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.

ACPD Investigating Shooting Near Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Arlington County Police are investigating a weekend shooting in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood, near Pentagon City.

The shooting happened early Sunday morning — around 3:45 a.m. — on the 1600 block of S. Joyce Street, near the RiverHouse apartment complex. Police say a man was shot and rushed to a hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators believe the shooting followed a dispute with someone he knows. Thus far, police say they haven’t sought charges against anyone.

“Based on the preliminary investigation, this is an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community,” police said.

More from a press release:

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating a shooting that took place in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood in the early morning hours of December 29, 2019.

At approximately 3:45 a.m., police were dispatched to the 1600 block of S. Joyce Street for the report of shots heard. Upon arrival, officers located a male subject suffering from a gunshot wound and immediately began performing emergency first aid until medics arrived. The subject was transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation determined that a dispute between known parties preceded the shooting. All parties involved have been identified. This remains an active and ongoing criminal investigation and charges have not yet been sought. Based on the preliminary investigation, this is an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective G. Seibert of the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4199 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).

Map via Google Maps

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Amazon ‘Excited’ for HQ2 Construction — “As we look ahead to 2020, we’re excited to start construction on our first buildings and hear more from our neighbors on how our investments can benefit the entire community — and continue to hire… Today we have more than 400 employees working from our leased office space on Crystal Drive, 18th Street S and South Bell Street in Arlington.” [Amazon]

Nearly 400 Amazon Job Openings in Arlington — Amazon currently lists just shy of 400 open positions in Arlington, from systems engineers to advertising account executives to event managers. [Amazon]

APS May Bring Back Paper Report Cards — “The effort by Arlington Public Schools to go high-tech with the distribution of student report cards appears to have hit a major snag. Two School Board members on Dec. 19 expressed significant concerns, and a third offered a milder form of disquiet, with the school system’s decision to scrap printed report cards in favor of online reporting.” [InsideNova]

Yorktown Boys Basketball Still Undefeated — Yorktown High School’s boys basketball team has extended its winning ways by winning the annual Bulldog Bash holiday tournament. The team’s 10-0 run included a 24-point comeback win on Dec. 20. [InsideNova, InsideNova, Twitter]

Q&A With New Economic Development Director — Incoming Arlington Economic Development Director Telly Tucker, in a Q&A: “I really want to first start with listening and learning about priorities and interests from all of those different entities to figure out a way to massage them into working toward common goals.” [Arlington Magazine]

Charitable Clothing Store Opens in Arlington — “There is a new option in Arlington that’s already helping hundreds of kids in need… Clothesline for Arlington Kids isn’t exactly a store. There are no price tags, and no money is exchanged. Instead, low-income children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches can come here for clothing, free of charge.” [WJLA]

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

The end of a holiday-shortened week is here.

For those in the office and working this week, we salute you. For those who left town, we hope you have a relatively painless return journey amid the holiday travel rush.

The news never sleeps, but it did perhaps rest its eyes a bit this week. Nonetheless, here are the most-read stories of the week:

  1. Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Arlington
  2. Morning Notes (Friday)
  3. Man Rescued from Creek After Flipping Car
  4. ACPD Makes Arrest in Christmas Day Mall Robbery
  5. Columbia Pike Utility Work Prompting Lane Closures
  6. Long-Time APS Educator Running For Seat on School Board
  7. Morning Notes (Tuesday)
  8. Neighborhood Spotlight: Best Spots To Eat In Clarendon
  9. Some Changes in the Works at ARLnow

ARLnow will be back with another week of local news coverage starting Monday, with a break for New Year’s Day.

Feel free to discuss the above stories or any other topics of local interest in the comments. Have a great weekend!

Top 20 Arlington Stories of 2019: No. 11-15

By ARLnow.com
1/5

Yesterday we kicked off our annual retrospective of the most-read stories of the year.

Today the list is continuing with No. 11-15.

15. Officials Warn of Foodborne Illness Outbreak in Arlington and N. Va. (25,093 views)

An outbreak gastrointestinal illness called Cyclosporiasis sickened dozens in Northern Virginia, including in Arlington. The outbreak involved “two large businesses.”

14. ‘Best of Nextdoor’ Highlights Lee Highway Taco Bell Drama (27,819 views)

The terrific Twitter account Best of Nextdoor, which highlights funny and weird posts from the neighborhood social networking website, shined its spotlight on Arlington in November. The account posted a screenshot of a Nextdoor post complaining about the Taco Bell on Lee Highway and an incident in which a woman was reprimanded for taking “15-20 sauce packets.”

13. Boil Water Advisory In Effect After Large Water Main Break (29,128 views)

A massive water main break closed a portion of N. Glebe Road and prompted a large portion of the county to be placed under a boil water advisory for much of the day. A heroic effort by Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services crews resulted in water service being quickly restored and the road reopening by the weekend.

12. Arlington Man Causes a Stir As Max Scherzer Doppelganger (29,478 views)

Amid Nationals World Series elation, Arlington and the D.C. sports world was captivated by the tale of Arlington resident Kevin Kramer, who bears such an uncanny resemblance to pitcher Max Scherzer that he needed a police escort during the Nats World Series parade.

11. Arlington Man Survived on Coca-Cola for Five Days After Falling at Home (34,389 views)

ARLnow’s Vernon Miles broke the story, which subsequently received considerable national attention, of a local man who fell at home and survived only on Coca-Cola for five days until help arrived.

The top stories countdown continues Monday

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Man Dies in Pa. Ski Accident — “A skiing accident at an eastern Pennsylvania resort claimed the life of a Virginia man, authorities said. Matthew Rosenstein, 23, of Arlington, Virginia died Monday of multiple blunt force injuries, the Lehigh County coroner’s office said Wednesday.” [NBC 4]

Fairlington Among Most Competitive for Homebuyers — “Two locales in Greater Washington have cracked Redfin’s list of the most competitive neighborhoods for homebuyers in 2019 — one in Arlington and one in the District.” [Washington Business Journal, Redfin]

Free Drinks Today at a Local Starbucks — The Starbucks store at Market Common Clarendon (2690 Clarendon Blvd) will be giving away free tall espresso drinks from 1-2 p.m. today. [WUSA 9]

Top 20 Arlington Stories of 2019: No. 16-20

By ARLnow.com
1/5

For the next week ARLnow will be counting down the most-read articles of 2019.

We’re kicking off the retrospective today with articles #16-20.

20. Flooding and Power Outage Force Westover Stores to Close (21,167 views)

During the July 8 flash flooding, some Westover businesses — including Ayers Hardware and Westover Market — were among the hardest-hit. Photos and video showed flooded basements and water gushing out of the front doors. Ayers in particular is still recovering; despite receiving tens of thousands of dollars in donations, the store was subsequently hit hard by the trade war and tariffs.

19. Person Struck by Train at Courthouse Metro Station (21,354 views)

A person intentionally jumped in front of a Metrorail train at the Courthouse Metro station and died at the scene. The incident happened during the Thursday evening rush hour, causing significant delays for Metro riders.

18. Dehghani-Tafti Defeats Stamos in Commonwealth’s Attorney Race (22,256 views)

Arlington and Fairfax counties elected progressive criminal justice reform advocates as Commonwealth’s Attorney, to the surprise of some who assumed voters would continue to cast ballots for more moderate, law-and-order oriented prosecutors. Despite a huge (relatively speaking) fundraising haul, Dehghani-Tafti seemed almost surprised by the result. Formerly a public defender, Tafti has since the election been working to prepare for the top prosecutor job and select her staff. She takes office after the new year.

17. The Dating Divide Between D.C. People And Arlingtonians (22,981 views)

This extensively-reported article on dating those who live on the other side of the Potomac River went viral locally and spawned a healthy discussion over whether the distance between D.C. and Arlington is or is not surmountable when it comes to sparking romance. One key quote from a professional matchmaker, who was asked about the impact of Amazon’s HQ2 on the local dating scene: “If it’s anything like the headquarters in Seattle,  D.C. and Arlington better buckle up. There’s going to be a lot of new single people in town.”

16. Oz Restaurant in Clarendon to Close (24,406 views)

Arlington’s most visible entree into the world of reality television said a final g’day to Clarendon this summer. The Australian restaurant had a rocky start but eventually found its footing with the help of a new chef, a popular weekend brunch and an active bar scene. Running a restaurant is hard work, however, and owners Ashley and Michael Darby, of  “Real Housewives of Potomac” fame, called it quits as their first child arrived. As chronicled on Instagram, Darbys appear to be keeping busy raising baby Dean, making TV appearances and traveling.

Our top stories countdown will continue Friday.

ACPD Makes Arrest in Christmas Day Mall Robbery

By ARLnow.com

A D.C. man has been arrested after police say he pepper sprayed an employee while trying to steal from a store in Ballston on Christmas Day.

The alleged crime happened on the 4200 block of Wilson Blvd — Ballston Quarter mall — around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Arlington County Police say a man who was trying to conceal merchandise was confronted by an employee, who he subsequently sprayed with a caustic substance. Undeterred, the employee “tackled the suspect and detained him until police arrived on scene.”

More from an ACPD crime report:

ROBBERY, 2019-12250074, 4200 block of Wilson Boulevard. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on December 25, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny in progress. Upon arrival, it was determined that the suspect was observed allegedly concealing merchandise from a business. When approached by an employee of the business, the suspect produced a bottle of pepper spray and sprayed the employee. The employee tackled the suspect and detained him until police arrived on scene. Patrick Riley, 54, of Washington D.C. was arrested and charged with Robbery and Malicious Wounding by Caustic Agent. He is being held without bond.

Columbia Pike Utility Work Prompting Lane Closures

By ARLnow.com

Utility work will force lane closures along Columbia Pike starting next week.

“Starting on or about Monday, Dec. 30, there will be new traffic patterns along the west end of Columbia Pike, in Arlington, which are expected to cause additional delays for those travelling through this area,” the county said in a press release. “The changes are necessary so the contractor for the Columbia Pike west end project can install a utility duct bank system beneath the eastbound lanes.”

Originally the utility undergrounding project was to have placed the aforementioned duct bank under the sidewalk, but a bundle of communication lines was unexpectedly found where it was supposed to go, necessitating the placement under the Pike itself — at the cost of lane closures and an extra $5.5 million.

The work will reduce the western end of Columbia Pike to one lane in each direction for most of 2020, though one additional eastbound lane will open during weekday morning rush hours.

Drivers are being encouraged to take alternate routes.

More from the press release:

Between South Jefferson Street and the Four Mile Run Bridge, sections of Columbia Pike will be reduced to one lane in each direction daily, including weekends. One additional lane will be open in the eastbound direction, heading toward DC, during weekday morning rush hours (7 am – 9:30 am).

This lane reduction is expected to remain in place for much of the next year. Substantial completion for the Columbia Pike west end project, including utility undergrounding and streetscape improvements, is anticipated for early 2021.

Alternate Routes

Traffic is expected to be affected in and around the immediate area. Drivers not heading to a residence, business or another destination in this area are encouraged to seek alternate routes to reduce road congestion.

Roadways that parallel Columbia Pike:

  • Route 50/Arlington Boulevard
  • Interstate 395

On Columbia Pike, options for travelling around the work zone include:

  • For westbound traffic – Follow George Mason Drive north to Route 50/Arlington Boulevard or south to Route 7/Leesburg Pike
  • For eastbound traffic – Follow Carlin Springs Road north to Route 50/Arlington Boulevard or south to Route 7/Leesburg Pike

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Lee Highway Merchants Profiled — “Oscar and Evelyn Bunoan are well known in the community for the amazing food they serve at their modest grocery store in Arlington, Va. – the Philippine Oriental Market & Deli. From the time it opened 42 years ago, the place is constantly busy. These days, it’s just the two of them running the store. There are long lines at lunchtime. And they get frequent calls for catered meals or large orders for birthday parties.” [Manila Mail]

APS Wants to Hire Superintendent By Spring — “Arlington School Board members say they hope to have a permanent superintendent announced by April, and will lay out steps for the community to become involved in the process in coming weeks. A series of community meetings to gather input will be held the week of Jan. 20, and an online survey also will be made available, in order to create an ‘in-depth profile’ of the qualities and skills being sought in a new education chief.” [InsideNova]

Police: Woman Threw Knife at Man — “At approximately 3:18 p.m. on December 20, police were dispatched to the report of a stabbing [on the 3100 block of 9th Road N.]. Upon arrival, it was determined that known individuals were involved in a verbal dispute when the female suspect threw a knife at the male victim, causing injury. The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival. The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries at an area hospital. Warrants were obtained for Malicious Wounding.” [Arlington County]

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah From ARLnow

By ARLnow.com

It’s Christmas Eve and the third night of Hanukkah, and nothing is stirring in the ARLnow offices, not even Vernon Miles — because we’re taking the next day and a half off.

ARLnow will be back on a limited coverage schedule on Thursday. Of course, if there’s breaking news, we’ll be on top of it no matter what holiday or day of the week it is.

We wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. Feel free to use the comments to discuss your favorite Arlington holiday memories or whatever locally-relevant topic might be on your mind.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Olivia Rose

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Olivia Rose, who loves lounging around in her Caps jersey.

Here is a little bit from Olivia Rose, or Oli for short, on her life here in Arlington:

I’m Oliva Rose but you can call me Oli. I’m not really too sure about my past life, it’s hard to keep up when you’re given 9 of them! All I know is, I managed to get a cute cauliflower ear but it made it a bit hard to listen to my hoooman mom and sisters. They did me a huge favor by getting rid of that bad boy. Now, I don’t have to constantly scratch my ear all day!

My favorite thing to do is hangout on mom’s make up chair, I think the fabric is fabulous for a lady like me. When I’m not on my throne, I take over mom’s king size bed. She actually got me this blanket that I don’t let anyone use but me, myself, and I. Sometimes I hang out in my sister’s room when she’s around because she’s usually watching netfix or something. I also loooove lounging around in my caps jersey, especially on game day. Doesn’t it look great on me?

It was nice chattin’ with ya! You on find me on insta @oneearwonderoli.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner of eight consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency

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