more suspected surveillance equipment in Rosslyn

After breaking the story of the new surveillance camera on the south side of Meade St. bridge, the Ode Street Tribune's intrepid team of investigative reporters continues its undercover work to expose covert surveillance equipment in Rosslyn.  Recently an equipment box with an attached solar panel has appeared on a pole on the Rhodes St. bridge. The box appears to have an antenna protruding from the bottom of the box.  It may be a relay node in a secret wireless surveillance communications network.

Mackey's ghost documented in Rosslyn

This Thursday is Halloween.  Folks on Halloween trend to dress up in various costumes and pretend to be something other than they are.  You might even see someone dressed up as a ghost.  That's not real.  Reporting such a sighting would do nothing to establish whether Mackey's ghost actually exists in Rosslyn. 

Locals have long debated whether there's any truth to the legend that the ghost of famed Arlington Commonwealth Attorney Crandal Mackey is roaming Rosslyn, restlessly searching for disreputable nightlife. According to the legend, Mackey's ghost will not lie down to eternal rest until worthy nightlife is found in Rosslyn. Some persons claim to have seen Mackey's ghost on a desolate street in downtown Rosslyn on a Friday or Saturday night.  But no one had produced a credible news report.

When you need a credible news report, you know where to turn.  After staking out the Rosslyn Halloween Fest, the Ode Street Tribune is proud to present the first, incontrovertible documentation of Mackey's ghost in Rosslyn.  The ghost appeared suddenly and seemed to be searching the area for something to drink.  The ghost then hovered near several couples and seemed to be monitoring the extent of their relationships.  When last seen, the ghost was heading off in the direction of U St. in downtown DC.  However, no one in DC has ever produced any evidence that Mackey or his ghost ever had any interest in what was going in in DC.

fallen squirrels memorialized in Rosslyn

Rosslyn's magnificent new children's playground in Ft. Myer Heights Park includes a memorial to fallen squirrels.  Squirrels in Rosslyn suffered at least twelve dead in a recent poisoning attack.  Squirrels in Rosslyn have also laid down their lives to provide food for hawks.  The Rosslyn Squirrel Memorial represents not just squirrels who have paid the ultimate price in Rosslyn, but also such squirrels across the U.S. and throughout history.  The Rosslyn Squirrel Memorial's squirrel sentinel reminds squirrels and all other living creatures to keep watch for danger.

adding fees and charges to condo bills

At tonight's board meeting of the historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums, the board discussed adding new language to the bylaws to allow the condo to add late fees, interest charges, charges for repairs, and other charges to individual condo bills.  The language that the condo association's lawyers drafted is standard language already in most condo associations bylaws.  Because Westmoreland is a condo association with a long and distinguished history, Westmoreland Condo owners will have the opportunity to consider careful that language and vote on whether they want that language in the condo bylaws.

With respect to late fees and interest, the board considered two approaches.  The draft language specified a $25 per month late fee for delinquent accounts, plus 10% interest on the delinquent amount per annum.  In the long run, inflation might make the real value of the $25 late fee too low.  An alternate proposal is to amend the bylaws to state that the condo association may bill owners for collection fees as adopted by the condo board.  The Condo Board is considering making that change to the drafted bylaws amendment.

With respect to other fees and charges that the condo association might want to add to an individual owner's bill, the drafted language does not contain any regulation of those fees.  Consumer protection agencies have struggled to regulate unusual fees added to credit card bills, telephone bills, and other bills.  One resident attending the meeting suggested that the bylaws amendment be changed to state explictly that any added fees will be reasonable and cost-based.  The board appeared to be reluctant to include such language on fees and charges.

Voting on the bylaws amendment will likely to occur this spring.  For the amendment to be included in the condo bylaws, two-thirds of condo ownership must approve it.

Other items from the condo board meeting:

• An incident of six attempted car thefts and a scooter theft recently occurred in the neighborhood.  Resident who see any suspicious activity should report it to the police immediately.
• Problems with the hot water supply are being addressed.  Overdraw on the electrical circuit for the hot water heater was tripping a circuit breaker.
• New cracks in the facade of 1336 are being investigated.

Attending the meeting were Board members José Calvo, Jennifer Feinleib, Joe Ruland, and Gretchen Sprehe; residents Douglas and Kip; and Zalco Property Manager Lenard Goldbaum. The next regularly scheduled condo board meeting will be on Nov. 25.

Sunday's video

attend college to become Rosslyn neighborhood activist

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Arlington Neighborhood College, a County-sponsored leadership program designed to foster community activism. Arlington Neighborhood College is a fine educational opportunity:

Now in its 15th year, the Neighborhood College offers an opportunity for county residents to sharpen and practice their interpersonal communication skills, meet and discuss current issues with elected officials and key professional staff members, and learn how the county government functions and how to become more active and effective in community affairs.

Participants in previous years have gone on to become active in their neighborhood associations, in volunteer organizations, and as advocates regarding issues of interest to the community.

In 2013, Neighborhood College participants met with County Board President Walter Tejada, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy, County Manager Barbara Donnellan, and Chair of the Arlington School Board, Emma Violand-Sanchez, among others.

There is no tuition for this college and only eight weeks of classes. Classes will take place Thursday evenings from February 13 to April 3 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the County Building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Childcare and simultaneous Spanish translation will be provided for all classes, as well as a free dinners starting at 6pm.  Spots in this highly selective college are limited to 25 persons.  The application deadline is January 6, 2014.  For more information or an application, contact Merianne Liteman at 703-575-8152 or by email to mliteman@arlingtonnc.info

Few colleges offer as good of an opportunity as Arlington Neighborhood College. Rosslyn needs more neighborhood activists, community advocates, and fiercely independent local journalists.  Get the education you need to shape an even brighter Rosslyn future.

glamorous Rosslyn welcomes runners

The recent blockbuster exhibit of Andy Warhol's Silver Clouds underscored Rosslyn's increasingly glamorous image.   In this Sunday's Marine Corps Marathon, participants will run to Rosslyn where they can rest and relax in the Rosslyn Metro Mall.  Even better, the Rosslyn Metro Mall now features a Panera Bread store.  It appears to be doing a brisk business.  This Sunday, expect a run on bread.

Clement praises Arlington County Board

Tonight's Radnor/Ft. Myer Civic Association (RAFOM) meeting featured candidates running in the upcoming election on Nov. 5.  The candidates' statements brought some shocking news:

1. Audrey Clement, Green Party candidate for the Arlington County Board, praised the Arlington County Board for its work in implement bike lanes in Arlington.  Clement declared that Arlington County is way ahead of Fairfax County in making streets inclusive of cyclists.
2. Bob Brink, a Democratic candidate running for re-election as 48th District Delegate, stated the Virginia government had successful enacted an omnibus transportation bill.  This is the first Virginia legislation to include new, long-term transportation funding since 1986.
3. School Board and the County Board seem to have different understandings of what's going on with Wilson School.  The School Board has entered into negotiations with the developer Penzance concerning Wilson School.  School Board member and current School Board candidate Jim Lander stated that the School Board hasn't discussed selling Wilson School.  County Board member and current County Board candidate Jay Fisette observed that entering into negotiations with Penzance suggests that the School Board is interested in selling Wilson School.  Fisette said that the County Board has established development requirements of 60,000 square feet of open space, a new fire station, and a substantial contribution to affordable housing.

Here are links to the candidates' websites and to videos of the candidates' opening statements:

• Bob Brink, Democratic Party candidate for the 48th District, VA House of Delegates (video of statement)
• Audrey Clement, Green Party candidate for the the Arlington County Board (video of statement)
• Jay Fisette, Democratic Party candidate for the the Arlington County Board (video of statement)
• James Lander, candidate for the Arlington School Board (video of statement)

 Other items from the meeting:

• Stephen W.C. Holbrook was handing out fliers at the entrance of the meeting.  He is a write-in candidate for the Arlington County Board.  Based on the information in his flier, he favors reducing Arlington taxes and closing all County-run homeless shelters.
• Another public meeting for the Rosslyn Sector Plan Update will occur before the end of the year
• A proposed redevelopment of 1401 Wilson Blvd is in site plan review.  It includes space for a grocery store.

The Ode Street Tribune's election forecasting bureau has predicted the winners of these elections with near certainty.  However, in order not to unduly influence the democratic process, the Tribune's Editorial Board has decided not to publish those predictions.

Rosslyn street renamed Marine Corps Marathon Drive

Runners in the Marine Corps Marathon race to arrive at the finish in Rosslyn.  To celebrate the achievement of arriving in Rosslyn, the portion of Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn between N. Lynn St. and N. Moore St. has been renamed "Marine Corps Marathon Drive."  

This year's Marine Corps Marathon is this Sunday, Oct. 27.  Workers have already begun the marathon task of setting up the course.  Expect streets to be filled this Sunday with runners thrilled to have arrived in Rosslyn.  The best way to get around, as always, will be by foot or by bike.

children in Rosslyn share toys

A good place brings out the good in everyone.  In Rosslyn's magnificent new children's playground, children are leaving their toys in the sandpit for other children to use.  Sharing is good.

Sunday's video

Rosslyn commuter drives 1964 Spitfire race car

Given Rosslyn's growing reputation for style and fashion, seeing a 1964 Spitfire race car in Rosslyn isn't too surprising.  Commuting to work in this car is less comfortable and more dangerous than riding a bike.  But it does have a certain distinctive style.  If you don't want to bike to work, commuting with a 1964 Spitfire race car is a reasonable alternative.  Just make sure you have enough brake fluid.

Washington postcards need correction

Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, the Ode Street Tribune's team of investigative journalists carefully examined the postcards in the Rite Aid store in the Rosslyn metro mall.  One postcard stated on the front "Washington, DC" and showed a picture of Rosslyn's famous Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial.  On the back of the postcards was this statement:

As a city of monuments, Washington D.C. is unsurpassed.  Starting bottom left, clockwise is the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial....

The Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial is not in the city of Washington, D.C.  It's in Rosslyn.  The Ode Street Tribune demands that the Rosslyn Rite Aid store stop selling these postcards until they are corrected.

The investigative journalists also found that none of the postcards explicitly celebrated Rosslyn,.  That's outrageous.  Visitors to Rosslyn are naturally delighted to be in Rosslyn.  They should be able to spread their joy worldwide through appropriate, factually correct postcards.

Rosslyn Halloween Fest this Saturday night!

Don't settle for a lackluster Halloween season.  Start your Halloween celebrating by participating in the free Rosslyn Halloween Film Fest this Saturday night in Rosslyn's Gateway Park.  The pre-show starting at 6pm will include games, contests, and treats for the whole family.  You could win a free glow-in-the-dark Rosslyn Halloween Film Fest T-shirt.  At 7pm, the family Halloween movie Hokus Pokus will appear on the outdoor big screen.  At 9pm will be shown Stanley Kubrick's lustrously frightening film The Shining.  Attendees to any of the events are encouraged to wear costumes.  Well-informed persons know that strange creatures have been seen in Rosslyn.  Get ready to get scared.

the light is gone

The light is gone, but the sign remains.  Informed persons know that the sign is wrong.  Notice also that the right lane on Meade St. traveling south across the bridge is now right-turn only.  If you want to go through to Fort Myer, stay in the center lane.

Sunday's video

Dance Exchange dances in clouds at Artisphere

Local dance company Dance Exchange gave three profoundly moving free performances at Artisphere in Rosslyn yesterday.  Dance Exchange Artistic Director Cassie Meador created the performances in part through community input from a dance workshop that attracted thirty-two persons to Artisphere three weeks ago.

Midway through each performance, the audience was invited to follow the dancers into the clouds.  The audience then became like alternate clouds in the dancer's space.  Kate Folsom, performing for the first time with Dance Exchange, moved through the clouds with the force of a storm.  Dancer Shula Strassfeld said that each performance was unique because the dancers had to adjust their movement spontaneously to the movement of the clouds and the movement of the audience.  The participation of the audience as a cloud added personal interactions to the natural forces of winds and clouds.  The dancers' choreography spanned internal/external, personal/impersonal, intentional/natural movement.

Interviewed after the performance, audience members Stacy and Anastasia said that it was "celestial" and "calming."  Anastasia said that she felt during the performance like she was in Ingmar Bergman's Persona.  Audience members clearly enjoyed the opportunity to be part of the performance.  One woman rolled around on the floor and enjoyed being overshadowed and encompassed by the mass of clouds.

Dancer Thomas Dwyer poignantly showed possibilities for life at age seventy-nine.  Dwyer worked as a government radio-telecom officer until he retired at age fifty-three.  Then he took up dancing.  After dancing with Dance Exchange for twenty-two years, he stopped at age seventy-five to devote more time to being the primary caregiver to his ailing wife.  She died after a long illness.  Still carrying close to the surface his grief at the loss of his wife, he recently returned to dancing with Dance Exchange.  His range of movement and expression is extraordinary.  He danced potent duets with both Shula Strassfeld and Matthew Cumbie, and never looked lost moving through the clouds by himself.

Monkeys With Typewriters meeting regularly at Artisphere

Every Wednesday from 7pm to 10pm, local writing group Monkeys With Typewriters is meeting at Artisphere's Town Hall.  This is your chance to have a supportive, collegial environment to get started on writing that horror-romantic-adventure comedy about the twentieth reunion of your college bridge club gone terribly wrong.  According to the Monkeys with Typewriters' website:

We are an extreme writing group bent on hammering out our novels (or whatever projects we're working on) and having fun too. If infinite monkeys can create a masterpiece, so can we.

Undoubtedly true.  The guy above writing with a manual typewriter clearly has potential to get a job as an Ode Street Tribune journalist.

Belvedere getting wired with Verizon Fios

Rosslyn's artistically important Belvedere Condominions are currently being wired for Verizon Fios service.  Verizon Fios provides very high-speed internet access, many high-definition video channels, and good access to a variety of advanced, new-media services.

Despite signing a contract in 2008 to allow Fios installation, the Rosslyn's historically important Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums still haven't received Fios.  Other neighborhood buildings have been wired for Fios.  Installing Fios in Westmoreland requires installing microducts and fiber terminations to individual apartment units.  In the Belvedere, Fios is being brought to an central distribution point and then is being distributed through existing internal wiring. Hence installing Fios in Westmoreland is more costly.

Westmoreland houses the headquarters of a leading historic printed newspaper. Its management is still awaiting a management consultant's study of inkless printing.  Print newspapers have no reason for concern about lack of access to advanced technology like Fios.

fashion truck in Rosslyn

In addition to a fine assortment of food trucks, Lynn St. in Rosslyn also attracts visits from a fashion truck.  Given Rosslyn's growing reputation for being a trendy, fashionable place, it's not surprising that a fashion truck would appear on a street in Rosslyn. The Little White Fashion Truck makes it convenient for busy persons to pick up some new fashions during lunch. 

In addition, a psychic has recently been seen offering services during lunch hour from a tent set up at the corner of Lynn St. and 19th St. Whatever you need, you can get it on the streets of Rosslyn.

huge Warhol Silver Cloud events at Arisphere this weekend

This weekend, be part of art history that will be world famous.  This weekend, be seen at Artisphere's blowout storm of events celebrating its famous Andy Warhol Silver Clouds exhibit.  If you don't already know about it, don't admit that to anyone.  Here are the details.

On Friday night, Dance Exchange will be doing an original dance among the clouds at 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm.  The performance includes contributions from Artisphere visitors last month.  This must-see event is free.

On Saturday night -- Call Brad! -- Artisphere will be pulsating with The Night of 1000 Andys Dance Party. Go vogue in your pop art finest, or pose like Andy Warhol in a silver wig and black turtleneck.  The MarchFourth Marching Band and the electro-pop funk duo Javelin will be adding music.  The evening will also include a celebrity comedian whose name I've forgetten, DJs, a pop art photo station, and a live game show.  This is your chance for four hours of fame!  General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $18 on the day of the show.

 Sunday afternoon will be pop art fun with family-oriented events.  Families can play among Andy Warhol’s Silver Clouds (better than pillow fights!), engage in pop art "make and take" projects, including how you can "Warhol" favorite everyday objects, enjoy professional story-telling, as well as participate in Baby Loves Disco learning opportunities. It's never too earlier to have your kids start taking disco dance lessons.  Especially free lessons that will make your kids happy and tired.  Don't miss this incredible free family fun day exclusively this Sunday at Artisphere for a limited time only.
(Note: above photos are Artisphere exhibit and event press photos and are not included in the Ode Street Tribune's maximum-value-to-readers content license.)

Sunday's video

new Rosslyn metro entrance opening this Sunday

The new Rosslyn metro station entrance daringly shows some gears just above the entrance overhang.  This design brilliantly reflects Rosslyn's functionality, sex appeal, and history.  The new Rosslyn metro entrance will be able to take deep within Rosslyn an enormous number of persons.  You can experience this new Rosslyn metro entrance beginning this Sunday, Oct. 6.

The official ceremonial grand opening of the new entrance is on Monday, Oct. 7, at 9:30am.  Metro officials have provide no word on whether John Coltrane, who lives beneath the Rosslyn metro station, will play for the opening. 

NEWS FLASH: Ft. Myer Heights children's playground open!

The walk-through with the park contractor was completed by about noon.  The Fort Myer Heights Park children's playground is now open. Enjoy the finest children's playground east of the Mississippi!

"she led us to greatness"

A huge crowd gathered at Artisphere tonight to celebrate the work of recently retired Rosslyn BID Executive Director Cecilia Cassidy.  She was the founding director of Rosslyn Renaissance in 1992, and then went on to lead the Rosslyn BID from its founding in 2003 to September of this year.   Current Rosslyn BID President Peter Greenwald declared, "She led us to greatness."  As well-informed persons know, that's true.  The envious director of the Georgetown BID (Georgetown is just across the river from Rosslyn) added that now everyone knows where Rosslyn is.

Rosslyn Renaissance began with a starting budget of $116,000.  Of that sum, reportedly only $100 was available to Cassidy as the Executive Director.  This year the Rosslyn BID's budget is $4 million.  That funds a variety of projects to make Rosslyn a better place to live and work.  Those projects include street beautification, street ambassadors, homeless services, and blockbuster cultural events like the Rosslyn Jazz festival and the upcoming free family fun day at Artisphere.

Speakers heaped praise on Cassidy's contribution to Rosslyn.  County Board member Jay Fisette noted that Cassidy was a leader in advocating for smart, good development.  She also made Rosslyn a premier place for public amenities.  She help lead the development of Artisphere and has pushed hard to get the Central Place observation deck, sure to become a magnet for visitors to the greater Rosslyn capital area.  She also put in place Rosslyn BID's charter commitment to homeless services, including a homeless outreach program and collaboration with A-SPAN.

The affection of the Rosslyn BID staff for their former leader was obvious.  Leading to greatness includes treating workers well.

Ft. Myer Park children's playground not open yet

According to a Arlington County's Parks and Recreation Department official, the new Fort Myer Heights Park children's won't open until roughly Oct. 17.  This is a great opportunity to teach your children patience.

If patience isn't happening, try distraction.  Tell your kids that on Sunday, Oct. 13, Artisphere is having a free family day of pop art fun:

Celebrate legendary pop artist Andy Warhol at Artisphere’s free pop art family day presented in conjunction with his Silver Clouds installation on view in the Terrace Gallery through October 20. From “The Adventure to the Imagi Nation” by magician storyteller David London at 1pm and 3pm and pop art activities with Albus Cavus to a Studio 54 inspired disco for kids featuring Baby Loves Disco, Artisphere will be filled with fun for the whole family. 

 Get your kids excited about the upcoming free pop art family day!