January 2, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Published January 2, 2012 at 1:32PM | Updated January 2, 2012 at 5:33PM

This morning the new County Board Chairman, Mary Hynes, promised to enhance civic engagement in Arlington. Already famous for its process of including community stakeholders in decision making — a process broadly referred to as “The Arlington Way” — Hynes is seeking to more formally institutionalize Arlington County’s commitment to civic engagement.

To do so, Hynes is proposing to first create a “map” of the numerous nonprofit groups and community associations that make up Arlington’s civic landscape.

Photos: School for Sign Spinners

By ARLnow.com

Published January 2, 2012 at 10:43AM

Think spinning a sign by the side of the road sounds easy? Think again.

Sign spinners — they who inform passing motorists of closeout specials and condo sales — undergo training sessions to learn many of their acrobatic routines.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 2, 2012 at 9:23AM

No Homicides in 2011 — It’s official: for the first time since at least the 1950s, Arlington County did not record a single homicide in 2011.

Another Book Dating Session — The Shirlington Branch Library is holding another Book Dating for Singles session, after the inaugural book dating event in October was deemed a success. This month’s book dating session will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15. Using books as conversation starters, participants will have three-minute “dates” moderated by library staff.