News | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published September 10, 2018 at 8:35AM

Parking Changes Among Child Care Proposals — Changing onerous parking requirements for child care centers is going to be “on the list of proposed ordinance changes we’re introducing” at a community meeting next Monday, according to a tweet from Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol. [Twitter]

Smoke the Dog Dies — “Smoke, the Arlington, Virginia, dog with a bucket list, died this week, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington announced Friday. In July, Smoke captured a lot of hearts in the area when the Arlington shelter announced that he had terminal cancer and that they’d created a bucket list for him.” [WTOP]

Fall Tree Giveaway Kicks Off

By Vernon Miles

Published September 7, 2018 at 1:45PM

As part of an effort to expand Arlington’s tree canopy, the Department of Parks and Recreation will be giving away 400 trees for free this fall.

Arlington Residents can apply through the Parks and Recreation website to receive a “whip”; trees in two gallon containers ranging from two to four feet in size.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 7, 2018 at 8:30AM

New Record Warm Low Temperature — Yesterday set a record for the warmest low temperature ever recorded at Reagan National Airport on Sept. 6. The new record: 78 degrees. [Twitter]

Tourism Record Broken — “Tourism revenue for Arlington reached a record $3.3 billion in 2017, a 4.5 percent increase over 2016, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Arlington has led Virginia counties in visitor spending since 2009. Tourism generated nearly $92 million in local tax receipts… Local tourism-supported jobs totaled 26,321, nearly 400 more than in 2016.” [Arlington County]

ART Sees Steep Ridership Drop for Second Straight Quarter

By Alex Koma

Published September 6, 2018 at 4:45PM

Arlington County’s bus service saw another substantial dip in ridership this spring compared to the same time last year, new numbers provided to regional transportation planners show.

Arlington Transit recorded a 15 percent drop in riders in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, covering April through June, compared to the same period a year ago.

JUST IN: Firefighters Extinguish Rosslyn Condo Fire

By Alex Koma

Published September 6, 2018 at 3:00PM | Updated September 6, 2018 at 3:57PM

(Updated at 4 p.m.) Arlington firefighters extinguished a kitchen fire at a Rosslyn condo building this afternoon (Thursday).

The fire broke out around 2:45 p.m. today at 1530 Key Blvd, home of the Atrium Condominiums, per scanner traffic.

ACFD Taps Northern Virginia’s First African-American Female Battalion Chief

By Vernon Miles

Published September 6, 2018 at 10:45AM | Updated September 6, 2018 at 11:08AM

Almost 24 years after she answered a radio ad seeking to recruit new firefighters, Tiffanye Wesley has been selected as Arlington’s southern battalion chief.

The county’s fire department tapped her for the post Sunday (Sept. 2), making her both Arlington and Northern Virginia’s first African-American female battalion chief.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 6, 2018 at 8:50AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:24AM

Civic Federation Holds Candidate Forum — The unofficial kickoff to the local fall campaign season took place on Tuesday: the Arlington County Civic Federation candidate forum. Contenders for County Board, School Board and Congress squared off in front of a standing-room-only audience at Virginia Hospital Center’s auditorium. [InsideNova, InsideNova, Blue Virginia]

Drug Take-Back Boxes Deemed a Success — “In June, Arlington County installed three permanent drug take-back boxes to address a crucial public safety and public health crisis facing communities across the country – prescription drug abuse. In the first three months of the program, the public safely disposed of 407 pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications. Due to the success of the program, the police department is exploring expanding the program.” [Arlington County]

Army Ten-Miler Changes Course to Avoid Memorial Bridge for First Time Ever

By Alex Koma

Published September 5, 2018 at 4:45PM | Updated September 5, 2018 at 9:16PM

Runners are splashed with water during the 2017 Army Ten Miler (Photo via John Sonderman/Flickr)

Construction on the Arlington Memorial Bridge has convinced organizers of the Army Ten-Miler race to change up its course, marking the first time in the race’s 34-year history that participants won’t cross the bridge.

The 10-mile road race, set for Sunday, Oct. 7, starts and finishes at the Pentagon. Since 1985, the race has directed participants along the Memorial Bridge to reach D.C., but with rehab work necessitating a series of traffic disruptions in the area, organizers announced today (Wednesday) that they’re opting for a few changes to the course.

Crime Report: Man Awakes to Would-Be Burglar Inside Northwest Arlington Home

By Alex Koma

Published September 5, 2018 at 3:45PM | Updated February 28, 2020 at 10:41AM

File photo

Police say the incident happened around 11 p.m. last Wednesday (Aug. 29), when the resident of a home along the 3400 block of N. Dickerson Street was startled awake by noise inside the house.

The man turned on several lights and found items tampered with, when he then saw a man dash out of the house.

School Board Presses for Dismissal of Lawsuit Challenging Washington-Lee Name Change

By Alex Koma

Published September 5, 2018 at 1:45PM

Arlington’s School Board is asking a judge to toss the lawsuit challenging the renaming of Washington-Lee High School out of court.

Attorneys for the Board and the school system filed a motion Friday (Aug. 31) pressing for the dismissal of a case brought by three current students at the school, who are looking to stop the Board from following through on its plans to strip Robert E. Lee’s name from the school later this year.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 5, 2018 at 8:50AM | Updated September 5, 2018 at 9:07AM

Vida Fitness Eyeing Second Arlington Gym — Vida Fitness has signed a letter of intent to open a gym and a “Sweatbox” boutique fitness studio in western Rosslyn, likely by the end of 2020. The company is expected to open its first Arlington location in Ballston in late 2019. [Washington Business Journal]

Beyer: If Impeachment Comes, It Must Be Bipartisan — “U.S. Rep. Don Beyer is no fan of Donald Trump. But he’s against moving forward with impeachment of the president unless it becomes a true bipartisan effort. ‘I don’t believe impeachment should ever be partisan – it should be done together,’ Beyer (D-8th) said at a campaign forum.” [InsideNova]

Police: Man Exposed Himself to Woman at Rosslyn Business

By Alex Koma

Published September 4, 2018 at 2:45PM

County police believe the man struck up a conversation with a woman working in a shop along the 1800 block of N. Oak Street last Wednesday (Aug. 29), then “began touching himself inappropriately and exposed himself.” The area is home to businesses including a cafe, a Subway and a hair salon.

Police say the man fled the store before officers could make it to the scene.