The Vienna Town Council has new measures to help businesses and residents struggling financially due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last night (Monday), the council approved extending the deadline for real estate taxes, along with changing the town’s meal tax provision, according to a town press release.
“Even though the Town has its own significant, pandemic-related financial impacts to address, Town Council wants to make what temporary changes it can to assist our restaurants and property owners,” Mayor Laurie DiRocco said in the press release.
Now, the first 2020 installment of real estate taxes in the town will be due on Aug. 28. Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors also extended its real estate tax deadline to August.
As for the meal tax, the town adopted an emergency ordinance that will be in effect from April 14 to June 13, the press release said.
“For the next 60 days, through June 13, the Town will waive any penalty and interest fees for late payments. In addition, the Town will increase the on-time payment discount from 3% to 10%,” the press release said, adding that restaurants pay collect meal tax payments from diners to the town.
People who are staying home and looking to do some reading can still order books while supporting local businesses.
Tysons Reporter rounded up the book stores around Falls Church, Vienna, Merrifield and Tysons that are offering delivery services and curbside pickup.
The Falls Church bookstore (2200 N. Westmoreland Street) is offering virtual offer talks, online book groups and delivery for book orders.
The store stopped offering curbside delivery to encourage people to stay at home, according to its website.
Staff are taking phone and online orders for people living in parts of North Arlington, Falls Church and McLean. Bibliophiles can get their orders delivered or shipped.
People looking to support the bookstore can buy gift cards and become Libro.fm members.
The comic book and game store (586 S. Washington Street) is accepting orders and making deliveries within 10 miles of the shop at noon and 5 p.m. daily, according to Facebook posts.
The Falls Church store will start closing at 6 p.m. every day “for the foreseeable future,” a Facebook post said.
The indie bookshop (110 Church Street NW) in Vienna is taking phone and email orders with “minimal contact” curbside pickup and “Bike Pedalers delivery service,” according to its website.
People can order bottles of wine, snacks and games along with their books. Gift cards are also available.
Events and book clubs have been cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Leah may not be able to make it into the store, but that doesn't mean we don't have a fun announcement for #NewReleaseTuesday. Introducing, Bike Pedalers, Bards Alley's local delivery service in partnership with Bikes@Vienna! Have a Vienna zip code? We'll deliver, free of charge! pic.twitter.com/xDEreMY3ut
— Bards Alley Bookshop (@BardsAlley) March 24, 2020
The comic book store chain is offering 25% off graphic novels, hardcovers, and softcover, according to its website.
The Vienna store (426 E. Maple Avenue) is temporarily closed, but accepting mail order delivery orders, according to the website.
People can find information about Facebook Live events on the store’s Facebook page.
The bookstore giant has two local stores: Tysons Corner Center and the Mosaic District.
Both locations are temporarily closed but offering curbside pickup for online orders, according to its website.
Barnes and Noble has information about its upcoming live events on Facebook and Instagram.
Photo via One More Page Books/Facebook
As Fairfax County continues to lead the increase of COVID-19 cases statewide, new data says the county has more than a dozen outbreaks at long term care facilities.
Overall, 6,171 cases and 154 deaths have been reported statewide. More than 42,000 people in Virginia have been tested for the virus.
As of this morning, the Fairfax Health District had 1,207 cases, continuing to lead all other jurisdictions in Virginia for the highest number of reported cases. Roughly half of the COVID-19 patients are under the age of 50, while the other half are ages 50 or older.
The Fairfax Health District includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county.
More data on the Fairfax Health District, according to the Virginia Department of Health:
- 17 outbreaks — one at a correctional facility and 16 at long term care facilities
- 235 hospitalizations
- 6,618 test results
Virginia has 102 total outbreaks, with more than half at long term care facilities.
Yesterday, Fairfax County reported 21 deaths. All of the individuals who died from the illness were age 50 or older, with 18 of the people age 65 or older.
While the county’s health department has declined to provide more information about cases due to privacy laws, the state’s health department has started to provide more information about outbreaks and hospitalizations by health district.
Fairfax County Residents to Receive Health Alert Toolkit
Fairfax County announced yesterday (Monday) that county residents can expect a COVID-19 toolkit to arrive in the mail soon.
According to the county, the health alert toolkit includes:
- instructions on what to do if you are sick
- actions to take if you are a close contact of someone who is sick
- details on how to identify and talk to close contacts who are at risk for illness if you are sick
The toolkit is also available online in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi and Korean.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue COVID-19 Cases
In the new weekly update on the coronavirus, the county’s fire department said that seven personnel have tested positive for the virus and two have recovered as of Sunday (April 12).
Of the five people who are currently COVID-19 positive, three had an on-duty exposure that likely caused the virus, the fire department said.
“All personnel are closely monitored by a nurse at Fairfax County’s Occupational Health Center,” the update said. “Fairfax County Fire and Rescue will notify the public or any applicable persons if there is any concern of exposure.”
In addition to the personnel who have tested positive, seven other members are quarantined.
Data via Virginia Department of Health
The McLean Project for the Arts is one of the hosts for the virtual town hall tonight (Tuesday) on how the pandemic is impacting the visual arts in the D.C. area.
The event is also being co-hosted by VisArts, the Third Space Network, and Hamiltonian Artists/DC. The “Strategies for Survival in the Arts” town hall is set to run from 6-7:30 p.m.
“The event will also serve as an information resource for organizations facing the challenge of migrating their public events and exhibitions to the online medium,” a press release for the event said.
The town hall will include short presentations from art leaders and an open forum to discuss solutions and ideas for things like funding, programming, community engagement and more, according to the press release.
According to the press release, guest speakers will include:
- Nora Halpern, an art historian with Americans for the Arts
- Jack Rasmussen, the director of the American University Museum
- Robert Goudie with the Virginia Commission for the Arts
- Sarah Burford with the National Endowment for the Arts
People interested in tuning in for the event can register online.
Image courtesy McLean Project for the Arts
Delay Developments? — “Some county residents and organizations are questioning the Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s decision to proceed with voting on land use cases and other development matters.” [Reston Now]
Falls Church Senior Homes Fighting Virus — “On Monday, the Virginia Department of Health reported 16 of the 53 long term care outbreaks have occurred in the Fairfax Health District alone and, now, the News-Press has learned at least two City of Falls Church senior homes are battling the coronavirus, with one reporting as many as eight positive cases.” [Falls Church News-Press]
From Liquor to Hand Sanitizer — “Falls Church Distillers’ second batch of hand sanitizer was delivered and picked up on Sunday. By the third week of April, the distillery will have produced over 3,000 gallons. The third and fourth batches are planned for the next two weeks and the distillery hopes to produce another 3,000 gallons in early May.” [Falls Church News-Press]
New COVID-19 Peak Projection — “Easing Virginia’s stay-at-home order on June 10 could result in a significant spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in mid-summer, according to projections released today by the University of Virginia’s Biocomplexity Institute.” [Inside NoVa]
Going to Fresh Market? Wear a Mask — “The Fresh Market, an upscale grocery store chain with two Northern Virginia locations, will require customers to wear face coverings due to the new coronavirus outbreak. The requirement is already in effect for workers, and customers will need to wear face coverings starting on Tuesday, April 14.” [Vienna Patch]
As local eateries pivot to take-out and delivery only options, several are fundraising to help make up for declining revenue and to keep their staff paid.
Tysons Reporter has been scouring GoFundMe weekly for local eateries that are looking to raise money to stay open or pay unemployed staff.
Now, we’ve started a list of eateries in Tysons, Merrifield, Falls Church, McLean and Vienna that are seeking donations that we’ll update weekly.
The fundraisers we spotted recently include Falls Church-based Spacebar & Galaxy Hut. People can support the business paying its ongoing expenses and the fundraiser specifically for staff.
Bottleneck Management, which operates City Works Eatery and Pour House in Tysons, has started an “Employee Relief Fund” to raise $100,000.
In Vienna, Pazzo Pomodoro in Vienna wants to raise $20,000 to support the servers, hostesses, kitchen staff and bartenders.
Don’t see a restaurant’s fundraiser on the list? Email the link to [email protected] so we can add it.
Photo courtesy David Endres
Updated 3:30 p.m. — The National Weather Service cancelled the Tornado Watch for Fairfax County around 3:20 p.m., the county tweeted.
Earlier: Fairfax County is currently under a Tornado Watch today (Monday).
The National Weather Service said the watch will be in effect until 6 p.m.
The area is also under a Wind Advisory until 6 p.m. People can expect storms throughout the day.
Fairfax County is also under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 2:30 p.m.
Good news! @NWS_BaltWash has cancelled the tornado watch for our immediate area today. https://t.co/jmBG8bjohC pic.twitter.com/NdVlpOQHnj
— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) April 13, 2020
High winds are currently ongoing across much of the area, with the strongest winds across Southern Maryland. The initial line of storms has moved out of the area but another round of storms is expected to form over the next couple of hours. pic.twitter.com/H80xV5DN6T
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 13, 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Rockville MD, Bethesda MD, Reston VA until 2:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/EGnIsdpf2n
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 13, 2020
After suspending its upcoming shows due to the coronavirus, 1st Stage Theatre now has new plans for how the show(s) will go on.
The theater announced on Thursday (April 9) that “A New Brain,” which was set to run March 26-April 19, will be the theater’s next production. New show dates have not been announced yet.
Meanwhile, “The Waverly Gallery,” which was originally going to be produced this spring, will now join the lineup for the 2020-2021 season.
“1st Stage will remain closed in compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines until it is safe to welcome audiences back to the theatre,” the press release said.
Later this year, audiences can expect the new season to kick off with “Mlima’s Tale” in September and then “The Rainmaker” in December.
In 2021, “The Waverly Gallery” will hit the stage in February, followed by “The Nance” in April and “The Phlebotomist” in May.
The theater is cancelling its Logan Festival of Solo Performance for this July, but said it plans for the festival to take place in 2021.
“We are very grateful to the Logan family for their continued friendship. They have pledged to continue their support for the festival and 1st Stage, and we are so appreciative,” Artistic Director Alex Levy said in the announcement.
Flood Warning, Wind Advisory in Effect — The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for small streams in central Fairfax County that is in effect until 9:30 a.m. A Wind Advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. [National Weather Service]
McLean Assisted Living Resident, Employees Have COVID-19 — “An Arleigh Burke Pavilion Assisted Living resident at McLean’s Vinson Hall Retirement Community tested positive for the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 illness, the community announced Saturday. Three employees also tested positive, and an additional employee is under investigation as a potential case.” [Patch]
Governor Signs New Election Laws — “New laws signed by Gov. Ralph Northam over the weekend will end Virginia’s voter ID law, make Election Day a state holiday and allow no-excuse absentee voting.” [Inside NoVa]
Merrifield Apartment Fire — On Saturday, Fairfax County firefighters extinguished a fire reportedly in the laundry room of an apartment in the 2700 block of Keystone Lane. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter]
Local Daycare Face COVID-19 Challenges — “The state’s new rules for in-home daycare put both parents and providers in a bind, but some local in-home providers are striving to work within the guidelines and stay in business.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Rain moving through the area this morning, with pockets of moderate to heavy rain over the metros. The threat for strong winds and heavy rain will continue, with the potential for severe storms capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes into this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/LJcA0UEBcM
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 13, 2020
#Merrifield-based @ECStechHQ is helping the Navy deliver COVID-19 relief services from the USNS Mercy hospital ship on the West Coast. https://t.co/LXYtXjovAh
— Fairfax County EDA (@FairfaxEDA) April 12, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic creates turmoil for the fiscal year 2021 budget considerations, Fairfax County Public Schools aims to mirror Fairfax County’s budget revision approach.
The Fairfax County School Board tackled changes to the FCPS budget during its meeting yesterday.
Marty Smith, the chief operating officer for FCPS, shared in a presentation that Superintendent Scott Brabrand is looking to mirror the reduction strategy being used for the county’s budget.
The presentation also noted that FCPS aims to maintain its existing staff, but will defer compensation increases to fiscal year 2022. Amendments and new strategic investments will also be pushed.
Extended Pay For Some Substitute Teachers
The school board also unanimously approved a motion that continues pay for part-time, temporary, hourly employees through April 24.
The motion applies to long-term substitute and does not include short-term substitute teachers.
The school board will reconsider pay for those employees when the superintendent provides more information to the board for the meeting on April 16.
At that upcoming meeting, the board will decide pay for the remainder of the school year.
“To Be Determined”
While FCPS is expecting several one time savings, many of the costs associated with the pandemic are still unknown.
So far, all of the financial amounts for categories, like social emotional supports and a COVID-19 second wave contingency plan, listed in FCPS’s “Post COVID-19 Response Plan” are “TBD,” according to the presentation.
Financial impacts related to unemployment and paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Act are also unknown at this time.
FCPS may also face another, yet-to-be-determined impact: more students.
Brabrand said during the meeting that FCPS must prepare for a possible influx of students.
“It’s a job creation area and we have families in private school who may be financially impacted,” he said.
Image via FCPS/YouTube
