News

ACE is calling it their “Solar Raisers Program” — a take-off on Amish barn raisings. They’ve started recruiting members to volunteer on weekends for the day-long installations. They’re also looking for homeowners who are interested in the solar systems.

Homeowners who participate in the program will save $3,500 in labor costs, ACE says. They will still have to purchase the water heating system itself — which should cost about $2,300 after tax rebates. And they will have to provide food and drink to the volunteers.


News

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is looking for a few good barristers.  Here’s the listing from Volunteer Arlington:

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness, seeks volunteer attorneys and law students to provide general legal information and referrals (not legal advice) to people affected by mental illness issues.


News

Home Prices on the Rise — The average sale price of a single family home in Arlington rose 17 percent in March, compared to the same period in 2009, local Realtor Laura Rubinchuk reports. “Inventory is way down as we’ve sold through many of the properties for sale,” Rubinchuk writes. She notes, however, that the average price of condos and co-ops fell 6 percent from 2009. More from the Arlington Real Estate News blog.

Colorful New Signs for Shirlington Village — “The old ones looked like they were in an 80s business park,” a commenter quips on the Shirlington Village Blog.


News

Traffic Lights Out in North Arlington — A number of traffic lights went out in North Arlington this afternoon due to a “circuit problem.” Generators were brought out to some of the busier intersections as Dominion Power worked on the problem. Four traffic lights were reported to be out on Fairfax Drive and three were reported out on Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive, among others. All lights are said to be working again.

Arlington Among the Most “Bike-Friendly Cities” — Bicycling Magazine has ranked Arlington 30th in its list of the 50 most bike-friendly cities. The article inexplicably features an image of Georgetown University.


Around Town

Remembrance Day was established in 2006 in honor of Tara Howard, a Marymount freshman who was tragically killed in a car accident in Baltimore. Howard’s parents, Bill and Linda, were on hand to help out with the beautification.

The clean-up was also dedicated to Marymount students Adam Dowell, Mateo Rios and Maggie Dibble. Dowell and Rios were also killed in car accidents.


News

New volunteers are required to attend an two-hour orientation session and should be ready and willing to assist staff in an emergency, participate in annual exercises and drills and support outreach and education projects. The next orientation will be held on Wednesday, April 7, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

To volunteer, email ArlingtonMRC [at] arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-4986.


News

One week from today, suicide prevention organization CrisisLink is holding its annual LinkUp & Live gala and auction at the Clarendon Ballroom. CrisisLink is looking for volunteers to work at the event.

“We need your help to make sure important event runs smoothly—from setup, greeting, registration, auction tables and bid sheets, coat check, floaters, and take-down,” CrisisLink told Volunteer Arlington.