Latest Unemployment News — “The Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday that 5,279 Northern Virginia residents filed initial claims for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 20. That was down 9.2% from the preceding week and marks the 11th straight week of declines since a high of 47,708 claims filed in the week ending April 4. However, it is still 10 times pre-pandemic levels.” [Inside NoVa]

Finding the Funding — “McLean’s ID.me Inc. is raising new capital while riding a wave of momentum fueled by the pandemic. The digital identity management company has nabbed about $8.3 million out of a $12.5 million equity offering that began June 9, it reported in Securities and Exchange Commission filings.” [Washington Business Journal]

Sights Set on Space — “Los Angeles-based aerospace manufacturer Relativity Space announced Wednesday that McLean-based Iridium Communications Inc. has signed a contract to deliver up to six of Irdium’s satellites into orbit.” [Virginia Business]

New Merrifield Park — “The Fairfax County Park Authority Board on June 24 approved initial scoping work to develop a new park on the eastern edge of Merrifield.” [Inside NoVa]

Dominion Energy will be trimming trees away from power lines in Town over the next 2 weeks. Blue lines on the map indicate where trimming will be taking place. For questions about how & why Dominion Energy manages trees and plants near power lines, visit https://t.co/SANub32tjv. pic.twitter.com/6q0WQemiVM

— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) June 25, 2020

Highpoint Pub at #TheBoroTysons @WholeFoods has reopened with indoor and outdoor seating, following all VA Phase 2 protocols! Their hours for now will be Mon-Fri, 3pm-9pm and Sat-Sun, 12pm-9pm. They will be limiting groups to no more than 4 people to start! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/XnVh6FsXEV

— The Boro (@TheBoroTysons) June 25, 2020

Hotels in the Tysons area laid off nearly 1,000 employees this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tysons Reporter found six hotels that filed notices under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act with the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). The WARN Act requires businesses with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60-day notice of a closing or layoffs affecting 50 or more employees, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Here are the WARN notices that hotels filed between late March and June:

• Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center (7901 Tysons One Place): 54 late march
• The Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner (1700 Tysons Blvd): 344
• Tysons Corner Marriott (8028 Leesburg Pike): 120
• Marriott Falls Church Fairview Park (3111 Fairview Park Drive): 164
• Embassy Suites Tysons Corner (8517 Leesburg Pike): 42
• DoubleTree Tysons (1960 Chain Bridge Road): 57
• Crescent Hotels & Resorts (8661 Leesburg Pike): 171

In total, 952 employees were laid off.

“Employment fell in all major industry sectors, with particularly heavy job losses in leisure and hospitality. The largest job loss during April occurred in leisure and hospitality with a decline of 161,400 jobs to 240,800,” according to the Virginia Employment Commission in late May. “The largest over-the-year job loss occurred in leisure and hospitality, down 169,000 jobs (-41.2%).”

Most of the layoffs happened in March and April and were “due to COVID-19,” according to the WARN notices.

Two Tysons companies are among the 15 tech employers listed for an upcoming virtual job hosted by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

The fair is targeted to mid-career tech professionals, especially ones with security clearances, and the companies represented will have a total of 3,000 open jobs in the Northern Virginia region, according to FCEDA.

“While the fair is primarily for those in tech fields including data science, software engineering, IT, cybersecurity, defense and aerospace, some companies are featuring non-tech positions such as marketing, sales, finance, human resources and legal,” according to FCEDA.

Companies signed up for the fair include:

• Microsoft, Reston
• Amazon Web Services, Arlington
• AppGuard Inc., Chantilly
• CGI, Fairfax
• Customer Value Partners, Fairfax
• Expedition Technology, Herndon
• EntropyZero Consulting, Reston
• FireEye, Reston
• Ipsun Solar, Fairfax
• General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church
• ManTech International, Herndon
• MicroHealth, Tysons
• NTT Data Federal, Tysons
• Serco Inc., Herndon
• SOSi, Reston

Previously, FCEDA hosted a virtual career fair for recent college graduates.

“Every job represents a household, so when we connect people — whether newly minted graduates or those midway through a career — to thousands of open jobs, we are really improving lives, saving households and communities,” Victor Hoskins, FCEDA’s president and CEO, said in a press release.

People will be able to browse companies in a virtual lobby before entering “virtual booths” to view open positions and video conference with recruiters.

The job fair will be hosted on Tuesday, July 14, from 1-4 p.m. People can register online.

Photo by Avel Chuklanov on Unsplash

The Town of Vienna’s summer concert series will still happen — just not at the Town Green.

Audiences for “Summer on the Green” will instead watch the concerts via Facebook Live or at local businesses at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The town announced on its website that the changes are due to safety concerns with COVID-19.

People will be able to make song requests and play trivia and virtual bingo to win prizes, according to the town. “If you miss the live shows, you can watch later on Facebook or on Youtube,” the website says.

Here’s the line-up:

• July 10: The Sarah Bennett Swanner Band
• July 17: Richard Walton Group
• July 24: Karl Stoll and the Danger Zone
• July 31: TBA
• Aug. 7: Big Bad JuJu
• Aug. 14: The Hot Lanes Trio with Bobby Jasinski

The town and the Rotary Club of Vienna, along with other sponsors, host the series of free performances.

The Vienna Business Association is encouraging businesses to sign up to stream the concerts.

Photo via Town of Vienna/Facebook

AU Prof Wins Republican Primary — “American University professor Daniel Gade won Virginia’s Republican Senate primary and will challenge Sen. Mark Warner (D) in November.” [The Hill]

Local Lauded for Social Media Efforts — “The Vienna Business Association on June 22 awarded its first annual Corporate Social Responsibility Award to Vienna resident Lydia Russo… Founder of the Vienna VA Foodies Facebook group, Russo has raised money and social awareness and encouraged community action for food-insecure families, front-line workers, first-responders and Vienna restaurants.” [Inside NoVa]

Back to School Support — “Northern Virginia parents are generally comfortable with their students returning to school classrooms this fall, assuming precautions are taken to control the spread of COVID-19, according to a survey conducted on InsideNoVa.com.” [Inside NoVa]

FCPS Options for Fall — “Fairfax County Public Schools will offer students two plans for the upcoming school year: 100 percent online learning or part-time classroom instruction.” [Inside NoVa]

Hotels Housing Homeless — “At least six hotels are on board to shelter vulnerable persons around Fairfax County. According to the latest Fairfax County Health and Human Services update, 241 hotel rooms were occupied with 255 guests as of June 16. So far, 456 rooms in six hotels have been secured for the program.” [Patch]

Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust is joining an effort by Fairfax County officials to help people avoid evictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Foust teamed up with Chairman Jeff McKay and Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck on a board matter to address rent relief options. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the proposal yesterday (Tuesday).

“As we continue to address the impact of COVID-19 and the associated impact on employment in our community, low and moderate income families in particular are increasingly at risk of falling behind on rent and mortgages, and eventually eviction and even homelessness,” the board matter says.

County staff must now develop a Housing Partnership Pledge by working with landlords and lenders. The county officials want to see them offer to defer foreclosures and evictions, along with providing extra time for tenants to pay rent.

Fairfax County is looking at Chicago’s pledge as a guide, according to the board matter.

Along with the pledge, the county is directing the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop new guidelines for emergency rental assistance so that landlords must work “in good faith” to keep their tenants housed in exchange for the county helping tenants’ make payments.

Under the new guidelines, landlords receiving the assistance would have to notify the county before taking legal action against the tenants.

“In addition, we should explore asking landlords receiving emergency rental assistance to waive late fees dating to April 1,” the board matter says.

Additionally, the Redevelopment and Housing Authority is now asked to look into more opportunities to provide emergency rental assistance.

Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors wants to address some confusion around exotic animals.

The board is looking to refresh its animal control code with several changes to resolve discrepancies with other policies and laws.

One change would allow people with valid permits from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) — like wildlife rehabilitators and exhibitors — to own wildlife.

Since the current code prohibits people from possessing wild or exotic animals, “DGIF has considered revoking permits issued to County residents because they do not comply with the local ordinance,” according to county documents. If approved, the proposal would clean up the conflicting rules.

The county documents note that DGIF oversees the county’s roughly 50 permit holders, ensuring that the housing and care conditions for the animals are appropriate.

Another clarification would alter the definition of “exotic or wild” animals and create a list of exceptions. The proposal comes more than a year after Fairfax County officials decided to legalize chinchillas, hedgehogs and hermit crabs as pets.

“[The current] definition has generated much confusion and required interpretation from staff about exactly what sorts of animals are classified as wild or exotic and thus prohibited in the County,” according to the county documents.

Under the proposed changes, the following animals would not be considered exotic animals as long as they are bred and haven’t been in the wilderness:

• chinchillas
• guinea pigs
• hamsters
• rats
• mice
• gerbils
• rabbits
• ferrets
• hedgehogs
• birds

Additionally, the list of exceptions would also include non-venomous reptiles and amphibians that are not crocodilians.

According to the county, the proposed changes would also:

• add exemptions to the rabies vaccination requirement
• add more details on confining animals suspected of being rabid
• give animal control officers discretion to charge owners of unrestricted or unvaccinated dogs
• require traveling animal exhibitors to have current certificates of health for each animal exhibited
• remove the “impractical” requirement to inspect traveling animal exhibitions

The proposal would also clean up references to now-defunct programs and services, including the county’s oral rabies vaccination program and euthanasia of healthy wildlife brought to the shelter.

“The Department of Animal Sheltering believes such euthanasia runs counter to its mission and negatively affects the emotional and psychological well-being of shelter staff,” county documents say, adding that private companies offer the service to residents.

The board approved Tuesday to hold a public hearing on July 14 on the proposed code changes.

Photo by Javier Virues-Ortega on Unsplash

Drive-in movies are coming to Tysons outside Capital One for four weeks this summer.

While the movies are free, Capital One Center is encouraging moviegoers to make a $25 donation to Second Story, a local nonprofit that helps people seeking food, shelter and emergency support. People can also text “MOVIES” to 50155 to make a donation.

Here is the line-up:

• Saturday, July 11: “How to Train Your Dragon”
• Sunday, July 12: “Pitch Perfect”
• Saturday, July 18: “Men in Black”
• Sunday, July 19: “Grease”
• Saturday, July 25: “Shrek”
• Sunday, July 26: “A League of Their Own”
• Saturday, Aug. 1: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
• Sunday, Aug. 2: “Footloose”

The movies will take place at the McLean Metro lot (1820 Dolley Madison Blvd) from 7-11:30 p.m.

Moviegoers are asked to register in advance due to limited space. People will be able to get food at the movies from Curbside Kitchen.

More from the event page:

In addition to following and enforcing CDC guidelines, our event guidelines are approved by local county officials. No smoking, alcohol and drugs are permitted.

Parking has a limited capacity to ensure proper distance between cars, and guests must stay in their vehicles (except for bathroom usage). Restrooms and hand-washing stations will be provided and sanitized consistently throughout the event.

Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

Late Payment Fees Reduced — “As a move to help taxpayers during the ongoing pandemic, Fairfax County significantly reduced penalties for late personal property and real estate tax payments this year.” [Fairfax County]

Profile of Local Activists — Here’s how two students have been pushing for the removal of the bust of Stonewall Jackson in Stonewall Manor. [Washington Post]

History of Antique Lamp Store in Dunn Loring — “Artisan is still around, but it has moved to a cluttered little shop in a secluded corner of a Fairfax County industrial park where the owner has adapted its business plan to the digital age. It has evolved out of necessity from a mom-and-pop storefront on a first-name basis with clients into a niche retailer whose audience stretches from Taiwan to Italy.” [Washington Post]

Local Man Hits the Lottery — “[Falls Church resident Douglas] Rosen scored $100,000 in the Virginia Lottery’s Pick 4 game using his birth year, 1958, as the winning four digit combination.” [Falls Church Patch]

The Town of Vienna can soon expect a new smoothie and juice bar along Maple Avenue.

Viva Sol Juice Company is planning to open this July, according to a Facebook post yesterday. Tysons Reporter spotted permits for the business earlier this year.

Viva Sol Juice Company is set to come to 124 Maple Ave W. in the Vienna Shopping Center.

The business’ Facebook page describes it as “Vienna’s original superfood cafe” and claims that the location will offer 100% cold-pressed juice, bowls, smoothies, doughnuts, an espresso bar and brunch.

The Facebook page says that Viva Sol Juice Company is focused on plant-based, gluten-free food and drinks.

Image via Viva Sol Juice Company/Facebook