December, 2010 | ARLnow.com

Court Dates Set for Arlington Election Fraud Defendants

Published December 22, 2010 at 3:45PM | Updated December 24, 2010 at 12:36AM

William Cockerham, accused of making a false statement on a required form, appeared in Arlington County Circuit Court today, was appointed an attorney, and was given a trial date of March 7, according to Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Parker.

Convicted felon and petition drive contractor Cheryl Simmons, who was indicted on the charge of voter fraud on Monday, did not appear in court today, Parker said. She’s expected to attend a hearing on Jan. 3, at which time a trial date will be set.

Around Town

Animal-Loving Homeowners Debate Rodent Control Methods

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 2:41PM

For the past few months, we’ve been hearing anecdotal evidence of a rodent resurgence in Arlington.

At least one well-known local civic leader has privately identified the burgeoning rat population in the Clarendon area as a significant problem facing the county. And then we get emails like the following:

Around Town

Model Railroad at Crystal City Sports Pub

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 2:01PM

Crystal City Sports Pub (529 23rd Street South) is known for being a place to grab a beer and watch your favorite team. During the holidays, it’s also a place to go to check out a meticulously arranged, miniature winter village and model railroad.

The railway is set up in the back of the patio seating area, facing the sidewalk on 23rd Street.

News

Water Problem Near Crystal City Closes 23rd Street

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 12:07PM | Updated December 22, 2010 at 1:15PM

Just as we were receiving notification of a road closure between Fern Street and Grant Street on South 23rd Street near Crystal City, a tipster sent us the photo above with this description:

Good morning — There’s some sort of water problem on 23rd St South near Crystal City, between Fern and Grant, closer to Fern. Water is out on at least that block (I live there and a neighbor has told me hers is out as well). It looks like this utility truck has fallen through the street surface, a sinkhole or something. That could be the cause — either the water main was broken, or it was shut off to make repairs. Picture attached, though it’s not the best angle.

Around Town

Holiday Hugs and Kisses Video Released

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 10:39AM

The purpose of the video was “to demonstrate broad community and regional support for LGBT people” in a “fun and festive” way, according to the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance, which helped to organize the filming.

The video from the event, set to music, was released on Monday. Take a look here.

News

A Busy Month for Water Main Breaks

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 9:04AM | Updated December 22, 2010 at 9:34AM

Overnight, water crews responded to several small water main breaks around the county. The pace of the breaks was similar to a span of nine days earlier this month when, partially thanks to last week’s frigid temperatures, the bureau responded to 18 separate water main breaks.

Dave Hundelt, WSS’s Chief Operating Engineer, says the “rash” of ruptures is notable, but not particularly unusual this time of year. Most water main breaks happen when there are significant variations in temperature, or when it gets so cold that the ground around the pipes starts to freeze.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Last-Minute Holiday Shopping

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 7:30AM

Forget Black Friday. The next two or three days will likely be some of the busiest shopping days of the year, as procrastinators head to the malls to pick up last-minute Christmas gifts.

Where in Arlington, if anywhere, are you planning on going shopping before Dec. 25? You can select more than one answer.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 22, 2010 at 5:00AM

Petition Workers Indicted for Voter Fraud — Two individuals who worked on the unsuccessful effort to change Arlington’s form of government have been indicted for election fraud. William Cockerham and Cheryl Simmons are expected to have their trial dates set this morning. Earlier this year we exposed Simmons as a paroled felon, ineligible to collect the 2,214 petition signatures she claimed to have collected. More from the Washington Post.

ART Bus Lives Up to Its Name — Arlington’s transit agency has deemed its “Art on the ART Bus” experiment a success. The program placed artwork on an ART bus in connection with a new exhibit at the Arlington Arts Center. The arty bus launched on Dec. 11 and will continue rotating throughout the ART system for the next couple of months. More from the Arlington Transit Blog.

News

Glebe Road Shut Down Due to Ruptured Gas Line

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2010 at 3:15PM | Updated December 21, 2010 at 10:34PM

(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) Police are shutting down a large section of South Glebe Road near I-395 due to a ruptured gas line.

Initial reports indicate that a construction crew hit a 8-10 inch gas line. There was no fire.

Around Town

How Does The County Clear Snow From Trails?

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2010 at 2:58PM | Updated December 23, 2010 at 8:42AM

Here’s one way that Arlington County is making sure that pedestrian routes like the W&OD Trail are clear for cyclists, runners and walkers during the winter.

This pickup-mounted snow plow was spotted near today’s fire on Four Mile Run Drive.

News

Fire at the Carlton Condos on Four Mile Run Drive

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2010 at 1:19PM | Updated December 21, 2010 at 2:34PM

Firefighters are on the scene of a fire on the second floor of the Carlton condominium at 4600 South Four Mile Run Drive.

Firefighters are reporting that there was a kitchen fire in one of the units. The blaze is now under control, we hear.

News

McDonnell: “Looking At” Hybrid HOV Exemption

By ARLnow.com

Published December 21, 2010 at 11:48AM

“Is there any point at which that will formally and permanently be canceled?” a caller asked the governor, adding that single-occupant hybrids “clog up” the HOV lanes during rush hour.

McDonnell, who signed a one-year extension of the law in March, noted that the law was “put in place in previous administrations… to create an incentive for using fuel-efficient cars.”