fire station

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

More on Possible Shirlington Walmart — Three months after ARLnow.com reported exclusively that Walmart was eying a site for a possible store in Shirlington, County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman is acknowledging that the county is aware of Walmart’s interest in Shirlington. This weekend the County Board is expected to discuss changing the zoning ordinance in order to prevent “big box” stores like Walmart from being constructed without Board approval. When the ordinance change was first advertised, the word “Walmart” was never mentioned. [WTOP]

Fire Station Open Houses This Weekend — Arlington’s 10 fire stations will each be conducting an open house between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The kid-friendly event is organized as part of Fire Prevention Week 2011. [Arlington County]

Turnaround at AWLA — There’s a turnaround underway at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, which had been criticized for its relatively high euthanasia rate for dogs and cats. The shelter’s euthanasia rate during fiscal year 2011 was down 60 percent compared to the year before. The “positive outcome” rate for sheltered dogs rose to 91 percent from 80 percent one year prior. [Sun Gazette]

F.C., Arlington Police Investigate Burglaries — Arlington and Falls Church police are investigating a series of ten residential burglaries since the beginning of fall. The burglaries have occurred in the City of Falls Church and in Arlington’s East Falls Church neighborhood. Stolen items include laptops, iPods, guns, passports, bank checks and jewelry. [Falls Church News-Press]

Dedication Planned for New Cherrydale Fire Station

By ARLnow.com

Update at 3:40 p.m. — County officials say that the actual cost of the fire station, including land swaps, road work and construction, is about $18 million. About $7.3 million of that was to design, build and furnish the station.

A dedication and open house is planned for the new, $5.3 million Cherrydale Fire Station.

The fire station will be dedicated on Friday, July 29, officials announced yesterday. A family-friendly open house will be held on Saturday, July 30, complete with guided tours of the new facility.

Located at 4100 Old Dominion Drive, the station features four bays for emergency equipment, gender-neutral living facilities for firefighters, a public green space and an anticipated LEED Silver environmental design.

County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman called the station “state of the art” and “quite handsome” at Tuesday’s County Board meeting.

Photo via Fire (Station) in the Hole blog

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

High Temperatures, High Humidity — With temperatures expected to soar to just below 100 degrees today, the National Weather Service has placed the region under a Heat Advisory. “Drink plenty of fluids… stay in an air conditioned room… stay out of the sun… [and] take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside,” NWS cautions. The area is also under a ‘Code Orange’ air quality alert, meaning that air pollution concentrations “may become unhealthy for sensitive groups.” [Weather Channel]

Rosslyn Concert Moved Indoors — Due to the excessive heat, the lunchtime concert that normally takes place in Rosslyn’s Central Space plaza has been moved to the Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd) ballroom. Local group The Joe Rathbone Trio will perform in air conditioned comfort from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Cost of Cherrydale Fire Station Increases, Again — Completion of the new Cherrydale Fire Station has been pushed back again, leading to county staff’s recommendation that the County Board increase funding for the project, again. Funding for the station was first approved in 1990. Construction began in March 2010. It’s now expected to wrap up “by late summer.” [Sun Gazette]

County Launches ArlingtonFamilies.com — Arlington County has launched a new internet portal for parents, featuring links to online resources for the parents of kids ranging from infants to teenagers. [ArlingtonFamilies.com]

Flickr pool photo by pderby

Santa Coming to Cherrydale Fire Station

By Michael Doyle

Santa Claus is coming to Arlington County’s historic Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Station on Sunday, Dec. 19, bringing with him gift bags for children and good cheer for all. Santa’s appearance between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. marks the 80th time he has arrived courtesy of the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department, the oldest organization of its kind in Arlington County.

Santa’s appearance will be particularly meaningful this year, as the Arlington County Fire Department’s Engine Co. 3 is preparing to depart for new Lee Highway quarters in 2011. The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Station at 3900 Lee Highway will remain as a community resource; it is listed on both the state and national historic landmark registries.

The Cherrydale station’s holiday celebration has changed over the years, even as it has grown in popularity. Up until 1960, Santa brought refurbished toys to give away. Following several years of a gift exchange, the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department in 1964began buying gifts for distribution. Typically, several hundred children show up for the afternoon festivities.

Organized in 1898, the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department includes members who are cross-trained as both firefighters and emergency medical technicians. The volunteer department owns and operates Light and Air 103, which provides emergency lighting, salvage and other services. The volunteers also own a general services vehicle called Utility 103.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

County Launches Housing Blog — Under One Roof aims to be “a broad and accessible news portal on housing and more in Arlington County. It will feature “blog posts on a broad range of topics including affordable housing, green building, construction, neighborhoods, homeless and housing assistance.”

Fire Houses Open to Public This Weekend — To mark Fire Prevention Week, Arlington’s 10 fire stations will hold a countywide open house from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. There will be fun for the whole family, including fire stations tours and activities for kids.

Two Urgent Care Facilities Planned for South Arlington — Urgrent care facilities are coming to the Westmont Shopping Center (Columbia Pike and Glebe Road) and the Camden at Potomac Yard (Glebe Road and South Ball Street). However, there’s still no hospital or emergency room in South Arlington. More from TBD.

Ridge to Campaign with Murray — Former Homeland Security secretary and Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge is slated to attend a fundraiser for Republican congressional candidate Patrick Murray next week. Tickets for the fundraiser, which is being held at the University Club in the District, range from $150 to $500. Murray has attracted the support of a number of high-profile Republicans recently. In September he held fundraisers with Gov. Bob McDonnell and Sen. John McCain. Ridge, who is pro-choice, was briefly considered as a possible running mate for McCain in 2008.

Road Closures, Parking Restrictions for WTC Steel Ceremony

By ARLnow.com

On Sunday morning, Arlington County will hold a ceremony to formally accept a gift of World Trade Center steel from New York City. The ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. Arlington’s Fire Station No. 5 (1750 S. Hayes Street) in Pentagon City — which housed the first firefighters to respond to the Pentagon on 9/11.

The event should attract a large crowd. At least 500 motorcyclists are expected to escort the steel from New York City to the fire station and a middle school choir will be driving up from Georgia to participate in the ceremony.

To handle the crowds, South Hayes Street will be closed from South Fern Street to 15th Street for much of the day, and parking restrictions will be put in place in the area.

The ceremony will be held rain or shine.