November 8, 2011 | ARLnow.com

Dems Sweep Arlington Races

Published November 8, 2011 at 9:47PM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:49PM

(Updated at 2:05 a.m.) It was a joyous election night for local Democrats, who are claiming victory in all 14 races run in Arlington.

Democrat Barbara Favola has won a decisive victory over Republican businesswoman Caren Merrick in the race for state Senate in the 31st District — one of the most closely-watched races in Northern Virginia. With all precincts reporting, Favola had 58 percent of the vote to Merrick’s 42 percent. Favola, who has spent 14 years on the Arlington County Board, was ebullient over the hard-fought win.

News

Election Turnout Light, Officials Say

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 3:59PM

Arlington County Registrar Linda Lindberg says she’s expecting a roughly 30 percent active voter turnout rate by the time polls close at 7:00 p.m. That would be only slightly higher than the past two comparable off-year elections: 26 percent turnout in 2007 and 29 percent turnout in 2003.

“It’s been pretty slow,” Lindberg said over the phone this afternoon. “It’s an improvement over 2007, but… it’s pretty average.”

Around Town

Cops, Delegate Shave for Childhood Cancer Research

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 2:17PM

Hope, who was scheduled to speak at the Sunday afternoon event, surprised the audience when he revealed that he was going to have his meticulously-maintained coif shaved off to help raise money and awareness.

Be Brave and Shave is the signature event of Heroes Against Childhood Cancer, which raises money for cancer research at Children’s National Medical Center. Since its founding in 2009, Be Brave and Shave events have raised some $1.5 million for the cancer programs at Children’s, making it possible for the hospital to hire its first professor of oncology. The organization is hoping to raise enough money to hire another pediatric cancer researcher in the near future.

News

Police Looking For Footbridge Flasher

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 1:04PM

Arlington County Police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a teenage boy on a bike path near I-66 and the W&OD trail over the weekend.

The crime happened around dusk on Sunday. The boy’s stepmother sent the following warning out to other local moms on an email listserv following the incident.

News

New Signs Discourage Smoking in County Parks

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 11:16AM | Updated November 10, 2011 at 10:26AM

But while many government signs convey a law — a ‘no littering’ sign, for instance — the new signs have the word “Please” above “No [Smoking],” since Arlington doesn’t actually have the authority to outlaw smoking in parks. Rather than a ban, Arlington is simply asking smokers to voluntarily refrain from smoking within 50 feet of playgrounds, courts, ball fields, pavilions, recreation areas and other “areas of congregation.”

“To the extent possible, it is important for the County to take action to prevent park patrons’ exposure to this dangerous health hazard,” Arlington County explains on its website. “Children may be especially vulnerable, which is why the Smoke-Free Parks Initiative is specifically targeting areas where children congregate.”

Around Town

Rock ’em Sock ’em Bike Commute

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 10:35AM

A local bike commuter decided to spice up his ride to work by bringing along his favorite plastic robot boxing game.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Lower Residential Speed Limits?

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 9:36AM

The plan would make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, while adding only a minute or two of travel time to most trips, advocates say.

Critics say such low speeds would be hard for motorists to maintain, would add to the District’s traffic woes and could actually increase incidents of aggressive driving and road rage.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2011 at 8:36AM

Problems at PBS NewsHour — The PBS NewsHour is facing serious challenges. The hour-long news program, which is produced at the WETA facilities in Shirlington, has been shedding staff and viewers. A number of top news and business personnel have left recently, while viewership is down 11 percent year-over-year. Meanwhile, a top sponsor is pulling out at the end of the year, leaving a $2 million hole in the NewsHour’s budget. [New York Times]

Elementary School Goes Solar — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at Glebe Elementary School yesterday to mark the installation of a 1.1 kilowatt solar panel system. The solar panels will not only generate enough clean energy to power one classroom, but will also serve as an educational tool. Students, parents and teachers will be able to monitor the system’s electricity output using any web-enabled device or smartphone. [Arlington Public Schools]