Archive for February, 2010

Arlington Police Make Arrest in Abduction Case — A Marine based at Fort Myer’s Henderson Hall has been arrested and charged with abduction and robbery. Jorge “George” Torrez, 21, is accused of robbing and trying to abduct a woman from the 1700 block of N. Quincy Street on February 10. Torrez is also a suspect in the abduction of a woman from the 600 block of N. Wakefield St. in Ballston early Saturday morning, according to Arlington police. The woman was found raped and left for dead in Prince William County after an extensive search by several law enforcement agencies. More from the Washington Post.

Planes Clip Wings at Reagan National Airport — Two US Airways were involved in a minor collision while on the tarmac at Reagan National Saturday morning. Nobody was injured, but both planes were taken out of service and passengers were booked on other flights. More from ABC7.

Arlington Spent $5 Million on Snow Removal — Arlington County spent $5 million on snow removal this winter, five times the normal snow removal budget. No word yet on how much of the budget went to the contractors who helped keep streets passable during February’s big snow storms. More from the Sun Gazette.

The left lane of westbound Route 50 between Courthouse Road and 10th Street (see graphic) will be closed until July.

The closure, for a utility relocation project, is the first step of an effort to improve the notorious Route 50-Courthouse Road interchange.

VDOT may put additional temporary lane closures in place as needed. Drivers advised to expect delays in the area.

Meanwhile, Arlington County has released a video showing just how dangerous the Courthouse Road interchange is, apparently in an attempt to drum up federal stimulus dollars.

NBC4’s Darcy Spencer reported live from an unnamed Arlington bar on Team USA’s heartbreaking overtime loss against Canada.

We learned that most people were really bummed, minus the one Canadian fan at the bar and the drunk guy waving an American flag in the background.

If you still haven’t gone out and bought your yearly ration of Girl Scout cookies, good news: there are plenty of sales planned around Arlington this weekend. You won’t be able to buy Lemon Chalet Cremes, but seriously, who likes those anyhow?

Here’s where to get your Samoa, Tagalong, Do-Si-Do, etc. fix.

Saturday:

• 8:30 a.m. to noon — Arlington Farmer’s Market (Courthouse Parking Lot)
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Qunicy Street)
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Fort Myer Commissary and Fort Myer Post Exchange
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Giant stores (2901 South Glebe Road, 3450 Washington Blvd, 3115 Lee Highway)
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Safeway stores (5101 Wilson Boulevard, 3713 Lee Highway, 2500 Harrison Street)
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Westover Market (5863 Washington Blvd.)
• 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. — Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Road, Suite 800)
• 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — Meridian at Ballston Common (900 N. Stuart Street)
• 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1201 S. Hayes Street)
• 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Market Common Clarendon (2690 Clarendon Blvd.)
• 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. — Windsor Shirlington Village Apartments (3000 S. Randolph Street)
• 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — Io Piazza Apartments (2727 S. Quincy Street)
• 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — Goodwill Industries (10 South Glebe Road)

Sunday:

• 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. — Giant stores(2901 South Glebe Road, 3450 Washington Blvd, 3115 Lee Highway)
• 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. — Safeway stores (5101 Wilson Boulevard, 3713 Lee Highway, 2500 Harrison Street)
• 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. — Fashion Centre at Pentagon City (1201 S. Hayes Street)
• 12:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Qunicy Street)
• 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Fort Myer Commissary and Fort Myer Post Exchange
• 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. — Safeway Rosslyn (1525 Wilson Boulevard)
• 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. — Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 N. Glebe Road, Suite 800)

An Arlington police officer was sent to the hospital after his parked cruiser was struck by a suspected drunk driver.

The officer was on a traffic detail on the 1700 block of N. Glebe Road at 2:00 a.m. this morning when a car slammed into his cruiser. Luis Alonso Argueta-Amaya, 23, of Woodbridge was arrested a few blocks away and charged with DWI and Felony Hit and Run.

The officer is expected to make a full recovery, according to NBC4.

Throughout Arlington, today’s wicked winds claimed numerous trees, power lines and — in at least two cases — cars.

Among areas where large trees were uprooted were N. Manchester Street at 9th Road, near McKinley Elementary School, and the 1200 block of Harrison St., off of Washington Blvd.

Read the rest of this entry »

U.S. Park Police have cordoned off the section of the Mt. Vernon Trail that runs through the Roosevelt Island parking lot due to a death investigation.

Preliminary reports suggest the victim committed suicide with a firearm. Right now it’s unclear whether anybody who was on the busy stretch of trail at the time witnessed the shooting.

The deceased individual’s identity has not been released.

We’re hearing of a large tree and live power lines down on N. Harrison St. in the Westover section of Arlington, near the intersection with N. Washington St.

Police and fire have the area blocked off and are asking residents on the 1200 block of N. Harrison (near Virginia Hospital Center) to stay in their homes.

We’ve heard at least 10 other wind-related calls (branches, trees and wires down, etc.) since 11:00 a.m.

Currently, just 286 Dominion customers in Arlington are without power, compared to the 7,323 outages in Northern Virginia as a whole.

The Vancouver Olympics are coming to a close on Sunday, which, if you’ve been watching regularly, may feel like an old friend is going on two-year, extended vacation.

But don’t worry, there are still some opportunities to show your Olympic spirit this weekend.

If the U.S. men’s hockey team beats Finland today (on NBC4 at 3:00 p.m.), Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse will screen the gold metal game live on the big screen Sunday afternoon.

Also on Sunday, Evening Star Cafe in Alexandria is hosting on Olympic block party (as seen on our Events page) and oyster roast from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The gold metal hockey game will also be shown. From the event posting:

“Expect a day’s worth of good food, fine wine, craft beers, good friends and neighbors and plenty of fun. There’s no fee to attend – Oysters, Red Apron Hot Dogs, Beer, Wine, Coffee and much more will all be priced individually anywhere from $3 to $12.”

High winds continue to whip across the region. As of 9:45 a.m., there were 863 Dominion customers in Arlington without power.