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 88-unit condo building on Langston Blvd heads to County Board

By Scott McCaffrey
Proposed condominium project at 1501 Langston Blvd (via Taicoon Property Partners)

A proposal to replace a 40-year-old office building in Rosslyn with new condos is going before the County Board this Saturday.

Taicoon Property Partners is seeking to raze the 1980s-era building that formerly housed the Air & Space Forces Association at 1501 Langston Blvd. Proposed to go in its place is an eight-story, 88-unit condominium building.

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News

Arlington treasurer candidates square off on visions for office’s future

By Scott McCaffrey
Two panelists sit behind a table with microphones during a conference; a smiling woman on the left and a man on the right, with an AC banner draped over the front of the table.
Treasurer Kim Rucker and challenger Aasim Rawoot (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Arlington’s two candidates for treasurer are both Arlington natives. Beyond that, their stories diverge significantly.

Kim Rucker joined the treasurer’s office immediately out of high school, rising through the ranks over the course of three decades and spending the last 12 years as chief deputy to Treasurer Carla de la Pava.

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Around Town

Penrose assisted-living facility marks 15th anniversary with ‘Candyland’ party

By Scott McCaffrey
Three smiling women wearing tiaras pose with oversized candy props at a pink-streamer party backdrop.
Candyland was the theme of the 15th-anniversary celebration at Mary Marshall Senior Assisted Living (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Mary Marshall Senior Assisted Living Residence celebrated its 15th anniversary with a carnival atmosphere.

“Candyland” was the theme of the Aug. 27 festivities at the 52-bed Penrose facility that supports 55+ residents with disabilities.

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Schools

School Board candidates debate APS safety and support for teachers

By Scott McCaffrey
Two panelists sit at a long table with microphones during a discussion; woman on left speaks, man on right listens, blue and white banner in front.
School Board candidates Bethany Zecher Sutton and James "Vell" Rives IV (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

School Board candidates faced off this week on the question of whether front-line educators are getting enough support in Arlington.

“We are not supporting our teachers [and] they are burning out,” said James “Vell” Rives IV, a Forward Party-endorsed independent challenging Democratic incumbent Bethany Zecher Sutton.

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Around Town

Civic Federation salutes Arlington firefighters with proclamation and plaque

By Scott McCaffrey
Two men shake hands while presenting a framed certificate at an awards event; one in a dark uniform smiles warmly.
Battalion Chief Melvin Reed receives proclamation from Arlington County Civic Federation president Nicholas Giacobbe (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Arlington County Civic Federation opened its 2026-27 year with a salute to personnel of the Arlington County Fire Department.

More than two dozen firefighters were on hand for the Sept. 8 presentation. Civic Federation president Nicholas Giacobbe said the event was designed to show “how much the Arlington community appreciates and supports the fire department.”

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Around Town

Pop-up art gallery coming to shuttered Walgreens on Langston Blvd

By Scott McCaffrey
Six smiling women stand arm-in-arm in an art studio or gallery setting, casually dressed and posing for a group photo.
Part of the team helping to set up The ARTS Place Pop-Up (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A former Walgreens on Langston Blvd is being converted to host a seven-week arts extravaganza.

The 5,000 square feet of space will provide the backdrop for a succession of mini-galleries featuring the work of dozens of Arlington Artists Alliance members, plus discussion areas, workshop spaces and dining/shopping options.

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News

County Board candidates debate tax burdens, housing and e-bikes at first debate

By Scott McCaffrey
Two adults sit at a panel table with water bottles; woman in red blazer on left, man in a gray suit on right, microphone between them.
County Board candidates Audrey Clement and Matt de Ferranti (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Taxes, housing and pedestrian safety were among the issues that County Board candidates debated in their first debate of the general election season.

“We are in a fiscal challenge,” said County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti, a Democrat who is being challenged by independents Audrey Clement and David Sisson. The three took part in a candidate forum sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation yesterday (Tuesday).

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Around Town

Falls Church hosts runners in 485-mile relay remembering 9/11

By Scott McCaffrey
Group of runners carrying large American flags while sprinting down a street. The scene looks like a patriotic race or parade at dusk or evening.
Mayor Letty Hardi leads Tunnel to Towers 9/11 Remembrance Relay runners into Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Falls Church rolled out the welcome mat for runners taking part in a 485-mile relay between sites impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“Thank you all,” Mayor Letty Hardi said on Sunday after leading runners into the city at the end of their 6-mile segment from Vienna.

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News

ART bus ridership rose slightly despite government shutdown in 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Passengers board an ART bus (file photo by Jay Westcott)

Bus ridership on Arlington Transit (ART) was up about 1.1% in the fiscal year ending in June, despite being held back by a seven-week government shutdown.

The local bus system had a ridership total of 2,669,853 passengers for the 12 months ending June 30, according to figures from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. That’s up from the 2,640,152 riders a year before.

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Schools

APS enrollment is down 1.6% from the start of school last year

By Scott McCaffrey
Teacher stands with hands on hips addressing a diverse circle of elementary students seated on a colorful rug in a classroom.
Superintendent Francisco Durán at a first-day-of-school event (via APS)

Arlington Public Schools kicked off the school year with an enrollment of 27,173, down 1.6% from last year.

The figure, which counts students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, is down from 27,603 reported during the first week of the 2025-26 school year.

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News

Families of wage earners detained by ICE to receive up to $2K from Arlington County

By Scott McCaffrey
Crowd of protesters holding signs reading Justice for José and Stop, gathered at a street demonstration behind a speaker podium.
José Mejía Hernandez discusses injuries that he says he received during a recent ICE arrest (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

The Arlington County Board has set aside $50,000 for grants to support families whose primary wage earner has been detained by immigration enforcement.

Grants distributed by Arlington Thrive will provide up to $2,000 per affected family over the coming 10 months. Funds will support basic needs such as housing, food and utilities.

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News

Cast ballots early and in-person, Arlington Democrats chair urges voters

By Scott McCaffrey
Two people cast ballots at a red voting booth set up in a gymnasium.
Two Arlington voters cast ballots at Innovation Elementary School in Lyon Village (staff photo by Ryan Cole)

The county’s Democratic leadership is advising local voters to take no chances as the Nov. 3 general election draws closer.

“I am concerned about threats to voting,” Arlington County Democratic Committee chair Paul Ruiz said at the party’s monthly meeting on Sept. 2.

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