating a fatal crash on the Dulles Toll Road along the Reston and Herndon border. The crash involved two vehicles that collided around 11:20 a.m. near Fairfax County Parkway, according to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) spokesperson. One driver died at the scene, while the other was taken to a hospital. MWAA didn’t have any information about the hospitalized driver’s condition, but spokesperson Crystal Nosal confirmed that there we ..read more

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is studying potential improvements to Wiehle Avenue between Sunrise Valley Drive and the W&OD Trail (via FCDOT) The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will soon unveil its proposals for transforming Wiehle Avenue in Reston into a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly street. The department will host a community meeting at Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road) on Thursday, May 23, from 7-9 p.m. to share three concepts for possible future improvements to the roadway. “Concepts include lane reductions, wider s ..read more

Use Promo Code FFXNOW for 15% Off Your First Order (Valid at All Locations Until July 1, 2024) MOLTN Cookies, celebrated for its ultra-fresh, bake-to-order approach, announces the opening of our newest location in Chantilly, nestled within Eggholic at 13951 Metrotech Dr. Each cookie is baked fresh upon your order, ensuring ultimate warmth and freshness. Baked to Order: Freshness You Can Taste Our unique process ensures that every cookie is baked only after you place your order, guaranteeing the freshest, warmest cookies directly from the oven, ready in just 15-20 minutes. Explore Our Unique C ..read more

Georgetown Pike at Falls Chase Court in Great Falls (via Google Maps) Fairfax County police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that shut down Georgetown Pike in Great Falls for hours early this morning (Thursday). First responders with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to a “crash on fire” at the intersection of Georgetown Pike and Falls Chase Court near the Great Falls Church of Christ at 12:21 a.m., according to scanner traffic on Open MHz. A police dispatcher reported that a 911 caller was “advising there’s a vehicle on fire that was involved in a cr ..read more

Visitors walk up to the Smithsonian’s Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey) Cookie Baked in Space to Be Displayed in Chantilly — “The first food ever baked in space is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia — and it’s a chocolate chip cookie…The dough was provided by McLean-based Hilton, the same cookie dough used to baked the warm chocolate chip cookies given at check-in to guests at its DoubleTree hotels.” [WTOP] Longtime Hybla Valley Vacuum Store to Close — Sun Sew Vac will close on June 29 after nearly five d ..read more

Xavier Turner and Andy “Pops” Whiddon at an encampment in Reston (staff photo by James Jarvis) As the Virginia summer looms, residents of Reston’s tent encampment are preparing for challenges beyond sweltering temperatures. Many are anxious about the impending installation of no-trespassing signs, which will mark the beginning of a two-week countdown before they must leave the Inova-owned property in the forest between Inova’s emergency room, the North County Government Center and Sunrise Assisted Living. Fairfax County officials have assured the 40-plus unhoused individuals residing at the en ..read more