Girl Scout cookie season is approaching, and soon there will be a whole lot of them in Arlington and Falls Church.
At publication time, least 16 cookie booths are planned across the county, with at least six more in the Little City. They’ll appear on sidewalks outside local grocery stores, apartment buildings and more, beginning Friday, Feb. 7 and continuing through mid-March.
A lack of commercial properties in Arlington’s development pipeline is having a negative impact on the community’s tree canopy.
The Arlington County government’s Tree Canopy Fund last spring had “essentially run out of money” and was being kept alive by a one-time, $250,000 appropriation from County Board members.
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
Overnight Water Main Break — From Arlington Alert: “I-66 Tunnel Near N Nash St… I-66 EB lanes are closed to traffic. Follow signage and seek alternate routes…. Closure – Midnight to 4 A.M. [Twitter]
Prosecutor Blasts GOP Tweet — From Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti: “It is reckless and irresponsible for the Arlington Republican Party to ask the federal government to target Arlington democratic officials for criminal prosecution. As prosecutors, my staff and I are often subjected to threats of violence. It’s not a laughing matter.” [Bluesky]
GOP Reports Phone Harassment — From the Arlington GOP: “We just received a 2nd harassing phone call. The area code was Indiana-based. We found that those who call to harass us often ‘spoof’ other phone numbers, meaning it is difficult to track who is actually making the calls. No mind. We will continue to defend women and girls.” [Twitter]
Video: Driver Strikes Cyclist — From Dave Statter: “Another crosswalk collision. Traffic-camera shows a bicyclist being struck at S. 15th and S. Fern in Pentagon City yesterday. Injuries reported as non-life threatening.” [Twitter]
Bakeshop Opening in Vienna — “Bakeshop, which got its start 15 years ago in Arlington, is taking over the storefront at 421 Maple Avenue that was vacated last summer by Skorpios Maggio’s Greek Family Restaurant.” [FFXnow]
ART Ridership Levels Rising — Arlington Transit (ART) bus ridership was up 8.1% year-over-year for the first five months of the county government’s fiscal year. The passenger count was 1,076,198 for the July-through-November period in 2024, up from 995,894 during the same period in 2023 and from 857,847 in 2022. Figures were presented Jan. 14 to the county government’s Transit Advisory Committee. –Scott McCaffrey
It’s Friday — Expect a mostly sunny day with a high of around 33 and northwest winds at 5 to 9 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear with lows around 15 degrees. Northwest winds at 5 mph will become calm after midnight. [NWS]
Flickr pool photo by ksrjghkegkdhgkk
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Jan 23, 2025.
Here is what’s going on Friday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect a mostly sunny day with a high of around 33 degrees and northwest winds at 5 to 9 mph. Friday night will be mostly clear with lows around 15 degrees. Northwest winds at 5 mph will become calm after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”
– H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
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.
Live standup comedy in Arlington on Friday July 31 starring Jim Bryan, Kim Villamera, and Greg Billet.
Friday, July 31, 2026
A set of 25 new license plate cameras are scheduled to go live in Arlington in coming weeks.
The cameras, from the surveillance company Flock Safety, provide more information than the county’s existing license plate readers, which have been in use since 2012.
Some high-school postseason action for winter sports teams are set to begin, with the Liberty District swimming and diving and track-and-field championships for the Wakefield Warriors, Washington-Liberty Generals and Yorktown Patriots.
The coming week also includes plenty of regular-season basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, ice hockey and track-and-field action for Arlington teams.
French-Asian pastries, samosas, gelato and more are “coming soon” to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.
The mall at 1100 S. Hayes Street recently announced a slate of four incoming restaurants, with offerings ranging from masala fries to fast-casual chicken and bowls. More information on planned openings dates was not immediately available.
A number of Arlington and Falls Church restaurants were honored this week as some of “The 100 Very Best Restaurants” in the D.C. area.
Taking into account both food and atmosphere, Washingtonian’s annual rankings recognized 20 Northern Virginia restaurants as the best of the best. Three Arlington spots and a half dozen Falls Church spots are repeat winners — but the list includes a couple of newcomers.
Newly proposed legislation could make it possible for Arlington to implement major county-government changes.
Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) has introduced a bill for the 2025 General Assembly session that would make it possible for Arlington voters and officials to adopt several changes.
