Around Town

As many of us gather with family and friends to celebrate, we wanted to take a moment to wish our readers joy during this festive season.

To those celebrating Christmas Eve tonight and Christmas tomorrow, we hope your days are merry and bright. To our readers who are celebrating Hanukkah this week, we hope the start of the Festival of Lights bring warmth and peace.


News
Christmas lights and decorations in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood in 2020 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reminder: Don’t Drink and Drive — “Drunk driving is the No. 1 cause of road deaths in Arlington, with alcohol factoring in 75% of fatal injury traffic crashes since 2022. We can prevent unnecessary tragedy this holiday season if everyone steps up to stop drunk driving. The County’s Vision Zero team and the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) have launched a new anti-drunk driving campaign this month.” [Arlington County]

Scammers Target Transgender Workers — “Email messages claiming to be from an employee that were sent in November to the LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative in Arlington, Va., and to a yoga studio in Middleton, Del., requested that the employees’ direct deposit paycheck be sent to a new bank account. According to an official with the LGBT+ Counseling Collaborative and the employee at the yoga studio, the emails had the employees’ correct names, including a photo, and included a bank account number for the Green Dot Bank where the email messages said the salary payments should be deposited.” [Washington Blade]

County’s Year in Review — “A look back on the many achievements of 2024 — who we are, and who we strive to be. From employee groups engaging with the community to imagining what Arlington looks like in 2050, and from important initiatives in human services to welcoming home an Olympian — and everything in between — join the County in reflection on the community’s values and achievements.” [Arlington County]

It’s Christmas Eve — Rain or freezing rain is expected in the morning, followed by a slight chance of rain in the afternoon, with a high temperature near 45. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation and a possibility of less than 0.1 inches of new ice accumulation. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 32. On Christmas Day, expect partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 42. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Monday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Dec 23, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Tuesday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

🌧️ Tuesday’s forecast

Rain or freezing rain is expected until 1pm, followed by a slight chance of rain between 1pm and 2pm, with a high temperature near 45. The southwest wind will be around 5 mph, becoming light and variable in the morning. There’s an 80% chance of precipitation and a possibility of less than 0.1 inches of new ice accumulation. Tuesday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 32 and a north wind at 6 mph. On Christmas Day, expect partly sunny skies with a high temperature near 42 and a north wind at 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
– Henry David Thoreau

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


Sports

The Wakefield Warriors (3-4) defeated the host Westfield Bulldogs, 51-39, in non-district girls high-school basketball action Dec. 19.

Wakefield began strong in the game, taking a 6-0 lead on two three-pointers by Lucy Strawn. Harris added four points in the early going and Ryan Seeley made a three-pointer as the Warriors led 22-9 at halftime.


Sports

The Wakefield Warriors (4-2, 1-0) warmed up for their upcoming George Long Holiday Tournament by finishing with a 1-1 record in boys basketball action last week.

Wakefield defeated the Langley Saxons, 59-36, in a Liberty District high-school contest, then lost to the Westfield Bulldogs, 64-42, in non-league play.


News

Arlington County police are warning of a man who has been grabbing people from behind in a sexual manner.

The incidents have taken place in the Arlington Mill neighborhood and typically involve female victims having their buttocks touched inappropriately by the suspect, who then flees the scene well before police arrive, according to ACPD.


Around Town

A special Christmas visitor at an Arlington home last week is causing quite a hoot on social media.

In Santa-like fashion, a barred owl welcomed itself into Savannah and Jason Burgoyne’s Donaldson Run home through the chimney on Wednesday night. To the delight of the couple’s daughters, it proceeded to perch atop their Christmas tree, knocking over the star.


News

Some freezing rain is expected in Arlington tomorrow morning, leading to slippery sidewalks and roads.

A light glaze of ice is possible throughout much of the D.C. area and Maryland, especially on elevated and untreated surfaces, the National Weather Service warned on social media.


News

An ex-Marine convicted of rape and multiple murders, including strangling a U.S. Navy petty officer to death in Arlington, has been taken off of death row.

Jorge Avila Torrez, 36, is one of 37 federal prisoners who saw their death sentences commuted by President Joe Biden today (Monday).