Party chair Matthew Hurtt leads members in the Republican Creed at a 2025 meeting (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
The chair of Arlington’s GOP is seeking 15% more local votes for statewide candidates in 2025 than the party received in 2021.
Party chair Matthew Hurtt hopes the ticket with gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, alongside lieutenant governor candidate John Reid and incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, can earn more than the 21,548 Arlington votes that Republican Glenn Youngkin earned in the 2021 governor’s race.
Halloween decorations along N. Jackson Street in October 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
It’s now officially fall, and Halloween decorations are just starting to proliferate across Arlington.
While the Halloween displays in stores may start in August, pumpkins and other decor typically don’t start appearing in yards, front entrances and balconies until well into September.
But there is wide variance in when those Halloween decorations go up. Some people might get started early in September, while others wait until just before the big day in late October.
What’s the most common time to put out the spooky decorations in Arlington? Let’s find out.
What could a different form of local government mean for Arlington and the people who live here?
Arlington is growing and evolving, and soon, the County will begin an internal assessment to determine if our 93-year-old government structure is still the best fit for our future. Because everything from property taxes to neighborhood infrastructure is shaped by this structure, understanding our options is the first step in shaping what comes next. As the County begins its review, now is the time to get informed about how different models work.
Join Advance Arlington on September 9 for a timely discussion featuring leaders from Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax. Hear how different forms of local government work in practice, what each can offer, and what potential changes could mean for Arlington.
Whether you join us in person at Lubber Run Community Center or virtually via Zoom, this is an opportunity to get informed, hear perspectives from across the region, and better understand an issue that could shape Arlington’s future.
WETA headquarters in Shirlington (staff photo by James Jarvis)
County Board members are honoring WETA’s upcoming 61st birthday and pledging to support the public-media outlet as it faces budget challenges and a hostile Trump administration.
“We are extremely proud to defend you and stand by you,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said on Sept. 16 during the presentation of a proclamation honoring the organization’s first day on the air: Oct. 2, 1961.
There’s something a little bit magical about picking up a foil for the first time — or drawing back a bow and watching your arrow fly true. It’s why fencing and archery have such a hold on kids and adults alike: real focus, real skill, and a thrill you don’t get from the usual sports lineup.
This fall, Nova Fencing & Archery Club in Bailey’s Crossroads is opening registration for both, with beginner classes for every age starting the week of September 12th. Fencing welcomes ages 7 to 12 and teens and adults 13 and up. Explore Archery, coached by USA Archery certified instructors, welcomes ages 8 to 12 and meets Tuesdays or Saturdays. And for our youngest fencers, ages 4 to 6, ABC’s of Fencing meets on Saturdays. All classes run eight sessions for $195, equipment provided, no experience needed — yes, even for grown-ups who’ve never held a sword or a bow before.
Rain outside the windows of the Gold’s Gym near Ballston (courtesy George Brazier)
Marymount Rises in Rankings — “In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges Rankings, Marymount reached its highest-ever position among all National Universities, rising 15 spots to No. 273. For the first time, Marymount is ranked No. 1 among all Virginia private institutions.” [Press Release]
Big Raise for Arlington Startup — “Auterion LLC, an Arlington-based provider of software for military drones, said Tuesday it has raised a $130 million Series B round to expand its offerings… The company has now raised about $195 million to date. Defense and national security startups in Greater Washington are enjoying a surge of large funding rounds, thanks to new technologies and policy shifts under the Trump administration.” [WBJ]
Blower Ban Meeting — “Did you hear the news? Arlington County is considering a year-round prohibition of gas-powered leaf blowers. Don’t miss our virtual community meeting where we’ll discuss this potential change together. Thurs, Sept 25 6:30-7:30 PM.” [Arlington County/X]
Costs, Threats Worrying Va. Voters — “Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center poll, released Thursday, shows that the rising cost of living continues to dominate as the No. 1 voter issue in Virginia at 21%, mirroring multiple VCU Wilder School polls this past year. Threats to democracy came in second at 18% in the Wason Center poll.” [Axios]
It’s Wednesday — Expect partly sunny skies with an 81°F high and calm winds shifting south at 5 mph in the afternoon. For Wednesday night, there’s a 60% chance of precipitation, including potential showers and thunderstorms before 11 pm, transitioning to likely showers and maybe a thunderstorm after 2 am, with a low of 69°F. [NWS]
Friends, foodies, and City of Falls Church lovers, get ready for the Little City’s biggest celebration yet at the 🌟50th Annual Falls Church Festival! Festivities return on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 300 Park Ave.!
🌮 Dive into delicious, local eats from 17+ onsite eateries and breweries 🍻 Sip away in the beer garden and jam out to live music 🛍️ Peruse over 85 crafters, community groups, and merchant vendors 🎸 Bounce around the inflatables, children’s shows, and pony rides 🔎 Explore the festival through the Big 50 Scavenger Hunt
Expect partly sunny skies with an 81°F high and calm winds shifting south at 5 mph in the afternoon. For Wednesday night, there’s a 60% chance of precipitation, including potential showers and thunderstorms before 11 pm, transitioning to likely showers and maybe a thunderstorm after 2 am, with a low of 69°F. New rainfall amounts could range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible during thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The power of imagination makes us infinite.” – John Muir
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.
Todd Isao Endo was born in Los Angeles, California on December 30, 1941, just three weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to Frank Aiji Endo and Alice Yuriko Sumida Endo. In 1942, Todd and his family were imprisoned by the U.S. government along with 125,000 other Japanese Americans during World War II. The Endo family was detained at Rohwer Internment Center in Arkansas until 1945. After their release, Todd’s family relocated to Ohio before settling in the Washington, DC area. There Todd grew up and attended school graduating from Wheaton High School in 1959. A strong scholar/athlete, Todd played basketball and baseball, participated in student government, and won the Japanese American Citizens League national oratorical contest in 1962. Todd continued his education at Oberlin College where he met lifelong friends and continued to enjoy academics and play sports (soccer, basketball & squash). He graduated in history in 1963.
Compelled by his family’s experience of unjust treatment during the internment, and urged by his mother Alice to recognize parallels between the Japanese American experience with the unjust treatment of African Americans, Todd became involved in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 and later taking part in the voting rights demonstrations in Selma, Alabama in 1965.
A woman was injured by a tree on a relatively remote section of the Pimmit Run Trail this afternoon.
The incident happened around 2 p.m. on the trail, which runs along Pimmit Run near the Arlington-Fairfax County border. Initial reports suggest the woman was struck by a large, falling tree branch, suffering potential back and neck injuries.
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Work on a permanent roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive is moving forward, but it won’t be finished for a couple years.
The project, which follows temporary changes to the intersection in 2021, will involve widening sidewalks, upgrading utilities and installing a rain garden at the center of the roundabout.
Looking for a fall activity that gets you moving and builds real confidence? EvolveAll Martial Arts and Training Studio is offer free classes for youth and adults during it’s upcoming Intro Week, September 14-19.
EvolveAll, Arlington’s martial arts and fitness community off Columbia Pike, is once again opening its doors for a full week of free trial classes — and youth classes are one of the highlights. Kids ages 5-15 will get to try hands-on martial arts instruction designed to build discipline, focus, and self-defense skills in a supportive, age-appropriate environment.