Schools

The best public schools in Virginia are in Arlington and Falls Church, according to new 2025 rankings.

Arlington Public Schools rank No. 2, right behind Falls Church City Public Schools at No. 1, the education research firm Niche found. Only one other school district in the state received an overall A+ rating.


Around Town

El Fuego in Lyon Park has closed after about six years in business there.

The Peruvian restaurant’s signage has been removed from 2300 N. Pershing Drive and the interior appears empty. Comments on the establishment’s Instagram page suggest it closed at least five weeks ago.


News

By BEN FINLEY Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Republican challenger Hung Cao sparred over issues from illegal immigration to tariffs on foreign goods Wednesday in their only debate of the campaign.


Announcement

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.


Around Town

A local environmental nonprofit is looking for 100 volunteers to collect acorns at Arlington National Cemetery this weekend.

The goal of the collection event, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, is anything but nutty. It’s part of the Potomac Conservancy’s Tomorrow’s Trees program, which recruits volunteers to support reforestation projects throughout the D.C. area.


Event

Join us for the Saint Ann Fall Festival on Saturday, September 26! Start the day with our Fun Run at 9:30 AM, followed by the Fall Festival beginning at 10:00 AM.
This family friendly celebration is open to the entire Arlington community and offers something for everyone! Enjoy rides and inflatables, live entertainment, family friendly Bingo, raffles, a Beer Garden, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities to gather with the community.
The festival is also a celebration of Saint Ann’s diverse Catholic community, featuring food and entertainment representing our Filipino, Latino, and Peruvian communities, along with some local favorites.
This year’s entertainment includes a live band in the Beer Garden, and exciting Bolivian and Peruvian dance performances. Admission is free, and tickets for food, rides, and activities can be purchased at the festival.
Come celebrate with us and experience the warm, welcoming spirit of Saint Ann! We look forward to welcoming the greater Arlington community for a fun-filled day together.
The Fall Festival will take place rain or shine! Come join the fun!


Events

The Arlington Public Library fall book sale is back for a few days of bargain book deals.

The booster group Friends of the Arlington Public Library is holding the event in the Central Library parking garage at 1015 N. Quincy Street, offering thousands of books, games, puzzles and comics for sale. It will start with a “members only” event this afternoon and opening to the public tomorrow morning.


News

A business owner is asking for help identifying a suspect he claims stole more than 25 cellphones from his store early Tuesday morning.

In a video posted on the social network Nextdoor, an individual can be seen loitering outside Cell Depot, located in the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center in the Yorktown neighborhood.


Obituary

Joseph “Joe” Michael Giarrusso passed away on September 28th, 2024, at Fairfax Inova Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia at the age of 84 surrounded by family. Born on January 30, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Joseph Giarrusso and Eileen Lucille Sportolari.

Joe was born and raised in Pittsburgh. He attended St. Justin High School, in Mount Washington, Pittsburgh, graduating in the class of 1957. He spent his childhood playing pickup basketball in Moorefield, a city park in Brookline. He received a basketball scholarship from Duquesne University and was subsequently recruited to play at Kansas State University. At Kansas State, he was an English major. He was also class president his senior year in 1962.


News
Ballston at sunset (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

F.C. Vote Count Rises — More than one in 10 Falls Church voters have cast early ballots in the Nov. 5 election, Electoral Board members learned Oct. 1. The total includes 887 who had voted in person and 201 by mail, Falls Church Registrar David Bjerke said. –Scott McCaffrey

Another Crash on Camera — From Dave Statter: “A crash a short time ago at S. 15th and S. Eads in Arlington. No serious injuries reported.” [Twitter]

Near Record Rain — “Washington’s 11 consecutive days with measurable rain is now the second-longest in history, behind only 15 in 2016… Tuesday’s drenching in the District — which amounted to 1.46 inches — pushed the 11-day total to 3.32 inches, or about 2 inches above average.” [Capital Weather Gang]

It’s Thursday — Partly sunny skies and a high around 74 degrees are expected today, accompanied by light and variable winds. As night falls, expect a low temperature of about 62 degrees, and a gentle breeze from the south. [NWS]


News

A 54-year-old Arlington man has been arrested and charged with five sex offenses in connection to the so-called “Georgetown cuddler” case.

Federal prosecutors and D.C. police announced the arrest today, in a string of incidents that happened more than a decade ago. Prosecutors say Ernesto Mercado is the man who broke into several homes in the Georgetown neighborhood between 2008-2012 and sexually assaulted women while they slept.