News and notes from Reston (tm).

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

This and That: A Random Catch-Up Stroll Through Reston News

  • Yay, RA President Robyn Smyers has written another "web log" post, calling 2009 "a phenomenal year in Reston's history." But 2010 promises to be even more exciting, what with the Master Plan, elections, continued stream bed restoration, and a sea of shiny new filing cabinets when the RA moves its headquarters to a "park-like setting," with "large trees and even picnic tables." Sweet!

  • If you've been hearing loud bells every time you've gotten on or off the Toll Road, maybe you forgot that tolls went up on Jan. 1, making a round trip to Tysons or beyond cost a cool $3.50. Fortunately, Fairfax County formally approved the tax districts that will pay for our fancy new Metro stations, meaning that at some point we'll be able to pay $3.50 (or more) to sit on a stalled Silver Line train as the loudspeakers blare incomprehensible static about a "track fire."

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  • Speaking of the Metro, the awesome Silver Line station at Wiehle Avenue will have, along with rad '80s art, plenty of bathrooms. Design issues will place them outside of the fare gate, meaning they'll be open to overcaffienated commuters and Targetville residents alike.

  • Kenneth Mitan and Frank Mitan, a father-son duo of scammers from Michigan, were convicted of fraudulently gaining control of a series of businesses and draining them of their assets, including a "printing company in Reston, Va." The company's name wasn't mentioned, but how many printing companies are there in Reston?

  • Usually when high-ranking execs leave a company, it's described as "spending more time with their family" or whatnot. Not at Reston-based QuadraMed, which stone cold canned its chief technology officer.

  • This is now ancient news, but in the interest of closure, we feel compelled to point out that Col. Van T. Barfoot, the 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient who was battling his Richmond area homeowner's association over his 21-foot flagpole, will be allowed to keep Old Glory flying. Let freedom ring!

5 comments:

  1. Wow, there's no way those Metro bathrooms will stay remotely clean. Suit or no suit, people are savages in public bathrooms.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hickory Cluster Knuckle DusterJanuary 6, 2010 at 8:15 PM

    That's why there should be those self-cleaning toilets they have in Europe that cost a dollar to use.

    In a pinch they are pretty damn life-saving and they stay clean because after each use the whole thing gets steam cleaned. The $1 fee will keep out the Targetvillian villians.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's a point, I don't know why men's bathrooms are so messy.

    But meanwhile two safty inspectors were almost hit by a metro. Will the thing be working safely when it finally arives?

    ReplyDelete
  4. From the Uplands of RestonJanuary 7, 2010 at 11:14 AM

    RA seem to feel that the residents and their bank accounts exist to support RA and the unaccountable DRB. RA is actually overhead, and has not been too concerned with return on equity. RA overpays their employees, pay too much for a headquarters, and clear cuts along a series of closed-canopy stream-beds, on our dime. And there is little we can do.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Broke in Charter Oak (BiCO)January 7, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    Bring on the Silver Line! I can't wait to walk to a station from my apartment, hop a train, and then walk to my office in Tyson's from another station. Route 7 just keeps getting worse and worse with all of the exurban growth to our northwest.

    ReplyDelete

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