Author: ARLnow.com

Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. Started by a Pentagon City resident who has spent the past several years working in local TV news, ARLnow.com seeks to distinguish itself with original, enterprising, up-to-the-minute local coverage.

Arlington home hunt highlights for Oct 28, 2022

By ARLnow.com
1/2

Hello Arlington and happy Friday!

It looks to be a cool, clear weekend ahead and a great time to visit an open house or two.

According to Homesnap, there are  548 homes currently for sale. Of those homes for sale, 328 are condos, 185 are detached homes and 35 are townhomes. The median list price is $699,00 and the median sales price is $570,000, with an average days on market of 62.

Here’s a look at some of the open houses taking place this weekend:

  • 1930 N. Woodrow Street, Waverly Hills*
    4 BR, 4 BA single-family detached
    Noteworthy: Walkable neighborhood; Glebe, Dorothy Hamm, Yorktown schools nearby
    Listed: $899,000
    Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (Betsy Twigg)
  • 2222 N. Vermont Street
    7 BR, 7.5 BA single-family detached
    Noteworthy: Covered porch, 10 foot ceilings, wine cellar
    Listed: $2,388,000
    Open: Saturday, 2-4 p.m. (Aznita Neri – Samson Properties)
  • 4903 14th Street N.
    3 BR, 2.5 BA single-family detached
    Noteworthy: Screened front porch, solar panels, one car garage
    Listed: $1,075,000
    Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m. (Natalie Roy – KW Metro Center)
  • 2001 N. Brandywine Street
    4 BR, 3.5 BA townhome
    Noteworthy: Two fireplaces, brick patio, wet bar
    Listed: $964,900
    Open: Saturday, 1-3 p.m. (Gabriel Deukmaji – KW Metro Center)
  • 1600 N. Oak Street #521 
    2 BR, 2 BA condo
    Noteworthy: Renovated, enclosed balcony, hardwood floors
    Listed: $709,000
    Open: Saturday, 12-2 p.m. (Lisa Young – RE/MAX Distinctive Real Estate)

See all Arlington open house listings here.

Here are some other options to consider if you’re in the market to rent or buy:

  • 801 S Veitch Street
    5 BR, 4.5 BA single-family detached
    Noteworthy: Finished walk-out basement, new wood floors and ceilings
    Listed: $5,800/mo
    Open: Saturday, 12-3 p.m. (Mohammed Hoque – Samson Properties)
  • 1830 Columbia Pike #106
    2 BR, 1 BA condo
    Noteworthy: Corner unit, balcony, remodeled kitchen
    Listed: $314,900
    Open: Saturday, 2-4 p.m. (Steven Lew – Compass)
  • 1121 Arlington Boulevard #928
    1 BR, 1 BA condo
    Noteworthy: Assigned parking space and storage, hardwood floors
    Listed: $168,000
    Open: Saturday, 2-4 p.m. (Yue He – Century 21 New Millenium)

Want your listing to appear here or as the Listing of the Day? You can now submit sponsored listings.

* Denotes sponsored listing

4903 14th Street N. image via Google Maps

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Onboard a flight departing Reagan National Airport (staff photo)

Metro Opening Early for Marathon — “Metrorail is stepping up the pace, opening two hours early – at 5 a.m. – for the 47th annual Marine Corps Marathon. Free shuttle buses at six Blue and Yellow line stations closed for construction will also begin operating at 5 a.m. when the system opens, with increased frequencies during peak pre- and post-race periods to accommodate the higher ridership.” [WMATA]

Road Closures Planned for Kids Run — From the Arlington County Police Department: “There will be road closures along Long Bridge Drive on Saturday, October 29 in order to accommodate the MCM Kids Run.” [Twitter]

Refugee Thanksgiving Event Returns — “After a two-year COVID hiatus, the Ethiopian Community Development Council and its ECDC African Community Center D.C. Metro will resume their ‘Refugees’ First Thanksgiving’ festivities on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. in Arlington.” [Sun Gazette]

Apparent Abduction Was Not a Crime — “A witness observed two male subjects exit a gray SUV and stop a woman as she was walking down the sidewalk. The men removed the woman’s backpack, brought her closer to the vehicle and the three entered and drove away… As a result of the press release, police identified the involved parties and determined no crime was committed.” [ACPD]

Steep Speaker Fee for Library Event — “Former New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones was paid [$40,000] to give a 45-minute talk Sept. 20 as part of a three-hour event at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Virginia.” [Daily Wire]

Fairfax Prosecutor Releases Data Dashboard — “Fairfax County’s top prosecutor, who has faced criticism for practices some view as too lenient, released data Wednesday showing that his office recommended people accused of violent crimes be denied bail at 76 percent of hearings but that judges did so only about half the time.” [Washington Post, Fairfax County]

Good Morning from Austin — ARLnow is in Texas today, attending the Independent News Sustainability Summit. We’ll try to bring back some good ideas to Arlington. In the meantime, please help us pace the reader support enjoyed by independent sites covering other big burbs like Berkeley and Cambridge by joining the ARLnow Press Club.

It’s Friday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 42. Sunrise at 7:33 am and sunset at 6:14 pm. [Weather.gov]

Daily Debrief for Oct 27, 2022

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Today we published 5 articles that were read a total of 11730 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Oct 27, 2022.

  1. BREAKING: Dozens of vehicles damaged yet again as police search for serial window smasher
  2. Compass Coffee’s first drive-thru location is now open on Langston Blvd
  3. Morning Notes

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

⛅ Friday’s forecast

Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 57 and low of 46. Sunrise at 7:33 am and sunset at 6:14 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

👂 Audio summary

Get caught up on all of our reporting today with this brief audio summary.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

BREAKING: Dozens of vehicles damaged yet again as police search for serial window smasher

By ARLnow.com
1/2

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) It happened again.

More Arlington residents woke up this morning to find their car windows shattered by an unknown vandal or group of vandals who had previously damaged nearly three dozen vehicles in a week-long smashing spree.

ARLnow has received reports of freshly smashed car windows in the Westover and Yorktown neighborhoods and in Ballston, near Washington-Liberty High School. That follows reports of damaged cars yesterday in parts of Clarendon, Lyon Village, Virginia Square, Courthouse and Glencarlyn.

We are awaiting additional details from Arlington County police, but a crime report just posted online says 54 vehicles were damaged by a BB gun between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning.

From ACPD:

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY (Series), Between the evening of October 25 and early morning of October 27, an unknown suspect damaged the windows of approximately 54 vehicles with a bb gun. Detectives are investigating this as a series with the previously reported destruction of property series. Community members in these areas are asked to review their home surveillance for any footage that may assist the investigation. Information can be reported to the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. The investigation is ongoing.

The vast majority of the damaged vehicles listed by police were parked in various parts of northern Arlington.

Yesterday police confirmed 10 damaged vehicles; the latest report adds 44 vehicles to the two-day total. Combined with the vandalism spree late last week, ACPD has received reports of more than 80 cars with shattered windows over the past seven days.

“Since October 21, there have been 81 vehicles reported to have damaged windows,” ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow. “It’s important to note that since some of these reports are filed online and the reporting party does not always note if the damage appears to be from a BB gun, some of these reports may ultimately be determined not to be part of the series.”

Update on 10/28/22 — A suspect has been arrested in the case.

https://twitter.com/Lucifersmith420/status/1585622657747255298

Police planning Halloween weekend anti-DUI event

By ARLnow.com
Arlington police and Virginia State Police on the Clarendon nightlife detail (staff photo)

Arlington County police are organizing a Halloween-themed anti-drunk-driving event.

The “Sober Ride outreach event” is being held Saturday night in Clarendon, starting around 8 p.m., and will block a portion of N. Hudson Street near Wilson Blvd.

More from an ACPD press release:

There is nothing more frightening on Halloween than an impaired driver. Don’t turn the holiday’s scares into real life dangers by getting behind the wheel after drinking. To help spread the message that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, the Arlington County Police Department, in partnership with the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), is hosting a Halloween anti-drunk driving event to highlight the impact alcohol has on motor skills. This free event is open to the public and will take place on Saturday, October 29th at the intersection of N. Hudson Street and Wilson Boulevard, beginning at 8:00 p.m.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2016 and 2020, there were 129 drunk-driving fatalities on Halloween night nationwide (6:00 p.m. October 31 – 5:59 a.m. November 1). Adults between the ages of 21 and 34 had the highest percentage (68%) of fatalities in drunk-driving crashes on Halloween night in 2020. That’s why the Arlington County Police Department is reminding community members that in addition to planning the perfect costume, your celebratory plans should also include a sober ride home.

Celebrate with a Plan

Don’t let drunk driving haunt your celebrations – if you plan to drink, follow these simple tips for a safe and happy evening:

  • Remember it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
  • The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s 2022 Halloween SoberRide program is offering free rides home, in partnership with Lyft, from 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29 until 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 30.
  • If you see a suspected impaired driver on the roadway, report to your local law enforcement. To report a suspected impaired driver in Arlington County, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.
  • Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

Always remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information, visit the NHTSA website.

Road Closure

N. Hudson Street between Wilson Boulevard and 13th Street N. will be closed from approximately 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. to accommodate this event.

Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs in the area. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
W&OD Trail on a clear fall day (photo courtesy Geoff Collins)

More on New Alamo Drafthouse — “Cojeaux has hired about 170 employees for the theater, located at 1660 Crystal Drive, which Coco likened to a 900-plus-seat restaurant. Much of the food is made from scratch in a central kitchen, including chicken that’s breaded on site and pizzas baked in a specially designed oven. The food is delivered to the seated patrons via a serving station inside each screening room. ‘This way you can fully recline, pull food to you, have your beer or your milkshake or whatever it may be, right where you need it, and then there’s the call button for when you want that refill on your popcorn or you want another beer,’ Edwards said.” [Washington Business Journal]

Beyer Challenger: No ‘Missing Middle’ — From GOP congressional candidate Karina Lipsman: “We, the citizens of Arlington, cannot have comprehensive alterations to our communities decided without citizen approval. Such a transformative and permanent measure should only be implemented with citizen approval. As a Congresswoman from Arlington, I would vote to withhold federal funds for the Missing Middle.” [Patch]

Bike Lane Blocking on Video — “Hey Arlington could all just stop parking in bike lanes? It’s really a bare minimum type concession. I know we can do it!” [Twitter]

New Bike Lane Protectors — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Protecting bike lanes a little harder in Crystal City. The concrete dividers will last a lot longer than plastic.” [Twitter]

High School Program Moving to Ballston — “In the interim, school officials aim to have Arlington Community High School occupy two floors totaling just under 25,000 square feet at an office building at 4420 North Fairfax Drive in Ballston. The agreement also calls for the use of 52 parking spaces, most off-site and most for staff. Rent at the site will begin at approximately $80,000 a month.” [Sun Gazette]

Feedback on New APS Calendar Sought — “APS is seeking feedback from students, staff, families, and community members related to the development of the 2023-24 School Year Calendar. The survey will be available to complete between October 25 – November 8. This is the second year the School Year Calendar Survey process has happened early in October because it allows ample time for students, staff, and families to plan for the next school year.” [Arlington Public Schools]

Local Girl Organizes Ukraine Relief Effort — “With her Bat Mitzvah coming up in March of 2023, Moret had the opportunity to choose a project that would embody the Jewish values of community engagement and compassion. After a lot of personal thought and moving discussions in her classes at school, Moret decided she would dedicate her project to helping the people of Ukraine during this difficult time.” [Arlington Soccer]

It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 61 and low of 52. Sunrise at 7:32 am and sunset at 6:15 pm. [Weather.gov]

Daily Debrief for Oct 26, 2022

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Today we published 5 articles that were read a total of 13652 times… so far.

📈 Top stories

The following are the most-read articles for today — Oct 26, 2022.

  1. UPDATED: Police block off street near schools to arrest wanted suspect
  2. JUST IN: Vehicle vandals strike again, damaging at least 10 more cars
  3. Morning Notes

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌤 Thursday’s forecast

Clear throughout the day. High of 61 and low of 42. Sunrise at 7:32 am and sunset at 6:15 pm. See more from Weather.gov.

👂 Audio summary

Get caught up on all of our reporting today with this brief audio summary.

👀 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

JUST IN: Vehicle vandals strike again, damaging at least 10 more cars

By ARLnow.com
1/6

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) A vehicle vandalism spree continued overnight, with at least 10 more cars having their windows shattered parts of Arlington, ARLnow has learned.

Police confirmed at least 10 incidents in and around Clarendon, though there were additional reports of vehicle damage north of Courthouse and in the Glencarlyn neighborhood. These incidents follow two dozen vehicles being damaged overnight between Thursday and Friday of last week.

Whereas police said last week’s damage was caused by an “unknown object,” this time around police say the windows were smashed with a BB gun.

“The preliminary investigation indicates during overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) shattered the driver’s side windows of approximately 10 vehicles with a BB gun,” an Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman tells ARLnow. “There is no suspect(s) description.”

ACPD is investigating a connection to last week’s spree and conducting additional patrols, we’re told. The department is also asking for the public’s held in finding the unknown vandal or vandals.

“Detectives will investigate this as a series with the previously reported destruction of property series,” said Alli Shorb, the police spokeswoman. “As time and resources permit, officers are conducting extra patrols in the areas of the reported incidents.”

“Community members in these areas are asked to review their home surveillance for any footage that may assist the investigation,” Shorb added. “Information can be reported to the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected].”

The addresses for latest incidents, listed by ACPD below, are centered around Clarendon but also include parts of Lyon Village, Virginia Square and Courthouse. Video showing some of the damaged vehicles suggests that at least one car was damaged for the second time.

“No car owner has been reported anything stolen,” says the description of the video, which was shot this morning and posted on YouTube by local resident David Cheek. “One car owner told me their car was damaged 2 days ago then again last night. Owner said her car will have to be parked in a garage from now on.”

Location of latest vehicle vandalisms (via ACPD)

It’s been a rough year for many car owners in Arlington, which has also seen repeated overnight thefts of catalytic converters, airbags and valuables from inside parked cars, as well as carjackings and vehicle thefts.

ACPD reported another airbag theft series this morning, in the Long Branch Creek neighborhood between Pentagon City and Shirlington. More than a dozen cars, all Hondas, were damaged.

From a crime report:

LARCENY FROM AUTO (Series) (Late), 2022-10250044/10250052/10250087, 1400 block & 1300 block of 28th Street S., 2600 block of S. Adam Street. At approximately 5:40 a.m. on October 25, police were dispatched to the late report of a larceny from auto. The investigation determined that between the overnight hours of October 24 and the early morning hours of October 25, the unknown suspect(s) forced entry into approximately 13 vehicles, damaging the driver’s side door handle and stealing the airbag. The vehicles are all described as Honda models. There is no suspect(s) description. The investigation is ongoing.

Earlier this month ARLnow reported that more than 170 catalytic converters have been reported stolen in Arlington since the start of the year.

Update on 10/27/22 — Yet vehicle vandalism spree by a BB gun-armed suspect (or suspects) has been reported.

When are kids trick-or-treating in Arlington?

By ARLnow.com
Halloween decorations on N. Jackson Street in 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Halloween 2022 is just days away and if you’re new-ish to Arlington you might be wondering: when do kids trick or treat around here?

Unlike some local jurisdictions in other parts of the country, Arlington does not designate a day and time for trick-or-treating. Instead, the annual, costumed candy-gathering spree traditionally takes place on Halloween (Oct. 31), starting just before sunset (around 6 p.m.).

The door knocking typically ends around 8 p.m., though some stragglers will remain out later.

This year, Halloween is taking place on a Monday, so drivers and trick-or-treaters alike should be extra careful on the roads during the evening commute. Compounding the danger, rain is in the forecast for Monday.

Here are some general tips for planning your Halloween evening, from past years:

  • Children should be accompanied by an adult.
  • Choose a neighborhood or street you’re familiar with or is known for getting in the spirit.
  • Houses with the outside lights are the ones expecting and ready for trick-or-treaters.
  • Expect the older, non-costumed crowds later in the evening.
  • If you’re passing out treats, turn the outside lights off when you run out.

Arlington County put out the following press release about Halloween celebrations this year.

Ghouls, ghosts, and goblins – oh my!

The days are growing shorter, the temperatures are dropping, and the leaf trucks are gearing up to start their collection – another spooky season is here in Arlington County.

With Halloween creeping around the corner, we’ve compiled some ways to make the most of your trick-or-treating, frightening fun, and safe spookiness in Arlington.

Trick-or-Treating

While Arlington doesn’t have set hours for trick-or-treating, you should expect the candy crusade to coincide with sunset, which is just after 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022.

As Arlington’s younger population takes to the streets, keep in mind these trick-or-treating tips from our friends at Arlington County Police Department:

  • See and be seen! Select bright costumes, add reflective tape and/or carry flashlights and glow sticks.
  • Plan your trick-or-treat route in advance. Stick to familiar neighborhoods and well-lit streets. For those on the Nextdoor app, check out its annual Treat Map, which allows people to share how they will be celebrating Halloween – whether it’s decorating one’s home or taking part in the neighborhood trick-or-treating by giving out candy.
  • Never send children out alone. Younger children should be with a trusted adult. Ensure older children take friends and stay together.
  • Walk on sidewalks and cross at corners, using traffic signals and/or crosswalks.
  • Motorists are encouraged to slow down, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn on your headlights earlier in the evening to spot children from greater distances.

The press release goes on to urge those who are feeling ill to stay at home, given that the pandemic still ongoing and other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV are circulating in Virginia.

“Skip the Halloween party if you aren’t feeling well,” the release says. Hand washing is also encouraged.

“If you’re out trick-or-treating, bring hand sanitizer,” the county wrote. “If you’re giving out candy, wash your hands frequently.”

UPDATED: Police block off street near schools to arrest wanted suspect

By ARLnow.com
Police activity at S. Glebe Road and 2nd Street S. (photo courtesy Amy H.)

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Arlington County police blocked of a busy street near elementary and middle schools this morning to arrest a wanted suspect.

The arrest happened on the 3600 block of 2nd Street S., near Alice West Fleet Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School. The street was blocked to traffic at the intersection with S. Glebe Road, next to the 7-Eleven.

ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow that a suspect wanted out of Loudoun County was arrested and that this was not a barricade situation.

Passersby described a “heavy police presence.”

“Police are there and people in green camo/body armor with [rifles],” one tipster said.

In a social media post, police said “there is no ongoing threat to the community related to this incident.”

Later Wednesday, the man who was arrested was identified in a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office press release as a 20-year-old Arlington resident.

The suspect, Joshua Patino, is accused of abducting a juvenile victim at gunpoint yesterday.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has charged an Arlington man with multiple felony offenses, including abduction.

Yesterday evening, shortly before 8:00 p.m., deputies responded to the 25000 block of Hartwood Dr., Chantilly, for a report of an abduction. The preliminary investigation revealed that the juvenile victim was forced into their car at gunpoint by a man wearing a mask.

Detectives discovered that the suspect was known to the victim, and detectives worked closely with the Arlington County Police Department to locate and arrest him shortly after 9:00 a.m.

The suspect has been identified as Joshua Patino, 20, of Arlington. Patino has been charged with Abduction, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Brandishing a Firearm, Preventing the Summoning of Law Enforcement, Unlawful Use of a Mask, and Assault and Battery. Patino is currently awaiting extradition back to Loudoun County.

“These efforts by our detectives and the Arlington County Police Department illustrate the value of collaboration and partnerships among law enforcement in Northern Virginia.  I want to thank the Arlington County Police Department for assisting us in quickly apprehending this dangerous individual,” said Sheriff Mike Chapman.

The exact relationship between Patino and the victim, as well as the victim’s age, was not given.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Crystal City as the fog lifts (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Scooter Rider Struck in Ballston — From Dave Statter: “Person on e-scooter hit in front of mall garage entrance on N. Glebe at Carlyn Spring. Person conscious. Traffic reopened. @ArlingtonVaFD & @ArlingtonVaPD handling.” [Twitter, Twitter]

More on Columbia Pike FBI Raid — “Meek resigned from the network via email on April 27 — the same day as the raid — citing ‘personal reasons’ and told friends it was to ‘save colleagues and the company any embarrassment,’ according to two people familiar with the situation… ABC News sources similarly poured cold water on the idea that Meek was being probed for his journalism… ‘We would’ve defended him; ABC’s lawyers would be right there,’ another network insider said.” [The Daily Beast]

I-66 Tolls on the Rise — “Looks like the pandemic is over and nature is healing… These prices are from the East Falls Church entrance.” [Twitter]

Candidates Consider Career Center — “School Board candidates are in agreement that the Arlington Career Center building needs to be replaced, but waffled to a degree when asked if it is worth moving forward with the costlier option a majority of current board members seem to prefer.” [Sun Gazette]

Dulles Metro Opening Nears — Updated at 10 a.m. — “Phase II of the Silver Line is still on track for opening by Thanksgiving, according to a Metro spokesperson. The news comes after a key hang-up for the opening of nearly 11-mile extension — the need for more trains — was resolved today (Tuesday) after the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission announced its approval of Metro’s plan to bring back more its 7000-series trains.” [FFXnow]

It’s Wednesday — A foggy or misty morning, then mostly cloudy throughout the  day. High of 67 and low of 58. Sunrise at 7:31 am and sunset at 6:17 pm. [Weather.gov]

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