Photographer Taking Silly Cicada Snaps — “Oxana Ware is a talented photographer based out of North Arlington, but along with her business side, she likes to have fun and be a little silly at times. That’s why it just seemed right to her when she decided to have a full photoshoot with cicadas, complete with handmade props.” [WJLA]
County Marking Sit-In Anniversary With Art — “It was delayed a year due to the pandemic, but a commemoration marking the 1960 civil-rights sit-ins in Arlington is now beginning. The Arlington County government had planned to mark the 60th anniversary of sit-ins at Arlington lunch counters with special programming on the Arlington Art Truck, using prints by artist Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. to immerse the public in the experience, in 2020. But the effort was a victim of the pandemic – until now.” [Sun Gazette]
Arlington-Based Axios Making Moves — Digital news outlet Axios, based in Clarendon, is launching local news publications in a number of cities this year, including Washington. It is also reportedly in discussions to be acquired by a German news conglomerate. [Washington Post, Marketwatch]
Masks Coming Off For APS Athletes — “It looks like Arlington school officials have abandoned their masks-on policy for most athletes while engaged in competition.” [Sun Gazette]
ACFD Assists with Potomac Search — “Person seen going into Potomac River & not resurfacing… [After a search involving D.C., Arlington and other water rescue teams, medics] transported an adult female in critical life threatening condition. Law enforcement will investigate the circumstances.” [Twitter, Twitter]
Secretary Pete at DCA This Afternoon — “U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Mary Kay Henry, International President of the two million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will host an immigration roundtable discussion with 32BJ SEIU’s airport workers at National Airport (DCA).” [Press Release]
Arlington County Attorney Steve MacIsaac is leaving his position after two decades with the county government.
“Our attorney, Mr. MacIsaac, is going to be leaving us to return to where he started — to work for the Virginia Railway Express,” Matt de Ferranti, County Board Chair, said May 18 during a county meeting. “We will certainly miss Mr. MacIsaac.”
MacIsaac will be returning for a newly-created, full-time position as general counsel at Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
“It’s been for me a real pleasure to work with you,” MacIsaac said after County Board members gave him accolades during the meeting. “It’s really been enjoyable to work with you.”
VRE is owned by two parent authorities, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission.
MacIsaac spent 21 years with the county as its county attorney, said County Board Vice-Chair Katie Cristol, who as Chair of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission helped lead others to create the new position at VRE.
“We are losing, in my opinion, the finest county attorney in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” County Board member Christian Dorsey said. “That is a tough pill to swallow.”
MacIsaac has served as part-time counsel to VRE since planning for the commuter rail service began in the mid-1980s.
Before working for Arlington County, McIsaac spent 18 years at the County Attorney’s Office in nearby Prince William County, which VRE services.
VRE connects D.C. with Manassas and I-95 corridor communities — such as Fredericksburg and beyond — with commuter rail service. A revamped Crystal City station is part of VRE’s future expansion plans. VRE is planning on expanding with weekday evening and weekend service, and has existing plans to double its daily train passengers by 2040.
Prince William County Supervisor Margaret Franklin, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission Chair, said MacIsaac’s “in-depth knowledge of VRE and the jurisdictions it serves will allow us to chart a course for the future that will better serve our communities and passengers.”
The County Board has appointed deputy county attorney MinhChau Corr as acting attorney after MacIsaac leaves. A search for his permanent replacement is expected to begin sometime this summer, county spokeswoman Cara O’Donnell said in an email.
MacIsaac’s last day will be this Friday, May 28. He’ll start his new position next week.
“Thank you,” MacIsaac said. “It’s been a great ride.”
A man is facing a battery of charges after police say he jumped on the hood of a stopped car and then assaulted officers.
The incident started around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, at the intersection of N. Glebe Road and N. Quincy Street in the Ballston area.
From Monday’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:
ASSAULT & BATTERY ON POLICE, 2021-05220227, N. Glebe Road at N. Quincy Street. At approximately 7:46 p.m. on May 22, police were dispatched to the report of a destruction of property. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim was inside his vehicle at a red light when two individuals ran into the intersection. The suspect then allegedly jumped onto the hood of the victim’s vehicle and smashed the windshield. The suspect fled the scene on foot and was located by responding officers at N. Glebe Road and Carlin Springs. As officers attempted to detain the suspect, he became physically combative and spat at them. Following a brief struggle, he was taken into custody. An officer was transported to an area hospital for a minor injury sustained during the struggle. At booking, the suspect complained of a previous injury and was transported to an area hospital for evaluation. While at the hospital, the suspect kicked, scratched and threatened officers. Wade Westmoreland, 37, of No Fixed Address was arrested and charged with Assault on Police (x4), Obstruction of Justice (x2) and Destruction of Property. He was held without bond.
Today’s crime report also includes several items involving thefts of or from vehicles in various parts of North Arlington, including Ballston, Donaldson Run, Williamsburg and Riverwood.
From ACPD:
GRAND LARCENY AUTO / VEHICLE TAMPERING / LARCENY FROM AUTO / BURGLARY (series), 2021-05230071 / 05230079 / 05230084 / 05230089 / 05230109 / 05230121, 4300 block of 31st Street N., 3500 block of 25th Street N., 4000 block of 25th Street N., 2700 block of N. Randolph Street, 6400 block of 29th Street N., 3200 block of N. Ohio Street. At approximately 6:02 a.m. on May 23, police were dispatched to the report of vehicle tampering in the 4300 block of 31st Street N. Upon arrival, it was determined that a witness observed two vehicles occupied by four suspects approach the victim’s residence. Two suspects exited and tried the door handles to the vehicles parked in the driveway before fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the two involved vehicles, a 2018 Ford Expedition bearing VA tags UNX8251 and a 2018 Honda Accord bearing VA tags JDM4288, had previously been stolen from the 3500 block of 25th Street N. and the 4000 block of 25th Street N. While investigating this incident, officers identified six additional vehicles that had been tampered with and rummaged through, but no items were reported stolen. During one of the tamperings, the suspects unsuccessfully attempted to use a key located inside a vehicle to enter the victim’s residence in the 3200 block of N. Ohio Street. Suspect One is described as a Black male with a skinny build, wearing a bright orange reflective vest, a green hoodie, red skinny pants, white shoes, black socks, purple latex gloves and a dark colored mask. Suspect Two is described as a Black male with an athletic build, wearing a black t-shirt, black jeans, black shoes and blue latex gloves. There are no descriptions for Suspect Three and Four. The investigation is ongoing.
The rate of new coronavirus cases in Arlington has continued to drop to levels almost unimaginable just a few months ago.
As of Monday morning, a net 15 cases have been reported over the past seven days, or just over two per day. That’s the lowest weekly total since March 19, 2020, when testing was hard to come by and cases were likely severely undercounted.
The trailing seven-day case total in Arlington peaked with 864 cases on Jan. 12, by contrast.
The cumulative case total currently stands at 15,287.
The dramatic drop in cases comes as vaccinations in Arlington continue at a brisk pace.
As of this morning, 221,552 vaccine doses have been administered in Arlington. The count of those who have been fully vaccinated crossed the 100,000 mark over the weekend and now stands at 102,346. Nearly 56% of Arlington’s overall population has received at least one vaccine dose, while 43% have been fully vaccinated.
More than two-thirds of those eligible for the vaccine — ages 12+ — have received at least one dose, according to Arlington County.
The vaccination effort is being credited for a corresponding drop in cases across the United States. Nationally, the rate of new cases has reached a nearly one-year low.
Despite the drop in cases, Covid-related hospitalizations are still being reported locally. There have been seven hospitalizations in Arlington over the past seven days, per Virginia Dept. of Health data. The virus has claimed a total of 256 lives to date in Arlington.
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Nils Stansen)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Nils Stansen)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Nils Stansen)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Nils Stansen)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Jonathan Zinn)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Lucie Melahn)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Lucie Melahn)
Fire at The Citizen at Shirlington apartment complex (photo courtesy Lucie Melahn)
(Updated at 2:35 p.m.) Firefighters from Arlington and surrounding areas battled a large fire at an apartment building this morning.
The fire broke out at The Citizen at Shirlington Village apartment building, on the 3000 block of S. Randolph Street, around 6 a.m.
“[I] was woken up this morning by the small of smoke,” said Lucie Melahn, a Shirlington resident, who described “seeing huge flames.” She said the fire department arrived about five minutes after she was woken up by the smoke.
A tower of flames could be seen coming from the apartment complex’s roof, and the resulting column of smoke could be seen from a distance away.
The Arlington County Fire Department described the blaze as “a large attic fire.” It was brought under control by firefighters by 6:35 a.m. No injuries were reported.
One resident said the fire appears to have started in an air conditioning unit on the third floor of the building.
ACFD says several dozen residents may be displaced as a result of the fire. A heavy fire department and police presence remained on scene as investigators try to determine the cause of the blaze.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, which is based nearby, said it is caring for the pets of some of the affected residents.
Sgt Ballena is on scene providing food/water to pets and their families. A few families with pets are sheltering in our building for the time being. Thank you @ArlingtonVaFD ! https://t.co/rye54akELX
‘Click It or Ticket’ Campaign Underway — ” The Arlington County Police Department is reminding drivers about the lifesaving benefits of wearing a seat belt, during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket campaign. The high-visibility national seat belt campaign, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, runs from May 24 to June 6.” [Arlington County]
Historic Home on Lee Highway for Sale — “Arlington County has less than 50 locally designated historic districts. Of those, 13 are single-family houses and only 10 of them are privately owned. Recently one of the privately owned historic houses came on the market for the first time in 25 years. The Eastman-Fenwick House is a Victorian frame house in the Queen Anne style that was designed by and built for Albert Prescott Eastman in 1876.” [Washington Post]
Local Company Growing Fast — “A dual-headquartered tech startup known for helping brands optimize their sales on Amazon is celebrating a significant growth milestone this week as it enters its 11th year in business. Amify, which is co-headquartered in Cincinnati and Arlington, Va., has reached an annual run rate of $100 million in gross merchandise value, or GMV, for its customers in terms of goods sold, officials said in a Thursday release. That represents a 600% increase in GMV under management over the past year.” [Cincy Inno]
Cemetery Lifting Some Covid Restrictions — “The leaders of Arlington National Cemetery announced that starting Monday, they will no longer limit the number of people gathered at a gravesite. The change comes as the D.C. region lifted many COVID-19 restrictions this weekend.” [Fox 5]
For Some Locals, Cicadas are Free Snacks — “Since the protein-rich cicadas aren’t poisonous, adventurous humans can eat them as well. A cookbook called Cicada-Licious includes recipes for cicada pizza, tacos and cookies. Brian Schwatken in Arlington, Virginia, fried some cicada nymphs with butter, garlic and onions. ‘They are tender, have kind of a nutty taste and are really good,’ he said.” [Voice of America]
Arlington County has hit a setback in its fight against the opioid epidemic, as a high-stakes legal battle is mired in a squabble over where the case should be tried.
The county is currently suing dozens of businesses, such as CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, McKesson Corporation and Express Scripts. In its lawsuit, the county says these manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies were key players in the opioid problem.
The County Board is seeking “at least” $150 million plus other damages — punitive damages of $350,000 per defendant.
The suit argues that the epidemic has harmed the Arlington community in myriad ways, ranging from more babies exposed to the drugs and increased health care costs to impacts on everything from courts to schools’ treatment centers and employee benefit plans.
“‘Arlington County has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic,’ with increasing rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome and Hepatitis C since 2011,” notes a court document. “Moreover, the rate of overdose deaths in Arlington County has approximately tripled during the period of 1999 to 2016.”
The suit alleges that businesses caused harm by “misrepresenting the dangers of opioids, by failing in their obligations to report suspicious orders of opioid drugs, by working with their related pharmaceutical benefit manager entities to increase the usage of opioids, by flooding the country (and Arlington County)” with addictive drugs and more, lawyers for the county previously said in a court filing.
In court, the county has accused the defendants of gross negligence, unjust enrichment, conspiracy and more, saying prescription drug manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies have created this epidemic.
Lawyers for the county said the addictive pain medications — sometimes prescribed for everyday conditions such as knee pain, headaches and dental pain — can act as a gateway drug to heroin and more.
As the suit has worked its way through the legal system since 2019, the county and the defendants have tangled over which court should hear the case, with the county pushing for state court, and at least one defendant arguing for federal court as the venue. Earlier this month the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to the lower federal court for further proceedings.
In appealing a U.S. district court decision about the venue selection, two defendants, Express Scripts Pharmacy Inc. and ESI Mail Pharmacy Service Inc., have argued they were administering a mail order pharmacy as part of the military’s TRICARE health program, thus making it a federal case, the appeals court said.
Those two affiliated defendants did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The county said pharmacy benefit managers, including Express Scripts and others, are gatekeepers to the vast majority of opioid prescriptions in the U.S. and therefore influence prescription drug utilization, suggesting responsibility for monitoring and guarding against misconduct.
“The [Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center] will be opening this summer, but it’s too far out to give an exact month or day,” Dept. of Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Susan Kalish tells ARLnow.
The approved Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes funding for the opening of the facility at 475 Long Bridge Drive, in Long Bridge Park, using $2 million of a nearly $10 million donation from Boeing, which has its D.C. area headquarters nearby. According to the budget, the center is slated to open in July.
As work draws to a close, project manager Erik Beach gave ARLnow a tour of the facility, which has a pool for competitive swimming and a family pool, a center with fitness equipment, and spaces for classes, parties and events.
“It’s a pretty incredible site,” he said.
Work began on the 92,000-square-foot swimming and recreation facility — the second of four phases to redevelop Long Bridge Park — three years ago. But the history of the controversial project goes back much farther.
Voters approved funding for the project in a 2012 bond referendum, but due to rising costs the recreation center was put on hold in 2014. Three years later, the County Board voted to award a construction contract and get started on the $60 million recreational center. The project broke ground in 2018.
One hallway “will have a timeline of the project’s development, since it had such a long, rich history, if you will,” Beach said.
The Boeing donation will not just cover operating costs. It will also make admission free for active duty military families in the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore’s service area. Families will have access to about 5,000 daily passes per year through a lottery system.
“We are grateful we can recognize the importance of our active-duty military families by providing them with a day of fun and fitness in our new, state-of-the-art facility,” Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said in a statement.
Jason Pak, the director of Boeing Global Engagement, said the company is proud to give members of the armed forces convenient access to the facility.
“The Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center will be critically important in not only providing support for the recovery and rehabilitation of service members but also promote general health and wellbeing for everyone in our community,” he said in a statement.
The community will have access to two pools. Competitive swimmers, water polo players and synchronized swimmers can use the 50-meter pool with diving towers, a whirlpool, and two moveable bulkheads (the starting platform for swimmers). Recreational swimmers can enjoy the family pool with a splash pad, a water slide, four 25-yard lap lanes, water volleyball and basketball areas and a lazy river.
On dry ground, the center has an 8,000-square-foot fitness center with cardio and fitness equipment, plus a studio for group classes. The facility also has three community rooms and two spaces for fitness classes, parties and gatherings.
The revamped Long Bridge Park includes more than 10 acres of new parkland for casual use, a new public art piece and outdoor space for festivals and special events.
“This is an area that can really exceed expectations,” Beach said.
Exterior work on the former Naan Kabob and future Dunkin’ near Clarendon
Dunkin’ Tap System (courtesy photo)
Dunkin’ Mobile Order Station (courtesy photo)
Exterior work on the former Naan Kabob and future Dunkin’ near Clarendon
Donuts Front Bakery Casing (courtesy photo)
What’s old is new again: a vacant restaurant space near Clarendon that was formerly a Dunkin’ Donuts is soon going to be home to a “next generation” Dunkin’ store.
Exterior modifications are currently underway on the standalone restaurant space at 3300 Wilson Blvd, about halfway between the Virginia Square and Clarendon Metro stations.
The space — which has parking and a drive-through — was once a Dunkin’ Donuts, before it closed and was succeeded by a procession of other eateries including Peruvian chicken restaurant Pio Pio, Indian-Pakistani-Bangladeshi restaurant Naan Kabob, and (very briefly) Red Hook Lobster Pound. It has been vacant for at least a year.
A PR rep for Dunkin’ confirmed to ARLnow that the Massachusetts-based chain is making a triumphant return.
“The store is slated to open toward the end of summer,” the rep said, adding that it will be one of Dunkin’s “next generation” store concepts.
Next generation Dunkin’ stores typically feature front-facing bakery cases, tap-based iced coffee and tea pours, and mobile order pickup areas.
There is no shortage of coffee shops in the area. Among others, local favorite Northside Social is two blocks away, and a pair of existing Dunkin’ locations — one in Clarendon and another in Virginia Square — are each about six blocks away.
Hat tip to G. Evan Pritchard. Photos (2, 3, 5) courtesy of Dunkin’.
Arlington Home Show This Weekend — “Whether you are a resident looking to improve your home, an experienced contractor, or landlord managing rentals, the 2021 VIRTUAL Arlington Home Show & Expo offers a convenient one-stop shop to ‘Ask an Expert’ and learn of new ways to update your home, and add value to your property.” [Event Calendar, Arlington Home Show]
Mastercard Returning to Arlington Office — “Mastercard Inc. will soon bring workers back to its New York City office at least two days a week. The payments giant also plans to open its Arlington, Virginia, office to more workers after already inviting more staff back its Sydney and Dubai offices, Chief Executive Officer Michael Miebach said in a memo to staff Wednesday. For most locations across the U.S., the company hopes to have workers in by September.” [Bloomberg]
Local Restaurants Need More Help — “Behrooz Sarvghadi is the owner of Kabob Bazaar, in Arlington, and one of hundreds of thousands of small business owners looking for financial assistance, as the nation tries to recover from the pandemic. ‘I’m hoping we get it, so we can continue the business,’ said Sarvghadi… the U.S. Small Business Administration says it ‘received more than 303,000 applications representing over $69 billion in requested funds, and nearly 38,000 applicants have been approved for more than $6 billion.’ But the issue is, only $28.6 billion was ‘signed into law.'” [WJLA]
Challenger Wants County Arts Changes — “The recent Embracing Arlington Arts forum between County Board aspirants actually provided some fireworks – albeit on an issue that qualifies as inside baseball. Incumbent County Board member Takis Karantonis and his challenger in the June 8 Democratic primary, Chanda Choun, split over whether the local community was best served by having the Arlington government’s arts and cultural-affairs apparatus continue operating as a subsidiary to the government’s economic-development operation.” [Sun Gazette]
Arlington Cemetery Station Reopening — “Metro customers at Addison Road and Arlington Cemetery will enjoy safer, modernized stations when the stations reopen on Sunday, May 23, after three months of work to completely rebuild their platforms and make upgrades throughout the stations. The reopenings will mark the completion of all 12 stations slated for platform reconstruction in Virginia.” [WMATA]
Mice in traps in a unit of the Serrano Apartments (Photo courtesy Elder Julio Basurto)
Something growing in a unit in the Serrano Apartments (Photo courtesy Elder Julio Basurto)
Dirty plumbing systems with molding, standing water in one unit of the Serrano Apartments (Photo courtesy Elder Julio Basurto)
Mold in one unit of the Serrano Apartments, an affordable housing building in Arlington (Photo courtesy Elder Julio Basurto)
After residents spoke out about poor living conditions at the Serrano Apartments, county officials and building owner AHC Inc. say they are committed to making changes.
“It is the highest priority I have right now, in part because we are in a different place with vaccines,” Board Chair Matt de Ferranti tells ARLnow. “This is a health and safety issue I will take responsibility for.”
AHC said it is working with county officials, Arlington’s Housing Commission and community organizations to ensure residents’ concerns are heard and addressed.
“Over the past few days, Serrano’s new management company Drucker & Falk has completed more than half of its 100% inspection of the property (except for the apartments where residents have not provided access) to document and remediate all identified issues through systemic improvements given Serrano’s age,” AHC spokeswoman Celia Slater said. “We are now moving forward with the repairs and encourage everyone to visit our website for updates about the steps we are taking to ensure that all Serrano residents have safe and healthy homes.”
Earlier this month, residents and community leaders told ARLnow about the dire state of some committed affordable apartment units at The Serrano (5535 Columbia Pike). Problems include rodents eating through food and leaving droppings, mold growing on walls and white dust permeating HVAC conductors.
Residents and advocates say they are glad the plight of those living in The Serrano is getting attention but are also frustrated at how many people and walkthroughs it took to get the county and AHC, an affordable housing nonprofit, to act.
The most recent walkthrough was last Friday, when about 40 people, including county officials, Del. Alfonso Lopez, as well as AHC and management representatives, looked at units and talked to residents.
“There were a lot of people there who were supposed to be there a long time ago,” community organizer Janeth Valenzuela said. “Finally, they could experience this with their own eyes and listen to families.”
Former School Board member Tannia Talento said she was frustrated to disrupt the lives of families once more, while not knowing if changes would actually happen.
Ashley Goff, a pastor with Arlington Presbyterian Church, was critical of AHC’s lack of responsiveness to an issue that was many months in the making.
“Look at all the people that had to turn out to get AHC to pay attention,” she said. “They were shamed into taking action, absolutely.”
(An Arlington NAACP newsletter from November, providing an update on its advocacy about conditions at the Serrano, said that the “exhausting battle by the tenants and their allies” — the NAACP and Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) — had been ongoing since at least the fall of 2019.)
Conditions provoke strong reactions
The Serrano has 196 committed affordable units and 84 market-rate units. After walking through about a dozen apartments, officials said the conditions were unacceptable and needed to be fixed, quickly.
“I long ago lived in a place that had a problem with rats and no one can actually relax in their home when they’re worried that there could be mice there,” de Ferranti said.
Some problems will be more difficult, but no less essential, to solve due to the building’s age, he said.
“The medium-term solution for holding AHC accountable is getting a clear and specific schedule of what must be done at the Serrano,” he said. “I could envision taking the form of a short, specific Memorandum of Understanding. That is a step over the coming month or two that we are likely to take.”
