Groundhog Day 2002 at Gobbler’s Knob (staff photo)
Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous weather-forecasting groundhog, saw his shadow Wednesday morning, thus predicting six more weeks of winter.
“As I look over the faces of the true believers from around the world, I bask in the warmth of your hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate, with my shadow I have cast than a long, lustrous six more weeks of winter,” Phil said in a statement, as read by a member of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle.
Setting aside questions of Phil’s forecast accuracy raised by naysayers like the National Weather Service, how do you feel about the prospect of six more weeks of winter here in Arlington, after a relatively cold and snowy January?
This week was yet another filled with plenty of news about snow, but unlike previous January weeks not a lot of actual snow.
Using its last traditional snow day allotment, Arlington Public Schools closed Thursday for what turned out to be a bust — a rainy, cold day. Lucky for students looking to enjoy the weather when school’s closed, this weekend should at least be sunny, albeit a little cold, in Arlington.
Now, here are the most-read Arlington articles of the past week.
One of the first acts in office for Gov. Glenn Younkin (R) was an executive order intended to let parents decided whether their children wear masks to school. But APS — along with Alexandria and Fairfax County, among other public school systems — says that masks are still required, despite the order.
APS argues that state and federal law still requires masks in schools and on buses, and thus the governor’s order is, essentially, invalid. Youngkin hinted that a legal clash may follow.
“The fact that that tweet came out from Arlington County within minutes of my executive order, what that tells me is that they have not listened to parents yet,” Youngkin said, when asked about it by a WTOP reporter. “We will use every resource within the governor’s authority to explore what we can do and will do in order to make sure parents’ rights are protected.”
On Twitter and in interviews, Arlington’s Democratic state lawmakers backed the local school system.
Governor Youngkin talks about parental involvement in schools. The overwhelmingly majority of Arlington parents want masks worn in schools. Does parental involvement only matter if the Governor agrees?
“No authority at all.” Delegate Patrick Hope of Arlington County responds to Governor Youngkin who said he may use state resources to try to force the county’s school system to comply with his order – which effectively removes school mask mandates. @WTOP@HopeforVirginiapic.twitter.com/Z6ZoFGQ9yp
Also issuing a statement of support for APS was a notable Arlington resident: White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
“Hi there. Arlington county parent here (don’t believe you are @GlennYoungkin but correct me if I am wrong),” President Biden’s primary spokesperson said on Twitter. “Thank you to @APSVirginia for standing up for our kids, teachers and administrators and their safety in the midst of a transmissible variant.”
Legality aside, Youngkin’s executive order suggested that, in practicality, requiring masks in schools is ineffective and fails to substantially reduce virus transmission.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends use of masks, and has published studies showing more Covid cases among schools without universal masking policies. But some have questioned the science behind the CDC’s guidance.
At last check, there were nearly 1,000 confirmed Covid cases among students and staff in the seven days following their return to school from winter break and a week of snow days.
What do you think: should APS stand firm on its masking policies, or do you support Youngkin’s call to make masks optional at schools?
Spokes Etc. in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The snow melted away this week, allowing Arlington to venture back out between winter storms.
Schools returned from a bonus snow week of winter break, although many have been sent back home to isolate due to a rise in Covid cases in schools. With only one more snow day allotment left, students and teachers at least have MLK Day as a buffer from expected winter weather this Sunday night. Check back with us over the weekend to get the latest on road conditions and closures.
Now, here are the most-read Arlington articles of the past week.
A man on cross-country skis navigating the snow in Rosslyn on Jan. 3, 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Like it or not, another round of snow is looking increasingly likely this weekend.
Forecast models are putting the odds of at least an inch of snow at 50% or above, and some are even suggesting more than a foot is possible, according to the Capital Weather Gang. The storm would cross our area Sunday into Monday.
And the European caves to the GFS and brings a major impactful Winter storm into the mid Atlantic region on Sunday!
Given that we just got through a full week of school closures, caused by snowstorms that bookended the week, we’re wondering how Arlingtonians feel about the idea of more snow.
Looking forward to another winter wonderland and more snowball fights? Dreading shoveling and days off of school? Weigh in below.
It seems like there’s a crash at a particular stretch of the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge where crashes are always happening, particularly during bad weather. That’s the subject of this month’s local Mike Mount cartoon.
Want to see all of Mike’s weekly musings? Join the ARLnow Press Club.
But more importantly… drive safely out there!
A reader sends this photo of the earlier crash on the GW Parkway, near Key Bridge, in case anybody drives by later and wonders what happened to the wall (photo courtesy Jeff V.) pic.twitter.com/RyXorJEn9i
A special Covid snowman at Westover Baptist Church (photo courtesy Nora Palmatier)
A dog and a kid in the snow (Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann)
Sunrise along Washington Blvd (photo courtesy John Antonelli)
It’s been a snowy week, and a veritable marathon for working parents with school-aged kids.
There are some snow lovers out there who have huge carefree smiles on their faces after two sizable snowfalls in one week. And there are others who — whether you generally like snow or not — will be falling asleep within 30 seconds of getting in bed early tonight
Now, here are the most-read Arlington articles of the past week.
Plastic bag in a fence (Photo by Morgan Vander Hart on Unsplash)
Arlington’s new bag tax is only a few days away from taking effect.
The tax, which was also enacted by neighboring Alexandria and Fairfax County after being authorized by the Virginia General Assembly, calls for certain stores to collect a five-cent tax on single-use disposable bags.
More from an Arlington County press release, below.
Beginning January 1, 2022, a five-cent tax on single-use disposable plastic bags will go into effect for grocery stores, convenience stores and drug stores in Arlington County, the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County. The Arlington County Board, Alexandria City Council and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors each adopted a plastic bag tax in September 2021, as a step to reduce the negative environmental impacts of single-use plastic bags.
To support the transition, the jurisdictions have been working closely with the Northern Virginia Regional Waste Management Board to align outreach, education, timelines and common language for the localities to ensure consistency and clarity. A regional informational website contains answers to frequently asked questions and multilingual outreach materials for retailers. Reusable bags have also been distributed with information about the plastic bag tax to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefit recipients over the past few months.
The tax would not apply to:
plastic bags intended for reuse;
plastic bags solely used to wrap, contain or package certain items (ice cream, meat, fish, poultry, produce, unwrapped bulk food items or perishable food items);
plastic bags for dry cleaning or prescription drugs; or
multiple plastic bags sold in packages for garbage, pet waste or leaf removal.
Collected taxes may be used for environmental cleanup; providing educational programs designed to reduce environmental waste, mitigating pollution and litter; or for providing reusable bags to benefit recipients of either Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC).
Last year, after the state law passed, we asked readers if Arlington should enact the bag tax. About 57% of more than 2,000 respondents to our unscientific online poll said yes.
Today, we’re wondering if the bag tax will change your behavior — which, after all, is its primary goal. Specifically, do you plan to use fewer single-use plastic bags as a result of the new tax?
By most accounts, 2020 was a tough year. Despite hopes for better, 2021 certainly had its rough moments, too.
The pandemic is still here and, at least in terms of new cases from the latest variant, remains well underway. The stock market it up for the year, but the last half of 2021 hasn’t been kind to many investors amid inflation and stretched supply chains. And the country still appears to be inexorably divided politically, as was put on full display this past January.
There are hopeful signs for next year: maybe, just maybe, the pandemic ends and enters an endemic phase, while the economy looks fundamentally strong and there’s always hope that what unites us turns out to be stronger than that which divides us.
We had lots of hope for 2021 and the dawning of the Covid vaccination era, but reality and new variants intruded on dreams of a full return to normalcy. Perhaps 2022 will be different. Or more of the same.
What do you think? Are you optimistic that the new year will be better than 2021?
Holiday lights in a Crystal City area high rise (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
It’s the afternoon before Christmas Eve and all throughout Arlington, things are getting quieter.
Whether you’re celebrating the holiday here, out of town or not at all (except perhaps the traditional Chinese takeout and movie evening), we hope you have a great holiday weekend. Also, we hope you booked your pie reservation early.
