With the county government’s fiscal year 2027 budget season now over, eyes are beginning to turn to fiscal year 2028 — which may or may not be any easier to balance.
“Very uncertain” is how County Board member Julius “JD” Spain, Sr., describes the future of the local economy and its impact on the county’s budget process that will play out over the next 12 months.
A drunk Maryland man allegedly fired a gunshot in a parking lot along S. Four Mile Run Drive early Sunday morning.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. on the 4000 block, which has a gas station and a self-storage facility. Police say they found evidence of a shot being fired and arrested the suspect on scene.
A colorful new landmark is bringing fresh energy to Columbia Pike while celebrating the people, cultures and stories that define one of Arlington’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
On Saturday, October 24, Arlington Public Art, the Columbia Pike Partnership, and the community will celebrate the completion of the first County-sponsored mural on Columbia Pike, a striking new work by artist Rowan Bathurst located on the side of the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike.
The mural, commissioned through Arlington Public Art and Arlington Economic Development, is part of ongoing creative placemaking efforts designed to strengthen neighborhood identity, enhance public spaces and create welcoming experiences for residents, visitors and local businesses.
For Bathurst, an artist whose work explores the relationships among people, nature and cultural heritage, Columbia Pike offered a rich source of inspiration. The mural features portraits of women representing cultures reflected throughout the neighborhood, surrounded by imagery drawn from local history, global artistic traditions and the natural environment of Four Mile Run.
What makes the project especially meaningful is the community’s role in shaping it. Public input gathered at the Barcroft Resource Fair and Columbia Pike Farmers Market revealed a strong desire for artwork that reflected the neighborhood’s diversity, vibrant character and connection to nature. A community advisory panel helped guide the project from concept through completion, ensuring the final design reflected the voices and experiences of the community it serves.
The resulting artwork is both a visual landmark and a celebration of the people who make Columbia Pike unique. It highlights the corridor’s longstanding role as a welcoming and multicultural community while creating a vibrant new point of interest along one of Arlington’s most traveled commercial corridors.
The project was made possible through a partnership with Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, which provided the highly visible wall for the mural. Located on the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike, the artwork transforms an everyday streetscape into a destination that invites residents and visitors to pause, reflect and connect with the neighborhood’s identity.
As Arlington continues investing in public art and placemaking initiatives, projects like this demonstrate how art can strengthen community pride, foster connection and contribute to vibrant public spaces. Public art not only enriches the visual landscape, but also helps tell the stories of Arlington’s neighborhoods and the people who call them home.
The community is invited to join the celebration on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The free event will feature remarks from the artist and community representatives, music, refreshments and family-friendly activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the mural up close and learn more about the community stories, cultural influences and local inspiration behind its creation.
For Columbia Pike, the mural represents more than a new work of art. It is a lasting reflection of the corridor’s creativity, diversity and community spirit, and a vibrant new symbol of the neighborhood’s past, present and future.
Art Focus is a regular series highlighting the artists, organizations, public art projects and creative initiatives that enrich Arlington’s cultural landscape.
Virginia Supreme Court justices on Monday questioned whether the state’s Democratic-led legislature complied with constitutional requirements when it sent a congressional redistricting plan to voters, in a case that carries high stakes for the balance of power in the U.S. House.
The new districts, which could net Democrats four additional seats, won narrow voter approval last week. But a Republican legal challenge contends the General Assembly violated procedural rules by placing the constitutional amendment before voters to authorize the mid-decade redistricting. If the court agrees that lawmakers broke the rules, it could invalidate the amendment and render last week’s statewide vote meaningless.
“The Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium is seeking to fill three vacancies on its 2027 Board of Directors. Interested candidates seeking information and an application can find details at the FOAP Elections web page. The deadline for submission is Nov. 15, 2026.”
A man who attacked frequent County Board candidate Audrey Clement while she was gathering signatures outside a library has been sentenced to 100 days of active jail time.
Jonathan Rogers, 47, was sentenced to just shy of two years, with all but 100 days suspended, for the March 7 attack in which he struck Clement in the back of the head and hit another man in the eye, according to sentencing documents. He must also pay $16,050 in restitution for the violent, and apparently unprovoked, struggle outside Central Library.
Get ready for some spooky fun — our Annual Trunk-or-Treat is back! 👻
This year, we have a special treat! We are hosting a FREE 30 minute kids' martial arts class from 12:00 – 12:30 pm. Ages 5-16 yrs old are welcome. This is a great opportunity to try Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and then head to our parking lot afterwards for our Trunk or Treat event! Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and join us for an afternoon filled with candy, music, and fun! 🎶🍬
Arlington’s signature project honoring the nation’s 250th birthday is expected to attract a crowd of thousands in just a couple weeks.
The Arlington History Fest is slated for Saturday, May 9 at Kenmore Middle School — a date scheduled to avoid other events taking place in D.C. on the actual anniversary. It will feature more than 40 exhibitors, representation from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (Old Guard), food trucks and dozens of historical reenactors.
Plans to open a new Iranian restaurant on Langston Blvd continue to face delays, six years after a local entrepreneur first sought to open a restaurant in the space.
Restaurateur Mohammad Esfahani has been trying to open a business at 5009 Langston Blvd since 2019, when he announced plans to open an All About Burger location and hookah lounge there. He has since pivoted to pursue an Iranian restaurant, Kolbeh (formerly Alvand) which he originally hoped to open in April 2025.
One of Arlington’s least favorite insects is back for the spring, as invasive as ever.
Spotted lanternflies have begun hatching after their annual winter die-off and are currently in their nymph stage, Alonso Abugattas, Natural Resources Manager for Arlington County, informed ARLnow.
A local advocacy group is pressing Arlington Public Schools’ leaders to have students in class five days per week on a more frequent basis.
“APS’ own attendance policy highlights that ‘missing just two days a month can negatively impact learning,’ yet the district’s calendars routinely miss multiple days of instruction per month,” Arlington Parents for Education (APE) said in a recent newsletter.
I-395 Chase Ends in Crash — A traffic stop on I-395 northbound turned into a high-speed chase Friday night after a driver refused to pull over near Exit 8B, according to Virginia State Police. The car sped through traffic, lost control near Exit 10A, struck a guardrail and hit another vehicle before the driver and three passengers fled on foot. The driver was later arrested by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. [Dave Statter/X, WJLA]
Drug Take-Back Reminder — After the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Spring National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this past weekend, ACPD is reminding residents that four permanent drug take-back boxes are available 24/7 for free, anonymous disposal of unused or expired medications. The boxes are located at Fire Station #2 (4805 Wilson Blvd), Fire Station #5 (1750 S. Hayes Street), Fire Station #9 (1900 S. Walter Reed Drive) and ACPD headquarters (14th Street N.). [Patch]
Air Force Memorial Reopens — “The Air Force Memorial is now open to the public following a routine cleaning of the spires.” Hours are 8 a.m.–7 p.m. through Sept. 30 and 8 a.m.–6 p.m. from Oct. 1 through March 31. [Arlington National Cemetery/X]
New Legal Notice — Restaurant-caterer seeks on/off-premises wine, beer, mixed-beverage license. [Public Notices]
It’s Monday — Expect patchy fog before 7 a.m., followed by sunny skies with a high around 69°F. Light winds will shift to an eastward direction at 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Monday night will be mostly clear, with a low near 47°F and southeast winds of 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
