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.

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 3, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 3, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

⛈️ Friday’s forecast

There is a 20% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms after 5pm today, with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 77°F accompanied by south winds at 8 mph. Tonight, expect a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, followed by showers until 2am. The night will be mostly cloudy with a low of 68°F and south winds between 5-8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
– John Quincy Adams

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Smallest and largest homes sold in Arlington (July 2023)

By ARLnow.com

Here in Arlington, real estate is a spectator sport. Let’s take a look at some of the smallest and largest homes sold last month (July 2023).

Largest homes sold

  1. 5806 Little Falls Rd — Williamsburg — $1,900,000 (8 beds | 7.5 baths | 7,546 sq. ft.)
  2. 3616 Roberts Ln — Bellevue Forest — $3,200,000 (6 beds | 9 baths | 7,279 sq. ft.)
  3. 5812 37th St N — Williamsburg — $2,450,000 (6 beds | 6 baths | 6,752 sq. ft.)

Smallest homes sold*

  1. 5018 S Chesterfield Rd — Claremont — $850,000 (4 beds | 2 baths | 1,902 sq. ft.)
  2. 1600 Clarendon Blvd Unit W309 — Rosslyn — $1,295,000 (2 beds | 2.5 baths | 1,914 sq. ft.)
  3. 1018 S Rolfe St — Arlington View — $999,000 (4 beds | 3 baths | 1,944 sq. ft.)

*Minimum home value of $200,000 set to exclude certain land sales, retirement condos, properties with expiring ground leases, etc.

Arlington County still assessing damage from Saturday’s storm

By ARLnow.com
1/10

The impacts from Saturday’s severe storms were so widespread that Arlington County is still assessing damage.

Power has since been restored to the more than 34,000 Dominion customers in the dark after the storms, and the GW Parkway completed its reopening yesterday after crews removed hundreds of fallen and potentially hazardous trees. But other damage to both private and county property is still being addressed in Arlington.

“The storms on Saturday, July 29, caused widespread damage, resulting in power outages (both public and private buildings) and travel disruptions (caused by fallen trees),” Arlington County spokesman Ryan Hudson recounted to ARLnow. “As staff continue to assess damage, it might be some time before the ultimate impact of the storm is known.”

“County crews continue to investigate and address the tickets submitted to the online Request for Service tool,” Hudson said. “Much of the clean-up focuses on debris blocking roadways and waterways, and tree removal.”

The scale of the damage is reminiscent of the 2012 derecho, though the latter was even more widespread. Saturday’s storms concentrated more of the damage near the river and in north-central portions of Arlington, roughly between Route 50 and Langston Blvd, including the Orange Line corridor.

Still, there remains plenty to clean up.

“The Solid Waste Bureau has collected 246 tons of brush so far since Saturday,” Peter Golkin, spokesman for ARLnow’s Dept. of Environmental Services, tells ARLnow. “The average number of scheduled brush pick-ups is about 70 per day out of a max of 150 available. They’ve hit the max for Tuesday, [Wednesday and Thursday].”

Arlington residents can schedule brush pickups online.

Hudson said Arlington’s 911 call center received a total of 1,618 calls for service on Saturday between 5 p.m. and midnight, a 225% spike in call volume. The Arlington County Emergency Communications Center received a peak volumes of nearly 500 calls between 5-6 p.m.

County employees have inspected 16 homes damaged by the storm, by some combination of strong winds and falling trees, branches, and power lines. Of those, four were determined to have major or severe damage, Hudson said.

Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation has also been busy since the storm, with lots of fallen trees and branches in local parks and along busy trails.

Storm damage closed Rocky Run Park near Courthouse until it reopened yesterday. The storm also damaged power lines at Gulf Branch Nature Center, leading to a power outage and closure today.

Hollywood’s actor strike has come to Arlington

By ARLnow.com
1/2

Arlington is not exactly the Hollywood of the East, pivotal West Wing episodes aside, but the strikes rocking tinseltown have a new local front here.

The Writers Guild of America and performers union SAG-AFTRA are both on strike this summer, demanding better compensation — particularly from streaming services — as well as protections from the use of artificial intelligence in TV and film production. While most of the picket lines you see on the news are in New York or Los Angeles, strikers are out in Arlington today.

A dozen or more members of SAG-AFTRA were handing out leaflets in front of Amazon’s newly-opened HQ2 in Pentagon City this morning. Holding “Union Strong” and “SAG-AFTRA Strong” signs, the strikers were perhaps more subdued than their counterparts picketing Hollywood studio lots, but nonetheless determined to send a message to the tech giant and its Prime streaming service.

“Amazon Prime and the other major studios and streamers are refusing to negotiate a fair deal with union members, including the very people appearing in Amazon Prime Original series,” said an email sent to the Arlington Democrats Labor Caucus yesterday, obtained by ARLnow.

The strikers will be working three shifts today, starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m., according to the email.

Writers are returning to the negotiating table with Hollywood studios, various outlets reported yesterday. The dual strikes, meanwhile, are having a significant economic impact on production hubs like LA, NYC and Atlanta.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
A lone shopping cart on a sidewalk along S. Glebe Road (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

GW Parkway Back Open — “It took four days of work, but all trees have finally been cleared from the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The parkway’s northern section between the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean and Spout Run Parkway in Arlington reopened at 9:45 a.m. [Wednesday].” [FFXnow]

Street Sweeping Starts Soon — “Street sweeping removes accumulated debris and pollutants such as sand, salt, metals, petroleum products and bacteria before they wash into streams, the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Neighborhoods in Arlington are swept four times a year in August, October, April and June.” [Press Release]

Group Blasts Langston Blvd Plan — “Is the Arlington County government’s plan to urbanize the Langston Boulevard corridor a giveaway bonanza to developers that benefits upper-class white residents (and insulates them from negative effects) but does little to promote diversity or address some pressing needs? That’s one interpretation based on a new critique of the proposal from Arlingtonians for Our Sustainable Future.” [Gazette Leader]

NAACP Wants More Involved in Local Politics — “The Arlington branch of the NAACP is planning to focus some of its pre-election efforts on encouraging residents of affordable-housing communities to get involved in the political process.” [Gazette Leader]

AFAC Using Whatsapp — “The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), a leading nonprofit organization committed to alleviating long term food insecurity in Arlington County and Northern Virginia, is proud to announce its adoption of WhatsApp, a popular and free messaging app, to strengthen communication with clients.” [Press Release]

Cyclist Struck Follow Up — “Officers with the Arlington County Police Department responded just before 4:20 p.m. to 10th Street North and North Wayne Street after receiving a report about the crash. Through an initial investigation, they were able to determine that the bicyclist, a man, was riding in the area when he was sideswiped by the striking vehicle.” [WUSA 9]

Another Cyclist Struck Wednesday — “Medics arriving on scene now at intersection of N. Lynn Street and Langston Blvd in Rosslyn for a cyclist struck by a driver. Cyclist is sitting on sidewalk, striking vehicle (a Jeep) remained on scene.” [Twitter]

Drivers Ignoring Ballston Stop Sign — “Hi, @ArlingtonVaPD. Still no noticeable enforcement of the 4-way #Stop at 9th and Quincy? I wasn’t ready, but I have seen 3 cars going 30 go straight through. Here are two videos of violations. The first is slow, but illegal. The second shows 3 cars breaking the law.” [Twitter]

Fire Department Promotion — An Arlington County firefighter with a remarkable moustache has received a promotion to lieutenant. [Twitter]

It’s Thursday — There is a slight chance of showers after 2pm, but it will be mostly sunny with a high near 86°F today. Expect a south wind of 9-11 mph with gusts up to 18 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. Tonight, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 8pm, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 70°F, accompanied by a south wind of around 10 mph. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 2, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 2, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

☀️ Thursday’s forecast

There is a slight chance of showers after 2 pm, but the day will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching around 87°F. Expect south winds of 9-11 mph, with possible gusts up to 20 mph. For Thursday night, there’s potential for showers and thunderstorms mainly after 2 am, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures around 70°F, along with a 10 mph south wind. The chance of precipitation is 20% during the day and increases to 30% at night. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”
– William G.T. Shedd

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

Listing of the Day: 6218 30th Street N.

By ARLnow.com
1/6

Address: 6218 30th Street N.
Neighborhood: Berkshire Oakwood
Type: 6 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 5,250 sq. ft.
Listed: $2,400,000

Noteworthy: Extensively renovated from corner-to-corner with 5 true bedrooms upstairs

A better-than-new masterpiece that wows you from first glance, this thoughtful renovation is like nothing you’ve seen before.

Tucked away on a peaceful street, it’s impossible not to slow down and stare for a moment as you pass by. The tasteful details start with authentic copper gutters and extend to muted palette plantation shutters and a garage pergola complete with wrapping vines.

The interior detailing is equally as custom, from the intricate moldings and millwork to the numerous built-in cabinets and benches. Seemingly small details, like solid glass doorknobs and hand selected unlacquered brass finishes, breathe a sense of welcome and warmth that is hard to manufacture. Simply put, there is a certain je ne se quais that words can’t capture.

Finishing details include solid plank Oak hardwoods which span the top two levels including all five upper level bedrooms and the bonus owner’s suite den. Each bathroom in the home is filled with custom tile selections, stone vanities, eye catching lighting, and a tasteful color scheme. The owner’s bath is a true retreat with separate soaking tub and heated herringbone marble flooring. A main level office and mudroom along with a lower level fitness room and true sixth bedroom, full bath, and expansive walk-up recreation room complete the layout. 9′ ceilings are found across all levels.

Notable functional upgrades include: dual cabinet paneled dishwashers, dual washers and dryers, custom closets throughout, a whole house generator, an in-lawn irrigation system, and a new custom deck with adjacent patio and fire pit.

Listed by:
Diane Schline — Douglas Elliman Real Estate
[email protected]
(703) 258-9439

NEW: Girl sexually assaulted by intruder, police say

By ARLnow.com
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

A girl was sexually assaulted by a man who broke into her home in the Ashton Heights neighborhood early this morning, according to police.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. on the 300 block of N. Glebe Road.

Arlington County police say the intruder touched the girl inappropriately but ended up fleeing after she kicked him and then refused to leave with him.

More, below, from an ACPD press release.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is investigating a sexual assault which occurred during a residential burglary in the 300 block of N. Glebe Road.

At approximately 6:58 a.m. on August 2, police were dispatched to the report of suspicious circumstances. The preliminary investigation indicates that approximately 1:04 a.m., the juvenile female victim was awoken after the suspect gained entry into her residence and touched her inappropriately. The victim kicked the suspect and he left the scene. The suspect returned a short time later, attempted to convince the victim to leave with him and fled the scene after she refused.

The suspect is described as a White and/or Hispanic male, 25 – 45 years old, with dark hair and wearing a white shirt and light-colored shorts.

This remains an active criminal investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Detective McGuire at 703-228-4173 or [email protected]. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). For additional community resources and contact information, visit our website.

This is the second local incident of a juvenile victim being touched inappropriately in the past few days. A boy was sexually abused on a trail near Kenmore Middle School on Sunday morning.

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Roy Lee

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Meet Roy Lee, a beautiful black cat who is the newest Adoptable Pet of the Week!

This is what his foster parents had to say about him:

Roy Lee is a sweet, handsome, brave guy who has come so far! After a sad and rough start to his life, he has now blossomed in his foster home and is enjoying becoming a real cat.

Roy is VERY motivated by pets and love — he is always eager for neck and bum scratches, and will rub on your legs or jump up next to you in pursuit of more pets. After getting a good dose of love, his inner kitten comes out and he’s off playing with jingly balls and other small toys he can bat around.

He’s recently discovered that cat scratchers and catnip are awesome. He now knows that cuddling up next to you on the couch is the best thing ever. He’s had to learn all the cat basics!

Roy is a great eater and uses the litter box like a champ. Patience and consistency is key to opening up his adorable, loving, and playful personality. He may be shy and hide in a new home at first, but once he knows he’s safe and in trusted hands, he will just blossom and trot out for pets when he hears you!

He’s been great with the little kids in his foster home. Roy will make a delightful companion!

Is Roy Lee the companion you’ve been searching for? Check out his entire profile to learn more and how to schedule a meet and greet!

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with 2-3 paragraphs about your pet and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Plane taking off as seen from Long Bridge Park on a hazy day (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reevesland Plan Advances — “The nearly quarter-century effort to find an appropriate use for the Reevesland farmhouse in the Boulevard Manor community seems to be over. Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) members on July 17 approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing Habitat for Humanity to renovate the circa-1900 main building and add two wings.” [Gazette Leader]

Cyclist Struck Near Courthouse — From Tuesday afternoon: “ACPD on scene of a reported hit-and-run involving a cyclist at 10th Street N. and N. Wayne Street. The cyclist lost consciousness in the crash and is unable to provide a description of the striking vehicle, per scanner.” [Twitter]

Dems Plan Unity Event — “The Arlington County Democratic Committee is hoping a ‘unity’ event will aid in smoothing over any lingering hard feelings after the Democratic County Board primary. Bob Rosen and former County Board member Jay Fisette will host the Aug. 6 gathering, to which the six candidates who competed in the primary have been invited.” [Gazette Leader]

Arlington Restaurant Inspections — “Several facilities in Arlington recorded violations during recent inspections from the Arlington County Public Health department. Inspectors conducted the most recent visits between July 20 and July 25.” [Patch]

Va. Tourism Spending Rises — “Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) announced today that Virginia’s tourism industry generated $30.3 billion in visitor spending in 2022, an increase of 20.3% from 2021, exceeding 2019 levels by 4.4%. The tourism industry in Virginia directly supported 210,721 jobs in 2022, an increase of more than 25,000 jobs relative to 2021, but still down about 30,000 jobs relative to 2019.” [Press Release]

Wildfire Haze Returns — From the Capital Weather Gang: “The milky haze above DC is wildfire smoke…AGAIN. But the smoke is mostly suspended high in the sky and not affecting air quality at ground level in a big way.” [Twitter]

It’s Wednesday — Expect a pleasant and sunny day with a high temperature of about 85°F and light winds that will become southeast at around 6 mph later in the morning. By Wednesday night, the skies will become partly cloudy, and temperatures will drop to around 65°F, accompanied by south winds at about 8 mph. [Weather.gov]

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Aug 1, 2023

By ARLnow.com

Good Tuesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Aug 1, 2023.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Wednesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

  • No events today. Have one to promote? Submit it to the calendar.

☀️ Wednesday’s forecast

The weather forecast for Wednesday is mainly sunny, with temperatures reaching a high of around 84°F. The wind will be light and variable, shifting to a southeastern direction at approximately 6 mph in the morning. Expect a partly cloudy night with a low temperature of around 65°F and a southerly wind at about 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
– Christopher Robin

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.

View More Stories