Author: James Jarvis

James Jarvis covers county government, schools local politics, business openings, and development for both FFXnow and ARLnow. Originally from Fauquier County, he earned his bachelor’s degree in government from Franklin & Marshall College and his master’s degree in journalism from Georgetown University. Previously, he reported on Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties for Rappahannock Media/InsideNoVa.

Traffic

GW Parkway closure to detour traffic onto Arlington roads for the next two weekends

By James Jarvis
Map of planned GW Parkway closure (courtesy National Park Service)

A stretch of the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway will be closed over the next two weekends.

The closures, affecting the stretch between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123, will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 26, and end at 5 a.m. on Monday, July 29, before the morning rush hour, per a National Park Service press release.

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News

County Board approves the return of Kinhaven School to original home in Ballston

By James Jarvis
Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston as it prepared to open in 2024 (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

Kinhaven School is set to return to its original home on Fairfax Drive following the Arlington County Board’s approval of a childcare center permit.

Formerly housed within Central United Methodist Church in Ballston, Kinhaven moved in 2017 to St. George’s Episcopal Church at 915 N. Oakland Street in Ashton Heights after its original site was redeveloped into a 144-unit affordable housing complex. That complex, at 4201 Fairfax Drive in Ballston, officially opened earlier this year and includes a new space for the church and room for a childcare center.

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News

Some Green Valley residents concerned about proposed childcare center at new church

By James Jarvis
Saint Timothy and Saint Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church in Green Valley (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Arlington County Board is considering a proposal for a childcare center on the third floor of the newly constructed Saint Timothy and Saint Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Church (STSA) in Green Valley.

However, the proposal, introduced by the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) in April, has raised concerns among nearby residents worried that the childcare center’s size and rooftop playground will create traffic and noise issues.

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Around Town

Siam Shinzo changes hands again, reopens as Siam Miyaki with familiar flavors

By James Jarvis
Siam Miyaki in Cherrydale (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The sushi and Thai food restaurant in Cherrydale at 3813 Langston Blvd has once again changed hands.

Now renamed Siam Miyaki, this represents the eatery’s fifth change in ownership in four years. Arlington residents Onin Saleerum and Isara “Ming” Tawkrue have taken over the lease from May Ditnoy, the previous owner of Siam Shinzo, which was previously known as Tuna Restaurant.

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News

In Arlington’s race to become carbon neutral, some residents seeking green upgrades feel left behind

By James Jarvis
Workers installing solar panels (via Arlington DES)

This reporting was supported by the ARLnow Press Club. Join today to support in-depth local journalism — and get an exclusive morning preview of each day’s planned coverage.

Arlington is rolling out a series of green initiatives, pouring millions into revamping its public infrastructure.

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Around Town

From journalist to Jiu-Jitsu medalist, Arlingtonian wins bronze at world championship

By James Jarvis
Beatrice Jin at the 2024 IBJJF Worlds (courtesy of Lu'nivers Athletics)

One of Arlington’s own has secured her place among the world’s top Jiu-Jitsu martial artists.

With only a few years of training under her belt, last week, Beatrice Jin, a 28-year-old journalist from Arlington, clinched bronze at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championships at the Walter Pyramid in Anaheim, California.

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Schools

APS to expand green school bus fleet via $1 million in federal funding

By James Jarvis
Arlington County school buses (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington Public Schools is set to add several new all-electric school buses to its fleet next year.

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Arlington is among 18 Virginia school districts awarded the 2023 Clean School Bus rebate to purchase five new all-electric (or low-emission) buses.

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News

Arlington high school student’s artwork selected for display in U.S. Capitol

By James Jarvis
'Museum Portal' by Kaya Vickers

A student artist from Arlington’s Washington-Liberty High School will soon see her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol.

Last week, Rep. Don Beyer announced that junior Kaya Vickers’ acrylic painting, “Museum Portal,” was selected from dozens of entries by Northern Virginia students in the 8th congressional district.

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Around Town

Photos: Soldiers honor fallen with 260,000 flags at Arlington National Cemetery

By James Jarvis
Flags In ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on May, 23, 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

As the sun peeked over the horizon this morning, nearly 1,500 shadows danced across Arlington National Cemetery’s 639 acres as soldiers placed flags at each grave, including of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Starting at 6 a.m., members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Army’s oldest active-duty infantry unit — known as the “Old Guard” — began the solemn task of placing flags at the base of approximately 260,000 headstones as part of their annual “Flags In” tradition, held just before Memorial Day.

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News

FAFSA portal glitches fuel college anxieties, Arlington students and staff tell Sen. Warner

By James Jarvis
Sen. Mark Warner listens to Arlington High School student speak at Marymount University event (staff photo by James Jarvis

For weeks, every time Mike Najarro attempted to log into the federal student aid portal, he received an error message about server maintenance.

The Washington-Liberty High School senior watched with growing anxiety as the portal faltered, concerned these technical delays could thwart his chance to be the first in his family to attend college.

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Around Town

New upscale sushi restaurant slated to open next year in Pentagon City

By James Jarvis
Sage Apartments in Pentagon City in 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A new high-end sushi restaurant appears to be coming to Pentagon City.

The realty management company Rappaport announced on its website that the creators behind Gyu Shige Japanese BBQ & Bar in Fairfax’s Mosaic District have leased about 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space below the Sage at National Landing, a 306-unit multifamily building at 480 11th Street S.

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News

Report: Arlington’s homeless population is up 14% since 2023, despite improved shelter access

By James Jarvis
A sleeping bag and roll of toilet paper in an alcove of the elevated walkway in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington’s homeless population grew by 14% in the past year, according to a recent report.

However, the county’s efforts to expand shelter capacity and enhance outreach have led to more homeless individuals gaining access to shelter and fewer homeless survivors of domestic violence and transition-age youth, per a report released on Wednesday by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG)

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