Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell was at Glebe Elementary today as school, county and state officials helped to mark the opening of a new “reading garden.”
McDonnell used garden shears to cut a ceremonial ribbon as a crowd of about 50 adults and students applauded.
On Thursday, the board will vote on the school system’s FY2011 budget, which would include any planetarium funding or lack thereof. Leaders of the “Friends of the Planetarium” group, who are actively representing more than 3,200 Facebook “fans” and 900 petition signers, say they are not sure which way the board will vote.
At this point, it’s also not clear which of three possible “scenarios” the board would be voting on. The scenarios range from retaining one full-time planetarium teacher for K-5 students and hiring hourly staff as needed on weekends, to using the planetarium as classroom space during the week and only hiring for weekend shows (while also funding K-2 field trips to the Einstein Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum).
Wakefield High School was evacuated this afternoon due to a report of a strong odor of gas coming from a science lab.
Firefighters investigated and determined the gas odor was actually coming from lawnmowers that were being used outside. The odor had wafted into the school from an open door, according to principal Doris Jackson.
Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested — A man who’s suspected in three armed robberies in Arlington, and at least 15 throughout Northern Virginia, has been apprehended. Eugene Athony Thomas, 24, was arrested in Fairfax County on Monday after a joint investigation by Fairfax and Arlington County police. More from the Falls Church News-Press.
Parks Dept. Creating “Arlingtonopoly” Game — The county’s parks and recreation department is creating a “Monopoly” knock-off called “Arlingtonopoly.” Local landmarks and businesses (who fork over several hundred dollars) will substitute for Boardwalk, Park Place and rest of the original board game’s familiar properties. More from the Sun Gazette.
Ohno started chants, led various physical activities, games and dances, and answered questions about his Olympic career.
Students, giddy with excitement over the Olympic star’s visit, also eagerly and loudly participated in a quiz about the dangers of alcohol.
Ohno, the country’s most decorated Winter Olympian, is scheduled to visit the school on Tuesday, April 20. His visit is sponsored by the Arlington-based Century Council, a liquor industry-funded group that fights drunk driving and underage drinking.
Photo from the Century Council.
About two dozen sign-holding, banner-unfurling and speech-making residents came to ask the board to keep the David M. Brown Planetarium open.
During his budget presentation, superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy acknowledged the “Save the Planetarium” movement, which has attracted nearly 3,000 fans on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Save the Planetarium Facebook page now has more than 2,900 fans.
On Monday, Perrino presented the petition to school board member Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez. “The meeting went very well,” Perrino said.
It was the Easter experience of a lifetime.
The 250 Arlington elementary school students who were invited to attend Monday’s White House Easter Egg Roll were treated to a reading by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, a performance by teen pop sensation Justin Bieber, and appearances by a host of other showbiz stars and athletes. And that’s not to mention the thrill of hobnobbing with President Obama and the First Family.
An unspecified threat at Washington-Lee High School has prompted officials to cancel all after-school activities at the high school, including adult education classes. The W-L aquatic center has also been closed.
Administrators learned of the threat this afternoon, school officials said in an email. Police investigated and determined that there was no imminent danger to students and staff.
New County Manager Will Be Missed in Savannah — “A sad day for the city of Savannah.” A “loss for the city.” In an uncommonly heartfelt display of sadness and regret over the departure of an unelected public official, media outlets and politicians in Savannah, Ga. are weighing in on the loss of Savannah city manager Michael Brown. A native Virginian, Brown will become Arlington’s new county manager in May.
Sushi Rock Set to Open — A rock-themed sushi bar is set to open in Courthouse today. “The place feels like the remnants of a 1980s Japanese tour by AC/DC, if only they kidnapped a chef and raided half the Tokyo fish market before they left,” writes UrbanDaddy. Sushi Rock is located in the space at 1900 Clarendon Blvd formerly occupied by Yaku.
The flyer states that the planetarium is visited by more than 20,000 people per year. It prompts supporters to sign an online petition.
Meanwhile, the Save the Arlington VA Planetarium Facebook page has reached 2,640 members.
