February, 2011 | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published February 3, 2011 at 5:00AM

Artisphere to Be Named in Contest — Artisphere is holding a contest to name its new restaurant. Anybody with a creative idea will be able to submit it through an online form next week. The winner will receive a private dinner for eight and VIP entrance to an Artisphere event. [TBD]

Columbia Pike Electronics Store May Be Forced to Move — The long-time owner of a small electronics store is trying to decide what to do if he gets the boot from his landlord. Venus Stereos & TV occupies a prime storefront at the corner of the Pike and Walter Reed Drive, next to Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse. Should the store move, many residents are hoping that a cafe takes its place. [Pike Wire]

News

Alexandria Businessman Mulling GOP Run For State Senate

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 4:01PM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 4:36PM

“I’ve been actively considering this for the past two weeks,” Maibach said in a phone interview. He expects to announce a decision by the end of the month.

Maibach has a long resume that has led him from his native Illinois to California’s Silicon Valley to the Washington region.

News

Crime Report: Colonial Village Grabbings

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 3:28PM | Updated January 9, 2018 at 2:49PM

A man grabbed two women inappropriately at an apartment complex in the Colonial Village area early Saturday morning.

SEXUAL BATTERY 01/29/11, 1800 block of N. Scott Street. On January 29 at 1 am, a woman exited an elevator and an unknown man grabbed her buttocks. When she rebuked him, he pushed her. She screamed and the suspect fled. He is described as an African American male in his 20’s, 6′ and 180 lbs with a goatee. He was wearing dark clothing. This call is similar to the below.

Around Town

Announcing the Winner of Our Alternative Vehicle Decal Contest

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 3:06PM

The winner, with just over a 33 percent of the vote, is the “Parking Ticket Instructions” decal by “Planet Moron.” The “Brown Flip Flops” design is our runner-up, with 28 percent of the vote.

More than 750 people voted in the contest, which pitted five user-submitted parking decal designs against one another. The winner will now receive the high honor and distinction of being known as Arlington’s finest alternative parking decal designer.

News

Superintendent Responds to Principal’s Letter to Parents

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 2:16PM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 3:33PM

Dr. Murphy’s letter to parents toned back some of the language used by the school system last night, when officials described the letter as “regrettable,” “unfortunate” and “very angry” in a statement to the Washington Post.

“We will continue to respond with a high level of professionalism and cannot discuss Ms. Francis’s actions now or in the future,” Dr. Murphy wrote. “However, we deny that there has been any discrimination.”

News

Suspect Pleads ‘No Contest’ to Langston-Brown Tire Slashings

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 1:36PM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 2:47PM

Cameron Scott Fraley, of no fixed address, was arrested on Dec. 19, 2010, four days after allegedly slashing the tires on more than 30 cars near Glebe Elementary School and Virginia Hospital Center.

Fraley was charged with misdemeanor destruction of property for the December tire-slashing spree. He was charged with another count of destruction of property for another tire-slashing spree in the same neighborhood in October, when 15-20 vehicles were hit.

News

Boeing To Build Large Office Complex in Crystal City

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 12:16PM

According to a site plan submitted to the county, the project will consist of three buildings, each between four and six stories high, built on a 4.7 acre parcel of land along Old Jefferson Davis Highway. The office project is expected to replace a number of dilapidated structures, including the Clark Street Playhouse and the abandoned Crystal City Motel.

(The site is shown to the left, during a rain storm last year.)

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 11:27AM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 12:23PM

Punxsutawney Phil Doesn’t See His Shadow — Does that mean there will be an early spring in our area? Meteorologists, as usual, are skeptical. [Capital Weather Gang]

Falls Church Admits Debt to Arlington — Falls Church admits that it does, in fact, owe Arlington $2.2 million for shared use of the Arlington County jail. The city did not say how much of the debt it actually plans to pay. [Washington Examiner]

News

DEVELOPING — Middle School Principal Resigns, Sends Email to Parents Blaming Superintendent

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 5:53PM | Updated February 1, 2011 at 6:37PM

In a lengthy email to parents, Francis detailed what she describes as a “long struggle” to resolve a personnel matter with Dr. Murphy. Francis said her efforts, which allegedly upset Dr. Murphy, resulted in “an ongoing series of actions to harass me and mischaracterize my performance and professional reputation.”

Francis defended her record and said she went so far as to file a discrimination complaint.

News

Murray Blasts Moran, Setting Up Possible Electoral Rematch

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 4:18PM | Updated February 1, 2011 at 4:34PM

On Thursday, Moran started taking heat for comments that he made to a U.S. government-sponsored Arab TV network regarding Americans’ attitudes toward having an African American president. Now Murray is piling on, calling Moran’s comments “wildly inaccurate” and “un-American” in the email reprinted below (after the jump).

Murray, a retired Army colonel who Moran defeated by a 24-point margin, has been lying low since November, but he has maintained his email list and recently set up a new web site. The latest email suggests he may be relishing a rematch against Moran, who he accuses of denigrating his military service.

News

Arlington Teens Getting More Exercise, Having Less Sex

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 2:32PM

The 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which polled 8th, 10th and 12th graders in Arlington, found that more teens say they’re getting adequate exercise than three years ago, when the last survey was conducted.

In 2007, 40 percent of teens said they were getting adequate exercise — defined as at least one hour of exercise, five or more days per week. In 2010, that number jumped to 50 percent.

News

UPDATED: Snow Complaints By The Numbers

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 11:29AM | Updated February 1, 2011 at 12:04PM

Update at 12:05 p.m. — The county has informed us that the previous numbers we were given were wrong. The article now reflects the updated numbers.

Last week’s snow and ice storm has resulted in a total of 679 complaints to Arlington County through its new Report a Snow Issue form, according to the county’s Department of Environmental Services.