Existing conditions at the Bluemont Park tennis courts (via Arlington County)
Construction on new tennis courts and upgraded facilities at Bluemont Park begins next week, kicking off an expected year-and-a-half of renovations.
The tennis courts and parking lot will be fenced off and closed to the public during construction, as will a small section of the Four Mile Run Trail, the Department of Parks and Recreation said in an advisory. The park’s baseball diamond, soccer field and playground will remain open.
Arlington Public Schools employees clearing snow in front of Dorothy Hamm Middle School (via APS)
Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán stands behind decisions to keep classrooms shuttered for more than a week after last month’s snowstorm, but acknowledges shortcomings in the school system’s approach.
Durán said he and other school leaders should have done a better job at keeping the community informed on the reasons behind their decisions.
This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at[email protected].
Thank you to all who have served and to the families who have sacrificed or lost loved ones for our freedom. I hope you and yours have a special Memorial Day weekend with friends and family to celebrate our country and those we’ve lost defending it.
The Eli Residential Group donates annually to Arlington-based TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) in honor of Memorial Day. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24/7 to those grieving a death in the military or veteran community, through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.
If you are interested in donating to a great charity this Memorial Day, TAPS is a four-star rated charity on Charity Navigator with 87.5% of funds raised going towards program expenses.
Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.
Frozen waterfall south of the Windy Run entrance to the Potomac Heritage Trail (courtesy Vick Fisher)
Monks Arrive Today — “On Feb 9 we will welcome the Venerable Monks of the Dhammacetiya as they near the end of their remarkable 2,300-mile Walk for Peace, which began in TX & concludes this week in D.C. Approximately 5:30 p.m.” [Marymount University/X, ARLnow]
Regular Waste Collection Resumes — “Regular curbside collection will return to normal service levels starting Monday, Feb. 9. Please have trash, recycling and organics carts and any special collection materials (brush, scrap metal, e-waste) at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on your regularly scheduled collection day.” [Arlington DES]
Cemetery Aims for Reopening — “ANC plans to reopen with modified access for visitors and family pass holders beginning Feb. 10. However, please be advised that some sites and sections may remain temporarily inaccessible due to snow and ice.” [ANC/X]
Local Murder Mystery — “It’s been 35 years since Suanne Burt Sardi last spoke with her older sister, Sandra. Thirty-five years since the two women hung up the phone on an early morning in January, promising to check in again in the afternoon. Thirty-five years since 41-year-old Sandra Burt Carrera was found shot to death in her Arlington, Virginia, home. And for 35 years, the tragedy has gone unsolved.” [Dateline]
Sewage Spill Setback — “Overnight CCTV inspection of the Potomac Interceptor revealed the blockage inside the collapsed sewer line is far more significant, showing a large rock dam stretching approximately 30 feet downstream of the original failure. The unexpected discovery exposed the severity of the obstruction and prompted an immediate reassessment that will extend the timeline for cleaning and repairs.” [PoPville]
Rent Control Bill Fails — “State lawmakers have blocked legislation that could have given Richmond officials more power to block landlords from imposing big rent increases. The proposals failed to advance out of committees in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate, showing one of the city’s top legislative priorities remains a tough sell in the General Assembly.” [Richmonder]
Medicine Affordability Bill Advances — “Legislation to help rein in the cost of prescription drugs for Virginians passed the Virginia Senate today by an overwhelming 31-8 vote. An identical House bill was recommended for reporting by a House appropriations subcommittee this afternoon with a bipartisan 6-1 vote and should be taken up on the floor next week.” [Press Release]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 33 degrees, with northwest winds of 3 to 6 mph. Tonight will bring mostly cloudy skies and a low temperature near 22. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
This year’s Very Godly VBS, inspired by The Titan’s Curse, invites children into the world of Camp Half-Blood to explore faith, courage, belonging, and community through storytelling, music, crafts, games, science, and reflection in a fun and welcoming environment for all.
Ticketing at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
A pre-school age child with measles traveled through Reagan National Airport and on a Yellow Line Metro train last week.
That’s according to an alert from the Virginia Dept. of Health. The child “is a resident of another state and traveled through Ronald Reagan Washington National airport on January 26,” VDH said.
Great music, scripture, and prayer mingle together in this ancient evening service as we celebrate Pride and the all-embracing love of God. Join us for this 45 minute service in the beautiful Saint George’s sanctuary. The prelude begins at 3:45 pm and the service is followed by a festive reception. Everyone is welcome at Saint George’s.
Expect sunny skies and a high temperature of 18 degrees, but wind chills could plunge as low as -8 due to strong northwest winds of 25 to 29 mph, and gusts reaching up to 60 mph. For Saturday night, the skies will be mostly clear with a low near 10, while wind chills could drop to -6. The blustery conditions continue with the northwest wind blowing at 15 to 24 mph, and gusts peaking at 43 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” – Winston Churchill
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum. 👋
Walk for Peace route in Arlington County on Monday, Feb. 9 and Tuesday, Feb. 10 (via Arlington County Police Department)
The Walk for Peace route through Arlington has been revealed as police prepare for the Buddhist monks’ arrival near the end of their 2,300-mile journey.
The monks are expected to arrive in Arlington in the early afternoon on Monday, Feb. 9 and depart for their end destination in D.C. the following day.
Crystal City Sports Pub (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)
Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders are home on the couch this weekend, but that’s no reason to spurn the pomp and circumstance of arguably the biggest sporting event of the year: Super Bowl LX.
Whether you’re a fan of football or just good food, there’s no lack of things to do around Arlington and Falls Church to celebrate Sunday’s big game. Here’s a look at some of the festivities going on.
Voting at Arlington Central Library on Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Newly proposed maps would split Arlington into two congressional districts as part of a statewide overhaul heavily favoring Virginia Democrats.
The proposal would keep a southern portion of Arlington in the 8th Congressional District, which currently encompasses all of the county and is represented by Rep. Don Beyer (D). This would extend as far south as York County in the Tidewater region.
Man down in the middle of the intersection of Langston Blvd and Washington Blvd in East Falls Church (courtesy Audrey Brown)
A fender bender and subsequent dispute between drivers ended with one of them down and injured in the middle of a busy intersection at rush hour.
The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Washington Blvd and Langston Blvd in Arlington’s East Falls Church neighborhood.