Editor’s note: Are you a restaurant in the Vienna, Falls Church, Tysons, Merrifield and McLean areas that has a fundraiser? Email us at [email protected].

As local eateries adjust to declining sales and people staying indoors, several have turned to fundraisers to help keep their doors open and employees paid.

Like last week, Tysons Reporter has rounded up GoFundMe pages for local restaurants. Here are the latest fundraisers:

Pulcinella, a McLean restaurant that serves up southern Italian cuisine, has started an employee relief fund. The restaurant is looking to raise $25,000.

“During these past few days, Pulcinella has had to face unthinkable challenges due to the global health crisis,” the GoFundMe page said. ‘Unfortunately, this has impacted our industry along with many others, very negatively.”

The manager at the Lost Dog Cafe in Tysons is looking to raise $2,500 to support the restaurant, which is known for its sandwiches, local history-themed murals and animal rescue.

“Our sister cause, Lost Dog and Cat rescue, gets a piece of the pie each time you stop by, which is why we’ve managed to find more than 30,000 animals a loving home,” the GoFundMe said.

Chris Lefbom and Adam Lubar of Vintage Restaurant Group are looking to raise $5,000 to assist employees at Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church.

The restaurant temporarily closed due to coronavirus concerns, along with Vienna-based Bear Branch Tavern, which is also a part of the Vintage Restaurant Group.

“All funds raised here will be distributed directly to our hourly employees — fairly and equally — based on full- and part-time employee status,” the GoFundMe said.

The manager of Ireland’s Four Provinces in Falls Church wants to raise $30,000 for the restaurant’s staff.

“Many of our employees depend entirely on tips earned from service; with that income gone, even the current gov’t relief measures won’t address some of their most immediate needs,” according to the GoFundMe page.

The restaurant’s owners have pledged to match donations up to $10,000, according to the GoFundMe.

The Vienna Town Council will meet tonight (Tuesday) to consider virtual meetings for the town’s lawmakers, board members and commissioners.

According to the meeting’s agenda, the town will consider adopting a “Continuity of Government Ordinance” that would last for 60 days.

According to a draft of the ordinance, public entities would be allowed to meet electronically after providing a public notice three days in advance.

People would have the chance to access and comment on the meeting electronically.

Noting that “the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unsafe to assemble in one location a quorum for public bodies,” the ordinance says that non-emergency public hearings may get postponed.

The town’s proposal comes on the heels of Gov. Ralph Northam issuing a stay-at-home order to Virginians yesterday.

The state has recently seen an increasing number of COVID-19 cases — especially in Fairfax County.

The emergency meeting is set to start at 7 p.m.

Fairfax County police arrested a 50-year-old man who allegedly inappropriately touched a child at an in-home daycare in the Falls Church area.

Police arrested Falls Church resident Santiago Alvarado Garcia on Friday (March 27).

“Detectives were contacted on Thursday, March 26, after a child from Digna Alvarado Garcia Daycare disclosed that they had been inappropriately touched by Garcia,” police said.

The Falls Church-area daycare has been at 2988 Monticello Drive since 2017 and was previously located at 7503 Parkwood Court in 2016, police said.

“Garcia is employed by a general contractor and has lived in the homes as his primary residence while the daycare has been in operation.”

Garcia has been charged with three counts of aggravated sexual battery.

“Victim specialists from our Victim Services Division have been assigned to ensure that the identified victim is receiving appropriate resources and assistance,” police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800, option 3. Detectives are looking to talk to people who are concerned that their child might have had inappropriate contact with Garcia.

Photo of Garcia via FCPD

Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.

Tysons-Based Gannett Furloughs Employees, Cuts Pay — “Gannett CEO Paul Bascobert said that the company will ask staff to make a ‘collective sacrifice’ to keep the mass-media holding company intact amid the crisis by cutting pay ‘as soon as this week.’… Many staffers will be furloughed for five days a month through June.” [The Daily Beast]

Communications Firm in Tysons Files for Bankruptcy — “According OneWeb, the company had a difficult time securing funding in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The firm expanded its presence in Tysons back in 2018. [Axios, Washington Business Journal]

Fairfax County Inmate Tests Positive for COVID-19 — “On March 30, 2020, an inmate in his 20’s at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC) tested positive for COVID-19. He has been incarcerated since January 29, 2020 and is now in isolation at the ADC.” [Fairfax County]

Though #FCFRD fire stations are closed to the public, it did not stop some neighbors of Station 1, McLean, from letting the firefighters and paramedics know how they feel. A wonderful note taped outside that made our day! We ❤️our residents! We are all in this together. pic.twitter.com/6kIKVbxJj1

— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 31, 2020

The McLean Project for the Arts is looking for artist submissions for its upcoming festival in October.

MPAartfest is a free one-day festival in McLean that features a juried fine art show and sale. Attendees can enjoy the work of visual artists, along with mini art galleries, live music, food from local restaurants and activities.

The McLean Project for the Arts wants interested artists throughout the mid-Atlantic region to apply by June 15. Artists will keep 100% of the sales, according to a press release.

To apply, artists will need to submit an application with a $35 fee. If selected, the artists will pay a $350 participation fee.

While the festival is free, donations and funds raised during the event support MPA exhibitions and programs.

The festival returns to McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd) on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Photo via McLean Project for the Arts/Facebook

Along with urging people to stay at home as much as possible, Fairfax County officials also want residents to take the opportunity to respond to the 2020 census.

As of Saturday (March 28), the national response rate is 33%, while Virginia is at a 37% response rate, according to the U.S. Census.

Meanwhile, Fairfax County is one of the top 10 highest reporting counties in the state with a 42.6% response rate.

Previously, Fairfax County boasted a high response rate of 80% in the 2000 count — up from 76% in 1990, according to census data.

County officials want to see as many people as possible complete the questionnaire. “For each resident who does not respond to the census, Fairfax County could lose $12,000 in potential funding over the course of a decade,” according to the county’s website.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the deadline for submitting the census has been extended to Aug. 14 for households.

Households should have received mailers with information on how to complete the census, which can be done online, by phone or by mail.

Social distancing and at home today? Take a moment to complete your #2020Census online, by phone or by paper.

It takes less than 5 minutes and ensures our community gets its fair share of federal resources: https://t.co/ngn7c7nznk#BeCounted #FFXCounts pic.twitter.com/oRsFa8qRVY

— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) March 28, 2020

Map via U.S. Census

Gov. Ralph Northam issued a stay-at-home order for Virginia today (Monday) as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state continues to climb.

“Our message today is very clear — to stay home,” Northam said.

The order, which goes into effect immediately and will last until June 10, lets people leave their homes for essential services — including medical care, food, supplies, work and more — and social-distanced outdoor activities that do not involve gatherings larger than 10 people.

“Do not go out unless you need to go out,” he said. “This is very different from wanting to go out. Do not go out to the store just for one thing. Wait until you have a list of needs.”

Northam said that the order will limit access to the state’s beaches except for fishing and exercise, close private campgrounds and ban parties and gatherings with 10 people or more.

“If you can work remotely, you need to do so and companies need to allow that,” he said.

When announcing the new order, Northam said that recreational areas were “literally packed” this weekend. “Everyone who is gathering in a crowd around the state is putting themselves at risk,” he said.

Northam recently received pushback from some residents and local officials for not issuing a stay-at-home order on Friday.

Earlier today, Maryland’s governor put the state, which has surpasses 1,400 COVID-19 cases, under a stay-at-home order that goes into effect tonight at 8 p.m., NBC 4 reported.

Statewide, 1,020 cases of the virus have been identified, according to the Virginia Department of Health — up from 890 cases on Sunday.

As of today, there are 225 coronavirus cases in Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns in the county — almost double the number of cases on Friday (March 27).

Expanding testing capacity in the state could explain the increase in confirmed cases.

Statewide, 25 people have died from complications of the virus, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Two people in Fairfax County have died from the respiratory illness.

Northam also noted that almost half of the COVID-19 cases in the state are affecting people who are under the age of 50.

“Every age group needs to act responsibly,” he said.

Image via Governor of Virginia/Facebook

(Updated 3/31/2020) A new local “toy library” plans to open tomorrow (March 31) in Falls Church — offering families the chance to refresh their toy supply, according to owner Lisa Bourven.

The Toy Nest (98 N. Washington Street) will let shoppers who have memberships rent toys, games and puzzles for up to two weeks, according to a press release, which added that people may also purchase and trade toys.

“The service will feature online reservation and curbside pickup of over 1,000 disinfected toys,” the press release said.

Once concerns around COVID-19 ease, the Toy Nest will also include open play spaces where members can enjoy 2,100 square feet of play space that can be booked for parties and other events, Bourven said in the press release. The location will not accept reservations until mid-May.

Memberships range from $25 to $45, the website said. “All members, monthly and annual, are able to use our online and curbside service,” Bourven said.

The hours of operation will be from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

“Toy libraries foster family connection and play-based learning while reducing expenses, waste, clutter and environmental impact,” the press release said. “They have a long history in the United States, dating back to the Great Depression, and are popular in other parts of the country and the world.”

Work has recently started to realign Old Meadow Road at Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) in Tysons.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Silver Line project is doing the work to realign the road with the main entrance to the Capital One complex, according to the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

The work started on Sunday (March 29) and will continue until Friday (April 3).

More from the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project:

Nighttime closures are planned this weekend to permit the installation of Jersey barriers. The right turn lane of northbound Route 123 will be closed at Old Meadow Road as well as the right eastbound lane of Old Meadow Road to facilitate construction. At least one lane of Old Meadow Road will remain open at all times in each direction.

The first phase of the project will take approximately eight weeks to complete and includes demolition of existing sidewalk and curb and gutter. Follow-on work includes installation of new storm drainage; installation of a new traffic lane, new sidewalk and new curb and gutter; and installation of new signaling equipment. Please drive carefully and safely in the area and remain aware of pedestrians and construction workers.

People can expect the left turn lane to Old Meadow Road from southbound Route 123 and the right turn lane to Old Meadow Road from northbound Route 123 to be closed from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile, the right lane of eastbound Old Meadow Road will be closed from Route 123 to Colshire Meadow Road during the same days and times.

Image via Google Maps