Leaders of Arlington Public Schools are getting an early start on health-insurance renewal, while bringing employees into the conversation from the very beginning.
The goal, Superintendent Francisco Durán told School Board members Tuesday (Oct. 29), is to do better than in 2023, when confusion over a change in health-care providers and poor communication with the rank-and-file about it sparked outrage and led to an auditor’s investigation.
Looking for a parking spot on N. Glebe Road? Be sure to read the signs.
A roughly 0.7-mile section of the road is home to Arlington’s lone “rush hour zones,” portions of the roadway where drivers may only park outside of hours of peak road congestion.
For Tessa Cannon, books are more than stories. They’re a way to build community.
As the owner of The Wandering Shelf, an independent mobile bookstore that launched in Arlington in May 2025, Cannon brings books directly to readers across the community. Operating out of a bookstore van, she sells new and used books for all ages, along with book-themed merchandise, at events and locations throughout Arlington.
The idea grew from both her love of Arlington and her desire to expand access to independent bookstores.
“There are two main reasons I chose Arlington,” Cannon said. “First, I love Arlington and am one of its biggest fans. Second, Arlington is near communities with an incredible array of independent bookstores, yet at the time Arlington had only one bookstore selling new books. I wanted to grow our independent bookstore network and bring books to more Arlingtonians.”
As she prepared to launch the business, Cannon worked with Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch program, which connected her with a SCORE mentor and provided guidance through the startup process.
“BizLaunch was helpful in many ways,” she said. “They connected me with a mentor from SCORE, provided guidance on county-specific licenses and shared a fantastic Small Business Checklist. The BizLaunch website is filled with helpful resources.”
One customer interaction stands out as Cannon’s favorite business memory. A customer purchased a copy of I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman and returned a few weeks later to share how much she enjoyed it. Weeks after that, she came back with friends and the same copy of the book, now covered with notes and annotations from everyone who had borrowed and discussed it.
“It was a wonderful reminder of the gift that comes with sharing books with your community and how we are each impacted differently through the stories we read,” Cannon said.
Community remains at the heart of The Wandering Shelf’s mission. Cannon describes the business as “hyperlocal,” with charitable giving and community engagement focused on supporting Arlington residents.
Looking ahead, she hopes to grow the business into a small brick-and-mortar bookstore while keeping the mobile operation on the road.
“We dream of having a third space where people can rest, learn and connect with others,” Cannon said. “We plan to always keep the van running so we can continue meeting people in all the different pockets of Arlington.”
For now, The Wandering Shelf continues bringing books directly to Arlington readers, one stop at a time. For more information about The Wandering Shelf visit www.wanderingshelf.com or their Instagram @thewanderingshelf.va.
BizLaunch Update: Applications Open for the Arlington Growth Accelerator
Ready to take your business to the next level? The Arlington Growth Accelerator is designed for established small businesses looking to scale, strengthen operations and accelerate growth.
This hands-on program connects business owners with expert guidance, practical tools and a network of peers navigating similar growth challenges. Participants will gain insights on strategic planning, financial management, marketing, leadership and long-term business sustainability.
Whether you’re looking to expand your customer base, hire employees or position your business for its next phase of growth, the Arlington Growth Accelerator can help you build a roadmap for success.
Applications are now open. Learn more and apply at www.bizlaunch.org.
The underground Dunkin’ over the Crystal City Metro station has closed.
“At this time, I don’t have any information on whether this is a temporary or permanent closure,” Dunkin’ spokesperson Hannah Goldstein told ARLnow in reference to the location at 1687 Crystal Square Arcade.
Looking for a fall activity that gets you moving and builds real confidence? EvolveAll Martial Arts and Training Studio is offer free classes for youth and adults during it’s upcoming Intro Week, September 14-19.
EvolveAll, Arlington’s martial arts and fitness community off Columbia Pike, is once again opening its doors for a full week of free trial classes — and youth classes are one of the highlights. Kids ages 5-15 will get to try hands-on martial arts instruction designed to build discipline, focus, and self-defense skills in a supportive, age-appropriate environment.
Halloween Driving Safety Reminder — “Drivers should be extra cautious on Halloween. Slow down, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic, and turn on your headlights earlier in the evening to spot children from greater distances.” [ARLnow]
Local Race Fundraising Update — “As of Oct. 24, [County Board candidate JD Spain, Sr.’s] campaign committee received a total of $203,414 in donations… That’s nearly five times more in donation money than the $21,332 reported by Audrey Clement (I) By comparison, Forward Party candidate Madison F. Granger raised $11,419 and Republican Juan Carlos Fierro brought in $9,545.” [Patch]
Sen. Kaine Coming to Green Valley — From JD Spain, Sr.: “[Today], October 31, Senator Tim Kaine and I will be hosting ‘Conversations at the Barber Shop’ here in Arlington. Join us at noon.” [Mailchimp]
Jail Gets Medical Director — “The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the creation of a new county position, Chief Medical Director, that will oversee and enhance the healthcare services provided within the Arlington County Detention Facility. This new leadership role is part of Sheriff Jose Quiroz’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the highest standard of care.” [Press Release]
Unlawful Entry Arrest in Buckingham — “The male victim was entering a vacant unit in a residential building to perform maintenance when he observed the male suspect inside. The victim verbally confronted the suspect who subsequently left the building. The suspect then approached victim outside the building and allegedly attempted to strike him before fleeing the scene on foot.” [ACPD]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunshine, breezy conditions and a high temperature around 79 degrees, with a southwest wind between 7 and 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. Tonight, there is a slight chance of showers after 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 64 degrees. The southwest wind will continue at 11 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. [NWS]
Whether autumn means sipping local ciders, decorating pumpkins with the kids, or enjoying live music, Fall Fest is packed with festive fun for all ages and the perfect way to spend a crisp October afternoon in Rosslyn!
Good Wednesday 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 — Oct 30, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunshine and a high temperature around 79 degrees, accompanied by a southwest wind between 7 and 11 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. As nighttime arrives, there will be a slight chance of showers after 2am, with mostly cloudy skies and a low of 64 degrees. The southwest wind will continue at 11 to 14 mph, gusting as high as 22 mph, and a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”
– Mark Twain
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.
In recent competition, boats from the One Arlington Rowing club reached the medal stand at the Head of the Charles Regatta, held on the Charles River in Boston.
Rowers from One Arlington, consisting of students from Arlington’s three public high schools, showcased their skill and determination at the regatta.
Ginger Beall and Malia Perry had both struggles and good moments during the Girls State Open golf tournament.
The 18-hole Virginia High School League competition was played Monday (Oct. 28) on the par-70 Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg. Beall, a sophomore for the Yorktown Patriots, shot 82 to finish in a four-way tie for 25th. Perry, a senior for the Washington-Liberty Generals, shot 90.
Yorktown High School was placed in an enhanced security stance this morning due to an intruder.
The incident happened around 8 a.m. today (Wednesday) when a former student allegedly entered the school. They were contained to one of the classrooms and police were called.
Members of the Falls Church City Council appear ready to jumpstart plans for the city’s newest park.
As they determine what to do with the city government’s $5.3 million fiscal 2024 surplus, Council members seem enthusiastic to allocate $1.5 million to complete design and move forward with construction on what they call the Fellows site.
We love fall at Art House 7 and can’t wait for you to explore all our offerings. Painting, drawing, ceramics, and sewing/crocheting are our perennials, along with less traditional mediums. Kawaii Style Drawing and Digital Art are among our new classes for kids. We offer an excellent 6-week program for high schoolers preparing their college portfolios. Want something shorter? We have 3-week classes, including linocut notecards. Love ceramics? We have a dedicated studio that comfortably accommodates wheel and hand-building classes.
Fall 1 Session begins Tue. Sep. 8.
