October 17, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 3:45PM

Starting this week, the police department has assigned extra traffic patrols to the area during the morning rush hour, when gridlock gets especially bad on Lynn Street. (Although traffic is often heavy during the evening rush hour, as well.)

The officers will remind drivers that it’s illegal to block the box — to enter into an intersection during a green light when there is no room to clear the intersection. For now, the officers will not be issuing citations, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, who called morning congestion on Lynn Street a “disaster.”

News

Small Fire Under Ballston Metro Station Escalator

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 3:15PM

A small fire broke out underneath an escalator at the Ballston Metro station this afternoon as a result of welding work.

“An escalator contractor was welding at the time on the unit, and that a spark from the welding work was the likely cause” of the fire, WMATA spokesman Dan Stessel told ARLnow.com. There were no injuries, smoke has been fully ventilated from the station, and “all protective systems worked as intended,” Stessel said.

Traffic

Crash Involving Ambulance Near Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 2:45PM | Updated July 11, 2017 at 4:45PM

A private ambulance and another vehicle collided this afternoon in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood, near Ballston.

The accident happened at the intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Buchanan Street, approximately five blocks from Virginia Hospital Center. No word on the cause of the crash nor on whether there were any injuries.

Around Town

‘Pepe’ Food Truck Makes Arlington Debut

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 1:30PM | Updated October 17, 2012 at 3:43PM

Pepe, a new-for-2012 food truck that has been making the rounds in D.C. for the past six months and Montgomery County for the past week, made its Virginia debut in Crystal City today outside Jaleo restaurant on Crystal Drive.

The truck, from Jaleo proprietor José Andrés, primarily serves flautas, a type of elongated sandwich that Andrés remembered fondly from growing up in Spain, where flautas are a popular street food.

News

Expect to Hear ‘Big Voice’ During Earthquake Drill Tomorrow

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 11:35AM

The base will be participating in the Great SouthEast ShakeOut, a regional earthquake drill that’s to take place at 10:18 a.m. In addition to asking those on the base to “drop, cover and hold on,” JBM-HH will be testing its “Big Voice” public address system, which may be heard outside the base.

From a press release:

Opinion

Nominees Announced, ABBIES Voting Begins

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 10:30AM

The ABBIES recognize “Arlington’s best businesses” in 17 different categories. Businesses were nominated by residents and the winning businesses will be chosen by popular vote.

Voting will take place through Nov. 9. The winners will be announced at the County Board meeting on Nov. 27. Last year’s winners can be found here.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2012 at 9:35AM

LED Street Lights Draw Complaints — New energy-efficient LED street lighting has been drawing complaints from Arlington residents. Residents have complained that the new lights are too bright and too white. That has prompted county officials to install dimmers on the lights, which has driven up the cost of the new lighting. The county is also exploring the use of lighting that is less harsh but also less energy efficient. [Sun Gazette]

‘Chiefs vs. Chefs’ Cooking Challenge Tonight — Some of Arlington most notable chefs will be battling some of Arlington’s top firehouse cooks in a cooking challenge for charity tonight. The chefs — David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Todd Pozinsky of Carlyle in Shirlington and Adam Barnett of Eventide — will go up against the tastiest creations from Arlington’s bravest. ‘Chiefs vs. Chefs’ is taking place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Key Bridge Marriott (1401 Lee Highway). Tickets to the event, which benefits the Arlington Food Assistance Center, start at $100. [AFAC]