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.
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.
This regularly scheduled sponsored column is written by Carolanne Korolowicz, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Carolanne in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach her directly at [email protected].
In the season of ghouls and goblins, Arlington yards transform into terrifying terraces. From 12-foot skeletons looming over county streets to plastic webs engulfing neighbors’ shrubbery, there is not a decoration missing this time of year. Though these faux-fright facades are temporary, legend says that Arlington is home to many year-round haunted locales.
Old Post Chapel
Old Post Chapel, 204 Arlington Avenue, Fort Myer
Located on Ft. Myer, a location with the type of history that brews paranormal activity, The Old Post Chapel has had the most consistent report of creepy happenings. Built in 1935, the chapel has been used for church service and weddings for many service members, but the house of worship has also been the place of final honors for soldiers who have fallen.
Reports have stated that many service members have heard disembodied voices and footsteps. And it’s not just humans that get spooked, patrolling K9 units refuse to enter the building and bark at the door. Supposedly, there is a resident poltergeist— a young, grieving widow, who threw herself off the chapel’s bell tower, waiting for her love.
Arlington Hall
Arlington Hall Station, 111 S. George Mason Drive, National Guard Readiness Center
During the early 1940s, what started as an all-girls finishing school became an intelligence center decoding German and Russian code. The headquarters, an epicenter of secrets, has reported strange activity over the years. Many have reported hearing footsteps from empty rooms, but the spookiest dates back to the hall’s days as a women’s school. The story is that a student fell pregnant by a stable hand, unable to face the shame and embarrassment, she took her own life– now her phantom can be seen exiting and entering a ladies’ powder room, checking her makeup before she vanishes.
Febrey-Kincheloe House
Febrey-Kincheloe House, 6030 Lee Highway, Overlee Community Pool
The ghost that haunts Overlee’s Febrey-Kincheloe House is more of the Casper-type. This friendly apparition, Margaret, was the daughter of Ernest Febrey– the builder and owner of the home – who died of tuberculosis in 1913. Many people, including construction workers, realtors, swimmers and children, have all reported to have had interaction with the outgoing ghost. Though her Victorian garb may seem out of place poolside, she is reported to just want to make new friends.
The “Old” Wakefield High School
Wakefield High School Theater, 1325 S Dinwiddie Street
It is unknown where the Phantom of the Opera Wannabe has gone since the demolition of the old school theater in 2013, but Wakefield used to have a resident ghost that would make appearances to both students and staff. If you sat quietly in the balcony seats, the piano may start playing spontaneously, lights would begin to flicker, and equipment would move to impossible angles. The activity is rumored to be the spirit of a crewmember who fell off the catwalk to his death in the early 1960s. Supposedly, he would still hang around the catwalk reliving his final moments.
Though these are some of the most reported and popular sites for Arlington’s ghost population, it wouldn’t be shocking to hear that there are lesser known, but equally as spooky, haunted sites present in the county. Share in the comments any rumored, or first-person, accounts of paranormal activity in Arlington!
Grand opening signage at the new Twins Ace Hardware in Crystal City (courtesy of Twins Ace Hardware)
Twins Ace Hardware is celebrating its new Crystal City location this weekend with some big-ticket item giveaways, refreshments and other activities.
Starting today (Friday), the locally owned and operated hardware shop is holding a grand opening weekend at 2051 S. Bell Street. Festivities over the next few days will include a grilling expert meet-and-greet, daily giveaways and a ribbon cutting.
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.
Join us in person for a day packed with excitement and peace of mind! Our Child Safety Fun event features a cool fair filled with games and activities for the kids, plus a seat check station to make sure the car seats are installed correctly and to ensure your little ones are buckled up safely. It's a perfect chance to have fun and learn some important safety tips. Don’t miss out on this awesome event made just for families!
Arlington County government headquarters in Courthouse (file photo)
Arlington County has retained the highest possible credit rating for the 26th year in a row.
All three major bond-rating agencies — Moody’s, S&P Global and Fitch Ratings — reaffirmed the county’s Aaa/AAA/AAA debt ratings this week, the county announced this morning. Arlington is one of just 54 counties nationwide, and one of 13 in Virginia, to hold the top mark from all three.
Staff and local leaders cut the ribbon at the grand reopening of the Westin Crystal City (staff photo by Katie Taranto)
A Crystal City hotel is celebrating its completed redesign and a soon-to-come “land and sea”-themed restaurant at the property.
Local leaders and staff at the Westin Crystal City cut the ribbon on the hotel’s overhaul yesterday (Thursday) at 1800 Richmond Hwy. The project redesigned the hotel’s 223 guest rooms, refreshed common areas with new walls, floors and furnishings, and will soon introduce Stillwater & Stone, a new restaurant and bar.
Freddie's Beach Bar with "drag brunch" signs in Crystal City in 2024 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The owner of a longtime gay bar and iconic local business in Crystal City says he’s remaining an “eternal optimist” following one of the restaurant’s toughest financial years yet.
Freddie Lutz, owner and founder of Freddie’s Beach Bar, says the restaurant is still grappling with economic difficulties that drove business down throughout 2025. However, Lutz says he is hopeful as ever as the bar — a hallmark of Arlington’s culinary and cultural fabric — recently celebrated 25 years in business on Restaurant Row at 555 23rd Street S.
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.