Here We Go Again: Snoverkill Eve In Photos
We know the drill by now. As the latest snow storm to blanket the Washington area arrived tonight, the plows were already out. The roadways were less busy. Pedestrians were wearing boots and heavy coats. And the grocery stores that hadn’t closed early were already picked clean of many items.
That’s right, we’re getting pretty good at this. More photos, after the jump.
Courthouse Road Shut Down at Route 50
It’s getting really bad out there.
From scanner reports: Courthouse Road is an “ice rink” between the ramp from Route 50 and 13th St N. Police are shutting it down.
Weekend Rosslyn Metro Closure, Emergency Drill Postponed
In a stark reversal of a recent trend, the snow has caused something that was supposed to be closed to instead remain open.
The Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery Metro stations were supposed to be closed all weekend due to track work and an emergency exercise. Instead, the exercise and the maintenance have been postponed indefinitely, and both stations will be open throughout President’s Day Weekend.
The emergency exercise was to involve 150 Arlington police officers and firefighters. It would have simulated a terrorist bombing of a Metrorail train in the tunnel between the Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom Metro stations.
“Priority number one this week is to dig out from this record snowfall and resume operations on Metrobus, Metrorail and MetroAccess,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Acting Deputy General Manager of Operations, in a press release. “With additional snow in the forecast… we must focus all of our efforts on safe operations and continuing to help get people where they need to go.”
Arlington Schools Closed Again Wednesday
Arlington County schools are closed again on Wednesday. “Extracurricular activities, interscholastic contests, team practices, field trips, adult and community education classes, and recreation programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled,” according to the Arlington Public Schools web site. Pools and school offices will also be closed. Here’s part of an email sent to parents by superintendent Patrick K. Murphy:
Dear Parents:
By now, I am sure that every parent in Arlington is wishing this winter weather cycle would end so we could just get our kids back in the classroom learning. All of us at APS join you in those thoughts – teaching children is much more rewarding than shoveling snow!
Despite all of those wishes and the amazingly dedicated work of our APS and County crews, the weather continues to impede our efforts. Although we have announced that we will be closed tomorrow, for now no decisions have been made about the remainder of the week. Until we see the actual impact of the approaching storm, we can’t make a decision about school operations for Thursday and Friday, but we need to be prepared for the possibility of an extended disruption of school.
Neighborhood Plowing Put on Hold as Storm Arrives
As the first wet flakes of the area’s latest snow storm begin falling, Arlington County is warning that “efforts to clear neighborhood roads will be set back, possibly by days.”
“Snoverkill,” as the storm is now being called, will dump another 7-14 inches of sleet and snow on the region, according to the National Weather Service. But the real danger may be the wind.
The Capital Weather Gang is warning of gusts up to 50 miles per hour tomorrow. Such strong winds could easily knock down scores of snow-laden trees and power lines throughout the region.
Weary Arlington County snow removal teams are halting their effort to treat neighborhood streets and will now focus on keeping main roadways clear, according to an email from the county to local civic associations.
If you’re planning on driving tonight or tomorrow, remember your snow plow etiquette.
Lost Dog Café Becoming Lost Dog Empire?
What started out 25 years ago as a small neighborhood eatery in North Arlington is blossoming into a full-fledged local chain.
Lost Dog Café, which last year added a South Arlington location on Columbia Pike, is close to signing a lease for a storefront on Colshire Drive in McLean. And they’re not stopping there.
Lost Dog’s expansion is being undertaken not by the owners of the original restaurant, but by four friends who used to work there as teenagers.
Wes Clough, Mike Danner, Jim Barnes and Mike Barnes are all graduates of Yorktown High School. Their devotion to Lost Dog Café started at age 16, when they started working there as drivers.
That dedication carried over through college, office jobs and marriages, and came full circle when Lost Dog owners Pam McAlwee and Ross Underwood gave their blessing for the friends to start the restaurant’s first franchise.
The Columbia Pike location, across the street from Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse, opened in May 2009. McAlwee and Underwood donated the franchise fee to their charity, the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation.
The new venture has been a success, winning awards and gaining customers at a pace well exceeding the friends’ expectations. Even this past weekend, during the height of Snowmageddon, the restaurant was packed.
Part of the success, says co-owner Jim Barnes, can be attributed to Lost Dog’s focus on serving customers. During the snow storm, Barnes personally delivered phone-in orders in his Jeep Wrangler.
Volunteer Opp: Bring Extra Food to the Winter Shelter
Arlington’s Emergency Winter Shelter has been helping homeless individuals weather this year’s brutal winter storms. Now the folks running the shelter need our help. A-SPAN, the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, announced on Facebook this morning that the shelter is running low on food, specifically cereal, snacks, bread and jelly.
If you have any to spare, call the shelter at 703-228-7395.
Aerial Snow Photos from U.S. Park Police
U.S. Park Police have released a series of beautiful photos showing the aftermath of this weekend’s snow storm. The photos were taken by Rescue Technician/Paramedic Sergeant Klebaner while on-board Park Police Helicopter Eagle 1 on Sunday. The chopper was making surveillance runs over some of the harder-to-get areas patrolled by the Park Police.
Among the photos are views of Reagan National Airport and Arlington National Cemetery.
“These People Are Tough, Real Tough”
The county has released a new video introducing us to the people behind the plows. Here’s what we learned:
- Department of Environmental Services director Bob Griffith has now worked for 17 straight days
- Snow removal crews are becoming fatigued after several straight days of working 12-hour shifts
- Throwing snow balls at snow plows is not cool
- There are insufferable jerks who refuse to get out of the way of snow plows
- Don’t call the county’s snow removal hotline to request special service because you’re throwing a party
- Email your snow complaints, requests and comments to snow@arlingtonva.us
Watch the video for yourself, after the jump.
