Week in Review: June 19 to 25

When the Pentagon is in your neighborhood, every week is exciting.

Following last week's traffic snarl around the Pentagon caused by a suspicious package scare,  -- including the Pentagon.

They subsequently said Melaku's backpack, found at Arlington National Cemetery, contained traces of ammonium nitrate, a common ingredient for explosives. At the Franconia home of the 22-year-old Marine reservist, . A big tip of the hat to Kingstowne Patch editor Will Sommer for staying on top of this story.

Other big news from the week:

• The spat between Forsythe Transportation, which operates the Arlington Transit bus system, and a local public employees' union, ratcheted up when . Drivers had been protesting what they called unfair working conditions, including the denial of bathroom breaks, and alleged sexual harassment on the part of managers. The union leader vowed to keep fighting. 
• We launched to keep track of local, state and national politics that affect Arlington County and the rest of Northern Virginia. Have a tip, or want to talk politics? Email jason.spencer@patch.com or call me at 571-480-0624.
• Residents at the Waterview in Rosslyn held . This is the kind of event Patch excels at, and the kind traditional news outlets have had to give up on. Is your neighborhood, condo or apartment building having a community function? Let us know! We'd love to showcase it for our readers.
• Speaking of showcasing the community, drop by Artisphere with a contribution to . Artist Michael Booker can sew in everything from cloth to food wrappers, photos to floor laminate.

That's enough for now. Don't forget, !

Jason Spencer

Editor