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.

News

Falls Church library would run out of space without ongoing culling of collection

By Scott McCaffrey
Book shelves at Mary Riley Styles Library (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Mary Riley Styles Library in Falls Church isn’t bursting at the seams right now.

But without a consistent effort to keep only the most appealing materials on the shelves, the library director could see that day approaching.

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Around Town

New orchard at Drew Elementary survives the summer, yields first fruit

By Scott McCaffrey
Tree supporters at Green Valley Day festivities at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A new orchard at Dr. Charles Drew Elementary School is already producing fruit after surviving an unusually dry August.

All the saplings planted in the spring survived the summer, making it likely they will have long-term viability, said Mary Glass of the Arlington Tree Connection advocacy group.

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News

Upgrades and a new name coming to park in Aurora Highlands

By Scott McCaffrey
Draft visualization of revamped park at on 23rd Street S. (via Arlington County)

By popular demand, county leaders are seeking a new title for a rather unimaginatively named park in Aurora Highlands.

An effort to improve amenities and visibility at the 900-square-foot park, currently known as “23rd Street S. and S. Eads Street Park,” is coming up. But before construction starts, county leaders need to settle on a name.

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Schools

APS had second-best test scores in N. Va. last school year, trailing Loudoun County

By Scott McCaffrey
Arlington Public Schools' chief academic officer Gerald Mann (screenshot via APS)

Arlington Public Schools was near the top of the pack in both the state and in Northern Virginia in its test scores for the 2024-25 school year.

APS trailed the Loudoun school system in the five broad Standards of Learning categories last school year, but outperformed Fairfax and Prince William counties and the city of Alexandria. It topped the averages statewide in each category.

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News

Black Heritage Museum seeks permanent home at historic trolley depot

By Scott McCaffrey
Home at 2312 2nd Street S. (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The planned sale of a historic property in the Penrose community may be a way for the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington to find a permanent home.

An online fundraising effort is seeking to help purchase the circa-1900 home at 2312 2nd Street S. In the early 20th century, this served as the Hunter Station trolley stop, where the Fort Myer branch of the D.C., Alexandria and Falls Church commuter-rail line connected to trolley service.

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News

County Board honors service of Planning Commission’s Daniel Weir

By Scott McCaffrey
Daniel Weir honored by County Board (screenshot via Arlington County)

County Board members are paying tribute to Daniel Weir, who recently rotated off the Planning Commission after eight years of service.

“Being on the Planning Commission is not for the faint of heart,” Board member Maureen Coffey said at Tuesday’s meeting. “And over the past few years, it has ramped up in terms of a time commitment and a mental-space commitment.”

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News

Parties try to win over the electorate as early voting kicks off in Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
Sen. Mark Warner at start of early voting in 2025 (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Democrats, Republicans and the Forward Party made their case to the electorate this morning (Friday) as early voting kicked off across Arlington and statewide.

“When we vote, we win,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the Arlington Democrats early-voting kickoff event held at Courthouse Plaza. It attracted about 65 attendees.

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News

‘Reclining Liberty’ is now a permanent fixture in front of Museum of Contemporary Art

By Scott McCaffrey
"Reclining Liberty" lowered by crane onto the front lawn of Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington in August 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

“Reclining Liberty,” the iconic artwork gracing the front lawn of the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington for the past two years, is staying put.

Members of the county’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on Sept. 17 voted 9-0 to allow the 25-foot work featuring the Statue of Liberty in repose to remain in front of the circa-1910 former school building at 3550 Wilson Blvd.

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News

New state law removes Falls Church Planning Commission’s decision-maker role

By Scott McCaffrey
The Falls Church City Council work session on Sept. 15 (via City of Falls Church)

The Falls Church Planning Commission will soon change from being a final decision-maker to an advisor for some new development projects in the city.

The shift in responsibility comes in response to new state laws, which took effect July 1 and aim to speed up the creation of new housing across the commonwealth. Under the new rules, many localities must move from planning commission approval of projects to staff approval of development plans.

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News

Terminal 1 rebuild at Reagan National looks to clear key hurdle in 2026

By Scott McCaffrey
Ronald Reagan National Airport (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Leaders are hoping to receive a key federal authorization by the end of next year to redevelop Terminal 1 at Reagan National Airport.

In an updated timeline released today (Wednesday), the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) set November 2026 as the goal for receiving environmental approval for the nine-gate project.

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News

New online chatbot answers questions about Arlington County services and operations

By Scott McCaffrey
Person working on laptop (Photo by Burst on Unsplash)

A new AI chatbot is helping residents find answers to various questions about Arlington County government operations, elections and more.

“AVA” — Arlington Virtual Assistant — is connected to four county websites: the general site (arlingtonva.us) plus specialized sites for library services, elections and Arlington Transit.

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