Supporters of the Integration Station are again mobilizing against a plan to shut down the specialized program for young students with intellectual disabilities.
About 20 proponents of the program used the School Board’s Sept. 24 public-comment period to ask Board members to rescue the program from planned elimination. The mood among many speakers, most with direct connections to the program, was testy.
A familiar face in the local inclusive-theater world is being remembered as a force for good across Northern Virginia.
Merry Jayne Casillas of Arlington died Sept. 21 after a brief illness. She was 43 years old and, for the past two decades, was a part of the ArtStream inclusive-theater troupe.
Welcome to Kami’s Korner where we’ll take a deep dive into Arlington’s condominium market by focusing on what’s coming next. From emerging developments to shifting trends, this space will spotlight the opportunities and insights shaping the future of condo living in Arlington.
Thinking about selling your home and moving into a luxury condominium? For many empty nesters, the idea sounds wonderful in theory: less maintenance, better location, more time, lock-and-leave convenience. But then reality sets in. Where will all my stuff go? Will I have enough room? Can I still host Thanksgiving? What happens to my gorgeous furniture? And, most importantly, am I really ready to give up my house?
Most are worried about simplifying without feeling like they’ve diminished their life. Let’s explore some of the details you might look for to make that transition more exciting and less stressful. I’ll bet you have been comfortable in your house for three decades and now desire a lifestyle shift but don’t want to make a housing mistake.
There is an art to downsizing without downgrading.
Having sold thousands of new condominiums to Baby Boomers, I’ve learned that one of the biggest competitors for a new condominium isn’t another community. It’s the buyer’s existing home. There are certain elements which will help make this transition an enjoyable one where you don’t have to trade the things you love. In fact, finding a condominium that allows you to bring a lot of what you already value (while eliminating the parts of homeownership you no longer want) is the key to the perfect fit.
Will I have enough space? Remember the basement, attic and garage you’ve accumulated over three decades? They’re not coming with you.
The right condominium can make you realize you didn’t actually need all that stuff. The wrong one will have you wondering where you are going to hide the Christmas decorations.
Most empty nester couples cannot fit in less than 1,400 square feet unless they have another home elsewhere (like a family house in Rehoboth or weekend cabin in West Virginia.) 1,400 sq ft gets you a larger than average 2 bedroom with walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms (so no one is in your primary bathroom), and perhaps an additional powder room, linen closet, pantry, or spacious utility room. Anything smaller means you are on top of one another and likely won’t have the storage capacity you need.
The ideal size for this demographic in Northern Virginia is a 1,700-2,200 square foot 2 bed plus den or 3 bedroom, with 2.5-3 baths. The den is critical and its placement should be an extension of the living room, not down the hall and cut off from the rest of the layout. During a party it expands the entertaining space while leaving the bedroom areas private…but on Tuesday it becomes a cozy spillover room to watch TV, read, and relax while your partner is cooking or watching videos of the grandkids on the laptop at the kitchen island. Don’t worry, you can still shout to one another. Some traditions shouldn’t be lost.
Arlington County and the City of Alexandria are teaming up on proceedings related to a massive proposed merger involving Dominion Energy.
The county announced plans earlier this month to intervene in NextEra Energy’s bid to acquire Dominion for $67 billion, an energy merger that the county says would be the largest in U.S. history. Today (Monday), officials announced that Arlington’s legal efforts will be in partnership with its next-door neighbor.
The National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Cinema Showcase is an annual celebration of the best in Native film. The festival celebrates the best of Indigenous film, spanning documentaries, features, animations, and short-format films by Indigenous filmmakers from across the Western Hemisphere and Arctic.
Not happy with his team’s results during pool play, team manager Will Le imposed “stricter” measures to help the Arlington Sage improve during the next day’s championship round of a state softball tournament.
His gambit worked. The 14-under girls team won the title by finishing 3-0 in the championship round of a statewide travel tournament, held at Brambleton Community Park in Ashburn.
Event location
Online event (see link)
*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.
Arlington’s bagel craze is spreading.
Bullfrog Bagels in flavors such as poppyseed, sesame, cinnamon raisin and everything became available today (Monday) at the Ghostburger stall at Upside on Moore in Rosslyn.
Falls Church officials hope that their next major sidewalk improvement project will support economic development.
City Council members plan to approve a construction contract worth up to $2.45 million today (Monday). It’s part of a $5.72 million effort upgrading sidewalks and intersections on W. Broad Street between West Street and Virginia Avenue.
A new philanthropic effort will support affordable housing for lower-income seniors and those with disabilities in Arlington.
County Board members on Sept. 19 authorized the creation of the new housing fund, spearheaded by the husband-and-wife duo of Ken Aughenbaugh and Melodee Melin.
The Arlington library system has developed a creative tool to bring the county’s Black history to life.
Using photos taken of youth participating in recreation activities during the era of segregation, library officials have commissioned a number of jigsaw puzzles to engage children and youth alike.
Runaway Van Hits Cars in Rosslyn — A van hit at least five vehicles along eastbound Langston Blvd in Rosslyn Friday afternoon. “Witnesses and other sources indicate the van is a commercial paratransit vehicle and that there are some indications the driver may have had a medical issue.” [Dave Statter/X]
Ex-Youth Minister Pleads Not Guilty — “Jeff Turner Taylor, who served in the 1990s as the youth minister of the Falls Church Episcopal… pleaded not guilty on Thursday to sex abuse charges stemming from his tenure at the church.” A trial is set for Feb. 16 in federal court in Alexandria. [Washington Post]
Two Cemetery Flyovers Today — From AlertDC: “The U.S. Military will conduct an aircraft flyover in the National Capital Region (NCR) over Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 11:39AM.” A second flyover is set for 3:05 p.m.
School Nurse Mandate Eyed — “Virginia schools could be required to have a licensed nurse in every building starting in 2028, under a legislative proposal introduced Wednesday… About 8% of Virginia’s schools operate without a nurse.” State Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), who chairs the committee weighing the proposal, backed it. [Virginia Mercury]
It’s Monday — A slight chance of rain showers before 8 a.m., then mostly cloudy with a high near 70 and northwest winds around 8 mph. Mostly cloudy tonight, with a low around 61. [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.
Pumpkin spice season is here, but winter is closer than you think.
When winter weather arrives, some of our most vulnerable neighbors can’t clear snow from their sidewalks and driveways, limiting their ability to travel safely and access essential services.
