Ethan Rothstein | ARLnow

Published August 8, 2013 at 4:30PM

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing is planning to build a 104-unit apartment building to replace its three-story, 27-unit Carlyn Springs apartment complex near Ballston.

The site, at the intersection of N. Carlin Springs Road and Thomas Street, has gone through its first round of site plan approval meetings with the county, planning commissioners and civic associations, APAH President and CEO Nina Janopaul said. The new building is planned to be in an “S” shape, with five stories and underground parking. The building plan was amended to preserve a 100-year-old tree on the site.

News

Crime Report: Laundry Room Masturbation

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 8, 2013 at 9:30AM | Updated January 9, 2018 at 3:44PM

A man is accused of mastubating in a laundry room in the Buckingham area Monday afternoon.

According to this week’s Arlington County crime report, the suspect did the deed in front of a woman who was in the laundry room at the time.

News

Pentagon Announces Civilian Furlough Reduction

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 7, 2013 at 9:45AM

The Washington Monument seen in the background of the Pentagon during Hurricane Sandy (file photo)

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said in a memo to defense staff that the savings were accomplished thanks to Congress approving a reprogramming request, allowing the department to shift budgeted funds across accounts. Hagel also said more funds would be available for training and other military programs.

Many civilian defense employees are expected to have taken six furlough days by Aug. 17, in which case those employees wouldn’t need to take any additional furlough days.

News

Sheriff’s Deputy Murder Case Moves to Grand Jury

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 6, 2013 at 2:30PM

Patterson, 44, is accused of shooting and killing 22-year-old Julian Dawkins, an Alexandria resident. Patterson and his attorneys claim Dawkins attacked him with a knife, and he fired on Dawkins in self-defense. After hearing more than two hours of witness testimony, Alexandria General District Court Judge Becky J. Moore ruled there was probable cause to move forward and sent the case to a grand jury.

Alexandria Police Officer Judy Taylor, a crime scene investigator, testified that Dawkins, who drove a shuttle for PBS NewsHour in Shirlington, had a knife clipped to the outer portion of his jeans pocket, but it was folded up.

Schools

Countdown to High School Football Kickoff

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 6, 2013 at 10:45AM

Yorktown High School's MJ Stewart in 2011 (staff photo)

Fall practices for Arlington’s high school football teams began Monday, officially ending the summer for fall sports athletes. In about three weeks (August 29), defending National District champs Yorktown will open play. One month from today — Sept. 6 — will be the opening night of the season for Washington-Lee and Wakefield.

Those who want to get the chance to see one of the best football teams in the country should head to Bishop O’Connell on Oct. 26 to watch the team play Maryland’s Good Counsel. The date many in Arlington will want to circle on their calendars will be Nov. 8, the last game of the regular season, when Washington-Lee takes on Yorktown.

Events

County Fair to Host New Recycling Program

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 5, 2013 at 3:35PM

The Keep America Beautiful recycling campaign and the Alcoa Foundation will place 30 new, well-marked recycling bins throughout the fairgrounds.

Arlington is one of only three fairs in the country to host the campaign, which will also feature a booth at the fair where a team of “recycling ambassadors” will answer visitors’ questions, according to a program spokeswoman.

Events

Latte Art Competition Coming to Courthouse

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 5, 2013 at 2:35PM

Thursday Night Throwdown, a monthly competition for local coffee professionals, will be coming to Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) on Thursday. The event opens to the public at 8:30 p.m. and the competition begins at 9:00. The restaurant is technically closed during the event, but spectators can still what the competition and drink some artfully designed lattes.

About 30 baristas are expected to compete in the throwdown, fashioning leaves, hearts and more designs into the foam that sits atop the coffee drink. The event occurs monthly at a variety of small, independent coffee shops around the region, but only comes to Northern Virginia every once in a while.

Around Town

Pines of Florence Moves to Columbia Pike

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 5, 2013 at 1:00PM

Less than two months after its Virginia Square location closed, Pines of Florence is now open in a new location on Columbia Pike.

Pines of Florence abruptly closed up shop in Virginia Square in late June and was replaced quickly by the planned Water and Wall restaurant, operated by the owners of Maple Ave Restaurant in Vienna. On Sunday, the Italian restaurant and pizza shop launched a soft opening at 3207 Columbia Pike.

Around Town

D.C. Restaurant Week To Feature 13 Arlington Spots

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 5, 2013 at 10:30AM | Updated August 14, 2013 at 12:01PM

Thirteen Arlington restaurants are participating in the festivities. Each one offers a prix fixe, three-course menu for lunch and/or dinner, with the lunch menu running at $20.13 and dinner at $35.13. For a full listing of all the restaurants in the region participating in restaurant week or to reserve a table, visit their website.

Epic Smokehouse, 1330 S. Fern Street, 571-319-4001. Lunch Menu | Dinner Menu

Traffic

NB I-395 HOV Lanes to Close an Hour Earlier

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 5, 2013 at 9:30AM | Updated August 5, 2013 at 9:52AM

The northbound HOV lanes will now close during the week at 10:00 a.m. rather than 11:00, VDOT announced, and the southbound lanes will open at noon instead of 1:00 p.m.

The change in schedule will be in effect until mid-October “to help ease southbound congestion during construction of the 95 Express Lanes, the 95 Shoulder Lane project in Prince William County, and BRAC related work in the I-395/Seminary Road area along with routine summer road maintenance,” VDOT announced in a press release.

Events

Signature Theatre Hosts Open House For Start of Fall Season

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 2, 2013 at 4:30PM

In all, 31 concerts, cabarets, workshops and events will be held from noon to 9:00 p.m. in and around Signature, at 4200 Campbell Avenue.

Throughout the day, there will be outdoor activities for kids like a moon bounce, skeeball and basketball games, as well as free cotton candy and popcorn. To accommodate the festivities, the Arlington County Police Department is closing Campbell Avenue from the Harris Teeter to S. Randolph Street from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Traffic