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.

NEW: Local Couple Killed in California Plane Crash

By ARLnow.com
1/6

A plane crash in California wine country has claimed the lives of three people, including an Arlington couple.

Shauna and James Waite, who lived near Yorktown High School, were killed when their small plane crashed in a vineyard in Napa County on Friday morning.

According to a post on the website of running group D.C. Road Runners, of which the couple were active members, Shauna’s father Robert was also killed. The couple’s one-year-old son was with Shauna’s mother and was not on the plane, the group said.

The crash scattered wreckage and sparked a fire in the Abreu Vineyard, just south of the Angwin airfield, according to local news reports. Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a plume of black smoke.

The plane was a Beechcraft 35 Bonanza — a single-engine, six-seat prop plane — according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

“There are no words that can describe the loss of these wonderful people,” said the D.C. Road Runners post. “They loved life and lived every moment to the fullest. Their excitement for life was infectious.”

The Waites were avid travelers and amateur athletes who competed in races and frequented wineries, photos on social media show. They both posted often about their son, whose first birthday party was held last weekend. In 2019, Shauna posted about obtaining her pilot’s license and surprising her dad, who was also a pilot.

Dr. Shauna Waite was a veterinarian with Columbia Pike Animal Hospital in Annandale. James was a marketing manager with the California-based fintech company Hearth, according to his LinkedIn profile. In addition to their other activities, the family rescued a number of pets, including two dogs, two cats and a gecko, according to Shauna’s biography on the animal hospital website.

Several dozen friends held an informal remembrance for the couple outside their Arlington home last night.

BREAKING: Shots Fired Early Monday Morning in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Multiple gunshots were fired in Clarendon early this morning, reportedly after a large fight.

The shooting happened around 1:15 a.m. near the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Garfield Street, in the area of the United Bank and steps from the Cheesecake Factory and Mexicali Blues.

“Arriving officers established a perimeter and located evidence confirming multiple shots had been fired in the area,” the Arlington County Police Department said in a press release this morning. “During a canvass, officers located an unoccupied, parked vehicle in the 1300 block of N. Garfield Street which had been struck by two stray rounds.”

“The preliminary investigation indicates a large group had been involved in a fight at this location prior to the shooting,” the press release continues. “Witnesses reported observing a SUV and burgundy sedan flee the scene. No injuries related to the shooting have been reported. There is no suspect(s) description at this time.”

A nearby resident reported hearing five shots.

Initial reports suggested the shots might have been fired from a vehicle — a detail that could not be immediately confirmed — and that someone was treated on scene by medics.

“The treated individual was intoxicated and not cooperative with the investigation,” ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage tells ARLnow. “It was determined that their injuries were not related to the shooting.”

Police are asking for the public’s help as they continue to investigate.

“This remains an active criminal investigation. 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],” the press release said. “Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).”

County Board Votes to Replace ‘Lee Highway’ Name

By ARLnow.com

Lee Highway is no more in Arlington. It’s now Langston Blvd.

The County Board voted unanimously on Saturday to rename Route 29 within Arlington’s borders, following the recommendation of a Working Group (and county staff) on a new name.

As we previously reported:

County staff have selected “Langston Boulevard” from the finalists submitted by a task force, which was charged with replacing both “Lee” and “Highway.” Currently, Route 29 in the county is named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, whose name was removed from one of Arlington’s high schools and whose house is being removed from the county logo.

Previously, the task force recommended Loving Avenue as the name, in honor of the interracial couple whose landmark U.S. Supreme Court case inspired the film that bears their name. That was nixed after the couple’s descendants objected.

The new name honors John M. Langston, an abolitionist, attorney and member of Congress whose name is also on an Arlington school, community center and civic association.

Langston was the first dean of the law school at Howard University, the first president of Virginia State University, and the first U.S. representative of color from Virginia.

The new name “better reflects Arlington County’s values, promotes equity, and is welcoming to all people who work on, live on, and/or visit the corridor,” the county said in a press release, which also touted the nearly year-long public process involved in selecting a new name.

“The Working Group created an objective set of evaluation criteria to ensure that the public process of selecting a name was transparent, inclusive, and reflected a commitment to the values of public engagement in Arlington,” the county said. “With the new name of Langston Boulevard, costs for new signage are estimated at $300,000, subject to final design and determination by VDOT.”

“We’re throwing Lee Highway in the dustbin with Jefferson Davis Highway,” said County Board member Libby Garvey. “It’s a great day.”

There was one notable dissenting voice on the renaming, as noted by County Board watcher Stephen Repetski. Local history activist Bernie Berne, who previously called renaming the corridor “political correctness” and part of “a culture war that’s been going on since the Civil War,” spoke out at the meeting.

Berne asserted that Robert E. Lee was unfairly denigrated during the renaming process, prior to the Board’s unanimous vote.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

ACPD Hosting Community Chats — “Chief Andy Penn appreciates the important insights our residents and businesses bring to the conversation about the role of policing. He invites community members, organizations and businesses to join him for a series of Community Conversations.” [ACPD, Twitter]

Court Rejects Rouse Estate Suit — “I want to thank Arlington Green Party Chair John Reeder for challenging Arlington County Board’s decision exactly three months to the day to deny local historic designation for the site of the since demolished Febrey-Lothrop-Rouse estate… Unfortunately just yesterday Arlington Circuit Court denied Reeder standing to sue the County, arguing that he is not an aggrieved party, because his property doesn’t abut the estate.” [Audrey Clement]

New Ballston Restaurant Sells Collectables — “If you find yourself wandering through Whino, Ballston’s new immersive art, restaurant, and retail concept, be sure to browse the limited-edition designer toys up for sale. You could get your hands on a reimagined, nostalgic Wonder Woman figurine or a quirky Sriracha-inspired vinyl sculpture that might be worth a chunk of change in the future.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Theater Company to Return to Theater — “Dominion Stage, which like most performing-arts organizations has seen its in-person events canceled during the COVID pandemic, expects to inaugurate its 71st season early next month with a performance of ‘The Bluest Eye.’ The drama by Lydia R. Diamond is adapted from a novel by Toni Morrison, and will directed by Eleanore Tapscott. Performances will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Aug. 6-21 at 8 p.m. at Gunston Arts Center, 2700 South Lang St.” [Sun Gazette]

High School Rowing Roundup — “High-school rowing teams had a strong showing at the spring season’s Virginia State Rowing Championships on the Occoquan Reservoir. Girls shells from Wakefield, Washington-Liberty and Yorktown high schools all won gold medals on a hot and humid day of racing near the Sandy Run Regional Park Boathouse.” [Sun Gazette]

Wakefield Grads Get Scholarships — “The Wakefield High School Education Foundation recently awarded scholarships to members of the Wakefield High School Class of 2021. Students attending four-year schools will receive $12,000 each, with others receiving $4,000. In addition, four Beitler Inspiration Scholars were named and will receive one-time grants of between $1,200 and $1,500.” [Sun Gazette]

Reminder: Vote for Your Favorite Dentist — There’s one day left to vote for this week’s Arlies award category: favorite dentist. [ARLnow]

UPDATED: Arlington Under Flash Flood, Severe Thunderstorm Watches

By ARLnow.com

Update at 1:50 p.m. — In addition to the Flash Flood Watch, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was just issued for the area. Damaging winds, hail and torrential downpours are possible, forecasters say.

Earlier: Storms packing heavy downpours could cause sudden flooding later today.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Arlington and much of the region. The watch is in effect starting at 2 p.m. this afternoon, until early morning Sunday.

More from NWS:

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE
SATURDAY NIGHT…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a

* Flash Flood Watch for portions of DC, Maryland and northern Virginia, including the following areas: in DC, District of Columbia. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Cecil, Central and Southeast Howard, Central and Southeast Montgomery, Northern Baltimore, Northwest Harford, Prince Georges, Southeast Harford and Southern Baltimore. In northern Virginia, Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria and Fairfax.

* From Saturday afternoon through late Saturday night.

* Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening, potentially lingering into early Sunday morning. Localized rainfall amounts of up to 1-2 inches per hour will be possible at times. Total rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches, with locally higher amounts possible.

* Heavy rain in short periods of time will cause the potential for streams and creeks to quickly rise out of their banks as well as the potential for flash flooding in urban areas.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

It was a busy week here at ARLnow as we finally unveiled the ARLnow Press Club.

Thank you to all who have signed up already, most of whom appear to be choosing the yearly option rather than the monthly. We greatly appreciate your support and trust in us.

It’s a major undertaking for our staff, which grew by one journalist in order to be able to launch the service. For those who have joined or will be joining, we look finding more ways to save you time, provide useful information, and generally make local living better.

Beyond the members-only newsletters, podcast and happy hour guide, the Press Club will allow us to expand our local news coverage on the website, which remains — and will forever remain — open to all.

Speaking of coverage, the top dozen most-read articles on the site this week are listed below.

  1. Arlington Woman Killed in Route 50 Crash
  2. Woman Robbed by Man With Gun Along Lee Highway
  3. Arlington Named ‘Fittest City’ in U.S., Again
  4. After Quiet June, Coronavirus Cases Starting to Rise in Arlington
  5. Construction Underway in Ballston to Turn Vacant Restaurant Into Spa
  6. Arlington PTA Leaders Consider Ways to Distribute Funding More Equitably
  7. Police Investigating Man’s Death Outside H-B Woodlawn
  8. County Daycare Facility to Close in August Ahead of Renovations
  9. Dittmar Looks to Use Furnished Apartments as Hotel Rooms
  10. ACPD Investigating More Break-ins at Arlington Forest Shopping Center
  11. Police Investigating Another Series of Gunshots in Green Valley
  12. Dominion Hills Swim, Dive Teams to Retire ‘Warriors’ Name

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

JUST IN: President Biden to Visit Arlington With Terry McAuliffe Next Week

By ARLnow.com

President Joe Biden is planning a visit to Arlington next week.

Biden will be visiting the county on Friday with former Virginia governor and current Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe, according to McAuliffe’s campaign.

“On Friday, July 23, President Joe Biden will host a grassroots event with Terry McAuliffe in Arlington, Virginia,” says an RSVP page for the event. “President Biden and Terry will discuss Terry’s commitment to creating good-paying jobs, making health care more affordable, and giving every Virginia child a world-class education.”

The exact time and location of the campaign event has not been revealed.

Columbia Pike McDonald’s Gets a Major Facelift

By ARLnow.com
1/9

The McDonald’s at 3013 Columbia Pike is celebrating its newly-completed renovations.

The fast-food joint ditched the old-school, red-and-white motif in favor of a more modern gray-and-tan exterior.

Inside, faux wood floors and walls provide a higher-end look, while electronic self-serve order screens have largely replaced the human-powered ordering counter.

Despite the upgraded look, not everyone is completely happy with the renovations, which removed a few tables of outdoor seating popular with regular customers.

Photo (9) via Google Maps

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com
4910 35th Road N.

In the market to buy a home? Or just want to take a look around at Arlington real estate?

There are dozens of open houses on the calendar this weekend. These range from five-bedroom single-family homes to one-bedroom and studio condos.

Before diving in, let’s take a look at what the market has been up to. In the past four weeks, there have been 213 new listings, giving us a total of 756 homes for sale, according to Homesnap. That includes 508 condos, 201 single-family homes and 47 townhomes.

Now, let’s look at some of the open houses coming up this weekend.

  • 4910 35th Road N.
    5 BD/3.5 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Three finished levels, three fireplaces, private backyard with outdoor TV
    Listed: $1,385,000
    Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
  • 4425 16th Street N.
    4 BD/4 BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Heated tile floors in the family room, two hot water heaters — one solar
    Listed: $1,099,999
    Open: Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
  • 1307 S. Randolph Street
    3 BD/2.5+ BA single-family home
    Noteworthy: Borders parkland, spacious rear deck, mature garden beds, large detached garage
    Listed: $950,000
    Open: Saturday, 12-2 p.m. and Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
  • 10 S. Pershing Drive
    3 BD/2.5+ BA townhouse
    Noteworthy: End unit/corner lot, one-car garage, refinished floors, recently updated bathrooms
    Listed: $824,990
    Open: Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
  • 3800 Fairfax Drive #1311
    2 BD/2 BA condo
    Noteworthy: Steps to Virginia Square Metro, large balcony with view, updated kitchen, outdoor pool
    Listed: $668,000
    Open: Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

Image via Google Maps

A Local American Legion Post Is Getting a New Mural

By ARLnow.com
1/5

American Legion Post 85 in Virginia Square is getting a new mural.

The post at 919 N. Kansas Street — not to be confused with the nearby, under-construction Post 139 two blocks away — commissioned the work from Falls Church artist Mary Tjeng, who was busy painting when ARLnow stopped by Thursday afternoon.

The mural depicts Gen. Billy Mitchell, the post’s namesake and the “father of the U.S. Air Force.”

Mitchell “is one of the most famous and most controversial figures in the history of American airpower,” says an old website for the Legion post. “So great was his impact on the Army Air Service and its successor organizations that the effect is still being felt. During Mitchell’s meteoric military career, he charted new paths, set new standards, and influenced key leaders for decades to come.”

“Mitchell was twenty years ahead of his time when he put forth his detailed vision of a hazardous future,” the website says of the general, who served in World War I and died in 1936 after retiring to a farm in Middleburg. “He is also the only individual after whom a type of American military aircraft, the B-25 Mitchell, is named.”

The mural, which recently received some attention from National Defense magazine’s Twitter account, will adorn an exterior wall that’s partially visible from Wilson Blvd.

Jay Westcott contributed to this report

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Peak Heat, Statistically Speaking — “Based on history, we are now at the hottest point of the summer. While it can still be brutally hot in the weeks ahead (and probably will be at times), we are about to begin our gradual descent into winter, using average temps.” [Capital Weather Gang, Twitter]

Arlington Home Prices Keep Rising — “A total of 369 properties went to closing last month, up 62 percent from 228 in June 2020… The average price of single-family homes in the county was $1,217,376 last month, up 9.8 percent from $1,109,179.” [Sun Gazette]

Protected Bikes Lanes for HQ2? — “Amazon.com Inc.’s newest PenPlace design would add protected bike lanes along a key roadway adjacent to the 11.6-acre campus and a new bike share station near the planned ‘Helix’ tower. During Arlington’s Long Range Planning Committee’s virtual meeting Tuesday, Amazon’s HQ2 landscape architect Scape presented its revised vision for the site’s 2.1 acres of open space and transportation networks.” [Washington Business Journal]

Woman Finds Bullet Hole in Window — “3900 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 6:09 a.m. on July 13, police were dispatched to the report of suspicious circumstances. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was awoken at approximately 10:00 p.m. on July 12 to a loud pop sound. The following morning, she discovered a bullet hole in her window.” [ACPD]

Affordable Apartments Set for Renovation — “Arlington County is backing away from plans to buy part of the Park Shirlington apartment complex in South Arlington as the developers are instead pitching a full renovation of the affordable community. The county is set to deliver a $22.7 million loan to power the rehabilitation of all 293 units on the 15.7-acre parcel.” [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington Is a ‘Top Digital County’ — “Arlington County is once again ranked among the top digital counties in the nation. The Center for Digital Government and National Association of Counties has named Arlington to the No. 2 spot for their 2021 awards in the 150,000-249,999 population category.” [Arlington County]

New Record for W-L IB Program — “W-L students surpassed their worldwide peers in diploma pass rate, average score pass rate, and the average points earned by diploma candidates. In addition, the overall pass rate for all W-L students participating in [International Baccalaureate] classes, including Diploma Candidates and Course Candidates, is the highest in the 25-year history of IB at W-L at 92.6%.” [Arlington Public Schools]

‘Arlington Tech’ Students Earn Degree — “Seven Arlington Tech Class of 2021 graduates are the first APS students to earn Associates Degrees by taking courses offered through both Arlington Tech and the Career Center.” [Arlington Public Schools]

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