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.

Events

Solar eclipse in Arlington: where to watch, learn and get free glasses

By Dan Egitto

As Arlington prepares for next week’s solar eclipse, several local events are lined up for residents to learn about, watch and pick up glasses for the celestial event.

Although Arlington won’t be in the path of totality running from Texas to Maine, we’ll be getting 87% coverage around 3:20 p.m. on Monday, April 8. The National Weather Service currently predicts partly cloudy skies that day.

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News

Higher minimum wage and recreational marijuana vetoed despite Arlington senator’s efforts

By Dan Egitto
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Two key pieces of legislation backed by one of Arlington’s state senators got the ax in Richmond last week.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Thursday vetoed bills that would have legalized the sale of retail marijuana in Virginia and raised the state’s minimum wage. State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D), who represents part of Arlington and Fairfax County as well as Alexandria, co-sponsored both bills.

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Around Town

When and where to find Arlington farmers markets this spring

By Dan Egitto
An Arlington farmers market (courtesy of Ballston BID)

With springtime in the air in Arlington, many local farmers markets are coming back to life.

Vendors selling seasonal fruits and veggies and other local goods will return to several neighborhoods in the coming weeks following a yearly winter hiatus.

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Around Town

Japanese restaurant serving sushi and ramen expected to open in a few weeks in Ballston

By Dan Egitto
Kanji Izakaya (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A new Japanese restaurant in Ballston may open later this month.

Preparations for Kanji Izakaya have been underway at 4301 Fairfax Drive since at least last June. That’s when a permit application indicated that a new eatery was coming to the sizable former home of Willow restaurant, which closed in 2015.

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Around Town

New food hall with focus on local restaurants and fresh tech seeks to ‘restart Rosslyn’

By Dan Egitto
Upside on Moore (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A new Arlington food hall opened this week with the hope of breathing more life into Rosslyn.

Featuring fresh technology, murals by local artists and a full plate of nine D.C.-area food vendors, Upside on Moore has taken over the former site of Assembly at Rosslyn City Center (above the Metro station).

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News

Campaigns for Arlington County Board and School Board kick into gear

By Dan Egitto
Arlington Central Library November 2023 election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

While the presidential primaries are now a done deal, races for Arlington Democratic nods are just getting started.

A full slate of candidates are vying for seats on the Arlington School Board and Arlington County Board. Five Democratic contenders are jockeying for the place of outgoing County Board Chair Libby Garvey and another four are gunning for two School Board seats.

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News

AIM promises ‘relaunching’ with clear financial game plan at feisty virtual meeting

By Dan Egitto
AIM board members addressing the public at a virtual meeting in March 2024 (via Arlington Independent Media/Zoom)

Updated 3/27 After an intense several weeks involving a county audit, a board president’s resignation and a mass layoff of all staff members, Arlington Independent Media is attempting to turn a new leaf.

The beleaguered nonprofit’s board members, now the only operational staff of the longstanding public access television and radio broadcaster, sketched out a tentative path forward yesterday (Monday) while fielding questions — and occasional accusations — from members of the public.

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News

Woman who killed alleged drug dealer outside Burger King in Arlington sentenced to 10 years

By Dan Egitto
File photo

A woman has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars for killing a man in the parking lot of an Arlington Burger King in 2022.

A judge on Friday sentenced 48-year-old April Puckett to seven years of imprisonment for second-degree murder and three years for using a firearm in commission of a felony. This was less than the maximum sentence of 13 years that Puckett agreed to when she pleaded guilty in November.

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News

Bill supporting $20K grants for first-generation homebuyers might not be enough for Arlington, experts say

By Dan Egitto
Illustration of a real estate for sale sign in Arlington (generated by DALL-E)

Virginia’s U.S. senators are throwing their weight behind a bill to support first-generation homebuyers.

The Downpayment Toward Equity Act would provide grants of up to $20,000 to support socially and economically disadvantaged homebuyers. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine are co-sponsoring the bill, alongside several fellow Democrats, saying this will help close equity gaps.

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News

Serious crimes still increasing as Arlington continues search for more police

By Dan Egitto
Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Serious crimes remain on the rise in Arlington as the Arlington County Police Department continues to seek more officers.

Simple assaults increased in 2023 for the fourth year in a row, while narcotics offenses surged 19% compared to the previous year, Chief Andy Penn told the Arlington County Board at a budget work session on Thursday. Every major category of offenses — crimes against persons, property and society — went up last year, he said.

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News

Arlington’s top communications official is leaving for the federal government

By Dan Egitto
Bryna Helfer (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Arlington County is losing its top communications official.

Bryna Helfer, Assistant County Manager and Director of Communications and Public Engagement, will be departing from the county’s leadership ranks at the end of this month.

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News

No speed limit reduction coming to S. Carlin Springs, despite some County Board concerns

By Dan Egitto
A crash on S. Carlin Springs Road on Sept. 14, 2023 (courtesy anonymous)

Safety concerns about crash-prone S. Carlin Springs Road dominated an Arlington County Board discussion on speed limit reductions yesterday (Tuesday).

The stretch of Carlin Springs south of Arlington Blvd saw a total of 92 crashes, including three involving severe injuries or deaths, between 2016 and 2021, according to a county study. However, it is not among the five other roads, including part of N. Carlin Springs, that are expected to have speed limits reduced from 30 to 25 mph.

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