Around Town

Several Arlington Christmas tree markets to open Friday amid tree shortage

By James Jarvis
A vibrant yellow stand selling Christmas trees (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Trucks brimming with Christmas trees have started arriving in Arlington, signaling it is time to pull out those holiday ornaments.

Several Christmas tree markets across Arlington are set to open this Friday, after Thanksgiving. However, holiday shoppers are being cautioned not to wait too long due to a reported shortage of trees this year.

Factors such as Canadian wildfires and drought continue to impact tree availability, posing challenges for local lots in securing their usual supply.

Due to these shortages, the Gazette Leader reported several traditional tree vendors in the area have had to limit the number of trees on sale this year, including the Optimist Club of Arlington.

ARLnow has compiled a list of markets that are confirmed to be opening.

Optimist Club of Arlington

Starts: Friday, Nov. 24 at noon
Knights of Columbus (5115 Little Falls Road)

In addition to garlands, wreaths and ornaments, the local nonprofit plans to sell 2,100 Christmas trees, including tabletop Fraser fir and white pines from Galax, Virginia.

The lot is open seven days a week, although times vary depending on the day.

The profits go towards Arlington youth sports and academic activities.

Boy Scout Troop 162

Starts: Friday, Nov. 24 at 9 a.m.
Dominion Hills Pool parking lot (6000 Wilson Blvd)

Boy Scout Troop 162 in Arlington will sell trees along with wreaths and garlands. The troop has been conducting this sale since the early 1970s.

Scout Troop 167

Starts: Friday, Nov. 24 at noon
Mount Olivet United Methodist Church (1500 N. Glebe Road)

Once again, Scout Troop 167 is hosting its annual tree sale near Ballston from Nov. 24-27. The sale begins at noon on Friday and Sunday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. The lot is open until 8 p.m. each day. In case of bad weather, a backup weekend is scheduled for Dec. 1-3.

Trees and wreaths can be pre-ordered and picked up on-site either Friday or Saturday. There is also a delivery option for a $20 fee.

Clarendon United Methodist Church

Starts: Saturday, Nov. 25 at 9 a.m.
Clarendon United Methodist Church (606 N. Irving Street)

Clarendon United Methodist Church has 300 Fraser Fir trees from Canada. The sale, an annual event since 2007, is set for Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 25-26) and the first weekend in December (Dec. 2-3). All proceeds go to Arlington Thrive.

Knights of Columbus 

Starts: Saturday, Nov. 25 at 9 a.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes (830 23rd Street S.)

The Knights of Columbus tree lot at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Aurora Highlands  will be open Tuesday and Friday evenings and weekends until Dec. 18, or until trees sell out. The profits will support charitable activities, including the Coats for Kids drive.

National Landing Christmas Tree lot

Starts: Friday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Park (1321 S. Elm Street)

The National Landing Business Improvement District plans to sell Christmas trees supplied by Almost Heavenly Trees during its ski-themed holiday festival from Dec. 1-3 at Metropolitan Park, next to Amazon’s HQ2.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 

Starts: Saturday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m.
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church (4000 Lorcom Lane)

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church near Cherrydale is set to sell 200 trees from Vermont. The sale will run through the weekend and continue every Saturday and Sunday until sold out. According to the sale’s webpage, 85% of trees were sold on the first weekend last year.

Aware of any other local Christmas tree sales? Let us know in the comments.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Are you planning to shop for gifts this weekend?

By ARLnow.com
Inside the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City mall around the holidays (file photo)

Thanksgiving around the corner means that the most famous shopping period of them all is also almost here.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday will bring big deals and throngs of customers to malls, shops and websites in Arlington and across the U.S.

In anticipation of the post-Thanksgiving shopping binge, we’re wondering how many ARLnow readers are actually planning to partake.

Are you planning to shop at some point Friday through Monday? Are you holding off until later? Or are you one of those organized people who have already completed your gift shopping?

Let us know in the poll below.

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By ARLnow.com
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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
Rain and wet leaves on the street in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Could County Governance Change? — “Democratic control of both houses of the General Assembly in 2024 may make it more likely that proposed changes to Arlington’s century-old governance process could find success in Richmond… The package of proposed changes adopted by the Civic Federation includes expanding County Board and School Board seats from the current five each to at least seven; changing the existing election cycle that includes at least one seat on each body being up for grabs each year; using ranked-choice elections to choose local officials.” [Gazette Leader]

Another Gun Confiscated at DCA — “Security officials prevented a Virginia man from bringing a loaded handgun onto a flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Sunday, according to the Transportation Security Administration.” [Patch]

Large Water Main Break — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services yesterday: “Emergency Water Main Repairs: Crew working on 8-inch main break at Army Navy Drive and S Nash St. Some 50 customers could be affected in nearby high-rise. Estimated time for completion: 9:30pm. Traffic detoured around work site.” [Twitter]

Reunion at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery — “Once a Tomb Sentinel, always a Tomb Sentinel Former #OldGuard Tomb Sentinels and their families from the Society of the Honor Guard returned to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a wreath and a rose ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” [Twitter]

Weather Woes May Repeat — “The storm could slow air and ground transportation on Tuesday and Wednesday, two of the busiest travel days of the year… A third storm system may also attempt to develop over the South on Friday, and it could bring another wave of rain and snow to the East Coast into Saturday.” [Capital Weather Gang]

It’s Tuesday — Expect rain to begin after 10am with a high of 53°F and east winds at 8-18 mph, gusting up to 29 mph. A 100% chance of precipitation with accumulation between half and three-quarters of an inch. Tuesday night, rain continues mainly before 1am with lows around 47°F. Southeast winds at 13-18 mph, with gusts up to 28 mph. Precipitation remains at a 100% chance, with an additional 1 to 2 inches possible. [Weather.gov]

News

UPDATED: Man shot in face in apparent road rage shooting

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

(Updated at 11:45 a.m.) A man was shot Monday night while riding in a car, according to Arlington County police.

Police were dispatched shortly before 7:45 p.m. to the intersection of Langston Blvd and N. Kirkwood Road for an apparent shooting. Initial reports suggest the man was riding in the passenger seat of a car when he was shot in the face, near the eye, and started bleeding.

He was not sure when and where the shooting happened, according to scanner traffic.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital in what was initially described as critical condition, but ACPD said just before 10 p.m. that he was in stable condition.

In a press release late Tuesday morning, ACPD said the man was shot along Route 110 near Memorial Bridge, in was is suggested to be a road rage incident.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is investigating a shooting which occurred on the evening of November 20, 2023.

At approximately 7:42 p.m., police were dispatched to the 3100 block of Langston Boulevard for the report of an assault with a weapon. Upon arrival, officers located the adult male victim in the passenger seat of a parked vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began rendering aid before the victim was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. He is in stable condition.

The preliminary investigation indicates the victim and a witness were driving on Richmond Highway when the suspect vehicle, which had two occupants, pulled alongside them and a verbal dispute over driving ensued. In the area of Richmond Highway and Memorial Avenue, an occupant of the suspect vehicle brandished a firearm and discharged rounds, striking the victim. Following the shooting, the driver of the victim vehicle traveled to the 3100 block of Langston Boulevard and sought help.

The suspect vehicle is described as a black sedan. The driver is described as a Black female with shoulder length hair. The passenger is described as a Black male wearing a face mask.

This remains an active criminal investigation and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected] or anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). For additional community resources and contact information, visit our website.

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