A gavel sits on the judge's bench inside an Arlington County Circuit Court courtroom (courtesy Arlington County Sheriff's Office)
County Board members took action on Saturday (Oct. 17) that could lead to expansion of a court program focused on offenders with mental illnesses.
The county is submitting a proposal to state officials for a behavioral health docket within the county’s circuit court. If approved by the Virginia Supreme Court, the post-plea program will serve some individuals charged with felony offenses who are suffering from serious mental illness or a combination of mental illness and developmental disabilities.
Evexia wellness studio in Ballston (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
A new wellness studio and medical spa are getting close to opening at the former home of a longtime wine bar in Ballston.
Evexia Bio Studio is planning its opening in January at 4301 Wilson Blvd, the former Grand Cru Wine Bar and Bistro space. The space will be shared with an Evexia Medspa, which will be the company’s second location when it opens around the same time.
A colorful new landmark is bringing fresh energy to Columbia Pike while celebrating the people, cultures and stories that define one of Arlington’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
The mural, commissioned through Arlington Public Art and Arlington Economic Development, is part of ongoing creative placemaking efforts designed to strengthen neighborhood identity, enhance public spaces and create welcoming experiences for residents, visitors and local businesses.
For Bathurst, an artist whose work explores the relationships among people, nature and cultural heritage, Columbia Pike offered a rich source of inspiration. The mural features portraits of women representing cultures reflected throughout the neighborhood, surrounded by imagery drawn from local history, global artistic traditions and the natural environment of Four Mile Run.
What makes the project especially meaningful is the community’s role in shaping it. Public input gathered at the Barcroft Resource Fair and Columbia Pike Farmers Market revealed a strong desire for artwork that reflected the neighborhood’s diversity, vibrant character and connection to nature. A community advisory panel helped guide the project from concept through completion, ensuring the final design reflected the voices and experiences of the community it serves.
The resulting artwork is both a visual landmark and a celebration of the people who make Columbia Pike unique. It highlights the corridor’s longstanding role as a welcoming and multicultural community while creating a vibrant new point of interest along one of Arlington’s most traveled commercial corridors.
The project was made possible through a partnership with Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, which provided the highly visible wall for the mural. Located on the Goodwill building at 4714 Columbia Pike, the artwork transforms an everyday streetscape into a destination that invites residents and visitors to pause, reflect and connect with the neighborhood’s identity.
As Arlington continues investing in public art and placemaking initiatives, projects like this demonstrate how art can strengthen community pride, foster connection and contribute to vibrant public spaces. Public art not only enriches the visual landscape, but also helps tell the stories of Arlington’s neighborhoods and the people who call them home.
The community is invited to join the celebration on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The free event will feature remarks from the artist and community representatives, music, refreshments and family-friendly activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the mural up close and learn more about the community stories, cultural influences and local inspiration behind its creation.
For Columbia Pike, the mural represents more than a new work of art. It is a lasting reflection of the corridor’s creativity, diversity and community spirit, and a vibrant new symbol of the neighborhood’s past, present and future.
Art Focus is a regular series highlighting the artists, organizations, public art projects and creative initiatives that enrich Arlington’s cultural landscape.
County Board members next month could increase fees for towing from private property from the current $160 up to $210, an increase of more than 30%.
That’s the figure recommended by county staff and the Trespass Towing Advisory Board (TTAB), but in recent years Board members have been leery of increasing rates as high as recommended.
Please join us for an Open House at St. Charles Preschool on November 13th at 9:30 am to learn more about our Christ-centered, nurturing preschool community! Applications for the 2027-28 school year will be opening that day on our school website.
“This little composition…is, alas, the final mortal sin of my old age. A little technique, a little heart, that is all.”
Gioachino Rossini’s "Petite Messe Solennelle" is neither little nor entirely solemn. Yet beneath the wit and irony of its title lies one of Rossini’s most personal creations, which blends the theatrical brilliance and unforgettable melodies of his comic operas—including extraordinary and virtuosic arias—with an almost uncharacteristic tenderness and spiritual depth.
Wholey Legacy Homes, an affordable housing project at 1300 N. Pierce Street (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Some affordable-housing advocates fear an advisory panel set up by the County Board earlier this year won’t deliver tangible results.
“I’m not optimistic this working group is going to come up with a substantive solution,” Housing Commission chair Kellen MacBeth said at the commission’s Oct. 8 meeting.
Cold front and storm clouds arrive in Arlington over the weekend (courtesy George Brazier)
Accidental Shooting in Crystal City — “Police determined that a male was inside handling a firearm when it discharged unintentionally. The person suffered a minor injury and was taken to a hospital for treatment.” The shooting happened around 5:45 p.m. Friday in an office building on the 1200 block of S. Clark Street. [Fox 5]
Charging Costs Vote Coming Tuesday — County Board members on Saturday removed a proposal to increase costs at county-run electric-vehicle charging stations from that day’s consent agenda, moving it to a public hearing to be held Tuesday, Oct. 20 no earlier than 6:30 p.m. The staff proposal calls for increasing fees 72% to help recoup higher energy and capital costs. —Scott McCaffrey
A golfer walks near log sections cut from trees at the East Potomac Golf Links, in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Donald Trump says he will close the East Potomac golf course, just across the river from Arlington, for 15 months of renovations starting Sunday, Nov. 15.
Trump announced the plan on social media today (Sunday). He said the work would make the historic public course “one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World.”
Police and medics on scene of a pedestrian seriously injured in Rosslyn (via CivicViewPro)
A man reportedly suffered serious injuries after an incident in Rosslyn Sunday evening.
It happened around 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Clarendon Blvd and N. Pierce Street. The man was said to be unconscious when police pulled up and found him lying on the street near the curb, with a small crowd around him trying to help.
We recently invited the candidates running for local office in the Nov. 3 General Election to write a post about why Arlington residents should vote for them. Find information on how and where to vote here.
Below is the unedited response from David Sisson, who is running for County Board.
