Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said at his regular press briefing in Richmond Tuesday he will comply with the latest request of 10 Northern Virginia political leaders to enter Phase 1 of his plan for reopening the economy in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A group of Northern Virginia elected leaders have submitted a letter to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam urging that he permit the region to enter a Phase 1 re-opening.

Unfortunately, the 39th celebration of the City of Falls Church’s annual Memorial Day Parade — it’s largest event on the calendar — will have to wait until 2021 as this year’s parade has been canceled due to the continued spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Fellows property sitting across from Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on South Oak Street was torn down earlier this month.

So far, according to Mark Whaley, park operations superintendent for NovaParks, authorities have received generally positive feedback from residents about safety precautions, though reactions vary.

The swiftly-organized EDA Small Business Micro Grant program, originally set up just two weeks ago to provide up to 50 local businesses with the special aid in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, wound up being extended to cover the larger number when applications as of last Friday night ballooned to 84.

Each business will receive $2,000 to help with urgent expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some modest resources have been added to the arsenal of the City of Falls Church’s efforts to assist residents suffering from the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the F.C. City Council learned at its online work session last night.

“The Polka Caprice” by Jaroslay Cimera is performed on a “Music of the Heart” YouTube video channel by George Mason High School students Alec Autor on trombone and Jenny Kong on piano in dedication to the Covid-19 pandemic’s essential workers.

The City Council is scheduled to adopt its budget on May 26, with the school board finalizing its plan in a special meeting on May 28.