Giving Machines in Kensington, Maryland (courtesy of Daniel Laender)
Ballston Quarter is introducing some new vending machines with a benevolent twist.
From the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24 through New Year’s Day, visitors to the mall at 4238 Wilson Blvd can find what are called “#LighttheWorld Giving Machines,” near the Macy’s.
Unlike typical vending machines, these are designed to dispense aid to charity.
Customers select a charity, add the donation to a virtual cart, and then complete the transaction using a debit or credit card. In lieu of snacks or drinks, a card symbolizing the donation falls into a collection bin.
Launched in 2017 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Giving Machines “have raised more than $22 million in donations for local and global charities,” according to a press release.
With 52 locations across the globe, this is the second time the machines have been located in the D.C. area, per the release. Last year, the D.C. area machines were located in Kensington, Maryland.
Ballstonian’s Isa Seyran holding an ARL t-shirt (staff photo)
You’ve seen the new arrivals at the ARLnow Shop. What you don’t see are the rejected designs.
We had high hopes for certain designs — the Flipped Car Postcard, for instance — but after trying it on we realized it didn’t quite work. Likewise, for some items we are selling, the first version needed some tweaks, from design placement to sizing to colors.
But we need to do something with those extra sample t-shirts, which were just sitting around the office. So we’re giving them away for free.
Run, don’t walk, to the Ballstonian coffee cart on the 4000 block of Wilson Blvd and ask proprietor Isa Seyran — seen above, elated to be taking part in this promotion — if he has any reject ARLnow shirts left. If so, one will be yours.
Note that most of the shirts are size XL. Good luck and say hello to Isa for us.
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Don’t miss this chance to upgrade your home or business with Arlington’s painting professionals. Celebrate America’s birthday in style and save while doing it!
ACPD officer gives out citation for expired tags during November 2023 Street Smart campaign in Courthouse (staff photo by James Jarvis)
It’s Thanksgiving week, one of the busiest and most dangerous times to drive.
As people head out of town for family gatherings — and gather locally for libations with friends — police in Arlington and throughout Virginia will be on the lookout for traffic and safety violations.
Through next Thursday, Nov. 30, Arlington County police are participating in the annual Click It or Ticket seatbelt campaign.
More from an ACPD press release:
This Thanksgiving holiday, the Arlington County Police Department is again partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the high-visibility Click It or Ticket seat belt awareness campaign. From November 19 to November 30, the law enforcement community will be working together to reduce the number of fatalities that occur when vehicle passengers fail to buckle up. Everyone wants you to reach your destination safely, so it is critical to practice safe driving habits, like buckling your seat belt, on each and every ride.
According to NHTSA, there were 361 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2021 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 29). Half (50%) were unrestrained. Not wearing a seat belt proved to be deadly at any time of the day during the holiday weekend: 52% of those killed in nighttime crashes were unbuckled, and 46% of those killed in daytime crashes also were unbuckled. Wearing a seat belt is one of the most effective things anyone can do to prevent injury or death in a vehicle collision. The Click It or Ticket campaign combines powerful messages about seat belt safety with increased enforcement for unbuckled motorists.
Virginia law requires those under the age of 18 to be properly secured in a safety belt or child safety seat, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle, and the driver is responsible for making sure this happens. In addition, Virginia law requires those in the front seat of vehicles to be properly restrained, regardless of age, and those 18 and older can be ticketed.
To learn more about the NHTSA Click It or Ticket campaign, visit their website.
Virginia State Police, meanwhile, will be conducting extra enforcement during peak holiday travel times.
Expect more state troopers out on Virginia highways between Wednesday and Sunday, enforcing speed limits and looking for drunk drivers.
There were 19 traffic fatalities across the Commonwealth during the five-day Thanksgiving travel period last year, up from five in 2021, according to state police.
Join us on Monday, November 21, 2022, at 7 pm for our Monthly General Membership & Election ResultsRegister in advance here: https://tinyurl.com/bp8tckc3
Guest Speakers for the Evening: Moms Demand Action (7:30 pm – 8:00 pm) VFW Post 3150 (8:00 pm – 8:15 pm)
Leaves on the ground along Washington Blvd in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Reported Hit-and-Run Injures Biker — From Alan Henney: “MOTORCYCLIST STRUCK BY HIT-N-RUN DRIVER— on Washington Blvd just past the exit for w/b Arlington Blvd in Arlington. The victim was taken to hospital with a shattered hip and cuts to his face. Unknown on the description of the suspect vehicle.” [Twitter]
Arlington’s Rising Office Vacancy — “Arlington County, Virginia, has been the single most affected jurisdiction throughout the greater Washington, D.C., region when it comes to office vacancy increases over the past four years.” [CoStar]
Amazon Highlights Art at Met Park — ” We’ve compiled the 18 intriguing installations from more than 25 artists. The commissioned art pieces span a range of genres, styles, and cultural influence. From mathematics-inspired spatial depictions of the Dupont Circle chess scene and abstract depictions of the Potomac River fauna to celebrating the beloved national cherry blossoms, these meaningful works of art further intertwine Amazon and the community.” [Amazon]
Big Storm to Bring Rain This Week — “Periods of moderate to heavy rain — in and around major cities including Atlanta, Boston, Little Rock, Nashville, New York and Washington — could slow down a significant portion of the estimated 49 million Americans expected to travel by car next week.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Monday — Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high temperature near 50 with a gentle north wind around 7 mph. Moving into Monday night, expect a mostly cloudy sky and a low temperature around 37. [Weather.gov]
Are changes happening in your life that you are struggling with? Is it hard to get back to normal life after the stresses of the pandemic, a life transition, or another major life event?
Know that you’re not alone if you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we offer adult and adolescent psychotherapy to help you make the changes you need to live the life you want. Lauren has experience working with people in many different areas and can help you get your life back on track.
