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ACFD Battles Weekend Fires

Published February 19, 2013 at 9:45AM

The Arlington County Fire Department battled at least three fires over the long holiday weekend.

On Saturday, firefighters extinguished a fire in a detached shed behind a home on the 2900 block of 7th Street N. in Lyon Park. The smoky fire spread to an adjacent fence and caused minor damage to adjacent sheds, but otherwise did not damage any houses, according to ACFD spokesman Gregg Karl.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 19, 2013 at 8:30AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:42PM

Wakefield Captures District Championship — On Friday, the Wakefield High School boy’s basketball team defeated Mount Vernon 69-60 to become the National District champions. Wakefield is now competing in the Northern Region regional tournament. Yorktown, which fell 42-82 to Wakefield in the National District tournament, is also competing as a lower seed in the Northern Region tournament. [Northern Virginia Sports]

Neighbors Want Security Guard at New Homeless Shelter — Residents of the Woodbury Heights Condominium in Courthouse are pressing Arlington officials to place a 24-hour security guard at the county’s planned year-round homeless shelter at 2020 14th Street N. Residents say they’re worried about an increase in crime as a result of the shelter moving next to their building. A resident’s Freedom of Information Act request revealed that there have been just under 6 police responses to the existing shelter per year, on average, between 1994 and 2011, mostly for alcohol-related incidents. [Arlington Mercury]

Around Town

Happy Presidents Day

By ARLnow.com

Published February 18, 2013 at 8:00AM

ARLnow.com hopes you’re having an enjoyable, relaxing Presidents Day (officially known as Washington’s Birthday).

As a reminder, Arlington County government offices, libraries and schools are closed today. We will return with more local next coverage on Tuesday.

News

Memo: County Government Job Cuts

By ARLnow.com

Published February 16, 2013 at 2:20PM

The cuts are being made to help plug a $25-50 million budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year. Donnellan will outline her proposed FY 2014 budget to members of the media on Wednesday afternoon. The budget is expected to include a mix of cuts and tax hikes.

On Friday, in a memo to county employees (below) obtained by ARLnow.com, Donnellan announced that the county is cutting 46 staff positions, including 20 that are currently filled. She also said that the county has instituted a hiring slowdown and that 20 employees have taken an early retirement package.

News

Aquatics Forum to Discuss New Wakefield Pools

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2013 at 4:25PM

The new Wakefield High School, slated for completion this summer, will include two new publicly-accessible pools. An upcoming meeting will provide the public an opportunity to learn more about and weigh in on the operation of those pools.

On Tuesday, March 12, from 7:00 to 9:00 at the Arlington Education Center (1426 N. Quincy Street), the Arlington Public Schools Aquatics Committee will hold its annual aquatics forum for residents. The forum will focus on the new Wakefield aquatics center, but will also discuss the existing Washington-Lee and Yorktown pools. A similar meeting in 2009 gave residents a chance to contribute views on the then-new Washington-Lee aquatics center.

Around Town

Potomac River Running Completes Move

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2013 at 3:15PM

On Thursday the store wrapped up a move from its former location at 3924 Wilson Blvd to the new location at 4501 N. Fairfax Drive. The new running store is located next to a FedEx office location, across from the Marymount University “Blue Goose” building at the corner of Fairfax Drive and Glebe Road.

While the new store doesn’t have the surface parking lot of the former location, it is validating parking at the building’s underground garage off of N. Vermont Street.

News

Video: Moran Speaks Out Against Federal Pay Freeze Bill

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2013 at 2:30PM

Today the House of Representatives passed a bill (261-154) that would freeze the pay of federal workers for a third straight year.

Feature

Your Beermonger: Valentine’s Recommendations

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2013 at 1:35PM

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

So maybe it’s the day after Valentine’s Day but I know many couples who, when it lands in the middle of the week, choose to celebrate over the weekend. While it may be more traditional to have a nice bottle of Champagne or to pair some wine with a romantic dinner, there are some beers out there that I think would be appropriate for a nice romantic evening.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Rate Arlington’s Roads

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2013 at 11:55AM

Since Nov. 1, Arlington County crews have filled 1,007 potholes on county-maintained roads, according to Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman Shannon Whalen McDaniel. Compare that to the 2,184 potholes filled between the start of November and the end of February last year.

McDaniel attributed the big drop in potholes to the mild winter we’ve experienced so far.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 15, 2013 at 10:45AM

Same-Sex Couples Denied Marriage Licenses — In what has become a Valentine’s Day tradition in Arlington, three same-sex couples applied for and were denied marriage licenses at the Arlington County courthouse yesterday. Arlington Circuit Court Clerk Paul Ferguson reluctantly turned down the applications and spoke outside the courthouse in support of same-sex marriage. A similar demonstration, organized by another gay rights group, took place outside the courthouse last month. [Sun Gazette]

‘Dooring’ Bill Fails in Va. House — Legislation that would outlaw the “dooring” of bicyclists has failed in the Virginia House of Delegates. The bill had passed the state Senate but failed to pass a House committee earlier this week. The bill would have made it illegal to open a car door in the immediate path of a cyclist. Virginia is one of ten states in the country that do not have such a law on the books. [Washington Post]

Around Town

Closures for Washington’s Birthday

By ARLnow.com

Published February 14, 2013 at 3:45PM

Also called Presidents Day, the holiday marks the end of a string of winter federal holidays. The next federal holiday is Memorial Day, on May 27.

In Arlington, all courts, schools, libraries and county offices will be closed. All community centers will be closed, with the exception of the Barcroft Community Center, which will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Events

Today’s Featured Event

By ARLnow.com

Published February 14, 2013 at 3:30PM

One Billion Rising invites women and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to violence against women.

Living Vicky invites you to join us for a historic day of awareness, solidarity and “shaking our groove thang” in response to One Billion Rising’s call to action. Together, we will send a resounding global message promoting an end to violence against women.