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Rental Report: Tenant Screening Tips

Published April 3, 2014 at 2:30PM

Editor’s Note: This biweekly sponsored column is written by Rick Gersten, founder and CEO of Urban Igloo, a rental real estate firm that matches up renters with their ideal apartments, condos or houses. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.

If you are a new landlord, or maybe you’ve had a string of bad luck with tenants, you should establish a quality tenant screening process. Be sure to keep your expectations realistic. Not everyone is going to look perfect on paper, but you can still save time, headaches and money by following some of these tips.

Opinion

John Vihstadt: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 2:00PM

Below is Republican- and Green-endorsed independent John Vihstadt’s unedited response:

I’m John Vihstadt, and I ask for your vote in the April 8 special election for County Board.

Opinion

Janet Murphy: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 1:30PM | Updated April 3, 2014 at 5:37PM

Below is Independent Green Party candidate Janet Murphy’s unedited response:

Dear ARLnow.com and Citizens of Arlington: I am Janet Murphy the Independent Green Party Candidate for Arlington County Board. I am running because we need more trains, and less traffic and that means Columbia Pike rail. Rail pays for itself. This weeks’ Columbia Pike Rail study shows it will bring $4.4 billion of economic growth. Rail saves lives. Rail creates jobs, increases the value of our homes, businesses, and community. Rail grows revenue for our schools, police, and fire departments, and affordable housing. Let Arlington be the most pedestrian, bike, and rail friendly community in the nation. We call for a new passenger rail tunnel under the Potomac to solve the problem of the “Orange Crush” on Metrorail, and expanding Metrorail service to South Arlington with a new underground Metrorail line

Opinion

Alan Howze: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 1:00PM

Below is Democrat Alan Howze’s unedited response:

Please Join Me and Move Arlington Forward!

Opinion

Stephen Holbrook: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 12:30PM

Below is independent’s Stephen Holbrook’s unedited response:

Who is Steve Holbrook?

News

UPDATED: Dogs Rescued from House Fire Across From Yorktown HS

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 11:00AM | Updated April 4, 2014 at 1:01PM

(Updated at 11:40 a.m.) Arlington firefighters are on the scene of a house fire across from Yorktown High School.

Neighbors called 911 to report the fire at 10:54 a.m., according to Arlington County Fire Department spokeswoman Lt. Sarah Marchegiani. The first units on the scene reported flames and smoke coming from the attic of the home,on the 5200 block of N. Yorktown Blvd. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen and made its way up to the upper levels of the home.

Opinion

Morning Poll: ‘Virginia Is For Lovers’ License Plates

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 10:00AM

Virginia’s new standard license plate, featuring the famous tourism slogan “Virginia Is For Lovers,” began being issued by the DMV last month. ARLnow.com has spotted several cars around Arlington sporting the new-look tags.

Other than the slogan — with a heart instead of the “v” in “lovers” — the license plate is the same blue-and-white design the Commonwealth has utilized for years. Nonetheless, when changes like this are made to something we’re all used to seeing on a daily basis, some strong feelings are sure to emerge.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2014 at 9:05AM

Najarian Tries to Get on Ballot — Democratic candidate for Congress Nancy Najarian is trying to get on the ballot after authorities said she did not submit enough valid signatures to qualify. [Blue Virginia]

Winter Shelter Closes for the Season — Arlington’s emergency winter homeless shelter has closed for the season. More than 450 individuals stayed at least one night at the shelter over the past five months. The emergency winter shelter will reopen on Nov. 1. The county’s new year-round homeless shelter is not expected to open until some point next winter. [InsideNoVa]

News

Photos: County Shows Off New Fire Training Academy

By ARLnow.com

Published April 2, 2014 at 5:10PM

Arlington County showed off its new $4.9 million fire training academy Tuesday.

County Board member Libby Garvey and members of the media got a tour of the facility, which is located at the county property yard (2800 S. Taylor Street) near Shirlington. The new fire training ground includes a seven-story tower, a sprinkler room and smoke generator, realistic stair and floor configurations, rappelling and rope rescue gear, and a below-ground storm drain system for technical rescue training.

Feature

Disrupt Fitness: Spring Into Running

By ARLnow.com

Published April 2, 2014 at 2:30PM | Updated April 29, 2014 at 1:01PM

Editor’s Note: The following biweekly column is sponsored and written by Disrupt Fitness.

It’s finally spring! Late winter storms aside, it’s a time to be renewed, refreshed, and revitalized — to break out of the cocoon and get back out in the sun.

Feature

Arlington Pet of the Week: Cali

By ARLnow.com

Published April 2, 2014 at 12:00PM

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Cali, a “bouncing ball of fluff” who needs a few minutes before she’s ready to play, unless a laser pointer is involved.

Here’s what Cali’s owner had to say about her:

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 2, 2014 at 9:00AM | Updated April 2, 2014 at 9:19AM

Torrez Murder Trial Begins — The murder trial of Jorge Torrez, the ex-Marine accused of killing Navy petty officer Amanda Jean Snell on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, has gotten underway. Torrez is already serving multiple life sentences after being convicted in Arlington of rape and numerous other charges. [Washington Post]

Anti-Streetcar Group Blasts County Study — The group Arlingtonians for Sensible Transit has released a list of the “top 15 reasons” a county-funded study on the costs and benefits of a streetcar system is “another waste of taxpayers’ money.” AST says the study is biased and lacking in original research. [Arlingtonians for Sensible Transit]