Holly Kirby Weatherwax--Your Realtor® in Reston,VA

Shoppers in Virginia get your wallets ready...August 7-9, this weekend, is the Virginia School Supply and Clothes Tax Holiday. If you have children returning to school or even if you are running short of supplies in your home office, it would be worth doing your shopping this weekend to save 5% on the costs. It is also a great time to stock up on back to school clothes, fall wardrobe updates and even winter coats and boots.

Qualifying supplies cost $20 or less. Qualifying clothes and shoes must be retailed at $100 or less.

More specific information about restrictions and eligible purchases can be found at the Virginia Department of Taxation Website,

August Sales Tax Holiday: School Supplies and Clothing

Reston, VA Homeowners Fund Small Tax District 5. This extra tax is paid as part of your annual property tax bill, so many residents are either not aware of the tax or are not sure of its purpose.

In 1975, The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors created this tax district to fund the Reston Community Center (RCC) at Hunters Woods. Since then, a second location of the RCC has been added at Lake Anne Plaza.

What do Reston, VA homeowners who fund Small Tax District 5 pay? From the Fairfax County Website I got the following information:

Small District 5 Hunter Mill
(Reston Community Center)
On each $100.00 of assessed valuation of real estate within the boundary of Small District 5 Hunter
Mill in the County, the tax rate shall be ............................................................................................... $0.047
*Tax will be levied and collected in two semi-annual tax billings.

In the recent discussions concerning the possible construction of a new Fairfax County recreation center, the possibility of having Small Tax District 5 fund the new center was considered. I wrote several blogs about this recreation center, Reston Residents Proposed Fairfax County Recreation Center and Browns Chapel in Reston is no Longer the Proposed Site for Rec Center, for which a location search continues. The proposed location at Browns Chapel in Reston is no longer being considered.

The members of Small District 5 are the Fairfax County citizens who vote in the Hunter Mill District, represented by Kathy Hudgins. As a result, Reston, VA homeowners fund Small Tax District 5 almost exclusively. There are other Small Tax Districts within Fairfax County, most of which support community or recreation centers.

For more information about the programs offered by the Reston Community Center, go to their website, Reston Community Center.

Summer time and the living is easy...but what are some of the things to do in Reston, VA?

One idea is to take a trip to the Reston Zoo. This thirty acre site is located off of Hunter Mill Road near the intersection of Baron Cameron Avenue. While it has changed owners over the years, it is a veritable Reston institution. Of course, as suburbia has grown, large single family homes have been built backing on to the zoo. Don't worry about the suburban sprawl, it in no way detracts from the unusual animals that you will see while you are there: zebras, antelope, bison, ostrich--just to name a few.

There are a number of opportunities to feed the animals and otherwise interact with them. The rangers offer Zoofari wagon rides which are included as part of the entrance fee. You can purchase feed and lamb bottles at the gift store and help to feed some of the zoo animals.

Tuesday, during the summer is special event day. Check the website for more information about time and events.

The Reston Zoo is also available for Birthday parties More information about the costs and making the reservations can be seen on the website for the Reston Zoo. Wouldn't having a birthday party at the local zoo be on your list of things to do in Reston, Virginia?

The operating hours during the summer are:

May 23 - September 7, 2009
Open daily 9AM–6PM
Last admission at 5PM daily

Fees are reasonable with Adults costing $10, Seniors are $9 and Children 2-12 are $8. The little ones, under 2, are free!

This park is one of the best things to do in Reston, Virginia. Pack a picnic spend the day a the Reston Zoo.

Avoiding Invasive Exotics in Landscaping

Reston, Virginia has a program for avoiding invasive exotics in landscaping. The community, long known for its approach to green spaces and many trees, has put together some recommendations for homeowners regarding plants they call 'invasive exotics.' These are plants that are not native to the area and whose continued growth may affect the animals or plants around it.

As described in the Reston brochure about Invasive Exotics (Brochure link): 'Invasive exotic plants are non-native species that have been introduced intentionally or accidentally and spread from landscaped areas, gardens and yards into natural areas. Without the wildlife, parasites and disease that control their growth in their native ranges, these plants grow aggressively and overtake our native vegetation. They aren’t “bad” plants, just plants out of place.'

As a homeowner, you are advised to remove these invasive species from your yard and to avoid planting non-natives that could have a negative environmental impact on your yard or the yards and natural spaces that surround it.

So what are the invasive exotics in landscaping that you should be avoiding?

1. Flowering Pear
2. Exotic Bamboos
3.Winged Burning Bush
4. Oriental Bittersweet
5. Chinese and Japanese Wisteria
6. Bush Honeysuckles
7. Japanese Barberry
8. English Ivy

I am not personally familiar with all of these plants, but I am familiar with several of them. The Flowering Pear was planted at almost every new home in Northern Virginia in the late 80s and early 90s. As they are reaching the end of their life span, many of these are now toppling over or splitting. This tree is known as being fast growing, one of the reasons for its popularity, but it also has a very shallow root system. In the past 6 months, I have seen 3 of them fall over in my neighborhood (built in 1994).

Exotic Bamboo can quickly take over a yard and choke out other plant life. It is a 'fun and different' plant, which is why some homeowners plant it, but it is also aggressive and quick spreading. Once it takes hold in your yard, it can be difficult to eradicate.

English Ivy, like the others, is attractive and very aggressive. Many of us like the way it looks...its presence also makes a house feel more established--it is almost like 'comfort food' for the home. It can, however, harm plants and trees around it, so it should be avoided as you plan your landscaping.

There are a number of plants that can be used as substitutes for the plants on this list, avoiding invasive exotics in landscaping: Local nurseries have been educated on Reston Association's stand on invasive exotics and can make suggestions for plants that can be substituted in your landscaping plan.

More information, including ideas for substitute plants, are available on the Reston Association website page about invasive exotics.

Be a good neighbor to the plants and animals in our community, avoid planting Invasive Exotics in your yard the next time you landscape.

The location of Brown's Chapel in Reston is no longer the proposed site for a Rec Center designed to be run by Fairfax County Park Authority. For months this site has been under consideration and on Thursday, July 23, 2009 the Reston Board voted 7-2 to eliminate it as a possible location.

Fairfax County parks has been looking for a site to build a new recreation center for indoor swimming and tennis. The Brown's Chapel site has been under consideration by the county and the Reston Association. Following a series of studies, the discussion was opened for public debate; it quickly became clear that support for this location came primarily residents who live outside of Reston. A series of round table discussions were held to allow for public input. While most concede that a center is needed, many Reston residents felt that this was the wrong location.

The fact that Brown's Chapel is no longer the proposed site for the Rec Center, is also the result of the fact that there was opposition to the funding proposed for the center. Much of the money would be generated by homeowners in the Small Tax District 5 (a Reston Tax district with 23,000 households), yet the facility would be available to 381,000 households. The homeowners in Small Tax District 5 already pay an extra tax to support the Reston Community Centers.

A local organization SaveBrownsChapel.org created a video to get the message out to the community. The video, created for the organization by Brainwave is posted for public viewing on YouTube.

Save Brown's Chapel Video

The fact that Brown's Chapel in Reston is no longer the proposed site for the Rec Center is a testament to the efforts of the Reston residents who worked hard to bring the issue to the public and who worked tirelessly in support of maintaining the lovely green spaces that comprise Brown's Chapel in Reston,Virginia.