Arlington County has announced a new date for its popular collection event for electronics and hazardous household materials.
Spring E-CARE, which was postponed in March due to a double booking with an Arlington Public Schools job fair, will actually take place on the second day of summer, June 21. It will be happening near Washington-Liberty High School at 1425 N. Quincy Street.
The Arlington Outdoor Lab is expected to grow by 85 acres through the purchase of an adjacent tract in Fauquier County.
The Arlington Outdoor Education Association’s (AOEA) purchase will increase the lab’s current 226 acres by over a third.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A will is only one part of a comprehensive estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also benefit from:
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.
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.
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
Debate over housing and urbanization once again took center stage as candidates for the Democratic County Board nomination squared off at a forum last week.
Current County Board Chair Takis Karantonis met his sole challenger, James DeVita, at an Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting that attracted about 150 people on Wednesday.
Mass for New Pope — “As Bishop of Arlington, I invite all the faithful to join me for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV, which will take place at the Cathedral of Saint Thomas More on Monday, May 12 at 12:05PM. This Mass of Thanksgiving will also be available via livestream, for those unable to attend in person.” [Diocese of Arlington, Northern Virginia Magazine]
Arrests in Front of Mall — “Police with guns drawn in the driveway at the main entrance to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City during this morning’s rush hour. Two people were cuffed and taken away by @ArlingtonVaPD. This started when an officer spotted the car. Early word is that it was stolen from Prince George’s County.” [Dave Statter/X]
Water Worries for Area — “Fairfax and Prince William counties have a backup supply in Occoquan Reservoir, and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties draw a large portion of their water from the Patuxent River. These reservoirs can — and do — release their water into the Potomac River during drought conditions. However, if the Potomac River were to become contaminated, there is no backup water supply for D.C., Arlington County and the City of Falls Church.” [WTOP]
Tariff Woes for Local Company — “Shares in Fluence are down more than 73% year to date. Its share price took a steep dive in February after Trump announced plans to hike steel and aluminum tariffs as well as reciprocal tariffs to match the tax rates other countries charge on imports… It went public later that year. It’s headquartered at 4601 Fairfax Drive in Ballston with 18 other offices worldwide.” [WBJ]
Remembering ‘Nature Boy’ — “What’s in a name? I enjoy walking along the wooded trail in the Zachary Taylor Nature Area (which runs from Military Road, up to the Marymount campus). On a recent stroll, passing the sign into the trail, I asked myself this question: why the heck is a nature area named for Zachary Taylor? … I hereby suggest that it would be wonderful to call it the Tom Richards Nature Area.” [FCNP]
Townhouse Proposal in F.C. — “A proposal to rezone the properties at 106 and 108 South Lee Street is currently under consideration by the City of Falls Church, and it’s generating significant discussion within the community… The core of Madison Homes’ proposal is to replace the two existing single-family detached dwellings with a twelve (12) unit townhome development.” [Falls Church Pulse, Falls Church Pulse]
It’s Monday — Expect mostly cloudy skies and a high near 76, accompanied by a south wind at 5 to 8 mph, and showers starting in the afternoon. For Monday night, showers are predicted with possible thunderstorms overnight. Low temperature will be around 64, and southeast wind around 7 mph. Precipitation likelihood rises to 90%. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious workspace for years and we appreciate the worry-free setup — you can focus on your work while they handle the coffee, supplies, and all those little office details. Multiple locations near Metro stations throughout Arlington.
Live standup comedy in Arlington on Friday July 31 starring Jim Bryan, Kim Villamera, and Greg Billet.
Friday, July 31, 2026
The girls softball program at Yorktown High School turned 50 years old this spring, and there was a pregame event May 2 to celebrate the anniversary.
Some 30 alumni from past teams were on the field introduced prior to Yorktown’s Liberty District home game against the Marshall Statesmen.
There was a game-within-a-game when the Washington-Liberty Generals and Wakefield Warriors met recently in a girls varsity high-school lacrosse match.
In that all-Arlington clash, twin freshman sisters Addison and Emily Schimmel played for opposite teams. Addison was a member of the W-L squad and Emily was in uniform for host Wakefield.
Led by speedy sprinters, winning relays and other top performers, the Bishop O’Connell Knights girls and boys teams had winning and runner-up performances at the annual Draper Invitational outdoor track-and-field meet.
The 30-team high-school event was held May 2-3 at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria.
The website Novahoops.com recently named a number of high-school basketball players from Arlington to its girls and boys all-Northern Virginia freshman and sophomore teams for the 2024-25 season.
On the girls sophomore team was Arlington’s Sabrina Anderson, a guard for the Potomac School private squad, who already has scored 1,000 career points. Bishop O’Connell’s Mia Morrill was chosen a reserve on the sophomore team.
For Dick Abood, coaching high-school lacrosse has become a habit with no firm end in sight. He’s been doing so for 38 years.
Turning 69 this month, the grandfather likes the work so much, he continues in his current position for a third year as an assistant junior-varsity boys coach at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington.
