Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

Around Town

Encore Stage and Studio stays true to its roots as it approaches 60th anniversary

By Scott McCaffrey
Students in Encore Stage & Studio programs perform at benefit breakfast (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

As its 60th birthday approaches, Encore Stage & Studio is expanding its reach while remaining true to its core beliefs.

“We’ve worked hard to advance Encore’s mission,” the organization’s board chair, Lisa Sullivan, said at an April 22 benefit breakfast at Washington Golf & Country Club.

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News

County Board approves $80K for Green Valley community building grants

By Scott McCaffrey
Green Valley's John Robinson, Jr. Town Square on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 (staff photo)

New county grants worth $80,000 seek to support renewed vibrancy in the Green Valley neighborhood — although leaders acknowledge the funding may not go very far.

The funds, which will be split among four organizations, will “jump-start some neighborhood activity that would bring neighbors together, create an environment of civic engagement and civic exchange,” Board member Takis Karantonis said.

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News

County Board starts process to determine Melwood site’s historic status

By Scott McCaffrey

The County Board has taken a step toward considering potential historic status for the Melwood site, despite vigorous opposition from the development team’s attorney.

Board members voted 5-0 to start consideration of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board’s (HALRB) recommendation to designate a portion of the former Nelly Custis Elementary School at 750 23rd Street S. as historic. This is a procedural step and doesn’t indicate whether they support the recommendation or not.

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News

County Board scales down fee increase for gymnastics programs in last-minute change

By Scott McCaffrey
Members of Arlington Tigers competitive gymnastics team (via Arlington Tigers)

County Board members agreed to a significantly smaller fee increase for the local government’s competitive gymnastics programs in a last-minute budget change last night (Wednesday).

Instead of increasing by 44%, fees will rise by 25% in the coming year. It still appears that the full 44% increase — or more — could come into effect next year.

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News

Split County Board approves 2-cent tax hike as part of $1.7B budget

By Scott McCaffrey
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti (screenshot via Arlington County)

Arlington homeowners will pay an average 5.2% more in real-estate taxes this year, under the county government’s $1.69 billion fiscal year 2027 budget adopted yesterday (Wednesday).

The total budget amount is nearly identical to the fiscal year 2026 spending plan now in place, marking a rare year without some degree of overall increase. But because of ongoing declines in values of commercial properties, more of the tax burden is shifting to homeowners.

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News

Falls Church considers $175K consulting contract to help plan affordable housing

By Scott McCaffrey
One of the Virginia Village quadplex apartment buildings owned by Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Falls Church leaders are considering a $175,000 contract with a consultant to help with an affordable housing project at Virginia Village.

That firm, whose name has not officially been announced, would develop a request for proposals sent out to housing providers that might be interested in partnering with the city on the project. The funding would also support evaluation of the proposals.

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News

Disability advocates seek earlier consideration in Arlington development projects

By Scott McCaffrey
Disability Pride Month 2025 proclamation ceremony (courtesy Arlington County)

Members of Arlington’s Disability Advisory Commission argue that they could do more good by being an integral part of creating properties, not just reviewing them.

“We feel a frustration dealing with the county’s current planning process,” said Commissioner Bryant Atkins.

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News

Arlington looks toward two congressional districts after local voters overwhelmingly back change

By Scott McCaffrey
A voter fills out a ballot at a polling place on April 21, 2026 (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Arlington stands to be divided into two congressional districts following last night’s statewide referendum, which narrowly passed with overwhelming support from local voters.

The “yes” vote rolled up about 80% of the vote in Arlington, based on preliminary vote totals released last night by the Virginia Department of Elections. This helped the measure squeak by statewide with about 51.5% of the vote — a majority of about 90,000 votes out of more than 3 million cast, according to preliminary figures.

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News

Proposed VHC Health facility launches public feedback ahead of potential September vote

By Scott McCaffrey
Renderings of the proposed VHC Health facility at 601 S. Carlin Springs Road (via Arlington County)

Final action on VHC Health’s proposed 146-bed S. Carlin Springs Road behavioral health and rehabilitation facility could come as early as September.

That somewhat aggressive planning timeline was laid out at a community-kickoff meeting for the project yesterday (Monday). Current plans anticipate the project heading to the full Planning Commission on Sept. 9 and the County Board on Sept. 19, although that timetable may slip.

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Schools

APS expects 3.7% enrollment drop by 2035, but student needs may strain resources

By Scott McCaffrey
Catherine Lin details enrollment projections to School Board members (screenshot via APS)

School leaders are projecting a gradual decline in student enrollment over the next decade — but they don’t believe it will translate to lower costs.

In total, Arlington Public Schools now projects a 3.7% decrease in enrollment by 2035, even as the number of students in high-risk categories is showing signs of increasing.

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News

Arlington boathouse project targets next planning phase by end of year

By Scott McCaffrey
Yorktown HS Varsity Boys' rowing team on the water near Key Bridge (Flickr pool photo by Jenn Vogel)

County leaders appear optimistic that plans for an Arlington boathouse on the Potomac River will stay on track to open by the end of the decade.

“I think we’re through the hardest parts,” County Board member Susan Cunningham said at the April 14 meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission, where the topic was discussed.

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News

Decision on Melwood property’s historic status may come in June

By Scott McCaffrey

County Board members are closing in on a decision about whether parts of the Nelly Custis School should receive historic designations.

Board members are slated to take their first procedural step toward a future decision on the 1.7-acre property tomorrow (Wednesday). They are likely to adopt an initiating resolution for consideration of the historic district proposed by a local resident and recommended by the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB).

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