Photos: Arlington Democrats Chili Cook-off and Pie-Eating Contest
The Arlington County Democratic Committee held its annual Labor Day chili cook-off on Monday.
This year’s event, which was attended by dozens of local Democrats and many of Arlington’s elected officials, included a pie-eating contest.
A number of local Democratic notables participated in a eating contest, which challenged competitors to finish a pie as quickly as possible, without using their hands. Rep. Moran’s son, Patrick, won a decisive victory, followed by Paul Holland in second place and Ben Tribbett in third place.
A panel of judges chose Sheriff Beth Arthur’s “Jailhouse Chili” as the best of the 14 chili entries, but a “popular vote” of attendees resulted in Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy’s “Taxes Chili with a Caribbean Twist” being named the “top of the ticket.” Among the runners-up in the popular vote were Del. Patrick Hope’s “Hope for the Best” chili, the Rep. Jim Moran “Victory 2012″ chili, and Arlington School Board candidate Noah Simon’s “School House Rock” chili.
Other attendees at the event included 2013 Virginia lieutenant governor candidate Aneesh Chopra, state Senator Barbara Favola, County Board member Chris Zimmerman, School Board Chair Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez, Clerk of the Circuit Court Paul Ferguson, and ACDC Chairman Mike Lieberman.
Small Fire at Silver Diner in Clarendon
Firefighters responded to a small fire at Silver Diner in Clarendon (3200 Wilson Boulevard) this afternoon.
The fire was reported in a trash compactor behind the restaurant around 3:00 p.m. The flames, which did not appear to pose a threat to the building, were extinguished by the time fire trucks arrived on scene. Firefighters used a hose to douse some of the smoldering contents of the trash compactor.
Patrons of the diner did not evacuate the building during the incident, we’re told.
Mail Truck Overturns in 7-Eleven Parking Lot
A U.S. Postal Service mail delivery truck flipped on its side in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store this afternoon.
The accident happened just after 1:00 p.m. outside the 7-Eleven at the corner of Old Dominion Drive and N. Vernon Street, across from the Lee Heights Shops. The mail carrier who was driving the truck told police he was trying to park when his foot somehow became stuck against the accelerator, causing the truck to hop the curb and do a 360 degree turn across the southbound lanes of Old Dominion Drive, before finally striking a parked sedan and flipping on its side.
The driver’s leg was pinned between the vehicle and the pavement, but a group of witnesses managed to lift the truck just enough to free him, according to police. He was then able to climb out of the truck on his own power.
The driver suffered lacerations to his leg and arm, but did not require transport to the hospital. In fact, he remained on scene to help workers transfer mail from the truck to other postal vehicles.
The postal carrier was given a citation by police for failure to maintain his vehicle.
Wakefield Will Remember the Titans After 73-0 Loss
The Wakefield Warriors varsity football squad suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the T.C. Williams Titans on Thursday night.
Wakefield lost its season opener 73-0, with all of the Titans’ points scored in the first three quarters of the game, in front of a home crowd in Alexandria. It’s an even more convincing defeat than the 51-7 result from last year’s season opener between the two teams. Wakefield has not had a winning football season since 1983, according to Connection Newspapers sports reporter Jon Roetman.
Yorktown High School, which is coming off an undefeated regular season that led to a disappointing defeat in the regional championships, bested opponent Bowie, Md. by a score of 42-28 on Friday. Though they ultimately won by a comfortable margin, the Patriots were assessed 101 yards in penalties throughout the game. Yorktown will play an away game at Wakefield this coming Friday, Sept. 7.
In other football action in Arlington, the Bishop O’Connell High School Knights defeated Bishop Ireton 27-12 at home on Friday, in the school’s new stadium, and the Washington-Lee Generals lost to the McLean Highlanders at home on Thursday, by a score of 14-12.
Ask Adam: New Construction Choices in Arlington
This periodic sponsored Q&A column is written by Adam Gallegos of Arlington-based real estate firm Arbour Realty. Please submit follow-up questions in the comments section or via email.
Question: I would like to buy a new home in Arlington. I’ve seen quite a bit of construction, can you tell me what is going to be available by end of year?
I’m happy to do so. Below are brief introductions to the various new construction projects that currently have homes available for move-in before 2013.
Arlington Condos:
Turnberry Towers is located in Rosslyn at 1881 N. Nash Street. This is the most luxurious addition to the condo market in Arlington. Imagine living in a 5-star hotel with valet service, doorman, a grand lobby, indoor pool and every amenity you can wish for. The homes are larger than your average condo in Arlington and come “decorator ready” so that you can pick out your own flooring and wall coverings. All other premium finishes are included. Turnberry Towers is at the tail end of sales with only 11 homes remaining. Prices range from $825,000 to $4,350,000.
Gaslight Square is located between Rosslyn and Courthouse at 1700 Clarendon Boulevard. Gaslight Square is selling in three phases. The first phase is complete, models are available to see and residents have begun moving in. This is the same builder as Wooster & Mercer Lofts, located next door. Gaslight is a little more refined and includes private elevator access to all upper level units. Every home includes outdoor space ranging from grand rooftop terraces to modest balconies. Prices range from $769,900 to over $1,400,000.
Lyon Pointe is located in Lyon Village within walking distance of Clarendon metro station. The address is 2702 Lee Highway. This is a true boutique building with only eight homes total (two per floor). Like Gaslight Square, the building offers private elevator access where the elevator opens directly into your home. The finishes are top notch. The penthouse units come with huge rooftop terraces and the ground floor includes sizable garden patios. Though the building is located on Lee Hwy., the high quality windows buffer most of the noise and there is decent separation between the building and the road. Construction of Lyon Pointe is still underway, but sales have begun. Prices range from $699,900 to $829,900.
Dominion Heights is located in Cherrydale at 2702 Lee Highway. Unlike the others, this is not within what most people would consider walking distance to the Orange Line. Cherrydale does have its own share of shops, restaurants and charm. The building is targeting LEED Gold certification so homeowners can expect low utility bills and improved comfort. Standard finishes include hardwood flooring, gas cooking with stainless steel appliances, and granite counters in the bathrooms & kitchens. Prices range from $312,500 to $716,000.
Arlington Townhomes:
The Court at Lyon Village is located in Lyon Village at the intersection of Lee Hwy. and Veitch. They are about three blocks north of Courthouse metro station. 13 new townhomes are being constructed. Each townhouse includes outdoor space perfect for entertaining, gardening and grilling; on lots that range up to 3053 square feet. Each home also includes a 2-car garage. Another bonus is the view that comes with some of the homes. The Court at Lyon Village sits on hill with views that reach parts of McLean, Georgetown and the National Cathedral. Currently there are two townhomes left, priced at $950,000 and $1,100,000.
Cathedral View is located adjacent to Washington Golf and Country Club. I have not been in these homes, but the photos are truly extraordinary. They include elevators, four finished levels, three car garages, slate roofs, views of the National Cathedral (hence the name), and size & finishes to rival the premiere single family homes in North Arlington. There are four homes still available starting at $4,295,000.
Arlington Single Family Houses:
The Enclave of Ballston is located on the outskirts of Ballston off of Carlin Springs Road. There are a total of 10 lots. Each home includes three finished levels, two car garage, professionally landscaped and fenced yards, dual zone gas heat and high end finishes. The exteriors are stone and cement composite siding. Depending on the lot you chose, you may be able to select the homestyle and finishes. Only five lots are currently available and prices from $1,300,000 to $1,500,000.
There are a number of custom and spec homes being built throughout Arlington that I’m happy to provide you a list of if you would like. Just send me an email: adam@arbourrealty.com.
*All pricing and descriptions are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Arlington Group Offers Advice to Parents for New School Year
In a recent study by the Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families, only 24 percent of students said their parents were actively involved in helping them succeed in school.
With that in mind, APCYF has issued some advice for parents to help their kids “get off to a great start” as Arlington starts a new school year.
September is an exciting time for children, families and school staff. The Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families (APCYF) wants to remind everyone that it’s a great time to think about what families can do to get off to a positive start and help make this a successful, asset-building school year for your children. Assets are simply the positive experiences, relationships and values that help young people make smart choices and grow up ready to be responsible, healthy, successful community members. Learn more at http://www.search-institute.
org .Mary Ann Moran, Assets Liaison and founding member of APCYF, advises parents and caregivers that a good start to the year begins at home with the basics. All children and teens need good rest and a healthy breakfast. “Although you can’t make kids eat or sleep, you can create an environment and set boundaries that encourage getting enough sleep and healthy eating,” said Moran.
- A healthy breakfast is vital. If you have a picky eater, get creative and offer choices. Any healthy food is good for breakfast – even pizza or PB&J.
- On average, elementary school children need 10-11 hours of sleep. Teens need 8-9 hours. Setting a regular bed time helps.
- No one can sleep with a cell phone under their pillow. Consider collecting all electronic devices at bedtime. Kids can retrieve them in the morning.
- Try to plan time to avoid “scrambling-to-get-ready” syndrome – it’s a bad way to start anyone’s day.
According to a survey of 1,651 students in Arlington, only 24% of 8th to 10th graders report having parents involved in school. Get involved with your child’s education now and stay involved all the way through 12th grade. One way to participate is to have real conversations about school. “Do you have homework?’’ is not a conversation starter. Instead, parents might say:
- Who did you eat lunch with?
- Why did you choose that particular book for your report?
- Tell me about your new teacher. (Instead of “Is your teacher nice?”)
- Tell me about the kids in your class.
- When I went into __ grade, I remember feeling _______.
If your child doesn’t want to talk when they get home from school or you first come home from work, try again later, said Moran.
Remind yourself that it’s your child who goes back to school, so their successes and their failures are their own. It’s hard, but let them learn from both. Children learn about being responsible and planning ahead by practice. At some point, they probably will forget their homework, let projects go to the last minute and leave books they need at school. But if they never experience consequences, there’s no motivation to learn to be responsible. Treat mistakes as learning opportunities to let children know you believe in them and their ability to deal with what happens, advised Moran.
Finally, let kids be kids. In our rush-around, stressed-out world, adults can help children have time to be silly, play and daydream, Moran said. It’s essential for them and it does wonders for us. For more information, visit http://
arlingtonpartnershipforyouth. .org/youthsurveyresults.htm
Flickr pool photo by Divaknevil
Morning Poll: Post-Labor Day Blues?
The official first day of astronomical fall isn’t until Saturday, Sept. 22 but, in all practicality, many of the trappings of summer end with Labor Day.
Gone are summer vacations, outdoor swimming pools, and summer festivals like outdoor movies and the Arlington County Fair. Starting, however, are more mild temperatures, football, and fall events like Oktoberfest, wine festivals and Clarendon Day.
Which do you prefer? Are you sad about the end of summer, or happy about the beginning of fall?
Morning Notes
Students Head Back to School — Today is the first day of school for nearly 23,000 Arlington Public School students. School start times vary in Arlington, from 7:50 a.m. for middle schools to 9:24 a.m. for the H-B Woodlawn Secondary program. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy has created a back-to-school video for students and parents. Arlington County, meanwhile, is urging drivers to be especially cautious on the roads this morning.
AAA Warns of ‘Terrible Traffic Tuesday’ — AAA Mid-Atlantic is warning of “the mother of all gridlock” today, a day the organization has dubbed “Terrible Traffic Tuesday.” With students heading back to school and workers back from summer vacations, AAA expects traffic congestion to spike 26 percent compared to mid-summer. Adding to the congestion in Arlington will be the 146 yellow APS school buses on the roads. [AAA Mid-Atlantic, Bethesda Now]
Special Election Today — Voters in Virginia’s 45th House of Delegates District will head to the polls today in the special election to replace Del. David Englin, who resigned following the admission that he had an extramarital affair. The three candidates in the race are Tim McGhee (R), Rob Krupicka (D) and Justin Malkin (L). Only five electoral precincts in Arlington are included in the 45th District: Aurora Hills, Fairlington, Abingdon, Oakridge, and Shirlington. [Arlington County]
Flickr pool photo by Maryva2
