April, 2011 | ARLnow.com

Lyon Villagers Press County Officials On Parking, Traffic Issues

Published April 12, 2011 at 4:57PM | Updated April 12, 2011 at 5:26PM

Residents are quite opposed to the county taking away parking on one side of narrow neighborhood streets to allow fire engines and garbage trucks to operate safely. But they also want more zone parking to keep outsiders from parking on the same streets. And at least one gentleman wanted folks who rent houses to have their street parking limited to just two cars.

Residents expressed indignation that their streets weren’t plowed during snow storms, making navigation treacherous. Then some asked if there was any way streets could be closed to through traffic. One man earnestly suggested quadrupling the number of speed humps and lowering the speed limit to 15 miles per hour.

News

Falling Tree Crushes Car, Closes Road in Arlington Village

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 2:48PM

(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) Windy, rainy weather helped bring a large tree down across S. Barton Street in Arlington Village today.

The tree crushed an unoccupied parked car, blocked S. Barton Street and damaged another tree. A tree crew is on scene removing the debris.

News

Arlington Teen Charged in Quincy Street Crash

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 2:10PM | Updated September 20, 2011 at 11:03AM

Police say 18-year-old Joseph DiFilippo struck a woman and her dog with his pickup truck while they were walking northbound on N. Quincy Street. The woman, 29 28, remains in critical condition. The dog, a golden retriever, died at the scene.

DiFilippo has charged with reckless driving, failure to maintain proper control of a vehicle, driving without a license and violation of a learner’s permit. Police say the charges may be amended if the victim’s condition worsens. DiFilippo remained on the scene after the accident and cooperated with investigators, police say.

Traffic

Dump Truck Hits Traffic Light in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 1:56PM

A dump truck reportedly hit a traffic light at the intersection of Army Navy Drive and South Hayes Street this afternoon.

The collision knocked the light from its pole, causing it to dangle precariously over the intersection by an electrical line. As of 1:30 p.m. a county light crew was working to repair the light as police directed traffic at the intersection. A backup quickly formed at the busy intersection, which also serves as a connector to I-395.

Schools

Arlington Teacher Named Va. Lottery “Super Teacher”

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 12:23PM

Students, faculty, PTA representatives, school board members, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy, and Del. Patrick Hope — along with Abraham’s husband and two children — were on hand when Abraham was told she was the first of eight teachers statewide who will receive the award this year.

Abraham will receive a $2,000 cash prize from the lottery, as well as $2,000 classroom supply credit.

Traffic

Another Rainy Crash on I-395 at Washington Blvd

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 10:54AM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:14PM

Today, around 10:00 a.m., a car spun out of control and hit a guardrail while heading around a bend on southbound I-395, just past Washington Boulevard. The driver was said to be conscious but groggy, and was evaluated by paramedics.

Last month, on a rainy day, an SUVcrashed into the same guardrail in the same location just minutes after police finished clearing a roll-over accident in (you guessed it) the same exact location.

Around Town

New Chef to Bring New Menu to Mad Rose Tavern

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 10:00AM

Holland was echoing the thoughts of many who had tried out the new Clarendon eatery and wondered what exactly it was trying to be. It seemed to be a mash-up of several restaurant concepts — a perception that was probably close to reality, given the differing visions of its initial management team and its owner.

The Clarendon eatery has gone through some messy management changes over the past month, including the recent departure of executive chef Johnny Nielson, and the new team is now trying to turn over a new leaf. To that end, Holland has hired a new chef — a fellow veteran of the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in the District — and has embarked upon a complete revamp of Mad Rose’s menu.

Events

Pep Rally in Ballston for Playoff-Bound Caps

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 8:50AM

From 10:00 this morning until the end of the team’s practice session, fans are encouraged to come to the Kettler Capitals Iceplex (627 North Glebe Road) to “Rock the Red” and show their support. Caps announcer Wes Johnson will be there to pump up the crowd, and 106.7 The Fan’s Mike Wise Show will be broadcasting live.

There will also be t-shirt giveaways and an appearance by Slapshot, the team’s avian mascot.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 8:31AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 2:52PM

More Funds for Long Bridge Park — The county board is slated to decide whether to spend an additional $4.7 million to move forward with planning for an aquatics facility facility at the future Long Bridge Park, near Crystal City. [Sun Gazette]

Man Arrested in Metro Bomb Plot Sentenced — An Ashburn man who thought he was helping to plan a bombing of the Metro system was sentenced to 23 years in prison yesterday. Farooque Ahmed, 34, was accused of providing undercover federal agents with sketches, photos and videos of the Pentagon City, Courthouse, Arlington Cemetery and Crystal City Metro stations in what he thought was a plot to bomb the stations. [Washington Post]

Weather

Pack an Umbrella This Morning

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2011 at 8:02AM

A line of showers and thunderstorms will be rolling through the area within the hour.

The storms are not expected to be severe, but the rain could make driving treacherous. If you’re not already at work, be cautious and take your time on the road.

News

Federal Decision May Further Delay BRAC Moves

By ARLnow.com

Published April 11, 2011 at 3:55PM

On Friday, VDOT announced that the Federal Highway Administration had decided to require the environmental assessment for the ramp. VDOT argued that it should have instead been granted a categorical exclusion for the project, “since the ramp will be built entirely within existing I-395 right of way, will improve air quality by making transit and carpooling more convenient for Mark Center employees and will not have substantial impacts to natural, cultural, recreational, water quality, or historic resources.”

About 6,400 Department of Defense employees are scheduled to be relocated to Mark Center by the end of the year as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). VDOT says that “near-gridlock conditions will occur on Seminary Road, Beauregard Street and I-395” unless the ramp and other infrastructure is built to accommodate the extra traffic. With the environmental assessment, it could be 2015 or 2016 before the ramp opens.

News

Crystal City Office Building Placed on Lockdown

By ARLnow.com

Published April 11, 2011 at 2:55PM | Updated April 11, 2011 at 9:03PM

There were some tense moments in Crystal City this morning as Arlington County and Pentagon Police surrounded an office building after receiving a false report of a man with a gun.

Police were originally dispatched to the scene for a report of an intoxicated military service member who was said to be brandishing a handgun in an office on the 2200 block of South Clark Street. One floor of the building was evacuated, employees sheltered in place on other floors and elevators were locked down.