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.
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]
As of 9 a.m., Dominion is reporting 20,394 customers still without power in Arlington. That’s down from more than 34,000 immediately after the storm. Arlington makes up about two thirds of the 31,603 outages Dominion is reporting across Northern Virginia.
Dominion says it has 170 bucket trucks deployed and is working “as safely and quickly as possible to restore service.” Due to the large volume of trees and utility lines down across the region — particularly in Arlington — Dominion has not yet been able to provide estimates for when power will be restored.
Outage Update: 32,443 outages in Northern Va.
Our patrols continue to gather info on outages so we can set ETRs (estimated time of restoration)
170 bucket trucks are headed to damage locations. Our crews will work as safely & quickly as possible to restore service. pic.twitter.com/5NXKuTWa0m
Along with power outages, readers have reported Xfinity TV and internet service outages in parts of the county. The trees that brought down power lines also brought down cable lines in many locations.
The GW Parkway remains closed in both directions between the Beltway and Spout Run in Arlington due to a large number of downed trees.
From parkway spokesman Mark Maloy:
Due to the storm that moved through the northern Virginia area on Saturday afternoon, numerous trees fell across the travel lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Currently, the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (from Spout Run Parkway to the Capital Beltway) is closed as tree crews work to remove trees from the roadway. This closure will remain in place on Sunday until an assessment has been completed and all hazardous trees removed. There are numerous other trees downed in areas of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Clara Barton Parkway and the National Park Service is continuing to assess the damage and clear trees. We encourage drivers to use caution in the area and if they encounter any downed trees on the George Washington Memorial Parkway to call US Park Police at 202-610-7500.
Among the more dramatic storm impacts was a large window that blew out of an apartment building in Clarendon amid the damaging wind gusts.
Witnesses tell ARLnow that the window came from the top of The Reserve at Clarendon building along Washington Blvd, between N. Highland and N. Garfield street.
“Windows missing from 11th floor unit at the Reserve, window frames and glass all over Washington Blvd, dented and damaged parked car [with] window frame next to it,” a reader tells ARLnow. “[The damaged] car was parked outside of Clarendon 1021, a block away. Cracked windows in the building where the Clarendon Orange Theory is (across the street from Reserve). Crazy!”
Police closed streets around the building due to the falling glass, though the roads have since reopened.
“At 7:05 p.m., police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Washington Boulevard for the report of two windowpanes that had fallen,” Arlington County police spokeswoman Ashley Savage confirmed to ARLnow. “No injuries were reported and the roads closed in the area have reopened.”
Videos posted online, below, show the intensity of the wind from Saturday’s storms.
— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 30, 2023
Update at 11:20 a.m. on 7/31/23 — The number of outages in Arlington is down to 3,154. The GW Parkway remains closed.
Update at 3:45 p.m. — Outages are now down to 14,313. Arlington County, meanwhile, is warning people to stay out of Gulf Branch downstream from Military Road due to sewage in the water from a pump failure.
AVOID Gulf Branch downstream of Military Road through Monday due to wastewater contamination from a failed pump caused by Saturday's storm. Trail access in the area is also temporarily closed until further notice. Seek alternate route. pic.twitter.com/BWZkSDp6ZU
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) July 30, 2023
Update at 1:25 p.m. — The number of outages in Arlington has ticked down to 17,811, according to Dominion. The power company is hoping to have power restored to “most customers” later tonight.
Arlington County says the curbside collection of storm debris may take “weeks.”
Outage Update:@DominionEnergy crews are out in force assessing damage, making repairs & working as safely & quickly as possible to restore power.
Most customers will have power restored by 11 p.m.
In some areas with significant damage, restoration will continue into Monday.
Crews are out surveying damage due to yesterday’s storm— prioritizing critical infrastructure. Please use caution when visiting parks and trails and report any downed trees or other maintenance needs through Report a Problem: https://t.co/n8lvg5HltM
(Updated at 8:30 p.m.) Tens of thousands are without power in Arlington after severe storms ripped through the county Saturday evening.
As of 6 p.m. Dominion was reporting 34,068 customers without power in Arlington alone and more than 83,000 across Northern Virginia. The outages were still above 28,000 as of 8 p.m., suggesting many may remain in the dark overnight.
The peak outage figure from today’s storm is about half that of the 2012 derecho.
The storm damage is widespread and includes numerous trees and power lines down across the county. Significant damage was reported along the Orange Line corridor — Virginia Square, Clarendon to Courthouse, and Rosslyn — including fencing blown over, street lights topped, trees and branches down, and construction debris scattered.
The intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Highland Street in Clarendon was being completely blocked as of 8 p.m. due to window panes that blew out of a building during the storm. A photo sent to ARLnow showed a shattered window pane that fell onto a parked car.
Numerous roads were blocked or impeded after the storm, including some major routes like I-66 and the GW Parkway.
“Numerous trees and large branches blew down blocking eastbound [I-66]” near Rosslyn, according to the National Weather Service; the lanes reportedly reopened around 6:30 p.m. U.S. Park Police is also reporting the GW Parkway blocked near Spout Run due to trees down. Heavy traffic is still reported on both routes as of 6:45 p.m.
Both directions of Spout Run are blocked due to trees down, including one said to be down on a vehicle near Lorcom Lane, per scanner traffic.
Trees are down on at least eight houses, including one on the unit block of S. Fillmore Street, where people were reported to be trapped. They have since been reported to be out and safe. Other trees were reported down on houses on the 900 block of N. Cleveland Street, the 5200 block of 11th Road N. and the 3000 block of 17th Road S., as well as in yards, on fences, and across neighborhood streets.
A number of structure fires were also reported, mostly due to downed wires or lightning strikes.
Just after the storm passed a house was on fire in the Barcroft neighborhood, near the intersection of S. Pershing Drive and 2nd Street S. Another residential structure fire was reported on the 4900 block of 7th Road S. As of 6:10 p.m., Arlington County firefighters were responding to a report of a tree down on a house and power lines sparking on top of the roof, on the 2900 block of 22nd Street N. in Maywood.
Additionally, the fire department responded to several calls of smoke inside of homes and other buildings, as well as calls for stuck elevators as a result of power outages.
Arlington fire department resources are maxed out, according to scanner traffic. Authorities are asking residents not to call 911 except in the event of an emergency due to the high volume of calls.
ACFD and regional partners are experiencing a significant increase in call volume. Emergency incidents will be addressed based on their priority level and available resources. Expect response times to be delayed. pic.twitter.com/LXp9CfhFQS
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) July 29, 2023
Among the other reports of storm damage in Arlington:
23rd Street S. and S. Hayes Street: 23rd Street S. blocked by downed trees and utility lines
N. Illinois Street and Washington Blvd: Numerous trees down, including one that fell into a house
19th Street N. and N. Nelson Street: Trees down blocking street
N. Kirkwood Road south of Langston Blvd: Trees down blocking street
19th Street N. and N. Nelson Street: Trees down
S. Woodrow Street and 2nd Street S.: Trees and wires down
Rosslyn (various locations): Fences blown down and construction debris scattered
Wilson Blvd and N. Lexington Street: Tree and utility lines down
N. Lexington Street and 8th Road N.: Utility lines down
N. Garfield Street and Clarendon Blvd: Utilities line down blocking road
Gulf Branch Nature Center: People are unable to leave the parking lot due to a downed tree and lines
N. Pershing Drive and N. Fillmore Street — Road blocked by downed tree
N. Jackson Street and N. Pershing Drive — Trees down, blocking road
Washington Blvd and 13th Street N. — Construction fencing down in front of apartment building under construction in Clarendon
WB Route 50 at N. Courthouse Road — Tree down, partially across road
10th Street N. and Route 50 — Traffic lights are “backwards, causing a major issue,” per scanner
WB Route 50 at N. Edison Street — Tree down, blocking two lanes
2500 block of N. Upland Street — Tree down onto car, blocking road
Key Blvd and N. Herndon Street — Trees down, blocking road
S. Wakefield Street near Barcroft Elementary — Tree down onto wires
1700 block of S. Garfield Street — Tree down blocking road
100 block of N. Oakland Street — Tree down across road
10th Street N. between Wilson Blvd and Washington Blvd — Police are blocking intersections due to power outage and debris
2nd Street N. and N. Highland Street — Tree down blocking roadway
N. Kenilworth Street and 19th Street N. — Trees down blocking road
Arlington Ridge Road near 23rd Street S. — Trees down, road blocked
“There’s stuff down everywhere,” said ARLnow staff photographer Jay Westcott, after photographing damage across the county. “It’s almost like the derecho in 2012.”
Westcott said he saw many drivers “Wild West-ing it” through darkened traffic signals, rather than treating the intersections as a four-way stop.
The line of storms that crossed Arlington packed damaging wind gusts. A 58 mph gust was recorded at Hoffman-Boston Elementary, while a 60 mph gust was recorded at National Airport. Across the Potomac, a 84 mph gust was reported at George Washington University’s Mount Vernon Campus, according to the National Weather Service.
Some views of the storm and the damage across Arlington via social media:
Expect showers and thunderstorms after 2pm, with mostly sunny weather and a high of 96°F. The heat index may reach 104°F, while west winds of 7-13 mph may gust up to 20 mph. There is a 60% chance of precipitation, with potential rainfall of up to half an inch. Saturday night, anticipate likely showers and thunderstorms mainly before 8pm, with a low around 72°F and winds shifting from west to north. The chance of precipitation remains 60%, with new rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, but potentially higher in thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Do what you can with what you have where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
(Update at 4:40 p.m.) All of Arlington is now under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning.
More such warnings are likely as a line of strong storms approach from the west. Forecasters say the storms are packing very high winds, likely to cause damage and power outages.
More from the National Weather Service:
BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
409 PM EDT Sat Jul 29 2023
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning…
* Until 430 PM EDT.
* At 409 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Herndon, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.
* Locations impacted include… Arlington, Bethesda, Reston, South Riding, Herndon, Vienna, Falls Church, Broadlands, Lowes Island, Brambleton, Pimmit Hills, Mclean, American Legion Bridge, Dulles International Airport, Potomac, Ashburn, Oakton, Sterling, Chantilly and Tysons Corner.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Washington DC, Arlington VA and Silver Spring MD until 5:45 PM EDT. This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 MPH! pic.twitter.com/XbbPNKptrj
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 29, 2023
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Alexandria VA, Centreville VA and Lake Ridge VA until 5:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/IxUUjp9Na6
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 29, 2023
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Silver Spring MD, Bethesda MD and Reston VA until 4:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/k8oiHTxQF2
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 29, 2023
Earlier: Arlington County is again under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.
The National Weather Service issued the watch for Arlington, D.C. and surrounding areas. It’s in effect Saturday afternoon through 9 p.m.
Hail, damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning are all possible, while “an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out,” according to NWS.
The watch follows a series of storms Friday evening, though none caused significant damage in Arlington.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for this afternoon through 9 PM this evening. Damaging winds and large hail will be the primary threats today, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. #DCwx#MDwx#VAwx#WVwxpic.twitter.com/GciMcLYlv1
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) July 29, 2023
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of CT, DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA until 9 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/PsHMvmFRkM
— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) July 29, 2023
(Updated at 4 p.m.) A 37-year-old Arlington man is facing nearly 20 charges related to a series of side view mirror thefts from vehicles.
The thefts started in April and continued into May and June. In total, according to Arlington County police, more than 100 vehicles had mirrors stolen or damaged in the crime spree.
Many modern side view mirrors house sensors and other electronics that could be worth more than a thousand dollars, making them attractive to thieves.
Police say the suspect was arrested Wednesday after evidence led detectives to him during the investigation. Police say additional charges are possible, on top of the current 19 theft and destruction of property charges.
The Arlington County Police Department’s Property Crimes – Auto Unit is announcing the arrest of the suspect in a series of thefts of vehicle parts. Luis Manuel Tavares Sanchez, 37, of Arlington, VA is charged with nine counts of Petit Larceny and ten counts of Destruction of Property, two of which are felony charges. He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.
In late April 2023, police began investigating a series of thefts in which the suspect would steal and/or damage the glass from sideview mirrors of parked vehicles in various neighborhoods throughout Arlington County. In total, police received 61 reports documenting 104 vehicles with stolen or damaged mirrors. During the course of the investigation, detectives reviewed evidence, spoke to witnesses and followed up on investigative leads which led to the identification of the suspect. He was taken into custody on the afternoon of July 26, 2023. The investigation into the series is ongoing and additional charges may be sought at a later time.
The same suspect was arrested in October and charged with damaging more than 90 cars with a BB gun, an ACPD spokeswoman confirmed to ARLnow. He had been released on a jail diversion program and was due in court on this coming Wednesday, Aug. 2 to update his progress.
Get ready to guard your heart! The newest Adoptable Pet of the Week is Panda, an adorable puppy up for adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
This pup is currently in foster and this is what his foster parents had to say:
Meet Panda the puppy who will steal your heart with his big, brown eyes and sweet personality!
Shy at first, once Panda warms up to you, his true happy, go-lucky nature blooms. Unlike other pups his age, Panda is also very chill and enjoys quality calm time with his humans or a yummy chewy treat.
Panda’s Yays: Food, treats, playing with dog friends, and chin scratches while staring into your eyes lovingly.
Panda’s Nays: New places and new people (but only at first!). He says he’s still just a baby and learning about the world.
Panda’s Fun Facts: He already walks very well on leash, isn’t scared or phased by loud noises. He loves other dogs.
Don’t miss out on this sweet, soulful companion dog that wants everyone to love him as much as he loves them!
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.
The state transportation department says the 21st Street N. bridge, built in 1980, is “deteriorating” and needs concrete repairs and other TLC. The bridge is located near the Mom’s Organic Market along Langston Blvd; it connects drivers going between Courthouse, the North Highlands neighborhood, and Rosslyn.
The $4.1 million project will prompt some temporary lane closures on I-66 during construction, as well as temporary closures of a sidewalk along the bridge.
More, below, from a VDOT press release.
Work is underway to rehabilitate the 21st Street North bridge over I-66 to improve driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety and extend the overall life of the bridge, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The bridge, located between the Spout Run Parkway (Exit 72) and eastbound I-66 Route 29 Rosslyn/Key Bridge (Exit 73) interchanges, was built in 1980.
The project includes:
Resurfacing the concrete bridge deck
Closing deck joints
Repairing concrete piers and abutments
Replacing bearings
The width of the existing lanes and sidewalks on the bridge will remain the same.
During construction:
Daytime lane closures may be scheduled along I-66 and 21st Street North
Overnight lane closures may be scheduled on I-66
When one sidewalk along the bridge is closed, pedestrians will be detoured to the sidewalk on the opposite side
The Custis Trail under the bridge will remain open to bicyclists and pedestrians
Parking will not be allowed on the bridge or approaches
Starting in mid-2024, 21st Street North will be temporarily reduced to one lane on the bridge and open to northbound traffic only. Further information will be provided closer to the start of the partial bridge closure, which will be in place for several months while work occurs on the bridge deck.
The $4.1 million 21st Street North over I-66 Bridge Rehabilitation Project is financed with federal and state funding, including State of Good Repair funds used for bridges. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2024.
Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones. Be alert to new traffic patterns and limit distractions.
Ice skating at the Kettler Iceplex in Ballston is a way to keep cool in the summer heat (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Arlington Gets Another Tree Group — “The new Arlington Consortium for Tree Sustainability is designed ‘to bring together and enable residents, businesses, organizations and advocates to pursue actions to enhance the tree canopy in all their neighborhoods and varied urban settings within our reach,’ organizers say.” [Gazette Leader]
Local Man Arrested for Stolen Car — “An Arlington man faces multiple charges after allegedly selling a stolen car to a man on Facebook Marketplace. The 21-year-old suspect was arrested May 17 at Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (3600 Wheeler Avenue), where he agreed to meet the victim to discuss the sale of a stolen 2006 Honda Civic for $2,800, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.” [ALXnow]
Mulling Metro Funding Shortfall — “Quick quiz: What did the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s all have in common? Not a lot, perhaps, but in each of those decades, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority always seemed just one or two steps away from fiscal disaster… Arlington’s share of addressing a $750 million regional shortfall would be about $60 million on top of what the community already provides in transit subsidies.” [Gazette Leader]
Locally-Based Investment Fund — “An Arlington asset management firm is aiming to raise $250 million to drive investment in community-based financial institutions across the country. West Potomac Capital LLC said Thursday that it’s planning to launch the social impact private investment fund, dubbed WPC Financials Impact Fund I LP, in the second half of the year.” [Washington Business Journal]
It’s Friday — There is a 40% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms with mostly sunny and hot conditions, reaching a high of 98°F and a heat index of 109. The west wind will be between 3-8 mph. For Friday night, there is a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, with partly cloudy skies and a low of around 76°F accompanied by southwest winds at 7 mph. [Weather.gov]
Address:6134 36th Street N. Neighborhood: Minor Hill Type: 5 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 5,494 sq. ft. Listed: $2,045,000
Noteworthy: Floor to ceiling windows; main level office/bedroom; walk-out basement
This 5,400+ sq. ft. 5 Br/4.5 Ba and 2-car garage quality-built craftsman stands apart from the rest! On a quiet North Arlington cul-de-sac, set back on a gorgeous flat front yard with mature landscaping, walk up just two steps to your idyllic front porch, spanning the entire front of the home.
Open kitchen with eat-in area features high-end white cabinetry, granite counters, stainless appliances, large pantry and recently refreshed island with ample seating. Family room is awash in light, with built-ins and gas fireplace with stone surround. Main level also offers a spacious office (or 6th bedroom) with French doors plus built-ins, a powder room and handy mudroom off the garage.
Upstairs, you’ll find 2 primary suites and 2 generous-sized bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bathroom featuring double vanity. Main primary suite offers an oasis of tranquility with gas fireplace plus private screened-in balcony for morning coffee and relaxation. En-suite has double vanity, loads of storage, spa shower and freestanding soaking tub. Walk-in closet is expansive. Second primary suite also offers a walk-in closet and private bath. Upstairs laundry for convenience.
The walk-out lower level is bright and open, with a vast rec. room and work-out area. A 5th bedroom with en-suite bathroom is ideal for an au-pair or guests. An unexpected bonus is the climatized wine cellar with space for seating! Plenty of storage in three separate areas of the lower level.
Blocks to popular Williamsburg Shopping Center shops and CVS. One mile to Discovery ES/Williamsburg MS/Yorktown HS. Walk to Minor Hill Park.
There will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm, with mostly sunny, hot conditions and a high near 99. The heat index could reach 106, with a southwest wind of 5 to 8 mph. Precipitation chances are 40% during the day and increase to 50% on Friday night, with storms mainly before 9pm. The night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 76 and a southwest wind of 6 to 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Living is Easy with Eyes Closed.” – John Lennon
🌅 Tonight’s sunset
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
