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.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
“WL Runs A-Town” spray-painted on a wall near Washington-Liberty High School (Flickr pool photo by Cyrus.W)

Longtime Local Business Leader Dies — “Longtime Arlington Chamber of Commerce president and civic leader Rich Doud passed away Dec. 9 at Virginia Hospital Center, the chamber announced Friday. Doud served as president of the Chamber for 23 years before retiring in May 2014. Among his many accomplishments were the creation of the Arlington Business Hall of Fame — to which he was enshrined in 2017 — and the Community Action Committee, and the establishment of Leadership Arlington, now known as Leadership Center for Excellence.” [InsideNova, Sun Gazette]

Televised Tree Lighting in Rosslyn — “The Rosslyn tree lighting was live on 7News Thursday evening with live music. Rosslyn Cheer 2021 includes the tree lighting, a holiday market at Central Place Plaza, raffles, and other giveaways.” [WJLA]

Former County Board Member Dies — “[Roye] Lowry, who served a four-year term on the Arlington County Board in the early 1960s (chairing it for a year) and later was active in a host of civic affairs, died Dec. 4, Goodwin House officials confirmed to the Sun Gazette. He was 103 years old – probably the longest lived of any person who has served on the County Board since it was established in the early 1930s.” [Sun Gazette]

Top Brunch Spots in Arlington — “Everyone knows that weekends are better with brunch, and in our area, it’s easy to find a spread to suit just about any taste or budget. Check this list of local brunch spots in Arlington to satisfy that midday hankering for dishes ranging from corned beef hash to waffles stuffed with apples, plus coffee, cocktails and other requisite hangover cures.” [Arlington Magazine]

It’s Monday — Today will be clear throughout the day, with a low of 38 and a high of 54. Sunrise at 7:18 a.m., sunset at 4:46 p.m. Tuesday will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 38 and a high of 55.

Flickr pool photo by Cyrus.W

Most-read Arlington stories of the week: Dec. 6-10

By ARLnow.com
Three people walking dogs at Quincy Park (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A warm and windy weekend is on tap as the calendar ticks down to two weeks before Christmas.

This week did not get a readership boost from leaf-blower-related content but there was still plenty going on. Below are the most-read articles of the week.

  1. La Tingeria in Falls Church may be forced to close due to neighbor parking complaints
  2. Fire on Crystal City’s 23rd Street restaurant row
  3. Rate of new Covid cases in Arlington reaches highest point since February
  4. The mysterious new grocery store in Crystal City sure looks like an Amazon Fresh store (Dec. 3)
  5. New beer hall coming to former Capitol City Brewing space in Shirlington
  6. Arlington housing nonprofit AHC to step back from property management
  7. Police investigating knife incident on school bus (Dec. 3)
  8. ARLnow’s opinion columns will be ending after next week
  9. Nat’l Park Service announces major rehab project GW Parkway
  10. I-CE-NY in Shirlington appears to be closed (Dec. 3)
  11. Toddler returns home from hospital after severe collision in Westover
  12. Ballston Silver Diner looking to open its doors this summer

Feel free to discuss those stories or anything else of local interest in the comments. Have a nice weekend!

Open houses in Arlington this weekend

By ARLnow.com
916 N. Cleveland Street (via Google Maps)

It’s Friday and another round of open houses is here. If you’re looking to move or just browsing, there are a few open houses across Arlington this weekend, from  to single-family homes.

In the last 4 weeks there have been 124 new listings and 271 sales, according to Homesnap. Currently, there are 524 homes for sale in Arlington, 335 are condos, 144 are detached homes and 45 are townhomes.

Let’s take a look at a few open houses in Arlington this weekend:

  • 3038 N. Peary Street
    7 BD/6 BA, 2 half bath single-family home
    Noteworthy: All brick, three fireplaces, elevator
    Listed: $3,250,000
    Open: Sunday, 12-3 p.m.
  • 916 N. Cleveland Street
    6 BD/5.5 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Fully finished basement, private office, deck
    Listed: $1,950,000
    Open: Sunday, 12-3 p.m.
  • 2232 23rd Street S.
    3 BD/4.5 BA townhome
    Noteworthy: Four levels, finished basement, upper level loft with deck
    Listed: $946,175
    Open: Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • 2000 S. Langley Street
    4 BD/2.5 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Flagstone walkway, new plumbing, fenced back yard
    Listed: $825,000
    Open: Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • 851 N. Glebe Road #1704
    2 BD/2 BA condo
    Noteworthy: End unit, gas fireplace, hardwood floors
    Listed: $729,000
    Open: Saturday, 2-4 p.m.
  • 3243 S. Utah Street
    2 BD/2 BA townhome
    Noteworthy: Renovated end unit, concrete patio, custom flooring
    Listed: $649,000
    Open: Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

Image via Google Maps

JUST IN: Wind Advisory issued for Saturday

By ARLnow.com

Arlington and much of the region will be under a Wind Advisory starting Saturday afternoon.

Unseasonably warm weather in the afternoon — with temperatures as high as 70 degrees — will give way to cooler temperatures, which will be accompanied by gusty winds. Gusts up to 55 mph could snap tree limbs and knock out power.

More from the National Weather Service:

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SATURDAY TO 1 AM EST SUNDAY…

* WHAT… West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.

* WHERE… Portions of The District of Columbia, central, north central, northeast and northern Maryland, central, northern, northwest and western Virginia and eastern and panhandle West Virginia.

* WHEN… From 4 PM Saturday to 1 AM EST Sunday.

* IMPACTS… Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS… The highest gusts are most likely between 6 pm and Midnight this evening.

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Covid cases still rising in Arlington as county records new ten-month high

By ARLnow.com

A post-Thanksgiving rise in Covid cases has continued unabated this week.

On Thursday, Arlington County recorded 85 cases, the biggest one-day case total since Feb. 6. The seven-day moving average of new daily cases is now 62, the highest point since mid-February.

The test positivity rate in Arlington is now 4%, a point last seen in August.

Cases are also rising at Arlington Public Schools, according to the school system’s Covid dashboard. So far this week there have been 56 positive cases, compared to 43 last week, according to APS data.

With high rates of vaccination in Arlington, reports of serious illness remain low, however. One Covid-related death has been reported since the start of the month. The net number of hospitalizations for the month is actually negative — down by three — after the Virginia Dept. of Health cleaned up some previous hospitalization data.

In a statement yesterday, Northern Virginia health districts referred to the current rise in cases as a new “winter surge.”

As disease transmission increases, Public Health leaders in the Northern Virginia region (Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Arlington Counties, including all towns and municipalities- and the City of Alexandria) are encouraging residents to maintain their vigilance in curbing the spread of COVID-19 to minimize hospitalizations and deaths during this winter surge.

Since the start of this pandemic almost two years ago, there have been more than 2,600 COVID-19 deaths, 9,000 hospitalizations, and 230,000 cases in northern Virginia. Many of the hospitalizations and deaths occurred during last winter’s surge.

Fortunately, this winter we have wide access to vaccinations, which have been shown to lead to a dramatic reduction in hospitalizations and death. Additionally, indoor mask use in work and school settings has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of transmission; this is seen most strikingly in the higher number and size of COVID-19 outbreaks in school settings where masks are less used, such as in athletics or in schools that have higher rates of mask exemptions.

“Northern Virginia residents have continually shown that we can work together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic – through vaccination, indoor mask use, testing and staying home when sick,” said Dr. David C. Rose, health director for the City of Alexandria. “We all need to keep up our defenses throughout the winter surge to best protect ourselves and to keep our kids in school.”

(more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Fire Station 8 Now in Temporary Home — “On December 6th, 2021, The Arlington County Fire Department relocated Fire Station 8 into their new temporary quarters ahead of the construction of a new station. The temporary Fire Station 8 is located at 2217 N. Culpepper St, just behind the location of where the old Fire Station 8 stood for decades. In the coming months, the old Fire Station 8 will be demolished and work will be started on constructing a new Fire Station 8 in the same location that the previous fire house once stood.” [Arlington County]

APS Not Seeking Vax Status for Most Students — “With one major exception – student-athletes – Arlington Public Schools is not, and likely will not be, keeping tabs on the COVID-vaccination status of students. ‘We don’t know the names’ of those who have been vaccinated, Superintendent Francisco Durán told School Board members on Dec. 2. ‘The school will only be asking [parents] if your child is vaccinated if they are in close contact’ with students who test positive for the virus.” [Sun Gazette]

Still No Witnesses to Critical Crash — “At approximately 8:25 p.m., police were dispatched to a crash with injuries involving a pedestrian at S. Four Mile Run Drive and S. George Mason Drive. Upon arrival, officers located the unconscious pedestrian, an adult male, in the roadway. He was transported to an area hospital and remains hospitalized in critical condition. The striking vehicle fled the scene and there is no description of the vehicle or driver. Detectives have not located any witnesses to the crash. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Detective D. Gilmore at [email protected] or 703-228-4049.” [APCD]

Another Airport Noise Meeting Scheduled — “Arlington County, along with Montgomery County, Maryland will hold its third community meeting on the joint Airport Noise Mitigation Study for communities north of Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Monday, Dec. 13, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The meeting will include a status update on the overall study, present draft recommendations for departure procedures, and take questions and comments from community members.” [Arlington County]

Sheriff’s Office Food Drive Deemed a Success — “On Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, Sheriff Beth Arthur presented donations to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) CEO Charles Meng. The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office collected 3,731 food items. ‘The Sheriff’s Office is part of the community and I believe it is important for us to support those in need during the holidays. I appreciate staff’s enthusiastic support of these efforts,’ says Sheriff Arthur.” [Arlington County]

It’s Friday — It will be mostly cloudy throughout the day today, with a high of 53 and low of 38. Sunrise at 7:16 a.m. and sunset at 4:46 p.m. Saturday will be warm, with a high of 68 and a low of 52, but rain is likely. Sunday will be clear most of the day, with a high of 59 and a low of 39. [Dark Sky]

Shot fired inside home near Woodstock Park

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating an incident in which a man fired a gunshot inside a residents one block from Woodstock Park, in the Waverly Hills neighborhood.

The gunfire rang out around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Police say the man who fired the gunshot called police and was carrying a gun when police detained him.

He was brought to a local hospital for evaluation after alleging that “several armed individuals” were coming to get him.

More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

WEAPONS VIOLATION, 2021-12070040, 4600 block of 20th Road N. At approximately 7:31 a.m. on December 7, police were dispatched to the report of a person with a gun. Upon arrival, officers located the reporting party walking in the area with a firearm in his hands and detained him. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the reporting party had discharged the firearm inside of the residence and then left the scene as several armed individuals were allegedly approaching. The reporting party was transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation. There is no description of the other individuals. The investigation is ongoing.

The winners of the Winter 2022 Arlies Awards are here

By ARLnow.com

Before checking out for the holidays this month, check out the winners of the Winter 2022 Arlies!

You voted, we counted and the results are in. Below are the listed winners in each of the 17 categories, which included favorite coffee shop, title company, brunch spot, spa, ARLnow commenter and more.

Congrats to all of the winners and thank you to everyone who voted!

Favorite electrician/electrical contractor
1. Michael & Son

Favorite bakery
1. Bakeshop
2. Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
3. Best Buns Bread Company

Favorite spa
1. Origins Thai Spa
2. Massage Envy
3. Azure Dream Spa

Favorite family dinner spot
1. Silver Diner
2. Ruthie’s All-Day
3. Pupatella

Favorite orthodontist
1. Hani Thariani Orthodontics
2. Iverson Orthodontics
3. VCO Orthodontics

Favorite pet boarding
1. Fur-Get-Me Not

Favorite chiropractor
1. Capitol Rehab of Arlington

Favorite ARLnow commenter
1. Flood Czar Mayor of Arlington
2. Dave Schutz
3. Metal Ox

Favorite personal trainer
1. Monica Amaya

Favorite coffee shop
1. Northside Social Coffee & Wine
2. Kino Coffee
3. Idido’s Coffee and Social House

Favorite mental health professional
1. Michelle M. May LPC, LLC

Favorite hill to go sledding
1. Bluemont Park

Favorite private elementary school
1. Saint Agnes Catholic School, Our Savior Lutheran School (tie)

Favorite brunch spot
1. Ted’s Bulletin
2. Ambar
3. Ruthie’s All-Day

Favorite beer/wine shop
1. Arrowine & Cheese
2. The Brew Shop
3. Total Wine & More

Favorite real estate agent for first-time buyers
1. Natalie Roy, Eli Tucker, Kristin Francis Team (tie)

Favorite title company
1. Universal Title, Allied Title & Escrow LLC, KVS Title LLC (tie)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Blue Jay in the fall (Flickr pool photo by Michael Coffman)

Route 1 Project Now Mostly Funded — “Virginia is making a huge financial commitment to the transformation of U.S. Route 1 as it runs through Crystal City, fulfilling a key promise officials made to Amazon.com Inc. to lure the tech giant to Arlington. The Commonwealth Transportation Board, a panel that manages state transportation funding and policy, voted unanimously Wednesday to allocate $134.4 million to fund the highway’s overhaul through 2028. The project, designed to bring at least some portion of the newly renamed Richmond Highway down to grade and make it more friendly to pedestrians, has a total estimated price tag of roughly $180 million.” [Washington Business Journal]

FAA Says Proposed HQ2 ‘Helix’ Is Okay — “The Federal Aviation Administration has no issue with the height of Amazon.com Inc.’s proposed Helix, the towering conical structure that will be a major part of HQ2’s PenPlace phase, closing the book on questions raised by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.” [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington Says It’s Ready for Winter — “Despite predictions for another below-average snowfall this winter, the County can’t stray from a solid-if-not-frozen annual strategy: Prepare for whatever nature may drop. Commuters can take comfort knowing a big County response of almost 50 trucks – plus additional contractors – can roll in case forecasters are wrong at any point in coming months.” [Arlington County]

Ceremony for Re-elected County Board Member — “The public is invited to join the Arlington County Board at the swearing-in of County Board Member Takis P. Karantonis on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. The ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a brief reception outside the Board Room, Room 307 in the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center.” [Arlington County]

New Term for Electoral Board Member — “The three-member Arlington Electoral Board will have continuity for the coming year, with Republican Scott McGeary on Dec. 6 reappointed to a three-year term. Arlington Circuit Court Chief Judge William Newman Jr. signed the order of appointment, which was not a surprise – even though the Arlington County Republican Committee was expected to submit three names for the court’s consideration, McGeary (who has served on the body, on and off, for nearly 30 years) was anticipated to receive the nod.” [Sun Gazette]

New ‘Wish Catalog’ for Local Nonprofits — “Looking for a way to add more charitable giving to the season of giving while supporting your neighbors in need? For the second year in a row, Arlington Community Foundation is excited to host the Nonprofit Wish Catalog featuring grant ideas of 26 local nonprofits with wishes of up to $5,000 each.” [Arlington Community Foundation]

It’s Thursday — After a few snow flurries yesterday, today will also be cold, with increasing clouds and a high near 44. Sunrise at 7:15 a.m. and sunset at 4:46 p.m. Tomorrow there is a slight chance of showers after 1 p.m., otherwise Friday will be partly sunny, with a high near 54. [Weather.gov]

Flickr pool photo by Michael Coffman

Most expensive Arlington homes sold in November

By ARLnow.com
3012 N. Rochester Street (via Google Maps)

December is here and the holidays are in full swing, so let’s take a look back at Arlington real estate in November.

This past month, more than 250 homes were sold across Arlington with a median sales price of $685,000 and a median list price of $595,000, according to Homesnap. Additionally, homes spend an average of 82 days on the market.

Now, let’s take a look at a few of the most expensive homes sold in November:

In the market? See properties that have been Just Listed and Just Reduced.

Image via Google Maps

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Eliza

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Give some love and cuddles to Eliza, this week’s Adoptable Pet of the Week! Her friends at Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation say this one-year-old is a very special lady looking for a loving home for a relatively short period — Eliza has congestive heart failure which limits her life expectancy.

Here’s what Eliza’s friends had to say about her:

Eliza is a very special little lady who is looking for someone to give her a loving home for a relatively short period of time since she has congestive heart failure which limits her life expectancy. Her condition does not prevent her from being a fun, active cat, just like any youngster her age.

She likes to play, loves to climb and regularly has the “zoomies” and runs around for no particular reason except for the sheer fun of it. A curious and entertaining girl, she won’t keep you from your sleep because she gets all her energy out during the day and is quiet at night. Like all cats, she does enjoy a view out the window; she also keeps her people company during the day while they are working at home, especially if there is a bed or box for her to sit in nearby — she loves boxes of all kinds!

Eliza is not a needy cat and doesn’t particularly appreciate excessive attention. We do think she would be best in a home with small children and would do well with a more experienced cat owner since she does require oral medication for her condition.

Is Eliza the special lady you’ve been looking for? Check out her complete profile to learn more about how to adopt her and congestive heart failure.

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