Yorktown High School

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Cycling Through Arlington National Cemetery — The one-month closure of the Wright gate to Fort Myer will affect some cyclists who travel through Arlington National Cemetery. One blogger argues that the closure should be used as an opportunity to expand cycling privileges in the cemetery. [Greater Greater Washington]

Yorktown High Students Advance to National History Bowl — Not one but two Yorktown High School teams are advancing to the National History Bowl Championship after finishing third and fourth in the Virginia competition. A total of eight Yorktown students will compete at the championship in the District next month. [Arlington Public Schools]

Car-Free Diet Skeptics Found — Arlington County found five individuals who were skeptical about ditching their car for 30 days, but who were willing to try it anyhow. In the end, only two Skeptics will be chosen; the public will be able to vote for their favorite through the end of the month. Disclosure: Arlington County Commuter Services is an advertiser. [Car-Free Diet Skeptics]

Flickr pool photo by Rukasu1

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Iwo Jima Memorial Revamp Planned — One of the most memorable sights in Arlington may be getting a face lift. The 56-year-old Iwo Jima memorial is in need of a refurbishment and more frequent flag replacements, supporters say. A group, the Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation, also wants to add a volunteer-staffed reception center with permanent restrooms, replacing the plastic portable toilets currently on site. [USA Today]

George Allen Wants His Senate Seat Back — Former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) says he will run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and formerly held by himself. The 2012 race will also feature a challenge on Allen’s right during the primary. Some fellow Republicans wasted no time portraying Allen, once thought of as a possible presidential candidate, as “one of the biggest government guys out there” and “a part of the Washington establishment.” [Washington Post]

The Planetarium Booster — Meet Alice Monet, president of the Friends of Arlington’s Donald M. Brown Planetarium group. The retired Naval Observatory astronomer and Washington-Lee grad is helping to raise money to upgrade the planetarium and keep it open for future generations. [Washington Examiner]

Yorktown High Wins Theater Award — Yorktown High School took first place at the National District One-Act Play Festival for the third time running. The competition, held in Fairfax over the weekend, showcases D.C. area theater talent. “Yorktown’s show Bottom’s Dream, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will advance to the Northern Region One Act Play Festival [on] Feb. 5,”  a parent tells us. “Yorktown will hold an encore performance of the show at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at Yorktown High, 5200 Yorktown Boulevard.”

Flickr pool photo by Shannon Field

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Internal Moran Poll Suggests Comfortable Lead  — An poll commissioned by Rep. Jim Moran’s campaign suggests the ten-term congressman holds a 58-31 lead among likely voters. That compares to the 13-point spread cited in a poll commissioned by Republican challenger Patrick Murray’s campaign. “I’ve never lost, and I’m not going to lose to somebody who moved here a year and a half ago,” Moran told the Washington Post.

Yorktown HS Football Rolls — The Yorktown High School Patriots defense pitched another shutout Friday night, allowing the team to capture first place in the Virginia AAA National District. Yorktown’s record improves to 6-1. More from the Washington Post.

APS Enrollment Higher Than Projected — Enrollment in Arlington Public Schools is 1 percent higher than projected, and 5 percent higher than at the beginning of last year’s school year. There are currently 21,241 students in the school system, and 62 relocatable classrooms to deal with APS’s capacity problems. More from the Sun Gazette.

Flickr pool photo by Aaron Webb

Demolition Rubble Makes Yorktown High Look Like a War Zone

By ARLnow.com

Construction crews have been working feverishly over the summer to get the new Yorktown High School ready for students, while tearing down remnants of the old Yorktown High building. With one week left until students return and with a field full of rubble left to clear, it looks like the work may be coming down to the wire.

Check out the photos below, which show heavy equipment picking through huge piles of debris as well as a worker hosing down the rubble, apparently to keep dust down. Also below: a photo of the old high school, just before the demolition.

1/9

Board Recognizes Yorktown Grad Killed in Iraq

By ARLnow.com

A moment of silence was observed in the Arlington County board room yesterday in recognition of a fallen native son.

Capt. Michael Cassidy, a married father of two young girls, died last month in Mosul, Iraq. Cassidy, 41, was on his second tour of duty. He served the Army as a medic and a physician’s assistant.

“By all accounts he was a sweet and sensitive soul who demonstrated unbelievable and serious determination in his quest to serve his fellow veterans,” Board Chairman Jay Fisette said.

Cassidy was born in Wheaton but attended Yorktown High School, where he played in the both the band and the orchestra. He was the co-valedictorian of his graduating class of 1986, according to the Washington Post.

His parents, Henry and Susan, still live in Arlington.

Cassidy, who was assigned to Fort Stewart in Georgia, died in a non-combat related incident, according to the Department of Defense.

Photo via WSPA-TV.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

DHS Investigating DCA Bomb Sticker — The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a suspicious sticker found on a trash can at Reagan National Airport, reports Government Security News. The sticker appears to be a stencil-type illustration of a man with a bomb strapped to his chest. DHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency have emailed a photo of the sticker to various security companies and law enforcement agencies, GSN reports.

New ART Route To Pentagon City — A new ART bus line will connect Pentagon City with the Douglas Park and Nauck neighborhoods. The ART 84 line will run every 30 minutes during rush hour, starting June 21. More from the Arlington Transit Blog.

Meet the Artists Reception at Yorktown High Tonight — Yorktown High School (5201 N. 28th St.) is holding its annual art exhibit from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day this week. Tonight there will be a “meet the artists” opening reception and mural dedication from 6:00 to 8:00. All events are open to the public.

Missing Yorktown High Grad Found in Fairfax County

By ARLnow.com

A missing Yorktown High School grad and athletic standout has been found safely in Fairfax County. Mikey Pinkerton is back home in North Arlington after going missing on April 15, his father confirmed this afternoon.

Mikey’s father said he’s grateful to the friends, family and strangers who helped out during the nearly two week search.

“I would like to thank all the people for their prayers and concerns… and for helping us through a tough time,” Michael Pinkerton said.

There were a number of reported spottings of Mikey around the Washington area during the search, all of which turned out to be false.

Arlington School Planetarium to Close

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Public Schools will close the David M. Brown Planetarium under superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy’s proposed fiscal year 2011 budget.

Dr. Murphy says the school system, facing a $12.8 million budget deficit, cannot afford the nearly half million dollars worth of mechanical upgrades needed to keep the 40-year-old planetarium open.

The planetarium is named after David Brown, a Yorktown High School graduate who perished in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Dr. Murphy says the science wing at Yorktown High will be named in Mr. Brown’s honor after the planetarium closes.

The space now used by the planetarium will likely be converted into another educational-use facility. APS needs to use all the space at its disposal given its burgeoning student body, Dr. Murphy said.