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]
Delays are expected for the rollout of the Fairfax County Police Department’s body-worn camera program.
In late 2019, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved $4 million to begin implementation of the program.
But now in Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill’s revised budget for fiscal year 2021, the county plans to push back funding for 338 cameras for the Sully, McLean and West Springfield Stations in the second year of the program.
The county is also revisiting funding plans for 456 cameras for the third year of the program at the Fair Oaks, Franconia and South County district stations.
The proposed budget — which was scaled back considerably in response to the COVID-19 pandemic — maintains an increase of $1.77 million to support the first full year of the program.
Funding is expected to remain for 416 cameras that will be issued to the Reston, Mason and Mt. Vernon police stations, according to county budget documents.
In times of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, many expectant mothers are facing unforeseen challenges — especially when dealing with the lives of newborn babies.
“I just feel the research out there is limited. I’m skeptical,” Nicole Sud, a Falls Church resident who gave birth to twins at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington on Wednesday (April 1), told Tysons Reporter.
Before her delivery date, Sud said she began to self-isolate — only leaving the house for doctor appointments — and had neighborhood friends help deliver groceries and essentials.
“The reaction varies — there are a lot of people who are much more nervous than I am,” Sud said while describing her plan for the next few weeks.
It doesn’t help that guidelines haven’t been solidified yet.
When it comes to breastfeeding and other concerns, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said breast milk usually provides protection against infection and has not been shown to transmit COVID-19 in “limited studies.”
Because of the lack of research, doctors are recommending that expectant mothers be sure to practice self-isolation and be sure to take care of themselves not only physically but mentally as well.
Amy Banulis, a certified doctor out of Falls Church, published an article in the Northern Virginia Magazine, suggesting that mothers boost their mood by calling close family and friends, watching funny movies, exercising regularly, eating healthy foods and meditating.
“While there is currently no evidence that you are more likely than anyone else to be infected with COVID-19, you may be at higher risk of developing a severe case,” Banulis wrote. A similar statement can be found online from the CDC.
For everyday care, OBGYN offices are taking extra preventative measures to help patients respect social distancing measures and ensure the health of their patients. Some are offering online resources and flexible appointment dates for women who are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Before she delivered, she told Tysons Reporter that her primary care doctor didn’t recommend any additional steps for staying healthy beyond the CDC guidelines.
Lack of Support Systems
Though Sud wasn’t especially nervous about catching COVID-19 and passing it onto her child, she said that she was concerned about lack of support after the pregnancy.
While delivering her baby, the hospital mandated that she only be allowed one person outside of the medical team to accompany her in the delivery room. Though her plan was always to have her husband by her side, she said this was an unexpected measure.
“People in New York, for instance, cannot have a support person, including a spouse,” she said.
In the next few months, though, she said she was nervous for her lack of support at home. Family members who were supposed to fly to Virginia were forced to cancel their flights.
Luckily, the couple found help from an unlikely family friend already living with them. The family sponsored someone from Columbia on a cultural exchange program, who was unable to fly back home in late March because the country closed its international airports. They agreed to help the Sud family with their newborn daughters and stick around for a few more weeks, Sud said.
Inside the Delivery Room
When Sud was first checked into the hospital, she said the doctors gave her a surgical mask and a paper bag to put it in. Though she couldn’t stand to wear it in the room because of the heat, she said she made sure to put it on every-time she left the room.
Surgical gloves that would typically sit by the sink in the doctor’s office had been removed due to theft, Sud said.
While in the hospital, the couple said they were wary of local COVID-19 cases — especially patients that hadn’t been tested. Sud said hospital staff assured them that they had nothing to be worried about since there were no confirmed cases on the floor.
After Sud delivered the twins, Sud said she was disappointed that the hospital nursery was closed due to COVID-19 concerns. The couple chose Virginia Hospital Center partly so that the twins would be taken care of while Sud slept, she said.
Named Gisele Savita and Vivienne Parvati, the girls first weighed roughly five pounds each, Sud said, adding that they were healthy enough, with the exception of a few breathing issues, to be discharged the next day.
The three were allowed to go home early to avoid any extra chance of infection or exposure to the virus, Sud said.
To ensure that the couple’s 2-year-old daughter didn’t catch anything at the hospital and later pass along viruses to the newborns, her pediatrician suggested that the young girl live with Sud’s in-laws for two weeks before returning home.
“Your daughter would probably be fine, but if the twins get sick you would not have a two-year- old daughter that you would also have to take care of,” Sud said a doctor told her.
Upon discharge from the hospital, nurses simply included a COVD-19 packet among other materials typically given to mothers, Sud said.
Overall, Sud said she was thankful for the nurses and doctors who seemed extra attentive in light of everything going on.
Photo courtesy Nicole Sud
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.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County has passed 1,000.
The county continues to lead all other jurisdictions with a total of 1,164 cases, according to state data released this morning.
Between yesterday (Sunday) and today, 156 new cases were reported.
Overall, 5,747 cases statewide and 149 deaths have been reported, including 19 deaths in Fairfax County.
Currently, seven hospitals in the state are having trouble securing personal proactive equipment.
Roughly 23 percent of available ventilators statewide are currently in use and 5,970 beds are available for patients.
Data via Virginia Department of Health
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
