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.

APS: ‘Incident’ Involving Substitute Teacher at Swanson Middle School

By ARLnow.com

A police officer stepped in to help with an “incident” involving administrators and a substitute teacher at Swanson Middle School earlier today.

An email sent to parents said that a “conversation escalated” between the sub and school officials, prompting a response from the Arlington Public Schools human resources department and a school resource officer.

An APS spokesman declined to provide additional detail about what happened beyond what was written in the email, saying that it was a “personnel issue.”

The full email is below.

Dear Swanson Community,

Today, we had an incident involving our administrators and a substitute teacher.  Because the conversation escalated, we coordinated with school administrators as well as our school resource officer.  We also worked directly with Central Office staff in the APS Human Resources and Administrative Services departments to address the issue, and great efforts were taken to keep the interactions away from students to avoid causing further disruption to the school day. Nonetheless, several students witnessed the individual being escorted off school grounds.

In light of the prevalence of social media and other communication outlets, I wanted to let you know about this in case you see or hear any reports in the community.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at [REDACTED].

Thank you,

Reneé Harber
Principal

Photo via Arlington Public Schools

Retail Kiosk at Pentagon Row to be Demolished

By ARLnow.com
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Demolition permits have been issued for one of the freestanding retail kiosks at Pentagon Row.

The kiosk is one of two built in Pentagon Row’s central plaza during its 2013 renovations. A frozen yogurt store operated out of the kiosk until it closed in November 2015.

We’re told the kiosk is being torn down to provide additional outdoor seating for the forthcoming Basic Burger location and “pop-up” street taco eatery.

Pentagon Row’s other retail kiosk is currently home to Bread and Water cafe, which opened in February.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

More Water Infrastructure Repairs — Work to replace a collapsed 18-inch stormwater pipe on Arlington Ridge Road is expected to continue through the weekend, prompting detours on Arlington Ridge between 23rd Street S. and S. Glebe Road. Also today, crews from the Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services are working to fix a broken water main, affecting 50-100 water customers, on the 1600 block of N. Jackson Street in Lyon Village. [Twitter, Twitter]

History of the Namesake of Hall’s Hill — The historically African-American neighborhood of Hall’s Hill in Arlington is named after an “infamous” 19th century slaveowner named Basil Hall who once shot a slave in a fit of “bravado.” In 1866 his land was sold to form the neighborhood. Hall had a sister, a downtown brothel keeper named Mary Ann, whose land in Arlington later became Marymount University. [Falls Church News-Press]

Local Kids Pen Hamilton Book — Just in time for Hamilton, the wildly popular musical, to arrive at the Kennedy Center, two Arlington kids (and their dad) have self-published a 50-page book “about the Washington-area sites related to Alexander Hamilton, his wife Eliza, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other Founding Fathers.” [Amazon]

Photo courtesy John Sonderman

Arlington Agenda: May 29-June 3

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.

Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.

Tuesday, May 29

Solo: A Star Wars Story
Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 7 p.m.

Tickets to this latest addition to the Star Wars franchise are $10 and available online. The film will be playing at the Drafthouse almost every day for the next week and a half.

Wednesday, May 30

Cars & Champagne Happy Hour
Ms. Peacock’s Champagne Lounge (929 N. Garfield Street)
Time: 6-8 p.m.

Drive Society will be hosting a Cars & Champagne Happy Hour at Ms. Peacock’s Champagne Lounge, featuring exotic cars and exceptional champagne. Members of the public are welcome to attend the event and may RSVP online.

Moonwalk at Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial
Time: 8:30-10 p.m.

This 1.5 mile hike enables participants to experience the natural beauty of Theodore Roosevelt Island in full moonlight. No pets or children under 16 are permitted, and walkers are advised to wear comfortable shoes and clothing to accommodate the weather.

Thursday, May 31

Yorktown Theatre’s The SeussOdyssey by Don Zolidis
Yorktown High School (5200 Yorktown Blvd.)
Time: 7 p.m.

Join Yorktown High School’s Theatre II class for a literary journey through Homer’s Odyssey transformed into the style of Dr. Seuss. Featuring a singing Cyclops and a battle among teddy bears, the show represents a comedic reimagining of Homer’s classic.

Friday, June 1

Community Rally for Wear Orange/National Gun Violence Awareness Day
Courthouse Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd.)
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Community members will gather to rally for a future free of gun violence and to honor the 96 lives lost each day to gun violence. Attendees are encouraged to wear orange. Event is hosted by the Arlington chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

Battle of the Badges Fundraiser Basketball Game
Washington-Lee High School (1301 N. Stafford Street)
Time: 7 p.m.

Officers from the ACPD join forces with students from Washington-Lee High School to take on Arlington firefighters and students from Wakefield High School. Donations will be accepted to benefit the schools’ Student Government Associations.

Columbia Pike Movie Nights: “Grease”
Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie Street)
Time: 8:30-10:30 p.m.

“Grease” will play outdoors as the first film in a series of 28 music-focused movies that will be screened along Columbia Pike on Fridays and Saturdays through September 1. Admission is free.

Saturday, June 2

Arlington Women in Public Safety Outreach Event
Arlington Traditional School (855 N. Edison Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

This event aims to recognize some of the women who help keep the Arlington community safe. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from Arlington’s female public safety employees and participate in an “escape room activity.”

Corpus Christi Celebration*
St. Agnes Catholic Church (1910 N. Randolph Street)
Time: 1-3 p.m.

The St. Agnes Church invites community members to join them in their Corpus Christi Celebration, which will include a barbecue lunch and music. Those interested in attending lunch should RSVP by emailing [email protected].

Rosé All Day With Kyle & Amanda from Bravo’s Summer House*
Quinn’s (1776 Wilson Blvd.)
Time: 3-10 p.m.

Guests are invited to ring in summer with Bravo’s Summer House stars Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula while sipping on the newest addition to Quinn’s menu: forty ounce Rosé bottles. Admission to the event is free and those interested may RSVP online.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Resident Calls Police on Children’s Karaoke Party in Fairlington

By ARLnow.com

An outdoor karaoke party for kids in the Fairlington neighborhood prompted a call to police Friday night.

Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage confirmed that police were dispatched at 9:49 p.m. to the 4200 block of 35th Street S. “for a report of a loud party.”

Via social media, residents described the gathering as a karaoke party for toddlers, held by parents in a condo parking lot. Two police cars arrived but no action was taken by officers, residents said.

The call to police prompted widespread indignation on a Facebook page for Fairlington residents, with many calling it “ridiculous.”

“Whichever of you suggested to call the police on a karaoke party before 10 p.m. on a Friday during [Memorial Day weekend], you must be a pleasure at parties,” said one.

“Sorry my child likes to play outside,” said another. “Thank you for calling the cops on us instead of walking over and asking us to turn down the volume on a kids’ ‘fashion show,’ cowardly neighbor. You’re a peach.”

“You’re a joke,” said yet another. “Say hi to your cats.”

The posts were later taken down by a page administrator, who urged greater civility among its thousands of members.

In an earlier post, which was also taken down after attracting numerous replies, a resident complained about noise from the party. (It’s unclear if the poster was the same resident who called police.)

“Appreciate it’s a Friday night, but our neighbors have decided to have a (loud) party (complete with karaoke) in our common court area outside,” she said. “Are there rules for noise at this hour? I’ve never had neighbors like this in Fairlington and we’ve lived here for 14 years.”

No citations were issued by police and the officers who arrived on scene did not even file a report, according to Savage.

“The minor incident was resolved and no police report was filed,” she said.

Ice Cream Shop Appears to be Coming to Shirlington

By ARLnow.com

It looks like Shirlington will be getting its own ice cream shop.

An application has been filed to convert a storefront at 4150 Campbell Avenue into an “ice cream take out” business. There is a frozen yogurt store a block away, but no other ice cream shops in the neighborhood.

The exact storefront could not be confirmed, though Knits Etc. at 4150 Campbell Ave recently closed and is currently vacant.

Hat tip to Chris Slatt

Police Investigate Armed Robbery at Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

Two men, armed with a gun and a taser, robbed a business at the Pentagon City mall early Saturday morning, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to the mall shortly after 2 a.m.

Police say the men entered the back room of the business, pistol whipped an employee in the face, and stole cash and other items before fleeing.

More from an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ARMED ROBBERY, 2018-05270026, 1100 block of S. Hayes Street. At approximately 2:21 a.m. on May 27, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was in a back room of the business when two unknown male suspects entered the room. One suspect brandished a firearm, hit the victim in the face with it, and demanded cash, while second suspect, brandishing a taser, stole cash and items of value. Both suspects fled the scene on foot prior to police arrival. The victim did not require medical treatment. Suspect One is described as a black male, in his 40’s or 50’s, approximately 6’3″, with a thin build, wearing a dark hat and dark pants. Suspect Two is described as a black male, in his late 30’s or 40’s, with an athletic or stocky build, wearing a dark hoodie with the hood up, a mask and gloves. The investigation is ongoing.

ACPD to Enforce New Clarendon Drop-off Points

By ARLnow.com

New nighttime drop-off and pick-up zones are coming to Clarendon in an effort to stop double parking, blocking of crosswalks and other bad driver behavior.

The zones, created in response to drivers clogging roads and creating dangerous situations for pedestrians during peak bar-going times, are being placed throughout the neighborhood.

The county is specifically working with Lyft, Uber and Red Top Cab to make sure the new traffic patterns are followed by those driving nightlife patrons to and from Clarendon.

Arlington County Police will conduct a three-week “warning” period before starting to “strictly enforce the new regulations.”

More from an ACPD press release:

The initiative also aims to curb illegal practices, such as double parking and stopping in travel lanes, bus stops, bike lanes and crosswalks, to load and unload passengers.

The designated drop-off and pick-up zones in Clarendon will be enforced between Thursdayand Sunday nights from the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Zone areas are:

  1. Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard between North Highland Street and North Irving Street
  2. North Highland Street between Wilson Boulevard and 11th Street North
  3. North Fillmore Street between Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard

Motorists should be on the lookout for ‘No Parking Except 5 Minute Passenger Pick Up and Drop Off’ signs. The Arlington County Police Department will strictly enforce the new regulations, however; a three week warning period is planned to help bring public awareness to the changes and encourage compliance through the issuance of verbal and written warnings for observed infractions.  The warning period will also give drivers and riders an opportunity to become familiar with the newly designated pick-up and drop-off zones.

Violators will be issued citations at the completion of the warning period.

This is a joint safety project between Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the Arlington County Police Department.

“With the popularity of Clarendon, safety of all people in the public right-of-way is a top concern for us” says Dennis Leach, director of transportation. “We believe the zones will benefit everyone – customers, businesses and neighborhood residents – by providing a safer flow of traffic and reduced conflicts between motorists and pedestrians in one of the County’s busiest neighborhoods.”

“The Arlington County Police Department is committed to maintaining Clarendon as a safe destination for nightlife and entertainment” says M. Jay Farr, Chief of Police. “The officers assigned to Clarendon on Friday and Saturday evenings continue to monitor the area to reduce alcohol related harm and address public safety concerns. The new zones are one additional layer to ensuring the overall safety of customers, businesses and neighborhood residents.”

Photos via ACPD

Arlington County Launches ‘New Online Resource for Consumers’

By ARLnow.com

There’s a new way for Arlington residents to complain about things.

Arlington County has launched a new “Consumer Protection Clearinghouse” website, with consumer-oriented information about everything from towing to cable TV service to food trucks. The site is a one-stop shop that puts local, state and federal resources in one place.

The new site was announced at last week’s Arlington County Board meeting.

The site also includes a “submit a complaint” feature, focused mostly on towing, cable and taxi-related issues. Submissions will be reviewed by county staff.

The site will allow the county to “better address the needs of consumers” and help facilitate a “fair marketplace,” said Jeanine Finch, who serves as the county’s Business Ombudsman and lead for consumer affairs.

County Board Chair Katie Cristol said the Board is “quite enthusiastic” about the new site.

More information from a press release:

A new Consumer Protection Clearinghouse site aims to help consumers and businesses in Arlington County by providing educational resources and a way to submit concerns.

This new site centralizes existing consumer resources from across County government, and consolidates and incorporates a variety of state and federal resources as well. It also enhances access to public information on a range of topics regulated by the County government, including:

  • Towing
  • Cable TV
  • Taxis
  • Pawn Shops
  • Food Trucks
  • Solicitation

The page also includes an easy-to-use “submit a complaint” button that appears on each page in the site.

The new resource was announced at the May 22, 2018, County Board Meeting by County Manager Mark Schwartz.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Work Begins to Replace Collapsed Pipe — A collapsed 18-inch stormwater pipe is being replaced on Arlington Ridge. The work is necessitating a detour for Arlington Ridge Road traffic between 23rd Street and S. Glebe Road. The stretch has been the site of numerous water main issues over the past few years. [Twitter]

Big Turnout for Caps Sendoff — Thousands of fans reportedly flocked to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston on Saturday to give the Caps a Stanley Cup sendoff as they traveled to Las Vegas for Game 1 of the finals. [WUSA 9]

Manager Warns Against Additional Debt — “[Don’t] do it. That’s Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz’s advice to County Board members, urging them to resist any temptation to disregard the government’s self-imposed, and for the most part sacrosanct, debt guidelines. The guidelines, long in place to help the county government retain AAA bond ratings, call for the cost of servicing municipal debt to remain less than 10 percent of the total overall county-government budget in any given year.” [InsideNova]

ACFD Lends a Hand in Ellicott City — Arlington County Fire Department units are helping out the flood recovery efforts in Ellicott City, Md. The catastrophic flooding in Ellicott City over the weekend prompted a regional disaster aid response. [Twitter]

DJO Wins State Softball Crown — The Bishop O’Connell Knights girls high school softball team won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I tournament last week, capturing the state championship title for the seventh year in a row. [InsideNova]

Photo courtesy @thelastfc

Motorcyclist Injured in Crash on Shirlington Circle

By ARLnow.com

Police and firefighters are on scene of a motorcycle crash on Shirlington Circle over I-395.

A motorcycling “wiped out” while driving around the circle, according to scanner traffic, and suffered a number of injuries. The injuries are believed to include broken bones but are not life-threatening.

One lane of Shirlington Circle traffic is squeezing by the crash scene; it is unclear if any ramps are blocked.

The crash comes as thousands of bikers descend on the area for the annual Memorial Day weekend Rolling Thunder rally.

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