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Pike Residents Organize Snowball Fight as Snowfall Continues

By Ethan Rothstein

Battle at Ballston snowball fight(Updated at 4:40 p.m.) As Arlington weathers yet another March snowfall, residents are organizing another March snowball fight.

Today, at 4:30 p.m., at Penrose Square — the corner of Columbia Pike and S. Barton Street — neighbors are being invited to participate in a snowball fight in what could be five or more inches of snow.

Pike resident Chris Slatt put out the call for the fight at just about noon on Twitter as a spur-of-the-moment idea. Over the phone, he told ARLnow.com that it seemed like a good opportunity for the shenanigans, considering schools, the government and many private offices are closed.

“My kids wanted to have a snowball fight, and it’s no fun with just three people,” he said.

Whereas last year’s snowball fight in Virginia Square was set up dodgeball-style and more than 100 people showed up, Slatt has no plans for anything remotely that organized. He said in the seven years he’s lived on the Pike, he’s never heard of another community-organized snowball fight.

“I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “It could be 10 people, it could be 100. No rules, just be neighborly and have fun.”

One thing attendees might expect: the rare opportunity to legally throw an object at a legislator.

Far from the frivolity, roads are getting increasingly dangerous. Route 110 at N. Marshall drive had to be briefly closed to clear an accident, and Glebe Road was closed in multiple locations for accidents, including a jackknifed ART bus.

According to scanner reports, S. Walter Reed Drive at Quincy Street was blocked at about 3:10 p.m. for a single-vehicle accident and multiple vehicles are stuck on the hill at Wilson Blvd and N. Lexington Street. Another ART bus was involved in a wreck at Washington Blvd and 3rd Street N., per the scanner.

Primary roads are being plowed as Arlington remains in Phase 2 of snow-clearing efforts, according to the county website. Residential streets will likely have to wait a while longer before plows begin to arrive.

The snow is expected to continue to fall into the evening, and Arlington will remain under a winter storm warning until 9:00 p.m.

Update at 5:00 p.m. — The snowball fight actually happened.

File photo (top)