Around Town

ARLnow Daily Debrief for Oct 23, 2025

By ARLnow.com

Good Thursday 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 23, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

🌥️ Friday’s forecast

Clouds will increase throughout the day, reaching a high temperature near 61. A light west wind will shift to the northwest at 8 to 13 mph in the morning and may gust up to 22 mph. By Friday night, skies will be mostly clear and the temperature will drop to around 39, accompanied by a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.”
– Henry David Thoreau

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

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

Thanks for reading! 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.

Traffic

Glebe Road partially blocked in Ballston after person in wheelchair struck

By ARLnow.com
Person in wheelchair struck by driver in Ballston (via traffic cam)

All northbound lanes of N. Glebe Road were temporarily blocked at N. Carlin Springs Road after a pedestrian was reportedly struck near the entrance to the Ballston mall parking garage.

The incident happened shortly after 4 p.m. Initial reports suggest that a person in a wheelchair was struck by a driver and suffered facial injuries.

Go to Glebe Road partially blocked in Ballston after person in wheelchair struck Read more
Sponsored

Ask Eli: Community support after condo fire, a personal connection

By Eli Tucker

This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].

On Friday, I learned that the house fire at the Hyde Park condominium in Ballston was the home of my friend, Greg, his wife Caroline, and their beloved dog, Maisie. I’m sure you saw it in Wednesday’s ARLnow news cycle.

Greg and Caroline were not home when the fire occurred, but they tragically lost their dog Maisie, a loss that overshadows the loss of their personal belongings.

A Bit About Maisie

Maisie lived in the Ballston neighborhood since she was born almost six years ago. She loved meeting old friends and new, between her walks at home and her frequent training walks in Old Town, she had more than either of her parents did. She loved every dog and cat and person she ever met, but she never got over her mistrust of squirrels.  She will be missed as much as she was loved.

Support Lost Dog Rescue in Honor of Maisie

Please consider donating to Arlington’s Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation in Maisie’s memory.

Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and is an exemplary nonprofit that helps homeless pets find their way to loving homes through rescue and adoption.

There is nothing Greg and Caroline would appreciate more than knowing that Maisie’s memory is helping support the well-being of other dogs and cats.

Leave a Kind Word for Greg and Caroline

If you would like to share well wishes with Greg and Caroline, please leave a comment, and I’ll make sure it gets back to them.

News

Youngkin declares state of emergency for hunger relief before federal benefits halt

By Dan Egitto and The Associated Press
Volunteers place food in crates for distribution at the Arlington Food Assistance Center (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A federal food aid program that helps about one-eighth of Americans buy groceries stands to be paused Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown — but Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) says he has found a workaround.

The governor declared a state of emergency today (Thursday), which he said will let him spend emergency funds to provide hunger relief to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is set to pause payments at the end of next week.

Go to Youngkin declares state of emergency for hunger relief before federal benefits halt Read more
Announcement

Ballston Children’s Center Marks 30 Years of Building Strong Foundations for Children

By Ballston Children's Center
Group of young students and two teachers posing for a class photo in a bright, colorful classroom with charts on the wall.

This September, Ballston Children’s Center (BCC), a longtime daycare and preschool in Arlington, VA, celebrates 30 years of serving Arlington families and building a preschool around one belief: the early years are more than preparation for kindergarten — they are the foundation for a child’s future.

Why Arlington Families Choose BCC:

Go to Ballston Children’s Center Marks 30 Years of Building Strong Foundations for Children Read more
News

Options for vacant Lee Community Center include demolishing, expanding or renovating

By Scott McCaffrey
Civic association president Jean Henceroth (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Three options have emerged as county leaders attempt to determine the future of the newly unoccupied Lee Community Center.

The county could upgrade the building, expand the facility or demolish it and construct something entirely new.

Go to Options for vacant Lee Community Center include demolishing, expanding or renovating Read more
Event

2026 Ocean, River Cruises & Guided Tours Showcase (@ Germantown, MD)

Event poster for the Ocean, River & Guided Tours Travel Showcase on Sept. 19, with a register button and a QR code. Includes multiple travel-brand logos in a collage background.

BlackRock Center For The Arts

12901 Town Commons Dr

Germantown, Maryland 20874

Website Contact Social

Dreaming about your next vacation? Join Cruise Planners Beth Borrego and Rod Rodriguez for an inspiring day devoted to ocean and river cruises, guided tours, luxury travel and unforgettable destinations!

Meet representatives from AmaWaterways, Collette, Oceania Cruises and Premier World Discovery. Hear informative presentations, ask questions, explore exciting vacation possibilities and discover which travel experience may be the perfect fit for you.

Go to 2026 Ocean, River Cruises & Guided Tours Showcase (@ Germantown, MD) Read more
News

Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during shutdown

By The Associated Press
The Capitol is seen at nightfall on day 22 of a government shutdown in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week.

With unpaid staff and law enforcement standing nearby, Republicans objected as Democrats proposed a voice vote on their legislation to pay all federal workers and prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from mass firings. Democrats then blocked a Republican bill to pay employees who are working and not furloughed, 54-45.

Go to Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during shutdown Read more
News

Bluemont tennis courts to receive $6.5M upgrade, despite pickleball enthusiast’s critiques

By Scott McCaffrey
Tennis in Bluemont Park under cloudy summer skies (Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick)

The tennis courts at Bluemont Park are getting a multimillion-dollar overhaul aimed at creating a regional showplace for the sport.

County Board members unanimously approved a $6.5 million construction contract on Tuesday for a project that began the planning phase in 2018 but was halted during the pandemic era before being restarted. While advocates spoke to the need for improvements to the crumbling facilities, the vote also earned flak from a local pickleball enthusiast.

Go to Bluemont tennis courts to receive $6.5M upgrade, despite pickleball enthusiast’s critiques Read more
Around Town

Arlington deals: Federal worker discounts continue

By Katie Taranto
Dishes from Nue Elegantly Vietnamese (via Nue Elegantly Vietnamese/Facebook)

The following was originally emailed to ARLnow Press Club members this past weekend. Sign up to get upgraded newsletters and exclusive features while supporting local news in your community.

Hoping to save on dining and other purchases, or check out limited-time offerings at Arlington restaurants?

Go to Arlington deals: Federal worker discounts continue Read more
Around Town

At Pentagon City ‘fish spa,’ nibbling fish exfoliate customers’ feet

By Katie Taranto
Garra Spas in Pentagon City (via Garra Fish Spas VA/Facebook)

A fish-forward pedicure experience is in store for some shoppers at the Pentagon City mall.

At Garra Spas, clients dip their feet into basins filled with garra rufa fish for a pedicure. The toothless, freshwater species is known to feed on dead skin with a “gentle, therapeutic touch,” owner Christina Pearson said in a release.

Go to At Pentagon City ‘fish spa,’ nibbling fish exfoliate customers’ feet Read more
Sports

Strategy pays off as O’Connell boys win Catholic cross-country state crown

By Dave Facinoli
The Bishop O'Connell boys gather with the state Catholic cross-country championship trophy (courtesy of O'Connell cross country)

The strategy of running as a tight group for large portions of the race helped the Bishop O’Connell Knights win two significant boys cross-country championships this fall.

The most recent was a state title, coming Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 21) in Newport News when the Knights won the nine-team State Catholic Cross Country high-school crown on the flat and tight-turned 5,000-meter Newport News Park course.

Go to Strategy pays off as O’Connell boys win Catholic cross-country state crown Read more
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