As we approach the holidays and the end of 2023, Virginia State Police is asking Virginians to please drive safely in the coming days, so that everyone can safely reach their holiday destinations. Preliminary data indicates that as of Dec. 20, 2023, 813 people have lost their lives on Virginia roadways this year. That is 76 fewer traffic deaths than in 2022 as of this same date.
“This year, Virginia appears to have reversed the trend of increasing traffic deaths,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “Fortunately, the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday weekend experienced a decrease of eight traffic deaths, from 19 to 11, on Virginia’s highways. But that is still 11 too many. To prevent more tragedy from occurring on our roads during the coming holidays, we need all Virginians to buckle up, drive distraction free, comply with speed limits and always drive sober.”
Arlington, Virginia – “The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“NAACP”) has been made aware of egregious civil rights violations in the Arlington County Detention Facility,” stated Janette McCarthy Wallace, General Counsel of the NAACP.
Today, via written letter, the National General Counsel for the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization formally calls on the Department of Justice to conduct an independent pattern and practice investigation into the Arlington County Detention Facility.
Today, Kalis Development Corporation’s Nicholas Kalis announced Mayer Smile Be Bright – leasing 1,781 square feet in its Williamsburg Shopping Center – will open January 2024. Mayer Smile Be Bright is located at 6500 Williamsburg Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22213. This dental practice will be headed by Dr. Kelly O. A. Mayer DDS. Mayer Smile Be Bright joins Seven Eleven, Deli Italiano, Commonwealth Restorations and many other tenants at this center.
Construction work was performed by YBM Construction Inc. headed by Ben Bashiri 301 370-4233. Project Management was by Colin Chiarodo, MBA. The architects are Jayanan & Burney. Architectural & Interior Design. The landlord would like to thank Nora Eways Saa of Renaud Consulting who represented the landlord and Patty I. Brown, CCIM of Marathon Realty Group, Inc. who represented the tenant. Property owned by The Kalis Companies.
Artificial intelligence has rapidly expanded in both importance and scale over recent years, with concerns about its safe use and development even leading the White House to issue an executive order related to its ‘extraordinary potential for both promise and peril.’
In higher education specifically, supplemental grants have been fundamental to advancing research that focuses on artificial intelligence. This year, Marymount University was one of only 15 universities awarded with the National Institutes of Health’s AIM-AHEAD Program for AI Readiness (PAIR) grant, which will be implemented by Marymount’s Center for Optimal Aging. A team of three Marymount faculty and staff members — Dr. Nathan Green, Dr. Patricia Heyn and Dr. Diane Murphy — were instrumental in earning this grant.
December 7, 2023 (Alexandria, VA) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today announcing that he will seek reelection to a sixth term as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 8th Congressional District:
“I am seeking reelection to Congress to carry forward our work on building a stronger and more equitable economy, to be the most powerful voice and vote against climate change that I can, and to fight for my Northern Virginia constituents. I will also do all I can in 2024 to help retake the majority in the House, elect Hakeem Jeffries Speaker, and prevent would-be dictator Donald Trump from getting anywhere near the White House ever again.
The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), a nonprofit organization with a mission to address long term food insecurity in Arlington County and Northern Virginia, served a record number of 3,807 families in need of food assistance during their Thanksgiving “Chicken Week.” The week of November 13-18, 2023, AFAC gave out 3,579 whole chicken roasters in addition to their weekly grocery distribution to ease the burden of added financial costs on neighbors in need leading up to the holiday season.
While these numbers are an all-time high for AFAC, the milestone number did not come as a shock. Steadily increasing numbers have been the norm since the same time last year. In 2022, AFAC served 2,900 families during their distribution the week preceding Thanksgiving. The consistent rise of 50 to 100 new families coming to their doors every month underscores the persistent need for food assistance in Arlington County and the surrounding areas.
Today, Judge David Schell set the date for a five-day trial, commencing July 8, 2024 trial date in the case against the Arlington County Board seeking to invalidate Missing Middle Housing/Expanded Housing Options (EHO) zoning.
In his October 19 ruling, Judge Schell denied the County’s efforts to have the case dismissed, stating repeatedly that the plaintiffs – 10 Arlington homeowners – had alleged direct violations of Virginia law in the County’s process of adopting EHO zoning.
Arlington, VA – In honor of Veterans Day, more than 30 of Amazon’s operation sites around the U.S. and the company’s headquarters in King County, Washington, and Arlington County, Virginia will participate in Operation Green Light for Veterans from November 6 – 12. Amazon is proud to be an official partner of Operation Green Light for Veterans, which aims to raise awareness of the challenges that veterans and military families face, and the resources available to them at the county, state, and federal levels.
Amazon’s employee affinity group, Warriors at Amazon, includes current and former active military personnel, their families, and the Amazon employees who support them. This group provides members with a professional network, organizes community outreach programs, and assists veterans during their transition into civilian life within Amazon. Warriors at Amazon hosted a reception at HQ2 to celebrate and acknowledge Operation Green Light for Veterans. Attendees networked with Amazonians from the military community and heard remarks from John Quintas, Amazon’s Director of Military Affairs, Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey, and representatives from the National Association of Counties.
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 supporting APAH residents.
“Stewardship at Arlington Presbyterian Church isn’t about simply paying the congregation’s bills; it’s about human flourishing. Our faith mandates us to put the well-being of our neighbors at the center of all we do as a community,” said Rev. Ashley Goff, pastor at Arlington Presbyterian. APC’s gift will enable APAH to establish EASE (Encouraging Affordability and Stability for Everyone), which will stabilize housing and create paths for stronger financial futures.
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. Interest rates continued to climb in September and the inventory became tighter, both of which subdued sales activity.
Tito’s Handmade Vodka is once again the top spirit of choice among customers at Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores, garnering $72 million in sales in fiscal year 2023. Tito’s was followed by Hennessy VS cognac ($44M), Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 whiskey ($30.1M), Patron Silver tequila ($28.6M) and Jim Beam straight bourbon whiskey ($24M). Tito’s sales grew by $5.1M compared to the prior year as it continues its six-year run as the top selling product in the commonwealth.
The biggest movers among the top-50 products were all tequila brands: Lunazul Reposado (up 127%), Lunazul Blanco (up 71%), Casamigos Blanco (up 67%), Teremana Reposado (up 57%) and Teremana Blanco (up 45%).
