News | ARLnow.com - Part 1059

Rally, Petition Planned to Preserve Rosslyn Highlands Park

Published March 24, 2015 at 11:30AM

This Saturday, a new group called Friends of Rosslyn Highlands Park will host a rally at the park (1555 Wilson Blvd) to try to garner support and more signatures for its petition to the Arlington County Board. The rally will run from 10:00 a.m-noon and the group says it has invited all members of the County Board and the six announced candidates to attend and listen to park advocates’ concern.

Of particular concern to the group: the revelation that Arlington signed a letter of intent with developer Penzance to trade the piece of land for a new fire station in January 2013, six months before the Western Rosslyn Area Planning Study (WRAPS) was launched.

Bicyclist ‘Doored’ by Uber Passenger in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Published March 24, 2015 at 10:30AM | Updated March 24, 2015 at 11:13AM

A cyclist was hurt this morning in Rosslyn when the backseat passenger of an Uber car opened a door in his path.

The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. on N. Lynn Street, just south of Wilson Blvd. Initial reports indicate that the white BMW was stopped next to the bike lane when the Uber rider opened the rear passenger-side door just as the cyclist was about to roll by on a Capital Bikeshare bike. The cyclist slammed into the door.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 24, 2015 at 9:30AM | Updated July 11, 2017 at 4:39PM

Advocates Decry Proposed Bike Cut — An optional budget cut floated by Arlington County Manger Barbara Donnellan in her proposed FY 2015-2016 budget is attracting some push back from cyclists. Donnellan said the County Board should consider a $800,000 cut in funds for the county’s BikeArlington program if it wants to make additional cuts beyond her base budget. Bike advocates say the cut “would be a huge mistake.” [Greater Greater Washington]

Condo Fence Mowed Down — A car ran through the fence of a condominium complex next to Long Branch Elementary School Sunday evening. No injuries were reported. [Twitter]

FBI Raid in Buckingham Targets Bank Robbery Suspect

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2015 at 5:00PM | Updated March 31, 2015 at 8:59AM

The agents were “executing search warrants as part of a bank robbery investigation,” according to FBI Washington Field Office spokeswoman Lindsay Godwin.

The agents arrested Wossen Assaye, Godwin said, suspected of robbing the Apple Federal Credit Union on Sir Viceroy Drive in Alexandria on Friday, March 20. He appeared in federal court in Alexandria today.

Successor to iPark Devices Now Available

By Ethan Rothstein

Published March 23, 2015 at 3:45PM | Updated March 23, 2015 at 4:52PM

County Treasurer Carla de la Pava announced today that the county is offering EasyPark devices to its residents, the “successor” to the iPark devices it stopped selling because the manufacturer declared bankruptcy in 2013.

The devices are currently available to be ordered online and can be used immediately, we’re told. Anyone, not just Arlington residents, can purchase the devices and use them to park in the county.

McAuliffe, Beyer Talk Healthcare at Arlington Mill

By Ethan Rothstein

Published March 23, 2015 at 2:40PM

Rep. Don Beyer, left, and Gov. Terry McAuliffe discuss the Affordable Care Act Monday morning

Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) held a roundtable discussion on the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act today at Arlington Mill Community Center.

McAuliffe and Beyer joined federal Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to host about a dozen healthcare professionals, customers, legislators and healthcare business leaders and talk about the impacts of the ACA, also known as Obamacare, and the future of Medicaid expansion in Virginia.

Crime, Attendance Down at Shamrock Bar Crawl

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2015 at 11:00AM

2015 Shamrock Crawl in Clarendon (photo courtesy ACPD)

Some 3,700 people participated in Saturday’s Shamrock Crawl, an annual St. Patrick’s Day-themed bar crawl in Clarendon, according to police.

That’s down from nearly 5,000 attendees for last year’s crawl. Unlike last year, however, this one resulted in relatively few arrests.

ACPD to Conduct Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Detail Tuesday

By ARLnow.com

Published March 23, 2015 at 9:05AM

The enforcement detail will take place during the morning rush hour and around lunchtime, at intersections in Rosslyn, Courthouse and on Columbia Pike.

Among the intersections where officers will be stationed is the so-called Intersection of Doom at Lee Highway and N. Lynn Street.

Arlington Leadership Eyes Major Transition Amid Retirements and Resignations

By Ethan Rothstein

Published March 20, 2015 at 5:15PM | Updated March 23, 2015 at 8:17AM

(Updated at 8:15 a.m.) Almost half of Arlington’s elected officials will have retired or resigned by Jan. 1, 2016, starting with Chris Zimmerman’s retirement from the Arlington County Board in February 2014.

At the same time, the leadership of the county’s staff is having a major changing of the guard, losing four department heads since last March, not including the impending retirement of County Manager Barbara Donnellan, effective June 30.

Arlington’s 2014 Crime Rate was Lowest Since 1961

By Ethan Rothstein

Published March 20, 2015 at 3:30PM

Arlington’s rate of Part I offenses (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) dropped 8.22 percent from 2013 to 2014, and the total of 3,863 Part I offenses was the lowest in the county since 1961, ACPD said.

“The historically low crime rate is a true testament to the partnership among the community and Police Department,” Police Chief Doug Scott said in a press release, his last as ACPD chief before his retirement became official this week. “We will continue make these partnerships even stronger as it has made our community safer.”

Tap Water to Taste Different Starting Next Week

By Ethan Rothstein

Published March 20, 2015 at 11:30AM

Kitchen sink and tap water (file photo)

The change is a result of the region’s annual switch in water disinfectant, from chloramine to chlorine, according to the Department of Environmental Services. The change, which helps clean the area’s water distribution system, will last until May 4.

“Local water authorities recommend running the cold water tap for approximately two minutes and refrigerating tap water to reduce the chlorine taste and odor,” DES spokeswoman Jessica Baxter said in a press release. “Water filters are also effective for reducing chlorine taste and odor.”

House Fire in Leeway Overlee

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2015 at 10:55AM | Updated March 20, 2015 at 12:17PM

Firefighters battled a house fire in the Leeway Overlee neighborhood last night.

The fire was reported just before 6:30 p.m., on the 2200 block of N. Nottingham Street. The blaze started in the home’s basement and spread to the first floor, but was quickly extinguished once firefighters arrived on scene, authorities said.