Expect showers and possible thunderstorms after 11am, with cloudy skies and a high of 79°F accompanied by a south wind at 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. For Thursday night, there’s a slight chance of showers, along with cloudy conditions and a low around 69°F. A southeast wind will blow at 3 to 5 mph, with a 20% chance of precipitation. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
APS School Board member Mary Kadera (staff photo by James Jarvis)
Arlington Public Schools is proposing to significantly increase its budget next year to support more staffing and a pay raise for personnel.
The proposal, which Superintendent Francisco Durán and the Arlington School Board discussed at a work session yesterday (Tuesday), calls for gradually adding 252 new full-time positions and a 3% cost-of-living increase over the next three years.
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:
A customized four-year growth plan
A detailed Year One execution roadmap
Access to experienced mentors
An opportunity to participate in a capital matching day
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.
A spotted lanternfly (photo via Magi Kern/Unsplash)
Spotted lanternflies continue to appear in Arlington and other parts of Northern Virginia — but while the insects are invasive, experts say there’s no need to panic.
“These invasive insects do not bite, sting, or otherwise harm people or pets,” Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Kirsten Conrad told ARLnow. “They feed on a wide variety of plants and are especially attracted to the invasive non-native Tree of Heaven.”
The Fall Heritage Festival (courtesy of Arlington County)
As the temperature cools and leaves begin to change, a wide array of activities are planned in Arlington this harvest season.
Whether marveling at fall foliage, attending a seasonal festival or celebrating Halloween with one’s dog, fans of fall will have no shortage of events to attend in the coming weeks.
An open house on S. Carlin Springs road safety (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
A couple weeks after a tongue-in-cheek installation called attention to safety concerns on S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington County hosted an open house last night (Tuesday).
The theme of the event: safety along Carlin Springs.
Issues of the GazetteLeader newspaper (staff photo)
ARLnow’s parent company has acquired the GazetteLeader amid an expansion of local news coverage.
Arlington-based Local News Now acquired the newspaper’s assets, including its archives, from Arizona-based O’Rourke Media Group, which operates 50 local publications in more than three dozen markets across the U.S.
Rainy day in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Energy Startup Moves to Arlington — “Dandelion Energy Inc. has raised $40 million in fresh funding for the national rollout of its geothermal systems that heat and cool single-family homes and multifamily housing… It also comes following the relocation of Dandelion’s headquarters from Mount Kisco, New York, to Arlington earlier this month… By year’s end, [CEO Dan Yates, who co-founded Arlington utility management provider Opower Inc.] plans to staff about 15 people at new offices at 1515 N. Courthouse Road.” [WBJ]
Food Waste Collection Pilot — “Arlington residents have answered the call to feed the green machines deployed to collect food scraps and food-soiled paper to divert them from trash bins. To date, more than 11,000 pounds of food waste has been collected since the launch of the Solid Waste Bureau’s pilot program in early July, which seeks to expand the County’s ability to compost food scraps and prevent waste.” [Arlington County]
Open House for Long Bridge Trail — “Learn about Arlington’s Long Bridge Drive Multimodal Connection Project, which aims to improve transportation for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Attend the Concept Design Open House on Thursday, September 26, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM.” [Twitter]
Latino Festival Friday Evening — “The Arlington County government will host the 2024 Festival Latinoamericano on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center. The free event will feature delicious food, captivating performances and a warm community atmosphere, organizers said.” [GazetteLeader]
Beyer Introduces AI Bill — ” U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the bicameral Secure Artificial Intelligence Act, legislation to enhance the monitoring and management of security and safety incidents and risks related to artificial intelligence.” [Press Release]
GMU Admission Pilot Program — “Some Northern Virginia seniors will be admitted to George Mason University without having to fill out an application, as part of a pilot program that aims to address the falling number of underrepresented students applying to college… At a school board meeting last week, Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Francisco Durán said students at Wakefield and Washington-Liberty High Schools, as well as the Arlington Career Center, will have access to the program.” [WTOP]
Old Post Chapel Temporarily Closed — From Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall: “Old Post Chapel will be closed until Nov. 9 for pipe organ restoration and audio upgrades.” [Twitter]
New F.C. Library Director — “Megan Dotzler has been hired as the new Library Director for Mary Riley Styles Public Library (MRSPL) in the City of Falls Church… Dotzler joins MRSPL from the Arlington Public Library in Arlington, Virginia, where she was head of Central Library youth services and before that branch manager for Arlington’s Aurora Hills location.” [City of Falls Church]
Whooping Cough Cases Rising — “The United States is seeing a rise in the number of whooping cough cases. Nationally in 2024, cases are nearly five times higher than the previous year. In Virginia, there have been 424 cases so far in 2024, compared with 72 in 2023 — an increase of 488 percent.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Expect showers and possible thunderstorms today. Patchy fog may occur before noon. The day will otherwise be cloudy with a high near 73 and a southeast wind around 9 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, or higher in thunderstorms. Wednesday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with cloudy conditions, a low around 68, and a south wind at 7 mph. [NWS]
Expect showers and possible thunderstorms before 2pm, followed by a chance of more showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Patchy fog may occur between 7am and noon. The day will be cloudy with a high near 73 and a southeast wind around 9 mph. There’s a 60% chance of precipitation, with new rainfall amounts ranging from a tenth to a quarter of an inch, or higher in thunderstorms. Wednesday night, there’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms, with cloudy conditions, a low around 68, and a south wind at 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.” – Herbert Bayard Swope
2315 N. Tuckahoe Street, the site of a proposed six-plex (staff photo)
Controversy is heating up around a proposed six-unit development near the East Falls Church Metro station.
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) is scheduled to vote tomorrow (Wednesday) on whether to uphold a decision to approve an Expanded Housing Option permit for the property, located at 2315 N. Tuckahoe Street.
