Arlington County Government, VA / Technology

The digital divide is a barrier to education, employment, and overall well-being. the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, in partnership with Arlington County, has piloted a program to increase digital inclusion for our residents. APAH was awarded a $90,000 grant two years ago by Arlington County to create this initiative and to change internet and technology accessibility. APAH residents, including Arlington Public School students, have greatly benefited from this program.

At Arlington's most recent Digital Destiny event, Dr. Indu B Singh, President and CEO of Planet Defense, LLC, sounds a cautionary warning to any local government that aspires to be a Smart Community.

Arlington County CIO Jack Belcher hosts staff and industry leaders for a community talk on the impact that the Digital Revolution will have on shaping Arlington for a smart and secure future.

- Beverly Allen, Producer and Host, Practical Security
- Robert Duffy, Director of Planning, Arlington County Government
- Joseph N. Pelton, Ph. D., Author and Industry Thought Leader, Notable Publications
- Indu B. Singh, Ph. D., President and CEO, Planet Defense LLC

Arlington County staff and industry leaders led a community discussion on the impact that the Digital Revolution will have on Energy in Arlington. They explored the increasing role that technology is playing in energy conservation as smart homes and buildings become the expected norm and learn about the potential that technology offers in helping Arlington meet its goal of a lower carbon footprint by 2050. The panelists:

David Peabody, Architect, Peabody Architects
Anna Buglaeva, Vice President of Growth, Aquicore
Adam Segel-Moss, Energy Outreach Specialist, Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy

Recorded on November 29 2017 at the Arlington Public LIbrary.

Beneath our busy streets, a powerful network crisscrosses the County, connecting our government facilities, important systems and schools. Its called ConnectArlington. Its the County's own fiber-optic, high-speed, dedicated network that allows for super fast, secure connections and helps to ensure that our community will meet an ever growing demand for digital services. Learn more about why ConnectArlington matters and how the business and higher learning communities can also benefit from it.

https://departments.arlingtonva.us/dts/connectarlington/

Arlington County’s Department of Technology Services hosts its third Digital Destiny public discussion in an ongoing series that explores the impact of the Digital Revolution.

https://departments.arlingtonva.us/dts/digital-destiny/

At 7:00 pm, February 15th, the event will focus on the future of Learning in Arlington, featuring Guest Speakers:

Tannia Talento, Arlington County Public School Board Member
Susannah Spellman, Executive Director, U.S. UCAN and Internet2
Diane Kresh, Director, Arlington County Public Library
Howard Feldstein, Director, Arlington Employment Center

Facebook Live will also be offered for those who want to participate remotely; RSVP to receive a link to the Facebook Live event

11/29/2016 from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm

Join us for a talk on the future of mobility in Arlington with:

- Jack Belcher, Arlington County Chief Information Officer
- Kristanne Littlefield, Arlington County Chief Digital Innovation Officer
- Dennis Leach, Arlington County Director of Transportation
- Dr. Sokwoo Rhee, Associate Director of Cyber-Physical Systems at National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Scott Bogren, Executive Director of Community Transportation Association of America

RSVP today, space is limited.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/explore-the-impact-of-the-digital-revolution-on-mobility-in-arlington-tickets-29073558797

ATV's regular roundup of news and notes. In this edition, we commemorate 9/11 and celebrate "Parking Day." We also look forward to our digital destiny, celebrate Hispanic heritage and in the most recent Street Beat segment we take a trip down into the Minor Hill Reservoir.

A panel of technologists and futurists led by Arlington's Department of Technology Services discuss how technology is rapidly shaping the future and how Arlington can position itself as a leader in what ever comes next.

A panel of technologists and futurists led by Arlington's Department of Technology Services discuss how technology is rapidly shaping the future and how Arlington can position itself as a leader in what ever comes next.

In this month's edition of County Board Wrap-Up, Board Chair Libby Garvey discusses the new Capital Improvement Plan. She also talks about the decision to postpone the Blue Ribbon Panel, a new solution for bus storage in South Arlington, the new Transient Occupany Tax, a public meeting on access to a new school site, and a new development with Connect Arlington. Board Member Katie Cristol also drops by to join in a discussion on a new farmers market coming soon.

The Rethink Energy Program is excited to announce the launch of the Energy Lending Library. With the swipe of your Arlington library card (and for free) you can now check out thermal cameras, energy meters, and DIY books. These tools will help you spot energy efficiency opportunities at home and make changes to save money and be more comfortable.

Energy Lending Library: http://library.arlingtonva.us/a-z-list/aire-energy-lending-library/

Using a Thermal Camera: https://environment.arlingtonva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2016/04/AIRE-Thermal-Camera-Use-Doc.pdf

Jack Belcher, Chief Information Office and the Director of Technology Services for Arlington County VA, speaking to the Arlington Civic Federation on April 14, 2016.

Mark Schwartz, Arlington County Manager, speaking to the Arlington Civic Federation on April 14, 2016.

Victor Hoskins, Economic Development Director for Arlington County, speaking to the Arlington Civic Federation on April 14, 2016.

Retired County Manager Barbara Donnellan remembers her three decades serving Arlington County Virginia and her final five years as County Manager. Ms Donnellan was interviewed by Library Director Diane Kresh and Chief Information Officer Jack Belcher. The interview was conducted on August 25 2015 in the studios of Arlington TV.

ATV's semi-weekly roundup of news and events around Arlington. This edition includes memories of the time when Clarendon was known as Little Saigon. Also, there's a great new tool on the website to follow the progress of street paving in Arlington, the County purchased a new plot of land, we have new voting machines to show off, and Neighborhood Day once again featured a Walk for the Animals.

Crystal City is emerging as a home for start-up and tech companies. Recently, Governor Terry McAuliffe, County Board members and others welcomed an important new company to Arlington. We'll tell you more about that later in our program, but first …

Senator Tim Kaine got a taste of what Arlington has to offer in terms of creative job training during his visit to a chef training program called La Cocina VA. It's a bilingual program that provides immigrants with the skills they need to work in a commercial kitchen. While in training, the cooks prepare meals that are provided to low-income families through the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing. These types of programs often rely on volunteers. To help out, search for Volunteer Arlington on our website.

The demolition of Marymount University's Blue Goose building is nearly complete, paving the way for modernization of the school's Ballston campus. In its place, two attractive and energy efficient buildings will grace the corner of Fairfax Drive and Glebe Road. Both will feature ground floor retail and underground parking, and will be connected by an outdoor plaza. Blue elements will be incorporated into the new structure and plaza in homage to the bright blue building that stood there since 1963. Learn more about redevelopment in Arlington at projects.arlingtonva.us

Crystal City is home to a growing community of startups that operate in industries where government is a key player. Global startup 1776 acquired Disruption Corporation, Crystal City's leading startup platform, and is partnering with Vornado/Charles E Smith to open a new campus in Crystal City. Take a look....

To learn more about economic development in Arlington and the efforts underway to attract new business, take a look at the website "arlingtonvirginiausa.com"

Barton Park now features a quietly beautiful Healing Garden that includes the labyrinth that was graciously donated by the Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia. The small park overlooks the Barton Street Community Gardens and the newly refurbished Rocky Run Park. Find out about other hidden gems in Arlington's park system at parks.arlingtonva.us.

Lubber Run Community Center has housed popular programs for decades and frankly, it's time for a new look. Planning for a NEW Lubber Run Community Center begins in 2016, but we want to hear your ideas now. Stop by the building on April 29 at 7 p.m. for a visioning session, where you can share your thoughts. A walk-through of the existing community center will take place at 6:30. For more, information, go to our website. We want to hear from as many voices as possible and hope you can join us!

April's County Board meeting focused on the budget. We take an in-depth look at those issues and more in our new County Board Wrap Up program. You can watch it here on ATV, or on line at arlingtonva.tv.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for watching! We'll see you next time, Around Arlington.

Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the expansion of 1776, a global incubator and seed fund into Arlington VA. 1776 will be partnering with Disruption Corp. and Vornado/Charles E. Smith to open a new campus in Crystal City.

We're a smart bunch here in Arlington and we may be named the top Intelligent Community in the World for 2015. We'll tell you how later in our program, but first...

Have you noticed the water tasting a little different lately? No your not going crazy it actually does! Each year, the Washington Aqueduct temporarily changes the water disinfectant it uses to clean the pipes and maintain high water quality for customers. It will revert to the regular disinfectant after May 4th. for more information, go to water.arlingtonva.us.

No more searching for coins with EasyPark! and you don't need a credit card either to park in Arlington's metered parking spaces. Instead, you buy an EasyPark device and add parking money to it. You can do this on line, on the EasyPark site, or in person at the Treasurer's office, at Courthouse Plaza.

Residents weighed in on priorities at recent budget & tax rate hearings on the 2016 budget. Be sure to watch the April edition of County Board Wrap Up as Chair Mary Hynes will discuss the Board's budget and tax decisions. You can review the proposed 2016 budget online at budget.arlingtonva.us.

Arlington's smart planning and smart growth has earned it a spot among the top 7 finalists in the Intelligent Community Forum. Longtime resident Joe Pelton was among the many people who have worked to earn us this prestigious recognition. To learn more about the Intelligent Community Forum, go to their website at intelligent community.org. We'll find out if we won in June. But even if we don't win, it is truly an honor to be nominated and share top billing with only 7 other communities in the world.

The Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing broke ground for construction on The Springs Apartments, which will add 98 new units to Arlington's affordable housing stock. Arlington has seen a dramatic decrease in the amount of affordable housing in recent years. The Affordable Housing study and draft master plan will provide a framework for increasing affordable housing options for residents. Community review of the plan is continuing throughout the spring. To learn more about affordable housing options in Arlington, check our website at arlingtonva.us, search housing.

The affordable housing in Courthouse are classified as historic resources and they will continue to be affordable even after the new development there. Planning has begun for an office building, public plaza, ground-floor retail and underground parking at the intersections of Courthouse Road, Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard. The site currently houses a Wendy's and a Wells Fargo bank. The planned redevelopment will preserve the Wakefield Manor and Courthouse Manor apartments, which will continue as market rate affordable units. Well, that's it for now. Thanks for watching! We'll see you next time, Around Arlington.

Arlington has been building its own fiber optic network connecting County government and school buildings. It’s called ConnectArlington.

The County designed “Future-proofing” into the system in the form of additional fiber for sustainability and future economic development.
You are invited to attend a joint meeting of the Economic Development and Information Technology Advisory Commissions to learn more about this initiative.

The meeting will be on Weds. Feb. 18 at 7:00pm in the Walter Reed Community Center Multi-purpose room, 2909 16th Street South at the corner of Walter Reed Drive.

Plan to come and learn more about ConnectArlington and how it will provide a greatly enhanced communications environment for our County’s economic development.

http://departments.arlingtonva.us/dts/connectarlington/

We all want to save money on energy costs right? But what are the best ways to do it? Well, the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy, or AIRE, helps us make smart decisions about energy use at home and at work. More about that in a moment, but first…the new decal!

Each year, Arlington high school artists submit photos as part of the vehicle decal contest. The winning design will adorn more than 160,000 vehicles in this year.

The Decal Fee funds a variety of street improvement and signage projects. To learn more about where the funds go, and how students can get involved in the design, visit the Treasurer's website.

In January, the County made it simpler to do business in Arlington by adding online business registration and one-stop payments for building permits. And the County Board accepted grants to fund the safe routes to schools projects around 3 Arlington schools. Learn about these and other items by attending the monthly County Board meetings, watching them here on ATV, or reviewing past meetings on our website. You can also read about Board highlights in the County newsroom at newsroom.arlingtonva.us

Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes has announced that she will retire from the Board when she completes her term at the end of 2015. Her decision comes a week after County Board Vice Chair Walter Tejada announced that he will not seek the Democratic nomination for another term on the Board. The next general election will be held on November 3rd. Check vote.arlingtonva.us for information on the primary schedule.
At the recent Energy Journey Games, kids and adults picked up energy tips, learned about the latest technologies, and had a great time, too. If you missed the games be sure to visit the AIRE website at arlingtonva.us, keyword AIRE. And make sure you get there next year.

The Washington Post published a long article on Arlington’s successful efforts to reduce homelessness in the County. Our personal approach of identifying who is homeless and what their needs are breaks through the red tape and delivers services directly to those who need them. You can read the piece on the Post’s website at washingonpost.com.

Ok, that’s just about it, but remember that Arlington County government offices, courts, schools and libraries will be closed on February 16th in honor of George Washington's Birthday. There will be regular trash and recycling pickups. Check our holiday closings schedule for more info.

Artisphere hosted Tandem NSI's recent National Security Deal Day to identify opportunities for entrepreneurs. We'll tell you more about that later in our program, but first...

New transit stations along Columbia Pike will cost 40 percent less than originally anticipated, thanks to a review and re-design. Adjustments to the canopy, simplifying the design and using standardized parts allows the county to build four different size stations, and cut costs. To learn more about the transit stations and streetcar project, go to arlingtonva.us and search "streetcar."

The 19th Annual Walk for the Animals was great fun for all the participants. The walk raises money to support animal care and rescue services. To adopt a pet from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, check their website and choose from the dogs, cats, birds, and others who are looking for their Forever Home.

Tandem NSI brings the resources of Amplifier Ventures and Arlington Economic Development together. Its Deal Day program matches national security entrepreneurs with those who need their skills. To learn more about events offered by TandemNSI, go to their website at TandemNSI.com.

May is Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month, and events around the County focused on the contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans. At the Columbia Pike Library, visitors enjoyed poetry and a film from Nepal. And ATV filmed an Arlington Historical Society presentation on the "Little Saigon" neighborhood that grew up around Clarendon in the 1970s. Check our schedule to see this and other ATV programs featured at the library.

Members of the Arlington police department gathered to observe Peace Officers Memorial Day, honoring the memory of those law enforcement officers who gave their lives during service to our community. The commemoration took place during National Police Week, which has been observed annually nationwide since it was proclaimed by President Kennedy in 1962. For more information, or to donate to the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, visit the national police week website.

With changes in building construction, firefighters need to learn new techniques to fight fires that spread hot and fast through buildings and homes. We'll tell you about Arlington's new Fire Training Academy later in our program, but first...

How can you find out how many people are biking on our trails? You install a bikeometer! Our first bikeometer was installed at Lee Highway and North Lynn Street, where nearly 500,000 bikes whiz by each year. You can see how many have gone by on a screen and we'll use the data to plan bike routes and improve bike safety. To learn more about this, other bike trails in Arlington and bike safety go to Bikearlington.com

While bikes whiz by on paths, data whizzes through Arlington at speeds that are infinitely faster than anywhere else in the Capital region. That's because of the ConnectArlington broadband network. It was developed by Arlington County government to link County buildings and schools together, but now we're extending that super high-speed fiber to Arlington businesses. The service will roll out over the next year. To learn more, go to arlingtonva.us: keyword, connect arlington.

A new study shows that Arlington can expect a huge return on its investment in the Columbia Pike streetcar. According to the report, the streetcar project will generate between 3 and 4 billion dollars in benefits for Arlington and Fairfax over a 30 year period. This is between 2 and 3 billion dollars more than enhanced bus service would provide. To learn more about this study and its findings, go to arlingtonva.us: keyword streetcar.

Arlington Firefighters demonstrated their life saving skills during an intensive training exercise at Arlington's new state-of-the-art fire academy. Take a look.

Remember, you are the first line of defense against fires in your home. Make sure you have a working smoke detector and an evacuation plan. For more fire safety tips, check our website at fire.arlingtonva.us.

Arlington Library will host Ann Beattie and Richard Ford as part of this year's Arlington Reads program. Beattie will hold a conversation with Library Director Diane Kresh on April 10, while Ford will interviewed by Jeffrey Brown of the PBS NewsHour on April 24. Both events are free at Central Library, and books by the authors will be available for purchase and signing. For more information, visit library.arlingtonva.us.

And finally, the newest member of the Arlington County Board will be sworn in after the winner is announced. Stay tuned to ATV to find out when, and watch it live. All County Board meetings are open to the public, and each month's agenda can be found at countyboard.arlingtonva.us. So come on down on Saturday and meet your new County Board member!

That's it for another week. Thanks for watching! We'll see you Around Arlington.

Imagine an world where potholes could fill themselves, swings could yell out when they're broken, or walls could talk when they're vandalized. Well, now they can....with your help. Introducing the new "ArlingtonVA mobile app" that lets you connect with the County in a whole new way. See an issue, then report it on the spot. It's the closest thing to issues reporting themselves.

Here is how it works:

Let's say you're at a park and you notice the playground equipment is broken ... or maybe we missed your trash pickup ... or there's a pothole on your street. No problem. Use the ArlingtonVA app on your smartphone to submit a request. Your GPS finds where you are, so you can just snap a picture if you like, write a description, and submit your item. The information instantly goes to the right department. And if you've created an account, you can follow the progress, get email updates and know when your issue is resolved.
And this is just the beginning. We'll be updating the app with more items. Did we mention the ArlingtonVA app also connects you with other County information, right from the homescreen!

Don't have a smart phone? Don't worry! You can also report issues from the arlingtonva.us website the same way. It's that easy.
The new ArlingtonVA app ... a smart app that makes a smarter County. Search ArlingtonVA and download it now from the apple or android store, or go to arlingtonva.us.

The Arlington County Fire Department has an important message for all residents to help keep everyone safe this winter.

We'll have those safety tips from the Arlington County Fire Department later in our program. but first, Arlington has been named one of the Top 7 Intelligent Communities in the world for 2014 by the Intelligent Community Forum. Arlington is one of only two communities in the United States to achieve this honor. We were cited for the construction of our own fiber-optic network and for encouraging economic growth in the Metro corridors while preserving neighborhoods, parks and open space. To learn more about how Arlington achieved this honor, visit intelligentcommunity.org.

And speaking of forward thinking, The County Board recently approved a plan to replace the Blue Goose, a 1960s style building that has graced the corner of Glebe Road and Fairfax Drive for over 50 years, with two, more energy efficient buildings. The development will allow Marymount University to maintain and expand its presence in Ballston, while adding apartments, ground floor retail and a public plaza. Several elements of the Blue Goose will be incorporated into the new buildings, including a blue panel design at its base, and a horizontal blue glass band, To learn more about the project and it's design, visit the county webpage and search, blue goose.

There were close to 50 carbon monoxide incidents in Arlington last year, as well as several fires related to improper disposal of embers. The Fire Department wants you to know steps you can take to stay safe. Take a look.

Remember, If the carbon monoxide alarm in your home sounds, immediately move to fresh air and call 9-1-1. Its important to make sure your alarms are UL tested, and inspected every year. For more fire safety tips, visit arlingtonva.us/fire.

February is African American History Month. There will be events all around the County celebrating African American heritage. To find what is happening in your community, and how you can partake in the various events, visit the county website and search feel the heritage.

Well, that's it for another week. Thanks for watching! And we'll see you Around Arlington.

Long, long ago, Arlington County launched its first website. That was in the 1990's, and over the years, there have been changes and improvements. And guess what, we're changing for the better again.
A new website with a simpler interface and better organized by topic, so you don't actually have to know which department in the County does what. And the new site's mobile-friendly too. It will look different if you're coming from your desktop computer, tablet, or phone -- but always with the top information...well, at the top. And we put our homepage links on a diet. We've got fewer navigation links to sift through.
We've also slimmed down our content and made things more findable. Like, if you're getting hitched, you don't want to spend a lot of time searching around for the Marriage License info, right? Or if you're trying to check on your home's real estate assessment, we put the property look-up link right up front.
We'll also have some helpful new features coming out. Like a new tool for finding a park nearest you that has a playground, picnic table, or even a bocce court. And a new online tool where you can find out if last night's pizza box can be recycled.
So, we're changing...and we're going to keep changing to make things better for all of you.

http://arlingtonplacespace.us/main

PLACE Space, the new network connecting people, organizations and businesses from all over Arlington County.

This is your virtual town square, a place for sharing ideas and trading expertise. It's the starting point for action and advocacy, where your voice is essential, and where anyone can get involved and make a difference.

PLACE Space isn't a social network... it's your local network, for building the Arlington County where you want to live and work.

PLACE Space is designed to be a community-driven network, though County staff and elected officials can also contribute relevant expertise and knowledge.

In this edition of Newsmakers, we visit the opening of the Cyber Security Lab at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Ballston. The Cyber Security Lab is a partnership between VA Tech and the private sector national security firm L3. The facility is yet another step in making the Ballston high tech corridor the center of 21st century national security research and technology.

Working in the school Library meant Alex could support herself while at graduate school pursuing her passion for sculpture. Her plan was to graduate and teach art while working in the studio creating her own art. In 'Alex's Story' we witness how life events mean sometimes our plans have to change, and with change unexpected passions emerge.

Following on from public focus groups and an online survey, the next step in the cable franchise renewal process with Comcast is for a public hearing on September 13 at 7:30pm in the County Board room.

The cable franchise renewal process examines the past performance of Comcast -- as well as future services that citizens, schools, community groups, businesses and local government would like to include in a new cable franchise agreement.

Come learn about what information was gathered during focus groups and surveys, and share your own comments.

Once every 10-15 years, local governments have the opportunity to examine past services provided by cable/video service providers and renegotiate franchise agreements. Given the enormous changes in technology and media over the past 15 years, the process of granting a new franchise to Comcast deserves serious consideration and public input.

Following on from public focus groups and an online survey, the next step in the cable franchise renewal process with Comcast is for a public hearing on September 13 at 7:30pm in the County Board room.

The cable franchise renewal process examines the past performance of Comcast -- as well as future services that citizens, schools, community groups, businesses and local government would like to include in a new cable franchise agreement.

Come learn about what information was gathered during focus groups and surveys, and share your own comments.

Once every 10-15 years, local governments have the opportunity to examine past services provided by cable/video service providers and renegotiate franchise agreements. Given the enormous changes in technology and media over the past 15 years, the process of granting a new franchise to Comcast deserves serious consideration and public input.

You may know that the Internet was, in fact, created in Arlington in the 1970s. The technology was developed by the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), now known as DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).

The ARPANET, a project of the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense, developed the technology that became the foundation for the internet. Originally intended to support military needs, ARPANET technology was soon applied to civilian uses, allowing information to be rapidly and widely available. The internet, and services such as e-mail, e-commerce and the World Wide Web, continues to grow as the under-lying technologies evolve. The innovations inspired by the ARPANET have provided great benefits for society.

Special Thanks to:
Steve Lukasik
Charles Herzfeld
Robert Kahn
Steve Crocker
Potomac Institute of Policy Studies
Corporation of National Research Initiatives
Shinkuro Inc.


photos provided by:
Charles Herzfeld
DV Archive
Marcin Wichary
Joi Ito
Steve Jurveston
National Archives
creative commons
public domain

This edition celebrates March as Including People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Month, attends the Woman of Vision Awards ceremony and covers the opening of a new County Schools joint Network Operations Center

Arlington Library Responds to eBook Boom with a training offered to new eReader owners.

News show featuring people and events in Arlington County VA

From the Think Arlington series of PSAs produced by AVN in collaboration with Arlington Economic Development, promoting Arlington County as a rich source of educated, high tech labor. This spot features Dr. Joseph Wang, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech.

News show featuring people and events in Arlington County VA

No description provided.

A segment of AVN's magazine show, "Here/now", "Know Your..." provides a behind the scenes look at how our county government actually works. In this episode, we take a look at the recent launch of free public Wi-Fi in Shirlington, as well as some of the other public wireless spots the county has created.

A segment of AVN's monthly magazine show, "Here/now", "Our Back Pages" explores Arlington history. This episode revisits the historic flights made 100 years ago at Ft. Myers by Orville Wright.

60 second commercial for the iPark parking device. Produced for the Arlington County Treasurer's Office.