Rain Brings More Accidents on Arlington Roads
This crash near Pentagon City mall, at the intersection of Hayes and 15th Streets, is just one of numerous accidents around Arlington County today.
While most of the accidents were minor, they serve as a reminder of how much more careful drivers should be on rainy days, especially when you add fallen leaves into the equation.
At least two people from this accident were taken to the hospital with injuries.
Police Release Surveillance Images From August Sex Assault
Arlington police have released surveillance images of a man suspected in a robbery, abduction and sexual assault in South Arlington.
Police say the man forced his way into a hotel room and restrained two women: a mother and daughter who were visiting from Canada. He sexually assaulted the daughter, who was in her 50s, and then stole electronics and cash as he left.
“The suspect is described as an African American male approximately 40 years old, 5’8″ and 180 lbs,” police said in a statement. “He appeared unshaven and was wearing a grey t-shirt with a design on it, tan cargo shorts, white shoes and a black baseball cap.”
The release of the images comes almost three months after the crime, which occurred on Aug. 14 at the Best Western hotel on South Glebe Road.
It took a while for detectives to track down the victims in Canada and make a positive identification on the suspect, police spokesperson Det. Crystal Nosal told ARLnow.com.
See additional surveillance photos here.
The Summer’s Hot Stories on a Cold Day
To help you get through this cold, rainy November day, we thought it might be a good time to go through the archives and find some of the “hottest” stories of the summer.
These are not necessarily the most important stories — rather, they’re just intended to get your mind off the cold and on to something from those hot, humid, hazy days of summer.
Solar Crepes Cart Launches in Ballston
Rosslyn Events Canceled Due to Heat
A Look Inside the New Fireworks Pizza in Courthouse
Obama and Medvedev Visit Ray’s Hell Burger
Budget Cuts Keep Water Park Close on Scorching Day
Flames Engulf Minivan in Costco Parking Lot
Del. David Englin Keeping Things Hot
Group Offering Free Solar Water Heater Installation
Bike Commuting in the Heat and Other Hot Weather Tips
Columbia Pike Blues Fest Photos
Summer Thunderstorm Storm Rolls Through Arlington
Washington-Lee Grad Crowned Miss Virginia
Local Eco Heartthrob Spearheading Cleanup Efforts in the Gulf
As Governor Makes HOT Lanes Push, Companies Donate to GOP
Photos from Clarendon Cup Men’s Pro Race
Small Vintage Plane Flips Over at Reagan National
County Employee Targets Signs on Struggling Fillmore Street
Flickr pool photo (top) by philliefan99
A BRAC Move, One of Many, Moves Forward
Earlier this week, the military broke ground on a new building in Fort Belvoir.
The $19.6 million, 88,000 square foot facility will house the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR), which is currently housed in leased office space in Crystal City.
Once the new facility is completed, the office and its 400 employees will move out of Crystal City and in to Fort Belvoir.
It’s just one of dozens of such moves that will be taking place over the next 10 months as the result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005. A few BRAC moves have already taken place, but most of the 17,000 BRAC-affected workers in Arlington are still here.
“This event marks a significant milestone in the BRAC timeline and journey,” said Joyce Morrow, an assistant to the Secretary of the Army, at the groundbreaking.
By law, the BRAC moves must be complete by Sept. 15, 2011. That will mean a lot of people leaving Arlington — particularly Crystal City — next year.
“There are 317 days left until the BRAC deadline when all of the [OCAR] personnel must be here at Fort Belvoir,” said Col. John Stycula, an official at Fort Belvoir. “With that said, let’s get digging.”
Photo by Marc Barnes/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
“Fag Life” Comedy Show Coming to Artisphere
How do you deal with a homophobe like Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church. How do you cope with the raw hatred of someone whose minions hold signs that say “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers”?
For one 25-year-old New Yorker, the solution is comedy.
Brent Sullivan will be bringing his unique one-man comedy show, Brent Sullivan’s Fag Life: A Conversation with Fred Phelps, to Artisphere this weekend.
The show is described as an “innovative approach to revealing bigotry and hatred in America by having a discussion with a fanatic.”
“The show is a celebration of gay culture, while very critical of certain aspects of the LGBT community that are outdated, stereotypical and offensive,” a press release says. Sullivan’s comedy is “a straight friendly approach to being gay… without the stereotypical attitude that plagues most gay comedians.”
Though Sullivan is alone on stage, he’s joined in spirit by Phelps, whose whose zany sound bites are played intermittently for comedic effect and as a way to introduce new topics of conversation for Sullivan. (See a video clip here)
The show will be performed at the Dome theater at Artisphere at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $20.
Foreign Visitors Flock to Arlington for Elections
Visitors from about a dozen countries came to Arlington on Tuesday to witness democracy in action.
As it does nearly every election day, Arlington played host to foreign media outlets and to foreign officials interested in learning more about the American election process.
Television news crews from France, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, China, Australia and the UK all brought cameras to Arlington polling places throughout the course of the day.
The State Department and several NGOs also hosted visitors in Arlington. Observers from Spain, Bulgaria, Iraq, Pakistan and elsewhere came to learn about “how we run democracy in the U.S.”
Despite a large number of requests this year, county Registrar Linda Lindberg says there were even more requests from foreign visitors during the 2008 presidential election.
She said that Arlington’s proximity to D.C. is what makes it an attractive location. The county is not chosen for any specific reason — it’s simply used as an example of what takes place in the country as a whole.
The television crews are “just looking for background shots, B-roll shots,” Lindberg said.
She noted that the county tries to plan foreign visits to polling places in a way that ensures voters aren’t disturbed.
“They have to keep them in small groups so they don’t disrupt the election.”
Google Leads Voters Astray
If you used Google to tell you where to vote on Thursday, it may have given you bad advice.
Virginia Square resident Charlie Fitzpatick tells Fast Company magazine that a Google service intended to assist voters directed him to a location in Courthouse, almost a mile away from where he was supposed to be voting.
A text message service intended to provide polling place information also provided misinformation on election day, Fast Company reports.
Politico has the story, as well.
Morning Notes
Aurora Hills Roof Replacement — The Aurora Hills library and senior center is getting a new roof. The $240,000 project is set to begin on Thursday, Nov. 18. It will take about two months to complete, but the facilities will remain open — work will be done performed in the morning. More from the Library Blog.
Emergency Winter Shelter is Open — Arlington’s emergency winter shelter has opened for those in need of warmth, food and a roof over their head. The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network is seeking volunteers 18 years or older to work at the shelter, at 2049 North 15th Street in Courthouse. More from ASPAN.
Civil War “Living History” Event in North Arlington — Civil War buffs will be flocking to Fort Ethan Allen Park (3829 North Stafford Street) on Saturday, for an event featuring reenactments and historical interpretations. Attendees will also enjoy marching reenactments, a Civil War medical exhibit, a women’s history exhibit, and activities for kids. The event is happening from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More from Arlington County Parks.
