McLean Teacher Turns to Virtual Art Classes — “McLean art teacher and mom of two Pamela Saunders wasn’t too familiar with online technology before the coronavirus outbreak. But when schools closed for the academic year, the teacher children call ‘Miss Pam’ had the motivation to quickly her adjust small business Young at Art.” [Patch]
Meridian Group Buys Two Tysons Buildings — “The Meridian Group has acquired a pair of Class B Tysons office buildings for a combined $58.25 million, tacking nearly 430,000 square feet to its D.C.-area portfolio. Bethesda’s Meridian, developer of The Boro mixed-use project in Tysons, bought 1951 Kidwell Drive for $24 million and 1953 Gallows Road for $34.25 million, according to public records.” [Washington Business Journal]
West Falls Church Station Closed This Weekend — “In addition to the station closure, Orange Line trains will share a single track between West Falls Church and Vienna, with trains every 36 minutes, rather than every 30 minutes… A free shuttle bus will be available between West Falls Church and Dunn Loring stations for any essential rider affected by the closure.” [Metro]
FCPS Speeding Up Work — “Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) officials are forging ahead briskly with an extensive list of construction, maintenance and repair projects during the COVID-19 pandemic… FCPS officials also have accelerated… expansion of the parking lot at Shrevewood Elementary School in the Falls Church area.” [Inside NoVa]
Obituary for Falls Church Resident — “Thomas (Tom) Duggan, 71, of Falls Church, Virginia, passed away in his home surrounded by his family on April 8, 2020 after battling a very aggressive cancer.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Praise for Local Middle School Student — “Anna Wisniewski, a seventh-grade student at Cooper Middle School, has been named winner of the 2020 STEM Essay Contest, sponsored by the McLean area branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).” [Inside NoVa]
Outbreaks at Falls Church Senior Homes — “Three Falls Church area senior homes are now confirmed to be fighting outbreaks of the coronavirus, with Chesterbrook Residences telling the News-Press today that a total of 17 of its residents and staff have tested positive for Covid-19.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Kirby Road in McLean will be closed for much of next week for a culvert replacement.
That the road closure of Kirby Road at Claiborne Drive is expected to last from Tuesday (April 21) to Friday (April 24), according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
In a letter to constituents, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust said that work to repair flooding damage to Kirby Road last summer led to the discovery of a failed pipe.
More from Foust’s letter:
The work will be done during the week as daily traffic levels are significantly reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic and stay-at-home order. In addition to electronic notices, variable message boards will be installed at the intersections of Route 123 and Kirby Road and Old Dominion Drive and Kirby Road this week to inform drivers of the upcoming closure.
Following the massive July 8 storm event that occurred last year, an extensive emergency repair project was completed to reopen Kirby Road, which had been significantly impacted. While that work was underway, the failure of the pipe that will be replaced during this effort was discovered.
It was determined that additional survey, utilities research, easement acquisition, plan design, and construction would be needed and that the work would take until early 2020 to complete, which was well after Kirby Road was planned to reopen to traffic.
Thus, VDOT decided to substantially complete the Kirby Road emergency project and was able to reopen the road in December 2019. Since then, necessary survey and utilities investigation was completed, access rights were acquired, design plans for the culvert were developed, and materials were acquired to prepare for work to begin next week.
People will still be able to access properties along Kirby Road. “However, traffic will not be able to go beyond the point of pipe replacement in either direction,” according to VDOT.
Photo via VDOT/Twitter
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
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
StarNut Gourmet in McLean will be offering free coffee, breakfast and lunch this weekend to local first responders, healthcare workers and essential employees.
With the help of Tential IT, the eatery at 1445 Laughlin Ave has extended this offer to be from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday, a press release said.
Though the dining room is closed, according to the press release, the coffee shop and eatery is offering curbside pickup, take out and delivery through UberEats.
People wishing to order off of the menu can call 703-749-9090. Items available include sandwiches, lattes, pastries, crepes and similar fare, according to StarNut’s website.
“StarNut Gourmet is a family-owned business established in 2002 as a Specialty Food Gift Store and an International Café,” the press release said. “Owners Hozaifa Almaleh and Samira Ardalan very much look forward to welcoming everyone back once it’s safe.”
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
Originally opened in 1948, McLean Hardware has been an institution in McLean for over 70 years.
It is located in the Total Wine Plaza across from Giant at 1445 Chain Bridge Road. The store carries most products that you’ll need on a day to day basis: cleaning products, plumbing, electrical, tools, paint, parts, etc. They also offer keys, sharpening services, Rug Doctor Rentals and more.
For a full list of supplies, visit their website.
During this COVID-19 shift, they’re also adapting and offering call ahead ordering with curb-side pick up.
Their hours are Monday thru Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., for now. Regular store hours are Monday thru Friday 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
If staying home has you looking at doing home maintenance projects, check out my April maintenance reminders and call McLean Hardware if you need anything!
They also have some décor items like outside solar lighting for your walkway, your favorite sports team flag or outdoor décor, and more. Call ahead for availability or check their Facebook page, but they are still stocking Colorx wipes and other essential cleaning supplies during the pandemic.
April Maintenance Reminders:
- Have your HVAC spring service done
- Stain your deck, replace any rotten boards
- Repair caulking and weather stripping around doors and windows
- Seal tile grout, caulk tubs and showers
- Turn water on to winterized hose bibs
- Fertilize your lawn
- If you have a sprinkler system, now is a good time to get them to turn it back on if it’s been winterized
- Clean out refrigerator and freezer coils; change your water filter
- Clean bathroom vents
Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.
Reston Hospital Center Buys Tysons Eatery — “HCA Healthcare Inc. has acquired a former Korean BBQ restaurant in Tysons that its subsidiary, Reston Hospital Center, plans to retrofit into an emergency center.” [Washington Business Journal]
Giant Donates to Local Food Banks — “Giant announced the donation of $550,000 and 1,200 hams to the five Feeding America food banks within its region: Capital Area Food Bank, Maryland Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware, Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Tysons Company Has Free Web Services — Appian is offering free web services to businesses so that they can better manage COVID-19. [Cheddar]
McLean Group Urges Tax Rate Freeze — “Fairfax County officials are revising the proposed fiscal 2021 budget following dismal economic projections related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the McLean Citizens Association has some ideas on what spending reductions they should be considering.” [Inside NoVa]
#Tysons-based @IDme and San Francisco-based @SlackHQ have partnered to create a secure workspace that healthcare providers can use to share real-time information about the coronavirus. https://t.co/AgiyGwizoz
— Fairfax County EDA (@FairfaxEDA) April 4, 2020
Fairfax-based @CustomInk is partnering with @FeedingAmerica to get essential supplies to communities and people facing hunger in this time of uncertainty. https://t.co/EMTOak6wfl
— Fairfax County EDA (@FairfaxEDA) April 2, 2020
Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.
Prospective Buyers Back Away From Tegna — “Tysons television station operator Tegna Inc. said Sunday two parties interested in acquiring the company have backed out of talks as U.S. markets have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic.” [Washington Business Journal]
Little City’s Little Activity — “News-Press contributing photographer J. Michael Whalen took to the streets of Falls Church last week and captured just how empty and barren the normally-bustling centers of activity in the City have become in the wake of the global viral outbreak.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Used-Book Collection Cancelled in McLean — “The McLean area branch of the American Association of University Women has canceled its planned May 2 collection in preparation for its fall used-book sale, but plans on holding future collections as public-health conditions permit.” [Inside NoVa]
Northam Picks Extra Hospital Sites for COVID-19 Patients — “Virginia officials are making plans to increase hospital bed capacity with the expectation that a surge in positive cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, will begin in late April and last through late May, Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday at a press briefing.” [Tysons Patch]
Photo courtesy Tejal Patel
Editor’s note: Tysons Reporter will temporarily have “Morning Notes” every weekday instead of twice a week to accommodate more news.
Capital One Pledges $50M to Food Aid, Small Business Assistance Groups — “Capital One Financial Corp. has pledged $50 million to support nonprofit partners working in part on food and hunger aid as it continues to ramp up its efforts during the novel coronavirus outbreak.” [Washington Business Journal]
Mosaic District-Based Company Furloughs Employees — “Custom apparel printing company Custom Ink LLC is ‘hemorrhaging cash’ and is furloughing hundreds of its workers for two months as it grapples with the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus and in hopes of being better prepared for a possible recovery.” [Washington Business Journal]
BAE Systems to Move to Falls Church Office — “A West Coast real estate investment firm has acquired a Falls Church-area office building, the soon-to-be home of BAE Systems Inc., for nearly $100 million. An affiliate of Menlo Park, California-based Menlo Equities LLC acquired the 367,349-square-foot 2941 Fairview Park Drive in a deal recorded March 25.” [Washington Business Journal]
Utility Companies Providing COVID-19 Relief — Fairfax County has compiled a list of the utility companies suspending service disconnections and offering other billing options during the pandemic. [Fairfax County]
Don’t Be Scammed! — Fairfax County shared examples and recordings of scam calls and emails related to the coronavirus. [Fairfax County]
McLean Restaurant Shares COVID-19 Challenges — “And the past few years have been rough for Rocco’s. The glitzy, glam shopping universe growing nearby is offering of-the-moment restaurants that have little to do with Rocco’s sturdy baked ziti and red-checkered tabletops.” [Washington Post]
Check out our progress 👇on the Rt 123 over Rt 7 bridge rehab project in Tysons, work includes pier repairs and concrete deck resurfacing. Project info: https://t.co/SWzEL5z4QX pic.twitter.com/RuTINowSxc
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 31, 2020
It’s #Census day!
✋ Raise your hand if you already completed your #2020Census. Don’t get left out – #BeCounted! Bring federal dollars home to our community for healthcare, education, transportation and more.
➡️ Take the Census: https://t.co/1xr38GEiLe #FFXCounts pic.twitter.com/igPuAyaAfB
— Fairfax County Government 🇺🇸 (@fairfaxcounty) April 1, 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
