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Morning Notes

Published October 30, 2020 at 7:30AM

Days Inn’s Days May Be Numbered — “An aging hotel along Route 50 in Arlington could be redeveloped… Arlington’s Planning Commission will study a roughly 2-acre site at 2201 Arlington Blvd., currently the home of the Days Inn by Wyndham hotel, to understand how it could accommodate new construction in the future. Shooshan is pitching a mix of apartments over retail, and perhaps some townhomes, for the property.” [Washington Business Journal]

Police Planning Halloween Parade — “In lieu of traditional trunk-or-treat events in the neighborhoods, the Arlington County Police Department’s Community Outreach Teams are dressing up their cruisers in creative costumes for a vehicle parade through the County” on Saturday afternoon. The parade will go through: “Lyon Village, Bluemont/Westover, Buckingham, Arlington Mill/West end of Columbia Pike, Green Valley, Aurora Hills, and Shirlington/Fairlington.” [ACPD]

Opinion

Health Matters: Is it Safe to Fly for the Holidays?

By Dr. George Hwang

Published October 29, 2020 at 1:45PM

Holiday season is fast approaching, and millions of people are weighing the risks of air travel versus staying home. The decision is intensified by the fact that many have not seen family for almost a year, and driving long distance just isn’t an option.

While the thought of being confined in a small space with strangers for hours is daunting, recent studies have suggested that flying may not be as dangerous for COVID-19 spread as once thought, and that cabin air may in fact be cleaner than air in hospitals.

News

Arlington Drafthouse Leaning on Seasonal Events, Live Comedy to Sustain Itself

By Jo DeVoe

Published October 28, 2020 at 2:00PM

After new movie releases came to a grinding halt due to the pandemic, the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike) has pivoted to older movies, alternative events, and a greater reliance on live comedy.

“The movie industry is a big black hole right now,” owner Tim Clark said. “Studios are pushing release dates farther and farther out, and dedicating more resources to direct-to-streaming.”

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 28, 2020 at 8:00AM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 11:26AM

Coronavirus Outbreak at Marymount — A COVID-19 outbreak has been reported at Marymount University in Arlington. “Initially, cases were identified over Columbus Day weekend and we’ve seen a decline in the total number of cases since October 21,” university spokesman Nicholas Munson told Patch. “To date over the more than two-week period, 31 students have tested positive.” [Patch]

New Charges Against Arlington Resident — “Prosecutors in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on Tuesday unveiled 15 felony charges against a pair of right-wing operatives over a recent robocall aimed at discouraging minority voters from casting their ballots by mail, similar to an indictment filed earlier this month by authorities in Michigan… The Ohio robocall claimed to be the work of the 1599 Project, an outfit that Burkman and Wohl run out of Burkman’s home in Arlington, Virginia.” [StateScoop]

Schools

DEVELOPING: APS Return to School Plan Hits Snag

By ARLnow.com

Published October 27, 2020 at 8:45PM

Arlington Public Schools headquarters (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

While students with disabilities are still set to return to classrooms next week, further return-to-school phases are now on hold.

Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán made the announcement in an email to families Tuesday evening.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Are You Willing to Eat Inside a Restaurant Yet?

By ARLnow.com

Published October 27, 2020 at 9:55AM

Dinner hour at a Shirlington restaurant in May (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

The restaurant business is hurting nationwide.

The pandemic has kept diners at home and contributed to the closure of thousands of restaurants. It has also prompted temporary restrictions on how restaurants operate, which in Virginia means no bar seating, reduced capacities, and increased cleaning expenses, among other things.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 27, 2020 at 6:00AM

Courthouse Wendy’s Project Changing — “A new developer appears to be taking over a Carr Properties’ project in Arlington’s Courthouse neighborhood, queuing up a switch from office to residential in the process. Greystar Real Estate Partners filed new plans with Arlington County earlier this month for a triangular parcel at the confluence of Clarendon and Wilson boulevards… [for] a 16-story residential building with 225 units above 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.” [Washington Business Journal]

Opera at Local Farmers Market — Two operatic performance will be held at the Crystal City farmers market this afternoon. The Washington National Opera performances will take place from a converted moving truck. [Facebook, WUSA 9]

News

Average Rate of New Cases in Arlington Holds Relatively Steady Over Weekend

By ARLnow.com

Published October 26, 2020 at 2:15PM

As of Friday, Arlington County had a trailing seven-day average of just under 25 new coronavirus cases per day. As of Monday morning, it’s just above 25.

The average has fluctuated but remained between 20 and 27 cases per day since Oct. 10. While elevated compared to the rate of new local cases throughout September, past couple of weeks have not seen the kind of grown in new cases found elsewhere in the U.S. and Europe.

Schools

Survey: A Majority of APS Teachers Prefer Remote Teaching for Now

By Jo DeVoe

Published October 26, 2020 at 11:00AM | Updated October 26, 2020 at 11:28AM

A 61% majority of Arlington Public Schools teachers prefer to continue distance teaching or telework, according to a survey recently conducted by APS.

Almost 4,300 employees, or 63% of APS staff, completed the survey. Teachers and assistants had the highest participation rates, 87% and 86% respectively, and while teachers had a stronger preference for distance learning over in-person teaching, assistants were split 50-50.

News

Arlington County Discouraging Halloween Partying and Large Crowds

By ARLnow.com

Published October 26, 2020 at 10:15AM | Updated October 26, 2020 at 11:32AM

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Arlington County is asking those planning on partying or gathering in large crowds on Halloween to reconsider their plans.

“With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, many partygoers may be looking to celebrate in popular nightlife destinations around Arlington, but events that involve large gatherings of individuals can increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission and are not recommended,” the county said in a press release on Friday.

News

Arlington Coronavirus Cases: Elevated But Not Accelerating

By ARLnow.com

Published October 23, 2020 at 10:00AM

Arlington County has, for the past couple of weeks, seen a higher level of new coronavirus cases — but there’s been a ceiling on the case growth.

Since Oct. 10 the seven-day trailing average of new daily cases has remained in a range from the low- to mid-20s. That number was largely in the teens throughout September.

News

Remote Schooling Is Causing Employee Burnout, Arlington Firm Says

By ARLnow.com

Published October 22, 2020 at 11:45AM

Working parents are increasingly feeling burnout from juggling a job and remote schooling, according to a new survey commissioned by an Arlington-based consulting firm.

“A new national poll of the U.S. workforce indicates that 65 percent of employees with children in remote learning situations are feeling burnout,” said a press release from Crystal City-based Eagle Hill Consulting.