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

GOP County Board contender also faced incumbent Karantonis in 2020 race

By Scott McCaffrey
Republican County Board nominee Bob Cambridge (courtesy Bob Cambridge)

They faced off in the summer of 2020, and now Republican Bob Cambridge again will be sharing space on the November ballot with Democrat Takis Karantonis.

Cambridge was announced Monday (June 23) the Arlington County Republican Committee’s County Board nominee. He joins a crowded field that includes Democratic incumbent Takis Karantonis and three independents.

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News

Decision on Melwood site’s historic value unlikely until spring of 2026

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of Melwood site redevelopment proposal (via Melwood and Wesley Housing)

A decision on whether there’s any historic value in a former schoolhouse bound for redevelopment in Aurora Highlands is unlikely until next year.

Historic-preservation staff will begin a study of the Melwood property “by the end of the year at the latest — like the December time frame,” said Mical Tawney, a historic-preservation specialist, in response to a question at the June 18 meeting of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB).

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News

Departing pastor lauded as a ‘lifeline’ for congregation and local community

By Scott McCaffrey
The Rev. DeLishia Davis during appreciation celebration (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The departing pastor of Calloway United Methodist Church was honored Sunday for her work with the congregation and in the broader community.

The Rev. DeLishia Davis, who is also president of the Arlington NAACP, is leaving “an indelible mark on the lives of Arlingtonians,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said during a ceremony at the church, located at 5000 Langston Blvd.

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News

Falls Church leaders appear lukewarm to partnering with community newspaper

By Scott McCaffrey
Falls Church News-Press owner Nicholas Benton (screenshot via Falls Church)

Falls Church leaders remain noncommittal to a request from the owner of the city’s weekly newspaper for a partnership.

Nicholas Benton, who has owned and run the Falls Church News-Press from its founding in March 1991, came to the City Council on June 16, following up on previous proposals to have city leaders provide more funding.

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News

Arlington history festival planned to celebrate nation’s 250th birthday

By Scott McCaffrey
Peter Vaselopulos provides Karen Darner information on the Arlington Historical Museum (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A multi-day history festival commemorating the United States’ 250th birthday could be coming to Arlington next year.

The Arlington Historical Society, which presented an update on its plans for the landmark anniversary at a meeting of the Arlington County Civic Association last week, hopes to host the event next May, likely at Kenmore Middle School.

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Schools

APS seeks to revamp partnerships with local businesses and service groups

By Scott McCaffrey
Superintendent Francisco Durán (screenshot via APS)

More partnerships with civic and business leaders could be coming to Arlington Public Schools as the school system seeks to rebuild relationships that suffered during the pandemic.

Superintendent Francisco Durán spotlighted a work-based readiness program at a meeting with School Board members earlier this month. He said that enhancing the program is one of the primary goals of a partnership improvement plan.

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News

Arlington Young Democrats target downstate race for support

By Scott McCaffrey
Democratic candidate Lily Franklin (via Lily for Delegate/X)

Leaders of the Arlington Young Democrats are hoping to have an impact on what could be a key downstate legislative race.

The group will be throwing its organizational efforts behind Lily Franklin in House District 41 in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area.

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News

Falls Church Council votes to get health-care coverage, pay raise

By Scott McCaffrey
The Falls Church City Council at a meeting last month (via City of Falls Church)

The Falls Church City Council has approved a pay increase and health-care coverage for themselves and their successors.

The raise will go into effect a year from now, while Council members will become eligible for the city’s health insurance plan next month.

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News

Delays to bond sale, $4.9M in Arlington capital projects considered in tight times

By Scott McCaffrey
Budget director Richard Stephenson and Department of Management and Finance director Maria Meredith (screenshot via Arlington County)

Arlington County leaders are considering delaying the sale of municipal bonds and deferring various capital projects in the face of tight economic times.

It’s too early to think about amending the county’s recently adopted Fiscal Year 2026 budget, county budget director Richard Stephenson told County Board members on Wednesday.

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Schools

Two APS schools lose Title I designations while another joins the list

By Scott McCaffrey
Parent Dan Burd points to Abingdon Elementary logo (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

Two Arlington elementary schools will no longer receive federal Title I funding in the new school year, while another will join the list of those that do.

Abingdon Elementary and Hoffman-Boston Elementary no longer qualify for the program, which supports schools with a high concentration of students in economic need.

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News

Arlington cooperation with Israel Advisory Board debated at County Board meeting

By Scott McCaffrey
Aasim Rawoot (screenshot via Arlington County)

Debate over Arlington County’s relationship with an agency helping Israeli companies build their operations in Virginia broke out anew last weekend.

Activists criticized past cooperation between Arlington Economic Development and the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB), a state-funded agency.

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