June, 2011 | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published June 15, 2011 at 8:56AM | Updated June 15, 2011 at 2:01PM

Contractor Says ART Drivers Weren’t Fired — The contractor that operates the Arlington Transit bus service says 23 striking drivers were suspended pending an investigation, not fired, as the drivers claim. ART reports that it is operating this morning with minimal delays on most bus lines. [Washington Post, Arlington Transit]

No Republicans Stepping Up for Board Race — County Board incumbents Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada are still without a Republican challenger. Today is the local GOP’s self-imposed deadline to find a candidate for the race. [Washington Examiner]

News

Park Police Looking for ‘Critical Missing Person’

By ARLnow.com

Published June 15, 2011 at 8:04AM

Beatty Stevens is considered a “critical missing person” due to “several serious medical conditions including [a] non-dangerous mental disease and a respiratory condition.” He does not have his medication with him.

“Mr. Stevens is a 48 year old white male 6’1” tall weighing about 220 pounds,” police said. “He has facial hair. He was last seen wearing a light blue shirt and blue jeans.”

News

Get Ready for Some Early Morning Noise

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 5:09PM

It may be a long night if you’re a light sleeper. Two separate training exercises are threatening to make some noise in the Arlington area during the wee hours of the morning.

First, a “series of training flights” is planned between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.

News

Residents Sound Off on Arlington Arts Proposal

By Katie Pyzyk

Published June 14, 2011 at 3:59PM | Updated June 15, 2011 at 8:07AM

About two dozen people showed up at the Shirlington Library to respond to draft recommendations put forth by the Arlington Commission for the Arts and its consultants regarding the future of the county’s arts scene. A previous proposal was developed in the 1990s, and the Commission is seeking a new plan to outline the next 20 years.

Arlington Arts Commission Chair John Seal explained that the proposal assumes the county will continue its current push toward urbanization. He said additional venues, funding and availability of arts is necessary to keep up with the trend.

News

Holy Hand Grenade! Suspicious Object Found Near Church

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 2:05PM

The Arlington County bomb squad was called out to a grassy lot next to Faith Lutheran Church (3313 Arlington Blvd) in Ashton Heights this afternoon to investigate what looked like a hand grenade.

A bomb technician eventually determined that the object — which was found lying in the grass well away from the church — was not explosive and the scene was cleared within an hour. Based on initial descriptions, the object was likely a toy or a replica hand grenade.

News

Arrests Are a Relief For Friends of Carl Diener

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 12:54PM | Updated June 14, 2011 at 4:54PM

When employees at one of those facilities — the YMCA Arlington Tennis & Squash Center at 3400 N. 13th Street — first heard yesterday that two men had finally been arrested for Carl’s 2009 murder, at least one woman burst into tears.

“We’ve all been sort of waiting around and hoping [police] find who did it,” said Audrey Giberman, who works at the Tennis Center and who formed a close bond with Carl through the years. “He’s always been on our mind. It was a horrible, horrible tragedy.”

Events

Dash4Dad Race This Weekend in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 11:25AM

If not, here’s an idea: The fourth annual Dash4Dad Four Mile Run and Walk is being held Sunday morning in Pentagon City, complete with entries for daddy-daughter and father-son teams.

The four mile race and one mile walk starts and finishes on S. Joyce Street, in front of the Pentagon Row shops. Proceeds will go to support prostate cancer awareness, outreach and research.

News

Federal Funds Approved to Help Restore Four Mile Run

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 10:15AM

The funds will allow Arlington and Alexandria to create new wetland areas near the stream, thus adding needed habitat, enhancing aesthetics and improving water quality.

“This federal grant will help us fund the crucial first phase of the comprehensive restoration of Four Mile Run,” Arlington County Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman said in a statement. “Restoration of the wetland and stream banks in tidal Four Mile Run, which we expect to begin work on next year, is central to the effort to return the stream to a more natural, better functioning waterway that will serve people from across the region.

Events

Singin’ the Blues on Columbia Pike This Weekend

By Katie Pyzyk

Published June 14, 2011 at 9:00AM

You might get the summertime blues on the Pike this weekend.

The 16th annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday on South Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike. The free event runs through 8:00 p.m. and features acclaimed acts like southern blues rocker Tinsley Ellis, along with Columbia Pike’s own blues and soul band, The Curbfeelers.

News

BRAC’d Couple Enjoying New Home in Alabama

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 8:30AM

According to a local newspaper, the couple is glad they moved.

“It’s easier to breathe down here,” Chris Arnold told the Huntsville Times. “There’s more space, and it’s not that same kind of pressure on your chest as you have when you’re in a heavily populated area… D.C. was a concrete jungle.”

News

Riding Along With Virginia State Police

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 7:57AM | Updated June 14, 2011 at 9:29AM

We’re riding along with Virginia State Police this morning as law enforcement agencies region-wide conduct a “Capitol Region HOV Awareness Day” mass enforcement operation.

So far drivers on I-395 have been well-behaved — we’ve only seen two HOV violators in the past hour and a half.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 14, 2011 at 7:00AM

Striking ART Drivers Fired — The Examiner’s Liz Essley reports that the Arlington Transit bus drivers who went on strike yesterday have been fired by Forsythe Transportation, the contractor that operates ART buses. The paper also reports that the labor dispute came to a head when Forsythe fired the head of the bus drivers union last week. ART buses are operating on a reduced frequency schedule today, with all routes in service except the 61B route. [Washington Examiner, Arlington Transit]

Airport Uniforms Found in Ballston — Three pairs of airport employee uniforms and a Washington Reagan Airport safety vest have been found in the bushes outside Carpool restaurant in Ballston (4000 Fairfax Drive). The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and Arlington police are investigating how the uniforms wound up there. [WJLA]