weather closure

Closures for Memorial Day on Monday

By Ethan Rothstein

Courthouse PlazaArlington County offices and schools will close Monday, May 26, for the observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

County offices, courts, libraries, human services, the sheriff’s office and commuter stores will all be closed for the holiday. All community centers will be closed with the exception of Arlington Mill Community Center, which will open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All parks grounds will be open, however.

ART buses will be running on a holiday schedule, as will Metrorail and Metrobus. Permit and metered parking will not be enforced.

Trash and recycling pickup, however, are operating on a normal schedule, as are brush, metal and electronic pickup services. Cart repair and mulch delivery service is suspended for the day.

St. Paddy’s Day Snow Shuts Down Gov’t, Schools

By ARLnow.com

Snow 3/3/14 (file photo)Update at 12:30 p.m. — ART service says it is resuming full service for the afternoon rush hour.

Update at 9:35 a.m. — Runways have reopened at Reagan National Airport. Metro says it will resume normal Metrobus service at 11:00 a.m.

A late season snow storm has shut down the federal government as well as all Arlington County schools, government offices, courts and facilities.

Arlington Public Schools says its schools and offices are closed today, and all “extracurricular activities, interscholastic contests, team practices, field trips, adult and community education classes, and programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled.”

Arlington County government, meanwhile, has closed, citing “treacherous travel conditions.” About 7-8 inches of snow fell on parts of Arlington. The Dept. of Environmental Services says its snow clearing effort is currently in Phase 2 — plowing primary and secondary roads while side roads remain snow-covered.

“If possible, stay off the roads while snow removal efforts continue throughout the day,” the county government said.

ART buses are operating at Severe Service levels on routes 41,42, 45, 51, 77 and 87. All other routes are canceled.

“Service will be added mid-day as conditions permit,” ART reported. Metrobuses are running on major roads only, also on the agency’s severe snow plan. Metrorail is operating at near-normal service levels.

Runways at Reagan National Airport are closed as crews work to reopen the airport to arriving and departing flights.

File photo

Schools, Gov’t Offices to Close for Washington’s Birthday

By Ethan Rothstein

George WashingtonCounty and federal offices and Arlington Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of George Washington’s birthday.

Schools will close despite being shut down yesterday and today from the 10 inches of snow that fell from Wednesday night into Thursday. APS had already released a make-up schedule for elementary schools with early release after the snow day on Jan. 3 meant the schools would need additional instructional hours. No word yet on if or how that schedule will change.

County courts will close as well as the offices. ART bus and Metro services will run on holiday schedules and parking meters will not be enforced. Trash and recycling pickup will maintain its normal schedule.

ARLnow.com will not publish on the holiday, with the exception of possible breaking news.

Closures For Christmas, New Year’s Day

By ARLnow.com

Miniature Christmas sceneArlington County government offices and facilities will be closed the next two Wednesdays for Christmas and New Year’s Day.

All offices, courts, libraries, schools, community centers and pools will be closed. There will also be no trash collection and only ART bus routes 41 and 51 will operate. Parking meters and permit parking will not be enforced.

In addition to the Christmas and New Year’s closures, some facilities will also be closed or will closed early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Courts and the Sheriff’s Office will be closed. Community centers and pools will operate on a modified schedule.

The County Board will hold its traditional New Year’s Day organizational meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Jan. 1. The meeting will be held at the County Board Room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

Arlington Gov’t Offices to Close for Thanksgiving

By ARLnow.com

A decorative Thanksgiving turkeySchools and county government offices will be closed later this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Schools will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. County government offices, courts and libraries will be closed Thursday and Friday, and parking meters will not be enforced.

County pools will be closed Thursday and will operate on a modified schedule Wednesday and Friday. All community centers will be closed Thursday, but the Arlington Mill and Walter Reed centers will be open Friday. The Thomas Jefferson Community Center will be closed throughout the holiday weekend.

ART buses will operate, but on a holiday schedule. Trash and leaf collection will proceed as normal.

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

Lee Highway love

Metro Accident Victim Identified as GMU Student — The person struck and killed on the Metrorail Orange Line tracks between East Falls Church and Ballston early Sunday morning has been identified as 21-year-old George Mason University student Patrick Sibley. Sibley’s brother says he did not have a good sense of direction and may have become lost after leaving a bar in Clarendon and trying to make it home to Vienna. Metro is not commenting on the incident while it is under investigation. [Washington Post]

McDonnell Touts Budget Surplus — Gov. Bob McDonnell says the state ended its fiscal year on June 30 with $585 million more than projected. That’s the largest state surplus since 2005. The cumulative surplus during McDonnell’s nearly four years in office comes in at around $2 billion. [Washington Times]

County Labor Day Closures — Arlington County has posted a list of programs and services that will remain operational while the county offices are closed for Labor Day on Monday, September 2. Libraries, parks, pools, courts and schools will all be closed. [Arlington County]

Arlington County Offices Closed July 4

By ARLnow.com

July 4, 2012 photos (by Ddimick)Most county-run offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday for the Independence Day holiday.

All courts, offices, human services facilities, libraries and schools will be closed. Parking meters will not be enforced.

Pools will be open on a holiday schedule. Arlington Transit will also operate on a holiday schedule. Metro will be operating on a holiday schedule, but will be boosting rail service due to the July 4 crowds.

Trash and recycling collection will proceed as normal, as will certain special collections.

All county offices will reopen on Friday, though General District Court will remain closed through the weekend, and the Circuit Court will close at 1:00 p.m.

Flickr pool photo by Ddimick

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

School and church groups pack the Pentagon City mall food court just before Memorial Day

Memorial Day Closures — Arlington County courts, offices, libraries, and schools will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. Arlington’s three indoor public pools will be open on a holiday schedule on Monday. [Arlington County]

State Police Increasing Patrols — Virginia State Police say they’re increasing patrols statewide this weekend. “The additional patrols statewide are part of the annual Operation C.A.R.E., (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries associated with speed, failure to wear seatbelts and impaired driving. The state-sponsored, national program encourages law enforcement,” VSP said in a press release.

Bonchon Chicken to Offer Growlers — Korean chicken restaurant Bonchon is hoping to open its new Arlington location at 2201 N. Pershing Drive in mid-July. In addition to chicken, the eatery will have “a dozen beers on tap, including craft options, and growler service to cater to the restaurant’s carryout clients.” [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington’s Marv Albert Anniversary — On May 27, 1997, Arlington was in the news as sports broadcaster Marv Albert was arrested and booked by Arlington County Police, accused of sexually assaulting a woman at the Pentagon City Ritz Carlton hotel. [About.com, New York Times]

Closures for Washington’s Birthday

By ARLnow.com

George WashingtonSchools and Arlington County government offices will be closed for Washington’s Birthday on Monday.

Also called Presidents Day, the holiday marks the end of a string of winter federal holidays. The next federal holiday is Memorial Day, on May 27.

In Arlington, all courts, schools, libraries and county offices will be closed. All community centers will be closed, with the exception of the Barcroft Community Center, which will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Wakefield, Washington-Lee and Yorktown pools will be open on a holiday schedule. Monday marks the last day before the pools start their spring schedule.

ART buses will operate on a holiday schedule. Metrorail and buses will operate on a Saturday schedule. Parking meters will not be enforced.

Trash and recycling collection will proceed as normal.

Snow Snarls Commute, Late Start for Schools

By Katie Pyzyk

Slippery morning commute in Pentagon City(Updated at 8:50 a.m.) Snow and cold weather are causing slick conditions on the roads and making a mess of the morning commute.

In addition to accidents, police scanner traffic indicates dozens of drivers skidding and nearly spinning out on the slippery roads. There are also numerous reports of vehicles getting stuck, particularly in hilly areas. Police report some drivers not paying attention closely enough and running into other vehicles, or even running over flares that are marking existing traffic problems. Drivers are reminded to slow down and use extra caution.

All Arlington Public Schools will open two hours late and the Extended Day program will open two hours late. Morning field trips are canceled. All APS administrative offices and the pools will open on time.

The Office of Personnel Management confirms that federal agencies are open, but employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. Arlington County government is opening on time, but workers have the option for unscheduled leave or telework, with supervisor approval.

The following closures and schedule alterations are in effect for the Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation:

  • All Preschool programs are cancelled.
  • All senior centers will open at noon, but lunch programs and transportation service at Walter Reed, Langston-Brown and Arlington Mill at Fairlington are cancelled.
  • All Enjoy Arlington classes and nature center programs scheduled to start prior to 11:59 am are cancelled in all buildings. All Enjoy Arlington classes and nature center programs with scheduled start time of noon or later will proceed as scheduled.
  • All joint use facilities Drew, Carver, Gunston, Langston, and Thomas Jefferson Community Center will open at 10:00 a.m. Barcroft, Lee, Madison, Dawson Terrace, Lubber Run, Fairlington and Walter Reed center hours and programs will proceed as scheduled.

The Department of Environmental Services reports that crews are currently working to treat all primary (red) and secondary (blue) roads on the snow map, and expect to move into the neighborhoods later in the day. DES offers the following tips:

  • Do not drive unless necessary so roads will be open for emergency and snow removal vehicles.
  • Help your neighbors clean the sidewalk on the same side of the street as parked cars to increase pedestrian safety.
  • Keep snow cleared from fire hydrants, storm drains and downspouts on your home.

The National Weather Service’s Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect until 9:00 a.m.

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