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I started this web site about three-and-a-half years ago, and now it may be time to end it, for good. Maybe. I’m going to take some of the next four or six months to figure it out, and in that time, I will not be writing news for it. I’m tired, to be fully honest. This past semester at Montgomery College—my full-time job as a composition and journalism professor—was a long one. I had to steal small pieces of time from many other parts of my life to write the HeraldTrib, this semester especially, and it showed in spotty, lackluster coverage, I thought. The blog started as a way to get a sabbatical from my teaching job. The technology was new, and free, and Buckingham was not covered by the local papers, and the local papers were neither easily nor freely delivered to Buckingham, so I started a news site just for us. I wanted it to be a chance, too, for me to try to tell news in a different way, more creatively. And in the process, I was...
Ballston Comedy Sportz in the Ballston Commons Mall should have its use permit OKed by the county board at tomorrow’s meeting. In their report, county staff said the comedy venue has operated in compliance with county regulations. County staff has added one condition onto the club’s use permit: renewal of the the use permit applies only to Comedy Sportz; if they leave, the use permit does not transfer to the next organization to take the space. Newcomers must apply for a new permit. The county has been adding that as a new stipulation to all live entertainment venues. The permit comes under review in another five years. Selected "boring but important" recommendations that the county board will consider... County staff is asking the board to shuffle money in the county’s affordable housing budget. County staff is asking that money in the Housing Reserve Fund and in the “Loan Repayments” lines of the budget to be put into the Affordable...
These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. Remember: this is the time of year for robberies, burglaries and auto break-ins. Hide, store and lock-up your stuff! A couple of the crimes below were burglaries of unlocked houses!–ST Nov. 16: Grand Larceny Auto, Possession, Assault on Police and others (Arrest), 300 block of N. Kensington St. At 7:45p.m. police responded for a suspicious person. The suspect was found under the influence of narcotics and unclothed in a stolen vehicle. He assaulted officers at the scene before being arrested. Duy Nguyen, 32, was charged with Grand Larceny of an Automobile, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Driving While Revoked, Indecent Exposure, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Assault and Battery on Law Enforcement. He was held without bond. Nov. 17: Stolen Auto , 3700 block of S....
Quick Review Yuja Wang, the 22-year-old impresaria pianist, played the world premier of Jennifer Higdon’s Piano Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center last night. It was the second of three compositions, with Rimsky-Korsakov's suite from "The Snow Maiden" and Tchaikovsky's "Winter Daydreams" rounding out the evening. Before the performance of Higdon's piece, because it is rare that orchestras “get to touch a living, breathing composer,” guest conductor Andrew Litton brought Ms. Higdon to the stage and asked a few questions. He said technology allowed him to ask how many notes were in the piano part of the concerto. 19,861. I love the piano, and I was hoping for a delight. Honestly, as fun as it was to watch Ms. Wang’s hands dance over the keyboard, and she hit all of those notes, it did not thrill me. A technical marvel at that many notes in 30 minutes, I felt that Ms. Wang’s hands were performing in a new...
News and opinion about potential redevelopment along Glebe, gentrifying Arlington, and the calendar Owners of “West Ballston” are still talking… I stayed at the Arlington County Planning Commission meeting until 12:15a.m. (that’s midnight, plus 15 minutes, whew), to hear this line from commissioner Steve Cole: “The three, parcel owners are talking to one another and are working…to move forward.” The parcels are the land in the 500 and 600 blocks of N. Glebe Road on the west side—the land filled with the Harris Teeter, the American Service Center body shop, and the Goodyear Tire and Auto store. I reported in July that the planning commission was speaking with the owners of those three parcels (collectively being called “West Ballston”) who apparently are looking to redevelop all along that site. Those early plans would move or expand the businesses, creating underground or garage parking, retail space and apartments, commissioner...
Opinion The Arlington Public Schools Board is going to have to put real thought into two options for easing capacity: build new schools or switch to a year-round schedule. We just do not have a enough space to continue on as we are, says a 98-page report by MGT of America Inc., a consultant the school board hired. Although the report does not suggest any option as a favored one, under all of their plans, the projected capacity of schools just looks bad. Given how stinking expensive schools are to build, I think the county really needs to give a close look at year-round schooling. In terms of capacity issues, it might just be the silver bullet. Which brings me to my first major aside: Why did MGT not show a chart of capacities if Arlington pursued year-round schooling? In their report, they basically went through a number of different models for eleviating crowding—the 6/7ths model, the programming model, etc., and then they showed the effect of each model on capacity per...
“How you doin’ sugar? Happy Thanksgiving!” Associate Pastor Lynn Carter said as Diana Dean fixed a plate of leftovers from the buffet to take with her. “You keeping out of trouble?” she joked. “Yep,” replied Ms. Dean. “Did you get enough to eat?” “Yes,” Ms. Dean said yesterday, bundled up in a blue LL Bean jacket and baseball cap, her Safeway bag full of a mix of items, and now the food. She said, “I come at five o’clock everyday.” Thirteen turkeys cooked, pounds of canned green beans, trays and trays of mashed potatoes and stuffing with quarts of gravy. Diners served themselves or were served by others at the long buffet table, then sat at the tables that held about 150 people. For the people who organized and ran the Thanksgiving meal yesterday at the Arlington Assembly of God church at 4501 N. Pershing Dr., the 20-year tradition is “a special day” but for the past six years has been but one...
News and opinion about parks and park budgets Lubber Run Amphitheatre has a programming budget for next summer… The good news is that the Lubber Run Amphitheatre has a $10,000 programming budget for next summer. The bad news is, the amphitheatre has no stage lights (they were removed earlier this year, the county fearing that they would fall on someone), and the stage itself is a bit squishy. The cost to repair those, for which there is no budget, is somewhere between $60,000 and $200,000, said Susan Kalish, the public relations and marketing manager for the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. In an email, she wrote the county cannot tighten the cost estimate because there are “too many what ifs” in the renovation or redevelopment prospects. Just about anything from simple repairs to a total rebuild might be required, she wrote, adding that DPRCR is examining the stage. The capital improvements budget that would have covered repairs...
Inaugural president Patrick Hope steps down after two terms. Arlington Oaks resident Cathy Wolfe was unanimously elected president of the Buckingham Community Civic Association at the bi-monthly meeting Monday Nov. 16. She is only the second president of the group which formed six years ago. She replaces out-going president Patrick Hope who won election to the Virginia House of Delegates earlier this month and said he could not remain as president of the BCCA after the November meeting. Mr. Hope is credited with forming the group, and at the meeting, people spoke of the many accomplishments the group has seen over the years, especially given all the development in Buckingham. Not the smallest accomplishment was producing the 2006 Buckingham Neighborhood Conservation Plan, which serves as a blueprint for improvements to be made in the community. Part of the planning included a huge survey of hundreds of Buckingham residents, English- and Spanish-speakers alike. Having an...
The Sun Gazette ran a nice piece about the relationship between Culpepper Gardens and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (both inside the HeraldTrib's reading area), so I am linking to the the Sun Gazette story here. I apologize, I usually get the notice of these out before the county board meeting, but just fell behind. --ST During the regular session of the Arlington County Board last Saturday Nov. 14, the board by consent (that is, without discussion and public comment), ratified the following items. Buckingham The Pines of Italy Restaurant, 237 N. Glebe Road, had its live entertainment permit renewed, with two new caveats that bring it into alignment with other current permit-holders: 1, the Pines must establish a community liaison who can address concerns of neighbors, if needed, and 2, the permit applies to the Pines of Italy only, and will not transfer should the restaurant cease to exist; it does not apply to the address, but to the restaurant itself. Otherwise it's the standard stuff about keeping doors and windows closed during shows, not allowing dancing, and keeping the entertainment to Thursday through Sunday nights. This will be reviewed in 2014. Ballston The board renewed the seating plan...
News and opinion about the BCCA, parks and money, and a NEW advertiser (thanks!): The BCCA holds elections Monday night... The Buckingham Community Civic Association will hold its bi-monthly meeting Monday Nov. 16 at 7p.m. at the Arlington Oaks Community Center, 4490 N. Pershing Drive.- right across from Culpepper Garden. The main topic of the night is the election of a president for the group. Rumor has it that Bernie Berne will step up to take the position to keep the group running. For the past few months, Buckinghamsters who follow this have known that Patrick Hope, the current president, would step down if he won the 47th seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, which he did in a landslide on Nov. 3. No one has shown an intense interest in the job of BCCA president. I'm feeling a little irritated, and it is late as I type this, but I cannot help but think "typical Buckingham." For years I have watched people care, but not enough to get off the couch. I used...
These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. --ST Nov. 4: Exposure (Arrest), 300 block of N. Thomas St. At 3p.m. a man exposed himself to two people in a laundry room. Police located the suspect, and he was also wanted out of several jurisdictions for Failure to Appear in court. Marcus Irish, 23, of Pittsburg, Penn., was charged with two counts of Exposure and held without bond. Nov. 7: Assault and Battery (Arrest), 3300 block of Wilson Blvd. At 3:45a.m., a man assaulted a woman he was with inside a car. There were several witnesses to the assault. Christopher Scott Patton, 26, of Springfield, Va., was charged with Assault and Battery. He was held on a $5,000 bond. Nov. 8: Robbery , 4100 block of N. 4th St. At 1:15a.m. a man was standing on the sidewalk when four unknown men approached him. They assaulted him and stole his wallet....
County traffic planner says that drivers need to change attitudes toward pedestrians. Samara Weinstein has never wanted to be an activist for safer streets. But after witnessing a jogger struck at the intersection of N. George Mason and N. Park drives, “I guess I’ve become one,” she said recently. She is quick to add that she is an activist only for that intersection. The accident Oct. 1, occurred at 9 in the morning after the kids, including Ms. Weinstein’s daughter, had already settled into classes at K.W. Barrett Elementary School, which sits on the southwest corner of that intersection. A jogger waited on the median for a for a break in the southbound traffic on George Mason Drive. When the car in the lane nearest the jogger stopped to allow the jogger to pass, Ms. Weinstein said, the jogger crossed the street and was struck, breaking a leg, by the car that did not stop in the other lane. “She [the jogger] is very lucky,” Ms. Weinstein said. When she...
Steve,
From a press release The Arlington community is invited to a series of forums on the FY 2011 Arlington Public Schools budget. The forums will be held at the Education Center Board Room (1426 N. Quincy St.) on Saturday Nov. 14, 9a.m. APS Superintendent Dr. Patrick K. Murphy recently reported that the school division is facing a budget shortfall this year of $11.1 million and that additional budget savings of $47.4 million will need to be realized in the next budget. Murphy announced last week that APS is instituting a hiring freeze for all non-classroom positions. He also directed that training courses at venues outside the county be curtailed, and that only courses where APS has a compelling business reason to attend will be approved. Overtime is also being reduced, and is permitted only to address emergencies outside of normal business hours. Murphy has indicated that any personnel reductions this year would take place through attrition, and in a memo to the APS staff, he indicated...
Make your holiday shopping easy...skip the malls, the crowds, and enjoy free parking! Shop fair trade and help support other important non-profit organizations. Jewelry, clothing, Christmas ornaments, crafts, handcrafted toys, coffee, art and more! Sunday Nov. 15, 2009. 9:30a.m. to 1p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Arlington
This supports: Ten Thousand Villages; Heifer Project International; Just Coffee; Salvation Army; Angel Tree; Woodmont Weavers; Coalition for Courage; Amani Ya Ju; Educate the Girls; Make Peace; Pueblo a Pueblo; Dress a Bear or Doll; and more! 
News and Opinion about Swine Flu, the Elections, Carlyle Lights, and Moon Bounces (click the headline to read it all). H1N1 flu shots arrive… About 120 Kindergarten and first grade K.W. Barrett Elementary School students lined up in the hallway then proceeded to the school’s gym for first wave of H1N1 flu vaccines. They received either nasal or injection vaccines. Principal Terry Bratt said they were ahead of schedule at about 10:30a.m. “Only a few little tears here and there but otherwise, everything was fine,” she said All of the students in those grades whose parents signed the immunization release forms were vaccinated, Mrs. Bratt said. According to the information sent home earlier in the week, government health officials were recommending that the vaccination be given to the youngest students, first. Another round of vaccines should be arriving soon for the older students. Buckingham’s own Pat Hope goes to the statehouse... Not surprising, Democrat Patrick...
I meant, of course, to get this short video up last week, you know, right after Halloween, but didn't. Here it is now. A short video of a couple dozen photos, no sound. Find your ghoul! The annual parade through Buckingham and Arlington Forest took place Friday, Oct. 30. As is the case every year, hundreds of kids, faculty and staff turned out for the fun. --ST These notes are compiled from Arlington County Police Department crime reports. They cover the reports in and around the Buckingham, Arlington Forest and Ashton Heights neighborhoods. --ST Oct. 15: Larceny from Auto (Series), Unit block of N. Glebe Road. Between 4:30p.m. and 5:30p.m., an unknown subject broke into at least two cars in the same block. Various items were stolen. There is no suspect description. Oct. 19: Larceny from Auto (Series), 600 block of N. Glebe Road. Between 11:30a.m. and 1p.m., an unknown subject broke into at least three cars in a mall parking garage. Various items were stolen. There is no suspect description. Oct. 21: Burglary , 200 block of N. Thomas St. Between 9:30a.m. and 3:30p.m. an unknown person entered and apartment and stole electronics. There is no suspect information. Oct. 22: Commercial Burglary (Series), 2700 block of Washington Blvd. Between 9p.m. on Oct. 22, and 5a.m. on Oct. 23, an unknown subject broke into two businesses by smashing the glass door...
News and Opinion about Dogs, Dog Parks and a Church Really, Jay? Your Dog?... I must have shifted into the role of curmudgeon without realizing it, but getting the postcard from Jay Fisette’s dogs annoyed me more than anything. Mr. Fisette is the incumbent county board member who is facing John Reeder from the Green Party in the election tomorrow. I am probably being way too critical, but if I never see another campaign that uses pets or children as “spokespersons,” I will be OK. They are usually not funny, though they hope to be. And they are usually those photos, especially with the pets, that the owners find cute, but often are not. (They follow the general "my kids" rule that we all follow to some extent: mine are cute, yours aren't; mine are kind and loving, yours aren't, etc.) More than that, I wish Mr. Fisette did not feel so comfortable in his position that he could get away with this level of dumbing-down the process. I am not against Mr. Fisette.&...
Welcome Back to Vic Socotra... You may recall that Buckingham resident Vic Socotra wrote a couple columns for the Buckingham HeraldTrib in the past (here's one, and the other). It was something that we both hoped would go on for awhile. However, Vic writes quite a bit in his spare time already, and between that and his full-time job, he just didn't have the time to write a column for me. The good news is, his site, the Daily Socotra, now has an RSS feed, and you can find him on the "Local Headlines" page, above. He writes his Daily Socotra from the bowels of the "Big Pink" (also known as the Chatham Condominium in beautiful, downtown Buckingham) and often those are a mix of Buckingham and Arlington topics with a mix of history, world events and other musings. He has a quirky style that is often very fun to read. Also on the Local Headlines page are the Washington Post's Arlington coverage, Arlington Yuppette, Ode Street Tribune, and Chez Robert Giron. I would include...
Dear Steve, I am afraid I can't agree on just referring to the added construction on the rear of garden-style apartments as just "additions." The term "Bump Out" actually best fits what the people who run the Gates of Ballston [formerly the Gates of Arlington] did to my previous unit (4116 North Henderson Road). My particular unit was part of a larger unit comprising the building covering 4112-4116 North Henderson Road. There used to be a side walk between the rear of this building and the group of units on north 4th Street abutting my former unit. It also included a tree, and was a place where limited play and other activities could take place. Now, the tree is gone, the sidewalk is gone, and while you can still walk through, it is like going through some kind of canyon which you feel you want to get through in a hurry. By the way with these (enhanced) units, two bedroom units were turned into three bedroom units. My last rent in 1996 for my two bedroom unit at 4116 North...
Steve: The act of adding on to a historic building or any building really, is a matter of both cost and design. The HALRB [Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board] is cognizant of both elements and works to get the best in design without adding immeasurably, if at all, to the developers beginning, and usually unrealistic low ball, costs. The HALRB primary issues in its design focus is to work with property owners to achieve both the preservation of the historic building while allowing compatibility of design and materials for any additions. The proposed ordinance [Item #36. It passed unanimously through the county board, Saturday. --ST] is supported by the HALRB. The HALRB simply wants to ensure that additions to these historic garden apartments strives for excellence in design and not design dictated by low design standards and inferior material selection. The work of the HALRB, for all of the complaints people may make, stands for all to see and the end of a project....
One Tuesday in late September Rick Blacksten sat in a chair and pointed to the computer screen where he was creating a new Microsoft Word file and a folder to save it to. Juan Sejas and Abraham Gonzalez watched over his shoulder as he tried to explain the steps in his most basic English. It worked, but was slow going, as the two students were not exactly sure when they were to watch and listen, and when they were to try it themselves. A member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Mr. Blacksten has started helping people with computing skills at the Buckingham Community Outreach Center on N. 4th Street. The center has about a dozen computers for residents to use, and even maintains a Spanish-language blog. Computer training is one of the many connections the church has made with the county-run center and the center's clients. "My vision is...that I'll have a packet of materials,...modules of computer literacy," Mr. Blacksten said that evening, admitting that the modules will...
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