News

The Arlington County Board has announced plans to dismiss all current members of the Human Rights Commission.

Following months of mounting tension, the County Board plans to revise the commission’s charter and clarify members’ duties. Commissioners who wish to stay would have to reapply for the role “with an explicit understanding of the HRC’s clarified duties and responsibilities,” Board Chair Libby Garvey said in an email yesterday (Thursday).


Schools

New mobile phone policies are going into effect in Arlington Public Schools for the upcoming school year.

After a unanimous Arlington School Board vote yesterday (Thursday), high school students will be required to turn off their cellphones during class and elementary and middle school students will have to keep them off for the entire day.


Announcement

We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes. 

Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.


Events

Fire Works Pizza in Courthouse is partnering with a D.C. area blood donor service to host a blood drive next week.

People who donate blood to Inova Blood Donor Services from 12:30-4:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, will receive $5 off any menu item at the pizzeria. Appointments will take place in Inova’s Bloodmobile, which will be parked outside the restaurant at 2350 Clarendon Blvd.


Event

Join us for the LLT 5K Run/Walk, a community-powered fundraiser supporting Empower Latina and our mission to uplift, empower, and create opportunities for Latina women and girls. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation helps make a meaningful impact. Lace up, show up, and empower Latina!


News

Roughly $4.8 million for community-based projects involving Arlington is included in draft U.S. Senate appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2025.

The bills, which have now passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, would secure additional funding for affordable housing, workforce development programs and health care for low-income families in Arlington.


News
Member of a tree trimming crew riding a crane to the top of a dead tree (staff photo)

Gena Rowlands, W-L Grad, Dies — “Gena Rowlands, an actress who conveyed bewitching allure and wrenching vulnerability on-screen — notably in ‘A Woman Under the Influence’ and many other movies directed by her husband, John Cassavetes — has died at 94… As a teenager, she lived in Arlington, Va., and appeared through a student apprenticeship program with the Jarvis Repertory Theater in Washington. After graduating from Washington-Lee High School in 1947, she attended the University of Wisconsin.” [Washington Post]

Nonprofit’s Restaurant Fundraiser — “Arlington Thrive, which offers basic emergency-needs support to county residents, recently inaugurated a new ‘Dine to Thrive Mondays’ fund-raising event in collaboration with local restaurants. The first outing was held Aug. 5 at Pupatella Pizzeria and was ‘a resounding success,’ the organization said.” [Gazette Leader]

New Office Leases in Clarendon — “Developer Comstock Holding Companies signed two new offices leases at The Hartford building, located at 3101 Wilson Blvd. in Arlington. Comstock Holdings leased about 11,000 square feet of office space at The Hartford, with Essential Minerals Association and International Business Initiatives.” [Patch]

Condo: No Early Holiday Decor — From the Fairlington Villages condo association: “With the end of summer comes the autumn holiday season – crisp breezes and colorful foliage will soon abound. Please remember that the standard decorations variance approved by the Board of Directors permits Halloween decorations on or after October 15th. They may remain through November 8th, after which date they must be removed. Thanksgiving and Year-End Holiday seasonal decorations are permitted from 11/15-1/15, annually.” [Twitter]

F.C. Special Election OKed — ” Arlington County Circuit Court granted a Writ of Election, ordering that a special election be held to fill the vacancy on the Falls Church City Council resulting from the resignation of former Council Member Caroline Lian. The Court directed that the special election occur on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, concurrent with the General and Special Elections already occurring on that date.” [City of Falls Church]

It’s Friday — Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 90°F and calm winds shifting to the south at 5-7 mph in the afternoon. On Friday night, there’s a 30% chance for showers and thunderstorms between 2am-5am, changing to a possibility of showers after 5am. Skies will otherwise be mostly cloudy with temperatures around 71°F. [NWS]


Around Town

Good Thursday 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 — Aug 15, 2024.

📅 Upcoming events

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

☀️ Friday’s forecast

Expect a sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 90°F and calm winds shifting to the south at 5-7 mph in the afternoon. On Friday night, there’s a chance for showers and thunderstorms between 2am-5am, changing to a possibility of showers after 5am. The atmosphere will be mostly cloudy with temperatures around 71°F, south winds at 8 mph, and a 30% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
– John F. Kennedy

🌅 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.


Around Town

Excitement is in the air as the 2024 Arlington County Fair kicks into gear.

As the sun set on Thomas Jefferson Community Center park yesterday (Wednesday), hundreds gathered to enjoy the first night festivities and enjoy heart-stopping rides, sweet treats and classic games.


Around Town

Tivoli Gourmet & Pastry in Ballston has reopened after about two months of renovations.

The bakery above the Ballston Metro station at 901 N. Stuart Street returns with a simple, revamped interior design and new menu items alongside its usual breakfast offerings, assorted pastries and decorated cakes.


Announcement

Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.

The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.