Updated 7/23/2020 — VDOT announced today that the work on the W&OD Trail at Idylwood Park will be postponed “for additional project coordination.”
Earlier: Starting next week, cyclists and pedestrians won’t be able to travel the W&OD Trail near Idylwood Park for nearly the rest of the year.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that the trail is expected to temporarily close on Monday, July 27, through early December. The five-month closure is needed for construction on a retaining wall and ramp widening for the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project, VDOT said.
Various detours will be in place. Pedestrians will be told to cut through Idylwood Park by using footpaths and the parking lot, while cyclists will be directed to Virginia Lane and Nottingham Drive, VDOT said.
VDOT noted that the work is dependent on the weather and could get rescheduled.
Map via VDOT
Teriyaki Way is now serving diners in Tysons Corner Center.
The mall posted on Facebook on Friday, July 17, about the opening.
The Japanese grill serves up a variety of teriyaki dishes, bento and ramen, along with side dishes like spring rolls and dumplings, according to its online menu. People can order pick-up and delivery from the eatery, according to its website.
Diners can find Teriyaki Way on the first level in the food court.
Photo via Tysons Corner Center/Facebook
Hot Today Ahead — A Heat Advisory will be in effect from noon to 8 p.m. today (Monday). [National Weather Service]
New Ramp in Vienna Area — “Motorists driving on northbound Nutley Street in the Vienna area this week will begin using a new temporary ramp and traffic signal to reach westbound Interstate 66, as construction of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project continues, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said.” [Inside NoVa]
Business Survey — “The City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) is reaching out to small businesses to help with the challenges of the pandemic. The EDA opened a quick five question survey to gauge interest in providing supplies to support the safe reopening of businesses.” [City of Falls Church, survey]
After delays due to the pandemic, the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals approved changes that will allow a McLean church to expand its child care offerings.
The St. Thomas Episcopal Church (8991 Brook Road) wants to add a child care center that will be open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays along with the current nursery school. The church would like to have up to 99 kids on-site at any one time.
“What we’re trying to do is modify the conditions to bring a nursery school that was approved almost 25 years ago to modern standards and to meet the expectations of what families are looking for in 2020 for child care,” a representative for the church said.
Currently, the zoning ordinance limits the church to having its nursery school divided into morning and afternoon sessions with 50 kids max per session and hours from 8 a.m.-3 pm.
The church representative said that there is barely any need for a mid-day drop-off, saying that parents need all-day daycare.
More from the staff report:
The proposed child care center will operate within the same building as the existing nursery school, and no exterior renovations are proposed as part of this application… In a nursery school, children aged 2-5 years old are limited to four hours of care per day, while children 5+ years old are limited to six and one-half hours of care per day. In a child care center, there are no time limits on the number of hours of care per day.
The nursery school/child care center will continue to have a maximum enrollment of up to 99 students at any one time. The children will be aged from 2 years through 5 years… The applicant indicates that the nursery school/child care center facility will serve both parishioners and residents of the surrounding community. The facility will have 10-15 staff members…
Staff with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) raised concerns with the impact that additional vehicles would have on the afternoon peak hours of operation at the intersection of Lewinsville Road / Brook Road / Leesburg Pike…
Staff with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) estimates the intersection improvements will be completed by the end of 2022, with the construction of sound walls, streetscape, and lighting continuing to 2024… [The] applicant has agreed to, a development condition restricting the number of students to 50, for either three (3) years or until the intersection reconfiguration is complete — whichever occurs first.
The BZA was originally going to consider the changes in May, but the application was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the agenda.
The church has undergone three expansions, according to county documents. If the church proceeds with a fourth construction phase, the church would be able to offer up to 325 seats in the main area of worship and the parking spaces would increase from 70 to 90, county staff said.
“The final Phase 4, which includes a significant expansion of the main sanctuary, has not yet occurred. The Church has indicated that while they have no immediate plans to construct Phase 4, they wish to maintain their right to do so in the future and propose no changes to the previously approved layout as part of this amendment,” according to county documents.
The church currently has a fenced, 25,000-square-foot playground.
On Wednesday, the zoning board approved the proposed changes to allow for the child care center.
Image via Google Maps
The pandemic hasn’t stopped a Vienna family from selling its new baseball training equipment.
John Morabito and his two sons Nick and Dominic are the three founders behind Perfect Swings USA.
Nick Morabito, the CEO, told Tysons Reporter that the company was going to open in the spring but then faced shipping issues and then decided to wait a little longer when George Floyd’s killing prompted massive protests. “Most of people’s focus was on that, rightly so,” he said.
Currently, Perfect Swings USA is selling the Swing Path Trainer for $349 to help athletes keep the bat in the hitting zone with the proper angle.
“The launch has been good,” Morabito said, adding that the company has sold several dozen Swing Path Trainers.
Morabito said that the company is looking to debut the Tempo Trainer (undecided price) in early fall after some delays due to the pandemic. The tool will help athletes with their tempo and rhythm during a swing.
“Both of our products are tools to help hitters become better,” Morabito said.
While originally geared toward baseball players, Morabito said that softball players are buying the equipment. “We’ve made a huge splash into softball,” Morabito said.
The pandemic also eliminated marketing opportunities by shutting down some tournaments and college baseball programs. “I think a lot of people are drawn to it when they try it out,” he said.
The company hopes to soon roll out an online search feature for people to find which facilities have the equipment, so they can try it out.
Even with the challenges, the company has managed to make some headway nationally with preorders from colleges and influencers in California and Colorado.
In the future, customers will be able to buy a variation of a baseball called a wiffle ball. When the COVID-19 risk decreases some more, the family hopes to bring Perfect Swings USA to local tournaments.
“I think it’s going to continue to grow,” he said.
Photo courtesy Nick Morabito
Earlier this week, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved proposals to move forward several police reform efforts.
On Tuesday, the board approved a board matter by Lee District Supervisor Rodney Lusk and Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn that pushes the county to dispatch unarmed medical, mental health and human services workers for incidents involving mental and behavioral health issues.
County staff will review the local dispatch and response system in order to “enhance our Diversion First strategies by implementing systems for the deployment of trained unarmed medical, human services, and mental health professionals in instances where mental and behavioral health are the principal reason for the call.”
The new system would model Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS), an approach adopted in Eugene, Oregon since 1989. The county will determine if a similar approach is suitable for Fairfax County based on potential initial costs, long-term budget savings, overall feasibility, and the expected impact on service.
The county’s Public Safety Committee will review the county’s findings and offer a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors by Oct. 1.
Roughly 20% of calls that FCPD officers respond to are primarily related to mental and behavioral health crises. Currently, only 40 percent of county officers are trained in crisis intervention.
In a board matter, Lusk noted that FCPD should “endeavor to be the smartest” and not only the “safest” jurisdiction of its size in the nation.
Body camera footage of a white Fairfax County firing a stun gun at a Black man in Gum Springs led Lusk and Alcorn to push for the board matter. Officer Tyler Timberlake shot La Monta Gladney with a stun gun and used his knee to hold him down. Gladney was speaking incoherently prior to the use of force incident as officers persuaded him to go to a detox center.
The board also approved a board matter from Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw and Chairman Jeff McKay that encourages the General Assembly to consider police reform efforts.
The General Assembly tentatively plans to meet in August for a special session to talk about the state budget.
Walkinshaw and McKay’s board matter asks that Virginia legislators look into five areas:
- adequate funding for courts, public defenders and commonwealth’s attorneys
- create a statewide database for officer misconduct
- improve data transparency, especially for use of force reports
- funding for strong civilian review panels
- funding process for body-worn cameras
“While we do thorough background checks on our police hires in Fairfax County, a statewide standard for data collection could provide benefits for all police departments as they make hiring decisions,” the board matter says.
The board matter notes that while it’s Police Civilian Review Panel helps with accountability, the state should consider funding the panels so that other localities can create their own ones.
The board approved sending the list to Fairfax County’s General Assembly delegation.
Catherine Douglas Moran contributed reporting
More drive-in movies are coming to the Tysons area. Wolf Trap now lists several drive-ins in August on its website.
“Bring out the popcorn! We’re transforming the parking lot at Wolf Trap National Park into a drive-in movie theater and bringing family-friendly summer fun to the community,” according to Wolf Trap’s website.
Here’s the line-up listed on the website:
- Thursday, Aug. 6: “Mamma Mia!“
- Friday, Aug. 7: “Sing“
- Saturday, Aug. 8: “Dreamgirls“
- Sunday, Aug. 9: “Dirty Dancing“
Tickets went on sale today at 10 a.m. The price per car is $40.
People can also buy the “Movie Pack for Two,” which includes two boxes of popcorn, a pack of M&Ms and two bottles of water for $20, or the “Wolfie Kids Pack,” which includes a plush animal, two chocolate chip cookies, themed coloring pages and crayons for $15.
The gates will open at 7 p.m. ahead of the 8:30 p.m. screening for each event.
According to the event guidelines, no walk-ins or bikes will be allowed, and movie-goers must stay in their vehicles unless using the restrooms. People can bring their food if they want, but pets are not allowed.
“Sound for all movies will be broadcast to your car’s FM radio, please be aware of how to use the Accessory mode in your vehicle or bring a portable radio,” according to the guidelines.
Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
Lady M Cake Boutique is now located in its new, permanent location in Tysons Galleria.
The cake boutique extended its pop-up in A Taste of Urbanspace last year while looking for a new spot in the mall. Lady M Cake Boutique first arrived in Tysons Galleria in December 2018.
The boutique officially opened on the second level of the mall on Tuesday (July 14), according to a press release.
More from the press release:
From the iconic Signature Mille Crepes to fan-favorite Green Tea Mille Crepes, and much more, Lady M Tysons Galleria offers a daily rotating and seasonal selection of handmade Lady M cakes. This boutique location also offers a full beverage menu featuring tea and coffee, alongside custom drinks like Green Tea Latte and a notably decadent Hot Chocolate.
Lady M Tysons Galleria is a full-service, dine-in boutique location. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, takeaway will be offered exclusively for the time being. Guests may order in person at the boutique or place pre-orders online (for same day pickup) at ladymcakes.square.site.
For those who prefer to enjoy cake at home, Lady M has also partnered with Chowbus to offer fast and easy delivery from this new Tysons Galleria boutique location. Lady M continues to also offer nationwide shipping of whole cakes at LadyM.com.
The store is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Lady M Cake’s Facebook page.
Photos via Tysons Galleria/Facebook
Traffic Stop Near Gallows Roads — “A Virginia state trooper is on administrative leave and faces a criminal investigation for his conduct against a Black driver during a 2019 traffic stop in Fairfax County.” [Patch]
Falls Church Scales Back Summer Camps — “Covid-19’s spread throughout the country influenced the City to scale back or outright cancel certain camps, making “fun” one of the lesser known, but more persistent casualties of the pandemic.” [Falls Church News-Press]
COVID-19 Rules for Businesses — “Virginia on Wednesday became the first state to adopt uniform workplace safety rules related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the new regulations, employers in Virginia are required to mandate physical distancing and face coverings for employees in customer-facing positions. Coverings will also be required in workplace situations where social distancing is not possible.” [Washington Business Journal]
PPP Loans for Black Businesses — “Black business owners are more likely to be hindered in seeking coronavirus financial aid than their white peers, a new study has found. The study looked at how more than a dozen Washington-area banks handled requests for loans under the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program.” [Washington Business Journal]
Impacts on Falls Church Development? — “Workplaces transitioning out of the office and into being permanently remote could be one part of the “new normal” stemming from Covid-19’s global outbreak. That potential reality would be trouble for the City of Falls Church’s West End development that is relying on office tenants to help occupy some of its nearly 10-acre footprint, though the minds behind the project believe this adaptation won’t become a fixture once coronavirus’ danger lessens.” [Washington Business Journal]
Dara Global Arts Gallery is reopening to the public this Sunday, July 27. The gallery will be open each Sunday by appointment only from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The gallery is located at 2169 Chain Bridge Road, Lower Level in Vienna.
All visitors are required to wear a mask, and the gallery will be following social distancing guidelines, according to a Facebook post on their page. Additionally, each appointment slot is limited to two people who know each other.
“We feel that the artists’ emotion, the medium used, and the way you feel when you look at a piece of art is not often adequately conveyed digitally, “said Nawara Elliott, the Owner and Managing Director of Dara Global Arts Gallery.
Dara Global Arts Gallery is an art gallery with a mission to celebrate women’s empowerment and freedom of expression. Their goal is to bring peace and harmony through art, according to their website.
The gallery donates a percentage of its sales to different organizations to help children of war-torn countries, homeless women and children and impoverished artists. Some of these organizations include INRA, BRAWS, and Samra Nice Arts.
Those interested in making an appointment to visit the gallery can email [email protected].
Photo via Dara Global Arts Gallery/Facebook
