颁辞尘蝉迟辞肠办鈥檚 鈥� which has 273 apartments 鈥� and Penzance鈥檚 less than one-tenth of a mile from the future station 鈥� which has 455 residential units 鈥� will not have any ADU or WDU units. Stanley Martin鈥檚 project 鈥� which has 64 two-over-two condos 鈥� also has none. Prices for those units start at $679,990.

Newly elected town council members Cesar del Aguila and Pradip Dhakal are currently mulling ways to create more new affordable and workforce housing. They plan to discuss policy instruments with the county鈥檚 Board of Supervisors, the town鈥檚 legal staff, and other town and county officials to decide next steps.

鈥淚f we do not interfere now and talk to builders, it will be very difficult to manage later. This is the time for the change,鈥� Dhakal said. 鈥淲e need to work with the county and work independently as a town to see what we can do.鈥�

It鈥檚 unclear if the town has enough workforce housing to meet the demands of people who work within or near the town鈥檚 borders. The number of residential units in Herndon is expected to increase by 30 percent over the next 25 years, according to county . Major growth is anticipated in Herndon鈥檚 transit station areas.

Unlike , the Town of Herndon does not the statutory authority to mandate the inclusion of workforce or affordable housing units. But now, as the Silver Line trains approach, some local elected officials are pushing for the town to explore ways to include workforce units in new developments at a critical juncture in the town鈥檚 history.

Policy options could include seeking state-enabling legislation to create an ADU and WDU program for the town 鈥� likely modeled after the county鈥檚 program.

Others are looking to dip more into the county鈥檚 鈥� which includes tax dollars from town of Herndon residents and has historically been聽used to preserve and promote affordable.

But some caution that a WDU and ADU program managed by the town could be too cost-inhibitive.

Melissa Jonas, chairwoman of the Town of Herndon鈥檚 Planning Commission, said seeking such a change would likely require a town charter amendment, state-enabling legislation, the creation of a housing office, and other administrative requirements that could result in a 鈥渘et zero鈥� win for the town.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy and it鈥檚 not cheap,鈥� Jonas said.

Jonas, who has worked with the county on numerous affordable housing initiatives, notes that affordable housing is a region-wide challenge that cannot be addressed in isolation of other issues and initiatives.

In the past, the town has leveraged its relationship with the county 鈥� which has the administrative and financial resources to maintain and preserve older affordable housings units 鈥� to ensure inclusion and housing affordability are a priority in the town. Town officials have also made an effort to educate the town鈥檚 planning commissioners about housing affordability issues as new applications cross their desk.

The town鈥檚 comparative advantage lies in finding other ways to ensure projects are affordable 鈥� including working with places of worship to pursue creative new projects on unused land, increased transparency about development approval timelines, and decreased the cost of doing business in the town.

The county currently provides most of the funding for the town鈥檚 housing rehabilitation specialist, who finds ways to preserve and rehabilitate current affordable and workforce housing units. The county also provides administrative support for housing vouchers and other federal programs.

Projects like the units set aside for lower-income households at Herndon Harbor House II are a good start to ensure housing affordable is a central part of community planning. That retirement community was partly financed by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Dhakal says that鈥檚 not enough and Del Aguila says that a town-led ADU or WDU program is 鈥渢he right thing to do.鈥�

鈥淭his initiative will provide several benefits: positively impact the future of many people [and] families by providing an option for home ownership in Northern Virginia,聽 improve the quality of life for people in our town鈥� and create opportunities for financial security for more residents,鈥澛� he said.

Not everyone on the council is convinced of the need to enable the town to regulate affordable housing, including town councilmember Signe Friedrichs.

Friedrichs says there is a lack of consensus on whether or not there is enough affordable housing in the town and that the county is better positioned to manage housing affordability programs. Instead of managing its own program, the town should work with the county to maintain and improve affordable housing options.

鈥淚 moved to Herndon partly because it was affordable, and I hope it can stay that way while also聽improving its housing stock. But I also hope we can maintain, improve and possibly expand our聽workforce and affordable housing without also increasing our budget, the cost of which would聽cause people to move out of town,鈥� Friedrichs said.

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in North Point Village Center is reopening on Saturday, July 27.

The gift shop, which offers, ornaments, greeting cards, and gifts, closed on July 22 for renovations. The store is located at 1438 North Point Village Center.

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The retail chain has multiple locations throughout Northern Virginia, including two in Sterling and one in Ashburn.

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The results of an analysis on Fairfax County’s are in. Researchers at American University found that the six-month pilot project could have limited results in enhancing policy-community relations, increasing police legitimacy and accountability.

In a 119-page report that uses survey data from residents and police officers, researchers found that people had 鈥渕odest expectations鈥� about the necessity and benefit of body-worn cameras.

Less than half of survey respondents and interviewees noted that the devices would reduce complaints against officers, improve legitimacy or increase police accountability.

Police officers also noted that it was unlikely that the devices would change their behavior, or how community members responded to the police department.

鈥淚f the decision is not to deploy them, the high regard for the department will lead nearly everyone to conclude that it was the right decision for all,鈥� the report states.

Researchers did not find any statistically significant changes in officer behavior and performance once the devices were deployed. They also found that respondents were unconvinced that the cameras would lessen the use of force by police.

The pilot program went into effect in March last year after Fairfax County police Chief Edwin Roessler and a police commission suggested the idea. Last year, 191 cameras were deployed at the Mason, Mount Vernon and Reston District Station, yielding more than 12,000 hours of video.

The police department found that judges, clerks of the courts and staff from the office of the public defendant generally supported the program.

If the program is implemented, the county would deploy 1,210 body-worn cameras to all operational police officers over five years. The Reston, Mason and Mt. Vernon district stations would be the first to get the cameras.

The program could cost nearly $30 million over a five-year contract period. The county would have to hire staff to manage the technical aspects of the equipment, improve station infrastructure and ensure public records laws were being followed.

Additionally, the Office of the Commonwealth鈥檚 Attorney would need nearly $3.1 million for 23 positions to help review the footage, roughly $773,000 to help the court system use the videos generated by the cameras in the courtrooms, and $150,000 to boost storage capacity to capture video evidence.

The county still has to mull several issues:

• The impact of the devices on prosecutors, public defenders and the court system is entirely unclear
• The Commonwealth Attorney鈥檚 Office cannot accommodate planned growth
• Whether or not cameras should be given to School Resources Officers
• Training requirements for the defense bar
• The possibility that future contract costs could increase

The report will be presented to the county’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

Photo via FCPD

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A fire at a home in Great Falls, Virginia, caused nearly $1.3 million in damages聽 Friday night.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries, and two residents were displaced after the fire broke out.

The incident happened on Clarks Branch Road in Great Falls. Firefighters were on the scene for several hours, going into the early hours of Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department told Reston Now that the cause of the fire is unknown.

More updates will likely be available Monday, according to the spokesperson.

Fire Investigators are currently on scene of Friday evening鈥檚 house fire on Clarks Branch Road in the Great Falls area. Captain Goff provides the latest update on determining cause.

鈥� Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue)

UPDATE from house fire on Clarks Branch Road in Great Falls: fire is under control. Crews are still hitting hot spots. Firefighters will be on scene for several more hours.

鈥� Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue)

UPDATE from scene of house on Clarks Branch Rd Great Falls: extensive fire. Crews working to extinguish. All occupants out.

鈥� Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue)

Photo via FCFRD/Twitter

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, a relic of Reston鈥檚 history and Bob Simon鈥檚 vision for the community, is closing its doors at historic Lake Anne Plaza on Saturday.

The children鈥檚 consignment shop 鈥� home to hundreds of items and the hearts of consigning families 鈥� has cemented its role in the community as a place to buy used clothing and a community gathering place. On a recent Wednesday evening, customers and friends came in to say goodbye to owner Susann Gerstein, 70, who has operated the shop for the last 37 years.

A group of teenagers lined up empty hangers in rainbow form 鈥� an organizational style Gerstein loves. She spent most of the night on Tuesday packing away clothes and coordinating donation drop-offs with local nonprofits.

Not much has changed since three young mothers and friends聽 started the venture on Nov. 21, 1981 in the vacant offices of an optician across the lake. The friends embraced the dark interior 鈥� with its Marimekko wallpaper and lime green carpeting. Gerstein鈥檚 husband built wooden clothing stands. Gerstein stitched hand-sewn clothing tags.

The paint was still drying when the store first opened. From the first day, customers embraced the business as a place to buy used clothes, chat over the racks and build community. The store has averaged 1,200 consigning families annually.

Eighteen years later, the shop moved to its current location, giving it a bigger space to work with. Gerstein鈥檚 paper ledger and the same Rolodexes from its opening day sit on the counter.

鈥淔riendships grow for me here and they鈥檝e grown for me too,鈥滸erstein said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the hardest part of saying goodbye.鈥� She said the store brought out the extroverted side of her otherwise introverted personality.

Rents, which had been steadily increasing over the years, skyrocketed this year, making it hard to make ends meet, Gerstein says.

鈥淚 tried and we just couldn鈥檛 make it work,鈥� she said.

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She describes herself as a Reston booster and a big believer in Simon鈥檚 vision. Her involvement with Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency; the Reston Historic Trust & Museum; and other organizations is clear in the store. She was the founding president of the Reston Museum and helped found the Reston Historic Trust for Community Revitalization.

A Cornerstones donation jar sits on the counter and Gerstein often donates clothing to local nonprofits and domestic violence victims through various community partnerships.

Politics entered her shop following the November 2016 presidential election. Gerstein put up a sign, 鈥淪top Tearing Families Apart鈥� in the window of her storefront. She began selling 鈥淗ate Has No Home Here鈥� signs. A fabric banner of children holding balloons 鈥� which was made by the friend in the original space 鈥� hangs from the ceiling. On weeknights, she tries to ride with members of Herndon-Reston Indivisible to hold lighted letters at the White House several times a month.

鈥淚 wanted my store to be a safe space for everyone. Some people didn鈥檛 like it but everyone knows where I stand,鈥� Gerstein said.

After receiving calls from Doug Bernstein from popular toy-making company Melissa & Doug for years, Gerstein began having the toys in her shop. She stopped taking used toys after federal regulators raised questions about the quality of plastic and lead used in toys. Her husband built a Melissa & Doug grocery stand, which children often played with as their parents shopped in the store.

Gerstein says running the shop, which she has done since 2002, has been extremely fulfilling and exhilarating. As her last day of business comes near, she hopes to spend more time volunteering in the community, which she did not realize she would warm up to after moving from New York City in the late 1970s. Her grandchildren and three children plan to come from the city for a send-off on Saturday.

On a recent evening, she gazed across the lake to where Simon鈥檚 monumental figure sits on a bench. She says she鈥檒l keep her website鈥檚 domain running if she finds another place like Lake Anne for the next generation of consigning moms.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so hard to let go.鈥�

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Herndon High School鈥檚 band took part in the 鈥� returning with enhanced appreciation of the crew members who served on the USS Herndon during the invasion.

Several students dressed in original uniforms worn by USS Herndon sailors and the band also took a flag that flew on the USS Herndon.

Band members marched through the American Cemeteries in Brittany and Omaha Beach, and performed in the D-Day Musical Salute to Liberation.

Varun Natarajan, a Herndon High School junior and a member of the band, said the experience increased his appreciation for those who sacrificed their lives during the invasion, as well as the unique role the USS Herndon played.

鈥淲e heard some very impactful speeches by people who participated in D-Day. Hearing the veterans describe D-Day gave me a new sense of perspective on what the invasion was like, and how intense the fighting was. Three students from our school also got to speak about what this means to them,鈥� Natarajan said.

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A rainbow flag outside the is missing for the third time in three months.

Rev. Debra Haffner said that the 11-foot flag was stolen on Tuesday, June 11.

The church has been very vocal in advocacy for LGBTQ rights. It organized the first-ever Reston Pride Festival last year.

This year, was held at a new and larger location at Lake Anne Plaza.

鈥淲e are deeply saddened that some person or persons have chosen to steal our flag and hope that it will be returned to us. More, we hope for an opportunity to create an opportunity for restorative justice with that person or persons, so that they will come to understand and accept all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,鈥� said Haffner.

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The missing flag was reported to the Fairfax County Police Department, which is investigating who tore down the flag.

Haffner said she fears the incident qualifies as a hate crime. She said her church is open to purchasing a flag for any faith community that requests it.

“We will continue to fly a rainbow flag on our property, even if it means buying a new one every month. We hope that other churches, synagogues and mosques will put a rainbow flag on their property, so that all will know that people of every faith in Reston support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.鈥�

Until this spring, a rainbow flag has flown on UUCR鈥檚 property since 2017 without incident.

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Unwieldy grass along medians and roads maintained by VDOT could become more of an eyesore until mid-June.

A spokeswoman for VDOT told Reston Now that the department delayed awarding a mowing contract after a potential bidder asked for clarification on a section of the call for bids.

鈥淲hen this happens, state regulations require at least 10 days before closing so the bid was extended,鈥� said VDOT spokeswoman Jenni McCord.

Bids are expected to close on June 11, after which VDOT will make a decision on the contract.

In the meantime, McCord said VDOT is working to schedule crews to mow areas in Reston.

Historically, VDOT has contracted with RA to mow medians. Without a contract with VDOT, RA cannot mow areas maintained by VDOT.

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It鈥檚 unclear if the association will get the contract this year.

Hank Lynch, RA鈥檚 CEO, said he shares members鈥� concerns about the lack of maintenance on the roadways.

鈥淩outine mowing of the medians not only provides better aesthetics, but it also makes traveling along roadways safer. We will continue to work with VDOT and are poised to perform the mowing quickly and to RA standards if and when the state legally permits us to do so,鈥� Lynch wrote in .

Others pointed to longterm maintenance issues with VDOT鈥檚 repaving of roads in Reston.

A resident of the Polo Fields neighborhood near the Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride said roads have not been paved and potholes have not been filled for years.

A community representative has been in touch with VDOT about the issue for at least two years.

The neighborhood hasn鈥檛 heard back about maintenance concerns.

Photos via K. Malaika Walton

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The will begin an engineering study to determine how to boost the water supply for the Town of Herndon after the Herndon Town Council approved the $107,000 study

Tammy Chastain, deputy director of the town鈥檚 public works department, said additional capacity is needed to meet future demands. Discussions on how to boost water supply with a new point of supply and install a new pumping station have been underway since at least 2016.

鈥淲e knew we were going to have to find it from somewhere,鈥� Chastain told council members last night.

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Initially, town officials thought the project would cost around $6.1 million, but now, costs could be as low as $3 million for design and construction.

The pumping station, if approved, would be located at the Herndon Police Department. Because the station would be near a transmission main and meter vaults along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, the cost of the project is expected to be much lower than anticipated.

Funding for the study was planned for in the town鈥檚 five-year capital budget. The town鈥檚 2016 Water Utility Master Plan calls for the design and construction of a new water main before 2025.

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The selection was made from the magazine鈥檚 annual readers’ survey in January and also covered categories such as best in arts, culture and entertainment; living and recreation; shopping; services; and food and drink.

The market, which is operated by the , is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays through Dec. 7 at Lake Anne Village Center. It is one of 10 producer-only farmers markets run by FCPA.

The magazine wrote the following about the market:

聽“Market managers John and Fran Lovaas and Keith Strange manage the volunteers who keep the Fairfax County farmers’ market going. All products are strictly producer-only; vendors may only sell what they raise or make from scratch. These truly local vendors travel an average of just 50 miles to the market.”

Photo by John Lovaas

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Imagine playing golf with real golf balls and never losing one in a space where pace of play is never an issue. With just a touch of a screen you can be instantly transported to holes on world-famous golf courses such as Pebble Beach. Not to mention fresh food prepared by an executive chef and a cocktail menu at your fingertips.

No, this is not something from the mind of a mystical golf movie-script writer. It鈥檚 not really something you can get at a purely golf entertainment center like TopGolf or sitting down at a fancy downtown restaurant.

It鈥檚 more like an eclectic combination of all these pleasantries and it鈥檚 made possible through the magic of TopTracer cameras 鈥� the same technology used to show ball flight paths on TV tournaments.

Launchbox has been around for a year and to celebrate, they鈥檙e offering the first hour in a bay for free with contests and giveaways. The resident Long Drive Tour Pro will be having a competition where you can try to out hit his 9 iron to win a prize, and the club will be releasing its own beer.

1757 partnered with Brew Republic Bierworks in Woodbridge to create an exclusive Hazy Session IPA. This weekend will be your first chance to taste Swing Easy IPA, and the owner of Beer Republic and their Brewmaster will be on hand Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit , and book a reservation聽.

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has opened up a gallery at Herndon鈥檚 , bringing some life to vacant storefronts in the new property at 708a Elden Street.

Adams, a Californian who started painting when she was 44, set up shop on May 1. She is known for her bright and colorful landscapes and still paintings.

鈥淚 love the look and location of Junction Square,鈥� Adams told Reston Now. 鈥淭he front windows are great to display new paintings.鈥�

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She says it took six months to complete build-out and she鈥檚 still in the process of outfitting the building.

Junction Square is a 55,000-square-foot mixed-use development that includes 20 luxury town homes and storefronts. It is located at the central intersection of Elden and Monroe streets.

Work continues on a new beauty and barber shop planned in the neighborhood. So far, there鈥檚 been limited activity where a new juice bar is planned to open at 702 Elden Street.

Visitors are encouraged to call 540-454-5922 before dropping in, Adams said. The gallery is typically open between noon and 6 p.m. on weekdays.

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The Town of Herndon鈥檚 1.25%聽 has generated some backlash from local residents 鈥� prompting Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel to clarify why the tax was increased from 2.5% to 3.75% last week.

In a statement on Saturday (April 27), Merkel said the increase was necessary to cover an unexpected $1 million shortfall in revenue from business professional occupancy license taxes. The estimated price tag for several capital projects also spiked, she said.

The increase could bring around $900,000 in revenue to cover funding for road projects, hiring an assistant town attorney, parks and recreation events, and connecting crosswalks that are unsafe and not ADA-compliant, Merkel said.

鈥淚 know raising taxes isn鈥檛 popular and it is not a vote that I took lightly,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you go back and look at all the discussions, staff reports and PowerPoints, you will that it was not a flippant decision.鈥�

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Merkel said her nine years of experience on the council demonstrates that raising taxes is not a go-to approach. Ultimately, the move could generate cost savings, Merkel said. The town currently outsources legal work that the town attorney cannot take on at a high rate, she said.

鈥淲ith Metro and the growth we are facing in the area the town is dealing with many more complicated legal issues than in decades past when we were a much sleepier little town,鈥� she said.

Merkel鈥檚 entire statement is below:

Tuesday night the Council voted to pass our FY2020 budget. For the first time in many years the council raised the meals tax by 1.25%. I understand that many do not favor this decision and I want you to know that I certainly did not make the decision lightly. I think my record on council for the past nine years demonstrates that I am not someone who looks immediately to raising taxes whenever there鈥檚 a tough budget before us, so I hope you鈥檒l read along to see my reasoning for my vote supporting this increase.

The additional revenue generated will be funding road projects for the most part. The town suffered a very unexpected $1million shortfall in BPOL (Business Professional Occupancy License taxes) revenue this budget cycle, and several road projects that have been in the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) for years have had a significant increase in their estimated costs. After a lot of grappling our Town Manager suggested a 1 cent meals tax increase to offset the difference (1 cent meals tax is approximately $900k of revenue.) BPOL is paid mostly by people who do not reside in the town (it is business professional occupancy license fees and is based on gross receipts of the business, the larger the business, the larger the fee. Most of our Herndon businesses are 10 employees or fewer, so you can surmise that a very large company is the reason behind this loss of BPOL revenue) Meals tax is also paid mostly by people who do not live in the town, but use our roads, police, etc. Herndon is an employment center where more than 17,000 people come to work every day, and the biggest portion of our meals tax comes from the M-F lunch crowd.

It was NOT an easy decision for me. The additional .25 that was added was a result of trying to cover some unfunded priorities that were important to the town 鈥� some parks and rec events related to the farmers market and family fun days and connecting some sidewalks and completing crosswalks that are currently unsafe and some that are not ADA compliant.

It will also allow us to hire an assistant town attorney which will ultimately save the town money because now we are outsourcing some legal work that the Town Attorney cannot take on, and that is at a MUCH higher hourly rate. With Metro and the growth we are facing in the area the town is dealing with many more complicated legal issues than in decades past when we were a much sleepier little town.

I know raising taxes isn鈥檛 popular and it is not a vote that I took lightly. If you go back and look at all the discussions, staff reports and PowerPoints聽you will see that it was not a flippant decision. Honestly, without the $1million dollar BPOL shortfall I would have likely voted against this increase, because it wouldn鈥檛 have been necessary. And I do support the projects these monies will fund. Which is ultimately why I decided to support it.

I understand that not everyone is happy with the meals tax increase; that鈥檚 just how these things go. I will still be supporting our local Herndon restaurants because this is home, and I love our local restaurant scene. Did you know that restaurants receive a 6% rebate for remitting the meals taxes they collect on our behalf on time? (This is a fairly typical practice in the commonwealth) and the large majority take advantage of this.

Please remember that since 2010 Herndon鈥檚 real estate tax RATE has not increased. In fact we decreased it once in 2011. Every single surrounding jurisdiction has raised their RE rate multiple times during that time frame, even as assessments have increased. I am proud of the fact that Herndon has worked to not put our property owners in that situation.

If you鈥檝e read this entire post, Thank you. If you would like additional information on the discussions and reasons behind this difficult decision I鈥檇 be happy to hear from you and share more of my perspective. Thanks again for joining me in caring about our hometown.

Photo via Town of Herndon

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A group of Muslims who live and work in Reston hopes to open a permanent prayer space before Ramadan, the month of fasting, begins in early May. It will be located on the second floor of an existing building.

Organizers behind the Reston Islamic Center said the mosque serves a critical need: The closest mosque in the area is roughly 20 minutes away. For several years, (1441 Wiehle Avenue) has served as a satellite location for Friday prayers. The site is one of several set up by the (46903 Sugarland Road) in Sterling 鈥� which will continue operating and is a separate initiative from the new mosque. Currently, there is no dedicated space in the area to offer the five daily prayers that are central to the religion.

The new location is opposite Reston Town Center at 11701 Bowman Green Drive, which is also home to a church on the ground floor, according to organizers. They hope the center will make offering prayer easy for RTC-goers and local Muslims.

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鈥淚n Northern Virginia, we have seen the Muslim community grow and the [mosques] grow with it. For Reston, however, we have yet to reach that point,鈥� an organizer told Reston Now.聽鈥淒ue to the busy nature of this area鈥� we want to form a space for families, children, and individuals to be able to get a break from that lifestyle and get back to learning the [religion],鈥�

Paperwork and permitting is underway. The group set up to raise $10,000. So far, $6,419 has been raised to finance the effort. The group hopes that donations from mosque-goers will sustain the mosque over the next couple of years.

Photo via Reston Islamic Center

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Instead of what was supposed to be a long-awaited retirement ahead of their 41st anniversary, the couple decided to opt for something different: in RTC West, 12100 Sunset Hills Road.

Famous Toastery had 聽Monday, after a soft opening over the weekend. All sales over the weekend were donated to , a nonprofit organization that the couple said embodies their mission of serving the community.

Diane Reedy brings a heightened awareness of socioeconomic struggle after years of traveling Africa and Asia for the World Bank, while her husband, Gary Reedy, reflects on previous experiences as a high school teacher and coach.

Their partnership roots back to years in high school, when Gary Reedy, who calls himself a former jock, dated Diane Reedy, who was a straight-A student.

Before opening the 3,300-square-foot restaurant at the mixed use center, the couple built several businesses, including Planet Playin Plaza America, some of the first laser tags in the area, a carousel in Springfield Mall for 12 years, and other entertainment businesses.

Since then, they鈥檝e sold off their ventures and opted for Famous Toastery, which is open for breakfast and lunch.

鈥淭he problem is that we can鈥檛 ever stop. I can鈥檛 play golf every single day,鈥� Gary Reedy said, chuckling. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had our careers and retirements and a couple of kids. Sometimes, I wonder how we did it all, but we鈥檙e young at heart and we want to stay involved.鈥�

Although he lives in Loudoun County, Gary Reedy said Reston is a special community because it combines what he says are the best elements of work and family life. His wife agrees.

鈥淪imon鈥檚 vision for Reston was to include people from all different kinds of backgrounds, 鈥� Diane Reedy said. 鈥淚t was really meant to be an integrated community, and it has benefited from a lot of public involvement and will continue to benefit from a lot of public involvement.鈥�

As the Famous Toastery kicks off, they hope to continue partnering with the community after spending most of their lives in Fairfax County.

鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten out of the night business,鈥� Gary Reedy said. 鈥淩eston is still really growing, and we look forward to growing with it.鈥�

Famous Toastery has two other Virginia locations. It was started in 2005 in Huntersville, North Carolina, in a small house. The owners turned the concept into a franchise in 2013.

Photo via Carlos Banos

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