Though I’m a card-carrying journalist, I occasionally rub tweedy elbows with Arlington’s more literary lights. My journalism colleague Burt Solomon, who writes from home in Westover, recently made the transition to novelist. A crowd of us gathered Feb. 26 at the independent bookstore One More Page to hear his confessions […]

By Ralph Northam As a doctor, I know some things about healthcare. As a public official who sponsored legislation to create the state exchange and expand Medicaid, I also know how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefits Virginia. So when I saw the Republicans’ plan yesterday — crafted after seven […]

We are heartened by the roster of the new economic development working group for the campus site. That’s because it includes representation from the F.C. Economic Development Authority (EDA) and Planning Commission in addition to the City Council and School Board. It improves the chances that well-grounded economic potentials for […]

The tragic, horrible news came early Friday morning. An ongoing police search found two bodies buried in the rough terrain of Holmes Run Stream Valley Park. The discovery was in the same general area where, in 2014, two other bodies were found after tips from local gang members were given […]

While this 2017 session may have seemed less contentious and overtly partisan than last year’s session — it was not. The heavy-handed partisanship and sometimes hurtful rhetoric was mostly displayed in the committees and subcommittees, not often on the floor of our chamber in the Capitol. Partisanship was definitely on […]

A seasoned teacher, once retired, can speak freely about what ails our school system. Lorraine Gandy, a high-impact kindergarten teacher at Arlington Traditional School, quietly turned in her papers last July after a 45-year career. Last month, I listened in her home as she unburdened herself of some frustrations with […]

By Jeffrey Anderson Many thanks to those responsible for the recent informative three hours on options for the high school campus. Turnout was impressive, as was the detail discussed. Judging from comments in my small breakout group, there were few good reasons for renovation, aside from lower cost, or phased […]

“Raise my taxes. Lower my taxes. Spend more on schools. Schools spend too much. Cut wasteful programs. Privatize everything. People on fixed incomes can’t afford to live here. Have police issue more tickets and the revenue problem will be fixed.” Such comments are part and parcel of the annual budget […]

If it’s March, it must be annual budget time! The Falls Church School Board has done its part, voting 4-3 to forward a budget request to the F.C. City Manager Wyatt Shields who will add it to his budget recommendation that he will unveil to the City Council in two […]

The General Assembly has completed its 2017 legislative session. The House of Delegates will be up for election in November along with the statewide offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General. Being an election year, at times it was painful to listen to the debate, as well as view […]