Halmar International Moving from Tysons to Baltimore — “Several of the current employees from Tysons Corner are expected to move into the positions in Baltimore.” [Baltimore Business Journal]

Fairfax Firefighters Host Virtual “Fill the Boot” — “Join #Providence @SupvPalchik in supporting the virtual #FairfaxCounty #FillTheBoot benefiting @MDAorg by donating here” [Twitter]

W&OD Trail Section in Falls Church Closed — “As of today, the section of trail from Little Falls St to Great Falls St is closed for work related to the dual trails project.” [Twitter]

Local Suicide Prevention Program Launched Fall Fundraiser Tonight — “Spring into fall with PRS by virtually joining us for our rescheduled annual signature benefit, Springtopia – A Season of Hope” [PRSinc.org]

Staff photo by Jay Westcott

(Updated at 12:15 p.m. on 10/6/20)

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve searched the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Monday (Oct. 5)

• Tysons Virtual Game Night (Online) — 7 -10 p.m. — Trivia, Charades, and drawing over video, the event description said. To register, use this link.

Tuesday (Oct. 6)

• Preschool Story Time (Online) — 10:30-11 a.m. — Mary Riley Styles Public Library will go live with virtual songs, stories, and rhythms on its Facebook page.

Wednesday (Oct. 7)

• Unruly Theatre Project’s Virtual Improv Show (Online) — 7 p.m. — The Alden‘s professional teen improv company is dedicated to bringing comedic productions to the community, the website said. To register, use this link.
• Leaf Rubbing Collage Crafternoon (Online) — 3-3:30 p.m. — Take a break from virtual learning and go on a nature walk with Miss Meredith on the Mary Riley Styles Public Library Facebook page, the website said. The only supplies needed are crayons, paper, and leaves.

Thursday (Oct. 8)

• Preschool Story Time (Online) — 10:30-11 a.m. — Mary Riley Styles Public Library will go live with virtual songs, stories, and rhythms on its Facebook page.
• Teen Craft with Clay Cafe (Curbside Pickup) — 3-3:30 p.m. –Everything you need to paint a pencil cup will be available in a grab-and-go kit provided by Clay Cafe (101 N. Maple Ave).
• The Thursday Evening Book Group (Online) — 7 to 8 p.m. — The Thursday Evening Book Discussion Group meets on the first Thursday evening of each month. Discussing The Nickel Boys: A Novel by Colson Whithead, the group will meet via Zoom. Email Marshall Webster, [email protected], to request the Zoom link.

Friday (Oct. 9)

• Oktoberfest — 3:30-8 p.m. — The Boro Tysons (8350 Broad St.) — The Boro is partnering with URBNmarket for a festively fall and socially distant Oktoberfest (maximum 6 people per registration), the event description said.

Saturday (Oct. 10)

• Oktoberfest — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — The Boro Tysons (8350 Broad St.) — The Boro is partnering with URBNmarket for a festively fall and socially distant Oktoberfest (maximum 6 people per registration), the event description said.
• Falls Church Farmers Market — 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at City Hall Parking Lot (300 Park Ave.) — Enjoy fresh, local produce, meat, dairy, flowers & plants, honey, music, and so much more at the Falls Church Farmers Market, the website said.
• Vienna Farmers Market — 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Vienna Community Center Parking Lot (120 Cherry Street SE) — Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Greater Vienna, the Vienna Farmers Market features approximately 30 vendors from across the region offering locally sourced fruits, vegetables, and homemade eats, the website said.

Photo courtesy Hilde Kahn

In lieu of rolling down the window to put some cash in a firefighter’s boot, those looking to help out their local Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary can get dinner at Chipotle on Maple Avenue today..

A portion of the proceeds from orders placed at the Chipotle at 213 Maple Avenue E. in Vienna today (Tuesday) between 5-9 p.m. will go to the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. If the event page is brought up on a smartphone or the cashier is told you’re there to support the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 33% of the proceeds will be donated to the organization.

For those reticent to buy from the restaurant in-person, orders placed on Chipotle.com or through the Chipotle app for pickup can use the promo code FV32C9F.

Another fundraiser-for-dinner option is the Chick-Fil-A, which is having a mobile order fundraiser where those ordering from the Vienna location can have a portion of their order go to Flint Hill Elementary School if they mention it in the order.

Photo via Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Auxillary/Facebook

F.C. Council Vote on Whole Foods Project to Be Delayed — “The News-Press has learned at plans at present are to delay a vote by the Falls Church City Council at its business meeting this Monday on the proposed Broad at Washington mixed use development process because there is insufficient support on the Council at present to move it forward for evaluation by City boards and commissions.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Improper Disposal Of Smoking Materials Cause Merrifield Condo Fire –“Units arrived on the scene of a four-story, condominium building with fire showing from a third-floor deck.” [Twitter]

Computer Hackers Attack Fairfax County School System –“Hackers attacked the Fairfax County Public Schools computer system and placed ransomware on some of its systems, a school district spokesperson said Friday.” [Washington Post]

A 68-year-old man who was rescued by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) in Tysons took the unsual but gratifying extra step of calling the unit months later to update them on his progress and thank them for saving his life.

Rae Cronmiller, an avid swimmer, collapsed on Dec. 15 in the locker room at Sport & Health (8250 Greensboro Drive) in Tysons after experiencing a cardiac arrest following a one-mile swim. A physician in the locker room initiated CPR and a crew from Engine 429 in Tysons was already at the Sport & health for training. They were able to respond quickly and rescued on Dec. 15 after experiencing a cardiac arrest.

Cronmiller has recovered and got onto Zoom with his family to thank the physician and the FCFRD crew that saved his life.

“It was very moving,” Cronmiller said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what happened to me, and how fortunate I am to have the best group of force responders in the world. You saved my life. I am of sound mind and body now, I feel better or as good as I did before the swim. I have you folks to thank and the individual who was there. If he’s able to watch this, I really appreciate his efforts.”

Several of the people involved in the rescue were on the call with Cronmiller and said, once the pandemic is over, they’d love to meet with him in person to shake his hand and see how he’s progressing. Andrew Rose, one of the paramedics who arrived, was among those on the call.

“It’s wonderful to see you doing so well,” Rose said. “We’re always thinking of you and looking for updates. We’re absolutely thrilled to see you at home with your family.”

“I’m so happy we were able to be there with you that day,” Calvin Alexander, another one of the paramedics said.

Sarah Thomas, a dispatcher involved with the rescue, said it isn’t often that FCFRD get to hear about the aftermath of a rescue.

“We never get the opportunity to hear any results, so we never know if somebody lives or not,” Thomas said. “So it is truly inspiring to see you and hear you. Thank you for that, because we never get to hear it or see it.”

The full release from the FCFRD is below: Read More

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

Tysons Company Gets Millions to Scale Up — “Qrvey, the next-generation analytics platform built to change the way companies interact with their data, today announced the close of a $7.5 million Series A investment round to scale up its revenue operations.” [PR Newswire]

Fundraising for Firefighters — “The Woman’s Club of McLean on May 4 donated $5,000 to the McLean Volunteer Fire Department, representing some of the proceeds from the club’s 2019 Holiday Homes Tour.” [Inside NoVa]

Uncertain Reopening Date for Nine Metro Stations — “Metro will only say that it will end in the fall, but is no longer promising it will end the day after Labor Day as originally expected… Metro says the closed Silver Line stations will not reopen until the Orange Line stations are able to reopen also.” [WJLA]

Local News Outlet Honors High School Seniors — Virginia Patch is celebrating graduates by publishing mini-profiles of them from forms that families can fill out. [Patch]

The McLean District Station recently received a kind surprise from a neighborhood in their district – Residents lined up in their yards & driveways, with posters & signs, to thank the first responders for their service. We are grateful to serve in such a great community! #FCPD pic.twitter.com/woyS6rgjkJ

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 6, 2020

Fairfax County fire and rescue crews received the most dispatches incidents to the Providence District in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years., according to new county data.

Today (Tuesday), Fairfax County Fire and Rescue released its 2019 Annual Report. The report includes data for the two calendar years for all nine districts in the county.

According to the report, the Providence District was the only district in the county to top 13,000 total dispatches for each of the calendar years, followed closely by the Lee District.

Roughly 26 square miles, the Providence District is the most populated district in the county and includes the quickly urbanizing Tysons area, Merrifield and Oakton, according to the report. Four fire stations are located in the district, which will soon welcome a fifth station when the Scotts Run station opens at the end of the year.

A recent discussion with county officials focused on how fire department facilities in the Tysons area can expand as the population grows and buildings get taller. Now, the county is looking to revamp Fire Station 29 in Tysons.

Emergency medical services accounted for roughly 70% of the dispatched incidents for the Providence District during both years, while public service incidents were 10% and fires were 20%, according to the data.

More data for the district:

• average EMS response time: 4 minutes and 47 seconds
• average fire engine response time: 5 minutes and 34 seconds
• most fire dispatches by district in 2019

“County units responded to and mitigated 95% of all CY2019 incidents occurring within [the] Providence District,” according to the report. “Five percent of the incidents required mutual aid from other jurisdictions.”

People can read the full report online.

Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Local volunteer fire and rescue departments have teamed up with Inova Blood Donor Services to hold blood drives.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said that the blood drives will help boost blood supplies, which are “at dangerously low levels and dropping” in the county and U.S.

“Inova Blood Donor Services is taking all precautions as it relates to COVID-19,” according to the post. “There will be plenty of space to spread out and use appropriate social distancing.”

The full list of locations is online. Below is the information for the Tysons-area blood drives:

• Thursday, March 26: 1-7 p.m. at McLean Volunteer Fire Department (1455 Laughlin Ave)
• Monday, March 30: 1-7 p.m. at Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (400 Center Street S.) all slots full
• Wednesday, April 22: noon-7 p.m. at Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department (2148 Gallows Road)

The blood drives will be held in the fire station parking lots. To lower the risk of spreading the virus to firefighters and paramedics, people won’t be able to access the fire stations.

We're practicing social distancing, but our @InovaBlood blood drive today and next week are 100% full! Thank you to the blood donors who are helping us and @InovaHealth save lives! pic.twitter.com/2RTcmDVc3o

— Vienna VFD (@ViennaVFD) March 25, 2020

Photo via Facebook

Editor’s note: Starting March 24, Tysons Reporter will have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.

Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:

Tysons-Based Appian Tracking COVID-19 — Appian has an application that is free to its members and companies with more than 1,000 employees. The COVID-19 Response Management application collects employees’ health information and locations, keeping it in a HIPAA-compliant cloud. [Appian]

Sick? Stay Away From Fire Stations — “Unless it is a case of severe difficulty breathing or illness: there is very little, if anything we can do as far as treatment for flu symptoms. We also have NO way to determine what kind of virus someone might have. If you are feeling sick, please do not visit a fire station for evaluation.” [Fairfax County Professional Firefighters & Paramedics/Facebook]

Real ID Deadline Delayed — “President Trump on Monday said the federal government will delay requirements for Americans to obtain a Real ID to travel, citing the coronavirus.” [The Hill]

Closed Tysons Tower Club Fundraising — “During this time of uncertainty and challenge, the Women in Business Committee of the Club (WIBC) has set up the Tower Club Employee Relief Fund to help support the amazing staff of the Club who work hard to make each of us and our guests feel at home. All proceeds will be distributed to Tower Club Employees.” [GoFundMe]

The Kensington Needs Supplies — “Clorox wipes and 500 adult face masks are needed at the facility where two residents have tested positive for Covid-19. N95 respirators are preferred but the center will take any masks, including DIY versions.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Plenty of shelf-stable food at the Lebanese Butcher in Falls Church pic.twitter.com/V1dPQAanVn

— Falls Church Views (@fallschurchview) March 23, 2020