From this week’s Arlington Police Department crime report, a pair of robberies:
ROBBERY 03/17/10, 600 block of N. Glebe Road. On March 17 at 2 pm, an aggressive panhandler assaulted a teenage male and stole money from his wallet. The suspect is described as an African American male, between 20-30 years of age, 5’7″. He was wearing a dark hooded trench coat, sunglasses, khaki pants, and had a “scruffy” appearance.
Blackburn will be holding a fundraiser at The Front Page in Ballston (4201 Wilson Blvd) tomorrow, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. The goal is to “raise awareness and find a cure for this stupid disease,” as she likes calling it.
Blackburn and her “Kickin’ It For Krista” team, which is raising money for the DC Walk for Lupus Now event next month, will be selling $5 wristbands that will allow participants to take advantage of specially-arranged food and drink specials.
They were there — in the words of organizer Cathryn Oakley — to “send Attorney General Cuccinelli a message.” That message: discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is wrong, no matter how you interpret the law.
“This is about our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” said Fisette, chairman of the Arlington County board and Virginia’s first openly gay elected official.
In addition, certain regularly-scheduled pay increases would be frozen and health care costs would increase. Officers say despite promises and words of praise from Arlington leaders, compensation is lower than many comparable local jurisdictions.
“We’re falling behind,” said Ken Dennis, president of the Arlington Coalition of Police union. “We need to keep up with the Joneses.”
Nearly 80 speakers came to the podium during the three hour public hearing. County residents and employees spoke out against proposed cuts to public safety agencies, substance abuse programs, senior centers, and libraries, as well as environmental, educational and recreational programs and facilities.
Resident Andrea Walker started the night off on a humorous note, saying board members should consider “self-preservation” before cutting funding to the Aurora Hills Senior Center, which regularly serves about 100 “cranky seniors.”
About 70 demonstrators have gathered on the steps of the George Mason University School of Law in response to a visit by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
Cuccinelli has drawn fire from Democrats for his letter to state universities asserting that anti-discrimination policies for sexual orientation were not supported by state law. More recently, Cuccinelli has been assailed for his effort to block the recently-passed health care reform bill.
A protest, organized on Facebook, is scheduled to take place between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. tonight outside the GMU law school building (3301 Fairfax Drive). State delegate Adam Ebbin (D) and Arlington County Board Chairman Jay Fisette are among the expected speakers.
Originally scheduled for Feb. 13 but postponed due to snow, the drill will simulate an explosion on a Metrorail train in the tunnel between the Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom stations. Arlington police and firefighters — along with emergency personnel from Metro and other jurisdictions — will test out new Mobile Emergency Response Vehicles (left), the first motorized rescue carts used by a U.S. transit organization.
The exercise will begin at 1:00 a.m. Sunday, but first responders and volunteer “victims” should arrive at the Rosslyn station around 11:00 p.m. Saturday. The exercise is expected to run until 5:00 a.m.
The latest incident happened on Monday night around 6:30. A woman was on the trail near North Quincy Street when a man exposed himself, police said. The man is described as a white male wearing dark-colored clothing with a black ski mask over his face.
Police say women should avoid walking or running on the trail alone and should avoid wearing headphones.
Stacey Viera of Every Food Fits has an interview and photos with chef, musician, entrepreneur and Arlington resident James Main:
James Main is living the dream. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say that James Main is living MY dream. He’s a small-business owner, first-time homeowner, husband, and soon-to-be father who still has time to perform with his band, Brother Shamus, in venues in the D.C. area and on the East Coast.
The Arlington County Board is holding a public budget hearing at 7:00 tonight in the board room at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Another public budget hearing will be held at the same time on Wednesday.
A public tax rate hearing with more restrictive rules on public comment will be held at 7:00 Thursday night.
A total of 250 students from from five Arlington elementary schools — Ashlawn, Arlington Science Focus, Claremont, Nottingham and Tuckhoe — will receive highly sought-after tickets to the annual event.
Last year 550 tickets were given to Arlington elementary school students from eleven schools. The White House stipulated that tickets to the 2010 egg roll must be offered to students from schools not selected last year.
