Katie Pyzyk | ARLnow

Heated Senate Battle Escalates

Published July 25, 2011 at 12:51PM | Updated July 25, 2011 at 3:22PM

Today the Favola campaign launched a website attacking Areizaga-Soto, claiming he had involvement with oil companies. The site also states that one of Areizaga-Soto’s “main clients”, Petrobras, was responsible for 11 oil spills.

Areizaga-Soto’s campaign manager has responded to the allegations on the website by stating, “It is a sign of desperation that the Favola campaign has decided to attack Jaime using an exaggerated six degrees of separation attack. While Jaime serves our country in uniform, Favola is partnering with Ken Cuccinelli’s allies to fund her Senate campaign, breaking the Arlington County Code of Ethics and giving herself a 60% pay-raise while doing it.”

News

Moran Pushes for Shuttle to Ease BRAC Traffic Burden

By Katie Pyzyk

Published July 25, 2011 at 10:29AM | Updated July 25, 2011 at 3:23PM

The Army National Guard had put in a request for shuttle service to the Pentagon Transit Center from Arlington Hall Station, but so far the additional service has not been granted. Moran has now asked the Director of the Washington Headquarter Service to expedite the request.

The Arlington Hall Station shuttle already provides service from nearby Metro train stops to the National Guard facility. However, it currently doesn’t have access to the Pentagon Transit Center, despite a request for service in June 2009. Moran says that adding service between the Arlington Hall Station and the Pentagon will “undoubtedly reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles commuting to and parking near the bureau facility.”

News

Police Seeking Bilingual Volunteers

By Katie Pyzyk

Published July 25, 2011 at 8:56AM

The department is revitalizing its “Bilingual Ride-a-Long Program”, and wants volunteers to assist officers on patrol around Arlington County. Anyone who lives or works in Arlington is eligible to participate in the program.

Although linguists are needed for a variety of languages, of particular interest are people who speak Spanish, African dialects, French, Mongolian, and Arabic. These are the languages shown to be prevalent in Arlington based on the most recent census figures.

News

Morning Notes

By Katie Pyzyk

Published July 25, 2011 at 8:30AM

Favola Gets Endorsement — The Washington Post announces its picks for three Northern Virginia primaries. WaPo is endorsing Barbara Favola, saying she’s “clearly the stronger and more substantive choice” over Jaime Areizaga-Soto. [Link]

Urban Dairy Dilemma — Arlington County leaders are trying to figure out exactly what to do with the area’s last working dairy farm. The historic property has sat untouched since the county purchased it a decade ago. [Link]

News

BRAC Traffic Prompts Concerns for Barcroft Residents

By Katie Pyzyk

Published July 8, 2011 at 12:57PM | Updated July 18, 2011 at 12:43AM

The personnel are being added to the Army National Guard Readiness Center, in the Arlington Hall complex, at George Mason Drive and Route 50. Many of them are coming from Crystal City offices, but only a couple hundred have made the move so far. The bulk of staff members are expected to arrive mid-July. This flood of workers has some residents in surrounding neighborhoods worried about an increase in parking and traffic issues.

Although a new parking structure was built to accommodate the additional workers, per the National Capital Planning Commission’s specifications there is only one parking spot for every four workers. That’s creating concern about where all the new employees will park. There are already reports of more cars parked in neighboring residential areas, and residents would like to see that stop.

News

Residents Sound Off on Arlington Arts Proposal

By Katie Pyzyk

Published June 14, 2011 at 3:59PM | Updated June 15, 2011 at 8:07AM

About two dozen people showed up at the Shirlington Library to respond to draft recommendations put forth by the Arlington Commission for the Arts and its consultants regarding the future of the county’s arts scene. A previous proposal was developed in the 1990s, and the Commission is seeking a new plan to outline the next 20 years.

Arlington Arts Commission Chair John Seal explained that the proposal assumes the county will continue its current push toward urbanization. He said additional venues, funding and availability of arts is necessary to keep up with the trend.

Events

Singin’ the Blues on Columbia Pike This Weekend

By Katie Pyzyk

Published June 14, 2011 at 9:00AM

You might get the summertime blues on the Pike this weekend.

The 16th annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Saturday on South Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike. The free event runs through 8:00 p.m. and features acclaimed acts like southern blues rocker Tinsley Ellis, along with Columbia Pike’s own blues and soul band, The Curbfeelers.

News

Undocumented Students Receive ‘Dream’ Scholarships

By Katie Pyzyk

Published June 10, 2011 at 10:33AM | Updated June 10, 2011 at 10:54AM

In a ceremony at the Arlington Public Schools Education Center on N. Quincy Street, Hareth Andrade and Antonella Rodriguez-Cossio from Washington-Lee High School, Henry Mejia from Yorktown High School and Jose Vasquez from Arlington Mill High School Continuation Program received Dream Scholarships to help fund their college educations.

Although countless high school students enjoy grants and awards around this time of year, the Dream Scholarship is reserved for undocumented students — children born abroad who are not U.S. citizens or legal residents.

Around Town

Bromptons at Cherrydale Nears Completion

By Katie Pyzyk

Published April 29, 2011 at 4:11PM

Originally, all of the 22 condo units were under contract in 2004. But progress stalled in 2006, when the county issued a stop-work order due to the building being structurally unsound. The developer, Ed Peete Company was given the opportunity to remedy the issues or demolish the structure. After some waffling, Ed Peete chose demolition, but the deadline for that came and went in July 2008.

While this was being hashed out, the building sat vacant for years. A flurry of lawsuits followed, including those against contractors and engineers hired by Ed Peete. Ultimately the developer decided to keep the structure and reinforce it as part of a settlement reached in 2009.

News

Arlington Holds ‘Sign Workshop’ With Business Owners

By Katie Pyzyk

Published April 13, 2011 at 10:15AM

Many business owners believe the current rules are restrictive and confusing. County Board Chair Chris Zimmerman agrees. He says the ordinance is too stringent and focuses on the wrong things.

The board “can be little more liberal in our approach” to signs, Zimmerman said.