George Mason University announced today that its Arlington Campus will be renamed Mason Square as the new centerpiece of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor for multi-disciplinary talent and business development, as well as a civic and cultural destination.
Also being announced is Fuse at Mason Square, the name of the new technology-forward building that is the heart of Mason’s commitment to growing Northern Virginia’s next-generation workforce. A groundbreaking ceremony for Fuse at Mason Square will take place April 6.
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Representative of Northern Virginia and member of the Quiet Skies Caucus, today wrote to the heads of the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Aviation Administration seeking a halt to procedural changes for regional airplane flight patterns. Beyer’s letter noted that the because the changes were not preceded by an environmental review process and were implemented just before a major drop-off in flights caused by the pandemic, their impact on noise levels in the region is just starting to be felt in full for the first time now.
Beyer wrote:
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced legislation to rename the post office in Arlington on George Mason Drive (currently designated “Arlington Post Office”) after local letter carrier Jesus Collazos. Collazos immigrated to Northern Virginia from Colombia in 1978 and worked for 25 years as a USPS postal carrier in Arlington. He died of COVID-19 early in the pandemic
“Jesus Collazos was a beloved figure who personified the American dream and gave back to the Arlington community he loved,” said Rep. Beyer. “It is extremely fitting that we would rename a postal facility in Arlington after this person who delivered mail there for 25 years until his retirement. His untimely death was a great loss to the region, but I hope this commemoration will bring a measure of solace to his family.”
On Monday, Marymount University announced to students, faculty and staff that the institution’s indoor mask requirement will no longer be in effect starting this Tuesday, March 1. This decision is based upon low COVID-19 metrics in Arlington County, Va., in addition to other University health and safety protocols such as COVID-19 vaccination and booster requirements. Members of the Marymount community who feel more comfortable wearing masks are encouraged to continue doing so.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance last week on the use of masks in indoor settings, stating that based on new metrics that take into account COVID-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new COVID-19 cases, more than 70 percent of U.S. citizens live in areas where masks are no longer recommended indoors. In Arlington County, Va., the COVID-19 transmission rate is considered to be “low” at this time, with a COVID-19 inpatient bed utilization rate of 5.2 percent and a community test positivity rate of 3.8 percent.
Beginning Tuesday, March 1, all 396 Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) stores will return to normal operating hours.
All stores will open by 10 a.m. every day, apart from some stores which regularly open later on Sundays. Store closing times, which were not part of the month-long adjustment, will remain the same. Closing times vary by store.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents the Northern Virginia suburbs of the nation’s capital, today issued the following statement on the anniversary of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol:
“One year ago today insurrectionists launched a violent assault on the home of American democracy.
On Monday, Marymount University administrators shared with its community members an enhanced COVID-19 vaccination policy that will require a booster shot for all students, faculty and staff who will be physically present on campus during the upcoming semester, a precautionary measure designed to ensure the best possible protection against the virus.
The institution is requiring proof of a booster shot by January 18, 2022, or within two weeks of booster eligibility. The Pfizer booster shot, which is recommended following initial shots of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson, will be available by appointment for all Marymount students and employees at the on-campus Student Health Center. Community members also have the option to receive the booster shot off campus in locations such as doctor’s offices, clinics and pharmacies.
Arlington Community Foundation (ACF) launched its 2022 scholarship application today, providing Arlington high school students with an opportunity to compete for more than 70 scholarships worth over $525,000 in student aid. A single, common application gives students an easy way to apply for an award from more than 55 individual scholarship funds, each with their own unique criteria, ranging in size from $1,000 to $5,000. Several of the awards are renewable. Students must submit their application by January 31, 2022 to be considered.
Generous individuals, families, companies and organizations fund the scholarships, which have their own unique eligibility criteria, including scholarships for students of immigrant parents, students who participate in a Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) program, and students entering STEM and healthcare programs, among several others.
Leading tech repair provider uBreakiFix® by Asurion has opened its newest location in Pentagon City at 1101 S. Joyce St., Suite B-12 on Pentagon Row. The store offers professional repair services for anything with a power button, from smartphones, tablets, and computers to game consoles, smart speakers, and drones–and everything in between.
While common repairs include cracked screens, battery issues, and water damage, uBreakiFix repair experts have fixed more than 13 million devices and can help with most tech mishaps, with most basic repairs completed in two hours or less.
Real estate leader American Real Estate Partners (AREP) has completed an $11 million reinvention of 2000 15th St. N. (formerly known as Arlington Plaza) in Arlington, Virginia. This reimagined business destination features a 16,000-square foot lushly landscaped outdoor plaza for work and gathering, the largest outdoor plaza of any office building in the R-B corridor, a bright new 5,300-square-foot conference center and tenant lounge, full-floor tenant availability, and unobstructed views of monuments in neighboring Washington, D.C.
“Virginia has once again been ranked by CNBC as the number one place for business and AREP is creating some of the most exciting places in Northern Virginia for business locations. The transformation of 2000 15th St. N. is emblematic of our commitment to deliver inspired experiences that go beyond the expected and environments where people and businesses prosper,” said Paul Schulman, Principal and Chief Operating Officer at AREP. “The renovated plaza, wired for connectivity, extends the office to the outdoors, offering all season, year-round use as a work and meeting space, and provides a spectacular backdrop to the indoor conference and amenity spaces, creating an urban oasis,” he said.
On Small Business Saturday 2021, November 27th, Arlington and Falls Church shoppers will get a chance to participate in a shopping “Passport” program to discover unique shops, find deals, keep their shopping dollars local and be eligible to win prizes.
Led by One More Page Books, the Passport enables shoppers who are looking to participate in the national #shoplocal effort to easily discover small businesses near them.
