made up of Lee Highway residents, business owners, and employees.

The County Board initially discussed the upcoming vote at its June 12 meeting but decided to take their final vote today, July 17, to allow for additional time to gather public feedback and more precise cost estimates. County Staff additionally put together a Staff Report for the renaming that can be read here.

LHA is thrilled to move forward with the name "Langston Boulevard." The word "Boulevard" better exemplifies a thriving, lively road that welcomes visitors and is surrounded by vibrant stores and restaurants. The words "John M. Langston" will help to tell the story of our County's troubled past while looking forward to a bright future. These words and their impacts represent the vision for the future of Lee Highway and the values of the Arlington community.

year” notes Matt Rowan, Vice President, Residential Lighting. "As part of the redesign and rebrand, we intentionally created space in the new showroom to better serve and engage with our community. We're particularly excited about our new gallery wall that allows local artists to exhibit their work.”
 
For the inaugural exhibits, Dominion will display select pieces from Studio 10 Artists, a collaborative of five Arlington painters who create and celebrate community-based art. First up during April and May is Kat Jamieson, an Arlington-based watercolorist and metalsmith. Her mini-exhibition's theme is "Light Over Water," an outgrowth of the recent "Ambient Light" show mounted by Studio 10 Artists at Gallery Underground in Crystal City.
 
Rowan notes, “We're looking forward to this creative partnership and foresee even more opportunities to engage with the local art and design community. Folks can expect to see even more exciting community-centric offerings from Dominion in the upcoming year.”
 
Dominion Electric Supply Company & Dominion Lighting is located at 5053 Lee Highway in Arlington.

This last year has brought many struggles to our local businesses and community, but it also provided new opportunities. The Lee Harrison Shopping Center recently welcomed Salon dcb, a new local salon employing top notch stylists that hope to create the new “go-to salon in Arlington.”

LHA’s Communication Manager recently spoke with the Salon’s Owner, David Barnes, to welcome him to the corridor and ask him about all things Salon dcb.

DB: The first day of business at Lee Harrison was on January 18, 2021!

MPH: What led you to open the Salon along Lee Highway?

DB: I had actively been searching for a space for the past four years. The challenge, and the reason it took me so long to find the right space, was that I wanted a small space. Had I wanted a 1500 sq./ft. space I could have opened years ago. The problem with large spaces, however, is that you have to fill them with employees/renters. Instead, I wanted an approximately 800 sq/ft. space to create a quiet, calm, and intimate space where I could focus on providing the best possible service for my guests with only one additional stylist onboard - I’ve done the big staff and studio thing before but I was no longer interested in that. I also wanted a store-front location as opposed to going into a salon suite.
I’ve had many discussions with landlords in Arlington and the Del Ray area of Alexandria over the past four years and even spent six months negotiating for a space close by, but the landlord pulled out at the last moment. When I found the Lee Harrison space it felt like fate!

MPH: How many people work at the Salon?

DB: The staff consists of me, Sara, my assistant of 10 years, Renu, and a part-time shampoo tech.

MPH: How do you ensure safety for your employees and guests during this time?

DB: As per county and CDC recommendations, masks must be worn at all times by guests and employees while in the salon. High-touch surfaces are wiped down after each appointment with a hospital grade disinfectant. Hand sanitizer and hand washing is an ever-constant part of our lives now as well. Additionally, because the salon is only 800 sq./ft., it cannot accommodate more than seven people at a time. Guests find it reassuring and are more comfortable to be in a space with fewer people.

MPH: COVID-19 has been so tough for small businesses. Has the pandemic impacted your opening and operation?

DB: I opened a business in the middle of a world-wide pandemic when small independent businesses are closing on a daily basis in record numbers. I opened in the dead of winter - January and February are traditionally the two slowest months even in the best of times. Foot traffic is down because of COVID and the cold weather. Women in record numbers are growing out their color and receiving fewer salon services. Business in 2020 was down 25% from 2019. I have guests that were with me for 15+ years that were in every 5 weeks for a cut and color who I haven’t seen for a year now. And then there is the normal attrition of guests moving out of the area.Luckily, however, it only took a few extra weeks for the building permit to be issued for the Salon. I was concerned early on about delays in getting equipment as factories here and abroad shut down, but thankfully everything was delivered well before opening. I just keep reminding myself that when one door closes, another opens!

MPH: What is the best way the community can support you and help the salon thrive during these challenging times?

NOLAS, which is salon spelled backward. Clients kept asking who Nola was? When I sold that salon, the trademarked name conveyed. When I opened at the Halstead, I rebranded to Salon dcb. While renting a chair the past seven years, I was Salon dcb in Exile. And now I’m back to Salon dcb.  

MPH: How long have you been a stylist and what led you to choose this profession?

DB: Long story. My father, two of my uncles, and one of my great-uncles owned their own barber shops. Given that, I never had the desire to go into ‘the business’ growing up.  It was not until after graduating high school that I decided to go to cosmetology school. I had a good friend at the time who was a stylist and attending a week-long training session. I would hang out with him and the out-of-town trainers in the evenings at their hotel and they would always get together in one of their rooms, cut hair, and talk about the different trainings they did around the country. Traveling and educating seemed, at the time, to be so glamorous so I thought I would give it a try. I had no clue as to whether I had one ounce of talent or not. I ended up being an educator for Matrix and then Redken for ten years. During that time, I conducted seminars and educational classes up and down the east coast and even as far away as Alaska. Until COVID, I was a Color Specialist for Paul Mitchell the School in Tysons Corner for fourteen years. I love educating and being able to share my knowledge and experiences to help others grow and become successful in this field. I moved to Arlington in the 80s and opened my first salon, NOLAS, at Arlington Courthouse Metro in 1992. People are always amazed when they learn how long I have been doing hair. It’s gotten to the point where I now do the hair of the young adult children of clients who were not even pregnant at the time I started working with them. What I may lack now in youthful enthusiasm, I more than make up for with God-given talent, experience, and a passion for my craft.

MPH: That’s amazing! Clearly this is something you’re very passionate about. What do you hope for the future of the Salon?

salon professionals. Because of our location and the neighborhood’s demographic, I plan for us to be very successful and in high demand. My goal is to be the go-to salon in Arlington for beautiful, believable, and healthy-looking hair.

MPH: Well, we wish you nothing but the best, David. Good luck and thank you so much for chatting with me.

DB: My pleasure, Maia.

Business Development & Community Relations at VHC, to discuss everything from vaccine roll out and the toll of COVID-19 on the Hospital to appointment cancellations and what the public can expect in the coming months.

Ginger Brown: Adrian, thank you so much for agreeing to speak with us. I know our community will greatly value hearing what you have to say.
 
Adrian Stanton: It’s absolutely my pleasure Ginger, thanks for inviting me to chat.
 
GB: Let’s get right into it. We all know what a hot topic vaccination is. Where is VHC in the vaccination process and what has that process looked like?
 
AS: In Virginia, vaccine distribution facilities had to submit a request for vaccine doses each week. We felt we could easily distribute 3,000 a week, so that’s what we would request, however we were only receiving about 1,800-2,000 a week. When vaccines started arriving, the most important thing to us was to make sure all our staff on the front lines got the vaccine first. Folks in the hospital not seeing patients came second. In January, Arlington announced that the County was moving from Phase 1a to 1b and we (VHC) were asked to adjust our vaccination process to allow for individuals in 1b to be seen. Every County is different in how they partnered with hospitals, but in  Arlington we agreed to focus on healthcare workers and the way it needs to be stored, individuals aged 75+. To prepare for higher

stay at the vaccination site for 15 minutes to monitor for any potential side effects (similar to the Flu Shot) and then they were free to go. It was a very efficient and successful process.

GB: Many in the community have likely heard about the cancellations of vaccine appointments that occurred a few weeks ago. What happened? What caused the Hospital to have to make that decision?
 
AS: Early on in the vaccination process, we made the decision to ensure that everyone who got a first dose would get a second dose – this decision has been widely supported by healthcare professionals. But one Wednesday evening in mid-January, we were notified by the Virginia Department of Health that we would not be receiving a shipment of vaccines for the following week. This put us in an incredibly tough bind – we had folks scheduled for appointments through March and we had to cancel about 10,000 appointments. It was awful. But the appointments we cancelled were first doses. Everyone who already had a first dose and was scheduled for their second dose retained their appointments. We wanted to honor that decision we had made all those months ago. Next week will mark the end of those vaccination appointments (second doses). We have, however, shared with the County the list of residents whose appointments were cancelled and they are working through the process of connecting with those individuals and rescheduling their appointments. All future vaccines will go through the County Health Department who will then decide how the vaccines will be distributed based on guidance by the Virginia Department of Health.

GB: How did people react when their appointments were cancelled?

just VHC that had to do cancellations – INOVA and Fairfax did as well. It was also heartbreaking for our staff who were involved in the vaccination effort – there was a level of pride they had in doing this. But we understand why the state had to do it.

GB: Why do you think the state stopped providing doses?
 
AS: To my understanding, we stopped receiving doses for two reasons: 1. The Commonwealth had been distributing doses based on how much each vaccination center was asking for and then using. As far as I know, Northern Virginia was using all the doses they received, but other areas of the state were not. 2. I think, because Virginia was not vaccinating as quickly as it wanted to, the state government, for obvious reasons, wanted to make improvements to the rollout plan. Governor Northam moved to increase the number of people who fell in Phases 1a and 1b, which meant more vaccines needed to be distributed across the state to meet this expanded phasing. The state shifted to a new system that would distribute vaccines not based on who’s using it but based on population. Vaccines started to be shipped to County Public Health offices instead of hospitals or other distribution centers. So, instead of places like VHC vaccinating the public, Arlington County is now leading the charge. We do, however, have an agreement with the County and have made sure that they know that if they need our help, we’re ready to jump back in and restart our efforts around vaccination right away.
 
GB: What vaccine was VHC distributing?

Pfizer and Moderna, it rightfully decided to give Moderna to the centers who didn’t have those refrigerators. Because we could store it, most of what we got was Pfizer.

GB: We all know how bad the spike in cases was over the last few months. What is the current status of COVID at the hospital?
 
AS: Right now, things are good. Coming out of the holidays was a different story though. About 2 weeks post-Thanksgiving, numbers started to inflate like crazy. And then we tagged onto that the winter holidays and New Years. We saw an increase in numbers that were very close, if not equal, to the worst part of COVID-19, which, in this area, was last May. The difference this time around, however, was that the hospital is generally much busier in the winter months because of the flu. The “good news” in May was that the hospital had capacity to care for all the patients. What made the recent spike so difficult was how full the hospital already was. The positivity rate - the number of individuals who get COVID tests and test positive - was also incredibly high. If that number gets close 10% on a consistent basis, that starts to concern us. Once we hit summer and early fall, the positivity rate went way down to 2-3%. Then we hit November and Thanksgiving and saw the rate creep up and up and eventually went well above 10%. However, now that we’re past the winter holidays, we’re seeing the number of COVID patients and the positivity rate go down, which is good news. We anticipate a small spike due to Super Bowl gatherings but hope it won’t be too bad. The common thread unfortunately is always people getting together, not adhering to masking or social distancing, not knowing the behavior of the people they’re gathering with – behaviors that might put them at risk. Unfortunately, we see a lot of cases where everyone in the group gets sick. But the good news right now is that numbers and positivity rate continue to go down.

GB: Are you seeing the new strains?

AS: Because I’m not a physician, I don’t really know the answer to that. What we do know is the UK version transmits much faster than the “regular” strain.
 
GB: Back tracking a bit…despite the vaccines being in such high demand, there are still a handful of people who are not yet convinced. Why do you believe the public can and should trust the vaccine?

AS: My sense is that there are people who are concerned about how quickly it came to market. I understand the concern, particularly when you look at the history – a vaccine could take 4 years to get to market and this happened in basically under 12 months. The difference, however, and the reason why I and so many others trust the vaccines is that despite the accelerated time frame, there was extensive testing and safety protocols in place to ensure the vaccines were safe. These vaccines are also incredibly effective. Even if they were only a little bit effective, they would still be worth getting. And now that we see the variant strains, vaccinations are even more important. Much like the flu, I feel very strongly that any opportunity that we have to protect those that we come in contact with, those we love, or ourselves, we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to do that. And that’s why we have been such strong proponents of the vaccines.
 
GB: I also understand that another reason the vaccines were able to be developed so quickly was because scientists were already studying mRNA (messenger RNA) - the technology used by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines - for quite some time. Is it true that that already available information helped to shorten the time needed to develop those COVID vaccines?
 
AS: Yes, that is correct.

GB: Well, this all a whole lot of great information!
 
AS: (Laughs) Good!
 
GB: Is there anything else you think our readers should know?

AS: I think we will. If the question is when that will be, to be honest I have no idea, but we will get there. As good a system as we were able to develop in VHC, we still were not able to vaccinate as many people as the County needed. Even if we had gotten all the vaccines we asked for and could do 3,000-5,000 vaccinations a week, it would take forever to get through the whole Arlington community. From my perspective, you have to dramatically increase the supply and once that happens, move to a much different system of distribution. We need to be taking over a huge stadiums or parking lots, have the national guard help, and have people drive up and stick out an arm. You need that to get mass vaccinations happening every day, otherwise it’ll take years to vaccinate the entire population.
 
GB: Let’s hope we start getting enough vaccines to begin doing something like that!
 
AS: Well, there are signs right now that things will get better. It seems that this new administration’s first order of business is to increase the supply of vaccines quickly and then tackle distribution. It will also be helpful when other vaccine options get approved. Additionally, we’ve seen some states have great success with vaccinations, so we know it’s possible, we just have to follow their lead.
 
GB: Well, this has been wonderful Adrian. Thank you so much! I know this information will be greatly appreciated by our audience.
 
AS: Happy to do it!

Despite enduring COVID-19 shutdowns, Lebanese Taverna has spent the last 11 months working to ensure it can continue to serve its community. To learn about everything from daily operations and the best offerings from the Lebanese Taverna Market, to the restaurant's choice to help feed National Guard Troops protecting the United States Capitol, LHA's Communications Manager sat down with Grace Abi-Najm Shea, the business' Executive Vice President this week.

``how did you go about executing it?

GS: The images of US troops lining up to protect our Capitol moved us to do what we do, take care of people. Taking care of people is what we do, and we thought, what better way to take care of these troops than through their stomachs?! We’ve been doing similar work throughout the pandemic for health care workers and saw an opportunity to take care of the men and women protecting our city and our country. We partnered with Micheline Mendelson from We, the Pizza which is located on Capitol Hill. That restaurant is the distribution point, so we meet those in charge there to hand off the food. We started off the first couple of days with Chicken Shawarma Salads - we were thinking of their health! Now we're making stews with rice and have included vegetarian options as well.  We’ve provided over 1,000 meals so far.

was meant to be a quick in and out shopping experience even before the pandemic, so thankfully we haven't had much of an impact there - but we've definitely had to get creative with our restaurants!

MPH: How are your employees doing?

GS: As you can imagine, it’s a challenging time. Restaurant kitchens do not have the luxury of social distancing, but we are doing everything we can to keep our team safe. We’ve been lucky so far and are grateful to our staff, most whom have been with us for over 15 years!

MPH: 15 years, that's amazing! How long has the restaurant been open?

your family's culture through the restaurant. Going back slightly, you mentioned the Lebanese Taverna Market  - what kinds of things does it have available for purchase?

GS: It’s a nice little mix of prepared food, international grocery, wines & beers, cheese, and gourmet chocolate.  We like to support local business and you will often find things made right here in Arlington!

MPH: What is your favorite thing on the menu and favorite thing you sell at the market?

GS: That’s a tough one, but I'd say my favorite thing is Hummus. I eat a lot of it and I never get tired of it. I am also a chocoholic so Kingsbury caramels and truffles are my addiction!!

MPH: Looking forward...what do you envision for the future of Lebanese Taverna?  

community support, especially nowadays. How can the Arlington community best support Lebanese Taverna?

GS: We are so, so grateful for our Arlington community. We live and work in Arlington and our neighbors truly take care of us. We raised over $150,000 in August for those affected by the explosion in Lebanon and we are beyond thankful. I would say, keep doing what you’re doing Arlington, continue eating Hummus, tell your friends about us, and shop at the Lebanese Taverna Market!
 
MPH: We'll convey the message! Thanks so much Grace, and best of luck.

GS: Thanks Maia.

As we ready ourselves to say goodbye to 2020, Arlington Magazine has its eyes set on 2021. The Magazine released its "Best of Arlington 2021" list this week and highlighted Lee Highway restaurants and shops. Make sure to check out these spots in the new year, you won't be disappointed. 

With Hanukkah coming to a close and Christmas and Kwanzaa quickly approaching, now is the best time to pick up some last minute gifts while supporting Lee Highway businesses! Make sure to check out LHA's Holiday Gift Guide before heading out to do some holiday shopping. ​

What's new on the gift guide this week?
​

After 4 months of thoughtful discussion, public engagement, and communication with Lee Highway businesses, the Working Group On Renaming Lee Highway has selected its top choice and four alternatives for Lee Highway’s new name. 
 
The Working Group’s preferred name is Mildred & Richard Loving Avenue, honoring the couple who fought for marriage equality for interracial couples.  

legalized same sex marriage. For me, the name Loving has both Virginia and national significance and it encompasses justice.” ​

The name “Mildred & Richard Loving Avenue” not only tells the story of triumph over injustice but offers the opportunity to connect the Lee Highway corridor with other regional jurisdictions in the state of Virginia. The Lovings not only lived in the state, but the name relates to the Virginia state slogan, “Virginia is for Lovers.” When travelers cross Key Bridge coming to Virginia from DC, they are met with the state slogan. It was the opinion of the Working Group that it made sense that the name “Loving” would be the first road traveled on in the state. The name also represents a desire of Arlington County for people to treat one another in a loving way. 

public and ​student polls, “Loving” was the clear front runner, garnering 1,146 votes of the 3,646 votes cast. All four Advisory Groups supported the name as well, suggesting it would provide the corridor with a sense of place, would support future branding endeavors, is an easy name to pronounce and spell, and tells a great story. 

In addition to Mildred and Richard Loving Avenue, the Working Group supported four alternate name choices: John M. Langston Boulevard, Ella Baker Boulevard, Dr. Edward T. Morton Avenue, and Main Street. 

John M. Langston was an American abolitionist, attorney, educator, activist, diplomat, and politician who was the first Black person elected to Congress from Virginia. His ties to Arlington date back to 1867 when he was the Inspector General of the Freedman's Bureau, the managing agency over Freedman's Village which was the contraband camp for formerly enslaved people in Arlington. Lee Highway also runs right past the old segregated John M Langston Elementary School.

the story of the dark [racial] history of Arlington County as well as the County’s brightest time - when the four students who went to Langston Elementary were the first four students to integrate the state of Virginia. The name tells the whole story of how Arlington has evolved and grown over the years.”

Ella Josephine Baker, also known as the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement, was a native daughter of Virginia, born in Norfolk on December 13, 1903. She was a civil rights pioneer who championed the ordinary citizen. Her expert organizational skills were instrumental in the fight for racial equity and she mentored many emerging civil rights leaders, such as John Lewis. 
 
Dr. Edward Morton, the first Black physician in North Arlington, was a powerful early voice for racial equality in the County, and specifically on Lee Highway. His home and medical practice were located at 4842 Lee Highway, the site that currently is the McDonald’s Restaurant. Dr. Morton was a leader in the Hall's Hill neighborhood, was a candidate for County Board in the 1930s, and promoted Black Empowerment. 

The Lee Highway Alliance and Plan Lee Highway have been working to bring communities together through community-based grassroots planning, support of local businesses, and recognizing local history and identity through heritage-based education. The name “Main Street” represents the diversity that makes the 4.6 mile corridor unique. 

​The LHA board approved of the name choices on December 10 and will present the Working Group’s recommendations to the Arlington County Board next week. The County Board will then submit the recommendation to either the Commonwealth Transportation Board or the Virginia General Assemblyfor approval and implementation. 
 
Thank you to the 25 dedicated members of the Working Group for their time and commitment to this process, to the Arlington County Board, and to the Arlington community for welcoming and participating in the renaming effort. 

This holiday season may look different from other years, but it won't stop us from supporting our local economy and Lee Highway businesses by shopping local! Make sure to check out LHA's Holiday Gift Guide before heading out to do some holiday shopping. 

What's new on the gift guide this week? 

After four spirited and thoughtful public meetings held between September and December, LHA’s Working Group On Renaming Lee Highway is closing in on its top choice for a new name. 
​
At its December 2nd meeting, the Working Group identified 10 names still in the running: Dogwood, Ella Baker, Edward Morton, Green Way, James E. Browne, John Glenn, John M. Langston, Justice, Main Street, and Mildred & Richard Loving. 
​
The Working Group will make its final choice at its December 9th meeting. The meeting will be held via Zoom from 6:30-8:30pm and will be open to the public. The first choice and four alternatives will then move to the Arlington County Board, which will decide which name to send to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) or the Virginia General Assembly for implementation.
 
When discussing the top 10 names, Wilma Jones, president of the John M. Langston Citizens Association and a Working Group member, explained, “having three names in the top 10 [Langston, Browne, and Morton] that are important to the community I live in [Hall’s Hill] makes me proud.” 

Lynn Coates, a member of the Working Group, noted the significance of these names to the community, saying “I feel resonance with them.” She mentioned Ella Baker and “the importance of the vote, and the work she did.” Baker was a Black civil rights and human rights activist who promoted grassroots organizing.

In explaining his preference for the name Mildred and Richard Loving,Benjamin Keeney, the vice president of the North Highlands Citizens Association and a Working Group member, explained that he and his wife “could not be legally married (in Virginia) if not for the Lovings." The Lovings were an interracial couple in Virginia whose 1967 Supreme Court case changed the law to allow interracial marriage.

Working Group member Sandi Chesrown noted that the name Main Street was strongly supported in the community polling and it “aligns with Plan Lee Highway and the recommendations of the Branding and Business Advisory Groups. It is timeless, easy to spell and remember, and provides a sense of place and prosperity.”

Ginger Brown, LHA’s Executive Director, supported the name John M. Langston and noted, “It ticks all the boxes” of a name with strong local connection and national contribution, is easy to remember and communicate, and can help brand the corridor. Langston served as Inspector General of Freedman’s Village and was the first Black person elected to Congress from Virginia.

“Enduring” names were mentioned by some. Mike Hogan, a resident along the corridor, said he “grew up near Democracy Boulevard [in Montgomery County. MD], and sees the same enduring quality in the name ‘Justice.’”

Branding was an important consideration for the group as well. “The new name for Lee Highway will be the new name not just for a major road, but for a major road that is home to many businesses” said Working Group member Maia Potok-Holmes. “We must consider marketing and branding when making our final decision - for the survival of our businesses and for how we want our community to be perceived.” 

The Working Group’s efforts to engage with the Arlington community elicited 186 name suggestions over the past four months. That list was narrowed based on:

• Input from subject matter experts, such as a Branding Advisory Group; an Institutional Advisory Group of educational and organizational experts that included churches, schools, and Arlington historians; a Business and Property Owners Advisory Group; and a Transportation Advisory Group. 
•  A subcommittee of the Working Group that applied agreed upon criteria and rules such as “must not duplicate the name of a street already existing in Arlington.” 
• Community polling with more than 3,500 Arlingtonians offering their preferences in an online poll. 
• Outreach to students, civic associations, individuals, and businesses. Outreach included electronic meetings, oversized postcards via U.S. mail to 8,000 households, personal interactions, newsletter notices, partner groups and social media, and a Peachjar flyer in English and Spanish

Arlington County Board member Katie Cristol praised the Working Group for “the extensive outreach [they] have done.” About 65 volunteers helped LHA implement the project.

The Working Group made a special effort to reach out to Lee Highway businesses to hear their perspectives. Annie Moyer, co-owner of Sun & Moon Yoga Studio and a member of the Working Group, noted, “As a small-business owner on Lee Highway, I see [this renaming work] as a great testament to operating with clarity, compassion and kindness.”

The push to improve Lee Highway began in 2013, when several neighborhoods along the corridor agreed to partner with Arlington County on revisioning and replanning. LHA began discussing changing the entire name—both Lee and Highway—in 2017 to be in accord with their guiding principles. “Neither ‘Lee’ nor ‘Highway’ reflects what we see as the future for this corridor,” said Brown.