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

Proposed bike trail along Haycock Road wins support in Falls Church

By Scott McCaffrey
Shared-use path proposed for Haycock Road (via City of Falls Church)

A proposal to add a 10-foot-wide path for bicyclists along Haycock Road has won informal support from the Falls Church Planning Commission.

“It will be exciting if it happens,” commission chair Andrea Caumont said during a June 4 briefing on the plan.

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News

Green Valley civic leader awarded ‘ARLnow Cup’ for decades of service

By Scott McCaffrey
Portia Clark receives the 2025 ARLnow Cup from John Ford (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Portia Clark, a Green Valley civic leader who has spent decades standing up for justice in Arlington, received the newly renamed ARLnow Cup this week.

The Arlington County Civic Federation presented the award, previously known as the GazetteLeader Cup, at its final meeting for the 2024-25 year on Tuesday. Organizers recognized Clark’s ongoing role in supporting Green Valley’s character and preserving its history.

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Around Town

Arlington Players kicks off 75th season with outdoor ‘Peanuts’ show

By Scott McCaffrey
Jonathan Mulberg and Emily Carbone in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" (photo courtesy Tyler McGee for The Arlington Players)

The Arlington Players has launched its 75th-anniversary season with a celebration of the beloved “Peanuts” characters, who are also marking their 75th year.

Weather conditions were accommodating for two of the opening weekend performances as the group brought the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” outdoors to audiences at Lubber Run Amphitheater.

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Schools

Issues at new career center’s construction site drive another bump in costs

By Scott McCaffrey
Superintendent Francisco Durán tours Grace Hopper Center site (via Arlington Public Schools)

The estimated cost of building a new career center on S. Walter Reed Drive is ratcheting up again because of unforeseen conditions at the project’s construction site.

School Board members will receive a presentation on Thursday on appropriating another $1.18 million in contingency funds for the project.

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News

Shirlington plaza changes, $7.8 million Barcroft loan slated for County Board consideration

By Scott McCaffrey
Dinner hour in Shirlington Village in May 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Street upgrades in Bluemont, Claremont and Shirlington, plus a loan for renovating 73 affordable housing units, are scheduled for County Board consideration this weekend.

Board members have a total 52 items on their consent agenda this month, but no regular hearing items. All items pulled for further consideration will be heard at the Board’s recessed meeting, set for Wednesday, June 18.

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News

County considers purchasing homes for open space and stormwater management

By Scott McCaffrey
6915 29th Street N. (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The County Board is considering purchasing two single-family homes in Arlington: one for open space, the other for stormwater management.

Board members on Saturday are expected to consider purchasing one property at 1922 N. Upton Street for $1.1 million, and another at 6915 29th Street N. for $218,536.

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News

Latest ‘stumbling stones’ honor people enslaved near Columbia Pike

By Scott McCaffrey
Unveiling of stumbling stones on Columbia Pike at S. Ode Street (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Two brothers born into slavery in the 1820s have been honored with new “stumbling stone” historical markers on Columbia Pike.

The bronze emblems, embedded into the sidewalk at the intersection of the Pike and S. Ode Street, honor the lives of Thornton and Daniel Check.

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News

Lower speed limits considered on S. Carlin Springs and other busy roads

By Scott McCaffrey
Aftermath of a November crash on S. Carlin Springs Road (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

Lower speed limits could be coming to five more Arlington road segments — including an infamous stretch of S. Carlin Springs Road.

This Saturday, the Arlington County Board is scheduled to consider reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph in five busy areas.

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Schools

Democrats stress unity, values in effort to retain School Board seat

By Scott McCaffrey
School Board candidate Monique "Moe" Bryant (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

With the filing deadline for candidates only about a week away, the race for one open position on the Arlington School Board has moved into general-election mode.

Democratic endorsee Monique “Moe” Bryant currently faces only one competitor in the Nov. 4 election, returning candidate Major Webb. At least one other candidate is also seeking to qualify before the June 17 filing deadline.

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News

Arlington GOP seeks to rebuild precinct operations in 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Voting at Arlington Central Library on Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Arlington County Republican Committee is trying to reinvigorate its precinct operations in the lead-up to November’s general election.

“Arlington Republicans are rebuilding our precinct operations from the ground up, recruiting members and volunteers to take responsibility over organizing neighborhoods, connecting with voters and communicating our Republican principles to thousands of Arlingtonians,” said Frederick Tarantino, who has been tapped by the Arlington Republican leadership to lead the effort.

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News

New system for using credit cards to ride Metro earns Virginia leaders’ praise

By Scott McCaffrey
Clarendon Metro station (staff photo)

New tech allowing Metro users to pay their fare by tapping debit or credit cards is receiving good grades from local leaders.

At a meeting last week, representatives on the Metropolitan Washington Area Transit Authority (WMATA) board of directors said the new “Tap-Ride-Go” initiative will benefit both regular and infrequent users of the regional system.

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News

Arlington Democrats consider major voting restrictions ahead of party chair election

By Scott McCaffrey
Arlington County Democratic Committee deputy chair Paul Ruiz (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Arlington County Democratic Committee is considering potentially significant restrictions on who can vote for top leadership posts.

A proposed change to the party’s bylaws would limit eligible voters for party chair and other leadership positions to members of the county committee. That’s a group of around 200 people that includes top leadership, elected officials, precinct captains and others.

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