Around Town

The “nation’s only fast casual chicken salad restaurant” is coming to Arlington.

Atlanta-based Chicken Salad Chick is set to open a location in Arlington next spring, a spokesperson tells ARLnow. So far there’s no word on exactly where in the county it would be opening.

“At this moment we don’t have an exact location available to announce,” the spokesperson wrote. “However, a new Chicken Salad Chick is coming to Arling[ton] in spring 2024.”

And that isn’t the only Chicken Salad Chick set to debut locally in the coming years. The chain is bringing eight restaurants in total over the next half-decade to both Arlington and Fairfax Counties, according to a press release.

Then, the plan is to open even more locations further north in Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.

The chicken salad franchise’s menu consists of a dozen different flavors of chicken salad that be scooped or made into a sandwich, plus a variety of soups and pimento cheese dips.

Chicken Salad Chick first began in 2008 in Auburn, Alabama after founder Stacy Brown was warned by the local health department to stop selling chicken salad out of her house. She opened her first restaurant shortly after. In the 15 years since the company has significantly expanded to include more than 200 restaurants across 17 states.

The closest current location of Chicken Salad Chick is in Glen Allen, Virginia, just north of Richmond.

The franchisees behind the new D.C. area restaurants have local and family ties.

“Behind the development agreement is Devon Chamberlin, her father, Patrick Cavanaugh, and her father-in-law, Barry Chamberlin. All have close ties to the community, born and raised across Arlington and Fairfax Counties,” said the press release. “Patrick and Barry’s relationship dates back well over 20 years when they met through mutual friends. Over the years, their families have spent a lot of time together. Barry’s son, Milton, and Devon began dating a few years ago, which has culminated in their recent wedding on November 5, 2022.”


News
Gun confiscated at National Airport on Memorial Day (courtesy TSA)

Yet another traveler has tried to bring yet another gun onto a flight at Reagan National Airport.

The Transportation Security Administration says it confiscated a loaded .380 caliber handgun from a Florida man traveling on Memorial Day.

“The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint,” the TSA said. “The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officer to check the carry-on bag, which was opened by police for a closer inspection.”

This is the 17th gun caught by TSA officers at National Airport so far this year. That puts DCA on track for about 40 firearm confiscations this year, well above the 29 confiscated last year and 14 confiscated in 2019.

Gun confiscations at National Airport so far in 2023 (courtesy TSA)

More, below, from a TSA press release.

A Florida man was stopped by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport yesterday (May 29) when they detected a handgun in the man’s carry-on bag. The .380 caliber gun was loaded with six bullets.

The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted the TSA officer to check the carry-on bag, which was opened by police for a closer inspection and the gun confiscated. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him. Police cited the man on a weapons charge.

Guns are not permitted through the security checkpoint and now the man faces a stiff financial civil penalty from TSA. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach a maximum of $15,000.

“The Memorial Day holiday weekend was the busiest weekend of the year, and the airport will continue to be crowded throughout the summer. Claiming that you forgot that you had a gun with you is inexcusable. Responsible gun owners must know where their guns are at all times,” said John Busch, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport.

“Our officers are good at their jobs and are staying vigilant to keep all travelers safe and secure. Airports are congested, people are eager to travel and this is no time to be carrying prohibited or illegal items in your carry-on bag,” Busch added.

“It is concerning that most people who are stopped at TSA checkpoints with a firearm tell us that they forgot that they had it with them. Travelers need to come to the airport prepared to go through the security screening process and that means knowing the contents of their carry-on bags and knowing that there are no prohibited items inside,” he said.

Passengers are only permitted to travel with firearms in checked baggage.  Firearms must be unloaded then packed in a hard-sided locked case. The locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.

Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and gun owners have a duty to ensure they are not violating any local firearm laws. Additionally, contacting the respective airline could reveal any additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.

Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty because TSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a gun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits because a concealed carry permit does not allow a firearm to be carried onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.

Last year, 6,542 firearms were caught at 262 out of 430 airport security checkpoints nationwide. Eighty-eight percent of those guns were loaded.


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News
I-66 and the Metro tracks near East Falls Church (staff photo)

Get ready for some Metro construction disruptions.

Four Orange Line stations will close starting this Saturday, June 3 through Sunday, June 25, to allow for replacement of four-decade-old steel rails. The closures include East Falls Church in Arlington, plus Dunn Loring and West Falls Church in Fairfax County.

Shuttle buses will replace trains for Orange Line riders going between the Ballston and Vienna stations, and Silver Line riders traveling between Ballston to McLean. A second phase of work, which will result in no Orange Line service just between West Falls Church and Vienna, is scheduled from June 26 to July 16.

More from a Metro press release:

Beginning Saturday, June 3, Metro will begin rail replacement work on the Orange Line in Virginia. During construction, which will be done in two phases to minimize station closures, Metro will replace the original 40-year-old steel rail between Ballston-MU and Vienna stations. Replacing the track in this section is a top priority to ensure safety and increase reliability. Crews will also install fiber-optic cables during this shutdown to modernize communications and allow for more efficient maintenance in the future.

Free shuttle bus service will be available for customers during all station closures. Customers are advised to plan extra time for their travel. Metro is boosting outreach to customers at the affected stations and will have prominent signage, announcements in stations and on trains, and teams of outreach personnel to assist customers with the temporary travel patterns during the construction.

“Replacing some of the oldest tracks in our system is critical to safety and reliability, and crews will work 24/7 to complete this project as quickly as possible so we can get back to normal service,” said Metro Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off. “We make every effort to minimize impacts to our customers, and we thank them for their patience while we continue to build a safe and modern Metro to serve the entire region.”

Customers will continue to have normal or near normal service outside of the work zones, with frequent service on the busiest parts of the system in the downtown core area with stations served by multiple lines. Between Rosslyn and Stadium-Armory and between L’Enfant Plaza and Mt Vernon Sq trains will arrive at stations every 4-6 minutes all day.

Detailed shuttle service information from Metro is below.

(more…)


News
Aerial view looking west on Wilson Blvd, towards Courthouse, from Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Library App Updated — “Beginning May 30, 2023, Arlington County residents and Library patrons can download an updated Arlington Public Library app from the Apple Appstore and Google Play Store. The popular Library app… provides streamlined access to library collections, introduces new account features, keeps track of multiple card holders, and delivers timely information about library programs, services, and location updates.” [Arlington County]

Va. Square Tip Jar Robbery — “At approximately 1:05 p.m. on May 28, police were dispatched to the report of a larceny. Upon arrival, it was determined the suspect entered a business and took the tip jar from the counter. An employee confronted the suspect, during which a struggle ensued. The suspect then threw the tip jar and allegedly pushed the employee before fleeing the scene. Responding officers located the suspect in the Virginia Square Metro station and took him into custody.” [ACPD]

Metro Reports Rise in Crime — “Crime this year in the Metro system, which includes buses, trains, parking lots and other Metro facilities, is far above where it was at this time last year, according to Metro Transit Police statistics. Through the end of April, there had been four homicides this year compared with none last year, and 85 aggravated assaults, compared with 63 in the first four months of 2022. Robberies are up 155 percent.” [Washington Post]

Another Local Gas Leak — From yesterday afternoon: “N. Culpeper Street in Halls Hill is being shut down between 19th and 17th streets due to a gas line struck at a house that’s under construction.” [Twitter]

Career Center Vote Approaches — “Arlington County Board members shortly are expected to take the procedural steps necessary to allow construction of the new Arlington Career Center building to begin… The request, which is likely to be acted on at the County Board’s June 10 meeting, also would provide permission to partially demolish the existing Career Center building” [Gazette Leader]

Va. Changes State Job Requirements — “Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today a landmark change in how state agencies will recruit and compete for talent by eliminating degree requirements, preferences or both for almost 90% of state classified positions. The new Commonwealth hiring practices will expand opportunities for Virginians and give equal consideration to all qualified job applicants.” [Press Release]

Crash at Shopping Center Near Fairlington — “A driver was hospitalized after she drove her car into Robcyns (3660 King Street) at the Bradlee Shopping Center. The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m., according to the dispatch. The driver was taken away on a stretcher and told ALXnow they accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.” [ALXnow]

More Canadian Smoke — From yesterday afternoon: “With a wildfire burning over far SE Canada, the east-northeast winds may bring some of this smoke into the Mid-Atlantic region by late this evening. So don’t be surprised if you smell smoke while outdoors!” [National Weather Service]

It’s Wednesday — Mostly sunny and warm, with a high near 78. Northeast wind around 6 mph. At night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. [Weather.gov]