ARLnow.com | ARLnow

New Cases, Hospitalizations Continue Pointing Slightly Down in Arlington

Published May 22, 2020 at 10:50AM | Updated May 22, 2020 at 11:12AM

(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) Two of the key metrics to track the coronavirus epidemic in Arlington are pointing in the right direction, but only modestly so.

Both new cases and hospitalizations are down, following the release of Friday’s COVID-19 data by the Virginia Dept. of Health.

News

Milestone Passed in Virginia Hospital Center Expansion

By ARLnow.com

Published May 22, 2020 at 10:00AM

Construction at Virginia Hospital Center on May 19, 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Work on Virginia Hospital Center’s expansion project has hit a new milestone.

After months of excavation at the site, the first concrete footers are now being poured for the hospital’s new parking garage.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 22, 2020 at 7:30AM

Special Election Voting Starts Today — “Arlington election officials have announced plans for two Saturday dates for in-person absentee voting in advance of the July 7 County Board special election. Saturday voting will be available on June 20 and July 4, augmenting the usual Monday-to-Friday early voting that will begin May 22.” [InsideNova]

Big Food Donation to Green Valley Church — “3,300 lasagna and vegetable meals donated by chef Jose Andres’ @WCKitchen were given to those in need at Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington [on] May 21.” [@ZoeyMaraistACH/Twitter]

News

National Guard Conducts Mass Testing at Local Senior Care Facility

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 3:45PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:20AM

National Guard members prepare for mass testing at the Sunrise at Bluemont Park senior living facility (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A contingent of National Guard members, some in camo and others in full protective gear, descended on the Sunrise at Ballston Park senior living center today for mass testing of staff and residents.

The coronavirus testing comes amid a worsening outbreak at the facility, located at 5910 Wilson Blvd. While Sunrise had for weeks avoided the kind of large outbreak that has sickened dozens at Regency Care of Arlington in Pentagon City and Brookdale Senior Living in Virginia Square — and possibly others — on Tuesday the facility’s executive director informed families that it had just confirmed the first cases among residents.

News

Two Teens Arrested for Vandalism at New Middle School

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 2:50PM

Two Arlington teens are facing felony charges after an alleged vandalism spree in the new Dorothy Hamm Middle School.

Police were dispatched to the under-construction school on Vacation Lane — which formerly housed the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program — just after 11 p.m. Wednesday, following a burglar alarm activation. They found two 18-year-olds and a slew of damaged property, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

News

ACFD Helps Battle Fire at Edy’s Chicken & Steak on Route 7

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 12:25PM

Fire at Edy's Chicken & Steak (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Arlington and Alexandria firefighters assisted their Fairfax County counterparts in battling a restaurant fire along Route 7 this morning.

Firefighters from several jurisdictions were dispatched shortly before 11:30 a.m. to Edy’s Chicken & Steak Restaurant, at 5240 Leesburg Pike, in a shopping plaza just across the Arlington border in Fairfax.

News

Tall Man Wearing Short Shorts Prompts Call to Police

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 11:40AM

File photo

A man wearing shorts that apparently did not fully cover his genitals prompted calls to police Wednesday in the Donaldson Run neighborhood.

Arlington County Police were dispatched to the area of Zachary Taylor Park, on the 2900 block of Military Road, around 11:30 a.m. and again shortly after 1 p.m. Callers described a tall man who was exposing himself, in sight of children.

News

Cafe Pizzaiolo in Shirlington Auctioning Off Furnishings, Equipment

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 10:30AM | Updated May 21, 2020 at 11:00AM

The future of Cafe Pizzaiolo in Shirlington is in doubt, with most of its equipment and furnishings listed on a commercial auction website.

Everything from light fixtures to kitchen equipment to trash cans are on the auction block. The auction website says the restaurant, which is not named but is clearly Cafe Pizzaiolo in photos, “is closing and will make a liquidation.” The auction closes on Wednesday, June 3.

Schools

Yorktown Principal Apologizes for Banner Seen as Racist

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 9:30AM | Updated May 21, 2020 at 9:49AM

Screenshot of a social media post about Yorktown High School's controversial banner

A banner featuring a collage of photos of Yorktown High School seniors was intended to celebrate the class of 2020, but instead it is being decried as racist.

The banner has since been removed and Yorktown’s principal has apologized, after the controversy blew up on social media yesterday. At issue: the banner uses class photos to form an image of the Yorktown logo, but singles out students of color to create the black outline of the logo.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 21, 2020 at 7:30AM

No Word Yet on N. Va. Reopening — “Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday he has not decided whether Northern Virginia can enter Phase One of reopening on May 29. Northam last week delayed the region’s entry into the first phase of easing restrictions designed to slow the spread of coronavirus until at least midnight on May 28. Most of the rest of the state began easing restrictions on Friday, May 15.” [InsideNova]

Nam-Viet Back Open — Long-time Clarendon restaurant Nam-Viet is back open, starting today, for takeout. “The last two months have been the most challenging time for our restaurant since we first opened our doors 34 years ago,” Nam-Viet said on social media. [Facebook]

Feature

Small Business Shoutout: Thank You to Backyard Homes

By ARLnow.com

Published May 20, 2020 at 10:30PM

Backyard Homes models

One year ago today, ARLnow reported on the Arlington County Board’s decision to loosen zoning regulations on accessory dwelling units — also known as backyard cottages.

Now that you can build separate dwellings in your backyard — to house grandma and grandpa, host an au pair, or generate rental income — the question is: who do you get to build it?

Around Town

County Resuming Bulk Trash Collection Next Week

By ARLnow.com

Published May 20, 2020 at 4:30PM

Trash barrel from DES on N. Glebe Road (file photo)

Arlington’s residential waste collection crews will be gradually resuming their collection of bulk items, starting next week.

“Limited curbside bulk item trash collection returns the week of May 25 but to avoid overwhelming the crews and system, residents must call 703-228-5000 to schedule a bulk pickup on their trash day,” the county said on its website. “Limited to 100 customers per day the week of May 25 (regular Monday trash routes on Memorial Day); 150 customers per day the week of June 1.”