Author: Jennifer Currier

‘Traveling Santa’ is Making His Way Around Arlington

By Jennifer Currier

Traveling Santa (via Facebook:Arlington VA Traveling Santa)

A short, plastic visitor with blue eyes, a red suit and a long white beard has been popping up on porches around the county.

The Arlington, VA Traveling Santa began his journey shortly after Thanksgiving. Since then, he’s been visiting families throughout the county, showing up on their doorsteps unannounced. Similar to a holiday chain letter, Santa is trying to make as many stops as he can before Christmas Day.

There are rules when Santa visits, but they’re simple: he can only stay at a house one night before he must move on to visit someone else. His next destination is chosen by whomever hosted him the previous night.

Santa’s hosts are encouraged to take photos of his visit before posting them to the Facebook page where his travels are being tracked.

While most hosts opted for classic pose-and-smile photos, others have really taken him in by engaging in activities like brushing his teeth or taking him for a ride.

However, Traveling Santa isn’t just something fun for the holidays. The coordinators of the campaign — who couldn’t be reached for comment — are also asking those who interact with Santa to donate to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.

A representative for AFAC confirmed the organizers created a personal fundraising page for the cause. On Facebook, they’ve pledged to donate $1 for every “like” the page gets by Christmas — the count was nearing 200 Wednesday morning — and have agreed to match all donations made via the page.

Williamsburg Student Places at National Chess Competition

By Jennifer Currier

Sam Schenk Chess Champ (courtesy of Allison Rudoy)(Updated at 5:05 p.m.) A local student represented Arlington County well at a national chess competition last weekend.

Chess prodigy Sam Schenk tied for 10th place in his division at the National K-12 Scholastic Championship chess competition in Orlando, Fla. He competed against 127 other players in his grade group to earn the ranking.

The annual competition is hosted by the U.S. Chess Federation. It separates participants by grade, and players only compete against people their own age. The grand prize is finishing first in a grade group and claiming the title of national champion.

Though this was Schenk’s fourth trip to the national tournament, it’s his first time taking home a prize.

“This was a great year for him, and this was absolutely the best he’s ever done,” Schenk’s parent Allison Rudoy said.

The 13-year-old is an 8th grader at Williamsburg Middle School in North Arlington. Rudoy said her son’s been playing chess since he joined an after school chess club at Jamestown Elementary five years ago.

“He kind of got hooked,” she said. “When the club ended, he kept with it and started studying on his own, reading a lot and playing in local tournaments.”

Now, Schenk is a part of the Arlington Chess Club where he practices what he studies, mostly playing against adults. He was also recently named one of the U.S. Chess Federation’s top 13-year-old chess players in the nation.

“He devotes an enormous amount of time to the study of chess and plays as much as he can,” Rudoy added. “It’s his favorite thing, but it’s not his only thing.”

Schenk is also involved in sports, playing youth basketball on a county recreation team.

While Rudoy said Schenk is very passionate about chess and would likely love to take home the top prize in Orlando someday, he is still young and anything could be in his future.

“All I know for sure is as long as he’s still interested in chess, his family will keep supporting him,” she said.

Photo courtesy of Allison Rudoy

FBI Seeking Information About Serial Gas Station Robber

By Jennifer Currier

Serial gas station robber (photo via FBI)

The FBI is seeking information about a man wanted for a string of eight gas station robberies, including one in Arlington.

The robberies occurred in Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Richmond and Washington, D.C. One of these includes the late morning armed robbery at a Shell station on Lee Highway on Nov. 19.

The suspect is described as a white male, 30-40 years old and approximately six feet tall with facial hair. In surveillance footage of each of the robberies, he is seen wearing a gray pullover, khaki shorts or jeans, a blue baseball hat.

More information from a press release:

Law enforcement authorities are seeking an armed unknown male subject who has committed eight robberies at gas station convenience stores in Virginia and Washington, DC, between mid November and December of 2015.

The armed robberies occurred as follows:

  • Nov. 15 at 11:48 am: Exxon Gas located at 8715 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA
  • Nov. 19 at 11:34 am: Shell Gas located at 5630 North Lee Highway, Arlington, VA
  • Nov. 23 at 12:05 pm: Valero Gas located at 5516 Mudd Tavern Road, Woodford, VA
  • Nov. 25 at 11:24 am: Mobil Gas located at 10800 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA
  • Nov. 27 at 11:55 am: Exxon Gas located at 3535 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
  • Nov. 29 at 12:23 pm: Shell Gas located at 6519 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA
  • Dec. 01 at 01:34 pm: Shell Gas located at 805 E. Parham Road, Richmond VA
  • Dec. 04 at 08:59 pm: BP Gas located at 6701 Wilson Boulevard, Falls Church, VA

During each robbery, the subject purchased an item from the gas station attendant, produced a black handgun and reached over the counter to pull cash from the cash register.

REWARD
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of this unknown robber.

SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS
The FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Arlington County and Fairfax County, Virginia Police Departments are investigating these robberies and request that anyone with information call the FBI at 202-278-2000. You may also contact your local FBI office; or submit a tip on the FBI’s website by visiting tips.fbi.gov.

APS to Host Summit on Sexual Violence in High Schools on Saturday

By Jennifer Currier

APS Host SafeBAE (via Facebook:SafeBAE)A survivor-driven program on preventing and responding to sexual violence in middle and high schools across the country is coming to Arlington this weekend.

Arlington Public Schools is hosting the SafeBAE (Before Anyone Else) National Summit at Washington-Lee High School (1301 N. Stafford Street) this Saturday, Dec. 12 from 2-4 p.m.

SafeBAE is a virtual organization that is focused on students by raising awareness about sexual assault and educating them about their rights under Title IX to prevent dating violence. Its programs are designed to give students resources and skills to advocate for consent and safe relationship education.

During Saturday’s program, attendees will hear the stories of four students who were assaulted and how they now work with the organization toward social change. All of the speakers were victims of rape, some of whose stories made national news.

Other panelists include legal experts and members of the School Board.

The event is open to members of the APS community and their families. Tickets are free and available online, but donations are also accepted.

Photo via Facebook/SafeBAE

Another Land Acquisition Proposed to Expand Banneker Park

By Jennifer Currier

Banneker Park Land ExpansionThe Arlington County Board will consider the purchase of another parcel of land for the expansion of Benjamin Banneker Park, near East Falls Church, at its meeting this Saturday.

The property at 6616 18th Street N., near the park’s existing playground and adjacent to the W&OD Trail and Four Mile Run, is approximately 8,250 square feet.

The homeowner has already signed an Agreement of Sale with the county at a purchase price of $637,500. The agreement needs approval from the County Board to be finalized.

There’s a house on the property that is occupied by tenants of the owner. If approved, it will be demolished as part of the acquisition as it was not found to have historical significance.

According to the agenda item about the purchase, the county first expressed interest in this land in January. It is one of several parcels along 18th Street North identified in the 2005 Public Spaces Master Plan as land that could be acquired for the expansion.

It is also the second piece of land the County has moved to purchase this year.

In February, the County Board unanimously approved the purchase of 8,375 square feet of land at 6608 18th Street N., which is one property away from the one now awaiting purchase approval. That plot sold for more than $688,700 and also had a house on it when the county purchased it.

Board to Consider $1 Million Tuckahoe Park Renovation Contract

By Jennifer Currier

Tuckahoe Park Renovation Plan v. 2

Major renovations are coming to the ballfields at Tuckahoe Park.

At its meeting this Saturday, the Arlington County Board is expected to award a $1 million construction contract to Bennett Group of Washington, D.C. for renovations and improvements at the park.

The Dept. of Parks and Recreation released renovation plans in March, making the two baseball/softball fields their focus. Changes include new players’ benches, dugouts, backstops, bleachers for spectators, fencing, drinking fountains, bullpens and batting cages.

Much of the project’s construction will be focused on a new irrigation and drainage system and new sod.

Other additions to the park in the plans include picnic tables, a portable toilet enclosure, storage, landscaping and a new scoreboard. The scoreboard will be shared between the county and Bishop O’Connell High School, which is contributing $18,000 to its purchase

The plans would also make the park and its fields more accessible per Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.

According to a county website dedicated to the project, construction on the park is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2016.

If approved, the contract will authorize $1.06 million for construction. That includes nearly $100,000 as a contingency. The total estimated cost of the project, with design and soft costs factored in, is $1.25 million.

Saturday’s meeting will begin at 9 a.m. in the County Board Room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd, Room 307.

Immigration Book Talk Planned for Central Library Next Week

By Jennifer Currier

Tom Gjeltan Book Talk (via LCNV)An NPR correspondent will host conversation on the history of immigration in America at Arlington Central Library next week.

Tom Gjelten’s latest book A Nation of Nations: A Great American Immigration Story considers the impact of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act.

Gjelten will be at the Arlington Central Library auditorium at 1015 N. Quincy Street from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10. for a conversation on immigration and book signing.

The book uses demographic and political issues in addition to personal stories to analyze this topic. The stories used are those of families in Fairfax County, including the family of Delegate Mark Keam. He will also be at the event as a special guest and contributor to the conversation.

Copies of the book will also be on sale from One More Page Books, and 10 percent of all sales will benefit the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia.

The book talk is free and open to the public. Interested guests do not have to register in advance.

Photo via Literacy Council of Northern Virginia

Community Meeting on Helicopter Noise Planned This Month

By Jennifer Currier

Helicopter over the Key Bridge(Updated on 12/10/15) Community members will have another opportunity to express their concerns about noise pollution from aircraft in the region. This time, the topic is helicopters.

Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey will be hosting a community meeting on helicopter operations and noise on Wednesday, Dec. 16 from 7-9 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library auditorium (1015 N. Quincy Street).

She held a similar meeting over the summer to discuss noise from airplanes heading to and from Reagan National Airport. That meeting drew approximately 100 attendees, who heard from representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. The group addressed questions and comments regarding flight paths, hours of operation, types of aircraft and regional coordination moving forward.

This month’s meeting agenda also includes two representatives from the FAA, one from its Air Traffic Organization and another from the Office of Environment and Energy. Another confirmed guest is a commander of the U.S. Army Air Operations Group, and the list is expected to grow.

“We had an overwhelming response to the general aviation community meeting I hosted in the summer and I would encourage all of you to attend this meeting as well,” Garvey wrote in an email to constituents who had expressed concern about aircraft noise. “This will provide an important opportunity for us to not only understand the nature of helicopter operations in the region but will allow us to ask questions and have our voices heard to grow.”

The meeting is part of a “regular series of occasional updates on this issue” to continue efforts put into effect since the first meeting.

One of these efforts is the establishment of a Reagan National Airport Community Working Group — per a MWAA recommendation — that has met twice to discuss options to reduce or mitigate noise concerns in the region, according to an e-mail sent from Garvey to community members. The Working Group is made up of two community representatives from Arlington County, five of the eight Wards in D.C., Alexandria, Dranesville and Mount Vernon.

The County has also created an airport noise website as a dedicated resource for community members to learn about the issue and get updates on meetings.

File photo

Secret Chopsticks Now Open and Serving Dinner in Rosslyn

By Jennifer Currier
1/14

A contemporary Chinese restaurant is open in Rosslyn after construction and permit issues delayed its original opening date more than a year and then kept the new date something of a secret.

Secret Chopsticks is now open at 1850 N. Fort Myer Drive on the ground level of the Turnberry Tower condo building. The 120-seat white tablecloth restaurant is open for dinner services seven days a week, focusing on authentic, healthy Chinese food.

“We’re trying to change what people think of when they think Chinese food,” general manager Jonathan Theriault said today. “This is fine dining, and everything we do has a strong Asian influence with a twist. You won’t find the large portions of take-out food but a very authentic experience instead.”

This authenticity comes from the restaurant’s executive chef, Robin Li, who is a native of mainland China and began his culinary career there. He came back to the United States — after studying here, serving in the Navy and spending more time in China — in 2014 with plans to open Secret Chopsticks.

“There are a lot of differences between this and other Chinese restaurants,” Li said previously. “Whatever they are cooking in China now, we are going to cook.”

The focus, he explained, is contemporary, modern takes on these dishes.

The menu has two meal options for diners. First, an a la carte menu offers individual portions to mix and match. Prices for these items range from $6 to $32.

For a more traditional fine dining experience, guests can choose from one of the restaurant’s fixed-price tasting menus. There are four options: dim sum, protein, tofu and vegetarian. Each one is nine courses, and prices range from around $60 to $90.

Theriault recommended the tasting menus for four or five people who are willing to share and try new foods.

The restaurant also has a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails. Guests are allowed to bring their own wine in, so long as it isn’t available on the existing wine list.

Secret Chopsticks is currently only open for dinner from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Starting next week, Theriault said, lunch will also be served from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. with happy hour from 4-7 p.m. These are the restaurant’s winter hours, which are likely to change in the warmer months. Additional outdoor seating will also be available during that time.

Despite the setbacks and ongoing work to improve its offerings, Theriault was hopeful about the outlook for the restaurant.

“We’re really excited to be here in Rosslyn and to have finally made this happen,” he said. “I hope it’s a place people know has great food and a great ambience to make all these authentic elements feel like the real thing.”

‘Winter Wonderland’ This Weekend at Penrose Square

By Jennifer Currier

Santa Claus (via Macy's)Arlington hasn’t seen any snow — yet — but that won’t stop a winter celebration from coming to the Columbia Pike this weekend.

The second annual Winter Wonderland at Penrose Square is scheduled for this Saturday from 2-6 p.m. at 2501 9th Road S. It will be held in the breezeway between the apartment building’s leasing office and the Giant store.

The event is free and open to the public. Community members are invited to celebrate the season with holiday food and activities.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will join the celebration from 2-5 p.m. for visits and pictures. There will also be carolers and craft stations set up during this time.

A sleigh full of local businesses will be at the event handing out holiday beverages and goodie bags. Some of the participating area retailers include Starbucks, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Mancini de Paris and Jimmy Potter’s Studio.

Scheduled to make an appearance around 4 p.m.: “Arlington’s own Himalayan Yeti,” provided by the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization.

The wonderland will wind down after a tree-lighting ceremony and sing-along, which starts at 5:30 p.m.

File photo via Macy’s

Yorktown to Offer Spring PSAT for Students With Disabilities Following Federal Complaint

By Jennifer Currier

Test Taking (file photo)Yorktown High School will offer the Preliminary SAT in the spring for students with disabilities as part of an agreement resolving a complaint made by a Yorktown parent to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Typically taken by high school sophomores and juniors, the PSAT is a practice test for the SAT. Those with do exceptionally well could qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and win college tuition money.

Michelle Buehlmann filed the federal complaint in early October after her daughter was unable to take the PSAT earlier this fall.

Her daughter is a sophomore with a 504 Plan, an education plan for students who have disabilities but do not require special education services. In order for her to take the test, special accommodations that followed her 504 would need to be approved by the College Board, which coordinates the PSAT.

Applying for those accommodations is typically a responsibility taken on by the schools.

Buehlmann said once she realized Yorktown hadn’t applied and hadn’t informed her or her husband they would have to apply themselves, she filed the complaint.

“When I became aware that the school made the decision just to not apply and not tell us, I told them it wasn’t right and decided to file,” she explained. “It really was an honest misunderstanding and I’m sure a lot of it was miscommunication, but now we’re making sure something is done.”

Yesterday morning, Buehlmann and APS came to an early complaint resolution agreement in a meeting facilitated by the DOE. The agreement includes provisions for both Yorktown and the County to address this issue.

Not only will Yorktown administer the PSAT again in the spring for students with disabilities, but it also agreed to notify students and their parents about the test this week. In addition, the school will help them apply to the College Board for accommodations, a process that must be completed by Dec. 15.

In the long term, APS agreed to notify parents of 8th, 9th and 10th grade students with disabilities about the process to request accommodations by May 1 every year. They also agreed to train county school counseling staff on this application process.

Buehlmann said she was pleased with the complaint process overall and the final agreement they reached.

“Everyone handled the situation very well, and both agencies got their job done efficiently and effectively,” she said. “I think it’s a great example of how a large bureaucracy like the DOE and a big institution like APS can work well with parents to get a job done.”

An Arlington Public Schools spokesman declined to comment.

File photo

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