Obituary

Heather Bruen Mapes Hurlock died on April 12, 2026, in Virginia Hospital Center. She was born in Manhattan, New York City, on March 1, 1938. She was a tenth-generation New Yorker, a direct descendant of Thomas Mapes, one of the founders (about 1647) of Southold, Long Island, NY. She was the daughter of the late Col. Douglas Stewart Mapes of New York City and Cathleen Hourigan Mapes of Buffalo, New York.

Heather first came to Alexandria, VA, in 1946, when her father was stationed here at the Pentagon as a staff officer of the Military District of Washington. After her father’s untimely death in June 1947, her mother took her and her sister, Rosemary, to Europe for schooling. Heather attended high schools in Geneva, Beirut, and Munich. Her freshman year of college was at the University of Maryland (now Global Campus) in Munich.


Around Town

Good Wednesday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — May 6, 2026.

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Thursday in Arlington, from our event calendar.

[‘🌦️’] Thursday’s forecast

There is a 30% chance of showers in the afternoon, with cloudy skies transitioning to mostly sunny and a high near 65°F. Expect a north wind at 5 to 8 mph. Thursday night will see mostly cloudy conditions clearing to a low around 48°F, with light and variable winds shifting northwest at 5 to 7 mph after midnight. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
– Michael Jordan

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.

Thanks for reading! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum.


News

This reporting was supported by the ARLnow Press Club. Join to support in-depth local journalism — and get an exclusive early morning email with a preview of that day’s planned news coverage.

Arlington is set to reach a historic milestone in September — the 180th anniversary of its return from the District of Columbia to Virginia sovereignty.


Announcement

If you’re a college student spending the summer in Arlington — whether you’re interning, working, or just home for a few months — EvolveAll is the place to stay fit, sharpen skills, and be in community.

For just $295, college students get full access to all of EvolveAll’s adult programs from May through August. That means Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, self-defense, yoga, Pilates, and more — a whole community of people who show up, put in the work, and look out for each other.


News

A major development project straddling the Arlington-Fairfax county line on Wilson Blvd took another procedural step forward this week.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (May 5) gave the owner of a key Seven Corners residential parcel the ability to more than double units on the site while also adding retail space.


Event

Join us in remembrance and celebrate our community at the City of Falls Church’s 44th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival on Monday, May 25, 2026. Honor our nation’s fallen heroes and our country’s rich history while marking the 250th anniversary of the United States of America!

Monday, May 25, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Around Town

Arlington’s third Maman cafe is opening in Pentagon City tomorrow with giveaways for its first customers.

The French-inspired bakery and cafe is hosting a grand opening on the ground floor of Amazon HQ2 (1450 S. Eads Street), where Mae’s Market and Cafe closed last year. Starting at 8 a.m, the first 100 customers will receive a free tote bag and cookie with purchase.


Around Town

The Safeway in Cherrydale is getting a facelift this year.

The longtime grocer at 3713 Langston Blvd is preparing for a store remodel, Dana Ward, director of communications and public affairs for Albertsons’ Mid-Atlantic Division, told ARLnow. Contractors are receiving work permits as the store has begun selling off some soon-to-be discontinued products.


News

Police have released composite sketches of a man whose remains were found in a vacant Ballston home more than two years ago, hoping the public can help identify him.

The remains were discovered on Feb. 26, 2024 by the new owners of an abandoned property on the 1300 block of N. Taylor Street. The owners came across the remains in the basement during a walkthrough of the recently purchased home. Police were dispatched just before 5 p.m. and immediately launched a death investigation.


News

Arlington’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee is in full organizing mode for a June block party in Crystal City honoring Pride Month.

Organizers are hoping for upwards of 500 attendees at next month’s first Arlington Pride 23rd Street Block Party. Sponsored by Equality Arlington in collaboration with several other community organizations, the event is slated for Saturday, June 6 from 3-7 p.m. in the Restaurant Row area of 23rd Street S.


Schools

Two LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are calling on Arlington Public Schools to address the disproportionate mental health and safety outcomes negatively affecting its LGBTQ+ student population.

In a new joint letter to APS leaders, the groups, Equality Arlington and the Arlington Gender Identity Alliance (AGIA), are asking the school system to implement a more targeted response to the mental health challenges, violence, discrimination and bullying that its LGBTQ+ students experience at elevated rates when compared to fellow students.