🌱 Arlington School District + Lincoln Memorial Project Finally Begins

Hi all. It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Tuesday started off right, with a quick guide to everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 63 Low: 36.

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Here are the top three stories in Falls Church today:

1. The family of a middle school student forced to play a cotton-picking game is demanding more accountability from the Arlington school district. ABC 7News first reported that Sidney Rousey, an 8th-grade student at Gunston Middle School, was forced to play a game involving cotton picking. Arlington Public Schools has taken the game off its approved activities list and later announced that it would conduct a review of all schools' approved activities list. (WJLA)
2. Seven years after it was announced, the multimillion-dollar Lincoln Memorial project is getting underway. The long-delayed project to build a large new visitor space underneath the Lincoln Memorial is finally getting underway, the National Park Service announced Monday. The project was launched in 2016 with an $18.5 million donation by billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein but has now grown to a nearly $69 million enterprise, with more funding from the National Park Foundation and other donors. (The Washington Post)
3. In nearby D.C., officials are questioning why WMATA and the Metrorail Safety Commission can't get along. After months of conflict between the WMATA and the Metrorail Safety Commission, both bodies were in front of the D.C. Council on Friday as part of an annual oversight hearing. The new transportation committee chair, Council Member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), spent some of the time focusing on recent disputes. (DCist)

Today in Falls Church:

• Falls Church Chamber Networking Luncheon At Italian Cafe (11:30 AM)
• City Council Government Operations Committee Meeting At The Oak Room At City Hall (3:00 PM)

Tomorrow, Feb. 22:

• Ash Wednesday Services At Lewisville Presbyterian Church in McLean (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Doctors at Children's National Hospital in D.C. are seeing a seasonal spike in the Norovirus. Dr. Sarah Combs, a pediatric ER doctor at the hospital, explained that norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhea, and spreads through contact, mainly at daycares, schools, and nursing homes. (WJLA)
• Washington is on a French kick, and Tom Sietsema is letting us in on his favorite French restaurants in the D.C. area. One of the most exciting debuts is L’Avant-Garde in Georgetown. Read or listen to the rest of the article here. (The Washington Post)
• In case you missed it: The Planning Commission made its recommendation to City Council on proposed zoning text amendments to the Transition Zones or "T-Zones" during the Feb. 15 meeting. You can watch the recording of the meeting here. (City of Falls Church Government via Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.