Author: ARLnow.com

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.

Around Town

ARLnow’s Experience Applying for a Paycheck Protection Program Loan

By ARLnow.com

On March 25, the owner of ARLnow’s parent company — which also owns ALXnow, Tysons Reporter and Reston Now — sent an email to the manager of our local bank branch.

“My understanding is that banks will be offering some form of SBA loan for payroll support, with a provision for the payroll costs to be forgiven after a few months,” said the email, sent two days before the CARES Act was signed into law. “That is something we both very much need and want. Can you put me in line to apply for it when the bill passes and we know what the terms are?”

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News

Local Restaurant Sues Insurance Company Over Lack of Business Interruption Payment

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 12:40 p.m.) Across the country, restaurants have started suing insurance companies over their refusal to pay business interruption claims.

Many businesses have insurance policies that cover loss of income due to disasters. Restaurants say being forced to shut down by state and local governments to help slow the spread of the coronavirus is such a case and are seeking payments. Insurance companies, however, say the policies mostly cover interruptions caused by property damage, not diseases.

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News

Fire Department Sees Reduction in Calls Amid Pandemic

By ARLnow.com
An Arlington County firefighter wears a surgical mask while riding in Engine 105 fire truck (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 11:20 a.m.) The Arlington County Fire Department has seen a reduction in calls amid the coronavirus pandemic, though its members have remained busy.

In a typical day, ACFD dispatches personnel to about 80 calls. Currently, the number of daily dispatches is averaging in the mid-60s, according to spokesman Capt. Justin Tirelli.

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Opinion

Morning Poll: Tracking Coronavirus in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

On a Wednesday four weeks ago — which seems like a lifetime ago — Arlington had 36 known cases of COVID-19 and ARLnow conducted an unscientific poll.

Of nearly 2,800 respondents, 0.76% said they had tested positive for COVID, 4.4% said they had COVID-like symptoms, and 11.6% said they had a close personal connection who had tested positive.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com
N. Courthouse Rd. in Courthouse (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Meridian Pint Closes Temporarily — “I regret to inform you that one of our employees has contracted COVID-19. He was hospitalized and tested positive on Sunday, April 19th after not working in the restaurant for 9 days. In an effort to keep the rest of our staff healthy, as well as ensure the safety of our guests, we have decided to shut down until further notice.” [Facebook via @fritzhahn]

DCA Is a Ghost Town — A series of photos of emptiness at Reagan National Airport can make one envision tumbleweeds blowing through the terminals. [PoPville]

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News

Developer Seeking Permission to Add 15 Apartments to Va. Square Project

By ARLnow.com
Rendering of an approved development on N. Kirkwood Road in Virginia Square (via Arlington County)

Some changes might be made to a planned redevelopment project in the Virginia Square area.

The Arlington County Board is set to consider a request to add 15 apartment units to the 7-story building approved by the Board last June. The project, which has yet to start major construction, will replace a State Farm insurance office and other small commercial buildings near the corner of Washington Blvd and N. Kirkwood Road.

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Around Town

South Block Opening New Nonprofit Cafe in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com
South Block Fruitful Planet Market & Cafe in Clarendon (courtesy photo)

Local juice, smoothie and acai bowl chain South Block is opening a new cafe amid the coronavirus pandemic — for a good cause.

The company says it will be opening its first “Fruitful Planet Market & Cafe” in Clarendon tomorrow, on Earth Day. The cafe will be “completely not-for-profit” and will support South Block’s Fruitful Planet initiative.

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Weather

Freeze Warning Issued for Arlington

By ARLnow.com
Frost-covered leaf (Flickr pool photo by ksrjghkegkdhgkk)

Arlington County and much of the surrounding D.C. region is under a Freeze Warning.

The warning means that temperatures overnight may dip below freezing and kill unprotected plants. In other words: go get your garden covered now. Plus, the water line to your garden hose is also in danger of freezing.

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Around Town

Former County Intern Helps Workers Get Masks

By ARLnow.com
Former Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services intern Lucie (photo via Twitter)

A former intern in Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services has helped the county obtain 1,400 masks for workers.

The intern, Lucie, interned for DES in 2016 and has since been attending school in Hawaii, though she is currently back in her native China amid the coronavirus outbreak. Through a friend who runs a trading company in Hong Kong, she heard about a shipment of 1,400 face masks sitting in Los Angeles and immediately thought of her former colleagues.

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News

Three More Coronavirus Deaths Reported in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:15 a.m.) The reported number of people who have died from COVID-19 complications in Arlington increased by three overnight.

The death count rose from 20 to 23, according to the latest Virginia Health Department data. Arlington currently has 625 known coronavirus cases, 114 hospitalizations, 10 outbreaks and 2,487 tests conducted. There were 593 cases reported on Monday.

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News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Board Members Remember Erik Gutshall — “The four remaining Arlington County Board members – Chair Libby Garvey, Christian Dorsey, Katie Cristol and Matt de Ferranti – spent several minutes each remembering former Vice Chair Erik Gutshall, who died on Thursday after an 8-week battle with brain cancer.” [Blue Virginia]

School Board Discusses Distance Learning — “There’s both positive and negative news as Arlington Public Schools has pivoted to distance-learning in an effort to squeeze in some education during the COVID-19 lockdown. The good news? At least things have not gone as badly as in neighboring Fairfax County, where that school system’s attempt to re-start instruction collapsed in a technical debacle and ensuing recriminations last week. The bad news? Arlington school officials acknowledge that their efforts are not going to be able to replicate what could be accomplished during more normal time.” [InsideNova]

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