Search Results

Photo by Isadora Guerreiro On Saturday, May 18, John Lovaas received recognition for serving as manager of the Reston Farmers Market manager for 26 years. Lovaas started the market on a spring Saturday in 1998 when Reston’s founder Robert E. Simon and Del. Ken Plum joined him for the official opening. This year it was Supervisor Alcorn who officially honored Lovaas by reading a proclamation and presenting Lovaas with a plaque. The proclamation focused on all Lovaas has done over the years and ended with:  "Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on behalf of all Fairfax County residents, does hereby thank John Lovaas for his contributions to the community and outstanding stewardship of the Reston Farmers Market."

By Ellyn Wexler, Staff Writer Louise Seirmarco-Yale stands as a beacon in the world of visual arts, celebrated for her dedication to both creating and teaching art.  Seirmarco-Yale knew she wanted to be an artist since she was a child. She pursued her passion conscientiously, earning a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art at Michigan State University and a master of fine arts in art history, with a minor in higher education, at Western Michigan University.  Her professional career as a painter began in 1976. “ My paintings reflect my interest in people,” she said. “From single line drawings to 12-foot stretched canvases, I have portrayed attitudes of people and their place in our natural world all my life. I like to express the 'feel' of things and communicate that to the viewer.” Thirty years ago, from her Reston home studio, Seirmarco-Yale sold more than 1,000 paintings within a single decade. Her work is always evolving in terms of subject matter, technique, and materials. She may add texture with unlikely natural items – like a shed snakeskin or a discarded wasp’s nest, or use old cigar boxes or wooden roof shingles as the basis for her creations. Her current inventory exceeds 3,000 pieces. Seirmarco-Yale’s passion for art extends beyond her own creations. Early in her career, she taught drawing and painting techniques, as well as art theory and criticism at community colleges. In her subsequent role as Director of the Toledo Museum of Arts’ Docent Educational Program, she equipped volunteer guides with the skills to make art accessible and engaging for all visitors.  As a testament to Seirmarco-Yale’s conviction that art should be inclusive and accessible, she recently published “Art, You Be the Judge: Reawaken Your Instinct and Enjoy Art on Your Own Terms.” The book guides readers to overcome their insecurities about appreciating art; its insightful exercises encourage them to reconnect with their inner creative voices and embrace their unique perspectives on art.  Beginning in this issue, The Reston Letter will feature Seirmarco-Yale’s insights in a monthly column that will bring her expertise and enthusiasm directly to our readers.

By Ellyn Wexler, Staff Writer photos by Ellen R.B. Smith Ellen R.B. Smith hasn’t always gotten in good trouble. The neophyte author is living proof that growing up in an affluent D.C. suburb like Reston does not ensure a perfect childhood. Fortunately, in her case, Smith maintains, her hometown’s founding principles shaped her values and influenced her development into responsible adulthood. Smith’s book, “Memoirs of a Suburban Troublemaker,” documents how – mostly because of her parents’ divorce – “my childhood went from idyllic to completely chaotic, seemingly overnight,’ she wrote. “I went from being a child who respected authority and followed the rules to someone who was in constant trouble – for misbehaving, for poor grades, for drinking, for using drugs, and for fighting.” It also describes how she turned her life around, and became a mature woman “on a lifelong quest to end racism and antisemitism.” Writing the book, Smith said, “has served as both a cathartic outlet and a tool for self-discovery during a year of deep reflection on my purpose.”  Helping others with similar challenges was another goal. ”I wanted to help kids and parents who might be going through something, or who didn’t always fit in, to feel less alone in the world,” she said. “My dream has been to write a book that takes people on a journey, to learn, laugh, cry, and reflect on their own life.” In addition, she said, “I want to make the world a better place for my children. “ Smith’s “penchant for journaling and preserving memories through photos and videos stems from a belief that nostalgia offers insights into life's meaning,” she explained.  After leaving her job as a principal recruiting strategist at Amazon, she set out to write her book, devoting eight to 16 hours a day to the task. “I poured as much effort into this book as I did to my work at Amazon. I feel like if you are going to do or make something, that’s a reflection of who you are. To truly make it great, you must dedicate the attention it deserves,” she said. Most of the writing took place in Smith’s home office, “Yet I consistently took notes irrespective of my location -- whether I was driving, watching TV or movies, listening to audiobooks, attending my children's sports practices, during my art lessons, and notably, even in the stillness of the night, a practice that became especially prevalent.” Smith thought big. She aspired to combine her story of growing up in South Reston with a history of “Virginia’s first open, integrated, and planned community,” she said. “I didn’t have confidence that my life story (alone) would be good enough, so I included Robert E. Simon and Reston’s history,” she said. Her pre-readers disagreed.  “After 175,000 words of this textbook-style writing, my pre-readers picked up on the fact that I’m not a historian, and they were skipping the parts about Reston and individual interview summaries, to get to my story.” An editor helped her streamline. While Smith deleted the Reston history, she maintains the area’s values helped her become the person she is today. “I was fortunate to grow up in Reston, a town that was literally created as a place of inclusion for all,” she said. “I truly believed in the peaceful, egalitarian lessons taught at Terraset Elementary School.” Smith remembers her kindergarten teacher playing the Marlo Thomas’ ‘Free to Be You and Me’ album for her class. “It fell directly in line with my view of Reston: where the ‘shining seas’ were manmade lakes, the ‘river running free was the creek behind our house, and the ‘green country’ was the 1,350 acres of open space that Reston’s founder and namesake Robert E. “Bob” Simon had set aside for its residents.” At the start of the book, the author noted, “This is a love letter to my family, friends, and hometown.” Pre-order a signed copy of Ellen R.B. Smith’s “Memoirs of a Suburban Troublemaker” at ellenrbsmith.com .

By Holly Weatherwax, Staff Writer photos by Benjamin Burgess Open since July 2006, the Cathy Hudgins Community Center [CHCC] at Southgate is a place for local residents of all ages to gather and participate in a variety of activities. Originally the Southgate Community Center, it was renamed in 2021 in honor of Hudgins, a long-serving Fairfax County Board Supervisor.  CHCC’s mission is to “bring people and resources together to strengthen the well-being of individuals and communities.” Since his arrival in 2008, Director Quincy L. Lewis has been working to expand the center’s outreach to all sectors of the community. Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) provides resources to CHCC, which, in turn, provides many free or reduced-cost programs. Some programs are family based, like the Reston Community Market Place (part of the Capital Area Food Bank program) that offers free fresh produce and protein to anyone who needs food assistance at 8:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. A farmer’s market-style program provides fresh produce from 8 to 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. Transportation to Target and Walmart are offered for $1. One of CHCC’s most active programs is the after-school program (weekdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.) for grades one through six. It also offers coverage on teacher work-days with pre-registration. Students, most from nearby Dogwood Elementary, participate in Open Gym, Computer Clubhouse, or Youth Zone, which includes homework help. For teens, there’s Teen Open Gym, STEAM club ( Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) , Teen Zone, Clubhouse Homework Time, Teen Computer Clubhouse, as well as evening homework sessions. Teens can play indoor and outdoor sports, board, and video games, work on community service projects, cooking, and arts and crafts. The Tech Lab offers a drone program with competitions. There also are basketball and soccer leagues and an Inclusive Open Gym program for teens with disabilities. A teen summer program includes up to seven field trips. The CHCC Basketball team won the NCS Intramural Basketball Championship this May. BJ's restaurant in Vienna sponsored half the meals and drinks at the celebratory dinner in May. For adults, there are social time programs, computer skills classes, open gym, pickleball, ping pong ,and an Open Lab program that allows adults time to access the Internet and check email. There are also beginner level ESOL classes.  Families can take free  Zumba and Yoga classes, and take part in the National Night Out program in August. As part of a pilot program, the center provides transportation for seniors who participate in SAIL (Stay Active & Independent for Life) classes that work on strength and balance, or an Arthritis Class that helps build flexibility, range of motion, and strength. Other opportunities include a crocheting class, seated and standing Tai Chi, and games like Wheel of Fortune and Bingo. These activities are offered free for seniors who have an NCS Membership.  This summer, the center will hold a drive to collect 200 to 300 backpacks for local elementary, middle, and high school students. Check the website for offerings and opportunities: fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/cathy-hudgins-community-center ,  or call 703-860-0676 for information or to register.

By Laurie Dornak, Seahawks Sports Boosters photos by South Lakes Athletics and Beth Shaw Outstanding performances by South Lake High School students and student athletes on and off the field took place this school year. From the football program’s first 10-0 regular season to the girls indoor track and field and boys basketball VHSL Class 6 State championships, the Seahawks launched into the spring sports season with gusto, putting up another banner season in the regular and postseason. South Lakes Girls Lacrosse executed their most successful season in school history, finishing overall 15-6-1 and second in the Northern Region. The Seashawks finished with the most wins in school history and defeated Madison and Oakton for the first time in 25 years. Topping off that record, the Seahawks earned the program’s first Concorde District title since 1998 and VHSL Class 6 State tournament run. The Seahawks were Regional finalists and competed in the state quarterfinals for the first time ever.  South Lakes Boys and Girls Outdoor Track  teams continued their tradition of excellence and competitive successes during the regular season with many District, Regional, and State qualifiers early in the season, and setting new school, state and national records. The Seahawks sent 19 athletes to the Penn Relays for some national level competition, and the girls 4x800 relay team brought home a Penn Relay wheel for their third-place finish. The boys and girls teams finished strong, each with back-to-back Concorde District championships.The girls team brought home more hardware as Northern Region champions. Both teams sent strong teams to the VHSL Class 6 State meet where the girls finished third. These teams will be sending athletes to Nike Outdoor Nationals again this month to finish off an outstanding trio of cross-country and track and field seasons.  South Lakes Softball, under the leadership of third-year Head Coach Casey Shieda, put down a season of consistent results, advancing deep into the postseason and making the program’s first appearance in the VHSL Class 6 State tournament.  After demonstrating strong pitching and offense and a challenging defense, the Seahawks finished their season 16-11-1 overall.  A team with terrific chemistry, grit, and determination, a number of underclassmen stepped up this year, competed, and grew playing together. The Seahawks finished the Concorde District and Northern Region as finalists (to Madison in both tournaments). Playing in their first VHSL Class 6 State tournament, the Seahawks defeated Lake Braddock (2-0) in the quarterfinals, and competed in the semi-final game against Osbourn Park. Last week, VHSL announced the class 6 standings for the National Guard Cup (the Cup) which represents the best Virginia high schools have to offer in athletic and academic activities. First awarded in 1990, the Cup represents excellence with cups presented, one for academic activities and one for athletics in each of the VHSL’s six enrollment classifications. Winners in each class are those schools who have achieved the best overall record in VHSL state-level competition across the  27 sports and 12 academic activities – the state champions’ state champion.  Winners of the National Guard Cup are determined by a point system based on performance in VHSL state competitions which are awarded for all sanctioned sports, plus sportsmanship, and schools can earn academic activity points for outstanding participation in scholastic bowl, creative writing, theatre, forensics, debate, film festival, broadcast, newspaper, yearbook, and magazine.  As the spring state tournaments were beginning, South Lakes Athletics learned they were ranked first in class 6 with 135 points for the winter total and they hope to hold that position as they finish up the spring season.

By Laurie Dornak, Seahawks Sports Boosters photos by Rei Linam and Randee Witkopf South Lakes Baseball went 20-8 overall and have had the adjective “resilient” tagged to them all season long. Finishing as the Concorde District Finalist, the Seahawks brought home championship Northern Region hardware defeating McLean 8-5, which advanced the tight-knit squad to the VHSL Class 6 State tournament as a top seed. Seahawks were recognized as All-District and All-Region players; and were delighted to have Head Coach Morgan Spencer recognized as the Concorde District Coach of the Year and Northern Region Coach of the Year. At the state tournament quarterfinal game, the Seahawks defeated West Potomac 13-6 to advance to the semi-final game. In the semi-final game against Western Branch, the Seahawks continued to show their resilience and had a walk-off game winner. Down 3-0 at the bottom of the seventh, senior Chris Downs doubled into the right-center field gap. With that inspiration, the Seahawks brought in three runs to tie it up with a hit to right field and a pair of bunts down the first base line. Western Branch intentionally walked the next batter. Leftie Junior Christopher Kemmerer walked it off with an RBI single up the middle into center. Four quick runs at the bottom of the seventh gave the Seahawks the win 4-3 over a strong Western Branch Bruins team. South Lakes met McLean again in the title game on Saturday, June 8. Junior Kameron Johnson hit a long two-run homer putting the Seahawks on the board first in the first inning. McLean scored over the next three innings going up 5-2 by the middle of the fifth inning. A seven-run inning by McLean followed in the sixth. The teams continued to play through the full seven innings, but South Lakes finished the season as the VHSL Class 6 runner-up in the program’s first state title appearance and their first region title in 27 years, and Coach Morgan Spencer went on to be voted the Virginia State Coach of the Year.

Contributed by Herndon Athletics photo by David Mclean Photography The 2024 Hornets was a youthful baseball squad that improved throughout the season. They started 0-5, but worked their way to a 10-10 overall record and 6-6 in the District for a fourth-place finish.  In the playoffs, senior James Beasley pitched a no hitter against Wakefield in a 10-0 win. Herndon lost  to the district champs Yorktown in the semifinals. Herndon qualified for Regionals for the fourth time in five seasons, playing the Madison Warhawks, defending champs. The Warhawks prevailed 3-2 in eight innings. In the final game, Beasley was the only senior on the field; the lineup consisted of two freshmen, two sophomores, and five juniors. Four seniors are graduating from the 22-player roster.    Individual awards went to Beasley (First Team All District and Region, and Region Pitcher of the Year), and junior Brayen Humpherys (First Team All District and Region).

Contributed by Herndon Athletics Herndon High tennis has been gaining momentum since spring 2022 with the arrival of freshmen Sophia Dadley (#1), Julia Wheeler (#3), and Ella Murray (#4). The Ladies Fighting Hornets scored their first win, as a team, in nearly a decade.  The win didn’t come easy against Washington and Liberty High School. Further advancing in the season, Sophia and her doubles partner Alexandra Godaire placed #3 in the districts, earning them a spot at regionals.     “I have been lucky to be with a team that supports me through my ups and downs,” said Sophia, about securing her a spot in the district finals and a singles spot in regionals. The junior  has been named Districts’ second team in singles and doubles, earning her MVP honors three years in a row.    Sophia started playing tennis at age 9, coached by her mother, and at 10, she began playing with Reston Tennis and earned a scholarship. She now splits her time between tennis, school, senior year planning, quality time with family, and hanging out with teammates. This summer, she plans to work as an assistant tennis coach with the Reston Association.