Seniors and immunocompromised people can now shop for groceries with heightened caution at The Fresh Market.

From 8-9 a.m. each day at all of the locations, including the one in Vienna (150 Branch Road SE), people who are elderly or have immune system issues are invited to shop at the store, according to store manager Doug Dundall.

Though they are not “policing ” this policy, the store’s management asks that people who are young and healthy to shop at other times.

When it comes to cleanliness, Dundall noted that the company has instituted heightened measures.

“We have strict cleaning policies at the store to go the extra mile,” he said.

For shoppers who don’t want to go out at all, there are several companies, like Whole Foods, that deliver groceries.

Image via Google Maps

The Studio Movie Grill at Founders Row in Falls Church will likely become more colorful with the installation of a new mural project.

Proposed themes include a collage of the universe, diverse individuals and storytelling images like film, according to the city documents, which added the dimensions will be roughly 128 by 38 feet.

“Rooted in the inclusive spirit of the community and history of Falls Church, the design’s whimsical vignettes illustrate the process of artistic ideation, creation, and interaction,” the city documents said about the art.

The mixed-use development, which is currently under construction at the corner of W. Broad and N. West streets, will include luxury apartments, retail space, the 4,693-square-foot movie theater and a 9,476-square-foot City Works Eatery and Pour House.

Though in the early stages, the proposed mural is tentatively scheduled to come back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing in June.

It is unclear when the mural will be completed.

Rendering via JBG Smith, images (2) via City of Falls Church

As plans proceed for a newly approved pipeline in Pimmit Hills, a group of residents is continuing to push Washington Gas to reroute the project.

More than 100 Pimmit Hills residents gathered earlier this month to protest the installation of a new natural gas pipeline that Washington Gas plans to place in a neighborhood between Tysons and Falls Church.

The project, which was originally rejected twice by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), finally received the green light in late 2019.

The project includes roughly five miles of pipeline intended to support developmental growth in Tysons, according to documentation from the Pimmit Hills Citizens Association (PHCA).

Roughly five feet underground in the Virginia Department of Transit right of way, the pipeline will sit directly under the road, Washington Gas Spokesperson Brian Edwards said.

Lines will run under Cherri, Fisher and Peabody drives in Pimmit Hills, according to a map sent to Tysons Reporter by a member of the citizens association.

Major Concerns From Residents

PHCA Spokesperson Ashley Nellis told Tysons Reporter she worries that the 24-inch-thick and high-pressure pipeline will pose a risk to the safety of local families and cause “massive” disruptions to the area and the environment on several fronts.

The major concerns brought up by Nellis and other residents throughout Pimmit Hills include disturbances to the neighborhood during construction and long-term safety standards.

“This is a very dangerous proposition that has not gone well in other communities,” she said, citing an explosion that occurred in a town in Pennsylvania in 2018.

“We are the only residential neighborhood impacted by a high-pressure transmission pipeline that also happens to be routed along a known flood plain and next to the beginning of Pimmit Run Stream,” Robert Heilen, the president of the PHCA, said in a letter to VDOT.

Brian Edwards, the Washington Gas spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter that the pipeline will not negatively impact the regional flood plain.

After being pressed about community concerns, Washington Gas remains steadfast in its certainty that the pipeline meets, if not exceeds, safety standards according to Edwards, who added that the pipe is built with strong material so there is little possibility of a rupture.

“It is being designed at a very high standard so if someone were to even hit the line with a backhoe it would withstand the damage,” Edwards said.

Due to the nature of the project, VDOT does not require an environmental impact report for the project, according to Edwards.

The Community Fights Back

Politicians including Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust and State Sen. Janet Howell (D-32nd) and Del. Marcus Simon (D-53rd) are also backing the opposition efforts.

Along with its normal monthly meetings, the citizens association began hosting weekly pipeline committee meetings to discuss changes and efforts to halt the project.

As of today (March 16), more than 570 people have signed a Change.org petition to reroute the pipeline.

Currently, a community member is in the midst of filing a petition of appeal against the VDOT approval, aiming to halt the pipeline progress.

Though independently organized, PHCA set up a GoFundMe page to fund the lawsuit. So far, people have donated over $9,500 in two months. “It shows how adamantly the community is against this issue,” Nellis, the PHCA spokesperson, said.

The private community member is now in search of new representation after the original law firm dropped the case, Heilen added.

Edwards said he was not in a position to give a statement from Washington Gas.

Project Alternatives

Project leaders within the community originally hoped that VDOT and Washington Gas would install the new pipeline along Route 7 — an option that Washington Gas said would be more intrusive and time-consuming.

As it stands, the line construction in the Pimmit Hills neighborhood would affect roughly 7,000 commuters daily over the course of three years, according to Edwards. But, if the pipeline would instead be installed along Route 7, he said it would take six years — double the amount of time — and affect roughly 41,000 commuters daily.

For community members though, perks of moving the line to Route 7 include an increased sense of security for their families and easement of construction noise.

Edwards said that Washington Gas plans to proceed with construction block-by-block in order to lessen the burden on homeowners.

Next Steps

As community members continue to fight pipeline installation, Washington Gas is proceeding with preparation for the project.

Edwards wouldn’t give an estimated project start time but told Tysons Reporter that Washington Gas hopes the project will be completed by 2023.

Heilen said he was told that construction was supposed to begin in early April, but said he hasn’t received any updated information.

“Most of the route is already marked,” Heilen said. “I expect that once they feel the weather is stable, they will start digging.”

Photos courtesy Devin Buries

(Updated 3/17/2020) Across the Tysons area, event organizers are canceling events due to concerns over COVID-19.

Unlike our usual weekly planner, our staff rounded up events around the area that have been delayed or canceled or postponed over health concerns for attendees.

The events listed below have all been canceled:

• March 16: McLean Citizens Association event with FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand
• March 16: paving program meeting at Coates Elementary School
• March 17: Storytime at Mosaic
• March 18: Providence District Paving and Restriping
• March 19: The Bachelor Live on Stage Shopping Party (postponed)
• March 21: Family Fishing Rodeo in Vienna
• March 21-22: Vienna Photo Show
• March 28: Prom Dress Give-Away in Vienna
• April 3: Old-Fashioned Egg Roll and Flashlight Egg Hunt events in Vienna
• April 4-5: Art Blooms at Mosaic (postponed)
• April 4: Town Clean-Up Day in Vienna
• April 6: Cherry Hill Ice Cream Social in Falls Church
• April 7: Storytime at Mosaic
• April 11: East Egg Hunt in City of Falls Church
• April 23: McLean Kitchen and Garden Tour

A meeting on plans to extend the I-495 Express Lanes has been postponed to April.

Did we miss an event? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media accounts, and we will update the list.

An upcoming digital town hall will give Tysons-area residents the chance to ask questions to Del. Marcus Simon (D-53rd District) and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik.

The event, which was previously set to be held at the Providence Community Center, will now be held as a Facebook Live event from 2-3:30 p.m. next Saturday (March 21).

Efforts to combat the coronavirus prompted the switch from an in-person meeting to an online event.

“We want to do our part to decrease the spread of COVID-19,” the event description said.

Online attendees will have the chance to ask about issues or topics around the area from the location of their choosing, according to the event page.

Topics of discussion are not pre-set, a spokesperson from Simon’s office told Tysons Reporter, adding that both Simon and Palchik will begin the meeting by giving a short address of what they think are important updates around the area.

All are welcome to attend the digital meeting, and the link will be accessible through the event’s Facebook page roughly a week before the meeting, the spokesperson said.

People unfamiliar with Facebook Live events can ask questions in real-time. Palchik and Simon will receive notifications when people submit a comment and will then be able to address questions.

For troubleshooting tips, people can check out Facebook’s website.

(Updated 4:30 p.m.) Fans of fresh produce can find many farmers markets around Tysons with spring almost officially here.

Several markets recently announced opening dates for the spring season.

Though some markets are seeded in tradition, with founding dates over 30 years ago, there are several new options for shoppers that only popped up in the last year or so.

Tysons Reporter rounded up places — including a few year-round markets — where shoppers can score fresh food and locally-sourced items.

The Falls Church Farmers Market at the City Hall parking lot (300 Park Ave) is open year-round and offers shoppers choices from more than 50 vendors, according to the City of Falls Church’s website.

From April through December, the market is open from 8 a.m. until noon. From January through March, the market is open from 9 a.m. until noon.

The Vienna Farmers Market exclusively offers locally-sourced items, according to its website.

“The Vienna Farmers Market is a Certified Farmers Market, meaning that our farmers can provide proof of local produce and take pride in that they have produced the products available for sale,” according to the website.

The seasonal market will operate from May through the end of October for the 2020 season, the website said, adding that hours of operation will be 8 a.m. until noon each Saturday at the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry Street SE).

NOVA Central Farm Market is part of a larger network of year-round markets around the area including ones in Bethesda and Westfield.

The closest location is open on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. April through December and 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. January through March at Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) in Falls Church.

FARMFRESH Mosaic began last year and is located in the Mosaic District (2910 District Ave) on Sundays. It is open year-round but hours of operation vary depending on the season.

On Sundays, the market is open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. from April through December and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. January through March.

The Tysons Farmers Market will take place seasonally beginning June 2 at The Plaza in front of Tysons Corner Center on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m, its website said. Programming at the market will also be family-friendly, according to the page.

This year, the McLean Farmers Market will be open from May 8 through Nov. 13 in Lewinsville Park (1659 Chainbridge Road). Every Friday, vendors will offer an array of locally grown vegetables, fruits, meats, freshly baked bread and other local products from 8 a.m. until noon, according to Fairfax County.

This specific market became a tradition in the area after its founding in 1980, according to the website, which added that many vendors have been setting up shop each season for over 30 years.

Photo via McLean Farmers Market/Facebook

(Updated 3/18/2020) To combat COVID-19, Fairfax County officials are postponing or making changes for online access to their upcoming town halls on the proposed budget.

For residents in the Providence District, the meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, that was supposed to be held at the Providence Community Center (3001 Vaden Drive) will now be held online.

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik will host the meeting, according to her spokesperson, who added that they are working on setting up links to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Hunter Mill District budget meeting, which was originally set for March 21, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Town Hall (127 Center Street S.) in Vienna, has been postponed.

It is unclear at this time when the meeting will take place.

“It is very important that you have a voice in the budget process and I will reschedule as soon as it is appropriate,” the press release said.

The upcoming budget discussion for the fiscal year 2021 includes controversial topics such as a deal with the Virginia Department of Transporation to create a legal cut-through program for drivers during certain times when turns usually aren’t allowed.

Updated 3/10/2020 — The NoVa TEEN Book Festival was canceled Tuesday (March 10) due to the recent spread of the coronavirus in the D.C. area. 

The NoVa TEEN Book Festival Committee said in a statement the festival will come to Marshall High School on March 20, 2021. 

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (March 10)

• Fairfax County’s Chronic Pain Self-Management Program — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Falls Church Senior Center (223 Little Falls Street) — At this workshop, people will learn how to manage pain, get better sleep, relieve stress and improve their lifestyles. This program is free and open to the public.

Wednesday (March 11)

• Haycock Heritage Night 2020 — 6 to 8 p.m. Haycock Elementary School (6616 Haycock Road) — This event allows kids and their families to celebrate heritage with traditional clothing, dance, tell stories and eat favorite cuisine. This event will feature programming throughout the evening.
• Food Truck Fundraiser — 6:45 to 8 p.m. at McLean High School (1633 Davidson Road) — The McLean High School Crew Team is raising funds for its team. The Rocklands Food Truck will be located near rower drop off, according to the event page.

Friday (March 13)

• 5th and 6th Grader Glow Party — 7 to 9 p.m. at Old Firehouse Center (1440 Chain Bridge Road) — Kids can join for a glow stick party featuring a DJ, drinks and food. Tickets are $35 each or $25 McLean Community Center district residents.

Saturday (March 14)

• Stuff the Truck — 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Giant (1454 Chain Bridge Road) — The New Dominion Women’s Club is calling for volunteers to assist with its donation center collecting food and clothing for people in the 22101 and 22102 zip codes.
• NoVA Teen Book Festival — 9 a.m. until 5 p.m at George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) — For the 7th year, this festival invites teens to read, interact with authors and hear from keynote speakers. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Sunday (March 15)

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream — 7 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road) — This production by the Traveling Players will tell the story of young lovers who escape into the forest, according to the event description. Tickets are $10.
• 2020 Nowruz Festival — 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center (8100 Tysons Corner Center) — This event celebrates the Persian New Year and will feature live performances all-day and booths selling traditional food and drink. Entry to this event is free.

Photo courtesy New Dominion Women’s Club/Lee’s Photography 

Updated 3/17/2020 — WRAP announced today (Tuesday) that its 2020 St. Patrick’s Day SoberRide campaign is suspended due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Earlier: To keep party-goers safe on St. Patrick’s Day, Lyft teamed up with several businesses and organizations in Northern Virginia to offer free and discounted rides back home.

The promotion will be valid from 4 p.m. on Tuesday (March 17) until 4 a.m. on Wednesday, according to a press release, which added that rides up to $15 will be covered with a code that will be released shortly after the promotion starts.

Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), a local non-profit, is one of the main sponsors of the program. The nonprofit aims to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking, according to its website.

To take advantage of the promotion, users must be over the age of 21 and have the app downloaded on their phones. People can find the code online.

Roughly 40% of all U.S. traffic deaths involve drunk drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

Guests at the newly opened Bear Branch Tavern in Vienna have the chance to check out artwork from a Falls Church-based artist.

The restaurant at 133 Maple Ave E. began serving guests in late February, according to David Barr, who designed three individual works of art that now adorn the walls of the restaurant.

Each work is based on local history and helps to encompass the personality of Vienna, Barr said, adding that he worked with Chris Lefbom, one of the eatery’s owners, on the project.

One mural stretches 18 feet across a wall to tell the story of the Battle of Vienna, which took place in 1861 between Union and Confederate troops, Barr said.

The inspiration for the mural came from a square vintage sketch that Leftbom presented to Barr.

Leftbom said he wanted it to look like “something you would find in someone’s closet,” according to Barr. “They wanted it to look weathered.”

Barr took artistic license to add a “pop of color” and expand the scene.

Two other smaller works include a pop-style collage that fits Barr’s signature style but still managed to include historically important aspects of the town, such as the Freeman Store and the Vienna railroad, he said.

One work features old signage from a 1957 Texaco station. “I gravitated toward old signage because I always love working with texts,” Barr said.

The second painting highlights the Freeman Store, which still stands today and serves as the headquarters for Historic Vienna, Inc. People can visit to learn about the area and shop at the gift shop, the museum’s website said.

People who want to check out the artwork for themselves and grab a bite to eat can visit Bear Branch Tavern. A full menu can be found online a well.

Photos courtesy David Barr