Stories for February 2021

Pawsitive Partners in Arlandria

Volunteers care for feral cat colony

Ever since Devon Cain was a young girl, she has loved cats.

ArPets Update: The Prince and his Pee (Pad)

Staying with my in-laws has not been without its, well, puddles.

ArPets Update: Brisket Has Been Adopted!

Remember that very smart dog, Brisket?

Don’t Forget to Feed Your Backyard Pets in Arlington

If you want to buy birdseed, you have to be persistent.

Blunders That Changed History

“From the Eyes of Coldcase Killers” to self-help books to great blunders of history.

Opinion: Commentary: Inland Flooding

Facing storm intensities far beyond what our infrastructure was designed to handle

With one week remaining in the 2021 legislative session, Senators and Delegates are putting the finishing touches on legislation, and preparing to head home to the districts they represent in Richmond and throughout the year.

Opinion: Column: Not That I Don’t Understand, But...

...So this is what the process is like trying to schedule a Covid-19 vaccination.

Virginia Is for Pet Lovers, Too

Cosmetics testing, research dogs/cats, dangerous dogs, pet store employees come under scrutiny

The 2021 Virginia General Assembly had only six companion animal-related bills before it this session; a small number compared to the roughly two dozen during the 2020 session, and a dozen in 2019.

The Value of Intergenerational Relationships

The lives of both youth and seniors are enhanced by meaningful connections.

Bringing seniors and youth together for meaningful relationships can be mutually beneficial.

Rotary Club of Alexandria Awards $10,000 Grant to Alexandria ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund

Opinion: Commentary: Bringing Virginia into the Light

Abolishing the death penalty, steps to end Jim-Crow era ban on felony voting and more recent ban on gay marriage

The last week of the 2021 General Assembly Session has arrived and it will prove to be an exciting time with many big issues on the agenda.

At Dog Parks, the Clean-Up Bag is a Must

Walks are important for the family dog, but so is scooping the poop.

Scooping the Poop

One More Tree Due for Destruction in Arlington

Neighbors along with Arlington Tree Action Group (ATAG) volunteers gathered Feb. 8 to protest “the unnecessary destruction of a Willow Oak in the corner of a lot at 2437 N. Utah Street.”

Preview: Opera NOVA Continues Concert Series

Opera NOVA will hold its third 30-minute virtual concert on Feb. 25.

Do Flamingos Drink Bourbon in Arlington?

...or is it just my imagination?

Scott Sklar, wearing his cowboy hat, sits on the curb amid the flamingos in his front yard.

Arlington Rotary Club Launches Drive for Thrive

Give to the Rotary Club by Feb. 28 to double your impact.

If there was ever a time Arlington Thrive was crucial in the lives of Arlington residents, it is now, in the 12th month of the Covid-19 crisis.

ArPets: “Is He Peeing?”

"Is he peeing?"

Opinion: Commentary: Virginia’s Budget Focuses on Recovery

Last year was my first on the influential Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, where I was glad to gain direct experience in the allocation of funds and the tweaking of expenses which together create our state budget.

The Strange Career of Felon Disenfranchisement

Amendment targets Jacksonian-era restriction weaponized during Jim Crow.

Felons have been prohibited from voting in Virginia since 1830, when the "right to suffrage" was denied "to any person convicted of any infamous offense." But it was during the era of Jim Crow that felon disenfranchisement became weaponized to prevent Black voters from influencing elections.

Opinion: Column: If Michael Corleone Had Lung Cancer

"Just when I thought I was out ... they pull me back in."

Leveling the Playing Field in School

Advocating for children with special needs or learning disabilities

When Lisa Lightner's son Kevin was two years old, she discovered that he would need special learning support in school.

ArPets: Meet Caia

Here’s what can happen when a dog is considered “less adoptable”.

When she met Goldie, she was struck by the label the dog had been given.

394 Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies and Counting in Arlington

This is seven-year-old Erin Parks’ first year selling Girl Scout cookies, but she has sold 394 boxes so far.

Neighborhood Parade Celebrates 104th Birthday in Arlington

Her secret? Blueberries daily.

The snowflakes stopped and the sun came out Sunday, Feb. 7 in Green Valley just in time for Mary Lockett’s surprise 104th birthday car parade.

Ambar Clarendon Brings It with Balkan Street Food

One of the cultural challenges of living in the Washington, D.C. metro area is sampling every possible international cuisine.

Opinion: Column: “Clinical Correlation Suggested”

Means what exactly?

Black History and Regional Parks

In many ways, the history of Northern Virginia is the history of America.

New Community with Park-Like Environment in McLean

Park Grove neighborhood inspired by former National Parks Director George Hartzog

A former public servant’s creative vision and dedication to preserving parklands was the inspiration behind a new residential area in Northern Virginia.

Editorial: Send in Pet Photos for Pet Connection

The Pet Connection, a twice-yearly special edition, will publish the last week of February, and photos and stories of your pets with you and your family should be submitted by Friday, Feb. 19, 2021.

Desire for Vaccines Outpaces Supply in Arlington

How do you divide 2,750 vaccines among 50,000 residents?

Arlingtonians are angry, frustrated and frightened about Covid.

Preview: Join Arlington Food Assistance Center’s Empty Bowls Virtual Event

Grab a chef’s recipe and make your own soup this year at Arlington Food Assistance Center’s (AFAC) virtual Empty Bowls Event on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 11:30 a.m.

ArPets UPDATE: Sage has found her forever home!

Have you ever heard of a situation where the family dog conveyed with a home sale?

Wellbeing: When a Loved One Is Hospitalized with Covid-19

Coping with separation and uncertainty

For years, being able to talk with his mother, Carole Isaacs, nearly every day was a gift that Marc Stern treasured, so when he was unable to reach her for several days, he became concerned.

Sealing the Record

House and Senate Democrats disagree on how old convictions should be expunged.

For people haunted by a conviction for felony drug possession or misdemeanor disorderly conduct, a debate now happening in the Virginia General Assembly is one that could have dramatic consequences for finding a place to live or landing a job. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow those people to seal their criminal record, expunging old convictions and helping them wipe the slate clean. But Democrats are bitterly divided over how to accomplish that goal.

Opinion: Letter to the Editor: Abolish the Death Penalty

On behalf of the Virginia Justice and Witness Action Network (of the Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ), we write to urge support for legislation to abolish the death penalty in Virginia.

Opinion: Column: Progress, I Guess?

I received in the mail today what, in the sales/marketing world, we'd call a "pre-approach" letter.