Author: Vernon Miles

The Pilates Loft Stretches Into Columbia Pike Space

By Vernon Miles
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The Pilates Loft is expanding into a second location in the Penrose Square shopping center at 2407 Columbia Pike.

The studio that started in Virginia Square in 2015. Just over one year later, the studio expanded into the vacant space next door. Now, the Virginia Square Pilates Loft is at maximum capacity again, so owner Alia Staples decided it was time to branch out. The Pilates Loft on Columbia Pike will open in late January 2019.

“I think that there is sort of a void in the Columbia Pike and South Arlington area where fitness, in general, doesn’t exist,” said Staples. “There’s a ton of people who live in this area who are commuting to North Arlington for those services… Since there wasn’t anything like that, I thought it might be a good idea to bring it to South Arlington.”

While there are a variety of Pilates studios in the area, Staples said sets her studio offers a more classically authentic Pilates experience.

“We don’t have big classes of 40 people,” said Staples. “It’s just four to six people maximum. It’s geared towards smaller groups and more personalized training.”

The classes also use Pilates equipment beyond just the traditional mats used in many classes. Both locations will also serve as Teacher Training Centers for the United States Pilates Association.

Cutting-Edge Tech Company Two Six Labs Expands in Ballston

By Vernon Miles

Startup Monday header

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

There’s some cool stuff going on inside Two Six Labs, a security technology company based in Ballston.

Two Six Labs works in research and development, primarily with the Department of Defense and other government agencies like DARPA. The company’s offices are a mix of segmented workspaces and mechanical workshops.

The company was founded in 2010 as tech company Invincea’s lab group. The group moved to Ballston in 2013 to be closer to the government clients. In early 2017 the group broke away from Invincea and took on its new name.

Chris Greamo, President and CEO of Two Six Labs, said the group is currently almost entirely supported by government contracts. Over the next few years, Greamo said one of his goals is to shift that balance to about 60 percent supported by government contracts and thirty percent by commercial ones, typically with a private sector variant of the technology developed for government use.

One recent example is Sigma, a low-cost radiation monitoring device. Greamo referenced the unexploded pipe bombs sent across the country last week and said his nightmare would be a radiological version of those bombs. Greamo said enough of them scattered across a wide area can provide a comprehensive net of coverage to catch those types of threats

“Imagine if every police car could monitor for those types of threats,” said Greamo.

DARPA’s contract with Two Six Labs also allows the company to retain the rights to their products, meaning Sigma will soon be commercially available to hospitals or large stadiums.

There was talk that DARPA might leave Ballston, but when the organization stayed Two Six Labs doubled down on their presence in the area. Greamo said the group had continued to grow and expand at its current location on the fourth floor of The Ellipse (4350 Fairfax Drive) but eventually reached a point where they were too large for the building.

Last Wednesday (Oct. 24) the company announced it would be moving to Ballston Metro Center at 901 N. Stuart Street, increasing from 19,000 to 29,798 square feet.

The group has also expanded across the country, with offices in Mount Laurel, San Antonio, Austin and Tacoma, but Ballston remains the central location for the company. Greamo also said the group is hoping to expand in the region and is looking for a new office in Northern Virginia because many employees are finding the commute untenable. Greamo said the group is looking at Reston in particular, likely avoiding Tysons because of the area’s reputation for heavy traffic.

Arlington Could Soon Stop Recycling Glass Due to Rising Costs

By Vernon Miles

Arlington officials are increasingly finding that recycling some items has become a bit of a pain in the glass.

The county is encouraging residents to recycle metal, plastics, paper and cardboard like always, but people could soon be discouraged from adding glass to the mix.

“The county is conducting an analysis on glass and will likely suggest removing it from household and county facilities recycling streams,” said Katie O’Brien, a spokeswoman for the county’s Department of Environmental Services. “We anticipate sharing our findings and providing guidance to residents in mid-to-late November.”

While Arlington pays $4.66 per ton to process recycled materials, compared to $43.16 per ton to dispose of trash. The cost of recycling is typically offset by the sale of those raw materials. But the difficulties of glass recycling mean the material disproportionately weighs down the total value of Arlington’s haul.

According to a newsletter put out by the Department of Environmental Services, glass comprises 22.4 percent of recycled goods in Arlington but is the only material that comes in at a negative value for Arlington on the recycled material market. Aluminum cans are valued at $1,520 per ton while glass’s recycle value is negative $12.50.

The high cost comes from the lack of nearby facilities able to process glass and the high cost of separating it from other recycled materials. In meetings with the County Board, County Manager Mark Schwartz said most of the collected glass is already incinerated or sent to a landfill despite being marked for recycling.

In the meantime, Arlingtonians are encouraged to seek aluminum containers for beverages first, plastic bottles second and to avoid glass if possible.

Photo via Department of Environmental Services

Arlington Agenda: October 22-28

By Vernon Miles

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.

Tuesday, Oct. 23

MONA Annual Preschool Fair*
Columbia Baptist Church (103 W. Columbia Street, Falls Church)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

The Mothers of North Arlington’s Preschool Fair will give parents a chance to meet representatives and parents from over 50 local preschools and receive a handout with a list of all local preschools. Advance online registration is preferred and the fair is free.

Wednesday, Oct. 24

Guiding Your Children to Authentic Success*
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (2609 N. Glebe Road)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

A presentation by Dr. Heather Tedesco, a McLean-based applied psychologist, will help parents focus on long-term guidance and offer ideas to incorporate your core values into raising your child. The event is free and open to the public. Light snacks and beverages will be offered.

Thursday, Oct. 25

Arlington LWV Arlington County Board Candidate Debate 2018
Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie Street)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

The Arlington League of Women Voters is hosting a debate between County Board candidates John Vihstadt (I) and Matthew Ferranti (D). Vihstadt is the incumbent County Board member and his challenger, Ferranti, won the low-turnout Democratic Primary earlier this year. The debate will be held in Room 527 AB.

Friday, Oct. 26

Before You File: Everything You Need to Know About the New Tax Law
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA) is hosting a free workshop offering a general overview of the new tax law. The workshop will cover topics like itemized deductions, home ownership, charitable giving and more. Attendees can register for the event by emailing [email protected] or call (800) 341-8189.

Haunted House & Food Drive
Haunted House (4228 N. Old Glebe Road)
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.

Boy Scout Troop 104 is hosting a haunted house themed food drive as part of an Eagle Scout project. The event is free but food donations to the Arlington Food Assistance Center is requested. The Haunted House will be open on Friday and Saturday this week and on Halloween (Wednesday) next week.

Saturday, Oct. 27

Encore Stage & Studio 3rd Annual Costume Caper 5K & 1K Fun Run*
Bluemont Park South Pavilion (325 N. Manchester Street)
Time: 8-11 a.m.

Encore Stage and Studio invites families and community members on a run along the W&OD trail. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. Online registration for the 5K is $30 in advance or $35 for registration the day of the race. The 1K Fun Run for kids ages 10 or under is $10.

A Cappella Barbershop Harmony Show*
NRECA Building (4301 Wilson Blvd)
Time: 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The Arlingtones annual show returns with all the barbershop classics. This year features the 2016 national youth quartet champions Pratt Street Power as a special guest. Admission is $15 for adults or $10 for students with an ID. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Sunday, Oct. 28

Installation of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s New Rector*
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (4000 Lorcom Lane)
Time: 4-6 p.m.

The church will host “A Celebration of New Ministry,” a special afternoon worship service marking the arrival of its new rector, Rev. Dorota Pruski. The service is open to the public and a reception will follow.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Startup Arlington Initiative Aims to Bring in New Businesses

By Vernon Miles

Startup Monday header

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

While most Startup Monday articles profile a local business getting off the ground, today’s feature highlights Startup Arlington: an initiative aimed at bringing those businesses to Arlington.

Startup Arlington is an annual competition hosted by Arlington Economic Development that invites applications from promising startups that would be interested in moving to Arlington County. Applications for the latest round are available online and due Nov. 2.

The application consists of basic personal and company information, assessment of company growth/financial traction and the submission of a business plan and pitch deck.

Judges will review applications based on the overall strength of the team and the team’s knowledge of the market. The viability of the product, service, or technology will also be rated alongside an assessment of the company’s revenue and financing plans.

The winner of Startup Arlington will receive:

  • Three months of free living space in Rosslyn Residence Inn hotel
  • Three months of free office space in a coworking facility
  • Legal advice for the new business
  • Complimentary gym access
  • A stipend for public transportation fees

A full list of rules is available online, but in general applicants to Startup Arlington must be:

  • The CEO and/or founder (or co-founder) of an existing tech company
  • At least 21 years old at the time you complete your application
  • Able to live in Arlington County throughout the competition period

Winners of the competition must relocate to Arlington for at least four months. The startup also cannot be a business that is already located in Arlington or the Washington, D.C. region.

The previous year’s winner was GreenSight Agronomics, a system that converts drone imagery into actionable information.

Del. Hope to Host Medicaid Expansion Town Hall

By Vernon Miles
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Del. Patrick Hope (D) will be hosting a town hall helping Arlingtonians understand Virginia’s new Medicaid expansion this On Friday, Oct. 26.

Hope is expected be joined at the town hall by Dr. Jennifer Lee, director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, who will help explain who qualifies under the new regulations.

Many Virginians currently ineligible for Medicaid may be qualified under the new expansion. Childless adults were previously ineligible for Medicaid in Virginia, but those with an annual income at or below $16,754 may be eligible under the new regulations.

Eligibility for parents has been raised from those with an income at or below $6,900 to $28,677. Eligibility for people with disabilities has been raised from those earning $9,700 or below to $16,754.

An eligibility screening tool is available online to help Virginians discover if they can be covered by the new Medicaid expansion.

Applications to the state’s expanded Medicaid program can be filed beginning Nov. 2.

The meeting is scheduled for 2-4 p.m in the lower level auditorium of the Arlington County Department of Human Services (2100 Washington Blvd).

Arlington Gets Warmed Up for Marine Corps Marathon Traffic

By Vernon Miles

The Marine Corps Marathon returns to Arlington next Sunday (Oct. 28), likely bringing over 30,000 runners to Arlington and a resulting tangle of road closures and transportation changes.

The opening ceremonies for the marathon will be held at 6 a.m., followed by the wheelchair and handcycle race starting at 7:40 a.m. Races will continue throughout the day until 3:10 p.m. Award celebrations are scheduled to continue until 9:30 p.m.

Street parking near the race will be restricted and motorists should keep an eye out for temporary “No Parking” signs. Use of rideshare and public transportation is encouraged.

Metrorail will open at 6 a.m. for the race, two hours early, and run extra Blue and Yellow line trains. The closest stop to the race will be the Pentagon station, which will be exit-only until 8:30 a.m.

According to an Arlington County press release, the following roads will be closed for the race.

3:00 AM-5:30 PM      Marshall Drive from N. Meade Street to Route 110

3:00 AM-5:30 PM      N. Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Lynn Street

3:00 AM-6:00 PM      Route 110 from I-66 to Jefferson Davis Highway

3:00 AM-6:00 PM      Wilson Boulevard from N. Nash Street to Route 110

3:00 AM-6:00 PM      Lynn Street from N. Meade Street to Lee Highway

3:00 AM-6:00 PM      Fort Myer Drive from N. Meade Street to Lee Highway

3:00 AM-6:00 PM      N. Moore Street from Wilson Boulevard to Lee Highway

3:00 AM-6:00 PM      19th Street N. from Lynn Street to N. Nash Street

3:00 AM-4:00 PM      Route 110 ramp from Washington Blvd. to Pentagon North parking

6:00 AM-12:00 PM    Lee Highway (eastbound) from Lynn Street to Kirkwood Road

6:00 AM-12:00 PM    Spout Run Parkway from southbound George Washington

Memorial Parkway (GWMP) to Lee Highway

6:00 AM-12:00 PM    GWMP from Spout Run to Memorial Circle Drive

6:00 AM-12:00 PM    Francis Scott Key Bridge (all lanes)

6:00 AM-2:00 PM      HOV lanes from 14th Street SW to HOV ramp at S. Eads Street

5:00 AM-4:30 PM      S. Eads Street from S. Rotary Road to Army Navy Drive

5:00 AM-4:30 PM      Army Navy Drive from S. Fern Street to 12th Street S.

6:00 AM-10:00 AM   15th Street S. from Crystal Drive to S. Eads Street

6:00 AM-4:00 PM      12th Street S. from Army Navy Drive to Crystal Drive

6:00 AM-4:00 PM      Crystal Drive from 12th Street S. to 23rd Street S.

6:00 AM-4:00 PM      Longbridge Drive from 12th Street S. to I-395

3:00 AM-5:00 PM      Boundary Channel Drive from I-395 to Pentagon North Parking

3:00 AM-5:00 PM      Washington Blvd. from Columbia Pike to Memorial Circle

(southbound lanes will reopen at approximately 9:30 AM)

A map of the course, as well as additional race information, can be found at the Marine Corps Marathon website.

File photo

Roll for Initiative at Arlington Public Library’s Tabletop Gaming Day

By Vernon Miles

Break out the dice; it’s board game convention time at the Arlington Public Library.

Demand for the library’s board game collection has led the library to host Tabletop Gaming Day on Nov. 4 at the Arlington Central Library. The board game extravaganza will run from 1-5 p.m.

All ages and experience levels are welcome to Board Game Day. For those who may be new to certain games, staff and volunteers will be ready to help teach the rules. Those with their own board games are welcome to bring them.

Attendees can also join into a raffle to win board games Pandemic Legacy: Season 2 and Codenames: Disney Family Edition donated by ThinkGeek.

The event is free, without any registration required.

Photo via Arlington Public Library

Ballston-Based Startup Adds a Physical Barrier to Cyber Attacks

By Vernon Miles

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

Ballston-based startup Fend is working to make infrastructure assets un-hackable.

“The goal is to protect infrastructure from cyber attacks,” said Fend’s founder Colin Dunn. “That’s everything from the electric supply to water systems. What worries me is hackers taking down our services.”

Dunn said he was frustrated looking at new technology being developed for infrastructure development that was turned down because of cybersecurity concerns.

Fend’s hardware is a device inserted into the data stream connecting industrial equipment (the asset) to cloud network stream. Information comes in from the asset, like a power plant or a truck, into one half of the device. That data is converted into a unidirectional beam of light fired into the second half of the device, which then sends the information into the network.

Because the information is physically transported in a one-way beam, there’s no opportunity to use the hackable network to access the asset. Dunn says Fend allows equipment operators to receive live updates on the assets without concern that the asset could be compromised.

According to Dunn, the technology adapts technology that has been used to defend nuclear power plans and the intelligence community but makes it easier to use and more price accessible for building owners or local governments.

Fend started in 2017 out of Smart City Works, a business accelerator in Reston, but has since moved to Techspace, a shared office space in Ballston. It was awarded a Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research award earlier this year for the technology’s potential to help protect solar farms. According to the Department of Energy, the technology could prevent large-scale economic disruption.

The funding from the Department of Energy has allowed Dunn to bring on another full-time employee, Sang Lee, who is now the chief engineer for Fend, and move forward into a pilot phase. The first batch of 10 units are currently under construction in Charlottesville and will be ready in four to five weeks.

Dunn said the program is scheduled for six weeks of pilot testing as Dunn starts to work on developing clients. Currently, Dunn says the company has one outside investor, but Fend will be looking for more investors and clients as the program looks beyond the pilot into full-scale implementation.

Arlington Agenda: October 9-14

By Vernon Miles
Rosslyn Cider Fest

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.

Tuesday, Oct. 9

Puzzled Pint
The Board Room (925 N. Garfield Street)
7-11 p.m.

Puzzled Pint is a casual, social puzzle solving event which happens at bars/pubs on the second Tuesday of every month in multiple cities around the world. On the night of the event, show up at The Board Room for puzzles to solve while you enjoy drinks and food. Most teams take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to solve a typical puzzle set.

Wednesday, Oct. 10

Community Forum: The Opioid Epidemic
Virginia Hospital Center (1701 N. George Mason Drive)
7-8:30 p.m.

Virginia Hospital Center Foundation and its Women’s Health Circle are hosting a free Community Forum to discuss the public health concerns around the opioid epidemic. Complimentary parking is available in Zone B (Gold Garage) and pre-registration is requested for this free event.

Thursday, Oct. 11

Rosslyn Cider Fest
Central Place Plaza (1800 N. Lynn Street)
5-8 p.m.

The Rosslyn Cider Fest offers chance to learn more about this alcoholic beverage that’s favored by many who don’t like beer. Eight cideries will be in attendance, along with live music and food trucks. Products are available to sample for $10 (8 samples). Tickets are available online. Attendees can also visit the outdoor bar to purchase beer, wine and full-sized cider bottles.

Desegregating Arlington School Sports*
Marymount University Reinsch Library Auditorium (2807 N. Glebe Road)
7-8:30 p.m.

Arlington’s African-American kids could finally attend white schools starting in 1959, but that was just the first step of a longer battle that played out in government and PTA meetings. A panel featuring local high school athletes will discuss this part of Arlington’s history.

Saturday, Oct. 13

Future with Hope Women’s Conference*
St. Agnes Church (1910 N. Randolph Street)
7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The third-annual conference for Catholic women over 40 will take place Oct. 12-13 at St. Agnes Church. Featured speakers include Mary Elizabeth Sperry, author of “Making Room for God: Decluttering and the Spiritual Life.”

Marymount Farmers Market Oktoberfest
Marymount University Farmers Market (4620 Lee Highway)
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Brats, Liab und Schneid music, raffles, strudel, face-painting and more at the Marymount Farmers Market Oktoberfest. Grilled German sausages will be served and Viennese bakers will be wearing traditional attire. The event is hosted in partnership with the Marymount Farmers Market and Marymount University Homecoming

Live in Arlington Info Fair
Arlington Mill Community Center (909 S. Dinwiddie Street)
10 a.m.-3 p.m.

This event offers free information about housing opportunities in Arlington, providing an opportunity to meet with housing professionals including mortgage lenders, real estate agents, apartment rental professionals, and representatives of government and not-for-profit organizations.

Night of Horror II: Return of the Overdue Books
Columbia Pike Library (816 S. Walter Reed Drive)
8-11 p.m.

Warning: Prepare to be scared! This event is recommended for brave teens and adults. Join the Arlington Public Library on a venture through this haunted library and try to escape the horrors of the stacks, dead authors, and librarians of the living dead. Online registration is required.

Sunday, Oct. 14

Kinhaven 5K & Kids 1K
Bluemont Park (325 N. Manchester Street)
9-10 a.m.

The Kinhaven 5k and Kids 1k will have music, refreshments, face painting and more. The 5k begins at 9 a.m. with a free toddler dash starting at 9:45 a.m. The kids 1k race starts at 9:50 a.m. The adult 5k costs $35, while the kids 1k costs $10. Registration is available online.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Fire Station 8 Home Demolitions Start Next Week

By Vernon Miles

The demolition for Fire Station 8 is still a long ways away, but two homes behind the building are being prepared for demolition to eventually make way for a temporary station.

According to Peter Golkin, a spokesman with the Arlington Department of Environmental Services, the homes at 2211 and 2215 N. Culpeper Street will be demolished at the beginning of next week.

Currently, contractors at the site are putting up sediment and erosion control barriers around the buildings.

The buildings were purchased by Arlington County in December 2016 for $1.6 million.

According to Ben O’Bryant, spokesman for the Arlington Fire Department, demolition of Fire Station 8 is still at least a year away. O’Bryant says the Fire Department wants to have the temporary station built and running before they start to tear down the existing station.

Photos via Google Maps

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