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

Karantonis pledges to ‘come out stronger’ from Trump’s impacts on Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
County Board Chair Takis Karantonis at 2025 State of the County presentation (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Arlington’s top elected official is embracing a this-too-shall-pass view of the impacts of Trump-era government cuts on the local community.

“We will weather this storm and come out stronger,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the annual Arlington Chamber of Commerce “State of the County” event yesterday (Thursday).

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News

County Board candidates start plotting ranked-choice election strategies

By Scott McCaffrey
Voters trickle into Madison Community Center polling location on election day in 2024 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Some of Arlington’s non-Democrat candidates for County Board see potential opportunities in the county’s ranked-choice voting system this November.

But so does incumbent County Board Chair Takis Karantonis.

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News

Future of Rosslyn’s last skywalk still up in the air as development gets new deadline

By Scott McCaffrey
Renderings of the proposed One Rosslyn project at 1901 and 1911 Fort Myer Drive (via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has once again pushed back the deadline for a Rosslyn development project by three years.

The Board last week unanimously approved a three-year extension of development plans at Penzance’s One Rosslyn site, which date back to 2012.

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News

November’s County Board field appears set with Karantonis facing four challengers

By Scott McCaffrey
An election worker talks to voters at Arlington County's Wakefield High School precinct during the 2024 general election (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Barring an appeal from one candidate who failed to qualify, Arlington’s County Board field for November is set at five.

County election officials have confirmed to ARLnow that a prospective sixth candidate narrowly missed meeting the 125-signature threshold for ballot access.

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News

Warning signs accelerate as local homes market is hit by uncertainty

By Scott McCaffrey
Home for sale in Falls Church (staff file photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The local real-estate market is beginning to feel the impact of federal-government downsizing, new data suggests.

By autumn, the impacts may be even more pronounced, according to Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

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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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