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.
Power is out along the western half of Lee Highway in Arlington for the second time this week.
As of noon today, Dominion is reporting just over 3,850 customers without power in Arlington, in the neighborhoods surrounding Lee Highway.
Numerous traffic lights are out along Lee Highway, Williamsburg Blvd and Old Dominion Drive, according to scanner traffic.
Among the neighborhoods without power is Highland Park-Overlee Knolls, according to a Twitter user.
“We have crews on the scene working the outage,” Dominion spokesman Charles Penn told ARLnow.com. “There are reports of [a] wire down. We are in the process of re-routing our circuit to get customers restored.”
No word yet on when power is expected to be restored. About 1,500 customers in the same area lost power on Tuesday.
Arlington police are looking for a man who allegedly ran over a two year old in a McDonald’s parking lot and then drove off.
Police say the driver hit the child with his Cadillac while in the restaurant parking lot on the 3000 block of Columbia Pike. The man allowed the child’s family to pull him out from underneath the car before speeding off.
The toddler was hurt but is expected to be okay. Police are hoping grainy surveillance images of the car (above) may help them track down the driver.
From an ACPD press release:
The Arlington County Police Department’s Auto Crimes Unit is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect involved in a hit and run incident of a two-year old child on August 30, 2015.
The suspect drove into the McDonald’s parking lot, located in the 3000 block of Columbia Pike, at approximately 7:04 p.m. and was captured on surveillance video striking a two-year old child. The suspect vehicle ran over top of the child and stopped so the victim’s family could pull him from underneath. The vehicle then sped off and the child was transported to Children’s Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The subject is described as a black male between 18-30 years old. He has green eyes and dreadlocks past the ears. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a white baseball hat with a black brim. The vehicle is described as a four door, silver-colored Cadillac sedan.
If anyone has information on the identity and/or whereabouts of this individual, please contact Detective Burgess of the Arlington County Police Department’s Auto Crimes Unit at 703.228.4618 or at [email protected]. To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).
School Board Candidates Not Ruling Parkland Out — Two candidates for Arlington School Board say they aren’t ruling anything out — including use of parkland — for the building of new schools. Independent Green-endorsed candidate Brooklyn Kinlay said it would “be a tragedy” to use parkland. Reid Goldstein, who has the Democratic endorsement, said the school system is “not moving fast enough” to address the school capacity issue. [InsideNova]
Ray’s Company Files for Bankruptcy — A company affiliated with the popular Ray’s the Steaks and Ray’s Hell Burger restaurants in Arlington has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The restaurants’ operations are reportedly not affected. [Washington Business Journal]
Marymount Tops Diversity List — Marymount University ranks No. 1 for ethnic diversity among regional universities in the South, according to the new 2016 “Best Colleges” rankings from U.S. News and World Report. “It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to creating a culture of engagement that fosters intellectual curiosity, service to others and a global perspective in our students,” said Marymount President Matthew Shank. [Marymount University]
New Civic Association Forms — Arlington has a new civic association. The Arlington County Civic Federation has added the new Shirlington Civic Association as a member. Also, the Columbia Heights West Civic Association has changed its name to the Arlington Mill Civic Association. [InsideNova]
Newspaper Columnist Denied Lemonade — “Our Man in Arlington” columnist Charlie Clark received questionable service after ordering a 50-cent lemonade from a children’s lemonade stand near Virginia Hospital Center last week. [Falls Church News-Press]
Why Car2Go Can’t Cross the Border — Car2Go car-sharing service is launching in Arlington on Sept. 19, but users won’t be able to drive from Arlington and park in D.C., or vice versa. The District, which also has Car2Go service, is worried about traffic congestion and a loss of parking spaces to Arlington Car2Go users. Arlington officials have also expressed concern about allowing D.C. users park on Arlington streets, but appear more receptive to opening the Car2Go border. [Washington Post]
Arlington Kid’s Letter Read on Tonight Show — As part of a “Kid Letters” segment last night, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon read a letter from Caroline, who said she lives in Arlington. Caroline had a joke for Jimmy: “Which planet is God’s favorite planet? Saturn, because he put a ring on it.” Caroline also confessed that she has a crush on Fallon. [NBC]
APS Menus Now Online — Arlington Public Schools has put its breakfast and lunch menus online. The menus allow students and parents to review detailed nutritional information and to add funds to a prepaid meal account. Today, at Washington-Lee High School, students will have the choice of a 440 calorie chicken sandwich, a 324 calorie stuffed shell and breadstick meal, or a 304 calorie autumn fruit salad. APS also has a food-focused Twitter account. [Arlington Public Schools, Nutrislice, Twitter]
Nonprofits Moving from D.C. to Crystal City — Property owner Vornado has scored another new lease in Crystal City: the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Thanks to lower office rental rates, and generous concessions, Vornado has been steadily winning nonprofit tenants and reducing its vacancy rate, which soared due to the loss of military agencies following the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure plan. [Washington Business Journal]
Dems Select Winning Chili — Del. Alfonso Lopez and his legislative assistant, Jason Stanford, were the big winners at Monday’s annual Arlington County Democratic Committee Labor Day Chili Cookoff. Stanford’s “Fighting 49th” chili featured ingredients from the Columbia Pike farmers market and a secret seasoning blend that was inspired by the staffer’s Louisiana roots. The chili cookoff was held this year at the Barcroft Community House, due to construction on the usual venue, the Lyon Park Community Center. [InsideNova]
Having a beer with friends has been taken to the next level with Arlington’s Backyard Beer Fest, coming to town September 19 and benefitting Turner Farm Events.
For the first time ever, Rosslyn will be hosting the festival overlooking the city–you might even say it’s in Arlington’s backyard. Festival goers can buy a ticket for the afternoon or evening slots, then tour stands from 35+ breweries, the area’s best food trucks and everyone’s favorite yard games and activities. Cornhole, anyone?
For a $45 VIP pass or a $35 general admission ticket, you can have hours of unlimited beer tasting of more than 60 beers, a souvenir tasting glass, plus access to the game zone, free live music and drinking with thousands of your neighbors.
Now’s the time to get tickets to the festival, happening September 19 at Gateway Park. Because who doesn’t want to amp up their weekend with a backyard party you don’t have to clean up after? Use promo code: “ARLNOW” and save 20 percent.
The preceding post was written by ARLnow.com and sponsored by Arlington’s Backyard Beer Fest.
A man was stabbed in the chest and slashed across the face while trying to stop a purse snatching near Kenmore Middle School early Saturday morning.
The incident happened around 12:40 a.m., on the 5900 block of Arlington Blvd. Police say a 48-year-old woman was walking down the street when a man came up to her and tried to steal her purse.
A male friend of the victim, who was walking in front of her, intervened and tried to stop the robbery. A second suspect then stepped in and stabbed the 53-year-old man in the chest and slashed him across the face with a knife, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
After the suspects ran off, the victims managed to flag down a passerby, who called 911.
Medics found the man lying in the grass, suffering life threatening injuries, Sternbeck said. They managed to stabilize him and rush him to Inova Fairfax Hospital. The medics’ quick actions likely saved the man’s life, Sternbeck said — he’s expected to survive.
The woman whose purse was stolen, meanwhile, suffered a laceration to her hand during the robbery.
Police are searching for the two suspects, who remain at large.
“The first suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’4″ tall, and wearing a black t-shirt and dark pants,” according to a police crime report. “The second suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’6″ tall, and wearing a black t-shirt and dark pants.”
Update at 3:30 p.m. — Tuckahoe Elementary is reported to be without power as a result of the outage.
Power and traffic lights are out along a portion of Lee Highway on the western end of Arlington County.
Traffic lights are reported to be dark at the intersections of Lee Highway at N. Harrison Street and N. Sycamore Street. Police are monitoring traffic at the intersections, which should be treated as a four way stop.
Readers have reported that power is out in the neighborhoods surrounding that section of Lee Highway, including as far south as 20th Street N. in the Westover area.
As of 3 p.m., Dominion reported that nearly 1,500 customers in Arlington are without power. Scanner traffic indicates that power crews are en route to the affected area.
Arlington County today is embarking on a series of policy discussions that will explore ways to improve county services while keeping costs down.
Addressing “longer-term budget and service delivery issues” is a top priority of Acting County Manager Mark Schwartz, who says Arlington must think and act strategically as the county continues to grow and develop.
“Too often, we are so wrapped up in our day-to-day responsibilities that we lose sight of the importance of planning for the longer range,” Schwartz said in a press release that was sent out Friday. “These conversations will focus on what the future is for service delivery, staffing and management and how we make sure we are on the cutting edge of planning for that future.”
According to Arlington County, policymakers will discuss:
How Arlington’s growing population and changing demographics impact service delivery
How service delivery choices and investments can help meet the county’s economic development goals
The impact of technology on how county government delivers services
Opportunities to achieve efficiencies while improving service delivery
“While no formal action is expected by the County Board at these sessions, the discussions will help inform future budget and Capital Improvement Plan discussions,” the county said.
The first County Board work session will be held at 3 p.m. today, in the County Board Room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd, and will discuss Arlington’s public libraries. Other work sessions are scheduled for Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.
The Arlington County Police Department is conducting “high visibility traffic enforcement in and around school zones” starting today, the first day of school for local students.
The department’s 2015 back to school safety campaign includes both enforcement and outreach to drivers, students and parents.
In addition to the traffic enforcement by police and by by the new stop arm cameras on Arlington school buses, ACPD has placed electronic roadside message boards around the county “reminding citizens of the start of school and to drive safely,” according to a press release.
“The Arlington County Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of all students and motorists,” said Police Chief Jay Farr, in an Arlington Public Schools-produced public service announcement video.
“We would like to remind everyone to be extra careful this year,” Farr continue. “Share the road with buses, pedestrians and bicyclists. Remember, buses are now equipped with stop arm cameras… it’s never okay to pass a school bus with the stop light out.”
ACPD has issued several back-to-school safety tips. For drivers:
“Obey speed limits which may change during school zone times”
“Avoid distracted driving and keep your attention on the road”
“Watch for students walking and riding bikes to school”
“Don’t pass a stopped school bus loading or unloading passengers”
“Have all vehicle occupants wear their seatbelts”
The police department’s safety tips for students and pedestrians:
“Cross the street at marked crosswalks and never against a red light”
“Look before you cross and follow the direction of school crossing guards”
“Always walk on designated sidewalks or paths, never along the side of a road”
Petition to Rename DCA Nears Goal — A petition to rename Reagan National Airport “Washington National Airport” has gathered nearly 70,000 of its goal of 75,000 signatures. The petition is a progressive group’s response to Republican outrage over President Obama’s renaming of Mount McKinley to its original name, Denali. [CREDO Action, Washington Post]
Fire at Shopping Center — Arlington County firefighters battled a small blaze at the Lyon Village Shopping Center last night. [Twitter]
Meeting on Hospital Expansion — Arlington County and Virginia Hospital Center officials are holding a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) night regarding a proposed land swap between the county and VHC, which would allow the hospital to expand. [Arlington County]
Back to School, Back to Traffic — Arlington Public Schools students, along with students in other Northern Virginia localities, are returning to school today. Thanks to the influx of school buses and commuters returning from vacation on the roads, the first day after Labor Day is dubbed “Terrible Traffic Tuesday” by AAA Mid Atlantic.
For Dr. Mehdi Adili, being a good dentist is about being a thorough educator.
The founder and owner of Ideal Dental Solutions is a firm believer in teaching both his staff and his patients. For patients, he says, knowing about their options makes them feel the most at ease when it comes time to get work done.
One of the reasons he came up with the name of “Ideal Dental Solutions” back when he opened his practice in 1995 was because it emphasizes that everyone has options that they should know about, and the ideal solution is different from person to person. That’s why informing each patient about all of the possible solutions to fix their dental concerns, including the pros and cons of each procedure, helps put each patient at ease.
“It’s so important to me that everything is explained and everyone is educated. I don’t want them to shy away from treatment, I want them to understand what their needs are.” Dr. Adili said. “We leave the door open for them to come in, call or email with questions. We do our best to make ourselves quite available in every sense.”
Part of this education process is offering free consultations to all patients, so they can know what they’re getting into before they get in the chair on the day of the procedure. Sometimes it takes up to two appointments before the patient can settle on what should be done, but Dr. Adili says it’s worth it to comfort patients so they know what to expect. Prospective patients can even have their questions begin to be answered online in Ideal Dental Solutions’ extensive FAQ section.
Prospective patients are often concerned about what their dental insurance will and won’t cover. The staff at Ideal Dental Solutions are committed to telling patients what their insurance will cover, and part of finding those ideal solutions is something that works within insurance, or within a budget if they do not have insurance, Dr. Adili says.
Talking to patients isn’t the only educating Dr. Adili does. Once a week, he meets with his 18-person staff in the McLean or Arlington office and talks to them about the newest procedures or technologies so that patients can receive the best and most modern care. He says he has staff in administrative work, insurance and dental assisting who know as much as most practicing dentists know. This way, all of his staff can answer questions and know what is going on with patient care.
Once patients move from the consulting or educating step in their dental process, and actually get into the chair, they are treated to the best in both dental technology and entertainment technology.
Yes, entertainment. Every patient is different in what they find comforting, so each station is tricked out with personal audio/visual equipment that the patient controls, and a headset. Instead of reading an outdated magazine or listening to the dentist’s tools at work, patients can comfortably watch television or listen to music.
Though Dr. Adili has always had his practice in Northern Virginia, he opened his second location in Arlington in July, near the Courthouse Metro station (1920 Clarendon Blvd). He says what brought him to Arlington was that the area is “vibrant and the location will be helpful for patients old and new.”
The new convenient location has been working well so far, he says, especially because both locations are designed to be similar to each other, with the same technology and the same type of comforting color scheme and modern, clean design. This is another way to put patients at ease as soon as they walk in the door.
Dr. Adili says that what sets Ideal Dental Solutions apart from other dental offices is that they have such a strong emphasis on customer service — that good dentistry is more than about just fixing teeth.
“We make sure that the quality of work is to patients’ satisfaction and the results are predictable,” Dr. Adili said. “Everyone is taken care of, comfortable, even pampered. Dentists are patient-oriented, listen to patients to understand their needs, and provide them with the best service.”
It seems like good dentistry isn’t so complicated after all.
To book an appointment or free consultation, visit Ideal Dental Solutions’ website, or call the Arlington office at 703-528-0800.
The preceding article was written by ARLnow.com and sponsored by Ideal Dental Solutions.
Power is out along the western half of Lee Highway in Arlington for the second time this week.
