Reston's Plague Year: Week 6 (Updated 4/29)

Spotted in South Reston. They can have our bills if they like.

So Fairfax has started aggregating confirmed COVID cases by "combined Zip codes," lumping Reston and Herndon in with a wide swath of western Fairfax County and a big chunk of Dulles Airport, as highlighted in the decidedly DRB unfriendly teal border in the map above. If it's any consolation, we 201s have the lowest case count (519) and lowest cases per capita (148.6 per 100,000 people) in the county. Um, yay?

This may not be COVID-related (we can think of some other reasons), but Big Bowl in Reston Town Center is closing permanently. A petition is circulating to have them reconsider. "Don't let the peanut sauce die," says one of the more convincing arguments we've seen on change.org.

Fellowship Square is looking for a wide range of in-kind donations. More community needs here.

A reminder that summer is coming, in some form or another:

Watch the process of "drain and clean", the method we use to prepare the pools for summer. This process is completed in April after the threat of freeze has passed. We are actively preparing the pools so when we can reopen facilities they are ready for our members.#Reston pic.twitter.com/rymJxDp0tb

— Reston Association (@RestonOnline) April 28, 2020

The Reston Farmer's Market is returning next month, too, albeit with some social distancing restrictions.

A worthy trip from Illinois to Reston:

Amazing to see our 3D-printed mask shields supporting frontline workers in so many places! Brianne Blankenberger is a graduate of JJC’s nursing program and works in Reston, Virginia. To date, our MakerLab has produced nearly 3,000 face mask shields! #jjcathome #virtuallyjjc pic.twitter.com/vjrj8MYuZE

— JolietJuniorCollege (@JolietJrCollege) April 28, 2020

NextDoor had this great idea of doing a directory of local eateries offering delivery, only their algorithm is... interesting:

Don't know about you, but we love to wash down a heaping plate of sawdust with a bundt cake, or at least that's what we thought after waking up from our home hypnosis session.

Been missing out on all those Zoom meetings the strapping bombs-to-dolphins contractors kids keep talking about? Join the Reston Association's virtual annual meeting on Thursday, with this fancy YouTube video explaining a signup process that's slightly less complex than applying for pool passes on WebTrak.

At this rate, we'll be locked up in our earth-toned homes, unable to get our computer's CAPS LOCK key unstuck until November:

@GovernorVA @FirstLadyVA @fairfaxcounty @FairfaxCountyPD HOW DO I REPORT PEOPLE HANGING BY THE DOZENS AT LAKE ANNE PLAZA IN RESTON??? DEFINITELY NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES OF 19 PEOPLE OR LESS!! Weekends are the worst here!! Please help!!!

— NM_99_ (@_nm_99_) April 25, 2020

Finally, our favorite correspondent, The Peasant From Less Sought After South Reston, checked in with an update:

Bar’s open!  Almost time for 5:00 happy hour.  Now, what cocktail to make?  Decisions, decisions…

Reston's Plague Year: Week 5 (Updated 4/24)

Fairfax County rapidly approaching 2,500 confirmed cases, with 80 deaths. Of those, 11 were in a Herndon long term care facility, and earlier in the week, a Lake Anne Fellowship House guard tested positive for COVID-19. Residents of the senior center have been told to stay in their apartments.

From the South Lakes High School Chorus, maybe the one good use for Zoom:

Metro Silver Line stations west of Falls Church will now be closed between Memorial Day and Labor Day to fix their little oopsies. Shuttle buses will take their place, and maybe this will cut down on one activity still happening nearby.

Lake Anne eatery Kalypso’s is beginning its “first phase of reopening” by offering delivery and curbside pickup. Other local businesses in the news are surviving and struggling in equal parts.

More in this vein:

There's a golf course in Reston that could use a visit. https://t.co/v6b4qiXCQC

— Multiclass Geek ❄️ (@multiclass_geek) April 22, 2020

Hey @Target — I was thrilled to see y’all had restocked hand sanitizer at your Reston, VA location so I stopped by and was even happier to see your workers had masks! Unfortunately, over half the shoppers were refusing to wear masks and were crowding other shoppers. #COVID19

— alexandra🗽🩸🦷 (@aliemalie) April 23, 2020

Sorry, you lost us after "restocked hand sanitizer."

The Reston Association sent a letter updating what the organization is doing in response to COVID-19. Among the things: a "Flatten the Curve Virtual Race" and continuing the dredging operations at Lake Anne, as featured in this rad video featuring freakin' scuba divers:

Diver Down is still an awesome album.

Turns out COVID-19 isn't the only communicable disease we have to worry about:

Rabies Alert, Reston: on April 20 near North Shore Dr & Wiehle Ave, an adult red fox was captured & tested positive for rabies. If your pet may have had contact with this fox, please contact Fairfax County Animal Protection Police at 703-691-2131. https://t.co/wUz50hya1x pic.twitter.com/7ZARN7V4Xl

— FairfaxCounty Health (@fairfaxhealth) April 22, 2020

Finally, a video from the Reston Museum in honor of Earth Day:

View this post on Instagram

A wonderful video of Reston's nature to uplift you this #earthday. All of these pictures were taken since COVID-19 began in Reston. It really is amazing how much beauty and interesting wildlife there is to experience in Reston's open space! Provided by our very own board member Bonnie Haukness. #reston

A post shared by Reston Museum (@restonmuseum) on Apr 22, 2020 at 10:44am PDT

Stay safe out there, Reston.

Reston's Plague Year: Week 5 (Updated 4/20)

Bob knows the score:

We miss the guy. As part of virtual Founder's Day celebrations, the Reston Community Center posted this video from 2019.

An awesome story:

Birthday party w/friends canceled to help #PreventTheSpread? Station 39, North Point, A-Shift drove by, along w/friends, Thursday to wish this young man a happy 7th birthday. #FCFRD firefighters/paramedics ❤️our Fairfax County residents. We are in this together! #FFXstrong pic.twitter.com/pS1KWZFhL6

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 18, 2020

Nova is offering tuition-free online courses for the summer for high school students. Bet their website works.

Speaking of which, here's the Monday morning update from FCPS: "The updates made by Blackboard over the weekend have not corrected the system delays." Distance learning is continuing via other means, but... wow.

Founding Farmers is offering not just takeout, but also pickup grocery items. Meanwhile, there are more Gofundme/relief funds for local restaurant workers, added to this page.

Meanwhile, the mood online is... turning, albeit for justified reasons:

But of course, if this kind of content is what you're here for, hang up your 300 baud modem and set the autodialer for AOL Nextdoor:

One commenter had the final word:

Almost the final word! A few more positive things:

Happy National Volunteer Week to our 1,400 amazing volunteers, who in 2019 contributed 6,900 hours to the Reston community! We would also like to thank volunteers who have selflessly volunteered their time during this pandemic.

Congratulations to VR Service Awards Winners! https://t.co/jH5l0MXfh0

— Volunteer Reston (@VolunteerReston) April 19, 2020

And from last week:

Great to see folks back in the gym at Y Reston with @RedCross #ClosedforPurpose #StayWithUs pic.twitter.com/KX75DgAJJt

— YMCA of Metro Wash (@ymcadc) April 16, 2020

Reston's Plague Year: Week 4 (Updated 4/17)

One of the largest and most affluent school systems in the country, Fairfax County Public Schools has now had to halt the distance learning that it spent a literal month planning for because of continued technical issues. Everyone is very sorry! In a RESTONIAN WORLD EXCLUSIVE, we've acquired grainy video footage of their feverish efforts to fix Brokeboard, or whatever, in time to start things back up next week:

Again, don't blame the teachers. Not their fault. Blame hucksterish edtech vendors and overconfident administrators that weird Internet thing.

Speaking of highly competent public agencies, we've learned that when the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station was built, contractors forgot one little thing: that it would eventually become a through station as the Silver Line crawled towards the far particleboard reaches of Loudoun County. Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that, to be fair, but the good (or "good") news is that all it took was an unprecedented global pandemic and economic shutdown to give folks the time to fix that little oopsie:

Metro now appears to be open to a complete multiweek shutdown of the Wiehle-Reston East station.

“The best part of that situation is that due to the extreme lack of ridership at Wiehle Ave., the ridership is down to approximately 350 people a day. WMATA is favorably looking at doing a complete shutdown for two to three weeks instead of 15 to 16 weekend shutdowns. This will really increase the efficiency of the testing and get it done much earlier in the project,” [Airports Authority Vice President Charles] Stark said.

They're also speeding up work to get rid of Gate 35X at National Airport, so assuming we'll ever get to fly again, that's almost a fair trade.

The Reston Association is holding a virtual pet fashion show, because why not. Good on them!

Cabin fever intensifies:

I do believe somebody liberated the guts of an old VHS tape and strung it all around the Reston woods. Everyone deals with quarantine differently! pic.twitter.com/3xvtdDy9FL

— Addison Del Mastro (@ad_mastro) April 16, 2020

As humankind languishes, the animals are getting tired of biding their time:

Spotted a few eagles this morning during our walk! One flew about 10’ over our heads!!! #Reston #eagles pic.twitter.com/bWadsZrGnD

— Bob Johnson (@RJVoices) April 15, 2020

Will they or the rats become the next apex predator? Our money is still on capybaras, but you never know.

Reston's Plague Year: Week 4 (Updated 4/15)

Tuesday's first day of online learning for Fairfax County students, in two text messages:

Apparently there were also scattered examples of what the district called “disruptive behavior.” Today, middle and elementary distance learning are delayed by two hours to install security updates, or maybe just turn the school system off and on again to see if it solves the problem. (Apparently it didn't work, as online instruction was canceled.) Don’t blame the teachers, blame technology that was never really tested at scale in this way.

Herndon Cares, a collection of Herndon and Reston congregations, is ordering weekly takeout dinners from local restaurants and providing them to more than 400 community members. Donate here.

Uniformed federal agents, at least for now, delivered this to Restonian World Headquarters:

You can read it here if you're incinerating quarantining your mail.

Reston makerspace Nova labs, which has 3-D printed more than 1,000 face shields for healthcare workers, put together a video of its efforts:

You can donate or volunteer here.

Springtime during a plague, before and after:

Spring in Reston is always lovely. While the Yoshino cherries are done blooming, the later Kwanzan are glorious. One of my azaleas is full of buds, and my white dogwood is in bloom. pic.twitter.com/zZOcQtzmXX

— Mary Dominiak (@Bardicvoice) April 9, 2020

Yesterday’s wild winds left us with pink snow in Reston: blossoms ripped off cherry and magnolia trees. I much prefer pink snow to the cold, wet, white stuff! pic.twitter.com/oT6SYbmyFf

— Mary Dominiak (@Bardicvoice) April 14, 2020

If you, like the DRB, are discovering a newfound love of the arts, on the YouTubes you'll find that the Reston Museum is doing a deep dive on one of its Arts:

Rather be outside? You can help the county track a different kind of invasive bug: the Spotted Lanternfly. No social distancing needed!

Reston's Plague Year: Week 4 (Updated 4/13)

Just the DRB, doing not DRB-like things:

In a pandemic, every color is russet brown.

A not-so-great milestone: Fairfax County reported its 1,000th COVID-19 case over the weekend. Nineteen deaths countywide.

Google has been tracking changes in people's movement by county. Fairfax County's results are both surprising and not surprising.

Here's a more detailed report. Where has activity increased? Parks, where traffic shot up in mid-March before dropping after they were gated off and closed.

Founder's Day was, not surprisingly, canceled. The Reston Museum has a list of ways to celebrate at home.

Why is the police helicopter circling, Saturday night edition:

Units on scene of a brush fire at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston area. Approximately 400 yard x 400 yard area involved. Fire is roughly 60% contained. All brush and no structures involved. Multiple units on scene. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/TZGXkiJE2C

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 11, 2020

Keep teasing us, Twitter. Keep teasing us!

Home Depot Reston Va, ya'll... 🚻

While supplies last.. 😂😂#toiletpaper pic.twitter.com/kaLtcZmOIB

— Rob 🇺🇸 (@DCRobMan) April 12, 2020

Tysons on Easter Sunday. Wait, why was it open?

#urbanhike @ShopTysons #tysonscorner #easter #ghosttown. @TysonsReporter pic.twitter.com/zDNyiRdiXR

— Old school hockey fan (@ERTRIPP9) April 12, 2020

Reston's Plague Year: Week 3 (Updated 4/10)

More signs of the times:

Click to enlarge. Again, no Burma Shave to round out the message.

Reston's Trader Joe’s closed Thursday for cleaning after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. Last time the employee was there was April 6.

A county fire/rescue employee also tested positive for COVID-19.

With online learning set to begin in Fairfax on Tuesday, Cornerstones has a new need we wouldn’t have thought of:

Schools starting next week in a new distanced learning model leaves the children at our Embry Rucker Shelter with an overlooked need - desks to work on!

We need your help in making sure every child has a comfortable workspace to continue their education from a distance. pic.twitter.com/0G9VYl4B8b

— Cornerstones (@Cornerstonesva) April 9, 2020

Donate here.

As with besieged media organizations everywhere, our BFFs at Reston Now are also asking for support.

Social distancing, in three stories:

View this post on Instagram

I have never seen so many watercraft on Lake Anne #spring2020

A post shared by Roxana Stewart (@roxbox40) on Apr 8, 2020 at 3:03pm PDT

Just walked the dogs. Per CDC recommendation, I wore a mask (and have done so each time I've left my house the past 5 days). Counted 24 other people walking on the #Reston paths behind my house. ONLY ONE was also wearing a mask. This is why we can't have nice things. #8percent

— Adam Temple (@awwpeaches) April 8, 2020

The Bike People of Reston are getting real reckless during this quarantine. Do y’all not fear death?

— Sticky Steve (@RyGuy_44) April 8, 2020

Not at all surprising, but okay: RA pools will not open next month

The association is working under the assumption that RA pools will open sometime this summer and is proceeding with pre-season maintenance projects. However, there may be a delay of three weeks or more from the time local, state and federal officials lift restrictions to when we will be able to open our facilities.

Expect an update around June 10, which is when the state order is scheduled to be lifted.

Just in time for Easter, Kalypso's in Lake Anne is reopening for one day, sort of:

We will be open for pickup and delivery orders Easter Sunday, April 12, 11am-6pm. Be sure to preorder your meals by Friday so we can plan accordingly.

You can also order wine and beer for pickup at retail prices.

Call 703-707-0660 or order online at https://t.co/EwA9PuFWXh pic.twitter.com/xHso0xKo9A

— Kalypso's Sports Tavern (@KalypsosTavern) April 7, 2020

Safeway joining other grocery stores in limiting customers, other measures.

Looking for some of those fun viral videos to pass the time? You could watch the RA's explanation of the assessment deadline change or Fairfax Supt. Walter Alcorn's virtual town hall on the upcoming budget. As a plus for the TikTok crowd, neither features the Weeknd's Burning Lights.

From the Y earlier this week:

Today with @ymcabowen @ymcadcyfs and Y Reston with @keanyproduce @RedCross TY @livingourcause volunteers for your support #ClosedForPurpose #StaywithUs #BeCauseY pic.twitter.com/4FVfiiANOG

— YMCA of Metro Wash (@ymcadc) April 8, 2020

After first limiting access to popular trails, Shenandoah National Park is now fully closed.

Finally, more gang code courtesy of Confidential Restonian Operative "Ashley," who posted it to our Facebook.

Reston's Plague Year: Week 3 (Updated 4/8)

A new RA sign on the Wiehle Avenue pedestrian overpass:

That police helicopter on Monday? Apparently it involved an attempted robbery. With a machete. We're heading into Lord of the Flies territory well ahead of schedule.

There are now more than 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County. The health department explains why it won’t break them out by area or Zip code.

Fairfax police on why everyone should stay at home.

Meanwhile, we've heard about at least one large party in North Reston over the past weekend.

More Fairfax Connector service changes, though RIBS1, 3, and 5 will continue on their normal schedules. Nearly 40 routes countywide are being cut completely, though.

This is wild:

First up, a plot of seismic energy recorded at a USGS Netquakes station in Reston VA - very close to DC's busiest international airport. 3/? pic.twitter.com/uUpTY8IoXf

— Diana Roman (@volcano_diana) April 6, 2020

Giant is limiting the number of shoppers and making its aisles one-way.

Add Great Falls to the list of parks which have sealed off parking lots to keep people from congregating.

Speaking of Dulles:

Same here at Dulles. Parking lots empty, the terminal is a ghost town. It's an eerie sight. https://t.co/6TSzoYjdE6 pic.twitter.com/rQwf2LVr5J

— Brad Freitas (@Chopper4Brad) April 6, 2020

The North Point Chick-Fil-A is one of only a few nationwide delivering locally.

Uniform change for local first responders:

Technician Seaman, Station 25, Reston, A-Shift taking universal precautions to #PreventTheSpread. Don’t be alarmed if you see our crews dressed like this. Protection ensures our members can safely help you, stay healthy, & continue serving. #FFXCOVID #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/WkQrQ1vsSI

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 7, 2020

Meanwhile, in Tysons, the lack of open retail in our Emerald City has people (literally) jumping off tall buildings.

Bored? The Reston Museum invites you to play Reston Bingo:

Reston #bingo is here! Enjoy! #reston #restonmuseum #stayhome pic.twitter.com/HFS2pQRm8y

— Reston Museum (@RestonMuseum) April 8, 2020

Reston's Plague Year: Week 3 (Updated 4/6)

This is great:

After a long anxious week I snug out to hear the cheers from the #MidTown residents in #Reston #Virginia thanking #HealthCareWorkers and #FirstResponders 🙏🏽 😭 My #MentalHealth is instantaneously improved @RestonNow @washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/bZqc5TNkpb

— Scandic health (@scandichealth) April 3, 2020

Dulles Toll Road now electronic payments only. Those without EZPass or exact change will get bills in the mail.

Courtesy of Confidential Restonian Operative "Terry," more gang code images of inspiration.

From our BFFs at Reston Patch, a partial list of local businesses that are open and closed.

A one-sentence response from RA CEO Larry Butler to concerns about the closure of Reston tennis courts:

Please understand the decision has been made and we are sticking with that decision.

Metro is now closing at 9pm every evening.

Another sign of the times. Fun fact: We were today years old when we were reminded that the vowel-free VY stands for "Very":

A message to our residents regarding COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/0lSsW0XG0k

— VY / Reston Heights (@VYrestonheights) April 3, 2020

Some things never change:

Oh wow what a morning. Armed robber on the loose in my neighborhood. Helicopter flying over head in Reston near the Trader Joe’s

— lisi (@kaLisi_mu) April 6, 2020

According to the unimpeachable source of news known as Nextdoor, the reason checks out.

See our updated list of local organizations and groups seeking donations and support.

COVID-19 and Reston: Ways You Can Help (Updated 5/20)

A list of organizations and groups seeking donations and other support during the coronavirus outbreak.

Fairfax County has a fancy map of organizations throughout the county helping during this time.

Embry Rucker Community Shelter wishlist and Reston food pantry

South Lakes High School Food Pantry

Cornerstones of Reston
Cornerstones is a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other human services.

Fellowship Square Fill the Basket Drive, seeking all kinds of in-kind donations for senior residents.

CORE Foundation COVID-19 Donation Drive.

Herndon Cares, a collection of Herndon and Reston congregations, is ordering weekly takeout dinners from local restaurants and providing them to more than 400 community members. Donate here.

Fairfax Futures is seeking donations for materials and cleaning supplies for childcare programs.

Nova Labs, a Reston-based community makerspace, has a fund to support its manufacturing of reusable face shields and masks.

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund

Reston Now seeking financial support.

Fairfax County Neighbor to Neighbor and Village programs

LINK pantry list
LINK is an all volunteer Christian organization providing emergency food to families in need in Herndon, Sterling and Ashburn, Virginia.

Reminder to be wary of coronavirus scams.

GoFundMes:
Kalypso's Sports Tavern Employee Relief Fund
Roer's Zoofari (formerly Reston Zoo) Animal Feed/Care
Bartenders of Cooper's Hawk Reston
Uncle Julio's of Reston Employee Relief
Red's Table Employee Relief Fund
Relief for Crafthouse Employees
Relief for Team Passionfish
Pica Deli Relief Fund
Morton's Reston Bar Team
Sweet Green Reston
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern Employee Tip Pool

Contact us to add others to the list.