Arlington to Hold Event for National Adoption Day
The county is holding its own Arlington Adoption Day to celebrate National Adoption Day and Adoption Awareness Month.
On Saturday morning, 11 children ranging in age from 2 to 16 will be legally adopted at the Arlington County Courthouse. The adoption ceremonies will be presided over by Arlington County Circuit Court Judge James F. Almand, with adoptive parents, adoption advocates and social service represents on hand for the joyous moments.
Last year there were 4,800 adoptions finalized nationwide as part of National Adoption Day.
T-Minus Two Weeks to Shirlington Tree Lighting
Update on 11/28/11 – This event has been rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1.
Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. Case in point: Shirlington’s 9th annual holiday tree-lighting is only two weeks away.
The ‘Light Up the Village‘ event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29. In addition to the tree lighting, which will take place at 6:30 p.m., there will also be live music, strolling entertainment, local merchant specials, photos with Santa (inside the UPS Store), horse and carriage rides (cost: a canned food donation to the Arlington Food Assistance Center), face painting, balloon twisting and more.
Shirlington also plans to get festive with two Pet Photos with Santa events. Pet owners can try to get their four-legged friends to pose with Ol’ Saint Nick from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 15. The photo events are taking place inside Dogma Bakery (2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive). The store requests a $10 donation to benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
Photo courtesy The Village at Shirlington
Police Deliver Pizza, Plaques to Good Samaritans
A trio of Good Samaritans were rewarded for their heroic deeds with a fresh pizza delivered by the Arlington County Police Department.
Police officers dropped off the pizza and some commemorative plaques on Friday night as a way to say ‘thank you’ to three men who helped stop a late night attack in Ashton Heights over the summer.
According to police, two of the men were sitting out on their porch, waiting for a pizza delivery around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, when they heard a woman scream. The woman, police say, was knocked to the ground by a 25-year-old man after repeatedly rebuffing his unwanted advances. Upon hearing the scream, the men chased down the suspect and held him until police arrived. The third man rushed to the victim to comfort her while awaiting police.
The suspect, Fidencio Gonzalez-Acetun, was arrested and charged with abduction. He’s currently awaiting trial.
During the course of their heroism, the men missed their pizza delivery. As a good-humored recognition of their small sacrifice, police delivered a hot, fresh pizza along with the plaques on Friday.
The men told NBC4 that the gesture “means a lot” to them.
Photo courtesy Arlington County Police Department
More Live Entertainment Coming to Clarendon?
Bands, karaoke, DJs and other forms of live entertainment may soon be coming to two Clarendon restaurants.
Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Blvd) and Mexicali Blues (2933 Wilson Blvd) both have live entertainment permit applications that are scheduled to be considered by the County Board this weekend. County staff has recommended that both applications be approved.
Mad Rose Tavern is asking for permission to host bands and karaoke between 9:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and between 9:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday. The restaurant is also asking for permission to erect an additional street-facing sign — but the Board is expected to defer that request until its December meeting.
Mexicali Blue is similarly asking for permission to host bands, karaoke and DJs. Since the restaurant is located on the corner of a residential street, however, its managers have agreed to additional time restrictions. Mexicali is asking for amplified music between 10:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturday, and acoustic music from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. seven days a week.
While staff is recommending that Mexicali’s request be approved, it’s not without a bit of controversy. The Clarendon-Courthouse Civic Association complained in an email to the county that representatives from the restaurant declined to meet with the civic association. CCCA also expressed concern about the proposed live entertainment hours — ultimately expressing opposition to the permit request.
Numerous Garfield Street neighbors, however, signed on to a petition in support of the request.
Mexicali Blues held a live entertainment permit from 2003 to 2010, but it was discontinued due to lack of use. The permit restricted live entertainment to three nights per week, for no more than two hours at a time, and limited it to “primarily acoustic” music.
“The applicant’s current request would expand the intensity of live entertainment at the site by allowing acoustic music during ‘happy hour’ on weekdays, and by allowing amplified music on weekends for slightly longer than two hours,” county staff noted. “Staff believes that with the proposed conditions, there will be no undue impact to adjacent neighborhoods. Staff is recommending a short adadministrative review to monitor the operation of live entertainment.”
ACPD Releases Safety Tips for Joggers, Pedestrians
With the late autumn days getting darker earlier, the Arlington County Police Department is reminding residents to stay vigilant when walking or jogging in the county.
While some have expressed concern over recent attacks on female joggers, the police department insists that “there has not been an increase in crimes against pedestrians.” Nonetheless, ACPD is advising joggers and pedestrians to follow the following safety tips.
- Run with others if possible
- Always be aware of your surroundings. Know what route you are traveling, especially if walking or running during the dark
- Do not listen to music or talk on the phone while jogging, you cannot hear other people approach you.
- Carry a cell phone with you. If you are assaulted, calling police immediately increases the chance the suspect will be apprehended.
- Listen to your instincts. If a passerby makes you feel uncomfortable, walk or run to a well-lit area.
“If anyone has been the victim of an assault while walking or jogging, and has not reported it, please call the Police Department Non-Emergency line at (703) 558-2222,” the department said in a press release.
Murray Assails Moran on Insider Trading Allegations
Rep. Jim Moran (D) is among the congresspeople who got a not-so-flattering mention in a new book called Throw Them All Out, which purports to show a pattern of insider trading among our country’s lawmakers.
According to the book, and a Newsweek article, Moran’s stockbrokers sold shares in 90 companies following a confidential briefing Moran attended at the outset of the 2008 financial crisis. The briefing, featuring Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, outlined the breadth of the impending financial doom that gripped the country.
The newly re-formed campaign of Republican Patrick Murray, who’s hoping to unseat Moran in 2012, issued a statement about the allegations late last night.
Continuing his disgraceful pattern of actions, Jim Moran must be held accountable for his recently reported insider trading. It’s rich for a sitting Member of Congress to demagogue not just the American financial sector, but free market principles as a whole, while engaging in unethical trading. Our Representatives in Washington are trusted with sensitive information to better develop sound fiscal policies, not to protect one’s financial portfolio. Moran’s ability to dump shares in 90 companies immediately after a classified briefing by Ben Bernanke on possible economic downturn is unethical and immoral. Jim Moran finally must go.
America is paying the price for actions like Moran’s on a national scale. We cannot afford a political class that plays by different rules. I am running for Congress as an extension of my Oath to serve this nation; not to line my pockets in Washington while crying injustice in Northern Virginia.
Morning Notes
Ben Affleck Flick Filming in N. Arlington? — Local residents are telling us that ‘Argo,’ a new Ben Affleck-directed political thriller, is currently in production in the area near Overlee pool. [Forums]
New Restaurant Coming to Shirlington — A new Mediterranean restaurant called Medi is coming to Shirlington. The eatery will offer “uniquely blended flavors, healthy ingredients, and great value,” according to The Village at Shirlington Facebook page. [Shirlington Village Blog]
County Board Candidate Sims Launches Website — County Board candidate Terron Sims II has launched a new campaign website. Sims is one of three Democratic candidates who have formally announced for the upcoming special election to replace state Senator-elect Barbara Favola. The West Point grad and Iraq war veteran has already won support and endorsements from County Treasurer Frank O’Leary and Rep. Jim Moran. [Sims for Arlington]
County Scales Back Legislative Agenda — With Republicans firmly in control in Richmond, Arlington County may be abandoning hope of getting its quarter percent hotel taxing authority restored any time soon. [Sun Gazette]
Signs Biting the Dust in the Rosslyn Area — One local blogger has taken note of at least two recent incidents where signs have apparently been knocked down by out-of-control cars in the Rosslyn area. [Ode Street Tribune]
New Mobile Site Launched
(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) Smartphone users who want a browsing experience optimized for their touchscreen device finally have a full-featured mobile option when reading ARLnow.com on the go.
ARLnow.com has a new mobile website this morning, and it can currently be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the page on your mobile browser and selecting “Switch to Mobile Version.” You can switch back to the full website, if you like, by scrolling to the bottom of the mobile site and selecting “off” under “Mobile Theme.”
As part of the transition to the new mobile site, it was necessary to turn off image uploading in the comments section. We regret that there’s currently no way to allow comment images and the mobile website to co-exist. Images can still be uploaded to our Forums.
ARLnow.com’s legacy mobile site, meanwhile, is still accessible at http://m.arlnow.com. Users of non-touch screen phones, like certain Blackberries, should continue to use the legacy site.
As always, we welcome your feedback.
