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.
You’ve seen him in the comments, now you can listen to him on a podcast.
Flood Czar, a pseudonymous and long-standing active participant in our comment section, sat down with ARLnow to discuss the origin and history of the Flood Czar persona and its role in the community, the evolution of the comment section over the years, and the role of ARLnow as a source of information for residents.
A suspect has been taken into custody after reportedly firing gunshots in the Fairlington neighborhood.
The incident started around 12:15 p.m. on the 3500 block of S. Stafford Street. Initial reports suggest that a local resident armed with a pistol fired several gunshots, potentially at a vehicle, before driving off.
The circumstances around the gunfire are unclear but it might have been preceded by some sort of dispute.
The Arlington County Police Department said shortly before 1:30 p.m. that a suspect was in custody. No injuries were reported.
Abingdon Elementary School was locked down during the incident, according to scanner traffic. The Fairlington Community Center was also alerted about the gunshots.
UPDATE: The suspect has been detained by officers. Police remain on scene investigating the circumstances that preceded the shots fired.
Tesla driving down bike path in the Rosslyn area (photo via @rsaydlowski/Twitter)
A driver in a Tesla was caught on camera driving down the Custis Trail bike and pedestrian path in the Rosslyn area.
The incident happened yesterday (Thursday) evening, according to a user of X, formerly known as Twitter. The red Tesla can be seen driving down the middle of the trail and past a concerned pedestrian before exiting the trail and getting on the adjacent Langston Blvd.
No further information about the incident was immediately available.
It’s unclear whether this was a case of driver error or an issue with Tesla’s scrutinized “autopilot” mode.
Last week ARLnow reported on a Tesla driver who drove down a hill and smashed into a playground while “attempting to park,” according to police. The exact cause of that crash is also unclear.
#Tesla driver just drove past me on a PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY (not a road!) in Arlington, VA
A little more evidence showing how a Tesla got onto the bike path in Rosslyn yesterday at 5 p.m. The car made a left turn into it from northbound Nash Street. This video is from an Arlington traffic cam via @SafetyVid. @ARLnowDOTcom has more including the original video from… pic.twitter.com/MAcAG3R4Hx
Election Day in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
In Arlington, for local races, the primary is usually where the action is.
As a heavily Democratic county, general election races in November are less competitive than intra-party primary races earlier in the year. The upcoming Nov. 7 election will feature a dozen races for which Arlington residents can cast their votes, though seven are uncontested.
The most watched local race, arguably, is that of Arlington County Board, with the Missing Middle zoning acting as a bit of a wildcard in what will likely be a low-turnout election.
But statewide, the real one to watch is the balance of power in the Virginia General Assembly. That’s why Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was in Arlington and Falls Church earlier this week, reaching out to Hispanic and Asian-American voters and hoping to gain a Republican majority in both the House of Delegates and state Senate.
So there are dual dynamics here — Missing Middle and General Assembly control will be closely watched, but also Arlington’s electoral history suggests the results of the local election will likely not be a surprise.
Given all that, how closely would you say you’re paying attention to the upcoming election?
Falls views in Cherrydale (photo courtesy Geoff Collins)
Arlington Named Most Educated — “Arlington, Virginia, is billed as the most educated city in the U.S., in a Forbes analysis, thanks to 76% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor’s degree. Forbes factored in college degrees, in addition to dropout rates and racial and gender inequalities, when determining the list. Nearly 42% of Arlington residents hold a graduate degree.” [Axios]
Pepper Spray in Pentagon City — “The female suspect entered the business, collected merchandise and attempted to exit without payment, during which security personnel confronted her. A struggle ensued over the merchandise and the suspect threatened security before leaving the store with the items. Security followed the suspect into the parking garage where the suspect deployed pepper spray at security before fleeing the scene in a black sedan.” [ACPD]
Balls to Get Stones Back — “The remains of Robert Ball Sr. and some family members will be reunited with their grave markers after two years spent apart. The Arlington government’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on Oct. 18 approved plans to return the markers to the small Ballston-area burial ground, after the gravestones were removed during construction of a new affordable-housing complex that is rising where Central United Methodist Church once stood.” [Gazette Leader]
Rouse Estate Development Update — “Cresting one of the largest hills in Arlington, Va., the Grove at Dominion Hills, on Wilson Boulevard, has sites for 40 single-family houses on nine acres. The Grove opened for sales in September with a focus on quick move-in homes. Eight of them are available, with the first expected to be ready for delivery in early 2024. An additional seven sites are available for purchase and development.” [Washington Post]
Grant for Historic District Bid — “In a major boost to its effort to get the Halls Hill-High View Park neighborhood added to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, the John M. Langston Citizens Association was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Arlington County Historic Preservation Fund.” [Patch]
Fmr. Board Member at White House — “The Biden-Harris administration welcomed guests with cultural performances and food from local businesses… Many in attendance were from the D.C. region: residents, business owners, and longtime advocates – like Walter Tejada, who served on Virginia’s Arlington County Board from 2003 to 2015. ‘We need to have a seat where the decisions are made for the benefit of our community,’ says Tejada, who is also a coordinator for the White House event.” [DCist]
It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high around 81, accompanied by a gentle west wind at 3 to 6 mph. As night approaches, the sky will be partly cloudy, and the temperature will drop to approximately 62. [Weather.gov]
Expect partly sunny skies with a high of around 81, accompanied by a gentle west wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. For Friday night, the skies will be partly cloudy and the temperature will drop to a low near 62, with a south wind at the same speed, 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Sunset along Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Passenger Growth at DCA — “Dulles inched ahead of National by about 100,000 passengers for August – 1.19 million vs. 1.09 million – according to authority officials. Both are up from 2022 but it was Dulles that saw a major increase compared to 2019 (up 20.3% vs. 2.4% at National). Part of the challenge for National remains FAA restrictions on service in the New York City area.” [Gazette Leader]
Police Investigate Teen Mob Assault — “The juvenile male victim was walking in the area when he was approached by three juvenile male suspects, one of which he’d been in an ongoing dispute with. Suspect One brandished a knife while Suspect Two pushed him and threw rocks at him and Suspect Three made threatening statements towards the victim. The suspects fled the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
Lubber Run Time Capsule — “What do (a) a Ross Perot button from one of his presidential campaigns, (b) a Washington Post edition from the first day of the 21st century and (c) a Guy Lombardo LP album all have in common? …All three were among the items deposited for inclusion in a time capsule that, once the Arlington County government signs off on the paperwork, will be buried on the grounds of Lubber Run Community Center, ready to be opened 20 years hence in the fall of 2043.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Day of the Dead Event — “A giant hand-crafted altar will be a major new highlight at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Arlington’s long-running Dia de los Muertos celebration. Happening Nov. 1 from 5-8 p.m., the event is free and open to the public. Visitors are invited to take part by adding their own photos or mementos of loved ones who have died. But the mood will be more festive than somber.” [Arlington Magazine, Event Calendar]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunshine and a high near 78 degrees alongside a light southwest wind during the day. As for Thursday night, skies will become partly cloudy, with the temperature lowering to around 58 degrees and a southwest wind blowing at approximately 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
Expect sunny skies with a high temperature close to 79 degrees and a gentle southwest breeze during the day. As night falls, it will be partly cloudy with the temperature dropping to around 59 degrees, accompanied by a 6 mph southwest wind. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Trick-or-treating in Arlington in 2021 (staff photo)
It’s less than a week until Halloween and rookie Arlingtonians might be wondering: when do the kids around here go trick-or-treating?
Thanks to our industry’s never-ending quest to earn the favor of the search engine gods, such that we can collect digital half-pennies for your visit and hopefully get you to stick around for more substantive local news, ARLnow has your answer.
Unlike some local jurisdictions in other parts of the country, Arlington does not designate an official day and time for trick-or-treating. Instead, the annual, costumed candy-gathering spree traditionally takes place on Halloween — Tuesday, Oct. 31 — and starts shortly before sunset. That’s typically around 6 p.m., though some youngsters and parents head out earlier than that.
The door knocking usually ends by 8 p.m., though some stragglers may remain out later.
This year, Halloween is taking place on a weekday, so trick-or-treaters and evening rush hour traffic will mix on local roads. Arlington County urges caution for anyone out Halloween night.
Below are some Halloween tips for trick-or-treaters and drivers, from an Arlington County press release.
As Arlington’s younger population takes to the streets, keep in mind these trick-or-treating tips from our friends at the 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.
Only visit homes with exterior lights on.
Never send children out alone. Younger children should be with a trusted adult. Ensure older children take friends and stay together.
Check candy before eating. Consider bringing treats from home so children don’t snack on candy before it is inspected.
Walk on sidewalks and cross at corners, using traffic signals and/or crosswalks.
Drivers should be extra cautious on Halloween. Slow down, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn on your headlights earlier in the evening to spot children from greater distances.
Looking for other Halloween-themed fun around town? In addition to checking out some of the extensive decorations on local homes, there are plenty of family-friendly, dog-friendly and drag-friendly events to choose from. And, if you’re planning to drink this weekend, you can get a free Lyft ride home Saturday night.
Wilson Blvd in Ballston, as seen from the pedestrian bridge (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Shirlington Development Proposal — “The longtime owner of a Shirlington apartment building is looking to expand with new infill development on the property. Arlington real estate firm Snell Properties filed a conceptual site plan application Oct. 23 with Arlington’s planning department to develop a midrise multifamily building and stacked townhouses at the Shirlington House apartments.” [Washington Business Journal]
Arson Investigation in Glencarlyn — “The Arlington County Fire Department, Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating a possible Arson that occurred on 10/21/23 between the hours of 2am – 3:30am in the 5900 block of 3rd St S. Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. R. Murphy at 703-203-7289.” [Twitter]
More State Education Funding — “County School Board members on Oct. 26 are being asked to update the school system’s budget to account for just under $4.8 million in additional state funding. That is Arlington’s share of the statewide total that was approved during a special session of the General Assembly.” [Gazette Leader]
Arlington Lauded for Energy Savings — “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized Arlington for achieving (and exceeding) its energy savings goal in the Better Buildings Challenge. The Challenge aims to cut energy use across participants’ facilities by 20% as part of the DOE Better Buildings Initiative.” [Arlington County]
Library Book Sale Approaching — “The Friends of Arlington Public Library is making preparations for its fall book sale at Arlington Central Library, where thousands of books, games and puzzles will be for sale. The book sale will take place Friday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 29 in the parking garage at the Central Library at 1015 N. Quincy Street.” [Patch]
YHS Field Hockey Wins Tourney — “In addition to winning a third straight Liberty District girls field hockey tournament title, the Yorktown Patriots’ dominance over those high-school opponents during the three-year run is impressive. Top-seed Yorktown (15-1) won the 2023 tourney crown with a 2-0 record, including a 1-0 home victory over the No. 2 seed Langley Saxons in the Oct. 20 championship game.” [Gazette Leader]
Breaking Baby News — From ARLnow Assistant Managing Editor Jo DeVoe: “Our family is growing! James does not understand what’s going on, yet, but he has until late this March to figure it out.” [Twitter]
It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny with temperatures reaching a high of around 74 degrees. A south wind of 6 to 9 mph can be expected. Tonight, the sky will become partly cloudy and temperatures will drop to a low of around 51. [Weather.gov]
