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Morning Notes

Published January 24, 2011 at 7:37AM | Updated January 24, 2011 at 9:45AM

New Library Catalog System Coming Mid-February — Arlington Public Libraries will be rolling out a new online catalog system that includes a feature that sends you a text message when a book you had on hold becomes available. The system should launch mid-February. [Library Blog]

Penrose Square Ramps Up Marketing — The new Penrose Square apartments on Columbia Pike have a slick new web site. The site markets the apartments as “urban apartment homes” in a “LEED-influenced” building.” Residents are expected to start moving in in May. [Pike Wire]

Around Town

A-SPAN Holding Christmas Eve Dinner for Local Homeless

By ARLnow.com

Published December 23, 2010 at 2:31PM

The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network is holding a Christmas Eve dinner for homeless individuals at the county’s Emergency Winter Shelter in Courthouse.

The non-profit issued the following press release about the event.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 15, 2010 at 7:20AM | Updated December 15, 2010 at 8:20AM

Pentagon Metro Station Closed — The Pentagon Metro Station has been closed due to a suspicious package, reports Dr. Gridlock. Trains are still passing through the station.

Boy Scouts Enter Homeless Shelter Debate — At the county board meeting over the weekend, there was an unusual moment when a speaker used his time at the podium to ask questions rather than pontificate. That questioner was Spencer Cobb of Boy Scout Troop 167, who was inquiring about the possibility of a year-round homeless shelter as part of his citizenship project. There are 530 homeless individuals in Arlington, county officials estimate. More from the Sun Gazette.

Around Town

A Look Inside the County’s Emergency Winter Shelter

By ARLnow.com

Published November 8, 2010 at 1:13PM | Updated November 8, 2010 at 1:30PM

The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, which runs the shelter, gave the tour in advance of the group’s Community Walk for Homelessness. The group highlighted the shelter’s housing case management, nursing services and mental health services.

Also emphasized during the tour was A-SPAN’s big push for the funding and resources needed to operate the shelter year-round.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 4, 2010 at 9:02AM

Aurora Hills Roof Replacement — The Aurora Hills library and senior center is getting a new roof. The $240,000 project is set to begin on Thursday, Nov. 18. It will take about two months to complete, but the facilities will remain open — work will be done performed in the morning. More from the Library Blog.

Emergency Winter Shelter is Open — Arlington’s emergency winter shelter has opened for those in need of warmth, food and a roof over their head. The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network is seeking volunteers 18 years or older to work at the shelter, at 2049 North 15th Street in Courthouse. More from ASPAN.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 2, 2010 at 8:46AM

It’s Election Day — See our election day guide here.

Don’t Give Money To Panhandlers, Say Advocates — What should you give when a panhandler approaches you on the street? Whatever you do, don’t give money, say advocates for the homeless. The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network recommends giving its new “Arlington County Street Guide,” a pocket-sized information packet for the panhandlers. More from the Sun Gazette.

Around Town

Homeless Children Arrive at School Well-Supplied

By ARLnow.com

Published September 7, 2010 at 2:06PM

The backpacks contained lunch bags, water bottles, pencils, crayons and even a gift card redeemable for donated clothing.

“The security of starting the school year well prepared will help these children to overcome some of the other uncertainties in their life right now,” Doorways services coordinator Kristen Barnes wrote on the organization’s blog.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 20, 2010 at 4:10AM

Arlington Awarded HUD Homelessness Grant — Arlington County has been awarded a $540,000 competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money will help homeless families reunite or remain united by providing them with housing vouchers. With the family placed into housing, the children will no longer need to be placed into foster care. The vouchers will also be used by youth exiting the foster care system. A total of 50 individuals and families are expected to benefit. More from Arlington County.

Virginia Hospital Center Cheaper Than Inova Fairfax — Bloomberg reporter Peter Waldman takes a look at the impact of local hospital monopolies on the cost of medical procedures. According to the article, the average cost of a conventional birth at Arlington’s Virginia Hospital Center is $5,100, compared to $6,750 at Inova Fairfax. An abdominal CT scan costs $1,150 at Virginia Hospital Center, but costs $2,300 at Inova Fairfax. One analyst said the price difference is a result of Inova’s dominance in Northern Virginia.

News

Arlington Residents Commit 37 Percent of Crime in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published August 18, 2010 at 1:52PM

In 2009, Arlington police arrested 4,599 individuals for crime ranging from eluding to homicide. Of those, only 1,731, or 37.6 percent, listed Arlington as their city of residence.

The remaining 62.4 percent either lived elsewhere or did not list a fixed address.

Schools

Volunteer Opp: Back to School Donations

By ARLnow.com

Published July 30, 2010 at 10:46AM

Believe it or not, it’s almost back-to-school time. With August just around the corner, the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless is seeking volunteers to help the children of homeless families get some new gear.

Specifically, AACH wants individuals or groups to commit to buying a complete outfit — pants, shirt, underwear, socks, shoes — for an individual student. The organization is also accepting donations of gift cards.

News

A-SPAN Provides Hot Weather Relief

By ARLnow.com

Published July 7, 2010 at 1:54PM

The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network has stepped up some of its services in response to the dangerously hot weather.

Executive Director Kathy Sibert says volunteers have been visiting homeless camps in Arlington and handing out ice water-filled water bottles donated by Harris Teeter. A-SPAN has also been opening its drop-in center in Shirlington at 9:00 a.m. instead of the usual 1:00 p.m. And they’re handing out additional water to the 90 people who usually show up for dinner.

News

As Temperatures Drop, Winter Shelter Remains Closed

By ARLnow.com

Published April 28, 2010 at 5:30PM

Arlington’s Emergency Winter Shelter will remain closed tonight despite gusty winds and temperatures dropping into the upper 30s.

Kathy Sibert, executive director of the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN), says that illustrates the need for a year-round shelter. A-SPAN has been lobbying the county board for funding for such a shelter.