By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — More than 1,600 Virginians have had their voter registrations canceled since August under a state program that the Justice Department and advocacy groups contend is illegal.
By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — More than 1,600 Virginians have had their voter registrations canceled since August under a state program that the Justice Department and advocacy groups contend is illegal.
Mary Cecelia Lawler (Age 100)
Mary, a devout Catholic, wife, and mother, passed away on October 21, 2024. Born in Akron, OH on Oct 30, 1924, she obtained her Registered Dietetics degree (RD) from the University of Akron and her Master’s from Ohio State University. She met her husband at Ohio State, moved to Wilmington, Delaware, then to Cleveland Heights, OH, where she worked as a dietician at Cleveland Hospital. They eventually relocated to Arlington, VA, where she worked at Jefferson hospital in Alexandria.
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine plans to open a new medical clinic in Ballston.
Located in the Ballston Quarter at 4102 Wilson Blvd, the “multidisciplinary” clinic is expected to open by Tuesday, Nov. 19 with 33 exam rooms.
Pentagon MMA has brought a special honor home to Arlington from the birthplace of Muay Thai.
The Arlington Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu Academy is now officially a certified and registered Muay Thai Gym Partner through the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, making Pentagon MMA the only Muay Thai academy on the East Coast to have earned this distinction.
One of the largest marathon races in the country is returning to Arlington this weekend with planned road closures and festivities.
On Sunday, the 49th Marine Corps Marathon — dubbed “The People’s Marathon” — will kick off at 7:55 a.m. at Route 110, between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
For over 400 years, humans have studied the cosmos through telescopes anchored to the ground. That changed with the rise of spaceflight; only in the last 50 years have telescopes escaped the Earth's atmosphere entirely and opened a new window on the universe.
Join us for a talk from two NASA astrophysicists on the space telescopes of yesterday, today, and tomorrow—from Hubble's nearly four decades of discovery to James Webb, Nancy Grace Roman, and more. Learn about some of their most striking discoveries and what the future holds.
Is Arlington Public Schools a two-tiered education system, with some groups receiving needed resources while others are left behind?
That was the view, to varying degrees, of the four candidates vying for two open School Board seats.

Cemetery Records on Trump Incident — “The US Army has been ordered by a federal judge to release records related to former President Donald Trump’s controversial August visit to Arlington National Cemetery by Friday at the latest… The expedited release is a result of a lawsuit by American Oversight, a non-partisan watchdog nonprofit advocating for the release of government records. The group submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for any records relating to interactions between Trump campaign staff and the employee.” [WTOP]
Boeing Strike Continues — “Boeing factory workers voted Wednesday to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a six-week strike that has halted production of the aerospace giant’s bestselling jetliners.” Boeing has its headquarters in Crystal City. [Associated Press]
Rollover Crash Caught on Camera — From Dave Statter: “Yesterday’s crash at Spout Run & Langston reminds us, once again, that many of today’s vehicles don’t need a lot to make them go belly up.” [Twitter]
Pink-Clad Thief Exposes Self — “Police are searching for a theft suspect wearing a pink hat and jacket who exposed himself Tuesday afternoon at a Virginia Square business. Arlington County Police responded around 3:35 p.m. to the report of a theft that had just happened in the 3500 block of Wilson Boulevard. Officers determined … the man exposed himself, grabbed some merchandise and left the store without paying.” [Patch]
Metal Chain Used as Weapon — “At approximately 4:00 p.m. on October 19, the male victim engaged the male suspect, who is an acquaintance, in conversation during which the suspect became confrontational. The suspect then briefly left the scene before returning with a metal chain. The suspect then struck the victim with the chain and physically assaulted him before subsequently fleeing the scene on foot. The victim sustained minor injuries.” [ACPD]
Beyer ‘Disappointed’ in Mideast Response — At an Arlington NAACP candidate forum held Monday, Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) said he disagreed with President Joe Biden’s approach to the ongoing Mideast conflict. “I’ve been very disappointed in the light touch he’s used,” Beyer said, while also criticizing Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who “doesn’t pay any attention to what we think,” Beyer said. —Scott McCaffrey
Restaurant Week Was a Record-Breaker — With a total of 73 venues taking part, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s Arlington Restaurant Week broke a participation record. The event, held Oct. 14-21 and now in its sixth year, spotlighted restaurants ranging from fast-casual to haute cuisine. “It’s vital that we support them to ensure they thrive,” Arlington Chamber president/CEO Kate Bates said. [Arlington Chamber of Commerce]
Complaints About Screaming in Courthouse — “There’s a homeless man that gets drunk and screeches at the top of his lungs for hours in this courtyard near my apartment. He sits on a bench behind a bus stop across from sushi rock. Like 16th st N and North Scott street. He’s been doing it every other day for the past two weeks and I’m going insane.” [Reddit]
More on Arlington Transportation Plan — “Much of transportation policy pertains to the question of how to divide up a limited resource–the public right-of-way, or the road? This is the question that Arlington County will tackle over the next 18 months as we rewrite our Master Transportation Plan. This public engagement process is getting the top-shelf treatment in public engagement — the full ‘Arlington Way’ — so it even has its own branding.” [Greater Greater Washington]
It’s Thursday — Expect sunny skies and a high near 65 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 14 to 16 mph and gusts reaching up to 25 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be clear with a low temperature around 43 degrees, and a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. [NWS]
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 23, 2024.
Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Expect sunny skies and a high near 65 degrees, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 14 to 16 mph and gusts reaching up to 25 mph. As for Thursday night, it will be clear with a low temperature around 43 degrees, and a northwest wind at 5 to 7 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
– Henry David Thoreau
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.
Talk about a full and complete season.
When Malia Perry participates in next week’s Virginia High School League Girls State Open golf tournament, the Washington-Liberty Generals’ senior will have played in every postseason tournament possible this fall — five in total.
In a string of strong postseason performances, the Meridian Mustangs saved their best for last.
With a season-best 18-hole team score of 297, the high-school golfers won their first state championship. It was an unexpected turn of events, given how the season began, but the team ultimately hit its stride and never looked back.
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.