Ballston | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published December 28, 2012 at 9:10AM | Updated December 28, 2012 at 9:32AM

Fight to Keep National Science Foundation — The National Science Foundation’s lease in Ballston is up next year, and neighboring communities are trying to lure the agency away from Arlington. So far, officials in Alexandria are some of the only ones who have openly expressed interest in bidding for the NSF. Fairfax County officials have kept quiet about whether they’re interested, specifically for areas along the upcoming Silver Line like Tysons Corner or Reston. Communities have until January 9 to submit proposals to the federal government. [Washington Examiner]

Parking Concerns with Ashlawn Elementary School Expansion — Updated at 9:25 a.m. — Despite criticism from some neighbors in Boulevard Manor, last week the School Board approved plans for the expansion of Ashlawn Elementary School. Neighbors raised concerns about adding a new entrance on N. Manchester Street and adding additional parking on the school site. The issue will likely go before the County Board, which is able to adjust the number of parking spaces required under zoning requirements. [Sun Gazette]

News

UPDATED: Pedestrian Dies After Christmas Eve Accident

By ARLnow.com

Published December 24, 2012 at 6:15PM | Updated December 26, 2012 at 1:49AM

(Updated at 9:25 p.m.) A 30-year-old woman has died after she was struck by an out-of-control car in Ballston this evening, according to police.

The accident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, near the Harris Teeter on Glebe Road in Ballston. According to police, a two vehicle accident occurred on Glebe Road in the area of N. Randolph Street. One of the cars ran off the road and struck the woman, who was walking on the sidewalk. The car then struck and partially wrapped around a street tree.

News

Four Arrested After Armed Bank Robbery in Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published December 23, 2012 at 6:35PM | Updated December 24, 2012 at 9:32PM

Three men who were wearing ski masks and pointing guns entered the credit union, located a block from Ballston Common Mall, just before 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

They shouted threats and forced the 13 customers in the business to lie on the ground. The men made off with several bags full of cash — an undisclosed but substantial sum of money — and were whisked from the scene of the crime by a getaway driver who was waiting outside, Sternbeck told ARLnow.com.

Events

Capitals Still Locked Out, but Kettler Hosts Yorktown Hockey

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 19, 2012 at 11:05AM | Updated December 19, 2012 at 11:43AM

The Yorktown Ice Hockey Club has been in existence since 2003. The team has not been granted sports team status at the school, but is instead considered an “interest club.” It’s part of the Northern Virginia Scholastic Hockey League, which is the premier high school level league in Northern Virginia, and was bumped up from junior varsity to varsity this year.

One of the coaches boasted to ARLnow.com about having the league’s leading goal scorer on his team. Cameron Smith has scored 17 goals in three games, including a record-setting 11 in one game. So far this year, the team is 2-2.

Around Town

Photos: Family Holiday Party at Kettler

By ARLnow.com

Published December 17, 2012 at 11:15AM

The Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capitals hosted a holiday party for underprivileged D.C. area families at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston over the weekend.

The holiday party, held from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Sunday, is a tradition for team owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment.

News

Naked Man Startles Ballston Residents

By Katie Pyzyk

Published December 12, 2012 at 3:00PM

Shortly after 8:00 a.m., police started receiving calls about a naked man walking north on N. Randolph Street from 9th Street. When police arrived, the man was still naked, and officers noticed a large gash on the side of his neck. The man was taken to Virginia Hospital Center for further evaluation.

So far, police haven’t identified the man and haven’t said if the neck wound was the result of an assault or whether it was self-inflicted. They also haven’t said if alcohol or drugs were involved. There’s also no confirmation to a report that the man may have been carrying a knife or some sort of a blade.

News

Crime Report: Armed Robbery Fail

By ARLnow.com

Published December 6, 2012 at 10:45AM | Updated January 9, 2018 at 3:29PM

The would-be victim of an armed robbery in Ballston managed to get away thanks to some dirt.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30. A 6’2″ tall, 250 lbs man with a .45 caliber handgun tried to rob a victim at gunpoint, according to police, but his robbery was foiled when the victim threw dirt in the suspect’s face.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 29, 2012 at 9:05AM | Updated November 30, 2012 at 10:32PM

Commission Says No to Lee Hwy Project — The Arlington Planning Commission has voted against a developer’s plan to build a 10-story apartment building and a MOM’s Organic Market grocery store on the current Bergmann’s Dry Cleaner site on Lee Highway. The commission expressed reservations about approving the project when there’s no overarching county development plan for Lee Highway. Some neighborhood residents who supported the development said they were disappointed with the commission’s vote. The County Board will have the final say when they consider the matter on Dec. 8. [Arlington Mercury]

Arlington GOP Still Trying to Stop Streetcar — The Arlington County Republican Committee is trying a new tactic to halt the planned Columbia Pike streetcar. The GOP is asking state lawmakers to pass a measure that would require Arlington County to have a voter referendum before selling bonds to fund the streetcar. [Sun Gazette]

News

Cafe Employee Scalded by Co-Worker During Dispute

By Katie Pyzyk

Published November 28, 2012 at 10:30AM | Updated November 29, 2012 at 8:34AM

According to police, the two employees at Mary’s Cafe (4301 Wilson Blvd) have an ongoing dispute and have been known to argue at work on nearly a daily basis. The situation escalated around 7:45 a.m. when 55-year-old James A. Muse allegedly threw a pot of boiling water on the co-worker. The victim then allegedly drew a knife, but other workers intervened and separated the two.

Police arrested Muse at the scene and it is expected that he will be charged with malicious wounding.

News

Bicyclist Survives After Dump Truck Runs Over His Head

By ARLnow.com

Published November 27, 2012 at 1:55PM | Updated November 27, 2012 at 8:35PM

The incident happened around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24. According to police, the cyclist was stopped at a temporary red light next to a construction site on Quincy Street near Wilson Boulevard, when an unoccupied dump truck started rolling south on Quincy and struck him.

The man was knocked to the ground and one of the truck’s tires ran over his head, said Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. The man was wearing a helmet at the time and the helmet likely saved his life. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital’s trauma center with non-life-threatening injuries, Sternbeck said.

Around Town

Arlington Building, Restaurant Win Industry Awards

By ARLnow.com

Published November 15, 2012 at 11:00AM

Epic Smokehouse, the new upscale barbecue restaurant at 1330 S. Fern Street in Pentagon City, won NAIOP’s “Award of Merit” in the “Best Interiors, Retail Project” category. The restaurant’s interior — which is heavy on wood, leather and concrete — was designed by Collective Architecture and built by rand* Construction Corporation.

The award ceremony was held last night in Tysons Corner.

Around Town

Russian-Uzbek Restaurant Coming to Ballston

By ARLnow.com

Published November 13, 2012 at 4:35PM | Updated November 13, 2012 at 6:07PM

Rus Uz hopes to open later this month or early December, co-owner Igrokhim Rakhmatullaev tells ARLnow.com. The eatery will seat about 36 people inside and 20 people outside on the seasonal sidewalk cafe, he said. It will serve authentic Russian-Uzbek cuisine like plov, a rice dish, and borscht, a beetroot-based soup, as well as Russian wine and beer.

The business will be moving from Alexandria, where it exists as a catering company. Rus Uz will be primarily a restaurant, but will continue to do catering on the side. The company has catered for the Hillwood museum, the World Bank and for numerous weddings, said Rakhmatullaev.