The organization most vigorously pressing for Arlington governance changes has affirmed its desire to see the General Assembly bestow blessings on the efforts.
The Arlington County Civic Federation earlier this month approved its 2025 legislative-priorities package, which includes requests to support measures related to changes in the county government’s governance structure.
Arlington County police are looking for suspects in a pair of robberies that happened just before the Christmas holiday.
The first happened in the Long Branch Creek neighborhood around 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, and involved two teens — one reportedly armed with a gun — who robbed another teen in the “shared common area of a residential building.”
Ballston Building Sold — “4040 Wilson, located in Arlington’s Ballston submarket, was sold for $190.5 million ($95.25 million for Brandywine’s 50% share). The property has 405,000 square feet of office, retail, and residential space, as well as 494 parking spaces. 4040 Wilson was 96% leased (residential) and 94% leased (commercial) at the time of sale.” [Brandywine Realty Trust]
Menorah Lighting This Weekend — “Clarendon Menorah Lighting and Community Celebration. Experience the festival of lights!! *Lighting of a giant 9-foot Menorah *Enjoy delicious hot Potato Latkes *Hot Cocoa, Donuts, Chocolate Gelt and Dreidels for all *Lively Chanukah music **FREE ADMISSION – REGISTRATION REQUIRED.” [Event Calendar]
Free Lyft Rides for New Year’s — “The 2024 Holiday SoberRide® program – which has run nightly this month since December 13th — will be in operation beginning at 10:00 pm on New Year’s Eve (Tuesday, December 31, 2024) and operate until 4:00 am on New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025) as a way to keep local roads safe from impaired drivers.” [Press Release]
Local Game Studio Strikes Deal — “Loric Games, an Arlington video game studio, has obtained its first publishing deal to bring its inaugural title, Echoes of Elysium, to market next year, a significant milestone for the startup as it looks to establish itself in the highly competitive gaming landscape.” [WBJ]
Amazon Is a Top Local Employer — “Amazon employs more than 61,000 across Virginia, Maryland and D.C. The e-commerce and cloud computing giant… is Arlington County’s top private employer, having previously overtaken Deloitte and Accenture, according to Arlington’s recently released annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30.” [WBJ]
Juice Shop Continues Expansion — “Greenheart Juice Shop is ramping up its growth plans roughly two years after restaurateur Reese Gardner acquired the once-struggling business from founder Alicia Swanstrom. The company just added its sixth location, in Reston… It had just a trio of shops when Gardner, whose Arlington-based Wooden Nickel Bar Co. also owns Copperwood Tavern and Quinn’s on the Corner, stepped into the picture.” [WBJ]
Rainy Weekend on Tap — From Washington Weather Geeks: “Some much-needed rain will arrive this weekend across the region (Most remain in a moderate to severe drought). The heaviest rain will fall on Sunday as a cold front works its way through and could also drag some storms with it. The flooding risk remains low, but we can’t rule some out in common trouble spots.” [Twitter]
It’s Friday — Expect partly sunny skies today, with temperatures reaching a high of around 43 degrees and calm winds shifting to southeast at 5 mph in the afternoon. Friday night sees increasing chances of rain, mainly after 1 am, accompanied by patchy fog and overcast conditions, with lows around 38 degrees. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation, with rainfall accumulating between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
It was not love at first sight, art-wise, for members of the Falls Church City Council.
As a result, city staff will return early in the new year with refinements to a proposed “LOVE” sculpture that will adorn the west side of the City Hall campus.
Arlington officials are moving forward on promised efforts to address Clarendon’s nightlife issues on a real-time basis.
The county government has authorized overtime so members of the code-enforcement staff and fire marshal’s office can join police in nighttime and weekend coverage addressing issues related to bars and restaurants in the corridor.
(Updated at 4 p.m.) The charges filed against a U.S. Army soldier accused in a series of pride flag thefts have been dismissed.
General District Court Judge Cari M. Steele formally dismissed the charges against Matthew Henshaw on Monday following his completion of a restorative justice program, according to defense attorney Damon Colbert.
A store employee is facing serious charges after police say he confronted shoplifting suspects with a knife.
The incident happened last Thursday afternoon at the 7-Eleven store at 201 S. Glebe Road, near Thomas Jefferson Middle School.
Curbing Phones = Fewer Fights — “The program being tested at Wakefield requires students to store phones in magnetically locking pouches during the school day. Peter Balas, principal of the 2,200-student school, said teachers have reported less phone use in the classroom and higher engagement since the pilot launched in September. He’s seen fewer fights and less drama from social media.” [Washington Post]
Xmas at Mary Marshall — “The staff at the Mary Marshall assisted living facility in Arlington, made sure older neighbors living with illness and disability’s wishes were fulfilled” on Christmas. [WUSA 9]
Paper Halts Free Home Delivery — “The Falls Church News-Press, for the first time in 33 years, will not be carrier-delivered free of charge to every household address in the City of Falls Church. However, abundant copies of the paper will be provided at over 40 locations in and around the Little City… It is a difficult but unavoidable move in the effort to keep the paper solvent, and we intend it to be only temporary.” [FCNP]
It’s Thursday — Skies will transition from cloudy to sunny, with a high close to 42 degrees and calm winds. By Thursday night, expect partly cloudy conditions with a low near 29 degrees. [NWS]
Reminder: Don’t Drink and Drive — “Drunk driving is the No. 1 cause of road deaths in Arlington, with alcohol factoring in 75% of fatal injury traffic crashes since 2022. We can prevent unnecessary tragedy this holiday season if everyone steps up to stop drunk driving. The County’s Vision Zero team and the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) have launched a new anti-drunk driving campaign this month.” [Arlington County]
Scammers Target Transgender Workers — “Email messages claiming to be from an employee that were sent in November to the LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative in Arlington, Va., and to a yoga studio in Middleton, Del., requested that the employees’ direct deposit paycheck be sent to a new bank account. According to an official with the LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative and the employee at the yoga studio, the emails had the employees’ correct names, including a photo, and included a bank account number for the Green Dot Bank where the email messages said the salary payments should be deposited.” [Washington Blade]
County’s Year in Review — “A look back on the many achievements of 2024 — who we are, and who we strive to be. From employee groups engaging with the community to imagining what Arlington looks like in 2050, and from important initiatives in human services to welcoming home an Olympian — and everything in between — join the County in reflection on the community’s values and achievements.” [Arlington County]
It’s Christmas Eve — Rain or freezing rain is expected in the morning, followed by a slight chance of rain in the afternoon, with a high temperature near 45. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation and a possibility of less than 0.1 inches of new ice accumulation. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 32. On Christmas Day, expect partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 42. [NWS]
Arlington County police are warning of a man who has been grabbing people from behind in a sexual manner.
The incidents have taken place in the Arlington Mill neighborhood and typically involve female victims having their buttocks touched inappropriately by the suspect, who then flees the scene well before police arrive, according to ACPD.
Some freezing rain is expected in Arlington tomorrow morning, leading to slippery sidewalks and roads.
A light glaze of ice is possible throughout much of the D.C. area and Maryland, especially on elevated and untreated surfaces, the National Weather Service warned on social media.
An ex-Marine convicted of rape and multiple murders, including strangling a U.S. Navy petty officer to death in Arlington, has been taken off of death row.
Jorge Avila Torrez, 36, is one of 37 federal prisoners who saw their death sentences commuted by President Joe Biden today (Monday).
