Tuesday, February 28
Keep It Simple in Arlington
County manager proposes two cent tax rate increase.
One cent for Metro. One cent for Arlington Public Schools.
Letter to the Editor: Much to Do
A new report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association paints a troubling picture of our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
Celebrating Heritage at Drew Community Center
Exhbits include little known accomplishments in Black history.
Who was Charles Drew?
Raising a Service Dog
Canine Companions for Independence puppies will assist people with disabilities.
Even for those who consider themselves “dog people” through and through, like Arlington resident Jeanna Sullivan, the process of raising a puppy for Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) can be unexpectedly fulfilling and life-changing.
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for March 5-11
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for March 5-11.
Kenmore Middle School Unified Team
More than 700 athletes with and without disabilities from across Northern Virginia took to the hardcourts in Arlington and Fairfax counties on Saturday, Feb. 12, for Special Olympics Virginia’s Potomac Region Basketball Tournament.
Fisette Will Not Seek Re-Election
Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette has decided not to run for re-election to the board this year.
Pierce To Leave Arlington Community Foundation
Arlington Community Foundation Executive Director Wanda L. Pierce will step down as executive director in March after more than 8 years of leading the foundation.
Ready for Lutheran Schools Week
Students at Our Savior Lutheran School will join thousands of their peers across the country to celebrate Lutheran Schools Week beginning on Sunday, March 5 and continuing through Friday, March 10.
Beware Early Allergy Season
Experts offer suggestions for preventing and treating allergy symptoms.
Those experiencing Itchy, watery eyes and seemingly endless sneezing know that spring allergy season is getting an early start this year thanks to this season’s mild winter weather.
Prayer Vigil at ICE Office
Rising Hope pastor speaks about arrests outside church.
On the morning of Feb. 8, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers showed up across the street from Rising Hope Mission Church on Russell Road in the Mount Vernon area of Alexandria.
Chief to Release Name of Officer in Herndon Shooting
Risk assessment is complete.
The risk assessment of the officer involved in the fatal Jan. 16 shooting of Mohammad Azim Doudzai is now finished, according to a Feb. 24 release from Fairfax County Police.
U.S. Marshals Warn Public of Jury Duty Phone Scams
The U.S. Marshals Service is warning the public of a nationwide telephone scam involving individuals claiming to be U.S. marshals, court officers or law enforcement officials seeking to collect a fine in lieu of arrest for failing to report for jury duty.
Editorial: Good, Bad and Missed Opportunities
Results of the 2017 session of the General Assembly.
GOOD THINGS Progress in funding mental health and addressing the opioid epidemic on multiple levels were among the successes of the 2017 General Assembly session.
Thursday, February 23
Meggrolls Moves from Food Truck to King Street Home
Meggrolls Food Truck
Witness Protection
Spate of witness intimidations and a murder could result in new Witness Protection Program.
Officials looking into possible witness protection program
Wednesday, February 22
Preview for New Arlington Fees and Tax Rates
Fee increases for fire department inspections and substance abuse treatment while County Board considers pay raise.
A homeowner in Arlington in need of a fire department inspection for his business and seeking treatment for substance abuse will be the most impacted by the new fiscal year 2018 fees.
Black Lives Matter Banner Removed at Yorktown
School Board and administrators refer to “safety first” as rationale for removing banner.
Yorktown High School administrators asked African-American students who had put up a #Black Lives Matter (BLM) banner to take it down on Thursday, Feb. 8, according to William Lomax, assistant principal at Yorktown High School.
A Night to Remember in Arlington
School Board promises action as they hear some students do not feel safe.
They walked to the podium: black, white, Latino, student, teacher, parent. They talked about two signs: one saying “Black Lives Matter,” the other saying, “Patriots know: science is real, facts are not political, women’s rights are human rights, we are all immigrants, diversity strengthens us, justice is for all, kindness is everything.”
Road Work Ahead
New transportation projects under construction over the next six months.
Arlington transportation improvements
Feel the Heritage in Arlington
Annual free festival at Charles Drew Community Center.
This coming weekend, Arlington County will honor Black History Month with its 25th annual Feel the Heritage Festival.
Pet Sitting for 30 Years and Still Loves It
Fun, food and games.
Sasha hears familiar footsteps and sits at the top of the stairs waiting for his food and fun to begin.
Arlington’s One and Only Bombay Masala Hound
“Lady” was a Bombay Masala Hound. Don’t go looking for that in any dog breed book.
Italo
As I wandered past the cages of older cats, disappointed to see no kittens, one scruffy but fluffy grey fellow looked me straight in the eye and said, "Mmrraow."
“Flourishing After 55” in Arlington
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Feb. 26-March 4.
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Feb. 26-March 4.
Learning in Arlington about 18th Century Life
Seventy-two students from Our Good Savior Lutheran School attended the Woman's Club of Arlington’s Black History Month program, “Sewers, Spinners and Weavers,” on Monday, Feb. 6.
The Northside Social in Arlington Recently a Movie Set
The Northside Social in Arlington was recently a movie set for JAVA, the first short film produced in the Mason Film Lab, a new initiative by the Film and Video Studies program at George Mason University.
Commentary: Progress on Mental Health
A robust legislative agenda seeking to improve Virginia’s approach to mental health crises emerged this year from the Joint Subcommittee Studying Mental Health Services.
Tuesday, February 21
Matching Pets to Their Owners
Animal shelters’ counselors help families find the right fit when seeking a pet adoption.
Natasha had been abandoned and was wandering the streets of Arlington under the blaze of a hot summer sun when she was rescued and taken to a local shelter.
Lawmaker Work Group to Examine Virginia Predatory Lending
Panel to investigate internet loans, car-title loans and open-end lines of credit.
The growing chorus of criticism about predatory lending in Virginia may not have prompted lawmakers to start passing laws to crack down on the industry. But it has accomplished one thing, formation of a work group.
In Session: Virginia Assembly Briefs
Robert Johnson of Woodbridge understands the mental health crisis from a personal perspective.
A Record Year for Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Association of the National Capital Region honors its supporters.
Megan Newman told her story at the Alzheimer’s Association “Wall of Hope” reception at Tysons Corner on Feb. 9. She was only 18, a senior in high school, when her mother started to ask the same question more than once.
Opinion: Budget Season in Fairfax County
Attend a town hall meeting and express your priorities.
Alexandria and Arlington each have a meals tax, both enacted without a referendum because as urban forms of government in Virginia, their local elected bodies were authorized to enact the tax legislatively.
Finding Chippewa
I walked into the Potomac Yard PetsMart in Alexandria with my partner on a Saturday morning in 2012 expecting to quickly go in to grab some cat litter and get out.
Monday, February 20
The Connection HomeLifeStyle Real Estate and Remodeling Focus
Sponsored
This special focus will use the award-winning Connection Newspapers’ resources to illustrate the benefits of buying and listing homes for sale this summer.
Friday, February 17
Arlington Home Sales: January, 2017
In January, 2017, 159 Arlington homes sold between $2,387,500-$95,000.
Arlington Home Sales: January, 2017
Thursday, February 16
Era of the Iron Fist: How Did Democrats Rule the House of Delegates?
Democrats complain about Republican heavy-handedness, but were they any better?
Democrats complain that Republicans are sidelining their bills without much consideration. But were Democrats any better when they had control of the House of Delegates?
Wednesday, February 15
Editorial: Ending Gerrymandering Important to Region
Efforts appear dead for this session, but elections later this year provide new opportunities.
While three bills that could have reined in the runaway gerrymandering in Virginia made it through the Virginia Senate to crossover, they died on Tuesday morning in a House subcommittee, despite some vocal Republican support.
In Session: Virginia General Assembly Briefs
Ghost of Carter Glass
Meet state Sen. Carter Glass of Lynchburg.
Chief Still Withholding Officer’s Name in Fatal Herndon Shooting
Temporary restraining order to not release name vacated by judge.
Fairfax County chief of police Edwin Roessler has yet to release the name of the 16-year veteran officer who fatally shot Mohammad Azim Doudzai, 32, at his Herndon-area home on Jan. 16 this year.
Improve Driver Laws, Reduce Road Deaths
Virginia’s highway safety report card.
Clifton resident Debbie Sausville represented Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at a recent Capitol Hill news conference where Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) issued “report cards” rating all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their progress toward adopting 15 optimal laws that scientific studies, data analysis and real world experience show are effective at preventing death and injury on roadways.
Fairfax County Executive Proposes $4.10 Billion Budget
Calls for no increase in real estate taxes; falls $61 million short of schools’ request.
An exercise in “triage and trade-offs” was how Mount Vernon District Supervisor Daniel Storck described the FY 2018 budget as proposed by County Executive Ed Long to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Feb. 14.
Celebrating Black History Month
Educators say these lessons are urgently needed in current racial climate.
Even though Elavie Ndura knows that it is a daunting challenge to help children grasp the entirety of the African American experience in the shortest month of the year, each February she and other educators give it their best effort.
Tuesday, February 14
Arlington Public Schools: Outstanding Crossing Guard
Ashlawn Elementary School crossing guard Ana Hernandez was recognized by the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program as Virginia’s Most Outstanding Crossing Guard.
Bank Robbery Suspect Sought
The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a bank robbery suspect captured on surveillance footage.
Grant Thornton Opens in Rosslyn
Grant Thornton, an audit, advisory and tax firm, opened a new office in Rosslyn on Feb. 9.
Redesign Coming to Clarendon Circle
Clarendon Circle is being redesigned to make it more accessible and safe for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists traveling through the intersection of Wilson and Clarendon boulevards and Washington Boulevard.
Last Call: Carpool in Ballston winds down towards an April closing.
For many of the bar’s patrons, Carpool is the last bastion of the Ballston that was.
Letter to the Editor: An Arlington Woman Who Makes a Difference
Throughout the history of the U.S., communities continually change and evolve.
Gains and Losses in Crossover Week: Legislative Update
There are only two weeks left in session, but I am still hard at work in Richmond fighting for our values.
Blustery Weather in Arlington
Garbage cans blown over by gusts of strong winds line Old Dominion Drive on Monday morning, Feb. 13.
Monday, February 13
African-American Composer’s Opera Comes to Life in Arlington During Black History Month.
A local opera company will perform a long-ignored opera by an African-American to give children a message of education and forgiveness for all ages and races.
Synetic Theater in Crystal City Tackles ‘Taming of the Shrew’
Synetic Theater in Crystal City is staging the Shakespeare comedy, "Taming of the Shrew," from Feb. 15 to March 19.
Friday, February 10
Commentary: First Amendment Is Alive and Well
“Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Wednesday, February 8
The Journey to the Other Side of the Street in Arlington: Part III
Concluding a three-part series focusing on prisoner reentry in Northern Virginia.
Lavonne Williams and Michael Diffley sit sharing an afternoon cup of coffee, remembering their journey.
Arlington, Alexandria Construct Bigger and Better ‘Bridges’
Local safety net organization helped 500 people last year.
Like any other Alexandria mother, Amina Amir was bursting with pride that her daughter would be graduating from high school this spring, with plans to go to college, and that her son is in the U.S. Navy in California.
Tuesday, February 7
Devastating Past, Uncertain Future in Arlington
Arlington’s Syrian refugees shocked and dismayed by recent executive order.
Ekbal Al Zoubi and his family escaped death. In a war that has killed at least 400,000 people, Al Zoubi and his family are a few of the 15,479 Syrian refugees to make it into the United States in 2016.
Obituary: Mary Kay Spink
Obituary: Mary Kay Spink
Empty Bowls in Arlington
Raising funds to help feed those in need.
For the fifth year, area ceramic studios and restaurants joined forces with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) for its annual Empty Bowls fundraising event.
“Flourishing After 55” in Arlington
“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, for Feb. 12-17.
Virginia General Assembly Chugs Along through Crossover
On Tuesday, the General Assembly passed “Crossover,” the session halfway point by which each chamber must complete work on its own bills and begin considering legislation passed by the other body.
Bulova Calls for Land Use Engagement
Board of Supervisors chairman to host Community Council on Land Use Engagement.
At the Jan. 24 meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (BOS), Chairman Sharon Bulova handed the gavel to Vice Chairman Penelope Gross (D-Mason District), and proceeded to utilize a “Chairman’s Initiative” to introduce a “Board Matter” of her own.
MATHCOUNTS Winners Announced
Top area teams, students advance to Virginia state competition.
The Northern Virginia Regional MATHCOUNTS Competition was held on Saturday, Feb. 4, at George Mason University.
Volunteer Events & Opportunities
Volunteer Events & Opportunities
Honoring the Past and Present
A home with both a rich history and modern conveniences is on the market in Fairfax.
When Betsy Rutkowski purchased her Fairfax home, she was drawn to its rich history and the childhood memories which it evoked.
City House, Country House
Home offers sunny interior and bucolic surroundings.
European craftsmanship, a free-flowing floor plan and light-filled rooms characterize a home that was designed according to the vision of a local jurist.
Fireplace as Focal Point
A hearth is in demand for cold weather.
“Fireplaces have never fallen out of favor,” said David Foster, president of Foster Remodeling Solutions.
In Session: Virginia Assembly Briefs
The backlog of untested rape kits has received a lot of media attention in recent years, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been working to find ways to process all that evidence. But that’s not the only problem with rape kits. Many of them are them are simply thrown away.
Thursday, February 2
Prisoner Reentry: Some Solutions
Local programs, services help ex-offenders.
Ex-offenders may face stigma, lack of family support, inadequate life skills suitable for making it on "the outside" and difficulty getting and retaining employment.
Wednesday, February 1
Angry Birds on the Road: Lawmakers Want to Crack Down on Screen Time
Texting while driving is already illegal, but what about Facebook and Twitter?
Lawmakers in Richmond are a bunch of angry birds, frustrated at existing law they believe does not solve the problem of drivers devoting their attention to their handheld screen instead of the road.
Angry Birds on the Road: Lawmakers to Crack Down on On-the-Road Screen Time
Texting while driving is already illegal, but what about all the other screen time?
Lawmakers in Richmond are a bunch of angry birds, frustrated at existing law they believe does not solve the problem of drivers devoting their attention to their handheld screen instead of the road.
Prisoner Reentry: Some Solutions
Part II in a three-part series focusing on prisoner reentry in Northern Virginia
Thirty-eight thousand prisoners are incarcerated in Virginia with 12,000 adults and 500 juveniles projected to be released each year.
BABA Brings Alive Grandmother Memories
Here’s to fun dining.
Everyone can find their grandmother at BABA's according to Ivan Iricanin, the owner of the new restaurant on Wilson Boulevard scheduled to open Feb. 1.
88 and Ready to March Again
Boarding the bus for the Jan. 21 Women’s March, Ivy South says she is 88 years old and “this is my first march.”
Learning To Make a Difference
High school juniors attend Civitan conference.
Ever wondered about the blue sign on North Quincy Street near the Washington-Lee High School in Arlington which says “I-66 Civitan Garage Sale”?
Hidden Valley: Long neglected Four Mile Run reimagined and redeveloped.
S Four Mile Run Drive is not the prettiest view in Arlington.
Winter Concert for Opera Fans in Arlington
Opera NOVA presented a winter concert on Jan. 26 at Our Savior Lutheran Church on S. Taylor Street.
Letter to the Editor: A Neighborhood Swing Set
We had built a house when my son was a few months old (he is 29 now), and my daughter a little over two.
Letter to the Editor: Economic Oppoortunities
When Bob McDonnell was Governor, he named his Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling “Chief Jobs Creation Officer.”
Senate Proposes Alexandria Sewer Overflow Deadline
The Virginia Senate has advanced legislation to establish an extremely aggressive timeline for the City of Alexandria to address concerns over its Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO).