Alex Koma | ARLnow

Country Clubs, County Strike Deal to End Tax Standoff

Published May 2, 2018 at 12:45PM | Updated May 2, 2018 at 5:52PM

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) A dispute between two private country clubs and Arlington County that resulted in some wrangling in Richmond seems to have come to an end.

The Army Navy Country Club (1700 Army Navy Drive) and Washington Golf and Country Club (3017 N. Glebe Road) were both pushing for property tax changes that could have cost the county roughly $1.4 million in tax revenue each year, even backing legislation at the state level this year to force those alterations. That miffed county leaders, who bristled at attempts by the state General Assembly to change Arlington’s tax policy to save money for the golf courses.

News

Arlington Environmental Group Adopts New Name to Attract Millennials

By Alex Koma

Published May 2, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated May 2, 2018 at 1:05PM

The conservationists with Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment are celebrating the group’s 40th anniversary by adopting a new name: EcoAction Arlington.

The group made the change official on Earth Day, April 22, but executive director Elenor Hodges says the rebranding has been in the works for the last year-and-a-half or so.

Schools

APS Eyes Seven Elementary Schools as Future “Option” Program Sites

By Alex Koma

Published May 2, 2018 at 9:45AM | Updated May 2, 2018 at 2:51PM

(Updated at 2:50 p.m.) Arlington Public Schools staff have named seven elementary schools that could host countywide “option” programs in the coming years, as officials move ahead with their reevaluation of elementary school boundaries scheduled to wrap up this fall.

Yesterday (May 1), APS released an updated draft analysis of potential changes to county elementary schools, with the bulk of the document addressing which schools could someday offer option programs — meaning they are open to student applicants from all over the county. APS currently is eyeing seven possible locations, but aims to keep a total of five schools as option program sites.

News

Transportation Planners Invite Arlingtonians to ‘Visualize 2045’

By Alex Koma

Published May 1, 2018 at 12:45PM

Transportation planners are inviting Arlingtonians to look three decades into the region’s future at a meeting tomorrow night.

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board is hosting a public forum focusing on its “Visualize 2045” initiative at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 2) at the Arlington Central Library.

Schools

APS Suspends Extended Day Registration, Following More Technical Problems

By Alex Koma

Published May 1, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated May 1, 2018 at 12:29PM

Parents wait in line at the Syphax Education Center to attempt to sign up for the "Extended Day" program. (photo courtesy of Drew Hopwood)

Arlington Public Schools has once again run into issues with online registration for its “Extended Day” program, prompting big headaches for parents and an indefinite delay in program sign-ups.

APS announced on its Facebook page at 9:30 a.m. that it will be suspending registrations for the program until it can resolve “technical issues” with its registration system. “Extended Day” is designed to offer low-cost care for students before and after school.

Around Town

Arlington Agenda: April 30-May 6

By Alex Koma

Published April 30, 2018 at 3:00PM | Updated April 30, 2018 at 3:19PM

Arlington Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in Arlington County. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out the event submission form.

Also, be sure to check out our event calendar.

News

Nelson Mandela’s Grandson Heads to GMU’s Arlington Campus, Hopes to Continue the South African Leader’s Legacy

By Alex Koma

Published April 30, 2018 at 1:45PM

Siyabulela Mandela, grandson of the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela, never thought he had much reason to come to America.

After all, the 25-year-old scholar is busy working on his doctorate at a South African university named for his famous grandfather. Someday, he even hopes to work as a diplomat for his country and follow in Nelson’s footsteps to resolve conflicts across Africa.

News

Arlington Plans to Renovate Dozens of Bus Stops Along Washington Boulevard, Eliminate Others

By Alex Koma

Published April 30, 2018 at 9:45AM | Updated April 30, 2018 at 12:29PM

(Updated 12:25 p.m.) Some big changes are on the way for bus stops around Arlington, as county workers kick off plans to shutter several lightly used stops and renovate dozens more.

The county is starting construction work this spring on a whole host of changes to its Metrobus and Arlington Rapid Transit stops along Washington Boulevard from Sycamore Street in East Falls Church to the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Route 50 in Lyon Park. In all, the county plans to add new amenities to busy stops and make every stop along the corridor more accessible for people with disabilities, according to a news release.

Schools

Following Sudden Death of Patrick Henry Elementary Principal, Temporary Replacement Named

By Alex Koma

Published April 27, 2018 at 10:45AM

Cameron Snyder, the school’s assistant principal for the last four years, will fill in as acting principal through the end of the school year, APS announced Friday (April 27).

Murphy cited Snyder’s “excellent leadership and support to the Henry community” in the wake of Turner’s death as a factor in his decision.

Around Town

Five Retailers Announce Plans to Open in Ballston Quarter

By Alex Koma

Published April 26, 2018 at 11:00AM | Updated April 26, 2018 at 11:55AM

Ballston Quarter is naming five more shops ahead of its planned opening this fall, with both local and national retailers signing up for space in the new development.

Forest City, the company that owns and manages the former Ballston Common Mall, announced the site’s first round of retail tenants on April 26.

News

Metro Warns Riders of Construction Delays Across All Lines This Weekend

By Alex Koma

Published April 26, 2018 at 10:00AM | Updated April 26, 2018 at 12:56PM

Metro is planning plenty of maintenance and construction this weekend, April 28-29, with work set to cause delays on all six lines.

Trains will run only once every 24 minutes on the Silver, Orange and Blue Lines, with single tracking in store for riders as well, Metro says.

News

Civic Groups Plan Meeting on Potential Cherrydale Senior Living Center

By Alex Koma

Published April 25, 2018 at 3:45PM | Updated April 25, 2018 at 4:06PM

A new senior living center could be coming to Cherrydale on a property along Lee Highway.

McLean-based Artis Senior Living is considering building a new facility on the north side of Lee Highway near the intersection with N. Taylor Street. Representatives intend to bring some development ideas to an April 26 community meeting convened by several civic associations.