<b>Murder Suspect Arrested</b>
Arlington resident Arnoldo Aleman, 41, was arrested for the Sept. 8 murder of Maria Mercedes Morales-Vanegas, 40, of Annandale.
Morales-Vanegas was getting out of a vehicle in the 7800 block of Patriot Drive when Aleman approached her at approximately 11 p.m. on Sept. 8, according to Fairfax police.
"Words were exchanged and Aleman pulled a gun and shot the woman in the upper body. She was dead at the scene," according to Fairfax police.
Witnesses identified Aleman, an acquaintance of the victim, as the shooter, according to Fairfax Court documents. She suffered multiple gun shot wounds to the upper body and was shot at close range.
With the assistance of Arlington County Police and the United States Marshals Service, Fairfax police arrested Aleman early Wednesday morning Sept. 10, at a home in Arlington. After police arrested Aleman, police obtained his white Ford Econoline van, in the City of Alexandria.
"He stated that the handgun used in the murder is inside the van," according to Fairfax court documents.
<b>County Urges Isabel Preparedness</b>
With the predicted arrival of Hurricane Isabel later in the week, Arlington’s Office of Emergency Management encouraging people Tuesday to review emergency preparations.
It’ an opportunity to review emergency plans and supplies, said Jim Schwartz, Director of Arlington’s Office of Emergency Management.
Arlington recommends four steps for basic emergency preparedness:
* Prepare a basic emergency preparedness kit and an emergency communications plan for your family and your workplace. An “Emergency Preparedness Guide” is available on the County’s website at<a href="http://www.co.arlington.va.us/emergency/isabel.htm"> www.co.arlington.va.us</a>, under ‘e-preparedness.’
* Tune to local TV and radio to keep up with the latest forecasts for Hurricane Isabel.
* Sign up for the Arlington Alert System at<a href="http://www.arlingtonalert.com"> www.arlingtonalert.com</a>. The free service will operate even during a power outage, offering emergency information.
* Check on neighbors with special needs before and after the storm. Ensure their needs are met and that they can communicate with someone during the storm.
Arlington emergency management officials are currently conducting assessments of likely impacts; checking equipment and emergency plans; and making emergency preparations.
<b>Langston-Brown Dedicated</b>
Last Wednesday, county and school officials marked the opening of the new Langston-Brown School and Community Center. The building is more than double the size of the previous neighborhood facility and the first Virginia building in to be granted a Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
A joint project of the Arlington Public Schools and the Arlington County Government, the new School and Community Center replaces the 75-year-old Langston-Brown facility that previously stood at the same location. The new 50,000-square-foot structure and surrounding grounds include classrooms, meeting rooms, a gymnasium, two children's play areas, outdoor tennis and basketball courts, and a community picnic pavilion.
One of the Langston-Brown Center’s signature “green” features is two 11,000-gallon tanks that capture rainwater from the roof, which is used for landscape irrigation. The three-story building also uses extensive interior daylighting with sunshades to control heating from the hot summer sun. In designing the building, only paints, fabrics and adhesives that give off low levels of toxins were used.
The building will be open to Arlingtonians of all ages from 7:45 a.m., when school begins until 10 p.m., when the recreation activities conclude.