<sh>Arlington Democrat Files for U.S. Senate
<bt>Democrat James Webb, a resident of Arlington County, announced last week that he will seek to replace U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) in the U.S. Senate.
Webb, a bestselling novelist and former U.S. Navy Secretary under President Ronald Reagan, will face McLean Democrat Harris Miller in a June 13 state-wide primary election.
Webb graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and fought in the Vietnam War. He has written six novels and a nonfiction book about the history of Scots-Irish people in America titled "Born Fighting."
For more information, go to Webb's website at www.webbforsenate.com.
<sd>Arlington Attacker Arraigned in Richmond
<bt>A man charged with slitting the throat of a 25-year-old Arlington man on New Year’s Eve was arraigned in Richmond last week on five counts of capitol.
Ricky Javon Gray, 28, is charged along with Ray Joseph Dandridge in the New Year’s Day slaying of the four members of the Harvey family in Richmond. Bryan Harvey, 49, his wife Kathryn, 39, and their daughters Stella, 9, and Ruby, 4, were bound and their throats slit. The Harvey’s home was then set on fire.
The two are also suspected in the murder five days later of Ashley Baskerville and her mother and stepfather.
Gray is scheduled to appear in court in Richmond on Feb. 17, when a trial date will be set. The two men were arrested in Philadelphia on Jan. 7.
The Arlington victim, who was stabbed multiple times with kitchen knives in front of his parent’s house on the 5100 block of North 25th Street, survived the attack.
<sd>Wakefield Wins Academic Championship
<bt>For the fourth consecutive year, the Wakefield High School “It’s Academic” team has captured the Scholastic Bowl National District Championship.
The team defeated Edison High School, in Fairfax County, by 15 points on Jan. 26 to win the title.
Team members include senior Daniel Letchev, junior Kathleen Kane, and sophomores Lameya Ahmed and Kevin Trudel. The team went 7-0 in district competition.
Wakefield’s “It’s Academic” team is led by English teacher Scott McKeown. The team sponsors a school-wide “Brain Brawl” Jeopardy-like competition for students and staff every spring.
“It’s Academic” has been airing on WRC-TV, NBC 4 since its inception in 1961 and is the world's longest-running TV quiz show. High school students from 81 public and private schools in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area compete, with three teams showing off their smarts on air every Saturday. The team practices answering questions related to topics in the arts, science, mathematics, literature, history and current events.
<sd>Fund-raiser for Biloxi Residents
<bt>The Arlington County Democratic Committee is holding a fund-raiser to benefit the residents of Biloxi, Miss. on Thursday Feb. 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The benefit will be held at The Rhodeside Grill in Courthouse. A crowd of over 150 is expected to attend, which will raise money for the city and create awareness of the ongoing hardships that these residents face.
All proceeds will go to the Arlington Community Foundation, which will then release the funds directly to Habitat for Humanity and other smaller organizations working within the Biloxi community.
Arlington’s Response to Katrina Task Force has adopted the community of Biloxi, Miss. so that Arlington might provide targeted relief to those who still need it.
The Boston comedy troupe The Late Night Players, will perform during the event.
<sh>Educational Grants Announcement
<bt>The Arlington Community Foundation seeks grant applications for innovative educational programs and instructional development. The Arlington Community Foundation is accepting proposals for funding from the Arlington Education Fund and the Rabil-Armstrong Instructional Staff Development Fund. Organizations and individuals with projects designed to meet educational needs of Arlington residents are encouraged to apply. The Education Fund has supported projects for preschool to adult learners and will award grants of up to $1,500 of total project cost. The Rabil-Armstrong Fund supports professional development for teachers and administrators of Arlington Public Schools and will award grants of up to $1,000.
Proposals must be received at the office of the Arlington Community Foundation, 2525 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 by 5:00 pm on Friday, March 31, 2006.
Applications and additional information are available on the Foundation's Website www.arlcf.org or by calling the Foundation office at 703-243-4785.
<sh>Metrobus Changes Begin
<bt>Departure times for two weekday morning buses on the Wilson Boulevard-Fairfax Line, 1C and 1Z, changed on Feb. 13. The westbound 1C bus that left Ballston at 5:55 a.m. now leaves at 6 a.m. The eastbound 1Z bus that left Inova Fair Oaks Hospital at 7:15 a.m. now leaves at 7:18 a.m. The adjustments will accommodate riders transferring from other bus lines and Metrorail.
The route for the Reagan National Airport-Pentagon-Washington line, 13B and 13F, also changed. The 13B and 13F Metrobuses crossing Memorial Bridge going into Virginia have been rerouted via the ramp from Virginia Route 110 to Army-Navy Drive and Eads Street. Buses now turn right on Eads Street and continue to South Rotary Road, where the previous routing is resumed, going to the Pentagon Transit Center. In addition, 13B and 13F buses no longer serve the westbound bus stop on Army-Navy Drive, on the far side of Eads Street. Bus times did not change. For more information visit www.metroopensdoors.com or call 202-637-7000.