March 20, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 3:35PM

The Crystal City Wine Shop, at the corner of Army Navy Drive and 12th Street S. on the ground floor of the Lenox Club apartments, quietly opened on Thursday and is operating under reduced hours this week while management hires employees and kicks the business into gear.

For the time being, the wine shop is stocking about a third of the wine and beer selection that will eventually be offered for sale. As they start ramping up sales and restocking, managers hope to offer some 150-200 types of beer and about 800 individual wines. There will be a special emphasis on Virginia wines, we’re told. In addition to wine and beer, the store is selling meats, cheeses, sauces, crackers, potato chips and chocolates.

Events

Disabled Vets Job Fair Coming to Arlington Tomorrow

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 2:35PM

Employers are joining with the Wounded Warrior Project to hold a job fair for disabled veterans in Arlington tomorrow (Wednesday).

The daylong event is being held at the Sheraton National Hotel (900 S. Orme Street), near the intersection of Columbia Pike and Washington Boulevard. About 60 unemployed or underemployed disabled vets will have the opportunity to network with local employers while receiving job placement training.

Around Town

AWLA Warns Against ‘Unsupervised Doggie Doors’

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 1:15PM

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington recently responded to a lost dog call that, they say, is a cautionary tale against “unsupervised doggie doors.”

From the AWLA’s animal control blotter:

News

Arlington Police Chief Rescinds ‘Quota’ Memo

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 11:17AM | Updated March 20, 2012 at 1:43PM

Scott says the memo, which he saw for the first time yesterday after television station WUSA 9 broke the story, was a “mistake” that has “embarrassed” rank and file police officers. A new memo Scott sent out this morning officially rescinds the March 1 memo, entitled “Proactivity Expectations 2012.”

“As a result of a news story, it became clear to me the public believed the memorandum was calling for traffic violation, parking violation and criminal arrest averages that could best be construed as ‘quotas,'” Scott wrote. “The Arlington County Police Department does not support a quota system with regard to enforcement efforts. Our officers are expected to perform their duties with the utmost professionalism and courtesy and even the insinuation that we are supporting a quota system… goes against the core values of this organization.”

News

Security-Cleared Workers Making Nearly $100K on Average

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 11:00AM

According to a leading jobs website for those with security clearances, the average security-cleared employee in the Washington region earned $97,838 in 2011.

ClearanceJobs.com says that figure represents a 4 percent increase from one year ago. By comparison, the national average security-cleared salary was $76,152 in 2011. According to the website’s survey, there was no pay gap between men and women working in the same position.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Accelerated Withdrawal from Afghanistan?

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 10:00AM

“The time to accelerate our withdrawal from Afghanistan has arrived,” said Moran, a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “Afghanistan is not a threat to the United States — Osama bin Laden is dead and there are fewer than 50 al Qaeda operating along the border with Pakistan.”

Moran then referenced a week-long trip he took to the Afghanistan/Pakistan region last month.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 9:05AM

First Day of Spring / Tornado Drill — Today’s the first official day of spring, though it’s hard to think of the warm weather the past couple of weeks as “winter.” Along with the start of spring comes the start of the most active time for tornadoes. With that in mind, Virginia is holding a statewide tornado drill at 9:45 this morning.

County Budget Hearing Tonight — Arlington County is hearing a public hearing on its proposed FY 2013 budget tonight. The hearing is being held in the County Board room at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard and is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. A public hearing on the county’s proposed tax rate changes is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. [Arlington County]

News

WUSA 9: Memo Reveals ACPD Ticket ‘Quota’

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2012 at 12:21AM | Updated March 20, 2012 at 8:49AM

Though the memo says “there is not, nor has there ever been a quota for traffic enforcement,” it goes on to list “monthly proactivity expectations,” complete with a set number of traffic summons and a maximum percentage of warnings.

ARLnow.com obtained a copy of the memo from a police officer who expressed surprise that the department would issue such an obviously controversial directive. The memo itself was authored by two patrol commanders, both captains.