COVID-19 Update — “Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 hit a new low in Northern Virginia on Sunday. But, as other parts of the state continue to struggle with the coronavirus, Gov. Ralph Northam issued a new warning this weekend for the public to follow health guidelines.” [Inside NoVa]
We will be watching the public health data closely over the weekend––if the numbers don't come down, we may have to take additional steps to blunt the spread of this virus.
Wear a mask and practice physical distancing so we don't have to move back.
Be smart and stay safe.
— Governor Ralph Northam (@VAGovernor73) July 25, 2020
Reminder: Lock Your Car — “After responding to a flood of vehicle break-ins and thefts in recent weeks, the Vienna Police Department in its July 24 weekly police highlights issued a statement urging residents to do their part to deter thieves.” [Inside NoVa]
A Note on Notes — Starting this week, Morning Notes will be a little different. When the pandemic hit N. Va., we started publishing Morning Notes every weekday to keep readers informed. Now with August recess approaching for local, state and federal governmental bodies, we’re reducing Morning Notes to Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
— Falls Church Views (@fallschurchview) July 3, 2020
A local Turkish catering company recently opened up a new bakery and gourmet market in Falls Church.
BorekG officially opened its bakery and market around June 1 at 315 S Maple Ave., but the catering company appeared at the Falls Church Farmers Market prior to the creation of the market.
“We initially wanted to open a full cafe, but unfortunately seating nor funding was available to us,” Dilek Kaygusuz, the owner of BorekG, told Tysons Reporter.
The catering business has been serving the community for 10 years.
Kaygusuz said plans to open the store started seven years ago. Finally, at the beginning of June, the team was able to move forward with opening plans under COVID-19 safety protocols and through the Falls Church Food Safety Workshop.
She said they are disappointed that they didn’t get any financial help from Falls Church or Fairfax County. “I hope in the future they value us more,” Kaygusuz said.
Business at BorekG has been stable, but they hope things get better, Kaygusuz said. Many businesses have struggled due to the pandemic, and BorekG is no exception.
The BorekG Bakery and Gourmet Market offers Turkish breakfast, brunch, appetizers, and lunch. Some of the items included in their store include flatbreads, pastries, baklava and more. The market also sells grocery items such as eggs, cheese, butter, milk and oils.
“You can also sign up for our future cooking classes, make reservations for outdoor seating and find out about our host dinners,” BorekG’s website says.
Outside of the store, people can find BorekG at the Falls Church Farmers Market each Saturday.
Photo via Borek-G/Facebook
Heat Advisory Today — It’s going to be hot today. A Heat Advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Forecasters say that people should drink lots of fluids and stay out of the sun. [National Weather Service]
Local Elected Official Battling Cancer — “Long-serving Falls Church City Council member Dan Sze is fighting esophageal cancer, F.C. Mayor David Tarter reported at the outset of Monday night’s Falls Church City Council work session.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Push for Criminal Justice Reform — “Five commonwealth’s attorneys from Northern Virginia have joined with six other prosecutors from around the state in forming an advocacy group to back criminal justice reform proposals.” [Inside NoVa]
Police Officer Indicted — “A grand jury indicted a white Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer accused of assaulting a Black man who, police body camera footage showed, was not combative when he was stunned and forcibly arrested.” [WTOP]
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]
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]
A house fire caused trash delays and road closures today in a Falls Church neighborhood.
The fire in the 1300 block of Robinson Place caused several road closures in the area earlier today, according to press releases from the city. All of the roads except for Robinson Place have not reopened. Trash and recycling collection will be delayed in the area with some possibly waiting until Thursday morning.
Three residents in the house were safely evacuated, according to the latest press release. “The previous news release noted that one occupant was transported to a hospital, but that was a reporting error,” the press release said.
The city’s fire official is investigating the cause of the fire, the press release said.
Return to School — “As the school year approaches, new information is being revealed about how Falls Church City Public Schools will reopen. For the school district’s two elementary schools, there will be space to accommodate all students with social distancing, Superintendent Peter Noonan says.” [Falls Church Patch]
Donations Needed — “Homestretch, a nonprofit organization that helps families achieve self-sufficiency and permanent housing, put out a wish list of items that it is asking for in the form of community donations to support its clients during the Covid-19 pandemic.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Police Reform — “Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to review the county’s 9-1-1 dispatch and response systems. The aim is to enhance Diversion First strategies so that unarmed medical, human services, and mental health professionals are dispatched in response to calls where mental and behavioral health issues are involved.” [Vienna Patch]
Keeping Coronavirus Out of Classrooms — “Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday students will not be able to return to classrooms in the fall if the state is unable to stay within phase three of its Covid-19 reopening plan.” [Washington Business Journal]
Food Donations in Falls Church — “On the Fourth of July, over 1,700 families received food and household goods during the second onsite distribution hosted at The Falls Church Anglican.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Police Plaza Proposals — “The Vienna Town Council on July 6 tentatively selected a design option for the new Vienna Police Headquarters’ community plaza, but left open the potential for building in more green space at the site.” [Inside NoVa]
Town Hall Tonight — School Board members Karl Frisch and Rachna Sizemore Heizer will host a virtual town hall tonight from 7:30-8:30 p.m. to discuss the Return to School plans. People can participate via Zoom or Facebook Live. [Facebook]
(Updated 8/20/20) The City of Falls Church will receive funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for its two proposed projects.
The projects are among the 21 transportation projects the NVTA announced will receive funding from its program, which is now in its fifth year and is offering $539 million, according to a press release. The projects were selected from 41 proposals — totaling $1.44 billion — from 13 localities and agencies in Northern Virginia.
The NVTA will fully fund Falls Church’s projects. One will address transit access and multimodal connectivity in West Falls Church for $6.9 million, while the other will tackle multimodal improvements in the downtown area for $8.3 million.
“We much appreciate the regional cooperation that has led to the approval for funding of both of the City of Falls Church transportation proposals,” Councilmember David Snyder, who also serves on the NVTA’s Executive Committee, said in a statement. “This is a great example of the direct benefits that accrue to our citizens from the active engagement of city councilmembers and city staff in regional policy and funding bodies.”
More from the city about the projects:
West Falls Church Access to Transit and Multimodal Connectivity ($6,900,000)
Install a new 10′ multi-use path and 6′ planting strip along Shreve Road between the W&OD Trail and Route 7, acorn style lights, crosswalk near the intersection of Shreve Road and Gordon Road, and benches near the entrance to the W&OD trail.
Downtown Falls Church Multimodal Improvements ($8,300,000)
Install two midblock crossings, widen sidewalks and remove obstructions (including utility lines), install curb extensions, adjust intersection geometry, and increase visibility at six crossings/intersections on Park Avenue between N Washington Street and Virginia Avenue.
While the majority of the selected projects got the full funding request, four projects received partial funding.
“The fully-funded projects will receive sufficient funds to advance to construction, while the partially funded projects will advance to the early phases of project development, but not necessarily [for] completion,” the press release said.
The Town of Vienna’s expansion plans for the Capital Bikeshare program to help people get to the Metro was among the 20 projects that didn’t make the cut. The project would cost roughly $280,000.
Update corrects name of NVTA
Image via City of Falls Church
Vienna Officials OK New Police Equipment — “The Council agreed to ‘ride’ a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services contract with Kustom Signal Inc. to obtain new in-car radar units for all 11 of the Vienna Police Department’s patrol vehicles and 10 ProLaser handheld LIDAR units. The contract’s cost is not to exceed $51,202.” [Inside NoVa]
Supercuts Closed in Falls Church — “According to a notice on the door from Woodmont Properties, the landlord has taken possession of the space and changed the locks.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Local Paper Condemns Falls Church Institutions — A commentary from the Falls Church News-Press calls for the city to get rid of the “Hangman’s Tree” plague and either reimagine or eliminate the annual Civil War Day tradition. [Falls Church News-Press]
