Shirley Ruhe | Stories

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Shirley Ruhe

Stories by Shirley

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It Just Gets Better and Better in Arlington

AFAC’s new warehouse expands capacity for feeding 2,300 families a week plus delivery to five senior centers.

A line forms on July 15 outside the AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center) building on S. Nelson Street as people wait with their bags and rolling carts for a week’s supply of supplemental groceries.

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Arlingtonian as Amateur Top Chef

“Good evening and welcome to the Bravo Top Chef Amateurs.

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Ballston Farmers Market Offers CBD Products

Ryan Clark stands at the Cannabreeze CBD stand at Ballston Farmers Market on July 1.

Preview: Encore Theatre Innovates Drive Through Theatre in Arlington

Voyager’s Compass returns for two performances on Saturday, July 10 at St. Thomas More Cathedral School parking lot and Sunday, July 11 at Lubber Run Amphitheater.

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Spring Is Bursting Out All Over – All Year Long at Culpepper Garden

Marta Hill Gray, Executive Director of Culpepper Garden, stands with mud on her boots as she supervises the planting of perennials in their new community garden.

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Arlington Naturalists Unite in Common Cause

Japanese Knotweed crowds out native growth along the Potomac

It is 6:15 a.m. as Kit Britton heads for the Donaldson Run trailhead where he will have a 45-minute hike to the Potomac River.

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Make Friends with a Chameleon in a Book...or in Person in Arlington

APAH hosts Parade of Animals book event

A colorful converted school bus emblazoned with R.E.A.D. sits by the First Presbyterian Church on N. Vermont Street Wednesday, June 2.

Living Donor Liver Transplant Saves a Life

Doug Post of Arlington donates 65 percent of liver to his uncle

Doug Post from Arlington flew to Seattle in early March and returned home with only 35 percent of his liver.

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Arlington Parks Ranked Fourth in Nation

New measure assesses equity in park access

Some of the nation’s best parks are right down the block in Arlington.

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Burdette Goal: A Microgreen in Every Fridge

Paula Burdette won’t stop talking about microgreens “until they are in everyone’s fridge in the Washington metropolitan area” because of their nutritional value.

Spring Brings Fresh Produce to Arlington Needy

Spring vegetables most needed right now include beets, lettuce, spinach, collards, kale, carrots and radishes.

Gardeners gear up for another season of donating produce to support local food pantries.

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Summer Food: Summer’s Bounty at Farmers Markets in Arlington

Customers may choose their own produce this year, instead of prepackaged items.

Come hungry to the Lubber Run Farmer’s Market at 4401 N. Henderson.

Preview: Columbia Pike Blues Weekend, June 18-20

Columbia Pike Blues Weekend combines three days of blues, with both streamed and in-person performances, on June 18-20.

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Drive Through Ceremony in Arlington Celebrates College-Bound

Thirty-one high school students sporting the T-shirt of their chosen college were cheered on, cowbells ringing, by family and friends on Friday, May 14 in a drive through signing ceremony by the Rinker Community Center.

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Hope of Sunrise Inspires Sculpture in Arlington

Woojung Lee screamed.

Arlington Honors Fallen Police Officers

Acting Arlington County Police Chief Charles Penn stands in front of a plaque “In Valor There Is Hope” in the plaza outside police headquarters reading the names of the seven fallen ACPD officers on Monday, May, 10.

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It’s Mom’s Turn: Try Breakfast in Bed

It’s her special day.

Second Chances Benefit the Whole Community

Toby Pendergrass opens the 13th Second Chance virtual fundraising breakfast on Thursday, April 22.

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Stop Waiting — Start Donating

Blood donors suffering from COVID fatigue; visit www.inovablood.org/donate-blood/

Just a few minutes of your time can save a life.

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Walker Chapel Cemetery Moves from Maintenance to Ministry in Arlington

Elaborate plans open spots for congregation and community.

Walker Chapel United Methodist Church, after four long years of permits and drawings and dreams, is set to break ground on renovations to its historic cemetery.

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“Sisters” Leave Privilege to Join Resistance

Story of nine Vietnamese women in their fight against French oppression

Patricia (Kit) Norland sat listening to a Vietnamese social worker in 1988 in Saigon as Oanh explained in beautiful English what it was like to suffer postwar trauma with poverty, unemployment, domestic abuse and street children.

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Manoukian Brothers Oriental Rugs in Arlington Nears 100 Year Anniversary

“Live from the Rug Shop” features local performers.

A stack of 3x10-foot runners lines one of the walls at Manoukian Brothers Oriental Rugs on Columbia Pike.

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Campers Excited to be Back in Person in Arlington

Cars full of bouncing, excited children line up in the parking lot of Cherrydale United Methodist Church on the first day of spring break to participate in Encore Stage and Studio outdoor, in-person Spring Break Camp.

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The Year That Was in Arlington

Feeding the multitudes during COVID — one can at a time

In March 2020, COVID suddenly brought about the closing of schools where children had regularly received free breakfast and lunches.

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Daffodils are Bursting Out all Over in Arlington

Things may be different this year, but 28,000 daffodils are waiting to poke their tendrils above ground and burst into bloom at Culpepper Garden this spring.

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Plot Against Hunger Spring Garden Kickoff Begins March 13 in Arlington

Feeding our community, one garden at a time

What better way to celebrate the coming Spring season than joining the Plot Against Hunger’s Spring Garden Kickoff on March 13?

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Gardens Come in All Kinds in Arlington

Woman’s Club sponsors bike garden

Instead of planting vegetable seeds, The Woman's Club of Arlington is planting good safety seeds on rules of the road.

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It’s the First Day of School in Arlington — But It’s March

Load up your backpack, wash your hands, complete your daily online symptom screener, put on your mask, and head for the school bus.

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Obituary: Father John Van de Paer Leaves 100-Year Legacy

Father John Van de Paer died peacefully at the Capital Caring Health Halquist Hospice Center in Arlington on Feb. 9, 2021.

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Don’t Forget to Feed Your Backyard Pets in Arlington

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

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Blunders That Changed History

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

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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.”

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Preview: Opera NOVA Continues Concert Series

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

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

Back to Basics: Help Make Recycling Work in Arlington

Arlington trash cans this week were decorated with “Recycling Made Simple” pamphlets outlining the four categories of materials that are acceptable in the blue recycling bin.

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Opera NOVA Reaches Out to Seniors

Put away your jigsaw puzzles, turn off the TV and tune in to an Opera NOVA performance targeted to seniors which will launch on Jan 28.

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Some Vaccines Are Available, But What to Do?

You know you are 75 years old.

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Star Light, Star Light But No Star Tonight in Arlington

Your car lines up to join the search for the winter star that used to light up the sky, “giving a glorious aura and making you feel complete.

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Pandemic is Forcing Business Changes, but Life is Good in Arlington

Jason Andelman has just spent all day packaging his hundreds of boxes of chocolates for shipping.

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Extension Programs Pivot, Operate Better Than Ever in Arlington and Alexandria

“Sit back, find a comfy seat and get ready for some excitement.”

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Arlington’s Letters to Santa Are On Their Way

Rachael Toman, Conservation and Interpretation Manager for the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation, reports that the mailbox located at Gulf Branch Nature Center is stuffed with letters from Arlington children for Santa.

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Opera NOVA Is Back on a High Note

Opera NOVA is back in operation after a nine-month hiatus due to the pandemic.

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Golden Radish Awarded for Urban Gleaning in Arlington

Each year, Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture gives out the Golden Radish Award to a person, group or business that has made a significant contribution to advancing urban agriculture issues, policies, programs and enterprises in Arlington.

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100th Birthday for Father John van de Pear

Cars line up early in the lower parking lot of Missionhurst on N. 25th Street on Sunday, Nov. 29 for a surprise drive-by parade for Father John van de Paer’s 100th birthday.

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Yorktown Students Organize Doorways Toy Drive

From Legos to Baby Alive dolls, a smile for every face

Lauren Rosenthal is on a toy buying Zoom call with several friends the Wednesday before Thanksgiving trying to decide what toys to buy for 45 children at Doorways.

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Virtual or In-Person in Arlington

What should “back to school” look like during a pandemic?

Sept. 8, early October, November and now 2021.

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Delivery Changes, But Cheer Remains the Same in Arlington

Cars line up in the Harrison Shopping Center parking lot on Nov. 20 to drop off toys at the contactless, drive-thru Fill the Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive event.