NWS Issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning
(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) The National Weather Service has upgraded the previous storm watch to a warning. The warning is now effect until 5:45 p.m.
This is a strong storm that has the potential to bring damaging winds of 60 miles per hour and large hail.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA… CENTRAL ARLINGTON COUNTY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA… WESTERN PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND…
* UNTIL 545 PM EDT
* AT 500 PM EDT… A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS DETECTED NEAR HOWARD UNIVERSITY… AND WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.
* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY… US CAPITOL… NATIONALS PARK… RFK STADIUM… ANACOSTIA… KENILWORTH… CORAL HILLS… SEAT PLEASANT…
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH… MOVE INDOORS TO A STURDY BUILDING AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO SO… REPORT SEVERE WEATHER TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
Police: Newspaper Carrier Carjacked at Gunpoint
(Updated at 7:15 p.m.) Police say a newspaper carrier was carjacked early this morning (Wednesday) in the 2300 block of S. Joyce Street, between the Aurora Highlands and Arlington Ridge neighborhoods.
Around 4:30 a.m., the 73-year-old woman was doing her rounds of paper delivery and had just exited the car to place a paper on a customer’s doorstep. According to police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, two men then drove up in a van next to her, and one said “give me the car.”
Police say both of the subjects, one of whom had a gun, pushed the woman to the ground. At that point, one of the men reportedly jumped into the woman’s car and threw her dog out of the vehicle, before driving off. The other suspect got back into the van and drove off.
Sternbeck said the woman yelled “fire” hoping someone would hear and help her. The resident at the house she was in front of came outside to assist, and they called police together.
According to police, the victim said she never leaves her car except at this one residence.
A tipster tells us the woman is a carrier for The Washington Post. The carrier and her dog, named Sparkle, were both shaken up but are otherwise fine, the tipster said. She didn’t report any injuries and denied medical attention.
Sternbeck said the woman describes both suspects as black men, about 5’9″, medium build, wearing dark sweaters and ski masks. The victim’s car was a beige Toyota Corolla, but there was no additional information provided regarding the suspects’ van. Anyone with information about the crime or the suspects is urged to call the police non-emergency number at 703-558-2222.
A Washington Post spokeswoman declined to comment about the incident.
Arlington Catering Company Uses Aquaponics to Farm Fish
An Arlington catering company is boasting about being the first in the D.C. metro to use a non-traditional technology — aquaponics, a combination of hydroponics and aquaculture — to farm its own fish.
Main Event Caterers (3870 S. Four Mile Run Drive) recently began using the urban farming technique. Aquaponics is the practice of using a closed-loop ecological system to grow both fish and plants in one body of water. Water circulates through fish tanks, moves through filters and plant beds, then heads back to the fish tanks.
The catering company says the process benefits the business as well as the environment.
“Less water and fertilizer use, the ability to grow a large volume of crops in a small space, and the value of our clients knowing exactly where their food comes from are just a few of the benefits we’ve experienced,” said Joël Thévoz, CEO of Main Event Caterers.
Main Event Caterers has a history of operating a green business. In addition to the aquaponic farming, it uses compostable materials, wind and solar powered electricity and rain water reclamation.
“Our commitment to sustainable initiatives runs deep,” said Nancy Goodman, Co-Founder of Main Event Caterers. “Everything we do within our daily operations is motivated by our dedication to protect and preserve the environment while providing an entirely green experience to our clients.”
EXCLUSIVE: Bystanders Take Down Would-Be Thieves on Metro
(Updated at 3:05 p.m.) A group of bystanders helped out a Metro rider last night (Tuesday) by tracking down and detaining three men who allegedly tried stealing a woman’s cell phone.
Springfield resident Jonathan Jackson says he was riding the Blue Line home around 7:00 p.m., when he noticed a man acting suspiciously. When the doors opened at Arlington Cemetery, the situation grew weirder.
“All of a sudden we saw this guy weaving in and out of the train cars,” Jackson said. “He ran into our car and then ran into the next car down.”
Just as the chimes were ringing for the doors to close, Jackson says a woman ran out of the train yelling that the man had stolen her phone. That’s when Jackson ran off the train and onto the platform trying to find the accused thief. He saw that farther down the platform, several people had tackled the man.
“At that point, I thought the best thing I can do is call the cops,” said Jackson.
Jackson called 911 while others detained the alleged thief.
“It really was a team effort, but nobody even knew each other,” said Jackson.
Jackson says for a while, two other men, who appeared to be the alleged thief’s friends, tried freeing him while he was being held on the ground. After a few minutes, however, they took off. Jackson believes bystanders followed the friends and pointed them out to police, because they were detained along with the accused thief.
Metro Transit Police were the arresting officers, and they were assisted by Arlington County Police. According to WMATA spokesman Dan Stessel, the accused thief is 17 -years-old, and has been charged with robbery. Police talked to the other two people who were detained because they matched witness descriptions, but both were released.
“We’ve had a few snatch robbery events this year where witnesses or victims chased after the criminal,” Stessel said. “But it’s not something we encourage because of the potential of injury. It’s always best to let the property go. This one has a happy ending, we’re certainly happy for that.”
Jackson believes the train driver must have seen what was going on, because he kept the doors open while bystanders ran down the platform to catch the alleged thief. The train reportedly ended up holding at the station for about 10 minutes, until police arrived and were able to make arrests.
Although he has heard of people having their electronic devices stolen on the Metro, Jackson said it was far different to witness it. While he obviously can’t say for certain, he said it didn’t seem like this was a one time incident.
“It seemed like it was pretty well coordinated,” Jackson said. “But they just didn’t anticipate a group of people stepping in.”
There are no reports of injuries from the incident.
NWS Issues Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Heat Advisory
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Arlington and the surrounding region through 9:00 tonight.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service say scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and evening may produce damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.
The area is also under a heat advisory. From NWS:
…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING…
* HEAT INDEX VALUES…AROUND 105 DEGREES.
* MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES…AROUND 100 IN THE CITIES…UPPER 90S ELSEWHERE EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK ON ELDERLY RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE.
NEVER LEAVE SMALL CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES. TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAN RAPIDLY CLIMB TO 130 DEGREES.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK…THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY – CALL 9 1 1.
Priest Deported from Syria to Speak in Arlington
A priest who was recently expelled from Syria for criticizing that country’s violence against its people will be speaking in Arlington next week.
Father Paolo Dall’Oglio is an Italian Jesuit priest who had lived in Syria for 30 years, but was deported last month. He was reportedly targeted because he spoke out against the Syrian government’s crackdown on the widespread public uprising.
“The very fact that I am for change, for democracy, for human rights and dignity, this is very provocative,” said Father Paolo after his expulsion was ordered.
While living in Syria, Father Paolo had helped to restore the 1,000 year old Mar Musa Monastery and to establish it as a center for interfaith dialog and Muslim-Christian understanding.
Father Paolo will speak at Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (5010 Little Falls Road) on Monday, July 23, at 7:00 p.m. He will highlight his experiences while living in Syria, current conditions in that country and the circumstances surrounding his deportation. Everyone is welcome to attend.
BREAKING NEWS — Pedestrian Struck by Taxi in Ballston
Update at 3:35 p.m. on 7/19/12 — The victim has died, according to police.
Investigators are on the scene of a critical pedestrian accident in Ballston.
The accident happened around 9:45 a.m. at the intersection of Glebe Road and N. Carlin Springs Road. An elderly female pedestrian was in the crosswalk, crossing Carlin Springs across from Ballston Common Mall, when she was struck by an Arlington Yellow Cab, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
The woman’s injuries are thought to be life-threatening.
A neighbor told ARLnow.com that the pedestrian was a resident of The Carlin retirement home, one block away from the scene.
A number of closures were in place while investigators took photos and interviewed witnesses. All southbound lanes of Glebe Road were blocked at Wilson Boulevard. Carlin Springs Road was shut down at N. Thomas Street. Both road reopened at 11:05 a.m.
Sternbeck said the driver of the cab remained on scene and cooperated with police. No word yet on any charges against the driver.
Warning: Readers might find one of the photos below disturbing.
TRAFFIC ALERT — Glebe Road Closed at Chain Bridge
Glebe Road is being shut down in both directions between Chain Bridge Road and Military Road due to a downed tree.
County crews are en route to remove the tree, which is said to be down across the entire road.
Drivers should expect significant traffic impacts.
House Fire Near Four Mile Run Drive
Firefighters battled a basement fire in a duplex near Four Mile Run Drive this morning.
The fire was reported at 8:25 a.m. near the intersection of S. Oakland Street and the Four Mile Run access road. Firefighters from Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County responded to the scene and were able to extinguish the fire within 20 minutes.
There was initially reported to be a person trapped in the burning house, but everybody ended up making it out safely. One occupant, described by a relative as a rising freshman at Wakefield High School, was taken to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
No word yet on the cause of the fire, but a fire department spokesman pointed out that there were no working smoke detectors found in the house.
“The fire department would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone to check their smoke detectors,” said Battalion Chief Matt Herbert.
Damage was confined to one occupancy of the duplex, Herbert said.
Despite the call being relatively early in the morning, firefighters still had to deal with hot and humid conditions. To help out, a neighbor set up lawn chairs in her driveway for the sweat-soaked firefighters to relax and hydrate in after the flames were out.
Arlington Ranks Among Top Areas for “Social Seekers”
Arlington is receiving a distinction on another Best Places to Live list. It ranks among the top ten markets for social seekers, according to a list released by Coldwell Banker.
Arlington ranked seventh on the list. Areas with “Social Seekers” are considered those where residents would rather go out than stay home. These areas are described as “perfect for the hip, trendy and fun at heart.”
The top ten list of social seekers is:
- Manhattan
- San Francisco
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
- Brookline, Mass.
- Arlington
- San Diego
- Portland
- Mountain View, Calif.
The write up of Arlington stated “Arlington residents enjoy quaint cafés, upscale salons and all the activity and entertainment of the nation’s capital.”
Arlington also topped the list as the number one city for Social Seekers in the state of Virginia:
- Arlington
- Huntington
- Tysons Corner
- Alexandria
- Belle Haven
- Oakton
- Merrifield
- Idylwood
- McLean
- Falls Church
The Social Seekers list is the first lifestyle category ranking that Coldwell Banker is releasing in its “Best Places to Live” series. Four others will follow in the categories of Suburbanites, Adventurers, Leisure Lovers and Culture Cravers.
“Americans believe that their home is a reflection of their identity and that clearly goes beyond the property line and into the communities where they live,” said Budge Huskey, president and chief operating officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Social Seekers are drawn to the nightlife and action, while others we will explore in the series might prefer backyard barbecues and carpooling.”
The list was compiled based on a number of attributes such as access to transportation, high volume of bars and restaurants, happening nightlife and great entertainment. More information about the list of Best Places to Live can be found online.
