Morning Notes

Columns

by ARLnow.com June 13, 2011 at 8:39 am 3,326 40 Comments

Training Day — U.S. Navy Lt. Christine Flood, an Arlington native, trains Afghan National Army medics on basic nursing skills, infectious disease control and hospital trauma procedures at the Kandahar Regional Medical Hospital on June 5. [U.S. Army]

House Fire in Leeway-Overlee — A fire broke out in the back of a house on the 5500 block of 24th Street N. on Sunday afternoon, possibly due to a lightning strike. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread to other parts of the structure.

Streetcar Supporters Meet Tonight — The Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition will meet tonight at Bangkok 54 (2919 Columbia Pike) to discuss “the development impacts of streetcar projects in the Washington-Metropolitan region,” including the Columbia Pike streetcar project. The discussion is being called “If you build it, they will come.” [Alexandria Times]

Crystal City BID Extended — The Crystal City Business Improvement District has been renewed. The BID, which sponsors events and performs other activities designed to boost the image of Crystal City while bringing more visitors to the neighborhood, was approaching the end of its original five-year sunset provision. The County Board voted to renew the BID in perpetuity, with a staff review in five years. The BID is funded by a tax surcharge on businesses within Crystal City. [Sun Gazette]

Military Man Becomes Priest — The Sun Gazette profiles Luke Dundon, one of the three new priests in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Dundon is a Bishop O’Connell and a Naval Academy graduate, as well as an avid marathoner. [Sun Gazette]

Military photo by Sgt. Richard Andrade

22205

How about something on the cause of the electrical shutdown that affected half of Arlington for three hours last night?
- Stu Pendus
  
  Might have had something to do with the storms. Just a guess.
  - doodly
    
    The strange thing was that it seemed to happen at least 15-20 minutes after the storms passed.
- ARLnow.com
  
  We’re still waiting to hear back from Dominion.
- ShirliMan
  
  Yeah, it was strange that the storm had passed and the sun was coming out, then the power went out for two hours (in 22206 here). Seems that this same thing (power outage after storm passes) happened not long ago…last summer maybe?
  - 22205
    
    Wow, Shirlington too. That means it shut down most of the county. The stoplight at Lee-Harrison was out, and the Harris Teeter up there was open and had lights/registers but no refrigeration. (They used cardboard boxes to insulate their open freezer cases.) The 711 on Lee was also closed.
    
    No one in 22205 had power from about 6:30 to 9:30. The Safeway on Wilson was closed.
    - doodly
      
      It was out all the way to Seven Corners.
    - ArlTeacher
      
      Live in 22205 by Overlee and had power the whole night….
    - WestoverAndOver
      
      Live in 22205 and did not lose power at all last night.
      - Westover
        
        No power on the Southside of Washington Blvd.
CrystalMikey

I actually support the CC BID. They’ve organized quite a few nice events here in the neighborhood to keep things lively in an otherwise very quiet neighborhood.
- CrystalMikey
  
  And I said neighborhood 1 too many times.
- Michael H.
  
  I do too. I think Angela Fox has done a very good job with the BID. I’m glad to hear that it will be continuing on.
John Stephens

There was a 2-alarm fire at 2370 N Fillmore St about an hour after the 24th Street N fire.
Westover

Christian Flood and Luke Dundonare proof that Arlington County produces some outstanding citizens!
- FrenchyB
  
  Christine, not Christian.
  - Westover
    
    Sorry about that, she is still a credit to our community!
Locala

Yes tell us more about the power outage, please.
BerryBerryCold

That explains the FFX fire trucks I saw last night.
Locala

I’ve heard rumors of looting at Ballston mall during the outage, but have not been able to find any info about what happened last night…
- Smilla
  
  Our movie at Ballston Mall had just finished when the power went out. I didn’t see any signs of looting, but we left the mall pretty quickly.
  
  The line of cars waiting to get out of the garage was ridiculous. Not only did a lot of people decide to leave at the same time because of the power outage, but only ONE gate was open to let cars out! I asked the workers why they didn’t open more, and they said it was because the computers weren’t working. Which doesn’t make sense since parking is a flat $1 all weekend. Why not simply collect $1 from each car?
  
  One worker (I think it was the manager) stood at the lone open gate, collecting tickets — and he wouldn’t even take the $1 that people were offering to him. Meanwhile, at least four other workers were standing around, doing nothing, while the line of cars kept getting longer and longer. What a bunch of morons.
  - doodly
    
    No, just one moron – the manager who wouldn’t let the rest just collect dollars.
    - Josh S
      
      A job just begging for automation. If they can do it at Dulles airport, why not Ballston mall? Then you’re just dealing with one possible moron in what is now a two moron variable equation.
      - madisonmanor
        
        Can’t do it – then the parking lot worker’s union would have a fit and go on strike, and nobody could get their cars out. CW would have a coronary due to lack of notice. Coupled with the ART drivers walking out, things around here would screech to a halt.
- Hattie McDaniel
  
  There is nothing at that mall worth looting.
charlie

comcrap turned off about 20 minutes after the storm and was out for 3 horus. anyone know how to pro-rate my bill?

also after the storm just endless firetrucks going thru Arlington. hope all are okay.
- BerryBerryCold
  
  It’s not worth your time or breath to try to reason with these people. Anyway avg of 730 hours in a month, you want a prorate on 0.41% of your bill?
- The Dope of South Arlington
  
  Horus the Egyptian sky god?
jack

“If you build it, they will come.”

Yes, if you spend millions on this trolley, people too snooty to take the bus will come, ride it once, decide it’s not worth the extra cost, get back in their cars, and never ride it again.
- doodly
  
  People said that about Metro too.
  - charlie
    
    and they were right. Metro isn’t worth the cost.
    - Smilla
      
      Are you kidding me?? I realize that Metro has problems, but do you know how much worse it would be if there were no Metro? If everyone had to drive to work? It’s in EVERYONE’S best interest — including drivers — to have Metro.
      - charlie
        
        i have not commuted by metro for almost 20 years. i do it when as a back up when my car is broken and i can’t find a ride, or when i go to the city for entertainment.
        my current job: ART, METRO, long ride, 1/2 m walk — 50 min. Drive: 15 minutes. don’t sweat, don’t get wet and my feet stay warm.
        last job: ART, METRO, change trains, METRO. 45 minutes, risk of not getting ON a train in rosslyn (high). driving; 22 minutes.
        METRO doesn’t serve me because the employment centers have changed.
      - Smilla
        
        I repeat — Metro benefits everyone, including drivers like you.
    - doodly
      
      Millions of people disagree.
      
      Plus those on the highways wouldn’t be so thrilled if we put all those Metro riders back on the road, huh?
      
      Reality – try it.
jack

What is the advantage of this trolley over buses? Does it go somewhere a bus does not? Is it faster? Cheaper? No, no, no?

I think some people have a nostalgic notion of streetcars, but the artist concepts of it look like… a big bus. Nothing romantic about it.
- doodly
  
  This article lists 36 reasons why streetcars beat buses.
  
  http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/03/36-reasons-that-streetcars-are-better-than-buses/
  
  Nostolgia is number 12. And that’s important – people make choices based on it.
charlie

anyone know how i can get the Tony Awards — since cable was out?
- smart guy
  
  Acting lessons and many years of work honing your craft.
  - charlie
    
    oh i see it now, 2016 award for BLOG GADFLY goes to….

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