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December 17, 2025

Neighbors,

As the holiday season fills our homes and hearts with warmth and generosity, it’s a great time to share it with those in need.

This is why my office is sponsoring a coat drive for children. We’re proud to partner with Heritage Fellowship Church in this joint effort to collect and donate warm winter jackets.

We’ve already collected more than 300 coats — but the need is higher and there are still many children who are facing this winter without a coat. So, I hope you’ll consider donating a new or gently used winter coat in any children’s size from infant to teen. Note that coats for toddlers are especially needed.

We’re collecting coats through Jan. 14, and your generous donations may be dropped off at my office at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, or Heritage Fellowship Church.

By donating a coat, you’re sharing more than warmth — you’re sharing hope, kindness and the true spirit of the holidays.



Regards,

Walter

• Happy Hannukah
• Glade Drive Speed Limit Reduction
• Crescent Apartments Redevelopment Meeting
• Borrow Fun Board Games from the Library
• Master Naturalist Basic Training Class
• Give the Gift of Learning
• Holiday Recycling Tips
• What's News in Vienna
• Events and Activities

For those who celebrate, happy Hanukkah, and I wish you Hag Urim Sameiah! More than ever, we need this holiday’s message of light to shine brightly in the face of darkness and hate.

I was honored to join Chabad Tysons Jewish Center's menorah lighting in Vienna on the first day of Chanukah, along with Rabbi Rabbi Deitsch. There are other public celebrations and events going on this week, including:

Chanukah Quiz Night Dec. 18

Join the Chabad Jewish Center Reston-Herndon for trivia night on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Reston Community Center Lake Anne. Come with friends, form a team, and put your knowledge to the test while enjoying brisket, beer, latkes, and the chance to win.

Menorah Lighting and Ice Skating Dec. 21

Visit Reston Town Center ice staking rink on Thursday, Dec. 21 from 5-7 p.m. for a grand menorah lighting and ice skating. Dreidels and chocolate gelt for all. 

What’s happening: Take a quick survey by Wednesday, Dec. 31 to offer your feedback on reducing the speed limit to 20 mph on Glade Drive between Sunrise Valley Drive and Reston Parkway, as well as on Pinecrest Road from Glade Drive to South Lakes Drive (see map).

The county is conducting a pilot project to study the impact of slower speed limits. It covers select residential roads in the Hunter Mill, Dranesville and Providence District, and the pilot runs from this summer through early 2027. The study will examine traffic speeds and volumes and public feedback before and after the pilot.

Why it matters: Lower speed limits help to keep walkers, bikers and drivers safe. In fact, many studies have shown that even small reductions in speed can significantly decrease pedestrian injuries and death. When a pedestrian is struck by a car at 20 mph, there’s an 18% risk of severe injury, according to a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study. At 30 mph, this risk increases to 50%. At 40 mph, it rises to 81%.

Background: Last May, the Virginia General Assembly gave local governments the authority to reduce the speed limit on roads that currently have a 25 mph limit. On these roads, the limit may be reduced to no less than 15 mph.

Based on safety concerns voiced by neighbors around Glade Drive, I asked the Fairfax County Department of Transportation to consider this street and Pinecrest Road for the pilot. In considering roads to study, the department was also looking for streets with pedestrian activity, sidewalks, marked crosswalks, transit stops and proximity to schools. Glade and Pinecrest check these boxes too.

Crescent Apartments Redevelopment Community Meeting Recap

What’s happening: To help prepare a redevelopment proposal for the Crescent Apartments, the county held meetings last week to get input from current residents and neighbors.

This feedback will be incorporated into the county’s call for a housing developer that the Department of Housing and Community Development anticipates issuing in 2026.

The county acquired this property in 2006 with the explicit purpose of preserving and expanding affordable housing, and aims to double the current number of affordable housing units at the Crescent’s 16-acre site at Lake Anne Village Center, as well as build market-rate apartments.

Under the Comprehensive Plan, this site is envisioned for redevelopment that also preserves affordable housing and supports Lake Anne’s revitalization. The plan allows for up to 750 apartments (including affordable units) with requirements for open space and tree preservation.

Why redevelop: Nearly 60 years old, the Crescent Apartments need to be replaced, and this much-needed effort will provide the current residents with new, improved affordable housing. It also advances the Board’s goal (and mine) to create 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2034.

Background: At the beginning of this year, I sponsored the motion to redevelop the Crescent Apartments. Then in July, the Board approved transferring the apartments to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. This action allows them to move forward on rebuilding these affordable housing units along with additional market-rate homes.

While the weather outside may be frightful, the board games in Fairfax County Public Library's Library of Things are so delightful! Did you know that you can check out board games for adults and children?

Their collection includes some of the best board games, according to this New York Times review, including:



• Codenames: A social word game where players must guess a hidden word based on a one-word clue. Named as one of the best beginner games for adults by the New York Times.
• 7 Wonders: A civilization building game where players lead one of the seven greatest cities of the Ancient World. Gather resources, develop commercial routes and affirm your military supremacy. 
• Splendor: A Renaissance-themed game where you dominate the Silk Road to become the most prestigious merchant in the world. Collect gems, acquire cards and expand your influence to strengthen your trade empire.
• Ticket to Ride: A railroad-themed game where players claim railroad routes connecting cities throughout North America. The longer the routes, the more points you earn. Named as one of the best beginner games for adults by the New York Times.
• Wavelengths: It’s a party game where two teams compete to read each other's minds, leading to fun and conversational revelations.

What’s happening: Do you want to become a certified Virginia Master Naturalist? Sign up for their spring 2026 basic training course with registration opening on Friday, Jan. 2 at 9 a.m.

The course is only open to 22 trainees including two teens aged 16-17, and it’s the first step towards certification as a naturalist which typically takes 6 to 12 months.

Course requirements: You must attend all 12 classes and four field trips (or make them up), complete the final exam and make a presentation on a topic of interest related to being a naturalist.

Classes run Feb. 12 through May 7 on Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.

What do naturalists do? Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and environmental stewards who perform volunteer service to help conserve and manage the natural resources and public lands of Virginia.

What’s happening: Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Give the gift of learning through the Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education program.

Purchase a specific class or gift cards are available too. Seniors age 62 or older are eligible for a 25% tuition discount (with some class restrictions).

Classes: ACE offers both in-person and online classes and courses, including culinary arts, creative writing, woodworking, world languages, and more:

• Explore different cuisines and learn new cooking skills with culinary arts classes
• Learn a new language including Arabic, American Sign Language, Italian, Russian and more.
• Take health and wellness classes to lower your stress, improve your diet and increase your happiness
• ACE can also help you prepare for a new career with affordable and market-leading classes in computers, industrial trades, health and medical certifications, and many other in-demand professions.

Teach a class: Do you have skills and knowledge you’d like to share? ACE is always looking to hire skilled instructors in all content areas. Learn more. 

More information: For questions or more information, call 703-658-1201 or send an email.

The holidays bring extra cheer — and extra waste! Here’s a quick guide to what can and can’t go in your curbside recycling bin. Following these tips helps keep recycling streams clean and prevent damage to sorting equipment.

✅ Recycling Do’s

Most wrapping papers

Cardboard boxes

Paper boxes

❌ Recycling Don’ts

These items should not be placed in your curbside recycling:

• Tinsel (contains plastic)
• Plastic bags, film, and bubble wrap
• Metallic or foil wrapping paper
• Wrapping paper that is coated or has glitter
• Bows, ribbons and tags
• Strands of Christmas lights and broken Christmas tree bulbs/lights (bring lights to electronics recycling at the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax or the I-95 Complex in Lorton)
• Stockings, ugly holiday sweaters and other clothing can be donated (or recycled).

There are four species of invasive bush honeysuckles: Lonicera maackii (Amur), L. morrowii (Morrow’s), L. tartarica (Tartarian), L. X bela (Belle’s). They dominate the understory of parks, forests, and roadsides in Virginia. All these bush honeysuckle species originated from Eurasia and were brought to the US during the late 1800s.

Bush honeysuckle species grow densely, crowding out native plants and disrupting the food webs that insects and birds rely on. Serious infestations of bush honeysuckle species can inhibit tree regeneration, essentially stopping forest succession.

Control of bush honeysuckle species involves manual removal, and applying herbicide to the stump after cutting. Learn more about identifying and managing bush honeysuckle.

Native alternatives to invasive bush honeysuckle species include:

• dogwoods (Cornus sps)
• Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata)
• red chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
• Northern arrowwood (Vibernum dentatum)

Watch this video below for help identifying this invasive plant.

Mayor’s Walk Dec. 22

Join Mayor Linda Colbert for the Mayor’s Walk on Friday, Dec. 22 at 9:30 a.m. Meet up outside Vienna Town Hall at 127 Center Street, South, and the mayor will join you to start the walk. If the weather is inclement, please wait inside the building.

Ring in the New Year With LOVE

Vienna will host the Virginia LOVE sign at the Memorial Fountain on Maple Avenue from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5. Stop by to see the display, and ring in the New Year by ringing bells and singing patriotic songs near the sign on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 3 p.m. Join this sing-along with music by an ensemble of the Vienna Community Band, and participate in a community bell ringing. This is a BYOBells event, so bring your bells to ring in the USA’s 250th year!

Vienna’s New Composting Drop-Off Site

Check out the town’s new, permanent 24/7 composting drop-off site right next to the purple glass recycling bin in the 400 block of Mill Street. It features 10, 54-gallon drop-off bins that will be swapped out weekly for clean ones. Learn what you can compost.

The site was redesigned to provide two off-street parking spots and a striped, no-parking area for pedestrians to drop off food scraps for composting and bottles for glass recycling.

This permanent site resulted from a two-year pilot project initiated by the Conservation and Sustainability Commission.

💬Join Sen. Jennifer Boysko, Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra and Del. Irene Shin on Dec. 18 for their Herndon-Reston Legislative Town Hall.

🍸Enjoy a three-course bourbon dinner on Dec. 18 at Härth in Tysons

🎭Watch the play “Birthday Candles” from Dec. 18-28 at 1^st Stage.

🚶🏽Stroll Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights through Jan. 4.

🚜Take a wagon ride through holiday lights on Dec. 19 at Frying Pan Farm Park’s Holiday on the Farm.

💎Attend the International Gem & Jewelry Show on Dec. 19-21 at the Dulles Expo Center.

🩰 Enjoy the Virginia National Ballet present “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 19 at Capital One Hall.

🚂Experience Greenberg's Great Train & Toy Show on Dec. 20 at Dulles Expo Center.

👠Enjoy Spanish holiday music and flamenco dance during “Navidad Flamenca” on Dec. 20 at Reston Community Center.

🩰 Watch Alchemy Ballet perform “The Andalusian Nutcracker” on Dec. 20-21 at Herndon High School.

😄 Laugh out loud with comedian Lafayette Wright on Dec. 20 at Capital One Hall.

🎶 Listen to GMA and Grammy-nominated artists Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey on Dec. 21 at Capital One Hall.

🎅Watch “Miracle on 34^th Street” the musical on Dec. 26-28 at Capital One Hall.

🍹 Sip special holiday cocktails through Dec. 31 at Maker Union's Blitzen Bar.

🎶 Join The Rocknoceros New Year’s Eve Ball on Dec. 31 at Jammin Java.

🐦 Take the introductory Winter Bird Class on Dec. 30 at Walker Nature Center.

🖼️ View the League of Reston Artists Exhibit starting Jan. 1 at Reston Community Center.

📽️Watch the movie "1776" on Jan. 5 at Reston Community Center.

🩸 Learn lifesaving skills in the Stop the Bleed class on Jan. 7 at Reston Hospital Center.

⚡ Attend AAUW’s talk about The Future of Energy in Virginia on Jan. 10 at the Vienna Community Center.

🩸 Give blood on Jan. 13 at the Red Cross Blood Drive at Reston Hospital Center.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.