Author: Dan Egitto

Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.

Around Town

Photos: American Legion Post 139 shows off new digs in Virginia Square

By Dan Egitto
American Legion Post 139 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A new American Legion post with a bar, a conference room, slot machines and an outdoor grill hosted an open house over the weekend.

American Legion Post 13 at 3445 Washington Blvd replaces a previous Legion building with a smaller footprint, which was demolished in 2020. The Virginia Square facility now sits at the foot of 160 units of affordable housing, half of which is set aside for veterans.

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News

Concerns about ACFD staffing and workplace culture drive new five-year plan

By Dan Egitto
CPSE technical advisor Ernst Piercy fields questions during an ACFD public engagement event (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Arlington County Fire Department has a new plan for the next five years centered on recruitment, retention and employee wellbeing.

ACFD’s first-ever strategic plan, released earlier this month, is part of an effort to refocus the department around core values. Based on community and employee concerns about staffing, health and workplace culture, the agency developed the document to solve problems and improve existing systems.

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County awards $2.4M to local nonprofits through equity-based grant pilot

By Dan Egitto
Arlington County Board members discussing a new grant program (photo via Arlington County/YouTube)

Arlington has awarded $2.4 million to nonprofits in a new equity-based grant program.

The county announced yesterday (Wednesday) that a total of 22 nonprofits received funding through the RACE to Rebuilding Trust and Community grant, designed to “support historically marginalized communities, ensuring equitable access to resources, transparency and accountability.” The Arlington County Board approved the grants in a unanimous vote.

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Stop giving iPads and MacBooks to all students, parent group tells APS

By Dan Egitto
Arlington Public Schools students learning on their devices while in-person during the pandemic (via APS/X)

A parent association is asking Arlington Public Schools to change its policy of providing every student with an iPad or MacBook.

Arguing that the devices are bad for children’s mental development and needlessly expensive, Arlington Parents for Education wants the Arlington School Board to roll back funding for them this budget cycle. It is requesting an end to the one-to-one policy for students in pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade, a reduction in devices for 3rd through 5th graders and a transition to PC laptops for grades 6 and up.

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New tree canopy goal for D.C. area calls on Arlington to get greener

By Dan Egitto
Trees in Glencarlyn (Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick)

The D.C. area’s council of governments wants to get at least half of the region covered in trees.

After years of shrinking tree cover, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) adopted a goal earlier this month of maintaining a minimum canopy of at least 50% throughout the D.C. area. It is calling on local governments including Arlington to commit to a similar goal.

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News

County Board’s stance on Israel-Hamas war considered amid ceasefire demands

By Dan Egitto
Activists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza at an Arlington County Board meeting (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Arlington County Board members broke several months of relative silence on the Israel-Hamas war this weekend.

Responding to demands for a county resolution in support of a ceasefire, several officials on Saturday voiced personal concerns about the conflict’s ongoing humanitarian toll. Although county leaders “do not handle international relations,” Chair Libby Garvey said, “I think we are all absolutely appalled and horrified by what’s going on.”

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News

Speed limits on these Arlington roads are dropping to 25 mph

By Dan Egitto
A 30 mph sign in the foreground and an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing in the background along N. Carlin Springs Road near N. George Mason Drive (via Google Maps)

Lower speed limits are going into effect on five Arlington roads.

The Arlington County Board on Saturday voted to reduce the speed limit from 30 to 25 mph on the following streets north of Arlington Blvd:

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Arlington crisis response team may get more staff and expanded hours

By Dan Egitto
Mobile Outreach Support Team coordinator Michael Keen shows Rep. Don Beyer the county's behavioral health crisis response van launched last month (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Arlington’s response team for people in mental health and substance use crises is on track for a substantial buildout.

An additional $478,286 in federal funds would allow Arlington to hire two therapists and another behavioral health specialist for the Mobile Outreach Support Team (MOST), a county report says. This would mean expanded hours of operation for the team that launched last summer with just three personnel.

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This Pentagon City intersection has seen 43 crashes since 2021

By Dan Egitto
Army Navy Drive and S. Hayes Street (via Google Maps)

A single Pentagon City intersection has been the site of dozens of crashes in recent years.

Videos of vehicles colliding at the intersection of Army Navy Drive and S. Hayes Street proliferate on the social media account of local public safety watcher Dave Statter. In several, drivers exiting I-395 can be seen hurtling into slower-moving vehicles on Hayes.

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New landmarks and historic home restoration among Arlington-funded projects requesting more time

By Dan Egitto
Fraber House in 2013 (via Arlington County)

Several projects approved in Arlington’s inaugural round of historic preservation grants may need some more time to wrap up.

The Arlington County Board on Saturday will consider extending agreements with five projects that were among the first to receive county dollars last year from the Historic Preservation Fund. The grant recipients originally agreed to finish by June 30, but due to “unpredictable delays,” a county report recommends pushing back the deadline to Dec. 31.

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Former County Board members cast endorsements as donations flow into Arlington campaigns

By Dan Egitto
Election Day 2022 in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 10:35 a.m.) Democratic candidates are racking up tens of thousands of dollars in donations, as well as numerous notable endorsements, as this year’s local races heat up.

Three Arlington County Board contenders are leading the pack in terms of donations for this election cycle, campaign finance reports show. Natalie Roy has raised about $41,000 so far, JD Spain has raised $37,000 and Tenley Peterson has raised $23,000.

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Construction of park and street upgrades near HQ2 slated for County Board consideration

By Dan Egitto
The Sage Modern Apartments and half of the 'Teardrop Parcel' slated to become 'Arlington Junction Park' (via Google Maps)

Construction of a new park near Amazon’s HQ2 as well as improvements to sidewalks and bike lanes in the area could begin soon.

Arlington Junction Park is projected to be complete at 1051 S. Eads Street in about 18 months, if the Arlington County Board approves a $2.5 million contract on Saturday. The Board will also consider $2.9 million for two projects to improve S. Eads Street between Army Navy Drive and 15th Street South.

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