November, 2011 | ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 4:26PM

The Board voted unanimously Tuesday night on budget guidance that seeks to limit growth of county government operations to 1 percent in financial year 2013, while allowing Donnellan to propose an additional .66 percent in spending on projects previously committed to by the Board. Board members asked that Donnellan protect public health and safety, maintain the county’s social safety net, and invest in affordable housing and environmental sustainability.

“In these uncertain economic times, the Board is committed to limiting spending growth, preserving the safety net for our community’s most vulnerable members, and fulfilling previous project plans,” County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman said in a press release. “Our guidance to the County Manager reflects these priorities.”

News

Board Approves Deregulation of Massage Businesses

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 3:13PM

Massage practitioners have been required to obtain county permits to perform massages and to operate a massage parlor in Arlington since the mid-1970s. At that time, massage parlors were often viewed as fronts for prostitution businesses.

That licensing process is now “superfluous,” according to county staff, because the Virginia Board of Nursing has been doing its own licensing for massage therapists since 1997. Plus, officials say, prostitution isn’t nearly as endemic as it once was in the massage industry.

News

Local Deer Population on the Rise

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 1:55PM | Updated November 30, 2011 at 2:20PM

The group says the number of calls they receive regarding deer has risen every year for the past six years. In 2005, for instance, there were 39 deer-related calls, compared to 79 such calls so far this year.

“Calls range from complaints about deer eating plants to injured deer to deer killed by cars,” AWLA employee Rita Naimoli said in an email. “We recently had two bucks crash through a resident’s window. Our officers see the evidence every day of the quickly growing deer population. Like other wild animals deer now thrive in some of the densest human settlements.”

Around Town

New Eatery Worries GPS Is Leading Customers Astray

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 12:34PM

Melody Tavern is located at 3650 S. Glebe Road, near Potomac Yard — but mapping software and GPS systems often interpret the address incorrectly. For instance, Google Maps will steer users to a vacant lot several blocks away.

The restaurant recommends that customers use the address 3600 S. Glebe Road, instead, when using navigation systems. That address seems to work in most cases.

Around Town

Butcher Shop at Westover Market Closing

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 10:45AM

To the dismay of its loyal customers, the butcher shop at Westover Market (5863 Washington Blvd) will be closing this week.

Via an early-morning announcement on Facebook, butcher shop proprietor Bruce Saunders said that he had made the difficult decision to close up shop.

News

Trial Date Set in Diener Murder Case

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 9:45AM

Roger K. Clark III is facing a first degree murder charge in connection with the 2009 slaying of Diener. The 57-year-old Diener was found lying on a Clarendon side street in the early morning of Dec. 29, 2009. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

After a year and a half investigation, police arrested Clark and another man in June. The other suspect has since been released, while Clark faces a jury trial that’s currently scheduled to begin on Jan. 9, 2012.

Traffic

I-66 Traffic Causing Spill-Over Onto Local Streets

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 9:08AM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 1:37PM

Traffic is very slow on the entire length of westbound I-66, from Rosslyn to the Toll Road. The backups are so bad that there are reports that ancillary backups have formed on some main local roads that connect with I-66 on-ramps, like Sycamore Street, Washington Boulevard and Glebe Road. Route 110 is also said to be jammed as a result of the I-66 traffic.

Via Twitter, several I-66 commuters have said that the slow traffic has added 30 or more minutes to their westbound commute.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 30, 2011 at 8:20AM

Board Members Argue for New Taxing Powers — Arlington County Board members aren’t too pleased with the Republican-controlled state legislature’s reluctance to grant new taxing power to localities. County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman called Virginia Republicans “extremists” who want to “wreck government” by not giving localities enough ways to raise revenue. [Sun Gazette]

Arlington Accepts Homeland Security Grants — Arlington will accept nearly $1.35 million in federal homeland security grants, after receiving County Board approval last night. The grants will be used to purchase license plate reading equipment and mobile surveillance trailers, for use by law enforcement agencies throughout the National Capital Region. [Arlington County]

News

ABBIE Award Winners Announced

By ARLnow.com

Published November 29, 2011 at 3:42PM | Updated November 29, 2011 at 4:01PM

Out of the several dozen nominated local businesses and organizations, the following won in their respective categories after voting by the public:

Out of the 15 categories, 10 had the same winner as last year.

Events

Rosslyn Light-Up Ceremony To Be Held Thursday

By ARLnow.com

Published November 29, 2011 at 2:00PM

Rosslyn will hold its annual holiday light-up night on Thursday. The event will feature speeches, music, free food and drink, and a winter clothing collection drive in front of the WJLA Jumbotron at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and N. Lynn Street.

From a press release:

News

Bank Robbery Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

Published November 29, 2011 at 12:17PM | Updated November 29, 2011 at 2:07PM

(Updated at 1:05 p.m.) A bank robbery has been reported in Ballston.

Initial reports suggest a man with a gun held up the Presidential Bank at 901 N. Stuart Street. The bank is less than a block from the Ballston Metro station and a block and a half from Ballston Common Mall.