Vernon Miles | ARLnow

Published September 20, 2019 at 10:45AM

Newspaper clipping from the Northern Virginia Sun in 1988 (photo courtesy Melinda Schaedig)

If you want to remain in the dark about the contents of the mysterious Ballston time capsule, which is set to be opened next year, read no further.

Melinda Schaedig, who was a third grader at Taylor Elementary School in 1988 when the capsule was buried, approached ARLnow with details from when the capsule was put into the ground.

News

Arlington County Board Considering Use of Private Security Guards

By Vernon Miles

Published September 18, 2019 at 9:00AM

Arlington County government offices/headquarters at 2100 Clarendon Blvd

The Arlington County Board is looking to potentially use armed, private guards for security at county government headquarters in Courthouse.

The guards could help provide security at the building (2100 Clarendon Blvd) generally and during County Board meetings specifically, relieving pressure on the understaffed local police force.

Around Town

Owner of Shed with Anti-Hate Message Has No Idea How it Got There

By Vernon Miles

Published September 17, 2019 at 9:00AM

Virginia is for Lovers sign on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail

“Virginia is for lovers. No KKK.”

The owner of the shed on 19th Road N. had no intention of being at the center of a civil rights message, but the back of his property expresses a message of tolerance to anyone riding the Metro through the East Falls Church station or taking the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.

News

Arlington County Moving Forward with Benjamin Banneker Park Renovations

By Vernon Miles

Published September 16, 2019 at 1:45PM | Updated September 16, 2019 at 3:25PM

Plans for Benjamin Banneker Park (image via Arlington County)

(Updated 3:25 p.m.) After years of planning, Arlington County is ready to put money into the planned renovation of Benjamin Banneker Park.

The 12.5 acres park at 1680 N. Sycamore Street features the head for the Four Mile Run Trail and a section of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, as well as a dog park.

News

Docks for Electric Scooters Come to Crystal City, With More On the Way

By Vernon Miles

Published September 16, 2019 at 10:00AM | Updated September 16, 2019 at 12:02PM

(Updated at noon) New scooter docks have been added to Crystal City in an effort to curb intrusive sidewalk scooter parking.

Four new docks from the electric scooter company Spin were placed throughout Crystal City last week after their debut in D.C., with five more expected to be added sometime in the next week.

Schools

Arlington Public Schools Sets Meeting to Discuss Reed School Trees

By Vernon Miles

Published September 13, 2019 at 11:00AM

Map showing Reed School trees planned to be taken down (map via Arlington Public Schools)

Over forty trees are planned to be removed to make way for a new elementary school in Westover, but Arlington Public Schools is hosting one last meeting about potential tree-saving solutions before construction starts.

A discussion is scheduled with neighbors on Monday (Sept. 16) at the edge of the grove will involve discussion of whether any of the trees can be saved. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the basketball court on the Reed site (1644 N. McKinley Road).

Traffic

Street Near Whole Foods Reopens As Market Common Construction Continues

By Vernon Miles

Published September 12, 2019 at 10:05AM

N. Edgewood Street

Three months after it closed, N. Edgewood Street is now open once again.

The street, which connects Clarendon and Wilson boulevards, in front of the Clarendon Whole Foods, can get busy, especially during times when the Whole Foods is busy.

Around Town

From Cot to Cubicle: Vietnam Graffiti Exhibit Comes to Clarendon Office

By Vernon Miles

Published September 11, 2019 at 2:30PM | Updated September 11, 2019 at 4:09PM

Graffiti from Vietnam soldiers on display at CNA in Clarendon

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) There was one question that ran through the mind of Zeb Armstrong, a newlywed from South Carolina recently drafted for service in the Vietnam War.

“Will I return?”

Schools

Here’s What Students Newspaper Editors Say Are the Top Issues at Arlington’s High Schools

By Vernon Miles

Published September 11, 2019 at 11:00AM

Wakefield Chieftain editors, from left to right: Alejandra Galdo, Sophie Hott, Carla Barefoot and Cason Poythress

(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) The achievement gap, overcrowding, an obnoxious name change debate: there’s a lot on the minds of Arlington’s high school students.

Though a few issues tie all of the schools together, the editors of the student newspapers at Yorktown, Wakefield and Washington-Liberty also said there were certain features that make the schools — and the student coverage — unique. The editors shared the inside stories of life for local students.

News

Independents on the Attack Over Housing and Amazon Incentives in County Board Debate

By Vernon Miles

Published September 10, 2019 at 3:30PM

Arlington County Board candidates, from left to right: Christian Dorsey, Katie Cristol, Audrey Clement, and Arron O'Dell

Arlington County Board incumbents fought to hold their ground against independents over Amazon incentives and housing topics at a debate Monday evening.

At the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s candidate forum at U.Group in Crystal City (2231 Crystal Drive), Democratic incumbents Christian Dorsey and Katie Cristol faced off against independent challengers Audrey Clement and Arron O’Dell.

News

Westover Store Recovering from Flooding Now Facing Costs of Trade War

By Vernon Miles

Published September 9, 2019 at 3:30PM

Exterior of Ayers Variety & Hardware

It’s been a tumultuous road to recovery for two Westover stores devastated by this summer’s record-breaking floods.

Ayers Variety and Hardware and Westover Market and Beer Garden are local institutions that were unfortunately placed directly in the path of floodwaters. Waters flooded both stores and knocked out power to the block.

Around Town