Riding Metro into the Future
<bt>U.S. Rep. James Moran (D-8)will hold a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 14 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. to discuss constituents' concerns about the future of Metro. With ridership levels at an all-time high, how do we ensure that Metro gets commuters to and from work safely and efficiently?
Featured speaker will be Richard White, general manager and CEO of Metro. Lee District Supervisor and Chairman of Metro's Board of Directors Dana Kauffman and Arlington County Board member and Metro Board member Chris Zimmerman will also be in attendance.
The meeting will be in the Arlington County Board, Room 307, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington.
<sh>Public Meetings on Changes to Residential Parking Program.
<bt>A series of community meetings will give Arlington residents additional opportunities to give feedback on proposed changes to the Residential Permit Parking Program. Arlington County Parking Manager Sarah Stott will be present. Also invited are Arlington County Department of Environmental Services Director Randy Bartlett, Arlington County Transportation Division Director Dennis Leach, and Arlington County Transportation Engineering and Operations Bureau Chief Terry Bellamy.
An in-depth Citizen Forum is to be held at George Mason University in the New Law School Building, 3301 Fairfax Drive, Room 225, from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. There will follow a series of four locally oriented, evening meetings: March 14 at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St.; March 15 at Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Road; March 17 at Arlington Mill Community Center, 4975 Columbia Pike; and March 21 at Lyon Village Community Center, 1920 N. Highland St. All of these community meetings are 7-9 p.m.
Arlington County has conducted over a year of community outreach related to the Residential Permit Parking Program and now is proposing changes related to who is eligible to participate in zoned parking, what areas may be zoned, how the program is managed and enforced, visitor passes and hours that zoned parking is in effect. Before bringing these changes to the County Board for review and approval, County staff is seeking public input on their proposed recommendations. The proposed recommendations can be seen at www.parkarlington.com.
<sh>Arlington Food Drive
<bt>In a joint effort to promote health and well-being in Arlington, Curves of Arlington and the Arlington Food Assistance Center have launched the second Annual Curves of Arlington/AFAC Food Drive to benefit the area's needy. During the week of March 7, Curves of Arlington fitness centers will waive the $149 initiation fee for any woman who brings in a bag of nonperishable food to one of its four Arlington locations: 2105 N. Pollard St., 2529 Wilson Blvd., 2772 S. Arlington Mill Drive and 2345 Crystal Drive in the U.S. Airways Building.
<sh>Blood Supply Impacted by Winter Weather
<bt>Recent winter weather caused the cancellation of several community blood drives and countless blood donor appointments across the region. An immediate recovery from the ensuing blood shortage is critical to ensuring that the needs of patients in local hospitals will not be impacted. Consequently, the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Region is issuing an urgent plea for an immediate response from both whole blood and platelet (apheresis) donors. Whole blood donors are asked to call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, and apheresis donors can call 1-800-272-2123. While all blood types are welcome and badly needed, the Red Cross is reporting an urgent need for type O-negative donors. The community blood drive schedule, as well as hours of operation and directions to the Donor Centers, is available by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or visiting www.my-redcross.org. Donors must be generally in good health, be at least 17 years of age, weigh no less than 110 pounds, have not received a tattoo within the past year, and have not donated whole blood within the past 56 days. The American Red Cross is also in search of area businesses, churches, community groups and civic organizations to come on board as blood drive sponsors. For information about holding a blood drive call 1-800-787-9282, ext. 4925.
<sh>St. Patrick's Day Sober Rides
<bt>Free cab rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout Arlington on St. Patrick's Day. The "Sober Ride" program will be in effect during the 12 hours between 4 p.m. March 17 and 4 a.m. March 18. During this time area residents over age 21 who are celebrating with alcohol may call 1-800-200-TAXI, toll-free, and be afforded a free, safe way home, up to a $50 fare. Cingular customers can dial #-TAXI for the same service. Sponsors of this year's St. Patrick's Day Sober Ride program include Anheuser-Busch, Baileys, Cingular Wireless, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, Red Top Cab and the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers association.