Sunday, November 30, 2014

Sunday's video


Editor's note: Leading Rosslyn handyman Peyton Palmore has vowed to build a better human-powered helicopter. He proposed that Rosslyn Squadra Coppi cyclist Douglas Galbi power the copter. Galbi, however, has lost a huge amount of fitness as a result of movement failure in the newspaper business. Highly fit, ambitious Rosslyn cyclists should contact Palmore to apply for an opportunity to pedal a helicopter.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Rosslyn expanding opportunities for traditional newspaper industry

Many newspaper boxes around Rosslyn have been tagged for removal. That will give Rosslyn sidewalks a cleaner look and help to encourage strolling and soliciting about the streets of Rosslyn.

This anti-newsbox initiative will expand opportunities in the traditional newspaper industry. The removal of newsboxes will encourage home delivery of newspapers. Employment of newspaper boys and girls is thus likely to expand.

If you have children, encourage them to consider a career in the traditional newspaper industry. The Ode Street Tribune's publisher began his storied career in the newspaper business as a newspaper boy. If you can pry the smartphones out of your kids' hands and teach them to relish the touch of newsprint, they too one day could become editors of their own newspapers.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Jason Woodside mural adds to Rosslyn urban art buzz

Jason Woodside, a New York City-based artist recognized as a rising star in street art, recently came to Rosslyn under a commission by the JBG Companies to add his work to Rosslyn's urban art buzz. Compared to other Raca movement art such as the Artisphere water pipe installation, Woodside's work is both more regular and more energetic. Woodside's mural conveys well the color and excitement that vibrates through Rosslyn's streets.

Art is everywhere in Rosslyn. Take a walk around Rosslyn and experience the excitement of the Rosslyn constructivist art movement.

Monday, November 24, 2014

violence results from hollowness inside

The Rosslyn tree that smashed down a power line in retaliation for the planned killing of another tree was completely hollow inside. That's not surprising. The fundamental cause of violence is an inner hollowness.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

the most glorious place on the face of the earth or the sky

On the roads that lead to Rosslyn, travelers exclaim, "Look, Rosslyn is now closer and prettier than ever!"

Just keep going on the the right side of the double-yellow line in the road. You're out of the woods, you're out of the dark, you're out of the night. Step into the sun, step into the light. Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place on the face of the earth or the sky. Hold onto your breath, hold onto your heart, hold onto your hope. March up to Rosslyn and a whole new magical world will open for you!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

improving bus service between Columbia Pike and Rosslyn

Now that the proposed streetcar project has been canceled, planners can turn to improving and modernizing bus connectivity between Columbia Pike and Rosslyn. That would be an important step forward for revitalizing Columbia Pike. Columbia Pike residents deserve to have ready access to all the transportation options, cultural amenities, and riverfront recreational opportunities available in Rosslyn.

Canceling the streetcar project also provides an opportunity to direct more attention to Georgetown's gondola proposal. The proposed gondola would connect Georgetown to Rosslyn's Roosevelt Island and downtown Rosslyn. A gondola would help persons to experience under-utilized greenspace (Roosevelt Island) and green-brown space (the Potomac River) in the Rosslyn area. Moreover, that gondola could be the upper end of a Georgetown-Rosslyn-Columbia Pike corridor That new corridor could provide a multi-modal north-south complement to the east-west Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

school board will decide about Wilson School on Dec. 18

At tonight's RAFOM meeting, Steve Cole, Chair of the Arlington County Planning Board, provided a direct, factual briefing on the status of planning for the Rosslyn site encompassing Wilson School. Cole noted that Arlington County school enrollment was up an unprecedented 5% this year. The school system is thus very concerned to build more schools. Cole stated that, in these circumstances, the school board doesn't consider preserving Wilson School to be a feasible choice. The school board will announce its plans for the Wilson School site at its meeting on Dec. 18.

Some local residents oppose replacing Wilson School with a more modern school building. Rosslyn's Wilson School was built in 1910. It's one of the oldest schools in Arlington. Stan Karson, RAFOM President, announced that he and others are moving to have Wilson School declared a historic building  to be preserved.

Nancy Iacomini, Chair of the Courthouse Square Study, provided an energetic review of planning for a new public greenspace across from the Arlington County Detention Center and Courthouse. Kris Krider, County Planning Staff, made clear that the group is examining from many different perspectives the general layout of the space. This planning effort looks to be establishing a path to transform an ugly parking lot into a great public space.

A local resident pointed out that Courthouse Square has unattractive connotations. Going to a courthouse is associated with unpleasant experiences -- fighting about traffic tickets, arguing with your ex-spouse about child custody arrangements, and filing legal documents for a deceased family member. Moreover, the term square has a rigid, rectangular sense associated with last century. The new public space needs a new, attractive name. No name is more attractive than Rosslyn. The resident suggested that Courthouse hold a public referendum to become part of Rosslyn. Or at least the public space be called not "Courthouse Square" but "Rosslyn Town Circle." The reception of this idea was somewhat chilly.

The Ode Street Tribune isn't afraid to buck popular opinion. The Tribune strongly endorses the name "Rosslyn Town Circle" rather than "Courthouse Square" for the new public greenspace across from the County Courthouse and Detention Center.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Wilson School and Courthouse planning this Tuesday night

The RAFOM meeting this Tuesday night will include discussion of county planning for Wilson School and the Courthouse area. Steve Cole, Chair of the Western Rosslyn Area Plan Study (WRAPS), and Nancy Iacomini, Chair of the Courthouse Square Plan, will speak. This is a good opportunity to inquire about the grass-roots referendum push for the Courthouse area to become part of Rosslyn.

The meeting will take place at7 PM at Prospect House on the 1200 block of N. Oak Street.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Rosslyn leads in constructivist art

Art is at the foundation of Rosslyn. That's apparent in the magnificent constructivist tableau now on display just outside the front doors of Artisphere.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Rosslyn tree brutally cut down at corner of Pierce St. & 16th

Dismembered body parts and ground saturated in sawdust create a horrifying site at the corner of Pierce St. and 16th St. A magnificent, old tree has been killed.  This brutal action is part of the planned Pierce St. development at the site.

While the Ode Street Tribune doesn't traffic in conspiracy theories, the connection between this killing and events about a week ago are obvious. Just trace the line. This tree is right next to a power line that goes across Rt. 50 and connects to a telephone pole near the historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominums. About a week ago, a tree there took down the power line, cut off power to thousands, and stopped traffic on Rt. 50 from the resulting damaging. That was retaliation for the foreseen killing of the tree across the street.

Stop the violence. Let's all -- trees and people -- just live together peacefully.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Rosslyn rainbow bridges greet masses streaming into Rosslyn

For an excellent evening walk, walk west on the new multi-user path along Rt. 50, cross at Pershing Dr. (be careful of crazy drivers running stoplights). Return to Rosslyn on the new path on the other side. You'll enjoy wonderful views of the Rosslyn rainbow bridges welcoming streams of traffic into Rosslyn.
When the corridor of lights is set up along Lynn St., Rosslyn will be a shining beacon to the whole world.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Rosslyn candidate forum pivotal to election results

Voter turnout this morning at the Rosslyn voting places was typical of a non-presidential November election.  Around 8:30am, waiting time to vote at the Wilson precinct was about 10 minutes.  At the more crowded firehouse 10 precinct, waiting time looked to be about 20 minutes.

Early results from the election confirm the pivotal importance of the Rosslyn candidate forum.  Riding a strong showing in the Rosslyn forum, John Vihstadt overcame steep odds to win a seat on the Arlington County Board. Congressional candidate Don Beyer vigorously changed direction after his disastrous non-appearance and appears to have won by a large margin.

Drawing on deep political forecasting expertise, the Ode Street Tribune's Election Forecast Bureau predicted wins for Carla de la Pava for Arlington Treasurer and Nancy Van Doren for Arlington School Board. Election results were as the Tribune predicted.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Rosslyn tree cuts power and stops traffic on Rt. 50


About 9:30am Sunday morning, a Rosslyn tree near the historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums took down a major power line. That action cut off power to thousands of persons. It also caused a power line over Rt. 50 to slacken and lower. Public safety halted traffic both ways on Rt. 50.

Dominion Power responded impressively to the emergency. Power was back on within two hours. By early evening, a new pole had been installed and the line over Rt. 50 secured.