Arlington’s elected leadership is not saying much about the future of the county’s Missing Middle policy — at least not from the dais.
Pressed to make some comment on what will happen with the residential zoning change — known alternately as Expanded Housing Options (EHO) — County Board members on Saturday (Oct. 19) opted to stay mum.
The McDonald’s at 3013 Columbia Pike is back in business after some renovations.
The location was bustling with dozens of customers this morning (Monday) after closing for at least a month. The fast food restaurant remodeled its kitchen to improve efficiency and installed a new service counter, a representative told ARLnow.
While summer is often a slower season for many businesses, BizLaunch has been hard at work supporting Arlington entrepreneurs and preparing an exciting lineup of fall programs. From business growth strategies to inspiring founder stories, there are plenty of opportunities ahead for small business owners looking to learn, connect and grow.
Arlington Growth Accelerator
Ready to take your business to the next level?
The Arlington Growth Accelerator is a selective, cohort-based leadership program designed for established businesses poised for growth. Offered in partnership with SCORE, the program features six hybrid half-day sessions that guide participants through the development of a practical four-year growth strategy focused on operations, financing and long-term success.
Participants will leave with:
Whether you’re planning your next phase of expansion or looking to strengthen your business foundation, this program provides the tools and support to help you grow with confidence. Join us for an info session about the program on Aug. 5 at 12:00 p.m. Program kicks off Sept. 25.
Chefpreneur Chat: Unidos Somos Más (Together We Are More)
Join us Oct. 13 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. for a special Chefpreneur Chat celebrating this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, Unidos Somos Más (Together We Are More).
Hosted by BizLaunch in partnership with Arlington Public Libraries, this interactive event will spotlight the entrepreneur behind Panamericana Bakery. Attendees will enjoy a live fish preparation demonstration while hearing firsthand how the business was built and grown in Arlington.
The conversation, moderated by Dov & Company, will explore entrepreneurship, culture, community and resilience. Guests will gain practical insights from a successful business owner while celebrating the contributions of Hispanic entrepreneurs who help shape Arlington’s vibrant business community.
To continue the celebration, BizLaunch will also launch a social media campaign highlighting stories of collaboration, partnership and the collective impact of Hispanic-owned businesses across Arlington. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when registration for this event opens.
Stay Connected
Fall is just getting started.
In addition to a full lineup of educational programs and networking opportunities, BizLaunch will soon open registration for its annual, 2027 BizLaunch Transformational and PitchFest program, a five-week cohort experience where participants compete for cash prizes while strengthening their businesses.
Stay up to date on upcoming events, workshops and resources by subscribing to the BizLaunch newsletter. Learn more at www.bizlaunch.org.
New figures show efforts to reduce absenteeism in Arlington public schools may be bearing fruit.
When Arlington School Board members approved the system’s fiscal 2025 budget in the spring, they set a goal of ultimately reducing chronic absenteeism from the then-current level of 13.5% to less than 8%. In recently updated data, there was a bit of progress on that front.
Arlington leaders believe people-power helped sway National Park Service officials to re-evaluate plans for clearing more trees and vegetation adjacent to the George Washington Memorial Parkway in the county.
The acting superintendent of the GW Parkway announced on Friday (Oct. 18) that a “full review” would be conducted before anything else happens in the verdant buffer area between the roadway and the Potomac River below it.
*Mamistad Groups meet IN PERSON-only the introductory Zoom call is virtual. :)
Pregnancy and new mom groups are a lifesaver when it comes to normalizing those feelings we just can’t be prepared for.
The Arlington County Board has tidied up a section of the county’s zoning ordinance that caused the Fairlington neighborhood fits.
County Board members on Saturday (Oct. 19) approved zoning amendments removing bureaucratic hurdles that had been placed on interior renovations and expansions of older townhouse and condominium properties.
One day of D.C. Startup and Tech Week is taking place in Crystal City tomorrow (Tuesday).
Kicking off at 10 a.m. at the National Landing Experience Center at 241 18th Street S., the full day of programming will cover topics including AI and business, Web3 and blockchain, and climate and sustainability.
Public Hearing Set for Deer-Culling Plan — Arlington County Board members voted 5-0 Saturday to advertise for a Nov. 16 public hearing zoning changes needed to bring professional sharpshooters to the county starting the winter of 2025-26 to address deer overpopulation. –Scott McCaffrey
Towing Changes Hearing Set for November — Despite concerns voiced by the chair of the Trespass Towing Advisory Board and several business groups, Arlington County Board members on Saturday set a Nov. 16 public hearing on a wide array of changes to the county’s towing regulations. –Scott McCaffrey
Boeing Strike May Be Ending — “Boeing and its machinists’ union have reached a new contract proposal, the union said Saturday, outlining a deal that could end a more than month-long strike that has hobbled the manufacturers’ aircraft production. The ratification vote is set for Wednesday.” [CNBC]
Alleged Shoe Thief Nabbed at Pentagon — From Dave Statter: “Police gather up about 20 pairs of shoes and arrest a man officers say was with that large haul at the Pentagon Transit Center last night. @PFPAOfficial officers spotted the man and confirmed the shoes were stolen from T.J. Maxx on S. Joyce Street in nearby Pentagon City. @ArlingtonVaPD soon arrived to help.” [Twitter]
Man Accused of Assaulting Cops — “3800 block of Columbia Pike. At approximately 12:31 a.m. on October 18, police responded to the report of a dispute inside a residential building. While conducting the investigation, the suspect disregarded officer’s commands and pushed an officer to enter the scene of the investigation and subsequently stuck another officer.” [ACPD]
Chicken at National Airport — From @WashProbs on Sunday: “A random chicken was spotted at DCA at 8 am this morning.” [Twitter]
MoCo Missing Middle Melee — “Deep blue and normally like-minded, Montgomery County isn’t a typical setting for political divides, especially one with angry shouting at public meetings where each side accuses the other of working to ruin Maryland’s most populous county… But introduce a plan to allow new housing types in single-family neighborhoods and fault lines start to emerge.” [Washington Post]
It’s Monday — Expect sunshine and a comfortable high of about 77°F, accompanied by a light northwest wind at around 6 mph. As night falls, the skies will remain clear and the temperature will drop to a cool 51°F with calm winds. [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.
Trailing 10-0 at halftime to an opponent with many bigger linemen, the Bishop O’Connell Knights were confident they were still in the game.
In the second half, though, that size advantage for the host St. Mary’s Ryken Knights began wearing on O’Connell, which eventually lost the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Metro Division high-school football game, 38-7, Friday night (Oct. 18) in Maryland.
Arlington County Board members today (Saturday) green-lighted the operation of a weekly farmers market in the Green Valley community that will start next year.
The action, voted on as part of the board’s consent agenda of non-controversial items, will allow a local non-profit to host up to 19 vendors Fridays from 4-7 p.m. from April to Thanksgiving each year.
