Events

Arlington Agenda: February 4-10

By Alex Koma

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, Feb. 5

The Evolving Role of a First Lady
Westover Library (1644 N. McKinley Road)
Time: 7-8 p.m.

Janette Muir, associate provost for undergraduate education at George Mason University, discusses the changing role of First Ladies, and the way the Office of the First Lady has evolved over time.

Wednesday, Feb. 6

Opioid Panel Discussion
Shirlington Branch Library (4200 Campbell Avenue)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Hear unique and varied perspectives from the front lines of the opioid crisis. Panelists will include an addiction treatment provider, police officials, a person living in recovery, and a family member with a loved one who has suffered from addiction.

Thursday, Feb. 7

Social Walk + Cozy Coffee Hour in Courthouse
Beangood! The Coffee Pub (1737 Wilson Boulevard)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

WalkArlington is checking out Courthouse and its great coffee spots that give neighbors something to feel cozy about. The evening will conclude with a social, warm beverages, and snacks at CoworkCafe, 2719 Wilson Blvd.

Friday, Feb. 8

Winter Bike to Work Day 2019
Gravelly Point, Mount Vernon Trail
Time: 7-9 a.m.

Visit a pit stop at Gravelly Point (along the Mount Vernon Trail near the Capital Bikeshare station) for swag and mingling with fellow riders.

Saturday, Feb. 9

National Chamber Ensemble — The Romantics*
Gunston Arts Center (2700 S. Lang Street)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

The program features extraordinary, exotic and enticing shorter works by Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Rachmaninov, Saint-Saens and Mendelssohn.

Home Buying in the Amazon Age: What YOU Need to Know
Weichert, Realtors Arlington (4701 Old Dominion Drive)
Time: 10-11 a.m.

Paying a lot in rent and are unsure if/when you can buy? Found your credit score online but don’t know the next steps? Need to know how to find something affordable? Come find out the answers to these questions and more at this free seminar.

Sunday, Feb. 10

Annual Giant Used Book Fair*
Saint Ann Church (5300 10th Street N.)
Time: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Take advantage of great prices in a relaxed atmosphere — come early and enjoy a Valentine’s Day bake sale! Free admission and parking and coffee/tea all day.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Arlington Officials Mark 60th Anniversary of Stratford School Integration With Celebration Tonight

By Alex Koma

It’s been sixty years since four black students integrated Stratford Junior High School, marking the beginning of the end of school segregation in Virginia, and Arlington leaders are planning a special event to commemorate the momentous anniversary.

The school system and Arlington County’s Historic Preservation Program scheduled a celebration tonight (Monday) at the H-B Woodlawn auditorium, near the original Stratford building at 4100 Vacation Lane.

The event will mark nearly 60 years to the day from when the students first attended the school back on Feb. 2, 1959, as Stratford became the first school to defy the state’s policy of “massive resistance” in the face of the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning school segregation.

The program will include remarks from School Board Chair Reid Goldstein and County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, as well as three of the four students who first integrated the school: Ronald Deskins, Michael Jones and Gloria Thompson. The fourth, Lance Newman, passed away last fall.

The program also includes a performance by the H-B Woodlawn Choir and participants from the Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Visual Arts contest reading essays they prepared. Arlington Public Art will also be distributing free 60th anniversary commemorative letterpress prints created by visiting artist Amos Kennedy.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for anyone hoping to examine artifacts and art from the civil rights era, with the formal program beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The gathering comes at a time of great change for the Stratford property. With H-B Woodlawn and Stratford programs set to move to a new building in Rosslyn for the new school year, the site will soon become home to a new middle school.

The School Board decided late last year to name the building for Dorothy Hamm, an Arlington-based civil rights activist who fought for the integration of Stratford. However, the Board attracted some backlash by stripping any reference to Stratford from the building’s name, given the term’s connection to Robert E. Lee and his family home of Stratford Hall.

Photo via Arlington County

Arlington Agenda: January 28-February 3

By Alex Koma

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, Jan. 29

Saint Ann Catholic School Open House*
Saint Ann Catholic School (980 N. Frederick Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

This is your invitation to come and tour the school. You can have have your questions answered about the school’s primary, intermediate and middle school curricula, and meet teachers and students.

Personal Finance for Immigrants
Shirlington Branch Library (4200 Campbell Avenue)
Time: 7-8 p.m.

Are you an immigrant, or a child or significant other of an immigrant? Come join a free financial workshop to learn about the basics of building stability and wealth in the U.S. for the immigrant community.

Wednesday, Jan. 30

Estate Planning in Your 20s & 30s
Shirlington Branch Library (4200 Campbell Avenue)
Time: 7-8 p.m.

James Anderson from Arlington Law Group will present the fundamentals of estate planning, covering the differences between a will and trust and what will happen if you don’t have a plan.

Thursday, Jan. 31

H-B Woodlawn Performance of Grease
H-B Woodlawn Secondary School (4100 Vacation Lane)
Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Students perform the classic “Grease,” which was written in 1971, the same year H-B Woodlawn was founded. Performances are also set for Friday (Feb. 1) and Saturday (Feb. 2).

Friday, Feb. 1

First Edition Toastmasters Open House
John Snow International (1616 Fort Myer Drive)
Time: 12-1 p.m.

Come to the open house and learn about Toastmasters. Meet members of the First Edition Club. Refreshments and door prizes will be up for grabs.

Arsenic and Old Lace
Thomas Jefferson Community Theater (125 S. Old Glebe Road)
Time: 8-11 p.m.

Come enjoy this classic hysterical farce of love, family and murder. Runs weekends running from Feb. 1-16. ASL interpretation will be available on Saturday, Feb. 9.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Arlington Agenda: January 22-27

By Alex Koma

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, Jan. 22

You and Your Sleep
Shirlington Library (4200 Campbell Avenue)
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Join Gwendolyn Beck, manager of senior health at Virginia Hospital Center, to improve your overall sleep patterns. Learn what happens when you sleep, or do not sleep, and the effects in can have on your overall health.

Wednesday, Jan. 23

Reel Page Turners Movie Book Club
Lee Community and Senior Center (5722 Lee Highway)
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Join this monthly movie-themed book club to discuss “1984” by George Orwell. A screening of the movie will take place next week at Westover Library. For more information, email Peg Owen at [email protected].

Saturday, Jan. 26

Storymasters Toastmasters Club January 2019 Meeting*
Cafe Sazon (4704 Columbia Pike)
Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Join this group’s monthly meeting to learn the art and science of storytelling. Because no one can tell your story better than you!

Financial Bootcamp for New Parents
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Learn how to update budgets based on changes to your income and expenses, stay on track toward short-term and long-term goals, such as college expenses, and learn what tools exist to protect you and your new family.

Sunday, Jan. 27

Saint Ann Catholic School Open House*
Saint Ann Catholic School (980 N. Frederick Street)
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

This is your invitation to come and tour the school. You can have have your questions answered about the school’s primary, intermediate and middle school curricula, and meet teachers and students.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Centennial Celebration for Fire Station 8 Scheduled in Ballston Next Weekend

By Alex Koma
1/4

Fire Station 8 on Lee Highway just passed its 100th birthday, and now a celebration of the station’s legacy is on the way in Ballston.

The John M. Langston Citizens Association is convening a “centennial celebration” next Saturday (Jan. 26) at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association building (4301 Wilson Blvd).

Built in 1918, the fire station has long been one of the most historic sites in the county — it was the only station in segregated Arlington with black firefighters during the 1950s and 1960s, and it often served Hall’s Hill, a historically black community that was once literally walled off from the rest of the county in the days of segregation.

Accordingly, the program will be geared toward “chronicling Fire Station 8’s 100 years of legacy and impact” and there will be a display with “history and memorabilia associated with Fire Station 8,” according to an event listing.

“For 100 years the men and women of Fire Station 8 have served the communities of Arlington County, Virginia selflessly, and with honor,” the citizens association wrote. “Not only did they serve, but they served segregated, and unrecognized by the county for almost 40 years. Fire Station 8 has not only changed history and the future of blacks in the fire service, but is getting ready to have a change in look too.”

The fire station is indeed set to be fully replaced, with construction set to start later this year. County officials had initially considered moving the fire station elsewhere, but opted instead to rebuild it on its current site.

The celebration is set to run from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Big Crowds Expected for Wreath Removal at Arlington National Cemetery Tomorrow

By Alex Koma
1/3

Arlington National Cemetery is preparing to welcome thousands of volunteers tomorrow (Saturday) for its annual wreath removal event, and officials are urging participants to prepare for the big crowds.

Starting at 8 a.m., cemetery officials are expecting “traffic congestion and delays on nearby streets and at the cemetery’s entrances” for the “Wreaths Out” event, according to a news release.

Volunteers will be charged with disposing of the more than 245,000 wreaths distributed at headstones for the “Wreaths Across America” event last month.

“This is a special day where the wreaths placed at these hallowed grounds during the holiday season in remembrance and honor of our nation’s fallen service members and their families will be respectfully removed by volunteers,” Arlington National Cemetery Operations Director Micheal Migliara wrote in a statement. “We encourage volunteers to use all four entrances to access the cemetery which include Memorial Avenue, Ord and Weitzel gate, South gate and for DoD cardholders, the Old Post Chapel gate.”

Much like the wreath-laying event, the cemetery will block off all vehicle access to the grounds until 3 p.m. Saturday.

Family pass holders and volunteers with handicapped passes will be allowed to park in the ANC’s parking garage starting at 7 a.m., on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone arriving by car should stay in their vehicle until the cemetery opens at 8 a.m.

People arriving via rideshare or taxi should plan on exiting somewhere adjacent to the Arlington Cemetery Metro stop. Officials also highly encourage people taking Metro to reach the event.

The cemetery also issued the following tips for volunteers:

  • Give vehicles and heavy equipment the right of way and let them pass in roadways.
  • Remove only WAA wreaths. Leave all other wreaths or decorations in place.
  • Place wreaths in dumpsters positioned throughout the cemetery and pack them tightly.
  • When dumpsters are filled, do not pile wreaths next to them. Carry wreaths to unfilled dumpsters.
  • Refrain from jumping or climbing on wreaths in dumpsters to compress them.

Flickr photos via Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event Set for Sunday

By Catherine Douglas Moran

Arlington will celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a free annual event featuring local performers this Sunday (Jan 20).

“Supernatural” actor Christian Keyes is set to host Arlington’s MLK Tribute, which is now in its 50th year. The event will run from 5-6:30 p.m. at Wakefield High School.

Community members and county staff created the annual tribute one year after King’s assassination in 1968 as a way to bring the community together around King’s vision for social equality.

“Arlington’s beloved MLK tribute event is a joyful celebration of Dr. King and his powerful advocacy for social and economic justice, non-violence and empowerment that continues to serve as a beacon for our nation more than a half-century after his assassination,” Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey said in a press release.

The program features music, dance and spoken word roles.

The lineup includes:

  • Spoken word artist Outspoken Poetress (Audrey Perkins)
  • Inspire Arts Collective
  • Soloist Jackie Pate
  • Soloist James Gibson
  • Arlington resident Joy Gardner
  • The Hoffman-Boston All Star Chorus led by Molly Haines
  • Teen Network boardmembers
  • Winners of the Arlington Public Schools’ MLK Literary and Visual Arts Contest

Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis, and overflow space with a live stream of the program will be available if the auditorium reaches capacity. Anyone attending is encouraged to bring non-perishable goods to donate to Arlington Food Assistance Center.

Photo via Arlington County

Beyer Plans Town Hall at Yorktown High School Tonight

By Alex Koma

(Updated at 12:15 p.m.) Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th District) is planning a town hall in Arlington tonight (Thursday), in order to collect feedback on everything from the government shutdown to his plans for the new Congress.

Beyer’s set to hold the gathering at Yorktown High School (5200 Yorktown Blvd) tonight, running from 7-8:30 p.m. Though Arlington Public Schools have since canceled all after-school activities due to the threat of winter weather tonight, a spokesman for Beyer says the event is still on.

The county’s lone congressman convened the gathering to “discuss the issues on your mind, and what I’m doing in Congress,” according to an event posting.

The shutdown, now the longest in the country’s history, will likely be a prime topic of discussion, especially considering the adverse economic impacts it has had on so many federal workers in the district. A recent study found that the 8th, which covers Arlington and parts of Alexandria, has the largest number of federal employees in the country.

Beyer will also be able to use the town hall as a chance to solicit feedback on his plans in Congress for the next two years, as Democrats assume control of the House for the first time since Beyer won office in 2014.

He previously told ARLnow that he broadly hopes to focus on environmental issues, particularly oversight of President Trump’s picks to head the Environmental Protection Agency, and on securing new funding to combat aircraft noise around Arlington.

File photo

County Plans Two New Events to Lend a Hand to Furloughed Workers

By Catherine Douglas Moran

As the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history continues without an end in sight, Arlington officials are continuing to offer help to federal government workers missing out on paychecks.

Two events scheduled for later this week are meant to reduce financial burdens facing furloughed workers.

The Arlington Public Library system plans to host a workshop on Thursday (Jan. 17) to help furloughed federal employees with their budgets and access county resources.

Entitled “Finding Help During Difficult Financial Times,” the workshop will provide how-to’s on the following:

After the presentation, Latrice Robinson, a financial coach and contractor who is a part of the CFPB Financial Coaching Program, will be on hand to answer any questions, along with AFAC Client Services Manager Lily Duran and outreach staff from the Public Assistance Division in DHS.

The workshop will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium in the Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street).

Arlington Public Schools also announced today (Tuesday) that it will hold a job fair on Friday (Jan. 18) for federal employees interested in substitute teaching.

The job fair will run from noon to 4 p.m. at the Syphax Education Center (2110 Washington Blvd). Participants should bring two forms of identification to the job fair and are encouraged to submit their application beforehand.

File photo

Arlington Agenda: January 14-20

By Alex Koma

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, Jan. 14

1st Time Home Buyer Seminar*
1600 Wilson Blvd
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.

In this free class, the Keri Shull and Orange Line Living Team will teach you everything you need to know about buying your first home, from your first steps exploring the market to throwing your housewarming party.

Exploring Secret Histories: An evening with the Atlas Obscura Society D.C.
Columbia Pike Library (816 S. Walter Reed Drive)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.

Join Matt Blitz, journalist at Arlington Magazine and head of the Atlas Obscura Society D.C., to unfold secret histories and discover overlooked places in Arlington and the metro area.

Wednesday, Jan. 16

Microsoft Excel: Basics
Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street)
Time: 7-8:45 p.m.

Excel can help you organize your data within spreadsheets and then track and visualize the data for better management and insight into large amounts of information. In this class learn to create worksheets, navigate toolbars, enter text and more.

Thursday, Jan. 17

Rain Gardens in Storm Water Management
Little Falls Presbyterian Church (6025 Little Falls Road)
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Aileen Winquist, Arlington County’s watershed outreach program manager, will speak on the county’s storm water management program with particular attention to use of rain gardens. Free and open to the public.

Meet the Chair
George Mason University (3351 Fairfax Drive)
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

Get face-to-face with the chair of the Arlington County Board, Christian Dorsey. After hearing the chair’s 2019’s initiatives, the event will open up for questions from the audience in a town hall forum. This event is free to attend, but registration is requested.

Arlington Child Care Initiative Community Open House
Arlington County Department of Human Services (2100 Washington Blvd)
Time: 7-9 p.m.

Drop in any time between 7 and 9 pm to provide feedback on staff recommendations related to changes to the zoning ordinance and local child care codes. The County Board is weighing a series of potential tweaks regarding standards for daycare centers and their staff.

*Denotes featured (sponsored) event

Second Amazon ‘Listening Session’ to Be Held in Ballston Tomorrow

By Alex Koma

Arlington leaders are convening their second “community listening session” on Amazon’s new headquarters in Ballston tomorrow (Saturday).

The event is set to run from 9:30-11 a.m., held at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association building at 4301 Wilson Blvd and designed as a chance to let county residents air their concerns about the tech giant as it prepares to move into space in Crystal City and Pentagon City in the coming months.

County spokeswoman Jennifer Smith says officials are closely “watching the forecasts,” but they currently expect they’ll be able to squeeze the event in before the weekend’s snow storm hits.

The County Board and other local officials last convened a similar gathering on Dec. 17 at Gunston Middle School, as part of a broader push to accept community feedback on Amazon in person. The first meeting largely centered on debates over the company’s impact on housing, transportation and the labor force in the coming years, all concerns raised by supporters and opponents of the tech firm alike.

Since then, the county has attracted some criticism for its handling of the town halls, particularly when it comes to making meeting materials available in Spanish and offering translators at each event.

However, the county’s meeting advisory does say that language interpretation services will be available upon request.

Saturday’s listening session could well be the last chance for the Board to hear directly from the public on Amazon before it holds a vote to approve an incentive package (hammered out largely by state officials) that helped convince the company to choose Arlington for the new offices.

Board members have long planned to vote in February on the topic, no sooner than the group’s meeting on Feb. 23, though the debate is largely expected to be a mere formality. State lawmakers will also sign off on other elements of the incentive package over the next few weeks, during the current General Assembly session.

Photo via @SURJ_NoVa

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