The main theme of ARLnow’s promotion of our email newsletter is that it allows you to get all of the headlines, without intermediation by algorithms.
Large online platforms like social networks and search engines are great, but they will generally only surface a fraction of the local stories you might be interested in reading, unless you actively seek them out. And many of us have settled into being more passive scrollers than active seekers when it comes to news.
Pushback on APS Phone Proposal — “Efforts by Arlington school leaders to put in place for the start of the school year a temporary, district-wide policy on student phone use brought criticism before it even had been formally unveiled. School Board members on July 18 heard criticism of the nascent proposal from representatives of both the County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) and Special Education Parent-Teacher Association of Arlington.” [Gazette Leader]
Best Egg Sandwiches in Arlington — According to Washington Post food critic Tim Carman, some of the best egg sandwiches in the D.C. area can be found in Arlington at Taco Bamba, Ruthie’s All-Day, Colada Shop, and Hog Haven Farm stands at local farmers markets. [Washington Post]
Uncertainty About Quincy Site — “The county manager said he planned to do everything he could to avoid using the Quincy Street site for the bus fleet over the long haul. But, he added, ‘I’m not going to make a promise to that. I’m not saying [a future electric bus parking lot is] going to be on Quincy, but it has to be somewhere.'” [Gazette Leader]
Beyer Expected at Union Picket — “Representative Don Beyer, who represents Arlington County in the U.S. House, has pledged support for the workers of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. Congressman Beyer is expected to speak in support of the Hyatt workers ahead of the picket this Saturday, July 27.” [Press Release]
New Amazon Fresh Now Open — “Amazon Fresh opened in the Potomac Yard Shopping Center today at 3801 Richmond Highway — four years since the former Shoppers Food Warehouse closed.” [ALXnow]
More Speed Cameras in Fairfax — “Get ready for more speed cameras in Fairfax County school zones. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors gave its support this week for the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) to move ahead with the installation of 50 additional speed cameras in school zones following the success of its speed camera pilot program.” [FFXnow]
Silver Line Anniversary — “On this day 10 years ago, Metrorail arrived in Tysons and Reston, connecting two growing communities in Fairfax County to D.C. by train for the first time… While ridership remains below even 2014 levels, usage of the Silver Line Phase 1 stations has steadily increased since 2022, reaching an average of 7,405 weekday riders so far this year, as of July 17.” [FFXnow]
It’s Friday — Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high close to 85 degrees and a northeast breeze around 7 mph. Overnight, the sky will remain mostly clear, as the temperature drops to around 67 degrees. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Brian Gannon
The Arlington County Board has re-approved the Pentagon City Sector Plan, restoring a document that a state court declared void for procedural reasons earlier this year.
The Board’s unanimous vote on Tuesday reaffirmed the county’s original February 2022 decision to plan for substantial Pentagon City development in coming years, particularly at the RiverHouse apartment complex. Developer JBG Smith proposes to build over 1,500 new units on the expansive property, across from the Westpost shopping center and home to three apartment towers.
A Woodbridge man is facing multiple charges after an alleged home break-in and series of attempted vehicle break-ins.
The unusual incident started Wednesday morning just before 10 a.m., in the Arlington Ridge neighborhood.
Poor regional coordination and outdated technology led to inconsistent messaging during Arlington’s boil water notice earlier this month, county staff say.
Confusion began after D.C. Water was the first to issue a boil water notice the night of July 3, due to potential contamination caused by algae blooms in the Potomac River.
Arlington County is collecting feedback on a narrow walking and bicycling path along Arlington Blvd near Rosslyn.
The portion of the Arlington Blvd Trail between Dark Star Park and the N. Rhodes Street overpass is currently only a few feet wide in some places, sandwiched between Arlington Blvd and N. Fairfax Drive. A project page describes the trial as “an important bike connection” that is “surrounded by a frequent-trafficked road and a highway where vehicles drive at high speeds.”
Entering a Metro station only to see your train leaving the station may soon be a thing of the past.
Digital display boards featuring arrival times will be installed outside several Arlington Metro stations in the next year or two, WMATA spokesperson Jordan Pascale tells ARLnow.
Board Declines Gaza Resolution — “It’s now 0-for-4 (at least) for those asking the Arlington County Board to pass a resolution in support of a Gaza ceasefire or take other steps to intervene in the ongoing Mideast conflict between Israel and Hamas. Until they take a stand, county leaders are guilty of ‘material complicity,’ said Aasim Rawoot, who led a delegation to push for a ceasefire resolution at the July 22 County Board meeting.” [Gazette Leader]
Beyer Skips Israeli Leader’s Speech — From Rep. Don Beyer: “Amid the backdrop of American elections, Republicans in Congress have again turned to PM Netanyahu for assistance, which he is happily providing. I will not be a prop for their political theater, and I will not attend his address today.” [Twitter]
New County Auditor — “At the July 2024 Recessed Board meeting, the Arlington County Board appointed Mr. Wayne Scott as County Auditor. The County Auditor conducts independent performance and operational audits of County departments, programs, and services.” [Arlington County]
New County Board Clerk — “The Arlington County Board appointed Mr. Mason Kushnir to serve as its Clerk. He will act as the Board’s official record keeper, managing all Board meetings, work sessions, and changes to the County Code.” [Arlington County]
Arlington Couple Arrested in Md. — “In the early hours of July 21, 2024, Calvert County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two individuals outside the Tiki Bar located on Solomons Island following a disturbance that escalated into a confrontation with law enforcement officers.” [Southern Maryland News Net]
Photos from Iwo Jima Event — “Marines from Marine Barracks Washington performed Tuesday in a sunset parade at the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Va. This 45-minute performance… is an annual summer series, performed each week. This year’s series started June 11 and will run through Aug. 13.” [Stars and Stripes]
Dunkin Scholarship Recipients — “Five students in Arlington County are among the winners of the 2024 Dunkin’ Regional Scholarships. Dunkin’ and its DC area franchisees awarded $125,000 in academic scholarships to 50 high school and college students.” [Patch]
It’s Thursday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, increasing in likelihood after 5pm, with otherwise cloudy skies and a high near 85. Precipitation chances are 60%, with new rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with potential for higher amounts in thunderstorms. For Thursday night, shower chances dwindle after 11pm, with skies turning from cloudy to partly cloudy and a low of 69. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by Jason Gooljar
Extra emphasis on road safety, environmental resiliency and facilities upgrades is included in the final draft of Arlington’s latest 10-year Capital Improvement Plan.
The Arlington County Board yesterday (Tuesday) approved a $4.5 billion Fiscal Year 2025-2034 CIP, outlining planned investment in county infrastructure and assets. Changes between the original proposal presented in May and the final draft include:
The county has designated a pair of affordable housing complexes as “revitalization areas” in an effort to help them secure more funding.
The new designation, which the Arlington County Board approved on Monday, affects renovation projects at Arna Valley View in Long Branch Creek and sites C, D and E of the Marbella Apartments project near Rosslyn. It is meant to help with a funding application at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Program.
The Arlington County Board has approved a $4 million land purchase to build a new Columbia Pike fire station.
Fire Station 7 is slated to be built on two parcels of land next to Serrano Apartments at 5519 Columbia Pike — near Bailey’s Crossroads and about two miles away from the former Fire Station 7 in Fairlington that shuttered in 2019.
After succumbing to falling trees for the second time in nearly 50 years, the quaint footbridge linking the Barcroft and Arlington Forest neighborhoods is on the brink of its second rebirth.
On Monday, the Arlington County Board approved the transfer of a small parcel of land, owned by Dominion Energy and located between 416 S. Abingdon Street and 500 S. Abingdon Street, to rebuild a recently fallen footbridge that has provided safe passage to residents crossing a stream known as Grandma’s Creek since the 1940s.
