News

Secretary Blinken inaugurates new facility at State Dept. training center in Arlington

By James Jarvis
1/7

(Updated 10/26/23) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken inaugurated a 200,000-square-foot building at the Arlington-based National Foreign Affairs Training Center yesterday.

The $121.2 million, federally funded facility, dubbed “Building B,” opened in 2022. It aims to expand the training center’s capacity, which has seen a surge in recruitment over the last two years, according to State Department officials.

“Building B has vastly increased the Foreign Service Institute’s workspace, creating hundreds of new areas where students and instructors can come together for classes, breakout sessions, large format meetings,” Blinken said during the dedication ceremony on Monday.

Located on S. George Mason Drive in the Alcova Heights neighborhood, the training center is the primary training ground for U.S. diplomats and foreign affairs professionals, offering courses in languages and international relations.

Since 2020, the student body has increased by nearly 30%, said Joan Polaschik, the director of the Foreign Service Institute.

“We are engaged in the largest hiring surge in more than a decade,” she told ARLnow following the ceremony.

This surge forced the training center to use State Department offices in Rosslyn to accommodate the overflow of students, according to FSI.

The State Department has seven other buildings in Arlington, home to bureaus such as Diplomatic Security and the Office of the Inspector General. More than 5,000 full-time employees and contractors work across these offices.

The new Building B, which serves a total of 3,679 in-person and online students, should alleviate this overflow issue, according to FSI. The campus has seen its daily in-person student capacity increase by 25%, going from 650 to 1,100.

Building B is home to FSI, the Consular Training Division, School of Professional and Area Studies and Leadership and Management School.

“The new Building B will eliminate the need for both of these spaces in Rosslyn and consolidate language studies in one place — our Arlington campus,” the FSI spokesman said.

Other planned expansion efforts resulted in the closure of a walking trail, despite efforts from some residents to save it, though these were unrelated to Building B, the spokesman later clarified. Plans for Building B were approved in 2020.

During his remarks, Blinken — who lives in Arlington — said the new building serves as a much-needed asset, amid growing tensions between the United States and other global superpowers, such as Russia and China, as well as conflicts in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine.

“It is essential that we empower our workforce with the skills and training that they need to operate in a crisis like this and to meet any challenge that comes our way,” he said. “So today, I’m really happy to mark the significant step forward toward that mission.”

Police investigating armed robberies in Crystal City and Lyon Park

By ARLnow.com
Police car at night (file photo courtesy Kevin Wolf)

Arlington County police are investigating a pair of armed robberies over the weekend.

One happened Friday night in the Crystal City area, about a block from the Metro station, while the other happened early Sunday morning in Lyon Park.

From the latest ACPD crime report:

ROBBERY, 2023-10210255, 500 block of 18th Street S. At approximately 10:17 p.m. on October 21, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the victims were walking in the area when they were approached by the two unknown male suspects during which the suspects brandished a firearm and demanded their belongings. The suspects stole one victim’s purse before fleeing the scene on foot. A lookout was broadcast and officers canvassed the area for the suspects yielding negative results.  During the course of the investigation, the victim’s belongings were recovered in the area. Suspect One is described as a skinny-build Black male, approximately 5’8” with short dreadlocks wearing all dark clothing. Suspect Two is described as a heavy-set Black male, approximately 5’8” wearing a ski mask and dark clothing. No injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.

ROBBERY, 2023-10220053, N. Barton Street at 9th Street N. At approximately 4:40 a.m. on October 22, police were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim was walking in the area when four unknown male suspects exited the suspect vehicle, two suspects brandished firearms and demanded the victim’s belongings. The suspects stole the victim’s cellphone, wallet and keys before reentering the suspect vehicle and fleeing the area. No injuries were reported.

Also in the crime report, a 37-year-old Arlington woman has been arrested after allegedly slashing a man with a knife during a dispute.

The incident happened Saturday night in the Glencarlyn neighborhood. Police say the man suffered serious injuries.

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2023-10210197, 300 block of S. Illinois Street. At approximately 7:07 p.m. on October 21, police were dispatched to the report of an assault with a weapon. Upon arrival, it was determined the male victim and female suspect were involved in a verbal dispute during which the suspect allegedly brandished a knife and struck the victim, causing a laceration. Responding officers located the suspect and victim in the area of 5th Road S. and S. Kensington Street and immediately rendered medical aid to the victim. Medics transported the victim to an area hospital with serious, non-life threatening injuries. [The suspect], 37, of Arlington, Va. was arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding.

Additionally, police are investigating gunshots early Monday morning in the Green Valley neighborhood. One local resident had a bullet go through the window of their home.

MISSILE INTO AN OCCUPIED DWELLING, 2023-10230013, 2200 block of S. Garfield Street. At approximately 12:50 a.m. on October 23, police were dispatched to the report of a shots heard. Upon arrival, it was determined at approximately 12:30 a.m., the victim was inside his residence when he was awoken to noise and upon further investigation, observed a broken window with an apparent bullet hole. Responding officers canvassed the area, recovered evidence confirming shots had been fired in the area and located a vehicle with property damage. No injuries were reported. There is no suspect description. The investigation is ongoing.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
A scooter along 11th St. N. in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Church Makes Another Donation — “Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) has received a $200,000 philanthropic gift from the congregation of Arlington Presbyterian Church (APC). The funding supports the ongoing rent relief needs of up to 30 households at Gilliam Place Apartments experiencing continued housing instability for a period of two years. This is APC’s second leadership gift of this size in 2023 for rent relief.” [Press Release]

Real Estate Pros Discuss Missing Middle — “‘You can have a person making a really good six-figure income yet not be able to afford Arlington because the properties are not available [or] they’re either way too high,’ he said. The construction of new Missing Middle-style housing types allows these six-figure income earners to purchase a home where their family can live, Lagos said.” [Patch]

Halloween-Themed Drag Events — A “Spooky Queens Drag Show” is planned in Rosslyn’s Gateway Park on Thursday evening, while a Ballston restaurant is hosting a “HallowQueen Drag Brunch” on Saturday. [District Fray, Eventbrite]

Interim Board Member at Halfway Point — “As her five-month tenure on the Arlington County Board reaches the halfway mark, Tannia Talento is living in the moment rather than focusing too much on the past or the future.” [Gazette Leader]

Big Football Win for W-L — “Sparked by a physical and strong defensive performance, the Washington-Liberty Generals won a key Liberty District football game Oct. 20, defeating the host McLean Highlanders in a matchup between high school teams tied for first place. Washington-Liberty won 21-7, shutting out McLean until the fourth quarter.” [Gazette Leader]

VSP Chases CRV Fleeing from ACPD — From Dave Statter: “A stolen Honda CRV jumped the median while running from @VSPPIO just after midnight at Route 7 & Idylwood Road. A half mile down Idylwood the driver ran off after colliding with another vehicle. There were injuries. This began when the CRV didn’t stop for @ArlingtonVaPD on I-66W and VSP gave chase.” [Twitter]

Ivy Street Ink — “A recently spotted tattoo (and its proud owner). South Ivy Street rocks.” [Columbia Pike Documentary Project]

It’s Tuesday — Frost is possible and expected to clear before 10am, leading to a sunny day with a high around 67 degrees. Calm winds will pick up to 5-8 mph from the south in the morning. Tuesday night will be clear with a low near 47 degrees and a gentle 6 mph south wind. [Weather.gov]

With fall foliage peaking in Arlington, vacuum leaf collection to begin in three weeks

By James Jarvis
Leaf collection underway in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Northern Virginia is now reaching peak foliage, meaning it is almost time for Arlington County’s annual leaf collection service.

Up to 50% of trees in the region have changed colors, though some patches will not turn red, orange or yellow until later this season, per the Virginia Fall Foliage Report.

Arlington will wait a few weeks before kicking off its first round of vacuum leaf collection in residential neighborhoods. It is set to start next month between Nov. 13-15, according to the county website, similar to last year’s timing.

Crews will make two passes through neighborhoods in November and December, as different trees shed their leaves at different times.

The first pass will not reach some areas until early December. The second round is then scheduled to start between Dec. 5 and 8 and wrap up around Dec. 16 to 21, according to the 2023 collection schedule.

“The schedule is determined by historical data, types and density of trees, weather forecasts and other available information. Once it’s set, we don’t change the dates,” says Katie O’Brien, a spokeswoman for Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services.

Based on current predictions, O’Brien noted that things “appear to be on track.”

The county offers year-round curbside organics pick-up if residents have leaves remaining after both rounds, she noted.

“Residents can use their green carts or paper bags for leaf disposal on their collection days,” O’Brien said.

Arlington’s countywide vacuum leaf collection service is in contrast to neighboring Fairfax County, where only certain areas get the service and, in turn, pay a special tax for it. Fairfax has been considering ending the service, leading to a resident petition and, last week, a temporary reprieve.

Man carjacked of BMW by gun-toting suspects along Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com
File photo

Arlington County police are investigating an armed carjacking over the weekend.

It happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, on the 5500 block of Columbia Pike, near the Fairfax County line.

The vehicle taken was a BMW, according to scanner traffic and as noted by local public safety watcher Alan Henney. The car was later found nearby and recovered, according to police.

“The male victim was walking to his parked vehicle when he observed the two male suspects in the parking lot,” said today’s ACPD crime report. “The victim then entered his vehicle during which the suspects approached, brandished a firearm and demanded the victim’s belongings. The victim exited his vehicle and the suspects entered and fled the scene.”

“During the course of the investigation, the victim’s vehicle was located unoccupied in the area,” the crime report continues. “The investigation is ongoing.”

By ARLnow’s count, this is at least the 16th carjacking in Arlington so far this year. At least half of those carjackings have been of BMWs. ACPD reported 14 total carjackings for all of 2022.

Video: Driver narrowly avoids being struck by overturning car

By ARLnow.com
Car overturning on S. Glebe Road as another driver approaches (via Dave Statter/Twitter)

(Updated at 1 p.m.) An out-of-control driver’s flipping car nearly struck another driver overnight near Columbia Pike.

The crash happened around 1 a.m. this morning on S. Glebe Road, a few blocks north of the Pike, on the border of the Alcova Heights and Arlington Heights neighborhoods.

Sparks fly as the car crosses the center median and rolls over before apparently coming to rest upright.

A driver heading northbound narrowly avoids the crashing vehicle as it crosses over from the southbound lanes. Local public safety watcher Dave Statter posted a video (below) of the near-miss later Monday morning.

“No indications of injuries,” Statter noted.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Jet trails above homes in the Ballston area (staff photo)

Lawsuit Over Murder Charge — “A Northern Virginia man who was acquitted of a charge that he hired a career criminal to kill his fiancée in 1998 has sued the lead homicide detective in the case, alleging that she lied to a grand jury to obtain an indictment… The lawsuit is the latest twist in the case of Andrea Cincotta, a popular public librarian in Arlington County who was found strangled in August 1998 in her apartment.” [Washington Post]

Peak Fall Foliage Arriving — “Using historical weather reports, tree species info, and user data, travel brand SmokyMountains.com put together 2023 foliage prediction maps of the U.S. In the Mid-Atlantic, leaves change colors by October 23. The Mid-Atlantic will likely be past its peak fall colors by the end of November.” [Axios]

Where to See Local Foliage — “Did you know the capital area is called the ‘City of Trees’? Arlington in particular has an abundance of forested parks and vibrant tree-lined neighborhoods making it an ideal place to discover fall foliage. Here are 7 places to see beautiful fall colors.” [Arlington Convention and Visitors Service]

Hop-In Car Theft — From Dave Statter: “Camera shows thieves hopping into a 2018 Chevy Equinox on Crystal Drive around 1:15 p.m. A police lookout indicated the driver left the keys inside. The owner apparently ran after the car as it went south… It then passed an @ArlingtonVaPD car at 15th St. at 1:56 into the video (very likely before the theft was even dispatched to officers). It then continued to the I-395N express lanes into DC.” [Twitter]

Va. Home Market Slows — “According to the September 2023 Virginia Home Sales Report released by Virginia REALTORS®, there were 8,023 homes sold across the commonwealth last month. This is 2,149 fewer sales than last year, a drop of just over 21%. This is the slowest September market Virginia has had in more than a decade.” [Press Release]

Local Planning for U.S. 250th — “Planning for Arlington’s commemoration and celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday is about to kick off. The Arlington Historical Society, which has been designated by the county government as the coordinator for all the planning, will convene a brainstorming session Nov. 6 to start the process.” [Gazette Leader]

Crystal City Building for Sale — “The longtime owner of an aging office building in National Landing is looking to sell it, billing it in marketing materials as a ‘redevelopment opportunity’ with a ‘clear path to vacancy.’ Airport Plaza Office Building LP, of which D.C.’s Gould Property Co. is a general partner according to corporate filings,owns the 1980s-era, 144,000-square-foot office at 2711 Richmond Highway.” [Washington Business Journal]

ACFD Responds to Flipped in F.C. — On Thursday “units from the ACFD responded to a motor vehicle collision on W Broad St in the City of Falls Church. Units quickly arrived on scene, stabilized the vehicle and extricated the occupant. One patient was transported to an area hospital with NLT injuries.” [Twitter]

It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high of around 63 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind at 8 to 13 mph, gusting up to 18 mph. Monday night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 40 degrees. [Weather.gov]

Arlington teen receives net 10-day sentence for assaulting five women last year

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington County courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

An Arlington teen has been sentenced for assaulting five women in and around Courthouse last year.

One of the victims posted the conclusion to her story — a year in the making — on Reddit this week. The guilty teen is 17 years old and lives in the area between Courthouse and Rosslyn, the victim said, noting he had a stable home life.

Last year, she said, he ran up behind her, lifted up her jacket, grabbed her crotch and pulled at her pants. As the investigation progressed, she said, the assailant was discovered to have worn the same shoes in each assault and to have taken videos, which ended up matching the experiences of the five identified victims.

The teen pleaded guilty to three counts of assault and battery, according to a source familiar with the case. He is expected to spend 10 days in the Landmark juvenile detention facility in Alexandria, with 80 days of the 90 day sentence suspended.

Details about juvenile cases are typically not made public by police or prosecutors. ARLnow spoke with sources familiar with this case and with juvenile justice, in general, to fill in the cracks and provide context.

In addition to juvenile detention, the teen will have one year of probation and will undergo a psychosexual evaluation to determine if he needs therapy. He will be required to complete whatever is recommended.

If he does not complete this or has any run-ins with the law during probation, the rest of his 80-day suspended sentence could be imposed. That means he would wind up back in the juvenile detention facility or adult jail, if this happens after he turns 18.

“Since he’s a juvenile, the sentence is (in my opinion) fairly light,” the victim said.

Several Reddit users said they agreed with her, expressing their outrage, though the victim implied that the prosecution was not the reason for the light sentence.

“That said, I’m really appreciative of the Arlington PD and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for both their doggedness and sensitivity,” she said, while adding that she never received contrition from her assailant.

“I think I’d be having an easier time with the light sentence if his apology hadn’t been so appalling — ‘I’m sorry if anyone was, like, offended or something. That wasn’t my intention. I don’t want people to think I’m like a monster or anything,'” she said, emphasizing the use of the word “offended.”

Court apologies often feel this way, said Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti.

“She wants to know ‘why her’ and she wants an apology for making her feel violated. Our system is not designed for this,” she said. “Our system is designed to separate the harmed party from the person who did the harm and to give ample opportunities for the person who did the harm to contest that.”

“Our system really makes people dig in their heels,” Dehghani-Tafti continued. “So that apology — and the sentencing — very frequently does not feel healing.”

(more…)

NOW: Fire department on scene of carbon monoxide incident at condo building

By ARLnow.com
1/10

A large fire department response is on scene at the Stratton House condominiums due to a reported carbon monoxide incident.

Initial reports suggest that carbon monoxide alarms in one of the complex’s two buildings started going off after the building’s heat was turned on for the first time today. Firefighters are investigating the source, with a focus on the boiler room.

The complex is located along 5th Street S. in the Alcova Heights neighborhood — near Fire Station No. 1 and across S. Glebe Road from Ruthie’s All-Day restaurant.

An Arlington County Fire Department spokesman told ARLnow this is “still an active incident right now.”

“Crews arrived and found elevated readings of CO and began to work to locate and isolate the source,” said Capt. Nathaniel Hiner. “Units are ventilating the structure now and are working with Washington Gas. No reports of anyone requiring medical attention.”

In addition to investigating and ventilating, firefighters have been going door-to-door checking on residents and encouraging them to leave the building.

Lyft offering free rides to curb alcohol-related crashes on Halloween weekend

By James Jarvis
2023 Halloween SoberRide flier (via Washington Regional Alcohol Program)

Lyft will offer free rides up to $15 next weekend to curb drunk driving as Arlington sees an uptick in alcohol-related crashes.

Organized by the Tysons-based nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP), the initiative, known as SoberRide, aims to prevent drunk driving during holidays, such as Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve when such behavior is more common.

Arlington saw two DUI arrests and three alcohol-related crashes over the last three Halloween weekends, according to data provided by ACPD.

Looking beyond Halloween, alcohol-related crashes have nearly doubled overall since 2020, surging from 96 to 172 in 2022, according to ACPD. DUI arrests have followed a similar trend, nearly doubling from 269 in 2020 to 425 in 2022.

Nationwide, drunk driving-related crashes on Halloween night claimed the lives of 159 people between 2017 and 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Just over half of those fatalities, 55%, involved adults ages 21-34.

WRAP, which previously partnered with Red Top Cab of Arlington and other taxi companies, has partnered with Lyft since 2017 to combat those statistics.

Those interested in a free ride can enter a forthcoming promotional code into Lyft’s “Payment” tab. The code, for use only to those 21 and older, will be published on WRAP’s website at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. The code is valid from 4 p.m. on Saturday until 4 a.m. on Sunday.

The nonprofit will offer a minimum of 1,500 rides this Halloween, WRAP President Kurt Erickson tells ARLnow.

He noted that 943 people used the SoberRide code last Halloween, which is the second-highest number of people to use the code in the program’s history.

SoberRide saw its highest usage for Halloween 2019, when more than 1,200 people used the code to get a free ride.

The Arlington County Police Department, meanwhile, will be hosting a Halloween anti-drunk driving event on Saturday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. at the intersection of N. Hudson Street and Wilson Blvd. The event will highlight the impact alcohol has on motor skills.

N. Hudson Street between Wilson Blvd and 13th Street N. will be closed from approximately 6-11  p.m. for the event, according to an ACPD press release, excerpted below.

Celebrate with a Plan

Don’t let drunk driving haunt your celebrations – if you plan to drink, follow these simple tips for a safe and happy evening:

  • Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
  • The Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s 2023 Halloween SoberRide® program is offering free rides home, in partnership with Lyft, from 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 until 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 29.
  • If you see a suspected impaired driver on the roadway, report to your local law enforcement. To report a suspected impaired driver in Arlington County, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.
  • Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

Always remember: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information, visit the NHTSA website.

Road Closure

N. Hudson Street between Wilson Boulevard and 13th Street N. will be closed from approximately 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. to accommodate this event.

Motorists should be on the lookout for temporary “No Parking” signs in the area. Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed. If your vehicle is towed from a public street, call the Emergency Communications Center at 703-558-2222.

Arlington faith communities pray, fast and organize for peace in the Middle East

By Jo DeVoe
1/2

(Updated at 11:35 a.m.) An Arlington rabbi led a group of Jewish and Muslim demonstrators, and allies, in prayer at a park near the White House on Thursday afternoon.

Rabbi Gilah Langner was one of several demonstrators who joined in a rally to denounce the violence perpetrated by Israel and Hamas and call on the Biden administration to address the humanitarian crisis.

“We need to stand for compassion, and ultimately peace and justice,” Langner, who leads the Jewish Reconstructionist synagogue Kol Ami, told ARLnow. “People can hold multiple views in their heads and grieve for both sides. It’s a staggering loss on both sides but in each community we feel the closeness to our own.”

Nearly two weeks ago, Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after it launched a surprise offensive. Some 1,400 Israelis and nearly 3,000 Palestinians are dead, authorities in each say, while Hamas holds hostage another 200.

Israel also cut off water, fuel and electricity to Gaza, though humanitarian aid — including $100 million from the U.S. — can now enter the Palestinian territories via Egypt, President Joe Biden announced this week.

Responding to the conflict more than 7,000 miles away, some members of Arlington’s faith community have turned to prayer and fasting, as well as organizing and fundraising. Some doing this work say they are focused on building bridges.

“These types of situations, always challenge friendships, they challenge relationships,” rally attendee Fatima Argun, the Inclusion and Equity Chair of Arlington County Democratic Committee and a Muslim, told ARLnow.

“So far I haven’t seen too much fallout as a result of it,” she said. “I think if anything, it’s made us stronger, and it’s made us more committed to creating understanding among ourselves so that we can take that understanding to put it in a larger context scale.”

Later this month, Kol Ami will also co-host a talk on faith and polarization by the Jewish-Islamic Dialogue Society of Washington, a nonprofit that brings together Jews and Muslims. It was planned a month ago and set to have an American focus — that could change now.

“It’s a very timely discussion,” Langner said, noting concerns about rising Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in the U.S.

This week, police in Illinois allege a man fatally stabbed a boy and wounded his mother after becoming “obsessed” with the Israel-Hamas war. Nationally, anti-Jewish hate crimes increased by 38% in 2022 to 1,306 incidents, while those against Muslims increased 8% to 205, according to new FBI data. Only a handful of these incidents have occurred in Virginia, the data indicate.

Last Shabbat, a week into the fighting, was a mournful one for Arlington synagogues, Kol Ami and Congregation Etz Hayim, as well as the Jewish society Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington. Etz Hayim incorporated special liturgical practices into its observance while the local Chabad lit candles to remember Israeli victims.

“We’ve added special prayers to our services and partnered with other area congregations for a vigil last week,” said Rabbi Amelia Wolf, who leads Etz Hayim. “We also held a day of fasting last week for the hostages taken by Hamas.”

Arlington Catholics were likewise called to fast on Tuesday.

(more…)

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