Look Out Below! Man’s Leg Gets Stuck In Manhole
You may want to watch where you walk after reading this.
In Crystal City this afternoon, a man partially fell into a small utility manhole on the edge of the sidewalk after the plastic manhole cover collapsed.
It happened near the intersection of Crystal Drive and 18th Street.
One of the man’s legs fell about knee-high into the three-foot deep hole. He suffered scratches and some public embarrassment, but was otherwise unhurt.
Police and a public works crew arrived on scene, took some photos, and coned off the broken manhole cover.
The manhole belongs to a private utility company, according to the county Department of Environmental Services. It’s unclear at this time exactly which utility it belongs to.
Arlington, The Birthplace of Radio (Sort Of)
You may not realize it, but Arlington was once home to the biggest, baddest radio towers in the world.
The U.S. Navy Radio Station was built in 1910 on what is now Columbia Pike, overlooking the nation’s capital. The 600-foot high, 100,000 watt towers were monsters, able to transmit signals much farther than your standard AM or FM broadcast today.
The Navy Radio Station was the place where the term “radio” was first used to describe wireless voice transmissions. The towers also relayed the first successful overseas radio telephone message.
But perhaps the most dubious distinction came in 1916, when the towers were used to relay the results of the U.S. presidential election overseas. The transmission was heard around the world. Unfortunately, as this clip from a documentary celebrating Columbia Pike’s bicentennial explains, they got one important detail wrong.
Volunteer Opp: Help Older Arlingtonians
The Arlington Commission on Aging and the Commission on Long-Term Residences need volunteers of all ages to help speak out for the needs of Arlington’s older residents. It’s an opportunity to exercise your communication skills while representing those who live in nursing homes, assisted living, independent senior residences and seniors living at home. Volunteers must be Arlington residents.
If you’re interested in helping out, call Carolyn Ferguson at 703-228-1700 or email arlaaa@arlingtonva.us.
Wylie Wagg to the Rescue for a.k.a. spot Loyalists
Last month came the sad news for local pet owners: a.k.a. spot (2509 North Franklin Road) was closing. The off-the-beaten-path Clarendon pet store had a loyal following that immediately began mourning the loss of a true Arlington original.
The circumstances were even more somber. Lucy McCausland, the owner of a.k.a. spot, was moving to Florida to be closer to her family following the passing of her mother. After some soul-searching, she had decided that traveling back and forth between Florida and Arlington would not be feasible.
But last night McCausland made the bittersweet announcement. While a.k.a. spot was closing, its legacy of promoting pet wellness would be preserved.
Thanks to the intervention of one of a.k.a. spot’s vendors, another local pet retailer, Wylie Wagg, will take the store over, possibly as soon as mid-May.
In an email, Wylie Wagg co-owner Laura Clark said she and her husband, Larry, are excited that Clarendon will now be the location for their fourth store.
We feel very, very fortunate to be able to continue offering the kind of great service and products that Spot has offered for years. We were drawn to the opportunity because we so deeply respect what Spot has done for the community. Following Spot’s success and earning the trust and loyalty of their customers will be a very tall order and we’re committed to making sure that we honor the high standards they have set.
Additionally, we are dedicated to supporting animal rescue and will continue Spot’s tradition of working with adoption groups.
On a personal note, I used to live in Clarendon and absolutely loved being part of the neighborhood. When I had to leave because of a job relocation, it was very sad for me. I’m so happy that we’re opening Wylie Wagg in one of my very favorite places! This is so exciting for us!
New Fitness Center Opening in Clarendon This Weekend
A new kind of fitness center will be opening its doors on Saturday. The Clarendon Fitness Collective is “a total change from the mega gyms in the area,” says spokesperson Sandra Rodriguez.
This will the first mid-Atlantic location for the Brooklyn, New York-based Fitness Collective, which some have described as “a gym for people who don’t like going to gyms.”
“Clarendon Fitness Collective is a specialized fitness center that combines strength, cardio, flexibility, and nutrition into a program specialized for each individual,” Rodriguez said
There will be free classes, massages, snacks and beverages for Saturday’s grand opening.
The press release announcing the Collective’s arrival, after the jump.
Photo via Facebook.
Crime Report: Grand Theft Auto Edition
The past week saw three people — the oldest of whom was 25 — arrested for alleged crimes that are straight out of the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” Despite the fact that the other two suspects are mere kids, which is its own special brand of audacity, the chutzpah award goes to the guy who police say got drunk, stole a Dominion Power utility truck, crashed it and tried to flee the scene.
GRAND LARCENY AUTO/HIT AND RUN-ARREST 04/07/10, 5200 block of N. 12th Street. On April 7 at 8 pm, a teenage suspect stole a vehicle and was then involved in a minor traffic accident. Officers apprehended the suspect and he was detained.
GRAND LARCENY AUTO-ARREST 04/09/10, I-395 South at Boundary Channel Drive. On April 9 at 8 pm, a juvenile male was found driving a stolen vehicle. He was detained.
GRAND LARCENY AUTO-ARREST 04/10/10, 700 block of N. Randolph Street. On April 10 at 3:20 am, a man was seen stealing a power truck, crashing it, and then fleeing the scene. Police located the suspect nearby. David Catalano, 25, of Fairfax, was charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Grand Larceny of an Automobile, and Hit and Run. He was held on a $7,500 bond.
The rest of this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report, after the jump.
