News | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published February 2, 2016 at 9:20AM | Updated February 2, 2016 at 9:43AM

Expect Early Spring, Says Groundhogs — Updated at 9:40 a.m. — Punxsutawney Phil and Potomac Phil both did not see their shadow this morning and thus have predicted an early spring. Unfortunately, the former Phil is wrong more often than he is right. [CNN, Borderstan]

New County Manager Inks Contract — The Arlington County Board last week ratified a contract with Mark Schwartz, the county’s newly-appointed county manager. (Schwartz served as interim county manager for six months before his appointment.) Under the contract, Schwartz will earn $245,000 in his first year, which is less than the $270,000 annual salary of his predecessor and former boss, Barbara Donnellan. [InsideNova]

New Rosslyn Condo Project Approved

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2016 at 4:55PM

Rendering of new 1411 Key Blvd development

An aging low-rise apartment complex in Rosslyn will be replaced with a new condominium development.

The Arlington County Board on Thursday approved the condo project from Reston-based developer NVR, Inc., the parent company of homebuilder Ryan Homes. The Board approved NVR’s plan for a six-story building with a total of 63 units, which will replace a four-story, 33-unit apartment complex built in 1955, along with a two story house.

Police: Middle-Aged Man With Pony Tail, Redskins Cap Exposed Himself Near Ballston Metro

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2016 at 3:05PM

Police say the man was urinating in public on the 4200 block of N. Fairfax Drive when he exposed himself to a woman who was walking by.

From a police crime report:

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2016 at 9:45AM | Updated February 1, 2016 at 2:01PM

It’s February — Today is the first day of February. As happens every four years, this year February will have an extra leap day — Monday, Feb. 29.

New Beer Store Now Open — The Brew Shop, a new craft beer store near Courthouse, opened its doors on Friday. The store is located at 2004 Wilson Blvd. [Instagram]

County Board Approves $1.3 Million ‘Universal Design’ Playground, Volleyball Court

By ARLnow.com

Published January 29, 2016 at 1:45PM

The Arlington County Board on Thursday approved major renovations to a playground and volleyball court at Quincy Park.

The new playground will incorporate “universal design” to make it fun and accessible for users of all ages and physical abilities. Features include swings, picnic tables, a slide and a “climbing tree.”

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 29, 2016 at 10:30AM | Updated January 29, 2016 at 11:07AM

ARLnow Celebrates Sixth Anniversary — Six years ago today, ARLnow.com launched with a brief post about an upcoming snow storm and an early mission statement.

In Rosslyn: WJLA Stays, Politico Implodes — In Rosslyn yesterday, there were two big pieces of local media news in the same building, on the same day. First, it was announced that Sinclair Broadcast Group signed a five-year, 100,000 square foot lease that will keep WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the 1000/1100 Wilson Blvd twin towers. Later, it was revealed that Politico — which renewed its lease in the same complex in 2014 — would soon be losing CEO Jim VandeHei, chief political reporter Mike Allen and three senior executives. [Washington Business Journal, Huffington Post]

Crime Report: Crime Takes a Snow Day in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published January 28, 2016 at 10:30AM | Updated February 27, 2020 at 4:17PM

There were, however, three separate robberies of two 7-Eleven stores reported. Two of the robberies occurred at the tail end of the blizzard.

ROBBERY, 160120044, 3600 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 9:07 p.m. on January 20, two unknown male subjects robbed a 7-11 of an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects then fled on foot. The first suspect is described as a black male in his twenties with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and black sneakers. The second suspect is described as a black male in his twenties with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants, and black sneakers.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 28, 2016 at 9:30AM

County Moves to ‘Phase 4’ of Snow Cleanup — With all residential streets passable, Arlington County has moved to “Phase 4” of its snow removal operation. “Phase 4 will focus on clean up, widening primary and secondary routes, as well as addressing trouble spots in residential areas,” the county said. “Widening and hauling snow from major corridors will continue at night when it is safest — we will do our best to minimize disruption, but please expect some noise.” [Arlington County]

Heavy Traffic Again This Morning — Pretty much the entire stretch of northbound I-395 was a parking lot this morning, as the D.C. area continued to get back to work following this past weekend’s blizzard. Other traffic problem spots include eastbound Route 50, which was backed up starting around Courthouse, Washington Blvd around the Pentagon, and the southbound GW Parkway, which slowed near the first overlook.

NWS Warns of Icy Conditions Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Published January 27, 2016 at 4:15PM

After a relatively mild afternoon, there’s plenty of water on local roads and sidewalks from melting snow. That meltwater may refreeze as temperatures dip back below freezing tonight, forecasters are warning.

This afternoon the National Weather Service issued the a Special Weather Statement, warning of hazardous conditions overnight.

County Manager: Blizzard Cleanup ‘Takes Time,’ Employees ‘Exhausted’

By ARLnow.com

Published January 27, 2016 at 3:30PM

Arlington County and other D.C. area jurisdictions simply do not have the resources to clean up quickly from a monster snowstorm like this past weekend’s blizzard, officials told the County Board yesterday afternoon.

“We do not pretend to have the equipment and staff to handle this kind of record storm,” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. “It takes time. We don’t spend to the level of equipment or staffing, nor do our sister jurisdictions, to rebound as quickly as we would like when a record event happens.”

Clarendon Subway Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

By ARLnow.com

Published January 27, 2016 at 2:00PM | Updated January 27, 2016 at 3:03PM

Federal prosecutors say 49-year-old Alexandria resident Obayedul Hoque conspired with managers at a number of Subway stores and a gas station he owned to keep some $6.5 million in sales off the books between 2008 and 2013. Hoque’s company dodged between $1.5 and $3.5 million in federal taxes as a result of the conspiracy, prosecutors said.

Among the seven Subway locations Hoque owned in Arlington, Alexandria and D.C. is the shop at 3000 10th Street N. in Clarendon. That store has remained open. Hoque also owned a Shell station on Duke Street in Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 27, 2016 at 11:55AM

Power Outage in Boulevard Manor — About 120 Dominion customers have been without power for much of the morning in Arlington’s Boulevard Manor neighborhood. A damaged power line is said to be the cause. Power may not be restored until later this afternoon.

Garvey Wants More Millennials Engaged With Gov’t — One of Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey’s goals for the year is to find ways for the county government to better engage younger residents. Garvey said members of the Millennial generation get “a little bit of a bad rap” but “really do want to be involved and help.” One possible Millennial-friendly measure that Garvey floated: allowing people to use Skype to speak at County Board meetings. [InsideNova]