Around Town

A new Five Guys has arrived at Reagan National Airport, and two other dining options are opening there soon.

The burger joint is located near gate D35, and the forthcoming restaurants are Makers Union and Wiseguy Pizza, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced today.


Around Town

A bookstore and cafe with a taste for the mystical, metaphysical and macabre has announced plans to open in Falls Church.

The Dark, Unbound plans to sell books by “underrepresented voices in the fantasy, science-fiction, speculative fiction and horror genres,” in a cozy, moody atmosphere. It is in the works at 112 W. Broad Street, where Dominion Camera closed in September.


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

Arlington officials are considering whether it would be worth establishing a community foundation to supplement funding for local park facilities and programming.

So far, however, there’s no firm consensus on the Park and Recreation Commission on whether this would be a good step to take.


Announcement

Local entrepreneur MaryBeth Powers is being featured on an episode of Women in Power, a series that highlights inspiring women whose passion, perseverance, and purpose have made a meaningful impact in their communities.

The episode shares the remarkable story behind Teddy’s Turmeric Tamer®, an all-natural daily wellness topper for dogs that was born from love and determination. After MaryBeth’s beloved dog, Teddy, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and given just 2–4 weeks to live, she refused to give up hope. Through extensive research and a commitment to natural wellness, she created a unique blend of premium ingredients to support Teddy’s health. Teddy went on to enjoy three more years filled with love, comfort and quality of life.


News

Plans to develop a new streetscape along Campbell Avenue could bring a more pedestrian-oriented focus to Shirlington beginning next year.

Property management company Federal Realty Investment Trust, which owns the Village at Shirlington retail center, proposes to overhaul the neighborhood’s central avenue with the following improvements.


Event

Bring the whole family to Arlington Mill for an evening of laughs, basketball, and underdog determination with Goat.

This animated family comedy follows a determined young goat chasing his dream of becoming a professional basketball star. Before the movie, kids can enjoy face painting and family-friendly activities, making this one of our most kid-focused events of the summer.


News

Arlington’s parks are still among the best in the country — but they don’t rank quite as high as they used to.

For the first time since 2017, Arlington County’s parks failed to rank among the top five in the nationwide “ParkScore” rankings. They fell from No. 5 last year to No. 7, in between San Francisco and Seattle.


News
Umbrella protects a food truck’s generator on a rainy day in Ballston (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Board Worried About Loss of Workers — “While Youngkin has said the federal job cuts are necessary for fiscal responsibility, and that the state will hire many displaced workers, Karantonis said that may not preserve Arlington’s highly trained workforce… ‘We’re losing the crème of the crème. These are not people who I can send to the community college to be retrained,’ Karantonis said. ‘If they go, they go from Virginia, not only from Arlington or Northern Virginia, they go from the Commonwealth.'” [WTOP]

Feds Face Mental Health Issues — “In interviews, more than 30 former and current federal workers told The Washington Post that the chaos and mass firings had left them feeling devalued, demoralized and scared for themselves and the country. Many described problems they’d never experienced before: insomnia, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts.” [Washington Post]

Call for Tighter Helo Rules — “In a May 16 letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Norton urged the Federal Aviation Administration to place new limits on helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport specifically, allowing them only for the president, vice president and ‘in the case of a national security emergency.'” [WTOP]

Video: Erratic Man Detained — “A man running along S. Crystal Drive near S. 26th Street confronted people in a parked white SUV and then unsuccessfully tried to get into a car that was driving down the street. A few minutes later, the same man got into a fight with someone. The original white SUV pulled down and the driver helped out, restraining the man until @ArlingtonVaPD arrived.” [Dave Statter/X]

Fracas Near Four Mile — “The three male victims were outside when the male suspect approached, engaged them in conversation and briefly walked away before returning and allegedly striking one of the victims. A physical altercation between the suspect and victims ensued before separating. Responding officers located the suspect in the 4800 block of Columbia Pike and detained him. The suspect and one victim sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to an area hospital.” [ACPD]

JBG Dips Toe in Tysons — “JBG Smith Properties has acquired a 1980s-era office campus in Tysons… It’s a curious move for a company that for years has sold off “non-core” assets to concentrate its placemaking efforts in National Landing — a stretch along Metro in Arlington in Alexandria home to Amazon’s HQ2 and Virginia Tech’s graduate campus — and to shift the balance of its assets from office into multifamily.” [WBJ]

It’s Wednesday — Expect showers with a high near 60°F, accompanied by a southeast wind of 11 to 13 mph gusting up to 23 mph and 100% chance of precipitation, potentially accumulating between a quarter and half an inch. For Wednesday night, showers and possible thunderstorms are likely before 2 am, followed by a chance of showers. The low will be around 56°F, and an east wind of 5 to 10 mph, with a 70% chance of precipitation. [NWS]


Legal Notice

Notice is hereby given that B Care Transportation LLC, 6324 31st Street N, Arlington, Virginia 22207, has filed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity that would authorize: 1. Passenger transportation as a Common Carrier over Irregular Routes, providing service in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park, Virginia, and the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, Virginia and; 2. The transportation of Medicaid recipients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Carrier as defined in Section 46.2-2000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia.

Any person who desires to protest the application and be a party to the matter must submit a signed and dated written request setting forth (1) a precise statement of the party’s interest and how the party could be aggrieved if the application was granted; (2) a full and clear statement of the facts that the person is prepared to provide by competent evidence; (3) a statement of the specific relief sought; (4) the name of the applicant and case number assigned to the application; and (5) a certification that a copy of the protest was sent to the applicant. The case number assigned to this application is MC2500282KP.

Written protests must be mailed to DMV Motor Carrier Services, Attn: Operating Authority, P. O. Box 27412, Richmond, VA 23269-0001 and must be postmarked on or before June 4, 2025.

Any protest filed with competent evidence will be carefully considered by DMV, however, DMV will have full discretion as to whether a hearing is warranted based on the merits of the protest filed.


Around Town

Good Tuesday 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 — May 20, 2025.

📅 Upcoming events

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

⛈️ Wednesday’s forecast

Expect showers with a high near 60°F, accompanied by a southeast wind of 11 to 13 mph gusting up to 23 mph and 100% chance of precipitation, potentially accumulating between a quarter and half an inch. For Wednesday night, showers and possible thunderstorms are likely before 2 am, followed by a chance of showers. The low will be around 56°F, and an east wind of 5 to 10 mph, with a 70% chance of precipitation. Rainfall may measure between a tenth and quarter of an inch, with higher amounts during thunderstorms. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
– Albert Schweitzer

🌅 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! Feel free to discuss the day’s happenings in the comments.


News

The Arlington County Police Department is disbanding its Gang Unit amid a shift in tools available to officers investigating gang-related crime.

Personnel within the Gang Unit, which investigates gangs and provides street-level gang enforcement, will be reassigned elsewhere in the Criminal Investigations Division, ACPD spokesperson Alli Shorb told ARLnow.