Launched in January 2010, ARLnow.com is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Arlington, Virginia. The ARLnow staff byline is used for the Morning Notes and reporting done by an editor or other member of our full-time staff.
Tom Flournoy died in his sleep the morning of October 27, 2024. He was 69.
Tom was born in Washington, DC. After graduating from Woodbridge Senior High School and Old Dominion University, he launched a successful career as a Professional Engineer, specializing in transportation projects from planning to final design. Projects he worked on included roadways, highways, bridges, transit facilities, commuter rail, and bike and pedestrian facilities. Many, if not most, were in the Washington, DC area, including Arlington County, which became Tom’s home in 1989. In his last position as VP at STV Inc., Tom was instrumental in starting and growing STV’s DC office, which is still thriving.
Nekoosa was adopted after 362 days (via Animal Welfare League of Arlington)
It took almost a year to find the perfect match for the dog having stayed the longest this year at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
But all worked out. Nekoosa — a mixed-breed dog “with the perfect mix of of laid-back and fun-loving energy” — recently went home with her new family on her 362nd day in the pet shelter’s care.
Ground floor of the Bozman Government Center in Courthouse (courtesy George Brazier)
APS Nixing ‘Grandfather In’ — Arlington Public Schools’ leadership is eliminating use of the phrase “grandfathered in” to describe students allowed to remain at a school after redistricting takes place. To some, the phrase is connected to the Jim Crow era. In its place will be “short-term exemptions.” –Scott McCaffrey
Street Race on Key Bridge — “A video of a street race in D.C. is going viral just days after Elon Musk reshared a similar video in Virginia. The video is less than 30 seconds and shows what appears to be a black Lamborghini racing a black Tesla with a Trump flag hanging out of the window on the Key Bridge.” [Fox 5, Twitter]
Yet Another Gun Caught at DCA — “An Annandale, Va., woman was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted a firearm among her carry-on items at one of the airport checkpoints on Thursday (October 31). The 9mm handgun was loaded with 12 bullets and was the fifth firearm that TSA officers detected at the airport during October.” [Press Release]
Rosslyn Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “This was a crash last night at the intersection of EB Langston Blvd and N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn (at the I-66E on-ramp). The car on Lynn clearly went through a red light at slow speed. But there’s more to this crash than just a red light runner that should be a warning for everyone driving here.” [Twitter]
Bar Foundation to Bestow Honor — Local attorney Mark Cummings will receive the 2024 William Winston Award, the highest accolade of the Arlington County Bar Foundation, for his professional achievements and civic service. The event will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Washington Golf & Country Club; luncheon tickets are $60. [ACBF]
Check Your Smoke Alarms — “A working smoke detector reduces the risk of a deadly fire in your home by 50%, according to national studies and local departments. With daylight saving time ending Sunday, homeowners are being reminded to do their twice-yearly checks to ensure their smoke alarms are working.” [WTOP]
Safe Driving Reminder — “Shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter mean reduced visibility on many parts of our roads. With the end of daylight saving time this Sunday, Nov. 3, it’s especially important to be extra vigilant while driving in dark conditions. Arlington’s Vision Zero traffic safety team notes that pedestrian crashes in the dark are twice as likely to happen between the months of October-February.” [Arlington County]
Preparing for Winter Weather — “As the brightly colored leaves drop off trees, that means snowy weather is not far away. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is stocked and ready for the winter ahead, and motorists are partners in making this season a safe one. VDOT has equipment, materials and staffing in place for the first wintery weather forecast so that it can provide roadway treatment and plowing as weather requires.” [Press Release]
It’s Monday — Expect a partly sunny day with a high near 63, and a light southeast wind between 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Monday night brings patchy fog between 1 am and 4 am, but it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 53 and a southeast wind at 3 to 6 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
Expect a sunny day with a high temperature near 63 and a north wind of 6 to 10 mph. The clear weather will continue into Saturday night, with a low around 42 and a light north wind. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! Feel free to discuss the most-read stories of the week, the upcoming weekend events or anything else of local interest in the comments. 👋
A woman was carjacked in Pentagon City last night.
It happened shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday — on Halloween — in a parking garage on the 1200 block of S. Fern Street, near Costco. A male suspect, accompanied by a female suspect, pulled a gun and demanded the keys to the woman’s Audi A4, according to police.
Arlington’s real estate market reflects the broader community — it’s diverse, dynamic, and never boring.
This weekend’s local open houses offer a snapshot of Arlington’s wide variety of real estate offerings, from affordable condos to multi-million dollar homes. One highlight: a 5 BD/3 BA craftsman home for $1 million with a large front yard and private fenced backyard.
When unexpected illnesses and emergencies happen, going to a trusted urgent care facility nearby can make all the difference.
From brief wait times and efficient service to staff expertise and overall patient experience, we have the top selections for “Best Urgent Care in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards.
Voting will close in two weeks, so don’t wait to vote for the urgent care you trust most!
Voting for Best Indoor Activity in Arlington is still taking place. Be sure to cast your vote before voting closes next Friday at 9 a.m.
Two weeks ago, we voted on Arlington’s best burger spot in Arlington. The results are now official:
A leaf-covered walking path in the morning sunshine (staff photo)
Time Change Reminder — From VDOT: “On Nov. 3 at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time will come to an end as we set our clocks back one hour. With dusk arriving an hour sooner, traveling in darker conditions can increase the risk of vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers should prepare to adapt to the time change and the risks it brings.” [Press Release]
Man With Gun Cited at DCA — “An Alexandria, Va., man was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport intercepted a firearm among his carry-on items at one of the airport checkpoints on Tuesday (October 29). The .380 caliber firearm was loaded with seven bullets.” [Press Release]
Barcroft Bridge Installed — From Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services: “A beloved footbridge connecting the Barcroft and Arlington Forest neighborhoods has been replaced over Grandma’s Creek after being destroyed in a 2022 storm. A project of DES and @arlparksrec with a land gift by @DominionEnergy.” [Twitter]
Local Jobless Rate Second Lowest in Va. — At 2.4%, Arlington’s September jobless rate was down from 2.6% in August but up from 2.3% a year ago. For September, Arlington was tied with Madison County for second lowest rate in the commonwealth, with only Highland County (2.3%) lower. [Virginia Employment Commission]
County GOP Mails Out Sample Ballot — The Arlington County Republican Committee raised $6,800 to mail out approximately 25,000 sample ballots earlier this week. “Grassroots supporters stepped up and invested,” party chair Matthew Hurtt said. While less intense than Democratic outreach efforts, it represents a more robust effort than in recent years by the local GOP. –Scott McCaffrey
GOP Encourages Election Day Filming — From the Arlington GOP: “The law permits citizens to film public interactions. If you’re a Republican poll greeter, voter, or concerned citizen, take your smart phone with you and catch these unhinged leftists losing their minds at polling locations.” [Twitter]
Early Voting Dip on Marathon Day — “It’s amusing how the Marine Corps Marathon suppressed turnout in Arlington, Virginia on the last Sunday of early voting.” [Twitter]
Election Day in Falls Church — “On Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the City of Falls Church polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters waiting in line to vote at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Polling places are accessible to persons with disabilities.” [City of Falls Church]
It’s Friday — There’s a 20% chance of brief showers before 2pm. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 75°F, accompanied by southwest winds at 11 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. In the evening, the skies will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 47°F and a north wind at 8 mph. [NWS]
Columbia Pike and S. Taylor Street (via Google Maps)
Arlington County police are investigating a shooting with multiple teen victims along Columbia Pike on Halloween night.
Numerous gunshots were heard around 10:45 p.m. Thursday. Police quickly responded to the intersection of the Pike and S. Taylor Street and found three people shot, according to scanner traffic, possibly as a result of two groups of people shooting at each other from across the street.
There’s a 20% chance of brief showers before 2pm. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high temperature near 75°F, accompanied by southwest winds at 11 mph and gusts up to 21 mph. In the evening, the skies will remain mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 47°F and a north wind at 8 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison
