ARLnow.com | ARLnow

Board Discusses Harris Teeter ‘Claims’ in Closed Session

Published January 31, 2013 at 2:05PM

The Harris Teeter at 3600 S. Glebe Road, near Potomac Yard, remains closed with no reopening date in sight. The grocery store was flooded with raw sewage on May 11, 2012, due to a clog at the nearby Arlington County Water Pollution Control Plan.

Earlier this month, Arlington County spokeswoman Mary Curtius told ARLnow.com that “no civil lawsuits have been filed” against the county as a result of the sewage incident. But at its Tuesday meeting the County Board adjourned to closed session to discuss, as County Board Chair Walter Tejada put it, “two matters requiring consultation with the County Attorney and staff concerning pending claims made by Harris Teeter and others, arising from an incident on May 11, 2012.”

News

ACPD: No Charges to Be Filed Against Patrick Moran

By ARLnow.com

Published January 31, 2013 at 1:25PM

In a statement released this afternoon (below), the Arlington County Police Department said it has completed an investigation and will not be filing charges against Patrick Moran, who resigned as Director of Field Operation for his father’s reelection campaign following the release of the video.

The video was created by Project Veritas, a nonprofit investigative group founded by conservative activist James O’Keefe. The police department said the video-makers did not cooperate with their investigation.

News

Man Who Fought Thief For Bike Says He Had the Last Laugh

By ARLnow.com

Published January 31, 2013 at 11:55AM | Updated January 31, 2013 at 12:16PM

The victim of that alleged crime wrote us shortly thereafter and said it was actually he who had the last laugh.

The man, who didn’t want his name published but who was able to confirm non-public details about the incident, says he successfully recovered his pricey Gary Fisher mountain bike while the thief only managed to punch him once and take off with his girlfriend’s used $100 bike with pink tires.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 31, 2013 at 11:00AM

APS Announces Make-up Day Plan — Arlington Public Schools has lost three days this school year due to inclement weather, including the day lost as a result of the controversial decision to close this past Monday for what turned out to be mostly drizzle. APS has announced its make-up plan, though most schools will not actually have to make up any days due to additional hours built into the school calendar this year. Those impacted by the make-up plan are elementary schools with early release and the Stratford Program, which will see three abbreviated days turned into full days as part of the make-up plan. [Arlington Public Schools]

County to Explore More Options for Reeves Farmhouse — Arlington County is issuing a ‘request for information’ for the historic Reevesland farmhouse. The county is now seeking ideas from individuals and groups who want to use the farmhouse and its grounds but don’t have the nearly $1 million necessary for repairs to the property. That’s a win for one group of residents who have been pushing for the property to be used as a learning center. “We’re open to the idea of shared investment,” said County Manager Barbara Donnellan. [Sun Gazette]

Weather

Arlington Under Tornado Watch

By ARLnow.com

Published January 30, 2013 at 7:15PM | Updated January 31, 2013 at 9:53AM

Arlington and the surrounding D.C. region is now under a Tornado Watch.

The warning of possible tornadic activity comes as a strong storm front approaches the area. We’re also under a Flash Flood Watch and a Wind Advisory. From the National Weather Service:

News

Crime Report: Taxis Stolen

By ARLnow.com

Published January 30, 2013 at 5:00PM

Arlington County auto crimes detectives are “actively engaged in” an investigation into the thefts, said ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, who couldn’t recall any other taxi thefts in Arlington in the past year. The cabs all had D.C. tags and ranged in model year from 1998 to 2004.

From the stolen vehicle portion of this week’s crime report:

Feature

Arlington Pet of the Week

By ARLnow.com

Published January 30, 2013 at 1:00PM

Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Charlotte, a Shiba Inu-Chihuahua mix puppy.

Rescued from a high-kill shelter in North Carolina, Charlotte now resides with owner Jeannie on Columbia Pike, in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Jeannie wrote the following about Charlotte.

Events

Today’s Featured Events

By ARLnow.com

Published January 30, 2013 at 12:00PM

The winner will be announced at the end of the night and will receive $100 cash as a prize. The audience will also select its favorite! The winners of our monthly contests go on to compete in Tournaments where the prize jumps to $250. Submit your 100-word story synopsis at storyleague.org or fill out a card at the show.

Join us this Thursday, January, 31st for a “Beer and Bundle Bash” featuring Baltimore and San Francisco beer as well as our Prepared Foods Super Bundle.

Weather

Very Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Possible Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Published January 30, 2013 at 11:20AM

A cold front will bring high winds, heavy rain and possible thunderstorms tonight.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for Arlington and the D.C. region and Arlington County just issued the following alert.

News

BREAKING: Police Arrest Three for Murder of 87-Year-Old Arlington Man

By ARLnow.com

Published January 29, 2013 at 12:58PM | Updated January 29, 2013 at 2:13PM

(Updated at 1:15 p.m.) Arlington County police have arrested three suspects in the murder of an 87-year-old Arlington man.

Today, the Arlington County Police Department announced that three people have been arrested in connection with Wood’s death, which is now suspected to be a homicide.

Events

Del. Hope to Hold Town Hall on School Safety

By ARLnow.com

Published January 28, 2013 at 5:00PM

Hope was recently appointed to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Task Force on School and Campus Safety, which was created in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The task force has been charged with making recommendations regarding improvements to school safety practices at K-12 schools and at colleges and universities. Such improvements may include expanded use of school resource officers or security guards, new state or local programs or policies, and improvements to Virginia’s mental health system.

From 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, interested parents, students and residents are invited to discuss school safety with Del. Hope at the Wakefield High School auditorium (4901 S. Chesterfield Road). Hope will give an update about the work of the task force and listen to concerns and recommendations from the audience.

News

Construction of Aquatics Center to Start This Fall

By ARLnow.com

Published January 28, 2013 at 3:15PM

The $80 million facility is to be built just north of Crystal City in Long Bridge Park. IT will feature a 50 meter by 25 yard fitness and competition pool, a family leisure pool, a hot water therapy pool, a “teaching pool,” and a “free-form water play area that will… have a lazy river, slides, play features, and a zero-depth ‘beach’ entry.”

“It is expected that the design will be completed in late spring with construction bids being sought in the early summer,” Arlington County Dept. of Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Susan Kalish told ARLnow.com on Friday. “It is anticipated that the County Board will award a construction contract in the early fall with construction starting in late fall. After two years of construction the opening of the Facility and park is expected in the fall of 2015.”