Heat Advisory Today — It’s going to be hot today. A Heat Advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Forecasters say that people should drink lots of fluids and stay out of the sun. [National Weather Service]
Local Elected Official Battling Cancer — “Long-serving Falls Church City Council member Dan Sze is fighting esophageal cancer, F.C. Mayor David Tarter reported at the outset of Monday night’s Falls Church City Council work session.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Push for Criminal Justice Reform — “Five commonwealth’s attorneys from Northern Virginia have joined with six other prosecutors from around the state in forming an advocacy group to back criminal justice reform proposals.” [Inside NoVa]
Police Officer Indicted — “A grand jury indicted a white Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer accused of assaulting a Black man who, police body camera footage showed, was not combative when he was stunned and forcibly arrested.” [WTOP]
This week, Second Story plans to drop the trailer for the third season of its podcast, which will premiere in August.
Listeners can expect two story-driven episodes and five topical ones with Second Story’s staff and local experts tackling COVID-19 and social justice issues, Abigail Brougher, the podcast’s producer and Second Story’s spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter.
“I’m really glad that we’re able to share a little bit more of how all this has impacted youth in a high-level way,” Brougher said. “The stories are really important.”
The Merrifield-based non-profit helps kids, teens and young adults seeking food, shelter and emergency support.
Unlike the last two seasons, this upcoming one is debuting a few months earlier in the year, partly because people are trying to find things to do during the pandemic.
“This season, it was a lot more current event-driven, which was really interesting, and a lot more time-sensitive, which is part of why it’s coming out earlier, too,” she said. “As we as soon as we got the information, we felt like we didn’t want to sit on it — it would be really important for the community to hear right away.”
With seven episodes, the upcoming season is shorter than last year’s.
Brougher also had to record all of the interviews remotely when she started working on the new season in March.
“[The podcasts were] really an experiment at first,” she said. “We didn’t know how it would go. But this season, I think especially, it’s really clear that this is something that people really enjoy, and we’re really thankful to have this avenue to communicate through since we’re all so isolated.”
People can tune in every Wednesday for seven weeks starting Aug. 12. The episodes will be available on Second Story’s website.
Photo via Facebook
(Updated 2:45 p.m.) A new online petition is urging Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to conduct simulations of what in-person learning will look like before the school year starts.
As of this afternoon, the petition has received 674 signatures since Scott Waters created it one week ago on Change.org. FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand is expected to pitch virtual-only learning at a school board meeting this afternoon, but it is unclear how and if the plan would proceed.
Recently, families picked whether they want fully online learning for the upcoming school year or hybrid learning — a mix of in-person and remote learning — for their kids in the county’s public school system. In total “111,712, or 60 percent, chose hybrid learning,” Patch reported. “This includes 31,289 who did not respond and were automatically given the in-person option. The other 40 percent chose online-only learning.”
The petition outlines what a simulation could look like, saying that adult volunteers could role-play as custodians cleaning, students who do and don’t wear masks and teachers grading quizzes.
One proposed aspect of the simulation would assign a volunteer playing a “student in each class to be an asymptomatic Covid-19 carrier, ask those students to keep a record of the surfaces touched and the number of people they came into contact with that were closer than three feet at any time or six feet for at least 15 minutes.”
The petition says that the simulation ideas were developed by middle and high school teachers and that different simulations might be appropriate for elementary schools, special education and transportation services.
Supporters of the idea said in comments under the petition that simulations could help the school system find and address in-person learning issues beforehand, instead of trying to fix things after school starts.
“A simulation would drive home the realities about to be faced by students, teachers and staff members,” one commenter wrote. “And if you cannot willingly find adult participants to do this simulation (which will be [a] reality in the fall), perhaps you should rethink your current plans for in-person learning.”
The petition asks that “in addition to observations made during the simulation, collect feedback from all participants and consider a focus group of those assigned to play specific roles.”
Whether or not the school system will take up the proposal is unclear.
“The concept is certainly worth consideration as we are all working together to prepare our students, families, and staff for a safe, responsible return to school,” according to a statement shared by FCPS Spokesperson Lucy Caldwell.
More from the statement:
FCPS is deeply appreciative of the efforts, the work, the collaboration and the commitment of FCPS teachers and support personnel. Their roles are crucial to the success and well-being of students across the division and their voices are being heard. We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students, staff, and community in developing our return to school plans.
Caldwell did not answer Tysons Reporter’s question about whether or not the school system is discussing simulations.
Photo via Element5 Digital/Unsplash
Doughnuttery plans to hold a grand opening in Tysons in early August.
The doughnut eatery shared on Facebook that the grand opening is set for Saturday, Aug. 8, at Tysons Corner Center. Doughnuttery will occupy a kiosk on the first level by H&M, according to the mall’s website.
Started in 2012, the chain specializes in mini doughnuts. The online menu features nearly four dozen flavors, including apple cider, lemon pop, green tea, fruit cereal and chai.
Currently, Doughnuttery has locations in New York and Arizona.
Photo via Doughnuttery of NoVa/Facebook
Wednesday (July 22) is National Hot Dog Day, and the Vienna Inn is ready.
Known for its hot dogs, the Vienna eatery (120 Maple Avenue E.) will offer $1.99 hot dogs and turn them into chili dogs for an additional $0.20, according to a press release.
Diners can choose from contact-free curbside pick-up, limited indoor seating and outdoor seating under a tent in the parking lot.
“Our younger customers like them plain or with just ketchup, but the majority come in for the famous Chili Cheese Dog complete with cheese, chili, mustard, and onion otherwise known as ‘loaded,'” owner Marty Volk said in the press release.
The Vienna Inn was selling more than 10,000 hot dogs a month before the pandemic hit, but then pivoted to offering kits for people to make their own chili dogs, the press release said.
“They have been very popular with our regulars and include everything you need to create your own Chili Dog at home,” Volk said.
Photo via Vienna Inn/Twitter
Mask Mandate Here to Stay — “Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring Monday afternoon secured the defeat of a petition for a preliminary injunction submitted by anti-mask forces in the state seeking to undo Gov. Ralph Northam’s mitigation efforts to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus.” [Falls Church News-Press]
COVID-19 Cases — “Fifty-four days elapsed between the time Virginia reported its first case of coronavirus on March 7 and May 1, when the state reported the results of its 100,000th coronavirus test.” [Inside NoVa]
County Committees Meet Today — Fairfax County’s Economic Advisory Commission and environmental, public safety and land use policy committees meet today. [Fairfax County]
https://t.co/wmUSgshHzc…
Congratulations to #ArthurKwonLee — longtime MPA faculty member and thriving NYC artist. @eastcityart @PinkLineProject @artsfairfax @Followfairfax @mcleanvacenter @McLeanConnect @TysonsReporter— McLeanProjectForArts (@MP4A) July 20, 2020
A multi-vehicle crash along eastbound I-66 right before I-495 is causing major traffic for several miles.
“The East left lane, center lane and right lane are closed,” according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Drivers can expect delays for two miles, according to a Fairfax County alert sent out at 4 p.m.
Update: Crash: EB on I-66 at MM64.1 (0.3mi west of I-495S Exit64A) in Fairfax Co. All EB travel lanes closed. 3:52PM
— 511 Northern VA (@511northernva) July 20, 2020
Image via VDOT, map via Google Maps
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is aiming to finish work on the Orange Line stations in Northern Virginia around Labor Day.
“[The] Vienna, Dunn Loring and East Falls Church are on target for completion around Labor Day, Sept. 7,” WMATA announced today.
Additionally, riders can expect several stations west of Ballston to reopen on Sunday, Aug. 16: the McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro, Spring Hill, Wiehle-Reston East and West Falls Church stations.
The six stations are temporarily closed for Silver Line Phase 2 work and platform reconstruction.
The news is a part of WMATA’s announcement that it is restoring most of its service with longer Metrorail hours and increased bus service.
More from WMATA:
Metrorail will add 15 hours more service per week, with opening times returning to normal and the system closing two hours later each night in anticipation of potential increases in ridership after Labor Day.
Metro today also announced a significant investment to support the region’s overnight workers by doubling the discount customers receive when using Lyft during times Metro is not available.
Metrobus will offer more buses, running more frequent service beginning Sunday, August 23 restoring approximately 75 percent of pre-pandemic service. Weekday service will improve on 174 routes with most routes operating close to normal. Buses will operate until midnight, an additional hour.
Work for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project’s Silver Line Phase 1 has been underway in Tysons.
Phase 1 for the Silver Line includes the four stations (McLean, Tysons Corner, Greensboro and Spring Hill) in Tysons along with the Wiehle-Reston East station.
Here is a roundup of recent work in Tysons for the project and what drivers and pedestrians can expect this week.
Near McLean Metro Station
People can expect a lane shift in mid-August for the realignment of Old Meadow Road with Capital One Tower Drive at Dolley Madison Boulevard (Route 123), according to the website.
“The Virginia Department of Transportation and Fairfax County requested the realignment to facilitate traffic crossing Route 123 from the Capital One complex to Old Meadow Road,” the website said. “The change is needed because of impacts caused by Silver Line construction at McLean Metrorail station.”
When the new work starts in August, crews will create a new median on Old Meadow Road at the intersection, necessitating the lane shift. The work at the intersection faced delays due to COVID, the website said.
“Crews continue to install drainage infrastructure, signal equipment, and landscaping along the south side of Old Meadow Road and the east side of Dolley Madison Boulevard to complete that part of the work,” the website said.
Leesburg Pike
Crews plan to wrap up Phase 1 work along Leesburg Pike in Tysons.
By the end of this week, final clean up is expected to be done on asphalt repairs and striping, according to the project’s website.
Recently, contractors finished “upgrades for the latest ADA compliance, repaired cracked sidewalks and repaired curb and gutter along the Phase 1 alignment,” the website said.
Lane Closures in Tysons
People will also see several lane closures this week in Tysons from today (Monday) to Thursday (July 23) from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and on Friday (July 24) from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The closures include:
- left turn lane from 300 feet before Westwood Center Drive to Leesburg Pike.
- right lane from Route 267 to Westwood Center Drive
- left lane from 300 feet before Westpark Road to 400 feet after Westpark Road
- right lane from 600 feet before Spring Hill Road to 300 feet after Spring Hill Road
- right lane from 300 feet before Tyco Road to 300 feet before Dulles Toll Road exit ramp
The closures are for manhole and sidewalk repairs and underdrain installation.
Photo courtesy Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project
A shop selling hand-made chocolates has closed in the Mosaic District.
After eight years in the shopping center, Artisan Confections closed the store due to “economic fallout from COVID-19,” owner Jason Andelman posted on Facebook on Friday, July 17.
“We had a good run — but in this uncertain retail environment, staying operational there was not financially feasible,” Andelman wrote. “It was a bittersweet (pun intended) departure, but we are grateful to be able to carry on in Arlington as we have since 2006.”
Now, Artisan Confections is offering in-store pick-up from the Arlington location on certain days, along with online shopping, according to its website.
“The Arlington location will continue to operate under a limited schedule for the rest of the summer,” Andelman wrote. “We will still be shipping chocolates throughout the continental U.S. (we use thermal packaging and ice packs to deal with the heat) via our website.”
The Mosaic District has seen a number of changes recently. BGR Burger Grilled Right, Cheesetique and GreatGatherings all shuttered their locations there recently. Meanwhile, Madison Reed opened its new store and color bar in the shopping center.
Photo via Artisan Confections/Facebook
