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

Langston Blvd stumbling stones extol ‘the victory of humanity’ over cruelty

By Scott McCaffrey
Halls Hill/High View Park stumbling stones unveiling (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The treatment of those enslaved by Bazil and Elizabeth Hall on their 330-acre Arlington farm in the 1850s was known to be excessively cruel even by the brutal standards of the era.

Last Saturday (May 30), eight of those who lived in bondage on the farm were honored with the latest “stumbling stones” placed through the Memorializing the Enslaved of Arlington initiative.

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News

Arlington rents down year-over-year, but remain highest in region

By Scott McCaffrey
Valen apartment building at 2050 S. Bell Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Despite a year-over-year decline, Arlington’s apartment market in May retained its position as most expensive in the region and fifth most expensive urban area nationally.

The county’s median apartment-rental rate of $2,609 — $2,457 for one-bedroom units, $2,969 for two bedrooms — was down 1.4% year over year, according to figures reported May 28 by Apartment List.

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News

Arlington GOP struggles to find candidates as filing deadline nears

By Scott McCaffrey
Arlington “I Voted” sticker (Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf)

The clock continues ticking as Arlington Republicans work to find contenders for County Board and School Board races.

Chris Wright, who heads candidate recruitment for the local GOP, said that so far, efforts have not paid off.

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News

Oakwood Cemetery tours unearth 250 years of Falls Church history, from spies to slaveowners

By Scott McCaffrey
Carol Ann Siciliano (in pink) leads tour of Oakwood Cemetery (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A dozen hardy souls braved the threat of thunderstorms and hordes of gnats on May 24 to learn more about the history of a local burial ground.

The 90-minute tour covered nearly 250 years of history at Oakwood Cemetery, located in Falls Church. It was the first of what will be monthly tours, part of the city’s celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.

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News

Arlington GOP backs challenger to Rep. Beyer’s congressional seat

By Scott McCaffrey
8th District Republican congressional candidate Tony Sabio (via campaign website)

Republicans have their candidate in place for the 8th District U.S. House of Representatives race.

Tony Sabio, a national-security professional and self-described Reagan conservative, was the lone Republican to file for the party’s nomination by the May 26 at 5 p.m. deadline.

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News

Arlington raises fees for senior travel programs by 25%, with more hikes likely

By Scott McCaffrey
Seniors traveling (via Centre for Ageing Better/Unsplash)

Costs for the Arlington 55+ Travel program aren’t going up as much as first proposed, but they’re still rising and future increases are likely.

As part of the fiscal 2027 budget process, County Board members approved a 25% increase in fees charged by the 55+ Travel program, operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

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Schools

APS brings back Kaiser, Cigna for health insurance next year after 2023 ‘debacle’

By Scott McCaffrey
Arlington Education Association members protest the Kaiser contract termination during the Oct. 12, 2023, School Board meeting (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Three years after dropping Kaiser Permanente and Cigna as health-insurance providers, Arlington Public Schools is bringing them back.

Superintendent Francisco Durán said at the May 28 School Board meeting that the two firms had been selected to provide health-insurance coverage for a three-year period beginning at the start of 2027. They will replace CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, which has held the contract since January 2024.

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News

Falls Church seeks to expand tree canopy without big budget impacts

By Scott McCaffrey
Trees at the Fellows property in Falls Church (via City of Falls Church)

Falls Church’s Urban Forestry Commission is considering ideas to increase the city’s tree canopy without breaking the bank.

With several years of difficult budget years on the horizon, it may be hard to find funding for some previous proposals, such as creating a city urban-forestry management plan and a comprehensive tree inventory, said Erin Flynn, the Council’s liaison to the commission.

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Schools

APS, Amazon about to finalize deal moving Arlington Community High School to HQ2

By Scott McCaffrey
Students gather at the ceremonial groundbreaking for Arlington Community High School in Pentagon City in September 2025 (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

School leaders are about to formally ink a deal to relocate Arlington Community High School to Amazon’s HQ2 campus.

Eight months after celebrating the upcoming move, Arlington Public Schools leaders plan to sign a 30-year lease with Amazon for more than 30,000 square feet of space at 1450 S. Eads Street in the Metropolitan Park complex in Pentagon City.

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Around Town

Memorial Day marks milestone anniversaries for Clarendon War Memorial

By Scott McCaffrey
Participants in 2026 Memorial Day ceremony at Clarendon War Memorial (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A recent ceremony honored the 95th anniversary of the Clarendon War Memorial, as well as the 40th anniversary of the move to its current location.

The memorial provides “a sacred reminder” of the sacrifice of U.S. military personnel, County Board member Julius “JD” Spain, Sr., said at the annual Memorial Day commemoration, held at the memorial located above the Clarendon Metro station.

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News

Rep. Beyer touts package of endorsements from Arlington officials in re-election bid

By Scott McCaffrey
Rep. Don Beyer (left), Arlington County Board member Matt de Ferranti, then-School Board candidate Bethany Zecher Sutton and Sen. Tim Kaine gather at a rally in Arlington in 2022 (staff photo)

Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) has come close to achieving a clean sweep of re-election endorsements from Arlington’s local elected officials.

Among those formally supporting his bid for a seventh two-year term, according to a release from the Beyer campaign:

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News

Planned restroom upgrade at Gunston Park has $1M price tag

By Scott McCaffrey
Existing outdoor restroom facilities at Gunston Park (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

New restroom facilities at Gunston Park are expected to cost around $1 million — a grand total arising from the price of materials, installation and associated costs.

County officials present the cost as a financial win for taxpayers, even if not everyone sees it that way.

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