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Arlington Pet of the Week: Adobe Creative Cat

Published May 2, 2018 at 1:45PM | Updated July 18, 2019 at 11:42AM

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Adobe Creative Cat, a 4-year-old Doll Face Persian who prefers playing with garbage over his many cat toys.

Here is what his owners, Laura and Jeff, had to say:

Born in Kuwait and relocated to America by Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, Adobe Creative Cat was adopted by two graphic designers in May 2017 and given a very nerdy name. Although it took some time for him to adapt to his new life, he now demands attention by rolling around on Mr. Human’s hands while he’s trying to work from home and is happiest when he’s being carried on Mrs. Human’s hip like a human toddler as she takes care of household chores.

Adobe’s hobbies include loudly complaining when he realizes no one is looking at him, watching videos of birds and squirrels on YouTube, escaping from his apartment and scurrying down the hallway when his humans try to catch him, marching in place on Mrs. Human’s belly while she’s trying to sleep, and playing with random scraps of garbage he finds on the floor instead of with his plethora of cat toys.

He’s very active on social media, and often shows off his plump belly and loud voice on his own Instagram account.

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 six 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 preparedness.

#Pet of the Week

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2018 at 8:30AM | Updated May 2, 2018 at 9:04AM

I-66 Toll Tweaks Coming — The Virginia Department of Transportation will tweak the algorithm it uses to calculate tolls in the I-66 express lanes, which possibly could lead to lower tolls, although VDOT doesn’t guarantee lower tolls in the long run. The high tolls caused outrage among drivers when they were first instated in December and drew national attention, although transportation officials contend they work as intended with deterring single-passenger vehicle trips. [WTOP]

Three Questions with Del. Lopez — Del. Alfonso Lopez offers some short responses to questions about his accomplishments and challenges facing Arlington. [Arlington Magazine]

Substance Use Town Hall — Arlington County will hold a town hall on substance use tonight at Kenmore Middle School (200 S. Carlin Springs Road) from 7-9 p.m. Panelists including police, school and human services officials, and the discussion will be moderated by Kimberly Suiters from ABC 7. A resource fair will immediately precede and follow the town hall. [Arlington County]

New Monument for the Old Guard — “A special ceremony [took] place in Arlington, Virginia Tuesday to honor more than 230 years of service by the Third U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard. Soldiers, veterans and leaders from across the Army will gather for the unveiling of The Old Guard Monument at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.” [Fox 5]

Streetlight Demonstration Tonight — County staff will hold an LED streetlight field demonstration bus tour tonight for residents to see and learn more about the products under consideration in the Streetlight Management Plan. The bus leaves at 8 p.m. from the Arlington Career Center (816 S. Walter Reed Drive). Registration is required. [Arlington County]

Traffic Enforcement Time Adjusted — According to an updated press release sent this morning, the all modal traffic enforcement scheduled for tomorrow at the intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Oakland Street will now be from 1-2:30 p.m.

Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick

ACPD Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Crash on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published May 1, 2018 at 10:00PM | Updated May 3, 2018 at 9:41AM

The pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Columbia Pike Monday morning died from his injuries, Arlington County Police said Tuesday afternoon.

Police are still investigating the crash, according to ACPD. The victim has been identified as 44-year-old Arlington resident Jay Thoman.

Man Charged With Firing Shot in a Building

By ARLnow.com

Published May 1, 2018 at 9:30AM | Updated May 1, 2018 at 9:54AM

A man is facing charges after police say he fired a shot inside a residential building in the Ballston area.

Police arrived at a building on the 3900 block of Fairfax Drive just before 1 a.m. last Friday after a person inside reported hearing a loud noise, then found a small hole in the wall and a metallic object.

During their investigation, police determined that a man in a neighboring apartment had been cleaning a gun and it accidentally discharged, shooting a bullet into, and creating damage to, the other apartment.

Police charged 28-year-old Alexander Kreitle with discharging a firearm into an occupied building.

No injuries were reported from the incident.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 1, 2018 at 8:00AM

Pedestrian Hit, in Critical Condition — Police closed a ramp to Washington Blvd and southbound I-395 during a portion of the Monday morning rush after a vehicle hit a pedestrian in the area of Columbia Pike and Queen Street. The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition. [WJLA, WTOP]

Woman With Cerebral Palsy Finishes First Marathon — Arlington resident Jamie Watts has completed her first marathon, finishing the New Jersey Marathon in 14 hours and 33 minutes. Watts, 36, has cerebral palsy and started participating in races a few years ago to get in shape for a family trip. She has since worked her way up to half marathons and now a full 26.2 miles. [WUSA 9]

Homebuyers’ Cost Per Square Foot Increases — Arlington homebuyers’ cost per square foot increased by 3.6% during the first quarter of 2018, compared with the same time last year. Those buying homes within the county paid a median $462 per square foot, which is more than in any other Northern Virginia jurisdiction. [InsideNova]

Taekwondo Legend Dies in Arlington — “Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the man known as the ‘father of American Taekwondo,’ died Monday after a long illness. He was 86. His son, Chun Rhee, said his father died in hospice care in Arlington, Virginia.” [Associated Press]

Cinco De Mayo Options in Arlington — Ragtime, Pamplona and Bar Bao are a few of the Arlington options for celebrating Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby this weekend. [Eater]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 30, 2018 at 8:15AM | Updated April 30, 2018 at 8:46AM

Yorktown Grad Chosen in NFL Draft — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Yorktown High School graduate M.J. Stewart in the 2018 NFL draft. Stewart was working with his youth foundation at Langston-Brown Community Center when he learned that he was the 21st pick in the second round of the draft. [InsideNova, Twitter]

Amazon Speculation Boosts JBG Stock — JBG Smith Properties’ stock is up 13 percent in the past month on speculation that Amazon could build its second headquarters in the D.C. metro area. Many of the company’s holdings are based in Crystal City, which is seen as a contender for the site of Amazon’s new HQ2. [Washington Business Journal]

Drug Take-Back Day Numbers Up — Arlington police collected nearly one-third more prescription drugs at Saturday’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day than at last spring’s event. Residents handed over 744 pounds of prescription drugs to police on Saturday, compared with 562 pounds last April. [Twitter]

Arlington Recognized for Tourism Event — The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations presented the Arlington Convention and Visitors Service with an award for its June 2017 Monumental Views IPW Travel Trade Reception, which showcased Arlington to international travel trade and media during the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW 2017 event in Washington, D.C. [Arlington County]

Rosslyn Circle Beautification — Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol was among the volunteers with the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria and the Children’s International School to team up with the National Park Service to beautify Rosslyn Circle on Sunday (photo above). They planted 32 trees and plan to add more later this year.

Red Flag Warning Today — Northern Virginia is under a Red Flag Warning through 8 p.m. today, indicating a heightened danger of outdoor fires. “Dry and windy conditions will create an environment conducive for the rapid spread of wildfires,” the National Weather Service said. “All outdoor burning is discouraged today.” [Twitter]

Photo via Katie Cristol on Twitter

Fairlington 5K Tomorrow to Benefit Girl with Rare Disease

By ARLnow.com

Published April 27, 2018 at 2:45PM | Updated April 27, 2018 at 3:24PM

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) The Fairlington 5K Run and Walk tomorrow will raise money for an Arlington girl with a rare, degenerative disease.

In 2011, Ellie McGinn was diagnosed with LBSL (leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation), which causes impaired nervous system functioning that can lead to muscle stiffness, tremors, weakness, poor balance and difficulty coordinating body movements.

The nonprofit organization “A Cure for Ellie” has been set up in her name to raise awareness of LBSL and funding for research. McGinn appeared on the Today Show last year for her and her parents’ work in their search for a cure.

Tomorrow’s non-competitive run/walk in Fairlington aims to promote general health and physical fitness while also supporting McGinn, who is a third-grader at Abingdon Elementary School. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. at Abingdon Elementary (3035 S. Abingdon Street) and registration is $35 for adults, $20 for children ages 6-16 and free for children five and under.

Arlington County police will oversee the following road closures from approximately 7-9:30 a.m. to accommodate the race:

Abington Street between S. 29th Street and S. 36th Street
36th Street between S. 34th Street up to, and including, Stafford Street
Wakefield loop off S. 34th Street
Utah Street between S. 32nd Street and S. 34th Street

Photo via A Cure for Ellie

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 27, 2018 at 8:30AM

Fedorchaks on Why They Love Arlington — Mark and Stephen Fedorchak — the brothers behind Northside Social, Lyon Hall and Liberty Tavern — reveal in a Q&A why they built their lives and restaurant empire in Arlington, and whether they’ll stay. [Washingtonian]

Hula Girl Makes Best Restaurants List — Shirlington’s Hawaiian-influenced restaurant, Hula Girl, made the list of the 30 best restaurants in America, according to Yelp reviewers. The restaurant, whose owner competed on the cooking show “Chopped” last year, came in at #27. [The Daily Meal]

Fire Recruit Graduation — The Arlington County Fire Department will hold a graduation ceremony tonight for more than two dozen fire and EMS recruits. Class members will receive their badges and helmets after being sworn in. The ceremony takes place from 6-8 p.m. at the Founders Hall Auditorium (3351 Fairfax Drive) on the George Mason University campus in Virginia Square.

Crime Report: Indecent Exposure Edition

By ARLnow.com

Published April 26, 2018 at 1:45PM | Updated February 28, 2020 at 10:37AM

Police responded to two indecent exposure calls in relatively the same area this past week.

The first incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. last Friday in the Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood near the 1900 block of Clarendon Blvd. A woman walking in the area saw a man masturbating in a park.

More from this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

INDECENT EXPOSURE (late), 201804200279, 1900 block of Clarendon Boulevard. At approximately 10:53 p.m. on April 20, police were dispatched to the late report of an indecent exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 9:35 p.m., the female victim was walking in the area when she witnessed an unknown male suspect allegedly masturbating in a park. The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5’7″ tall and 160 lbs., with dark hair sticking out of a dark colored beanie, wearing a black windbreaker and dark pants. The investigation is ongoing.

The second incident happened nearby at Wilson Blvd. and N. Troy Street in the Colonial Village neighborhood around 10:20 p.m. on Tuesday. A man reportedly approached a woman and exposed himself before fleeing.

INDECENT EXPOSURE, 2018-04240236, Wilson Boulevard at N. Troy Street. At approximately 10:47 p.m. on April 24, police were dispatched to the report of a possible exposure. Upon arrival, it was determined that at approximately 10:20 p.m. the female victim was walking in the area when an unknown male suspect approached her while exposing himself. The suspect fled prior to police arrival. Arriving officers canvased the area with negative results. The suspect is described as a light skinned Hispanic male, approximately 5’6″ to 5’8″ tall, with a skinny build, wearing a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his head and blue jeans. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of this past week’s crime report highlights, after the jump.

(more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 26, 2018 at 8:30AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 10:11AM

Hotel Planned for Pike Development — Attendees at yesterday’s Columbia Pike Progress Luncheon learned that Orr Partners — which is redeveloping the Food Star grocery store and adjacent sites at Columbia Pike and S. George Mason Drive — has partnered with WhyHotel for the mixed-use project. WhyHotel touts itself as an operator of “pop-up hotels in newly built, luxury apartment buildings.” [Twitter]

County Launches LGBTQ Resource Website — Arlington County has partnered with the Human Rights Commission to develop a website with local, state and national resources for the LGBTQ community. The resources cover a range of topics including housing, domestic violence, sexual assault, health and youth needs. [Arlington County]

Mitten Departing for Illinois — Arlington Deputy County Manager Carol Mitten has accepted the job of City Administrator for Urbana, Ill. “I look forward to advancing common goals for a safe, healthy, sustainable city through thoughtful growth,” she said in a statement. [Smile Politely]

Location Named for Dominion Pint — The owners of Dominion Pint, the new restaurant from the team behind the District’s Meridian Pint and Brookland Pint, have signed a lease for their Northern Virginia establishment. The restaurant is scheduled to open in December at 6035 Wilson Blvd. in Dominion Hills. [PoPville]

VHC Employee Earns ‘4 Under 40’ Award — Virginia Hospital Center’s Taryn Overman, MSN, RN, CEN, has received this year’s “4 Under 40” Emerging Leader Award from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Overman is recognized for going beyond her management responsibilities to help her community, such as during a collaboration with A-Span in which two tons of cereal was collected, and in directing a program that helped train community members in hands-only CPR.

Man Struck, Killed by Blue Line Train — A man was struck and killed by a train at the Arlington Cemetery Metro station last night. Video appears to show that the man was intentionally on the tracks at the time he was struck, according to Metro. [Washington Post, WUSA 9]

Flickr pool photo by Jennifer Presser

Arlington Pet of the Week: Ollie

Published April 25, 2018 at 12:45PM | Updated July 18, 2019 at 11:42AM

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Ollie, a 3-year-old Pekingese/Shih Tzu mix who enjoys stealing socks and chasing his ballerina hippo.

Here is what his owner, Georgina, had to say:

This is Ollie (short for Oliver), a hairy 3-year-old Pekingese/Shih Tzu mix from Rockville, MD. Ollie is a staple in the Clarendon area, often seen plopped on the busy sidewalks with his arms tucked in. Ollie is an independent three-year-old but loves to cuddle with mom’s friends and family.

Ollie’s favorite locations include James Hunter dog park where he chases the big dogs, is more interested cuddling up with the humans on the benches and drinking water as his leisure; the stores at Market Common where he can smell the treats behind the registers from far away and of course home.

You can find Ollie acting as the Chinese Emperor’s guard dog at home protecting his home, chasing after his ballerina hippo, stealing human’s socks, or sunbathing on the balcony.

His favorite place to hide is under his mom’s bed and favorite hangout spot is the Persian carpet in the living room.

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 six 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 preparedness.

#Pet of the Week