Local pets are hanging out with their owners more as they follow Gov. Ralph Northam’s stay-at-home order.
To help provide some light-hearted content during the pandemic, Tysons Reporter recently asked readers to share us their photos of their furry companions.
Yesterday, we shared some of the many photos we’ve received from local residents of their pets. We’ll continue to highlight pet photos through Friday.
Several pet parents sent in pictures of their dogs and cats wearing everything from hats to bowties.
Check out the gallery above and come back tomorrow for more photos on our website.
Have a photo you want to submit? We’re still taking submissions. Tag or direct message us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or email us at [email protected].
Fairfax County police are investigating a burglary at a local market along Lee Highway in the Falls Church area.
Police said that the burglary happened shortly before 2 a.m. on Tuesday (April 7) at E-Z Stop & Go Food Mart (7600 Lee Hwy). The roadside market sells groceries and wine and has a deli, according to signs.
Three men broke into the business, according to the police report. Sgt. Greg Bedor told Tysons Reporter that tobacco products were stolen.
“The suspects were described as men in their 20’s wearing dark clothing,” the report said.
Image via Google Maps
The number of COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County continues to rapidly increase.
According to state data released this morning, the number of cases jumped from 570 yesterday (Wednesday) to 690 overnight in the Fairfax Health District.
The Fairfax Health District includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county. Five people have died due to the novel coronavirus in the county.
The Fairfax Health District continues to have the highest number of cases in Virginia. Overall, more than 33,000 people have been tested and nearly 4,042 cases have been confirmed statewide. So far, 109 people have died.
The county’s health department cannot provide more geographic information about cases beyond the county level due to privacy laws.
“We believe that all geographic areas of Fairfax County currently are at risk fo disease transmission,” the health department wrote in a statement.
Data via Virginia Department of Health
Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.
Looking for Senior Store Hours? — Fairfax County launched a new interactive map that lets people find stores that have shopping hours dedicated to seniors to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus to elderly people. [Fairfax County]
Don’t Take Me Out to the Ball Game — “By this time of the early spring season, the area’s three Little League programs would have held opening-day ceremonies… None of that has occurred, because all activities in the Great Falls, McLean and Vienna Little League programs have been suspended until at least May 11 and likely longer.” [Inside NoVa]
Documenting Your Documents — Fairfax County Fire and Rescue shares tips for how people can get their medical information ready in case of an emergency. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Q&A With Local Restaurant — Northern Virginia Magazine’s new “Table for None” column focused on how a Falls Church Italian restaurant is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Empty Merrifield Campus to Become Field Hospital — “Northam said on Wednesday the former ExxonMobil campus in Merrifield owned by Inova Health System will be one of three field hospital locations in Virginia as it faces a surge in coronavirus cases.” [Washington Business Journal]
Booze To-Go — “[Gov. Ralph Northam] announced during a news conference Wednesday that restaurants with a mixed-beverage license from the ABC can start selling mixed-beverages for takeout and delivery. That change will become effective Thursday at midnight. Restaurants previously were allowed to sell only wine and beer through takeout and delivery.” [Inside NoVa]
A Wind Advisory has been issued for northern and central MD, northern VA, and the northern/central VA Blue Ridge from 10 AM to 5 PM Thursday. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph are expected. pic.twitter.com/pC0XVkzb8r
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) April 9, 2020
Happy Hump Day! People around Tysons have some adorable furry friends keeping them company while they stay inside to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Tysons Reporter received a ton of submissions after soliciting photos of pets, so we’re publishing some today, more tomorrow and the rest on Friday.
Several dog parents sent in pictures of their pups lounging around and getting fresh air outside.
We also got photo submissions of some feline friends — including one that has decided to be the Easter Bunny.
Check out the gallery above and come back tomorrow for more photos on our website. Have a photo you want to submit? We’re still taking submissions (note: horizontal photos are preferred).
Tag or direct message us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or email us at [email protected].
A father-son pair living in Tysons decided to start a podcast several weeks ago to document their social distancing experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sam Lee and his 7-year-old son Logan launched the podcast on March 22 and produce weekly episodes, according to Lee’s website. So far, there are three episodes available online. Each are roughly 20 minutes long.
The family had been avid podcast listeners before the pandemic started. Sam told Tysons Reporter that he wanted to understand how his son views the pandemic.
“I hope it better helps him articulate his thoughts, become more aware of his surroundings and to just help him communicate,” Sam said.
Sam also said that the podcasts are essentially just a digitized form of the radio, so it turned out to be a great way for him and his son to connect over a generational divide.
Sam, who has a 9-year old son as well, said he gave both kids the option to join the podcast, but only Logan really showed interest.
Episodes typically begin with a jazzy intro and walk through events unfolding globally, noting real-world events and information about COVID-19.
“We’ve all been affected by the COVID-19 situation,” Sam said. “You reel a little bit, but have to quickly adjust.”
Dubbed “the Logan Podcast,” Logan often responds to queries posed by his dad and shares his thoughts on adjustments to daily life.
In the third podcast episode, Logan talks about how his classroom interactions are different online from in-person instruction and how he misses the typical interaction with his peers.
Current listeners include local teachers and family neighbors, according to Sam.
For people interested in upcoming episodes, the podcast will be released every Sunday evening, according to the website.
Image courtesy Sam Lee
Gov. Ralph Northam wants to see the general election and special elections on May 5 — including the one for the Town of Vienna — delayed to a later date.
Northam asked the General Assembly today (Wednesday) to move the elections scheduled for May 5 to the General Election date on Nov. 3 “to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” according to a press release.
“The General Assembly is scheduled to meet April 22 unless called into session sooner,” the Town of Vienna tweeted. “The Town will share additional information as decisions are made.”
There are three mayoral candidates and seven people running to become councilmembers. Absentee voting for the town’s election began on March 20.
“As other states have shown, conducting an election in the middle of this global pandemic would bring unprecedented challenges and potential risk to voters and those who work at polling places across the Commonwealth,” Northam said in the press release.
Northam is asking the General Assembly to have one ballot in November and to discard all absentee ballots that have already been cast. He also wants elected officials’ terms that will end on June 30 to be continued until the November election.
Additionally, Northam plans to move the June primary election from June 9 to June 23.
Today's news on changing Virginia election dates has 2 parts: (1) Moving 5/5/20 local elections to 11/3/20 will need State Legislature to act, which we can vote on 4/22/20; (2) delaying 6/9/20 primary to 6/23/20 can be done by @GovernorVA's own discretion: https://t.co/KacblZVldd
— Mark Keam 🇺🇸 (@MarkKeam) April 8, 2020
People in Vienna hoping to spot the Easter Bunny this year will have their chance tomorrow (April 9), according to the town’s newsletter.
Town officials organized a “drive-by bunny tour” tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. along the north side of Maple Avenue. People who celebrate Easter or simply want to take a break out of their day can watch the bunny drive down the street while waving, playing music and horn honking.
“Mr. Bunny will visit residents on the south side beginning around 12:30 p.m.,” the newsletter said. “He promises to make his presence known so that residents will be aware when he’s coming through their area.”
To respect social-distancing guidelines, people will not be able to interact with the bunny outside of the drive-by, according to the newsletter.
The idea was inspired by New Zealand’s prime minister who classified the Easter Bunny as an “essential worker,” the newsletter noted, adding that the bunny’s helpers will try to hit as many streets as possible.
Photo courtesy Town of Vienna
Want to get in touch with the team bringing you news about Tysons, McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield?
Send us your news tips, press releases and feedback to [email protected] or use our anonymous message form. Our news team does not have a phone line for inbound calls.
You can also reach us on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For advertising inquiries, please contact [email protected].
Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill is pitching major revisions to his budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The revised budget, which was released yesterday evening, eliminates a proposed three-cent tax rate increase and fee increases across-the-board in order to relieve pressure on the county’s taxpayers. Hill’s proposal also shifts spending to essential services only and removes all salary increases.
No net increase in the county’s revenues is expected.
The proposal maintains funding increases for the county’s health department the school’s health programs, as well as coordination for programs for those with developmental disabilities, and IT infrastructure for the November elections.
Roughly $9.6 million will be set aside in reserve funds to address the pandemic, in addition to eight new positions in the health department to address the county’s response.
“Protecting the jobs and current pay levels of the county’s existing employees continues to be of utmost importance as we progress through these challenging times,” Hill wrote in a letter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
Hill cautioned that uncertainty about the extent of the economic downtown complicates the budget process.
“At this time, we are unsure how long the current economic downturn will last as we do not yet know how long it will take for our country to begin to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
The county expects next year’s general fund revenues will rest at the 2020 level of $4.5 billion. This estimate assumes that the health crisis is over by July and that gradual recovery prompts the resumption of economic activity, according to the county.
Major hits to revenue streams like the sales tax, transit occupancy tax, and business occupancy tax are also expected. These losses are expected to offset an expected real estate tax revenue increase of 3.7 percent or $107.4 million. Hill said it was unlikely the state would be able to absorb the impact of revenue losses without adjusting allocations to local jurisdictions.
Here’s how revenue streams could be impacted:
- Personal property tax: Decrease of $9.5 million or 1.5 percent
- Sales tax: Decrease of $26.7 million or 13.5 percent
- Transient occupancy tax: Decrease of $7 million or 30 percent
- Business, professional and occupational licenses: Decrease of $17.2 million or 10 percent
- Land development services building and inspection fees: Decrease of $4.2 million or 10 percent
- Interest on investments: Decrease of $36.7 million or 62.6 percent
Fairfax County Public Schools will receive 0.3 percent more than last year’s budget, a fraction of the previously proposed 3.65 percent increase.
Residents can provide testimony on the budget via video, phone or online for upcoming budget hearings, which are rescheduled to April 28-30. The county board is expected to adopt the budget on May 12, after a mark-up meeting on May 5.
“As Fairfax County finds itself in a different reality, we will need to think about changes that may be necessary to maintain our premier status. Our future may be leaner, and will certainly be more efficient, as we use different tools to provide the services that are needed for our community,” Hill said.
