Ethan Rothstein | ARLnow

Special Election Already Drawing Sizable Turnout

Published August 18, 2014 at 4:55PM

The election is between Democrat Richard “Rip” Sullivan and Republican Dave Foster, two attorneys who have had to throw together campaigns in less than two months after Brink announced his resignation on June 27.

According to Arlington General Registrar Linda Lindberg, her office has already received about 1,000 ballots, which is more than the total number of absentee ballots cast in the county for the June Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District seat. Lindberg theorized that the numbers are inflated because so many people will be out of town tomorrow, but was still surprised at the volume.

Events

Rosslyn Jazz Festival Returns Sept. 6

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 18, 2014 at 3:20PM

On Saturday, Sept. 6, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway), four jazz bands will take the stage while attendees can enjoy a picnic, food and fashion trucks and beer and wine.

This year, the Rosslyn Business Improvement District is hosting its 24th jazz festival, and once again it’s free to attend. Parking is available in the garage at 1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, and several streets around the park, including Lee Highway, will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Around Town

Custis Trail ‘Bikeometer’ Passes 200,000 Trips

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 18, 2014 at 1:45PM | Updated August 18, 2014 at 2:31PM

As of last night, the counter was up to 204,899 trips since it was unveiled on April 1. There were 706 trips recorded today at 12:43 this afternoon, and 24,907 trips this month. The “Bikeometer” has been getting good reviews from the community, according to county Department of Environmental Services spokeswoman Shannon Whalen McDaniel.

“Many people have said that previously they had no idea how many other cyclists bike through Rosslyn,” she said. “County staff did not have a precise understanding of how many bicyclists were using the Custis Trail through the Rosslyn Circle area. With the installation of the Bikeometer counter and display we now know a lot more about the number of bicycle travelers on an average day, and how that number changes over the course of the year and by the day of the week. We’re also learning more about how factors such as weather can impact bicycle travel.”

Feature

Rosslyn’s LeagueApps Builds ‘More Fun’ Rec Sports Platform

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 18, 2014 at 12:45PM | Updated September 3, 2018 at 10:13PM

Editor’s Note: Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups, founders and funders. The Ground Floor is Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

Making the peripheral parts of rec sports easier was the stated goal of LeagueApps when it launched in 2011, and the company has tried to do just that for a growing roster of 600 leagues around the country. LeagueApps provides a platform for leagues, such as Arlington-based D.C. Social Sports, to manage registration, payment, rosters and other processes that go into organizing rec sports.

Schools

Baird Resigns, Leaves School Board With Three Members

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 18, 2014 at 10:30AM

Baird is the second School Board member to resign this summer, following Noah Simon’s resignation on Aug. 1. That leaves the School Board with just three members: Chair James Lander, Vice Chair Emma Violand-Sanchez and Abby Raphael.

There will be no special election to replace Baird, since the election to fill her seat is already on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Barbara Kanninen and Audrey Clement are running to fill her seat, while Nancy Van Doren is running unopposed to fill Simon’s seat.

Events

Arlington Agenda (Aug. 18-24)

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 18, 2014 at 5:00AM

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.

Feature

Your Beermonger: Water, Water Nowhere

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 15, 2014 at 9:45PM

Editor’s Note: This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway).

Much like winemakers, chefs, and cheesemakers, there’s a strong conservation streak that runs through brewers.

Traffic

Family of Three Sent to Hospital in Rt. 50 Wreck

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 15, 2014 at 4:15PM | Updated July 11, 2017 at 4:44PM

Two parents and a small child are at Inova Fairfax Hospital this afternoon after a two-car collision at the intersection of Route 50 and N. Park Drive.

The two adults were transported in “serious, but non-life-threatening condition,” according to a police officer on the scene, and a small child, with them in the car, was taken with them as a precaution, although the child appeared healthy.

Schools

APS Buys New Football Helmets to Prevent Concussions

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 15, 2014 at 2:15PM | Updated August 15, 2014 at 3:56PM

APS purchased more than 325 Riddell Revolution Speed helmets this summer with carryover superintendent funds from last year’s budget, APS Supervisor for Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debbie DeFranco told ARLnow.com. The helmets all received five-star ratings from a new Virginia Tech Helmet Rating System, which grades helmets on safety from one (lowest) to five (highest) stars.

The helmets will replace current helmets that graded between two- and four-stars, said DeFranco, who added that all helmets APS has used in football practices and games had previously passed the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment tests for safety.

Feature

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 15, 2014 at 12:00PM

There are just a few weeks left before schools open and summer as we know it is officially over. In between picnics and lamenting the time gone by, there are several open houses around the county worth checking out.

See our real estate section for a full listing of open houses. Here are a few highlights:

News

Cracked Rail on Blue Line Snarls Morning Commute

By Ethan Rothstein

Published August 15, 2014 at 10:35AM

Photo via @OdeclasV

A cracked third rail between the Arlington Cemetery and Rosslyn Metro stations caused at least four Blue Line trains to stop on the tracks, causing major delays and overcrowding on Blue, Orange and Silver Line platforms this morning.

The problems started before 8:00 a.m. as Blue Line trains traveling into D.C. from Arlington were becoming disabled when they were going over the cracked rail. On Twitter, one rider reported “Just past [Arlington National Cemetery] there was a loud pop and train went dark and shut off. We broke down after [Foggy Bottom].”

Just Listed in Arlington

Published August 15, 2014 at 5:00AM

Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

The Arlington real estate market continues to be steady and consistent this summer. The numbers this week track almost identically to last week with 61 new listings and 49 properties going under contract.