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FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM
YO U DON T H AV E T O BE SO STRONG BUT IF I’M NOT, WHO WILL?
Being a caregiver takes a special kind of commitment. We know your strength is super, but you’re still human.
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F I N D S U P P O R T F O R Y O U R S T R E N G T H.
for the cuttingOur Man in Arlington bon edge $1.6 million
By Charlie Clark
Man’s best friend demands only the best dog park. Such has been Arlington’s approach over the past three decades as it has fenced off no fewer than eight canine recreation centers — allowing unleashed romping and occasionally unleashed social intercourse among the committed humans who partake. But the enclaves have a history of controversy. The latest unfolded this spring and summer at the Shirlington Dog Park along Four Mile Run, and it augurs for another of our county’s patented “Arlington Way” extended deliberations. The clash over Shirlington’s park, created in the 1980s on two acres with a nifty gate at S. Oakland St., pits the activist volunteer dog-lovers against some broader county strategies for environmental protection and historic preservation. Earlier Arlington fights involved high costs and neighbors’ fear of increased traffic. At Fort Ethan Allen on N. Glebe Rd., an informal dog park arose during the 1980s alongside the berms of the Civil War fort. Neighbors objected when the county installed a fence in 2000, fearing damage to the fort’s remnants (a later addition of an outdoor Civil War museum caused another dispute). The solution came in 2006 with construction of a $400,000 canine recreation lot around the corner on Stafford St. In 2013, the county cut the rib-
James Hunter dog park in Clarendon at N. Herndon and N. 13th sts. It’s highly unusual ingredients – public art, rainwater recycling and solar panels – prompted growls about waste from Tim Wise, president of the Arlington County Taxpayers Association, who wrote that Arlington dog park costs are “skyrocketing.” The Shirlington dust-up comes in context of the country’s longterm Four Mile Run Valley initiative, a vision and policy framework to recast the area’s parks. It will impact the nearby Nauck town square district and the Jennie Dean athletic park near the Arlington Food Assistance Center. There’s also a set of changing industrial buildings and plans for an arts district. (One warehouse is now home to the New District Brewing Company, a microbrewery I recently toured, and which is helping stage a “Valley Fest” music, food and arts fair Nov. 5.) This spring, county staff released a preliminary plan to improve the industrial zone’s soil and stormwater management in compliance with the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Plan. It suggested a redesign that meant lopping off portions of the Shirlington Dog Park. Not cool, said the organized dog lovers who take care of the park and supply the poop bags. Some volunteers formed a “Shirlington Dog Park” Facebook page (currently 2,981 likes) and, last month, an authorized sponsoring group set up a website at Shirlingtondogs.org.
On Sept. 15, a county-formed consensus-seeking working group released a report. Gone was any mention of reducing the size of the dog park. But the report was inconclusive – bandying about alternative methods for improving stormwater management, such as tearing down county-owned warehouses (the arts folks objected). “To meet all the county’s environmental requirements would literally be impossible,” working group member Keith Fred told me. “It would cost hundreds of millions, and there would be no dog park.” County neighborhood services official Chikwe Njoku said the report is being reviewed for a final plan for Four Mile Run expected in summer 2018. Shirlington’s exuberant dog lovers, meanwhile, can continue removing those leashes as they are accustomed to doing, for the foreseeable future. *** Marymount University delivered. When it tore down the Arlington landmark wags called “The blue goose,” it promised to commemorate the unique, if tacky, 1963 architectural marvel at N. Glebe Rd. and Fairfax Dr. The brand spanking new Rixey office complex, which houses the university’s business and education schools, now displays a blue sign with text and a photo of the old goose, framed by an elegantly lit blue tile wall. A nearby courtyard contains additional panels giving history of the building and the previous transportation hub situated there a century ago. This is a testament to the great community-building taking place in the county.
C i t y o f Fa l l s C h u r c h
provided information. Investigation continues.
CRIME REPORT
Drunk in Public, 306 Hillwood Ave (Lesly Restaurant), Sept 28, 12:16 AM, a male, 60, of Falls Church, was arrested for being Drunk in Public.
Week of Sept. 25 — Oct. 1, 2017 Hit and Run, 201 N Washington St (Kaiser parking garage), Sept 25, between 2:50 and 6:09 PM, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene. Investigation continues.
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Refusal, and Hit and Run. Fail to Return Bailed Vehicle, 156 Hillwood Ave (Enterprise Rent-A-Car), Sept 26, business reported a customer failed to return a rented vehicle. Investigation continues.
Assault – Simple, 200 blk S West St, Sept 25, 6:28 PM, officers responded to an altercation between neighbors.
Assault, 116-B W Broad St (Unity Club), Sept 27, 9:53 AM, a male, 68, of no fixed address, was arrested for Strangulation, Protective Order Violation, and Assault and Battery.
Driving Under the Influence, 1000 blk W Broad St, Sept 25, 8:07 PM, a male, 47, of the City of Falls Church, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.
Drug/Narcotic Violation, 300 blk W Broad St, Sept 27, 10:26 AM, following a routine traffic stop, a male, 29, of Lorton, VA, was issued a summons for Possession of Marijuana.
Driving Under the Influence, N Maple Ave/Great Falls St, Sept 26, 12:30 AM, a female, 40, of Arlington, VA, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence,
Hit and Run, 800 blk S Washington St, Sept 27, 10:30 AM, an unoccupied delivery truck was struck by a dump truck which left the scene. Witnesses
Destruction of Property – 100 blk Rowell Ct, Sept 28, 1:35 PM, a property sign was broken in half. Drunk in Public, 201 S Washington St (7-11), Sept 29, 2:20 AM, a male, 23, of no fixed address, was arrested for being Drunk in Public. Hit and Run, 6607 Wilson Blvd (BJ’s), Sept 30, 9:10 AM, a vehicle was struck by another vehicle which left the scene. Using information provided by a witness, the striking vehicle’s owner was contacted and insurance information was exchanged.
Other Arrests Sept 27, 1:46 PM, a male, 42, was arrested in Fairfax on outstanding Falls Church Felony warrants for Credit
Card Fraud and Grand Larceny.