Author: Dan Egitto

Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.

Events

Pentagon City ice rink reopens on Friday ahead of spooky ‘Thriller on Ice’ event

By Dan Egitto
The ice rink at Westpost at National Landing (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

As brisker weather returns, the outdoor ice rink in Pentagon City is reopening Friday in advance of a free Halloween-themed skating event.

The rink at Westpost at National Landing opens for the 2025-2026 winter season at 10 a.m. on Halloween, a spokesperson told ARLnow. The next day, an event called “Thriller on Ice” will feature a DJ “spinning all your favorite Halloween tracks” from 5-8 p.m. this Saturday.

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News

New stoplight, pedestrian beacon planned for Wilson Blvd intersection in Dominion Hills area

By Dan Egitto
The intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Livingston Street (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A preliminary design for a safer intersection in the Dominion Hills area includes a traffic signal, more separation for bike lanes and a flashing beacon for pedestrians.

Respondents have until Monday, Oct. 27 to submit feedback on plans for the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Livingston Street. This is located near Powhatan Springs Park, about half a mile west of another Wilson Blvd intersection where a bicyclist was seriously injured in a crash earlier this month.

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Events

‘Hallow-E-Waste’ electronics collection event happening in Falls Church tomorrow

By Dan Egitto
Big Chimneys Park in Falls Church (via City of Falls Church/YouTube)

A Falls Church sorority chapter is hosting a Halloween-themed collection event for old electronics tomorrow (Saturday).

The city’s Chi Beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha has planned the “Hallow-E-Waste” event, which will feature daytime trick-or-treating for kids in addition to waste collection.

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News

Youngkin declares state of emergency for hunger relief before federal benefits halt

By Dan Egitto and The Associated Press
Volunteers place food in crates for distribution at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A federal food aid program that helps about one-eighth of Americans buy groceries stands to be paused Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown — but Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) says he has found a workaround.

The governor declared a state of emergency today (Thursday), which he said will let him spend emergency funds to provide hunger relief to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is set to pause payments at the end of next week.

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News

Planning for Drew Park expansion to kick off with Green Valley open house

By Dan Egitto
Drew Park in Green Valley (via Arlington County)

An open house about a planned expansion to Green Valley’s Drew Park is happening next week.

Part of a long-anticipated project to create a new Drew Park Master Plan, the event will let community members provide input and learn more about the future of the recreation area at 2310 S. Kenmore Street, between John Robinson, Jr. Town Square and Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School.

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News

Marine Corps Marathon happening as planned this weekend, bringing road closures

By Dan Egitto
Finish line of the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon (file photo)

The Marine Corps Marathon is still happening this weekend despite the government shutdown, bringing numerous road closures to Arlington.

Now in its 50th year, the sold-out race — one of the largest marathons in the country — will begin as scheduled on Sunday morning, just like the Army Ten-Miler last week, organizers announced in an Instagram post.

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News

Woman struck by falling tree on Pimmit Run Trail died from her injuries

By Dan Egitto
Entrance to the Pimmit Run Trail from the Arlingwood neighborhood (staff photo)

A woman crushed by a falling tree on Pimmit Run Trail last month was later pronounced dead at the hospital, ARLnow has learned.

The incident happened around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, near the Arlington-Fairfax County border. Two people were walking on a relatively remote section of the trail when “a tree fell striking one of the individuals,” U.S. Park Police said.

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News

Tales of ghost hunting and local ‘haunted history’ coming to Arlington libraries

By Dan Egitto
The former Overlee Community Association Clubhouse, home to reported ghost sightings in 2012 (file photo)

A paranormal investigator and researcher of strange happenings in Northern Virginia is hosting a series of talks at Arlington Public Library starting today (Monday).

Alex Matsuo, the author of “Haunted Northern Virginia” and other books about supernatural mysteries and explorations, will speak about “scientific ghost hunting” at Glencarlyn Library from 6:30-7:30 p.m. today.

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News

New models depict ‘Arc de Trump’ monument on Arlington side of Memorial Bridge

By Dan Egitto and The Associated Press
Memorial Circle, where Trump is talking about building a new 'Arc de Trump' memorial arch (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

President Donald Trump has been floating plans for a new arch monument at a heavily trafficked roundabout near Arlington National Cemetery.

Depicting a winged “Lady Liberty” flanked by two eagles, the monument — called “Independence Arch” in mock-ups but now known by the informal name “Arc de Trump” — would stand in a traffic circle on the Virginia side of Memorial Bridge, about a quarter mile from the Arlington Cemetery Metro station.

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News

Madison Community Center to close next year for $6.7M renovation project

By Dan Egitto
The Madison Community Center (staff photo)

A North Arlington community center may close as soon as next spring for a multimillion-dollar maintenance project.

That’s when the Madison Community Center will begin undergoing $6.7 million in renovations, bringing a new roof, climate control system, windows, better lighting and other improvements to the lower-level fitness center and adjacent restrooms, according to a county webpage.

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News

Missing Middle critics ask Virginia Supreme Court to block new permits

By Dan Egitto
A Missing Middle-style sixplex under construction at 3802 14th Street N. (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Missing Middle’s critics are launching another round of opposition as Arlington County returns to accepting permit applications for this kind of construction.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit over Arlington’s Expanded Housing Option filed an emergency motion yesterday (Monday) in the Supreme Court of Virginia. They’re seeking to block a Virginia Court of Appeals order that allows the county to resume issuing permits for multifamily construction in previously single-family-only neighborhoods.

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News

As Virginia elections loom, Youngkin and Democrats seek credit for state tax rebates

By Dan Egitto
Virginia State Capitol in Richmond (staff photo)

Both Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and Virginia’s Democrat-majority legislature are claiming credit for this year’s round of tax rebates, but they’re casting them in very different lights.

The rebates, worth up to $200 for individuals and $400 for couples who filed jointly in 2024, will go out to most households by Oct. 15. A message on the checks names both the 2025 General Assembly, which approved the budget, and Youngkin, who signed it into law.

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