News

Some of the city of Falls Church’s budget surplus could fund outreach to Vietnamese-American communities and celebrations of the United States’ 250th birthday.

An additional $35,000 would extend a current pilot outreach program by another six months, while $50,000 would fund patriotic events and activities next year and $12,600 would support pay raises for the city’s Planning Commission.


News
Autumn canopy in Clarendon (courtesy George Brazier)

Arlington Woman Wins MCM — “In the journey to the Olympic Trials, Tessa Barrett wins the women’s race in the Marine Corps Marathon. News4’s Tommy McFly talks to her about her Olympic goals.” [NBC 4/YouTube]

Marathon Recap — “Despite the government shutdown, more than 40,000 runners participated Sunday in the 50th Marine Corps Marathon. In the men’s division, Kyle King won with a time of 2:18:51. In the women’s division, Tessa Barrett won with a time of 2:34:11.” [Stars and Stripes]

Ukrainian Troops Run MCM — “A group of active-duty members of the Ukrainian armed forces crossed the finish line Sunday at the 50th Marine Corps Marathon. Another of their brothers in arms was supposed to be with them, but he recently died in combat.” [Stars and Stripes]

Arlington Stands Out in Chart — “CHART OF THE DAY: In 2020, 65.7% of Virginia voters overwhelmingly voted to codify nonpartisan redistricting in our Constitution. The popular amendment won a majority vote in every Virginia locality but one.” [Gov. Glenn Youngkin/X]

Bird Removal at DCA — “If you’ve ever reached out to us about birds in the Terminal, THIS IS FOR YOU! Travelers may notice equipment and personnel related to humane bird removal in Terminal 1 over the next two days. Once humanely captured, the birds will be released at a safe outdoor location.” [Reagan Airport/X]

Local Co. Benefits from Bill — “Geothermal heating and cooling systems are getting a fresh look from some homebuilders after Arlington-based Dandelion Energy rolled out a new program Wednesday aimed at making the long-term cost-saving technology more accessible. CEO Dan Yates said the new leasing program — enabled by provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4 — has already drawn several homebuilders in Maryland.” [WBJ]

New Whole Foods Store Open — “On Thursday, the Amazon-owned chain expanded its Whole Foods Market Daily Shop concept with the first location outside New York City. The store is located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, in Arlington, Virginia — right around the corner from Amazon’s HQ2. At about 10,000 square feet, this Daily Shop location is about a quarter of the size of a normal Whole Foods store. And, as the name implies, Amazon’s goal isn’t really to offer the store’s patrons everything they might need for their weekly grocery haul.” [Business Insider]

It’s Monday — Expect mostly sunny skies with a high near 60 degrees and a northeast wind between 6 and 9 mph. Monday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to around 43 degrees and a northeast wind at 6 to 8 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.


Sponsored

No matter your age, having a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family. A properly prepared will ensures your wishes are carried out, helps reduce family disputes, and can make the estate administration process much smoother.

Unfortunately, many Virginians make avoidable mistakes that can create unnecessary stress and expense for their loved ones. Here are five of the most common.

1. Trying to Write a Will Without Legal Guidance

Online templates and DIY wills may seem like an easy way to save money, but they often create bigger problems later. Virginia law has specific requirements for a valid will, including proper signatures and witness requirements. Even small mistakes can leave a will open to challenges or delay the administration of an estate.

2. Forgetting to Update Your Will

A will shouldn’t be something you create once and forget. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, buying a home, or losing a loved one can all affect your estate plan.

Reviewing your will every few years—or after a major life event—helps ensure it still reflects your wishes and keeps your loved ones protected.

3. Overlooking Federal Estate Tax Planning

Virginia no longer has a state estate tax, but federal estate taxes may still affect larger estates. As home values and investments continue to grow, more families may find themselves closer to the federal exemption than they expected.

Planning ahead can help minimize tax consequences and preserve more of your estate for your beneficiaries.

4. Not Planning for Minor Children

For parents, a will does more than distribute assets—it allows you to name a guardian for your minor children. Without that designation, a court may ultimately decide who will care for them.

Many families also choose to establish a trust so inherited assets can be managed responsibly until children reach an age or milestone they determine is appropriate.

5. Choosing the Wrong Executor—or Not Naming One at All

Your executor is responsible for carrying out your wishes, paying debts, and distributing your assets. Selecting someone who is organized, trustworthy, and capable of handling those responsibilities is just as important as deciding who inherits your property.

It’s also essential to clearly identify your beneficiaries. Vague language or outdated information can create confusion and, in some cases, disputes among family members.

Don’t Forget the Rest of Your Estate Plan

A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:

  • A revocable living trust
  • A durable power of attorney
  • An advance medical directive
  • A transfer-on-death deed for your home

Together, these documents can help protect your finances, outline your healthcare wishes, and simplify matters for your family if you’re ever unable to make decisions yourself.

The Bottom Line

A well-prepared estate plan provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. By avoiding these common mistakes and keeping your documents up to date, you can help ensure your wishes are honored while reducing stress for your family in the future.

If it’s been several years since you’ve reviewed your will—or you’ve never created one—it may be time to speak with an experienced Virginia estate planning attorney about your options.

PJI Law, PLC: Estate Planning Attorneys in Fairfax, VA

At PJI Law, PLC, we work with clients across Fairfax and Northern Virginia to build estate plans that reflect their intentions and align with Virginia law. Our estate planning attorneys take the time to review your assets, beneficiary designations, business interests, and family structure so your plan works as intended.

Whether you’re creating your first will or revisiting an existing one, our team will help you avoid the mistakes that can undermine your entire estate plan.

Call (703) 865-6100 or contact us online to schedule your complimentary consultation today.

PJI Law, PLC
3900 Jermantown Rd, 2nd Floor
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 865-6100
https://pjilaw.com


News

SALEM, Va. (AP) — René Harvey and her wife arrived at a Roanoke Valley pride celebration in October carrying deep-seated worries about all that could go wrong.

The couple had been to the region’s annual pride festival before, but this year felt different. Harvey keeps up with the news, and the headlines describing political violence and LGBTQ+ hate linger with her. She’s been following Virginia’s statewide elections, including a race for governor that has heavily focused on trans youth.


Sports

The most recent defeat for the Wakefield Warriors during the squad’s ongoing four-game losing streak was probably the most disappointing for the high-school football team.

The 21-7 setback at home to the Marshall Statesmen came Friday night (Oct. 24)  in a Liberty District home game. Marshall (4-4, 1-3) had the worst record of the four teams during the losing stretch, and entered the game tied for last in the league with Wakefield.


Event

Join the Rosslyn BID and Arlington Arts at the 34th Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2026 featuring live jazz, food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities in the heart of Rosslyn! This year’s lineup is bringing a diverse mix of performers and bands redefining the jazz music genre including Plena Libre, Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, Parlor Greens, and Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band.


Around Town

Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 24, 2025.

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. Woman struck by falling tree on Pimmit Run Trail died from her injuries (21808 views)
  2. ACPD: Driver facing felony after deliberately striking cyclist (14693 views)
  3. North Arlington home with paranormal reputation could become historic district (9137 views)
  4. UPDATED: Vehicle flips in crash on 14th Street Bridge (8347 views)
  5. Fire Works Pizza plans renovations and rebranding in Courthouse under new owner (7689 views)
  6. Glebe Road partially blocked in Ballston after person in wheelchair struck (7174 views)
  7. Clarendon’s Wilson Hardware could get new branding under D.C. nightlife entrepreneur (6443 views)
  8. Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during shutdown (5966 views)
  9. Marine Corps Marathon happening as planned this weekend, bringing road closures (5819 views)
  10. Historic status for Arlington Mill apartments rejected after neighbors, owner voice opposition (5661 views)
  11. Study of possible governance changes in Arlington will get underway soon (4280 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

☁️ Saturday’s forecast

Expect increasing clouds and a high near 59 with a northwest wind around 6 mph. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy and have a low around 42, accompanied by calm wind. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.”
– John Lennon

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum. 👋


News

Organizers are considering future changes to the Green Valley farmers market after safety concerns brought an early end to the market’s first season.

Portia Clark, founder of the Community Association of Resources, Education, Enrichment & Economics (CARE), said that her nonprofit is considering alterations to the location, day of the week and time of the farmers market, which operated on Friday afternoons this year at John M. Robinson Jr. Town Square.


News

A free community health fair focused primarily on Arlington’s immigrant communities brought numerous families to Carlin Springs Elementary School last weekend.

Health screenings, bicycle giveaways and information on county-government and nonprofit services were all part of the event, jointly sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Arlington and VHC Health’s Professional Development Council.


Schools

The Arlington School Board is once again seeking state authorization to administer standardized tests in languages other than English.

The School Board’s 2026 General Assembly legislative package, which went to a vote yesterday (Thursday), carries over the Board’s request from the 2025 legislative session.