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ROBBERY: n On April 8 at 7:06 p.m., a taxi driver reported that he had been robbed at gunpoint by a passenger in the 1800 block of Clarendon Boulevard. The suspect, 28-year-old Sami Traboulsi of Alexandria, was arrested and charged with robbery. BURGLARY: n On April 4 at 1:11 p.m., a home in the 2500 block of Clarendon Boulevard was burglarized. Two laptop computers and a Kindle Fire were taken. n On April 5 at 9:42 p.m., an individual reported that a home in the 3600 block of North Nelson Street had been burglarized. Various items were taken. n On April 7 at 8:10 a.m., it was reported that a basement laundry room in the 3800
block of 7th Street North was burglarized. The suspect damaged a dryer in an attempt to open a coin box. n On April 7 at 6:32 p.m., a home in the 1300 block of South Rolfe Street was burglarized. Two televisions and a Nintendo Wii system were taken. GRAND LARCENY FROM AUTO: n On April 8 at 5:46 a.m., it was reported that multiple vehicles in the 3000 block of South Columbus Street were broken into. Airbags were stolen. DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: n On April 4 at 8:26 a.m., police responded to a parking lot in the 4500 block of South Four Mile Run Drive, where several vehicles had their license plates bent upward and license-plate frames broken.
Business Briefcase AIR FORCE TO KEEP RESEARCH OFFICE IN BALLSTON: Members of the local
congressional delegation on April 10 expressed satisfaction that the U.S. Air Force would not be moving 170 members of its Office of Scientific Research from Ballston to Ohio. “The Air Force made the right decision,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), who with U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) had pressed military officials to justify the planned relocation of the agency to Wright-Patterson Air
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not allowed to spend more than 10 percent of its operating budget on debt service. A large number of construction projects in recent years has at times put the school system close to that limit. “We have a challenge in having the debt capacity available when we need it,” Raphael said. Moving quickly on projects is critical: Elementary schools in much of Arlington
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said. “The campaign is over. We’re here to congratulate and celebrate John.” In his remarks, Vihstadt said he would press for appointment of an independent auditor for the county government, a proposal supported by the Arlington County Civic Federation. The county school system recently hired its own internal auditor. He said he would work to foster cooperation between the County Board and School Board; reform the bonding process to provide more transparency to voters; and expand advisory panels to tap a broader range of participation. Vihstadt is the first non-Democrat to serve on the County Board since Mike Lane’s eight-month tenure in 1999. That year, Lane won a special election over Democratic nominee Charles Mon-
There was no other damage to the vehicles. CITATION ISSUED IN FATAL ACCIDENT: n A 33-year-old Manassas man has been issued a summons for failure to pay full time and attention in connection with a Feb. 24 incident that left an Arlington mother of three dead. Police announced the results of their investigation on April 11. Marvin Valladares was driving a truck that collided in the 5900 block of Little Falls Road with a vehicle that had been parked to the side. At the time, Arlington resident Jennifer Lawson was attending to one of her children in the vehicle. Lawson was injured in the collision, and died at the hospital.
Force Base. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James told a Senate panel that having completed an evaluation of the office’s planned move, “it’s staying put.” “This decision reflects the fact that Northern Virginia is recognized as an unparalleled hub for technology, defense and education,” Warner said in a statement. A move from the local area would have been another blow to Arlington’s economicdevelopment efforts. Last year, the General Services Administration announced plans
Donald’s in Rosslyn is expected to begin about April 21, as work continues on the Central Place development. A safety fence will be placed around the perimeter, and the sidewalk, parking lane and one lane of traffic along North Moore Street will be closed between 19th Street North and the new Metro elevators.
already are overcrowded, and that wave of students eventually will crash into middle and high schools. To get a new elementary school built in South Arlington by 2018, for instance, school officials will need to identify a site by this November. The school system is holding an April 23 community meeting at 7 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson Middle School to gather feedback on the staff concepts. Superintendent Patrick Murphy will present his proposed plan to School Board members on May 8. School Board member Noah Simon said throughout the process, the board
would be “keeping our focus on where the crowding is the most.” School Board members are slated to adopt the capital-improvement program on June 17. To get a bond referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot, they will need approval of the County Board and the Circuit Court. Arlington voters have not turned down a school bond in more than 20 years. And while the result of the April 8 County Board special election suggests a certain discontent among the electorate, the school projects appear to be safe. Two years ago, voters approved a $42 million school-bond referendum by a large margin.
roe, only to lose narrowly to Monroe in the subsequent general election. Vihstadt, too, will be on the ballot again in seven months, facing off against Howze in the general election. “It’s uphill,” Lane said of the political road map ahead for the new board member, but said he could defy the odds and win in November. Vihstadt ran as a coalition-builder who drew support from across the political spectrum, Lane said. “With the way he’s positioned . . . he has a better shot than I did. He’s put together the kind of coalition [former School Board member] Dave Foster put together.” Vihstadt singled out his wife, Mary, as his “unofficial running mate.” The couple have two sons, Jack and Ben. Holding the Bible as he was sworn in was his 93-yearold father, Ed Vihstadt. Vihstadt plans to continue working at his D.C. law firm while also juggling duties as a County Board member and, soon
enough, a re-election bid. As for the November general election? “You never know what might happen at the polls,” he said.
to move the National Science Foundation headquarters from Ballston to Alexandria. McDONALD’S IN ROSSLYN TO FALL TO WRECKING BALL: Demolition of the Mc-
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Call it the “Marymount shuffle”: University officials have ramped up planning for the day that will see them decamp from their Ballston building for a period of two to three years as the site is redeveloped. In a letter to the community, Marymount president Matthew Shank confirmed that the university anticipates breaking ground on the project sometime during the winter, “if all comes together as planned.” The result will be demolition of the “Blue Goose” building at the corner of North Fairfax Drive and North Glebe Road, to be replaced by a two-tower project, one for the university and one for rental housing. The university is partnering with the Shooshan Co. on the project. To accommodate the construction and expected growth in programs, Marymount has signed a 13-year lease for part of the first floor and all of the second floor of an office building at 4040 North Fairfax Drive, to be used to house the university’s physical-therapy program. Occupancy is expected to take place over the summer, before the start of the new school year. Marymount also has an option to lease additional square footage in the building for use as “swing space” during construction of the new Ballston campus. In recent years, the Ballston corridor has become a hub for institutions of higher education. Virginia Tech and Northern Virginia Community College have facilities in the corridor, as does Westwood College. The Blue Goose, which was constructed in the early 1960s and gained its nickname due to its color scheme, housed a variety of federal-government agencies before Marymount purchased it in the 1990s. The university’s main campus is about a mile farther up North Glebe Road. Marymount to Focus on Alums in New Advertising Campaign: Marymount University’s marketing effort is intensifying. The university recently purchased “billboard spots” that ran on local cable television to highlight its “Common Ground” theme, and in coming months will unveil 30-second spots that feature alumni discussing how their education prepared them for future endeavors. The ads will air on Comcast on an expanded range of channels in May and June, Marymount president Matthew Shank said in a newsletter to the community.
Police Beat
April 17, 2014
Marymount Prepares to Relocate in Ballston Area
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Sun Gazette