Stories for December 2015

Classified Advertising December 30, 2015

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Editorial: Merry Christmas

The pages of the Connection have been full of holiday spirit for more than a month. Menorah lightings, group and individual efforts to help the needy, stories of giving, secular celebrations, religious celebrations.

Classified Advertising December 23, 2015

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Jefferson Site: From Rejection to Approval

County decision ends year-long fight over traffic congestion and park space.

At its first 2015 meeting in January, the Arlington County Board voted not to approve Arlington Public Schools’ (APS) plan to build a new elementary school adjacent to the Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Arlington Snapshot: Christmas Wishes

It is 75 degrees in Arlington on Sunday afternoon but Santa has kept his scheduled stop at Potomac Overlook Regional Park to get Christmas lists from children counting down the days until Christmas.

Arlington Snapshot: Supporting Culpepper Garden

Billy Buck, CEO, and Delk Hamaker, COO, of Buck & Associates, Inc. presented a $5,000 donation to Culpepper Garden’s Executive Director Linda Kelleher at Buck’s office in Clarendon. Culpepper Garden is an award-winning, affordable, nonprofit residential community in Arlington with 340 apartments for seniors aged 62 and older.

Arlington: Students Blanket Crisis Center with Love

Madelyn Kellen was hoping the third year would be the charm and that at least 100 volunteers would show up at Bernie’s Café on the Marymount University campus to help make fleece-tie blankets for a local crisis pregnancy center.

Arlington Business: Concannon Joins NVAR Board

Genevieve Concannon, director of Custom Home Division for Arlington-based real estate development firm Smith | Schnider, has been appointed to serve on Northern Virginia Association of Realtors’ (NVAR) board of directors.

Arlington Snapshot: Christmas Carols

Arlington House, the Lee-Custis residence General Robert E. Lee left behind when he agreed to lead the Confederate Army, once again resonated with the sounds of Christmas, with handbell ringing on Saturday, Dec. 12, and Yorktown’s Chamber Choir on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m.

Arlington: Foster Families Celebrate Christmas Together

Foster parent describes county’s fostering program as “awesome.”

They came in the door of Carlin Springs Elementary School holding hands.

Arlington Brief: New County Board Auditor Appointed

The Arlington County Board has appointed Jessica A. Tucker as its first County Board Auditor.

Arlington Brief: Board Appoints Fire Station #8 Task Force

The County Board has appointed Noah Simon as chair of its Fire Station No. 8 Task Force.

Arlington Brief: Police Conclude Inmate Death Investigation

The investigation of the in-custody death of 53-year-old Edward Straughn on Oct. 10, by the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit has concluded.

Arlington Brief: Holiday Closings

Arlington County Government offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday.

Arlington Brief: County to Renovate Tuckahoe Park Fields

The County Board on Dec. 15 approved a contract for nearly $1 million to renovate two diamond sports fields and supporting facilities at Tuckahoe Park.

Arlington Brief: Transitway to Open in Spring 2016

Arlington’s Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway, which will complete the area’s first dedicated transit lanes, is now expected to be completed in spring 2016, according to county officials.

Classified Advertising December 16, 2015

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Arlington: Yorktown Gymnastics Has Talent, High Hopes

Patriots win five-team meet at Langley Monday.

The Yorktown gymnastics team won a five-team meet at Langley High School on Monday.

Partnership Launches ‘Build a Village’ Campaign

Goal to end homelessness in Fairfax County by 2018 looms; more than 400 children are among the homeless here.

Dozens of business leaders, elected officials and advocates for ending homelessness gathered Monday, Dec. 14 in the offices of Piedmont Fund Services in Herndon to launch the “Build a Village” campaign.

Arlington Snapshot: ‘Wreaths Across America’

“Wreaths Across America” delivered wreaths for each grave sites at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 12. See www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Arlington: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Suzanne McGrath pairs with Taste By Katie.

For anyone wondering where The Curious Grape went after closing its Shirlington restaurant this past March, Suzanne McGrath is still very much engaged in the local wine and food community, just without the restaurant.

Arlington: Bill Neikirk Launches Novel, ‘The Copperhead Club’

Spinning a tale of “sex, money, intrigue, and Washington politics.”

William (“Bill”) Neikirk says he has always wanted to write a novel, ever since he was an 8-year-old.

Arlington County Board Approves 173-Unit Affordable Housing Complex

Some residents question socio-economic segregation.

For the Arlington County Board, 2015 ended on a high note. With construction scheduled to begin in 2017, the current Arlington Presbyterian Church will soon be transformed into Gilliam Place, a home for 173 families at various levels of affordable housing needs.

Arlington Snapshot: What Month Is This?

Temperatures seemed more like June on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13, at Potomac Regional Overlook Park. Parents sat on picnic benches chatting as their children climbed the playground pegs, played hide and seek and ran around the park, some in their summer shorts and T-shirts.

Arlington Snapshot: Lighting of the Menorah

"Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay." Children balanced on their ice skates sing traditional Jewish songs at Chanukah on Ice held at the Pentagon Row Ice Skating rink in Arlington on Dec. 8.

2015 Arlington Holiday Entertainment Guide

Holiday events near Arlington, Va.

Editorial: Safety Net for Holiday Celebrations

It’s an opportunity to talk about responsibility, alcohol and planning ahead.

The holiday party season is here, and we will almost all be celebrating in some way. Some ways will involve celebrations that include alcohol.

Arlington: Wakefield Transfers Trying to Jell with Captains Nhial, Treakle

Warriors remain undefeated with wins over T.C. Williams, Eastern.

The Wakefield boys' basketball team is off to a 4-0 start despite several new faces.

Classified Advertising December 9, 2015

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Arlington: Thrive’s 40th Anniversary Gala Raises Over $140,000

Thrive Arlington community depends on its volunteers and neighbors.

At that point in the George Washington Parkway Ten Miler where you aren’t sure you are going to make it to the end, Kim Kenney and Mary Bohan were amazed to see Thrive Executive Director Gerry Shannon cheering them on from the sidelines, shouting out their names with encouragement.

Arlington: Turkey Bowl in Hall’s Hill

The over-30 crowd beats the under-30 crowd in football.

Arlington has a way of unfolding its secrets slowly, a magician with successive rabbits coming out of its hat.

Arlington: Interfaith Community Marches Against Islamophia

“We’re here to share the love with people thousands of miles from us and right next door."

The last month hasn’t been easy for the Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church.

On the Air in Arlington

Arlington Independent Media Launches 96.7 WERA

Heff Munson can create fire with just a plastic bag. He can make creaky stairs from rubber bands and a winch. Using a bag of rice, he can make it rain. Munson replicates the sounds as best he can, but when his program plays on Arlington’s new 96.7 WERA, it sounds real.

Merry and Fit

Support groups help members maintain fitness during season of indulgence.

Just after 7:30 on a recent Sunday morning, the steady beat of Cold Play’s "Viva la Vida" pulsed through the warm, sleepy air.

Parable of the Good Arlingtonians

Planning Commission gives its blessing to Gilliam Place.

When the County Board’s meeting room is even a little crowded, it’s generally a sign that there’s a fight impending.

Classified Advertising December 2 , 2015

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Letter: ‘Leafing’ Truth Behind

Letter to the Editor

As a longtime resident of Arlington, I am generally satisfied with the services provided by the county.

Arlington: Stein Crafts Themed Jewelry

Suzanne Stein uses beads and charms.

Originally from Westchester County, N.Y., Suzanne Stein, 52, relocated to Virginia in 1991 with her husband, Dr. Lawrence Stein, when he had a job opportunity to work as a physician in Northern Virginia.

Arlington Snapshot: It’s a pARTy

CinCin Fang greets guests in her studio at the Columbia Pike Artists Studios pARTy on Nov. 14 where artists showcased their work.

Arlington Snapshot: EcoPOP

Guests at the EcoPOP exhibit on Nov. 14 look at the many pieces of art along the displays held in the lobby/1st floor of 3400PIKE which was transformed into a gallery for the evening. The event was cosponsored by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and Yuck Old Paint.

Arlington Brief: County Warns of False Tax Letters

Some Arlington County homeowners have received correspondence, from Express Homebuyers, falsely claiming that these owners owe real estate taxes and that the county may take their homes away from them due to delinquent taxes, Arlington County Treasurer Carla de la Pava said.

Nhial, Treakle return for Warriors.

The Wakefield boys' basketball program will have to adapt to life without Dominique Tham.