Author: Jo DeVoe

Schools

An uptick in paid holidays for 12-month APS employees rankles School Board watchdog and some teachers

By Jo DeVoe
The Arlington Public Schools Syphax Education Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

School Board watchdog group Arlington Parents for Education (APE) is asking the auditor for Arlington Public Schools to dive into the potential impacts of an increase in paid holidays for year-round staff.

Two school years ago, new religious and cultural holidays were added to the calendar and Supt. Francisco Durán announced APS would fully close for winter and spring breaks. APE said in a new letter to the auditor that this decision could cost millions and may hurt morale of 10-month employees, who are not paid for these days off.

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News

JUST IN: Arlington police charge two with stealing Pride flags from Penrose home

By Jo DeVoe
Security camera footage of a Pride flag being stolen on Jan. 27, 2024 (via Michelle Logan/X)

Two men — including one with an apparent military connection — have been arrested in connection with a series of Pride flags stolen from an Arlington couple, police announced Friday evening.

Twenty-year-old Matthew Henshaw was arrested and charged with three counts of bias-motivated unlawful entry and three counts of petit larceny for incidents occurring on Sept. 16 and Sept. 30 and Jan. 27. ACPD said he resides at Fort Myer, suggesting he has military ties. Henshaw was released on a secured bond.

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Around Town

The Crossing Clarendon eyes more possible retail changes after recent closures

By Jo DeVoe
The Barnes and Noble at the Crossing Clarendon (via Google Maps)

Amid closures at The Crossing Clarendon, a few other retail shake-ups may be coming to the shopping center.

Florida-based Regency Centers recently ended leases for menswear clothier Jos. A Bank Clothiers and outdoor outfitter Orvis. Both are now closed and comprise some of the five storefronts listed as “available” or “available soon” on a leasing map.

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Traffic

NEW: Protests blocking major roadways in D.C. lead to big backups in Arlington

By Jo DeVoe
Traffic on Route 50 caused by protests in D.C. (staff photo)

Pro-Palestinian protests in D.C. caused major morning rush hour backups on Arlington roads.

Demonstrators blocked several major commuter routes and intersections in the District, including I-395 and Constitution Avenue, bringing inbound traffic to a standstill on the GW Parkway, I-66, Route 50 and I-395. The Virginia Dept. of Transportation diverted drivers from I-66 onto Route 110 and advised others to seek alternate routes.

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News

W&OD Trail to close next month as Sparrow Pond restoration work continues

By Jo DeVoe
A trail user amid signs of construction at Sparrow Pond (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

As restoration work continues at Sparrow Pond, one trail will close as another opens.

The Washington & Old Dominion Trail will be closed for six to seven weeks starting in mid-to-late February, per an Arlington County webpage.

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News

How nonprofits and the county say they are keeping teens out of court for offenses and drug use

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington police officers (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A new program diverting teens from the criminal justice system has seen 27 referrals for a variety of criminal offenses, largely related to theft, assault and drug and alcohol violations.

Shoplifting and physical disagreements with peers are exactly the kinds of crimes Devanshi Patel expects to see go through the program, run by the nonprofit she leads called the Center for Youth and Family Advocacy (CYFA).

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Feature

Ballston startup PerformYard to expand after nabbing $95M investment

By Jo DeVoe
PerformYard logo (via PerformYard/Facebook)

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups, founders, and other local technology news. Monday Properties is proudly featuring Three Ballston Plaza. 

Ballston-based human resources startup PerformYard has nabbed a $95 million equity investment from Updata Partners, a D.C.-based growth equity firm.

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News

Two proposed 6-plexes in Alcova Heights clear a neighbor’s attempt to appeal them

By Jo DeVoe
The 'pipestem' property in Alcova Heights currently developed with a large circular driveway and one single-family home (via Google Maps)

Arlington’s Board of Zoning Appeals has rejected a neighbor’s attempt to stop two proposed Expanded Housing Option developments in the Alcova Heights neighborhood.

An affiliate of local homebuilder Classic Cottages proposes building two side-by-side six-plexes at 4015 and 4019 7th Street S., bordering Alcova Heights Park and a couple of blocks north of Columbia Pike.

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News

Why community radio station WERA 96.7 has had lo-fi beats on loop for nearly two months

By Jo DeVoe
Arlington Independent Media in Clarendon (file photo)

Arlington’s local radio station has been playing the same music on repeat since December.

The continuous lo-fi beats, noted by listeners more than a month ago, are a result of aging equipment and financing delays complicating Arlington Independent Media‘s move into a new office building that is home to a transmitter critical to AIM’s operations.

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News

Hope files bill allowing form of government changes but County Board says more discussion is needed

By Jo DeVoe
Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

A new bill in the Virginia General Assembly would give the Arlington County Board the authority to change its structure without seeking further approval from state lawmakers.

Del. Patrick Hope’s HB 1225 would allow the Board to decide if it should retain its 5-member, at-large form of government or consider altering the size, to between three and 11 members, and changing to a district-based representation model. It would also allow the County Board Chair to be elected by popular vote for a 4-year term where currently, the practice is to rotate the chairship among members yearly.

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News

County drops lawsuit against civic association, residents over attempt to block bus parking

By Jo DeVoe
ART buses move through the Quincy site in the Virginia Square neighborhood (via BVSCA)

There is a new twist in the stand-off between Arlington County and neighbors over bus parking on a county site in North Arlington.

Arlington County recently dropped litigation against three neighbors and the Ballston-Virginia Square Civic Association, who tried to use the Board of Zoning Appeals process to block the county from parking 29 Arlington Transit (ART) buses on a county lot near Washington-Liberty High School.

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