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.
A northbound lane of the GW Parkway reopened at 1 p.m. and the Spout Run Parkway is expected to reopen in both directions “later today.” Southbound lanes of the GW Parkway remain closed through much of Arlington as crews work to remove “hazardous trees,” NPS said.
The remaining closures may last another day or two.
More, below, from a park service press release.
The entire northbound lane of George Washington Memorial Parkway reopened today at 1 p.m. The northbound and southbound lanes of Spout Run Parkway are expected to reopen later today.
The southbound lane of the Parkway between I-495 and Spout Run Parkway remains closed as crews continue to remove hazardous trees along more than four miles of the roadway.
“The safety of our visitors and staff is our first priority,” Charles Cuvelier, George Washington Memorial Parkway superintendent, said. “Yesterday, crews removed 250-325 hazardous trees, resulting in 100 dump-truck and 15 chipper-truck loads, and more than 500 tons of wood and debris.”
For more information and updates, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/gwmp or contact Christopher Hershey at 202-439-7323.
Crash on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Crash on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Crash on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Crash on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Crash on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Crash on N. Harrison Street (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
(Updated at 5:15 p.m.) Several blocks of N. Harrison Street are blocked in the Yorktown neighborhood due to an unusual crash.
A Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV ended up on top of an Acura TL sedan as the result of a crash in front of Chestnut Hills Park, a popular popular children’s playground.
No injuries have been reported and everyone was able to get out of the vehicles before police and firefighters arrived, according to scanner traffic.
A passenger in the car told ARLnow that the crash happened as the SUV driver was making a U-turn and ended up colliding with the Acura, which was occupied by several members of Yorktown High School’s golf team. The driver’s side of the Jeep came to rest on top of the Acura’s hood.
As of 5:15 p.m. the roadway was back open.
LOCATION: 2800-blk N. Harrison St INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: Due to police and fire activity, please avoid the area and seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/h8O5BE5TTY
Scene of hit and run crash in Lyon Village (courtesy photo)
Scene of hit and run crash in Lyon Village (courtesy photo)
Scene of hit and run crash in Lyon Village (courtesy photo)
Scene of hit and run crash in Lyon Village (courtesy photo)
On Saturday night, as much of Arlington was cleaning up from the earlier severe storms, a driver slammed into a light pole and a stop sign in the Lyon Village neighborhood.
The driver of the Porsche SUV then got out and ran off with two small children who had been passengers in the vehicle, police and witnesses tell ARLnow. It is unclear whether any of them were injured.
It’s an incident that drew many neighbors out of their homes amid a power outage. The crash still has the affluent neighborhood near Clarendon and Courthouse talking — and concerned about the welfare of the children.
A local resident recounted what happened.
“Around 10:05 pm, a black Porsche SUV went screeching down N. Bryan St. in Lyon Village at a high speed, crashed into a light pole and took the entire pole down across N. Bryan, hit a stop sign which got attached to the undercarriage of the Porsche, then did a sharp left turn into 16th Street where the car came to a stop,” a tipster told us.
“Then I heard a little girl screaming ‘Daddy, Daddy!’ It was heartstopping,” she continued. “I ran outside at the sound of the collision and heard the girl screaming. When I got there, the car was still running, all the doors were open, but no one was in it. Neighbors were pouring out of their houses to see what had happened.”
“At least three witnesses reported that the man got out of the Porsche and told his children (apparently 2 young children) ‘Run with me,’ she said. “Then they took off running down 16th Street towards Courthouse.”
The tipster shared photos of the crash, including the navigation screen, which had Le Diplomate restaurant in D.C., Quincy Park in Arlington, and a home in Vienna, Virginia listed as recent destinations.
“The car was badly damaged with almost every window shattered and the stop sign stuck to the undercarriage — so hopefully the kids were not injured. The little girl sounded absolutely terrified, though.,” the tipster added. “It took the police and fire dept. quite a while to arrive due to all the other emergencies.”
Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman Ashley Savage largely confirmed the sequence of events.
At approximately 10:07 p.m. on July 29, police were dispatched to the 1500 block of N. Bryan Street for the report of a single vehicle crash with unknown conditions The preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the vehicle struck a stop sign and utility pole at 16th Street N. and N. Bryan Street before exiting the vehicle with the two juvenile occupants and running from the scene prior to police arrival.
Savage said the crash is being investigated as a hit and run but declined to name a suspect as no one has been charged yet.
“The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been sought at this time” said Savage.
Construction along Crystal Drive in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
APS Boundary Adjustments On Tap — “It’s a part of the job description that leads one to question the sanity of those who seek to serve on local school boards. Arlington school leaders are planning three consecutive years of boundary adjustments to accommodate significant shifts in student populations across the county.” [Gazette Leader]
Storm Damage on Ft. Myer — From Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall: “Lee Avenue is temporarily closed due to tree removal. Our hard-working DPW team is aware of the damage from recent storms and is doing the heavy lifting across the base to clean it up.” [Twitter]
Storm Damage at Cemetery — From Arlington National Cemetery: “Storm clean-up update: ANC remains closed to visitors and pass holders on Tuesday, August 1. Funerals will still be conducted as scheduled and open to attendees. Thank you for your patience as we clear each section of debris and obstruction for everyone’s safety.” [Twitter]
Power Crew Stops Wayward Walkers — From Dominion’s Peggy Fox: “People tried to walk under our caution tape… until these guys stepped in! They stopped traffic & safely escorted pedestrians around our worksite off near Ft Myer in Arlington. We appreciate & thank you!” [Twitter]
Wrong-Way Driver in Clarendon — From Dave Statter: “Individualism & charting your own path can be keys to a healthy life — except maybe on a one-way street. And especially when heading straight toward an @ArlingtonVaPD officer.” [Twitter]
Rocket Launch Viewing Tonight — “The next resupply mission to the International Space Station from commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is preparing for launch during a window that opens Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 8:31 p.m. EDT at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Many in the mid-Atlantic region may be able to see the rocket after liftoff.” [The MoCo Show]
It’s August — Sunny skies and a high temperature of around 84°F, accompanied by a light north wind at about 6 mph. For Tuesday night, expect mostly clear conditions with a low temperature of around 64°F and a gentle northeastern breeze. [Weather.gov]
The weather forecast predicts a sunny day with a high temperature of approximately 84 degrees and a light north wind at around 6 mph. During Tuesday night, the skies will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 64 degrees, with a gentle northeast wind blowing at 3 to 6 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
Address:6280 15th Place N. Neighborhood: Sycamore Ridge Type: 3 BR, 2 (+2 half) BA townhouse — 2,000 sq. ft. Listed: $795,000
Noteworthy: Surrounded by greenery on a quiet cul-de-sac blocks from EFC Metro
Updates to the kitchen and baths, refinished wood floors, and fresh paint make this home so desirable for those who value space, location, and a peaceful setting. Painted white cabinets, quartz countertops, tile backsplash, and new appliances in the eat in kitchen. The gathering size dining room flows into the living room with fireplace and sliding doors to a private deck with treed views. An updated powder room and coat closet complete this level.
Upstairs the primary bedroom has double closets and a renovated bath with double sinks and oversized shower. An updated hall bathroom is shared by the second and third bedrooms, and the refinished wood floors add style to the space. The lower level has a den with built in shelving and a Murphy bed allowing it to double as private guest space. A second fireplace is in the rec room along with doors to the second deck with hot tub. The laundry is on the level along with another updated powder room and storage.
The condo association is well managed and the $375 condo fee covers exterior maintenance and repairs, common areas including the well landscaped grounds, two reserved parking spaces, professional management, reserve funds, and common utilities. A block to the bike path, Madison Manor Park, and East Falls Church Metro. Enjoy access to Westover Village or downtown Falls Church with its many restaurants, movies, and legendary farmer’s market. Tuckahoe Elementary School, Swanson Middle School, and Yorktown High School are nearby.
Map showing approximate location of sexual battery incident on trail (via Google Maps)
Arlington County police are looking for a man who sexually abused a boy on a local trail.
The incident happened around 9 a.m. Sunday morning, on a trail near the intersection of Route 50 and Carlin Springs Road. That’s near Kenmore Middle School, Bluemont Park and the W&OD Trail.
“At approximately 9:09 a.m. on July 30, police were dispatched to the report of an assault just occurred,” Arlington County police said today in a crime report. “Upon arrival, it was determined the juvenile victim was walking on the trail when he was approached by the unknown male suspect. The suspect engaged the victim in conversation before touching him inappropriately and fleeing the scene on foot.”
“Officers canvassed the area for the suspect yielding negative results. No injuries were reported,” the crime report continues. “The suspect is described as a heavy-set Hispanic male in his 40’s with gray hair, approximately 5’7” wearing a red shirt and dark sweat pants. The investigation is ongoing.”
(Updated at 2:20 p.m.) Firefighters are on scene of a fire investigation at Arlington County’s Water Pollution Control Plant.
Initial reports suggest that smoke is coming from a portion of the sewage plant along the 3200 block of S. Eads Street, near Crystal City. The fire department is trying to determine the source of the smoke.
Police have been dispatched to the scene to shut down a portion of S. Eads Street.
During the investigation, a firefighter on scene suffered a medical emergency and is expected to be transported to the hospital via ambulance, according to scanner traffic.
As of 2:15 p.m., the fire department was starting to scale the operation back. The fire was reported to be the result of solid waste that caught fire within one of the plant’s systems.
Jail entrance at the Arlington County Detention Facility (file photo)
Prosecutors secured felony convictions earlier this month against two men in separate sexual battery cases.
In one case, a man was convicted of secually abusing “a mentally incapacitated or physically helpless individual” in a public park in Arlington in July 2020.
In the other case, a man was found guilty of sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in her Arlington home in November 2019.
More on the convictions, below, via a press release from the Arlington and Falls Church Commonwealth’s Attorney Office.
On July 13, 2023, an Arlington County jury found Matthew Coble guilty of Aggravated Sexual Battery of a mentally incapacitated or physically helpless individual. The evidence presented at trial proved that Mr. Coble sexually abused the victim at a public park in Arlington County on July 24, 2020. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict, and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2023. The statutory range of punishment in Virginia for Aggravated Sexual Battery is a period of incarceration between one and twenty years and a fine of up to $100,000.
On July 25, 2023, an Arlington County jury found Dylan Veitch guilty of Aggravated Sexual Battery of a minor under the age of 13 years old. The evidence presented at trial proved that Mr. Veitch sexually abused the twelve-year-old victim at her home in Arlington County in November of 2019. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict, and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2023. Following the guilty verdict, a motion by the Commonwealth to revoke Mr. Veitch’s bond was granted by The Honorable Daniel S. Fiore, II. The statutory range of punishment in Virginia for Aggravated Sexual Battery is a period of incarceration between one and twenty years and a fine of up to $100,000.
Both cases were prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Nassir Aboreden. The Commonwealth’s Attorney Office would like to thank all members of the participating juries for their thoughtful consideration of the facts, evidence, and the law in each of these cases. The verdicts in each case provide the victims with a level of closure. Our thoughts are with the victims as they embark on their healing journey.
Metal table in tree in Courthouse (photo courtesy Rachel G.)
Metal table in tree in Courthouse (photo courtesy Rachel G.)
Tree down onto house near Lacey Woods Park (photo courtesy Joshua Folb)
Tree down onto house near Lacey Woods Park (photo courtesy Joshua Folb)
County-recognized “notable” tree down at 7th and N. Nelson Street (photo courtesy anonymous)
(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) The herculean effort to clean up from Saturday’s storms and restore power to tens of thousands is continuing Monday morning.
The GW Parkway remains closed to most traffic between Spout Run Parkway and the Beltway — and is expected to remain closed until later this week, as crews work to clear a large number of downed trees and branches.
The southbound lanes of Spout Run Parkway, where at least one car was damaged by a fallen tree Saturday, also remain closed.
From a press release issued Monday afternoon:
The George Washington Memorial Parkway is currently experiencing closures due to the aftermath of Saturday’s storm. Crews are diligently working to clear fallen trees from the roadway, and these closures are expected to last for the next few days.
To enhance and expedite the restoration process, George Washington Memorial Parkway has deployed a total of five crews, including its own team, assistance from the National Capital Parks-East (NACE), and three additional emergency contracting crews.
The North Parkway, from Spout Run Parkway to I-495, remains closed, except for the northbound lanes from Route 123 to I-495. Additionally, the southbound lanes of the Spout Run Parkway are also closed.
These closures are necessary to ensure the removal of hazardous trees, including those that have fallen across the roadway and broken limbs that pose a risk to travel lanes. The recovery work is estimated to be completed within three to four days.
Round-the-clock power restoration work whittled down the peak of more than 34,000 without electricity in Arlington — half that of the 2012 derecho — to 3,154 as of 11:15 a.m. Monday, according to Dominion’s website.
The remaining small outages are scattered throughout the county, though most are concentrated in north-central Arlington — between Route 50 and Langston Blvd — including the Orange Line corridor, which was particularly hard hit.
Throughout Northern Virginia, 4,732 Dominion customers remained in the dark this morning, according to the power company. Crews have been working long shifts and overnight to restore power, with much of that effort happening in Arlington.
As of 4 p.m., the outages were down to 2,029 in Arlington and 2,338 throughout Northern Virginia.
More storm stories are emerging as the cleanup continues.
In Courthouse, a heavy metal table was blown off a condo patio during the storm’s intense winds and is now stuck high in a tree, above a sidewalk.
“The tree is right across the street from the entrance of the Palatine apartment building,” a tipster told ARLnow on Sunday. By Monday morning, however, the table had been removed by a tree maintenance crew, the tipster said.
Trees came down throughout Arlington, taking down utility lines, blocking roads, and in at least eight known cases falling onto houses. One unlucky family was on their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando when a huge tree smashed into their stately brick house near Lacey Woods Park, we’re told.
For those on the go, it’s not just drivers who have to deal with fallen trees and other debris. A trail cleanup is planned for 5:30 p.m. today on the Mount Vernon Trail near Rosslyn, which “got hit particularly hard,” according to a social media post.
The MVT got hit hard yesterday particularly near @rosslynva. Join us for a post storm cleanup at the southern end of Trollheim Bridge/Bridge 31. We will be removing branches and debris.
— Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail (@MtVernonFriends) July 30, 2023
Additionally, numerous trees are reported to be down on the Custis Trail and at least one park is closed due to storm damage.
“Rocky Run Park is closed for maintenance due to damages caused by the July 29 storms,” said Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation. “Please do not go onto the park grounds.”
Arlington National Cemetery, meanwhile, is also closed today except for funerals amid widespread tree damage at the nation’s most hallowed ground.
⚠️UPDATE: ANC closed to visitors and pass holders on Monday, July 31 ⚠️
Funerals will still be conducted as scheduled and open to attendees.
Our crew needs a little more time to return ANC to its proper condition before we welcome visitors. We apologize for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/3uPTMDjLI5
— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 30, 2023
More storm damage photos from social media, below.
Following the July 29 storms, there are many downed trees on the County’s trails (like these images from the Custis Trail). We appreciate your patience as crews work to survey and address these areas. Please use caution when using the trails as cleanup will take some time. pic.twitter.com/s8WXxxYIPU
Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream trying to serve its stock of soon-to-be-melted ice cream on Saturday evening (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Armed Robbery at Bluemont Safeway — “At approximately 8:45 p.m., police were dispatched to the Safeway in the 5100 block of Wilson Boulevard for the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, officers determined that a man and a woman entered the store, [placed] merchandise into a shopping cart and attempted to leave without paying. Police said an employee confronted the pair and the man then struck the employee with the shopping cart and brandished a knife.” [WJLA]
ACPD Warns of Bitcoin Scams — A large Arlington County Police Department sign next to a bitcoin ATM at the Giant store in Penrose warns of various scams that coerce the victim into putting money into the machine. [Threads]
Buses Drive Past Injured Pedestrian — From Dave Statter: “Person struck on N. Glebe Road at Randolph IFO Harris Teeter tonight. Lots of people stopped to help. Bus drivers though forged ahead. How about parking the bus to block the roadway to protect everyone until fire & EMS arrive?” [Twitter]
Local GOP in Fundraising Mode — From the Arlington GOP: “Arlington Republicans are preparing to take our message to tens of thousands of voters this year. With solid candidates and good ideas, we’re ready to take on the failed ‘Arlington Way’ in our community.” [Twitter]
Pike Restaurant Recs — “Long known to be Arlington’s most diverse corridor, Columbia Pike has a rich history as a culinary melting pot. The roughly 3-mile stretch that extends from Arlington into Fairfax County offers everything from Old Bay shrimp empanadas and plant-based Ethiopian fare to melty pupusas… Here are more than a dozen restaurants and bars to hit up and down the Pike.” [Arlington Magazine]
Pike Library Parking Changes — “As construction efforts ramp up on the Arlington Career Center parcel, parking for patrons of the Columbia Pike branch library is going to get more dicey. The library will remain open during the two years required for construction of a new Career Center along South Walter Reed Drive, but the parking lot no longer will be accessible directly from Walter Reed. Drivers should enter through South Highland Street, or consider walking, biking or using public transit, county officials said.” [Gazette Leader]
Amazon Fresh Reopens — From an Amazon spokesperson, regarding the temporarily closure of a local Amazon Fresh store: “I wanted to follow up and let you know that the Amazon Fresh in Crystal City has reopened to customers as of this week.”
Powering the Power Crews — From Dominion’s Peggy Fox: “Lovely people at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Arlington who thanked @DominionEnergy crews & W.A. Chester contractors with homemade cookies! We have a lot of nice neighbors out here!” [Twitter]
It’s Monday — There is a 20% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with partly sunny skies and a high near 84°F. Winds will start from the northwest at 6-8 mph and become southwest in the morning. The night will be mostly clear, with a low of 65°F and a north wind at 6 mph. [Weather.gov]
