Owners and staff at Tysons-area restaurants have turned to fundraisers to help combat the financial hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As of today, 15 GoFundMe fundraisers have raised a total of $236,110. Some of the fundraisers support employees, while others focus on the restaurants’ operations. Erica Hoffman, the co-owner of Galaxy Hut & Spacebar, created fundraisers for both staff and business operations.

The employee relief fund for Bottleneck Management, which operates now-closed City Works, raised the most out of the 15 fundraisers with more than $61,000.

Most of the fundraisers are still active, but a few, like the ones for Bear Branch Tavern in Vienna and Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church, are no longer accepting donations.

Tysons Reporter chronicled the local restaurant fundraisers that popped up on GoFundMe in March and April.

Here are the fundraisers — alphabetical by the restaurant names — still accepting donations:

• Agora (staff)
• Bottleneck Management/City Works (staff)
• Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (staff)
• Galaxy Hut & Spacebar (staff) and (business)
• Great American Restaurants (bartenders)
• Ireland’s Four Provinces (staff)
• Lost Dog Cafe in Tysons
• Loving Hut
• Pazzo Pomodoro
• Pulcinella
• Rocco’s
• Thomas Italian (staff)

Don’t see a restaurant’s fundraiser on the list? Email the link to [email protected] so we can add it.

Image via GoFundMe

Yesterday, we chatted with outgoing reporter Ashley Hopko about covering the coronavirus pandemic, holding elected officials accountable, learning new beats and much more.

Hopko joined Tysons Reporter’s parent company Local News Now a year ago as part of the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship. During her time reporting primarily for Tysons Reporter and our sister site Reston Now, she covered a range of stories, from taking the lead to create weekly profiles of local startups to interviewing teens about their startups and fundraisers.

When not reporting for the two sites, Hopko worked on a media project documenting the challenges Mexican journalists face, which won first place in the fellowship’s competition.

Today is her last day.

Listen below to the podcast, which was produced by Catherine Douglas Moran, Tysons Reporter’s editor. Due to the work from home arrangement, the audio was recorded during a phone call, so pardon the occasional scratchiness.

Here are the articles mentioned in the podcast:

• Looming Liquor Tax Increase Forces Falls Church Distillery to Scale Back
• Falls Church Distillers Making Hand Sanitizer to Minimize Shortage
• Fairfax NAACP President Talks Black Lives Matter Movement
• Alcorn Addressing Damage Concerns With Tysons Restoration Project

Here are some of Hopko’s many startup stories:

• From Fingerprints to Facial Features: Tysons Startup Looks to Streamline Identifications
• Founder Shares Local Startup Journey, Staying Active in Tysons
• Student Startup TeenServ Gains Traction With Local High Schools
• Tysons Startup Uses Artificial Intelligence to Help Non-Profits
• Tysons Startup Sud Stud Seeking Solution to Slippery Situations

Music in podcast courtesy Bensound.com

Peet’s Coffee has left Tysons Station, along with closing its spot in the Town of Vienna.

A Peet’s spokesperson told Tysons Reporter this week that both locations have permanently closed.

When Tysons Reporter previously asked about the Vienna location, the spokesperson did not respond to questions about when or why it closed.

Fans of the coffee chain can still order drinks on the mobile app from the Tysons location (8150 Leesburg Pike).

Image via Google Maps

Updated at 10:45 a.m. — Corrects reference to Lake Braddock Secondary School.

As the Fairfax County public school system prepares for the fall, some teachers’ unions are expressing concern about how safe in-person learning might be during the pandemic.

To accommodate both families and teachers, FCPS asked both groups to fill out a form by July 10, stating whether they would prefer to stick with a distance learning plan or return to the classroom. After this date, many teachers will find out if they will be required to return or stay at home.

The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers and Fairfax Education Association released a press release calling for increased transparency and a clearly outlined health plan for reopening.

Though teachers are allowed to request a full-time remote-learning position, this cannot be guaranteed according to the current plan.

“Teacher placements will be contingent upon student enrollment numbers in the online program; teacher placement decisions will be tiered by individual teacher’s medical need, family medical need, and preference,” FCPS documents said.

Additionally, teachers with medical conditions that increase the risk of COVID-19 will be given “flexible leave and telework assignments,” the plan said.

David Walrod, who teaches 7th grade at Lake Braddock Secondary School, said as a member of the teacher’s union that he wishes teachers would get of choice of whether or not they work remotely.

“Personally I’m hoping that I get a remote position because personally I don’t feel that they will be able to keep schools as safe as they think they are,” he said, adding that he is also concerned for his own young daughter.

“Our educators are overwhelmingly not comfortable returning to schools. They fear for their lives, the lives of their students and the lives of their families,” Tina Williams, the president of Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, said in the press release.

At the school board meeting last Tuesday (June 23), the board members discussed various concerns and options for reopening.

Melanie Meren, the Hunter Mill District representative on the board, spoke on behalf of teachers during the meeting. “We cannot skimp on [personal protective equipment],” she said. “We need to advocate for that if we don’t have the funds.”

Not everyone will be satisfied with whatever is ultimately decided, Karl Frisch, who represents the Providence District, told his fellow board members.

Frisch said that he’s spent almost 100 hours with local families, community members and stakeholders discussing options for the upcoming school year. “There is no perfect solution to this problem,” he said. “We must consider any contingency that may come and meet us.”

FCPS officials have said that input from local health and state health officials will inform reopening plans.

Superintendent Scott Brabrand told the school board earlier this month that he is worried about the realities of social distancing in schools and wants to prevent staff from resigning over safety concerns.

FCFT’s press release called for teachers and educators in the county to speak up about their concerns.

Walrod said that he hopes Fairfax County will adopt a new model like the one for a school district in Pennsylvania where all students and staff will be working and learning remotely for 75 days into the school year until the school board members have a clearer understanding of COVID-19.

Walrod said that there is a chance parents will overwhelmingly want their kids to take advantage of distance learning so there will be less of a demand for in-person lessons.

Kimberly Adams, the president of the Fairfax Education Association, said in a press release that the group is advocating for remote learning until a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 is available.

“All staff should be provided the ability to continue virtual instruction as long as there is community spread of this virus,” Adams said. “We will continue to make every possible effort to assist FCPS in developing a plan that keeps health and safety first.”

Photo courtesy Dan Dennis on Unsplash

A new pizza joint is here: baddpizza has officially opened its doors in McLean.

The pizzeria held a private pre-opening event on Friday and Saturday, according to a Facebook post. Now, the eatery at 6263 Old Dominion Drive is open for business, baddpizza tweeted today.

Baddpizza, which also has locations in South Riding and Falls Church, offers Buffalo-style food. The menu isn’t only pizza — diners can find hot wings, salads, subs and desserts as well.

Joel Salamone, the eatery’s owner, previously told Tysons Reporter that baddpizza has a sweeter sauce than most pizzerias and places toppings up to the edge.

The McLean location is open from 3-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, according to its website.

South Block is now opening the doors to its new home in the Town of Vienna.

The juice and smoothie bar left its location at Jammin Java and plans to officially open next week at 207 E. Maple Avenue.

Amir Mostafavi, the owner, shared on the public Facebook group Vienna VA Foodies yesterday that the new location is doing a soft opening this week via Uber Eats from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The menu includes cold-pressed juice, toast and salad, smoothies and bowls.

Mostafavi said that Monday, July 6, will be the spot’s official opening date.

“We are so excited to be a part of this amazing community! I grew up in McLean… so this spot hits really close to ‘home’ for me!” Mostafavi wrote.

Photo via South Block/Facebook

Georgetown Pike Reopened — Westbound Georgetown Pike near Bellview Road in McLean was closed earlier this morning due to a tree that fell into power lines. [Fairfax County Police/Twitter]

Sizable Sale — “The McLean estate of Janice Smith, ex-wife of former ABC News White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, has sold for $24 million.” [Washington Business Journal]

Federal Report Finds Failures With Virginia DOE — “A new federal report finds systemic failures in how the Virginia Department of Education monitors and responds to special education complaints against local school districts.” [Inside NoVa]

It’s beginning to look a lot like – a fire station! Construction of new Station 44, Scotts Run, continues to progress nicely! New station is being built as part of a development condition to meet growing needs for emergency services in Tysons area. #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/XlYfayvOow

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 26, 2020

Fairfax County planners support proposals to construct a mixed-use building — rather than two residential towers — over a parking podium in the Scotts Run development.

The developer, Cityline Partners, is looking to have the newly proposed 25-story building contain roughly 450,000 square feet of residential ground floor area and 15,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. The building would have 447 residential units, according to the staff report.

Cityline also wants to modify the parking podium by adding retail along with the above-grade parking, according to the staff report. Proffers limit the parking to 80 feet, and the developer plans to stay within the allotted height range, the report said.

“With the use of glass and masonry, the podium is designed to suggest occupied space rather than a parking garage,” the report noted.

The proposals would tweak some aspects of the Scotts Run development, which will span approximately 40 acres near the McLean Metro station. The overall development will add retail, office and residential spaces along with a new grid of streets.

While the county’s planners support the proposal, the staff report noted ways the developer could improve the project’s aesthetics, like “additional attention to architectural features, such as canopies.”

More from the staff report:

Staff continues to recommend that the applicant refine the vertical banding on the building façade to create a continuous line between levels and further compliment the backlit podium treatment in order to accentuate the impression that those levels are occupied space and de-emphasize that they are structured parking.

The staff reported noted that the change from two towers to one building would not significantly impact Tysons’ skyline.

” Staff believes that the proposed changes do not present any substantial land use issues and the proposal remains in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan,” the report said.

The Planning Commission will consider the proposed changes on Wednesday, July 8.

Image via Fairfax County

For people seeking a summer activity, the McLean Community Center has organized an all-ages scavenger hunt.

The MCC Super Summer Scavenger Hunt promises participants the chance to complete 100 challenges with a team of four to 10 people, according to the website.

Each challenge consists of taking photos, geocaching, finding specific items and other such activities, the page said, adding that each task will be worth a variety of points.

“Teams earning at least 30,000 points will be entered into a grand prize drawing,” the website said.

Participation is free but only 125 teams can participate. The first 50 teams to register will receive a goodie bag, according to the page.

The challenge will run from July 1-Aug. 17. Group captains, who must be 16 or older, can register the teams online.

Team members will need a cell phone to document their findings.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Updated 3:05 p.m. — Around 3 p.m., the fire department tweeted that the gas leak has stopped and the road closure should end soon.

Several residents have been evacuated following a gas leak that crews are working to fix in Tysons this afternoon.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted shortly after 1 p.m. that crews were working on the leaking four-inch gas line at Gallows Branch Road and Kidwell Drive.

About 30 minutes later, the fire department added that nearby residents had been evacuated “in [an] abundance of caution” and that the gas company’s crews were working to fix the leak.

Because of the leak, Gallows Road at Gallows Branch Road is closed and drivers can expect delays, the fire department tweeted.

People should avoid the area, according to the fire department.

UPDATE: leak stopped. Situation stable. Most units returning to service. Gallows Road/Gallows Branch Road should be open soon. Avoid area. Expect delays. #FCFRD #traffic https://t.co/OQVqqJi4BC

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) June 29, 2020

Photo via Fairfax Fire/Rescue/Twitter