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

APS Appoints New DEI Chief — “The School Board appointed Dr. Jason Ottley as the new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at its Oct. 28 School Board meeting. Dr. Ottley has been serving as Interim Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer since Sept. 1.” [Arlington Public Schools]

Ed Center Project Taking Longer — “The firm that has been overseeing construction at the former Arlington Education Center will get another funding bump, as the project lingers longer than expected and requires more oversight. School Board members on Oct. 28 were slated to be briefed on the plan to provide another $277,083 to McDonough Bolyard Peck, which is serving as construction manager adviser on the project. Final approval of the funding is slated for November.” [Sun Gazette]

Time to Compost Your Pumpkins — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “Reincarnation is real. Toss rotting pumpkins in the green curbside cart and they’ll come back to life as nutritious compost.” [Twitter]

Fewer Day Laborers at Shirlington Site — “The users, who live mostly on Columbia Pike and Alexandria, have shrunk to 10-20. ‘The outdoor site is no longer there, and it’s only a matter of time before jobs disappear from there,’ Tobar said.” [Falls Church News-Press]

ANC to Recreate 1921 Procession — “Arlington National Cemetery said Wednesday that it will host a public memorial procession and military flyover on Nov. 11 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of Unknowns. The procession, which visitors can observe, will begin at the main entrance to the cemetery on Memorial Avenue near the welcome center.” [Washington Post]

Honor for Wakefield Driving Teacher — “The Virginia Association for Driver Education and Traffic Safety has named Wakefield High School’s Tony Bentley the Behind the Wheel Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made at the state meeting, held online on Oct. 1, which featured 140 driver-education teachers and representatives from the Virginia Department of Education.” [Sun Gazette]

Staff of Rosslyn-Based Politico Unionizes — “The news staffs of Politico and E&E News went public Friday with the news that that they have formed a union. Around 80 percent of the newsrooms’ combined staffs are on board… Politico is based in Virginia, a right-to-work state, so employees will likely have the choice of whether or not to join if the union drive is successful.” [Washingtonian]

It’s Monday, Nov. 1 — The first day of November will be sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Sunrise at 7:35 a.m. and sunset at 6:07 p.m. Tomorrow there will be a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

DEVELOPING: Arlington police aware of ‘non-specific, unconfirmed threat’ this weekend

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at noon) Arlington County police say they’re aware of a reported threat to shopping centers in Northern Virginia.

News about the threat initially broke early this afternoon. Fairfax County’s police chief subsequently said information had been received by law enforcement about “potential public safety impacts to malls and shopping centers across the region.”

An Arlington police spokeswoman, responding to an inquiry from ARLnow, described the threat as “non-specific” and “unconfirmed,” but said ACPD is “deploying increased police resources” this weekend.

“The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) is aware of information circulating regarding an non-specific, unconfirmed threat to shopping centers,” said spokeswoman Ashley Savage. “There is no specific or identified threat to our region.”

“As always, the public is encouraged to remain attentive as you go about your normal routine, particularly in areas where large crowds of people typically gather such as shopping centers, restaurant districts, religious services, and public transportation hubs to name a few,” she continued. “If you observe suspicious behavior or situations, report for police investigation by calling the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.”

Savage said the department “is deploying increased police resources in Arlington County, to include both visible and non-visible assets, during the Halloween weekend and continues to work collaboratively with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners on information sharing.”

CBS News and Fox 5 have both reported that the threat may have been made by the terror group ISIS.

More via Twitter:

ACPD investigating shots fired near Tyrol Hill Park

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating gunshots that were fired near Tyrol Hill Park, in the Arlington Mill neighborhood.

The shots were heard last night around 9:20 p.m. There were no initial reports of anyone or anything being struck by the gunfire.

More from ACPD:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating a shots fired incident which occurred in the Arlington Mill neighborhood on the evening of October 28, 2021.

At approximately 9:22 p.m. on October 28, police were dispatched to the report of shots heard in the area of the 5000 block of 7th Road S. Responding officers canvassed the area and recovered evidence confirming shots had been fired. At this time, no injuries or property damage have been reported.

Anyone with information or home surveillance that may assist with the investigation is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com
1105 S. Forest Drive (via Google Maps)

If trick-or-treating is not on your schedule this weekend, there are some non-haunted houses open across Arlington this Halloween.

In the last 4 weeks there have been 187 new listings and 258 sales, according to Homesnap.

  • 3239 Military Road
    7 BA/2 BA, 2 half bath single-family home
    Noteworthy: Second caterer’s kitchen, gas fireplace
    Listed: $2,875,000
    Open: Sunday, 2-4 p.m.
  • 415 N. Cleveland Street
    4 BD/2 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Picket fence, stone patio, refinished deck
    Listed: $1,150,000
    Open: Sunday, 2-4 p.m.
  • 1816 24th Street S.
    4 BD/3.5 BA townhome
    Noteworthy: End unit elevator townhome, private brick patio, new hardwood and carpet
    Listed: $935,000
    Open: Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
  • 1805 Crystal Drive #506S
    3 BD/2 BA condo
    Noteworthy: End unit, remodeled baths, private balcony
    Listed: $789,900
    Open: Sunday, 2-4 p.m.
  • 1105 S. Forest Drive
    4 BD/2 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Refinished hardwood floors, new siding, flat yard space
    Listed: $669,900
    Open: Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
  • 2220 Fairfax Drive #312
    2 BD/2 BA condo
    Noteworthy: 9-foot ceilings, balcony, hardwood floors throughout
    Listed: $579,000
    Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Image via Google Maps

JUST IN: Widespread power outage in North Arlington amid reports of trees falling

By ARLnow.com
1/8

(Updated at 1:25 p.m.) Flooding is not the only imminent threat from today’s wild weather. The saturated ground and gusty winds have brought down several trees and large limbs around Arlington already, causing power outages.

As of 12:30 p.m. more than 2,250 homes and businesses were without power from Virginia Square to Bellevue Forest, with a large chunk of residential North Arlington in between, according to Dominion’s outage map. (The number dipped to 1,925 as of 1:15 p.m.)

Power flickered briefly in Ballston around noon, before coming back on. The outage knocked out traffic signals on Washington Blvd and Langston Blvd, among others. The Lyon Village Shopping Center, including The Italian Store, is also reportedly affected.

One likely cause is power lines that are down across Lorcom Lane near N. Edgewood Street, in the area of the Maywood and Woodmont neighborhoods. A falling tree took down the lines, which Dominion crews are now working to repair. Lorcom Lane is closed in the area.

The current estimated restoration time for the outage is listed as between 2-8 p.m, according to Dominion.

Meanwhile, more trees are likely to fall.

This morning the National Weather Service issued a statement cautioning about falling trees. NWS has received more than a dozen reports of trees falling around the region, including in Fairfax County where more than 5,000 Dominion customers are currently in the dark.

From NWS:

1122 AM EDT FRI OCT 29 2021

…GUSTY WINDS AND WET GROUND LEADING TO MINOR TREE DAMAGE…

GUSTY EASTERLY WINDS OF UP TO AROUND 40 MPH COMBINED WITH WET GROUND FROM RECENT RAINFALL IS RESULTING IN SPORADIC TREE AND POWER LINE DAMAGE. REMAIN ALERT IF TRAVELING THROUGH WOODED AREAS, AND AVOID THEM IF POSSIBLE.

NEW: Flood Warning issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com
Boundaries of the Flood Warning that includes Arlington (via NWS)

Arlington and much of the region is now under a Flood Warning as rain continues to fall.

The warning was issued by the National Weather Service just after 12:30 p.m. Arlington is also under an earlier Coastal Flood Warning for significant tidal flooding along the Potomac.

More on the latest warning from NWS:

1234 PM EDT FRI OCT 29 2021

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING…

* UNTIL 630 PM EDT.

* AT 1234 PM EDT, DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND 0.5 AND 1.5 INCHES ACROSS MOST OF THE WARNED AREA. A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 3 PM WITH RAINFALL RATES AROUND ONE INCH PER HOUR. THIS WILL CAUSE CREEKS AND STREAMS TO RISE THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON. FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SHORTLY IN THE WARNED AREA.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ALEXANDRIA… CENTREVILLE… DALE CITY… ROCKVILLE… BETHESDA… RESTON… ANNANDALE… CLINTON… SPRINGFIELD… COLLEGE PARK… SOUTH RIDING… FORT WASHINGTON… HERNDON… GREENBELT… FAIRFAX… LANGLEY PARK… BELTSVILLE… FORT HUNT… VIENNA…

ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2.5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS. MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

Via Twitter:

JUST IN: Kid on bike struck on Langston Blvd by driver who then fled scene

By ARLnow.com
Emergency response (seen near the top of the screen) to kid struck by driver along Langston Blvd

Arlington County police are investigating a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a kid who was riding a bike.

The crash happened around 8 a.m. at the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Langston Blvd, formerly known as Lee Highway.

“The driver of the striking vehicle fled the scene following the crash and responding officers located the unoccupied vehicle on Lee Highway,” ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow. “The bicyclist, a juvenile, was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.”

The crash and the emergency response shut down multiple lanes at the intersection for about an hour during the rainy morning rush hour.

Police are continuing to search for the driver.

“The investigation is ongoing,” said Savage.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Metro Woes Extend into November — “Metrorail service will remain at the current reduced levels through at least November 15 as Metro continues to work with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission on a plan to get 7000-series railcars safely back into service. Trains will continue operating every 15-20 minutes on the Red Line and every 30-40 minutes on all other lines.” [WMATA, Washington Post]

Confirmed: No Trump Visit — “Youngkin on Trump’s Virginia rally tease: ‘He’s not coming. And in fact, we’re campaigning as Virginians in Virginia with Virginians. And we’ve got another four days left on our bus tour and then we’ve gotta fly around and then we’ve gotta vote.'” [Twitter]

Advocates Push County to Cut ICE Ties — “A coalition of advocates focused on ending Arlington County police’s voluntary cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a detailed policy proposal on Thursday, outlining their plan for how Arlington County can cut all voluntary ties with the federal immigration enforcement agency.” [DCist]

Renovations at South Block — “Sign at Clarendon @SouthBlockCo noting that they’ll be closed for renovations as of next Monday.” [Twitter]

Va. Square Neighborhood Profiled — “Virginia Square is easily overlooked by Clarendon, its rowdier neighbor to the east, and Ballston, the shopping and dining hub to the west. Yet the neighborhood is a convenient compromise for residents wanting to be near dining and entertainment options but not necessarily living right above them. Plus, large, leafy Quincy Park offers a variety of playground equipment and an abundance of calm for residents seeking serenity.” [Washington Post]

Al’s Steak House Mulls Arlington Outpost — “Nelson Rodriguez, who also owns the Pan Am Family Restaurant in Vienna, says that nothing will change at Al’s… ‘The steak-and-cheese sandwich is the same as it has always been,’ he said. ‘We want to open another cheesesteak restaurant in Arlington sometime next year. It’s a very good business, cheesesteak subs, and I have a broker looking for locations.'” [ALXnow]

ARLnow in Apple News — Apple News just launched a new local news offering in the D.C. area. ARLnow is included in the new local news feed. [Apple]

It’s Friday — Rain before 2pm today, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 5pm, then showers after 5pm. Areas of fog. High near 64. Breezy, with an east wind 16 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Sunrise at 7:32 a.m. and sunset at 6:10 p.m. Tomorrow there’s a chance of showers. Otherwise it will be cloudy, with a high near 64.

Get ready: heavy rain, flooding and gusty winds are expected Friday

By ARLnow.com

It’s going to be nasty, rainy Friday.

Arlington will be under both a Flood Watch and a Coastal Flood Warning tomorrow. On top of that, strong winds and the possibility of some severe thunderstorms are in the forecast.

The Flood Watch takes effect Friday morning. From the National Weather Service:

849 PM EDT Thu Oct 28 2021

…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…

The Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of DC, Maryland and northern Virginia, including the following areas: in DC, District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Prince Georges and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria, Fairfax and Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park.

* From Friday morning through Friday afternoon.

* Rainfall amounts around 1 to 2 inches are most likely with isolated amounts of 2 to 4 inches possible.

* Heavy amounts of rain will cause creeks and streams to slowly rise, possibly out of their banks as well as the potential for flooding in urban areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

While Arlington’s river shoreline is not developed, unlike our neighbors in Alexandria, significant coastal flooding may inundate trails along the Potomac. A rare Coastal Flood Warning is currently in effect.

…COASTAL FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM EDT SATURDAY…

* WHAT…Two to three feet of inundation above ground level expected in low lying areas due to tidal flooding.

* WHERE…Shoreline in the District of Columbia, Arlington County, and the City of Alexandria.

* WHEN…Until 2 PM EDT Saturday, especially around the time of high tide.

* IMPACTS…The unprotected area on the Southwest Waterfront at the DC Seafood Market is expected to flood. Water is expected
to approach parts of the Hains Point Loop Road, but it will likely be closed. Water is expected to approach buildings near King Street and Union Street. Shoreline inundation up to one foot above ground is possible elsewhere.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Tides up to 4 feet above normal. The next high tide at Washington Channel is at 2:18 AM and 3:14 PM. The next high tide at Alexandria is at 2:36 AM and 3:32 PM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. If travel is required, do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth.

NWS is calling for wind gusts up to 37 mph tomorrow, raising the possibility of falling trees and branches, as well as power outages.

More via Twitter:

 

Here are your winners of the Fall 2021 Arlies Awards

By ARLnow.com

With cooler weather in the forecast, and Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, the scene is set for the start of the Winter 2022 Arlies.

Voting starts next week with a new look and a return to voting once per season, but before we reveal the winter categories here’s a roundup of the Fall 2021 Arlies winners:

Favorite sushi spot
1. Sushi-Zen
2. Sushi Rock
3. Endo Sushi, Yume Sushi (tie)

Favorite biking trail
1. W&OD Trail
2. Mt. Vernon Trail
3. Four Mile Run Trail

Favorite bicycle shop
1. Trek Store
2. Spokes Etc.
3. Bikenetic

Favorite condo building/complex
1. Arlington Village
2. Shirlington Village Condos
3. The Continental at Ballston

Favorite real estate agent for condo buyers
1. Shawn Battle, Eli Tucker (tie)
3. Carol Temple

Favorite apartment building
1. Camden Potomac Yard
2. Barton House

Favorite street for trick-or-treating
1. N. Jackson Street in Ashton Heights
2. 14th Street S. in Douglas Park

Favorite dentist (for kids)
1. VK Pediatric Dentistry
2. Dr. Christine Reardon

The following are the fall winners from last week, which were not previously announced.

Favorite restaurant for a fancy dinner
1. SER
2. Lyon Hall
3. Ambar

Favorite financial planner
1. Paul Cocozza

Thank you to all who voted this fall!

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Grand Opening for Big Rosslyn Development — “Real estate developer Penzance welcomed Arlington County officials to the grand opening of The Highlands, a mixed-use project in Rosslyn at the top of the hill on Wilson Boulevard. The Highlands, a 1.2-million-square-foot development, consists of three high-rise residences — named Pierce, Aubrey and Evo — with views of the D.C. area and several amenities. ‘We’re proud to be here today welcoming these 890 new residences, exciting retailers, Fire Station 10 and the beautiful Rosslyn Highlands Park.'” [Patch]

Reward Boosted in Ballston Murder Case — “The Ratigan family is announcing an increase in their reward fund from $25,000 to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for Scott Ratigan’s homicide on January 17, 2020. Detectives continue to follow-up on any and all investigative leads in this case and remind the public that any information, regardless of how small it may seem, could be the tip that leads to justice on behalf of Scott and the Ratigan family.” [ACPD]

Retired Police K-9 Dies — “With great sadness, ACPD announces the passing of retired K9 Drago, a 14 year-old old German Shepard, Belgian Malinois mix. He loyally served Arlington from 2008 to 2019 as a patrol and narcotics detection K9. We kindly ask that you keep him and his handler in your thoughts.” [Twitter]

APS Getting Ready for Kid Vax Approval — “APS continues to work with the County on plans for rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine to students ages 5-11 once it is approved, which we anticipate very soon. Once approved, we will inform the community about the availability of doses and how to schedule appointments. Arlington County Public Health anticipates holding clinics and scheduling vaccinations by appointment, hopefully by mid-November. We will keep families informed as new information is received.” [Arlington Public Schools]

Man Seen Stealing GOP Signs — “We’ve received reports of stolen yard signs, and — while we appreciate your updates — almost none of those are actionable because the tipsters don’t provide us any physical/visual evidence. But kudos to one resourceful sleuth, who provided us with these fairly clear photos of a guy taking down Youngkin signs in Arlington last night.” [Arlington GOP, Twitter]

In Defense of Audrey’s Age Answer — “Apparently what happened is that the paper wanted candidates to fill out online questionnaires, and the computerized program didn’t allow respondents to skip the ‘age’ question. So Clement wrote in a younger figure as something of a protest in requiring candidates to answer a question she feels is inappropriate. From this, the Post tried to make a big deal. Turns out the Posties, as is often the case, missed the context. Clement wasn’t lying to them, as they contend. She was f*cking with them. A big difference.” [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Artist Performs on NPR — From National Public Radio: “The Tiny Desk is back… sort of. The first concert recorded at Bob Boilen’s desk since March 2020 is 2021 Tiny Desk Contest winner Neffy!” [Twitter]

It’s Thursday — Today will be partly sunny, with a high near 65, getting progressively cloudier throughout the day. Sunrise at 7:31 a.m. and sunset at 6:11 p.m. Tomorrow (Friday) will be rainy and windy, with storms and flooding possible. Expect a high near 63.

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