December, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published December 10, 2012 at 9:05AM | Updated December 10, 2012 at 9:37AM

Courthouse Office Building Approved — At its meeting on Saturday, the Arlington County Board unanimously approved a redevelopment plan for a new 8-story office building at 2311 Wilson Blvd in Courthouse. [Arlington County]

Goody’s Expansion Plan Foiled by the Fiscal Cliff? — Clarendon pizza restaurant Goody’s was featured on the Friday broadcast of NBC Nightly News. The owners of the restaurant say they’re only making a small profit and they’re worried about having to close due to the impact of the so-called fiscal cliff (primarily the increased taxes that could go into effect if no deal is reached). Goody’s owners were planning to expand next year, but have put those plans on hold, according to the broadcast. [NBC News]

News

Board Members ‘Dismayed’ at Garvey’s Allegations

By ARLnow.com

Published December 8, 2012 at 2:15PM

In a statement released to reporters Saturday afternoon (below), Board Chair Mary Hynes and members Jay Fisette and Walter Tejada said they were “dismayed” that Garvey released an internal email she sent to them regarding what she saw as a possible conflict of interest in Board member Chris Zimmerman’s business dealings.

The Board is set to vote Monday on adoption of Virginia’s Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA), which would allow the county to seek a public-private partnership for its streetcar project. Garvey asked whether Zimmerman should recuse himself, since he recently started doing consulting work for AECOM, a large planning, design and construction conglomerate that has worked on numerous streetcar and light rail project.

News

Biden Visits Metro 29 Diner

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 3:50PM

Vice President Joe Biden hosted a lunch at Arlington’s Metro 29 Diner (4711 Lee Hwy) this afternoon, to discuss the country’s trek toward the fiscal cliff.

Biden arrived at the restaurant around 1:15 p.m. to meet with seven people who say their finances would take a hit if the country goes over the fiscal cliff.

Around Town

Luxury Dog Boarding Business Planned for Shirlington

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 2:45PM

Its website says the mission is “to provide a fun, comfortable, clean and safe environment for dogs and peace of mind for their owners.” Pet owners can choose long or short term care services.

The business plans to provide cage-free doggie daycare with indoor and outdoor play areas. Pets are only confined to their “suites” during feeding, downtime and during the night. The website says the facility will play soothing music at night to “lull our guests to sleep.”

News

More Funding Requested for Clarendon Plaza Improvements

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 1:15PM

Although the overdue project to revamp the Clarendon Metro Plaza is expected to be completed this month, there’s a request for the County Board to approve funding for additional improvements.

In May, the Board approved a contract worth more than $760,000 to the Fort Myer Construction Company. The project involved improving the area around the Clarendon Metro station and part of the nearby park with new landscaping, irrigation, seating and ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps. The construction was originally estimated to be finished before Clarendon Day in September, but the expected completion is now sometime this month.

Feature

Your Beermonger: Top 5 Beers of 2012

By ARLnow.com

Published December 7, 2012 at 12:00PM

Editor’s Note: This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway)

As we approach the end of 2012, end-of-year retrospectives and best-of lists saturate all forms of media across all subjects, and your humble Beermonger is here to throw one more onto the pile. Through an intensely scientific process involving me thinking about beers I tried this year and deciding my favorites, I’ve narrowed down a list of the five beers that made the biggest impression on me this year. Please bear in mind – -this is not necessarily a list of the best beers available right now, though a couple on this list are — I’m just throwing my favorites out there. Without further adieu or qualification:

Events

Tree Lighting, Santa Visit Scheduled for Miracle on 23rd Street

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 10:55AM | Updated December 7, 2012 at 11:29AM

Aurora Highlands will get a little brighter tonight, during the annual “Miracle on 23rd Street” holiday celebration.

Linden Resources, Inc. is hosting the holiday festivies including a Christmas tree lighting and holiday music. Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive on an Arlington fire truck.

News

Man on Long Road to Recovery after Being Struck in Clarendon

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 10:10AM | Updated December 7, 2012 at 11:06AM

Just yesterday (Thursday), 27-year-old Michael Sizemore underwent another surgery to re-attach the section of skull that was removed to alleviate pressure on his brain. The accident had left him with a variety of serious injuries including a fractured skull, two broken legs and multiple lacerations. After being struck, Sizemore was in a drug-induced coma for days to give his brain time to heal. Sizemore’s father, Mark Sizemore, says yesterday’s surgery appears to have been successful.

“The injury to his brain was right above his left ear where the skull fracture occurred, and that’s your speech center,” Mark said. “The majority of the injury has affected him of course cognitively, and in his speech center. He is recovering his cognition and his speech is getting better every day.”

News

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 7, 2012 at 8:55AM | Updated December 7, 2012 at 1:39PM

County Proposes Tax Cuts to Lure Advertising Firms — Arlington is proposing to eliminate its tax on media buy receipts in the hopes of luring a new advertising firm, and keeping the existing ones. Trying to reduce the tax in 2004 didn’t have the desired effect, and there are now fewer advertising agencies in Arlington than there were in 2004. The suggestion is to eliminate the tax by early 2013. [WTOP]

Gifts that Give Hope Fair — Fifteen locally based non-profit organizations will participate in the second annual Arlington Gifts that Give Hope Fair tomorrow (December 8) at Calvary United Methodist Church (2315 S. Grant Street). During the alternative gift fair, shoppers can choose to donate for a specific gift, such as an “apartment application fee for one family as they leave a shelter” or “a prescription for a sick child.” The fair runs from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and features holiday music, face painting, crafts, refreshments, special $5 items for children to contribute and a visit from Santa from 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Events

Today’s Featured Event

By ARLnow.com

Published December 7, 2012 at 6:00AM

The following is today’s featured event from our newly-redesigned event calendar. Submit your event to the calendar here.

Book Fair to Support the Arlington Children’s Fund — Today (Dec. 07) from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. — Come help support the new Arlington Children’s Fund, established to help low income children and youth in Arlington. Barnes and Noble in Seven Corners (6260 Seven Corners Center, Falls Church) will be conducting a book fair to help raise money for the fund. Use Bookfair ID 10967693 at checkout, and 10–20% of the purchases on Dec. 6th and 7th, and online from Dec. 7th through 13th, will help grow the new Arlington Children’s Fund!

News

Garvey Raises Red Flags About Public-Private Partnership Vote

By ARLnow.com

Published December 6, 2012 at 4:15PM | Updated December 7, 2012 at 2:41PM

Garvey is calling for the Board to delay its scheduled vote on adoption of Virginia’s Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA). The vote is currently scheduled for Monday, after being deferred at the Nov. 27 Board meeting.

The County Board is considering using a private-public partnership for the design, construction and operation of the planned Crystal City streetcar. The Board would need to adopt the state PPTA in order to enter such a partnership.

News

Staff Recommends Approval of Bergmann Development

By ARLnow.com

Published December 6, 2012 at 2:15PM | Updated December 6, 2012 at 2:36PM

Arlington County staff are recommending that the County Board approve a proposed mixed-use development for the Bergmann’s Dry Cleaning site on Lee Highway.

Last month, the county’s Planning Commission voted against the project, which includes a 10-story apartment tower. The commission said Arlington should have a development plan in place for Lee Highway before any big, potentially precedent-setting developments are approved.