On the YouTubes: We Watch the Reston Association Videos So You Don't Have To

A stark winter scene opens this, the January edition of Reston Today, but not all is at it seems. As we tap our fingers along to the catchy Reston Today theme, some unexpected movement catches our eye. It's a dude in a tree!

As always, dulcet-toned Andy Sigle is our guide through what's been doing in Reston of late. We learn that as-of-yet-unnamed people have "signed up" to run for the three open seats on the RA's board of directors -- one each for Lake Anne/Tall Oaks and North Point, plus an at-large seat. A candidates forum will be held March 4.

Then RA Board Member Mike Collins reminds us about the upcoming Lake Anne Polar Plunge. "It's over before you know it," he says of jumping into the icy water.

Then at last, we figure out what's going on with the guy in the tree -- it's a feature on tree care! "We pride ourselves on our open space in Reston," Sigle says, recent developments notwithstanding.

Fun fact: Did you know that RA installs lightning rods on some large trees? To laypeople like us, that sounds a bit scary, but apparently it's a good idea. All we know is that the producers of this video should get an Oscar for recreating the penultimate scene of Fargo with a tree limb:

That must be the little fella.

And with that, another 5 minutes and 18 seconds of our lives are gone, much like the unhealthy limbs of an ever-aging tree. Happy new year!