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ACFD Battling House Fire in Bluemont

Published May 2, 2016 at 7:30PM | Updated May 2, 2016 at 11:17PM

Smoke rising from the roof of a house in the background (Photo courtesy Steve Thurston)

Arlington and Fairfax County firefighters are battling a house fire in the Bluemont neighborhood.

The blaze was reported just after 7 p.m., near the intersection of 6th Street and N. Kensington Street, in the attic of a home on 6th Street.

Firefighters are reporting that they have the flames under control. They’re also looking into the possibility that the fire started as the result of a lightning strike.

Update: Units have put out a fire on the 2nd floor and attic. Fire Marshall will be investigating.

— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) May 2, 2016

Hail Shhmail⛈ Rain or shine we are here for you #Arlington! Pics are of a tree into a house & a earlier house fire. pic.twitter.com/cmeWJ68nwC

— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) May 3, 2016

Photos courtesy Steve Thurston

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 6:20PM | Updated May 2, 2016 at 7:49PM

(Updated at 7:50 p.m.) The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of Arlington County and surrounding areas.

From NWS:

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING UNTIL 8:15PM EDT MON

AT 730 PM EDT… A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER TYSONS CORNER… OR OVER PIMMIT HILLS… MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

HAZARD… 60 MPH WIND GUSTS AND QUARTER SIZE HAIL.

SOURCE… RADAR INDICATED. A SPOTTER IN VIENNA ALSO REPORTED QUARTER SIZED HAIL AT 730 PM.

IMPACT… HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND DAMAGE TO ROOFS… SIDING… AND TREES.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… ARLINGTON… ROCKVILLE… BETHESDA… RESTON… ANNANDALE… OLNEY… COLLEGE PARK… GREENBELT… FAIRFAX… LANGLEY PARK… BELTSVILLE… VIENNA… FALLS CHURCH… BLADENSBURG… MANTUA… PIMMIT HILLS… AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE… HOWARD UNIVERSITY… MCLEAN AND FORT TOTTEN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. FOR YOUR PROTECTION GO INDOORS… IDEALLY TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUILDING.

Arlington County Auditor Seeks Resident Suggestions, Concerns

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 4:45PM

Arlington County’s new independent auditor, Jessica Tucker, is seeking suggestions from residents.

In a press release, below, the county says it has set up a form for resident suggestions of programs or services that should be reviewed — or ideas for improving county government efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The form asks how the suggestion would benefit the county, with the following options:

Cost savings
Improved service delivery
Revenue enhancement
Increased efficiency
Transparency and accountability
Risk mitigation

From the press release:

County Auditor Jessica A. Tucker is calling on residents with specific concerns to use the newly created online Audit Suggestion Form for potential reviews of County programs and services — or just to suggest improvements in County efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The County Board created the Auditor post last year to bolster existing County internal audit functions. Tucker operates independently of departments and reports directly to the Board.

“The suggestion form is a new initiative and we would like the input of as many people as possible,” Tucker says. “We are looking for ideas that will help improve service delivery, identify cost savings and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the County’s programs and services.”

Tucker adds that providing contact information on the form is strictly optional.

To help develop the Auditor’s annual work plan, the Board also established an Audit Committeemade up of two Board members, three citizen members, the County Manager and the Director of the Department of Management and Finance. That panel held its first meeting in March.

The Audit Suggestion Form can be found on the County website along with Audit Committee meeting materials and details on Tucker’s background.

Charges Dropped Against Woman Who Said She Was Drugged Before Stealing Car

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 3:55PM

Prosecutors have dropped charges against a woman who told police she was drugged and sexually assaulted before stealing a car in Rosslyn in February.

The 22-year-old suspect, whose first name is Samantha, was arrested on Valentine’s Day morning after calling police to report that she was “in possession of a vehicle that was not hers.”

From our previous article on the alleged crime:

Samantha, 22, told police she was intoxicated when she took an Uber to District Taco in Rosslyn Saturday night, intent on grabbing some food. Afterward, she walked down to the Hyatt hotel, on the 1300 block of Wilson Blvd, milled about a bit and then allegedly stole a car from the valet.

Samantha’s next recollection, according to police, is waking up in the back seat of the car around 1 a.m., in an unknown location in Arlington. She then drove home, went to sleep, and called police around 9 a.m. to come clean about what happened, said ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage.

After Samantha’s arrest was included in a crime report and in the ARLnow article, her attorney contacted us to say that she was “involuntarily intoxicated and had been the victim of a sexual assault.”

Police were called to a local hospital and took a report of a sexual assault Sunday evening, after the suspect was released from jail, ACPD confirmed after an inquiry from ARLnow.com. “That case is ongoing,” said Savage, the police spokeswoman.

Court records show that Samantha had a preliminary hearing in April and that the charges had been dropped “nolle prosequi.”

Savage said that no arrests have been made in the alleged sexual assault and that police do not have a description of the suspect. Jeff Overand, Samantha’s attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

Arlington Agenda: May 2-8

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 1:00PM | Updated May 2, 2016 at 1:27PM

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.

Monday

A Conversation with Michael Hayden
GMU Founders Hall (3351 Fairfax Drive)
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

General Michael V. Hayden, former CIA and NSA director, will discuss his new book, “Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror.” The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions in a Q&A session and is invited to stay for a book signing and reception immediately following the discussion.

GW Parkway Open House
Aurora Hills Branch Library (735 18th St. S.)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

As part of the National Park Service centennial celebration, the GW Parkway is hosting a series of open houses for the public to meet the staff and talk with us about ideas, visions and hopes for the parkway for the next 100 years.

Capitals vs. Penguins Viewing
Arlington Cinema Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike)
Time: 8-11 p.m.

Catch the Caps as they try to keep their Stanley Cup hopes alive, live on the Drafthouse’s big screen. Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30. The Drafthouse will also host a viewing party for Game 4 of the series on Wednesday.

Thursday

Fundraising Event for Netherlands Carillon
Netherlands Carillon (N. Meade Street and N. Marshall Drive)
Time: 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Join the Trust for the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Royal Netherlands Embassy for this private fundraiser near Rosslyn. The event will feature a concert with award-winning carillonneur Boudewijn Zwart.

Cinco de Mayo Party
Don Tito (3165 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 2 p.m.

Don Tito is throwing what it’s calling the area’s biggest Cinco do Mayo party. All three floors will be open starting at 2 p.m. “Expect incredible Mexican cuisine, sombreros, cervezas, tequila, and more. There will be great specials and great tacos. Please arrive early to ensure entry and avoid lines.”

Friday

Arlington Small Business Summit
Spectrum Theater (1611 N. Kent Street)
Time: 7:30 a.m.-Noon

This event will offer free “business express clinics,” one-on-one scheduled appointments with experts on various business categories. There will also be a “feedback booth.” Admission is free but registration is required.

Saturday

Walk for the Animals*
Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street)
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is hosting the Annual Walk for the Animals. This event brings together hundreds of local animal lovers and their canine companions for a walk to benefit AWLA and its shelter animals.

Sunday

Arlington Philharmonic Concert*
Washington Lee High School Auditorium (1301 N. Stafford Street)
Time: 3-5 p.m.

Treat mom to an afternoon of music as Arlington’s own professional symphony orchestra presents “Inspired by…” The repertoire for this concert takes its cue from the way composers learn and grow by absorbing ideas from their predecessors.

Mom-mosas for Pacers Re-opening
Pacers Running Store (3100 Clarendon Blvd)
Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Pacers is celebrating its grand re-opening all week. Among the events planned for the newly-renovated store is a special Mothers Day shopping event, offering “mom-mosas” for customers while they shop.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) content

#Arlington Agenda

Police: Peeping Tom Dashes After Flashes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 11:45AM | Updated May 2, 2016 at 1:36PM

File photo

A peeping tom in Rosslyn apparently took a photo of a woman through her window and then ran off.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. Saturday at the River Place condos in Rosslyn. From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

PEEPING TOM, 160430004, 1000 block of N. Arlington Boulevard. At approximately 1:00 a.m. on April 30, a female victim noticed a flash come through her window and a male subject fleeing from the area. The suspect is described as a male, wearing a dark jacket, dark pants, and a baseball hat.

Another peeping tom was reported early Sunday morning not too far away, in the Courthouse area.

PEEPING TOM, 160501006, 1200 block of N. Troy Street. At approximately 1:10 a.m. on May 1, a woman observed a male suspect looking into a neighbors window. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’4″ – 5’8″ tall and weighed 150 lbs. He was wearing dark clothing, a dark hat, and had a book bag.

Police are investigating both incidents. So far no arrests have been announced.

Taylor Gourmet Opening Today in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 10:35AM

The new Taylor Gourmet restaurant in Crystal City is opening today.

The sandwich shop, at 2200 Crystal Drive, will open at 11 a.m., a PR rep says. Taylor will be open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

The new location will feature some unique decorations, including a new neon sign, recycled bike tire wall paneling, a Philadelphia-inspired mural, shipping palette wood screens, and a glass garage door front window.

This is the second Taylor Gourmet to open in Arlington, excluding the location at Reagan National Airport.

Photo credit @shootjoec

Morning Poll: Rainy Week

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 9:45AM

There is a good chance of rain or storms each day of this week, through Friday.

Normally May is one of the more pleasantly sunny and warm months of the year in the D.C. area. Except for a brief period of warmth today, high temperatures this week will struggle to break out of the 60s.

How do you plan to cope with the cool, rainy, overcast weather this week?

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

#poll
#rain

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 2, 2016 at 8:55AM | Updated May 2, 2016 at 10:04AM

Oracle Acquiring Opower — Updated at 9:55 a.m. — Technology giant Oracle is acquiring Arlington-based Opower in a $548 million cash deal. Opower recently went through a round of layoffs. [Reuters, Oracle]

Clarendon Z-Burger to Get New Name — The Z-Burger location in Clarendon will be rebranded soon as part of a legal settlement between the founder and the former partners in the business. [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington Unemployment Remains Lowest in Va. — Arlington’s unemployment rate ticked up by a tenth of a percent in March, but remained the lowest in Virginia. The county’s unemployment rate is currently 2.7 percent, with just under 4,000 residents looking for work while 142,000 are employed. [InsideNova]

Foggy Morning Commute — Arlington and much of the region was under a Dense Fog Advisory this morning. [Weather Channel]

ARLnow Weekend Discussion

By ARLnow.com

Published April 29, 2016 at 5:00PM

It’s looking like a pretty dreary weekend, weather wise. The good news: it won’t be a total washout, and there’s a lot to do this weekend, both indoors and outdoors.

And that’s not to mention the Washington Capitals playoff game Saturday night or, for a certain set, the excitement around the White House Correspondent’s Dinner.

Feel free to discuss the Caps or any other local issues of interest in the comments.

#weekend discussion

Arlington Chamber of Commerce to Hold County Board Candidate Forum

By ARLnow.com

Published April 29, 2016 at 2:45PM | Updated April 29, 2016 at 3:35PM

The two candidates for the Democratic Arlington County Board nomination will face off in a candidates forum on Monday, May 16.

The forum is being organized by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. It will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Hyatt in Rosslyn (1325 Wilson Blvd). ARLnow.com, a Chamber member, is the event’s media sponsor.

During the forum, incumbent Libby Garvey and challenger Erik Gutshall will be asked a variety of questions, with a special focus on local business.

“This business-themed candidate forum will feature a moderated discussion of topics important to the Arlington business community, and will provide each candidate with the opportunity to engage with local business leaders and address the key issues for the business community,” the Chamber said. “This event will also offer attendees the chance to gain an inside look into the candidates’ views on business in Arlington County.”

(Perennial independent candidate Audrey Clement, who has qualified for the ballot again this year, has also been invited to participate.)

In a debate earlier this month, Gutshall lamented that Arlington County’s economic development efforts are “geared towards the types of businesses that are going to fill office buildings,” more so than helping small businesses. Garvey said the county is “aware that small businesses are having issues” and is holding a small business summit next week.

Meanwhile, the county’s high office vacancy rate — some 8 million square feet of office space is vacant in Arlington — remains a significant issue.

This candidate forum is open to the general public. Registration is $10. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee is planning its own candidate debate from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4. The debate will be held at GMU’s Founders Hall (3351 Fairfax Drive).