controversy | ARLnow.com

Helen Thomas Joins Falls Church News-Press

Published January 6, 2011 at 9:07AM | Updated January 6, 2011 at 3:37PM

Thomas was a long-time fixture in the front row of the White House briefing room, having begun her daily White House coverage in 1960. She resigned as a columnist for Hearst Newspapers last year after making controversial remarks about Jews and Israel. When asked by a video camera-wielding rabbi what she thought of Israel, Thomas said that Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Germany, Poland and the U.S.

Thomas, 90, will now be writing a weekly political affairs column exclusively for the News-Press.

Around Town

Sinister Plot or ‘Saved By The Bell’ Plot?

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2011 at 7:32AM | Updated January 4, 2011 at 11:30AM

The photo (above left) of some sort of yellow rig near the Bishop O’Connell High School football field has neighbors speculating, according to TBD. Some believe that work is getting underway on a controversial athletic field renovation before the project has been formally approved by the county board.

We don’t know about that, but it does vaguely remind us the oil derrick from a 20-year-old Saved by the Bell episode entitled “Pipe Dreams,” in which oil is discovered underneath the Bayside High School football field. For a while, everybody thought the oil money was going to bring exciting improvements to the school, but in the end a beloved duck died and the whole situation was judged a fiasco.

Around Town

American Flatbread Bids Adieu to Pesky HOA President

By ARLnow.com

Published January 3, 2011 at 11:38AM

Now, the restaurant’s management has written a not-so-nice goodbye note to the most vocal opponents of the patio.

Displayed just inside the window is a sign that reads: “HEY MIKEY HOPE YOUR [sic] :) KISS MY [butt].”

Around Town

Athletic Field Upgrade Plan Sparks Neighborhood Spat

By ARLnow.com

Published December 30, 2010 at 2:25PM

Bishop O’Connell High School wants to spend $6 million renovating its football and baseball fields. The renovations would add new artificial turf to the football field, making it doubly usable as a regulation soccer field.

The renovations would also add lights to both fields, so they can be used after the sun goes down. The school has agreed to limit hours of use, however.

News

Views at Clarendon Lawsuit Dismissed, Again

By ARLnow.com

Published December 27, 2010 at 8:45AM | Updated December 27, 2010 at 4:36PM

In 2004, the county gave its blessing to a plan that would build an eight story affordable apartment complex, known as The Views at Clarendon, on top of the First Baptist Church of Clarendon. The plan was touted for its ability to increase the affordable housing stock in Clarendon while paying for the construction of a new church sanctuary.

The developer would buy property from the church, thus supporting the sanctuary construction, and then pay for the apartment building’s construction with the help of nearly $50 million in loans and tax breaks from the county, the state and the federal government.

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Nazi Flyers Popping Up in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published December 20, 2010 at 12:56PM | Updated December 20, 2010 at 2:00PM

An anonymous tipster alerts us to a wave of Nazi propaganda left on the doorsteps of houses in an (as yet unnamed) Arlington neighborhood.

According to messages on the (as yet unnamed) neighborhood listserve, the flyers are similar, if not identical to these leaflets that were distributed on Metro in 2006.

Around Town

American Flatbread Closing

By ARLnow.com

Published December 16, 2010 at 4:51PM | Updated December 17, 2010 at 4:01PM

Washington restaurant maven Don Rockwell is reporting via Twitter that American Flatbread in Clarendon will be closing for good on Christmas Eve.

In an article about the pizza restaurant published earlier today, Rockwell discussed the lack of customers at Flatbread, which sits two blocks away from Clarendon’s main Wilson Boulevard drag.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 16, 2010 at 5:30AM

Winter Weather Advisory in Effect — Expect 1-2 inches of snow today, says the National Weather Service. The flakes should start falling between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The advisory is in effect until 9:00 p.m. More from Weather.com.

John Boehner Likes Guapo’s — House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) apparently enjoys drowning his sorrows at the Guapo’s in Shirlington. Boehner, who famously called the Bush administration’s immigration reform bill a “piece of s—,” reportedly dined at the Mexican restaurant on Tuesday. It was his second visit in a month, according to Shirlington Village Blogspot,

Around Town

Towing Drama Outside Ray’s Hell Burger

By ARLnow.com

Published December 3, 2010 at 3:01PM | Updated December 3, 2010 at 3:18PM

Across the street from the new restaurant, an Advanced tow truck and a guy in a Mercedes were locked in a towing stalemate in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses Ray’s Hell Burger. In one corner, the tow truck and its crew of two had the Mercedes in its steely grips. In the other corner, the Mercedes driver was laying on the horn and refusing to get out of the car.

Ten minutes into the struggle, an Arlington police officer showed up and mediated. After some discussion, he allowed the tow truck to haul the Benz off to the Advanced impound lot.

News

Moran and Murray Supporters Trade Accusations

By ARLnow.com

Published November 1, 2010 at 2:40PM

Or did Moran and his son go “ballistic” and direct a “profane tirade” at the volunteer, as the Murray for Congress blog says?

Or, perhaps, both?

News

Murray Hopes to Benefit from Moran “Public Service” Swipe

By ARLnow.com

Published October 25, 2010 at 8:39AM | Updated October 25, 2010 at 5:01PM

With cameras rolling, Moran said of Murray, a retired Army officer: “What [Republicans] do is find candidates, usually stealth candidates, that haven’t been in office, haven’t served or performed in any kind of public service. My opponent is typical, frankly.”

The gaffe-prone congressman then dug the hole a bit deeper while referring to Murray’s limited government stance.

News

County Board to Consider Immigration Enforcement Resolution

By ARLnow.com

Published September 28, 2010 at 10:21AM | Updated September 28, 2010 at 7:00PM

According to a group that supports the “controversial” resolution, its passage would “limit participation” by Arlington police in the federal Secure Communities program and would make Arlington the first Virginia county to “take measures protecting the sanctity of local law enforcement.”

“We support the Board’s efforts to distinguish Arlington law officers from federal immigration agents,” Tenants and Workers United spokesperson Esteban Garces said in a statement. “This resolution in an important step in the right direction. We fully expect continued leadership from local officials on this important issue.”