🌱 Local Teacher Celebrates HBCUs + Zoo Reopens With New Vision

Hi all. I'm here with your Tuesday edition of the Vienna Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the local information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 63 Low: 35.

🏠 If you're a real estate agent in Vienna, of course you're looking for a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. We can help you do that with an exclusive sponsorship in the Vienna Patch newsletter. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Vienna:

1. Mr. David Wickham, a middle school teacher at Braddock Secondary School in nearby Burke, has taken off both in the classroom and on Twitter for celebrating HBCUs with T-shirts during Black History Month. Every day, he wears an HBCU shirt and shares information about notable alumni. His hope is that students will want to continue talking and learning about HBCUs. (WUSA9.com)
2. New Wild, formerly known as the Reston Zoo and Roer's Zoofari, has reopened under the new management of Tara Campbell in Reston. With an "animals first" perspective, the zoo is now accredited by the Zoological Association of America and America Humane. Visitors can enjoy a self-drive safari, a limited-run evening light show, and can expect glamping and new animals to join the zoo later down the line. (Inside NoVA)
3. Police are investigating the distribution of hate flyers discovered last week in McLean neighborhoods. They recovered roughly 40-50 flyers that were weighted down with bird seeds and are encouraging people who may have more information or who have been victims of hate crimes to reach out. A description of the contents of the flyer was not available in the notice. (WTOP)

Today in Vienna:

• Transitioning Military, Military Spouse, and Veterans (TMMSV) Community At
  Northern Virginia Regional Commission (10:00 AM)
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper At Vienna Presbyterian Church (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Tickets are on sale here for the Out & About Festival featuring Brandi Carlile on Jun. 24 and 25. The festival highlights LBGTQ+ artists and allies in the country's only National Park for the Performing Arts. (Wolf Trap via Instagram)
• Foster's Grille is donating 20 percent of all proceeds on Feb. 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. to Marshall Road Elementary. Be sure to mention "Marshall Road" if you order online or leave your receipt in the Dining 4 Dollars drop box at the restaurant. (Marshall Road Elementary School PTA via Facebook)
• For those of you commuting on the Dulles Toll Road, this route will be going cashless in March, with an additional fee for non-EZ Pass users. See the link for more information about rates and transaction procedures. (Northern Virginia Magazine)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Amelia Vallone Interiors — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Ash Wednesday Services @Lewinsville (February 22)
• Author talk: Steve Berry discusses "The Last Kingdom" (February 24)
• Speech Therapy Clinic Grand Opening (February 25)
• XP League Open House (February 25)
• Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show (February 26)
• Celebrate Mardi Gras Featuring Orleans Express of Maryland (February 26)
• Fairfax Choral Society’s 60th Anniversary Gala (March 11)
• Add your event

Free stuff:

• Good furniture, household, vintage & miscellaneous (Details)
• Add your free stuff

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!