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.
Meet the newest and sweetest Adoptable Pet of the Week, Keke!
Keke is a grey kitten currently in foster through the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. She’s patiently waiting to find her forever home.
Arlington County police are investigating gunshots fired in the Shirlington neighborhood this morning.
Several shots were fired around 2:30 a.m. Friday inside one of the neighborhood’s parking garages, on S. Randolph Street. Police searched the area but could not find anyone injured or anything damaged, nor did they find the shooter.
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The official start of winter is around the corner — Saturday, Dec. 21, to be exact — and it brings snow lovers hope that mother nature may soon bestow upon us a blanket of the white, fluffy kind.
With snow, of course, comes outdoor activities including sledding. Here in Arlington, there are plenty of sloping hills to choose from.
Here are the top picks for “Best Hill to go Sledding on in Arlington” as part of our ARLnow Readers’ Choice awards. Have we missed a great spot for sledding? Write it in! Voting will close in two weeks.
Voting for Best Place to Get a Massage 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 bakery. The results are now official:
FDIC on Chopping Block? — “The Trump transition team has started to explore pathways to dramatically shrink, consolidate or even eliminate the top bank watchdogs in Washington. In recent interviews with potential nominees to lead bank regulatory agencies, Trump advisers and officials from his newfound Department of Government Efficiency have, for example, asked whether the president-elect could abolish the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., people familiar with the matter said.” [WSJ]
Reminder: Wreath Weekend — “About 75 tractor-trailers loaded with handmade balsam wreaths will arrive in the county starting on Friday in preparation for the event expected to draw several thousand volunteers. Large crowds and heavy traffic are expected during the annual Wreaths Across America event on Saturday, which is one of two events bringing road closures to Arlington this weekend.” [ARLnow]
Summer Camp Registration Dates — “We’re excited to announce the registration dates for 2025 Summer Camps in Arlington County! Feb. 3: Early registration for those who are enrolled in DPR’s fee reduction program. Feb. 12: Registration for camps led by our partners. Feb. 19: Registration for Parks & Rec Camps.” [Arlington County]
Fairfax Leader Blasts Maryland — “A Virginia elected official said Maryland leaders don’t want traffic on the Capital Beltway to get better, and the reason, he said, is jobs. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay was referring to traffic near the Wilson Bridge and the Legion Bridge.” [NBC 4, Twitter]
Housing Proposal for Potomac Yard — “Developer JBG Smith announced plans today for 750 new residential units in Potomac Yard. The developer said the plan is to build a mix of multifamily, townhome and committed affordable units on the southern portion of the neighborhood across from the Potomac Yard Metro station… The proposed developments are on vacant lots south of the Metro station and south of where the planned arena would have been.” [ALXnow]
Storm Next Week? — From the Capital Weather Gang: “Watching — possible signal for some kind of Mid-Atlantic storm in about a week. We don’t think cold will be entrenched enough for a snowstorm in DC but mountains have a better chance. It’s worth monitoring. 3 model scenarios shown here.” [Twitter]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies during the day with a high temperature close to 41°F and a gentle breeze from the northeast. Heading into Friday night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy with temperatures dipping to about 28°F, accompanied by a 6 mph northeast wind. [NWS]
Flick pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 12, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect mostly sunny skies during the day with a high temperature close to 41°F and a gentle breeze from the northeast. Heading into Friday night, the skies will turn mostly cloudy with temperatures dipping to about 28°F, accompanied by a 6 mph northeast wind. See more from Weather.gov.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
The Yorktown High School ice-hockey club team lost its first game of the season recently to Stone Bridge, 5-4, in what was a hard-fought, penalty-filled match.
Despite the loss, Yorktown remained tied atop the Smythe Division of the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League with a 2-1 record.
Arlington high schools have a full week of sports action starting Friday (Dec. 13) as the winter season continues for all teams.
There are basketball games, a big wrestling tournament, swim-and-dive meets, girls gymnastics action, ice-hockey matches and indoor track-and-field events throughout the week. .
A man initially stopped for fare evasion at the Pentagon City Metro station is now facing a series of charges, including assault on police.
The incident happened Wednesday afternoon and involved an officer deployed to the area as part of a retail crime crackdown.
More ACPD DUI Patrols — “The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign aims to drastically reduce drunk driving… From December 11, 2024 – January 1, 2025, motorists nationwide can expect to see increased messaging about the dangers of driving under the influence, coupled with increased saturation patrols to identify and apprehend impaired drivers.” [ACPD]
Arlington Officer Profiled — “Christin Oesterling at one point was unsure of her career path, then while in college studied her criminal justice because she did not like ‘the bad guys.’ During that course of study her future was set, and she was motivated to become a police officer.” [Police Magazine]
Art in Crystal City Station — “Have you noticed the vibrant animated art by [George Mason University] students in our Metro system? You can find these eye-catching displays at stations like Crystal City, Farragut North, NoMa-Gallaudet U, Gallery Place – Chinatown, L’Enfant Plaza, and Metro Center.” [Bluesky]
Letters to Santa — From Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation: “Drop your letter to Santa off in one of our special mailboxes outside Gulf Branch and Long Branch Nature Centers! Ensure timely delivery to the North Pole by sending them in by Dec. 15 and make sure to let us know where Santa can send his postcard back.” [Twitter]
Nearby: BRT Study Moves Forward — The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission board on Dec. 5 voted to solicit bids to study the easternmost segment of the Tysons-to-Alexandria bus-rapid-transit (BRT) line planned for the Route 7 corridor. The final study area will be from Seven Corners east to Alexandria. A contract award is slated for springtime. [FFXnow]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high of 41 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind blowing at 10-14 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 26 degrees. The northwest wind at 6 mph will become calm during the evening. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 11, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high of 41 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind blowing at 10-14 mph and gusts reaching up to 22 mph. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low of 26 degrees. The northwest wind at 6 mph will become calm during the evening. See more from Weather.gov.
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.
A local senior citizen missing since late October has been found dead, according to Arlington County police.
Police had been looking for 79-year-old Michael Hendrickson since he was reported missing three weeks ago. He was last seen leaving his condo building near Pentagon City in a blue Land Rover, ACPD previously said.
