contest | ARLnow.com

Finalists Chosen for Arlington County Vehicle Decal Contest

Published December 16, 2016 at 10:30AM

2017 decal finalist: “The Arlington House”

2017 decal winner: “Arlington Sees Stars”

The four finalists have been chosen for Arlington’s 13th annual Vehicle Decal Design Competition.

The contest, organized by the county Treasurer’s Office, received 235 submissions from Arlington high school students this year. It was narrowed down to the finalists, above, by a panel of local residents.

Arlington County residents can now vote (once) for their favorite through Monday, Jan. 16. Voting is taking place online and via mail.

The winner will be announced at a County Board meeting on Jan. 31, according to the Treasurer’s Office, and that design will then grace the windshields of 160,000 windshields from 2017-2018.

The winner will also get $750, while the runners-up gets $500 from the Arlington Community Federal Credit Union.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 17, 2016 at 9:45AM

Thanksgiving Travel in D.C. Area — More than 1 million D.C. area residents are expected to leave town for Thanksgiving, and 9 out of 10 of them will be traveling by car. The worst day and time for traffic in the region is expected to be next Tuesday afternoon. [Washington Post]

Arlingtonians Spend Big for the Holidays — The average Arlington household is expected to spend $1,741 celebrating the holidays, according to a new survey. That’s the highest expected holiday spending in the region and the 13th highest in the U.S. [InsideNova]

GMU Renames Building in Arlington — George Mason University’s Metropolitan Building in Virginia Square has been renamed for one of the school’s Nobel Prize laureates. The building will be renamed Vernon Smith Hall in a ceremony tomorrow (Friday). The university-owned building, at 3434 Washington Blvd, also houses the new Virginia DMV office. [George Mason University]

Beer Coming to Donut Shop — It’s a combination that would make Homer Simpson drool. Sugar Shack Donuts on Columbia Pike has applied for a Virginia ABC permit to serve beer. The application was filed Nov. 7. No word yet on how soon the store may be offering cold brews to pair with its donuts.

Good Stuff Eatery Opening at DCA — Burger restaurant Good Stuff Eatery is opening a new location today in Arlington: specifically, at Terminal B of Reagan National Airport. [Good Stuff Eatery]

Students Win Video Contest — “A team of students from the Arlington Career Center has won the fifth annual student video challenge sponsored by the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), taking home the top prize for the fourth year in a row.” [Arlington Public Schools]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Congrats to Our Most Embarrassing Orthodontics Story Winners

Published October 27, 2016 at 5:45PM | Updated October 27, 2016 at 6:08PM

Lisa and Sarah: we’re sorry you had to go through those things, but congratulations! At least you’re going to have whiter teeth.

Sarah and Lisa are the top vote-getters in our Most Embarrassing Orthodontics Story contest, sponsored by our friends at VCO Orthodontics in Rosslyn.

Lisa will get professional teeth whitening for two from VCO, a more than $800 value, while Sarah, as runner-up, will get teeth whitening for one.

Lisa received 332 votes for her humorous story of getting orthodontic headgear installed just before a televised holiday sing-along by her school choir. Needless to say, it was a very lispy “Crethmath.”

Sarah, meanwhile, received 107 votes for having to go dumpster diving for her retainer after leaving it on her lunch tray in fifth grade. She found it and actually wore it again, which frankly sounds worse than Lisa’s experience, but — ARLnow readers have spoken and she’s No. 2.

Our thanks to VCO and Dr. Crissy Markova, DMD, for sponsoring this fun contest. If you or your kids are in need of orthodontic help and want state-of-the-art care in a modern, comfortable and environmentally-conscious setting, VCO is the place for you.

#contest

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 18, 2016 at 9:15AM

Arlington Featured on MTP — Arlington County was featured in a Meet the Press segment on Sunday, comparing the level of support for Hillary Clinton here to support for Donald Trump in a rural Ohio county. The show interviewed residents in the Clarendon area. [NBC News]

Surge in Registration, Absentee Voting — Officials are anticipating about 43,000 absentee ballots in Arlington this year, up 50 percent compared to the last presidential election in 2012. Throughout the region and the state, absentee voting is on the rise, which is generally good news for Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, a surge in last-minute voter registrations yesterday and a statewide software slowdown has the county advising that it could take several days to process all of the applications. [Washington Post, WTOP, WTOP]

Vehicle Decal Design Contest Starts — The Treasurer’s Office Decal Design Competition is back for another year. Local high school students will compete to design the next Arlington County vehicle decal, which will appear on some 160,000 vehicles in the county. The submission deadline is Nov. 28. [Arlington County]

Pike Recycling Center May Move — Next month the Arlington County Board is expected to consider whether to relocate the recycling facility at the corner of Columbia Pike and Four Mile Run Drive to the Arlington Trades Center in Shirlington. County officials want to lower the level of illegal dumping that’s currently taking place. [InsideNova]

Historic Designation for Ballston Cemetery? — On Wednesday night Arlington’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board will discuss the merits of a proposed local historic district designation for the Ball cemetery in Ballston. The cemetery is currently slated to be relocated to make way for the redevelopment of a church. [Preservation Arlington]

Last Day at Fuego Cocina — Fuego Cocina y Tequileria in Clarendon served its final meals and margaritas Sunday. “We’re turning the light off now. Farewell,” the restaurant said via Twitter. [Twitter, Twitter]

Poll: Which Arlington Resident Has the Most Embarrassing Orthodontics Story?

Published October 12, 2016 at 11:15AM | Updated October 13, 2016 at 12:03AM

Last month we asked our readers to tell us your most embarrassing orthodontics story.

You responded and… yowza… there were some really embarrassing and weird stories. We’ve whittled the submissions down to four cringe-worthy finalists and now it’s up to readers to vote for your favorite.

The winner will receive professional teeth whitening sessions for two from Rosslyn-based VCO Orthodontics. The runner-up will get a professional teeth whitening session for one.

These stories may be ugly but there is good news: if you or your kids need orthodontic treatment, the modern ortho techniques employed by VCO’s Harvard-educated founder, Dr. Crissy Markova, make for a much better experience than you might have gotten back in the day.

Here are the finalists:

1. Lisa

The scene: middle school in the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid 1970s.

The facts: I will admit that I didn’t wear my headpiece at night like I was supposed to. I was warned but didn’t believe the ortho. He said he would wire it in if I didn’t wear it.

The other fact: our choir was invited to sing on the local TV station, and I had a solo.

Next ortho appt: the ortho wired in my headpiece. I begged him not to. The next day I was in the TV studio in SF singing. With a big lisp. ” I THAW three THIPS come THAILING in on CRETHMATH DAY…..” Yep, lovely.

2. Katie

Once a few years ago I had an accident that required the repair of two broken teeth. While the operation itself, shots of novocaine and all was 100% successful, it was made most unpleasant when the saliva suction tube fell out while I was waiting for the orthodontist and the technician stepped away for a few minutes. I realized it had fallen out after my mouth started swelling up with spit, and I couldn’t swallow it because it built up too quickly that I was worried I would choke. All I could do was sit there and be frustrated that I had to essentially spill like a cup of my own spit onto the floor. Turns out those suction tubes are super important if removed for 5 minutes!

3. Sarah

Back in fifth grade after I had my braces taken off I was given a retainer to wear. It was pizza day for lunch and I discretely took my retainer out, wrapped it in a napkin, and put it on my lunch tray. When I got home from school my mom asked where my retainer was and I realized I had thrown it away with my lunch tray. We hopped in the car, drove to the school, and I got in the dumpster to pull out the lunch trash bags. We sifted through a few bags, and found my retainer! She soaked and cleaned it and I went back to wearing it the next day.

4. Kathy

Well my experience was terrible in the 80s and continues to haunt me. I had an appliance that was supposed to bring my lower jaw forward and it puffed my cheeks like a chipmunk. During my first week of middle school (living in Florida and I am female), someone asked me if I was chewing tobacco. I am now 48. A year ago, I was diagnosed with “short roots” attributed to the fast track method of orthodontia implemented in my early teens. Because of this, I now need to wear a retainer nightly so I don’t lose my front two bottom teeth.

So which embarrassing story has your vote?

Voting closes next week on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Good luck to the entrants!

#contest

Deadline Extended: Send Us Your Embarrassing Orthodontics Story

Published September 29, 2016 at 6:00PM

Did you have braces? Did something weird happen as a result of said orthodontics?

Then you should consider entering our newly-extended Embarrassing Orthodontics Story contest, sponsored by the good folks at VCO Orthodontics in Rosslyn.

Readers will vote on their favorite story (don’t worry, we won’t use your last name if you don’t want us to) and you could win professional tooth whitening sessions from VCO — perfect for anyone who has a special occasion coming up or who just wants to get rid of some stubborn coffee stains.

Send the short version of the story to us at [email protected], with a relevant photo if one is available. The new deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 4.

See more details on the contest here.

Thank you to VCO for sponsoring — be sure to check out their Invisalign service and their other modern ortho offerings.

#contest

Tell Us Your Most Embarrassing Orthodontics Story, Win Professional Tooth Whitening

Published September 14, 2016 at 3:50PM | Updated September 29, 2016 at 2:49PM

Ahh, back to school time. Time to reflect on the happy memories of adolescence.

Reconnecting with friends. High school football games. Successfully asking out that crush on a lunchroom dare.

Of course there were some embarrassing memories, too. Crushing social awkwardness. Acne breakouts. Waking up looking like this…

Yeah, so orthodontics have made some advances over the years.

A modern ortho doc, like VCO Orthodontics’ Harvard-educated founder, Dr. Crissy Markova, has all sorts of modern tech and techniques — from 3D digital modeling to take the gagging out of fittings, to the latest from Invisalign, to accelerated orthodontics to make your braces work faster. She works with patients of all ages, from adolescents to adults.

As school gets underway, Rosslyn-based VCO is sponsoring a contest to help us remember the good ol’ days. Regale us with an embarrassing story from your braces-wearing days, and you could win free, custom professional tooth whitening from VCO. (They do that, along with some other services, too.)

Here’s how it works:

Share your (true) embarrassing orthodontics story with us via email, Facebook, Twitter or the comments below this article.
If you have a photo to go along with it, bonus points! Be sure to send that, too.
We’ll pick out our favorites, then publish them for our readers to see and vote on.
The person getting the most votes will get free, custom tooth whitening from VCO for two — treat a friend or significant other. Runner-up will get tooth whitening for one.

The deadline to submit is ~~Monday, Sept. 26~~ Tuesday, Oct. 4. Good luck digging up those old memories!

#contest

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 15, 2015 at 9:30AM

Local Man Wins ‘Ultimate Fighter’ — Arlington native Ryan Hall has captured the Ultimate Fighter title for his weight class after soundly defeating Artem Lobov in the Octagon on national television Friday. [Fox Sports]

New Ballston Apartments Rent Quickly — Less than a year after it opened, The Maxwell, a 163-unit luxury apartment building on N. Glebe Road in Ballston, is now 93 percent leased. [PR Newswire, Multifamily Biz]

County: Don’t Worry About Orange Tubes — Arlington County is telling residents not to worry about the orange plastic tubes they may see sprouting from the ground. The tubes are not part of a nefarious terrorist plot, they’re conduits for Arlington’s upgraded fiber optic traffic signal system. [Arlington County]

Local Nonspeaking Youth Present at Conference — Three nonspeaking Arlington students gave 10 minute TED-style talks at a disability advocacy conference in Portland, Oregon earlier this month. [Growing Kids Therapy Center]

Pet Photo Contest Cancelled — Our Dress Your Pet Like a James Bond Character photo contest has been cancelled. The contest was to promote a James Bond-themed New Years Eve event in Ballston that has since been cancelled due to a regulatory issue. Those who have already submitted photos for the contest will be contacted soon and given a consolation prize.

2016-2017 Decal Competition Now Accepting Entries

By Jennifer Currier

Published November 10, 2015 at 2:45PM

Arlington County high school students can now submit their entries for the 2016-2017 Vehicle Decal Design Competition.

Now in its twelfth year, the annual contest is open to all students who live or go to school in Arlington.

“This contest is an opportunity to practice your design skills, as well as participate in the workings of local government,” Susan Anderson of Arlington Treasurer’s Office said in a letter to students. “It is truly a unique accomplishment for all the winners to highlight on their college applications and resumes.”

The letter also explained the winning design will be displayed on registration stickers on more than 160,000 vehicles and will become a part of a decal exhibit at the county administrative building.

Submissions are due to the Treasurer’s Office on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m, either via e-mail or a mailed CD.

Each design should be in JPEG format and have a resolution of no less than 300 DPI. Next year’s decals will have a red background with the design measuring 1.5 inches by 2.25 inches. Students must also submit an application with a short essay describing the design and why it visually represents Arlington. More detailed submission instructions are available on the county’s website.

After the submission period closes, a “Citizens Panel” will select four finalists — each will receive a cash prize — to be announced on the county’s website on Dec. 10. Residents will then vote for their favorite design online or by mailing a paper ballot to the Sun Gazette newspaper.

Voting will be open for approximately five weeks, and the winner is expected to be announced at a County Board meeting on Jan. 26, 2016.

Last year’s design contest winner was “A Nod to History” by Yorktown High School student Tommy Casey.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 23, 2015 at 9:00AM | Updated October 23, 2015 at 10:16AM

School Bus Cameras Stop Issuing Tickets — The stop arm cameras on Arlington public school buses are no longer sending citations to those who drive by the buses while the stop signs are activated. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring determined that Arlington does not have the legal authority from the General Assembly to issue summonses from school bus cameras by mail. [Washington Post]

Laundry Room Fire at The Shelton — Yesterday around 6 p.m. a dryer in a laundry room at The Shelton apartment building (3125 24th Street S.) in Nauck caught fire. The fire was reportedly controlled by a sprinkler system, but not before filling the third floor of the building with heavy smoke and prompting an evacuation. [Twitter]

Last Weekend for Hudson Trail Outfitters — The local adventure retailer Hudson Trail Outfitters says this will be their last weekend in business. The company, which has a store on Pentagon Row, is offering 50-80 percent off remaining items. [Hudson Trail Outfitters]

Rep. Beyer Wins Spelling Bee — Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) won the National Press Club’s annual Politicians vs. Press spelling bee Wednesday night. Beyer won by correctly spelling “apostasy” in round 23. The win keeps the spelling bee title in Virginia, after Sen. Tim Kaine won last year. [Politico]

‘Most Interesting Man in Arlington’ Contest — Don Tito in Clarendon will be hosting its first ever “Most Interesting Man in Arlington” contest Saturday night. Hosted by Mel, of 107.3’s morning show, the contest will judge based on looks and a series of challenges. [Clarendon Nights]

Discover Cherrydale This Weekend — The Cherrydale Business Alliance will hold its second annual “Discover Cherrydale” festival on Sunday afternoon. The event will feature vendor booths, a beer garden, food trucks and various family-friendly activities. [ARLnow Events]

Red Top Given Green Light for Stickers — An Arlington County Board-ordered review of new stickers on the back window of Red Top taxicabs has found no safety hazard. Lou Gatti, a long-time cab driver who is now an industry critic and who was the one who raised concerns, was disappointed by the findings. “There are no checks and balances in this industry, except for me,” Gatti is quoted as saying. “I can’t understand why no one seems to care about the facts and the laws, except me.” [InsideNova]

Blue Line Issues This Morning — A faulty switch near the Pentagon prompted Metro to route Blue Line trains over the Yellow Line bridge for a significant portion of this morning’s rush hour. [Twitter]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 10, 2015 at 9:40AM | Updated April 10, 2015 at 10:09AM

Arlington Ranks High for Tax Burden — Arlington County has the second highest overall tax burden in the nation, according to stats compiled by the website NerdWallet. Arlington’s high median income and high real estate costs factored heavily in the calculation, which includes federal, state and local taxes. [NerdWallet, Washington Business Journal]

Trevor Noah Performs in Arlington — Comedian Trevor Noah performed his first stand-up comedy show since being named the next host of The Daily Show last night in Arlington. It was the first of seven sold-out shows Noah is performing this weekend at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse. In writing about the performance, the New York Times described the Drafthouse as “about a half-hour drive outside Washington, with drinks far cheaper than most places in the District.” [New York Times]

Amsterdam Falafelshop Offers Pot Pairings — Amsterdam Falafelshop, which has a location in Clarendon, is offering a “pot pairing menu” in time for 4/20. Also on April 20, the restaurant will offer sandwiches for $4.20. [Washington City Paper]

Arlington Resident in Voice Contest — Tara Cannon, an Arlington resident, is among the singers hoping to get a guaranteed audition for The Voice, via an online voting contest on NBC 4’s website. [NBC Washington]

Fairlington 5K Road Closures — Arlington County Police are planning on shutting down a number of roads Saturday morning for the second annual Fairlington 5K race. The roads are expected to be closed between 7:00 and 9:30 a.m. [Arlington County]

Cherry Blossom Race Closures — Police are planning on closing the Memorial Bridge and Memorial Circle to traffic Sunday morning for the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K. The closure is scheduled to be in place from 5:00 to 11:00 a.m.