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“Arlington Idol” Competition to be Held Thursday

Published March 21, 2011 at 11:57AM

Four high school students will vie for the title of “Arlington Idol.” The finalists — as voted by their classmates — are Mary Shields of H-B Woodlawn, Danyele Greenfield of Wakefield HS, Abir Haronni of Washington-Lee HS and Kate Mountain of Yorktown HS. They will be joined on stage by the U.S. Army Band “Downrange,” the pop/rock contingent of the military’s music corps, who have assisted with the competition since its inception.

Four runners-up from each county high school will perform as the band’s back-up singers this year. The runners-up are: Kyra Klontz of H-B Woodlawn, Tigist Worku of Wakefield HS, Mallory McKenzie of Washington-Lee HS and Rachel Gromberg of Yorktown HS.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 21, 2011 at 6:00AM

Davies Driver Sentenced in Crash — The driver in the fatal 2009 George Washington Parkway crash that left soccer star Charlie Davies severely injured was sentenced to two years in prison Friday. Maria Espinoza was drunk when the SUV she was driving hit a guardrail near Memorial Bridge and split in half, killing her best friend and leaving Davies maimed. Davies, now playing for DC United, scored two goals in the team’s home opener at RFK Stadium on Saturday. [ESPN, NY Times, Washington Post]

Arlington Woman Rescued from Potomac River — An Arlington woman was rescued by the Coast Guard after her kayak overturned in the Georgetown Channel, near Key Bridge, just before noon on Sunday. The woman, identified at 61-year-old Jenie Upchurch, was reportedly struggling to stay afloat when a Coast Guard vessel arrived at the scene and threw her a life ring. [U.S. Coast Guard]

President Obama Visits Kenmore Middle School

By ARLnow.com

Published March 14, 2011 at 3:55PM | Updated February 13, 2024 at 10:41AM

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) President Obama chose Kenmore Middle School as the venue for a major speech on education and the future of the No Child Left Behind program this morning.

School Board Race Remains Uncontested

By ARLnow.com

Published March 2, 2011 at 8:00AM

No other Democrats have filed to challenge Raphael for the endorsement of the Arlington County Democratic Committee. School board races are officially non-partisan, but parties will usually endorse a candidate.

The last Republican to hold a school board seat was Dave Foster, who currently sits on the Virginia Board of Education. Foster declined to run for re-election in 2007, clearing the way for Raphael to run unopposed for the seat and easily claim her first term.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 28, 2011 at 8:20AM

More Names Mentioned for Senate Seat — Is there a Democrat in Arlington County who’s active in local politics and who’s not thinking about running for the state Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple? Add Alan Howze, former Arlington County Democratic Committee chairman Peter Rousselot, county board member Jay Fisette and Del. Bob Brink to the five names we mentioned as possible candidates on Friday. [Sun Gazette, Washington Post]

Cava Still Hoping for Spring Opening — Construction has yet to begin on the new Cava restaurant on Clarendon Boulevard, but the owner of the upscale Greek restaurant still hopes to open by “late April or early May.” Cava currently has locations in Rockville and on Capitol Hill. [TBD]

Proposed School Budget Includes Pay Raise for Teachers

By ARLnow.com

Published February 24, 2011 at 3:58PM | Updated February 25, 2011 at 9:20AM

The proposed FY 2012 budget includes a step increase for teachers and other school employees that was not granted last year amid a serious budget crunch. It does not, however, include a cost of living (COLA) increase. COLA increases used to be granted nearly every year until Arlington’s budget difficulties began two years ago.

Senior employees and employees at the top of the pay scale — who together make up about 33 percent of the work force — are not eligible for a step increase. Dr. Murphy is proposing a one-time payment of $1,000 to those employees. The total cost of all pay raises is estimated at ~~$16.4~~ $7.9 million. (The original $16.4 million figure included benefit and retirement increases.)

APS Appoints Interim Williamsburg Principal, Hires Lawyer

By ARLnow.com

Published February 9, 2011 at 9:14AM | Updated February 10, 2011 at 11:11AM

The brouhaha over the resignation of Williamsburg Middle School principal Kathy Francis continues.

Arlington Public Schools announced last night that it had approved the hiring of an outside legal counsel to ~~defend the school system against~~ review allegations made by Francis, who sent a lengthy resignation letter to parents last week. In the letter, Francis accused superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy of “discrimination” and harassment.

APS Administrator Will Serve As Williamsburg’s Acting Principal

By ARLnow.com

Published February 4, 2011 at 9:05AM | Updated February 4, 2011 at 12:56PM

It didn’t take long for Williamsburg Middle School principal Kathleen Francis to be told she was no longer welcome at the school she led for more than a decade.

Francis sent a lengthy email to parents Tuesday night announcing her resignation and criticizing Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy. The email was posted on this web site and quickly started garnering thousands of hits and hundreds of comments.

Superintendent Responds to Principal’s Letter to Parents

By ARLnow.com

Published February 2, 2011 at 2:16PM | Updated February 2, 2011 at 3:33PM

Dr. Murphy’s letter to parents toned back some of the language used by the school system last night, when officials described the letter as “regrettable,” “unfortunate” and “very angry” in a statement to the Washington Post.

“We will continue to respond with a high level of professionalism and cannot discuss Ms. Francis’s actions now or in the future,” Dr. Murphy wrote. “However, we deny that there has been any discrimination.”

DEVELOPING — Middle School Principal Resigns, Sends Email to Parents Blaming Superintendent

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 5:53PM | Updated February 1, 2011 at 6:37PM

In a lengthy email to parents, Francis detailed what she describes as a “long struggle” to resolve a personnel matter with Dr. Murphy. Francis said her efforts, which allegedly upset Dr. Murphy, resulted in “an ongoing series of actions to harass me and mischaracterize my performance and professional reputation.”

Francis defended her record and said she went so far as to file a discrimination complaint.

Arlington Teens Getting More Exercise, Having Less Sex

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 2:32PM

The 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which polled 8th, 10th and 12th graders in Arlington, found that more teens say they’re getting adequate exercise than three years ago, when the last survey was conducted.

In 2007, 40 percent of teens said they were getting adequate exercise — defined as at least one hour of exercise, five or more days per week. In 2010, that number jumped to 50 percent.

Egypt Unrest Results in APS Students Losing Their Teacher

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2011 at 10:13AM

The Egyptian government has cut internet service in response to the unrest. As a result, Washington-Lee High School has temporarily lost its Arabic teacher, who teaches the class remotely from Egypt.

A “live” teacher has now been brought in to continue teaching the class.