Editorial: Purple State
Nonpartisan redistricting could support the best interests of the population, not the politicians.
Classified Advertising March 23, 2016
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Arlington: Better Buses
Arlington County applies for funding to improve its public transit.
From better bus stops to shorter waiting times, if a series of grant applications from the regional and state authorities go through, Arlington’s public transit could see some new improvements.
Arlington Snapshot: First Day of Spring?
Despite threatened rain, an Arlington woman and her dog celebrate the first day of spring with a walk in Gulf Branch Park. The dog was unwinding after 23 houseguests had just left and he finally got to sniff some leaves and chase a few squirrels.
Arlington Snapshot: Spring Planting
James Corbett stops by the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) table where Rosemary Jann, a volunteer, gives away bean seeds as well as a variety of herb seeds including thyme, tarragon, basil and cumin. Other seeds are offered to grow a plot for AFAC to feed the families served by the organization. Corbett has a table at the AFAC “Plot Against Hunger” summer season kick-off that demonstrates beekeeping. In two more weeks he will have his colonies in. He sells honey and raises bees as a pollination service for orchards.
Arlington Letter: Continue Fighting World Poverty
Letter to the Editor
Last week, I joined 200 volunteers from all 50 states on Capitol Hill to advocate for global health funding on behalf of the ONE Campaign, a nonpartisan advocacy group that pushes for effective government programs to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease in the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Arlington All In Conference Addresses the Dangerous Years
“It’s your job to explain to me the consequences of my actions,” teen tells mom.
Mother and son sat on the stage of the George Mason Founder’s Hall auditorium last Saturday, and talked as though they were in their kitchen at home. Kate McCauley and David Balick were discussing those dangerous years between 6th and 12th grade, when teens may exercise poor judgement and parents may overreact, or not react enough.
Arlington: Yorktown Boys' Lax Team Beats Pair of Perennial Powers
Patriots follow win over Chantilly with double-OT victory against Langley.
The Yorktown boys' lacrosse team beat Langley in double overtime on Thursday.
Arlington Home Sales: February, 2016
In February, 2016, 137 Arlington homes sold between $2,550,000-$30,000.
Arlington Home Sales: February, 2016
Arlington: Wakefield Boys’ Basketball Loses in State Semifinals
Sophomore Cooper shows promise in playoff defeat.
The Wakefield boys' basketball team lost to L.C. Bird in the state semifinals.
Private Schools: When Leaving Unexpectedly
Spring is time to commit to one’s school of choice.
When Ashley and Clark Leonard enrolled their son in a local independent school, they were excited about the prospect of him thriving in a new, smaller academic environment.
Arlington Letter: Support Clean Power
Letter to the Editor
In Sen. Adam Ebbin's recent commentary on the General Assembly session (“Governor’s First Vetoes and Ongoing Supreme Court Battle,” March 9), he concluded that Governor McAuliffe was right to veto legislation (SB21) that attacked the state's implementation of the Clean Power Plan.
Arlington Snapshot: Donating 500 Books
The women of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women partnered with The Reading Connection and the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing to host a celebration in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and present The Reading Connection with 500 books donated from Pi Beta Phi. On Feb. 29, the children at the Columbia Grove apartments enjoyed being read to by members of Pi Beta Phi as well as receiving temporary tattoos, stickers, and a certificate of participation. At the end of the party, a cake was served to all who attended and each child went home with a new book for their own home library. The Reading Connection will distribute the remaining books donated from Pi Beta Phi at other literacy events they hold regularly at 13 read aloud sites throughout the metro D.C. area.
Arlington: Concert at Culpepper Garden
The Arlington Philharmonic’s Youth Chamber Music program, Crescendo, arrived on March 6 to play a concert of Tango, Pop and Jazz music in the Culpepper Garden Senior Center.
Arlington: Volunteers Assist REEP’s Mission To Educate
Organization helps immigrants to assimilate.
Arlington County’s English language program for immigrants and refugees will mark its 40th anniversary on April 29 with an all-American celebration — complete with cotton candy, balloon animals and a cake walk.
Arlington: Wakefield High School Welcomes French Lycée Teacher
Parlez-vous ... Arlington?
Encouraging Language Study When Katy Wheelock began teaching at Wakefield, there were seven sections of French. By the time she received the Exemplary French Program award, there were nine. Wakefield also began offering two additional higher level classes, French 5 (a pre-AP class) and Advanced Studies of French (a post-AP class which APS is hoping to offer as a dually-enrolled class in the future). Under her leadership, Wakefield: * had an active chapter of the French Honor Society the “SHF”, or Societe’ Honoraire de Francais, and took part in the Grand Concours. * had two candidates who were wait-listed for Virginia’s Summer Governor’s Academy program, * students entered the Creative Writing Contest sponsored by SHF and wrote original poetry, in French, which they read aloud for World Languages Week at a countywide public event. * has gotten involved with Sister City Arlington-Reims committee for exchange opportunities (outbound to Reims 2013, inbound 2012, 2014); * had numerous guest speakers: David Biette, director, Canada Institute, Wilson Center (Jan 2015) and Idriss Fall, reporter, Voice of America (focus on Senegal, Africa) (Feb 2015) * established pen-pals for individuals; * Skyped with a Peace Corps volunteer about her life, usage of French etc. * welcomed five French high school students into their homes; * has set up a French Club; * students travelled to Reims for Spring Break 2014; * held a Declamation Contest, a juried contest in front of nearly 600 students. Miss Virginia International, Kristyn Admire, a linguist herself, came to encourage students to continue their foreign language studies in the future. * took part in a contest sponsored by the French Embassy in Washington D.C. called “Dis-moi dix mots qui te racontent” * allowed Wheelock to go on a French Embassy sponsored “Stage Pédagogique de Courte Durée” (short term teaching course) where she was one of 10 U.S. teachers in the country selected for an teacher immersion at CAVILAM in Vichy, France. Wheelock said she hopes to be able to visit middle school French teachers and students in level 1, at least once per year, to encourage more students to continue to level 2. She would like to see more students go on to language in high school and would like to see world languages become a core subject, as it is all throughout Europe. Wheelock also hopes to establish a stronger “college link” to show students the college opportunities for language study, how successful completion of advanced classes can earn college credits, how language can lead to studying abroad, internships, and and eventually, job opportunities.
Rosslyn Overhaul
Largest redevelopment on-record approved for Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood.
With five phases of development spread across 25 years, the newly approved Rosslyn Plaza will be the single largest redevelopment in the Rosslyn neighborhood. At the March 12 County Board meeting, the board unanimously approved five new buildings along the Rosslyn waterfront. The new project, proposed by Vornado/Charles E. Smith and Gould Property Company, will include 2.5 million square feet in office, residential, retail, and hotel space. However, while the County Board approved the project, some local residents were not as enthusiastic.
‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’
Starting conversations about gun safety can help prevent play date tragedies.
Starting the conversation felt awkward. After all, she didn’t want to offend another parent.
Arlington Column: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
... of the 2016 General Assembly session.
The Virginia General Assembly finished its work for the 2016 legislative session a day early and adjourned a “long” 60-day session where we made progress on many issues but fought bitterly on several others. Because the improving economy has led to increased revenue collections, we were able to invest in critical areas and make a sizable deposit to our Rainy Day Fund without increasing taxes.