Arlington’s top elected official says there’s nothing the county government can do to prevent the demise of Arlington Independent Media (AIM).
“The law is what the law is. We cannot do too much about that,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the Sept. 13 Board meeting, responding to concerns raised during the public-comment period about the state of local media in Arlington.
One of the nation’s leading voices in public health will speak about issues related to loneliness at an Arlington event later this week.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served as surgeon general under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, will address the “epidemic of loneliness” on Thursday at VHC Health (1701 N. George Mason Drive).
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.
Crime is declining on the Metro system, but riders’ perceptions of safety depend on which mode of transportation they use.
Riders on Metrobus reported more safety concerns than those on Metrorail. Overall, however, rider satisfaction rates are either flat or improving, according to data reported at the Sept. 11 meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Area Transit Authority’s safety and operations committee.
Missed opportunities and key mistakes contributed to the Yorktown Patriots falling to 1-2 as the high-school football season rolls on.
Yorktown was defeated in that game on the road by the Centreville Wildcats, 38-14, in non-district action the night of Sept. 12.
Event location
Fort Hunt Park
8999 Fort Hunt Rd
Alexandria, Virginia 22308
Join Breast Cancer Collective for the 2026 Walk to Bust Cancer on Sunday, October 18, at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria.
Walk alongside survivors, caregivers, friends, families, and neighbors for an uplifting community event supporting access to breast cancer screening and care across the DMV.
Walk to Bust Cancer brings our community together to turn hope into action and help expand access to timely breast health care. Register to walk, gather your team, and join us at Fort Hunt Park.
A boutique fitness studio is coming to Ballston and hosting free pop-up classes around town this fall.
The gym franchise barre3 has signed a lease at 818 N. Quincy Street in Ballston, according to a press release. In advance of the opening, the new studio is hosting pop-up community classes across Arlington over the next few weeks.
Two more suspects have been arrested in connection to a “suspicious” apartment fire near Columbia Pike earlier this year.
Erasbiel Flores, 22, was booked into jail on Sept. 8, according to court records. An alleged co-conspirator, 20-year-old Wilmer Adan Agustin De Leon, was taken into custody the following day.
Developers went 1-for-2 with County Board members on Saturday as one major redevelopment plan won approval and another went back to the drawing board.
It wasn’t everything they wanted, but County Board members got enough to unanimously approve the redevelopment of a key parcel in Clarendon.
It has been a while since the Wakefield Warriors have had a winning record early in any football season.
But thanks to a 34-20 road victory over the Lewis Lancers Friday night (Sept. 12) in non-district play, Wakefield improved to 2-1 after losing its season opener.
Flyover Planned This Morning — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct a flyover in the NCR over Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, September 15, 2025, at approximately 11:15AM.”
Spanberger Visits Arlington — “It was wonderful to join so many dedicated volunteers for a canvass launch in Arlington this afternoon! Every door, every phone call, and every dollar will make a difference in this election — and I’m so grateful for the support.” [Abigail Spanberger/X, Alfonso Lopez/X]
Chalk Protest Near Official’s Home — Protesters targeted White House official Stephen Miller’s Arlington home over the weekend, writing chalk messages on nearby sidewalks and drawing condemnation from local Republicans. [Arlington GOP/X]
Arlingtonian Arrested in Annandale — “A 20-year-old Arlington man is facing drug and firearm-related charges after he and another man were arrested following a traffic stop in Fairfax County, according to authorities.” [Patch]
Layoffs from DCA Concessions — “Paradies Lagardere, a concession manager at DCA, disclosed in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing with Virginia it could terminate dozens of jobs starting on Sept. 26. It is looking to close Magic Pan, Say Si Bon and U Street Pub in Concourse C, a spokesperson told me.” [WBJ]
It’s Monday — Expect partly sunny skies with a high near 82 degrees and an east wind between 5 to 9 mph during the day. Tonight, there’s a slight chance of showers after 2am, and it will be mostly cloudy with a low around 62 degrees. A northeast wind of about 7 mph is predicted, with a 20% chance of precipitation. [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.
