Some pedestrian and bicycle advocates are urging Arlington leaders to swing for the fences when crafting the county’s new Transportation Master Plan.
“We need to be transformative,” said Cynthia Palmer, chair of the county’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, which met on Jan. 6 and discussed priorities members believe should be in the transportation plan.
The parade at next week’s presidential inauguration is scheduled to feature a nonprofit based in Clarendon.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, known as TAPS, was selected to participate in the parade to be held down Pennsylvania Avenue next Monday, Jan. 20. The organization works to support families of fallen service members.
A proposal to remove a regulatory step for larger at-home daycare centers is scheduled to go before Arlington officials this month.
On the schedule for Planning Commission discussion this week and County Board action on Saturday, Jan. 25, a proposed zoning change would increase the number of children allowed at “family day care homes” before operators need to obtain a use permit.
Endangered Missing Person — “ACPD is seeking the public’s assistance locating 76 y/o Heather… last seen in the 2400 block of S. Queen St. She is considered critically missing due to mental &/or physical health concerns.” [Facebook]
Odd Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “There’s a lot going on here. A blue and a white SUV were driving side-by-side on the I-395N express lanes by the Pentagon. The white SUV then drove through the gates and went northbound in the southbound lanes. The blue SUV -on the correct side of the Jersey barrier – stopped in the left lane. Was he warning the other driver they were on the wrong side? Don’t know.” [Twitter]
Architect Profiled for DCA Work — “Erica Donnelly can breeze through security at Reagan National Airport … Donnelly is an architect with design firm PGAL, which has a branch in Alexandria, Virginia. The branch has a focus on aviation architecture, and for more than 35 years, has been part of many design projects at Reagan National and Dulles International airports. She’s most proud of the work she did at Reagan National’s new North Concourse, which opened in 2021.” [WTOP]
Nominees Sought for Wakefield HOF — Nominations are being accepted through Saturday, Feb. 1 for the Wakefield High School Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025. The Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and staff who have made significant contributions to society and who have brought recognition to the school. Nomination forms can be found online. –Scott McCaffrey
List of Local News Outlets — As a public service, we have compiled a list of D.C. area local news publications. Did we forget any? Contact us or let us know in the comments. [ARLnow]
It’s Tuesday — Scattered flurries are expected after 4pm, accompanied by increasing clouds and a high near 32. Winds will be from the northwest at 9 to 11 mph, gusting up to 23 mph. For Tuesday night, expect scattered flurries to stop before 9pm, leading to partly cloudy skies and a low around 19. Northwest winds will be stronger, at 13 to 16 mph, and may gust as high as 30 mph. [NWS]
A dispute between two drivers along Columbia Pike led to one of them allegedly being struck by the other.
The dispute started around 9 a.m. Friday along Arlington’s western portion of Columbia Pike and continued near the intersection of S. Columbus Street and 10th Street S., in the Columbia Forest
Arlington’s homes market saw a slight year-over-year decline in sales in 2024 — but prices kept rising.
A total of 2,196 properties changed hands during the year, according to preliminary figures reported by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.
The clock is ticking for Falls Church officials to approve the construction of a traffic roundabout at Annandale Road and S. Maple Avenue.
The Virginia Department of Transportation “is breathing down our neck to get this done,” City Manager Wyatt Shields said at a Wednesday agenda-setting session with Mayor Letty Hardi and City Council members.
New Speed Camera Turned On — “Due to the recent inclement weather and school closings, the 30-day warning period for the new PhotoSPEED program speed safety cameras will begin on Monday, January 13. Speed camera installation at NB 1600 block of N. Glebe Road is postponed pending VDOT permitting, and a speed camera has been installed at WB 5800 block of Little Falls Road.” [ACPD]
Beyer Again to Take on Robert E. Lee — Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) will again in 2024 introduce legislation removing Robert E. Lee’s name from Arlington House, despite an admitted very little chance of success. “While he recognizes that the current Congressional climate might not favor passage, he’s committed to building support and preparing for a time when the environment might be more receptive,” a spokesman tells ARLnow. –Scott McCaffrey
Unusual Traffic Stop — From Dave Statter: “Here’s the video as the driver first refused to stop for @ArlingtonVaPD and made a U-Turn on 50 at Irving. Two minutes later they returned to the intersection and stopped. Police soon arrived and blocked in the car. Traffic now gets by using one lane to the left.” [Twitter]
Arlington Jobless Rate Up Slightly — Arlington’s unemployment rate of 2.3% in November was up from 2.2% a year before, according to new data. In Falls Church, the unemployment rate of 2.5% was up from 2.3%. [Virginia Employment Commission]
Sens. Want Deficit Reduction — “U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Mike Crapo (R-ID) urging Senate Republicans to work in a bipartisan way to reduce the deficit and protect the middle class from tax hikes.” [Press Release]
Demolition of Former F.C. Hotel — “The one remaining eyesore along W. Broad Street between the N. Washington intersection and Founders Row in the otherwise lovely downtown Falls Church will be disappearing not a minute too soon. One of the two buildings of the vacated and fenced in old Stratford Motor Lodge site in the 300 block of West Broad is slated to be demolished and removed within two weeks.” [FCNP]
It’s Monday — Expect a sunny day with a high around 40°F and calm winds shifting to the west at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The night will be mostly clear, with the temperature dropping to around 20°F and a northwest wind blowing at 6 to 9 mph. [NWS]
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A substitute teacher has been charged with taking indecent liberties with a high school student.
Timothy McGhee, a 47-year-old Alexandria resident, had been working as a substitute at Washington-Liberty High School. He also previously worked at some local churches and unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in Arlington and Alexandria in 2011.
The start of the new year means it’s rivalry and bragging-rights time among Arlington’s six (three boys, three girls) varsity public high-school basketball teams.
Which girls and boys team will finish with the best record against their rivals after all games, regular season and playoffs, are completed between the Wakefield Warriors, Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots?
Long-time local gay bar Freddie’s Beach Bar suffered damage to its front doors after an intentionally-set fire early Thursday morning.
Freddie’s was among three neighboring businesses on Crystal City’s 23rd Street S. restaurant row that were damaged. The others were another long-time watering hole, Crystal City Sports Pub, as previously reported, and Irish pub McNamara’s.
More than 6,000 homes and businesses were without power Friday afternoon in the Pentagon City and Crystal City area after a major outage.
The outage started around 1 p.m. There were frequent police and fire dispatches to the area for traffic complaints, numerous elevators stuck with people inside, and a report of smoke and alarms in the Pentagon City mall food court.
