Budget Town Hall Today — “Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn plans to hold another virtual town hall on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year.” School Board Member Melanie Meren plans to join the event, which is set for 12:30 p.m. today. [Reston Now, Meren’s newsletter]

What’s Available at The Boro? — The Boro in Tysons has a list of retailers, restaurants and businesses open, including hours of operation and changes due to COVID-19 that patrons need to be aware of. [The Boro]

General Assembly Rejects Election Delay — “The governor’s recommendation proposed a plan for one ballot in November that would have included both national elections and the local elections that would have been held in May… But on Wednesday, lawmakers did not pass the measure.” [WHSV]

… But Vienna Election Could Still Get Pushed — “”I will review the General Assembly’s actions on scheduling local elections and announce next steps soon,” said in a press release on Wednesday. [Gov. Ralph Northam]

Inova Health System Cuts 400+ Jobs — “Inova Health System has eliminated 427 positions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President and CEO J. Stephen Jones said in a public letter Thursday.” [Inside NoVa]

The Vienna Town Council is looking to delay the soon-approaching deadline to revise the Maple Avenue Commercial (MAC) zone.

The moratorium was first put in place in the fall of 2018 so that town staff could redesign the town’s guidelines. Since then, it has been extended several times, drawing criticism from some residents and town officials.

Back in November, Vienna officials voted to push the moratorium to June 30.

But now as the town faces challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty about whether its election that is less than two weeks away will get delayed, town officials want to extend the moratorium again.

At the meeting on Monday (April 27), the council will consider pushing the moratorium until June 30, 2022.

If the council OKs a public hearing on the proposal, the matter will also go before the Planning Commission. The public hearing would be held June 1.

Metro announced today (Thursday) plans to add Silver Line connection work to its summer construction, which includes platform reconstruction at several Orange Line stations.

Now, all Orange and Silver line stations west of Ballston will be closed starting Saturday, May 23. The nine stations are expected to be closed through the fall.

“This is about two things: working smarter and working safer,” Metro General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld said, adding that the changes will “limit the exposure of our frontline staff and contractors, mitigate delays to our capital program, and minimize inconvenience to the public.”

Metro said that the decision was prompted by “historically low ridership and traffic-free highways” — likely due to Virginia’s stay-at-home order to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to rebuilding four Orange Line station platforms, crews will also work to connect the upcoming Silver Line Phase II stations, which run from Reston to Ashburn.

Riders who normally use the stations will be able to use free express and local shuttle buses.

Metro bus options will include:

• Orange Line Local between Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and Ballston
• Orange Line Express directly between Vienna and Ballston
• Silver Line Local between Wiehle-Reston East, Spring Hill, Tysons Corner and Ballston

While the Fairfax Connector has currently reduced its service, the county bus system said it will offer several routes for riders traveling to the Dunn Loring, Vienna, Tysons Corner and Wiehle Reston-East stations.

Drivers can find free parking at the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations, but won’t be able to park at the East Falls Church station, Metro said.

A website created by a Vienna couple is looking to connect locals to Vienna restaurants offering gift cards to stay in business during the coronavirus pandemic.

Jane and Ray Brill, Jr. started SAVOR Vienna in mid-March when they noticed restaurants were “really taking it hard,” Ray Brill, Jr. told Tysons Reporter, adding that Vienna Inn was the first restaurant to sign on.

“We very action oriented,” Brill said.

In March, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered restaurants to stop table seating and switch to carry out, curbside pickup and delivery options. While many local eateries have managed to stay open with the new serving options, the restaurant industry is suffering due to the pandemic.

“You can do the carryout but it’s never the same,” he said.

While the effort has changed a bit, SAVOR Vienna now features information for 13 local eateries for people interested in buying gift cards, and Brill said he expects the list to grow. Patrons have to wait until July 1 to get their gift cards, which gives the eateries time to improve their finances.

To get the word out to restaurants, Brill said that he’s been having socially distanced conversations — staying 6 feet apart — with restaurants’ owners.

Restaurants interested in participating for free in SAVOR Vienna can contact the Brills via the website.

Brill said they paid out their pockets for the service to set up for the website and have bought about $700 in gift cards.

Brill also said that they are receiving “not a nickel, dime or penny” from the effort and that SAVOR Vienna has “nothing to with” the upcoming Vienna election — Ray Brill Jr. is a councilmember candidate.

While Brill said the idea can apply to other businesses like retailers, he’s waiting to see when the Vienna election will be held before deciding on whether or not to expand the effort.

“The process is very clean, very straightforward,” Brill said, adding that he hopes the opportunity for people to support local restaurants lifts everyone’s spirits up. “I’m just pleased we did it.”

Image via SAVOR Vienna

Two Tysons Corner Center restaurants are among the several businesses in the Tysons-area reporting layoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The businesses recently 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 calendar days advance notice of a facility closing or layoffs affecting 50 or more employees, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Tysons Reporter looked at the 40 WARN notices filed in late March through today (April 23) in Northern Virginia.

Of those, eight involve businesses in located in Tysons, Vienna, Falls Church or McLean, totaling 1,084 layoffs:

• OneWeb (1785 Greensboro Station Place, Tower 3): 301 layoffs (due to COVID)
• Westwood Country Club (800 Maple Ave E.): 90 layoffs (COVID)
• Crescent Hotels & Resorts (8661 Leesburg Pike): 171 layoffs (COVID)
• Coastal Flats Tysons (7860-L Tysons Corner Center): 135 layoffs (COVID)
• Suit Supply Inc. (453 Brooms Street): 19 layoffs in McLean
• Earls Restaurant (Tysons Corner Center): 119 layoffs
• Case Architects and Remodelers (701 Park Avenue): 24 layoffs
• Fred’s Food Group (8051 Leesburg Pike): 225 layoffs

The businesses listed above claimed COVID-19 challenges caused the layoffs.

Inside NoVa published a list of the Northern Virginia businesses that filed WARN notices in March and April 2020.

Photo courtesy David Endres

Local Twins Share Sadness Over Spring Sports — “For the Bean seniors of Langley High School, the emotions regarding the cancellation of the spring high-school sports season was double the disappointment… Both were expected to be big contributors on their high-school programs this season.” [Inside NoVa]

Watch Out for COVID-19 Scams — Fairfax County wants residents to stay alert to shopping, mortgage relief and personal loan scams connected to the coronavirus pandemic. [Fairfax County]

FCPS IT Head Steps Down — “The head of Fairfax County Public Schools’ IT department has stepped down amid fallout over numerous technical problems that have disrupted distance learning for students during the coronavirus pandemic, the school system says. Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Information and Technology Maribeth Luftglass has been under increased scrutiny for the technical difficulties.” [NBC4]

Great American Community Kitchen — “For each meal you purchase two meals will be distributed to local hospital workers and first responders on the front line, as well as those who are food insecure at this time.” [Great American Restaurants]

Thanks American Prime Restaurant, Tyson’s, who provided lunch for Station 29, Tyson’s Corner, C-Shift. Restaurants throughout Fairfax County have made similar donations to #FCFRD crews. If able, please support local businesses/restaurants during these trying times. #FFXstrong pic.twitter.com/Av8nZZTrnd

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) April 22, 2020

The Town of Vienna has a new survey to help town officials better understand how the coronavirus pandemic has affected local businesses.

The survey was created by the town’s economic development office with the input of the Town Business Liaison Committee and Vienna Business Association, according to a press release.

The survey includes questions about revenue losses, staffing capacities, preventative measures taken and any changes made since the pandemic started.

“Survey responses will be shared with town staff and councilmembers and will help inform strategies that may lead to relief programs for businesses in Vienna,” the press release said, adding that individual responses will not be published.

Business owners have until May 15 to complete the short survey.

Image via Survey Monkey

Updated 4/29/2020 — This story originally said the school board would discuss the proposal. The item was instead on the school board’s list of new items. 

A proposal that would add a modular to mitigate overcrowding at McLean High School heads to the Fairfax County School Board tomorrow (Thursday).

School officials have been trying to find a way to lessen crowding issues at the high school, which has resorted to more than a dozen trailers to accommodate classes.

The draft CIP says that McLean High School is currently at 118% capacity, which are projected to increase in the 2024-2025 school year and could rise even more if the school sees an employment spike due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In March, the school board voted to expand the study of a possible boundary change for McLean and Langley high schools to include the two feeder middle schools.

Elaine Tholen, who represents the Dranesville District on the school board, has said that the original goal to implement the boundary change by the 2020-2021 school year won’t happen.

Tholen told families during a digital town hall last week that the modular idea would be a short-term solution “to make that situation much better.”

Now, the school board will consider whether or not to jumpstart the project by awarding a contract to a bidder, but the board won’t vote on the matter tomorrow.

“Bids were received on March 25, 2020,” according to the agenda. “The bid tabulation and recommendation for award will be furnished prior to the May 7, 2020, School Board meeting.”

The proposed modular addition will be paid for by the 2017 bond referendum, according to the school board.

In addition to the high school modular idea, the school board is scheduled to hear an update on the distance learning plan and the superintendent’s recommended changes to fiscal year 2021 budget.

The meeting is set to start at 10 a.m.

Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Instead of holdings strikes around the globe to advocate for climate change activism, the organization behind Earth Day is urging activists to participate in virtual events.

“On Earth Day, April 22, 2020, we have two crises: One is the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The other is a slowly building disaster for our climate,” according to the Earth Day website.

Earth Day Live today is offering 24 hours of messages, performances and educational components, including appearances from Zac Efron and Al Gore.

While  Fairfax County’s 2020 Earth Day Festival has been canceled, the McLean Community Center tweeted about Earth Day opportunities:

GO GREEN: @fcpsnews Get2Green environmental initiative (@fcpsGet2Green) gives you the opportunity at home to play bingo, discover fun facts and learn how to help this week as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! 🌳

Learn more: https://t.co/VEonMtcSNg pic.twitter.com/TYR0H6f3az

— McLean Community Center (@mcleanvacenter) April 20, 2020

Let Tysons Reporter know in the poll below if you plan to join Earth Day events:

Local Student Making Masks For Medical Professionals — “Marshall High junior Juliette has made 150 masks to help medical professionals in the fight against COVID-19… Juliette is working with the Million Mask group.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]

Little City Officials Mulling Micro Loans for Businesses —“[The] F.C. City Council will begin to move on a revised budget going forward at its meeting next Monday, and at its work session Monday night learned of aggressive efforts locally to help the most vulnerable citizens and smallest businesses for which even a $2,000 micro grant can make a huge difference for keeping their doors open.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Jammin Java Lobbing Feds for Coronavirus Relief — “More than 450 venues across the U.S. are banding together under the new group called the National Independent Venue Association to present one voice to lawmakers… Jammin Java in Vienna and the Birchmere in Alexandria are also members [of NIVA].” [Washington Business Journal]

Local Schools Make “2020 Best High Schools” List — “Seven Fairfax County schools were in the top 500 nationally [in the U.S. News and World Report’s list], including Langley, McLean, Marshall, Madison, W.T. Woodson, West Springfield, and Chantilly high schools.” [Inside NoVa]

Are you a hedgehog pet parent and live in Fairfax County? Or know someone who is? 🦔 🦔

I’d love to talk to you for a story! You can reach me at news[at]https://t.co/oOjQvVsLAQ pic.twitter.com/R8vhwpXeP8

— Catherine Douglas Moran (@c_douglasmoran) April 21, 2020